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Metalloproteins are well-known for playing various physicochemical processes in all life forms, including viruses. Some life-threatening viruses (such as some members of the coronaviridae family of viruses) are emerged and remerged frequently and are rapidly transmitted throughout the globe. This study aims to identify and characterize the metal-binding proteins of the coronaviridae family of viruses and further provides insight into the metal-binding protein's role in sustaining and propagating viruses inside a host cell and in the outer environment. In the present study, the available proteome of the coronaviridae family was exploited. Identified potential metal-binding proteins were analyzed for their functional domains, structural aspects, and sub-cellular localization. We also demonstrate phylogenetic aspects of all predicted metal-binding proteins among other coronaviridae family members to understand the evolutionary trend among their respective hosts. A total of 256 proteins from 51 different species of coronaviruses are predicted as metal-binding proteins. These metal-binding proteins perform various key roles in the replication and survival of viruses within the host cell. Cysteine, aspartic acid, threonine, and glutamine are key amino acid residues interacting with respective metal ions. Our observations also indicate that the metalloproteins of this family of viruses circulated and evolved in different hosts, which supports the zoonotic nature of coronaviruses. The comprehensive information on metal-binding proteins of the coronaviridae family may be further helpful in designing novel therapeutic metalloprotein targets. Moreover, the study of viral metal-binding proteins can also help to understand the roles of metal-binding proteins in virus pathogenesis and virus-host interactions.

In ubiquitin-mediated post-translational modifications, RING finger families are emerged as important E3 ligases in regulating biological processes. Amylose and amylopectin are two major constituents of starch in wheat seed endosperm. Studies have been found the beneficial effects of high amylose or resistant starch on health. The ubiquitin-mediated post-translational regulation of key enzymes for amylose/amylopectin biosynthesis (GBSSI and SBEII) is still unknown. In this study, the genome-wide analysis identified 1272 RING domains in 1255 proteins in wheat, which is not reported earlier. The identified RING domains classified into four groups—RING-H2, RING-HC, RING-v, RING-G, based on the amino acid residues (Cys, His) at metal ligand positions and the number of residues between them with the predominance of RING-H2 type. A total of 1238 RING protein genes were found to be distributed across all 21 wheat chromosomes. Among them, 1080 RING protein genes were identified to show whole genome/segmental duplication within the hexaploid wheat genome. In silico expression analysis using transcriptome data revealed 698 RING protein genes, having a possible role in seed development. Based on differential gene expression and correlation analysis of 36 RING protein genes in diverse (high and low) amylose mutants and parent, 10 potential RING protein genes found to be involved in high amylose biosynthesis and significantly associated with two starch biosynthesis genes; GBSSI and SBEIIa. Characterization of mutant lines using next-generation sequencing method identified unique mutations in 698 RING protein genes. This study signifies the putative role of RING-type E3 ligases in amylose biosynthesis and this information will be helpful for further functional validation and its role in other biological processes in wheat.

Understanding the mechanisms of iron trafficking in plants is key to enhancing the nutritional quality of crops. Because it is difficult to image iron in transit, we currently have an incomplete picture of the route(s) of iron translocation in developing seeds and how the tissue-specific distribution is established. We have used a novel approach, combining iron-57 (57 Fe) isotope labelling and nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS), to visualize iron translocation between tissues and within cells in immature wheat grain, Triticum aestivum. This enabled us to track the main route of iron transport from maternal tissues to the embryo through the different cell types. Further evidence for this route was provided by genetically diverting iron into storage vacuoles, with confirmation provided by histological staining and transmission electron microscopy energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (TEM-EDS). Almost all iron in both control and transgenic grains was found in intracellular bodies, indicating symplastic rather than apoplastic transport. Furthermore, a new type of iron body, highly enriched in 57 Fe, was observed in aleurone cells and may represent iron being delivered to phytate globoids. Correlation of the 57 Fe enrichment profiles obtained by NanoSIMS with tissue-specific gene expression provides an updated model of iron homeostasis in cereal grains with relevance for future biofortification strategies.

Xanthomonas translucens pv. undulosa (Xtu) is a bacterial pathogen that infects wheat and barley. Copper, with its unique redox properties, acts as an essential micronutrient, which plays important role in the bacterial physiology and virulence. The current study is based on a systematic computational approach to identify the copper-binding proteins of Xtu and propose their probable role in Xtu's pathogenesis. We found that ∼0.9% of the Xtu proteome contains copper-binding sequence motifs. A total of 12 putative copper-binding proteins were shortlisted which could play important role in pathogen-host interactions. Out of these 12 proteins, three are considered to be putatively secretory in nature based on the in silico analysis. The identified copper-binding proteins may play imperative roles in cellular metabolism, transport, protein folding, response to oxidative stress, transcription regulation, and cell signaling. This study will further assist towards the understanding of the copper homeostasis in Xtu and the probable roles of copper-binding proteins in plant-pathogen interactions.

With the occurrence and evolution of antibiotic and multidrug resistance in bacteria most of the existing remedies are becoming ineffective. The pan-proteome exploration of the bacterial pathogens helps to identify the wide spectrum therapeutic targets which will be effective against all strains in a species. The current study is focused on the pan-proteome profiling of zoonotic pathogen Orientia tsutsugamushi (Ott) for the identification of potential therapeutic targets. The pan-proteome of Ott is estimated to be extensive in nature that has 1429 protein clusters, out of which 694 were core, 391 were accessory, and 344 were unique. It was revealed that 622 proteins were essential, 222 proteins were virulent factors, and 42 proteins were involved in antibiotic resistance. The potential therapeutic targets were further classified into eleven broad classes among which gene expression and regulation, transport, and metabolism were dominant. The biological interactome analysis of therapeutic targets revealed that an ample amount of interactions were present among the proteins involved in DNA replication, ribosome assembly, cellwall metabolism, cell division, and antimicrobial resistance. The predicted therapeutic targets from the pan-proteome of Ott are involved in various biological processes, virulence, and antibiotic resistance; hence envisioned as potential candidates for drug discovery to combat scrub typhus.

Understanding iron trafficking in plants is key to enhancing the nutritional quality of crops. Due to the difficulty of imaging iron in transit, little is known about iron translocation and distribution in developing seeds. A novel approach, combining 57Fe isotope labelling and NanoSIMS, was used to visualize iron translocation dynamics at the subcellular level in wheat grain, Triticum aestivum L. We were able to track the main route of iron from maternal tissues to the embryo through different cell types. Further evidence for this route was provided by genetically diverting iron into storage vacuoles, as confirmed by histological staining and TEM-EDS. Virtually all iron was found in intracellular bodies, indicating symplastic rather than apoplastic transport. Aleurone cells contained a new type of iron body, highly enriched in 57Fe, and most likely represents iron-nicotianamine being delivered to phytate globoids. Correlation with tissue-specific gene expression provides an updated model of iron homeostasis in cereal grains with relevance for future biofortification efforts.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an important food crop that is grown and consumed worldwide. The growth and productivity of this crop are severely affected by various abiotic stresses. Basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors (TFs) in plants are well known for their function during growth and development. However, systematic and in-depth identification and functional characterization of the bZIP gene family of potato is lacking. In the current study, we identified a total of 90 bZIPs (StbZIP) distributed on 12 linkage groups of potato. Based on the previous functional annotation and classification of bZIPs in Arabidopsis, wheat, and rice, a phylogenetic tree of potato bZIPs was constructed and genes were categorized into various functional groups (A to I, S, and U) as previously annotated in Arabidopsis thaliana. Analyses of the transcript sequence (RNA-seq) data led to identifying a total of 18 candidate StbZIPs [four in roots, eight in the tuber, six in mesocarp and endocarp] that were expressed in a tissue-specific manner. Differential expression analysis under the various abiotic conditions (salt, mannitol, water, and heat stress) and treatment with phytohormones (ABA, GA, IAA, and BAP) led to the identification of forty-two [thirteen under salt stress, two under mannitol stress, ten under water stress, and eighteen under heat stress], and eleven [eight and three StbZIPs upon treatment with ABA, and IAA, respectively] candidate StbZIPs, respectively. Using sequence information of candidate StbZIPs, a total of 22 SSR markers were also identified in this study. In conclusion, the genome-wide identification analysis coupled with RNA-Seq expression data led to identifying candidate StbZIPs, which are dysregulated, and may play a pivotal role under various abiotic stress conditions. This study will pave the way for future functional studies using forward and reverse genetics to improve abiotic stress tolerance in potato.

Resistant starch (RS) also known as healthy starch has shown several health benefits. Enhancing the RS through genetic modification approaches has huge commercial importance. Regulatory RNA like long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) plays an important role in gene regulation. In this study, we mined 63 transcriptome datasets of wheat belonging to 35 genotypes representing two seed developmental stages. Contrasting expression of a subset of lncRNAs in RS mutant lines compared to parent wheat variety ‘C 306’ signifies their probable role in RS biosynthesis. Further, lncRNA- TCONS_00130663 showed strong positive correlation (r2 = 1) with LYPL gene and strong negative correlation with SBEIIb (r2 = −0.94). We found TCONS_00130663 as positive regulator of LYPL gene through interaction with miR1128. Based on relative expression, in silico interaction and DSC analysis we hypothesize the dual role of TCONS_00130663 in RS type 2 and type 5. The study provides a useful resource for functional mechanism of lncRNAs.

Metal ions are involved in many essential biological processes and are crucial for the survival of all organisms. Identification of metal-binding proteins (MBPs) of human affecting pathogens may provide the blueprint for understanding biological metal usage and their putative roles in pathogenesis. This study is focused on the analysis of MBPs from Orientia tsutsugamushi (Ott), a causal agent of scrub typhus in humans. A total of 321 proteins were predicted as putative MBPs, based on sequence search and three-dimensional structure analysis. Majority of proteins could bind with magnesium, and the order of metal binding was Mg > Ca > Zn > Mn > Fe > Cd > Ni > Co > Cu, respectively. The predicted MBPs were functionally classified into nine broad classes. Among them, gene expression and regulation, metabolism, cell signaling, and transport classes were dominant. It was noted that the putative MBPs were localized in all subcellular compartments of Ott, but majorly found in the cytoplasm. Additionally, it was revealed that out of 321 predicted MBPs 245 proteins were putative bacterial toxins and among them, 98 proteins were nonhomologous to human proteome. Sixty putative MBPs showed the ability to interact with drug or drug-like molecules, which indicate that they may be used as broad-spectrum drug targets. These predicted MBPs from Ott could play vital role(s) in various cellular activities and virulence, hence may serve as plausible therapeutic targets to design metal-based drugs to curtail its infection.

Xanthomonas translucens pv. undulosa (Xtu) is a proteobacteria which causes bacterial leaf streak (BLS) or bacterial chaff disease in wheat and barley. The constant competition for zinc (Zn) metal nutrients contributes significantly in plant–pathogen interactions. In this study, we have employed a systematic in silico approach to study the Zn-binding proteins of Xtu. From the whole proteome of Xtu, we have identified ̴approximately 7.9% of proteins having Zn-binding sequence and structural motifs. Further, 115 proteins were found homologous to plant–pathogen interaction database. Among these 115 proteins, 11 were predicted as putative secretory proteins. The functional diversity in Zn-binding proteins was revealed by functional domain, gene ontology and subcellular localization analysis. The roles of Zn-binding proteins were found to be varied in the range from metabolism, proteolysis, protein biosynthesis, transport, cell signalling, protein folding, transcription regulation, DNA repair, response to oxidative stress, RNA processing, antimicrobial resistance, DNA replication and DNA integration. This study provides preliminary information on putative Zn-binding proteins of Xtu which may further help in designing new metal-based antimicrobial agents for controlling BLS and bacterial chaff infections on staple crops.

High molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMWGS) are responsible for dough elasticity and bread making quality of bread wheat. Related wild non-progenitor species, Aegilops kotschyi possesses higher molecular weight x and y glutenin subunits than the bread wheat cultivars. A wheat-Aegilops substitution line with 1U chromosome was used for the transfer of (HMWGS) of 1U to wheat by using pollen radiation hybridization approach. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis profiling showed different patterns of allelic variations with either the presence or absence of HMWGS, Glu-1A (1, null), Glu-1B (7, 7 + 8, 17 + 18) and Glu-1D (5 + 10, 2 + 12, null). The pollen irradiated wheat-Aegilops derivatives, B-56-1-4-2, B-56-1-4-3, B-14-1 and B-14-2 with Glu1Ux and 1Uy and absence or presence of some Glu-1A and Glu-1B HMWGS showed high micro SDS sedimentation test (MST) values while B-16-1 and B-16-2 had moderate MST values and high protein content. However, B-58-3 with transfer of Glu-1Ux + 1Uy for Glu-1D showed very low MST values indicating that Glu-1Ux + 1Uy enhance MST value only in the presence of Glu1D HMWGS. The transfer/substitution of alien HMW-GS for Glu-1A and or Glu-1B loci only can lead to improved bread making quality of wheat.

Simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers are highly efficient for genetic mapping and molecular breeding in crop plants. Chromosomes 7S and 7U of related non-progenitor Aegilops species possess superior genetic systems for high grain iron and zinc content. This study was undertaken to conduct a comprehensive analysis of transferability and polymorphism among group-7 anchored SSR markers of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to Aegilops species for wheat improvement. The study revealed 77% transferability of group 7-specific SSR markers of bread wheat to 7U/7S chromosomes of Aegilops species. More than 80% of the 7D specific markers were found to be transferable with a high level of polymorphism. The transferability to 7S and 7U genome suggested higher similarity between bread wheat genome(s) and S genome as compared with U genome of Aegilops species. These polymorphic markers are highly informative, robust and cost-effective for molecular breeding and could be further utilized for identification of in...

Biofortification of bread wheat by the transfer of useful variability of high grain Fe and Zn from Aegilops kotschyi through induced homoeologous pairing is the most feasible approach to alleviate micronutrient malnutrition worldwide. Deficiency of chromosome 5B in interspecific hybrids allows homoeologous pairing and recombination of chromosomes of wheat with those of the related species. The interspecific hybrid plants without 5B chromosome showed much higher chromosome pairing than did the plants with 5B. The F1 plants without 5B chromosome were selected and repeatedly backcrossed with wheat cultivar PBW343. The chromosome number of BC2F1 plants ranged from 43 to 60 with several univalents and multivalents. Molecular markers and GISH analysis confirmed the introgression of U/S chromosomes of Ae. kotschyi and their fragments in wheat. The BC2F2 plants showed up to 125 % increase in Fe and 158 % increase in Zn compared to PBW343 with Lr24 and Yr36. Induced homoeologous pairing in the absence of 5B was found to be an effective approach for transfer of useful variability for enhanced grain Fe and Zn content for biofortification of wheat for high grain micronutrient content.

To transfer the 2S chromosomal fragment(s) of Aegilops kotschyi (2S(k)) into the bread wheat genome which could lead to the biofortification of wheat with high grain iron and zinc content.Wheat-Ae. kotschyi 2A/2S(k) substitution lines with high grain iron and zinc content were used to transfer the gene/loci for high grain Fe and Zn content into wheat using seed irradiation approach.Bread wheat plants derived from 40 krad-irradiated seeds showed the presence of univalents and multivalents during meiotic metaphase-I. Genomic in situ hybridization analysis of seed irradiation hybrid F2 seedlings showed several terminal and interstitial signals indicated the introgression of Ae. kotschyi chromosome segments. This proves the efficacy of seed radiation hybrid approach in gene transfer experiments. All the radiation-treated hybrid plants with high grain Fe and Zn content were analyzed with wheat group 2 chromosome-specific polymorphic simple sequence repeat markers to identify the introgression of small alien chromosome fragment(s).Radiation-induced hybrids showed more than 65% increase in grain iron and 54% increase in Zn contents with better harvest index than the elite wheat cultivar WL711 indicating effective and compensating translocations of 2S(k) fragments into wheat genome.

Starch makes up 70% of the wheat grain, and is an important source of calories for humans, however, the overconsumption of wheat starch may contribute to nutrition-associated health problems. The challenge is to develop resistant starch including high amylose wheat varieties with health benefits. Adapting advance genomic approaches in EMS-induced mutant lines differing in amylose content, basic leucine zipper (bZIP) regulatory factors that may play role in controlling amylose biosynthesis were identified in wheat. bZIP transcription factors are key regulators of starch biosynthesis genes in rice and maize, but their role in regulating these genes in wheat is poorly understood. A genome-wide survey identified 370 wheat bZIPs, clustered in 11 groups, showing variations in amino acids composition and predicted physicochemical properties. Three approaches namely, whole transcriptome sequencing, qRT-PCR, and correlation analysis in contrasting high and low amylose mutants and their parent line identified 24 candidate bZIP (positive and negative regulators), suggesting bZIPs role in high amylose biosynthesis. bZIPs positive role in high amylose biosynthesis is not known. In silico interactome studies of candidate wheat bZIP homologs in Arabidopsis and rice identified their putative functional role. The identified bZIPs are involved in stress-related pathways, flower and seed development, and starch biosynthesis. An in-depth analysis of molecular mechanism of novel candidate bZIPs may help in raising and improving high amylose wheat varieties.

The phytopathogenic bacteria, Pseudomonas syringae pv. lapsa (P. syringae pv. lapsa) infects the staple food crop wheat. Metalloproteins play important roles in plant-pathogen interactions. Hence, the present work is aimed to predict and analyze the iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) binding proteins of P. syringae pv. lapsa which help in its growth, adaptation, survival and pathogenicity. A total of 232 Fe, 307 Zn, and 38 Cu-binding proteins have been identified. The functional annotation, subcellular localization and gene ontology enriched network analysis revealed their role in wide range of biological activities of the phytopathogen. Among the identified metalloproteins, a total of 29 Fe-binding, 31 Zn-binding, and 5 Cu-binding proteins were found to be secreted in nature. These putative secreted metalloproteins may perform diverse cellular and biological functions ranging from transport, response to oxidative stress, proteolysis, antimicrobial resistance, metabolic processes, protein folding and DNA repair. The observations obtained here may provide initial information required to draft new schemes to control microbial infections of staple food crops and will further help in developing sustainable agriculture.

Nearly 2 billion people worldwide are suffering from iron (Fe) deficiency anemia and zinc (Zn) deficiency. The available elite bread wheat cultivars have inherently low grain micronutrient content. Biofortification for grain Fe and Zn content is one of the most feasible and cost-effective approach for combating widespread deficiency of the micronutrients. QTL controlling high grain Fe and Zn have been mapped on groups 2 and 7 chromosomes of Triticeae. The present study was initiated for precise transfers of genes for high grain Fe and Zn on group 2 and 7 chromosomes of wheat-Aegilops substitution lines to wheat cultivars using pollen radiation hybridization. The pollen radiation hybrids (PRH1) derived from 1.75 krad irradiated spikes showed the presence of univalents and multivalents in meiotic metaphase-I indicating the effectiveness of radiation dose. In the advanced generation PRH5, the plants selected with stable chromosome number and high grain Fe and Zn content were analyzed with wheat groups 2 and 7 chromosome specific intron targeted amplified polymorphism (ITAP) markers of the metal homeostasis genes to monitor the transfers of alien genes from the substituted Aegilops chromosomes. The group 2 chromosome derivatives showed the presence of NAS2, FRO2, VIT1, and ZIP2 Aegilops genes whereas the group 7 derivatives had YSL15, NAM, NRAMP5, IRO3, and IRT2 Aegilops genes. The pollen radiation hybrids of both the groups 2 and 7 chromosomes showed more than 30% increase in grain Fe and Zn content with improved yield than the elite wheat cultivar PBW343 LrP indicating small and compensating transfers of metal homeostasis genes of Aegilops into wheat.

The identification of transfers of useful alien genes for metal homeostasis from non-progenitor Aegilops species using the widely available anchored wheat SSR markers is difficult due to their lower polymorphism with the distant related wild species and the lack of locus specificity further restricts their application. The present study deals with the development of intron targeted amplified polymorphic (ITAP) markers for the metal homeostasis genes present on chromosomes of groups 2 and 7 of Triticeae. The mRNA sequences of 27 metal homeostasis genes were retrieved from different plant species using NCBI database and their BLASTn was performed against the wheat draft genome sequences in Ensemblplants to get exonic and intronic sequences of the corresponding metal homeostasis genes in wheat. The ITAP primers were developed in such a way that they would anneal to the conserved flanking exonic regions of the genes and amplify across highly variable introns within the PCR limits. The primers led to the amplification of variable intronic sequences of genes with polymorphism between non-progenitor Aegilops species and the recipient wheat cultivars. Further, the polymorphic ITAP markers were used to characterize the transfers of metal homeostasis genes from the non-progenitor Aegilops species to the BC2F5 wheat-Aegilops derivatives, developed through induced homoeologous pairing. The derivatives with significant percent increase in grain Fe and Zn content over the elite cultivar PBW343 LrP showed the introgression of some of the useful Aegilops alleles of the metal homeostasis genes. The use of different metal homeostasis genes using this approach is the first report of the direct contribution of the genes for increasing the grain micronutrient content for developing biofortified wheat lines with reduced linkage drag.

Orientia tsutsugamushi (Ott) is a causative agent of chigger-borne zoonosis, scrub typhus which is life threatening and highly pervasive illness in humans. In this report, we have mined and classified the proteins involved in pathways unique to Ott by using high-throughput computational techniques. The 12 metabolic pathways were found to be unique to the pathogen. Forty-six proteins were reported to be essential for the pathogen's survival and non-homologous to the humans. The proteins were categorized into different classes, ie, enzymes, transporters, DNA-binding, secretory, and outer membrane proteins. Further, in silico analysis of 46 proteins showed that 25 proteins were suitable therapeutic targets with known druggable properties. The structural modeling of B3CSG3 (MurA) protein was carried out and catalytic site essential for its functioning was analyzed. Virtual screening of chemical compounds was performed against modeled structure. The docking study by AutodockVina reported compound from PubChem with CID: 16036947 as best and potential inhibitor by means of docking score and binding affinity. The reliability and stability of the MurA-16036947 complex were confirmed with molecular dynamics simulation. The report will provide insight to understand the mechanism of pathogenesis of Ott and instigate the development of effective treatment strategies against this disease.

In the present study we aimed to characterize the interspecific hybrids made between Triticum aestivum cv. Pavon monosomic for chromosome 5B with different accessions of Aegilops kotschyi (UUSS) and Aegilops peregrina (UUSS) at cytological, molecular and morphological basis. Molecular analysis using Ph1 locus specific dominant marker and cytological analysis clearly differentiated between F1 hybrids (ABDUS) with and without 5B chromosome. Plants without chromosome 5B showed stunted and bushy growth habit with reduced height and more number of tillers per plant while those with 5B plants showed normal growth. Agreement of morphological observations with the cytological and molecular results indicates that the morphological characteristics could also be used to screen plants without 5B chromosome. The results clearly demonstrated that the absence of chromosome 5B through the use of Pavon monosomic for chromosome 5B can be an efficient way to induce homoeologous pairing between chromosomes of wheat and Aegilops species for precise introgression of useful variability.

Biofortification of wheat for higher grain iron and zinc is the most feasible and cost-effective approach for alleviating micronutrient deficiency. The non-progenitor donor Aegilops species had 2–3 times higher grain iron and zinc content than the wheat cultivars, whereas the wheat–Aegilops substitution lines mostly of group 2 and 7 chromosomes had intermediate levels of grain micronutrients. The non-progenitor Aegilops species also had the highest iron content and intermediate-to-highest zinc content in straw, lower leaves, and flag leaves at the pre-anthesis, grain-filling, and maturity growth stages. The micronutrients accumulation status is followed by wheat–Aegilops substitution lines and is the least in wheat cultivars indicating that the donor Aegilops species and their substituted chromosomes possess genes for higher iron and zinc uptake and mobilization. The grain iron content was highly positively correlated with iron content in the plant tissues. Most of the lines had much higher iron and zinc content in all tissues during grain-filling period indicating higher iron and zinc uptake from soil during this stage. Although iron and zinc contents are nearly similar in grains, there was much less zinc content in the plant tissues of all the lines suggesting that the Triticeae species take up less zinc which is mobilized to grains more effectively than iron.

Xanthomonas translucens pv. undulosa (Xtu) causes Bacterial Leaf Streak disease in the staple food crops such as wheat and barley. The survival strategies of pathogen and host are determined by the complex interactions occurring between the host plants and the pathogenic microbes. Iron binding proteins are important in the plant–microbe interactions as they are indulged in enzyme catalysis, virulence, metabolic and transport activities. In the presented study, we have identified that ~9.8% of Xtu proteome possess iron binding sequence motifs. Further, the analysis of Xtu proteome for secretory iron binding virulent proteins (IBVPs) revealed the fact that iron co-regulate the function of secretory proteins in virulence. We have found 26 secretory IBVPs and observed that these proteins are diverse in their biological functions ranging from transport to antimicrobial resistance, Reactive oxygen species detoxification and carbohydrate catabolism. The inferences may instigate to design the new strategies to combat and control the microbial diseases of staple food crops.

High molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMWGS) are responsible for dough elasticity and bread making quality of bread wheat. Related wild non-progenitor species, Aegilops kotschyi possesses higher molecular weight x and y glutenin subunits than the bread wheat cultivars. A wheat-Aegilops substitution line with 1U chromosome was used for the transfer of (HMWGS) of 1U to wheat by using pollen radiation hybridization approach. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis profiling showed different patterns of allelic variations with either the presence or absence of HMWGS, Glu-1A (1, null), Glu-1B (7, 7 + 8, 17 + 18) and Glu-1D (5 + 10, 2 + 12, null). The pollen irradiated wheat-Aegilops derivatives, B-56-1-4-2, B-56-1-4-3, B-14-1 and B-14-2 with Glu1Ux and 1Uy and absence or presence of some Glu-1A and Glu-1B HMWGS showed high micro SDS sedimentation test (MST) values while B-16-1 and B-16-2 had moderate MST values and high protein content. However, B-58-3 with transfer of Glu-1Ux + 1Uy for Glu-1D showed very low MST values indicating that Glu-1Ux + 1Uy enhance MST value only in the presence of Glu1D HMWGS. The transfer/substitution of alien HMW-GS for Glu-1A and or Glu-1B loci only can lead to improved bread making quality of wheat.

Purpose To transfer the 2S chromosomal fragment(s) of Aegilops kotschyi (2Sk) into the bread wheat genome which could lead to the biofortification of wheat with high grain iron and zinc content. Materials and methods Wheat-Ae. kotschyi 2A/2Sk substitution lines with high grain iron and zinc content were used to transfer the gene/loci for high grain Fe and Zn content into wheat using seed irradiation approach. Results Bread wheat plants derived from 40 krad-irradiated seeds showed the presence of univalents and multivalents during meiotic metaphase-I. Genomic in situ hybridization analysis of seed irradiation hybrid F2 seedlings showed several terminal and interstitial signals indicated the introgression of Ae. kotschyi chromosome segments. This proves the efficacy of seed radiation hybrid approach in gene transfer experiments. All the radiation-treated hybrid plants with high grain Fe and Zn content were analyzed with wheat group 2 chromosome-specific polymorphic simple sequence repeat markers to identify the introgression of small alien chromosome fragment(s). Conclusion Radiation-induced hybrids showed more than 65% increase in grain iron and 54% increase in Zn contents with better harvest index than the elite wheat cultivar WL711 indicating effective and compensating translocations of 2Sk fragments into wheat genome.

Simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers are highly efficient for genetic mapping and molecular breeding in crop plants. Chromosomes 7S and 7U of related non-progenitor Aegilops species possess superior genetic systems for high grain iron and zinc content. This study was undertaken to conduct a comprehensive analysis of transferability and polymorphism among group-7 anchored SSR markers of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to Aegilops species for wheat improvement. The study revealed 77% transferability of group 7-specific SSR markers of bread wheat to 7U/7S chromosomes of Aegilops species. More than 80% of the 7D specific markers were found to be transferable with a high level of polymorphism. The transferability to 7S and 7U genome suggested higher similarity between bread wheat genome(s) and S genome as compared with U genome of Aegilops species. These polymorphic markers are highly informative, robust and cost-effective for molecular breeding and could be further utilized for identification of introgression/transfer(s) of 7S/7U chromosomal fragments in bread wheat genome through wide hybridization.

A T-DNA insertional mutant OsPE of rice gives twin and triplet seedlings in up to 20 % of the seeds. Detailed cytological and histological analysis of OsPE indicated normal male and female gametogenesis in the OsPE mutant. Confocal laser scanning microscopic (CLSM) analysis of the developing seeds of OsPE showed multiple embryo development in up to 60 % of the ovules. The multiple embryos, mostly twins and triplets, and rarely quadruplets, developed through sequential cleavage from a single zygotic embryo in each ovule. The reduced number of multiple seedlings compared with multiple embryos observed in CLSM study may be attributed to their inability to develop further due to competition in a single embryo sac. Key message Multiple seedlings in the OsPE mutant are due to sequential proliferation and cleavage of the zygotic embryos. The nucellar tissue was not involved in multiple embryo development.