Key message Cold tolerance in sorghum is largely stage- and environment-specific yet partially shared genetic control allows improvement across developmental stages with mostly modest, trait-specific trade-offs. Abstract Cold tolerance is a major constraint to sorghum production in temperate environments, and its improvement is therefore a key breeding objective. However, cold tolerance varies across developmental stages and e...

With the increasing accuracy and decreasing cost of sequencing technology, the extent of structural variation (SV) and its importance in crop species has become increasingly evident. SVs such as insertions, deletions, and inversions have been associated with genetic variation of agronomically important traits and the diversification of crop species. Pangenomes aim to capture the genetic diversity of a species, population or ge...

Key message Pangenome graphs enable population-scale genotyping and improve expression analysis, revealing that structural variations (SVs), particularly transposable elements (TEs), significantly contribute to gene expression variation in winter oilseed rape. Abstract Structural variations (SVs) impact important traits, from yield to flowering behaviour and stress responses. Pangenome graphs capture population-level diversity...

Key message We identified novel physiological and genetic responses to phosphorus starvation in sorghum diversity lines that augment current knowledge of breeding for climate-smart crops in Europe. Abstract Phosphorus (P) deficiency and finite P reserves for fertilizer production pose a threat to future global crop production. Understanding root system architecture (RSA) plasticity is central to breeding for P-efficient crops....

Key message PHOTOPERIOD-1 homoeologous gene copies play a pivotal role in regulation of flowering time in wheat. Here, we show that their influence also extends to spike and shoot architecture and even impacts root development. Abstract The sequence diversity of three homoeologous copies of the PHOTOPERIOD-1 gene in European winter wheat was analyzed by Oxford Nanopore amplicon-based multiplex sequencing and molecular markers...

Key message Simulation planned pre-breeding can increase the efficiency of starting a hybrid breeding program. Abstract Starting a hybrid breeding program commonly comprises a grouping of the initial germplasm in two pools and subsequent selection on general combining ability. Investigations on pre-breeding steps before starting the selection on general combining ability are not available. Our goals were (1) to use computer si...

Key message Transcriptomic and epigenomic profiling of gene expression and small RNAs during seed and seedling development reveals expression and methylation dominance levels with implications on early stage heterosis in oilseed rape. Abstract The enhanced performance of hybrids through heterosis remains a key aspect in plant breeding; however, the underlying mechanisms are still not fully elucidated. To investigate the potent...

In the coming decades, larger genetic gains in yield will be necessary to meet projected demand, and this must be achieved despite the destabilizing impacts of climate change on crop production. The root systems of crops capture the water and nutrients needed to support crop growth, and improved root systems tailored to the challenges of specific agricultural environments could improve climate resiliency. Each component of roo...

Major global crops in high-yielding, temperate cropping regions are facing increasing threats from the impact of climate change, particularly from drought and heat at critical developmental timepoints during the crop lifecycle. Research to address this concern is frequently focused on attempts to identify exotic genetic diversity showing pronounced stress tolerance or avoidance, to elucidate and introgress the responsible gene...

Key message Complementing or replacing genetic markers with transcriptomic data and use of reproducing kernel Hilbert space regression based on Gaussian kernels increases hybrid prediction accuracies for complex agronomic traits in canola . In plant breeding, hybrids gained particular importance due to heterosis, the superior performance of offspring compared to their inbred parents. Since the development of new top performing...

Key message A novel structural variant was discovered in the FLOWERING LOCUS T orthologue BnaFT.A02 by long-read sequencing. Nested association mapping in an elite winter oilseed rape population revealed that this 288 bp deletion associates with early flowering, putatively by modification of binding-sites for important flowering regulation genes. Abstract Perfect timing of flowering is crucial for optimal pollination and high...

Key message A comprehensive linkage atlas for seed yield in rapeseed. Abstract Most agronomic traits of interest for crop improvement (including seed yield) are highly complex quantitative traits controlled by numerous genetic loci, which brings challenges for comprehensively capturing associated markers/genes. We propose that multiple trait interactions underlie complex traits such as seed yield, and that considering these co...