The introgression of a Satputia-derived gynoecious trait into sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica L.) has enabled gynoecy-based heterosis breeding in this crop for the first time. Thirty-six F₁ hybrids were developed by crossing twelve gynoecious lines with three monoecious testers using a line × tester design to assess combining ability, heterosis, and hybrid breeding potential. Significant general and specific combining ability effects were observed for earliness, yield, and fruit traits, indicating the predominance of non-additive gene action and the suitability of hybrid breeding. Gynoecious lines PGY-4 and PGY-9 were superior general combiners for compact plant architecture, PGY-7 and PGY-10 for earliness, and PGY-1, PGY-5, and PGY-7 for yield attributes. Among testers, PSG-129 and PSG-223 showed strong combining ability for yield and early flowering, respectively. Several hybrids, notably PGY-4 × PSG-129, PGY-5 × PSG-129, PGY-7 × PSG-223, and PGY-7 × PSG-129, exhibited high standard heterosis for yield and earliness over commercial checks. Hybrid authenticity and parental purity were confirmed using a gynoecy-linked KASP marker, which clearly distinguished gynoecious, monoecious, and hybrid genotypes. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of gynoecious lines combined with molecular validation tools for developing high-yielding, early maturing sponge gourd hybrids.
Moderate levels of salt, which may not significantly affect plant metabolism, can still influence a plant’s transcriptome. Our previous results showed that proline (25 mM) and melatonin (100 µM) induced the antioxidant levels equivalent to 150 mM salt treatment. Proline and melatonin-induced epigenome level changes in the promoter of their biosynthesis genes lead to their transcription regulation has been reported previously. The present study evaluates the effect of 150 mM salt on selected stress-alleviating transcripts and how the antioxidants proline and melatonin regulate their expression when supplied exogenously. The results indicate that there is a clear delineation between the functions of proline and melatonin under 150 mM salt stress. While the photosynthetic pigments Chlorophyll a (Chl a) and Chl b were more abundant when melatonin was used with salt, proline and salt+ proline improved carotenoid content in rice. Exogenous melatonin significantly reduced lipid peroxidation in salt-stressed plants. Transcript levels of antioxidants except Ascorbate peroxidase (APX) was significantly high in salt and melatonin combination. A moderate level of salt in the presence of proline did not induce the transcript of any of the proline biosynthesis enzymes. While moderate salt increased all the biosynthesis pathway genes of melatonin, exogenous melatonin suppressed the transcription of enzymes except (SNAT1). Moderate salt and melatonin upregulated melatonin biosynthesis genes significantly, except (T5H). Transcript-level analysis of methylases and demethylases indicates differential expression under the conditions tried. As the previous studies used high salt concentrations, which normally absent in the real-life situations, the 150 mM salt study may help us to identify the salinity response pathways modulated by proline and melatonin.
Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth.) is an economically important aromatic crop, yet reliable discrimination among locally cultivated types remains challenging. This study aimed to distinguish wild-type (WT) and batik patchouli through an analysis of phenotypic characteristics, leaf pigment composition, and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence variation under controlled growth conditions. Under the controlled growth conditions used in this study, WT and batik exhibited consistent differences in leaf coloration, canopy architecture, and growth habit, supporting phenotypic differentiation between the two types. Quantitative pigment analysis revealed significantly reduced chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, and carotenoid contents in batik, accompanied by shifts in chlorophyll a/b and chlorophyll-to-carotenoid ratios, indicating coordinated differences in chlorophyll and carotenoid composition between WT and batik. Molecular screening using the tested VARIEGATED2 (VAR2) primer pair, which targets a chloroplast-localized FtsH protease gene associated with variegation-related processes, did not yield specific amplification products and therefore was not informative under the PCR conditions used. Because the molecular analysis also aimed to assess genotype discrimination, ITS sequencing was subsequently used as a nuclear ribosomal marker for genotype authentication, revealing multiple single-nucleotide polymorphisms and insertion-deletion events distinguishing WT and batik. Phylogenetic reconstruction based on ITS sequences resolved the two types as closely related but genetically distinct genotypes within P. cablin. Collectively, these results demonstrate that combining phenotypic assessment, pigment profiling, and ITS-based molecular markers provides a robust and reproducible framework for discriminating closely related patchouli types and supports the utility of ITS markers for genotype authentication in patchouli cultivation.
Advanced molecular studies are mainly focused on gene-targeted marker systems. Among these, SCoT markers have attracted greater attention in plant genome research due to their distinct features, including high reproducibility, specificity, cost-effectiveness, and ease of use. D. bulbifera, commonly known as air potato, is an important tuber crop valued for both food and medicinal uses. The present work focuses on characterizing the genetic differentiation and population structure of D. bulbifera accessions from different agroecological zones of Kerala, India, by using SCoT markers. A set of 19 polymorphic primers yielded a total of 145 bands, with 80.88
Wall-associated kinase (WAK) and WAK-like (WAKL) genes are a class of receptor-like proteins that play crucial roles in plant growth, cell wall integrity, and defense signaling. Although these genes have been systematically characterized in several plant species, comprehensive studies of WAK/WAKLs in banana remain limited. In this study, a comparative genome-wide identification of WAK/WAKL genes was conducted in the banana species Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana. A total of 50 and 25 WAK/WAKL genes were identified in the M. acuminata and M. balbisiana genomes, respectively. Evolutionary analysis based on Ka/Ks calculation showed that segmental and tandem gene duplications, coupled with purifying selection, have contributed to the expansion and evolution of this gene family in Musa. Protein characterization indicated that most WAK/WAKL proteins were localized mainly in the plasma membrane and exhibited conserved domains including protein tyrosine and serine/threonine kinase, galacturonan-binding, and EGF/EGF-like domains. Phylogenetic analysis grouped the WAK/WAKL proteins into ten clusters, and chromosomal mapping showed that these genes are unevenly distributed across 11 chromosomes. Promoter analysis further indicated that stress-related regulatory sequences are predominant, suggesting potential roles in stress responses. Targeted RT-qPCR validation further showed that the M. balbisiana homolog of MaWAK-15 (MbWAK-12), identified based on its high sequence similarity, was upregulated by 5.96-fold following banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) infection, supporting its potential involvement in BBTV-responsive defense signaling. Overall, this study contributes to further understanding of WAK/WAKL gene families in Musa species and identifies a putative candidate gene for elucidating the molecular basis of BBTV resistance.
In this study, the complete plastome of Citrus sinensis was comparatively analyzed along with nine well annotated fruit crops to elucidate conservation patterns, mutational hotspots, and evolutionary relationships. All species exhibited the typical quadripartite plastome structure, with variation in genome size (155.55–170.28 kb), gene content, and IR boundary dynamics. mVISTA alignment revealed strong conservation of coding genes such as psbA and ndhb, whereas highly variable regions, including ycf1 and several intergenic spacers, showed elevated nucleotide diversity (Pi up to 0.277). Experimental validation of 22 synthesized cp-SSR primers across 28 citrus genotypes revealed eight polymorphic markers, generating 21 alleles with moderate PIC (0.07–0.44) and gene diversity (0.07–0.53). Orthologous clustering further demonstrated high conservation of plastid gene content across fruit crops, with limited lineage-specific expansion and contraction events associated with IR dynamics. The integrated plastome analysis highlights the dual nature of chloroplast genomes; they are structurally conserved yet evolutionarily informative. Identified mutational hotspots, IR-associated genes, and validated novel cp-SSR markers provide valuable resources for phylogenetic studies, molecular marker development, cytoplasmic diversity and maternal lineages assessment in citrus and related fruit crops. The Citrus genus involving long history of crossing and polyembryony. By comparing plastome with diverse fruits, exact evolutionary relationship could be identified. Plastomes and nuclear genomes evolve with different time span. Comparative analyses help in generating cpSSRs which serve as robust molecular markers for maternal lineages studies.
Genomics has revolutionized plant biology by elucidating genome structure and providing insights into evolutionary history and biological function. As of 2025, whole-genome sequences have been reported for over two thousand flowering plant species. This review summarizes the current state of genomic research across angiosperms, highlighting taxonomic coverage and major research applications. Despite the rapid expansion of genomic resources and their impact on many research fields, tropical plants, the most diverse group of plants on Earth, remain underrepresented in genomic studies. In this review, we surveyed tropical plant species with published whole-genome assemblies and categorized them based on the primary aims of their genomic investigations. For each category, we discussed key findings, research progress, and future directions. We further illustrated how integrative, multi-dimensional genomic datasets have provided robust insights into tropical plant evolution, adaptation, and trait biology. Recent advances in population genomics and pan-genomics are also revealing natural genetic variation underlying important traits, opening new avenues for crop improvement. By synthesizing current achievements and emerging opportunities, this review provides a forward-looking perspective on tropical plant genomics.
A comprehensive investigation was carried out to assess genetic variability, divergence, trait association and fertility restorer gene status among rice genotypes using multivariate and molecular approaches for effective parent selection in hybrid rice breeding. A total of 79 genotypes were evaluated during Kharif and Rabi seasons. Significant variability was observed for all quantitative traits, with high heritability coupled with high genetic advance for major yield components, suggesting the possible contribution of additive genetic effects and the potential effectiveness of direct phenotypic selection. Mahalanobis D² analysis classified the genotypes into five clusters, with the highest inter-cluster distances between clusters IV and V in Kharif and clusters II and V in Rabi, indicating substantial genetic divergence. Principal component analysis revealed that single plant yield, productive tillers, test weight and spikelet fertility contributed greatly to total variability and showed strong association with yield performance. Molecular screening using SSR markers linked to Rf3 and Rf4 genes revealed differential distribution of fertility restorer genes among the genotypes. Subsequent CMS-based testcross evaluation demonstrated that genotypes possessing both Rf3 and Rf4 generally exhibited superior fertility restoration ability. Among the evaluated genotypes, ANNA (R) 4, CBMAS 14,110, PNPG 114 and RDR-3608 combined desirable agronomic performance, genetic divergence and effective fertility restoration across different CMS backgrounds, indicating their potential utility as elite restorer lines in hybrid rice breeding programmes. The study highlights the effectiveness of integrating multivariate analysis, molecular marker screening and functional validation for precise identification of superior parental lines in rice hybrid breeding.
Leaf senescence is a genetically programmed developmental process essential for nutrient remobilization and adaptation to environmental stresses. The SGR and SGRL gene families play pivotal roles in regulating chlorophyll degradation pathways. This study presents a genome-wide analysis of SGR and SGRL genes across 13 species from monocots and dicots. We identified 23 SGR and 17 SGRL genes encoding 31 and 28 proteins, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis classified these proteins into two groups and four subgroups, revealing evolutionary relationships consistent with speciation events. Intron-exon structural analyses highlighted conserved structures within subgroups. Subcellular localization predictions indicate plastid targeting for both families; while substrate specificity suggested that SGRs and SGRLs might occupy distinct chloroplast compartments, GFP-based evidence instead localizes both proteins to thylakoid membranes, suggesting that functional specialization may arise through mechanisms other than spatial separation. Regulatory analyses uncovered 1,661 cis-acting elements encompassing stress-, light-, and hormone-responses, notably abundant abscisic acid-responsive elements. Post-transcriptional control is evident through miRNA families such as miR164 and miR159, underscoring multilayered regulation. Functional network analysis revealed overlapping interactomes for SbSGR and SbSGRL involving key chlorophyll metabolic enzymes, while differential expression profiling under drought stress in Sorghum cultivars ‘Kimia’ (drought-resistant) and ‘Sepideh’ (drought-sensitive) uncovered cultivar-specific patterns: rapid SbSGR repression with transient SbSGRL induction in Kimia, versus gradual SbSGR decline and sustained SbSGRL upregulation in Sepideh. Overall, SGR and SGRL genes exhibit profound evolutionary divergence and intricate spatial, regulatory, and functional specialization. Their coordinated but distinct roles facilitate chlorophyll catabolism and senescence, enabling plants to fine-tune developmental and stress responses. This framework supports future validation and biotechnological strategies to improve crop resilience under abiotic stress.
Expanding economically important woody oil crops, such as Camellia oleifera, into tropical regions poses severe physiological challenges due to high irradiance and temperature. Understanding how plants balance stress tolerance and reproductive output under these conditions is critical for optimizing cultivar selection. In this study, we evaluated four elite C. oleifera cultivars in a tropical plantation (Hainan, China) to determine how leaf anatomical and physiological traits coordinate to drive yield components. A striking physiological hallmark across all cultivars was a severe depression in maximum photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm: 0.28–0.47), indicating chronic photoinhibition (compared to the optimal Fv/Fm ≈ 0.80 typically observed in unstressed C. oleifera) induced by tropical abiotic stress. Under this severe environmental pressure, we identified a distinct functional trade-off among the cultivars. The high-yielding cultivar HY3 exhibited an “acquisitive” trait profile, characterized by superior net photosynthetic rate, enhanced stomatal conductance, and a larger main vein cross-sectional area, prioritizing carbon assimilation for reproductive allocation. Conversely, cultivar HY4 displayed a “conservative” strategy, investing heavily in defensive structures such as a thickened upper cuticle and high non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), which favored survival and photoprotection over maximum carbon assimilation. Furthermore, partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) revealed cultivar-specific mechanistic pathways of resource coordination. In HY3, leaf anatomy positively coupled with photosynthetic gas exchange (β = 0.55) and yield (β = 0.38), whereas in HY4 the same anatomical structure showed a negative association with gas exchange (β = −0.43) and yield (β = −0.79), but a positive coupling with light-use efficiency (β = 0.76). These findings demonstrate that leaf anatomical traits are not merely structural descriptors, but functional mediators reflecting how plants balance survival and reproduction. This trait-based framework offers valuable insights into the ecological adaptation of woody crops under tropical stress, providing a theoretical basis for context-specific cultivar selection and precision management.
Cytochrome P450 proteins play essential roles in plant secondary metabolism and abiotic stress responses. As a drought-tolerant crop, Sorghum bicolor should be systematically analyzed to identify drought-responsive P450 genes potentially useful for enhancing drought resistance via molecular breeding. Using transcriptome datasets and bioinformatics tools, we identified 33 drought-responsive P450 genes (SbP450-1 to SbP450-33) in sorghum on the basis of |log2(fold change)|≥ 1 and false discovery rate < 0.05. These genes were distributed on 10 chromosomes and clustered into four families (CYP71, CYP85, CYP72, and CYP86). Notably, all CYP86 family members lacked introns, while three pairs of tandem duplicates were detected. SbP450 promoters contained many ABA/MeJA-responsive elements. Moreover, qRT-PCR analyses confirmed that SbP450-29 and SbP450-26 expression levels were significantly up-regulated after drought and ABA treatments (293- and 371-fold increases, respectively). Most SbP450 proteins were localized to chloroplasts, but SbP450-12 was detected in the plasma membrane and cytoplasm. GO/KEGG analyses linked SbP450s to flavonoid biosynthesis and redox pathways. These findings provide a basis for future studies on the biological functions of sorghum SbP450 genes.
Plants have developed defensive mechanisms against insect herbivory to deter pests, mitigate insect feeding, and resist plant injury. Defense reactions induced by herbivory are regulated by phytohormones like salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA). The jasmonate-ZIM/TIFY domain (JAZ) gene family is intrinsically linked to the JA pathway where the JAZ proteins function as critical repressors, but their role in eggplant defense against herbivores remains unexplored. In this study, bioinformatics analysis and infestation assays were performed to investigate herbivory-induced re-programming of JAZ gene expression. We identified eleven (11) JAZ genes in eggplant (Solanum melongena) and their corresponding proteins, investigated gene structure, evolutionary relationships and herbivory-responsive expression patterns induced by the eggplant fruit and shoot borer (EFSB). All SmelJAZ genes encode the conserved TIFY and Jas-CCT protein domains. Phylogenetic and synteny analysis, and interaction modeling revealed structural conservation of SmelJAZs in eggplant, tomato, potato, tobacco and Arabidopsis. Functional annotation, RNA-seq re-analysis, and cis-acting regulatory element (CARE) analysis predicted involvement of SmelJAZ genes in defense reactions, responses to wounding, and inducibility by many phytohormones. Indeed, SmelJAZ genes were revealed to be expressed in eggplant shortly and within two weeks after initial EFSB infestation. These findings provide insights into understanding insect resistance in eggplant, as well as in elucidating the molecular bases of plant-insect interactions.
Anthurium andraeanum Linden is an ornamental plant belonging to the Araceae family. It is prized for its vividly colored spathes, which have high ornamental value. However, cultivars with yellow spathes remain scarce. Carotenoids are a major class of plant pigments that directly influence the coloration of leaves, floral organs, and fruits. Their limited accumulation in A. andraeanum spathes has led to the current lack of deep-yellow cultivars. To elucidate the characteristics of the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway in A. andraeanum spathes, we conducted an integrated analysis employing ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) for carotenoid metabolomics and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) for transcriptomics on spathes at the full bloom stage, using the pale yellow spathe cultivar ‘Vanilla’ and the white spathe cultivar ‘Eclyps’ as experimental materials. Of the 18 carotenoids targeted from the Metware plant carotenoid database, 12 were detected in both cultivars, with lutein, β‑carotene and phytoene being the most abundant in ‘Vanilla’. Transcriptome sequencing revealed that, compared with ‘Eclyps’, ‘Vanilla’ exhibited higher expression levels of carotenoid biosynthesis pathway genes such as GGPPS, PSY, LCYB, and ZDS, but lower expression levels of carotenoid catabolism genes such as CCD4 and AAO3. Transcription factor analysis revealed significant differential expression of members of the bHLH, MADS, and NAC families between the cultivars, suggesting their potential regulatory roles in carotenoid biosynthesis within A. andraeanum spathes. This study thus provides a basis for exploring the regulatory mechanisms governing carotenoid synthesis in A. andraeanum spathes.
Phytochromes detect the red and far-red light in plants and phytochrome-mediated light signaling regulates essential developmental processes, including seed germination, photomorphogenic transitions, shade-avoidance responses, and stem growth. Although they have been widely investigated in other important crop species such as wheat and rice, little is known about their organization and diversity in the orphan crop Eragrostis tef. This study provides a thorough examination of phytochrome (PHY) genes in the tef genome. A total of six EtPHY genes were identified, which were evenly distributed between chromosomes Chr4A and Chr4B. Phylogenetic research indicated that the six EtPHY genes were clustered into three phytochrome subfamilies, namely EtPHYA, EtPHYB, and EtPHYC. Synteny analysis revealed that the genes correspond to 12, 10, and 2 collinear gene pairs in Zea mays, Panicum virgatum, and Solanum lycopersicum, respectively. The Ka/Ks analysis indicated that EtPHY gene pairs have expanded through whole-genome duplication (WGD) and were under purifying selection pressure. The promoter regions of the EtPHY genes include multiple motifs, including light-responsive, developmental, hormone-responsive, and stress-responsive elements. The protein-protein interaction analysis revealed that EtPHY proteins interact with phytochrome interaction factors (PIFs), cryptochrome photoreceptors, DNA photolyases, and members of the PPPDE thiol peptidase family (Permuted Papain fold Peptidases of DsRNA viruses and Eukaryotes), but do not interact directly with each other. The findings provide a valuable foundation for further investigation of the PHY gene family in tef, particularly with respect to their potential roles in growth, development, and stress responses.
Tamarind (Tamarindus indica), a perennial and an open-pollinated tree crop, has versatile purposes in food and medicinal industry. The Indian Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding Institute (IFGTB) has developed a germplasm bank with several tamarind clones collected from different places of India. In this study, 60 tamarind clones with differing fruit pulp characteristics were selected from this germplasm for evaluating fruit morphology and physio-chemical traits. For the first time, the selected trees from this germplasm are classified into groups based on the morphological traits, physio-chemical traits and using the inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. Further, the genetic makeup of this population was also studied using the rigorous population structure analysis. Genetic diversity has been observed for fruit quality and physiochemical traits offering a chance for selection. Tamarind fruit yield and quality related traits such as fruit weight, pulp weight, total sugar (38.02
Plant-specific TIFY-transcription factor (TF) family contains four sub-families, Jasmonate ZIM domain (JAZ), TIFY, Peapod (PPD), and ZIM and ZIM-like (ZML), according to their specific domain architectures. JAZ-subfamily being the key repressor of plant Jasmonic Acid (JA) signaling pathway, TIFY-TFs dynamically contribute to plant growth, development, wounding, herbivory, biotic and abiotic stress responses. Among six two-partner fusion events presented here, four events are from JAZ sub-family, JAZ1-CXE1 (Carboxylesterase1) fusion, JAZ3-TDX (Tetratricopeptide repeat containing thioredoxin like protein) fusion, JAZ4-SURF1 (Surfeit locus 1 cytochrome c oxidase biogenesis protein) fusion and Receptor like cytoplasmic kinase (RLCK)-JAZ12 fusion, one is from Peapod subfamily, PPD1-ARD (Acireductone dioxygenase) fusion, and one is from ZML subfamily, ZML1-Ca2+transporting ATPase protein fusion. This study attempts validating each TIFY-fusion Protein Report by (i) identification of fusion partners having consecutive gene locations and showing high sequence identity with the fusion protein (FP), (ii) detection of accurate breakpoints and insertion of non-coding-derived sequences in the FPs, (iii) uncovering functional similarities between the fusion partners, which together, may be correlated to the transcriptional read-through-mediated origination of the fusion proteins. Prediction of Intrinsic Disordered Region (IDR) and subcellular localization of TIFY-fusion proteins reveal their nucleus-based localization and persistence of disordered-regions, supporting their probable functionality. Here, 49 TIFY-Fusion protein reports and 10 TIFY-Fusion gene reports are clearly uncovering a evolutionary trend to impart TIFY-TF-multifunctionality through these six two-partner and two three-partner fusion events in eudicots. This study presents new insights into the evolutionary significance of plant TIFY-TF family to improve the adaptive versatility of eudicot plant’s sessile existence.
Stem water storage plays a key role in buffering plants against drought, yet continuous measurements of stem water content remain rare in tropical forest trees. Using frequency domain reflectometry (FDR) sensors, we continuously monitored stem water storage and mobilisation dynamics in co-occurring palm and dicotyledonous tree species in the eastern Amazon during the extreme 2023 drought. This approach provides, to our knowledge, the first temporal high-resolution dataset of stem hydration in Amazonian palms (Astrocaryum vulgare Mart., Oenocarpus distichus Mart.) and co-occurring trees. Palms demonstrated substantially higher absolute water storage capacity and greater seasonal and diurnal water mobilisation compared to dicots. Using a novel analysis for critical relative stem water content thresholds revealed striking physiological divergence: palms maintained high relative diurnal discharge capacity, (i.e., the amount of water that can be released from the stem during the day, relative to the maximum capacity), at hydration levels where dicots exhibited significant impairment. In addition, we identify a common soil moisture threshold at 0.19 m3 m−3 below which stem water declines rapidly, indicating likely hydraulic disconnection from the soil. We demonstrate the usefulness of FDR technology combined with a new threshold analysis to describe how tropical palms and trees respond to increasing drought stress under climate change.
Globally, papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) poses a serious threat to sustainable papaya cultivation, but little is known about the molecular underpinnings of innate resistance against this virus. Two different Carica papaya genotypes, namely PRSV-tolerant “Pusa Selection 3” (PS3) and PRSV-susceptible “Pusa Majesty” (PM) were compared for their transcriptional profiles to identify their unique molecular reactions to viral challenge. The PRSV susceptible papaya cultivar Pusa Majesty showed a significant, albeit ineffective, transcriptional disruption involving 912 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), characterised by delayed activation of important defense responses and reduced expression of photosynthesis-related pathways. On the other hand, the papaya cultivar PS3 displayed a more sophisticated defense mechanism, characterized by a highly targeted transcriptional response where only 10 genes were uniquely regulated with a restricted but well-coordinated transcriptional shift involving just 178 DEGs in total. Notably, PS3 showed higher expression of genes involved in terpenoid biosynthesis, activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress pathways, and regulation of redox-associated networks, all of which point to a targeted antiviral response. According to functional enrichment analysis and RT-PCR confirmation, PS3 showed relatively higher expression of selected genes, including terpene synthase 21 and enzymes associated with oxidoreductase activity (GO:0016491) while maintaining cellular metabolic balance. In contrast, broader gene expression changes, altered primary metabolism, and activation of generic pathogenesis-related genes were associated with PM’s vulnerability to PRSV. These findings challenge the widely held belief that extensive transcriptional reprogramming is required for disease resistance and highlight the significance of defense priming and selective pathway engagement conferring viral tolerance. The knowledge acquired here offers a useful starting point for molecular breeding initiatives meant to create papaya cultivars resistant to PRSV.
Diospyros L., the largest genus of Ebenaceae, comprises approximately 778 species, yet relationships among several lineages remain unresolved. Here, we reconstructed Bayesian Inference and Maximum Likelihood phylogenies using combined chloroplast DNA sequences comprising rbcL, matK, atpB, and trnS-G regions to investigate the phylogenetic relationships among Indian representatives of Diospyros. The dataset expands upon previous studies by incorporating newly generated sequences from Indian species and additional African taxa retrieved from GenBank to improve lineage representation and enhance phylogenetic resolution. Divergence times were estimated under an uncorrelated lognormal relaxed-clock model, and ancestral areas were inferred using a DEC framework. Our results resolve Indian endemic species within three major subclades, while D. paniculata and D. neilgerrensis occupy independent positions in separate major clades. Molecular dating indicates that crown diversification of Diospyros occurred in the Paleocene ( 58 Ma). Ancestral area reconstruction identifies Southeast Asia as the most probable center of origin, refining earlier hypotheses that suggested broader Afro-tropical involvement. In addition, combined molecular and morphological evidence supports the recognition of D. cordifolia as distinct from D. montana. Overall, expanded taxon sampling and fossil-calibrated dating provide a clearer framework for understanding diversification and historical biogeography within Diospyros.
Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is a fundamental cereal for food security in the semi-arid tropics of West Africa, yet the genetic architecture of its performance traits in Nigerian savannas remains insufficiently characterized. This study utilized a genome-wide association study (GWAS) approach to identify genomic regions associated with key agronomic traits. A diversity panel of 288 sorghum accessions was evaluated for days to 50
