Elucidating the role and function of Sensitive to Freezing6 (SFR6) and its interacting proteins in the control of stress tolerance

The plant mediator transcriptional co-activator complex consists of in the region of 34 protein subunits that collectively link promoter-bound transcription factors with the activity of RNA polymerase II. Among them, Mediator subunit 16 (MED16; also known as SENSITIVE TO FREEZING6, SFR6) plays a major role in regulating the expression of specific genes in response to a variety of stresses including cold, drought, UV and pathogen infection. The structure of plant mediator has been hypothesised to be similar to that of yeast mediator but has not yet been proven. Considering the structure of the yeast mediator complex, in which MED14, MED16 and MED2 occupy positions in the so-called “tail”, we would predict a close physical interaction between MED14, MED2 and MED16 in the plant complex. Therefore, this study investigated whether MED2 and MED14 control the same regulons as controlled by MED16. Results showed the necessity of these two proteins, like MED16, in gene regulation under cold, drought, and UV stresses and revealed a clear correlation between reduced levels of tolerance and impaired gene expression under cold and UV but not drought. To investigate whether particular domains within MED16 might be responsible for the activation of specific genes under different stresses, complementation experiments were used to test the ability of three different truncated MED16 versions to restore cold-, dark- and UV-inducible expression. Some truncated versions were able to complement the mutant but the degree of complementation varied amongst transgenic lines. Experiments were conducted to study the function of KIN10, an interacting protein of MED16 that appears to play a role similar to MED16 in regulation of stress genes and tolerance. The necessity of KIN10 in the control of a subset of the stress-inducible genes controlled by MED16 was demonstrated. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that regions within the N-terminal part of MED16 are essential for interaction with KIN10

Willing to be the change: Perceived drivers and barriers to participation in urban smart farming projects

Psychological research on perceptions on urban smart farming is scarce, especially in a Global South context. To reach wide acceptance of urban smart farming and create effective strategies for the implementation of this innovative technology, we need insights into people’s perceptions. In this article, we investigate the factors that motivate or hinder people to engage in community-led urban smart farming projects. We present a systematic assessment of perceived drivers and barriers for urban smart farming, based on a survey study in three African countries, Nigeria, South Africa and Zambia. Using multiple regression analysis, we could identify country-specific drivers and barriers. People’s demographics have been found to play less of a role in predicting intentions to be involved in urban smart farming projects. We recommend considering the human dimension when promoting innovative technologies such as urban smart farming and encourage practitioners to assess each region individually when promoting innovative farming techniques

Mediator Subunits MED16, MED14, and MED2 Are Required for Activation of ABRE-Dependent Transcription in Arabidopsis

The Mediator complex controls transcription of most eukaryotic genes with individual subunits required for the control of particular gene regulons in response to various perturbations. In this study, we reveal the roles of the plant Mediator subunits MED16, MED14, and MED2 in regulating transcription in response to the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) and we determine which cis elements are under their control. Using synthetic promoter reporters we established an effective system for testing relationships between subunits and specific cis-acting motifs in protoplasts. Our results demonstrate that MED16, MED14, and MED2 are required for the full transcriptional activation by ABA of promoters containing both the ABRE (ABA-responsive element) and DRE (drought-responsive element). Using synthetic promoter motif concatamers, we showed that ABA-responsive activation of the ABRE but not the DRE motif was dependent on these three Mediator subunits. Furthermore, the three subunits were required for the control of water loss from leaves but played no role in ABA-dependent growth inhibition, highlighting specificity in their functions. Our results identify new roles for three Mediator subunits, provide a direct demonstration of their function and highlight that our experimental approach can be utilized to identify the function of subunits of plant transcriptional regulators

Physicochemical Properties and Bioactivities of Six Alpinia Species in Sri Lanka

Plants comprising bioactive substances with therapeutic value have progressively become the object of research studies. Many species of the genus Alpinia provide a variety of medicinal properties. This study was undertaken to study the biological activities and physicochemical properties of rhizomes and leaves of six Alpinia species available in Sri Lanka namely, Alpinia malaccensis, Alpinia calcarata, Alpinia galanga, Alpinia nigra, Alpinia calcarata Wild and Alpinia purpurata. Physicochemical parameters will be helpful in standardization for quality, purity and authentication of these medicinal plants. Methanol extracts from rhizomes and leaves were screened for total polyphenol content (TPC), antioxidant activity and α-amylase inhibition activities. Extracted powders were analysed for physicochemical constants such as loss on drying, total ash, acid -insoluble ash and water-soluble ash contents. The TPC of dried leaves of Alpinia calcarata Wild was the highest of all tested as 2.186±0.027 g of GA equivalents per 1 g of dried rhizome. The Methanol extracts of the rhizome and leaf samples of six species showed reasonable antioxidant activity in the DPPH radical scavenging assay. Interestingly the rhizome extracts of Alpinia nigra and Alpinia purpurata exhibited higher α-amylase inhibitory activities (29.417±0.507 and 29.676 ± 0.107 µg/mL respectively) compared with the Acarbose, which is an anti-diabetic drug (28.273 ± 0.615 µg/mL). The results revealed that the Sri Lankan Alpinia species have a potency to be used as a source of antioxidant and anti-diabetic agents and it is important to increase the value of the unexplored medicinal herbs available in Sri Lanka

Effects of Urban Smart Farming on Local Economy and Food Production in Urban Areas in African Cities

African cities are growing rapidly into inefficient, unsustainable, resource-starved ecosystems that negatively affect the local economy and food production. Food as a critical resource needs to be produced and managed more efficiently by local communities in the urban area. Urban smart farming (USF) has emerged as an important mechanism to address these challenges to achieve sustainable, resilient, and inclusive cities. USF has the potential to be the industry 4.0 green revolution in agriculture, which embodies innovative digital technologies. However, it is unclear how local African communities and key stakeholders perceive this novel solution and if they are willing to engage in its uptake. This study examines the relationship between the perceived benefits and challenges of USF and the willingness of local African communities to actively participate in USF projects as a potential mechanism to improve local economy and food production. To assess this relationship, a causal model was developed. In this causal model, the local economy and food production were defined as dependent variables. The conceptualized model and the inherent causality between the constructs were validated through a survey administered among African cities’ residents. The results of structural equation modelling indicate a significant positive impact of perceived benefits of USF as well as the willingness of African communities to engage in this technology on local economy and food production. Only minimal adverse effects of the perceived challenges of USF on the local economy and food production have been found. The study concludes that the benefits and willingness of local communities are the key drivers for implementing urban smart farms in African metropolitans. Therefore, it is recommended to focus on the benefits and the motivation of local communities in African cities where USF shall be further developed, rather than on the barriers. The validated causal model can be used as a framework to facilitate the adoption of USF in Africa and consequently enhance the local economy and food production in African cities