Characterization of genetic diversity in germplasm collections requires an efficient set of molecular markers. We assessed the efficiency of 36 new SCoT markers, 10 new ISSR markers, and 5 microsatellites for the characterization of genetic diversity in chrysanthemum core collection of 95 accessions (Russian and foreign cultivars). Seven new SCoT (SCoT12, 20, 21, 23, 29, 31, 34) and six new ISSR markers ((GA)8T, (CT)8G, (CTTCA)3, (GGAGA)3, (TC)8C, (CT)8TG) were efficient for the genetic diversity analysis in Chrysanthemum × morifolium collection. After STRUCTURE analysis, most Russian cultivars showed 20–50% of genetic admixtures of the foreign cultivars. Neighbor joining analysis based on the combination of SSR, ISSR, and SCoT data showed the best accordance with phenotype and origin compared to the separate analysis by each marker type. The position of the accessions within the phylogenetic tree corresponded with the origin and with some important traits, namely, plant height, stem and peduncle thickness, inflorescence type, composite flower and floret types, flower color, and disc color. In addition, several SCoT markers were suitable to separate the groups distinctly by the phenotypical traits such as plant height (SCoT29, SCoT34), thickness of the stem and peduncle (SCoT31, SCoT34), and leaf size and the floret type (SCoT31). These results provide new findings for the selection of markers associated with important traits in Chrysanthemum for trait-oriented breeding and germplasm characterization.

Background: Cold and frost are two serious factors limiting the yield of many crops worldwide, including the tea plant(Camellia sinensis(L.) Kuntze). The acclimatization of tea plant from tropical to temperate climate regions resulted in unique germplasm in the North–Western Caucasus with extremely frost-tolerant genotypes.Methods: The aim of the current research was to evaluate the physiological, biochemical and genetic responses of tolerant and sensitive tea cultivars exposed to cold (0 to +2 °C for 7 days) and frost (−6 to −8 °C for 5 days). Relative water content, cell membranes integrity, pH of the cell sap, water soluble protein, cations, sugars, amino acids were measured under cold and frost. Comparative expression of the following genes ICE1, CBF1, WRKY2, DHN1, DHN2, DHN3, NAC17, NAC26, NAC30, SnRK1.1, SnRK1.2, SnRK1.3, bHLH7, bHLH43, P5CS, LOX1, LOX6, LOX7 were analyzed.Results: We found elevated protein (by 3–4 times) and cations (potassium, calcium and magnesium) contents in the leaves of both cultivars under cold and frost treatments. Meanwhile, Leu, Met, Val, Thr, Ser were increased under cold and frost, however tolerant cv. Gruzinskii7 showed earlier accumulation of these amino acids. Out of 18 studied genes, 11 were expressed at greater level in the frost- tolerant cultivar comparing with frost-sensitive one: ICE1, CBF1, WRKY2, DHN2, NAC17, NAC26, SnRK1.1, SnRK1.3, bHLH43, P5CSandLOX6. Positive correlations between certain amino acids namely, Met, Thr, Leu and Ser and studied genes were found. Taken together, the revealed cold responses in Caucasian tea cultivars help better understanding of tea tolerance to low temperature stress and role of revealed metabolites need to be further evaluated in different tea genotypes.

Osmotic stress is a major factor reducing the growth and yield of many horticultural crops worldwide. To reveal reliable markers of tolerant genotypes, we need a comprehensive understanding of the responsive mechanisms in crops. In vitro stress induction can be an efficient tool to study the mechanisms of responses in plants to help gain a better understanding of the physiological and genetic responses of plant tissues against each stress factor. In the present study, the osmotic stress was induced by addition of mannitol into the culture media to reveal biochemical and genetic responses of tea microplants. The contents of proline, threonine, epigallocatechin, and epigallocatechin gallate were increased in leaves during mannitol treatment. The expression level of several genes, namely DHN2, LOX1, LOX6, BAM, SUS1, TPS11, RS1, RS2, and SnRK1.3, was elevated by 2–10 times under mannitol-induced osmotic stress, while the expression of many other stress-related genes was not changed significantly. Surprisingly, down-regulation of the following genes, viz. bHLH12, bHLH7, bHLH21, bHLH43, CBF1, WRKY2, SWEET1, SWEET2, SWEET3, INV5, and LOX7, was observed. During this study, two major groups of highly correlated genes were observed. The first group included seven genes, namely CBF1, DHN3, HXK2,SnRK1.1, SPS, SWEET3, and SWEET1. The second group comprised eight genes, viz. DHN2, SnRK1.3, HXK3, RS1, RS2,LOX6, SUS4, and BAM5. A high level of correlation indicates the high strength connection of the genes which can be co-expressed or can be linked to the joint regulons. The present study demonstrates that tea plants develop several adaptations to cope under osmotic stress in vitro; however, some important stress-related genes were silent or downregulated in microplants.

Persimmon germplasm in the Western Caucasus represent one of the most northerly collections. In our study, 51 commercial cultivars of D. kaki, 3 accessions of D. virginiana and 57 D. lotus accessions from six geographically distant populations were investigated using 19 microsatellite and 10 inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. After STRUCTURE analysis, the single accessions of Diospyros were allocated to three genetic clusters. Genetic admixtures in the important genotypes of D. kaki were revealed, whereas D. lotus accessions showed no admixture with other genetic clusters. The correspondence of genetic data and phenotypical traits was estimated in the D. kaki collection. The most frost tolerant genotypes of the collection, such as “Mountain Rogers”, “Nikitskaya Bordovaya”, “Rossiyanka”, “MVG Omarova”, “Meader”, “Costata”, “BBG”, and “Jiro”, showed a high percentage of genetic admixtures and were grouped close to D. virginiana. Some of these genotypes are known to be interspecific hybrids with D. virginiana. A low level of genetic diversity between the distant D. lotus populations was revealed and it can be speculated that D. lotus was introduced to the Western Caucasus from a single germplasm source. These results are an important basis for the implementation of conservation measures, developing breeding strategies, and improving breeding efficiency.