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The objective of this research was to study the morphometric measurements, productive and reproductive performances of indigenous cows and heifers in Northern Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJ&K). A total 237 phenotypic characteristics was recorded visually. Five main coat colors (reddish brown, light brown, black, white and grey) were found with black muzzle and eye-lashes. The head length was 37.7±0.2 cm with small horns (11±0.3 cm). The positive correlation between horn length/horn base circumference, ear length/ear width, forehead width/horn length were found statistically significant (p≤0.01). The highest positive correlations were found between age/rump width (0.77), age/parity (0.66), body weight/heart girth (0.62) and parity/rump width (0.60). The average age at puberty (41.02±0.6 months), average age at first service (49.3±0.7 months), age at first calving (58.54±0.7 months), mean gestation period (279.6±0.2 days), mean post-partum heat period (253.2±14.8 days), mean service period (257.69±5.8 days), mean calving interval (17.87±0.4 months), mean service per conception (1.5±0.06) and average milk yield per day (1.20±0.06 litre) were also recorded. In conclusion, the indigenous cattle are short stature, reddish brown in color with poor reproductive and productive performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The selection of parents and superior genotypes is a primary task for plant breeders. In line x tester mating design, seven lines and three testers were crossed to create twenty-one hybrids. The hybrids and parents were evaluated together in the field for various yield and yield related traits at maturity under water stress conditions. The variance assessment implies prominent contrasts between the lines, and testers, crosses for various traits. The differences for GCA and SCA were observed significant for the traits. The line WM13RA and OH33-1 showed the highest general combining ability for most of the traits. The cross combination WM13RA C x Agati85 provided the highest positive better parents heterosis. Specific combining ability was also high, ML17 x Agati85 and ML3 x Agati85 produced higher grain yield in term of said production of early maturing hybrids. Concerning molecular component, ten SSR primers were used to check the hybrid purity. One primer showed the polymorphism with parents and hybrids, results showed that seventeen hybrids were confirmed based on the presence of the polymorphic bands. Genetic purity was 80.95%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mungbean yellow mosaic virus (MYMV) is a single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) begomovirus that is the most prevalent threats in Pakistan to mungbean crop. Ten genotypes were selected from 127 genotypes which have already been screened for resistance under field conditions. A total of 38 bands were scored, exhibited high level of polymorphism i.e., 68.42%, with amplification range of (1-7bands). Genetic analysis often primers revealed similarities in the range of 66.60-97.70%. Majority of primers were moderately informative with polymorphism information content (PIC) value (0.00-0.566) and average PIC value of all primers was 0.379. Cluster analysis inferred that genotypes showing resistant response against MYMV were present in un-clustered form in dendrogram. On the basis of phylogenetic analysis NM-2011 has higher genetic difference which reduces to the next branches showed that the susceptible (S) and moderately susceptible (MS) genotypes diverged from resistant genotypes. Diverse field response of mungbean was confirmed even on SSR markers and furthermore it is recommended that molecular markers are effective tags for genetic diversity calculation in mungbean germplasm and could be utilized for the future breeding program regarding mungbean crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought stress is one of the major yield limiting factors and causes significant yield losses in different crops. This study was conducted to screen the 50 maize accessions of diverse origin of Pakistan against moisture deficit on the basis of their performance vis., plant height, cob length, kernel rows per ear, kernels per ear, leaf area, days to 50% anthesis, grain yield, 100-seed weight, chlorophyll contents, stomata size, harvest index and drought index. Drought stress was imposed through alternate irrigation (10 recommended irrigations) and normal irrigation (no drought stress) (15 recommended irrigations). The germplasm consisting of 8 parents and 15 crosses was evaluated in field under normal and water deficit conditions in spring season. Out of these 50 accessions five drought and three drought sensitive lines were selected. The selected drought resistant lines were crossed with drought sensitive lines (testers) in line × tester mating design and were evaluated on the basis of yield and yield contributing traits. The inbred lines W64TMS and W82-3 expressed higher general combining ability (GCA) for grain yield, and other yield related traits (cobs per plant, grains per cob, 100-seed weight) under normal and water deficit conditions. The F1 hybrids W64TMS × USSR150 and W82-3 × 150P-1 showed higher specific combining ability (SCA) for grain yield and other related traits under normal and drought stress. Positive correlation was observed between grain yield and cob length, cob diameter, kernel rows per ear, kernels per ear, plant height, number of leaves per plant, leaf area, chlorophyll content, 100-seed weight, stomata size and stomata frequency. It was suggested that the present breeding material may be used for the improvement of grain yield and water deficit tolerance in maize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: Fruit size; fruit quality; Gola; Surahi; DNA marker EN Fruit size fruit quality Gola Surahi DNA marker INTRODUCTION Guava (Psidium guajava L.) is widely grown nutraceutically important fruit crop in tropics and subtropics around the world. Less quantity and low-quality guava produce may be caused by lack of commercially successful clonal propagation system leading to the development of a seedling-based guava industry, lack of high-density plantations, poor germplasm resources, little focus on breeding and biotechnology interventions, wide spreading guava wilt disease and fruit fly. RAPD markers produced in strains of Guava cultivars Pyriform and Round by primer set K1. Dendrogram showing relationship of different strains of Guava (Psidium guajava L.) cultivars Pyriform and Round based on similarity index. [Extracted from the article]

Drought is one of the foremost devastating abiotic stresses reported for rice crops. To improve the productivity of rice, diversity is being enlarged by induced mutation using a source of gamma rays. But this type of mutation rarely results in fruitful products because the chances of getting the desired mutant are very low. The present study aimed to evaluate the rice mutants against drought or osmotic stress. In this study, three experiments were conducted that comprised of seventy‐one mutants originating from different doses of gamma rays (Cs137) along with parent RICF‐160 and commercial variety (Kainat) were tested. In the first experiment, germination and seedling attributes were calculated under control and osmotic stress conditions created by using 16% (0.6 MPa) polyethylene glycol (PEG‐6000). Results revealed that all the mutants exhibited significant (p < 0.01) responses to PEG‐induced osmotic stress. Principal component biplot analysis (PCBA) revealed the first seventeen cumulative PCs with eigenvalues >1 contributed 88%. It was noted that the germination percentage (GP), germination rate (GR), coefficient velocity of germination (CVG), and seed vigor (SV) contributed maximum and positively in PC1. Results showed the highest germination percentage (GP) at 48 hrs in mutant NMSF‐11 (88.9%) followed by NMSf‐38 (73.3%). Similarly, the germination rate (GR) and coefficient velocity of germination (CVG) were measured highest in NMSF‐11 (9.7 and 118.1%), respectively. In stress conditions, the mutants NMSF‐35 and NMSF‐36 depicted the highest GP, GR, and CVG. The maximum seed vigor (SV), shoot length (SL), root length (RL), and fresh weight (FW) were observed in mutants NMSF‐50 and NMSF‐51 under both conditions, whereas the mutants NMSF‐59, NMSF‐60, NMSF‐64, and NMSF‐67 showed lower values for SV, SL, RL, and FW. In the second experiment, a field trial was conducted at the Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB), Faisalabad, in two control and stress sets. A bit different trend was observed among all mutants for agronomic parameters under both conditions. In the third experiment, biochemical profiling was done in Marker Assisted Breeding (MAB) Lab‐1, Plant Breeding and Genetics Division. A significant variation was seen in enzymatic antioxidants and chlorophyll content in both control and stress conditions. Under control conditions, the ascorbate peroxidase (APX) content was observed higher in mutant NMSF‐49 (106.07 Units/g. f. wt.). In comparison with the stress, the ascorbate peroxidase activity was higher in NMSF‐41 (82.34 Units/g. f. wt.). Catalase (CAT) activity was observed maximum in NMSF‐29 (17.54 Units/g. f. wt.) and NMSF‐40 (14.17 Units/g. f. wt.) under control and stress conditions, respectively. Peroxidase (POD) activity was observed maximum in NMSF‐51 (22.55 Units/g. f. wt. and 10.84 Units/g. f. wt.) under control and stress conditions, respectively. In conclusion, to fit in the changing climate conditions for resilient rice crop production, the promising mutant lines may be used to transfer the desirable drought‐tolerant/drought‐resistant genes in rice germplasm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Indian senna (Senna alexandrina Mill.) (formerly Cassia angustifolia Vahl.) is an important medicinal plant of the family Fabaceae. The leaves and pods of Indian senna yield sennosides and rhein-based laxative. Adulteration of Indian senna is a serious issue as with most of the medicinal plants used in the Indian systems of traditional medicine. The bulk of dried leaves and pods of morphologically related species, such as Cassia fistula, Senna occidentalis, Senna sophera, and Senna tora, is usually mixed with those of the Indian senna, and the admixture is used in laxative-based formulations. The present investigation is a modest attempt at developing species-specific start codon targeted (SCoT) polymorphism- and CAAT-box-derived polymorphism (CBDP)- based sequence-characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers for the identification and authentication of Indian senna and four adulterant species (C. fistula, S. occidentalis, S. sophera, and S. tora species). Methods: In this study, genomic DNA extracted from 44 accessions of Indian senna and four adulterant species was subjected to SCoT and CBDP PCR. The polymorphic amplicons were identified, eluted, ligated, and transformed into Escherichia coli DH5 a strain. PCR, restriction analysis, and DNA sequencing confirmed the transformed recombinant plasmid clones. Results: Post-sequencing, the sequence of the primary SCoT and CBDP primers was analyzed and extended into the unique signature sequence of the concerned accessions. This resulted in development of one SCoT-44- and two CBDP-25-based SCARs. SCoT-44 SCAR produced a signature amplicon of 287 bp for accession DCA120, and CBDP-25 SCAR yielded signature amplicons of 575 and 345 bp for accessions DCA13 and DCA119, respectively. The developed SCAR markers were validated across 48 samples (44 accessions of Indian senna and 4 adulterant species) and produced distinct amplicons in Indian senna only, while no such amplicon was observed in the other four adulterant species. Discussion: The information generated using these markers have been faithfully converted to single-locus, unequivocal, highly reproducible, and informative sequence-based SCAR markers. These markers will enable discrimination of individual plants on the basis of unique sequence-specific amplicons, which could be used as diagnostic markers to settle issues pertaining to the true identity of Indian senna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bulgaria has long-standing traditions of cultivating oil-bearing roses and is one of the leading producers of rose essential oil and rose water worldwide. We studied the genetic diversity of twenty-two R. damascena accessions from Bulgaria and Saudi Arabia using 10 inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) primers. In total, 212 bands were generated, of which 204 were polymorphic and eight monomorphic. High mean values of polymorphic information content (0.75), effective multiplex ratio (8.90), resolving power (32.40), marker index (6.59), and percentage of polymorphic bands (96.26) were obtained, implying significant genetic variability between the studied genotypes. The ISSR-based analyses showed that the level of polymorphism in this crop is appreciably high (Ne = 1.28, I = 0.24, He = 0.16). The coefficient of genetic differentiation among pre-defined groups was 0.46, indicating that 46% of total genetic variability was between groups and 54% was within groups. The method was appropriate for distinguishing individuals with a high level of similarity. The genetic relationships analysed with PCoA and hierarchical clustering analyses clearly separated the group of Bulgarian R. damascena accessions collected from local industrial plantations from the other two pre-defined groups. The clustering of Bulgarian rose cultivars and accessions from Saudi Arabia was independent of their geographical origin. The reported data could further facilitate the management of genetic resources and the development of rose breeding programs. Our study provides the first data on the genetic diversity of R. damascena accessions from Bulgaria using ISSR markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted to evaluate eight germplasms/varieties of wheat during the rabi season (November-April, 2022--23) using a randomized block design with three replications at the research farm of Agricultural Research Sub-Station (ARSS), Nagaur (Rajasthan), India to estimate the variability parameters and characters association for nine characters. The results were revealed that mean sum of squares due to genotypes showed significant differences for all the nine characters under study, suggested that the genotypes were genetically divergent. The phenotypic coefficient of variation values was higher than genotypic coefficient of variation values for all the nine traits which reflect the influence of environment on the expression of traits. Spike length and number of spikelets were showed higher PCV and medium GCV. High heritability estimates were recorded for all the nine characters. High genetic advance as percentage of mean along with high heritability was observed for number of spikelets, spike length, number of effective tillers plant-1, seed yield and number of grains spike-1. This indicated the existence of lesser environmental influence and prevalence of additive gene action in their expression and these traits possessed high selective value. These characters could be further improved through individual plant selection. Grain yield had highly significant and positive genotypic and phenotypic correlations with plant height, number of effective tillers plant-1, spike length, number of spikelets and number of grains spike-1. These characters can be considered as criteria for selection for higher grain yield as these were mutually and directly associated with grain yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultivation of the 'Apple of the Sahel' (also known as Indian Jujube) is central to the food security, nutrition, and income of rural communities in developing countries like Niger. However, rainfall variability significantly impacts the development of this plant. This study aims to determine the effects of seasonal water regimes on the growth and productivity of the Apple of the Sahel. The trials were conducted in 2020 and 2021 during the rainy and dry seasons at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) experimental site in Sadore, Niamey, Niger. The experiment was arranged in a factorial design with three irrigation doses (D) and three irrigation systems (G) as main and subplot factors, respectively. The sub-subplot factors were irrigation frequencies (F) and growth boosters (B), each with two levels. In the dry season, irrigation dose application significantly (p = 0.001) increased soil volumetric water content (vwc). A similar increase in soil vwc was achieved under small-scale drip irrigation with an application of the same dose of organic material (p = 0.001). The diameter of the Apple of the Sahel trees significantly increased (p = 0.03) under the small-scale drip irrigation systems with 6.72 mm recorded under the two-drip irrigation system (G2) as compared with the manual system (G0). In the dry season, the total fruit harvest of Apple of the Sahel recorded had increased (p = 0.04) under the irrigated system, varying from 112 to 246% depending on the number of drippers, and compared to the manual system. These results highlight that small-scale drip irrigation should be used in combination with appropriate water and fertilizer management to improve water availability and tree yield in agroforestry systems in arid regions such as Niger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, the demand for organic products is increasing. Breeding of naturally colored cotton allows for saving the high costs of dyeing the fiber and obtaining a natural product that is harmless to the human body. Natural colored fiber has air permeable, antiseptic and hydrophobic properties. However, the use of natural colored cotton in the textile industry is limited due to its low fiber quality. Solving this problem requires interdisciplinary research on colored cotton. In the article, morphological traits of natural brown and green cotton cultivars of G.hirsutum L. cotton - duration of vegetation period, plant height, leaf shape, color and hairiness of the main stem, boll shape, type of sympodial branching and fiber color also, agronomic traits - a boll weight, fiber yield and index, fiber length, weight of 1000 seeds were determined and analysis results were presented. The obtained results showed that the brown cotton samples are medium-ripening, the green cotton cultivars are late-ripening, and the plant height of the green cotton cultivars is higher compared to the brown cotton cultivars. Fiber length was longer in the cultivars cone-oval shape of boll than in cultivars with round shape. Fiber length was higher in green fiber cultivars A-800 and 010764 than dark brown fiber cultivars 011250 and 010108. In contrast, brown fiber cultivars had higher indicators than green fiber cultivars in terms of fiber yield, index and boll weight. Green cotton cultivar 011460 with low fiber yield had the highest index of 1000 seeds weight. In terms of cotton yield, dark brown fiber cultivar 011250 (97.4±2.0g) showed a higher index compared to other cultivars. This shows that cultivar 011250 can be used as a raw material to increase the yield of colored cotton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allelic variation is a valuable tool for displaying high levels of polymorphism within species and is closely correlated with crop productivity. In Marathawada, there is a significant amount of phenotypic heterogeneity among sorghum landraces. However, molecular variability needs to be reevaluated in order to identify any potential barriers that can interfere with current improvement initiatives. In the current work, we used 5 SSR markers to categorize 20 genotypes of elite (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) accession from the Marathwada region, including one standard cultivar from various agro-economic zones. According to the results of this study, 14 alleles were found among the 20 genotypes, with a PIC value that ranged from 0.37 to 0.70 and a mean of 0.44 per locus. Each locus had anything from 1 (gpsb089) and 5 (mSbCIR223), with an average of 2.80 alleles per locus. A neighbor-joining tree was constructed and showed clustering of genotypes into two groups; this indicates that there is considerable diversity in genotypes compared with advanced cultivar for desired genotype (IS1042) by using SSR markers. Results show that most diverse cultivars were IS-4564, IS18357, and IS-18381, and significant variation was also reported in IS4566 and IS18379., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Introduction: Date palm species classification is important for various agricultural and economic purposes, but it is challenging to perform based on images of date palms alone. Existing methods rely on fruit characteristics, which may not be always visible or present. In this study, we introduce a new dataset and a new model for image-based date palm species classification. Methods: Our dataset consists of 2358 images of four common and valuable date palm species (Barhi, Sukkari, Ikhlas, and Saqi), which we collected ourselves. We also applied data augmentation techniques to increase the size and diversity of our dataset. Our model, called DPXception (Date Palm Xception), is a lightweight and efficient CNN architecture that we trained and fine-tuned on our dataset. Unlike the original Xception model, our DPXception model utilizes only the first 100 layers of the Xception model for feature extraction (Adapted Xception), making it more lightweight and efficient. We also applied normalization prior to adapted Xception and reduced the model dimensionality by adding an extra global average pooling layer after feature extraction by adapted Xception. Results and discussion: We compared the performance of our model with seven well-known models: Xception, ResNet50, ResNet50V2, InceptionV3, DenseNet201, EfficientNetB4, and EfficientNetV2-S. Our model achieved the highest accuracy (92.9%) and F1-score (93%) among the models, as well as the lowest inference time (0.0513 seconds). We also developed an Android smartphone application that uses our model to classify date palm species from images captured by the smartphone's camera in real time. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work to provide a public dataset of date palm images and to demonstrate a robust and practical image-based date palm species classification method. This work will open new research directions for more advanced date palm analysis tasks such as gender classification and age estimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gene editing technologies have opened up the possibility of manipulating the genome of any organism in a predicted way. CRISPR technology is the most used genome editing tool and, in agriculture, it has allowed the expansion of possibilities in plant biotechnology, such as gene knockout or knock-in, transcriptional regulation, epigenetic modification, base editing, RNA editing, prime editing, and nucleic acid probing or detection. This technology mostly depends on in vitro tissue culture and genetic transformation/transfection protocols, which sometimes become the major challenges for its application in different crops. Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, biolistics, plasmid or RNP (ribonucleoprotein) transfection of protoplasts are some of the commonly used CRISPR delivery methods, but they depend on the genotype and target gene for efficient editing. The choice of the CRISPR system (Cas9, Cas12), CRISPR mechanism (plasmid or RNP) and transfection technique (Agrobacterium spp., PEG solution, lipofection) directly impacts the transformation efficiency and/or editing rate. Besides, CRISPR/Cas technology has made countries rethink regulatory frameworks concerning genetically modified organisms and flexibilize regulatory obstacles for edited plants. Here we present an overview of the state-of-the-art of CRISPR technology applied to three important crops worldwide (citrus, coffee and sugarcane), considering the biological, methodological, and regulatory aspects of its application. In addition, we provide perspectives on recently developed CRISPR tools and promising applications for each of these crops, thus highlighting the usefulness of gene editing to develop novel cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within a species population, the amount of diversification is reflected by its genetic variability as it enumerates the genetical and environmental favour on that population. In terms of this, forty eight okra collections were field investigated in RCB design during 2022 as a summer crop. Significant difference among the collected okra accessions was statistically proven by ANOVA. Per se range for okra traits clarified the elaborate variation for fruit yield and others. As always, GCV was marked as lower than PCV which signalled the error regarding environment. Genetic advance along with heritability was noticed high for most of the traits especially yield and its related components that entrusted the selection of traits on phenotype for new trait based expectations perpetually in okra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic diversity is referred to as any variation at the phenotypic, DNA or genomic level of an individual, population or species. The appraisal of diversity is important to understand its pattern and evolutionary relationships between germplasms or genotypes, which will aid in sampling the genetic resources in a more systematic manner for conservation and crop improvement. The present study employed 50 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers linked to the yield and fibre quality/colour traits for estimating the genetic diversity in 33 cotton genotypes of diploid and tetraploid species differing in fibre colour. The diversity analysis was performed in GenAlEx (Ver. 6.41) and Powermarker (Ver. 3.25) while DARwin (Ver. 6.0.21) software was used to establish the phylogenetic relationships following neighbour- -joining (NJ) and unweighted pair group method with arithmetic (UPGMA) mean method. Markers generated 186 polymorphic loci as genotypic data with an average of 3.72 alleles and an average polymorphic information content (PIC) value of 0.59 per SSR locus. The NJ and UPGMA grouped 33 genotypes into three major clusters I, II and III consisting of 21 tetraploid Gossypium hirsutum, 10 G. arboreum coloured and 2 white cotton genotypes, respectively. In the PCA, the first two components (PC1 and PC2) explained 74.69% of the variation and the biplot plotted the 33 genotypes in three groups. The study established the diverse nature of 33 cotton genotypes based on their fibre colour and ploidy level. With confirmation of the prevalent genetic diversity, we suggest that hybridisation can be planned among diverse genotypes to unleash greater variation in the fibre colour or to derive superior cross combinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The two recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations developed by crossing Almaly × Avocet S (206 RILs) and Almaly × Anza (162 RILs) were used to detect the novel genomic regions associated with adult plant resistance (APR) and seedling or allstage resistance (ASR) to yellow rust (YR) and leaf rust (LR). The quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were detected through multi-year phenotypic evaluations (2018–2020) and using high-throughput DArTseq genotyping technology. RILs exhibited significant genetic variation with p < 0.001, and the coefficient of variation ranged from 9.79% to 47.99% for both LR and YR in all Environments and stages of evaluations. The heritability is quite high and ranged between 0.47 and 0.98. We identified nine stable QTLs for YR APR on chromosomes 1B, 2A, 2B, 3D, and 4D and four stable QTLs for LR APR on chromosomes 2B, 3B, 4A, and 5A. Furthermore, in silico analysis revealed that the key putative candidate genes such as cytochrome P450, protein kinase-like domain superfamily, zincbinding ribosomal protein, SANT/Myb domain, WRKY transcription factor, nucleotide sugar transporter, and NAC domain superfamily were in the QTL regions and probably involved in the regulation of host response toward pathogen infection. The stable QTLs identified in this study are useful for developing rust-resistant varieties through marker-assisted selection (MAS). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant immunity includes enemy recognition, signal transduction, and defensive response against pathogens. We experimented to identify the genes that contribute resistance against dieback disease to Dalbergia sissoo, an economically important timber tree. In this study, we investigated the role of three differentially expressed genes identified in the dieback-induced transcriptome in Dalbergia sissoo. The transcriptome was probed using DOP-rtPCR analysis. The identified RGAs were characterized in silico as the contributors of disease resistance that switch on under dieback stress. Their predicted fingerprints revealed involvement in stress response. Ds-DbRCaG-02-Rga.a, Ds-DbRCaG-04-Rga.b, and Ds-DbRCaG-06-Rga.c showed structural homology with the Transthyretin-52 domain, EAL associated YkuI&lowbar;C domain, and Src homology-3 domain respectively, which are the attributes of signaling proteins possessing a role in regulating immune responses in plants. Based on in-silico structural and functional characterization, they were predicted to have a role in immune response regulation in D. sissoo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most plastic products should be recycled or reused because they do not readily assimilate into the environment owing to their non-biodegradability. One such plastic is polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a versatile polymer with numerous applications and it accounts for a major portion of global plastic consumption. This manuscript is a review of PET recycling and the production of rPET(recycled PET)/polyester composites reinforcing with various natural fibers in the realm of environmental consequences. The focus is on decreasing plastic trash by utilizing it into transforming to secondary usable products, thus fulfilling the need for sustainability. Utilizing rPET as a matrix material minimizes the demand for virgin materials while also addressing the issue of environmental degradation brought on by post-consumer PET waste. This review article summarizes research on post-consumer PET waste recycling and its use in processing and creation of high-performance composites based on rPET/polyester matrix and blend of various natural fibers. Effects of natural fiber size, fiber content, and fiber surface modifications on the mechanical properties of rPET or polyester matrix-based composites along with discussions on the processing techniques have been exclusively described in this review work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop improvement programmes began with traditional breeding practices since the inception of agriculture. Farmers and plant breeders continue to use these strategies for crop improvement due to their broad application in modifying crop genetic compositions. Nonetheless, conventional breeding has significant downsides in regard to effort and time. Crop productivity seems to be hitting a plateau as a consequence of environmental issues and the scarcity of agricultural land. Therefore, continuous pursuit of advancement in crop improvement is essential. Recent technical innovations have resulted in a revolutionary shift in the pattern of breeding methods, leaning further towards molecular approaches. Among the promising approaches, marker-assisted selection, QTL mapping, omics-assisted breeding, genome-wide association studies and genome editing have lately gained prominence. Several governments have progressively relaxed their restrictions relating to genome editing. The present review highlights the evolutionary and revolutionary approaches that have been utilized for crop improvement in a bid to produce climate-resilient crops observing the consequence of climate change. Additionally, it will contribute to the comprehension of plant breeding succession so far. Investing in advanced sequencing technologies and bioinformatics will deepen our understanding of genetic variations and their functional implications, contributing to breakthroughs in crop improvement and biodiversity conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Stripe rust is a global disease of wheat. Identification of new resistance genes is key to developing and growing resistant varieties for control of the disease. Wheat line PI 660122 has exhibited a high level of stripe rust resistance for over a decade. However, the genetics of stripe rust resistance in this line has not been studied. A set of 239 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) was developed from a cross between PI 660122 and an elite Chinese cultivar Zhengmai 9023. Methods: The RIL population was phenotyped for stripe rust response in three field environments and genotyped with the Wheat 15K single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array. Results: A total of nine quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for stripe rust resistance were mapped to chromosomes 1B (one QTL), 2B (one QTL), 4B (two QTLs), 4D (two QTLs), 6A (one QTL), 6D (one QTL), and 7D (one QTL), of which seven QTLs were stable and designated as QYrPI660122.swust-4BS, QYrPI660122.swust-4BL, QYrPI660122.swust-4DS, QYrPI660122.swust-4DL, QYrZM9023.swust-6AS, QYrZM9023.swust-6DS, and QYrPI660122.swust-7DS. QYrPI660122.swust 4DS was a major all-stage resistance QTL explaining the highest percentage (10.67%–20.97%) of the total phenotypic variation and was mapped to a 12.15- cM interval flanked by SNP markers AX-110046962 and AX-111093894 on chromosome 4DS. Discussion: The QTL and their linked SNP markers in this study can be used in wheat breeding to improve resistance to stripe rust. In addition, 26 lines were selected based on stripe rust resistance and agronomic traits in the field for further selection and release of new cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) are highly valuable crops enriched with minerals, vitamins, phenolics, and antioxidants required for daily human activities and to prevent cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The objective of this study was to elucidate the physicochemical and mineral evaluation of seven neglected local grape cultivars ('Kishmish', 'Sra Kishmish', 'Askari', 'Sahibi', 'Haita', 'Sundar Khani' and 'Toran') growing in Baluchistan, as it can help in future breeding, processing, and species conservation. Therefore, these cultivars were evaluated for different physical, biochemical, and availability of macro- and micro-mineral contents. In physical evaluation, the local cultivar 'Haita' showed maximum bunch length (19.72 cm) and bunch width (11.88 cm), while the highest bunch weight (527.33 g) was recorded in 'Sahibi'. Similarly, significant differences were noted in biochemical traits, and maximum total soluble solids (24.76%) and titratable acidity (1.58%) were observed in 'Sundar Khani', while the highest vitamin C (26.17 mg 100 g-1), total sugars (30.26%) in Sundar Khani, and nonreducing sugars (8.79%) were recorded in 'Haita'. The cultivars growing in Balochistan also showed variations in phenolics (113.79-346.50 mg GAE L-1) and antioxidants (85.77-90.87%). Likewise, the concentrations of macro- and microelements were also highly variable in these cultivars. Overall, among these cultivars, 'Toran' performed better in the agroclimatic conditions of Balochistan, as it has high yield attributes such as berry length, width, and weight. Moreover, it was also enriched with total soluble solids, antioxidants, and calcium contents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the world's flower trade, gladiolus (Gladiolus spp.) is ranked first among bulbous flowers and eighth among cut flowers, with more than 30,000 different cultivars being grown. Mass multiplication and commercialization are restricted by the traditional propagation methods. However, the large-scale proliferation and improvement of the gladiolus have been accomplished with the aid of plant tissue culture and other biotechnological techniques. The current review includes a thorough examination of the growth and development parameters required for successful in vitro gladiolus development as well as cormel formation. Moreover, focus is being given to various techniques and methods such as in vitro cytogenetic stability and modification of chromosome number, in vitro mutagenesis and selection of pest resistance, in vitro identification and selection to develop virus-free germplasm, cryopreservation, synthetic seed technology, identifying virus diseases by RT-PCR, somaclonal variation, and protoplast and somatic hybridization. Molecular markers and their applications for genetic diversity analysis, relationships between different genotypes, and clonal stability analysis in Gladiolus species have been conducted by several research groups worldwide and are also being discussed. The article also covers efforts to enhance the functionality of plant phenotypes through genetic transformation. Future prospects for further improvement of ornamental gladiolus are also explored. Overall, the current review provides insight into the applications of basic and advanced biotechnological tools for gladiolus improvement., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Wamena is notable for producing and exporting high-quality coffee. However, a molecular method based on its polymorphism and not affected by external factors is required since morphological observations alone are frequently insufficient for identifying the coffee. The objective of this study is to identify Wamena Arabica coffee in the Jayawijaya District using simple sequence repeats (SSRs) molecular markers. This research involved several stages, including DNA isolation and purification, PCR SSR amplification with 5 primers, polymorphism, and heterozygosity level analysis. The results analysis proved that 30 alleles of 32 coffee genotypes were successfully amplified, with fragment sizes ranging from 176 to 553bp. The Car M052 locus (0.29%) had the least polymorphism with only two alleles, while the CarM101 locus (0.82%) had the most with 12 alleles, that high and low polymorphism indicated a measure of PIC scores. Heterozygosity analysis showed that the coffee samples were highly heterozygous. And based on the results of the bootstrap analysis, the phenogram shows that the coffee samples are divided into six clusters, with a cophenetic correlation coefficient (r) of 0.948 (excellent fit). This study proved that all SSR loci succeeded in amplifying 30 alleles and could be identified molecularly based on the genetic variation of the Wamena Arabica coffee genotypes in Papua. It seems highly possible that there is a mix of traits through gene flow and exchange between coffee genotypes, and the heterozygosity in the Arabica population on plantations. As a result, it is very important further analysis to confirm the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Date palm has excellent economic value all over the world. Date palm genotypes grown in Pakistan are diverse in nature. The current study aimed to explore the diversity in 50 date palm genotypes collected from two different research stations in Punjab, Pakistan. The study findings are as follows: Dhakki had the highest fruit weight, pulp weight, fruit width and fruit volume. Jaman had a longer fruit length. Eedel Shah and Begum Jangi had greater fruit thickness and fruit perimeter, respectively. Makran showed a higher fruit area. Dedhi showed the highest stone weight, thickness and volume. Halmain had a longer stone length, and Sundari had an extended stone width. Makhi exhibited a higher stone perimeter and area. The Danda genotype had low weight and a small length of the stone. Begum Jangi and Peeli Sundar had small stone width. Seib and Shado had a higher moisture content in their fruits. The fruits of Baidhar and Khudraw-2 genotypes had the highest dry matter and reducing sugars. Champa Kali and Shakri had higher TSS levels in fruits. Halmain had higher juice pH. The fruits of Pathri and Makhi genotypes exhibited higher non-reducing sugars and carotenoids. In this study, a dendrogram was constructed to cluster 50 genotypes into five different clusters based on their physico-chemical characteristics. The correlation matrix and variable plot revealed positive and negative correlations between fruits traits and their biochemical properties conducive to the improvement of desired traits. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that Dhakki, Chohara, Baidhar, Karbalaen and Eedel Shah showed a higher genetic diversity; hence, in the scatter plot and biplot, these genotypes deviated from the centre of origin. Physico-chemical characteristics of data palm genotypes indicated a huge diversity among them, which could help select diverse parents, which is important for different breeding purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grain legumes play a crucial role in human nutrition and as a staple crop for lowincome farmers in developing and underdeveloped nations, contributing to overall food security and agroecosystem services. Viral diseases aremajor biotic stresses that severely challenge global grain legume production. In this review, we discuss how exploring naturally resistant grain legume genotypes within germplasm, landraces, and crop wild relatives could be used as promising, economically viable, and ecoenvironmentally friendly solution to reduce yield losses. Studies based on Mendelian and classical genetics have enhanced our understanding of key genetic determinants that govern resistance to various viral diseases in grain legumes. Recent advances in molecular marker technology and genomic resources have enabled us to identify genomic regions controlling viral disease resistance in various grain legumes using techniques such asQTL mapping, genome-wide association studies, whole-genome resequencing, pangenome and 'omics' approaches. These comprehensive genomic resources have expedited the adoption of genomics-assisted breeding for developing virus-resistant grain legumes. Concurrently, progress in functional genomics, especially transcriptomics, has helped unravel underlying candidate gene(s) and their roles in viral disease resistance in legumes. This review also examines the progress in genetic engineering-based strategies, including RNA interference, and the potential of synthetic biology techniques, such as synthetic promoters and synthetic transcription factors, for creating viral-resistant grain legumes. It also elaborates on the prospects and limitations of cutting-edge breeding technologies and emerging biotechnological tools (e.g., genomic selection, rapid generation advances, and CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing tool) in developing virusdisease-resistant grain legumes to ensure global food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Failure of hemostasis and the formation of blood clots in the arteries are the main reasons that provoke the onset of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) such as myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke. Cardiovascular diseases have become the primary cause of deaths and disabilities across the globe. Therefore, this problem needs to be addressed with urgency. The disintegration of blood clots requires fibrinolytic agents, which are involved in thrombolysis. Streptokinase and urokinase are fibrinolytic enzymes; the former is primarily produced from microbial sources and the latter is isolated from urine, respectively. Streptokinase and urokinase have been in use for a long time to treat cardiovascular diseases. This review explains in detail the comparison of employing streptokinase and urokinase for the said purpose in a cost-effective manner. The recombinant production of both the agents has been discussed in detail. Furthermore, the efficacy of both the agents has been compared based upon their side effects and retention time in the body. A thorough study has been made to compare the influence of using both the agents on the health of cardiovascular patients in the last decade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought is among the severe abiotic stresses that reduces crop yield. It greatly affects the growth and development at both vegetative and reproductive stages and the yield processes of crops. Maize is the third most important and widely distributed crop, suffering from drought stress, resulting in final kernel yield losses. The conduct of a screening experiment selected drought-sensitive and droughttolerant maize accessions against water stress applied via calculating field capacity. This experiment used two treatments, T0 and T1 (T0 with 100% field capacity and T1 with 50% field capacity), in a completely randomized design (CRD) with a factorial arrangement and two replications at the wirehouse, Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Recording data on seedling traits ensued. Drought-tolerant and drought-sensitive accessions' selection resulted from principal component analysis, with a conclusion that the accessions H45C × H6B, H21 × H2B, H17 × H16, H23 × H21, H17 × H16A were drought tolerant, while H20 × H7C, H47A × H6C, and H9 × H21 were drought sensitive. This research will provide information in the future for comparing drought-sensitive and drought-tolerant accessions and help identify drought-tolerant maize accessions benefitting future breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Date palm is an economically important fruit crop in the arid and semi-arid regions of the world. The knowledge of genetic variation, genotype-by-traits comparison, as well as the relationship among several phenological traits is effective for developing breeding populations by choosing the best allelic combinations and employing selection approaches. Information regarding the genetic variability and inter-relationships among fruit characteristics is facilitating the plant breeders to efficiently exploit the date palm germplasm for the introduction of elite genotypes. The present study was conducted to examine genetic variation among different date palm cultivars -collected from two different research stations in Pakistan as well as the relationship among their phenological and biochemical characteristics. Biplot analysis revealed that the cultivars ‘Dhakki’, ‘Chohara’, and ‘Kupra’ possessed the highest fruit and pulp weights. Moreover, the fruits of the cultivars ‘Champa Kali’ and ‘Shakri’ had the maximum TSS (total soluble solids) and total sugar content. Similar variations were observed in the mean values of the studied phenological and biochemical characteristics as in the biplot analysis. Cluster analysis on the basis of phenological and biochemical characteristics divided 50 cultivars into seven clusters, showing differences in the studied characters. A correlation matrix revealed that pulp weight had a strong relationship with fruit weight, length, and diameter. A strong correlation also existed among antioxidant capacity, antioxidant activity, and total phenolic content. These results demonstrated a huge diversity in phenological and biochemical characteristics of date palm cultivars as well as a correlation among several characteristics of the studied germplasm, which can be exploited in future breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sorghum is the agricultural crop most adaptable to the effects of abiotic factors, able to tolerate prolonged soil and air droughts, changes in air temperature, insufficient precipitation, salinization, acidification of soils, and many others with the least loss of yield compared to traditional crops such as wheat and barley. However, even among sorghum genotypes, there are samples with varying degrees of resistance to stressors, for example, drought. The aim of this study is a comprehensive study of the influence of abiotic factors on the physiological characteristics and biochemical parameters of sorghum grain. The experiment was carried out on the experimental field and laboratory conditions of the Rossorgo Institute. Drought resistance of plants is determined in the initial phase of development and during the flowering period by the degree of seed swelling in hypertonic solutions and the water regime of the leaves (total water content, water deficiency, moisture loss, and water-holding capacity). The quality of the grain is determined using the spectrophotometry method for the main biochemical components, and likewise, the separation of the protein into fractions. The growing conditions of plants in 2021–2022 differ significantly in terms of hydrothermal indicators. As a result of the conducted research for use in breeding programs for the creation of new varieties and hybrids with increased stress resistance selected samples L-65/14, Magistr has high drought resistance in the degree of seed swelling in hypertonic solutions (55.2–58.9%), which turned out to be at the level of the control variant (61.6–63.7%), and indicators of the water regime of the leaves (total water content of leaf tissues—74.20–77.83%; water-retaining capacity—83.77–85.56%; low moisture loss for 1 h/day—2.86–3.01%). These samples were characterized by the biological value determined by the optimal ratio of major indicators of grain and protein fractions: albumin (16.59–22.75%), globulin (8.13–9.09%), glutelin (9.09–14.01%), and prolamin (5.79–11.50%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild pomegranate is a valuable edible species in the plant ecosystem of the Hyrcanian forests and the northern plains of the Caspian coast in Iran. The genetic diversity of these wild pomegranates can be effective in pomegranate breeding programs and germplasm conservation. In the present study, morphological diversity in 103 wild pomegranates (Punica granatum L. var. spinosa) in the northeastern area of Iran was studied using 46 traits related to trees, flowers, and fruits. The results showed that the fruit weight ranged from 17.93 to 99.9 g with an average of 48.92 g, the total aril weight ranged from 0.54 g to 64.78 g with an average of 24.25 g, and the weight of 100 arils was between 4.89 and 46.21 with an average of 13.79. The fruit cracking percent, crown shape, aril juiciness, calyx, and corolla colors show a high coefficient of variation (CV > 70%). Based on PCA results, fruit weight and total aril weight, peel weight, and fruit length and diameter were important on determining differences among accessions. In biplot analysis, genotype distribution was determined by two main factors. In cluster analysis, the studied accessions were divided into two different major clusters and two subclusters in each one. The results showed a high diversity of important pomological traits in wild pomegranates such as fruit weight, fruit cracking percent, crown shape, total aril weight, aril juiciness corolla, and calyx color that can be used in breeding programs to improve pomegranate juice quality and marketability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

miRNAs genes are regulatory elements that their main role is to downregulate gene expression at the mRNAs level. miRNAs also play important roles in several plant pathways related to important cellular activities such as growth, reproduction, differentiation, morphogenesis, apoptosis and, response to abiotic and biotic stresses. This research was conducted to identify conserved miRNAs and their target genes using next generation sequencing data in the damask rose (Rosa damascena Mill.). Although bioinformatics methods have been developed as the most efficient strategy for target miRNA identification, high-throughput experimental strategies are still in high demand. Bioinformatics tools (Cmii, psRNATarget, WEGO, Blast2GO) and laboratory method (real-time PCR) were used to identify new miRNAs, predict and determine the ontology of the target genes involved in the production of scent and color in the damask rose, respectively. Using EST and RNA-seq data based on Rosa lucieae homology, four miRNA families, including: miR5021, miR2673, miR156, and miR838, were selected as candidate miRNAs. In the next step, for the quantitative evaluation of the real-time PCR to validate the expression level of the selected miR5021 in two samples (white and hot-pink) and the biological stage (young and bud) of the damask rose, foliar spraying with the concentrations of zero (control) and 300 μM of methyl Jasmonate for 48 hours was made. Result showed the highest relative expression of miR5021 belonging to the pink sample on the young development stage. These findings accelerate future prospective studies on the regulatory mechanisms of miRNAs in Rosa damascena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jamun (Syzygium cumini [L.] Skeels) is one of the most potential underutilized fruit crops. Here, phenotypic and pomological variability among 61 accessions of this species was investigated. Analysis of variance (p <.01) revealed significant differences among the accessions studied based on the traits recorded. Ripening date ranged from late June to mid‐July. Fruit color was purple in 13, dark purple in 30, and black in 18 accessions. Fruit weight ranged from 2.12 to 8.95 g, and fruit flesh thickness varied from 1.25 to 6.78 mm. Principal component analysis showed that fruit‐related characters are very important in differentiating among selections. The studied accessions were divided into two groups and several subgroups based on cluster analysis, which showed the phenotypic variations among them. Beside the significant differences among the accessions of different regions, significant variation was observed between the accessions of each region. The obtained results are useful for designing conservation strategies for the germplasm as well as implementing breeding programs, such as introducing cultivars with different goals, including early or late ripening and seedless, nonastringent, large, and deeper color‐fruits. Based on the fruit quality attributes, such as fruit weight, color, and taste; eight accessions, including Pirdan‐3, Soldan‐1, Pirdan‐6, Soldan‐5, Nasirabad‐3, Soldan‐3, Nasirabad‐8, and Ganjabad‐11, were selected which can be cultivated directly in orchards or used as parents in breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dalbergia sissoo is an important timber tree, and dieback disease poses a dire threat to it toward extinction. The genomic record of D. sissoo is not available yet on any database; that is why it is challenging to probe the genetic elements involved in stress resistance. Hence, we attempted to unlock the genetics involved in dieback resistance through probing the NBS-LRR family, linked with mostly disease resistance in plants. We analyzed the transcriptome of D. sissoo under dieback challenge through DOP-rtPCR analysis using degenerate primers from conserved regions of NBS domain-encoded gene sequences. The differentially expressed gene sequences were sequenced and in silico characterized for predicting the expressome that contributes resistance to D. sissoo against dieback. The molecular and bioinformatic analyses predicted the presence of motifs including ATP/GTP-binding site motif A (P-loop NTPase domain), GLPL domain, casein kinase II phosphorylation site, and N-myristoylation site that are the attributes of proteins encoded by disease resistance genes. The physicochemical characteristics of identified resistance gene analogs, subcellular localization, predicted protein fingerprints, in silico functional annotation, and predicted protein structure proved their role in disease and stress resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to identify the genetic polymorphisms of sixspecies (assigned S1 to S4and S10 to S11) isolated from two different families, Poaceae (S1 to S4) and Cyperaceae (S10 and S11), one genetic locus covering a portion of the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1), 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene, and internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) sequences were amplified in this study. A direct sequencing strategy was performed for the observed PCR amplicons in the amplified genetic locus. Subsequently, a comprehensive phylogenetic tree was constructed in the observed variants to assess the accurate phylogenetic distances alongside relative sample sequences for each investigated family. Our results indicated the presence of variable homology between our investigated species of the corresponding families. Sequencing results showed the presence of four variants distributed in some of the investigated samples (S4 and S9). According to phylogenetic data for each constructed tree, the investigated samples in each tree were positioned in a phylogenetic clade corresponding to its family. These positions were represented by many incorporated organisms with a variety of genetic distances. Most of the clades were positioned in distinctly separated places from each other in the tree. Based on the utilized ITS amplicons, it was made clear that almost all investigated samples were originated from variable Asian sources, while other investigated samples exhibited multi-geographical origins. These different positions were generated due to several ancestral differences found in the pattern and extent of the observed nucleic acid variations in the analyzed families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the oldest fruit trees of the Arabian peninsula, other Middle-Eastern countries, and also North Africa, the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.), is highly significant for the economy of the region. Listed as part of UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the date palm is believed to be the first tree cultivated by human beings, and was probably first harvested for its fruit nearly 7,000 years ago. Initial research efforts in date palm genetics focused on understanding the genetic diversity of date palm germplasm collections and its phylogenetic history, both important prerequisites for plant improvement. Despite various efforts, the center of origin of the date palm is still unclear, although genomic studies suggest two probable domestication events: one in the Middle East and the other in North Africa, with two separate gene pools. The current review covers studies related to omics analyses that have sought to decipher the present genetic diversity of the date palm. With advances and cost reductions in sequencing technologies, rapid progress has been made in the past few years in date palm genomics research. Along with organellar genomes, several reference genomes of the date palm are now available. In addition, several genotypes have been re-sequenced, either to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), or to study domestication and identification of key genes/loci associated with important agronomic traits, such as sex, fruit color, and sugar composition. These genomics research progress has paved the way to perform fast-track and precise germplasm improvement processes in date palm. In this study, we review the advances made in the genetics and genomics of the date palm so as to strategize targeted crop improvement plans for marginal areas of the Middle Eastern peninsula, North Africa, and other parts of the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The date palm is a resilient, socioeconomically valuable desert fruit tree renowned for its heat, drought, and salinity tolerance. Date palm fruits are rich in nutrients and antioxidants, and their beneficial health properties can mitigate current and future food security challenges. However, it is challenging to improve date palm production through conventional breeding methods due to its slow growth. Date palm seeds do not produce true-to-type progeny, and commercial propagation relies on direct organogenesis from maternal tissue. Consequently, numerous economically important and valuable cultivars are lost due to tissue recalcitrance and challenges in inducing cell dedifferentiation and regeneration. Moreover, genetic engineering of date palms is currently impossible due to the lack of a stable genetic transformation protocol. This hampers the development of genetic resources in date palms. This study established a tissue culture pipeline and a genetic transformation protocol for various commercially important date palm cultivars. We used the non-invasive visual reporter RUBY and four morphogenic regulators to validate and improve date palm transformation potential. We found that the date palm BABY-BOOM (PdBBM) and the WOUND INDUCED DEDIFFERENTIATION (PdWIND1) enhanced transformation efficacy. We show that PdBBM can induce embryogenesis in hormone-free media and regenerate roots and shoots in recalcitrant varieties. On the other hand, PdWIND1 maintained embryogenic cells in their undifferentiated state. Our study provides a foundation for genetically improving date palms and a potential solution for preserving economically valuable varieties., (© 2024 The Authors. Physiologia Plantarum published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Scandinavian Plant Physiology Society.)

Plants evolve diverse mechanisms to eliminate the drastic effect of biotic and abiotic stresses. Drought is the most hazardous abiotic stress causing huge losses to crop yield worldwide. Osmotic stress decreases relative water and chlorophyll content and increases the accumulation of osmolytes, epicuticular wax content, antioxidant enzymatic activities, reactive oxygen species, secondary metabolites, membrane lipid peroxidation, and abscisic acid. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) eliminate the effect of drought stress by altering root morphology, regulating the stressresponsive genes, producing phytohormones, osmolytes, siderophores, volatile organic compounds, and exopolysaccharides, and improving the 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase activities. The use of PGPR is an alternative approach to traditional breeding and biotechnology for enhancing crop productivity. Hence, that can promote drought tolerance in important agricultural crops and could be used to minimize crop losses under limited water conditions. This review deals with recent progress on the use of PGPR to eliminate the harmful effects of drought stress in traditional agriculture crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]