The genus Colletotrichum, comprised of pathogenic fungi that affect plants grown worldwide, causes the disease known as anthracnose in several fruit and vegetable species. Several studies conducted on plants have shown that the disease is characterized by the presence of one or several species of the fungus attacking the fruit or other organs of the same host. To develop and implement effective control strategies, it is vital to understand the genetic structure of the fungus in agricultural systems, identify associated Colletotrichum species, and define the subpopulations responsible for the disease. Molecular tools were accordingly developed to characterize genotypic populations of Colletotrichum spp, causal agent of anthracnose in commercial crops of Andean blackberry (Rubus glaucus Benth.). A microsatellite-enriched library for Colletotrichum gloeosporioides was developed to identify and characterize microsatellite loci among isolates collected in R. glaucus plantations. Thirty microsatellites were developed and tested in 36 isolates gathered from eight different blackberry-production areas of Colombia. Ten pairs of microsatellites were polymorphic.

The species Rubus glaucus, also known as the Andean or "Castilla" blackberry, is one of nine edible species of this genus that grow naturally in Central and South America. In Colombia, this species is the most important of all Rubus species for agricultural and commercial purposes. We used 20 SSRs developed for other Rubus species to characterize 44 Colombian R. glaucus genotypes, collected from eight different departments, and to look for molecular differences between thornless and thorny cultivated blackberries. Eighty-two bands were obtained from 28 loci. The genotypes were classified into eight populations, corresponding to collection sites. The mean number of polymorphic alleles per locus in all populations and genotypes ranged from 1.857 to 2.393. Samples collected from Valle del Cauca, Quindío, Caldas, and Risaralda departments had the highest heterozygosity values. The finding of exclusive bands from R. glaucus genotypes from Valle del Cauca, Quindío, and Caldas demonstrates genetic and molecular differentiation between thorny and thornless Andean blackberries.

Rubus glaucus Benth (known as “mora de castilla”) is a Colombian agricultural product, with probably, the major potential. This fruit combines features of Idaeobatus and Rubus subgenera. Despite its recognized importance in the economy of small producers, this crop has received little technological development; as a result, sowing procedures of this specie is done by using local cultivars asexually propagated by producers. Associated Rubus producers in Colombia has noticed the necessity to formalize the offer of planting material, starting with plant breeding programs tending to the obtention of more productive varieties with morphological features that facilitates cultural activities. This study presents the results of the evaluation of SSR and SNPs markers obtained in previous experimental works from a RNA-Seq transcriptome analysis. It was evaluated 15 promissory R. glaucus cultivars, which could be potential progenitors in future breeding schemes. Genetic characterization was accomplished by testing 22 SSR microsatellite and 78 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) markers. From evaluated SSR markers, 15 yielded positive PCR amplification generating 29 loci and 58 alleles. From evaluated SNPs markers, 36 yielded positive PCR amplification. Obtained sequences from amplified products with SNPs showed high homology with species belonging to Rosaceae family. Selection criteria of progenitors were based on the results of molecular characterizations and useful morphological features in the culture management. This research demonstrates the utility of molecular markers to assess genetic diversity of potential progenitors susceptible to plant breeding processes. This process, highly known as development of parental populations, determines in a great manner the success of plant breeding processes.

Mercury is classified as one of the world’s most toxic and dangerous pollutants as it tends to bioaccumulate and biomagnify within the trophic chain and is persistent. Various approaches are available to remediate Hg-affected sites including phytoremediation, which includes the use of plants to clean up contaminated environments. The phytoremediation of mercury contamination is attracting increasing attention because of its advantages: it is environmentally friendly, inexpensive, simple, and can improve soil fertility. In this report, VOSviewer (version 1.6.1) and Bibliometrix (version 4.16) software were used to analyze 457 and 697 documents published from 2000 to 2023, retrieved from the databases WoS and Scopus, respectively. China, India, the United States, and Spain were the top four most productive countries. The largest topic area was environmental sciences, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences was the organization that contributed the most to the overall number of publications. The keywords with the highest frequency excluding phytoremediation and mercury in WoS were heavy metals, accumulation, cadmium, soils, and phytoextraction. In Scopus, the most frequent keywords were bioremediation, heavy metals, soil pollution, bioaccumulation, biodegradation, and environmental. From the above analysis, we concluded that future research should focus on (1) finding native plants, (2) genetic engineering applications, (3) increasing remediation ability through assisted phytoremediation, and (4) the detoxification mechanism of mercury. This study provides insights into trending themes and serves as a reference for future research.

This research aimed at performing the molecular characterization of commercial Papelillo avocado (Persea americana cv Lorena) cultivars from the municipality of Marsella (Risaralda, Colombia), as well as the physicochemical analysis and antioxidant activity assessment of the pulp and seed. An evaluation of 50 individuals among commercial varieties and possible patterns was performed using 17 microsatellite markers. Proximate analysis of the pulp was performed, and the fatty acid profile of oils, the antioxidant activity by the DPPH and FRAP methods, and the total phenolic content were evaluated. From the cluster analysis, Dice index, and Principal Coordinates Analysis, it became evident that all the individuals showed a tendency to group by populations. In addition, the pulp revealed high fiber contents (4.96–20.64%) and moisture (80.75–82.96%); however, it showed low oil content (5.97–6.56%). The fatty acid found in the highest proportion in seed oil is linoleic acid and that in pulp oil is oleic acid. The antioxidant activity by the DPPH method for seed oil (87.87 to 91.04%) presented a greater inhibition concerning to the pulp oil (20.34% and 24.43%), this same trend was observed by the FRAP method. Concerning the content of total phenols, the seed oil (31.94–76.30 mg GAE g-1) has a higher value than the pulp (30.18–54.30 mg GAE g-1). The set of samples was characterized as a significant source of genetic variability; thanks to the excellent alternatives they provide as rootstocks for commercial varieties such as the ‘Lorena’ cultivars. The chemical classification carried out in this study is of great importance, due to the lack of information about the oil of the ‘Papelillo’ avocado cultivated in different regions of Colombia.

Rubus glaucus is widely distributed throughout the three mountain ranges of Colombia, where the blackberry growers have highlighted the need to standardize the supply of planting material, starting with plant breeding schemes that lead to more productive varieties with morphological characteristics that ease agricultural activities. Plant breeding activities have improved by considering the pollination mechanisms of plants. The implementation of controlled sexual hybridization depends on these pollination mechanisms, and several plant breeding methods have been adapted to crop pollination patterns. Morphological characteristics and studies on the floral biology of R. glaucus Benth were conducted to improve plant breeding processes. In addition, a study on pollen viability and stigma receptivity were performed. The reported morphological characteristics of R. glaucus enabled characterization of its flowers as complete and perfect with a regular, actinomorphic, perianth heterochlamydeous, dialipetalous, and dialisepalous structure. Meanwhile, the evaluation of different collection times for pollen viability revealed significant differences. The highest pollen viability occurred at 10:00 am, followed by 9:00 am. Qualitative evaluation of stigma receptivity led to the conclusion that the highest stigma receptivity is at anthesis at 12:00 m.