- 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).
Nibbles: Using genebanks, Fonio collecting, Bean breeding, Caribbean PGR networking, Cotton breeding, Conflict prevention, Beer foam characterization, Soil microbes, 7ITS
- IRRI DG on the Kasalath story and its wider implications.
- French collect fonio. Glad someone is.
- CIAT bean breeder complains about having too much diversity to play with.
- Caribbean needs a regional genebank, catalogue of germplasm. What, still?
- Improving cotton in Texas one (or two) chromosomes at the time.
- Managing livestock-predator conflicts. The name of the game is prevention.
- Candidate gene for improved beer foam identified. I knew all that genomics stuff would come in useful eventually.
- Diverse root biome helps plants survive drought.
- Gear up for the 7th International Triticeae Symposium, or 7ITS as it is widely, if unfortunately, known.
Nibbles: Potato/banana, European landrace project, GCARD2, Ankole in Uganda, Crowdsourcing gadgets, Cacao renewal, African food, Australian beans
- BBC pounces on CCAFS report previously trumpeted by Bioversity. Bottom line: adaptation may mean changing crops. Bottom bottom line: Will they have enough diversity?
- PGR Secure newsletter is out.
- GCARD2 rumbles on.
- The ankole cow is threatened. What, still?
- Tracking ash dieback. And since we’re talking gadgets…
- Old cacao trees being replaced in Nigeria. No word on what’s happening to the diversity they represent. Maybe it’s ex situ already? Maybe it’s not significant? I dunno, I would just like to be told.
- Slow Food documents African foods. Thankfully no ugali.
- Aussies put together cool bean collection.
Nibbles: Complementary conservation, Ash dieback, EUCARPIA meeting, AnGR, Green Revolution history, Fellowship, Canadienne cows, Sustainable intensification
- So apparently field genebanks are “monotonous orchards packed with tropical trees spanning as far as the eye can see.”
- Any ash genebanks, I wonder, field or otherwise?
- EUCARPIA pre-breeding pre-meeting.
- FAO moans about progress in conserving livestock.
- The Green Revolution deconstructed.
- Good news for procrastinators: the deadline for Vavilov-Frankel Fellowship applications has been extended to 18 November. Ignore the date of 11 November.
- Saving the endangered Canadienne cow. In other news, there’s a Canadienne cow.
- Friends of the Earth doesn’t think much of “sustainable intensification“.
Nibbles: Potato blight, Ag statistics, Biofortification, Biofortified potatoes, Insect food, Genuine mozzarella, Agricultural history
- Breeder of blight-resistant potatoes stands up for gardeners who grow blight-susceptible potatoes.
- Hungry for better ag statistics? FAO hears you.
- “Biofortification is an obstacle to food justice”. Just an opinion, obviously.
- And not necessarily one shared by the USDA: Breeding better fruits and veggies, including vitamin-A enriched potatoes.
- Women, gardens, community health … we’ve heard this all before. So why is it still news?
- Diana Buja shares tips on how to catch flying ants, and other goodies, the better to savour their deliciousness.
- A beginner’s guide to everything called pepper.
- A new test for cow’s milk in mozzarella di bufala, can also separate the sheep from the goats. Can I get a pocket version?
- The transition to agriculture in North America.