Jun 2026· Fishes· Vol 11, pp. 378· 0 citations· 61 references
TL;DR
This review systematically summarizes progress in Asian swamp eel genomics and proposes priority research avenues to strengthen the scientific foundation for resilient and sustainable swamp eel aquaculture.
Abstract
The Asian swamp eel (Monopterus albus), a commercially important freshwater aquaculture species in China and Southeast Asia, has attracted growing scientific interest owing to its natural protogynous hermaphroditism and substantial economic significance. Recent advances in genomics technologies have provided new insights into genetic improvement, disease resistance, and growth optimization in this species. However, a cohesive, up-to-date synthesis of the current genomic research landscape remains lacking. This review systematically summarizes progress in Asian swamp eel genomics: (i) reference genome development; (ii) population-level genetic diversity analysis; (iii) genome annotation and functional gene prediction; and (iv) applications of genomics in selective breeding, disease resistance enhancement, and growth performance optimization. We further evaluate emerging tools and platforms, highlight key technical constraints, and address ethical considerations and regulatory gaps in genome-informed aquaculture practices. Finally, we propose priority research avenues to strengthen the scientific foundation for resilient and sustainable swamp eel aquaculture.
This review synthesises the current state of genomic and transcriptomic resources available for spiny and slipper lobsters (Achelata), contextualising these within the broader decapod framework and proposing future directions integrating genomics, transcriptomics, and functional tools to accelerate sustainable domestication and genetic improvement of lobsters.
Courtney Lewis, Ahmad Farhadi, Susan Glendinning et al.· Reviews in Aquaculture· 0 citations
Aegilops geniculata Roth is a tetraploid wild relative of wheat distributed throughout the Mediterranean Basin, where it grows in a wide range of habitats. Due to its genetic diversity, ecological plasticity and adaptation to Mediterranean ruderal environments, the species has attracted increasing interest as a genetic resource for wheat improvement and as a potential component of sustainable agroecosystems. Beyond use in agriculture, its ecological characteristics also suggest applications in Nature-based Solutions, including revegetation of degraded, low-input, semi-arid ecosystems. This review aims to provide a comprehensive synthesis of current knowledge on the taxonomy, genetics, morphology, distribution, ecology, reproductive biology and conservation of Ae. geniculata. This work is complemented by original experimental data on agronomic traits and an assessment of ex situ conservation efforts. Evidence highlights the species’ value as a source of drought- and stress-adaptive traits for wheat improvement, plus promising cover crop traits (rapid establishment, stable biomass production and flexible germination behavior). Remaining knowledge gaps include population genomics, conservation of undercollected populations and field-scale agronomic performance to better clarify the potential of this species as a cover crop. This work supports further investigation of Ae. geniculata as both a valuable crop wild relative and a promising cover crop for Mediterranean agroecosystems.
Micol Orengo, F. Guzzon, A. Corli et al.· Sustainability· 0 citations
This review outlines foundational applications of omics in aquaculture and highlights the characteristics and current applications of distinct omics approaches, and summarizes three core application domains of omics in aquaculture.
Chao Guo, De-Qi Sun, Ben Yang et al.· Fishes· 0 citations
Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is a globally important C4 crop that contributes substantially to sugar production and renewable bioenergy systems. Modern sugarcane cultivars were derived from interspecific hybridization between high-sucrose S. officinarum and stress-resilient wild S. spontaneum, followed by extensive backcrossing and selection. Such breeding trajectory has generated an extremely complex polyploid genome marked by high ploidy, pervasive aneuploidy, mosaic subgenome composition, and a reticulate evolution history. For decades, this complexity has resulted in persistent taxonomic ambiguities, constrained genomic analyses, complicated genetic dissection of agronomic traits, and limited breeding efficiency. The rapid development of third-generation long-read sequencing, haplotype-resolved assembly, and polyploid-aware computational approaches has fundamentally revolutionized sugarcane research. This review synthesizes recent progress in Saccharum taxonomy, polyploid genome architecture and evolution, high-quality genomic resource development, germplasm exploration, and genome-informed breeding strategies. We propose an integrated framework connecting taxonomic refinement, genome biology, and breeding applications. Critical challenges are elaborated, including the taxonomy-genomics disconnect, diploid-centric analytical bias, insufficient haplotype resolution, the lack of polyploid-aware genetic models, and underutilization of wild germplasm. Finally, we outline future priorities toward predictive and design-oriented sugarcane improvement by addressing unresolved core questions. This review provides a comprehensive and forward-looking perspective for accelerating genetic improvement in sugarcane and other highly complex polyploid crops.
Tianyou Wang, Qin Zhang, Qiutao Xu et al.· Journal of Integrative Plant...· 0 citations
This review provides a comprehensive foundation for understanding the biology, phytochemistry, biotechnology, and utilization of this invaluable botanical resource, offering a strategic roadmap for its sustainable management and commercial valorization.
Brazil is the global leader in the production and export of tropical forage seeds. The livestock sector primarily relies on tropical grasses, including species of Urochloa and Megathirsus maximus, as well as other genera such as Paspalum, Cenchrus, and Setaria. The sustainability and competitiveness of this sector are increasingly threatened by climate change and biotic stresses. While conventional breeding has made progress, enhancing genetic gains requires advanced molecular tools due to the biological complexity of these grasses. Given the growing importance of forage genomics, this paper provides an up-to-date overview of genomic resources available for the main tropical forage species. We synthesized the state-of-the-art applications of genomics, transcriptomics, and functional genetics in forage research, consolidating findings from Brazilian and international institutions. In recent years, significant advances have been made, including the assembly of reference genomes, the development of comprehensive transcriptomic datasets, and the construction of high-density linkage maps. Despite the recent increase in genomic data, we identified significant bottlenecks, including the need for reference pangenomes, standardized phenotyping platforms, and robust functional validation pipelines for novel genes. This review serves as a critical roadmap, emphasizing that collaboration is vital to translate genomic data into resilient, nutritious, and climate-adapted tropical forage cultivars, securing the future of sustainable livestock production.
F. G. Campos, B. B. Z. Vigna, Marco Pessoa-Filho et al.· Genome· 0 citations