Dogs were the first domestic animal, but little is known about their population history and to what extent it was linked to humans. We sequenced 27 ancient dog genomes and found that all dogs share a common ancestry distinct from present-day wolves, with limited gene flow from wolves since domestication but substantial dog-to-wolf gene flow. By 11,000 years ago, at least five major ancestry lineages had diversified, demonstrating a deep genetic history of dogs during the Paleolithic. Coanalysis with human genomes reveals aspects of dog population history that mirror humans, including Levant-related ancestry in Africa and early agricultural Europe. Other aspects differ, including the impacts of steppe pastoralist expansions in West and East Eurasia and a near-complete turnover of Neolithic European dog ancestry.

Promoting crop diversification in European agriculture is a key pillar of the agroecological transition. Diversifying crops generally enhances crop productivity, quality, soil health and fertility, and resilience to pests and diseases and reduces environmental stresses. Moreover, crop diversification provides an alternative means of enhancing farmers’ income. Camelina (Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz) reemerged in the background of European agriculture approximately three decades ago, when the first studies on this ancient native oilseed species were published. Since then, a considerable number of studies on this species has been carried out in Europe. The main interest in camelina is related to its (1) broad environmental adaptability, (2) low-input requirements, (3) resistance to multiple pests and diseases, and (4) multiple uses in food, feed, and biobased applications. The present article is a comprehensive and critical review of research carried out in Europe (compared with the rest of the world) on camelina in the last three decades, including genetics and breeding, agronomy and cropping systems, and end-uses, with the aim of making camelina an attractive new candidate crop for European farming systems. Furthermore, a critical evaluation of what is still missing to scale camelina up from a promising oilseed to a commonly cultivated crop in Europe is also provided (1) to motivate scientists to promote their studies and (2) to show farmers and end-users the real potential of this interesting species.

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Seed decay is one of the most important diseases of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) that has a negative impact on the market grade of soybeans. The disease is mainly caused by Diaporthe longicolla, along with other Diaporthe species. Screening of soybean seeds health status in Vojvodina Province, Serbia, showed cultural and morphological variability among isolates identified as D. longicolla. With the use of DNA sequences of internal transcribed spacer (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) region and partial translation elongation factor 1-alpha (EF1-α), the new species was determined. BLAST analysis showed 100% identity with D. pseudolongicolla (syn. D. novem) that was described in this study and its taxonomic revision is discussed. Pathogenicity trial showed that both species, D. longicolla and D. pseudolongicolla, are highly pathogenic on soybean stem and seed, causing 100% of stem wilting and more than 82% of seed decay.

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