Cobalt Oxide nanomaterial on MoS2 quantum dots as a heterojunction photocatalyst for water splitting.

The primary objective of this MPhil research is to investigate the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) via water splitting using new Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) incorporated cobalt oxide photocatalysts. Cobalt oxide has been extensively investigated and proven to be an efficient, and well-established photocatalyst for catalytic applications including organic degradation, CO2 reduction, and water splitting. This research has explored a rapid and reliable synthesis technique using microwave (MW) irradiation for fabricating cobalt oxide photocatalysts by varying the polyvinyl alcohol as a reaction template precursor. Leveraging the well-known microwave technology for its high kinetic and energy efficiency over conventional hydrothermal and solvothermal technology to synthesize nanomaterials, the advantage of this microwave technique to synthesize cobalt oxide and co-catalyst was explored and established for the first time. The novelty of this research can be summarized as following. Firstly, the reduction in cobalt oxide synthesis time to 99.6% compared to the average required for hydrothermal process from a 21 hours range to 2 minutes. Secondly, exploring MoS2 QD synthesis using microwave irradiation is unprecedented to my knowledge. Lastly, the synthesis of Z-scheme heterojunction of the two semiconductor materials (MoS2 QD and cobalt oxide) for hydrogen evolution reaction is reported for the first time

The AtCRK5 Protein Kinase Is Required to Maintain the ROS NO Balance Affecting the PIN2-Mediated Root Gravitropic Response in Arabidopsis

The Arabidopsis AtCRK5 protein kinase is involved in the establishment of the proper auxin gradient in many developmental processes. Among others, the Atcrk5-1 mutant was reported to exhibit a delayed gravitropic response via compromised PIN2-mediated auxin transport at the root tip. Here, we report that this phenotype correlates with lower superoxide anion (O-2(center dot-)) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels but a higher nitric oxide (NO) content in the mutant root tips in comparison to the wild type (AtCol-0). The oxidative stress inducer paraquat (PQ) triggering formation of O-2(center dot-) (and consequently, H2O2) was able to rescue the gravitropic response of Atcrk5-1 roots. The direct application of H2O2 had the same effect. Under gravistimulation, correct auxin distribution was restored (at least partially) by PQ or H2O2 treatment in the mutant root tips. In agreement, the redistribution of the PIN2 auxin efflux carrier was similar in the gravistimulated PQ-treated mutant and untreated wild type roots. It was also found that PQ-treatment decreased the endogenous NO level at the root tip to normal levels. Furthermore, the mutant phenotype could be reverted by direct manipulation of the endogenous NO level using an NO scavenger (cPTIO). The potential involvement of AtCRK5 protein kinase in the control of auxin-ROS-NO-PIN2-auxin regulatory loop is discussed

CRK5 Protein Kinase Contributes to the Progression of Embryogenesis of Arabidopsis thaliana

The fine tuning of hormone (e.g., auxin and gibberellin) levels and hormone signaling is required for maintaining normal embryogenesis. Embryo polarity, for example, is ensured by the directional movement of auxin that is controlled by various types of auxin transporters. Here, we present pieces of evidence for the auxin-gibberellic acid (GA) hormonal crosstalk during embryo development and the regulatory role of the Arabidopsis thaliana Calcium-Dependent Protein Kinase-Related Kinase 5 (AtCRK5) in this regard. It is pointed out that the embryogenesis of the Atcrk5-1 mutant is delayed in comparison to the wild type. This delay is accompanied with a decrease in the levels of GA and auxin, as well as the abundance of the polar auxin transport (PAT) proteins PIN1, PIN4, and PIN7 in the mutant embryos. We have previously showed that AtCRK5 can regulate the PIN2 and PIN3 proteins either directly by phosphorylation or indirectly affecting the GA level during the root gravitropic and hypocotyl hook bending responses. In this manuscript, we provide evidence that the AtCRK5 protein kinase can in vitro phosphorylate the hydrophilic loops of additional PIN proteins that are important for embryogenesis. We propose that AtCRK5 can govern embryo development in Arabidopsis through the fine tuning of auxin-GA level and the accumulation of certain polar auxin transport proteins

EMBRYOLOGICAL CHARACTERS TO STUDY THE JUSTICIA-RUNGIA COMPLEX (ACANTHACEAE)

Family Acanthaceae is characterized by very diverse plants whose taxonomic position is debated. Therefore, study of various macroscopic and microscopic characters had been used for studying the relatedness of the various taxa. Embryological characters are considered as one of the most stable characters. Justicia–Rungia Complex is one of the intriguing complexes present in family Acanthaceae. Justicia is basically a Linnaean Genus which included Rungia also. But later Rungia was separated from Justicia by Nees. Another offshoot of Justicia has been the formation of new genus Rostellularia which is also the creation of Nees. Due to this the Rungia is sometime confused as Justicia and some time it is considered as Rostellularia. In the present investigation embryological data is used to study the Justicia–Rungia Complex. The plants studied in present investigation are Justicia procumbens, Rungia repens, Haplanthus verticillata and Blepharis repens. The embryological study using UPGMA clearly indicates a very close similarity between Justicia procumbens and Rungia repens

Unveiling the biosynthesis, mechanisms, and impacts of miRNAs in drought stress resilience in plants

Drought stress is one of the most serious threats to sustainable agriculture and is predicted to be further intensified in the coming decades. Therefore, understanding the mechanism of drought stress tolerance and the development of drought-resilient crops are the major goals at present. In recent years, noncoding microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as key regulators of gene expressions under drought stress conditions and are turning out to be the potential candidates that can be targeted to develop drought-resilient crops in the future. miRNAs are known to target and decrease the expression of various genes to govern the drought stress response in plants. In addition, emerging evidence also suggests a regulatory role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the regulation of miRNAs and the expression of their target genes by a process referred as miRNA sponging. In this review, we present the regulatory roles of miRNAs in the modulation of drought-responsive genes along with discussing their biosynthesis and action mechanisms. Additionally, the interactive roles of miRNAs with phytohormone signaling components have also been highlighted to present the global view of miRNA functioning under drought-stress conditions

DNA molecular markers in plant breeding: current status and recent advancements in genomic selection and genome editing

With the development of molecular marker technology in the 1980s, the fate of plant breeding has changed. Different types of molecular markers have been developed and advancement in sequencing technologies has geared crop improvement. To explore the knowledge about molecular markers, several reviews have been published in the last three decades; however, all these reviews were meant for researchers with advanced knowledge of molecular genetics. This review is intended to be a synopsis of recent developments in molecular markers and their applications in plant breeding and is devoted to early researchers with a little or no knowledge of molecular markers. The progress made in molecular plant breeding, genetics, genomic selection and genome editing has contributed to a more comprehensive understanding of molecular markers and provided deeper insights into the diversity available for crops and greatly complemented breeding stratagems. Genotyping-by-sequencing and association mapping based on next-generation sequencing technologies have facilitated the identification of novel genetic markers for complex and unstructured populations. Altogether, the history, the types of markers, their application in plant sciences and breeding, and some recent advancements in genomic selection and genome editing are discussed