Robotics and autonomous systems are reshaping the world, changing healthcare, food production and biodiversity management. While they will play a fundamental role in delivering the UN Sustainable Development Goals, associated opportunities and threats are yet to be considered systematically. We report on a horizon scan evaluating robotics and autonomous systems impact on all Sustainable Development Goals, involving 102 experts from around the world. Robotics and autonomous systems are likely to transform how the Sustainable Development Goals are achieved, through replacing and supporting human activities, fostering innovation, enhancing remote access and improving monitoring. Emerging threats relate to reinforcing inequalities, exacerbating environmental change, diverting resources from tried-and-tested solutions and reducing freedom and privacy through inadequate governance. Although predicting future impacts of robotics and autonomous systems on the Sustainable Development Goals is difficult, thoroughly examining technological developments early is essential to prevent unintended detrimental consequences. Additionally, robotics and autonomous systems should be considered explicitly when developing future iterations of the Sustainable Development Goals to avoid reversing progress or exacerbating inequalities.

Molecular characterization of germplasm is important for sustainable exploitation of crops. DNA diversity was measured using inter-retrotransposon-amplified-polymorphism and inter-simple-sequence-repeat markers in 203 Ethiopian landraces and reference varieties of linseed (flax, Linum usitatissimum) and wild Linum species. Molecular diversity was high (PIC, 0.16; GD, 0.19) compared to other reports from the species. Genotyping separated reference from landrace accessions, and clustered landrace accessions from different altitudes and geographical regions. Collections showed evidence for recent introduction of varieties in some regions. The phylogeny supported L. bienne Mill. as the progenitor of domesticated L. usitatissimum. Markers developed here will be useful for genetic mapping and selection of breeding lines. The results show the range of characters that can be exploited in breeding lines appropriate for smallholder and commercial farmers in Ethiopia, producing a sustainable, secure, highvalue crop meeting agricultural, economic and cultural needs.

Linseed is the only cultivated species from the genus Linum and selection is the most frequently used method to develop varieties from the crop resulting in the reduction of the genetic diversity. Linum bienne Mill. is genetically more diverse than linseed and produces fertile hybrids with linseed. The author aimed for the development of hybrids with new combinations of genes useful for variety development programme. Morphological characters of parental, F1 and F2 hybrid plants were studied in field and cluster analyses, coefficient of variations (CV) and Nested analysis of variance (NANOVA) were used for the analyses. Cluster analyses from combined quantitative and qualitative characteristics were more powerful in grouping genotype. Selfed F2 hybrids scored the highest CV for all characteristics and seed-weight (20.36%). The degree of boll shattering was different among hybrids. F2 hybrids scored more phenotypic classes from seed coat colour. The differences in seed length and 1000-SW among the groups were significant (P = 0.017 and 0.033, respectively). Except for the differences in seed length, all the mean value differences in quantitative characteristics among subgroups within the group were significant (P < 0.01). The result showed that the hybrids would be important populations to develop varieties for different traits. There was dragging of unwanted parental characters to hybrids due to a linkage. Assisting the process of crossing with markers associated with a trait would help to minimize the dragging of unwanted characters into hybrids.

The study is based on mating fashion of line × tester and its relative analysis to exploit the heterosis, proportional contribution of diverse lines, testers, their interaction and gene action in cross combinations of different corn genotypes under different water regimes. Total 12 parents comprised of eight lines and four testers; crossed to produce 32F1 hybrids. Parents including their hybrids were evaluated in CRD with three water treatments under controlled conditions with three replications in two seasons. Heterosis, percent contribution of lines, testers and line × tester interaction and gene action were studied for the traits i.e. ear leaf area, number of kernel rows per ear, 100 grain weight, biological yield, vegetative dry matter and anthesis-silking interval. Variable heterosis both in magnitude and direction was observed. Both additive and non-additive gene effects have role in the control of anthesis-silking interval; whereas non-additive gene effects were observed for ear leaf area, number of kernel rows per ear, 100 grain weight, biological yield and vegetative dry matter. However100 seed weight was mainly affected by dominance effects under this study that helped for the selection of parents to be used for the development of synthetics and hybrids durable for different water regimes.