A comparative evaluation of bioagents and chemicals for the control of stalk rot of Sorghum caused by Dickeya dadantii

Stalk rot sorghum caused by Dickeya dadantii (syn. Erwinia chrysanthemi) is a devastating sorghum disease and is highly detrimental to sorghum cultivation in tarai region of India. The bacterium disrupts and disintegrates vascular bundles of sorghum stem manifesting slimy soft rot symptom. In vitro studies on bioagents and chemicals revealed that among bioagents assessed Pseudomonas fluorescens strain Psf-173 and Trichoderma harzianum strain Th-14 surpassed the other biological control agents whereas among chemicals, oxytetracycline and tetracycline were outstanding than other chemicals and their combination products used for the control of stalk rot of Sorghum caused by D. dadantii. Field trial with pre-plant soil application had maximum reduction in disease severity in treatment with antibiotic oxytetracycline (28.18%) whereas trial with pre-plant soil application with one (34.49%) and two foliar spray (37.03%) showed maximum reduction in disease severity in treatment with P. fluorescens strain Psf-173. All the three field trials involving pre-plant soil application, pre-plant soil application and one foliar spray and trial with pre-plant soil application and two foliar spray revealed that biological control agent P. fluorescens strain Psf-173 alleviates symptom of stalk rot of sorghum and stimulates seed germination and plant growth

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Precision Genome Editing Toolbox: Applications and Approaches for Improving Rice’s Genetic Resistance to Pathogens

In the present scenario of a looming food crisis, improving per hectare rice productivity at a greater pace is among the topmost priorities of scientists and breeders. In the past decades, conventional, mutational, and marker-assisted breeding techniques have played a significant role in developing multiple desired rice varieties. However, due to certain limitations, these techniques cannot furnish the projected food security of the 2050 population’s aching stomachs. One of the possible options would be precise crop genome editing using various tools, viz., TALENs and CRISPR/Cas9 to resolve this multifaceted crisis. Initially, the potentiality of these technologies was tested only in the rice protoplasts. Later, the techniques were employed to edit calli with help of modified vectors, CRISPR variants, cassette cloning systems, and delivery methods. With the continuous technological advancements such as base editing, multiplexing, etc., the precision, rapidness, efficiency, reliability, potency, and range of applications of these platforms have increased and even been used for gene function studies. This leads to a revolution in the field of the rice improvement program, especially the stress tolerance against various pests and pathogens in which the susceptibility factors located within the rice genome are targeted through genome editing tools. Therefore, in this current article, we have summarized the advancements in the rice genome editing tools during the last decade concerning enhanced biotic stress tolerance. Additionally, we have focused on the regulatory aspects of genome editing with associated risks and limitations, and the prospects to reshape the rice genome for durable resistance to complex biotic stress

Precision Genome Editing Toolbox: Applications and Approaches for Improving Rice’s Genetic Resistance to Pathogens

In the present scenario of a looming food crisis, improving per hectare rice productivity at a greater pace is among the topmost priorities of scientists and breeders. In the past decades, conventional, mutational, and marker-assisted breeding techniques have played a significant role in developing multiple desired rice varieties. However, due to certain limitations, these techniques cannot furnish the projected food security of the 2050 population’s aching stomachs. One of the possible options would be precise crop genome editing using various tools, viz., TALENs and CRISPR/Cas9 to resolve this multifaceted crisis. Initially, the potentiality of these technologies was tested only in the rice protoplasts. Later, the techniques were employed to edit calli with help of modified vectors, CRISPR variants, cassette cloning systems, and delivery methods. With the continuous technological advancements such as base editing, multiplexing, etc., the precision, rapidness, efficiency, reliability, potency, and range of applications of these platforms have increased and even been used for gene function studies. This leads to a revolution in the field of the rice improvement program, especially the stress tolerance against various pests and pathogens in which the susceptibility factors located within the rice genome are targeted through genome editing tools. Therefore, in this current article, we have summarized the advancements in the rice genome editing tools during the last decade concerning enhanced biotic stress tolerance. Additionally, we have focused on the regulatory aspects of genome editing with associated risks and limitations, and the prospects to reshape the rice genome for durable resistance to complex biotic stress

Races and Biovar Characterization of Ralstonia solanacearum Causing Bacterial Wilt Disease of Potato

Ralstonia solanacearum, the causative agent of brown rot/bacterial wilt, is a major cause of severe potato illnesses in many impoverished nations located in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. When it occurs, the disease is to blame for significant losses to the potato industry. The illness has the potential to completely destroy a crop and stop using a piece of land for potato cultivation for a number of years. A survey was carried out to investigate the extent of Ralstonia solanacearum-caused bacterial wilt of potato crops in important potato-growing talukas in the Banaskantha district of Gujarat, India, including Deesa, Dantiwada, Palanpur, and Amirgadh. The frequency of bacterial wilt disease in potatoes is rather low in this region. Four talukas were utilised to identify ten isolates (RsSt1 to RsSt10) of R. solanacearum, which were then used to determine the biovar and race. Gram-negative rod-shaped cells were present in the isolates of R. solanacearum. On TZC agar medium, these isolates developed colonies that were creamy or dull white in colour with a hint of pink or red in the centre. The oxidation of disaccharides (sucrose, lactose, maltose) and sugar alcohols (manitol, sorbitol, and dulcitol) by R. solanacearum isolates was used to determine the biovar characteristics. This revealed that, of the ten isolates, eight were classified as bv2, and the two remaining isolates (RsSt5 and RsSt7) belonged to bv2T. The pathogenicity test conducted on tobacco, tomato, and brinjal allowed for the race identification of R. solanacearum isolates, which were classified as race 3 due to their limited host range and ability to exclusively elicit wilt symptoms in potatoes and tomatoes. As a result, Races 3 and bv2 and bv2T were represented among the R. solanacearum isolates that caused bacterial wilt of potatoes in the Banaskantha district