Molecular and Transcriptional Regulation of Seed Development in Cereals: Present Status and Future Prospects

Cereals are a rich source of vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fats, oils and protein, making them the world’s most important source of nutrition. The influence of rising global population, as well as the emergence and spread of disease, has the major impact on cereal production. To meet the demand, there is a pressing need to increase cereal production. Optimal seed development is a key agronomical trait that contributes to crop yield. The seed development and maturation is a complex process that includes not only embryo and endosperm development, but also accompanied by huge physiological, biochemical, metabolic, molecular and transcriptional changes. This chapter discusses the growth of cereal seed and highlights the novel biological insights, with a focus on transgenic and new molecular breeding, as well as biotechnological intervention strategies that have improved crop yield in two major cereal crops, primarily wheat and rice, over the last 21 years (2000–2021)

The Emerging Role of Non-Coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in Plant Growth, Development, and Stress Response Signaling

Plant species utilize a variety of regulatory mechanisms to ensure sustainable productivity. Within this intricate framework, numerous non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) play a crucial regulatory role in plant biology, surpassing the essential functions of RNA molecules as messengers, ribosomal, and transfer RNAs. ncRNAs represent an emerging class of regulators, operating directly in the form of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs). These ncRNAs exert control at various levels, including transcription, post-transcription, translation, and epigenetic. Furthermore, they interact with each other, contributing to a variety of biological processes and mechanisms associated with stress resilience. This review primarily concentrates on the recent advancements in plant ncRNAs, delineating their functions in growth and development across various organs such as root, leaf, seed/endosperm, and seed nutrient development. Additionally, this review broadens its scope by examining the role of ncRNAs in response to environmental stresses such as drought, salt, flood, heat, and cold in plants. This compilation offers updated information and insights to guide the characterization of the potential functions of ncRNAs in plant growth, development, and stress resilience in future research

Production and cytological characterization of a synthetic amphiploid derived from a cross between Oryza sativa and Oryza punctata

Oryza punctata Kotschy ex Steud. (BB, 2n = 24) is a wild species of rice that has many useful agronomic traits. An interspecific hybrid (AB, 2n = 24) was produced by crossing O. punctata and Oryza sativa variety Punjab Rice 122 (PR122, AA, 2n = 24) to broaden the narrow genetic base of cultivated rice. Cytological analysis of the pollen mother cells (PMCs) of the interspecific hybrids confirmed that they have 24 chromosomes. The F1 hybrids showed the presence of 19–20 univalents and 1–3 bivalents. The interspecific hybrid was treated with colchicine to produce a synthetic amphiploid (AABB, 2n = 48). Pollen fertility of the synthetic amphiploid was found to be greater than 50% and partial seed set was observed. Chromosome numbers in the PMCs of the synthetic amphiploid were 24II, showing normal pairing. Flow cytometric analysis also confirmed doubled genomic content in the synthetic amphiploid. Leaf morphological and anatomical studies of the synthetic amphiploid showed higher chlorophyll content and enlarged bundle sheath cells as compared with both of its parents. The synthetic amphiploid was backcrossed with PR122 to develop a series of addition and substitution lines for the transfer of useful genes from O. punctata with least linkage drag.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author