Search

To sustainably increase wheat yield to meet the growing world population's food demand in the face of climate change, Conservation Agriculture (CA) is a promising approach. Still, there is a lack of genomic studies investigating the genetic basis of crop adaptation to CA. To dissect the genetic architecture of 19 morpho-physiological traits that could be involved in the enhanced adaptation and performance of genotypes under CA, we performed GWAS to identify MTAs under four contrasting production regimes viz., conventional tillage timely sown (CTTS), conservation agriculture timely sown (CATS), conventional tillage late sown (CTLS) and conservation agriculture late sown (CALS) using an association panel of 183 advanced wheat breeding lines along with 5 checks. Traits like Phi2 (Quantum yield of photosystem II; CATS:0.37, CALS: 0.31), RC (Relative chlorophyll content; CATS:55.51, CALS: 54.47) and PS1 (Active photosystem I centers; CATS:2.45, CALS: 2.23) have higher mean values in CA compared to CT under both sowing times. GWAS identified 80 MTAs for the studied traits across four production environments. The phenotypic variation explained (PVE) by these QTNs ranged from 2.15 to 40.22%. Gene annotation provided highly informative SNPs associated with Phi2, NPQ (Quantum yield of non-photochemical quenching), PS1, and RC which were linked with genes that play crucial roles in the physiological adaptation under both CA and CT. A highly significant SNP AX94651261 (9.43% PVE) was identified to be associated with Phi2, while two SNP markers AX94730536 (30.90% PVE) and AX94683305 (16.99% PVE) were associated with NPQ. Identified QTNs upon validation can be used in marker-assisted breeding programs to develop CA adaptive genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Plant metal tolerance proteins (MTPs) are plant membrane divalent cation transporters that specifically contribute to heavy metal stress resistance and mineral uptake. However, little is known about this family's molecular behaviors and biological activities in soybean. Methods and results: A total of 20 potential MTP candidate genes were identified and studied in the soybean genome for phylogenetic relationships, chromosomal distributions, gene structures, gene ontology, cis-elements, and previous gene expression. Furthermore, the expression of MTPs has been investigated under different heavy metals treatments. All identified soybean MTPs (GmaMTPs) contain a cation efflux domain or a ZT dimer and are further divided into three primary cation diffusion facilitator (CDF) groups: Mn-CDFs, Zn-CDFs, and Fe/Zn-CDFs. The developmental analysis reveals that segmental duplication contributes to the GmaMTP family's expansion. Tissue-specific expression profiling revealed comparative expression profiling in similar groups, although gene expression differed between groups. GmaMTP genes displayed biased responses in either plant leaves or roots when treated with heavy metal. In the leaves and roots, nine and ten GmaMTPs responded to at least one metal ion treatment. Furthermore, in most heavy metal treatments, GmaMTP1.1, GmaMTP1.2, GmaMTP3.1, GmaMTP3.2, GmaMTP4.1, and GmaMTP4.3 exhibited significant expression responses. Conclusion: Our findings provided insight into the evolution of MTPs in soybean. Overall, our findings shed light on the evolution of the MTP gene family in soybean and pave the path for further functional characterization of this gene family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Improving crop resistance against insect pests is crucial for ensuring future food security. Integrating genomics with modern breeding methods holds enormous potential in dissecting the genetic architecture of this complex trait and accelerating crop improvement. Insect resistance in crops has been a major research objective in several crop improvement programs. However, the use of conventional breeding methods to develop high-yielding cultivars with sustainable and durable insect pest resistance has been largely unsuccessful. The use of molecular markers for identification and deployment of insect resistance quantitative trait loci (QTLs) can fastrack traditional breeding methods. Till date, several QTLs for insect pest resistance have been identified in field-grown crops, and a few of them have been cloned by positional cloning approaches. Genome editing technologies, such as CRISPR/Cas9, are paving the way to tailor insect pest resistance loci for designing crops for the future. Here, we provide an overview of diverse defense mechanisms exerted by plants in response to insect pest attack, and review recent advances in genomics research and genetic improvements for insect pest resistance in major field crops. Finally, we discuss the scope for genomic breeding strategies to develop more durable insect pest resistant crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Pleiotropic and epistatic quantitative disease resistance loci (QDRL) were identified for soybean partial resistance to different isolates of Pythium irregulare and Pythium sylvaticum. Pythium root rot is an important seedling disease of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], a crop grown worldwide for protein and oil content. Pythium irregulare and P. sylvaticum are two of the most prevalent and aggressive Pythium species in soybean producing regions in the North Central U.S. Few studies have been conducted to identify soybean resistance for management against these two pathogens. In this study, a mapping population (derived from E13390 x E13901) with 228 F4:5 recombinant inbred lines were screened against P. irregulare isolate MISO 11–6 and P. sylvaticum isolate C-MISO2-2–30 for QDRL mapping. Correlation analysis indicated significant positive correlations between soybean responses to the two pathogens, and a pleiotropic QDRL (qPirr16.1) was identified. Further investigation found that the qPirr16.1 imparts dominant resistance against P. irregulare, but recessive resistance against P. sylvaticum. In addition, two QDRL, qPsyl15.1, and qPsyl18.1 were identified for partial resistance to P. sylvaticum. Further analysis revealed epistatic interactions between qPirr16.1 and qPsyl15.1 for RRW and DRX, whereas qPsyl18.1 contributed resistance to RSE. Marker-assisted resistance spectrum analysis using F6:7 progeny lines verified the resistance of qPirr16.1 against four additional P. irregulare isolates. Intriguingly, although the epistatic interaction of qPirr16.1 and qPsyl15.1 can be confirmed using two additional isolates of P. sylvaticum, the interaction appears to be suppressed for the other two P. sylvaticum isolates. An 'epistatic gene-for-gene' model was proposed to explain the isolate-specific epistatic interactions. The integration of the QDRL into elite soybean lines containing all the desirable alleles has been initiated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Characterization and evaluation of plant genetic resources play an important role for their utilization in the crop improvement programmes. Methods and results: This study involves the agro-morphological and cooking quality besides, molecular characterization of 51 genotypes/advance breeding lines of rice from Kashmir Himalayas. Significant variability was observed for all agro-morphological and cooking quality traits among all the studied genotypes. Cluster analysis using UPGMA method divided the genotypes into two major clusters having 15 and 36 genotypes. Thirty eight genotypes screened using 24 SSR markers detected 48 alleles with 2.0 alleles for each locus with average polymorphism information content (PIC) of 0.37. High polymorphism information content (PIC) values was observed for the primers RM263 (0.67), RM159 (0.59) and RM333 (0.50). Furthermore, out of 38 SSR markers screened on 192 temperate rice germpalsm lines, R4M17 accurately differentiated indica and temperate japonica genotypes amplifying 220 bp and 169 bp, respectively. Accordingly, 15 genotypes were reported as indica and 28 temperate japonica in addition to 149 genotypes as intermediate types. Conclusion: The information on marker-based diversity and performance based on cooking quality and agronomic traits helped to select the most divergent lines for crossing. Also the analysis was useful to classify the temperate germplasm into indica and temperate japonica. The classification could be helpful to devise a strategy for inter-sub species hybridization to breed for improved rice varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Scab caused by Venturia inaequalis (Cke.) Wint. is the most important fungal disease of apple. Fungicide application is a widely practiced method of disease control. However, the use of chemicals is costintensive, tedious, and ecologically unsafe. The development of genetic resistance and the breeding of resistant cultivars is the most reliable and safest option. One such source of scab resistance happens to be the variety 'Shireen', released from SKUAST-Kashmir. However, to date, the nature of resistance and its genetic control have not been characterized. Objective This research aimed to elucidate the genetic basis of scab resistance in Shireen. Methods: Genetic mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTL) for resistance to apple scab disease was performed using an F1 cross developed between the susceptible cultivar 'StarKrimson' and the resistant cultivar 'Shireen'. The population was evaluated for two consecutive years. Further, six candidate genes were analyzed via quantitative real-time PCR, to determine their expression level in response to the pathogen infestation. Results: Genotyping and disease phenotyping of populations led us to identify two quantitative trait loci (QTLs), namely qRVI.SS-LG2.2019 and qRVI.SS-LG8.2019 on chromosomes 2 and 8 with LOD-values of 7.67 and 4.99 respectively, and six potential CDGs for the polygenic resistance in 'Shireen'. The genomic region corresponding to the mapped QTLs in LG 2 and LG 8 of 'Shireen' was examined for candidate genes possibly related to scab resistance using in silico analysis. Conclusion: The QTLs mapped in the genetic background of Shireen are the novel QTLs and may be transferred to desirable genetic backgrounds and provide opportunities for isolation and cloning of genes apart from their utility to achieve durable resistance to scab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Anthocyanin, an essential ingredient of functional foods, is present in a wide range of plants, including black carrots. The current investigation was carried out to analyse the effect of cold stress on the expression of major anthocyanins and anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway genes, MYB6 and LDOX-1. Methods and results: Five cultivated carrot genotypes belonging to the eastern group, having anthocyanin pigment, were used in the current study. The qRT-PCR analysis revealed that relative gene expression of transcription factor MYB-6 and LDOX1gene was highly expressed upon cold stress compared to non-stress samples. High-performance liquid chromatography-based quantification of Cyanidin 3-O-glucoside (Kuromanin chloride), Ferulic acid, 3,5-Dimethoxy-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (Sinapic acid), and Rutin revealed a significant increase in these major anthocyanins in response to cold stress when compared to control plants. Conclusion: We conclude that MYB6 and LDOX1 gene expression increases upon cold stress, which induces accumulation of major anthocyanins in purple black carrot and suggests a possible cross-link between cold stress and anthocyanin biosynthesis in purple black carrot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sea buckthorn (Hippophae) is in the focus of interest mainly for its positive effects on health of both human and animal organisms. Due to the similarities in vegetative morphology, Hippophae species are often misidentified. Therefore, current study was focused on ITS based sequence characterization of sea buckthorn species and comparative biochemical evaluation for its antioxidant properties. Methods and results: DNA was extracted from leaf samples. Primer pairs K-Lab-SeaBukRhm-ITS1F1- K-Lab-SeaBukRhm-ITS1R1 and K-LabSeaBukTib- ITSF1- K-LabSeaBukTib-ITSR1 were used for PCR amplification. The purified PCR products were outsourced for sequencing. Phylogenetic tree was constructed based on neighbor-joining (NJ) method. Moreover, comparison of antioxidant potential of leaves of two sea buckthorn species (Hippophae rhamnoides and Hippophae tibetana) collected from different regions of Ladakh viz., Stakna, Nubra, DRDO Leh and Zanskar was determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2-azino-bis (3- ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS), and Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) by phosphomolybdenum assays. The present investigation led to the differentiation of two sea buckthorn species viz., H. rhamnoides and H. tibetana based on Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region. Moreover, significant variation was observed in antioxidant potential of leaf extracts collected from different regions. Conclusions: Primary ITS sequence analysis was found to be powerful tool for identification and genetic diversity studies in sea buckthorn. Leaves of sea buckthorn have pronounced antioxidant properties and can be used in food, neutraceuticals and pharmaceutical industries etc. The current study will pave the way to discover small bioactive molecules responsible for antioxidant and anticancer properties in sea buckthorn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The major parameters that affect climate change pattern include the latitude, ocean currents, wind, air pressure, elevation and relief. These parameters can influence the behaviour of the crops and their performance in time and space. The study was carried out to gain the perspicacity about the prospectus of cultivation of ruling japonica rice variety, K-332, under climate change scenario for the next few decades across temperate high-altitude ecology (2000–2300 msl) of Kashmir valley located within the Northwestern Himalayas. Grown over a long period of time, K-332 was released in the year 1972 and is still popular among the farmers. The variety has supported the food security in rice-growing hilly and mountainous areas of the region spread across 50,000 ha area. A study was carried out with effect from the year 2000 up till 2019 for 20 years in order to understand the phenology and stability of yield performance of the variety under changing climate scenario using DSSAT CERES crop simulation model (v.4.7). Model simulated traits, namely, days to anthesis, days to physiological maturity, tiller number and grain yield, marked an agreement with the observed data with low mean absolute error, high R2 (0.85–0.94), high modified index of agreement (0.74–0.85) and modified modelling efficiency varying from 0.47 for the traits. Eighteen CMIP5 model ensemble output projections along with the best performing individual climatic model (CCSM4) temperature projections for India and 24 CMIP5 model downscaled temperature projections for mountainous Jammu and Kashmir were used to study the impact of increased temperature on phenology and yield of K-332 as compared to nine other varieties. Days to anthesis and days to physiological maturity of all the 10 studied rice varieties were simulated to decrease, but the grain yield of high-altitude varieties was predicted to increase with the increase in temperature under all the future temperature projections. High-altitude varieties will have higher increase in grain yield as compared to low-altitude varieties under different RCPs, with maximum increase in their yield expected under RCP 8.5 (18 CMIP5 model ensemble output) over 2070–2099. Grain yield of low-altitude varieties will increase progressively up to projected temperature increase up to 3 °C and will decrease thereafter. Among the different varieties, the grain yield of K-332 will have a maximum increase (8.70%) by 2070–2099 under RCP 8.5 (18 CMIP5 model ensemble output). The study revealed the scope of rice cultivation with the same variety in high altitudes with a potential to not only sustain the climate change effect but exploit it for better yield performance due to the moderation of low temperature stress and the reversing of the limitations thus far posed by sub-optimal temperatures and short growing period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen, the vital primary plant growth nutrient at deficit soil conditions, drastically affects the growth and yield of a crop. Over the years, excess use of inorganic nitrogenous fertilizers resulted in pollution, eutrophication and thereby demanding the reduction in the use of chemical fertilizers. Being a C4 plant with fibrous root system and high NUE, maize can be deployed to be the best candidate for better N uptake and utilization in nitrogen deficient soils. The maize germplasm sources has enormous genetic variation for better nitrogen uptake contributing traits. Adoption of single cross maize hybrids as well as inherent property of high NUE has helped maize cultivars to achieve the highest growth rate among the cereals during last decade. Further, considering the high cost of nitrogenous fertilizers, adverse effects on soil health and environmental impact, maize improvement demands better utilization of existing genetic variation for NUE via introgression of novel allelic combinations in existing cultivars. Marker assisted breeding efforts need to be supplemented with introgression of genes/QTLs related to NUE in ruling varieties and thereby enhancing the overall productivity of maize in a sustainable manner. To achieve this, we need mapped genes and network of interacting genes and proteins to be elucidated. Identified genes may be used in screening ideal maize genotypes in terms of better physiological functionality exhibiting high NUE. Future genome editing may help in developing lines with increased productivity under low N conditions in an environment of optimum agronomic practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: WRKY transcription factors are among the largest families of transcriptional regulators. In this review, their pivotal role in modulating various signal transduction pathways during biotic and abiotic stresses is discussed. Transcription factors (TFs) are important constituents of plant signaling pathways that define plant responses against biotic and abiotic stimuli besides playing a role in response to internal signals which coordinate different interacting partners during developmental processes. WRKY TFs, deriving their nomenclature from their signature DNA-binding sequence, represent one of the largest families of transcriptional regulators found exclusively in plants. By modulating different signal transduction pathways, these TFs contribute to various plant processes including nutrient deprivation, embryogenesis, seed and trichome development, senescence as well as other developmental and hormone-regulated processes. A growing body of research suggests transcriptional regulation of WRKY TFs in adapting plant to a variety of stressed environments. WRKY TFs can regulate diverse biological functions from receptors for pathogen triggered immunity, modulator of chromatin for specific interaction and signal transfer through a complicated network of genes. Latest discoveries illustrate the interaction of WRKY proteins with other TFs to form an integral part of signaling webs that regulate several seemingly disparate processes and defense-related genes, thus establishing their significant contributions to plant immune response. The present review starts with a brief description on the structural characteristics of WRKY TFs followed by the sections that present recent evidence on their roles in diverse biological processes in plants. We provide a comprehensive overview on regulatory crosstalks involving WRKY TFs during multiple stress responses in plants and future prospects of WRKY TFs as promising molecular diagnostics for enhancing crop improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Two soybean QDRL were identified with additive interaction to P. sansomeana isolate MPS17-22. Further analyses uncovered four interaction patterns between the two QDRL and seven additional P. sansomeana isolates. Phytophthora sansomeana is a recently recognized species that contributes to root rot in soybean. Previous studies indicated that P. sansomeana is widely distributed among soybean growing regions and has a much wider host range than P. sojae, a well-known pathogen of soybean. Unlike P. sojae, no known disease resistance genes have been documented that can effectively control P. sansomeana. Therefore, it is important to identify resistance that can be quickly integrated into future soybean varieties. E13901 is an improved soybean line that confers partial resistance to P. sansomeana. A mapping population of 228 F4:5 families was developed from a cross between E13901 and a susceptible improved soybean variety E13390. Using a composite interval mapping method, two quantitative disease resistance loci (QDRL) were identified on Chromosomes 5 (designated qPsan5.1) and 16 (designated qPsan16.1), respectively. qPsan5.1 was mapped at 54.71 cM between Gm05_32565157_T_C and Gm05_32327497_T_C. qPsan5.1 was contributed by E13390 and explained about 6% of the disease resistance variation. qPsan16.1 was located at 39.01 cM between Gm16_35700223_G_T and Gm16_35933600/ Gm16_35816475. qPsan16.1 was from E13901 and could explain 5.5% of partial disease resistance. Further analysis indicated an additive interaction of qPsan5.1 and qPsan16.1 against P. sansomeana isolate MPS17-22. Marker assisted resistance spectrum analysis and progeny tests verified the two QDRL and their interaction patterns with other P. sansomeana isolates. Both QDRL can be quickly integrated into soybean varieties using marker assisted selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pythium sylvaticum is one of the most prevalent and aggressive Pythium species causing seedling and root rot of soybean. In this study, two recombinant inbred line populations (POP1 and POP2) and a genome-wide association study (GWAS) panel were used for mapping loci conferring partial resistance to P. sylvaticum in soybean using a greenhouse assay. POP1 ("E09014" × "E05226-T") and POP2 ("E05226-T" × 'E09088") each contains 113 and 79 lines, respectively, and all lines were genotyped using the SoySNP6K BeadChip. QTL mapping using composite interval mapping (CIM) identified 5 QTL on soybean chromosomes of 10 (q10.1 and q10.2), 18 (q18.1 and q18.2), and 20 (q20.1), and each QTL explained 9.7–16.6% of phenotypic variation. The GWAS panel consisted of 214 soybean lines and was genotyped using the SoySNP50K BeadChip. A total of 7 significant SNP markers were identified on chromosomes 10, 18, and 20. Markers Gm10_42965189_G_T, Gm10_42975806_T_C, and Gm10_43004105_A_C were closely linked with q10.1 (<50 kb). Marker Gm18_7898429_A_C was co-localized with q18.2 and was located within the coding region of Glyma.18 g081700. Further investigation revealed that Gm20_2245263_G_A co-localized with qRRW20, a QTL previously identified for partial resistance to P. irregulare. All of the QTL identified in this study can be incorporated into soybean lines to improve enduring partial resistance to Pythium diseases using marker assisted breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A convenient and facile synthesis of tertiary butyl carbazate based Schiff base compounds is accomplished using an efficient high yielding and reusable H-BETA catalyst in ethanol. The catalyst was prepared and characterised by FT-IR, XRD, DSC-TGA, BET and SEM analysis. The heterogenous catalyst is selective, easily recovered, can be used for up to five times without obvious loss in catalytic activity and is well applicable to gram scale synthesis of these compounds. Resulting Schiff bases were characterised by spectral data analysis. Simple workup procedure, no column chromatography, short reaction time, high yield and reusability of the catalyst are the characteristic features of the developed protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imbalanced potassium (K) fertilization in agricultural fields has led to considerable negative impacts and remains to be the foremost challenge for maize production in India-Gangetic region. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, particularly potassium solubilizing rhizobacteria (KSR), could serve as inoculants and a promising strategy for enhancement of plant absorption of K hence reducing dependency on chemical fertilizers. Maize seeds were microbiolized for 30 min with KSR suspensions. In the present study, the use of chemical fertilizers along with Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain OPVS10 showed pronounced beneficial effect on growth and yield attributes in maize. There was a significant difference among different parameters studied when varying doses of K and KSR strains were applied. Results showed that the combined application of KSR strain OPVS10 with 100% RDK (recommended dose of K) was most effective in modulating growth, physio-biochemical, and yield attributes in maize thus could be regarded as a promising alternative to mineral K-fertilization. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that 100-grain weight and grain yield were the most important properties to improve the sustainable growth of maize. Therefore, these KSR strains have different mechanisms for modulating various activities in maize plants. Results suggested that the synergistic application of KSR strain OPVS10 with 100% RDK can be used for optimized breeding, screening, and nutrient assimilation in maize crop. Hence, this eco-friendly approach may be one of the efficient methods for reducing dependency on chemicals, which pose adverse effects on human health directly and indirectly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants are continuously exposed to abiotic environmental pressures. One of principal abiotic stress factors is heavy metal (HM), which as edaphic contaminants is noteworthy environmental hazard posing great negative impact on overall plants’ growth, metabolism and hence economic crop productivity and sustainability. During plants’ exposure to elevated HM stress, plants suffer from oxidative stress leading to changes in processes at molecular, biochemical, morpho-physiological and at whole levels. In high HM-contaminated soils, it is essential for plants to generate specific, appropriate protective/defensive mechanisms to nullify the toxic effects of these pollutants, for the normal growth and development. Plants are equipped with efficient strategies which enable them to uptake and accumulate the HMs in various parts or phytoremediate them into non-toxic forms from contaminated soils. Recent advancement in different disciplines of biosciences, such as genetic engineering, plant stress physiology, plant nutrition, transgenics, have aided us in the identification and characterization of compounds, transcription factors, gene products, exogenous phytoprotectants and segments of DNA which involve signal transduction cascades and stress-inducible proteins involved in HM detoxification and tolerance, however, underpinning various strategies for engineered heavy metal plant-stress tolerance is a topic of burning issue which remain least discussed. Taking into consideration several recent literature, the present paper (a) sheds light on the responses and impacts of various HMs to an array of plants’ physiological and cellular processes, (b) shows role of various underlying mechanisms behind tolerance or detoxification against specific metal/metalloid, and finally, (c) briefly highlights the possibility of obtaining transgenic improved HM stress tolerant crop plants which could clear the desks for engineering HM stress tolerance in plants for developing improved HM tolerant crop plants and challenging the heavy metal-induced threats to sustainable agricultural system and for qualitative and quantitative improvements in economic yield of crop plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: The current review provides an updated, new insights into the regulation of transcription mediated underlying mechanisms of wheat plants to osmotic stress perturbations.Abstract: Osmotic stress tolerance mechanisms being complex are governed by multiple factors at physiological, biochemical and at the molecular level, hence approaches like “OMICS” that can underpin mechanisms behind osmotic tolerance in wheat is of paramount importance. The transcription factors (TFs) are a class of molecular proteins, which are involved in regulation, modulation and orchestrating the responses of plants to a variety of environmental stresses. Recent reports have provided novel insights on the role of TFs in osmotic stress tolerance via direct molecular links. However, our knowledge on the regulatory role TFs during osmotic stress tolerance in wheat remains limited. The present review in its first part sheds light on the importance of studying the role of osmotic stress tolerance in wheat plants and second aims to decipher molecular mechanisms of TFs belonging to several classes, including DREB, NAC, MYB, WRKY and bHLH, which have been reported to engage in osmotic stress mediated gene expression in wheat and third part covers the systems biology approaches to understand the transcriptional regulation of osmotic stress and the role of long non-coding RNAs in response to osmotic stress with special emphasis on wheat. The current concept may lead to an understanding in molecular regulation and signalling interaction of TFs under osmotic stress to clarify challenges and problems for devising potential strategies to improve complex regulatory events involved in plant tolerance to osmotic stress adaptive pathways in wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saline environment cues distort the plant growth, development and crop yield. Epigenetics has emerged as one of the prime themes in plant functional genomics for molecular-stress-physiology research, as copious studies have provided new visions into the epigenetic control of stress adaptations. The epigenetic control is associated with the regulation of the expression of stress-related genes which also comprises many steady alterations inherited in next cellular generation as stress memory. These epigenetic amendments also implicate induction of small RNA (sRNA)-mediated fine-tuning of transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulations of gene expression. These tiny (19-24 nt) RNA species, particularly microRNAs (miRNAs) besides endogenous small interfering RNA (siRNA) have emerged as important responsive entities for epigenetic modulation of salt-stress effects on plants. There is a recent upsurge in development of tools and databases useful for prediction, identification and validation of small RNAs (sRNAs) and their target messenger RNAs (mRNAs). Therefore, these small but key regulatory molecules have received a wide attention in post-genomic era as potential targets for engineering stress tolerance in major glycophytic crops, though it is yet to be explored optimally. This review aims to provide critical updates on plant sRNAs as key epigenetic regulators of plant salt-stress responses, their target prediction and validation, computational tools and databases available for plant small RNAs, besides discussing their roles in salt-stress regulatory networks and adaptive mechanisms in plants, with special emphasis on their exploration for engineering salinity tolerance in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bamboos, very relevant plants in many countries around the world, are propagated at large scale with extreme difficulties. Use of seeds is challenging because of plant's sporadic flowering and long flowering cycles, together with seed recalcitrance and consumption by wild animals. Vegetative propagation of bamboo is mainly conducted by cuttings and by air layering. However, these methods are only useful at small-scale because they damage the mother plants, propagation material is bulky and difficult to be transported and is only available during few months of the year. Therefore, in vitro propagation offers the opportunity to obtain large progenies from elite genotypes. In most cases, when developing protocols for in vitro propagation of plants, specific conditions for individual species, genotypes and even development stages of the donor plants must be identified by trial-and-error experiments. Because of the size of and the large diversity observed in this plant family, it usually takes several months to define most adequate culture medium, combination of plant growth regulators and of other compounds for fostering the desired development in the explants. Therefore, in this detailed review, that also puts together results from hard-to-find literature, we list all identified cases, in which development of axillary shoots was used to propagate bamboo plants, by presenting successful ways for disinfection, in vitro bud sprouting, multiplication, rooting and acclimatization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Horsegram (Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam.) Verdc.) is a drought hardy food and fodder legume of Indo-African continents with diverse germplasm sources demonstrating alternating mechanisms depicting contrasting adaptations to different climatic zones. Tissue specific expression of genes contributes substantially to location specific adaptations. Regulatory networks of such adaptive genes are elucidated for downstream translational research. MicroRNAs are small endogenous regulatory RNAs which alters the gene expression profiles at a particular time and type of tissue. Identification of such small regulatory RNAs in low moisture stress hardy crops can help in cross species transfer and validation confirming stress tolerance ability. This study outlined prediction of conserved miRNAs from transcriptome shotgun assembled sequences and EST sequences of horsegram. We could validate eight out of 15 of the identified miRNAs to demonstrate their role in deficit moisture stress tolerance mechanism of horsegram variety Paiyur1 with their target networks. The putative mumiRs were related to other food legumes indicating the presence of gene regulatory networks. Differential miRNA expression among drought specific tissues indicted the probable energy conservation mechanism. Targets were identified for functional characterization and regulatory network was constructed to find out the probable pathways of post-transcriptional regulation. The functional network revealed mechanism of biotic and abiotic stress tolerance, energy conservation and photoperiod responsiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an error in one of the last sections of the original publication [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]