Zhihui Yuan

Background: Genebanks around the globe serve as valuable repositories of genetic diversity, offering not only access to a broad spectrum of plant material but also critical resources for enhancing crop resilience, advancing scientific research, and supporting global food security. To this end, traditional genebanks are evolving into biodigital resource centers where the integration of phenotypic and genotypic data for accessions can drive more informed decision-making, optimize resource allocation, and unlock new opportunities for plant breeding and research. However, the curation and availability of interoperable phenotypic and genotypic data for genebank accessions is still in its infancy and represents an obstacle to rapid scientific discoveries in this field. Therefore, effectively promoting FAIR (i.e., findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable) access to these data is vital for maximizing the potential of genebanks and driving progress in agricultural innovation. Findings: Here we provide whole genome sequencing data of 812 barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) plant genetic resources and 298 European elite materials released between 1949 and 2021, as well as the phenotypic data for 4 disease resistance traits and 3 agronomic traits. The robustness of the investigated traits and the interoperability of genomic and phenotypic data were assessed in the current publication, aiming to make this panel publicly available as a resource for future genetic research in barley. Conclusions: The data showed broad phenotypic variability and high association mapping potential, offering a key resource for identifying genebank donors with untapped genes to advance barley breeding while safeguarding genetic diversity.

In the realm of agricultural sustainability, the utilization of plant genetic resources (PGRs) for enhanced disease resistance is paramount. Preservation efforts in genebanks are justified by their potential contributions to future crop improvement. To capitalize on the potential of PGRs, we focused on a barley core collection from the German ex situ genebank, and contrasted it with a European elite collection. The phenotypic assessment included 812 PGRs and 298 elites with a particular emphasis on four disease traits (Puccinia hordei, Blumeria graminis hordei, Ramularia collo-cygni, and Rhynchosporium commune). An integrated genome-wide association study, employing both Bayesian-information and Linkage-disequilibrium Iteratively Nested Keyway (BLINK) and a linear mixed model, was performed to unravel the genetic underpinnings of disease resistance. A total of 932 marker-trait associations were identified and assigned to 49 quantitative trait loci. The accumulation of novel and rare resistance alleles significantly bolstered the overall resistance level in PGRs. Three PGR donors with high counts of novel/rare alleles and exhibited exceptional resistance to leaf rust and powdery mildew were identified, offering promise for targeted pre-breeding goals and enhanced resilience in forthcoming varieties. Our findings underscore the critical contribution of PGRs to strengthening crop resilience and advancing sustainable agricultural practices.

Adaptive changes in crops contribute to the diversity of agronomic traits, which directly or indirectly affect yield. The change of pubescence form from appressed to erect is a notable feature during soybean domestication. However, the biological significance and regulatory mechanism underlying this transformation remain largely unknown. Here, we identified a major-effect locus, PUBESCENCE FORM 1 ( PF1 ), the upstream region of Mao1 , that regulates pubescence form in soybean. The insertion of a Ty3/ Gypsy retrotransposon in PF1 can recruit the transcription factor GAGA-binding protein to a GA-rich region, which up-regulates Mao1 expression, underpinning soybean pubescence evolution. Interestingly, the proportion of improved cultivars with erect pubescence increases gradually with increasing latitude, and erect-pubescence cultivars have a higher yield possibly through a higher photosynthetic rate and photosynthetic stability. These findings open an avenue for molecular breeding through either natural introgression or genome editing toward yield improvement and productivity.

Male‐sterile plants are used in hybrid breeding to improve yield in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). Developing the capability to alter fertility under different environmental conditions could broaden germplasm resources and simplify hybrid production. However, molecular mechanisms potentially underlying such a system in soybean were unclear. Here, using positional cloning, we identified a gene, MALE STERILITY 3 (MS3), which encodes a nuclear‐localized protein containing a plant homeodomain (PHD)‐finger domain. A spontaneous mutation in ms3 causing premature termination of MS3 translation and partial loss of the PHD‐finger. Transgenetic analysis indicated that MS3 knockout resulted in nonfunctional pollen and no self‐pollinated pods, and RNA‐seq analysis revealed that MS3 affects the expression of genes associated with carbohydrate metabolism. Strikingly, the fertility of mutant ms3 can restore under long‐d conditions. The mutant could thus be used to create a new, more stable photoperiod‐sensitive genic male sterility line for two‐line hybrid seed production, with significant impact on hybrid breeding and production.