Madagascar is characterized by high levels of endemicity. This is particularly visible among amphibians and reptiles, which both showing conspicuous diversity and a great number of species. Herpetological research carried out in recent decades has shown a considerable increase in the participation of and leadership among Malagasy researchers and led to a great increase in species-related knowledge. Rampant deforestation and augmented habitat loss have led to the worrying shrinkage of available natural habitats. As a result, many species of amphibians and reptiles (including newly described species) are currently classified within the most highly threatened categories of the IUCN red listing. This Special Issue assembles ten specialist contributions dedicated to Malagasy amphibians and reptiles, including papers discussing the species compositions in crucial areas, as well as information on threatened species and associated pet trades. This set of contributions will also highlight how taxonomic research and field experiments continue to play a key role in describing this unique diversity, allowing us to better understand the origin of and historical factors that explain the current distribution patterns of Malagasy biodiversity.

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The present Special Issue refers to the last 30 years of contributions to the application of cytogenetics to domestic animals, as clearly reported in the five-paper review. In addition, eight original contributions regarding the cytogenetics of several animal species are included. In each contribution, several thematic areas and various cytogenetic techniques are proposed to better demonstrate the potentiality of this biological technology in the genetic improvement of livestock. Special attention was paid to the presence of chromosomal abnormalities in domestic animals and their effects on reproduction, suggesting the routine use of karyotype analyses on reproducers to drastically reduce the effects on reproduction and the economic losses encountered by breeders. In addition to classical cytogenetic analyses such as chromosome banding, the use of molecular cytogenetics, especially the FISH mapping technique, with both specific molecular markers (generally BAC clones) and chromosome painting probes were emphasized in all papers to better study the following: (a) Chromosomal abnormalities; (b) The chromosomal evolution of species; (c) Physical gene mapping in light of genomic sequences in the most important domestic species. Finally, a specific review is dedicated to molecular cytogenetics, in which examples of applied molecular techniques, including the FISH technique, comparative genomic hybridization array, and PCR-based method, are reported.

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Duckweed (Lemnaceae) represents a small aquatic monocot plant family presently composed of 36 species. These plants gained importance in recent decades for their applications in wastewater purification, as animal food or human nutrition, as well as for energy production. This Reprint presents 39 manuscripts published in the Special Issue “Duckweed: Research meets applications” of the journal Plants. We provide an overview of the present state of the art of duckweed research in taxonomy of the family, phytoremediation, accumulation of protein or starch, interaction with microorganisms, and phytomonitoring of toxic compounds. This Special Issue also invited the participants of the 6th International Conference on Duckweed Research and Applications (ICDRAs) held in Gatersleben, Germany, organised on behalf of the International Steering Committee on Duckweed Research and Applications (ISCDRAs). This Reprint is organised as follows:1. Introduction; 2. Molecular Characterization and Taxonomy; 3. Phytoremediation: Wastewater; 4. Applications: Accumulation of Protein or Starch; 5. Interaction with Microorganisms; 6. Physiology and Phytomonitoring.The manuscripts were organised by the Guest Editors Viktor Oláh (University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary), Klaus-J. Appenroth (Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany), and K. Sowjanya Sree (Central University Kerala, Periye, India).

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Repetitive DNA is ubiquitous in eukaryotic genomes, and, in many species, comprises the bulk of the genome. Repeats include transposable elements that can self-mobilize and disperse around the genome, and tandemly-repeated satellite DNAs that increase in copy number due to replication slippage and unequal crossing over. Despite their abundance, repetitive DNA is often ignored in genomic studies due to technical challenges in their identification, assembly, and quantification. New technologies and methods are now providing the unprecedented power to analyze repetitive DNAs across diverse taxa. Repetitive DNA is of particular interest because it can represent distinct modes of genome evolution. Some repetitive DNA forms essential genome structures, such as telomeres and centromeres, which are required for proper chromosome maintenance and segregation, whereas others form piRNA clusters that regulate transposable elements; thus, these elements are expected to evolve under purifying selection. In contrast, other repeats evolve selfishly and produce genetic conflicts with their host species that drive adaptive evolution of host defense systems. However, the majority of repeats likely accumulate in eukaryotes in the absence of selection due to mechanisms of transposition and unequal crossing over. Even these neutral repeats may indirectly influence genome evolution as they reach high abundance. In this Special Issue, the contributing authors explore these questions from a range of perspectives.

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This Special Issue contains 12 articles evidencing the state of the art of research on the evolution and genetics of reptiles. One of the main lines of research concerns the advancements in phylogenetic studies based on the more recent molecular methods and the developments in whole genome sequencing. Among the papers, topics related to the analysis of genome composition with special reference to the presence and evolution of repetitive DNA and the control of gene activity are of interest. Examples of the different roles played by chromosome variability in various evolutionary models are reported. Some of the papers regard certain peculiarities of reptiles, such as meiotic mechanisms in parthenogenetic species and the transition between genetic and environmental sex determination. Besides studies on chromosomes and the nuclear genome, two papers also investigate mitochondrial genome evolution. Particularly promising for future studies is the potentiality gained by the results obtained so far from research into the evolution and genetics of reptiles that has also been used for an intriguing tentative motion to reconstruct dinosaurs’ karyotypes. The papers from this Special Issue highlight that reptiles are a good model for studying the genetic and molecular basis of certain key moments in vertebrate evolution.

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