Peanut with red testa has higher nutritional and economic value than the traditional pink testa varieties. Identification of genes controlling red testa color will accelerate the breeding program and facilitate uncovering the genetic mechanism. In this study, in order to identify gene underlying the red testa color in peanut, a F₂ population derived from a cross between a pink testa peanut variety “Fuhua 8” and a red testa variety “Quanhonghua 1” was constructed.

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is an important crop providing vegetable oil and protein. The male sterility-based hybrid breeding is a promising method for improving soybean yield to meet the globally growing demand. In this research, we identified a soybean genic male sterile locus, MS6, by combining the bulked segregant analysis sequencing method and the map-based cloning technology. MS6, highly expressed in anther, encodes an R2R3 MYB transcription factor (GmTDF1-1) that is homologous to Tapetal Development and Function 1, a key factor for anther development in Arabidopsis and rice.

Plant nucleotide-binding and leucine-rich repeat (NLR) receptors recognize avirulence effectors directly through their integrated domains (IDs) or indirectly via the effector-targeted proteins. Previous studies have succeeded in generating designer NLR receptors with new recognition profiles by engineering IDs or targeted proteins based on prior knowledge of their interactions with the effectors. However, it is yet a challenge to design a new plant receptor capable of recognizing effectors that function by unknown mechanisms.

Seed dormancy is a key agricultural trait to prevent pre-harvest sprouting in crop plants such as rice (Oryza sativa L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum), and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). However, our knowledge of seed dormancy is hampered by the complexities of studying a trait that changes over time after seed harvest, and is complicated by interactions between phytohormones, seed coat components and the environment.

Cucumber is agriculturally, economically and nutritionally important vegetable crop. China produces three-fourths of the world’s total cucumber production. Cucumber fruit quality depends on a number of traits such as the fruit color (peel and flesh color), spine (density, size and color), fruit shape, fruit size, defects, texture, firmness, taste, maturity stage and nutritional composition. Fruit color and spine traits determine critical quality attributes and have been the interest of researchers at the molecular level. Evaluating the molecular mechanisms of fruit quality traits is important to improve production and quality of cucumber varieties.

Soybean is an important commodity worldwide. Abiotic conditions can adversely disturb crop growth and final yield. The transcription factor Dehydration-Responsive Element-Binding Proteins 2 (DREB2) act as a regulator of drought-responses. This study aimed to characterize soybean plants genetically modified with GmDREB2A;2 FL and GmDREB2A;2 CA for molecular, physiological, and agronomic responses, at different developmental periods. Results showed that seedlings from GmDREB2A;2 FL event presented lower growth reduction under osmotic treatment during germination.

Cassava mosaic disease (CMD) is a serious threat to cassava production in sub-Saharan Africa. The use of genomic-assisted selection at the seedling trial stage would help to reduce the time for release, breeding cost, and resources used, hence increase selection efficiency in cassava breeding programs. Five cassava populations were screened for resistance to CMD during the seedling evaluation trial at 1, 3, and 5 months after planting using a scale of 1-5. The genotypes in the five populations were also screened using six molecular markers linked to the CMD2 gene.

Yanfeng 47 (YF47) is an elite japonica rice variety cultivated in China on nearly 2 million hectares over the past 20 years. However, YF47 is highly susceptible to rice blast (Magnaporthe oryzae), one of the most destructive rice diseases. In this study, we developed novel TPAP (tetra-primer ARMS-PCR) functional markers for the genes Pita, Pib, and Pid2, all of which afford broad-spectrum resistance to blast. A collection of 91 japonica rice germplasms with similar ecological characteristics to YF47 were screened, and Wuyunjing 27 (WYJ27) with Pita and Pib alleles and P135 with the Pid2 allele were identified.

Although rice has been categorized as a salt-sensitive crop, it is not equally affected throughout its growth, being most sensitive at the seedling and reproductive stages. However, a very poor correlation exists between sensitivity at these two stages, which suggests that the effects of salt are determined by different mechanisms and sets of genes (QTLs) in seedlings and during flowering. Although tolerance at the reproductive stage is arguably the more important, as it translates directly into grain yield, more than 90% of publications on the effects of salinity on rice are limited to the seedling stage.

Plant secondary (or specialized) metabolites mediate important interactions in both the rhizosphere and the phyllosphere. If and how such compartmentalized functions interact to determine plant–environment interactions is not well understood. Here, we investigated how the dual role of maize benzoxazinoids as leaf defenses and root siderophores shapes the interaction between maize and a major global insect pest, the fall armyworm.