Telomeres are highly repetitive DNA sequences found at the ends of chromosomes that protect the chromosomes from deterioration duringcell division. Here, using whole-genome re-sequencing and terminal restriction fragment assays, we found substantial natural intraspecific variation in telomere length in Arabidopsis thaliana, rice (Oryza sativa), and maize (Zea mays). Genome-wide association study (GWAS) mapping in A. thaliana identified 13 regions with GWAS-significant associations underlying telomere length variation, including a region that harbors the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene. Population genomic analysis provided evidence for a selective sweep at the TERT region associated with longer telomeres. We found that telomere length is negatively correlated with flowering time variation not only in A. thaliana, but also in maize and rice, indicating a link between life-history traits and chromosome integrity. Our results point to several possible reasons for this correlation, including the possibility that longer telomeres may be more adaptive in plants that have faster developmental rates (and therefore flower earlier). Our work suggests that chromosomal structure itself might be an adaptive trait associated with plant life-history strategies.

Telomeres cap the physical ends of eukaryotic chromosomes to ensure complete DNA replication and genome stability. Heritable natural variation in telomere length exists in yeast, mice, plants and humans at birth; however, major effect loci underlying such polymorphism remain elusive. Here, we employ quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping and transgenic manipulations to identify genes controlling telomere length set point in a multi-parent Arabidopsis thaliana mapping population. We detect several QTL explaining 63.7% of the total telomere length variation in the Arabidopsis MAGIC population. Loss-of-function mutants of the NOP2A candidate gene located inside the largest effect QTL and of two other ribosomal genes RPL5A and RPL5B establish a shorter telomere length set point than wild type. These findings indicate that evolutionarily conserved components of ribosome biogenesis and cell proliferation pathways promote telomere elongation.

Our study investigates the intra- and interpopulation diversity of phytopathogenic fungi, using Microdochium nivale as a model organism. A total of 136 strains, representing two populations, were collected from different winter cereal crops (rye, wheat, and triticale) across two agrocenoses. In these strains, we analyzed and compared genetic and phenotypic traits, exploring potential relationships between them. Significant genetic and phenotypic diversity was revealed among the assayed strains, with most exhibiting distinctive genetic features compared to previously characterized strains from other countries. Both populations included highly virulent and lowly virulent strains, with the majority displaying similar virulence levels across different cereal crops. Some strains demonstrated differential virulence toward different crops, and some even exhibited a plant-beneficial effect on rye while being virulent to wheat and triticale. The percentages of strains with specific genetic traits were different in the two analyzed populations. Our study lays the groundwork for identifying genetic markers associated with phenotypic traits in the studied strains, which will aid in developing reliable diagnostics for predicting crop loss risk and improving disease management. Furthermore, it will assist in identifying reliable sources of resistance to M. nivale-induced diseases within the winter cereal gene pool.

Biomedical and Pharmacology Journal (BPJ) is an International Peer Reviewed Research Journal in English language whose frequency is six monthly. The journal seeks to promote research, exchange of scientific information, consideration of regulatory mechanisms that affect drug development and utilization, and medical education.

Fungicide treatment is one of the most common methods for controlling fungal plant diseases. However, many phytopathogenic fungi develop resistance to fungicides. Addressing this agriculturally important issue requires comprehensive investigations into fungicide resistance. Our study aims to assess the degree and prevalence of resistance to carbendazim—one of the most widely used fungicides—in populations of Microdochium nivale, the causal agent of the deleterious plant disease pink snow mold; to explore possible relationships between carbendazim resistance and physiological and genetic traits; and to gain insight into the molecular basis of carbendazim resistance in this species. We showed that carbendazim resistance is widespread in the analyzed M. nivale populations, and that the application of carbendazim increases the proportion of resistant strains. Nevertheless, carbendazim-resistant strains are present at high relative abundance in populations that have never been exposed to fungicides. Carbendazim resistance in M. nivale is strongly associated with sequence variations in the β-tubulin gene, resulting in amino acid sequence variability that leads to differential affinity for carbendazim. Additionally, we propose a metabarcoding-based approach employing a genetic marker linked to a specific phenotypic trait to assess the ratio of genotypes with contrasting properties within a particular fungal species in environmental communities.