The number of viruses identified in sweet cherry has been constantly increasing over the last few years, following the broad application of high throughput sequencing (HTS). Some of these were repo...

Addressing principal challenges in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) breeding requires a holistic approach. A combined strategy was implemented to assess seven genotypes (landraces and commercial varieties) for yield potential, stability and resistance to bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) under Mediterranean low-input conditions. Pure-line selection and prognostic breeding together with SSR and CAPS-SCAR marker-assisted selection (MAS) formed the core methodology. Significant variation was detected across 24 morpho-agronomic descriptors, while SSR revealed 48.57% polymorphic loci and private alleles in specific landraces. High genetic coefficients of variation and high heritability were recorded for yield-related traits. Phenotypical evaluation showed diverse responses to BCMV, with mild symptoms predominating (52.14%). Entries G1 (45%) and G5 (35%) exhibited the highest frequency of the symptomless resistant phenotype. Molecular screening at I and bc-3/eIF4E loci confirmed G5’s robust dominant I gene profile, while G1 included individuals carrying both the dominant I gene and recessive bc-3, offering a valuable source for pyramiding resistance. Additionally, G1 (LI = 2.35; 100%) performed strongly in productivity, whereas G2 (SI = 3.1; 100%) and G7 (SI = 2.8; 89.7%) exhibited exceptional stability. Overall, the mixed-model approach highlighted the complementary characteristics of the tested genotypes and identified G1, G2, G5 and G7 as promising candidates for future breeding programs targeting high yield, low-input adaptability and resistance to BCMV.

Rye landraces (Secale cereale L.) are an important source of genetic diversity and continue to offer valuable opportunities for the development of productive and well-adapted cultivars. Despite their breeding potential, relatively little is known about the field performance and yield stability of elite genotypes selected from heterogeneous landraces under Mediterranean growing conditions. In this study, fifteen elite rye half-sib families selected under nil-competition from the traditional Greek landrace “Vevi” were evaluated together with the original population and the commercial cultivar ‘Dukato’ across three contrasting Mediterranean environments. The objectives were to assess their agronomic performance, investigate genotype × environment interaction, and identify promising germplasm combining high yield with broad adaptation using AMMI and GGE biplot analyses, complemented by sixteen parametric and non-parametric stability indices. Grain yield, seed protein content, plant height, and days to ear emergence were recorded. Broad-sense heritability was consistently high (H² = 0.95–0.99), whereas environmental conditions explained most of the observed phenotypic variation. Grain yield showed a positive association with plant height (r = 0.651, p < 0.01) and a negative association with days to ear emergence (r = –0.703, p < 0.01). Among the evaluated genetic materials, G9 and G11 combined high productivity with stable performance across environments, while G6 produced the highest grain yield but was better suited to favourable environments. The close agreement among the different stability analyses increased confidence in family ranking and selection. Overall, the results highlight the considerable breeding value of the traditional Greek rye landrace “Vevi” and demonstrate that combining multi-environment testing with complementary stability analyses provides an effective framework for identifying elite rye genotypes with high yield potential and broad adaptation to Mediterranean environments.