Domestication of Plants in the Old World: The Origin of Spread of Cultivated Plants in West Asia, Europe, and the Nile Valley
... However, many factors determine the shape of seeds, such as, for example, the number of seeds in each berry, the size of the berry, and its maturity [21]. Studies on grape seeds, in many archaeological sites, provide the opportunity to understand the distribution and domestication of wild vines [1,22]. ...
... One of the Old World's traditional fruits-the grapevine-is a vital component of the earliest genus of fruit trees that shaped the development of horticulture in the Mediterranean region [1]. In Eurasia and North Africa, two forms of Vitis vinifera co-exist: the cultivated form, Vitis vinifera L., and the wild form, Vitis vinifera var. ...
Studying the evolution of seed morphology and, in turn, the evolution of cultivars across time and space is of fundamental importance to agriculture and archaeology. The identification of ancient and modern grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivars is essential for understanding the historical evolution of grape cultivation. Grape seed morphology provides valuable information to explore the evolution of grape cultivars over time and space. The main aim of our study was to build a comprehensive regional database of grape seed morphological traits from modern and archaeological wine cultivars and wild grape species. We aimed to identify which seeds of modern grape cultivars exhibited morphological similarities to archaeological cultivars. This study focused on fifteen distinct modern types of seeds and two archaeological samples from the Byzantine-to-Early Medieval period. We acquired digital images of seeds using a flatbed scanner. For each sample, 100 seeds were randomly selected, and morphometric data on each seed were gathered using ImageJ. Differences among the seed cultivars were investigated using linear discriminant analysis. Archaeological seeds were found to be more similar to cultivated V. vinifera cultivars rather than V. sylvestris populations. Among the cultivated cultivars, Sangiovese and Tosta antica resulted to be cultivars most similar cultivars to the archaeological ones. The morphometric analysis of grape seeds proved to be a valuable resource for investigating the evolution of vine cultivars throughout history. Combining image analysis techniques with genetic data will open new perspectives for studying the origins of and variations in grape cultivars, contributing to the conservation and enhancement of viticultural heritage.
... Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera), one of the oldest fruit crops, has been cultivated in Southwest Asia and North Africa for at least 5000 years (Zohary and Hopf 2000). Date as one of the most important fruit crops in arid areas is considered a main income and food source for local individuals in producing countries, which plays significant roles in the economy, society and environment of the countries. ...
Date palm ( Phoenix dactylifera ) considered a main income and food source for local individuals in producing countries. However, palm offshoot decline and bud rot disease was observed in some palm groves in Khuzestan province as a major date producer in Iran. Thirty‐five samples with rot and decline were collected from diseased offshoot from palm groves of six cities of Khuzestan during 2019–2021. Yellowing in outer leaves, black, brown or reddish brown spots were observed on petioles at the early stage, which gradually continues to rot. Seventy‐nine were isolated from symptomatic samples among which 38 strains caused rotting in the inoculated site and emission of a foul odour 3 weeks after inoculation on petioles and rachises of young offshoots. Based on the phenotypic characters, pathogenic strains categorised in three groups including Klebsiella oxytoca with 15, Kosakonia radicincitans with 12 and Citrobacter koseri with 11 strains. The phylogenic tree based on analysis of the concatenated partial sequences of two housekeeping genes, gyrB and infB, revealed that six representative strains clustered with the type strains of K. oxytoca and K. radicincitans . Furthermore, two strains were clustered with the type strain of C. koseri based on concatenated partial sequences of gyrB , fusA and pyrG genes. This is the first report of K. oxytoca, K. radicincitans and C. koseri , as agents of date palm offshoot decline and bud rot. The inundation of palm groves due to massive flood during 2019 and 2020 in Khuzestan province may intensify the outbreak of decline and offshoot rot disease.
... The Mediterranean fig tree (Ficus carica L.) is an emblematic and typical fruit tree of the Mediterranean region, it predates the domestication of cereal and legume crops, making it a truly ancient and venerable species (Zohary and Hopf, 2000;Kislev et al., 2006). Along with olives and vines, the fig tree forms a crucial socio-economic pillar of Mediterranean arboriculture (Lansky and Paavilainen, 2011). ...
Morocco is founded to be as one of the substantial leading fig tree producers. Caprification plays a crucial role in fig production regions as the primary factor that significantly influences both the yield and quality of fig production. Our study focuses on characterizing caprifig varieties in the Bni Ahmed region (northern Morocco) and emphasizing their phenotypic potential in the context of climate change. Using 34 agromorphological and qualitative traits (IPGRI), the study examined 40 caprifig trees belonging to four local varieties of caprifig. The varietal characterization was completed by the collecting and analyzing fruit and leaf samples in the laboratory. Qualitative traits indicated morphological variability among the varieties investigated. All quantitative parameters , except fruit skin thickness, showed significant differences. Analysis of simple correlation coefficients indicated strong relationships between the measured variables. The analysis of the simple correlation coefficients revealed strong correlations between the measured variables. A remarkable phenotypic variety was identified among the caprifig accessions studied. The principal component analysis showed that the first two components explain 60% of the total variability. Weight, fruit dimensions, neck diameter, fruit pulp thickness, number of Blastophaga, length, width, leaf area, and central lobe length contribute significantly to the total variation. Analysis of the Hierarchical Ascending Classification revealed the existence of three varieties: L'morr, l'louizi, and l'hlou. The variety L'morr has shown a very high potential in terms of fruit characters and pollinating insects. Thus, a genetic analysis can confirm the agromorphological results and breeding programs should consider these unknown genetic resources, such as the L'morr variety, to provide better quality caprifigs.
... Biodiversity and agro-biodiversity hotspots partly overlap (Pacicco et al., 2018;Pironon et al., 2020), corresponding to the areas of the significant original plant biodiversity (Myers et al., 2000;Thompson et al., 2021). The increased biodiversity of particular plant groups potentially valuable for cultivation is characteristic for centers of origin of cultivated plants (Piperno and Pearsall, 1998;Zohary and Hopf, 2001). This indicates that the universal process of phytospreading and the specific trend of evolution of cultivated plants follow similar constraints, the latter being directed by the rise of early human civilizations. ...
... P. andamanensis, spanning from the Arabian Peninsula through the Mediterranean to the Indian Subcontinent, Indochina to Hong Kong and Malesia, primarily thrives in dense evergreen forests (Mathew, 2016). P. dactylifera, found in the Arabian Peninsula, Middle East, and Asia, demonstrates versatility by thriving in warm and arid climates, subtropical and tropical regions, as well as in farms in the Middle East Arabian Peninsula (Zohary et al., 2012;Bisht and Singh, 2020;AL-Faris et al., 2023). P. loureiroi is well-adapted to tropical regions globally, often flourishing in hilly terrains (Deborah and Anand, 2017). ...
Phoenix species, recognized for their profound ecological, economic, and cultural significance, have
garnered substantial attention in research across Asia. However, limited studies exist on research trends, status,
distribution, ethnobotany, and pharmacological activities of Phoenix species in the region. The objective of this
study is to compile pertinent information on these aspects for Phoenix species in Asia. We employed the Preferred
Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) approach to systematically examine the
literature pertaining to Phoenix species in the Asian region. This comprehensive review analyzes research trends
on Phoenix species in Asia from year 2000 to 2023. A total of 42 studies were identified, showcasing a growing interest, with a notable peak in publications in 2019. The temporal distribution suggests fluctuating attention over the
years. Geographically, the concentration of studies is limited to 12 out of 48 Asian countries, emphasizing the need
for more extensive exploration given the widespread availability of Phoenix species. The research primarily focuses
on pharmacology, followed by ethnobotany, morphology, taxonomy, material science, environmental engineering,
and ecology. Notably, studies disproportionately concentrate on Phoenix dactylifera, leaving other species underexplored. The analysis of research focus, species distribution, and geographical representation underscores the
importance of diversifying research themes and exploring the ecological, economic, and cultural significance of
lesser-studied Phoenix species across Asia. The findings highlight both the growing interest and existing gaps in
our knowledge, urging for a more comprehensive exploration of the entire genus to unravel its full potential and
significance across Asian landscapes.
... approximately 11,000 years BP (before the present). The oldest remains of barley with tough rachis have appeared at the archaeological sites of Tell Abu Hureyra (Syria) circa 9000 years BP, Tell Aswad (Syria) from 8900 to 8600 years BP, and Jarmo (Iraq) approximately 8,400 years BP [3]. The first domesticated barley presented a tough rachis (due to the presence of recessive alleles at either brt1 or brt2 loci) [4,5]. ...
Barley has been and continues to be a crucial field crop in Spain, with approximately 2.4 million hectares planted annually and a production ranging 7–10 million tons. It is a crop well adapted to shallow soils and the harsh winters of the high central plains of the country. Traditionally, animal feed has been the main use for this crop, while an important brewing industry developed throughout the 20th century. This article reviews the most important milestones of this crop in Spain, including its uses, historical yield, barley price, and barley–wheat price relationship. With respect to the collection of Spanish landraces currently preserved in the CRF (Plant Genetic Resources Center) seed bank, two main genetic groups distributed in northern and southern Spain were distinguished. The landraces of both groups are mostly six-row and winter types, but they differ in vernalization requirements, which are lower in southern landraces. The trends in barley production, the most planted cultivars in Spain over the last 70 years, and the past and present-day breeding programs in the country are also reviewed.
... Civilizations such as the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans engaged in the systematic selection and crossbreeding of crops like wheat and barley, though their methods lacked a scientific understanding of genetics (Zohary & Hopf, 2000). ...
The history of plant breeding can be broadly divided into four eras: the Pre-Mendelian era (before 1900), the Mendelian era (1900-1920), the post-Mendelian era (1921-1950), and the Modern era (after 1950). Significant milestones include the release of the first hybrid maize varieties in 1961, the first sorghum hybrid (CSH-1) in 1964, the first bajra hybrid (HB-1) in 1965, and the first pigeon pea hybrid (ICPH-8) in 1991. Achieving a world with zero hunger requires a sustainable increase in food production and distribution and elimination of poverty. This goal demands scientific, logistical, and humanitarian approaches to ensure food security from farmers and breeders to policymakers and governments. Conventional breeding techniques alone are insufficient to meet the challenges posed by climate change, biotic and abiotic stress, and the growing global population projected to reach 10 billion by 2050. Novel plant breeding techniques, such as genome editing, speed breeding, and omics technology integration, offer precise, cost-effective, and less time-consuming solutions. These techniques enable the editing of agriculturally significant genes, promoting hybrid seed production, induced apomixis, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stress. Genome editing technologies have evolved, with CRISPR/Cas9 and its variants, base editing (BE), and prime editing (PE) playing pivotal roles in generating transgene-free plants. These advancements have significant implications for crop improvement, meeting food and nutrition security, and catering to regional preferences. Syngenta's initiative to open rights to CRISPR-based technologies through the Shoots by Syngenta platform exemplifies the collaborative efforts needed to drive agricultural innovation and sustainability. The review discusses the current regulatory regimes governing genome-edited crops, prospects of new tools such as DNA-free editing systems and nanotechnology, and their applicability in crop improvement. A multidisciplinary approach involving political, social, economic, and scientific stakeholders is essential for the successful adoption of genome editing technologies, which will ultimately make agriculture a lucrative profession and attract youth to the field.
... On the other hand, those genetic parameters were low for all the other morphological parameters. This result is most likely due to bitter vetch's self-pollination, which lowers its diversity (Zohary and Hopf, 2000). Moreover, the small differences between GCV and PCV in almost all parameters indicate that phenotypic variability is a reliable measure of genotypic variability and that selection for improvement of all traits is possible and could be effective on a phenotypic basis. ...
Bitter vetch (Vicia ervilia (L.) Willd) is a promising legume, drought tolerant, mainly used in the Mediterranean area for its grains as a source of proteins in animal feed. However, it is an underused crop cultivated in marginal soils. Ecological, agro-morphological, and bromatological diversity evaluations were conducted to study its reintroduction potential. Seeds of seventeen ecotypes were collected in seventeen farms located in Northern Morocco in 2018. The cultivation was realised during the 2019 and 2020 growing seasons using a randomised complete block design with three replicates. Agro-morphological data were collected at the start of flowering, full flowering, and pod setting phenological stages. Yield component assessment and grain and straw bromatological characterisation were performed at maturity. The results indicated significant variations between ecotypes for almost all parameters and interesting results about yield (1 t ha-1) but lower protein content (22.9% of dry matter) compared to other ecotypes of the Mediterranean region. The estimated genetic parameters could emphasise the possibility of selecting highly productive and nutritive cultivars. However, interannual variations were also detected, making the selection of the ecotypes harder. No significant correlations were observed between agro-morphological and bromatological traits of grains and geographical distances. Multivariate analyses (principal component analysis and heatmap) clustered ecotypes into five groups, where the ecotypes included in the second cluster were the most interesting candidates for developing high-yielding and nutritive varieties. That is why this plant could be considered of interest, especially in these times of climate change.
... "Chickpea contains protein (22-28 %), fat (4.8-5.5 %), carbohydrates (40-65 %), ash (48 %), moisture (4.9-15.59), vital vitamins like vitamin A, vitaminB1, B2 and B3, vitaminc, vitamin E vitamin K Folate and Pantothemic acid" [2]. Additionally, "chickpeas contain a variety of vital minerals, including calcium, iron, molybdenum, potassium, manganese, copper, and zinc. ...
Effect of seed priming on seed quality attributes in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). The field experiment was carried out at the crop research centre of department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, ITM University, Gwalior rabi season 2021-2022.Field and Laboratory experiment (variety G2-315) with 10 treatments. Viz T1- Tulsi leaf extract @ 1 % (12hours). T2 - Tulsi leaf extract @ 3% (12hours). T3 Tulsi leaf extract @5% (12hours). T4 Neem seed extract 1% (12hours), TS- Neem seed extract @ 3% (12hours), T6- Neem seed extract @ 5% (12hours), 17- KNO3 @ 1% (12 hours). T8 - KNO3 @ 3% (12 hours). T9 - KNO3 @ 5% (12hours). T10- Control. In all treatment, the seeds of chickpea were soaked for 12 hours and dried for 2 hours except control (untreated seeds). It was found that all the priming treatments showed significance difference with the control while highest plant height, number of primary branches per plant germination percentage. Days to 50% flowering. Number of siliqua per plant. Number of seeds per siliqua, seed weight (gm), and seed quality parameters viz, Germination percentage (%), Root length (cm), Shoot length (cm), Seedling length (cm). Seedling fresh weight (gm). Seedling dry weight (gm), Vigour index-1, Vigour index -II. electrical conductivity were observed for seeds treated with T9-KNO3@ 5% followed by T3-Tulsi Leaf Extract @ 5%, while the lowest was observed in T10-Control. The study helps to study field and seed quality parameters with the help of seed priming treatments which are effective, economic, non-toxic and eco-friendly sources.
... Barley has probably originated from Asia and Ethiopia with centers of diversity i.e. north-east Africa and Mountainous regions of Abyssinia (occidental types) and south-east Asia, China, Japan, adjoining regions of Tibet (oriental types [16]. The barely plant has several cylindrical culms (tiller) with hallow inter node separated by solid nodes. ...
Barley is an important food and beverage crop in the highlands of Ethiopia. Despite many importance of barley and its many useful characteristics, there are several factors affecting its production. Low Soil fertility is one of the major constraints affecting its production. Integrated nutrient management, where both natural and man-made sources of plant nutrients are used, is the best approach to supply adequate and balanced nutrients and increase barley productivity in an efficient and environmentally benign manner, without sacrificing soil productivity of future generations. With this in view, integrated applications of organic and inorganic fertilizer sources on yield and yield components of barley were assessed in this review. By this maintaining soil fertility is one of the main factors affecting the sustainability of barley production. The advantages need to be integrated in order to make optimum use of organic and inorganic fertilizer achieve balanced nutrient management for barley yield. This review study showed that balanced fertilization application using both organic and inorganic fertilizers is important for maintenance of yield and yield components of barley. The basic concept underlying the combined applications of fertilizers is the adjustment of soil fertility and plant nutrient supply to an optimum level for sustaining desired barley productivity through optimization of the benefits from all possible sources of plant nutrients in an integrated manner. Therefore, increased attention should be being paid to developing an integrated soil fertility management that maintains or enhances soil productivity through balanced use of all sources of nutrients. So the objective of this review is to assess the effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers application on yield and yield components of barley.
... A large, dry pomegranate was found in the tomb of Djehuty, the butler of Queen Hatshepsut in E g y p t ; M e s o p o t a m i a n r e c o r d s w r i t t e n in cuneiform mention pomegranates from the mid-third millennium BC onwards [3]. Waterlogged pomegranate remains have been identified at the circa 14 th century BC Uluburun shipwreck off the coast of Turkey [4]. ...
... Agricultural Mechanization in Asia Chickpea belongs to fabaceae family and it is a self-pollinated diploid (2 n = 16). It is an antiquated cool season food vegetable and has been found in Middle Eastern archaeological locales dated 7500-6800 BC [40]. Its development is principally moved in semiarid conditions [31]. ...
The laboratory trial was conducted in the State Seed Testing Laboratory
during rabi season 2018, to normalize the best treatment of plant
development controller with preparing explicit to Chickpea (Pusa-362).
Initially, Relative humidity (90% RH), distinctive temperature (350
and
400 C), Days (2,4 days) are utilized for seed aging after that utilized
hormonal preparing viz; gibberellic acid (GA3) and salicylic acid (SA),
to improve germination and seedling characters. Two plant growth
regulators, GA3 and SA with control (untreated) were assessed by
screening 12 hrs hour and 100 ppm fixation. In this trial utilized various
conditions viz; T1-Temperature (350C), T2-Temperature (400C), H1 -
Humidity (90% RH), D1-Duration (2 Days), D2-Duration (2 Days), P1-
Gibberllic Acid, P2-Salicylic Acid, with various treatments viz; To -
control (untreated), T1 - H1T1D1, T2 - H1T1D2, T3 - H1T2D1, T4 - H1T2D2,
T5 - P1H1T1D1, T6 - P1H1T1D2, T7 - P1H1T2D1, T8 - P1H1T2D2, T9 -
P2H1T1D1, T10 - P2H1T1D2, T11 - P2H1T2D1, T12 - P2H1T2D2. It was
demonstrated that all the treatment indicated significant differences with
the control and the most elevated germination percent, seedling length,
seedling fresh weight, seedling dry weight, and Vigour index were estimated
for (GA3) T5 - P1H1T1D1. Pre-sowing treatment with PGRs effective on
aged seeds, its straight forwardness and hormones could be utilized as a
basic technique to identified with a helpless germination and seedling
foundation and aides in continuing farming and financially low expense
and monetary, non-poisonous, eco-friendly sources.
... Castanea sativa is known at the European level as the only spontaneous species of the Castanea genus [1] and presents a remarkable evolutionary history in relation to other European forest tree species [2]. Its probable center of origin is northeastern Asia Minor and the Caucasus region [3], although possible Pleistocene glacial refugia have also been reported for southeastern Europe [4]. The present distribution ranges from northwestern Africa (e.g., Morocco) to northwestern Europe (southern England, Belgium) and from southwestern Asia (Turkey) to eastern Europe (e.g., Romania), the Caucasus (Georgia, Armenia) and the Caspian Sea [5]. ...
This article provides useful information on the distribution of sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) and presents additional data on the ecology, chorology and phytocenology of the species in the Oltenia region, Romania, based on literary sources, herbaria and field observations. By providing accurate and detailed data, this study contributes significantly to the existing knowledge, as well as mapping efforts of the species at the European level. In the subspontaneous flora of the Oltenia region, the C. sativa species is found in sheltered resorts in the counties of Gorj (Glogova, Valea Perilor, Tismana, Pocruia, Polovragi, etc.) and Mehedinți (Comăneşti, Baia de Aramă, etc.), on mesobasic soils, balanced from a hydraulic point of view. The phytocenoses where this species grows are rich in southern elements (e.g., Cornus mas L., Cerasus avium (L.) Moench, Quercus dalechampii Ten., Tilia tomentosa Moench). They are included in the Castaneo-Quercetum Horvat 1938 association. In Romania, habitats that include areas occupied by sweet chestnut are classified within habitat R4141—Daco-Balkan forests of oak (Quercus petraea) and chestnut (C. sativa) with Genista tinctoria. This habitat has a very high biodiversity conservation value and ecological importance. According to the Natura 2000 directive, sweet chestnut forests are included in the habitat category 9260, which underlines the importance at the European level for biodiversity conservation.
... Самым распространенным видом пшеницы на всем Ближнем Востоке изначально была пшеница эммер (полба, культурная двузернянка) (Zohary, Hopf, 2000), так как она хорошо росла в теплом климате и была устойчива к грибковым болезням. Это высокоурожайная пшеница, с крупными зернами и относительно большим количеством глютена, что делает хлеб, приготовленный из ее муки, довольно легким по текстуре. ...
The collection of the N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR) harbors 3,633 accessions of durum wheat landraces from 49 countries. This is a unique heritage, currently neither cultivated in the places of its origin nor found in any collection over the world. This review explores the history of the collection of landraces, its structure, and diversity of the preserved genotypes. Descriptions of landraces from different countries and examples of their successful utilization in breeding practice are presented. Special attention is paid to the collection of Russian landraces. Today, the problem of utilizing obsolete local cultivars is relevant in the context of the shrinking diversity of modern cultivars and genetic erosion of the source material for breeding. Innovative methods based on the use of molecular markers demonstrate new trends in the study and utilization of landraces in different regions.
... It was one of the first cultivated grains, particularly in Eurasia as early as 10000 year ago. Zohary D, Hopf M (2000). Globally 70% of barley production is used as animal fodder, while 30% as a source of fermentable material for beer and certain distilled beverages and as a component of various foods. ...
A field experiment was conducted during rabi season of 2021-22 at Agricultural Research Farm, Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, R.B.S. College, Bichpuri, Agra, (U.P.). The investigation entitled Studies on genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance, correlation in Barley. The variables involves in this study was Twenty seven (27) varieties. Thus in all Twenty seven (27) Genotypes treatment combinations were compared in a Randomized Block Design with three replications. The results revealed that number of spikes per plant and spike lets per spike are highly heritable characters with genetic advance and have highly significant positive correlation with grain yield per plant hence ,therefore selection for these traits would be beneficial to improve grain yield in barley.
... sativa (DC.) Hegi] is considered one of the most important fruit crops worldwide for wine and table grape production [1,2]. Morphological and genetic studies revealed that the current grape cultivars are the outcome of prolonged selection that began during the domestication process of its wild relative Vitis vinifera L. subsp. ...
Citation: Ucchesu, M.; Depalmas, A.; Sarigu, M.; Gardiman, M.; Lallai, A.; Meggio, F.; Usai, A.; Bacchetta, G. Abstract: The grapevine was one of the earliest domesticated fruit crops and has been cultivated since ancient times. It is considered one of the most important fruit crops worldwide for wine and table grape production. The current grape varieties are the outcome of prolonged selection initiated during the domestication process of their wild relative. Recent genetic studies have shed light on the origins of the modern domestic grapevine in western Europe, suggesting that its origin stems from the introgression between eastern domestic grapes and western wild grapes. However, the origin of ancient grapevines remains largely unexplored. In this study, we conducted an extensive analysis of 2228 well-preserved waterlogged archaeological grape pips from two sites in Sardinia (Italy), dated to the Late Bronze Age (ca. 1300-1100 BC) and the Iron Age (4th and 3rd centuries BC). Using morphometrics and linear discriminant analyses, we compared the archaeological grape pips with modern reference collections to differentiate between wild and domestic grape types and to investigate similarities with 330 modern cultivars. Grape pips from the Late Bronze Age displayed a high percentage of similarity with domesticated grapevines, with a small percentage assigned to wild ones, while the majority of grape pips from the Iron Age were classified as domestic. Discriminant analyses revealed that both white and red grape varieties were cultivated during the Late Bronze and Iron Ages, suggesting a high level of diversification in grape cultivation. Furthermore, a high percentage of archaeological grape pips from both periods showed strong similarities with modern cultivars from the Caucasus and Balkans. This suggests that the great diversity of grapevines present in Sardinia could result from interbreeding between western Asian cultivars and local grapevines that began in the Late Bronze Age. Additionally, a substantial proportion of archaeological grape pips exhibited similar morphometric characteristics to two important Mediterranean grape cultivars: "Muscat à petits grains blancs" and "Garnacha".
... The soft wheat consumption and production occupy a privileged place in the world compared to other cereals; its annual production is about 600 million tons (Ricroch et al., 2011). Wheat is the most consumed with rice by humans, providing it with a significant calorific intake (Zohary and Hopf, 2000). Its importance goes beyond the traditional role considered as food (Ammar, 2015). ...
The DRC’s production is not enough to cover the country's needs and it has to import large quantities. Abnormal situation when it is known that the DRC, taking into account its resources in irrigation water and arable land, should be the granaries of cereal production for Africa. The problem lies, among other things, in the lack of infrastructure, agricultural inputs, and in particular high-yielding seeds. This work had the objective of evaluating three new wheat varieties in order to study their agronomic performance under the edapho-climatic conditions of Lwiro. To achieve this, a test was installed at the Center for Research in Natural Sciences, in the experimental field of the Agricultural Entomology Laboratory. It was carried out in the period from March to July of the year 2022. The sketch is a completely randomized design with three repetitions having a total of 12 treatments. The recovery rate is considered favorable because it exceeds 90%; all the varieties have a medium cycle since it oscillates around 120 to 150 days. About the growth and yield parameters, the results revealed differences between varieties under study. Except for the number of tillers for which the analysis of variance did not show any significant differences, for the height of the plants (the averages of which vary between 53-77 cm) and the number of leaves per plant (the averages vary between 12 and 25); the KIMA variety was better compared to MBALALIZI and LUBERO. For the number of grains per ear, the weight of 1,000 grains as well as the yield, the KIMA variety still proved to be the most adapted to the environment with productions of more than 3 T/ha (3.22 T/ha) of the homogeneous group A, followed by MBALALIZI (2.51 T/ha) and finally by LUBERO (2.30 T/ha) constituting the homogeneous group B. Thus, the KIMA variety would seem to be indicated for the promotion of wheat in the region.
... Field pea is one of the most widely cultivated species belonging to the Fabaceae family worldwide, holding significant commercial and economic importance. Alongside cereals, chickpeas (Cicer arietinum), lentils (Lens culinaris), and bitter vetch (Vicia ervilia), peas were one of the first domesticated plant species, cultivated as early as the Neolithic period in the Near East [87][88][89]. ...
Doubled haploid technology is, so far, the fastest route to induce a true homozygous state in plants. True homozygous plants are particularly important for breeders, as they can facilitate hybrid breeding and are useful in fixing traits in a breeding line. Fabaceae species are of great importance in food and feed production; however, they are far behind other families with respect to the development of effective haploidization protocols. Here, we present the most recent status of research on haploidization protocols in cool-season grain legume crops, including dry peas, chickpeas, faba beans, lentils, lupines, and grass peas. The first four species are primarily for human consumption; the latter are utilized as forage. All the mentioned species have been subject to haploidization trials; however, repeatable protocols, including the regeneration of confirmed haploid or doubled haploid plants, have not been elaborated. Research in field pea, chickpea, grass pea, and lupine is promising, with the reported regeneration of microspore-derived embryos in all four species. Repeatable plant regeneration has been reported only in field peas and chickpeas. The most recent achievements on haploidization through male and female gametophytes in faba bean are also presented. The key factors for the effective stimulation of haploid cell development in cool-season legumes are reviewed, providing a useful basis for future efforts toward haploidization in this group.
... culinary applications ranging from haute cuisine to onthe-go snacks. Three major cultivated pear species dominate global edible fruit production: P. communis L. (European pear) in Europe and North America, P. bretschneideri Rehder (Chinese white pear), and P. pyrifolia (Burm.f.) Nakai (Asian pear) in eastern Asia (Zohary & Hopf, 2000). Additionally, some other species are also utilized as rootstocks or prized as ornamental trees. ...
The lack of a robust phylogenetic backbone has posed significant challenges to proposing an infrageneric taxonomic classification of the pear genus, Pyrus , a widely distributed Eurasian lineage of Rosaceae. This issue has been exacerbated by limited informative loci and inaccessible taxon sampling. To address these limitations, we conducted extensive taxon sampling, encompassing 78 Pyrus ingroup individuals representing 32 species, along with 4 outgroup species. This comprehensive sampling strategy covers a wide range of morphological and geographical variations. To enable accurate phylogenomic inference, we assembled 801 single‐copy nuclear genes and 72 plastid coding sequences from deep genome skimming (DGS) data. Additionally, we employed a tree‐based method for nuclear orthology inference, which led to the generation of three orthologous datasets: one‐to‐one orthologs (1to1), monophyletic outgroups (MO), and rooted ingroups (RT). The results yielded from both nuclear and plastid analyses consistently support the monophyly of Pyrus , and two well‐supported clades, the Occidental and Oriental clades, were recovered in nine nuclear and three plastid trees. Integrating evidence from morphology and phylogenomics, we propose an updated infrageneric classification of Pyrus , which consists of two subgenera: P. subg. Pyrus and P. subg. Pashia stat. nov. This revised classification provides a more robust framework for understanding the evolutionary relationships within the pear genus.
... The Eurasian wild grapevine, V. sylvestris C.C. Gmel., was seen as the hypothetical dioecious parental of domesticated V. vinifera L., which is, usually, hermaphrodite (Rivera and Walker 1989;This et al. 2006;Zohary and Hopf 2000). V. sylvestris was found to be sister to all Asian species and to be the oldest living Eurasian species amongst those included in the DNA study by Zecca et al. (2012). ...
Characterizing plant genetic resources and understanding the domestication process are key challenges in horticulture. This study focuses on the common grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.), employing molecular, ampelographic, and morphometric techniques to explore its domestication syndrome. We propose a combined domestication index for grape seeds, integrating six commonly used indices. Logistic regression and randomForest machine learning methods were employed to assess the probability of seed domestication. Analysis involved 4029 seeds from 783 samples, spanning live plants (cultivated, wild, feral), archaeological samples, and fossils. Results indicate a distinct domestication syndrome in grapevine seeds, notably characterized by a long stalk (> 1 mm), with combined index values ranging from 0.83 to 1 and domestication probabilities of 0.75 to 1. This syndrome is prevalent in modern cultivars but absent in wild grapevines, aiding in the differentiation of archaeological materials. While not exclusive to Vitis vinifera, the domestication syndrome is characteristic of it, distinguishing it from wild Vitis sylvestris and suggesting isolated domestication events in a few American and Asian Vitis species. Fossil and archaeological materials exhibit low domestication values, hinting at the beginnings of domestication. However, dating reliability remains a challenge.
... Octadecanoic acid (6.6%), Hexadecenoic acid, Z-11- Faba bean (Vicia faba L.), a member of the Fabaceae family celebrated for its nitrogenfixing capabilities and protein-rich seeds, faces formidable challenges from diverse abiotic stresses [27,28]. Particularly vulnerable to soil salinization, faba bean cultivation grapples with compromised growth and diminished yields. ...
Salinity stress poses a significant threat to crop productivity worldwide, necessitating effective mitigation strategies. This study investigated the phytochemical composition and potential of grape seed extract (GSE) to mitigate salinity stress effects on faba bean plants. GC–MS analysis revealed several bioactive components in GSE, predominantly fatty acids. GSE was rich in essential nutrients and possessed a high antioxidant capacity. After 14 days of germination, GSE was applied as a foliar spray at different concentrations (0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 g/L) to mitigate the negative effects of salt stress (150 mM NaCl) on faba bean plants. Foliar application of 2–8 g/L GSE significantly enhanced growth parameters such as shoot length, root length, fresh weight, and dry weight of salt-stressed bean plants compared to the control. The Fv/Fm ratio, indicating photosynthetic activity, also improved with GSE treatment under salinity stress compared to the control. GSE effectively alleviated the oxidative stress induced by salinity, reducing malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide, praline, and glycine betaine levels. Total soluble proteins, amino acids, and sugars were enhanced in GSE-treated, salt-stressed plants. GSE treatment under salinity stress modulated the total antioxidant capacity, antioxidant responses, and enzyme activities such as peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, and polyphenol oxidase compared to salt-stressed plants. Gene expression analysis revealed GSE (6 g/L) upregulated photosynthesis (chlorophyll a/b-binding protein of LHCII type 1-like (Lhcb1) and ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase large chain-like (RbcL)) and carbohydrate metabolism (cell wall invertase I (CWINV1) genes) while downregulating stress response genes (ornithine aminotransferase (OAT) and ethylene-responsive transcription factor 1 (ERF1)) in salt-stressed bean plants. The study demonstrates GSE’s usefulness in mitigating salinity stress effects on bean plants by modulating growth, physiology, and gene expression patterns, highlighting its potential as a natural approach to enhance salt tolerance.
... ( Rodolfi and Ganino., 2018 ) . ( Zohary et al., 2012 ) . ( Khadivi et al., 2018;Podgornik etal., 2010 ) . ...
The southern parts of Khorasan-e-Razavi are an important habitat for wild figs that are
important in terms of food and breeding improvement. Also, commercial cultivation of figs is
common in this province. In the present study, leaf and fruit morphological evaluation was
done in domestic and wild figs of South Khorasan-e-Razavi. The plants were selected from fig
groves and gardens in Gonabad, Bejestan and Bardskan cities. Also, three samples of globally
known figs from Estehban, Fars province, were selected as index and the data of the present
study were compared with them. In examining the morphological characteristics, the
international descriptor of IPGRI was used as well as the national guidelines for tests of
differentiation, uniformity and stability in figs (Institute of Research, Registration and
Certification of Seeds and Seedlings of Iran). Measurements of leaf and fruit traits were made
in the middle of the ripening period. The results showed that there is a great diversity in the leaf
and fruit traits of the studied figs, and some of these traits are considered important from the
edible aspect as well as fig breeding programs. The comparison of average data showed that in
the traits of internode length, internode number, terminal bud length, terminal bud width,
number of leaves in one-year branch, central lobe length, leaf width, petiole length and petiole
thickness, the lowest value was found in the wild figs and the highest value was recorded in
cultivated ones. In determining the principal components, three factors (including seven traits
in total) explained more than 93% of the variation observed in these figs. In cluster analysis,
the studied accesions were placed in two separate groups. The local figs of clusters No. 4, 5, 6,
22, 23, 50 and 53 and the wild figs of clusters No. 10, 12, 51 and 55 have superior traits and
are introduced as potential for commercial planting for further investigation.
... In our days, this emblematic species defines the Mediterranean climate type/zone [8]. According to Zohary and Hopf [9], in Mediterranean countries, the olive tree was one of the first fruit-bearing plants to be domesticated, perhaps as early as the 5th millennium BC, as evidenced by the various constructions in Mediterranean countries such as Jordan, Greece [10]. ...
The monumental olive groves of the Ionian Islands constitute invaluable ecosystems with rich natural and cultural heritage, intertwined perennially with the region’s history. This research highlights the potential to contribute to the sustainable development and tourism of the Ionian Islands, by showcasing unique biodiversity and cultural traditions. Moreover, significant importance has the involvement of local communities in the promotion of sustainable development. The research integrates scientific research and practical applications, and proposes new prospects through the creation of innovative and sustainable initiatives, with immediate feedback to local communities. The proposals, challenges and applications are following the institutional framework and international practices for the preservation of natural and cultural wealth, particularly in NATURA 2000 areas. Design and digital mapping of ecotourism network trails have been conducted within the monumental olive groves of the Ionian Islands. These trails highlight the unique natural monuments that continue to produce olive oil of valuable nutrition. The visit to these natural open sculpture “eco-museums” offer the opportunity to interpret the unique dynamic of nature which connects the history, traditions, customs, and local communities and contributes to a sustainable rural tourism model. The interconnection of the trails of different islands in one holistic approach offers the possibility to enhance a common narrative which could be independent for each island or multiparametric for different islands. Island hopping promotes and interprets different characteristics of each island, in a common base, the monumental olive groves.
... While humans have undoubtedly been interacting with their environment since before the Holocene, the magnitude and complexity of this interaction following the adoption of agricultural economies increased immensely. During this process, people shifted their subsistence system from hunting-gathering to cereal cultivation and animal husbandry, and they increasingly gained the ability to alter and adapt their ecological surroundings (Bellwood, 2005;Zeder, 2008;Zohary et al., 2012). Around 5000 BP, agricultural populations across Europe and Asia first came into contact via diffusion of crops, contributing to food globalization in prehistory (Sherratt, 2006;Jones et al., 2011;Dong et al., 2017Dong et al., , 2022bBoivin et al., 2016;Zhou et al., 2020). ...
Due largely to demographic growth, agricultural populations during the Holocene became increasingly more impactful ecosystem engineers. Multidisciplinary research has revealed a deep history of human–environmental dynamics; however, these pre-modern anthropogenic ecosystem transformations and cultural adaptions are still poorly understood. Here, we synthesis anthracological data to explore the complex array of human–environmental interactions in the regions of the prehistoric Silk Road. Our results suggest that these ancient humans were not passively impacted by environmental change; rather, they culturally adapted to, and in turn altered, arid ecosystems. Underpinned by the establishment of complex agricultural systems on the western Loess Plateau, people may have started to manage chestnut trees, likely through conservation of economically significant species, as early as 4600 BP. Since ca. 3500 BP, with the appearance of high-yielding wheat and barley farming in Xinjiang and the Hexi Corridor, people appear to have been cultivating Prunus and Morus trees. We also argue that people were transporting preferred coniferous woods over long distances to meet the need for fuel and timber. After 2500 BP, people in our study area were making conscious selections between wood types for craft production and were also clearly cultivating a wide range of long-generation perennials, showing a remarkable traditional knowledge tied into the arid environment. At the same time, the data suggest that there was significant deforestation throughout the chronology of occupation, including a rapid decline of slow-growing spruce forests and riparian woodlands across northwestern China. The wood charcoal dataset is publicly available at 10.5281/zenodo.8158277 (Shen et al., 2023).
... The grapevine is one of the most economically important and widespread fruit crops in the world, with an annual production of about 75 million tons, half of which is used for wine production, one-third is consumed fresh, and the rest is dried and processed into grapevine juice or must [7]. In Tunisia, viticulture is very old, and the first historical evidence of viticulture dates back to 6000 BC [8]. Today, viticulture covers 9300 hectares and produces 31,000 tons of grapes from more than 100 varieties with great genetic diversity [9,10]. ...
Tunisia has a long tradition of viticulture, and the grapevine is used for a variety of traditional
foods. The country has traditional plant-based dishes, which may have different compositions
and names depending on the region of origin. Unfortunately, over the years, traditional preparations
are no longer as popular as they used to be, due to both changing lifestyles and the introduction
of new crops and foods. For example, the use of grapevine in traditional dishes has declined as
traditions have been lost and habits have changed in favor of new, ready-to-eat foods. The close link
between grapevine, culture and territory requires an appropriate evaluation and characterization of
traditional foods in order to enhance and extend their use, ensure their sustainability and preserve the
varieties used to produce them. This review analyzes the use of local grapevine varieties in different
traditional dishes as a means to preserve an invaluable natural and cultural resource and heritage.
... The grapevine is one of the most economically important and widespread fruit crops in the world, with an annual production of about 75 million tons, half of which is used for wine production, one-third is consumed fresh, and the rest is dried and processed into grapevine juice or must [7]. In Tunisia, viticulture is very old, and the first historical evidence of viticulture dates back to 6000 BC [8]. Today, viticulture covers 9300 hectares and produces 31,000 tons of grapes from more than 100 varieties with great genetic diversity [9,10]. ...
Tunisia has a long tradition of viticulture, and the grapevine is used for a variety of traditional foods. The country has traditional plant-based dishes, which may have different compositions and names depending on the region of origin. Unfortunately, over the years, traditional preparations are no longer as popular as they used to be, due to both changing lifestyles and the introduction of new crops and foods. For example, the use of grapevine in traditional dishes has declined as traditions have been lost and habits have changed in favor of new, ready-to-eat foods. The close link between grapevine, culture and territory requires an appropriate evaluation and characterization of traditional foods in order to enhance and extend their use, ensure their sustainability and preserve the varieties used to produce them. This review analyzes the use of local grapevine varieties in different traditional dishes as a means to preserve an invaluable natural and cultural resource and heritage.
... Broomtail (Panicum miliaceum) and foxtail (Setaria italica) millets are hardy, drought-tolerant cereals that grow well in poor soils, and evidence of their consumption in Europe is found since the Bronze Age (Zohary and Hopf 2000). Occasional grains of millet have been found very rarely in British contexts associated with imported foods from Early Roman military sites (Van der Veen et al 2008) and, more recently, within a Late Bronze Age pit feature at Old Catton, Norwich (Fosberry 2021). ...
... Regional genotypic clustering was observed, a phenomenon not present among isolates from the other countries in this study, with Central Anatolian isolates grouping separately from Southeastern Anatolian and the Edirne isolate which are more closely related to the globally distributed populations. This structuring may reflect host selection on the diverse barley genotypes found in Turkey within different environmental niches, as Turkey lies along the northern extent of the Fertile Crescent (Breasted 1914), which is believed to be the first region where barley was domesticated (Zohary and Hopf 2000) and a major centre of diversity (Dai et al. 2012;Orabi et al. 2007). There are significant climatic differences and changes in elevation between Turkish regions, with Southeastern Anatolia having some of the hottest summers, compared to the coolest found in the western Marmara (Sensoy 2004). ...
Spot form net blotch, caused by Pyrenophora teres f. maculata, is a significant necrotrophic disease of barley that spread worldwide in the twentieth century. Genetic relationships were analyzed to determine the diversity, survival, and dispersal of a diverse collection of 346 isolates from Australia, Southern Africa, North America, Asia Minor, and Europe. The results, based on genome-wide DArTseq data, indicated that isolates from Turkey were the most differentiated with regional sub-structuring, together with individuals closely related to geographically distant genotypes. Elsewhere, population subdivision related to country of origin was evident, although low levels of admixturing was found that may represent rare genotypes or migration from unsampled populations. Canadian isolates were the next most diverged, and Australian and South African the most closely related. With the exception of Turkish isolates, multiple independent Cyp51A mutation events (which confer insensitivity to demethylation inhibitor fungicides) between countries and within regions was evident, with strong selection for a transposable element insertion at the 3' end of the promoter and counterselection elsewhere. Individuals from Western Australia shared genomic regions and Cyp51A haplotypes with South African isolates, suggesting a recent common origin.
[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license .
... For many cereals, domestication corresponds with an increase in the size of the grain or caryopsis (Zohary & Hopf 2000;Fuller et al. 2014;Stevens et al. 2021). Grain size is therefore an essential measure-alongside the seed dispersal mechanism-of the domestication syndrome. ...
Broomcorn millet and foxtail millet were first cultivated in Neolithic China then the process spread west across Asia during the Bronze Age. But the distinctive ceramic, and later bronze, vessels utilised in East Asian cuisines for boiling and steaming grains did not move west alongside these crops. Here, the authors use measurements of 3876 charred millet grains to evaluate regional variations and implications for food preparation. In contrast to wheat grains, which became smaller as their cultivation moved east, millet grains became larger as they spread from northern China into Inner Asia and Tibet. This indicates the decoupling of millets from associated cooking techniques as they reached geographical and cultural areas.
... Date Palm (phoenix dacttylifera) is one of the oldest trees from which man has derived benefit and it has been cultivated in North Africa and the Middle East for at least 5000 years (Zohary and Hopf, 2000;Jaradat, 2011;Chao and Krueger, 2007). It was certainly domesticated by 3000 B.C. in Mesopotamia, and may even have been cultivated as early as 5000 B.C. (Mahmoudi et al., 2008). ...
A study to evaluate the nutritional composition of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Fruits (Deglet and Al-nakheel) as influenced by packaging materials was conducted in the Biochemistry Laboratory of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto. The Date Palm Fruits were randomly collected from a standard vendor at Sokoto Central Market in Sokoto, Nigeria which were packaged in paper carton and cotton sacks. The laboratory analysis was conducted using Standard Analytical Methods. The results of the study revealed packaging materials could influence the nutritional composition of the Deglet date fruits. Significant differences were observed, especially in date fruits packaged using carton in all the measured parameters except for Ash content that gave statistically similar results in both carton and cotton sacks. The study further indicated that, Al-nakheel packaged using carton had significant effect in all the measured parameters except for crude protein that gave similar values in both carton and cotton sack. This study provides some basic results that could be helpful in future development of short-and long-term preservation methods for better handling and industrialization of date fruits. Further research on the influence of packaging materials on date fruits nutritional quality is highly recommended.
... Date Palm (phoenix dacttylifera) is one of the oldest trees from which man has derived benefit and it has been cultivated in North Africa and the Middle East for at least 5000 years (Zohary and Hopf, 2000;Jaradat, 2011;Chao and Krueger, 2007). It was certainly domesticated by 3000 B.C. in Mesopotamia, and may even have been cultivated as early as 5000 B.C. (Mahmoudi et al., 2008). ...
A study to evaluate the nutritional composition of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Fruits (Deglet and Al-nakheel) as influenced by packaging materials was conducted in the Biochemistry Laboratory of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto. The Date Palm Fruits were randomly collected from a standard vendor at Sokoto Central Market in Sokoto, Nigeria which were packaged in paper carton and cotton sacks. The laboratory analysis was conducted using Standard Analytical Methods. The results of the study revealed packaging materials could influence the nutritional composition of the Deglet date fruits. Significant differences were observed, especially in date fruits packaged using carton in all the measured parameters except for Ash content that gave statistically similar results in both carton and cotton sacks. The study further indicated that, Al-nakheel packaged using carton had significant effect in all the measured parameters except for crude protein that gave similar values in both carton and cotton sack. This study provides some basic results that could be helpful in future development of short-and long-term preservation methods for better handling and industrialization of date fruits. Further research on the influence of packaging materials on date fruits nutritional quality is highly recommended.
... It is primarily cultivated for its tender, green seeds, which are highly valued as a food source. The garden pea (Pisum sativum), believed to have originated in the mediterranean region and first domesticated from its wild progenitor, Pisum fulvum, likely saw early cultivation in ancient civilizations such as those of Mesopotamia, Egypt and Greece, facilitated by trade routes and exploration, wherein Phoenician traders notably played a role in introducing peas to new territories Zohary and Hopf [1]. Pea, being a leguminous crop, plays a vital role in biological nitrogen fixation and contributes to soil fertility through introduction of a substantial amount of organic matter. ...
To study the effect of different seed coating treatments and foliar application of micronutrients on quality seed production in pea, analysis of harvested seed was done at laboratory of the Department of Seed Science and Technology, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP). Seeds from field experiment were harvested and were evaluated in the laboratory conditions based on the different parameters. In field experiment, there were seven different treatments comprising, seed coating with Rhizobium, Phosphate solubilizing bacteria, iron, zinc, carbendazim along with control and foliar application of micronutrients. From the investigation, it was observed that seed coating with Rhizobium @ 30 g + PSB @ 30 ml kg-1 seed and two foliar sprays of ZnSO4 @ 0.3 % + FeSO4 @ 0.3 % at 50 per cent flowering and 15 days later, significantly improved the germination (96.00 %), seedling length (19.29 cm), seedling dry weight (34.80 mg), SVI-I (1851.62), SVI-II (3341.38), germination in accelerated ageing test and in cold test (77.75 % and 80 %, respectively) and resulted in the lowest EC (16.75 μS cm-1) of harvested seeds. Hence, it was concluded that seed coating with Rhizobium @ 30 g + PSB @ 30 ml kg-1 seed and two foliar sprays of ZnSO4 @ 0.3 % + FeSO4 @ 0.3 % performed best among all the treatments tested for quality seed production and it could be recommended for getting quality seeds in garden pea.
Radish, a member of the Brassicaceae family, is a widely cultivated edible root vegetable. Despite its popularity, radish cultivation faces significant challenges due to various pests and diseases, majorly Alternaria leaf blight (ALB) caused by Alternaria brassicicola. To overcome this challenge, an evaluation of eight fungicides consisting of three contact (Chlorothalonil, Propineb, Copper oxychloride), four systemic (Azoxystrobin, Hexaconazole,
Propiconazole, Tebuconazole) and a combination (Metalaxyl-M + Mancozeb), was carried out against ALB under in-vitro and field conditions. The efficacy of eight fungicides at varying concentrations (100, 250, 500 and 750 ppm) in inhibiting mycelial growth and conidial germination of A. brassicicola was evaluated. The results showed Tebuconazole to be the most effective fungicide in inhibiting both mycelial growth (100%) and conidial
germination (90.70%) at the highest concentration, followed by Propiconazole, Azoxystrobin and Hexaconazole with EC90 of 89.9, 98.8, 105.6, and 101.2 μg mL− 1, respectively. Fungicides such as Tebuconazole, Propiconazole and Azoxystrobin had higher conidial germination inhibition, with lower EC50 of 177.2, 198.2 and 200.7 μg mL− 1, respectively. To confirm these findings, field trials were conducted over two growing seasons. The foliar
spraying of Tebuconazole at 1 ml/L significantly outperformed other treatments, resulting in the lowest PDI (7.67%) and highest radish root yield (13.62 tons/ha). Propiconazole and Azoxystrobin treatments also showed promising results, while untreated controls exhibited the lowest yields of 8.83 tons/ha. Based on the study and information generated, Tebuconazole at 1 ml/L could be recommended and incorporated as a preventive or curative measure in radish ALB management programs.
Genetic variability is a prerequisite for any plant breeding program. Using diverse plum resources to broaden the genetic base worldwide and improving local cultivars for the development of the plum industry are important objectives for breeders. In this study, the molecular, morphological, and pomological characteristics of Prunus domestica L., naturally growing in the East Mediterranean region of Türkiye, were investigated. To identify phenotypic variation within this species, 44 variables were recorded over two years (2023 and 2024) for 100 accessions. The highest coefficient of variation was observed for the presence of thorn at 194.93%. Fruit weight ranged from 5.56 (G18) to 29.79 g (G30), fruit width from 19.79 (G8) to 36.80 mm (G44), fruit length from 19.01 (G30) to 37.56 mm (G18), leaf length from 28.39 (G79) to 62.90 mm (G39), and leaf width from 11.56 (G87) to 40.84 mm (G17). Principal component analysis revealed that the first 20 principal components explained 77.04% of the total variation. The dendrogram created using Ward’s method and Euclidean distance divided the accessions into two groups. Group B exhibited high variation in terms of morphology and pomology, with 99 accessions. Twenty accessions (G53, G26, G2, G90, G44, G78, G89, G55, G17, G52, G28, G11, G14, G85, G66, G38, G21, G98, G67, and G32) were identified for their superior fruit quality and yield characteristics. To assess the molecular genetic diversity of the plants, eight different inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) primers were utilized, resulting in a total of 104 scorable bands. Among the bands obtained, 98 were found to be polymorphic. A total of 98 bands were polymorphic, and the polymorphism rate was 94.38%. As a result of the molecular analysis, the similarity index in the dendrogram of the cluster analysis using the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) ranged from 0.55 to 1.00. G65 and G79 accessions were determined to be genetically closest with a similarity index of 1. The results of this investigation underscore the importance of preserving this invaluable genetic resource both in its natural habitats in the Eastern Mediterranean Region of Türkiye and ex-situ in germplasm collections. These accessions can be used in breeding programs.
Due to its nutritional value and health benefits, the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is an essential dietary food crop throughout Middle Eastern and African countries. Consumers are concerned about the possible microbial contamination of dates, especially since most dates arriving in local markets are unprocessed. The absence of processing increases the possibility of microbial contamination, which raises the probability of microbial contamination. This study aims to analyze and evaluate the variability of fungal and bacterial microbiota identified in the most popular date palm fruits in Saudi Arabia. The study assessed ten date variety fruits from the most popular date palm varieties for consumption in Saudi Arabia and analyzed the microbial count. Morphological and molecular characterization and comparison of nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences identified 78 fungi, including 36 distinct species across 15 fungal genera. Alternaria, Fusarium, Curvilaria, Aspergillus, and Penicillium were the most frequent genera among the ten fruit cultivars studied, according to ITS-rDNA sequence analysis. Furthermore, 36 bacterial isolates were obtained from ten date varieties studied, each with a unique colony morphology. These isolates were identified based on sequence alignment and comparison of their 16S rDNA internal spacer regions to those available in public databases. The results showed that the bacterial isolates included 15 species from five bacterial genera. The results suggested that Bacillus, Stenotrophomonas, and Brucella were the prevailing genera among the ten tested fruit varieties. Some bacterial genera, such as Brucella, Achromobacter, and Stenotrophomonas, are well-known potential human pathogens. Chaetomium globosum was also recognized as air pollution causing adverse health effects such as allergies and as the causal agent of human fungal infections among the tested date varieties; the Rashodiah type exhibited the highest fungal contamination, whereas the Sagai variety displayed the lowest fungal contamination. Conversely, the Sukkari, Barhi, and Mejdool varieties were the most contaminated with bacteria among the ten tested varieties, while the Khalas variety showed the least bacterial contamination. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study provides the initial comprehensive account of the molecular and morphological identification of all fungal and bacterial genera associated with date palm (P. dactylifera) fruits.
The cultivation of the olive tree is of great economic importance worldwide. For the 2022-2023 harvest, were produced around 3,010,000 Mg of olive oil and 2,955,500 Mg of table olives of selected varieties, managing to establish itself in approximately 56 countries with different environments. In most of the cultivated areas only monovarietals were used, but mixtures of varieties have been recommended, which act as pollinators, avoiding reproduction problems. Furthermore, global warming also affects production efficiency and the quality of derived products. The olive grove underwent important changes due to genetic improvement. However, despite modern molecular tools, most of the work continues to be based on agronomic classical methods such as crossing and selection in progeny, delaying the development of new varieties. Models with high resolution climate projections are being used, allowing predicting the future evolution of the olive tree. Unfortunately, Brazil produces only 0.2% of its internal consumption and therefore has become the world's second largest importer after the United States to cover the growing demand. Based on this information, this review aims to discuss the adjustments in olive growing, which has been gaining more and more areas dedicated to its cultivation in Brazil.
Medicinal plants seem to be viable alternatives with low cost and easy availability to employ in treating patients with illnesses over the most used pharmaceutical drugs due to their indiscriminate and immoderate use and their price, side effects, and interactions. Many effective anticancer medications have been discovered by modern scientific studies on plants those utilized traditionally in folk medicine. Modern science has now uncovered the secret to why black seed is such a remarkable plant for curing diseases. Starting in the 1950s or thereabouts, researchers have begun establishing the miraculous seed’s true medical value. Many subsequent investigations have shown that Nigella sativa seed and its oil have been used for over 2000 years as a traditional medicine to treat and prevent illness. The major quinone component of the seed, thymoquinone, is as well known for its activities against various disease problems, especially cancer, and is active on numerous body parts (such as the brain, kidney, liver, heart, intestine, and skeletal muscles) as other crucial drugs currently available. In this chapter, we will discuss the pharmacotherapy and how N. sativa may be used in different disease conditions, why it is so important, and how the active substances in this seed can have a positive impact toward their antioxidant and anticancer properties with mechanisms.
Flax is a versatile crop grown for its fiber and seed oil. Despite extensive conservation efforts in Ethiopia, the genetic potential of flax accessions conserved in the gene bank remains largely underexplored for fiber and seed yield. Here, we aimed to assess the genetic variability and association of morpho-agronomic traits and identify potential accessions for fiber and seed yield among 150 flax accessions. The study was conducted at Holeta Agricultural Research Center during 2022/23 growing season using an augmented design. Data were collected on flowering and maturity dates, plant and technical height, basal and secondary branch, boll and seed numbers, 1000-seed weight, and yield. Results revealed significant variation both between blocks and within treatments, with flowering time, maturity, plant height, boll number, seed weight, and yield contributing for the highest variability (58.7%). Cluster analysis revealed nine distinct genetic groups, each exhibiting specific trait patterns. Seed yield had strong associations with maturity, plant height, and boll number. High broad-sense heritability for days to flowering, plant height, and yield traits suggests selection could be effective based on phenotypic expressions. The study highlights the potential of Ethiopian flax genetic diversity for enhancing fiber and seed yield, suggesting effective selection based on key traits.
The genetic diversity of fig (Ficus carica L.) germplasm in Azerbaijan was assessed using pomological traits and inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. All 90 accessions exhibited significant variation in fruit-related traits. The studied fig accessions displayed a full spectrum of fruit skin ground colors, from yellow to black, with yellow–green (32.2%) and yellow (26.6%) being the most prevalent colors. The majority of the fruits were categorized as globose (73%). Fruit weight among the fig accessions varied from 18.8 g (‘Nikitskiy 4067’) to 83 g (‘Konservniy’), with an average of 44 g. Azerbaijani figs demonstrated similar weight ranges, with 13 local accessions exceeding 50 g, including ‘Iri Absheron’, ‘Agh Enjir’, and ‘Vuqarli’. Two-way cluster analysis based on these traits identified fruit weight and dimensions as the primary grouping factors. Preliminary ISSR analysis using eight primers revealed polymorphism levels ranging from 40 to 100%, with an average of 63.5%. The mean genetic diversity among the 90 fig genotypes was calculated to be 0.65. Local Azerbaijani accessions exhibited comparable diversity to those from Ukraine and lower diversity than those from the United States. The Jaccard genetic distance index among the accessions was low. Both Azerbaijani and introduced accessions in the neighbor-joining (NJ) tree showed a random distribution that was independent of origin, which was further confirmed by principal coordinate analysis (PCoA). These results provide a valuable baseline for future breeding programs and can aid in the identification and conservation of these genetic resources.
Urban foraging research has been growing in the past two decades. Likewise, trends in social practice are moving towards connecting with nature through activities that include urban foraging. While the global urban population increases, it brings into focus on food security issues and practices such as foraging are seen as one possible mitigation strategy to provide local, accessible food. In this chapter, we highlight the growing phenomenon of urban foraging globally and provide an overview of Canada’s current status and practices. Firstly, using grey literature, we unpack and synthesize existing urban foraging practices, and the status of legislative frameworks and by-laws that restrict the use of urban foraging across 16 Canadian municipalities (larger than 100,000 population). Then, we use a bibliometric analysis to review and synthesize the scholarly “urban foraging” literature to identify themes and trends in publication. The latter part of the chapter dives into a case study highlighting the historical importance and current status of urban fruit trees in the City of Toronto. Finally, we conclude the chapter by comparing urban foraging practices between the global north and south. We found Canadian urban foraging research is still in its early stages, while practices grow, conservation policies restrict and limit the activity on public lands.
Domestication syndrome, selection pressure, and modern plant breeding programs have reduced the genetic diversity of the wheat germplasm. For the genetic gains of breeding programs to be sustainable, plant breeders require a diverse gene pool to select genes for resistance to biotic stress factors, tolerance to abiotic stress factors, and improved quality and yield components. Thus, old landraces, subspecies and wild ancestors are rich sources of genetic diversity that have not yet been fully exploited, and it is possible to utilize this diversity. Compared with durum wheat, tetraploid wheat subspecies have retained much greater genetic diversity despite genetic drift and various environmental influences, and the identification and utilization of this diversity can make a greater contribution to the genetic enrichment of wheat. In addition, using the pre-breeding method, the valuable left-behind alleles in the wheat gene pool can be re-introduced through hybridization and introgressive gene flow to create a sustainable opportunity for the genetic gain of wheat. This review provides some insights about the potential of tetraploid wheats in plant breeding and the genetic gains made by them in plant breeding across past decades, and gathers the known functional information on genes/QTLs, metabolites, traits and their direct involvement in wheat resistance/tolerance to biotic/abiotic stresses.
A figueira, originária da região da Ásia Menor e da Síria, foi cultivada e selecionada pela primeira vez pelos árabes e judeus, em uma região situada ao sudoeste da Ásia. É uma das mais antigas plantas cultivadas no mundo, sendo considerada pelos povos antigos como símbolo de honra e fertilidade. A cultura da figueira é interessante para o Brasil, que vem se destacando como um grande fornecedor de figos para o mundo, com 20% a 30% do volume total produzido no país destinado para a exportação. Neste livro, organizado por Sarita Leonel e Aloísio Costa Sampaio, diversas abordagens sobre esse fruto, tanto em seu aspecto econômico como biológico e até mesmo cultural, são feitas por especialistas, que procuram fazer uma revisão bibliográfica sobre a figueira, demonstrando sua importância ao longo da história da humanidade, com referências registradas em escritos religiosos, políticos, artísticos, medicinais e gastronômicos.
Aegilops species are valuable sources of genetic diversity that have played a vital role in the genetic development throughout wheat’s evolution. However, a huge portion of their biodiversity in Iran as a centre of wheat origin and diversity remains unknown, which may be lost due to climate change. Hence, a diverse collection of 300 Aegilops accessions was assembled from different geographical regions of Iran and their morphological variation was evaluated with respect to ecological conditions to reveal their potential use in wheat breeding programs. The accessions were categorized in eight different species (Ae. tauschii, Ae. umbellulata, Ae. cylindrica, Ae. biuncialis, Ae. neglecta, Ae. triuncialis, Ae. crassa, and Ae. kotschyi). The Zagros and Alborz Mountain ranges were the two main habitats of Aegilops accessions in Iran, but they were absent in the regions with warm winters. Species variability in Zagros was higher than that of Alborz. Shannon–Weaver Diversity Index for different traits showed tremendous diversity among the accessions. The D-genome bearing species were more diverse than the U-genome ones. The variations in morphological characters significantly were related to ecological factors of sampling points. Aegilops accessions were compatible with a wide range of ecological conditions, which indicates their great potential as valuable sources for resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Pre-breeding on this germplasm especially accessions bearing D-genome could be initiated for introgression of new alleles into common wheat to mitigate environmental limitations imposed by climate change.
Wheat is a very important cereal plant that has been serving the nutrition of human beings for about 10,000 years and has become a strategic product of countries today. Since the day it was cultivated, it has been under the influence of many different biotic and abiotic stress factors in the regions where it grows. Harmful insects are the leading biotic stress factors. Insects appear in different phenological periods of the wheat plant in different parts of the world and sometimes cause economic damage by feeding on the root, stem, leaf, spike, flower, and grain of the plant. Throughout the world, there are many harmful insect species belonging to different orders and families that feed on the wheat plant. Today, it is known that the global potential crop loss due to harmful insects in wheat is 7.9% on average. This yield loss varies according to countries, regions, years, climatic conditions, and wheat genotypes. Preventing the damage and product losses caused by insects in wheat is an important plant protection problem of the countries. The solution to this problem passes in recognizing the harmful insects in question and successfully combating them.
In this chapter, a brief description of the life cycle, ecology, geographical distribution damages in plants, economic importance, host plants, natural enemies, and management of harmful insects that cause economic loss in wheat are given.
The majority of existing literature on spices is found in the areas of gastronomy, botany, and history. This study investigates spices on a linguistic level and aims to be a comprehensive linguistic account on the items of the spice trade. Some of these dried plant matter were highly desired at certain points in history, due to their attractive aroma and medicinal value, thus they were ideal products of trade early on. Cultural contact and exchange, and the introduction of new cultural items begets situations of language contact and linguistic acculturation, and so in the case of spices, we not only have a set of items that traveled around the world, but also a set of names. This domain is very rich in loanwords and Wanderwörter, but also supplies us with a myriad of cases where spice names are conventional innovations. To make it more interesting, the thesis compares English, Arabic, and Chinese, languages that represent major powers in the spice trade at different times. After selecting a set of 24 spices, I have collected data on their names and related etymologies, and introduced 6 of them in detail regarding their identity, botany, history, spread, and names. The thesis has two main parts. Part one represents the geographic and linguistic diffusion of spices and their names. Basically, I track and explain word origins and subsequent spread by tracing the materials and the propagation of the accompanying Wanderwort. This part relies on philological literature, and tools from historical linguistics, such as etymological research, as well as geospatial visualizations. Part two examines the language of spices, referring to the terminology and nomenclature related to the spice domain from linguistic-cognitive perspectives. Focusing on the structure and components of 360 collected spice names, it is a systematic investigation on how humans name spices: what are the mechanism and motivations behind the naming principles, and how this possibly relates to the salient sensory features of the products (strong gustatory, olfactory, or visual stimuli). Conclusions are made on the connections between the physical properties of the spices, their patterns of diffusion, and the prototypical spices and their effect of naming principles. Besides being a novel and original approach to research and categorize spices from a linguistic point of view, this study offers new insights to our knowledge about wandering loanwords, and the effect of the highly sensory nature of spices in the naming process when adopted by a community. It is also intended to be a basis for a useful working database for future research, and aims to dispel some of the chaos and confusion surrounding spice names.
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