Identification and expression profile of the SMAX/SMXL family genes in chickpea and lentil provide important players of biotechnological interest involved in plant branching

SMAX/SMXL family genes were successfully identified and characterized in the chickpea and lentil and gene expression data revealed several genes associated with the modulation of plant branching and powerful targets for use in transgenesis and genome editing. Strigolactones (SL) play essential roles in plant growth, rooting, development, and branching, and are associated with plant resilience to abiotic and biotic stress conditions. Likewise, karrikins (KAR) are "plant smoke-derived molecules" that act in a hormonal signaling pathway similar to SL playing an important role in seed germination and hairy root elongation. The SMAX/SMXL family genes are part of these two signaling pathways, in addition to some of these members acting in a still little known SL- and KAR-independent signaling pathway. To date, the identification and functional characterization of the SMAX/SMXL family genes has not been performed in the chickpea and lentil. In this study, nine SMAX/SMXL genes were systematically identified and characterized in the chickpea and lentil, and their expression profiles were explored under different unstressless or different stress conditions. After a comprehensive in silico characterization of the genes, promoters, proteins, and protein-protein interaction network, the expression profile for each gene was determined using a meta-analysis from the RNAseq datasets and complemented with real-time PCR analysis. The expression profiles of the SMAX/SMXL family genes were very dynamic in different chickpea and lentil organs, with some genes assuming a tissue-specific expression pattern. In addition, these genes were significantly modulated by different stress conditions, indicating that SMAX/SMXL genes, although working in three distinct signaling pathways, can act to modulate plant resilience. Most CaSMAX/SMXL and partner genes such as CaTiE1 and CaLAP1, have a positive correlation with the plant branching level, while most LcSMAX/SMXL genes were less correlated with the plant branching level. The SMXL6, SMXL7, SMXL8, TiE1, LAP1, BES1, and BRC1 genes were highlighted as powerful targets for use in transgenesis and genome editing aiming to develop chickpea and lentil cultivars with improved architecture. Therefore, this study presented a detailed characterization of the SMAX/SMXL genes in the chickpea and lentil, and provided new insights for further studies focused on each SMAX/SMXL gene

Implications of ethylene biosynthesis and signaling in soybean drought stress tolerance

Abstract\ud \ud Background\ud Ethylene is a phytohormone known for inducing a triple response in seedlings, leaf abscission and other responses to various stresses. Several studies in model plants have evaluated the importance of this hormone in crosstalk signaling with different metabolic pathways, in addition to responses to biotic stresses. However, the mechanism of action in plants of agricultural interest, such as soybean, and its participation in abiotic stresses remain unclear.\ud \ud \ud Results\ud The studies presented in this work allowed for the identification of 176 soybean genes described elsewhere for ethylene biosynthesis (108 genes) and signal transduction (68 genes). A model to predict these routes in soybean was proposed, and it had great representability compared to those described for Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa. Furthermore, analysis of putative gene promoters from soybean gene orthologs permitted the identification of 29 families of cis-acting elements. These elements are essential for ethylene-mediated regulation and its possible crosstalk with other signaling pathways mediated by other plant hormones.\ud From genes that are differentially expressed in the transcriptome database, we analyzed the relative expression of some selected genes in resistant and tolerant soybean plants subjected to water deficit. The differential expression of a set of five soybean ethylene-related genes (MAT, ACS, ACO, ETR and CTR) was validated with RT-qPCR experiments, which confirmed variations in the expression of these soybean target genes, as identified in the transcriptome database. In particular, two families of ethylene biosynthesis genes (ACS and ACO) were upregulated under these experimental conditions, whereas CTR (involved in ethylene signal transduction) was downregulated. In the same samples, high levels of ethylene production were detected and were directly correlated with the free fraction levels of ethylene’s precursor. Thus, the combination of these data indicated the involvement of ethylene biosynthesis and signaling in soybean responses to water stress.\ud \ud \ud Conclusions\ud The in silico analysis, combined with the quantification of ethylene production (and its precursor) and RT-qPCR experiments, allowed for a better understanding of the importance of ethylene at a molecular level in this crop as well as its role in the response to abiotic stresses. In summary, all of the data presented here suggested that soybean responses to water stress could be regulated by a crosstalk network among different signaling pathways, which might involve various phytohormones, such as auxins, ABA and jasmonic acid. The integration of in silico and physiological data could also contribute to the application of biotechnological strategies to the development of improved cultivars with regard to different stresses, such as the isolation of stress-specific plant promoters.This research was financially supported by grants from the Brazil Higher\ud Education Personnel Training Coordination (CAPES), the Brazil National\ud Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), the Brazilian\ud Foundation for Research Support (FAP-DF) and Embrapa Genetic Resources\ud and Biotechnology (Brazil)

The plant WEE1 kinase is involved in checkpoint control activation in nematode-induced galls

Galls induced by plant‐parasitic nematodes involve a hyperactivation of the plant mitotic and endocycle machinery for their profit. Dedifferentiation of host root cells includes drastic cellular and molecular readjustments. In such background, potential DNA damage in the genome of gall cells is eminent. We questioned if DNA damage checkpoints activation followed by DNA repair occurred, or was eventually circumvented, in nematode‐induced galls. Galls display transcriptional activation of the DNA damage checkpoint kinase WEE1, correlated with its protein localization in the nuclei. The promoter of the stress marker gene SMR7 was evaluated under the WEE1‐knockout background. Drugs inducing DNA damage and a marker for DNA repair, PARP1 were used to understand mechanisms that might cope with DNA damage in galls. Our functional study revealed that gall cells lacking WEE1 conceivably entered mitosis prematurely disturbing the cell cycle despite the loss of genome integrity. The disrupted nuclei phenotype in giant cells hinted to the accumulation of mitotic defects. As well, WEE1‐knockout in Arabidopsis and downregulation in tomato repressed infection and reproduction of root‐knot nematodes. Together with data on DNA damaging drugs, we suggest a conserved function for WEE1 controlling a G1/S cell cycle arrest in response to replication defect in galls

Nucleases as a barrier to gene silencing in the cotton boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis.

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Plants as Sources of Natural and Recombinant Antimalaria Agents.

Malaria is one of the severe infectious diseases that has victimized about half a civilization billion people each year worldwide. The application of long-lasting insecticides is the main strategy to control malaria; however, a surge in antimalarial drug development is also taking a leading role to break off the infections. Although, recurring drug resistance can compromise the efficiency of both conventional and novel antimalarial medicines. The eradication of malaria is significantly contingent on discovering novel potent agents that are low cost and easy to administer. In this context, plant metabolites inhibit malaria infection progression and might potentially be utilized as an alternative treatment for malaria, such as artemisinin. Advances in genetic engineering technology, especially the advent of molecular farming, have made plants more versatile in producing protein drugs (PDs) to treat infectious diseases, including malaria. These recent developments in genetic modifications have enabled the production of native pharmaceutically active compounds and the accumulation of diverse heterologous proteins such as human antibodies, booster vaccines, and many PDs to treat infectious diseases and genetic disorders. This review will discuss the pivotal role of a plant-based production system that expresses natural antimalarial agents or host protein drugs to cure malaria infections. The potential of these natural and induced compounds will support modern healthcare systems in treating malaria infections, especially in developing countries to mitigate human fatalities

Étude de l interaction entre Coffea arabica et le nématode à galles Meloidogyne incognita (Identification et caractérisation par histopathologie et génomique fonctionnelle)

Les nématodes à galles du genre Meloidogyne peuvent provoquer des pertes de récolte importantes chez de nombreuses plantes d'intérêt agronomique, comme le caféier (Coffea arabica). Dans ce travail, une variété de C. arabica (UFV 408-28) résistante à M. incognita a été identifiée et les réponses de résistance de la plante ont été caractérisées aux plans histologique et moléculaire. La résistance du génotype UFV 408-28 s'exprime par une réaction de type hypersensibilité (RH), avec mort cellulaire au site d'infection. L'infection par M. incognita est stoppée avant la formation des sites nourriciers. Chez la plante sensible (IAC15), le développement du nématode se poursuit jusqu'à la production d'œufs dans les galles, le cycle complet durant environ 45 jours. L'étude comparative des réponses moléculaires des deux génotypes entre 4 et 6 jai montre une spécificité de l'expression des gènes associée à la RH ou à la sensibilité. Dans le génotype résistant, l'expression de gènes liés à la voie de résistance dépendante du SA, ou à la voie des composés phénylpropanoides, est particulièrement modifiée. L'identification de gènes impliqués dans l'expression de la résistance, et pouvant être utilisés comme marqueurs de sélection offre de nouvelles perspectives pour améliorer les variétés commerciales de café. En parallèle, la transformation génétique de C. arabica a été développée à l'aide du gène rapporteur uidA (GUS), permettant désormais d'envisager le transfert de gènes d'intérêt pour étudier leur rôle dans la résistance aux nématodes.MONTPELLIER-BU Sciences (341722106) / SudocSudocFranceBrazilFRB

Table_2_Agriculture evolution, sustainability and trends, focusing on Brazilian agribusiness: a review.DOCX

The world’s population is expected to grow by 30%–35% over the next 60 years. Forecasts indicate that the world’s population will reach almost 10 billion by 2050, with India and China as the most populous countries. As a result, the demand for global food production, particularly protein and dairy products, and their nutritional quality will need to increase by 50%–75%. In addition to increasing food production, it is also necessary to consider and reduce the impact on the environment and ecosystem. On the one hand, the threat of climate change, the reduction of arable land for agricultural expansion, the economic impact of geopolitical conflicts, the human and animal health pandemics, the conjuncture of the domestic political environments, and the demand for new technologies are the main bottlenecks to increasing sustainable food production worldwide. In contrast, notable technological advances have been achieved in current agriculture through basic and advanced scientific research, development, innovation, and technology transfer to the agribusiness sector. Technological advances in various sectors will become increasingly important to increase food production and minimize environmental impacts. This review study briefly highlights the major technological advances in world agriculture that have contributed to the substantial increase in food production from the early days of extractive agriculture to high-performance agriculture. It then highlights the key breakthroughs, disruptive technologies, the impact of climate change on agriculture, and contributions from molecular sciences that are revolutionizing global agriculture, focusing on Brazilian agriculture, livestock, and agribusiness. Subsequently, the evolution of Brazilian agriculture is highlighted based on the market share of agricultural products and its relevance to the national GDP. Finally, the potential decision-making that could have a positive impact on the Brazilian agribusiness sector and that will affect the import and export of agribusiness products were addressed. Therefore, the importance of supporting the agribusiness sector to increase healthy food production with higher nutritional quality and with less impact on the environment and human life was highlighted.</p

Table_1_Agriculture evolution, sustainability and trends, focusing on Brazilian agribusiness: a review.XLSX

The world’s population is expected to grow by 30%–35% over the next 60 years. Forecasts indicate that the world’s population will reach almost 10 billion by 2050, with India and China as the most populous countries. As a result, the demand for global food production, particularly protein and dairy products, and their nutritional quality will need to increase by 50%–75%. In addition to increasing food production, it is also necessary to consider and reduce the impact on the environment and ecosystem. On the one hand, the threat of climate change, the reduction of arable land for agricultural expansion, the economic impact of geopolitical conflicts, the human and animal health pandemics, the conjuncture of the domestic political environments, and the demand for new technologies are the main bottlenecks to increasing sustainable food production worldwide. In contrast, notable technological advances have been achieved in current agriculture through basic and advanced scientific research, development, innovation, and technology transfer to the agribusiness sector. Technological advances in various sectors will become increasingly important to increase food production and minimize environmental impacts. This review study briefly highlights the major technological advances in world agriculture that have contributed to the substantial increase in food production from the early days of extractive agriculture to high-performance agriculture. It then highlights the key breakthroughs, disruptive technologies, the impact of climate change on agriculture, and contributions from molecular sciences that are revolutionizing global agriculture, focusing on Brazilian agriculture, livestock, and agribusiness. Subsequently, the evolution of Brazilian agriculture is highlighted based on the market share of agricultural products and its relevance to the national GDP. Finally, the potential decision-making that could have a positive impact on the Brazilian agribusiness sector and that will affect the import and export of agribusiness products were addressed. Therefore, the importance of supporting the agribusiness sector to increase healthy food production with higher nutritional quality and with less impact on the environment and human life was highlighted.</p