- Analyses of pig genomes provide insight into porcine demography and evolution. More wild diversity in Asia, suggesting origin there, followed by migration to Europe. Separate domestication in SE Asia and Europe, followed by geneflow.
- Whole genome SNP discovery and analysis of genetic diversity in Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo). Lot less diverse than chicken. Or pig. Commercial breed even less diverse.
- Why size really matters when sequencing plant genomes. We must not shy away from the big genomes.
- QTL mapping in three tropical maize populations reveals a set of constitutive and adaptive genomic regions for drought tolerance. Eureka!
- Crops that feed the world 8: Potato: are the trends of increased global production sustainable? Maybe. But can you guess what will be needed? Nice review of genebank holdings and improvement strategies and aims.
- Physico-chemical Characterization of Unexploited Mango Diversity in Sub-mountane Zone of Northern India. 28 varieties in the Punjab, with all kinds of different uses.
- Germination Rate is the Significant Characteristic Determining Coconut Palm Diversity. Natural and artificial selection associated with different rates of germination (as well as other phenotypic traits of course).
It’s germplasm evaluation, Jim, but not as we know it
Next generation sequencing (NGS) holds the promise for a more efficient approach to germplasm evaluation whereby a carefully selected subset of accessions can be sequenced and phenotyped in detail; associations discovered between genotypes and phenotypes in this subset could be used to predict the phenotype of other accessions based on sequence data alone.
Ah, “the promise.” Always the promise. But actually, in this document, “Technical appraisal of strategic approaches to large-scale germplasm evaluation,” some of the practicalities are spelled out, and in quite a lot of detail. You be the judge of whether the vision outlined in that opening quote is of a far-away, Star Trek world, or something that’s really just around the next corner. You can comment on the document itself, or here if you prefer.
Nibbles: Polymotu, Korean genebank, Arizona fruits, B4N, Rice song, Medieval food
- A “grand, almost surreal vision” of coconut conservation.
- A grandish vision of ex situ crop conservation in Korea.
- A very down-to-earth vision of fruit conservation in Arizona.
- An extremely wacky vision of the post-agricultural world.
- A workmanlike vision of biodiversity for nutrition project.
- A musical vision of rice husking.
- A historical vision of food in the Middle Ages.
ISO certification: What is it good for?
Do genebanks need ISO certification to maintain standards? Or accreditation. Or whatever. We have talked about the issue of quality assurance here in the past. But a random Facebook status update of mine on the subject recently elicited a stronger reaction than I had seen in a while. What do you think? Comment here, or on Facebook. We’ll figure out a way of bringing it all together if there’s a good response.
Nibbles: Vegetables, UK funding, Oz funding, Oz genebank, Jefferson, Hawaiian food, Markets, Tree seeds, NUS journal, Geographic targeting, ITPGRFA, Arabica and climate, Protected areas, European farmland biodiversity, Sustainable use, Ethiopian seed video
- Palestinian rooftop gardens. Including crucifers, no doubt.
- Brits support work with rice and wheat wild relatives. Among other things. They’ll probably use some of these genomics things.
- Aussies support sweet potatoes. HarvestPlus rejoices.
- That new Australian genebank. Will it have any sweet potatoes?
- The agricultural legacy of Thomas Jefferson. It doesn’t say here, but I bet he was into sweet potato.
- Hawaiian menus. What, no sweet potato?
- Forget biotech, the road to sexy agriculture is via the supermarket. Where you can buy sweet potato. Maybe even of the organic persuasion.
- Or maybe better tree seeds. Even in the Nordic countries. Or the US. Is cacao a tree?
- Plans for special edition of Sustainability on neglected crops. Like amaranth?
- Geographic targeting reaches roots/tubers. Using this newfangled atlas? Or no?
- Treaty and Consortium love-in filmed. Thanks for sharing. It’s all part of this CGIAR perestroika thing, no doubt.
- What that Kew coffee extinction paper really said.
- Protected areas need work. Especially for coffee (see above).
- Yeah but protected areas is not the only way to go, and Europe now has a bunch of biodiversity indicators for farmland. I guess it’s all part of some big plan.
- Policy brief on sustainable use of PGR. Or, as we used to call it, on farm conservation.
- Which you can kind of see happening here.