National Gene Bank

This work was for screening and evaluating the distinctness of ten accessions of Vigna; V. radiata (accession 1 and 2) and V. unguiculata subspecies cv-group: unguiculata (accessions 3 to 10) and study the impact of storage conditions on DNA quality in different materials, the integrity and quality of stored DNA, and to determine the best way to store of DNA extracts in Vigna collected from different times and sites in Egypt. Out of 48 attributes, 24 characters were only morphological characteristics. Data demonstrated by the PCA that had grouped into three main components which all together accounted for 63.4% of the variance. They showed that PC1 accounted for about 31.65%, PC2 for 18.21% and PC3 for 13.54%. The PERMAP-Biplot showed the attributes stipule length, plant hairiness, flower color and number of main branches are most important to separate V. radiata accessions (1 and 2) from the rest ones. The concentration of DNA was measured for before and after each treatment stored in under different protectant and conditions. Data showed the protectant trehalose (43.6 ng/L) for stored DNA, were the best preserving agent at room temperature. The silica-gel appeared the best way to conserve the tissue for conducting molecular progress. The results of chemical composition analysis showed that the accession 10 scored the highest value (60.6%) of carbohydrate. For protein percentage, the accession 4 was the highest value (30.3%). They were also analyzed by the PCR-based marker techniques (SSR, SCoT and CAPS). The PIC value of SSR was 0.86 for Eh08 primer and minor value was 0.62 for Eh03 primer; with an average of 0.67. While the Major PIC value of SCoT was 0.34 for SCoT-02 and the lowest value was 0.12 for SCoT-12; with an average of 0.25. the Major PIC value of CAPS was 0.16 for C-19 and the lowest value for C-20 and C-21; with an average of 0.11. It could be concluded that the morphological, chemical and molecular attributes were characteristics for each germplasm. It also supported the use of protectant agents to preserve the DNA and tissue for long time which showed the best protectant was using trehalose and silica gel.

The level of variation in date palm cultivars and among Phoenix species, and their structure of DNA molecules can play a beneficial role in the efficient utilization of germplasm resources. The background of evolutionary gene flow and diversity of cultivars are essential factors for these variabilities. Investigating the diversity has been utilized successfully in date palm genetic identification and improvement, a rapid increase in date palm genome sequences and DNA barcoding in date palm varieties. Furthermore, it is significant to verify the material obtained and analyze genetic diversity. Identification of genotypes is even related highly to individual palms. Date palm improvement can be achieved by recent and novel platforms such as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR), competitive allele specific PCR (KASP) markers and targeting induced local lesions in genomes (TILLING). We highlight the most useful various molecular markers and DNA barcoding tha...

This work described the ten cowpea accessions using morphological, agronomical, and molecular characterization and select the desirable cowpea accession for improvement. Twenty-four characteristics were quantitative attributes. Data demonstrated by the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) increasing in some components associated with a decrease in eigenvalues, which gave its max at three factors. The PCA was arranged into three main components, which altogether valued at 63.40%. The matrix of PCA data is standardized. The coordinates were calculated for Bi-plot mapping using the Perceptual Mapping (PERMAP). Radiata accessions (1 and 2) fell into a group. Unguiculata accessions are classified further into two sub-groups. The accessions (4 and 6) dropped into a sub-group, and the rest gathered into another sub-group. The PCR-based marker technique, SSR markers, were also analyzed. These markers gave a total of 64 alleles with 51.32% of polymorphism. A total of 26 alleles were polymorphi...

Current knowledge suggests that not all genomic information transmits across subsequent generations. Variability in date palm genomes comes from the infidelity of DNA replication and segregation of unequal chromosomes. DNA lesions in nature are also the source of genomic alteration. Additionally, exposure of explants to external factors such as UV light and chemical mutagens can result in a new useful mutation. Biological cell systems deal naturally with the numerous DNA damages to maintain the date palm genome integrity by evolving several response systems such as checkpoint responses to various DNA damage types. Checkpoints are a well-known control mechanism in the plant cell cycle and respond to DNA replication breaks of dsDNA and diverse other types of DNA damage. Varied evidence indicates that genomic instability is probably the key reason for mutagenesis and the main factor in releasing new desirable mutants against abiotic stress. Thus, understanding how date palm tissues are...

Inter-varietal hybridization is a powerful tool for genetic improvement and production of new genotypes for a trait of interest. Four parents of faba beans (Vicia faba L.) were hybridized using agromorphological and molecular characterization to obtain genotypes resistant to the chocolate spot disease. The study was done at the Nubaria Research Station, Giza, Egypt. Eight traits including resistance to chocolate spot, days to flowering, plant height (cm), number of branches/plant, number of pods/plant, number of seeds/plant, 100-seed weight (g), and seed yield/plant were estimated during the three growth seasons of 2016/2017, 2017/2018, and 2018/2019. Genetic parameters revealed by RAPD and ISSR markers assessed the genetic variation of genotypes with their generations. Crosses 1 (P1 “Nubaria-1” x P2 “Sakha-1”), 2 (P1 “Nubaria-1” x P3 “T.W”), and 3 (P1 “Nubaria-1” x P4 “Camolina”) revealed high resistance to disease with high yield. Markers patterned specific loci of resistant paren...

The present study aimed to estimate genetic variability and determine the relationships among eight Jew’s Mallow (Corchorus olitorius L.) accessions and five Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) accessions obtaining from National Gene Bank (NGB). This study was carried out 15 morphological traits of Jew’s Mallow and 11 characters for Lettuce, as well as karyotype and ISSR-PCR analyses. Significant differences were recorded for almost criteria of Jew’s Mallow, especially leaf length and leaf width, no. of leaves per plant, weight of harvested leaves and harvested index, except weight of total plant. Accessions 8 and 7 possessed higher values than others for important characteristics, leaf length and leaf width, no. of leaves per plant, weight of harvested leaves and harvested index. Estimate of heritability in broad sense was high (range from 67.56 – 93.55 %). Karyotype analysis confirmed that accession 8 was the highest values, while the accession 7 possessed the lowest values for chromosomal characters. Amplified DNA fragments produced a total 39 bands, ranging from 207 – 1807bp. A total 36 bands were polymorphic with mean of polymorphism 92.31%. Investigated eight accessions was divided into two groups at distance 0.760. The first group includes accession 1; and the second group further divided into two subgroups. The highest similarity (0.99) was recorded between accessions 4 and 6. High significant differences were recorded for most traits specially position young leaf, position of leaves, size and weight of head. Accession 1 possessed the 5 highest values for important leafy traits. The important leafy traits varied in heritability estimate (25.34 – 95.65%). The accession 5 recorded the highest values for chromosomal traits. Amplified DNA fragments produced a total of 25 bands ranging from 194 – 1247 bp. A total of 22 bands were polymorphic with average percentage of polymorphism was 83.30%. Investigated five accessions were divided into two groups at distance 0.95. The first group included accession 1 only. The second group was further divided into two subgroups at distance 0.99. The highest similarity (1.00) was recorded between accession 3 and accession 5.

The science of bioinformatics is emerging as a tool to understand genome sequences. In this chapter, compilation of the advances in various aspects of bioinformatics in date palm is attempted. Computational tools are useful in discovering new molecular markers, analyzing gene function, mutations, microRNAs and structural biology. In silico mined new molecular markers covering simple sequence repeat regions, single nucleotide polymorphism/insertion-deletion regions from date palm genome sequences are reviewed in detail. The in silico analysis of gene sequences and their promoter motifs of date palm genome is briefly described. The genes, promoters or genomic regions analyzed using bioinformatics approaches in date palm covered here include the traits of abiotic stress tolerance, sex determination, invertase enzyme activity and color of fruit peel, phytochelators and metal-responsive genes. MicroRNA molecules and their target genes in date palm predicted using computational approaches are discussed. Digital image analysis of fruits and seeds, structural biology, molecular modeling and docking studies attempted in date palm are also reviewed. The chapter gives a list of computational resources and tools useful for bioinformatics workers and date palm research. A road map is presented covering the role of future bioinformatics of date palm and comparative genomics of palms.

Grape (Vitis vinifera L.) is assumed as one of the most valuable and popular fruit crops all over the world. In this study, ten of local grape germplasm were characterized considering phenotypic diversity and genetic features under Egyptian conditions. Selected local grapes; Baltim Eswid, Edkawy, Matrouh Eswid, Bez El-Naka, Bez El-Anza, Romy Abiad, Romy Ahmer, Gharibi, Fayoumi and Banaty, were spread geographically among seven national governorates. A total of 58 attributes were characterized grape germplasm for the distinctness of vine parts. For molecular characterization, 9 nuclear SSR loci were analysed. Data revealed a broad sense of similarity at the level of studied morphological attributes, where the highest similarity (0.93) was between Romy Ahmer and Romy Abiad. A total of 24 alleles, ranging from 124 - 253 bp in size, were detected at the nine tested loci with an average of 2.67 alleles per locus. The amplification products in all of the 9 SSRs loci showed polymorphism among the 10 grapevine cultivars. The genetic relatedness among most of the cultivars was in accordance with their identification based on ampelographic properties. Data of phenotypic and molecular analysis revealed high variability of Vitis germplasm in Egypt and contributed substantially to our awareness of valuable local grape genetic resources which are on the verge of extinction.