Genomics-assisted breeding in four major pulse crops of developing countries: present status and prospects

The global population is continuously increasing and is expected to reach nine billion by 2050. This huge population pressure will lead to severe shortage of food, natural resources and arable land. Such an alarming situation is most likely to arise in developing countries due to increase in the proportion of people suffering from protein and micronutrient malnutrition. Pulses being a primary and affordable source of proteins and minerals play a key role in alleviating the protein calorie malnutrition, micronutrient deficiencies and other undernourishment-related issues. Additionally, pulses are a vital source of livelihood generation for millions of resource-poor farmers practising agriculture in the semi-arid and sub-tropical regions. Limited success achieved through conventional breeding so far in most of the pulse crops will not be enough to feed the ever increasing population. In this context, genomics-assisted breeding (GAB) holds promise in enhancing the genetic gains. Though pulses have long been considered as orphan crops, recent advances in the area of pulse genomics are noteworthy, e.g. discovery of genome-wide genetic markers, high-throughput genotyping and sequencing platforms, high-density genetic linkage/QTL maps and, more importantly, the availability of whole-genome sequence. With genome sequence in hand, there is a great scope to apply genome-wide methods for trait mapping using association studies and to choose desirable genotypes via genomic selection. It is anticipated that GAB will speed up the progress of genetic improvement of pulses, leading to the rapid development of cultivars with higher yield, enhanced stress tolerance and wider adaptability

Study of the perceived functions and the quality of physical boundaries of public spaces

PurposeAs an underlying entity in the discourses of privatisation of space, urban security and fear, boundary walls are considered as an impediment to the publicness of public spaces. But, the inevitability and potential of their physical attributes and functions is indicative of the lack of systemic knowledge on how to approach boundary walls, so that they contribute positively to the quality of urban spaces. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approachSince boundary walls are constitutive of physical attributes that are embedded with multiple functions, the contribution of physical boundaries is premised on the interaction between objective and subjective measurements, explored in positive and ambiguous space types. In this study, the quality of physical boundaries is measured by an index and the perceived functions of the physical attributes of boundary walls are measured by a questionnaire survey.FindingsThis study found that positive and ambiguous space types not only affect the quality of physical boundaries but also the perceived functions of the physical attributes of boundary walls. Further, social and visual functions of boundary walls play a significant role in contributing positively to the quality of urban spaces.Originality/valueBy exploring the relation between quality of physical boundaries and their perceived functions, this study extends the meta-understanding of the role of boundary walls.</jats:sec

THE CHALLENGE OF PROTEIN TARGETING TO THE SUGARCANE VACUOLES FOR METABOLIC ENGINEERING

Abstract Two targeting peptides were tested for their ability to direct foreign proteins to the sugarcane vacuole, as a foundation for metabolic engineering in that compartment. Fusion to N-terminal propeptide (NTPP) of sweet potato sporamin substantially reduced the activity of various reporter proteins (E. coli GUS, non-glycosylated GUS, LUC and GFP) in sugarcane, probably due to instability of reporter proteins in the vacuole. NTPP-GFP fluorescence was found in the vacuoles of Arabidopsis mature leaf mesophyll cells, but not in the vacuoles of any other cell type studied in sugarcane or Arabidopsis. In young leaf mesophyll cells of both sugarcane and Arabidopsis, NTPP-GFP fluorescence was found in the chloroplasts indicating mis-trafficking of GFP. The C-terminal propeptide (CTPP) from tobacco chitinase appeared less efficient for vacuolar targeting, with substantial protein apparently retained in the ER. To confirm these interpretations, better tools are needed to distinguish vacuolar targeting and stability