Using a positional candidate-gene approach we show that semi-sterile desynaptic8 mutants are associated with deleterious variants of the barley homolog of XRCC2 (X-Ray Repair Cross Complementing 2). In barley XRCC2 mutants, the initial meiotic progression is normal, albeit with a small delay in initiation, with completion of synapsis. However, the absence of HvXRCC2 subsequently leads to a dramatic reduction in the number of crossovers, chromosome mis-segregation, and infertility, suggesting that HvXRCC2 plays a major role in recombination. This mutant phenotype is congruent with that reported in mammalian studies but contrasts with the XRCC2 mutant in Arabidopsis which is fertile, exhibits normal chromosome pairing and correct chromosome segregation, and is associated with an increased rate of crossovers. This indicates that the XRCC2 mutant phenotype in Arabidopsis is not representative of all plants and that XRCC2 is not a good candidate for the modulation of recombination in barley.

Throughout history, leguminous crops have contributed significantly to the human diet. Grain legumes have long been identified as a valuable nutritional source for humans. However, their significance extends beyond nutrition to global food security, reducing reliance on chemical fertilizers, improving soil health and increasing resilience to climate change. Recognizing their vital importance in nutrition and agricultural production, scientists have worked persistently to uncover new genetic traits in legumes, resulting in enhanced yields, improved nutritional value and increased stress tolerance. Recently, the availability of genomic resources for new traits in grain legume plants has greatly increased, laying the groundwork for the adoption of advanced breeding technologies. Gene editing has shown significant potential to improve crop outcomes. This review critically examines the latest developments in gene-editing techniques specific to major grain legumes, focusing on their application in enhancing legume crops with significant agronomic characteristics. The article also shows the potential advantages associated with these advancements. Over the years, advancements in technologies such as Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases (TALENs), Zinc Finger Nucleases (ZFNs), Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR/Cas9), and the more recent Prime Editing technique have significantly contributed to genetic enhancements. These innovations have improved nutritional and market traits, boosted farming incomes, and increased the accessibility of affordable nutritious food, particularly in developing nations. Studies show that CRISPR/Cas9 is the most extensively applied gene editing technology in grain legumes. The advent of this technology has transformed genetic modification by offering exceptional precision and efficiency. This progress has enabled the creation of grain legumes that are more resistant to climate change and enhanced with improved nutritional content. Our research highlights that soybeans have been the primary focus of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing efforts, surpassing any other grain legume, unlocking significant potential for innovation and improvement. This article presents a scientometric analysis of bibliographic data from the Web of Science using VOSviewer. It highlights global research trends, emphasizing China’s leading role in international collaborations, the prominence of soybean (Glycine max) in CRISPR/Cas9 studies, and the key researchers driving advancements in gene editing for food security.

The growing need for sustainable agricultural practices has prompted the exploration of microbial biotechnologies, specifically plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), as alternatives to chemical fertilizers and pesticides. This study focuses on Bacillus cereus strain doms B16, a newly isolated bacterium from the rhizosphere of black pepper plants. Our comprehensive evaluation revealed that strain B16 exhibits multiple beneficial traits such as phosphate solubilization, nitrogen fixation, siderophore production, and the synthesis of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), which are pivotal for enhancing plant growth. The results from pot experiments show that B16 significantly improves growth parameters in mustard, green gram, and bengal gram, confirming its potential to contribute to eco-friendly agricultural practices. The strain's robustness in salt stress conditions and its ability to form biofilms further affirm its potential as a biofertilizer. These findings underscore the significance of Bacillus cereus strain doms B16 in promoting sustainable agriculture through enhanced plant health and productivity, presenting a viable, eco-friendly alternative to conventional agricultural inputs.

Salinity is a significant challenge for agriculture, negatively impacting soil health and crop yields worldwide. Coping with salinity stress is intricate due to its multifaceted nature, making it challenging to fully grasp. Mangroves, recognized for their salt tolerance, thrive in diverse salinity levels, spanning from freshwater to seawater. They play a vital role in coastal ecosystems, thriving in areas where many other plants struggle. For a thorough knowledge of the salinity stress signaling and tolerance mechanism in mangroves, a variety of “omics” techniques have been explored. Recent research has illuminated crucial pathways, transcription factors, microRNAs, and signaling components in mangroves exposed to salty conditions. This knowledge holds promise for developing salt-tolerant crop plants through genetic modification techniques, which can help address the increasing issue of soil salinity. Our review encompasses genomics and transcriptomics studies that identify crucial genes and pathways in mangroves' response to salinity. Since the transcriptome lacks a direct correlation with the protein expression dynamics, we have also emphasized mangrove proteomics and metabolomics studies. The review also outlines the different strategies that can be used to enhance the salinity tolerance of crops using mangroves as models.

Mangroves, the distinctive coastal ecosystems of the tropics and sub-tropics, serve as crucial intersections between terrestrial and marine environments. In this review, we delve into the manifold roles of mangroves, showcasing their significance in environmental engineering and sustainable ecosystem practices. Historically undervalued, mangroves have undergone a renaissance in perception, with increasing recognition of their indispensable ecological services, ranging from coastal protection and blue carbon sequestration to fostering biodiversity and supporting sustainable fisheries. As we explore their potential in phytoremediation, bioremediation, urban resilience, and ecosystem-based adaptation, the synergistic relationships between mangroves and their resident microorganisms are highlighted, offering innovative avenues for environmental restoration. Additionally, the review underscores the importance of collaborative partnerships for mangrove conservation, emphasizing the need for a harmonized approach between stakeholders. In an era marked by rapid environmental changes, this review accentuates the multifunctional capability of mangroves as nature's coastal architects, advocating for their conservation and integration into sustainable ecosystem management strategies.

Using a positional candidate-gene approach we show that semi-sterile desynaptic8 mutants are associated with deletions in or complete knockout of the barley homolog of XRCC2 ( X-Ray Repair Cross Complementing 2 ). In barley XRCC2 mutants, the initial meiotic progression is normal, albeit with a small delay in initiation, with completion of synapsis. However, the absence of HvXRCC2 subsequently leads to a dramatic reduction in the number of crossovers, chromosome mis-segregation, and infertility, suggesting that HvXRCC2 plays a major role in recombination. This mutant phenotype is congruent with that reported in mammalian studies but contrasts with the XRCC2 mutant in Arabidopsis which is fertile, exhibits normal chromosome pairing and correct chromosome segregation, and is associated with an increased rate of crossovers. This indicates that the XRCC2 mutant phenotype in Arabidopsis is not representative of all plants and that XRCC2 is not a good candidate for the modulation of recombination in barley. Highlight The mutants of the barley homolog of XRCC2 exhibit delays in replication leading to defective meiosis, altered RAD51 orthologue behaviour, and significant reduction in the number of crossovers as in canonical mammalian XRCC2 mutants but unlike those in Arabidopsis.

Salinity is a global problem, being aggravated by climate change, scanty rainfall, poor irrigation systems, salt ingression, water contamination, and other environmental factors. The salinity stress tolerance mechanism is a very complex phenomenon, and stress pathways are co-ordinately linked to impart salt tolerance. Although a number of salt-responsive genes have been reported from the halophytes, there is always a quest for promising stress-responsive genes that can modulate plant physiology according to salt stress. Several known genes, like antiporters, antioxidant encoding genes, and some novel genes, were isolated from halophytes and explored for developing stress tolerance in the crop plants (glycophytes). We provide here a comprehensive update on salinity-induced adverse effects on soils and plants. In this chapter, the physiological and biochemical adaptation strategies that help mangroves and crop plants grow and survive in salinity-affected areas are reviewed. In this review, mangroves are discussed as an underutilized gene pool of salt-responsive genes that can be utilized for developing salinity tolerance in crop plants using strategies, like genetic engineering and molecular breeding by marker-assisted breeding phenotyping technologies, GWAS, etc.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), also called senile dementia is a neurodegenerative disease seen commonly in the elderly and is characterised by the formation of β-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFT). Though a complete understanding of the disease is lacking, recent studies showed the role of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in pathogenesis. Finding new lead compounds from natural sources has always been a quest for researchers. Endophytic fungi are a set of microbes that reside within plants without causing any harm. This study focuses on screening endophytes for the production of active acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. Five endophytic fungi were isolated from Catharanthus roseus and screened for AChE inhibitory activity. Three isolates were found to inhibit AChE inhibitory activity and were distinguished based on molecular and microscopic methods. The mycelial extract was taken for the bioassay-guided column chromatography and TLC was performed on the active fraction. The GC–MS and NMR analysis identified the active compounds in the extract as 9-hexadecen-1-ol and erucamide. Molecular docking studies revealed that the compounds are thermodynamically feasible and have significant glide scores. Computational studies revealed that the hydroxyl group of 9-hexadecen-1-ol forms a hydrogen bond with Ser 293 in the active site of AChE, whereas the active site interactions were predominantly hydrophobic in the case of erucamide and are reflected in AChE inhibition assays.

Background: Okra is a nutritious vegetable crop which is highly susceptible to yellow vein mosaic virus (YVMV), a biotic stress factor. Chemical control of YVMV is very difficult; hence a number of tolerant varieties are developed for cultivation. The abiotic stress factors like salinity, which may reduce the yield of YVMV resistant okra, are not yet assessed. Results: Six okra genotypes (Arka Anamika, Anjitha, Manjima, Aruna, Kiran and Susthira) exhibiting resistance to Yellow YVMV were screened for their tolerance to an abiotic stress, salinity. Individual healthy seeds were monitored from 7 to 50 days under saline conditions for seed germination and emergence assays respectively. Parameters like number of geminated seeds and the radicle length were measured and documented at 3rd, 5th and 7th day for the germination assay. Number of seeds emerged from soil by the first 5, 10 and 15 days, the length of the emerged plantlet on the 15th and 30th day and morphological changes of emerged plantlets thereafter, up to 50 days were observed for the emergence assay. The rate of germination, radicle length, percentage of emergence and plantlet length were found to decrease with increasing salinity. Conclusions: All the six YVMV resistant varieties were found to be sensitive to salinity stress irrespective of whether it is germination, emergence or vegetative phase. The resistance to YVMV thus couldn’t contribute any preformed intracellular osmoticum to overcome salt induced cell damage in okra.

Plants are subjected to internal damage during stress conditions due to enhanced levels of methyl glyoxal (MG). Glyoxalase enzymes play the key role in MG detoxification and help the plant to survive. The glyoxalase system of Rhizophora mucronata Lam. was decoded; characterized and salt dependant increase in gene expression was analyzed in our previous studies ( GenBank Accessions GGEC01061405, GGEC01044968, and GGEC01022591) . In order to utilize these stress responsive genes in crop improvement, it is needed to monitor their methylglyoxal detoxification efficiency in vivo . For this, over expression of the glyoxalase enzyme(s) in a model/cop plant system can be done. Construction of a binary vector carrying coding region of glyoxalase gene(s) which can replicate both in E coli and Agrobacterium tumefaciens is the prime step in plant transformation research. In the present study in silico cloning of glyoxalase I, II and III specific to R. mucronata (Rm GLY I, Rm GLY II and Rm GLY III) were performed into pBA 002 plant expression vector carrying 6x myc insert. The binary vector is linearized with BSrG1 restriction enzyme. Cloning primers for all the three glyoxalase coding regions with 5’ end terminal homology to the linear myc pBA were synthesized and validated in vitro . To account for in silico cloning, the Rm GLY I insert was successfully cloned via homologous recombination into myc pBA. The presence of Rm GLYI insert in the final construct was confirmed by colony PCR and sequence analysis.

Transcriptome data is beneficial to explore molecular mechanisms of extreme adaptations in non- model organisms like mangroves. In this data article, five major datasets and two data sub sets of a salt secreting mangrove, Rhizophora mucronata Lam. were described. A combination of Illumina HiSeq 2500, Trinity, BLAST X, Bowtie 2 and BLAST 2GO was used for RNA Seq, de novo assembly, transcript annotation, gene expression estimation and gene ontology annotation respectively. The RNA Sequence (Read 1 and Read 2) in Sequence Read Archive amounting to 46,366,348 paired end raw reads is the first data set made open for de novo or comparative transcript assembly. Assembled sequences of 93960 gene transcripts constitute the second data set in Transcriptome Shotgun Assembly. The gene/protein annotations to the assembled transcripts give two sub data sets containing 93960 each of GenBank and GenPept entries with comprehensive cDNA and translated protein sequences of genes. Of these, predicted proteins for 87768 coding sequences, mapped to UniProtKB serve as the third data set. The gene expression levels of the annotated transcripts comprise the fourth data set in Gene Expression Omnibus. The fifth data set in Figshare includes 44,028 gene ontology terms extracted for 21,073 confident transcripts. The data sets provide a valuable resource for further analyses including transcriptomic changes in response to environmental stresses.

The accumulation of a metabolic by product - methylglyoxal above a minimal range can be highly toxic in all organisms. Stress induced elevation in methylglyoxal inactivates proteins and nucleic acids. Glutathione dependent glyoxalase enzymes like glyoxalase I and glyoxalase II together with glutathione independent glyoxalase III play inevitable role in methylglyoxal detoxification. Glyoxalase genes are generally conserved but with obvious exceptions. Mangroves being potent harsh land inhabitants, their internal organelles are constantly been exposed to elevated levels of methylglyoxal. First and foremost it is important to detect the presence of glyoxalases in mangroves. De novo transcriptome analysis of mangrove species Rhizophora mucronata Lam., identified eleven putative glyoxalase proteins (RmGLYI-1 to 5, RmGLYII-1 to 5 and RmGLYIII). Molecular characterization proposed PLN02300 or PLN02367 as the key domains of RmGLYI proteins. They possess molecular weight ranging from 26.45 to 32.53 kDa and may localize in cytosol or chloroplast. RmGLYII proteins of molecular weight 28.64-36 kDa, carrying PLN02398 or PLN02469 domains are expected to be localized in diverse cellular compartments. Cytosolic RmGLYIII with DJ-1/PfpI domain carries a molecular weight 26.4 kDa. Detailed structural analysis revealed monomeric nature of RmGLYI-1 and RmGLYII-1 whereas RmGLYIII is found to be homodimer. Molecular phylogenetic analysis and multiple sequence alignment specified conserved metal ion/substrate binding residues of RmGLY proteins. Estimation of relative expression of glyoxalases under salt stress indicated the prominence of RmGLYI and RmGLYII over RmGLYIII. The aforementioned prominence is supported by salt induced expression difference of glutathione metabolic enzymes and glutathione regulated transporter protein.

Mangroves are salt tolerant plants inhabiting saline environment. Multiple factors contribute to their salt tolerance and we need multifaceted approach to reveal the mechanisms of salt tolerance in the plant. In the present study, leaves of the mangrove, Rhizophora mucronata grown in the presence and absence of salt were used, free amino acids and the expression of selected genes were analyzed. Chromatographic technique showed the accumulation of free amino acids like proline, glycine, aspartic acid, valine, leucine and glutamic acid in the presence of salt. RNA was isolated from the leaf sample and cDNA was synthesized. Gene specific primers were designed and standardized. Among the genes studied (P5CS, BADH, NHX1), Betaine Aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH) gene was found to be expressed.

The aim of this study is to analyze probiotic properties of isolated lactic acid bacteria from human breast milk.Identification of lactic acid bacterial (LAB) was done by Gram's staining and catalase test and further confirmation was based on morphological, cultural, physiological and different biochemical tests.The isolated strain was identified after different biochemical analysis which was also showed reliable probiotic properties.These isolates were examined for further probiotic properties including tolerance to bile salt and resistance to low PH, antimicrobial activity.Probiotics are supposed to those bacteria which have beneficial effects for the host.The bacteriocin producing strains requires specific nutritional and cultural conditions for the growth and the metabolic production because the optimum growth will produce the maximum amount of metabolites-Optimization of bacteriocin production, the maximum culture density was found to be observed with starch (2.8mg/ml).Meat extract has shown the maximum cell mass among the tested nitrogen components.The bacteriocin inhibitory activity was also found to be optimum at 1% NaCl salt concentration.The bacteriocin also stable against wide range of pH and temperature.

Drought is one of the most important stress factors which adversely affect plants’ growth and productivity. Global climate change may make this situation more serious in the years ahead. Considering the long time span required for the generation of drought resistant genotypes in Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) through conventional breeding, molecular interventions to engineer plants to have either drought responsive genes or genes expected to alter osmotic regulation would be very attractive. The glyoxalase pathway involving glyoxalase I and glyoxalase II enzymes is required for glutathione-based detoxification of methylglyoxal. In this study the effects of various abiotic stresses on the up-regulation of methylglyoxal levels and glyoxalase I activities in Hevea brasiliensis seedlings were investigated. Most of the stresses caused significant increase in methylglyoxal level and glyoxalase I activity, among which drought caused the highest induction of glx I followed by salinity, 2, 4-D, ABA, methylglyoxal, white light and CdCl2. The stress-induced increases in methylglyoxal and glyoxalase I activity found in the present study suggest an important role of glyoxalase I in conferring drought tolerance. The up-regulation of glyoxalase I under drought stress indicates its future utility in developing tolerance to drought stress in Hevea brasiliensis. In the present study, a partial cDNA sequence coding for glyoxalase I was amplified by PCR using specific primers. The 440 bp cDNA amplicon obtained was sequenced and subjected to online BLAST analysis. The sequence of Hevea brasiliensis glyoxalase I (GenBank Acc. No: GU598520) had six open reading frames. The ORF finder revealed the longest ORF of 336 bp. Glyoxalase I from Ricinus communis had the highest nucleotide sequence homology (90%) compared to the amplified gene. BLASTP analysis also showed high homology between the deduced protein sequence of the amplified gene and glyoxalases from other species. Our results suggest that the multi-stress inducibility of glyoxalase I in the present study may be due to the fact that it might protect the plants against MG that is formed under various stresses including drought and confers tolerance by increasing the GSH-based detoxification system and decreasing lipid peroxidation Key words: Glyoxalase I, Hevea brasiliensis, Methylglyoxal, drought tolerance, abiotic stress.

The role of transporters in imparting salt tolerance to mangroves is not yet understood. Identification of the role of transporters in halophytes is promising, as far as the development of genetically engineered salt tolerant crops is concerned.

Aspergillus flavus is a commonly found fungal pathogen which produces structurally related and highly toxic secondary metabolites, aflatoxins. It has been proposed that α‐amylase inhibitors may limit the ability of the fungus to produce aflatoxins. Hence, this enzyme is a potent target for the development of antifungal agents. In this study, it was found that Spatholobus parviflorus seed lectin (SPL) can inhibit the growth of A. flavus with a MIC value of 1.5 mg/mL. The enzyme kinetics, molecular modeling and isothermal titration calorimetric studies suggest that SPL can inhibit α‐amylase with Ki value of 0.0042 mm. Hence, it is suggested that the antifungal activity of SPL might be partly due to its ability to inhibit the enzyme α‐amylase.

Day by day increase in soil salinity has a negative impact on global food production. Salt stress leads to dehydration and osmotic stress resulting in stomatal closure and increased production of reactive oxygen species. This causes irreversible cellular damage and photo inhibition leading to serious damage to the plant cellular processes. Major crop plants are categorized under Glycophytes, which can’t grow in the presence of high salt concentrations. Hence, the necessity for developing salt stress tolerant plants deserves much attention, though it is a herculean task. In the recent past a large number of plants are being engineered with salt stress tolerant genes in all the possible ways. However, a meaningful approach towards bio engineering for salinity tolerance could be the tuning of halophyte genes. Halophytes are plants, capable of growing under high salt concentrations. Mangroves are woody halophytes which possess an efficient ion influx and efflux regulatory mechanism by means of which they regulate their cellular ionic conditions. The present review depicts genetic engineering studies and genetically modified plant varieties using mangrove genes thus far and suggests possible gene candidates for upcoming transgenic research.