Theoretical and Applied Genetics
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Theoretical and Applied Genetics
@theorapplgenet.bsky.social
Theoretical & Applied Genetics communicates key
discoveries and news in plant genetics, genomics and plant breeding

https://link.springer.com/journal/122
GxE interactions present a major challenge in hybrid breeding under tropical conditions. This study demonstrates that incorporating environmental features into genomic prediction models can improve the accuracy of hybrid performance predictions in biomass sorghum.

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Prediction of biomass sorghum hybrids using environmental feature-enriched genomic combining ability models in tropical environments
rdcu.be
November 17, 2025 at 7:17 AM
Finger millet plays a key nutritional and agronomic role in East Africa, yet its genetic diversity remains underutilised. This study investigates the population structure of Ethiopian landraces and identifies genomic regions and haplotypes linked to key yield.

Full article:
Genetic structure of Ethiopian finger millet landraces and genome-wide association mapping for agronomic and nutritional traits
rdcu.be
November 17, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Climate change is shifting the timing of key developmental stages in grapevine. This study integrates genetic data into phenological models to predict how specific allele combinations may perform under future climate scenarios, supporting the development of resilient hybrids.

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Allele-based modeling to predict phenological stages of grapevine hybrids under future climatic conditions
rdcu.be
November 14, 2025 at 7:24 AM
Historic germplasm collections hold valuable alleles for wheat improvement. This study uses genomic and phenotypic analysis of the Watkins collection to find loci linked to disease resistance and climate adaptation, offering new opportunities to diversify breeding gene pools.

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Enhancing the breeding gene pool of wheat using accessions in gene banks as demonstrated by the Watkins collection
rdcu.be
November 14, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Wild pigmented rice holds untapped potential for boosting nutrition and resilience in agriculture. This review explores how precision gene editing and neo-domestication strategies can transform wild rice into a high-value crop.

Full article:
Harnessing neo-domestication of wild pigmented rice for enhanced nutrition and sustainable agriculture
rdcu.be
November 13, 2025 at 7:42 AM
Improving yield in wheat relies on uncovering the genetic basis of complex traits. This study combines linkage and association analysis to identify key genomic regions and candidate genes, providing valuable targets for future breeding and gene discovery efforts.

Article:
Joint linkage and association analysis identifies genomic regions and candidate genes for yield-related traits in wheat
rdcu.be
November 13, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Cloning genes in wheat has long been hindered by its large and complex genome. This review outlines recent advances in genomic tools and strategies that are transforming gene cloning in wheat and its relatives, enabling faster progress in trait discovery and crop improvement.

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Progress and innovations of gene cloning in wheat and its close relatives
rdcu.be
November 12, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Seed germination and dormancy are critical traits influencing yield stability and grain quality in maize. This study maps Zmccr3, a key gene regulating seed germination and constructs a broader regulatory network involved in dormancy-to-germination transition.

Article:
Map-based cloning of Zmccr3 and its network construction and validation for regulating maize seed germination
rdcu.be
November 12, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Grain size and leaf angle are key contributors to yield and planting density in rice. This study uncovers how OsBSK2 and OsBSK3 influence these traits through a MAPK signalling cascade, offering new insight into the hormonal and developmental control of plant architecture.

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OsBSK3 and OsBSK2 regulate grain size and leaf angle via MAPK signaling pathway in rice
rdcu.be
November 11, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Improving genomic prediction is critical for accelerating selection in breeding programs. This study introduces a deep learning model that combines Elastic Net feature selection with transformer-based embeddings, offering better accuracy and flexibility across datasets.

Article:
EBMGP: a deep learning model for genomic prediction based on Elastic Net feature selection and bidirectional encoder representations from transformer's embedding and multi-head attention pooling
rdcu.be
November 11, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Spontaneous genome doubling is key to improving doubled haploid efficiency in maize, but remains underexplored in sweet corn. This study maps genetic variation for haploid male fertility, revealing candidate loci and highlighting untapped potential in sweet corn germplasm.

Article:
Association mapping of haploid male fertility in sweet corn
rdcu.be
November 10, 2025 at 7:17 AM
Hybrid sterility limits the full use of heterosis in rice breeding. This study uncovers two chromosomal structural variation loci associated with sterility in interspecific hybrids, revealing a new inheritance model and offering insights to improve hybrid compatibility.

Full article:
Chromosomal structural variation loci HSS1 and HSS6 lead to hybrid sterility in rice
rdcu.be
November 9, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Florigen genes are central to the floral transition in rice, but their full role remains underexplored. This study reveals a two-phase action of Hd3a and RFT1, showing how low and high florigen levels distinctly regulate developmental timing and floral induction.

Full article:
Temporal transcriptome analysis reveals the two-phase action of florigens in rice flowering
rdcu.be
November 7, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Seed aging can reduce viability, especially in oil-rich crops like Brassica napus. This study identifies a GLK transcription factor linked to seed vigour after aging and explores its role in regulating fatty acid composition and membrane stability.

Full article:
A Golden2-like transcription factor regulates Brassica napus seed vigor after artificial aging
rdcu.be
November 7, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Using identity-by-descent mapping, this research identifies genomic regions and candidate genes under selection pressure during lettuce diversification. The analysis reveals how selective breeding has driven morphological differentiation across cultivated lettuce types.

Full article:
Mapping of identity by descent reveals genes shaping morphology and biological traits in the cultivated lettuce varieties during the long-term crossbreeding
rdcu.be
September 2, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Comparative genomic analysis of two safflower cultivars using chromosome-scale assemblies reveals genetic variation underlying key agronomic traits including fatty acid profiles, flowering phenology, and flavonoid metabolism.

Full article:
The chromosome-scale genomes of two cultivated safflowers (Carthamus tinctorius) provide insights into the genetic diversity resulting from domestication
rdcu.be
September 1, 2025 at 7:01 AM
This research maps stable QTLs with pleiotropic effects on essential element accumulation in wheat grain. The identification of these multi-trait QTL offers molecular markers and breeding targets for developing wheat cultivars with enhanced nutritional profiles.

Article:
Stable pleotropic loci controlling the accumulation of multiple nutritional elements in wheat
rdcu.be
August 31, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Long-term crossbreeding has shaped the distinct morphology and traits of cultivated lettuce types. This study applies identity-by-descent mapping to reveal key genomic regions under selection across major lettuce varieties, offering insights into trait evolution and diversity.

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Mapping of identity by descent reveals genes shaping morphology and biological traits in the cultivated lettuce varieties during the long-term crossbreeding
rdcu.be
August 31, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Researchers have fine-mapped a major genetic locus controlling subgynoecy in chieh-qua.These findings provide valuable molecular tools for developing female-biased breeding lines to optimize hybrid seed production and crop yields.

Article:
Fine mapping and identification of CqMYB62 as the subgynoecy gene in chieh-qua (Benincasa hispida Cogn. var. Chieh-qua How)
rdcu.be
August 30, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Domestication shapes crop diversity through adaptations to local environments. This study presents chromosome-scale genomes of two cultivated safflower lines, revealing genetic differences in traits like fatty acid composition, flowering time, and flavonoid biosynthesis.

Read:
The chromosome-scale genomes of two cultivated safflowers (Carthamus tinctorius) provide insights into the genetic diversity resulting from domestication
rdcu.be
August 30, 2025 at 1:00 AM
New research demonstrates that targeted deletion of α-gliadin genes on chromosome 6D can simultaneously improve gluten functionality and reduce immunogenic epitopes associated with celiac disease.

Full article:
Deletion of wheat alpha-gliadins from chromosome 6D improves gluten strength and reduces immunodominant celiac disease epitopes
rdcu.be
August 29, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Enhancing nutrient content in wheat is vital for improving food quality and security. This study identifies stable, pleiotropic QTL influencing the accumulation of multiple essential elements, providing a foundation for breeding nutritionally enhanced wheat varieties.

Article:
Stable pleotropic loci controlling the accumulation of multiple nutritional elements in wheat
rdcu.be
August 29, 2025 at 1:04 AM
QTL mapping identifies stable major locus on chromosome 3B conferring powdery mildew resistance in strawberry.

Full article:
A major QTL region associated with powdery mildew resistance in leaves and fruits of the reconstructed garden strawberry
rdcu.be
August 28, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Sex differentiation plays a key role in hybrid seed production and yield in cucurbit crops. This study fine-maps a major locus controlling subgynoecy in chieh-qua and identifies a strong candidate gene, offering new tools and insights for breeding female-biased lines.

Read:
Fine mapping and identification of CqMYB62 as the subgynoecy gene in chieh-qua (Benincasa hispida Cogn. var. Chieh-qua How)
rdcu.be
August 28, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Targeted editing of Ghd7 and PRR37 regulatory regions fine-tunes heading date in elite rice varieties. Precision approach adjusts flowering time while enhancing yield potential.

Full Article:
A major QTL region associated with powdery mildew resistance in leaves and fruits of the reconstructed garden strawberry
rdcu.be
August 27, 2025 at 7:01 AM