Crop Science最新文献

{"title":"Genome-wide association study identifies novel associations with barley yellow dwarf virus and soil-borne wheat mosaic virus resistance in winter wheat association mapping panel","authors":"Lawrence Tidakbi,&nbsp;Hongliang Wang,&nbsp;Ruolin Bian,&nbsp;Carla Redila,&nbsp;Daniel Zhu,&nbsp;Paul St. Amand,&nbsp;Amy Bernardo,&nbsp;Myron Bruce,&nbsp;Guorong Zhang,&nbsp;Allan Fritz,&nbsp;Mary Guttieri,&nbsp;John Fellers,&nbsp;Guihua Bai,&nbsp;Jessica Rupp Noller,&nbsp;Katherine W. Jordan","doi":"10.1002/csc2.70016","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.70016","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Viral pathogens adversely affect wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) development and are responsible for significant wheat yield losses. Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) is one of the most serious worldwide virus threats to cereal crops. Soil-borne wheat mosaic virus (SBWMV) has been present in the Great Plains and responsible for wheat damage for over a century. Identification of additional sources of genetic resistance is paramount to combat the potential damage from these viruses. We constructed a panel of 269 winter wheat cultivars and breeding lines to assess the resistance to naturally occurring BYDV and SBWMV in a Kansas nursery. These lines were sequenced using exome and promoter capture identifying over 640,000 variants for association analysis with visual disease severity ratings. We found 10 and seven significant regions affecting resistance to BYDV and SBWMV, respectively. These regions include the <i>Bdv2</i> and <i>Sbwm1</i> loci, as well as novel loci affecting virus resistance. Most of the novel associations are rare, with effect sizes ranging from 5% to 22%. We performed a survey of the viral population present in the disease nursery, which confirmed the presence of both BYDV and SBWMV and revealed differences in virus population from year to year. Additionally, it suggested that co-infections of multiple viruses are common, demonstrating the need for breeding lines harboring resistance to multiple viruses. Deployment of these novel genetic resistance regions in combination with existing resistance loci should allow for increased resistance and potentially more sustainable viral control and reduce the risks associated with wheat yield loss due to these viruses.</p>","PeriodicalId":10849,"journal":{"name":"Crop Science","volume":"65 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/csc2.70016","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143564988","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalent protein abundance and characteristic peptides in the seed proteome of basmati rice (Oryza sativa L.)","authors":"P. Umadevi,&nbsp;S. Gopala Krishnan,&nbsp;M. Nagarajan,&nbsp;Ranjith Kumar Ellur,&nbsp;K. K. Vinod,&nbsp;A. K. Singh","doi":"10.1002/csc2.70028","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.70028","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In the changing climatic scenario, the application of proteomics for accelerated identification of elite genes is an important way to speed up the development of elite lines. Seeds, the reservoir of protein expression in most aspects of plant development, are an attractive platform for identifying unique/novel proteins. There has been no report on the seed proteome of basmati rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i> L.). This study presents, for the first time, the seed proteome of superior Indian basmati rice varieties Pusa Basmati 1121 and Pusa Basmati 1718, which are important genetic resources in basmati rice breeding. Through label-free quantitative proteomics, a new source of genes was identified by exploiting the predominant protein abundance and unique peptides. The protein hub related to flowering time revealed a probable photoperiod-independent pathway in Pusa Basmati 1121 with an abundant expression of the Photoperiod Independent Flowering Gene 1 protein. Pusa Basmati 1121 and 1718 contained proteins related to ABA synthesis and biotic and abiotic tolerance, respectively. The signature peptides of thaumatin-like protein and a plant antimicrobial protein from Pusa Basmati 1718 are a new addition to the plant antimicrobial peptides from basmati rice. The primary structure analysis of seed proteins indicated the lysine status, while the abundant non-starch glucans sent clues for targeted research on these basmati rice varieties as a therapeutic food.</p>","PeriodicalId":10849,"journal":{"name":"Crop Science","volume":"65 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143564983","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of planting dates and seeding densities on growth, physiology, and yield of industrial hemp","authors":"Preetaman Bajwa,&nbsp;Sukhbir Singh,&nbsp;Arjun Kafle,&nbsp;Rupinder Saini,&nbsp;Calvin Trostle","doi":"10.1002/csc2.70017","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.70017","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Industrial hemp (<i>Cannabis sativa</i> L.) exhibits growth potential in water-limited regions due to its deep roots and drought tolerance. However, limited knowledge exists about its agronomic production in semiarid West Texas. A 2-year (2022–2023) field experiment evaluated the effect of planting dates (P1: April 19, P2: May 10, and P3: June 6) and seeding densities (SD1: 84500 seeds ha⁻¹, SD2: 1,408,000 seeds ha⁻¹, and SD3: 1,972,000 seeds ha⁻¹) on the growth, physiology, and yield of hemp in a split-plot block design. In both years, P3 reduced photosynthesis but increased transpiration compared to earlier plantings. In 2022, SD1 increased transpiration during the vegetative stage; however, no significant difference was observed during 2023. Photosynthesis remained consistent among densities throughout both years. In 2022, P2 accumulated 15%, 24%, 33%, and 43% greater plant height, biomass, bast fiber, and hurd fiber, respectively, but 45% lower grain yield than P3. In 2023, P1 and P2, on average, produced 32%, 175%, 149%, and 243% greater height, biomass, bast fiber, and hurd fiber than P3, respectively, while P2 accumulated 36% higher grain yield than P1 and 94% than P3. In 2022, SD3 had the highest bast, while hurd yield did not differ among densities. During 2023, SD3 produced the greatest bast and hurd fiber and significantly greater grain yield than SD1, with no variation with SD2. In conclusion, these findings suggest that early planting at higher seeding density can maximize resource use efficiency and production in West Texas. This makes them a viable strategy for sustainable hemp production under water-limited conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":10849,"journal":{"name":"Crop Science","volume":"65 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143565044","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Seedling emergence in winter and spring canola genotypes under salinity stress","authors":"Rajan Shrestha,&nbsp;Qingwu Xue,&nbsp;Andrea Leiva Soto,&nbsp;Girisha Ganjegunte,&nbsp;Santosh Subhash Palmate,&nbsp;V. N. Chaganti,&nbsp;S. Kumar,&nbsp;A. L. Ulery,&nbsp;R. P. Flynn,&nbsp;S. Zapata","doi":"10.1002/csc2.70011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.70011","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In the worldwide context of rising salinity issues in agriculture, it is important to understand crop responses to salinity stress. Currently, standing as the second largest oilseed crop, canola (<i>Brassica napus</i> L.) entices continued research focus on such aspects. Thus, this study investigated the genotypic variation in seedling emergence characters under salinity stress. Two growth chamber experiments were conducted in diverse canola genotypes (10 each of winter and spring types) at six salinity levels (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 dS m⁻¹ EC). Increasing salinity levels reduced the emergence indices (emergence percentage, emergence rate index, corrected emergence rate index, and emergence velocity) and salt tolerance index (STI). An approximate threshold salinity range of 6–8 dS m⁻¹ ECs was determined. Importantly, salinity at ≥8 dS m⁻¹ EC levels substantially reduced seedling emergence indices and delayed emergence by 3–7 days after seeding. Winter genotypes CP1022WC/Chinook and CP320WRR, and spring genotypes Monarch, PI597352, PI601200, and PI432395 had higher STI and emergence indices. Based on cluster analysis, genotype groups were classified as low (Athena, CP115W, Durola, Impress, and Gem), medium (Amanda, Ericka, CP320WRR, Salut, CP225WRR, Clearwater, and Wester), and high salt-tolerant types (CP1022WC/Chinook, Monarch, PI597352, and PI432395). All emergence indices showed high broad-sense heritability (<i>H</i>²= 0.82–0.94). Between canola types, spring canola consistently showed greater genetic potential for salt tolerance than winter canola. The results of this study provided useful information for canola seedling establishment under salinity and for further genetic improvement of salt tolerance.</p>","PeriodicalId":10849,"journal":{"name":"Crop Science","volume":"65 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/csc2.70011","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143564984","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optimized nitrogen application rate based on soil residual nitrogen significantly increased the yield and biological nitrogen fixation of fresh faba bean as vegetables","authors":"Yi Pu,&nbsp;Kuai Dai,&nbsp;Jiangzhou Li,&nbsp;Yan Wang,&nbsp;Shan Lin,&nbsp;Meiju Liu","doi":"10.1002/csc2.70013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.70013","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Optimizing nitrogen (N) application rate during faba bean (<i>Vicia faba</i> (L.) Linné) growth season might increase biological N fixation (BNF) and decrease soil residual N which will be benefit to the growth of following N sensitive crops. A 4-year field study was conducted with six N rates (0, 45, 90, 135, 180, and 225 kg N ha⁻¹). Yield, agronomic traits, root and nodule characteristics, N uptake, and biological N fixation were measured. Our results showed that (1) pod and grain yield, nodule weight and count, and BNF of faba bean initially increased with N rates, peaking at 90 kg N ha⁻¹, and then declined. (2) BNF measured by ¹⁵N natural abundance strongly correlated with ¹⁵N isotope dilution method. The maximum BNF of 61 kg N ha⁻¹ occurred at the N rate of 90 kg N ha⁻¹, which was significantly greater than that at the other N rates. (3) Root nodule dry weight and count were positively correlated with BNF, as were shoot dry weight and pod yield. (4) The N equation, which is based on the sum of N rate plus soil residual N before sowing, revealed that the pod yield and BNF peak when the total N is &lt;200 kg N ha⁻¹. In conclusion, to improve the yield and quality of the next N-sensitive crops and reduce environmental pollution risk, N rate for faba bean should be significantly reduced and adjusted on the basis of soil residual N before sowing. This maximizes the BNF potential of faba bean.</p>","PeriodicalId":10849,"journal":{"name":"Crop Science","volume":"65 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143564986","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Epichlöe festucae endophyte mediated maternal inheritance of dollar spot disease resistance in hard fescue","authors":"Trent M. Tate,&nbsp;Ruying Wang,&nbsp;Stacy A. Bonos,&nbsp;Bruce B. Clarke,&nbsp;Alec R. Kowalewski,&nbsp;William A. Meyer","doi":"10.1002/csc2.70012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.70012","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Hard fescue (<i>Festuca brevipila</i>) is a fine-leaved cool-season turfgrass and is well adapted for low-maintenance areas, such as home lawns, parks, and roadsides. Breeding for improved disease resistance is a major objective in utilizing hard fescue under low-input management. The <i>Epichlöe festucae</i> endophyte-mediated dollar spot (<i>Clarireedia jacksonii</i>) resistance and its mechanism have been well-documented in strong creeping red fescue (<i>F. rubra</i> subsp. <i>rubra</i>). However, little is known about dollar spot resistance in hard fescue. The objectives of this research were to (1) understand the inheritance of dollar spot resistance in hard fescue and determine the reciprocal effects by performing a diallel cross between three resistant endophyte-containing and three susceptible endophyte-free parents and (2) confirm the role of <i>E. festucae</i> endophyte in dollar spot resistance by artificially inoculating hard fescue with the endophyte (ME+) and comparing ME+ plants to their genetically identical counterparts without the endophyte (E‒) under dollar spot pressure. The highly significant maternal effect from the diallel cross experiment demonstrated that the dollar disease resistance is maternally inherited in hard fescue and linked with the maternal inheritance of the <i>E. festucae</i> endophyte. The greenhouse study further confirmed that the presence of <i>E. festucae</i> endophyte significantly reduced dollar spot in hard fescue. Understanding this endophyte effect on maternal inheritance of dollar spot resistance will enable more efficient breeding and selection of plant materials to use in the development of improved dollar spot resistant cultivars in hard fescue.</p>","PeriodicalId":10849,"journal":{"name":"Crop Science","volume":"65 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/csc2.70012","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143564985","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characterization of a greenbug resistance gene in a wheat breeding line BW 49921","authors":"Genqiao Li,&nbsp;Tezera W. Wolabu,&nbsp;Guihua Bai,&nbsp;Ruolin Bian,&nbsp;Amy Bernardo,&nbsp;Brett F. Carver,&nbsp;Yanqi Wu,&nbsp;Xiangyang Xu","doi":"10.1002/csc2.70019","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.70019","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Greenbug [<i>Schizaphis graminum</i> (Rondani)] is a major wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) pest that causes significant yield losses worldwide. Use of plant resistance is an effective and environmentally friendly strategy to manage greenbug. BW 49921 is a spring wheat breeding line showing resistance to major US greenbug biotypes. Genetic analysis of an F_2:3 population from the cross BW 49921 × Breakthrough revealed a single dominant gene conditioning greenbug resistance in BW 49921, and selective genotyping identified a genomic region associated with the greenbug resistance in chromosome arm 7DL. Ten single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the target genomic region were converted to kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) markers to genotype the entire F₂ population. Linkage analysis using F_2:3 phenotypic data delimited the greenbug resistance gene in BW 49921, designated <i>Gb49921</i>, to a 0.5-Mb interval between <i>Stars-KASP419</i> (598.8 Mb) and <i>Stars-KASP1061</i> (599.3 Mb). <i>Gb49921</i> was 1.0 cM distal to <i>Stars-KASP419</i> and 0.6 cM proximal to <i>Stars-KASP1061</i>. Allelism tests indicated that <i>Gb49921</i> is not allelic to either <i>Gb3</i> or <i>Gb8</i>. <i>Gb49921</i> confers high resistance to greenbug biotypes C, E, H, I, and K and moderate resistance to TX1. The KASP markers developed in this study can be used for marker-assisted selection of <i>Gb49921</i> in wheat breeding programs.</p>","PeriodicalId":10849,"journal":{"name":"Crop Science","volume":"65 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143455946","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Yield variation, plasticity, adaptation, and performance ranking of winter wheat varieties across the environmental gradient of the US Pacific Northwest","authors":"Curtis B. Adams,&nbsp;Clark Neely,&nbsp;Ryan Graebner","doi":"10.1002/csc2.70018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.70018","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The US Pacific Northwest is a major wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) production region with widely ranging water availability across its dryland and irrigated cropping systems. There have been no evaluations of variation, plasticity, adaptation, and performance of wheat yield due to variety—collectively or individually—that consider the entire environmental gradient of the region, useful for yield gap analysis, informing breeding, and other applications. Our objectives were to provide these evaluations using a large variety trial dataset and an independent dataset. Using linear models covering site-averaged yields (× variable) from about 1.50 to 12.0 Mg ha⁻¹, upper and lower yield boundaries due to differences in variety performance were characterized by the regression models <i>y</i> = 1.08<i>x</i> + 0.24 and <i>y</i> = 0.906<i>x</i> − 0.13, respectively. The accuracy and usefulness of these functions were validated by the close fit of an independent dataset. Yield plasticity and environmental adaptation of 45 individual wheat varieties were also evaluated using the Finlay–Wilkinson regression approach, which showed wide variation in varietal yield responses to environment and substantial differences in yield stability (i.e., variation around the yield trend). A limitation of this analytical approach has been that the regression coefficients are not directly useful for ranking varieties for yield performance across contrasting environments. A simple transformation procedure of the coefficients into a single metric was effective for rapidly providing such rankings. A limited analysis is presented quantifying the relative contributions of genotype (27%–58% within sites), environment (84% across sites), and their interaction (5% across sites) on regional yields, as well as yield analysis of club wheat. In summary, this work provides useful research tools and a region-wide perspective on yield traits of Pacific Northwest wheat varieties.</p>","PeriodicalId":10849,"journal":{"name":"Crop Science","volume":"65 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143455755","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Identification of QTLs for reproductive stage salinity tolerance in rice using a cross between CSR28 and BRRI dhan28","authors":"Sejuti Mondal,&nbsp;Robert Vaughn,&nbsp;Endang M. Septiningsih,&nbsp;Rakesh K. Singh,&nbsp;Michael J. Thomson","doi":"10.1002/csc2.70014","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.70014","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Salinity poses a serious threat to rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i> L.) production in coastal regions across the globe. Since salinity tolerance is a complex and polygenic trait, understanding the salt-tolerance mechanisms is key for rice breeding. Breeding efforts can be aided by quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping for complementary salt tolerance mechanisms in plants. While numerous studies are available on salinity tolerance at the seedling stage, limited studies have been conducted on reproductive stage tolerance in rice due to the difficulty in achieving reliable stage-specific phenotyping techniques. In this study, a BC₁F₂ mapping population consisting of 435 individuals derived from a cross between a salt-tolerant Indian variety, CSR28, and a salt-sensitive Bangladeshi mega variety, BRRI dhan28, was evaluated for yield components after exposure to salinity stress of EC 10 dS/m during the reproductive stage. After selecting extremely tolerant and sensitive progenies, 190 individuals were genotyped by kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) genotyping with 152 high-quality single nucleotide polymorphic (SNP) markers. Consequently, 15 QTLs were identified under reproductive stage salt stress, including plant height, panicle length, number of filled and unfilled spikelets, percent filled spikelets, grain yield, and the Na⁺-K⁺ ratio. Notably, three QTLs, one each for the number of filled spikelets (<i>qNFS10.1</i>), percent filled spikelets (<i>qPFS10.1</i>), and grain yield (<i>qGY10.1</i>), were mapped at the same position (75.9 cM) on chromosome 10. These promising QTLs can be examined further to dissect the molecular mechanisms underlying reproductive stage salinity tolerance in rice.</p>","PeriodicalId":10849,"journal":{"name":"Crop Science","volume":"65 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143456101","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Identification of genetic loci associated with protein and fiber digestibility in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)","authors":"Sen Lin,&nbsp;Cesar Augusto Medina,&nbsp;Smit Bipinchandra Patel,&nbsp;Zhanyou Xu,&nbsp;Geoffrey I. Zanton,&nbsp;David Combs,&nbsp;Guojie Wang,&nbsp;Glenn Shewmaker,&nbsp;Steve Fransen,&nbsp;Don Llewellyn,&nbsp;Steven Norberg,&nbsp;Long-Xi Yu","doi":"10.1002/csc2.70004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.70004","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa</i> L.), known as the queen of forages, is a versatile and valuable forage crop that holds significant importance in agriculture due to its myriad benefits for livestock. Ruminants benefit from alfalfa's digestible fiber and protein, contributing to improved feed efficiency and milk production. However, alfalfa protein is rapidly and extensively degraded in rumen, and it is a challenge to maximize the efficiency of the forage crude protein utilized as metabolizable protein by ruminant livestock. In this study, the phenotypic data of 14 traits related to forage digestibility were collected from 200 alfalfa accessions planted at three different locations for 2 years. The performance of these accessions showed dramatic variations by location, indicating that environmental factors play important roles in alfalfa digestibility. Twenty-two significant genetic markers associated with 12 traits related to forage digestibility were identified by genome-wide association study. Among them, seven markers were associated with more than one trait, although the significant markers varied by year and location. Putative candidate genes associated with these loci were also identified. The digestibility-related markers and associated genes identified in this study will help to better understand the genetic basis of forage digestibility and its interaction with environments. After validation, the closely linked markers and associated genes can be used for marker-assisted selection of alfalfa with improved forage quality.</p>","PeriodicalId":10849,"journal":{"name":"Crop Science","volume":"65 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143438834","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}