Occurrence of African cassava mosaic virus (ACMV) and East African cassava mosaic virus – Uganda (EACMV-UG) in Jatropha curcas

Poster presentation from IUFRO Tree Biotechnology Conference 2011: From Genomes to Integration and Delivery Arraial dAjuda, Bahia, Brazil. 26 June - 2 July 2011(VLID)90654

Biotechnological approaches to determine the impact of viruses in the energy crop plant Jatropha curcas

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Geminiviruses infect a wide range of plant species including <it>Jatropha </it>and cassava both belonging to family <it>Euphorbiaceae</it>. Cassava is traditionally an important food crop in Sub - Saharan countries, while <it>Jatropha </it>is considered as valuable biofuel plant with great perspectives in the future.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 127 <it>Jatropha </it>samples from Ethiopia and Kenya and 124 cassava samples from Kenya were tested by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for RNA viruses and polymerase chain reaction for geminiviruses. <it>Jatropha </it>samples from 4 different districts in Kenya and Ethiopia (analyzed by ELISA) were negative for all three RNA viruses tested: <it>Cassava brown streak virus </it>(CBSV), <it>Cassava common mosaic virus</it>, <it>Cucumber mosaic virus</it>, Three cassava samples from Busia district (Kenya) contained CBSV. Efforts to develop diagnostic approaches allowing reliable pathogen detection in Jatropha, involved the amplification and sequencing of the entire DNA A molecules of 40 Kenyan isolates belonging to <it>African cassava mosaic virus </it>(ACMV) and <it>East African cassava mosaic virus </it>- <it>Uganda</it>. This information enabled the design of novel primers to address different questions: a) primers amplifying longer sequences led to a phylogenetic tree of isolates, allowing some predictions on the evolutionary aspects of Begomoviruses in <it>Jatrophia</it>; b) primers amplifying shorter sequences represent a reliable diagnostic tool. This is the first report of the two Begomoviruses in <it>J. curcas</it>. Two cassava samples were co - infected with cassava mosaic geminivirus and CBSV. A Defective DNA A of ACMV was found for the first time in <it>Jatropha</it>.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Cassava geminiviruses occurring in <it>Jatropha </it>might be spread wider than anticipated. If not taken care of, this virus infection might negatively impact large scale plantations for biofuel production. Being hosts for similar pathogens, the planting vicinity of the two crop plants needs to be handled carefully.</p

Investigation of genetic variation in Jatropha curcas by Ecotilling and ISSR

The ability of species to adapt to different environments resides in their genetic diversity. This diversity, most commonly manifested as Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), can provide clues to the adaptive processes and population histories that have played a role in the species ’ evolution. A number of different techniques for identifying SNPs have been developed, all having their limitations. Reverse genetics approaches rely on the detection of sequence alterations in target genes to identify allelic variations in natural or mutant populations. Ecotilling, a variant of TILLING (Targeting Induced Local Lesions IN Genomes) technique, allows high-throughput analyses of natural genetic diversity in plants [1], particularly in species with limited genetic diversity. Jatropha curcas L. is a perennial, monoecious shrub of the Euphorbiaceae family, native to America but distributed widely in the tropical and subtropical areas [2]. Wild or semi-cultivated types of J. curcas can grow well under unfavourable climatic and soil conditions [3]. J. curcas has attracted a great deal of attention worldwide, regarding its potential as a new energy plant. The seeds of J. curcas contain 30-45 % oil [4] with a high percentage of monounsaturated oleic and polyunsaturated linoleic acid [5]. For genomic analyses, J. curcas is an interesting model species, since it has a relatively small genome (2C DNA content of 0.850 ± 0.006 pg or C DNA content of 0.416 × 109 bp) [6]. However, to achieve specific breeding goals in Jatropha for wider ecological adaptation, disease resistance and novel seed quality, the use of germplasm from different group and regions is necessary. Understandin

Application of Genome Editing in Tomato Breeding: Mechanisms, Advances, and Prospects

This article is a review presenting examples of gene editing responsible for conferring both biotic and abiotic stresses in tomato simultaneously. The literature on using this powerful technology to improve fruit quality, yield, and nutritional aspects in tomato is highlighted

Proteomics, a systems biology based approach to investigations of Jatropha curcas seeds

Poster presentation from IUFRO Tree Biotechnology Conference 2011: From Genomes to Integration and Delivery Arraial dAjuda, Bahia, Brazil. 26 June - 2 July 2011(VLID)90651

Functional Genomics of Allergen Gene Families in Fruits

Fruit consumption is encouraged for health reasons; however, fruits may harbour a series of allergenic proteins that may cause discomfort or even represent serious threats to certain individuals. Thus, the identification and characterization of allergens in fruits requires novel approaches involving genomic and proteomic tools. Since avoidance of fruits also negatively affects the quality of patients’ lives, biotechnological interventions are ongoing to produce low allergenic fruits by down regulating specific genes. In this respect, the control of proteins associated with allergenicity could be achieved by fine tuning the spatial and temporal expression of the relevant genes

Functional Genomics of Allergen Gene Families in Fruits

Fruit consumption is encouraged for health reasons; however, fruits may harbour a series of allergenic proteins that may cause discomfort or even represent serious threats to certain individuals. Thus, the identification and characterization of allergens in fruits requires novel approaches involving genomic and proteomic tools. Since avoidance of fruits also negatively affects the quality of patients’ lives, biotechnological interventions are ongoing to produce low allergenic fruits by down regulating specific genes. In this respect, the control of proteins associated with allergenicity could be achieved by fine tuning the spatial and temporal expression of the relevant genes

Functional Genomics for Plant Breeding 3.0

Functional genomics, as a scientific discipline, has significantly transformed the landscape of plant breeding in recent years [...