Genetic modeling of growth curve parameters in llamas is fundamental for breeding programs; however, previous studies have relied predominantly on two-stage frequentist approaches or conventional MCMC algorithms (Gibbs/Metropolis-Hastings), which present limitations regarding computational efficiency and simultaneous incorporation of multiple information sources. The objective of this study was to compare nonlinear functions (Brody, Gompertz, and von Bertalanffy) and jointly estimate growth curve parameters (asymptotic weight, A; scaling parameter, B; and maturation rate, k), variance components, and heritabilities in young llamas through hierarchical Bayesian modeling implemented with the No-U-Turn Sampler (NUTS) algorithm via Stan/brms. We analyzed 11,409 monthly weight records from birth to 365 days of age from 1000 llamas (456 males and 544 females) of K'ara and Ch'accu breeds from the Quimsachata Experimental Station (Peru). A three-stage hierarchical Bayesian model was adopted: (i) normal likelihood for weights conditioned on individual curves; (ii) multivariate animal model for parameters A, B, and k, including systematic effects (sex and breed) and additive genetic effects; and (iii) normal prior distributions for standard deviations. Posterior sampling (4000 post-warmup iterations) showed adequate convergence according to the Gelman-Rubin, Geweke, and Effective sample size diagnostics. The von Bertalanffy model was selected as the most parsimonious (Watanabe-Akaike Information Criterion (WAIC) = 20104.8; Leave-One-Out Information Criterion (LOOIC) = 27588). Estimated heritabilities for A were high (0.79 - 0.87), while those associated with parameters B and k were close to zero (0.007 – 0.075). We conclude that the hierarchical Bayesian approach with NUTS/brms is computationally efficient and statistically robust for analyzing growth curves in llamas, evidencing high genetic potential for adult weight selection, in contrast to the low heritability of curve shape parameters. This study represents the first application of the NUTS algorithm in hierarchical growth models for South American camelids.
Breeding strategies in commercial Eucalyptus plantations have largely relied on crosses among hybrid genotypes, resulting in the recurrent selection of a limited number of superior clones. In this context, the development of inbred lines represents a complementary approach to broaden breeding schemes and improve genetic control. However, obtaining self-fertilized seeds in predominantly allogamous species is labor-intensive, technically challenging, and costly. In this study, we evaluated whether seed morphological screening, combined with seed collection from the central areas of monoclonal plantations, could improve germination efficiency, seedling uniformity, and the identification of self-fertilized individuals. Although widely adopted in breeding programs, this strategy does not guarantee the exclusive production of selfed seeds. Seeds from four commercial Eucalyptus urophylla × E. grandis clones were collected from the center of monoclonal plantations. The seeds were screened using granulometric sieves and classified according to size and uniformity, followed by weight-based separation using a seed blower. Germination rate was assessed two weeks after sowing, seedling height three months after germination, and tree height and circumference at breast height (CBH) 18 months after planting. Genetic parameters included selfing rate, observed heterozygosity, fixation index, and allelic profiles obtained from 16 SSR markers. Germination rates varied among genitors and morphological categories, with consistently higher values observed for larger and heavier seeds. Seed screening significantly increased the overall germination efficiency and promoted greater seedling uniformity. However, substantial variation in selfing rates was detected among genitors, and the morphological categories showed a limited ability to discriminate selfed individuals, except for one genitor. Seedling height was influenced by seed morphology, whereas associations between individual fixation index and growth were trait-, stage-, and progeny-dependent. Overall, seed morphological screening represents a practical and potentially valuable strategy to enhance seedling production from seeds, reduce operational costs and support breeding programs aimed at increasing genetic diversification in commercial Eucalyptus plantations.
This study aims to assess the viability of detoxified camellia seed cake (CSC) as an unconventional feed component for grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), and to examine its dose-dependent impacts on growth performance, physiological health, muscle quality, and myogenic gene expression. A 90-day feeding trial was conducted on grass carp (starting body weight: 194.50 ± 0.80 g) using five isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets supplemented with varying quantities of detoxified CSC (0%, 1%, 3%, 5%, and 7%, dry weight basis). The findings indicated that 1% CSC food supplementation did not negatively impact growth performance. A 3% dietary inclusion level of detoxified CSC was identified as the threshold for inducing significant improvements in grass carp flesh quality. Although the introduction of CSC at levels ≥3% reduced feed efficiency and growth performance, it did not significantly affect the survival rate. Importantly, this level of CSC significantly improved muscle nutritional composition, increased the content of flavor-related amino acids and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, and enhanced textural attributes. These improvements were associated with the upregulation of myogenic regulatory factors (MyoG, Myf5, MyoD) and downregulation of myostatin genes (MSTN1, MSTN2). This offers a theoretical foundation and technical direction for the optimal utilization of the phytochemicals in CSC.
Silicon (Si), a chemical element, enhances sustainable wheat productivity by improving plant turgidity, nutrient uptake, enhancing beneficial microbial effects and improving yield under drought conditions. Limited studies with Si fertilization explored the gene action and inheritance patterns of yield and yield-related traits in wheat. The objective of this study was to assess the genetic determinants of yield and yield components in newly developed wheat populations under Si fertilization to guide breeding and select desirable parents and progenies for variety development. Seven wheat parents were selected based on yield and drought tolerance and were crossed using a full diallel mating design. Forty-two full-sibs were generated and evaluated along the parents under controlled environment conditions, without and with granular Si application (3g/pot) for precision phenotyping and selection. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed significant genotype (G) by Si treatment (T) interaction (p < 0.05) affecting the number of kernels per spike (KPS), aboveground biomass (AGB) and grain yield (GY). Maternal effects were significant for plant height (PH), productive spike number (PS) and kernels per spike (KPS) with Si application. Si application significantly (p < 0.05) improved the general combining ability (GCA) effects for PH, PS, spikelets per spike (SPS), KPS; hundred seed weight (HSW), harvest index (HI) and GY. The specific combining ability (SCA) effects were significant (p < 0.05) for PH, PS, KPS, HSW and GY with Si application. With Si application, positive and significant SCA effects were recorded for GY for direct crosses MC4 x MC8 (1.57) and MC6 x MC10 (2.68). The GCA/SCA ratio was relatively higher (0.77) for KPS, with Si application indicating the preponderance of additive genes. Overall, the Si application complemented the additive gene effect on yield and yield-related traits in both direct and reciprocal crosses. Further research is required to examine the accumulation of maximum favourable additive genes in advanced generations of wheat through field evaluations of the breeding populations under Si application.
Speed breeding is an advanced and innovative plant breeding approach designed to accelerate crop improvement by shortening generation time under controlled environmental conditions and has garnered considerable attention in the field of agriculture. It primarily relies on manipulating key growth factors such as extended photoperiod (often 20–24 h of light), optimized temperature regimes and high-intensity artificial lighting to promote rapid plant development and early flowering. These controlled conditions enable multiple generations per year compared to one or two under conventional field conditions. Core methodologies of speed breeding include the use of growth chambers, glasshouses with supplemental lighting and precise regulation of light quality, temperature and humidity. Additionally, high-density planting phenotyping technology, immature seed germination (pigeon pea, chickpea and soybean, cultivation from seeds of oven-dried immature pods, CO2 supplementation and early seed harvest techniques are commonly employed to maximize throughput. Integration with modern breeding tools such as marker-assisted selection (MAS), genomic selection, genome editing like CRISPR-cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats), genomics, phenomics, proteomics, doubled haploid technology and AI tools further enhances efficiency by enabling rapid selection of desirable traits. Major applications of speed breeding span crop improvement programs for cereals (e.g., wheat, rice, barley), legumes (e.g., pigeonpea, chickpea), oilseeds (soybean, groundnut) and horticultural crops (Root, Tuber and Banana (RTB) crops). It is particularly valuable for developing varieties with improved yield, disease resistance, abiotic stress tolerance and climate resilience potential to revolutionize crop breeding and enhance agricultural productivity. Plant varieties development with high productive capacity and resilience in wheat (DS Faraday), peanut, chickpea, pea, barley and canola and high-yielding, disease-resistant, climate-resilient varieties of potato like Punjab Potato 101, 102 and 104).Speed breeding also supports functional genomics studies, trait introgression and rapid fixation of desirable alleles. Overall, it represents transformative strategy to meet global food security challenges by significantly reducing the time required to develop improved crop varieties. This review article explores the concept, methods and potential applications of speed breedingand provided valuable insights into its contributions to modern agriculture.
As climate change accelerates, the impact on barley production, particularly in water-limited regions, is becoming more pronounced. This study assesses the physiological and agronomic responses of nine barley genotypes from Morocco, Egypt, and Tunisia under rainfed conditions across two growing seasons (2021 and 2022) in northwestern Morocco. The aim was to evaluate the vulnerability of Mediterranean barley and identify drought-resistant genotypes by analyzing key physiological traits and adaptive capacities under varying precipitation levels. A comprehensive analysis was conducted, focusing on morphological traits (peduncle length, PL; flag leaf area, FLA), physiological traits (canopy temperature depression, CTD; transpiration rate, E; chlorophyll content, SPAD; total chlorophyll; chlorophyll fluorescence, Fv/Fm), and agronomic performance (grain yield, GY; plant height, PH; harvest index, HI; shoot dry weight, SDW). ANOVA results showed that genotype origin was the primary source of variation for several traits (59-90% of total variability), while the growing season significantly affected CTD, PL, HI, and E (>60% of the variation). Tunisian genotypes exhibited higher drought sensitivity, with a 43% reduction in GY, whereas Moroccan genotypes showed moderate resilience with a 7% decrease. Egyptian genotypes demonstrated the highest stability. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) confirmed a clear distinction between tolerant and sensitive genotypes, as well as a differentiation between the climatic conditions of the two growing seasons. Stepwise regression analysis revealed that RWC was the most influential trait for GY variability, explaining 76% of its variation in 2021 and 92% in 2022, while CTD contributed an additional 9% in 2021.
The SPL gene family plays a vital role in important processes such as leaf development, flowering, interaction with hormonal pathways, and response to environmental stresses, and its study is essential for understanding plant regulatory mechanisms. Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L), as a plant with economic and medicinal value, is a rich source of protein, B vitamins, and essential fatty acids. Genomic study of the SPL family in this plant can help improve its important agronomic and medicinal traits. In this study, using bioinformatics methods, the SPL gene family was identified and studied in the safflower genome. A total of 44 sequences containing the conserved SBP domain were identified. Computational studies of physicochemical features showed that the identified proteins have significant variation in sequence length (27 to 314 amino acids), molecular weight (7.97 to 931.2 kDa), and isoelectric point (8.41 to 11.03). Cellular localization prediction showed that 87% of the proteins are localized in the plasma membrane. The evolutionary relationships of SPL genes in safflower were identified by phylogenetic analysis. Computational analysis of motifs revealed a diverse range of conserved motifs ranging from 6 to 49 amino acids in length. Functional analysis of the promoters led to the identification of 271 unique regulatory elements. Gene ontology (GO) results showed that 44% of GO terms were related to molecular functions, 38% to biological processes, and 18% to cellular components. DNA binding (57.1%) and glycosyltransferase activity (35.7%) were identified as the most important molecular functions. Bioinformatic analyses of the SPL gene family provide new insights into the structural and functional diversity of this family and provide fundamental information for future functional studies in the field of plant breeding.
The term of culters collectively designates ichthyofauna comprising over ten piscine taxa within the subfamily Culterinae, family Cyprinidae, order Cypriniformes. In recent decades, aquaculture production of culters in China has exhibited a considerable surge, establishing them among the economically significant ichthyofauna in continental freshwater ecosystems. This review synthesizes current knowledge on extensively studied culters, spanning the genera Culter, Ancherythroculter, and Chanodichthys, including their biogeographical distributions and biological traits. Additionally, the advancements at molecular and genomic levels were comprehensively delineated, and the current progress in genetic breeding of culters — specifically distant hybridization, sex-controlled, and molecular-assisted breeding — was elucidated. Finally, the development problems and suggestions for the culters industry were raised. This study provides important foundations for the genetic breeding and industrial development of culters.
Global agriculture faces unprecedented challenges from climate change, soil degradation, and emerging pests and diseases, requiring innovative breeding strategies to sustain productivity. Among various approaches, induced mutation breeding and biotechnological tools together provide a rapid means to generate novel genetic variation for crop improvement. This review (i) summarizes the major progress achieved through physical and chemical mutagenesis in developing superior crop varieties, (ii) compares mutation breeding with recombinational (cross) breeding, emphasizing their complementary roles in generating and combining useful alleles, (iii) highlights molecular characterization platforms such as MutMap, TILLING, exome capture, and genotyping-by-sequencing for rapid mutant detection, (iv) discusses integration of mutation breeding with modern genome editing systems like CRISPR/Cas9 for precision trait improvement, and (v) outlines the role of international initiatives such as the IAEA Mutant Varieties Database in supporting global mutation breeding programs. The convergence of mutagenesis and biotechnology enables faster development of resilient and high-yielding cultivars with enhanced adaptability. This integrated breeding paradigm provides a forward-looking framework for sustainable food security under changing environmental conditions.
The neuropeptide kisspeptin, which acts primarily through its receptor kiss1R, is a critical regulator of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis in vertebrates. To investigate whether kisspeptin stimulates ovarian maturation in the migratory fish Coilia nasus, a species that grows in the ocean and spawns in freshwater, and whose asynchronous ovarian development poses a challenge for artificial propagation, synthetic kisspeptin2 was administered via intraperitoneal injection to both immature and mature female fish. Results showed that kisspeptin2 significantly upregulated the expression of key HPG axis genes in the brain (Kiss1R, GnRH1, GnRH2, FSHb) and ovary (Kiss1R, Foxl2, Cyp11a1). This gene upregulation was accompanied by significantly elevated serum levels of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and estradiol (E2), particularly at the higher dose of 0.5 μg/g. Moreover, kisspeptin2 treatment markedly promoted ovarian maturation, with 77.8% of mature fish in the high-dose group reaching early stage V development. Notably, Cyp11a1, encoding the enzyme that converts cholesterol to pregnenolone to initiate estradiol biosynthesis, was significantly upregulated in the ovary but not in the brain, indicating the presence of an ovary-specific steroidogenic pathway, potentially mediated by an extra-hypothalamic kisspeptin system. Together, these results demonstrate that kisspeptin2 plays a key role in activating the reproductive axis; the central activation of the HPG axis and the ovarian peripheral action of kisspeptin-kiss1R system collectively enhances steroidogenesis and drives ovarian maturation in C. nasus. This study offers important insights into the reproductive neuroendocrinology of migratory fish and contributes artificial breeding.
This study focuses on the dynamics of nuclear DNA fragmentation in Holstein bull sperm under technological stress, including freezing-thawing and incubation. The relevance of this research is due to the high incidence of infertility in livestock (up to 25% in bulls) and the economic losses associated with the use of low-quality semen in artificial insemination. Particular attention is given to the assessment of DNA integrity using alkaline comet assay and the Argus-CASA computer system, as well as analysis of the correlation between DNA fragmentation and sperm motility. Results showed that freezing-thawing followed by 3-h incubation leads to progressive DNA damage. The DNA content in the sperm head (Head DNA) decreased from 154.59 ± 0.56 to 150.34 ± 0.56 pixels (p < 0.01), while the proportion of DNA in the comet tail (Tail DNA) increased from 1.74 ± 0.01% to 2.02 ± 0.01%. The integral parameters Tail Moment and Olive Tail Moment increased by 33% and 22%, respectively, confirming increased fragmentation. At the same time, a sharp decrease was observed in the proportion of progressively motile sperm (PR%) from 48.12 ± 1.20% to 12.50 ± 0.12% after 3 h. Correlation analysis revealed a strong negative relationship between motility and DNA damage level (r = −0.92). The results demonstrate a pronounced detrimental effect of cryopreservation on bull sperm DNA integrity and motility, underscoring the need to optimize cryopreservation protocols and develop improved biomarkers for sperm quality assessment.
The Javaen barb is a native fish in Indonesian inland waters with economic value and potential as a cultured fish resource and ornamental commodity. To date, the development of Javaen barb fish farming remains limited, particularly due to sub-optimal physiological indicators. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of turmeric powder supplementation on increasing vitellogenesis activity, liver fucntion, gonadal maturity, and growth in female Javaen barb fish (BW of 81.43 ± 7.02 g). An experiment was performed experimentally with a fully randomised design encompassing four treatment groups with turmeric powder supplementation in differing quantities, namely K0) control (no turmeric powder supplementation), K1) 100 mg/100 g feed, K2) 250 mg/100 g feed, and K3) 500 mg/100 g feed. Each treatment was replicated six times. Feeding was carried out ad libitum three times a day for 90 days of rearing. The results showed that supplementation with 250 mg of turmeric powder/100 g of feed produced the most balanced overall response, enhancing vitellogenesis activity, physiological indicators, gonadal maturity, and growth, while maintaining acceptable liver physiological status. The gonadal maturity stage (GMS) of Javaen barb fish supplemented with turmeric powder (250 and 500 mg/100 g feed) reached the final position (GMS IV), whereas the control treatment was only in GMS II and III.
Cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) is a low input demand crop which is culturally held in high esteem in West Africa due to its food, nutrition and income security status. Its production and productivity in Ghana have been dwindled since the last four decades mainly due to inadequate improved varieties. There is the need for development and release of end-user preferred high yielding adaptable varieties of cocoyam. Wider genetic base is a prerequisite for breeding a very narrow genetic base crop such as cocoyam. Limited genetic diversity in cultivated gene pool threatens its genetic gain through hybridization. A large amount of genetic variability has been induced by various mutagens and contributed to modern plant breeding. This study aimed at identifying suitable irradiation dose range for purposeful mutation induction using gamma radiation, and to select superior mutants for food and income security. The work was carried out at the Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute (BNARI) of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Kwabenya-Accra, and the CSIR-Crops Research Institute (CSIR-CRI), Fumesua, Ghana. Pre-sprouted corms and cormels of three improved cocoyam varieties (CRI-Akyede, CRI-Gye me di and CRI-Ma ye yie) were exposed to 5 Gy, 10 Gy, 15 Gy, and 20 Gy gamma-radiation doses. Variations were observed in cormel yield, shape, dry matter content and cooking quality. The potential of gamma irradiation in broadening the genetic base of cocoyam for breeding was revealed. The highest number of mutants were from the 5 Gy (57.3%) and 10 Gy (38.8%) doses, but most of the useful mutants (54.2%) were from the 5 Gy dose. Genotypic and planting material type responses to the irradiation doses varied. Three superior mutants (2021, 2036, and 2043) were identified. These superior mutants require further testing multilocational for stability and adaptability towards their release as commercial varieties.
The body color of fish is a significant external morphological characteristic that often influences both their ornamental and economic value. Iridophores, display a spectrum of colors that varies with the wavelength of reflected light and constitute one of the predominant types of pigment cells involved in fish coloration. Bitterling is a kind of small freshwater ornamental fish. The mature body surface of male bitterling is brilliantly coloured and distributed with abundant iridophores, making it a great material for the study of iridophores development. However, it's difficult to study the body colour of bitterling under laboratory conditions due to the special breeding method, which requires mussels to accomplish fertilization and incubation. Exploring effective artificial insemination techniques for bitterling is the key to overcoming this problem. In this study, the ratio of spawning tube length to body length and body colour characteristics were used as the basis for female and male parental selection of bitterling, respectively, to establish an efficient artificial insemination technique for bitterling., which significantly improved the fertilization rate (96%), hatching rate (92%), and survival rate (80%). During the process of body color development of bitterling, the number of iridophores in the outermost fin of ventral increased continuously, and gradually formed a bright silvery-white color on the body surface. Ultrastructural observation revealed that the iridophores in the ventral fins of sexually mature male bitterling exhibit two distinct morphological structures, long spusiform and round granular. The number, distribution and morphological structure of iridophores play an important role in the body color formation of bitterling. The qPCR expressions of candidate genes pnp, edar, bmp4, dsg2 and dsc2 at different stages of body color development were compared and analyzed. These genes may be related to the development of the ventral fin of iridophores.The above research results provide a theoretical basis for exploring the molecular regulatory mechanisms of fish body color development and diversity.
The limited supply of key protein ingredients such as fishmeal and soybean meal critically constrains the sustainable development of global aquaculture. While feed formulation technologies have made considerable progress over past decades in alleviating this constraint, genetic improvement through selective breeding remains largely unexplored. In this study, we used the omnivorous yellow catfish as a model to investigate the physiological and genetic adaptations of an all-female population to a fishmeal-free low-protein diet, with the aim of breeding varieties with improved feed conversion efficiency. Individuals were tracked using passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags across two dietary regimes: a commercial diet (CD) containing 42.6% protein and 30.6% fishmeal, and a fishmeal-free low-protein diet (LD) with 38.1% protein and 0% fishmeal. After 16 weeks, the mean body weight of the LD group (23.03 g) was significantly lower than that of the CD group (25.24 g) (P < 0.05). Genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) of weight gain rate (WGR) in the LD group identified 32 SNPs significantly associated with LD utilization, among which 12 were clustered on chromosome 16. Integrated analysis of GWAS and RNA-seq revealed eight overlapping genes—polr3b, klhl35, ttc38, mapk12a, clec20a, ccdc78, cd22, and LOC113649797—enriched in pathways related to “carbohydrate binding” and “serine protein kinase activity”. Notably, a significant intronic SNP within clec20a was associated with WGR variation: homozygous mutant individuals (TT, n = 21) exhibited a markedly higher mean WGR (67.0%) than wild-type individuals (GG, n = 133, 45.2%). Haplotype analysis of clec20a identified five haplotypes, with Hap.02 exhibiting the highest mean WGR. Strikingly, the high-WGR phenotype (≥100%) was exclusively observed in Hap.02 carriers. These findings underscore the functional importance of clec20a in LD adaptation. This study establishes a molecular breeding foundation for improving feed efficiency of fishmeal-free low-protein diet in yellow catfish, supporting sustainable aquaculture through reduced reliance on conventional protein sources.
Salt stress is one of the major constraints plaguing the global agriculture sector, severely undermining food and nutritional security. Accelerated soil salinization driven by climate change and rising temperatures has increasingly affected wheat productivity and grain quality. In the present study, the impact of sodic stress on yield-related and biochemical traits was evaluated in a population of recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross between a salt-tolerant cultivar (KH 65) and a salt-sensitive cultivar (HD 2009). The tolerant parent, KH 65, has been widely utilized in breeding programs worldwide for developing salt-tolerant wheat varieties. Under sodic conditions, the sensitive cultivar HD 2009 cultivar exhibited a markedly higher grain yield reduction (44.19%) compared to KH 65 (10.81%). The estimated heritability (h2) values ranged from 0.52 for potassium (K+) content to 0.95 for days to anthesis (DTA), indicating a broad spectrum of genetic control among the evaluated traits. Grain yield (GY) trait showed significant positive genotypic correlations (p < 0.01) with thousand-grain weight (TGW), tiller number (TN), number of ears (NE), ear length (LE), plant height (PH), proline content, and potassium (K+) content, while exhibiting a significant negative correlation with sodium (Na+) content. Biochemical parameters were assessed in the flag leaf, while yield-related traits were measured at maturity. Multiple regression analysis revealed that proline and K+ content accounted for 58.5% and 38.1% of the total variability in grain yield, respectively (multiple R = 0.46). The key contributors to grain yield under sodic stress followed the order: proline > K+ > K+/Na+ ratio > NE. Principal component and cluster analyses further identified K+ content, K+/Na+ ratio, and proline content as major determinants of yield performance under sodic stress. Their strong positive association with grain yield, coupled with high heritability, underscores their potential as reliable selection criteria for breeding salt-tolerant wheat cultivars.
Siluriformes fish are widely distributed across China and are highly favored by consumers for their strong adaptability, rapid growth, palatable flesh, and low number of intermuscular bones. These attributes render them particularly well-suited for artificial aquaculture, highlighting their considerable economic value. Globally, the order comprises approximately 34 families and over 2300 species, representing 6.61% of all known fish species worldwide. In terms of genetic improvement, breeding programs have primarily focused on enhancing growth performance, leading to the successful development of several high-quality new varieties. For example, selective breeding has successfully produced the longsnout catfish (Leiocassis longirostris) “Chuanjiang No. 1”, which effectively mitigates issues related to germplasm degradation. In the field of hybrid breeding, superior varieties including channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) “Jiangfeng No. 1”, hybrid yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco) “Huangyou No. 1” and “Baixiong No. 1” have been developed, demonstrating significant advantages in growth rate, yield, and stress resistance. Regarding sex-controlled breeding, YY super-male yellow catfish and other lineages have been established through hormonal sex reversal, gynogenesis, and test cross validation. Significant advances have also been achieved in modern molecular breeding technologies. Molecular marker-assisted breeding has enabled the identification of X/Y chromosome-linked markers—such as AFLP, SCAR, SSR, and SNP—for precise trait locus selection. Furthermore, cutting-edge techniques including genome-wide selection, gene editing, stem cell-mediated nuclear transfer, and transgenesis have been successfully implemented. Collectively, these approaches have contributed to the establishment of a diversified and integrated breeding technology system. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the research history, industrial development, germplasm resources, and recent progress in the application of aquatic genetic breeding technologies for germplasm innovation in Siluriformes fish in China.
Cryopreservation a routine procedure in reproductive medicine, widely used for fertility preservation and donation. Among many implications the effect of cryopreservation on sperm telomere length (STL) is being researched, in recent times STL is regarded as a probable biomarker for sperm quality, chromosomal integrity and reproductive ability. This review aims to understand and highlight the current literature and future scopes of changes in STL following cryopreservation in infertile men.
In recent years, freshwater fisheries have experienced rapid development worldwide. However, poor water management practices associated with intensive, high-density aquaculture systems may accelerate eutrophication within aquaculture systems—posing a major challenge to the sustainable development of the finfish aquaculture industry. Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), one of the most widely cultivated herbivorous fish species characterized by rapid growth and high environmental adaptability, plays a pivotal role in the field of national aquaculture. To investigate the adaptive mechanisms of grass carp in eutrophic environments, a 30-day controlled culture experiment was conducted using lightly eutrophic water as the baseline rearing environment [Eutrophication levels were defined as follows: Lightly eutrophic: total nitrogen (TN) = 1.00 mg/L, total phosphorus (TP) = 0.100 mg/L; Moderate eutrophic: TN = 2.00–6.00 mg/L, TP = 0.200–0.600 mg/L; Severe eutrophic: TN = 9.00–16.00 mg/L, TP = 0.900–1.300 mg/L]. Two grass carp strains—the common strain and the gynogenetic disease-resistant strain—were reared under controlled eutrophic conditions.Using a multi-faceted analytical approach that included transmission electron microscopy, histological paraffin sectioning, blood smear analysis, quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR), and antioxidant enzyme activity assays, this study revealed that eutrophic conditions induce structural damage to multiple tissues and organs in grass carp. Furthermore, beneficial responses of the antioxidant system to environmental stress and immune activation were observed. Notably, the gynogenetic disease-resistant strain exhibited superior adaptability and more efficient inflammatory regulation than the common strain. Integrated transcriptomic analysis revealed that grass carp mitigate the adverse effects of eutrophication by upregulating metabolic processes and activating immune signaling pathways. Specifically, the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling pathways were found to function synergistically, thereby promoting the adaptation of grass carp to eutrophic environments.This study establishes a molecular basis for comprehensively elucidating the environmental adaptation mechanisms of fish, providing significant insights for the selective breeding of stress-tolerant aquatic species and the advancement of sustainable freshwater aquaculture practices.
Mustard (Brassica juncea) is a major oilseed crop, yet its yield and stability are constrained by a narrow genetic base and increasing biotic and abiotic stresses under changing climates. Although substantial progress has been made in mustard improvement, recent literature often treats traditional breeding, genomics, genome editing, hybrid systems and stress physiology as separate domains, limiting translation into integrated breeding pipelines. This review synthesizes recent advances in plant breeding technologies has significantly transformed strategies for increasing mustard yield by enabling precise modification of key agronomic characteristics and quality related traits. The quality of mustard oil has improved because of the precise manipulation of glucosinolate levels in mustard plants made possible by CRISPR/Cas9 technology, as demonstrated in experimental studies on Brassica juncea. Hybrid seed production has been significantly enhanced through the Barnase-barstar gene system, which enables stable male sterility and efficient exploitation of heterosis, leading to improved yield stability and robustness. In parallel, microsatellite markers have become indispensable tools for genetic diversity analysis, trait mapping and marker-assisted breeding. In India, the development of hybrids such as DMH-11 (Dhara Mustard Hybrid - 11) signifies the integration of molecular breeding and genetic engineering approaches aimed at enhancing productivity and reducing dependence on edible oil imports. Collectively, these advances highlight the critical role of genetic manipulation and molecular breeding strategies in improving stress resilience and achieving sustainable gains in mustard productivity.
