Transcription Factors and MicroRNA Interplay: A New Strategy for Crop Improvement

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and transcription factors are master regulators of the cellular system. Plant genomes contain thousands of protein-coding and non-coding RNA genes; which are differentially expressed in different tissues at different times during growth and development. Complex regulatory networks that are controlled by transcription factors and microRNAs, which coordinate gene expression. Transcription factors, the key regulators of plant growth and development, are the targets of the miRNAs families. The combinatorial regulation of transcription factors and miRNAs guides the appropriate implementation of biological events and developmental processes. The resources on the regulatory cascades of transcription factors and miRNAs are available in the context of human diseases, but these resources are meager in case of plant diseases. On the other hand, it is also important to understand the cellular and physiological events needed to operate the miRNAs networks. The relationship between transcription factors and miRNA in different plant species described in this chapter will be of great interest to plant scientists, providing better insights into the mechanism of action and interactions among transcription factors (TFs) and miRNA networks culminating in improving key agronomic traits for crop improvement to meet the future global food demands

Establishment of a primary cell culture of Thrips palmi (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

Thrips palmi (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is an important pest of vegetables, ornamental plants and fruit crops. In addition to the direct damage caused by feeding, it transmits several tospoviruses. The absence of an in vitro assay system is a major bottleneck in investigating thrips-tospovirus interactions. The present study reports the establishment of a primary cell culture of T. palmi, which was initiated using embryonic tissue as an explant in modified Kimura's medium. Fibroblast-like cells began to be produced 3 h after tissue implantation and were the dominant cell type. They grew in size and number and covered most of the surface. This primary cell culture survived for 37 days providing sufficient time for analytical molecular studies on the replication of tospovirus and interactions with the vector components

Nanotechnology based approaches for detection and delivery of microRNA in healthcare and crop protection

Abstract Nanobiotechnology has the potential to revolutionize diverse sectors including medicine, agriculture, food, textile and pharmaceuticals. Disease diagnostics, therapeutics and crop protection strategies are fast emerging using nanomaterials preferably nanobiomaterials. It has potential for development of novel nanobiomolecules which offer several advantages over conventional treatment methods. RNA nanoparticles with many unique features are promising candidates in disease treatment. The miRNAs are involved in many biochemical and developmental pathways and their regulation in plants and animals. These appear to be a powerful tool for controlling various pathological diseases in human, plants and animals, however there are challenges associated with miRNA based nanotechnology. Several advancements made in the field of miRNA therapeutics make it an attractive approach, but a lot more has to be explored in nanotechnology assisted miRNA therapy. The miRNA based technologies can be employed for detection and combating crop diseases as well. Despite these potential advantages, nanobiotechnology applications in the agricultural sector are still in its infancy and have not yet made its mark in comparison with healthcare sector. The review provides a platform to discuss nature, role and use of miRNAs in nanobiotechnology applications

Enhancing Soil Health and Sustainability: The Impact of Melia Dubia-based Agroforestry in a Semi-Arid Region of Haryana, India

This study investigates the impact of a Melia dubia-based agroforestry system on soil properties in Gillan Khera, Fatehabad district, located in the semi-arid region of Haryana. Soil samples were collected from a 7-year-old plantation with a 3m × 3m spacing, where three oat varieties were intercropped. Parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon, soil moisture, and available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium were analysed at depths of 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm. Results revealed a decrease in soil pH and EC under trees, with values decreasing from 8.09 to 7.89 and 0.46 to 0.44 dSm-1, respectively. However, intercropped conditions exhibited higher levels of nitrogen (131.38 kg/ha), phosphorus (16.00 kg/ha), potassium (301.10 kg/ha), and organic carbon (0.46%) at both soil depths. Additionally, there was more soil moisture under the plantation. These findings suggest a positive correlation between tree growth and soil health. The study recommends the Melia dubia-based agroforestry system as a promising approach for enhancing soil fertility and promoting environmental sustainability

Development, Characterization, and Culinary Potential of Wine from Dates Palm (Phoenix dactylifera) and Some Spices

The rising prevalence of health conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke, along with the high costs associated with conventional wine, have presented significant challenges for consumers. This study aimed to develop an affordable and health-conscious wine using date palm fruit, enabling home production. The process involved extracting pulp from healthy date fruits and fermenting it with Saccharomyces cerevisiae EC-1118 yeast and sugar. To enhance the wine’s flavor and medicinal value, various spices, including ginger and turmeric, were incorporated. Additionally, honey was added to certain samples to increase antioxidant activity. The fermentation process spanned approximately 10 days, during which key parameters such as Alcohol by Weight (AFD), volatile acidity (Vc), and fixed acidity (Fv) were measured. Post-fermentation, biochemical and enological analyses revealed ethanol content ranging from 9% to 11% and volatile acidity between 3 to 9 g/L. Both sensory and non-sensory evaluations were conducted to assess the organoleptic qualities of the wine, with findings indicating that the wine produced from fermented date fruit pulp was organoleptically superior. Furthermore, storage studies demonstrated that the wine could be refrigerated for up to one month without any significant loss in taste or flavor

A rapid field-based assay using recombinase polymerase amplification for identification of Thrips palmi, a vector of tospoviruses

Thrips palmi (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is an important pest of vegetables, ornamentals, and legumes worldwide. Besides damage caused by feeding, it transmits several tospoviruses. Identification of T. palmi at an early stage is crucial in implementing appropriate pest management strategies. Morpho-taxonomic identification of T. palmi based on the adult stage is time-consuming and needs taxonomic expertise. Here, we report a rapid, on-site, field-based assay for identification of T. palmi based on recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA), its first application in insects. RPA primers designed based on 3′ polymorphisms of the Internal Transcribed Spacer 2 region efficiently discriminated T. palmi without any cross-reactivity to\ua0other predominant thrips species. RPA was performed with crude DNA, extracted from single T. palmi simply by crushing in sterile distilled water and could be completed within 20\ua0min by holding the reaction tubes in the hand. The assay was further simplified by using fluorescent as well as colorimetric dyes thus eliminating the gel-electrophoresis steps. The presence of T. palmi was visualized by a change in color from dark blue to sky blue. The assay was validated with known thrips specimens and found to be effective in diagnosing the presence of T. palmi in natural vegetation. This on-site, rapid assay for diagnosis of T. palmi can be used by non-expert personnel in the field of quarantine and pest management

Genetic linkage mapping and QTL identification for salinity tolerance in Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern and Coss.) using SSR markers

Soil salinity is one of the major environmental constraints that limits crop yield and nearly 7% of the total area worldwide is affected by salinity. Salinity-induced oxidative stress causes membrane damage during germination and seedling growth. Indian mustard is a major oilseed crop in India and its production and productivity are severely affected by salt stress. Breeding Brassica cultivars for salinity tolerance by conventional means is very difficult and time-consuming. Therefore, understanding the molecular components associated with salt tolerance is needed to facilitate breeding for salt tolerance in Brassica. In this investigation, quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with salt tolerance were identified using F2:3 mapping population developed from a cross between CS52 (salinity tolerant) and RH30 (salinity sensitive). Parents and F2:3 were evaluated under controlled and salinity stress conditions for 14 morpho-physiological traits for two consecutive generations (F2 and F2:3), explaining proportion of the phenotypic variance under control condition. Simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were used for mapping studies. A genetic linkage map based on 42 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) markers was constructed covering 2298.5 ​cM (Haldane) to identify the loci associated with salt tolerance in Brassica juncea. Forty-one SSRs showing polymorphism in the parents (CS52 and RH30) were mapped on 8 linkage groups (C1–C8). One marker (nga 129) did not map to any of the linkage group and was excluded from mapping. Linkage group 5 (C5; 317.9 ​cM) was longest and linkage group 1 (C1, 255.0 ​cM) was shortest. Further, we identified 15 QTLs controlling 8 traits using F2:3 population. These QTLs explained 12.44–60.63% of the phenotypic variation with a LOD score range of 3.62–5.97. Out of these QTLs, QMI4.1 related to membrane injury showed 51.28% phenotypic variance with a LOD score of 3.34. QTL QBYP8.1 related to biological yield per plant showed 60.63% phenotypic variance at a LOD score of 3.62. The highest LOD score of 5.97 was recorded for QTL related to seed yield per plant (QSYP4.1). Major QTLs were QTL for biological yield per plant (QBYP8.1), QTL for siliquae per plant (QSP4.1), QTL for primary branches (QPB4.1), QTLs for seed per siliqua (QSS4.1, QSS4.2), QTL for seed yield per plant (QSYP4.1), and QTL for membrane injury (QMI8.1) which showed more than 50% phenotypic variance. These QTLs identified in our study need to be confirmed in other populations as well so that these can be used in marker-assisted selection and breeding to enhance salt tolerance in Brassica juncea

Assessment of Fine Particulate Matter for Port City of Eastern Peninsular India Using Gradient Boosting Machine Learning Model

An assessment and prediction of PM2.5 for a port city of eastern peninsular India is presented. Fifteen machine learning (ML) regression models were trained, tested and implemented to predict the PM2.5 concentration. The predicting ability of regression models was validated using air pollutants and meteorological parameters as input variables collected from sites located at Visakhapatnam, a port city on the eastern side of peninsular India, for the assessment period 2018–2019. Highly correlated air pollutants and meteorological parameters with PM2.5 concentration were evaluated and presented during the period under study. It was found that the CatBoost regression model outperformed all other employed regression models in predicting PM2.5 concentration with an R2 score (coefficient of determination) of 0.81, median absolute error (MedAE) of 6.95 µg/m3, mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 0.29, root mean square error (RMSE) of 11.42 µg/m3 and mean absolute error (MAE) of 9.07 µg/m3. High PM2.5 concentration prediction results in contrast to Indian standards were also presented. In depth seasonal assessments of PM2.5 concentration were presented, to show variance in PM2.5 concentration during dominant seasons

Effects of Different Vesicular - arbuscular Mycorrhizal (VAM) Fungi on the Seedling Growth of Tecomella undulata

Tecomella undulata (Sm.) Seem. (family Bignoniaceae) is a tree found in desert parts of India, and Arabia. The cultivation of high-quality seedlings is vital for establishing a successful plantation and the contribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in the soil plays a vital role in the nursery phase. A study conducted during the periods of 2021-22 and 2022-23 scrutinised the effect of four distinct species of Glomus spp. (G. mosseae, G. intraradices, G. fasciculatum and Glomus hoi) on Tecomella undulata seedlings in AMF-inoculated soil. The inoculation involved applying of 400-500 sporocarps/kg of soil during sowing and the evaluation encompassed growth and survival parameters. Results revealed that among the 4 Glomus species, soil inoculated with Glomus fasiculatum at 180 days after sowing, significantly increased the root colonization percentage with (50.69 and 46.71 %) in year (2021-22) and (2022-23) compared to the uninoculated control. Additionally, seedlings exhibited significantly higher no. of spores per 100g of soil, when treated with (Glomus fasiculatum) inoculated soil, which was statistically at par with soil inoculated with (Glomus intraradices) at (103.67 and 98.65). During both the experimental year, in terms of germination percentage, root length and root: shoot ratio were found non- significantly with (44.45 %), root length at 360 DAS, (26.67 and 25.74) respectively, root shoot ratio at 360 days after sowing. While, plant survival percentage (30.63 and 25.41%) at 90 DAS. Whereas, at 360 DAS, collar diameter (6.14 and 10.07 mm), shoot length (33.36 and 32.19 cm), plant biomass (8.31 and 8.05 g), leaf area (196.29 and 185.46 cm 2) was observed significantly higher in treatment T3 (Glomus fasiculatum) which was statistically at par with treatment T1 (G. intraradices). It is concluded from study that Glomus fasiculatum were found best for growth and survival of seedlings followed by Glomus intraradices as compare to control