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In the present study, ten (10) selected bacteria isolated from chasmophytic wild Chenopodium were evaluated for alleviation of drought stress in chickpea. All the bacterial cultures were potential P, K and Zn solubilizer. About 50% of the bacteria could produce Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase. The bacteria showed wide range of tolerance towards pH, salinity, temperature and osmotic stress. Bacillus paralicheniformis L38, Pseudomonas sp. LN75, Enterobacter hormachei subsp. xiangfengensis LJ89, B. paramycoides L17 and Micrococcus luteus LA9 significantly improved growth and nutrient (N, P, K, Fe and Zn) content in chickpea under water stress during a green house experiment conducted following a completely randomized design (CRD). Application of Microbacterium imperiale LJ10, B. stercoris LN74, Pseudomonas sp. LN75, B. paralicheniformis L38 and E. hormachei subsp. xiangfengensis LJ89 reduced the antioxidant enzymes under water stress. During field experiments conducted following randomized block design (RBD), all the bacterial inoculations improved chickpea yield under water stress. Highest yield (1363 kg ha−1) was obtained in plants inoculated with Pseudomonas sp. LN75. Pseudomonas sp. LN75, B. paralicheniformis L38 and E. hormachei subsp. xiangfengensis LJ89 have potential as microbial stimulants to alleviate the water stress in chickpea. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of using chasmophyte associated bacteria for alleviation of water stress in a crop plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we screened 26 bioactive compounds present in various spices for activity against SARS-CoV-2 using molecular docking. Results showed that piperine, present in black pepper had a high binding affinity (-7.0 kCal/mol) than adenosine monophosphate (-6.4 kCal/mol) towards the RNA-binding pocket of the nucleocapsid. Molecular dynamics simulation of the docked complexes confirmed the stability of piperine docked to nucleocapsid protein as a potential inhibitor of the RNA-binding site. Therefore, piperine seems to be potential candidate to inhibit the packaging of RNA in the nucleocapsid and thereby inhibiting the viral proliferation. This study suggests that consumption of black pepper may also help to combat SARS-CoV-2 directly through possible antiviral effects, besides its immunomodulatory functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The versatile use of biopigments in food, feed, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and analytical industries emphasized to find different and renewable sources of biopigments. Microalgae, including cyanobacteria, are becoming a potential candidate for pigment production as these have fast-growing ability, high pigment content, highly variable and also have "Generally recognized as safe" status. These algal groups are known to produce different metabolites that include hormones, vitamins, biopolythene and biochemicals. We discuss here the potential use of microalgal biopigments in our daily life as well as in food and cosmetic industries. Pigment like carotenoids has many health benefits such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory properties and also provide photo-protection against UV radiation. This review details the effect of various abiotic and biotic factors such as temperature, light, nutrition on maximizing the pigment content in the microalgal cell. This review also highlights the potential of microalgae, whether in present native or engineered strain including the many metabolic strategies which are used or can be used to produce a higher amount of these valuable biopigments. Additionally, future challenges in the context of pigment production have also been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nostoc is a diverse genus of filamentous cyanobacteria with tremendous potential for agricultural and industrial applications. Morphometric methods and routine 16S rDNA-based identification undermines the genetic diversity and impedes strain-level differentiation. A comparative study to deduce the discriminatory power of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) for analyzing the genetic diversity of 20 Nostoc strains of diverse geographical origin was carried out. The RAPD primer used in the study generated 100% polymorphic profile. HIP TG primer produced the highest number of bands and fragments. Five primers, viz. OPA 08, OPA 11, HIP GC, OPAH 02 and OPF 05 could produce unique bands for 11 strains. Cluster analysis using the RAPD profile showed 12.5-25% similarity among the strains. Following in silico restriction analysis, two restriction enzymes, viz. HaeIII and HinfI were selected for ARDRA. However, clustering based on the restriction pattern showed 22.5-100% similarity. Results of the present study clearly indicate higher resolution of RAPD which can be reliably used for strain-level differentiation of Nostoc strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this review, a comprehensive discussion exclusively on bacterial xylanases; their gene organization; different factors and conditions affecting enzyme yield and activity; and their commercial application have been deliberated in the light of recent research findings and extensive information mining. Improved understanding of biological properties and genetics of bacterial xylanase will enable exploitation of these enzymes for many more ingenious biotechnological and industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyanobacteria safeguard their photosynthetic machinery from oxidative damage caused by adverse environmental factors such as high-intensity light. Together with many photoprotective compounds, they contain myxoxanthophylls, a rare group of glycosidic carotenoids containing a high number of conjugated double bonds. These carotenoids have been shown to: have strong photoprotective effects, contribute to the integrity of the thylakoid membrane, and upregulate in cyanobacteria under a variety of stress conditions. However, their metabolic potential has not been fully utilized in the stress biology of cyanobacteria and the pharmaceutical industry due to a lack of mechanistic understanding and their insufficient biosynthesis. This review summarizes current knowledge on: biological function, genetic regulation, biotechnological production, and pharmaceutical potential of myxoxanthophyll, with a focus on strain engineering and parameter optimization strategies for increasing their cellular content. The summarized knowledge can be utilized in cyanobacterial metabolic engineering to improve the stress tolerance of useful strains and enhance the commercial-scale synthesis of myxoxanthophyll for pharmaceutical uses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The detrimental effects of adverse environmental conditions are always challenging and remain a major concern for plant development and production worldwide. Plants deal with such constraints by physiological, biochemical, and morphological adaptations as well as acquiring mutual support of beneficial microorganisms. As many stress-responsive traits of plants are influenced by microbial activities, plants have developed a sophisticated interaction with microbes to cope with adverse environmental conditions. The production of numerous bioactive metabolites by rhizospheric, endo-, or epiphytic microorganisms can directly or indirectly alter the root system architecture, foliage production, and defense responses. Although plant–microbe interactions have been shown to improve nutrient uptake and stress resilience in plants, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. "Multi-omics" application supported by genomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics has been quite useful to investigate and understand the biochemical, physiological, and molecular aspects of plant–microbe interactions under drought stress conditions. The present review explores various microbe-mediated mechanisms for drought stress resilience in plants. In addition, plant adaptation to drought stress is discussed, and insights into the latest molecular techniques and approaches available to improve drought-stress resilience are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indian lilac or neem (Azadirachta indica) is found in tropical and subtropical regions of the Indian subcontinent. Each part of the tree is a source of various phytochemicals. Neem gum is an exudate from mature parts of the plant stem. Biochemically, it has an acidic pH range (5–6) and is composed of monosaccharides, saponins, phenols, and tannins. This study aimed to elucidate the diversity of neem gum-associated microflora through high throughput metagenomics approach using 16S rRNA variable region sequencing. The bacterial community of neem gum was dominated by Firmicutes (~82%), Proteobacteria (~18%), and Actinobacteria (~0.02%). Among the genera, Lactococcus was found to be the most dominant bacterium. The predominance of Lactococcus in neem gum is probably due to its acidic nature, which provides a suitable microenvironment for its proliferation. In addition, Lactococcus and beneficial microorganisms such as Pseudomonas, Burkholderia, Pantoea, Klebsiella, and Methylobacterium were also present in the gum. This study highlights the fact that neem gum can be exploited as a unique source of microorganisms for biotechnological and agricultural applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphological parameters studied for the twenty selected Nostoc strains were mostly found to be consistent with the earlier reports. But the shape of akinetes observed in this study was a little deviation from the existing descriptions and heterocyst frequency was also found to be different in different strains in spite of growing in the same nitrogen free media. Multiplex RAPD produced reproducible and completely polymorphic amplification profiles for all the strains including some strain specific unique bands which are intended to be useful for identification of those strains. At least one to a maximum of two unique bands was produced by different dual primer combinations. For ten strains out of twenty, strain specific bands were found to be generated. Cluster analysis revealed a vast heterogeneity among these Nostoc strains and no specific clustering based on geographical origin was found except a few strains. It was also observed that morphological data may not necessarily correspond to the genetic data in most of the cases. CCC92 ( Nostoc muscorum) and CCC48 ( Nostoc punctiforme) showed a high degree of similarity which was well supported by high bootstrap value. The level of similarity of the strains ranged from 0.15 to 0.94. Cluster analysis based on multiplex RAPD showed a good fit revealing the discriminatory power of this technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metals (HMs) pose a global ecological threat due to their toxic effects on aquatic and terrestrial life. Effective remediation of HMs from the environment can help to restore soil's fertility and ecological vigor, one of the key Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) set by the United Nations. The cyanobacteria have emerged as a potential option for bioremediation of HMs due to their unique adaptations and robust metabolic machineries. Generally, cyanobacteria deploy multifarious mechanisms such as biosorption, bioaccumulation, activation of metal transporters, biotransformation and induction of detoxifying enzymes to sequester and minimize the toxic effects of heavy metals. Therefore, understanding the physiological responses and regulation of adaptation mechanisms at molecular level is necessary to unravel the candidate genes and proteins which can be manipulated to improve the bioremediation efficiency of cyanobacteria. Chaperons, cellular metabolites (extracellular polymers, biosurfactants), transcriptional regulators, metal transporters, phytochelatins and metallothioneins are some of the potential targets for strain engineering. In the present review, we have discussed the potential of cyanobacteria for HM bioremediation and provided a deeper insight into their genomic and proteomic regulation of various tolerance mechanisms. These approaches might pave new possibilities of implementing genetic engineering strategies for improving bioremediation efficiency with a future perspective. [Display omitted] • The potential of cyanobacteria for heavy metal bioremediation is described. • Genetic and proteomic insights of cyanobacterial response to heavy metals provided. • Challenges and prospects of using cyanobacteria for HM bioremediation is covered. • Engineering targets for improving HM bioremediation by cyanobacteria is described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern agricultural practices are relying excessively upon the use of synthetic fertilizers to supply essential nutrients to promote crop productivity. Though useful in the short term, their prolonged and persistent applications are harmful to soil fertility and nutrient dynamics of the rhizospheric microbiome. The application of nanotechnology in form of nanofertilizer provides an innovative, efficient, and eco-friendly alternative to synthetic fertilizers. The nanofertilizers allow a slow and sustained release of nutrients that not only supports plant growth but also conserve the diversity of the beneficial microbiome. Such attributes may help the phytomicrobiome to efficiently mitigate both biotic and abiotic stress conditions. Unfortunately, despite, exceptional efficiency and ease of applications, certain limitations are also associated with the nanofertilizers such as their complicated production process, tenuous transport and dosage-sensitive efficiency. These bottlenecks are causing a delay in the large-scale applications of nanofertilizers in agriculture. This review aims to highlight the current trends and perspectives on the use of nanofertilizers for improving soil fertility with a special focus on their effects on beneficial phyromicrobiome. [Display omitted] • The Nanofertilizers provides an innovative, efficient, and eco-friendly alternatives. • Nanofertilizers effects on soil, rhizospheric microbial communities is described. • This review discusses promises and challenges of nanofertilizers applications. • The facts minimizing risks and maximizing benefits of nanofertilizers are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• High-throughput proteomics provides deeper interpretation of microalgal proteomes. • Re-modelling of metabolic pathways for enhanced algal metabolites is described. • Genetic engineering tools for strain improvement is also explained. • Applications of proteomic and metabolomic techniques in microalgae is depicted. Eukaryotic microalgae are a rich source of commercially important metabolites including lipids, pigments, sugars, amino acids and enzymes. However, their inherent genetic potential is usually not enough to support high level production of metabolites of interest. In order to move on from the traditional approach of improving product yields by modification of the cultivation conditions, understanding the metabolic pathways leading to the synthesis of the bioproducts of interest is crucial. Identification of new targets for strain engineering has been greatly facilitated by the rapid development of high-throughput sequencing and spectroscopic techniques discussed in this review. Despite the availability of high throughput analytical tools, examples of gathering and application of proteomic and metabolomic data for metabolic engineering of microalgae are few and mainly limited to lipid production. The present review highlights the application of contemporary proteomic and metabolomic techniques in eukaryotic microalgae for redesigning pathways for enhanced production of algal metabolites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Streptomyces is a diverse genus, well known for producing a wide array of metabolites that have significant industrial utilization. The present study investigates the genetic and functional diversity of Streptomyces spp. isolated from the Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve (PBR), India, an unexplored site. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing and analysis revealed 96 isolates belonging to 40 different species indicating a substantial phylogenetic diversity. The strains were clustered into two groups: a major cluster with 94 strains and a small cluster with two strains. BOX- PCR analyses revealed an incredible genetic diversity existing among the strains of Streptomyces spp. in PBR. The analyses revealed the intra-species diversity and inter-species closeness within the genus Streptomyces in the study area. Qualitative screening for enzyme production has shown that 53, 42, 41, 11, and 54 strains tested positive for CMCase, xylanase, amylase, pectinase, and β-glucosidase, respectively. Additionally, 54 strains tested positive for PHB production. The strains were assayed quantitatively for the production of CMCase, xylanase, amylase, and pectinase. Streptomyces sp. MP9-2, Streptomyces sp. MP10-11, Streptomyces sp. MP10-18, and Streptomyces sp. MP10-6 recorded maximum CMCase (0.604 U/mL), xylanase (0.553 U/mL), amylase (1.714 U/mL), and pectinase (13.15 U/mL) activities, respectively. Furthermore, several strains demonstrated plant growth-promoting traits, viz. zinc and phosphate solubilization and production of ammonia, HCN (hydrogen cyanide), and IAA (Indole acetic acid), and nitrogen fixation. Fifty strains showed antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici with inhibitions ranging from 7.5 to 47.5%. Current findings underscore the ecological and biotechnological significance of Streptomyces spp. in the unexplored habitat of PBR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alternaria species are a major plant pathogen and their precise detection and identification is crucial for effective management. In the present study, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based diagnostic technique has been developed for detection of Alternaria species. Four primers were designed for four genes viz. noxB, AMK1, AKT3 and NIK1. In gradient PCR, only the primer sets for noxB gene showed specific amplicon of ~ 200 bp in all the isolates of Alternaria, while no amplification was observed in related fungal species such as Ulocladium botrytis, Ulocladium consortiale, Stemphylium vesicarium, Cochliobolus tuberculatus, Curvularia prasadii, and Bipolaris sorokiniana. The noxB primer set was used as diagnostic marker to discriminate and diagnose Alternaria species in nine different crop plants. Real-time assay revealed that the primer set was able to detect Alternaria noxB genes in leaves with no characteristic visible symptoms. Through real-time PCR, the noxB gene of Alternaria could be detected even in 0.5 ng of host DNA. This is the first report of noxB gene for molecular detection of Alternaria spp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five highly efficient phosphate solubilizing bacteria, viz., Pantoea sp. A3, Pantoea sp. A34, Kosakonia sp. A37, Kosakonia sp. B7 and Bacillus sp. AH9 were isolated from termitorial soils of Sanjivani island of southern Maharashtra, India. These isolates were characterized and explored for phosphate solubilization and plant growth promotion. Among these, Bacillus sp. AH9 showed highest phosphate solubilization index (3.5) and solubilization efficiency (250%) on Pikovskaya agar. Interestingly, Pantoea sp. A34 displayed maximum mineral phosphate solubilization (1072.35 mg/L) in liquid medium and during this period the pH dropped to 3.13. All five isolates had highest P solubilization at 48 h after inoculation. During mineral phosphate solubilization, both gluconic acid and 2-keto gluconic acid were produced by Kosakonia and Bacillus isolates, while only 2-keto gluconic acid was detected in Pantoea isolates. Highest organic acid (39.07 ± 0.04 g/L) production was envisaged in Bacillus sp. AH9, while Pantoea sp. A34 produced the least amount (13.00 ± 0.01 g/L) of organic acid. Seed bacterization with Pantoea sp. A3 and Kosakonia sp. A37 resulted in ~ 37% and ~ 53% increase in root length of tomato seedlings, respectively, while Pantoea sp. A34 and Kosakonia sp. B7 had deleterious effects on root length as well as overall growth of the seedlings. To our knowledge, this is the first report of plant growth promoting potential of microorganisms isolated from termitorial soil of Sanjivani island, which is a drought-prone area. Therefore, such efficient growth promoting P solubilizers can offer an effective solution for sustainable agriculture in arid, dryland farming and drought-prone regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought is a global phenomenon affecting plant growth and productivity, the severity of which has impacts around the whole world. A number of approaches, such as agronomic, conventional breeding, and genetic engineering, are followed to increase drought resilience; however, they are often time consuming and non-sustainable. Plant growth-promoting microorganisms are used worldwide to mitigate drought stress in crop plants. These microorganisms exhibit multifarious traits, which not only help in improving plant and soil health, but also demonstrate capabilities in ameliorating drought stress. The present review highlights various adaptive strategies shown by these microbes in improving drought resilience, such as modulation of various growth hormones and osmoprotectant levels, modification of root morphology, exopolysaccharide production, and prevention of oxidative damage. Gene expression patterns providing an adaptive edge for further amelioration of drought stress have also been studied in detail. Furthermore, the practical applications of these microorganisms in soil are highlighted, emphasizing their potential to increase crop productivity without compromising long-term soil health. This review provides a comprehensive coverage of plant growth-promoting microorganisms-mediated drought mitigation strategies, insights into gene expression patterns, and practical applications, while also guiding future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Appropriate amino acid substitutions are critical for protein engineering to redesign catalytic properties of industrially important enzymes like lipases. The present study aimed for improving the environmental stability of lipase from Pseudomonas plecoglossicida S7 through site-directed mutagenesis driven by computational studies. lipA gene was amplified and sequenced. Both wild type (WT) and mutant type (MT) lipase genes were expressed into the pET SUMO system. The expressed proteins were purified and characterized for pH and thermostability. The lipase gene belonged to subfamily I.1 lipase. Molecular dynamics revealed that Y12F-palmitic acid complex had a greater binding affinity (-6.3 Kcal/mol) than WT (-6.0 Kcal/mol) complex. Interestingly, MDS showed that the binding affinity of WT-complex (-130.314 ± 15.11 KJ/mol) was more than mutant complex (-108.405 ± 69.376 KJ/mol) with a marked increase in the electrostatic energy of mutant (-26.969 ± 12.646 KJ/mol) as compared to WT (-15.082 ± 13.802 KJ/mol). Y12F mutant yielded 1.27 folds increase in lipase activity at 55 °C as compared to the purified WT protein. Also, Y12F mutant showed increased activity (~ 1.2 folds each) at both pH 6 and 10. P. plecoglossicida S7. Y12F mutation altered the kinetic parameters of MT (Km- 1.38 mM, Vmax- 22.32 µM/min) as compared to WT (Km- 1.52 mM, Vmax- 29.76 µM/min) thus increasing the binding affinity of mutant lipase. Y12F mutant lipase with better pH and thermal stability can be used in biocatalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Streptomyces is genetically and functionally diverse genus known to produce a wide array of phenolics and flavonoids with significant biotechnological applications. 52 isolates belonging to 26 species of Streptomyces collected from Meghalaya, India were analyzed for their genetic diversity using BOX-PCR. Significant inter- and intra- generic diversity was observed among the Streptomyces isolates especially those belonging to S. cacaoi, S. lavendulae, S. olivochromogenes, S. aureus, S. flavovirens. During bioactivity screening of the isolates, S. rectiviolaceus MJM72 recorded the highest DPPH activity (77.13 ± 0.91%) whereas S. antimycoticus MSCA162 showed excellent ABTS radical scavenging activity (99.65 ± 0.41%). On the other hand, S. novaecaesareae MJM58 had the highest (756.4 ± 7.38 μg GAE g−1 fresh weight) phenolic content while S. rectiviolaceus MJM72 was recorded with the highest flavonoid content (69.3 ± 0.12 μg QE g−1 fresh weight). As compared to total flavonoid content, total phenolic content had a stronger correlation with antioxidant activities. HPLC analysis of five selected isolates showed presence of gallic acid and pyrocatechol as predominant phenolics. In case of flavonoids, three isolates showed presence of rutin with S. rochei MSCA130 having the highest rutin content (0.95 μg g-1 fresh weight). The results of this study showed high genetic diversity and antioxidant potential among the Streptomyces isolates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Microalgae pigments are safe and eco-friendly in comparison to artificial dyes. • Microalgal pigments are commonly utilized as health supplements. • Different biotechnological approaches for improved pigment production are discussed. • Cultivation costs and microbial contamination sensitivity are major obstacles. Microalgae are photosynthetic eukaryotes that serve as microbial cell factories for the production of useful biochemicals, including pigments. These pigments are eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic dyes and reduce environmental and health risks. They also exhibit excellent anti-oxidative properties, making them a useful commodity in the nutrition and pharmaceutical industries. Light-harvesting pigments such as chlorophylls and phycobilins, and photoprotective carotenoids are some of the most common microalgal pigments. The increasing demand for these pigments in industrial applications has prompted a need to improve their metabolic yield in microalgal cells. So far, expensive cultivation methods and sensitivity to microbial contamination remain the main obstacles to the large-scale production of these pigments. This review highlights current issues and future prospects related to the production of microalgal pigments. The review also emphasizes the use of engineering approaches such as genetic engineering, and optimization of media components and physical parameters to increase their commercial-scale production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microorganisms due, to their immense metabolic diversity, have the potential to augment the uptake of iron and zinc in addition to other important nutrients in plants. In the present work, 129 different strains of endophytic bacteria were retrieved from stems and leaves of maize. Qualitative screening of these endophytes showed that 24.5% of these isolates were siderophore producers, while 14% could solubilize insoluble zinc compounds and 33% of them had phytase activity. Based on zinc solubilization efficiency and siderophore production ability, 10 isolates each from zinc solubilizers and siderophore producers were selected. Molecular identification indicated that the selected bacteria belonged to diverse genera Microbacterium, Pseudonocardia, Bacillus, Cellulosimicrobium, Staphylococcus, Luteimonas, Bordetella, Brevundimonas, Streptomyces, Cupriavidus, Sphingomonas, Ralstonia, Ochrobactrum, Conyzicola, Paenibacillus and Leifsonia. Quantitative analyses of Zn solubilization using Atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) revealed that Microbacterium hydrothermale M10 and M. proteolyticum B2 were potential solubilizers of different forms of insoluble zinc compounds viz. ZnCO3 (56.63–89.88 ppm), ZnO (106.38–120.08 ppm) and ZnS (3.62–5.56 ppm). Similarly, quantitative estimation of siderophore production activity revealed two endophytes viz. Bacillus altitudinis C7 (97.25% siderophore units) and Pseudonocardia alni M29 (92.05% siderophore units) as potential siderophore producers. These endophytes with potential to produce siderophores and phytases and ability to solubilize zinc can be an important starting material for trials on field to improve Fe and Zn content in edible portion of food crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent times, agricultural practices mainly rely on agrochemicals and pesticides to safe-guard edible crops against various pests and to ensure high yields. However, their indiscriminate use may cause severe environmental hazards that directly and negatively affect soil microorganisms and crop productivity. Considering these, present study was aimed to assess the toxicity of carbamate pesticides namely carbamoyl (CBL), methomyl (MML) and carbofuran (CBN) using bacterial and plant (Vigna mungo L.) bioassays. All pesticide doses (25–100 μg mL−1) showed negative effect on bacteria as well as plant. Growth, morphology, survival, cellular respiration and inner membrane permeability of S inorhizobium saheli was hampered when exposed to pesticides. Pesticide induced morphological changes viz. aberrant margins; cellular cracking and distortion/damage in S. saheli were obvious under scanning electron microscope (SEM). The 100 μgCBNmL−1 had maximum inhibitory effect and it reduced survivability of S. saheli by 75%. In addition, biofilm formation ability of S. saheli was inhibited in a pesticides-dose dependent manner and it was statistically (p ≤ 0.05) significant. Pesticides indorsed significant changes in biomarker enzymatic assays and oxidative stress parameters towards S. saheli. Furthermore, at 100 μgCBNmL−1, germination efficiency, root, shoot length, plant survival and tolerance index of V. mungo were decrease by 50, 75, 65, 70 and 66%, respectively over control. Staining of pesticide treated roots with fluorescently labeled dyes propidium iodide (PI) and acridine orange (AO) showed increased oxidative stress, ROS generation and membrane permeability as revealed under confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). Furthermore, stressor metabolites and antioxidant enzymes in plant seedlings were progressively enhanced with increasing concentration of pesticides. Conclusively, present finding bestow an insights into a mechanistic approach of carbamate pesticide induced phyto, morpho and cellular toxic effects towards soil bacterium as well as plant with forthcoming implications for designing the pesticides to reduce their toxic/harmful effects. • Pesticides affected growth, cellular viability, respiration, biofilms and inner membrane permeability of S. saheli RC10. • Pesticides reduced bacterial synthesis of indole3-acetic acids, siderophore and extra polymeric substances. • Exposure to excess concentration of pesticides induces oxidative damage via generation of ROS in V. mungo. • Pesticides decreased germination efficiency and growth of V. mungo. • H 2 O 2 content, electrolyte leakage and antioxidant enzymes in plants were increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C-Phycocyanin (C-PC), is a natural blue pigment found mainly in cyanobacteria. Due to its extraordinary spectral properties and unique health benefits, this pigment has attracted significant attention in various industries. C-PC is widely studied and reported to have different pharmacological properties, notably antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, neuroprotective, and hepatoprotective activities. Commercial exploitation of cyanobacterial phycocyanin relies on mass cultivation of selected cyanobacteria using different strategies like phototrophic, heterotrophic, mixotrophic, two-stage, open, and closed systems. Nonetheless, the production is influenced by different environmental factors especially light, pH and temperature as well as the availability of high yielding strains. Some of the bottlenecks like breaking the genetic barrier of sub-optimal yield or response to environmental factors can be addressed by genetic and metabolic engineering using advanced molecular tools. The present review discusses the production and application of C-PC along with possible molecular interventions to improve C-PC production. We have also discussed how strain improvement and diversified application can harness the commercial potential of C-PC in future to a greater extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyanobacteria are oxygenic photosynthetic microorganisms known for their agricultural and industrial importance. Unavailability of efficient and fast isolation and purification methods of cyanobacteria has impeded our understanding of cyanobacterial diversity. A number of techniques for isolation and purification of cyanobacteria are available, but most of them are cumbersome as well as time-consuming. In the present study, we modified and validated a uni-algal isolation technique named as Microscope Assisted Uni-algal isolation through Dilution (MAU-D) which used dilution of mixed algal population on slide and isolation of single type of cyanobacterial cells using light microscope. Using this technique, we obtained 81 cyanobacterial isolates belonging to various species from 19 different genera from soil and water samples collected from rice fields of Uttar Pradesh, India. This technique also resulted in isolation of six distinct genera, viz., Cyanobacterium, Toxopsis, Desertifilum, Chroococcidiopsis, Halomicronema, and Alkalinema, which were previously not reported from rice fields of India. Hence, the MAU-D technique presents a simple, comparatively fast method of isolation and purification of cyanobacteria which can help to isolate those cyanobacteria which are difficult to isolate through routine sub-culturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyanobacteria are oxygenic photosynthetic microorganisms known for their agricultural and industrial importance. Unavailability of efficient and fast isolation and purification methods of cyanobacteria has impeded our understanding of cyanobacterial diversity. A number of techniques for isolation and purification of cyanobacteria are available, but most of them are cumbersome as well as time-consuming. In the present study, we modified and validated a uni-algal isolation technique named as Microscope Assisted Uni-algal isolation through Dilution (MAU-D) which used dilution of mixed algal population on slide and isolation of single type of cyanobacterial cells using light microscope. Using this technique, we obtained 81 cyanobacterial isolates belonging to various species from 19 different genera from soil and water samples collected from rice fields of Uttar Pradesh, India. This technique also resulted in isolation of six distinct genera, viz., Cyanobacterium, Toxopsis, Desertifilum, Chroococcidiopsis, Halomicronema, and Alkalinema, which were previously not reported from rice fields of India. Hence, the MAU-D technique presents a simple, comparatively fast method of isolation and purification of cyanobacteria which can help to isolate those cyanobacteria which are difficult to isolate through routine sub-culturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indigenous folk rice cultivars often possess remarkable but unrevealed potential in terms of nutritional attributes and biotic stress tolerance. The unique cooking qualities and blissful aroma of many of these landraces make it an attractive low-cost alternative to high priced Basmati rice. Sub-Himalayan Terai region is bestowed with great agrobiodiversity in traditional heirloom rice cultivars. In the present study, ninety-nine folk rice cultivars from these regions were collected, purified and characterized for morphological and yield traits. Based on traditional importance and presence of aroma, thirty-five genotypes were selected and analyzed for genetic diversity using micro-satellite marker system. The genotypes were found to be genetically distinct and of high nutritive value. The resistant starch content, amylose content, glycemic index and antioxidant potential of these genotypes represented wide variability and 'Kataribhog', 'Sadanunia', 'Chakhao' etc. were identified as promising genotypes in terms of different nutritional attributes. These cultivars were screened further for resistance against blast disease in field trials and cultivars like 'Sadanunia', 'T4M-3-5', 'Chakhao Sampark' were found to be highly resistant to the blast disease whereas 'Kalonunia', 'Gobindabhog', 'Konkanijoha' were found to be highly susceptible. Principal Component analysis divided the genotypes in distinct groups for nutritional potential and blast tolerance. The resistant and susceptible genotypes were screened for the presence of the blast resistant pi genes and association analysis was performed with disease tolerance. Finally, a logistic model based on phenotypic traits for prediction of the blast susceptibility of the genotypes is proposed with more than 80% accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhizoctonia solani is one of the most devastating pathogens. R. solani AG-1 IA causes sheath blight in rice, maize, and other Gramineous plants. Accurate identification is essential for the effective management of this pathogen. In the present study, a set of four primers were designed viz. RSPG1, RSPG2, RSPG4, and RSPG5 for polygalacturonase (PG) gene, an important virulence factor in phytopathogenic fungi. All four primer sets showed specific amplification of 300 bp (RSPG1F/R), 375 bp (RSPG2F/R), 500 bp (RSPG4F/R) and 336 bp (RSPG5F/R) amplicons. q-PCR detection using each primer sets could detect up to 10 pg of DNA. We also designed six primers (RS_pg_F3_1/RS_pg_B3_1, RS_pg_FIP_1.1/RS-pg_BIP_1.1, and RS_pg_LF_1/RS_pg_LB_1) for PG gene. Further, a colorimetric LAMP assay developed yielded visual confirmation of the pathogen within 45 min of sample collection when coupled with rapid high throughput template preparation method (rHTTP) from infected samples. The sensitivity of the LAMP assay was as low as 1.65 fg/µl of template DNA and could effectively detect R. solani AG-1 IA from diseased plant tissues and soil samples. The LAMP assay was highly specific for R. solani as it did not show any amplification with other AG groups of R. solani and closely related fungal and bacterial outgroups. This study will help in designing an effective point of care diagnostic method for early monitoring of R. solani and thereby planning timely preventive measures against the pathogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The stint of the bacterial species is convoluting, but the new algorithms to calculate genome‐to‐genome distance (GGD) and DNA–DNA hybridization (DDH) for comparative genome analysis have rejuvenated the exploration of species and sub‐species characterization. The present study reports the first whole genome sequence of Exiguobacterium profundum PHM11. PHM11 genome consist of ~ 2.92 Mb comprising 48 contigs, 47.93% G + C content. Functional annotations revealed a total of 3033 protein coding genes and 33 non‐protein coding genes. Out of these, only 2316 could be characterized and others reported as hypothetical proteins. The comparative analysis of predicted proteome of PHM11 with five other Exiguobacterium sp. identified 3806 clusters, out of which the PHM11 shared a total of 2723 clusters having 1664 common clusters, 131 singletons and 928 distributed between five species. The pan‐genome analysis of 70 different genomic sequences of Exigubacterium strains devoid of a species taxon was done on the basis of GGD and the DDH which identified eight genomes analogous to the PHM11 at species level and may be characterized as E. profundum. The ANI value and phylogenetic tree analysis also support the same. The results regarding pan‐genome analysis provide a convincing insight for delineation of these eight strains to species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Conventional plant DNA isolation methods are complex, time consuming and require technical expertise. These limitations were overcome using the DNA isolation kits which, however significantly add to the research costs. Hence the present study was aimed to develop a high throughput, rapid and inexpensive method of PCR ready DNA template preparation from plant materials. Methods: Concentration of SDS in lysis buffer, amount of starting material, period and temperature for lysis were optimized for obtaining PCR ready templates from plant materials. The method was tested using RAPD and ITS specific primers for different plant species like rice, wheat, mustard, pea, soybean, pigeonpea, tomato, maize, march lilly, bougainvillea, Indian blanket flower, nerium, petunia, purple pirouette petunia, moses-in-the-cradle, golden cane palm, duranta, periwinkle, chrysanthemum and two xerophytes viz. Dipterygium glaucum and Crotaleria burhia. SSR markers RM18398 and RM26108 showed successful amplification in rice varieties Improved Pusa Basmati 1 and KS Dev 12. The effectiveness of the method was tested using fresh as well as 1 year old tissues. The storability of the lysate was also tested. Results: In this report, we developed a novel method called rapid high throughput template preparation (rHTTP) method to prepare PCR ready DNA templates. Most striking feature of this technique is that it can be done anywhere where water can be boiled by any means. Using rHTTP method, PCR ready templates can be prepared in just 10 min. Robust and reproducible amplification for all the test plants were recorded with RAPD, plant ITS primers and SSR markers following this method. rHTTP methods works well for both fresh as well as old plant tissues. The lysates had a shelf life of 1 month when stored at 4 °C and 3 days when stored at room temperature. Conclusions: rHTTP method has several advantages over the other protocols like ease of execution, no requirement of tissue grinding/liquid nitrogen/hazardous chemicals and above all, equally effective for both fresh and old samples. Using this method, costs per prep comes down ~ 10–50 times as compared to most commercial kits. This method can be used for on-field experiments like molecular diagnostics, varietal identification etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat is a staple food crop, primarily grown in India's Indo-Gangetic plains, crucial for sustaining the region. Soil quality, vitality, and microbial inhabitants' interplay are pivotal. However, very little information is available on the impacts of agricultural practices, such as crop rotation and cropping systems, on the diversity of both bulk soil (BS) and rhizospheric soil (RS) microbiota. The impact of two different cropping systems, rice-wheat (RW) and sugarcane-wheat (SW) on soil properties, microbial diversity, and plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) in wheat cultivation was investigated in the Indo-Gangetic plains of India. Microbial richness and diversity were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing, which reveals distinct clustering patterns between RS and BS, with higher diversity in BS of RW and higher richness in RS of SW. Notably, Proteobacteria dominated across all samples, along with Chloroflexi, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Acidobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, Verrucomicrobia, Firmicutes, Planctomycetes, candidate division TM7, Cyanobacteria, and Nitrospirae. Intriguingly, the RS associated with the SW system exhibited the presence of 67 distinct genera, whereas the RS under the RW system showed 48 such genera. Within the realm of specific microbial genera exhibiting plant growth-promoting (PGP) activity, a higher abundance was noted in the RS (17.48%), as opposed to the BS (15.21%). Moreover, certain genera such as Haliangium, Iamia, Bacillus, Gaiella, Candidatus _Entotheonella , Anaerolinea , and Anaeromyxobacter, were found to be positively correlated with the availability of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, iron, and sulfur. The study sheds light on the intricate relationships between cropping practices, soil properties, and microbial dynamics, contributing to the development of sustainable agricultural practices for wheat cultivation. [Display omitted] • Soils in upper IGP under both cropping systems are represented by well-known plant growth-promoting genera. • Cropping system has significant effects on the richness and diversity of microbiota. • Bulk soil of rice-wheat system recorded higher diversity; rhizospheric soils of sugarcane-wheat recorded higher richness. • A higher abundance of genera exhibiting plant growth promotional activities was noted in rhizospheric soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous extract of turmeric rhizomes exhibits antifungal properties against Rhizoctonia solani at higher concentrations. Nanotechnology offers innovative strategies to improve the antifungal potency of the extract. An eco-friendly green synthesis technique was used to formulate silver nanoparticles from turmeric rhizome extract (SNPTs) and characterized by UV–VIS spectrophotometer, dynamic light scattering (DLS), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR). 100 ppm SNPTs can inhibit the growth of Rhizoctonia solani up to 82% in vitro and 77% in vivo. SNPT-treated fungal mycelia had a 1.5-fold higher reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and a 2-fold decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) with elevated cytochrome oxidase 3 (COX 3) and NADH dehydrogenase 5 (NAD 5) (2 and 5.25-fold up-regulation) expression. SNPT nano-primed rice seedlings exhibited enhanced phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), peroxidase (POX), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity with up-regulation of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and pathogenesis-related protein (PR-protein) gene expression. Nano-primed rice seedlings have a sturdy root system with 2.5-fold more callose accumulation. Taken together, the results suggest SNPT inhibits Rhizoctonia and boosts plant innate immunity simultaneously to acquire resistance against the fungal pathogen. [Display omitted] • Turmeric based silver nanoparticles was characterized by UV–VIS, DLS, FESEM, FTIR post synthesis. • 100 ppm nanoparticles can inhibit Rhizoctonia solani growth up to 82% in vitro and 77% in vivo. • Higher ROS and reduced mitochondrial membrane potential was noticed in nano-treated mycelia. • Nano-primed seedlings have enhanced PAL, POX, SOD activity with up-regulation of PAL and PR genes. • Nano-primed seedlings developed sturdy root system with enhanced callose accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among hydrocarbon pollutants, diesel oil is a complex mixture of alkanes and aromatic compounds which are often encountered as soil contaminants leaking from storage tanks and pipelines or as result of accidental spillage. One of the best ecofriendly approaches is to restore contaminated soil by using microorganisms able to degrade those toxic compounds in a bioremediation process. In the present study, nineteen bacteria were isolated by enrichment culture technique from diesel spilled soil collected from electric generator shed of NBAIM, Mau. All the isolates were subjected to screening for lipase production and twelve isolates were found to be positive for lipase. When the isolates were screened for biosurfactant production using CTAB-methylene blue agar plates, only one isolate viz. 2NBDSH3 was found positive which was found to be phylogenetically closely related with Bacillus flexus. Despite having low emulsification index, the bacterium could degrade 88.6% of diesel oil in soil. Biosurfactant from the isolate was extracted and characterized through infra-red spectroscopy which indicated its possible lipopeptide nature which was further supported by strong absorption in UV range in the UV-Vis spectrum. The results of the present study indicated that the isolate either does not produce any bioemulsifier or produces very low amount of emulsifier rather it produces a lipopeptide biosurfactant which helps in degradation of diesel oil by lowering the surface tension. The bacterium thus isolated and characterized can serve as a promising solution for ecofriendly remediation of bacterium diesel contaminated soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intensive use of chemical fertilizers, monoculture and irrigation with surface saline water has resulted in the deterioration of soil health by enhancing the level of salinity in the Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains of India. Therefore, diversity of halotolerant bacteria adapted to that environment and possessed the ability to produce plant growth hormones was explored, that could be used for salt stress amelioration. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing and fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) were used for diversity analysis of salt-tolerant bacilli. Among the 95 isolates, 55 strains showed plant growth promotion traits, production of industrially important enzymes (amylase, protease and cellulase) and tolerance to more than 4% NaCl. Using partial 16S rRNA sequences and FAME comparisons, 21 different species ofBacillusandBacillus-derived genera were identified, viz.Bacillus megaterium, B. subtilis, B. licheniformis, B. firmus, B. horikoshii, B. pumilus, Bacillussp.,B. safensis, B. thuringiensis, B. simplex, B. agri, B. flexus, B. oceanisediminis, B. cereus, B. arsenicus, Paenibacillus dendritiformis, Lysinibacillussp.,L. sphaericus, B. marisflavi, Terribacillussp., andB. mycoides.These isolates possess the ability to tolerate high salt, form endospores, withstand harsh environments, and also have the potential for plant growth promotion, which could be useful in formulation of new inoculants to enhance the availability of nutrients for crop growth under saline conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The indigenous fungal flora of three oil refinery contaminated sites (Bharuch, Valsad and Vadodara) of India has been documented in the present investigation. A total seventy-five fungal morphotypes were isolated from these sites and out of them, only fifteen isolates were capable of utilizing ethanol (0-8 %; v:v) as a sole source of carbon and energy for growth. Ten percent ethanol was completely lethal for the growth of all the isolated fungus. Biochemical characterization of the potent ethanol utilizing fungal isolates was studied based on substrate utilization profiles using BIOLOG phenotype microarray plates. Based on the morphological characters and Internal Transcribed Spacer region of ribosomal DNA, the fungal isolates were identified as Fusarium brachygibbosum, Fusarium equiseti, Fusarium acuminatum, Pencillium citrinum, Alternaria tenuissima, Septogloeum mori, Hypocrea lixii, Aureobasidium sp. , Penicillium sp., and Fusarium sp. Intra-species genetic diversity among Fusarium sp. was evaluated by whole genome analysis with repetitive DNA sequences (ERIC, REP and BOX) based DNA fingerprinting. It was found that these fungus use alcohol dehydrogenase and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase enzymes based metabolism pathway to utilize ethanol for their growth and colonization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The draft genome sequence of a cold-adapted phosphorus-solubilizing strain Pseudomonas koreensis P2 isolated from the Sela Lake contains 6,436,246 bp with G + C content of 59.8%. The genome sequence includes 5743 protein coding genes, 68 non-protein coding genes, 1007 putative proteins, 5 rRNA genes, 64 tRNAs and two prophage regions in 40 contigs. Besides these, genes involved in phosphate solubilization, siderophore production, iron uptake, heat shock and cold shock tolerance, multidrug resistance and glycine-betaine production were also identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]