Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is a tropical, commercial fruit with high nutritive and medicinal value. Papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) causes destructive disease in papaya and cucurbit cultivation worldwide. The current study analysed the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationship of 115 PRSV isolates submitted until December 2024 in NCBI, including one complete genome sequences from Palampur, India characterized in this study. The complete genome of a PRSV Palampur isolate collected during March 2020 from foothills of Himalayan region in northern India was characterized. The Palampur isolate (MW030522.1) showed close identity of 90 % with Bangladesh isolate (MH397222). Species demarcation analysis of nucleotide sequence revealed one major peak ranging between 79-85 %. The nucleotide diversity of the PRSV genome was 0.13. The 5' end of the genome containing the P1 gene showed high levels of polymorphism. Phylogenetic analysis showed 4 major groups (G1-G4) and one recombinant isolate (MH444652). The results suggest that the geographic region, rather than hosts, is the probable factor determining the genetic diversity of PRSV isolates. Neutrality tests and dN/dS ratio showed negative values, indicating purifying selection. The current study deepens understanding of PRSV genetic diversity and evolution, which can be used for development of effective management strategies against PRSV.

Cotton leaf curl disease (CLCuD) is a serious threat to cotton production across the Indian subcontinent, especially in Rajasthan, Haryana, and Punjab. The disease is caused by monopartite single-stranded DNA begomoviruses along with their associated satellite DNAs. Among these viruses, Begomovirus gossypimultanense (Cotton leaf curl Multan virus; CLCuMuV) is one of the primary viruses responsible for widespread infections and significant yield losses. Twenty-six symptomatic cotton leaf samples collected from diverse agro-ecological regions of northwestern India were screened and confirmed as CLCuMuV through molecular analyses. Given that the full-length replication-associated protein (Rep) is widely used as a representative phylogenetic marker across ssDNA viruses, we hypothesized that the conserved CRESS domain ( 300 bp) within the Rep protein, which is functionally indispensable, could serve as an alternative molecular marker for molecular characterization of CLCuMuV. To test this hypothesis, in addition to sequences generated from field samples, a dataset of 278 publicly available CLCuMuV CRESS domain sequences retrieved from the NCBI database was assembled. Comparative phylogenetic analyses showed that both the full-length Rep and the CRESS domain resolved five major groups (Group 1–5) with consistent clustering, and tanglegram analysis demonstrated one-to-one correspondence between group compositions, indicating strong phylogenetic congruence. Population genetic analyses revealed high haplotype diversity in both regions, while neutrality and selection pressure analyses indicated predominant purifying selection, with stronger functional constraint in the CRESS domain. Our findings demonstrate that the conserved CRESS domain within the Rep gene reliably recapitulates the phylogenetic and population genetic structure inferred from the full-length Rep protein. The strong topological congruence, high haplotype resolution, and evidence of functional constraint support the CRESS domain as a robust, reliable, and cost-effective molecular marker for epidemiological characterization and evolutionary studies of CLCuMuV.

Plant viruses pose a major threat to global agriculture by reducing crop yield and quality, leading to significant economic losses. Among them, begomoviruses, such as tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV), are highly destructive in warm climates and are transmitted by whitefly (Bemisia tabaci). The replication-associated protein (Rep) of ToLCNDV, particularly its N-terminal CRESS (Circular Rep-Encoding Single Stranded) domain, is essential for initiating viral DNA replication and represents a promising target for antiviral intervention. In this study, the ToLCNDV Rep sequence was analyzed to identify the CRESS domain (residues 8–116), and a high-confidence 3D structural model was generated via homology modeling and validated using Ramachandran plot analysis via the PROCHECK tool. A library of 2847 phytochemicals was screened against the CRESS domain using molecular docking, with flavonoids emerging as the predominant class among top-scoring compounds. The highest-affinity ligands—1,2,3,4-Tetragalloyl-α-d-glucose (− 11.50 kcal/mol), Cyanin (− 11.03 kcal/mol), and Delphinidin 3-O-sophoroside (− 11.01 kcal/mol)—formed stable interactions with key conserved residues in the binding pocket, including ASP119, ARG121, GLY125, ASN13, and ALA158. Subsequent MM-GBSA binding energy calculations and molecular dynamics simulations confirmed the stability and thermodynamic favorability of these interactions. Notably, ligand binding at these conserved residues suggests potential inhibition of Rep-mediated DNA replication, a mechanism not previously explored for plant DNA viruses. This study highlights flavonoid-based phytochemicals as promising antiviral candidates targeting the CRESS domain of ToLCNDV and provides a foundation for future experimental validation and development of novel plant viral inhibitors.

The present study addresses the critical contamination issue of arsenic (As) in agricultural soils, which delimits crop productivity as well as food safety. This research explores the potential of the arsenic-tolerant plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) Pseudomonas putida CKVF1 to alleviate As-induced negative effects in Vicia faba L. (also known as broad bean or faba bean) seeds when sown with and/or without As (50 mg/kg soil) and inoculated with P. putida CKVF1. Morphological parameters such as chlorophyll content, moisture retention, and nodulation were assessed alongside biochemical markers, including malondialdehyde (MDA), proline levels, antioxidant enzyme activities, and phenolic compound profiles. Microscopic analyses were conducted to evaluate cellular integrity. Results showed that arsenic exposure significantly impaired the growth of plants and increased MDA level which is an oxidative stress marker. However, PGPR treatment enhanced chlorophyll content, moisture retention, and nodulation by 35%, 28%, and 40%, respectively, while reducing oxidative damage through elevated antioxidant enzyme activities. Microscopic observations confirmed improved cellular structure in PGPR-treated plants. Additionally, PGPR inoculation increased total phenolic content and specific phenolic compounds, enhancing stress tolerance. The results highlight the effectiveness of P. putida CKVF1 in alleviating As-toxicity through physiological and biochemical improvements; and present a defensible approach to augmenting crop resilience in As-contaminated regions. This study emphasizes the PGPR potential as a bioremediation tool for promoting agricultural sustainability in the areas affected by heavy metal contamination.

This study presents morphological, molecular and phylogenetic analyses of two species of the genus Avitellina, A. sudanea and A. centripunctata parasitic in sheep and goats and sampled in the region of the City of Chandigarh, North India. Three molecular markers were used: mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1), nuclear small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rDNA) and internal transcribed spacer 1-5.8S rRNA (ITS1-5.8S rDNA) genes. Morphological analysis revealed differences in key structures, including paruterine organ shape and testis arrangement. Molecular analysis revealed that A. sudanea showed no exact match but significant similarity with other species: A. lahorea and A. centripunctata, exhibiting 91.39% and 85.89-86.52% (SSU rDNA), 96.27 and 94.31% (cox1), 94.19 and 94.41% (ITS1-5.8S rDNA) sequence similarity, respectively. The Maximum Likelihood phylogenetic trees based on DNA sequences of SSU rRNA, cox1 and ITS1 placed these species in a separate clade, which was distinct from anoplocephalids (sensu stricto) and supported the thysanosomatids as a distinct taxon at the family level. The evolutionary divergence based on base substitution rates confirmed substantial interspecific genetic distinctions, with high divergence values of 0.12 (cox1), 0.25 (SSU rDNA) and 0.11 (ITS1-5.8S rDNA) between A. sudanea and A. centripunctata. This study provides the first molecular characterization of A. sudanea, confirming its genetic distinctiveness and taxonomic status as a valid species. Our findings highlight the necessity for more molecular studies on Avitellina tapeworms using robust genetic tools to ensure accurate taxonomic delineation within the genus.

The association of bean yellow mosaic potyvirus (BYMV) was investigated earlier with the severe mosaic and stunting disease of V. faba. In the present study, we mechanically transmitted BYMV on V. faba to assess the impact on physiological, biochemical, and nutritional attributes. BYMV-inoculated plants exhibited severe symptoms, and their height, length of the pod, and seed yield (size and number) were reduced to half of the mock-inoculated V. faba. In BYMV-inoculated V. faba, chlorophyll a, b, and total (Chl a + Chl b) were lowered to 66.70

This study investigates the role of bacterial endophytes from extreme alkaline environments in alleviating alkaline stress and plant development. Stressful environmental factors, such as soil acidity and alkalinity/sodicity, frequently affect plant development. In the present study, alkaline-tolerant endophytic strains were isolated from three plant species Saccharum munja, Calotropis procera, and Chenopodium album, and 15 out of the total of 48 isolates were selected for further examination of their abiotic stress tolerance. Molecular analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed strains from Enterobacter, Acinetobacter, Stenotrophomonas, Bacillus, Lysinibacillus, and Mammaliicoccus genera. Out of 15 isolates based on their quantitative PGP traits and abiotic stress tolerance, 6 were finally selected for greenhouse experiments. Under alkaline conditions, results demonstrated that the strains from the genera Enterobacter, Bacillus, Stenotrophomonas, and Lysinibacillus had beneficial effects on maize growth. These findings suggest that using a combination of bacteria with multiple plant growth-promoting attributes could be a sustainable approach to enhance agricultural yield, even in a challenging alkaline environment. The study concludes that the application of bacterial endophytes from plants growing in extremely alkaline environments might provide other plants with similar stress-tolerance abilities. The outcome of the study provides a basis for future exploration of the mechanisms underlying endophyte-induced stress tolerance.

The tapeworms of Moniezia spp. are heteroxenous parasites and their adult forms occur in ruminants' alimentary tract. They steal a significant portion of hosts' nourishment initiating monieziasis, thereby inflicting economic losses in animal rearing. Despite their high economic importance, the molecular characterization and taxonomic status of these parasites have remained poorly understood. In the present study, cestodes were isolated from the sheep and goats' intestines and were stained with Gower's carmine. Upon careful evaluation of morphological characters, 2 species Moniezia denticulata and Moniezia expansa were identified. The genomic DNA was extracted and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified targeting regions of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1), small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) and internal transcribed spacer 1–5.8S rRNA (ITS1–5.8S rRNA) genes followed by sequencing. The partial sequences of cox1, SSU rRNA and ITS1–5.8S rRNA genes of M. denticulata generated in the present study revealed that even though they share high similarities with M. benedeni (93.2% cox1; 92.6% SSU rRNA; 84.70% ITS1–5.8S rRNA) and M. expansa (88.85% cox1; 92.27% SSU rRNA; 81.70% ITS1–5.8S rRNA), they are not identical to them. In the maximum likelihood phylogenetic trees, M. denticulata and M. expansa consistently appeared as distinct species from each other. The high values of pairwise divergence between these 2 species collected in the present study confirmed their separate identity. The present study reports the first molecular characterization of M. denticulata with reference to M. expansa infecting sheep and goats in India.

Vegetables are very important in the human diet because it provide many nutrients for our body. Different types of industrial effluents, chemical fertilizers, municipal waste, and pesticides have resulted in heavy metal accumulation in soil and ultimately in vegetables. Exposure to heavy metals by the consumption of contaminated vegetables and its toxicity is a serious concern for human/animal. This present study reveals the heavy metal accumulation in different vegetables. The bioaccumulation of lead was higher in mustard leaf (0.435 mg/kg) and spinach leaf (0.593 mg/kg) of Gida and spinach leaf (0.605 mg/kg) of Nausad. The bioaccumulation of Copper in potato (1.743 mg/kg) was higher in Nausad, whereas in spinach leaf higher value was found in Taramandal (2.410) and Mohaddipur (2.214 mg/kg). These contaminated vegetables could be hazardous to human beings and their health. Furthermore, strategy and policy should be devised to control the heavy metals in vegetables and those vegetables that are hyper-accumulators of heavy metals should be identified for awareness purposes.

Purpose Tapeworms of Avitellina spp. are among those gastrointestinal parasitic helminths which infect wild and domestic ruminants worldwide leading to various clinical manifestations in the ruminant hosts, thereby causing considerable economic losses in livestock production. While these worms are among the major constraints in ruminant livestock raising, there is very meagre molecular information available making their identity error-prone. This study aimed to provide insights into the genetic characterization of these economically important tapeworms. Methods In the present study, we examined 480 guts of slaughtered goats (n = 413) and sheep (n = 67) of which 74 guts were found infected with anoplocephalid cestodes (sheep gut:18; goat gut:56). A total of 27 Avitellina lahorea worms (19 from goat and 8 from sheep) were isolated, fixed, relaxed and stained using Gower’s carmine stain. For molecular analyses, the genomic DNA was extracted and fragments of cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 ( cox1 ) gene, internal transcribed spacer1-5.8S ribosomal RNA (ITS1-5.8S rRNA) gene, and small subunit ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) gene were amplified and sequenced. Results Based on snail-shaped paruterine organs and other morphological and morphometric features, the worms were identified as Avitellina lahorea . The phylogenetic analyses, based on our original cox1 gene sequence and those available from NCBI GenBank, showed Avitellina tapeworms as a sister lineage of Thysaniezia with 14 to 17% genetic divergence. Molecular analyses of 18S rRNA gene sequences depicted the present isolate as one of the species of the genus Avitellina clustering with A. centripunctata as a separate species in the phylogenetic tree with 92% homogeneity in sequences. In conjunction with existing data of internal transcribed spacer1-5.8S rRNA (ITS1-5.8S rRNA) gene, the phylogenetic analysis placed the present isolate among the anoplocephalids as one of the species. Conclusion The present study is the first molecular report on A. lahorea isolated from sheep and goats with the simultaneous use of a morphological approach, and certainly contributes to bridging the existing gaps in the understanding of these economically important parasites.

AbstractDaffodil (Narcissus tazetta L.) is a bulbous ornamental plant which belongs to the family Amaryllidaceae. It is popular for sweet-smelling beautiful flowers and is used for the fragrant oil and perfumes. It is also a source of alkaloids used in traditional medicines. Daffodil is commercially important ornamental plant, therefore, it is important to maintain its quality and production. Various type of viruses affect daffodil cultivation and among them, potyviruses are of great concern as they cause more economic losses to its commercial cultivation in term of reduction in bulb size, number of bulbs and the quality of daffodil flowers. In this review, a general overview of daffodils, genus Potyvirus, disease symptoms in daffodils linked to potyvirus infection, potyviruses described in daffodils, Potyvirus identification methods and possible management strategies of potyviruses in daffodil cultivation are described in detail. The study will be helpful to daffodil growers for improvement of the production/yield and quality of daffodil crop.

During our previous study, the mixed infection of canna yellow mottle virus (CaYMV), bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV), and cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) was identified in a Black Knight cultivar of canna exhibiting severe yellow streak and mottling symptoms. Before the development of the virus-free plants, the ability of callogenesis and organogenesis from the ovary, stalk, and rhizome explants was tested on different concentrations and combinations of TDZ, NAA, BAP, and Ads growth regulators. The performance of rhizome explants was above all the explant types and 33.33 ± 1.67 rhizomes (out of 50 placed) showed callus development on ME medium (MS supplemented with 0.8 mg/L TDZ and 0.25 mg/L NAA) and further on a refined M4 medium (MS supplemented with 4.0 mg/L BAP, 1.0 mg/L NAA and 50 mg/L Ads) produced 4.06 ± 0.16 shoots per explant. The development of virus-free plants was attempted by in vitro chemotherapy using ribavirin. Not only in callogenesis and shoot development but also in the ribavirin treatments, rhizomes developed about 3.78 ± 0.68 shoots per explant on 40 mg/L ribavirin in the ME medium. These optimizations suggested that ME medium for callogenesis, M4 medium for shoot development and the treatment of 40 mg/L ribavirin for 30 days at M4 medium was effective. The elimination of coinfection of all three viruses from rhizome explants of 0.5 cm2 of the Black Knight cultivar was attempted. Consequently, a total of 53.33% of plants free from all three viruses (48 out of the 90 plants developed) were obtained when screened by RT-PCR and PCR for their absence.

Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii L.) has its immense importance to the floriculture industry worldwide. The gerbera flower production has been hampered by various viruses, among them cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) has shown considerable damage.As natural resistance to CMV is absent in gerbera, here, we have made an attempt to develop transgenic gerbera plants expressing coat protein (CP) gene of CMV via Agrobacterium mediated transformation of base petiole explants for genetic resistance to CMV infection. Among the 44 putative transgenic gerbera plant acclimatized, 39 were found positive for integration of CP gene by polymerase chain reaction and southern hybridization assay using their specific primer and probe respectively. Northern hybridization assay using CP gene specific probe confirmed the transcription of transgene in all 39 transgenic plants. These plants showed translation of CP during DAS-ELISA when tested with antiserum specific to CP of CMV. These 39 plants when challenged by mechanical inoculations with CMV gerbera isolate showed virus resistance in 53% (21 out of 39) plants, virus tolerance (delayed mild symptom) in 33% (13/39) plants, while rest 12.8% (5/39) plants showed severe disease symptoms. The CP mediated resistance of CMV in transgenic gerbera is being reported for the first time from India.

Narcissus (Narcissus tazetta) is a bulbous ornamental plant propagated vegetatively from bulbs. The Cyrtanthus elatus virus-A (CyEV-A) had been reported to cause a severe mosaic and yellow stripe disease in narcissus. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a protocol for the elimination of CyEV-A from infected bulblets by in vitro chemotherapy (30-50 mg/L ribavirin for 30 days) and electrotherapy (10-30 mA for 20 min), individually and in combination, to produce virus-free plants. The regenerated plants obtained from these treatments were screened for the absence of the CyEV-A by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction assays using a set of degenerate primers specific for a potyvirus coat protein gene. The results showed that in vitro chemotherapy (30 mg/L ribavirin for 30 days) alone produced 46.0 % (14/30) of virus-free plants, while electrotherapy (20 mA for 20 min) alone produced 40.0 % (12/30) of virus-free plants. In comparison, a combination of chemotherapy (30 mg/L ribavirin for 30 days) and electrotherapy (20 mA for 20 min) produced 50.0 % (15/30) of virus-free plants. The virus-free plants obtained from this combination treatment exhibited better growth and produced more bulbs compared to the other treatments and control. The protocol may be used for the control of the virus disease in narcissus.