ORCID Profile
0000-0003-2773-7865
Current Organisations
University of Helsinki
,
Western Sydney University
,
Natural Resources Institute Finland
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Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 13-02-2023
Abstract: Rice (Oryza sativa L.) has inherently low concentrations of nitrogen (N) and zinc (Zn), and those concentrations are falling as the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide ([CO2]) increases, threatening the quality of human diets. We investigated the effect of two levels of Zn supply (marginal and luxury), on Zn and N concentrations in whole grain of two indica rice cvv. Differing in Zn-efficiency (IR26 (inefficient) and IR36 (efficient)), grown in sand culture at ambient (400 µL CO2 L−1 (a[CO2])) and elevated (700 µL CO2 L−1 (e[CO2])) CO2 concentrations. For both cvv., luxury Zn-supply increased vegetative growth, and the foliar and grain Zn concentrations the increases in grain yield were greater at e[CO2]. The e[CO2] decreased grain Zn concentrations ([Zn]), as is consistently observed in other studies. However, unique to our study, luxury Zn-supply maintained grain N concentrations at e[CO2]. Our data also show that enhanced Zn uptake is the basis of the greater Zn-efficiency of IR36. Lastly, luxury Zn-supply and e[CO2] appreciably decreased the time to panicle emergence and, consequently, to maturity in both cvv. Since Zn-supply can be manipulated by both soil and foliar applications, these findings are potentially important for the quality and quantity of the global rice supply. That is, further investigation of our findings is justified. Key message: Luxury zinc supply maintains grain N concentration at 700 µL CO2 L−1.
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 13-10-2021
Abstract: Faba bean is a cool-season grain legume crop, which is grown worldwide for food and feed. Despite a decrease in area under faba bean in the past, the interest in growing faba bean is increasing globally due to its high seed protein content and its excellent ecological service. The crop is, however, exposed to erse biotic and abiotic stresses causing unstable, low grain yield. Although, sources of resistance to main diseases, such as ascochyta blight ( Ascochyta fabae Speg.), rust ( Uromyces viciae-fabae (Pers.) Schroet.), chocolate spot ( Botrytis fabae Sard.) and gall disease ( Physioderma viciae ), have been identified, their resistance is only partial and cannot prevent grain yield losses without agronomical practices. Tightly associated DNA markers for host plant resistance genes are needed to enhance the level of resistance. Less progress has been made for abiotic stresses. Different breeding methods are proposed, but until now line breeding, based on the pedigree method, is the dominant practice in breeding programs. Nonetheless, the low seed multiplication coefficient and the requirement for growing under insect-proof enclosures to avoid outcrossing h ers breeding, along with the lack of tools such as double haploid system and cytoplasmic male sterility. This reduces breeding population size and speed of breeding hence the chances of capturing rare combinations of favorable alleles. Availability and use of the DNA markers such as vicine-convicine ( vc − ) and herbicide tolerance in breeding programs have encouraged breeders and given confidence in marker assisted selection. Closely linked QTL for several biotic and abiotic stress tolerance are available and their verification and conversion in breeder friendly platform will enhance the selection process. Recently, genomic selection and speed breeding techniques together with genomics have come within reach to accelerate the genetic gains in faba bean. Advancements in genomic resources with other breeding tools, methods and platforms will enable to accelerate the breeding process for enhancing genetic gain in this species.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 13-03-2021
DOI: 10.3390/SU13063155
Abstract: Over the years, cultivation using sustainable tillage practices has gained significant importance, but the impact of tillage on soil water infiltration is still a concern for landowners due to the possible effects on crop yield. This study investigates the impact of different tillage managements on the infiltration rate of sandy clay loam soil under a semiarid environment. Field experiments were conducted in Chott Mariem Sousse, Tunisia. The tillage practices consisted of three treatments, including a tine cultivator (TC, 16 cm), moldboard plows (MP, 36 cm) and no-tillage (NT). Three infiltration models, Kostiakov, Philip and Horton, were applied to adjust the observed data and evaluate the infiltration characteristics of the studied soils. Comparison criteria, including the coefficient of determination (R2), along with the root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE), were used to investigate the best-fit model. The results showed that moldboard plowing enhanced soil infiltration capacity relative to tine cultivation and no-tillage treatments. The mean saturated hydraulic conductivity was highest under MP, while it was lowest in NT, with 33.4% and 34.1% reduction compared to TC and MP, respectively. Based on the obtained results, Philip’s model showed better results with observed infiltration due to a higher R2 (0.981, 0.973 and 0.967), lower RMSE (3.36, 9.04 and 9.21) and lower MAE (1.46, 3.53 and 3.72) recorded, respectively, for NT, MP and TC. Horton’s model had a low regression coefficient between observed and predicted values. It was suggested that the Philip two-term model can adequately describe the infiltration process in the study area.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 23-10-2023
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 22-11-2020
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2016
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2022
DOI: 10.1016/J.ECOENV.2022.114217
Abstract: Excessively high concentrations of selenium (Se) in soil are toxic to crop plants, and inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can reverse Se stress in maize (Zea mays L.). To investigate the underlying mechanisms, maize seedlings were treated with sodium selenate (5 mg Se[VI] kg
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 15-12-2020
DOI: 10.20944/PREPRINTS202012.0372.V1
Abstract: Faba bean (Vicia faba L.), a member of the Fabaceae family, is one of the important food legumes cultivated in cool temperate regions. It holds great importance for human consumption and livestock feed because of its high protein content, dietary fibre, and nutritional value. Major faba bean breeding challenges include its mixed breeding system, unknown wild progenitor, and genome size of ~13 Gb, which is the largest among diploid field crops. The key breeding objectives in faba bean include improved resistance to biotic and abiotic stress and enhanced seed quality traits. Major progress on reduction of vicine-convicine and seed coat tannins, the main anti-nutritional factors limiting faba bean seed usage, have been recently achieved through gene discovery. Genomic resources are relatively less advanced compared to other grain legume species, but significant improvements are underway due to a recent significant increase in research activities. A number of bi-parental populations have been constructed and mapped for targeted traits in the last decade. Faba bean now benefits from saturated synteny‐based genetic maps, along with next-generation sequencing and high-throughput genotyping technologies that are paving the way for marker-assisted selection. Developing a reference genome, and ultimately a pan-genome, will provide a foundational resource for molecular breeding. In this review, we cover the recent development and deployment of genomic tools for faba bean breeding.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 18-02-2021
DOI: 10.1002/LEG3.75
Abstract: Faba bean ( Vicia faba L.), a member of the Fabaceae family, is one of the important food legumes cultivated in cool temperate regions. It holds great importance for human consumption and livestock feed because of its high protein content, dietary fibre, and nutritional value. Major faba bean breeding challenges include its mixed breeding system, unknown wild progenitor, and genome size of ~13 Gb, which is the largest among diploid field crops. The key breeding objectives in faba bean include improved resistance to biotic and abiotic stress and enhanced seed quality traits. Regarding quality traits, major progress on reduction of vicine‐convicine and seed coat tannins, the main anti‐nutritional factors limiting faba bean seed usage, have been recently achieved through gene discovery. Genomic resources are relatively less advanced compared with other grain legume species, but significant improvements are underway due to a recent increase in research activities. A number of bi‐parental populations have been constructed and mapped for targeted traits in the last decade. Faba bean now benefits from saturated synteny‐based genetic maps, along with next‐generation sequencing and high‐throughput genotyping technologies that are paving the way for marker‐assisted selection. Developing a reference genome, and ultimately a pan‐genome, will provide a foundational resource for molecular breeding. In this review, we cover the recent development and deployment of genomic tools for faba bean breeding.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 08-09-2023
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 07-09-2020
Abstract: Grain legumes are commonly used for food and feed all over the world and are the main source of protein for over a billion people worldwide, but their production is at risk from climate change. Water deficit and heat stress both significantly reduce the yield of grain legumes, and the faba bean is considered particularly susceptible. The genetic improvement of faba bean for drought adaptation (water deficit tolerance) by conventional methods and molecular breeding is time-consuming and laborious, since it depends mainly on selection and adaptation in multiple sites. The lack of high-throughput screening methodology and low heritability of advantageous traits under environmental stress challenge breeding progress. Alternatively, selection based on secondary characters in a controlled environment followed by field trials is successful in some crops, including faba beans. In general, measured features related to drought adaptation are shoot and root morphology, stomatal characteristics, osmotic adjustment and the efficiency of water use. Here, we focus on the current knowledge of biochemical and physiological markers for legume improvement that can be incorporated into faba bean breeding programs for drought adaptation.
Location: Iran (Islamic Republic of)
No related grants have been discovered for Paul Milham.