Genetius

The study examined leaf pavement cell shape complexity across a natural European aspen (Populus tremula) population, using GWAS to pinpoint the transcription factor MYB305a as a regulator of cell geometry. Functional validation showed that MYB305a expression is induced by drought and contributes to shape simplification, with cell complexity negatively correlated with water-use efficiency and climatic variables of the genotypes' origin.

A genome‑wide association study of 187 bread wheat genotypes identified 812 significant loci linked to 25 spectral vegetation indices under rainfed drought conditions, revealing a major QTL hotspot on chromosome 2A that accounts for up to 20% of variance in greenness and pigment traits. Candidate gene analysis at this hotspot uncovered stress‑responsive genes, demonstrating that vegetation indices are heritable digital phenotypes useful for selection and genetic analysis of drought resilience.

Using a forward genetic screen of 284 Arabidopsis thaliana accessions, the study identified extensive natural variation in root endodermal suberin and pinpointed the previously unknown gene SUBER GENE1 (SBG1) as a key regulator. GWAS and protein interaction analyses revealed that SBG1 controls suberin deposition by binding type‑one protein phosphatases (TOPPs), with disruption of this interaction or TOPP loss‑of‑function altering suberin levels, linking the pathway to ABA signaling.

The study combined high-throughput image-based phenotyping with genome-wide association studies to uncover the genetic architecture of tolerance to the spittlebug Aeneolamia varia in 339 interspecific Urochloa hybrids. Six robust QTL were identified for plant damage traits, explaining up to 21.5% of variance, and candidate genes linked to hormone signaling, oxidative stress, and cell‑wall modification were highlighted, providing markers for breeding.

The study investigates how the timing of the vegetative phase change (VPC) in Arabidopsis thaliana influences drought adaptation, revealing strong genotype-by-environment interactions that create stage-specific fitness tradeoffs. Genotypes from warmer, drier Iberian climates transition earlier, and genome-wide association mapping identifies loci linked to VPC timing and drought response, with several candidates validated using T‑DNA insertion lines.

The study developed a high‑throughput phenotyping platform and applied dual GWAS using SNPs and k‑mers to dissect broomrape resistance in a diverse sunflower association mapping population. It confirmed known QTLs with higher resolution, identified novel resistance genes such as leucine‑rich repeat receptor kinases, and highlighted introgressions from wild Helianthus species uncovered by k‑mer mapping.

The study assembled and resequenced a diverse panel of 265 teff (Eragrostis tef) landraces, generated a high‑quality reference genome for its wild progenitor Eragrostis pilosa, and elucidated teff’s domestication origin in Ethiopia. Genome‑wide association analyses identified key loci for seed color (involving TT7 and TT2 orthologs) and panicle architecture (an ortholog of DEP1), providing genomic resources to accelerate teff breeding.

The authors developed and validated a high‑density Axiom SNP array for potato (Solanum tuberosum) by sequencing 108 diverse clones and integrating ~929 k variants with existing markers, ultimately refining a set of 206 k robust markers for high‑throughput genotyping. The array demonstrated >99.8% reproducibility, enabled detailed population structure analysis, and successfully identified variants associated with polyphenol oxidase activity, achieving genomic prediction accuracies of 0.72‑0.86, thereby supporting genomic‑assisted breeding in potato.

The study used a GWAS of 166 Iberian Arabidopsis accessions to uncover genetic loci influencing the inhibitory effect of the auxin precursor indole‑3‑acetamide (IAM) on primary root growth, identifying ABA3 and GA2ox2 as key candidates. Functional analyses indicated that IAM triggers abscisic acid biosynthesis and activates ABA signaling, linking IAM to a novel node of hormone crosstalk that suppresses root elongation.

The study combined multi‑season phenotyping of kernel iron, zinc, and protein content with whole‑genome resequencing of a groundnut mini‑core collection to perform GWAS, uncovering numerous marker‑trait associations and candidate genes involved in mineral and protein homeostasis. SNP‑based KASP markers were designed and validated, with three polymorphic markers identified for use in genomics‑assisted breeding of nutrient‑dense groundnut varieties.