Unraveling the genomic reorganization of polygalacturonase-inhibiting proteins in chickpea

Polygalacturonase-inhibiting proteins (PGIPs) are cell wall proteins that inhibit pathogen polygalacturonases (PGs). PGIPs, like other defense-related proteins, contain extracellular leucine-rich repeats (eLRRs), which are required for pathogen PG recognition. The importance of these PGIPs in plant defense has been well documented. This study focuses on chickpea (Cicer arietinum) PGIPs (CaPGIPs) owing to the limited information available on this important crop. This study identified two novel CaPGIPs (CaPGIP3 and CaPGIP4) and computationally characterized all four CaPGIPs in the gene family, including the previously reported CaPGIP1 and CaPGIP2. The findings suggest that CaPGIP1, CaPGIP3, and CaPGIP4 proteins possess N-terminal signal peptides, ten LRRs, theoretical molecular mass, and isoelectric points comparable to other legume PGIPs. Phylogenetic analysis and multiple sequence alignment revealed that the CaPGIP1, CaPGIP3, and CaPGIP4 amino acid sequences are similar to the other PGIPs reported in legumes. In addition, several cis-acting elements that are typical of pathogen response, tissue-specific activity, hormone response, and abiotic stress-related are present in the promoters of CaPGIP1, CaPGIP3, and CaPGIP4 genes. Localization experiments showed that CaPGIP1, CaPGIP3, and CaPGIP4 are located in the cell wall or membrane. Transcript levels of CaPGIP1, CaPGIP3, and CaPGIP4 genes analyzed at untreated conditions show varied expression patterns analogous to other defense-related gene families. Interestingly, CaPGIP2 lacked a signal peptide, more than half of the LRRs, and other characteristics of a typical PGIP and subcellular localization indicated it is not located in the cell wall or membrane. The study’s findings demonstrate CaPGIP1, CaPGIP3, and CaPGIP4’s similarity to other legume PGIPs and suggest they might possess the potential to combat chickpea pathogens

Genome-Wide Association Mapping for Yield and Related Traits Under Drought Stressed and Non-stressed Environments in Wheat

Understanding the genetics of drought tolerance in hard red spring wheat (HRSW) in northern USA is a prerequisite for developing drought-tolerant cultivars for this region. An association mapping (AM) study for drought tolerance in spring wheat in northern USA was undertaken using 361 wheat genotypes and Infinium 90K single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) assay. The genotypes were evaluated in nine different locations of North Dakota (ND) for plant height (PH), days to heading (DH), yield (YLD), test weight (TW), and thousand kernel weight (TKW) under rain-fed conditions. Rainfall data and soil type of the locations were used to assess drought conditions. A mixed linear model (MLM), which accounts for population structure and kinship (PC+K), was used for marker–trait association. A total of 69 consistent QTL involved with drought tolerance-related traits were identified, with p ≤ 0.001. Chromosomes 1A, 3A, 3B, 4B, 4D, 5B, 6A, and 6B were identified to harbor major QTL for drought tolerance. Six potential novel QTL were identified on chromosomes 3D, 4A, 5B, 7A, and 7B. The novel QTL were identified for DH, PH, and TKW. The findings of this study can be used in marker-assisted selection (MAS) for drought-tolerance breeding in spring wheat

Vision, challenges and opportunities for a Plant Cell Atlas

With growing populations and pressing environmental problems, future economies will be increasingly plant-based. Now is the time to reimagine plant science as a critical component of fundamental science, agriculture, environmental stewardship, energy, technology and healthcare. This effort requires a conceptual and technological framework to identify and map all cell types, and to comprehensively annotate the localization and organization of molecules at cellular and tissue levels. This framework, called the Plant Cell Atlas (PCA), will be critical for understanding and engineering plant development, physiology and environmental responses. A workshop was convened to discuss the purpose and utility of such an initiative, resulting in a roadmap that acknowledges the current knowledge gaps and technical challenges, and underscores how the PCA initiative can help to overcome them.</jats:p

Dissecting the Mystery Behind the Rpg5 Mediated Puccinia graminis Resistance in Barley Using Genetics, Molecular and Bioinformatics Approaches

Barley rpg4/Rpg5 locus harbors three tightly linked genes, two NLRs Rpg5 and HvRga1, and HvAdf3, togather providing resistance against Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici, causal agent of wheat stem rust including race TTKSK, considered a threat to global food security. The integrated decoy hypothesis proposes role for head-to-head genome architecture present in the dual plant NLR immunity receptors, where one NLR partner contains an integrated sensory domain (ISD). The ISDs represent mimics of virulence effector targets translocated to the immunity receptors and act as baits to recognize virulent effectors to initiate defense responses. Alleles of Rpg5 contain two diverse C-terminal, the Rpg5 resistance allele has a serine threonine protein kinase (STPK) ISD whereas the major class of rpg5 susceptible alleles contain a protein phosphatase 2C (PP2C) ISD. Genetic and functional analysis shows that in the heterozygous state rpg5-PP2C allele acts as a dominant susceptibility factor suppressing Rpg5-STPK mediated Pgt resistance. This is the first integrated decoy NLR gene identified that contains two distinct ISDs. Liabrary scale Y2H screeing using Rpg5-STPK as bait identified HvVoz1. HvVoz1 was also interacts with the HvRga1, Rpg5-LRR, and rpg5-PP2C domains suggesting that it may act as a scaffold to hold the R-protein complex together until effector manipulation. We identified Rpg5-STPK ISD progenitor HvGak1, ortholog of the Arabidopsis guard cell AT5G15080 and AtAPK1b, shown to function in stomatal aperture opening in response to light. We hypothesize that several forma specialis of P. graminis contain virulence effector/s, that manipulate HvGak1, mimicking the presence of light to open the stomates, allowing the pathogen to gain entry in to the plant during dark period that P. graminis spores evolved to germinate. We identified dark period pathogen penteration through stomata by deveoping a novel staining method and using confocal microscopy. To further characterize the Rpg5 immunity pathway fast-neutron irradiation was utilized to generate rpr9 mutant, compromised for rpg4/Rpg5-mediated resistance. Utilizing genetic mapping and exom capture we identified candidate genes for rpr9 mutants. Based on our understanding of this resistance mechanism it would be a good candidate system for generating synthetic resistances utilizing different ISD baits fused to the Rpg5 NLR.National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER grant No. 125398

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Research paperThis present investigation was carried out at the Horticulture Farm, Rajasthan College of Agriculture (MPUAT) Udaipur during the year 2014. In this experiment, papaya seeds were sown in to different growing media in polybags (C1) and protrays (C2) containers and study their response and intraction effect on germination of papaya seeds. Among the different containers, C2 (Protrays) took significantly minimum days (8.80) for initiation of germination as compared to C1 (polybags). Minimum days required for 50 per cent germination (10.81) of papaya seeds was observed in C2 (Protrays) as compared to polythene bags (11.67) and significantly the maximum germination percentage (90.15%) of papaya seeds was observed in C2 (Protrays) while, the minimum germination (86.96%) of papaya seeds was observed in C1 (Polybag). The interaction between media and container (M × C) was found significant combination with M7C2 (i.e. Soil + FYM + Sand + Cocopeat + Vermicompost (1:1:1:1:1)) + Protrays took minimum days (8.37) for initiation of germination. While, the combination M1C1 i.e. Soil + FYM (1:1) + Polybags took maximum days (9.91) for initiation of germination.Not Availabl

Closure to "New stage-discharge equation for the SMBF flume"

Closure alle discussions sull'articolo "New stage-discharge equation for the SMBF flume

T cell inhibitory mechanisms in a model of aggressive Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

A reduced immune surveillance due to immune deficiency or treatment with immunosuppressive drugs is associated with a higher risk to develop aggressive Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Nevertheless, NHL also develops in immunocompetent patients indicating an escape from the immune system. T cell function in advanced aggressive lymphoma is not well characterized and the molecular mechanisms how malignant B cells influence T cell function are ill-defined. We therefore studied T cell function in Eμ-myc transgenic mice that develop an aggressive B cell lymphoma with some similarities to human Burkitt-lymphoma (BL). In advanced lymphoma, the number of T cells was severely reduced and the remaining CD4+ and CD8+ T cells lost the capacity to produce effector cytokines and expand upon re-stimulation. T cells in lymphoma-bearing mice were characterized by the expression of the immune inhibitory molecules programmed death (PD)-1, 2B4 and lymphocyte activation protein (LAG)-3. The proto-oncogene c-Myc not only drives cell proliferation and disease progression but also induces apoptosis of the malignant cells. We found that apoptotic lymphoma cells release purine metabolites that inhibit T cell function. Taken together, our data document that the characteristic high cell turnover and apoptotic rate in aggressive NHL induce a severe T cell dysfunction mediated by several immune-inhibitory mechanisms including ligation of inhibitory ligands and purine metabolites. Blocking a single mechanism only partially restored T cell function and did not increase survival of lymphoma mice

Genotype by environment interactions (GEIs) for barley grain yield under salt stress condition

Changes in the relative genetic performance of genotypes across environments are referred to as genotype × environment interactions (GEIs). GEIs can affect barley breeding improvement for salt tolerance because it often complicates the evaluation and selection of superior genotypes. The present study evaluated the GEIs over 60 barley genotypes for yield components and grain yield in six salinity environments in North Delta, Egypt. Data were analyzed using the additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) and Tai’s stability parameters. GEIs effects on yield explained 20.3, 20.1, 14.6, and 33.0% of the total variation besides, the first two principal components account for 67.3, 56.3, 64.3, and 83.7% of the explained variance in the four sets, respectively. Six genotypes namely G-4, G-7, G-20, G-34, G-36, and G-39 were found to be most stable and high yielding across environments (GY >2.00 t ha-1), and located close to zero projection onto the AEC ordinate. Tai’s stability parameters demonstrated that these genotypes were more responsive to the environmental changes. The genotypes G-50 and G-53 showed perfect/static stability (α = -0.95, -0.91, respectively). In contrast, the genotype; G-36 had α = 0 and λ = 1.10, indicating parallel with the environmental effects followed by G-44. Overall, we found that GEIs for grain yield are highly significant in all sets, suggesting that responded differently across environments. This interaction may be a result of changes in genotypes’ relative performance across environments, due to their differential responses to various abiotic factors