Lentil quantitative trait loci (QTL) related to plant structure (branches at first node, height of first node, total number of branches, plant height), growth habit (flowering time, pod dehiscence) and yield (number of seeds, seed weight, seed diameter) were located using a F2 population of 113 individuals derived from the intersubspecific cross of Lens culinaris ssp. culinaris and L. c. ssp. orientalis. Several traits were found to be significantly correlated. Using interval and composite interval mapping a total of 23 QTL for nine quantitative traits were located. No QTL was identified for the number of F3 seed produced. Six QTL were positioned respectively in linkage groups III and VI, and five QTL in linkage group I. Each remaining group included one or two QTL, except groups VII and IX where no QTL was found. The multiple QTL model explained more than 80% of the observed phenotypic variance with logarithm of the odds (LOD) scores above 10 for three of the quantitative traits analyzed (branches at first node, flowering time, and dehiscence). For the remaining traits the phenotypic variance explained was relatively low, between the 50% and 20%, and the LOD scores ranged between 4 and 8. The possible homology between some QTL and other previously described is discussed in relation to their chromosomal location.

Usage of high-throughput sequencing approaches allow for the generation and characterization of reference transcriptome datasets that support gene-based marker discovery, which in turn can be used to build genetic maps among other purposes. We have obtained a transcriptome assembly including 49,453 genes for the lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) cultivar Alpo using RNAseq methodology. This transcriptome was used as reference to obtain 6,306 quality polymorphic markers (SNPs and short indels) analyzing genotype data from a RIL population at F₇ generation derived from the interspecific cross between L. culinaris cv. Alpo and L. odemensis accession ILWL235. L. odemensis is a wild species included in the secondary gene pool and can be used as a source for gene introgression in lentil breeding programs. Marker data were used to construct the first genetic interspecific map between these two species. This linkage map has been used to precisely identify regions of the CDC-Redberry lentil draft genome in which the candidate genes for some qualitative traits (seed coat spotting pattern, flower color, and stem pigmentation) could be located. The genome regions corresponding to a significant single quantitative trait locus (QTL) controlling “time to flowering” located in chromosome 6 and three QTLs regulating seed size and positioned in chromosomes 1 and 5 (two QTLs) were also identified. Significant QTLs for Ascochyta blight resistance in lentil were mapped to chromosome 6 in the genome region or close to it where QTLs for Ascochyta blight resistance have previously been reported.

Maize (Zea mays L.) suspension‐cultured cells with up to 70% less cellulose were obtained by stepwise habituation to dichlobenil (DCB), a cellulose biosynthesis inhibitor. Cellulose deficiency was accompanied by marked changes in cell wall matrix polysaccharides and phenolics as revealed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Cell wall compositional analysis indicated that the cellulose‐deficient cell walls showed an enhancement of highly branched and cross‐linked arabinoxylans, as well as an increased content in ferulic acid, diferulates and p‐coumaric acid, and the presence of a polymer that stained positive for phloroglucinol. In accordance with this, cellulose‐deficient cell walls showed a fivefold increase in Klason‐type lignin. Thioacidolysis/GC‐MS analysis of cellulose‐deficient cell walls indicated the presence of a lignin‐like polymer with a Syringyl/Guaiacyl ratio of 1.45, which differed from the sensu stricto stress‐related lignin that arose in response to short‐term DCB‐treatments. Gene expression analysis of these cells indicated an overexpression of genes specific for the biosynthesis of monolignol units of lignin. A study of stress signaling pathways revealed an overexpression of some of the jasmonate signaling pathway genes, which might trigger ectopic lignification in response to cell wall integrity disruptions. In summary, the structural plasticity of primary cell walls is proven, since a lignification process is possible in response to cellulose impoverishment.