The regulation of salt and drought stress responses by SDR and its interacting proteins in arabidopsis

The ubiquitin/26S proteasome pathway is key to protein degradation in plants. Its specificity often orchestrated by ubiquitin-protein ligases (or E3s), which facilitate the translocation of ubiquitin to appropriate targets. F-box protein is one of the subunit of E3 ligases SCF (Skp1-Cullin/CDC53-F-box). It has been reported that F-box protein is not only related to plant growth but also abiotic stress. In this study, the protein was found localised in the nucleus and its function was identified. It demonstrated that on salt treatment SDR is involved in salt and drought stress response in Arabidopsis. However, the function of most F-box proteins is unknown. In this paper, the full length of the F-box protein SDR gene was cloned by traditional reverse molecular biology methods, and related transgenic materials were constructed. Bioinformatics analysis of the cis-element of the promoter of F-box protein was used to screen F-box proteins that may be stressed by plants. We found a large number of abiotic stress response elements such as drought stress response elements, salt stress response elements, and heat shock response elements in the promoter sequence upstream of the SDR (At5g15710) gene. The results show that SDR can be induced by ABA, heat shock, and salt, but expression is suppressed under drought treatment

Comparison of Near-infrared Spectroscopy with other options for total carotenoids content phenotyping in fresh cassava roots

This study compared the relationship of different phenotyping methods including iCheckTM CAROTENE (iCheck), Chromameter, colour chart and visible/near-infrared spectroscopy (Vis/NIRS) used in quantifying total carotenoids content (TCC) in fresh cassava roots. Using a total of 194 cassava clones harvested from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, we compared the repeatability precision, accuracy of measurement and correlations of these phenotyping methods. From the results, Vis/NIRS-analyzed TCC had high and positive correlations with Chromameter and Color chart (r = 0.91 and 0.71, respectively). On the other hand, the result revealed somewhat moderate correlation (r = 0.67) between Vis/NIRS and iCheck measurements. Vis/NIRS, iCheck and chromameter methods gave high and nearly equal heritability estimates (0.95, 0.98 and 0.98, respectively) illustrating high repeatability precision of these methods; an indication that they can be used for germplasm selection in the early stages of breeding. Conversely, with Bland-Altman plot at 95% confidence level, the accuracy of iCheck was not comparable with that of Vis/ NIRS. The information derived from this analysis directly contributes towards the genetic improvement of root quality traits in cassava and facilitates the sharing of data across cassava breeding consortium

Maternal and perinatal health research priorities beyond 2015 : an international survey and prioritization exercise

Background: Maternal mortality has declined by nearly half since 1990, but over a quarter million women still die every year of causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. Maternal-health related targets are falling short of the 2015 Millennium Development Goals and a post-2015 Development Agenda is emerging. In connection with this, setting global research priorities for the next decade is now required. Methods. We adapted the methods of the Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative (CHNRI) to identify and set global research priorities for maternal and perinatal health for the period 2015 to 2025. Priority research questions were received from various international stakeholders constituting a large reference group, and consolidated into a final list of research questions by a technical working group. Questions on this list were then scored by the reference working group according to five independent and equally weighted criteria. Normalized research priority scores (NRPS) were calculated, and research priority questions were ranked accordingly. Results: A list of 190 priority research questions for improving maternal and perinatal health was scored by 140 stakeholders. Most priority research questions (89%) were concerned with the evaluation of implementation and delivery of existing interventions, with research subthemes frequently concerned with training and/or awareness interventions (11%), and access to interventions and/or services (14%). Twenty-one questions (11%) involved the discovery of new interventions or technologies. Conclusions: Key research priorities in maternal and perinatal health were identified. The resulting ranked list of research questions provides a valuable resource for health research investors, researchers and other stakeholders. We are hopeful that this exercise will inform the post-2015 Development Agenda and assist donors, research-policy decision makers and researchers to invest in research that will ultimately make the most significant difference in the lives of mothers and babies.</p

Maternal and perinatal health research priorities beyond 2015 : an international survey and prioritization exercise

Abstract Background: Maternal mortality has declined by nearly half since 1990, but over a quarter million women still die every year of causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. Maternal-health related targets are falling short of the 2015 Millennium Development Goals and a post-2015 Development Agenda is emerging. In connection with this, setting global research priorities for the next decade is now required. Methods: We adapted the methods of the Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative (CHNRI) to identify and set global research priorities for maternal and perinatal health for the period 2015 to 2025. Priority research questions were received from various international stakeholders constituting a large reference group, and consolidated into a final list of research questions by a technical working group. Questions on this list were then scored by the reference working group according to five independent and equally weighted criteria. Normalized research priority scores (NRPS) were calculated, and research priority questions were ranked accordingly. Results: A list of 190 priority research questions for improving maternal and perinatal health was scored by 140 stakeholders. Most priority research questions (89%) were concerned with the evaluation of implementation and delivery of existing interventions, with research subthemes frequently concerned with training and/or awareness interventions (11%), and access to interventions and/or services (14%). Twenty-one questions (11%) involved the discovery of new interventions or technologies

Somatic embryogenesis and optimization of regeneration system from immature embryos in maize inbred lines

Maize production and productivity is on a sharp decline due to abiotic and abiotic stresses, therefore, an efficient regeneration protocol is an important tool that can contribute to maize improvement and gene-function studies to improve food security for the ever-growing population. The objective of this study was to optimize a regeneration system for CML 444 inbred line with CML 442 maize inbred line used as a reference. Callus was generated by incubation of immature embryos in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with vitamins supplemented with 0 - 4 g L-1 of 2, 4-D hormones, 900 mg L-1 proline, 250 mg L-1casein hydrolysate and 10 mg L-1 of filter sterilized AgNO3, 30 g L-l of sucrose and 3 g L-1 gelrite. Somatic embryo maturation was achieved by transferring 6-week old callus to MS medium with vitamins prepared as previously in callus induction with 60 g L-1 of sucrose and zero plant growth regulators (PGR). Shoot initiation was conducted in MS medium with vitamins supplemented with BAP, NAA at varied concentrations and a 0 mg L-1 control. Plants at a 3-leaf stage that had not rooted were transferred to MS media with vitamins with IBA at a concentration of 0 - 0.3 mg L–l. The 2, 4-D rates were significantly (p≤0.001) different for callus onset and callus induction. The genotype × rate interaction effects showed that 0 and 2 g L-1 2, 4-D had the lowest and highest mean, respectively in both lines during onset and induction of callus. The lines had significant (p≤0.001) effects on shooting induction, however, their means were not significantly different. Similarly, the means for the hormones were not significantly different for shooting induction. The lines, IBA rate and their interaction were significantly (p≤0.05) different for rooting induction. The means for the lines were significantly different for rooting induction in different IBA rates. Conversely, the mean for the IBA rates was significantly different for rooting induction. This study found that plant growth regulators rates during the callus induction stage play a key role during regeneration. This protocol was a success and could provide a fundamental platform for future transformation in this line