The invasive fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, poses an emerging threat to Asian rice agroecosystems, despite rice being a suboptimal host compared to maize. Here, we demonstrate that prior infestation of rice by brown planthopper (BPH, Nilaparvata lugens) or white-backed planthopper (WBPH, Sogatella furcifera) dramatically reverses this innate host hierarchy, transforming rice into a highly attractive oviposition substrate for FAW. In no-choice assays, females laid 60–63
This study characterizes wild-type and mutants of rice for culm strength at morphological, histological, and molecular levels, identifying key genes and genomic regions that govern the strong culm trait. Strong culm trait in rice has gained importance for sustainability in the realm of climate change. The mutants having economic important traits have become a potential source for the identification of genomic regions. The present study aimed to characterize rice mutants having strong culms and to identify genomic regions through conventional as well as NGS-based mapping approaches. Morphological characterization of Samba Mahsuri mutants with strong culms showed that they had a greater culm diameter and physical strength than the wild type. Histological analysis confirmed the morphological parameters, which included increased thickness in culm tissue, wider intervascular bundle spacing, and thicker lignified epi- and sub-epidermal layers, as well as parenchymal layers. Exploring one of the chemically mutagenized Samba Mahsuri mutants, SB170-B having strong culm, a genetic linkage map was constructed and identified four novel QTLs: qSC-5 (chromosome 5), qSC-6a (chromosome 6), qSC-6b (chromosome 6), and qSC-10 (chromosome 10), explaining 23.76
Aspergillus niger, a predominant seed-borne pathogen, causes collar rot in groundnut resulting in reduced seed germination and seedling vigour. This study involved the cultural, morphological, and molecular characterization of A. niger, along with in vitro evaluation of fungicides, and bioagents for its effective management in two different methods. Among seven tested culture media, the highest radial growth of A. niger was recorded on Potato Dextrose Agar (90.33 mm), followed by V8 Juice Agar (88.33 mm). Microscopically, pathogen exhibit septate, hyaline hyphae with conidiophores terminating in globose black conidial heads. Molecular identification of present study isolate i.e. GN-ITS-UASD using multi-locus sequencing confirmed isolate as A. niger and obtained NCBI accession number’s PV865284 and PX149243 for ITS and RPB2 respectively. Multilocus concatenated (ITS + RPB2) phylogeny confirmed that isolate from groundnut seed origin i.e. GN-ITS-UASD is a true A. niger lineage, clustering strongly with global reference strains. Among systemic fungicides, tebuconazole found most effective (13.56
Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is a major oilseed crop cultivated worldwide; however, its seeds are highly susceptible to fungal infections, leading to deterioration in both quality and commercial value. The present study evaluated the fungal diversity associated with groundnut seeds collected from farmers' fields and local Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) markets in four northern districts of Karnataka, India, namely Bagalkot, Dharwad, Gadag, and Haveri. Across all samples, seven fungal genera were identified: Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, Fusarium oxysporum, Macrophomina phaseolina, Penicillium citrinum, Rhizopus stolonifer, and Ceratobasidium spp. The highest fungal diversity was recorded in Gadag (n = 7), followed by Haveri (n = 6). Macrophomina phaseolina and R. stolonifer were predominant in Bagalkot, Haveri, and Gadag districts. Among sterilized market samples, Dharwad recorded the highest cumulative percent mycoflora seed infection (60.83 %), whereas in unsterilized market and farmer samples, Haveri exhibited the highest total fungal contamination (TFC) of 73.42 % and 66.91 %, respectively. M. phaseolina was the most frequently isolated species from sterilized market (68.09 %) and farmer samples (70.99 %). In unsterilized farmer samples, R. stolonifer (52.08 %) was predominant, while in unsterilized market samples, M. phaseolina was highly dominant (94.25 %). Molecular characterization of the predominant pathogens was carried out using multiple DNA barcoding regions, including ITS and RPB2 genes for ascomycetous pathogens (M. phaseolina, A. niger, R. stolonifer, A. flavus, F. oxysporum, and P. citrinum), while ITS and beta-tubulin genes were used for the basidiomycetous pathogen (Ceratobasidium sp.). Subsequent phylogenetic analysis revealed close genetic relationships with isolates from similar agro-climatic regions, indicating minimal genetic variability among strains. The results emphasize the need for improved hygiene and storage practices by farmers and APMC markets to minimize fungal incidence and safeguard groundnut seed health.
Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a staple food crop that has sustained human civilizations for millennia, with its origins tracing back to ancient domestication events in Asia. This review explores the remarkable journey of rice, from its humble beginnings as a wild grass to its current status as a globally cultivated crop, and envisions its future driven by genomics in crop breeding. We examine the domestication process that transformed rice into a highly productive cereal shaped by the selection practices of early farmers. The Green Revolution of the twentieth century brought yield increases by developing semi-dwarf, high-yielding varieties and improved crop management practices. However, emerging challenges such as climate change, water scarcity, and the need for sustainable agriculture have necessitated further advancements. The advent of genomics has revolutionized rice breeding, with the complete genome sequence enabling the dissection of key agronomic traits. We discuss how modern techniques like genome sequencing and genome editing are being leveraged to develop climate-resilient, nutrient-enriched, and disease-resistant rice varieties to ensure global food security.
