molecular-breeding
Molecular breeding is the application of molecular biology tools—including marker-assisted selection, genomic selection, and genetic engineering—to improve desirable traits in plants at the DNA level. By linking genetic markers to traits of interest, breeders can select for complex characteristics with far greater precision and speed than traditional methods allow. This approach accelerates the development of crops and other plants with improved yield, stress tolerance, disease resistance, and other agronomically valuable properties.
open_in_new WikipediaPubMed · 2026-04-06
Scientists discovered that a small protein derived from a gene's 'antisense' strand can boost root growth and trigger production of rare fragrant compounds in agarwood trees, opening a new path for sustainable agarwood farming.
The antisense-derived peptide anti-AsWOX11 significantly enhanced adventitious root growth in Aquilaria sinensis (agarwood tree) compared to untreated plants.
Treatment induced production of two novel volatile compounds — α-gurjunene and α-cedrene — not previously associated with this pathway, expanding the tree's fragrance profile.
Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses confirmed the peptide modulates hormone signaling networks involved in both root development and secondary metabolite biosynthesis simultaneously.
