Domesticated einkorn (Triticum monococcum L.) is one of the oldest cultivated cereal crops in the world. Its small genome size (~ 5.7 GB), low ploidy (2n = 2x = 14, A^mA^m) and high genetic polymorphism make this species very attractive for use as a diploid model for understanding the genomics and proteomics of Triticeae. Einkorn, however, is still a recalcitrant monocotyledonous species for the application of modern biotechnologies, including transgenesis.

Groundwater ecosystems deliver services that are vital to human well-being and environmental quality. Overexploitation of groundwater threatens biodiversity and ecosystem stability worldwide, underscoring the need to discover, describe, and sustain groundwater-dependent species before they are lost. Here we present a phylogenomic analysis of a salamander radiation endemic to the karstic Edwards–Trinity aquifer system of west-central Texas.

In onions (Allium cepa L.), cytoplasmic male-sterility (CMS) has been widely used in hybrid seed production. Two types of CMS (CMS-S and CMS-T) have been reported in onions. A complete mitochondrial genome sequence of the CMS-S cytoplasm has been reported in our previous study. Draft mitochondrial genome sequences of male-fertile normal and CMS-T-like cytoplasms are reported in this study. Raw reads obtained from normal and CMS-T-like cytoplasms were assembled into eight and nine almost identical contigs, respectively.

Understanding the dynamics of competing species is essential for explaining the origin and maintenance of species diversity. However, ecologists have typically ignored the potential for rapid evolution to alter the contemporary population dynamics of competing species. By disrupting the ability of aquatic plants to evolve in response to interspecific competition, we show that competition drives evolutionary change and this evolutionary change simultaneously feeds back to alter the abundance of competing species over just a few generations.

Plant growth is highly plastic, and coordination of environmental signals with intrinsic developmental pathways has implications for plant productivity and stress resistance. However, signaling mechanisms involved in such coordination remain unclear. Phosphoproteomics found a range of phosphorylation sites affected by Highly ABA-Induced1 (HAI1), a protein phosphatase involved in abiotic stress and abscisic acid signaling. Of these, HAI1 could directly dephosphorylate the DNA-binding protein AT-Hook–Like 10 (AHL10).

Pythium ultimum var. ultimum is one of numerous Pythium spp. that causes severe pre- and post-emergence damping-off of seedlings and root rot of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. The objective of this research was to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) for resistance to P. ultimum var. ultimum in a recombinant inbred line population derived from a cross of ‘Magellan’ (moderately resistant) and PI 438489B (susceptible). Two different mapping approaches were utilized: the universal soybean linkage panel (USLP 1.0) and the bin map constructed from whole genome re-sequencing (WGRS) technology.

Flowering time (or heading date) is an important quantitative trait in rice (Oryza sativa) that determines its adaptation to specific cultivation areas and growing seasons. However, breeding of flowering time is currently relying on laborious selections and combinations of different alleles of various genes. Here, we cloned a cis-variant allele of Ehd1 that regulated not only heading date but also yield potential.

Water limits global agricultural production. Increases in global aridity, a growing human population, and the depletion of aquifers will only increase the scarcity of water for agriculture. Water is essential for plant growth and in areas that are prone to drought, the use of drought-resistant crops is a long-term solution for growing more food for more people with less water. Sorghum is well adapted to hot and dry environments and has been used as a dietary staple for millions of people.

The circadian clock regulates numerous biological processes in plants, especially development and stress responses. CIRCADIAN CLOCK-ASSOCIATED 1 (CCA1) is one of the core components of the day-night rhythm response and is reportedly associated with ambient temperature in Arabidopsis thaliana. However, it remains unknown if alternative splicing of ZmCCA1 is modulated by external stress in maize, such as drought stress and photoperiod.

Drought tolerance is a major challenge in breeding rice for unfavorable environments. In this study, we used a panel of 180 Vietnamese rice landraces genotyped with 21,623 single-nucleotide polymorphism markers to perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for different drought response and recovery traits during the vegetative stage. These landraces originate from different geographical locations and are adapted to different agrosystems characterized by contrasted water regimes.