Microspores of Brassica napus can be diverted from normal pollen development into embryogenesis by treating them with a mild heat shock. As microspore embryogenesis closely resembles zygotic embryogenesis, it is used as model for studying the molecular mechanisms controlling embryo formation. A previous study comparing the transcriptomes of three-day-old sorted embryogenic and pollen-like (non-embryogenic) microspores identified a gene homologous to AT1G74730 of unknown function that was upregulated 8-fold in the embryogenic cells. In the current study, the gene was isolated and sequenced from B. napus and named BnMicEmUP (B. napus microspore embryogenesis upregulated gene). Four forms of BnMicEmUP mRNA and three forms of genomic DNA were identified. BnMicEmUP2,3 was upregulated more than 7-fold by day 3 in embryogenic microspore cultures compared to non-induced cultures. BnMicEmUP1,4 was highly expressed in leaves. Transient expression studies of BnMicEmUP3::GFP fusion protein in Nicotiana benthamiana and in stable Arabidopsis transgenics showed that it accumulates in chloroplasts. The features of the BnMicEmUP protein, which include a chloroplast targeting region, a basic region, and a large region containing 11 complete leucine-rich repeats, suggest that it is similar to a bZIP PEND (plastid envelope DNA-binding protein) protein, a DNA binding protein found in the inner envelope membrane of developing chloroplasts. Here, we report that the BnMicEmUP3 overexpression in Arabidopsis increases the sensitivity of seedlings to exogenous abscisic acid (ABA). The BnMicEmUP proteins appear to be transcription factors that are localized in plastids and are involved in plant responses to biotic and abiotic environmental stresses; as well as the results obtained from this study can be used to improve crop yield.

High yield is the primary criterion for the development of new cultivars at the University of Guelph common bean breeding program. As a complex trait, yield is encoded by a number of genes contributing minor effects while also being significantly affected by environmental factors. Genes that increase yield with fixed resources have their effects by increasing input use efficiency. When suppressed, the BnMicEmUP gene has a positive effect on seed production in Arabidopsis. Preliminary work has shown that ortholog of this gene (Phvul.009G190100) exists in common bean, and its expression was negatively correlated with yield in a field test of 10 navy bean cultivars with different yield potentials. The aim of this research was to characterize the Phvul.009G190100 gene and to develop gene‐based marker(s) to test for alleles associated with high yield in common bean. A database search identified a second yield‐related gene (Phvul.009G202100) on the same chromosome (Pv09), which is a homolog to Phvul.009G190100. Both genes contain a DUF1118 protein domain, which has the molecular characteristics of a basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor, based on in silico analysis. Temperature switch polymerase chain reaction (PCR) markers, which were developed for both genes, were significantly associated with yield and maturity in 42 bean genotypes belonging to different market classes. The work will benefit bean breeding programs by making them more efficient in selecting high yielding cultivars, and it will directly benefit bean producers through accelerated access to new, high yielding cultivars.

The functional benefits provided by flixweed seed oil (FSO) warrant its application as an alternative to current commercial stabilizers used in peanut butter. The extracted FSO was fully hydrogenated and added to the lab‐made peanut butter in quantities of 1, 1.5, and 2 % (w/w). Samples were stored at 4, 21, and 40 °C, and tested at 2, 6, 16, and 24 weeks for oil separation tests and texture characteristics including hardness, adhesiveness, cohesiveness, and gumminess. Fully hydrogenated flixweed seed oil (FHFO) improved the oil holding capacity of peanut butter at 1, 1.5 and 2 % (w/w). Peanut butter containing FHFO, at a quantity of 2 % (w/w), showed the least oil separation and had comparable or less oil separation than the sample containing 1.5 % commercial stabilizer. Other physical properties were comparable between these two samples.