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The current study was based on Agrobacterium-mediated peanut genetic transformation and effective remediation of transgenic plants. The effect of Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA4404 with a binary vector of PxCSG m-YFP 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) gene has been evaluated on two commercial varieties and on two sources of explants (Embryo and cotyledon), each containing a CaMV 35S promoter. The comparative regeneration and transformation efficiency analyses revealed that the embryo is a better target tissue than cotyledon, and early-ripe peanut genotypes with relatively small seeds (such as Bard-479) have proven to be comparatively responsive to transformation. Explant culture in media containing 3 mg L 1 indole-3-butyric acid and 0.1 mg L 1 napthalene acetic acid resulted in strong roots of virtually all transgenic plants. More than 87% of the transplanted plants were able to produce morphologically normal blooms and pods containing viable seeds. The phenotypic and genotypic monitoring of the EPSPS gene inheritance over two generations exhibited the desired 3:1 inheritance. Our findings suggest that Agrobacterium-mediated transformation is a feasible and valuable tool for peanut breeding and functional genomics research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was conducted to determine the status of gene combination for rust (Puccinia spp.) resistance in 100 indigenous wheat land races also yield related traits were evaluated at two different locations during the 2016-17 periods with Randomized Complete Block Design. Variations for the studied traits were conferred by Principal Component Analysis (PCA), PC1 with 80.1% variation for the Peshawar, and 93.8% for the Islamabad location. WMC419, XGWM120, GWM174, XGWM140, XGWM410, XGWM111, WMC773, XWMC170, XWMC405, XWMC348 and XWMC407 has no allelic variation because of monomorphic nature while XGWM35 (200&225 bp), GWM 148 (190&200 bp), Barc 86 (200&210 bp), BARC 114 (105&200 bp), CSLV34 (150&190 bp), PSP3000 (300&350 bp), XGWM493 (150&300 bp), XGWM153 (100&300 bp), XGWM44 with 120,285,500 & 700 bp, XBARC4 (90&200 bp), XGWM125 (150&190 bp) show variation in alleles. Analysis of Yellow rust (Yr5,7,10,15,18,19,26,29,34, P138 and Sr13,) and leaf rust (Lr19,34 and 49) revealed A and B resistance groups. Group A comprised of 36% of total accessions, while rest of the accessions (64%) were present in group B. The study revealed high level of diversity assessed through PCA and cluster analysis. Based on marker results, 23 wheat lines ranging 17-21 alleles in combination were identified. These lines have great potential to be used in rust resistance breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serriphidium quettense of the Asteraceae family is endemic to Balochistan, Pakistan. It has been used in traditional medicine for treating gastrointestinal diseases; while also having germicidal and antibacterial properties. However, no molecular and chemical characterization was demarcated earlier. Thus this study aimed to depict the genetic variability in two mountainous populations by molecular markers. Genetic variability assessment was carried out by polymorphic bands analysis to generate a dendrogram based on Sequential Agglomerative Hierarchical and Non-overlapping (SAHN) algorithm by Unweighted Pair Group Method of Arithmetic (UPGMA) means by using Numerical Taxonomy and Multivariate Analysis System (NTSYS) Pc version 2.01 for Cluster analysis. Chemical characterization was done by evaluating Total Phenolic Content (TPC) and flavonoids. A total of 68 amplified loci with 30 polymorphic were found with an average of 11.3 and 45% polymorphism. Cluster dendrogram based on similarity coefficient ranged from 0.285 to 0.785. Chemical vaiation was assesed by Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering (AHC) based on dissimilarity matrix as indicated by two main clusters. Cluster 1 was represented by two sub clusters exhibited more chemical variation with in Zargoon population. Overall results obtained exhibited the diverse pattern of genetic and chemical variation. In conclusion, molecular marker profiling together with phytochemical variation of total phenolic and flavonoid content in all accessions of S. quettense and impact of ecological diversity on genetic and chemical variation can be used as base line study. Furthermore, implementation of conservation strategies of this endemic medicinal plant is highly recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic diversity is the base of biological polymorphism and also the basic part of biological diversity. Significant role is played by genetic diversity and paternity of germplasm in cotton breeding. Genetic diversity in representative sets of advanced cotton genotypes was studied at molecular level employing polymorphic simple sequence repeats. Of seventy-two advanced cotton genotypes, thirty microsatellites primer pairs were studied, 29 showed to be polymorphic. DNA markers amplified fragments of 100 to 300 bp in size. The polymorphism information contents ranged between 0.76 and 0.99. Cluster analysis clearly grouped the 72 genotypes into seven groups A, B, C, D, E, F, G based on Nei's coefficient similarity matrix. Group B was found to be the most genetically distinct group when compared to other groups. However, group B had most of the candidates of under observed genotypes. This study exposed two major clusters of cotton cultivars and recognized the cotton genotypes which were genetically different. These results can be used as reference and baseline information to other researchers/breeders. The resolution to the genetic associations of these cotton accessions could be improved by increasing the number of more mapped markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought stress hinders root and shoot growth, leaf area, biomass accumulation, plant fresh and dry weight signifying the severe losses of plant growth and development. During drought stress, different genes are activated that increase the drought tolerance efficiency of plants. In this study, DREB1A gene was transformed in wheat cv. Lasani-08 to improve drought tolerance efficiency after optimizing in planta Agrobacterium mediated transformation protocol. The results reveal that 3.0 mg/l 2, 4-D and 6 h soaking period were found to be the best combination for in planta transformation. The inoculation of seeds with Agrobacterium suspension before germination of apical meristem was proved to be the best time for obtaining more transformation efficiency (6.38%) as compared to seeds inoculation after germination of apical meristem. Molecular analyses of transgenic plants through PCR, Southern blotting and RT-PCR confirmed the presence, number of copies and expression profile of transgene in T1 generation. The drought tolerance efficiency was assessed in T2 transgenic plants on the basis of agronomical and biochemical analyses. These detailed analyses reveal that DREB1A gene has fostering effect on the expression of a large number of genes by means of enhanced germination frequency, germination rate index, shoot, root and coleoptiles lengths, relative water contents, proline contents and total chlorophyll contents of transgenic plants relative to control plants. In summary, our results propose that DREB1A is involved in improving drought stress tolerance of transgenic wheat by sustaining growth and yield of plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]