What are the desirable agronomic characteristics for crop improvement

Many newly created early maturing varieties exhibit poor stress resistance and low yield, whereas stress-resistant varieties are typically late maturing. For this reason, the polymerization of early maturity and other desired agronomic qualities requires overcoming the negative connection between early maturity, multi-resistance, and yield, which presents a formidable challenge in current breeding techniques. We review the most salient constraints of early maturity breeding in current crop planting practices and the molecular mechanisms of different maturation timeframes in diverse crops from their origin center to production areas. We explore current breeding tactics and the future direction of crop breeding and the issues that must be resolved to accomplish the polymerization of desirable traits in light of the current obstacles and limitations. Section snippets Necessity and limitations of early maturing breeding Since the birth of agricultural civilization around 3500 B.C., a large number of crops have been subjected to natural selection and artificial domestication, resulting in substantial changes to their morphological structures and growth characteristics [1,2]. Such a development increases the adaptability of crops to diverse regional climates, broadens the range of planting latitudes, and meets, to a certain extent, the pressing demands of crop types and yields in a certain time period. As crop Molecular mechanisms underlying variations in flowering and maturatio...

Erosion of genetic diversity due to excessive breeding applications is a major threat to crop species. Plants should be genetically diverse to cope with repercussions of changing climate. Of late, diversity made available through epigenetic changes now appearing to be a novel source for crop improvement. Epigenetics is a phenomenon that alters heritable gene expression without implicating any variation in the genomic DNA sequences. The mechanism of epigenetics involves three important events viz., DNA methylation, histone post-translational modifications and RNA directed DNA methylation. These epigenetic modifications involve creation of memory marks which help plants to survive various stresses through physiological regulation based on their epigenetic history. Here, we represent a comprehensive review on the understanding of epigenetic mechanisms that contributes to plant responses towards several biotic and abiotic stresses. Moreover, we have also detailed about various epigenetic approaches that has improved several desirable agronomic traits. Hence, epigenetics is a potential research area that can be exploited for development of climate smart crop. Introduction Agriculture has served an essential role in the surge of quiescent human community. Cultivation of domesticated crop species enabled the evolution of many crops through selective breeding for desirable alleles and high yielding lines. Despite that, now the urgent need towards developing novel strategies in cro...

Genetic variability induced by cell and tissue culture provides a new source of variation within a species that can be utilized for crop improvement. The selection of novel variants through in vitro induced somaclonal variation helps in the generation of new cultivars with many important agronomic traits, which may be exploited in agriculture for breeding purpose. Some desirable characteristics can also be achieved by in vitro selection pressure technique. During the last 3–4 decades, several useful somaclonal variants particularly linked to the agronomic and agriculturally useful traits like yield, nutrient quality, disease resistance, abiotic stress tolerance, etc. have been selected and few of them have been released as cultivars for commercial production. However, selection of somaclonal variants for crop improvement has some major limitations like selection of undesirable traits, genetic instability and loss of regeneration after selection. Therefore, many efforts are needed to achieve desired results. In this chapter, the source and genetic basis of somaclonal variation, its detection methods and advantages of somaclonal variation in agriculture with main emphasis on some useful somaclonal variants released as a cultivar are discussed. Keywords • Crop improvement • Genetic and epigenetic change • In vitro selection • Molecular marker • Plant tissue culture • Somaclonal variants • Abdelnour-Esquivel A, Perez J, Rojas M, Vargas W, Gatica-Arias A (2020) Use of gamma rad...

Overview PepsiCo is a major agricultural enterprise sourcing a variety of tuber, grain and fruit & vegetable crops around the world. A creative, results-oriented scientist with a passion for raw material improvement is required to deliver trait technology breakthroughs on crop plants core to our business. This scientist will translate business priorities into solutions to innovate PepsiCo raw materials combining excellent agronomic, sustainability and consumer characteristics. This discovery scientist will have extensive knowledge of and demonstrated experience with systems approaches to pathway dissection using advanced biochemical strategies and high-throughput multiomic approaches. This position will collaborate across the Ag Science team and other internal PepsiCo functions including frequent workings with St. Paul based laboratory team, and trait discovery scientists. This position will aid in the prioritization and take accountability for activities in multiple crops as it becomes necessary based on the evolution of the portfolio. The position sits in the Agro Discovery research function within Ingredients R&D. Responsibilities • Identify, design and execute discovery projects aimed at transforming intractable raw material challenges into technology breakthrough solutions by uncovering genetically based plant biochemical pathway targets relevant to variety quality and performance, sustainable plant productivity, and sensory/texture desired by consumers and new traits...

The science of applying genetic and plant breeding principles and biotechnology to improve plants. This research area impacts the life of every individual in the world and has been enormously successful in achieving improved yields, disease resistance, nutritional quality, industrial uses, and landscape/horticultural aesthetics. Research Areas • Plant Breeding and Genetics • Biotechnology Current Research Current research in genetic improvement targets a diverse array of traits in vegetable, grain and bioenergy crops. Scientific approaches integrate both laboratory and field research, where genomics, bioinformatics, quantitative genetics, and biotechnology increase the efficiency of selection and breeding of better crop varieties. Corn/Maize Research Specific examples of maize research include nitrogen use efficiency, stress/drought tolerance, long-term selection for chemical composition of the corn kernel, improvement of germplasm for disease resistance and other traits. This research leads to improved varieties with higher yields, new commercial uses and markets, and basic information to provide a framework for future sustained progress. Soybean Research Soybean breeders evaluate and use the diversity of the germplasm collection to increase knowledge of soybean genetics, develop soybean for specific food uses, and develop an improved disease and nematode resistance. Progress will lead to improved soybean germplasm and varieties that survive environmental stress and are c...

• Cereals should be dwarf, but with large ears. Dwarfness makes their stem stronger. They can withstand strong winds and their nutrient requirement is also less. Large ears produce more grains. • Legumes should have more pods which generally develop in relation to stem branching. Therefore, more branching and good foliage increase their productivity. • Fodder crops meant for feeding cattle must have profuse branching, good foliage, juicy stems and large size.

The science of applying genetic and plant breeding principles and biotechnology to improve plants. This research area impacts the life of every individual in the world and has been enormously successful in achieving improved yields, disease resistance, nutritional quality, industrial uses, and landscape/horticultural aesthetics. Research Areas • Plant Breeding and Genetics • Biotechnology Current Research Current research in genetic improvement targets a diverse array of traits in vegetable, grain and bioenergy crops. Scientific approaches integrate both laboratory and field research, where genomics, bioinformatics, quantitative genetics, and biotechnology increase the efficiency of selection and breeding of better crop varieties. Corn/Maize Research Specific examples of maize research include nitrogen use efficiency, stress/drought tolerance, long-term selection for chemical composition of the corn kernel, improvement of germplasm for disease resistance and other traits. This research leads to improved varieties with higher yields, new commercial uses and markets, and basic information to provide a framework for future sustained progress. Soybean Research Soybean breeders evaluate and use the diversity of the germplasm collection to increase knowledge of soybean genetics, develop soybean for specific food uses, and develop an improved disease and nematode resistance. Progress will lead to improved soybean germplasm and varieties that survive environmental stress and are c...

Overview PepsiCo is a major agricultural enterprise sourcing a variety of tuber, grain and fruit & vegetable crops around the world. A creative, results-oriented scientist with a passion for raw material improvement is required to deliver trait technology breakthroughs on crop plants core to our business. This scientist will translate business priorities into solutions to innovate PepsiCo raw materials combining excellent agronomic, sustainability and consumer characteristics. This discovery scientist will have extensive knowledge of and demonstrated experience with systems approaches to pathway dissection using advanced biochemical strategies and high-throughput multiomic approaches. This position will collaborate across the Ag Science team and other internal PepsiCo functions including frequent workings with St. Paul based laboratory team, and trait discovery scientists. This position will aid in the prioritization and take accountability for activities in multiple crops as it becomes necessary based on the evolution of the portfolio. The position sits in the Agro Discovery research function within Ingredients R&D. Responsibilities • Identify, design and execute discovery projects aimed at transforming intractable raw material challenges into technology breakthrough solutions by uncovering genetically based plant biochemical pathway targets relevant to variety quality and performance, sustainable plant productivity, and sensory/texture desired by consumers and new traits...

Genetic variability induced by cell and tissue culture provides a new source of variation within a species that can be utilized for crop improvement. The selection of novel variants through in vitro induced somaclonal variation helps in the generation of new cultivars with many important agronomic traits, which may be exploited in agriculture for breeding purpose. Some desirable characteristics can also be achieved by in vitro selection pressure technique. During the last 3–4 decades, several useful somaclonal variants particularly linked to the agronomic and agriculturally useful traits like yield, nutrient quality, disease resistance, abiotic stress tolerance, etc. have been selected and few of them have been released as cultivars for commercial production. However, selection of somaclonal variants for crop improvement has some major limitations like selection of undesirable traits, genetic instability and loss of regeneration after selection. Therefore, many efforts are needed to achieve desired results. In this chapter, the source and genetic basis of somaclonal variation, its detection methods and advantages of somaclonal variation in agriculture with main emphasis on some useful somaclonal variants released as a cultivar are discussed. Keywords • Crop improvement • Genetic and epigenetic change • In vitro selection • Molecular marker • Plant tissue culture • Somaclonal variants • Abdelnour-Esquivel A, Perez J, Rojas M, Vargas W, Gatica-Arias A (2020) Use of gamma rad...

• Cereals should be dwarf, but with large ears. Dwarfness makes their stem stronger. They can withstand strong winds and their nutrient requirement is also less. Large ears produce more grains. • Legumes should have more pods which generally develop in relation to stem branching. Therefore, more branching and good foliage increase their productivity. • Fodder crops meant for feeding cattle must have profuse branching, good foliage, juicy stems and large size.