Many of the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for rice blast resistance reported to date remain unidentified. In the present study, we focused on qBRM6.2, a known blast-resistance QTL in experimental resistant rice line MC276. A CO39 near-isogenic line (NIL) carrying qBRM6.2from MC276 was developed here, and we showed that qBRM6.2 resistance was partial but race specific to Japanese blast isolates using the NIL. Because defense genes in the NIL were expressed sooner than those in CO39 after inoculation with a blast isolate, qBRM6.2 resistance appeared to be an induced resistance.

In genomewide selection, different types of training populations can be used for a biparental population made from homozygous parents (A and B). Our objective was to determine whether the response to selection (R) and predictive ability (r_MP) in an A/B population are higher with a large training population that is used for all biparental crosses, or with a smaller ad hoc training population highly related to the A/B population.

Targeted recombination refers to inducing or selecting for a recombination event at genomic positions that maximize genetic gain in a cross. A previous study indicated that targeted recombination could double the rate of genetic gains in maize (Zea mays L.), a cross-pollinated crop for which historical genetic gains have been large. Our objectives were to determine whether targeted recombination can sufficiently increase predicted gains in self-pollinated species, and whether prospective gains from targeted recombination vary across crops, populations, traits, and chromosomes.

The dissection of the genetic and molecular components of salt stress response offers strong opportunities toward understanding and improving salt tolerance in crops. In this study, GWAS was employed to identify a total of 106 SNP loci (R² = 0.12–63.44%) linked to salt stress response in wheat using leaf chlorophyll fluorescence, grain quality and shoot ionic (Na⁺ and K⁺ ions) attributes.

Host plant resistance is gaining importance as more and more insecticides are being banned due to environmental concerns. In tomato, resistance towards insects is found in wild relatives and has been attributed to the presence of glandular trichomes and their specific phytochemical composition. In this paper, we describe the results from a large-scale QTL mapping of data from whitefly resistance tests

Water deficit is a key limiting factor that affects the growth, development and productivity of crops. It is vital to understand the mechanisms by which plants respond to drought stress. Here an N-acetylglutamate kinase gene, ZmNAGK, was cloned from maize (Zea mays). ZmNAGKwas expressed at high levels in maize leaves and at lower levels in root, stem, female flower and male flower. The expression of ZmNAGKwas significantly induced by PEG, NaCl, ABA, brassinosteroid and H₂O₂.

Interorganelle connectivity and nonvesicular information transfer are hallmarks of biological systems. These processes facilitate communication between organelles, allowing them to adapt to changing cellular environments. In plants, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)–plasma membrane (PM) contact sites (EPCSs) physically connect the cortical ER and the PM, and act as general platforms for Ca²⁺ homeostasis regulation and the cellular adaptation to environmental stresses.

Compared with leaves under normal light (CK) treatment, leaves under shading treatment exhibited decreased palisade and spongy tissue thicknesses but significantly increased cell gap. Although shade increased the number of the chloroplast, the thickness of the grana lamella and the photosynthetic pigments per unit mass, but the size of the chloroplast and starch grains and the rate of net photosynthesis decreased compared with those of under CK treatment

High-quality and disease-resistant male sterile lines have great potential for applications in hybrid rice breeding. We introduced specific mutations into the TMS5, Pi21, and Xa13 genes in Pinzhan intermediate breeding material using the CRISPR/Cas9 multiplex genome editing system. We found that the transgene-free homozygous triple tms5/pi21/xa13 mutants obtained in the T₁ generation displayed characteristics of thermosensitive genic male sterility (TGMS) with enhanced resistance to rice blast and bacterial blight.

Precise genome editing technologies are rapidly emerging as prime tools for improving crop characteristics. The CRISPR/Cas9 system has proved highly versatile and efficient for inducing targeted DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) in genomes. DNA DSBs in eukaryotes can be repaired using two different pathways: non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) or homologous recombination (HR).