Herbal medicines from ancient Egypt analysed at Fytagoras
A collaboration between Brown University’s Department of Egyptology and Assyriology (USA), the Institute of the History of Pharmacy and Medicine (Germany), Naturalis Biodiversity Center (Netherlands), and Fytagoras explored chemical profiling to support philological analysis of ancient Egyptian herbal medicine. Focusing on the Ebers Papyrus (c. 1530 BCE), we examined therapeutic “recipes” to understand processing practices […]
Androgenesis in Capsicum baccatum and frutescens peppers: the ultimate challenge for doubled haploid pepper plant production.
Fytagoras has enhanced the production of doubled haploid (DH) pepper plants across various Capsicum annuum types, including Jalapeno, Poblano, Snack, and Bell. Using an efficient microspore culture technique, they deliver high-quality true DH plants within 16–18 weeks of receiving flower buds. As a leading research provider in DH protocol development for challenging crops, Fytagoras is […]
Potato genetic pool determines variation in true doubled haploid formation efficiency
From heterozygous diploid potato plants, we produce true homozygous doubled haploids via androgenesis. Efficiency, measured as the percentage of true doubled haploids compared to haploids and diploid heterozygotes, varies by gene pool. Data from three pools show that gene pool 2 yields over 60% true DH plants, while pools 1 and 3 reach only about […]
Article published on heat and drought stressed green soybean seeds using SRA and chlorophyll fluorescence.
In cooperation between Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria Santa Fe, Rosario University in Argentina and Leiden University and Fytagoras in the Netherlands research on Chlorophyll Fluorescence, Oxygen Consumption Rates and Germination of Green Soybean Seeds Produced Under Heat–Drought Stress was just published in the international peer reviewed journal Plant Direct. In the research the Fytagoras’ […]
Flax microspore regeneration: support for new sustainable fibres and healthy food.
Flax cultivation has a strong future, driven by demand for sustainable fibers, health foods, and bio-based materials. Success depends on innovation, climate adaptation, and breeding efforts. Doubled haploid technology accelerates breeding, but current methods in flax, like anther culture and gynogenesis, are inefficient and costly. There is a need for an effective isolated microspore regeneration […]
Androgenesis at Fytagoras: selecting the right courgette microspores
Selection of the right (stage) microspores is essential for the induction of microspore cell division in androgenesis to produce doubled haploid plants. In Fytagoras’ research into these stages sometimes results in beautiful images. The picture, taken with a confocal scanning laser microscope, shows a courgette (Cucurbita pepo) microspore stained with DiOC(6). The research into the […]
Dividing barley microspore time-lapse microscopy
The induction of microspore cell division is an important step in androgenesis to produce doubled haploid plants. In Fytagoras’ research projects this process is followed closely. The movies shows a phase contrast time-lapse recording of approximately 48 hours, showing an embryogenically induced star-like microspore with a central nucleus and cytoplasmic strands radiating toward the exine […]
Effects of vial volume on the Oxygen Depletion Curve in the Fytagoras Seed Respiration Analyzer
The Fytagoras Seed Respiration Analyzer automates the measurement of individual seed respiration across various temperatures. It tracks oxygen depletion in sealed vials due to respiration, where vial size affects oxygen levels and depletion speed. Smaller vials contain less oxygen, leading to faster depletion, while larger vials allow for a more gradual process. Depending on the […]
Measurement of Single Seed Respiration and Evaluation of the Resulting Seedlings:
Fytagoras Seed Respiration Analyzer The Fytagoras Seed Respiration Analyzer enables the automated measurement of individual seed respiration of large numbers of seeds at different temperatures. After the respiration measurement the non-invasive optical oxygen detection technology allows for further growth of the geminated seeds into seedlings. From these the evaluation of individual seedlings can be linked […]
Protoplast fusion research at Fytagoras
Plant cell protoplast fusion and regeneration of the fused product serves many possibilities in advanced breeding. Fytagoras’ research into protoplast fusion and regeneration is supported by our intern Adam Frafri under supervision of Marco Vennik. The photograph shows a fluorescently labelled tomato protoplast and a non-labelled tomato protoplast in the process of fusion. Methods for […]