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Yield Traits and Their Genetic Pathway in Crop

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Plant Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2022) | Viewed by 20554

Special Issue Editors

Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
Interests: rice; yield traits; panicle development; grain development; plant type
Department of Crop and Forest Sciences, University of Lleida, AGROTECNIO Center, Av. Rovira Roure 191, 25198 Lleida, Spain
Interests: crop physiology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Chair of Grain Chemistry & Quality and Director of Australia-China Joint Centre for Wheat Improvement, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia
Interests: wheat genetics; plant biology; crop proteomics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Generally, all gene-related yield components, including the number of panicles, the grains per panicle and grain weight, involve the genetic pathway of plant height, the number of tillers, and the size of panicle and grain. Notably, the phytohormones that participated in these genetic pathways, the “green revolution”, occurred in the middle of the last century, initiated from the utilization of the gibberellin biosynthesis pathway gene sd1 in rice and the gibberellin signal transduction pathway gene rht1 in wheat. Cytokinin-related genes have been found to influence the final grain number per panicle, and most of the grain-size-determining genes are associated with the Brassinolide signal transduction pathway. Other genetic pathways, such as the well-known G protein and three-tier MAPK module, also play a crucial role in the establishment of yield traits. With the progress in gene discovery, genes previously unknown to which genetic network, especially in relation to nitrogen-use efficiency, can be cloned successively. The study to establish previously unidentified genetic pathways and any kind of cross-talks with well-known genetic pathways is essential in clarifying gene function and in exploring possible application prospects. All of the new knowledge regarding the gene cloning of yield traits and the study of their genetic pathways would broaden our horizons in relation to the molecular mechanisms of yield trait formation.

Hence, this issue welcomes submissions of original research papers, reviews, including (but not limited to) research covering:

  • Genetic research of traits related to yield, biotic and abiotic stress resistance;
  • Cloning and function verification of important genes;
  • Development and application of resources for enhancing crop production;
  • Genomic-assisted breeding for yield improvement;
  • Gene editing to enhance crop production and crop protection.

Prof. Dr. Zhijun Cheng
Dr. Gustavo A. Slafer
Prof. Dr. Wujun Ma
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • yield Traits
  • gene editing
  • trait improvement

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 2610 KiB  
Article
Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of Two Sweet Sorghum Genotypes with Different Salt Tolerance Abilities to Reveal the Mechanism of Salt Tolerance
by Chengxuan Chen, Xiaoling Shang, Meiyu Sun, Sanyuan Tang, Aimal Khan, Dan Zhang, Hongdong Yan, Yanxi Jiang, Feifei Yu, Yaorong Wu and Qi Xie
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(4), 2272; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms23042272 - 18 Feb 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2293
Abstract
Sweet sorghum is a C4 crop that can be grown for silage forage, fiber, syrup and fuel production. It is generally considered a salt-tolerant plant. However, the salt tolerance ability varies among genotypes, and the mechanism is not well known. To further uncover [...] Read more.
Sweet sorghum is a C4 crop that can be grown for silage forage, fiber, syrup and fuel production. It is generally considered a salt-tolerant plant. However, the salt tolerance ability varies among genotypes, and the mechanism is not well known. To further uncover the salt tolerance mechanism, we performed comparative transcriptome analysis with RNA samples in two sweet sorghum genotypes showing different salt tolerance abilities (salt-tolerant line RIO and salt-sensitive line SN005) upon salt treatment. These response processes mainly focused on secondary metabolism, hormone signaling and stress response. The expression pattern cluster analysis showed that RIO-specific response genes were significantly enriched in the categories related to secondary metabolic pathways. GO enrichment analysis indicated that RIO responded earlier than SN005 in the 2 h after treatment. In addition, we identified more transcription factors (TFs) in RIO than SN005 that were specifically expressed differently in the first 2 h of salt treatment, and the pattern of TF change was obviously different. These results indicate that an early response in secondary metabolism might be essential for salt tolerance in sweet sorghum. In conclusion, we found that an early response, especially in secondary metabolism and hormone signaling, might be essential for salt tolerance in sweet sorghum. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Yield Traits and Their Genetic Pathway in Crop)
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17 pages, 3660 KiB  
Article
BnERF114.A1, a Rapeseed Gene Encoding APETALA2/ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR, Regulates Plant Architecture through Auxin Accumulation in the Apex in Arabidopsis
by Jinyang Lyu, Yuan Guo, Chunlei Du, Haibo Yu, Lijian Guo, Li Liu, Huixian Zhao, Xinfa Wang and Shengwu Hu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(4), 2210; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms23042210 - 17 Feb 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1657
Abstract
Plant architecture is crucial for rapeseed breeding. Here, we demonstrate the involvement of BnERF114.A1, a transcription factor for ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR (ERF), in the regulation of plant architecture in Brassica napus. BnERF114.A1 is a member of the ERF family group X-a, [...] Read more.
Plant architecture is crucial for rapeseed breeding. Here, we demonstrate the involvement of BnERF114.A1, a transcription factor for ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR (ERF), in the regulation of plant architecture in Brassica napus. BnERF114.A1 is a member of the ERF family group X-a, encoding a putative 252-amino acid (aa) protein, which harbours the AP2/ERF domain and the conserved CMX-1 motif. BnERF114.A1 is localised to the nucleus and presents transcriptional activity, with the functional region located at 142–252 aa of the C-terminus. GUS staining revealed high BnERF114.A1 expression in leaf primordia, shoot apical meristem, leaf marginal meristem, and reproductive organs. Ectopic BnERF114.A1 expression in Arabidopsis reduced plant height, increased branch and silique number per plant, and improved seed yield per plant. Furthermore, in Arabidopsis, BnERF114.A1 overexpression inhibited indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) efflux, thus promoting auxin accumulation in the apex and arresting apical dominance. Therefore, BnERF114.A1 probably plays an important role in auxin-dependent plant architecture regulation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Yield Traits and Their Genetic Pathway in Crop)
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11 pages, 5444 KiB  
Article
Simultaneous Improvement of Grain Yield and Quality through Manipulating Two Type C G Protein Gamma Subunits in Rice
by Lian Wu, Xiaodong Wang, Zhiwen Yu, Xin Cui and Quan Xu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(3), 1463; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms23031463 - 27 Jan 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1595
Abstract
Heterotrimeric G protein signaling is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism in diverse organisms that mediates intracellular responses to external stimuli. In rice, the G proteins are involved in the regulation of multiple important agronomic traits. In this paper, we present our finding that two [...] Read more.
Heterotrimeric G protein signaling is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism in diverse organisms that mediates intracellular responses to external stimuli. In rice, the G proteins are involved in the regulation of multiple important agronomic traits. In this paper, we present our finding that two type C G protein gamma subunits, DEP1 and GS3, antagonistically regulated grain yield and grain quality. The DEP1 gene editing we conducted, significantly increased the grain number per panicle but had a negative impact on taste value, texture properties, and chalkiness-related traits. The GS3 gene editing decreased grain number per panicle but significantly increased grain length. In addition, the GS3 gene-edited plants showed improved taste value, appearance, texture properties, and Rapid Visco Analyser (RVA) profiles. To combine the advantages of both gs3 and dep1, we conducted a molecular design breeding at the GS3 locus of a “super rice” variety, SN265, which has a truncated dep1 allele with erect panicle architecture, high-yield performance, and which is of mediocre eating quality. The elongated grain size of the sn265/gs3 gene-edited plants further increased the grain yield. More importantly, the texture properties and RVA profiles were significantly improved, and the taste quality was enhanced. Beyond showcasing the combined function of dep1 and gs3, this paper presents a strategy for the simultaneous improvement of rice grain yield and quality through manipulating two type C G protein gamma subunits in rice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Yield Traits and Their Genetic Pathway in Crop)
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Review

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35 pages, 500 KiB  
Review
QTL and Candidate Genes: Techniques and Advancement in Abiotic Stress Resistance Breeding of Major Cereals
by Sujitra Raj Genga Raj and Kalaivani Nadarajah
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(1), 6; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms24010006 - 20 Dec 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3230
Abstract
At least 75% of the world’s grain production comes from the three most important cereal crops: rice (Oryza sativa), wheat (Triticum aestivum), and maize (Zea mays). However, abiotic stressors such as heavy metal toxicity, salinity, low temperatures, [...] Read more.
At least 75% of the world’s grain production comes from the three most important cereal crops: rice (Oryza sativa), wheat (Triticum aestivum), and maize (Zea mays). However, abiotic stressors such as heavy metal toxicity, salinity, low temperatures, and drought are all significant hazards to the growth and development of these grains. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) discovery and mapping have enhanced agricultural production and output by enabling plant breeders to better comprehend abiotic stress tolerance processes in cereals. Molecular markers and stable QTL are important for molecular breeding and candidate gene discovery, which may be utilized in transgenic or molecular introgression. Researchers can now study synteny between rice, maize, and wheat to gain a better understanding of the relationships between the QTL or genes that are important for a particular stress adaptation and phenotypic improvement in these cereals from analyzing reports on QTL and candidate genes. An overview of constitutive QTL, adaptive QTL, and significant stable multi-environment and multi-trait QTL is provided in this article as a solid framework for use and knowledge in genetic enhancement. Several QTL, such as DRO1 and Saltol, and other significant success cases are discussed in this review. We have highlighted techniques and advancements for abiotic stress tolerance breeding programs in cereals, the challenges encountered in introgressing beneficial QTL using traditional breeding techniques such as mutation breeding and marker-assisted selection (MAS), and the in roads made by new breeding methods such as genome-wide association studies (GWASs), the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/Cas9 system, and meta-QTL (MQTL) analysis. A combination of these conventional and modern breeding approaches can be used to apply the QTL and candidate gene information in genetic improvement of cereals against abiotic stresses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Yield Traits and Their Genetic Pathway in Crop)
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24 pages, 1125 KiB  
Review
A Comprehensive Review on Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Breeding for Abiotic Stress Tolerance and Climate Change Resilience
by Osvin Arriagada, Felipe Cacciuttolo, Ricardo A. Cabeza, Basilio Carrasco and Andrés R. Schwember
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(12), 6794; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms23126794 - 18 Jun 2022
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4190
Abstract
Chickpea is one of the most important pulse crops worldwide, being an excellent source of protein. It is grown under rain-fed conditions averaging yields of 1 t/ha, far from its potential of 6 t/ha under optimum conditions. The combined effects of heat, cold, [...] Read more.
Chickpea is one of the most important pulse crops worldwide, being an excellent source of protein. It is grown under rain-fed conditions averaging yields of 1 t/ha, far from its potential of 6 t/ha under optimum conditions. The combined effects of heat, cold, drought, and salinity affect species productivity. In this regard, several physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms are reviewed to confer tolerance to abiotic stress. A large collection of nearly 100,000 chickpea accessions is the basis of breeding programs, and important advances have been achieved through conventional breeding, such as germplasm introduction, gene/allele introgression, and mutagenesis. In parallel, advances in molecular biology and high-throughput sequencing have allowed the development of specific molecular markers for the genus Cicer, facilitating marker-assisted selection for yield components and abiotic tolerance. Further, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics have permitted the identification of specific genes, proteins, and metabolites associated with tolerance to abiotic stress of chickpea. Furthermore, some promising results have been obtained in studies with transgenic plants and with the use of gene editing to obtain drought-tolerant chickpea. Finally, we propose some future lines of research that may be useful to obtain chickpea genotypes tolerant to abiotic stress in a scenario of climate change. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Yield Traits and Their Genetic Pathway in Crop)
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18 pages, 536 KiB  
Review
Genetic Architecture of Grain Yield-Related Traits in Sorghum and Maize
by Wodajo Baye, Qi Xie and Peng Xie
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(5), 2405; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms23052405 - 22 Feb 2022
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3151
Abstract
Grain size, grain number per panicle, and grain weight are crucial determinants of yield-related traits in cereals. Understanding the genetic basis of grain yield-related traits has been the main research object and nodal in crop science. Sorghum and maize, as very close C4 [...] Read more.
Grain size, grain number per panicle, and grain weight are crucial determinants of yield-related traits in cereals. Understanding the genetic basis of grain yield-related traits has been the main research object and nodal in crop science. Sorghum and maize, as very close C4 crops with high photosynthetic rates, stress tolerance and large biomass characteristics, are extensively used to produce food, feed, and biofuels worldwide. In this review, we comprehensively summarize a large number of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with grain yield in sorghum and maize. We placed great emphasis on discussing 22 fine-mapped QTLs and 30 functionally characterized genes, which greatly hinders our deep understanding at the molecular mechanism level. This review provides a general overview of the comprehensive findings on grain yield QTLs and discusses the emerging trend in molecular marker-assisted breeding with these QTLs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Yield Traits and Their Genetic Pathway in Crop)
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23 pages, 843 KiB  
Review
Improvement and Re-Evolution of Tetraploid Wheat for Global Environmental Challenge and Diversity Consumption Demand
by Fan Yang, Jingjuan Zhang, Qier Liu, Hang Liu, Yonghong Zhou, Wuyun Yang and Wujun Ma
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(4), 2206; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms23042206 - 17 Feb 2022
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3519
Abstract
Allotetraploid durum wheat is the second most widely cultivated wheat, following hexaploid bread wheat, and is one of the major protein and calorie sources of the human diet. However, durum wheat is encountered with a severe grain yield bottleneck due to the erosion [...] Read more.
Allotetraploid durum wheat is the second most widely cultivated wheat, following hexaploid bread wheat, and is one of the major protein and calorie sources of the human diet. However, durum wheat is encountered with a severe grain yield bottleneck due to the erosion of genetic diversity stemming from long-term domestication and especially modern breeding programs. The improvement of yield and grain quality of durum wheat is crucial when confronted with the increasing global population, changing climate environments, and the non-ignorable increasing incidence of wheat-related disorders. This review summarized the domestication and evolution process and discussed the durum wheat re-evolution attempts performed by global researchers using diploid einkorn, tetraploid emmer wheat, hexaploid wheat (particularly the D-subgenome), etc. In addition, the re-evolution of durum wheat would be promoted by the genetic enrichment process, which could diversify allelic combinations through enhancing chromosome recombination (pentaploid hybridization or pairing of homologous chromosomes gene Ph mutant line induced homoeologous recombination) and environmental adaptability via alien introgressive genes (wide cross or distant hybridization followed by embryo rescue), and modifying target genes or traits by molecular approaches, such as CRISPR/Cas9 or RNA interference (RNAi). A brief discussion of the future perspectives for exploring germplasm for the modern improvement and re-evolution of durum wheat is included. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Yield Traits and Their Genetic Pathway in Crop)
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