Biophysical and biochemical parameters of Sorghum associated to shoot fly resistance

The sorghum shoot fly, Atherigona soccata (Muscidae: Diptera), represents a significant biotic constraint to sorghum production, leading to considerable yield losses globally. This study aimed to systematically classify sorghum genotypes based on their resistance to A. soccata infestation. A total of 188 genotypes were subjected to rigorous evaluation employing standardized screening methodologies. The analysis revealed substantial variability in resistance levels across the genotypes. Based on damage assessments in field trials, 14 genotypes were selected for further investigation under controlled pot culture conditions. Comprehensive biochemical analyses were conducted on each genotype under both uninfested and infested scenarios. Among the evaluated genotypes, IS 10588 and IS 8380 exhibited high levels of resistance, IS 12787 demonstrated moderate resistance, while TNFS 230 was classified as moderately resistant to A. soccata infestation. Critical morphological and biochemical traits associated with resistance were identified, including trichome density, leaf glossiness, and enzyme activity levels of peroxidase (PO), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), tannins, and phenolic compounds. The study concludes that these morpho-physiological and biochemical characteristics contribute significantly to the resistance mechanisms in sorghum against A. soccata. Thus, these identified genotypes may serve as valuable genetic resources for breeding programs aimed at enhancing resistance to A. soccata in sorghum

Genetic analysis of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) genotypes for yield and oil quality parameters

Genetic variability is a foundation for advancing crop improvement programs. The effectiveness of selection is influenced by the characteristics, scope, and degree of genetic variability found in the material, as well as the extent to which this variability is heritable. This study assessed fifteen traits, including yield and oil quality parameters, in 55 groundnut accessions from diverse origins. The analysis of genetic parameters, including phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV), genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV), heritability, genetic advance as a percentage of the mean (GAM), skewness, and kurtosis revealed significant genetic variation for several key traits. Notably, the traits viz., the number of branches(NB)/plant, hundred pod weight, shelling percentage(SP), oil yield/plant, and oleic acid(OA) content exhibited high PCV, GCV, heritability, and GAM. The analysis showed significant genetic variability and a predominance of additive gene effects, suggesting phenotypic selection as an effective approach for groundnut improvement. Association analysis revealed positive genotypic and phenotypic correlations of single plant yield(SPY) with traits like days to first flowering(DFiF), NB per plant, number of pods(NP) per plant, hundred pod weight, oil yield per plant (OYPP), and OA content. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified five principal components with eigenvalues greater than 1, explaining 75.13% of the total variation. A biplot constructed using the first two PCs visually represented the importance of NP/plant, NB/plant, oil yield/plant, and OA content for yield improvement strategies. Cluster analysis efficiently grouped the 55 genotypes into five distinct clusters. The high OA lines "Girnar 4" and "Girnar 5" were clustered together. This information suggests that selecting accessions from clusters with greater genetic distance can be a valuable strategy to maximize genetic variability within breeding programs

Insights into Microprotein A novel tool to unravel crop improvement

Small regulatory proteins with a size range of 5 to 20 kilodaltons (kDa) are known as microproteins (miPs). They are connected to bigger, frequently multi-domain proteins and typically include a single protein domain. Through their interactions with other proteins, these microproteins modify the post-translational gene expression level. Numerous microproteins that are essential for controlling transcription factor activity have been discovered in both plants and animals in recent years. Microproteins are necessary for several phases of plant development, such as seed germination, seedling growth, stomatal regulation, root formation, pigment synthesis, blooming and floral development. Certain microproteins viz., viral protein U (Vpu) microProtein, negatively regulates the K+ ion channel TASK1 in humans, LITTLE ZIPPER proteins found in arabidopsis which regulate transcription factor and mitochondrial microprotein BRAWNI are conserved only among vertebrates are exclusive to a given species, whilst others have evolved to be conserved since they first appeared early in evolutionary history. Food security is being challenged by the cumulative consequences of climate change and unsustainable agricultural methods, which increases the need for sustainable and innovative solutions since microproteins are essential regulators of several physiological processes in plants. They are excellent candidates for creating synthetic miPs that can be employed to support plant stress resilience leading to increased productivity. Understanding the microproteins' regulatory mechanisms is a crucial step in developing microproteins into useful biotechnological tools for crop bioengineering. There is a theory that target proteins and microproteins have similar evolutionary histories. Microproteins work at the molecular level by obstructing the assembly of higher-order protein complexes. Their potential for biotechnological applications is further enhanced by their ability to function as dominant regulators in a focused and precise manner. In addition to exploring the processes of microproteins and their functional roles in plant biology, this study intends to provide the groundwork for future investigations by helping scientists identify, characterize and map these proteins