Search

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) on the morphology, physiology, and biochemistry of Citrus indica Yu. Tanaka, which is considered a native and endangered species in northeast India. Moreover, C. indica seeds do not germinate well in their natural habitat, and the species does not have a good commercial standing in terms of valuable metabolite synthesis. Therefore, an efficient quick-growth method with improved phytochemical synthesis has been accomplished. For mass production employing micropropagation with embryos as explants, Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium was supplemented with 0.2 µM, 0.4 µM, and 0.6 µM of SNP, 3.0 µM of 6-benzylaminopurines (BAP), and 4.0 µM of thidiazuron (TDZ). The results showed that 0.4 µM of SNP alone or in conjunction with 3.0 µM of BAP was sufficient to improve morphological characteristics. In addition, established clones were examined for membrane stability by measuring electrolyte leakage (EL) and malondialdehyde (MDA), as well as photosynthetic pigment and carotenoids. In almost all the cases, high values were recorded when 0.4 µM of SNP was used, either singly or in conjunction with 3.0 µM of BAP in the MS medium. Clonally produced plantlets were also subjected to phytochemical screening and antioxidant activities, such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide anion, and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, wherein these tests also revealed incorporation of SNP exhibited enhanced phytochemical concentrations and antioxidant activities. This research can thus be used to mass produce in vitro plantlets with considerably higher quantities of secondary metabolites, which may make them more resistant to environmental challenges than their natural counterparts without treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yield and aroma stability under drought in indigenous aromatic rice cultivars (IARCs), which needs significant attenuation of reduction of grain yield and quality through redox metabolic reprograming in contributory flag leaf was rarely studied and hence was the subject of present investigation. The redox landscaping of flag leaves of experimental IARCs done (Oryza sativa L., Cultivars Tulaipanji, Badshabhog, Jamainadu, and Sitabhog) during ensuing drought stress at grain-filling stage (65% of field capacity) and stress withdrawal (after 6 days) revealed tilt in the magnitude of redox homeostasis (assessed in terms of oxidation of DCFDA, accumulation of O2⋅−, H2O2, free radical scavenging property, non-protein thiol compounds, redox osmolytes, antioxidant pigments, and ROS-antioxidant interaction index), efficacy of RboH- ascorbate–glutathione/catalase pathway and sensitive biomarkers oxidative stress (accumulation of free carbonyl compounds, hydroperoxide, conjugated diene, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances). The Cultivars capable of regulating ROS-antioxidant interaction dynamics at metabolic interface in flag leaf (Badshabhog and Tulaipanji) and able to prevent oxidative deterioration of flag leaf caused better restoration of aroma profile, 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2AP) content, agronomic characters, seed yield, and kernel quality than the others (Jamainadu and Sitabhog). Further, germplasm specific comparative assessment of metabolites shared by redox osmolyte proline and (2AP), exhibited metabolic cross talking toward regulation of dehydration induced oxidative stress and restoration of aroma production. Ability of maintenance of aromatic compounds, agronomic characters, seed yield, and kernel quality under drought stress through redox-regulatory acclimatory events of flag leaves in IARCs is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean is one of the major pulse crops being cultivated in India. The production and productivity of soybean are greatly affected due to whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) feeding associated direct damage and indirectly due to yellow mosaic virus transmission. In the present study, activities of antioxidative enzymes viz. superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) were estimated spectrophotometrically from the leaf samples collected at two-time intervals (30 and 50 days after sowing) from the whitefly-infested and uninfested plants of eight soybean genotypes. Antioxidative enzyme activities (SOD, POD and PPO) were increased with B. tabaci infestation in all genotypes, with significant variation was recorded among the genotypes at both the sampling intervals. In general, SOD, POD and PPO activities were high in moderately resistant genotypes in whitefly-infested conditions and were negatively correlated with the whitefly population (nymphs and adults), suggesting that the increased activities might have been involved in providing defence against B. tabaci damage. The possible potential mechanisms involving higher antioxidative enzyme activities dealing the insect damage and offering resistance are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change influences the current tropospheric ozone (O3) budget due to industrialization and urbanization processes. In recent years, the impact of elevated O3 on crop development and yield loss has emerged as one of the most important environmental issues, particularly in rural and suburban areas of the lower Indo-Gangetic Plains of India. The impact of the current tropospheric ozone (O3) on the crop yield, photosynthetic yield, and enzymatic antioxidants of six rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars (IR 36, MTU 1010, GB 3, Khitish, IET 4786, and Ganga Kaveri) was investigated with and without the application of ethylenediurea (EDU). The results revealed that O3 stress significantly affected crop yield, photosynthetic yield, and antioxidant enzymes. The findings showed that O3 toxicity induces oxidative stress biomarkers, i.e., malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and was manifested by increasing the enzymatic antioxidants, i.e., superoxidase dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in four rice cultivars (IR 36, GB 3, IET 4786, and Ganga Kaveri). At the same time, the results also illustrated that the rice cultivars MTU 1010 and Khitish are more tolerant to O3 stress as they had less oxidative damage, greater photosynthetic SPAD value, SOD and CAT activities, and lower MDA activity. The results also elucidated that the application of EDU decreased O3 toxicity in sensitive cultivars of rice by increasing antioxidant defense systems. The current O3 level is likely to show an additional increase in the near future, and the use of tolerant genotypes of rice may reduce the negative impacts of O3 on rice production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Kashmir valley, India is a homeland to rice landraces like Zag, Nunbeoul, Qadirbeigh, Kawkadur, Kamad, Mushk Budji, etc., generally characterized by short grains, aroma, earliness and cold tolerance. Mushk Budji is a commercially important speciality rice known for its taste and aroma, nonetheless, is extremely vulnerable to blast disease. Through the use of the marker-assisted backcrossing (MABC) approach, a set of 24 Near-isogenic lines (NILs) was created, and the lines with the highest background genome recovery were chosen. The expression analysis was carried out for the component genes and other eight pathway genes related to blast resistance., Results: The major blast resistance genes Pi9 (from IRBL-9W) and Pi54 (from DHMAS 70Q 164-1b) were incorporated following simultaneous-but-step-wise MABC. The NILs harbouring genes Pi9 + Pi54, Pi9 and Pi54 expressed resistance to isolate (Mo-nwi-kash-32) under controlled and natural field conditions. The loci controlling ETI (effector triggered immunity) included the gene Pi9 and showed 61.18 and 60.27 fold change in relative gene expression in Pi54 + Pi9 and Pi9 carrying NILs against RP Mushk Budji. Pi54 was up regulated and showed 41 and 21 fold change in relative gene expression for NIL-Pi54 + Pi9 and NIL-Pi54, respectively. Among the pathway genes, LOC_Os01g60600 (WRKY 108) recorded 8 and 7.5 fold up regulation in Pi9 and Pi54 NILs., Conclusion: The NILs showed recurrent parent genome recovery (RPG) per cent of 81.67 to 92.54 and were on par in performance to recurrent parent Mushk Budji. The lines were utilized to study the expression of the loci controlling WRKYs, peroxidases and chitinases that confer overall ETI response., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Tea, Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze, an agro-based industry, is considered as one of the prime sector of exporting resources and thus considered as "cash-crop". Earlier report shows that tea is native to eastern and northern India, which was cultivated and consumed there since long back. Presently, more scientific reports confirmed the health-benefit traits of tea and awareness increased to a greater extent and in this regard, tea has gained its best worldwide popularity. Darjeeling Tea attained its highest acceptance globally for its pre-eminence in flavour, colour and taste and thus crop improvement is the prime interest to the Indian Scientific Community. Blister blight disease, a common disorder of tea bushes (Exobasidium vexans, a Basidiomycetes fungus) causes drastic damage of tea plantation. Depending on quality production, two common cultivars were released by TRA, Jorhat, Assam viz. Bannockburn - 157 (B-157) and Ambei Valai - 2 (AV-2), of which B-157 is susceptible to the Blister Blight and AV-2 is fairly resistant cultivar. Some biochemical considerations between the two cultivars have been made here for understanding the biochemical reasons behind the resistant characteristics. Plant secondary metabolites, like total phenol, proanthocynadin, total soluble protein provide defending feature against disease onset. AV-2 cultivar shows advantage over B-157 in these regard. Depending on band intensity analysis of native gels, acid phosphatase, catechol oxidase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase occur in superior amount in AV-2 cultivar than that of B-157. The specific role of these enzymes in blister blight disease compatibility of two cultivars studied has been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought stress‐induced antioxidative defense responses were studied in seven soybean (Glycine max (L) Merr.) cultivars PUSA 9712, LSB 1, JS 335, ADB 22, NRC 37, DSB 20, and MAUS 61, respectively. Drought stress was imposed by withholding irrigation till the leaf water potentials reached −1.0, −1.5, and −2.0 MPa. Lipid peroxidation and superoxide, H2O2, •OH, DPPH radical scavenging assays were performed. Antioxidants during drought stress were studied by quantifying the ascorbic acid, glutathione, α‐tocopherol, phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and glutathione reductase. Antioxidant levels were significantly high in soybean foliages exposed to drought with the increased concentrations of radicals and enhanced lipid peroxidation rates. Isoenzyme analysis of SOD has shown the upregulation of Cu/Zn and MnSODs. Our results demonstrate that cultivars PUSA 9712 and LSB1 have shown to possess a high rate of antioxidants and a very efficient antioxidative defense system when compared with other cultivars. Practical applications: Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is an economically important cash crop, cultivated globally for its rich protein, oil, nutraceutical, and antioxidant constituents. It is also cultivated for its rich enriched food, animal feed as well as several other commercial products. In India, most of the soybean cultivation is being done under rainfed conditions. Hence, identification of superior soybean cultivars rich in antioxidants is very important. The work presented here is the output of the investigation carried out on cramming the changes in antioxidative defense mechanisms of seven popular soybean cultivars that are regularly cultivated in India. A study was performed by quantifying the radicals, H2O2 concentrations, lipid peroxidation, determination of enzymatic, and nonenzymatic antioxidants in all selected soybean cultivars exposed to control and increased the duration of drought stress, for the identification of superior cultivars with a rich avenue of enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]