The demand for natural pigments has increased in recent decades due to growing preference for natural over synthetic colourants owing to their eco-friendly and safe properties. Filamentous fungi have emerged as promising sources of diverse secondary metabolites including colour-rich pigments with a wide range of applications. Among filamentous fungi, the genus Fusarium is recognised not only for its phytopathogenicity and mycotoxin production but also as a source of diverse pigments belonging to carotenoids, melanins and polyketides classes such as bikaverin, aurofusarin, rubrofusarin, fusarubin, neurosporaxanthin, javanicin, and bostrycoidin. Beyond their colouring properties, these pigments exhibit bioactive properties such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic activities. The present review describes fusarial pigments, their chemical structures, biosynthesis and regulation, pharmacological properties and applications. Novel biotechnological approaches and strategies for improving the use of pigment are also summarised. Since Fusarium species are also capable of producing mycotoxins such as trichothecenes, zearalenone, fumonisins, and other emerging toxins, the safety challenges associated with the utilisation of fusarial pigments and the approaches to mitigate mycotoxin contamination are discussed. This review highlights both the opportunities and challenges in developing Fusarium species as sustainable source of natural pigments with industrial relevance.

BackgroundThe study for the first time evaluates the association of the Somatomedin B and Thrombospondin Type 1 Domain Containing (SBSPON) gene with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) in the Northwest Indian population. The present study investigates the expression profile of the gene, the association of variant rs2291219 with T2DM and its potential functional impact and relationship with leukocyte telomere length.MethodsThe study is a case-control candidate gene association. The association of the SBSPON gene with T2DM risk was assessed using Gene expression, TaqMan genotyping, and in silico methods were employed to explore the potential functional effects of the variant. Additionally, the relationship between T2DM and leukocyte telomere length attrition was also examined.ResultsIndividuals with T2DM exhibited significantly higher expression levels compared to healthy controls. rs2291219 showed a significant association with T2DM (p = 0.02, OR 1.48, 95% CI: 1.06-2.07). The study indicates a higher risk among younger individuals. In silico analyses suggested a functional role for the variant. Individuals with T2DM who carried the risk allele showed shorter telomere length compared to healthy individuals (p = 0.004).ConclusionThis study provides evidence of SBSPON gene association with an increased risk of T2DM along with telomere length attrition. It could lay the groundwork for future research studies in a larger cohort. A potential role of SBSPON in the etiology of T2DM highlights the need for evaluation of genes in metabolic and other pathways apart from insulin.

Physalis alkekengi is an important medicinal plant belonging to the family Solanaceae. The plant produces attractive fruits encased in a vibrant orange husk, resembling a paper lantern, adding to its ornamental appeal. Notably, however, the plant contains an array of phytocompounds with therapeutic applications and nutritional value. P. alkekengi is rich in volatile compounds, steroidal lactones, flavonoids and other important secondary metabolites. The present study aimed to analyze different bioactive compounds present in the leaf, stem and root of P. alkekengi, using the GC-MS approach. The fresh leaves, stem cuttings and roots of P. alkekengi were harvested and lyophilized to extract the different phytocompounds. All three tissues showed the presence of fatty acids, hydrocarbon alkanes, terpenoids and other organic compounds. Among the three tissues, the leaf showed more bioactive compounds like squalene, phytol, vitamin E, hexadecanoic acid and octadecanoic acid. The isolated compounds have different therapeutic and pharmacological activities. Thus, the present study reveals that besides edible fruit, the aerial and underground tissues are also rich in different phytocompounds which make the whole plant serve as a medicinal and food source.

Horticulture is a vital part of agriculture, with apple being one of the most substantial fruit crops. Apple production has an immense impact on trade, jobs, health, and sustainability. It is critical to global food systems and economies. India is ranked as the fifth largest apple producer in the world. The apple industry contributes significantly to the country's economy and per capita income of farmers in temperate areas, especially in the region of Jammu and Kashmir. However, fungal diseases provide severe challenges to apple production, with Alternaria species being the main cause. The disease causes premature leaf fall, affecting fruit size, quality, and quantity, thereby directly affecting the farmers livelihood. The study examines the occurrence and pathogenicity of Alternaria species causing apple leaf blotch in Kashmir. A total of 74 isolates were obtained from diseased apple leaves. Morphological characterization differentiated the isolates into five distinct groups. The phylogenetic study, based on the analysis of ITS, Alt a 1, and endoPG sequences, showed the presence of 83.3 % Alternaria alternata isolates and 16.6 % Alternaria arborescens isolates. The pathogenicity of these isolates was determined in vitro on detached apple leaves and in vivo under greenhouse conditions. A 5-point rating system was used to assess the severity of the disease, and the results indicated varying degrees of virulence among the isolates. This extensive study increases our understanding of the Alternaria species complex in apple orchards and offers useful insights into leaf blotch disease management.

Physalis alkekengi L. is recognized as a significant source of various secondary metabolites, particularly c28 steroidal lactones known as withanolides and physalins, renowned for their therapeutic properties with a rich history in traditional medicine. In this study, we characterized the sequences of key downstream genes (PaFPPS, PaSQS, PaSQE, PaCAS, PaHYD1, and PaDWF5-1) involved in the biosynthesis of withanolides, marking the first characterization of these genes in P. alkekengi. Our findings revealed highly conserved amino acid sequences in P. alkekengi, with maximum similarity observed with Withania somnifera. Notably, essential domains crucial for enzyme function were preserved in P. alkekengi, indicating conserved enzyme activity. Comparative analysis of secondary structures, 3D topologies, and evolutionary studies supported ancestral homology. Investigations into the differential gene expression of these genes across seven tissues (young leaves, stems, roots, flowers, mature green fruit, breaker fruit, and red ripe fruit) highlighted higher expression levels in P. alkekengi leaves. These gene expression patterns were corroborated by phytochemical analyses using chromatographic techniques. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) confirmed the production of two key withanolides, withanolide A and withanone, in P. alkekengi, with maximum production observed in leaves and flowers. These findings suggest that P. alkekengi holds promise as an alternative to W. somnifera for large-scale industrial production of withanolides, particularly withanolide A. Using P. alkekengi eliminates the need to sacrifice the plant, which is typically required in traditional extraction methods from the roots of W. somnifera.

Plasticity in floral traits is often associated with sexual polymorphism that reflects adaptations of plant species to different ecological conditions. Here, we studied the adaptive significance of sexual polymorphism on the reproductive ecology and reproductive success of Thymus linearis -a gynodiocious and duo-dichogamous plant species from the Kashmir Himalayas. All eight studied sites exhibited the coexistence of both female and hermaphrodite flowers with significantly different reproductive attributes. Female flowers were relatively smaller (0.27 f 0.01 mm in diameter) compared to hermaphrodite flowers (0.32 f 0.02 mm). In sexual accomplishment of T. linearis, we identified intervention of four floral morphs (A, B, C, and D) with unique form and functionality. These floral morphs varied in the number of pollens per flower, pollen viability, pollen variation, pollen load index, and stigma receptivity. The maximum pollen number was recorded in morph A (3373.3 f 21.95) and the minimum in morph C (95.12 f 0.01). The maximum pollen viability was recorded in morph D (87.66 f 0.61 %), and the minimum in morph B and C (0 %). The maximum pollen variation was observed in morph D (60.53 f 1.35) and the minimum in morph A (4.53 f 0.165). The pollen load index was maximum in morph B (0.75) and minimum in morph A (0.25). The maximum duration of stigma receptivity was recorded in morph B (7-8 days) and the minimum in morphs A and D (2 days). The aforementioned species exhibited mixed mating favouring xenogamy over autogamy. The seed set recorded in xenogamy was 78.23 f 1.34 and 54.57 f 0.17 % for both female and hermaphrodite flowers, while in autogamy, the seed set recorded was 0 and 44.57 f 0.17 % for both the female and hermaphrodite flowers. The species is mainly pollinated by honey bees and bumble bees. The research findings on the reproductive biology and sexual polymorphism of T. linearis will provide valuable insights for the development of effective conservation and breeding strategies.

Metabolites glycosylated by UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs) play a crucial role in plant-environment interactions and nutritional dynamics. Therefore, identifying stress-responsive UGTs and their regulatory elements is essential for elucidating plant adaptation mechanisms and engineering stress-resilient crops. This study focuses on the identification and functional characterization of a UGT gene, GgUGT72L11, from Glycyrrhiza glabra, which is implicated in flavonoid glycosylation and cold stress tolerance. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that GgUGT72L11 shares 73.3

Dioscorea bulbifera L. (Dioscoreaceae) is extensively being used in African, Chinese and Indian traditional medicinal systems since ages. It is an ingredient in many herbal and Ayurvedic preparations that are used against various ailments. The current study is aimed to systematically review and document findings on ethnobotany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, nutritive value and toxicity of the herb. The study is intended to overcome the inconsistency between the traditional and pharmacological applications of the herb concerning its folkloric use and offer novel insights for future researchers. The literature was systematically collected from various offline and online sources using relevant keywords. Electronic databases including Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Springer Online, Research Gate, Scopus etc. were used to retrieve the relevant information. D. bulbifera L. is widespread in tropical and temperate regions of Asia, Africa and America. In traditional medicinal systems, it is used widely to cure sore throat, skin diseases, ulcers, boils, piles, pain, inflammation, dog bites, snake bites, food poisoning, asthma, cough, tuberculosis, cold, jaundice, malaria, typhoid of children, contraceptives, diabetes, ophthalmia, pink eye conjunctivitis etc. Among bioactive constituents, aglycone types of steroidal saponins dioscorin(e), dioscin(e), diosbulbin, and diosgenin possess significant biological activities. The chemical structures of the phytoconstituents presented in this review are drawn using ChemDraw Ultra software. The clinical studies included in this review have been performed to validate the folk usage of this herb. However, more studies are required to be done on scientific and clinical aspects to support its therapeutic applications. The updated information provided in this systematic review would open new perspectives for performing in-depth analysis of pharmacological research in future. The study would be useful for improving the clinical use of the herb and is surely going to bridge a gap between the traditional and modern use of scientific research for future researchers.

Saffron, the golden spice, is a medicinally and economically important crop that is used in a variety of cuisines to add colour, taste and aroma. Being the costliest spice, saffron is regularly adulterated through the use of various cheap synthetic colourants and natural adulterants. Mislabelling, presenting lower-grade saffron as superior and misrepresenting the geographic origin is a common practice. Adulteration not only reduces the quality of saffron, but also leads to serious health concern and economic loss. To ensure authenticity and quality of saffron, the development of effective detection methods is crucial. The present review provides an overview of common saffron adulterants, their effects, and several methods for identifying and quantifying these adulterants. Traditionally, saffron authentication is done using conventional physical methods. There are numerous high-end techniques such as molecular, chromatography, spectroscopy and sensor-based approaches that have been widely used for saffron adulteration detection. However, these methods have their advantages and disadvantages. Besides, their utility is restricted to the purpose of detection. In recent years, artificial intelligence/machine learning-based imaging approaches have emerged as rapid, cost effective and user-friendly detection approach. This allows end user to detect adulteration by simply clicking an image and receiving instant feedback regarding its authenticity. Further research and advancement in the detection methods will enable authenticity check and ensure integrity and quality of saffron.

Genus Plantago of Plantaginaceae family is bestowed with a repertoire of structurally diverse secondary metabolites that have not only been used as therapeutics but also effect the plant physiology by conferring adaptive advantages under stress. Assuming that domestication process in plants has influenced their secondary metabolites, we performed a comparative transcriptome of wild and cultivated species of Plantago to analyze the variation in the expression of genes related to secondary metabolite pathways. GO and KEGG analysis of DEGs in wild species showed their enrichment in abiotic stresses, oxidation–reduction and secondary metabolite related pathways. Overall, we found upregulation of genes of carotenoid, flavonoid and phenylpropanoid, isoprenoid, terpenoid and alkaloid pathways in wild species of Plantago in particular, P. lanceolata while mucilage pathway-related genes showed higher expression in P. ovata. Moreover, transcriptome data presented putative transcription factors associated with terpenoids, carotenoid and phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathways which were also identified using co-expression analysis of cluster 9 (secondary metabolite enriched gene cluster). Taken together, the genomic resource obtained from the present study form a valuable repository of genetic information for elucidating and exploring the secondary metabolic circuitry of Plantagos. Further, information on the regulatory aspects of genes related to secondary metabolites, shall aid in the enhanced production of valuable metabolites in these plants.

Plant cytogenetics has always been an exciting area of research as it deals primarily with the structure and behaviour of chromosomes. The foundation of Plant Cytogenetics was laid by Barbara McClintock almost about a century ago with her pioneering work on maize. Over the years, plant cytogenetics has revolutionized our understanding of plant biology and provided crucial tools for advancements in agriculture. Studies on chromosome alterations, including duplications, deletions, inversions, and translocations have helped in developing strategies to improve traits such as yield, disease resistance, and drought tolerance, especially in crop plants. Molecular tools, such as fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), enabled researchers to precisely locate and characterize chromosomal changes. This is vital for genome mapping, genetic engineering, and identifying genes linked to particular traits. In the last decade or so, many advancement in editing the plant genomes have been made. These include targeted changes in single genes or global scale chromosome engineering. Although, chromosome alterations have been known to occur naturally or have been induced through chemical and physical mutagenesis, yet CRISPR/Cas has become an excellent tool to induce such alterations or chromosomal rearrangements in target specific manner. The present review attempts to analyze these recent developments from the perspective of cytogenetics and demonstrates how the new tools of genome editing have enriched the arsenal of cytogeneticists. It may not be an exaggeration to say that CRISPR/Cas has the potential to drive evolutionary-like changes, while also creating innovative solutions to the challenges faced by humanity.

The research on endophytes is focused on understanding the complex microbiome compositions, their interactions with host plants and their bioactive potential. Our study provided an overview of the diversity, distribution and bioactivities of culturable endophytic fungi associated with fungal endophytes of Dioscorea bulbifera L. The phylogenetic analysis depicted the evolutionary relationship among taxa of endophytic fungal isolates. The isolated fungal endophytes belonged to twenty-five genera and thirty-eight species. Further, diversity indices demonstrated significant diversity of fungal endophytes in the different tissues: stem, leaf, tuber and bulbil. A higher consistency of endophytic fungal isolates in the bulbils was found using Shannon index. Furthermore, Simpson's index revealed that the leaf tissue harboured highly diverse fungal endophytes. Likewise, Margalef's index depicted high taxonomic richness in bulbils. The isolates such as Acrocalymma medicaginis, Curvularia lycoperscii, Talaromyces macrospora, Fusarium laceratum, Paecilomyces formosus and Microascus cirrosus isolated in this study have been reported as endophytes for the first time from any plant. In-vitro antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of the ethyl acetate extracts revealed that Nigrospora oryzae (Z2) effectively inhibited a-glucosidase activity with IC50 value of 0.6 mg/ml whereas IC50 value of the acarbose, the positive control was reported to be 0.040 mg/ml. The results of antioxidant activity demonstrated that H15A (Acrocalymma medicaginis) and BD5 (Phomopsis longicolla) could be used as potential sources of antioxidant agents. Moreover, H15A (Acrocalymma medicaginis) was reported to produce 687.1 0.17 mg GAE/mg of TPC and 78.55 0.29 mg QE/mg of TFC quantitatively. These findings suggest that the potential endophytes could be explored using systematic bio-guided investigations to further discover novel natural products. Our study provides an important resource for a deeper understanding of endophyte-plant interactions at molecular and genetic levels. (c) 2024 SAAB. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.

Crocus sativus is a valuable plant due to the presence of apocarotenoids in its stigma. Considerable work has been done in the past to understand the apocarotenoid biosynthetic pathway in saffron. However, the reports on understanding the regulation of flowering at the post-transcriptional level are meagre. The study aimed to discover the candidate miRNAs, target genes, transcription factors (TFs), and apocarotenoid biosynthetic pathway genes associated with the regulation and transition of flowering in C. sativus . In the present investigation, miRNA profiling was performed in flowering and non-flowering corms of saffron, along with expression analysis of apocarotenoid genes and transcription factors involved in the synthesis of secondary metabolites. Significant modulation in the expression of miR156, miR159, miR166, miR172, miR395, miR396, miR399, and miR408 gene families was observed. We obtained 36 known miRNAs (26 in flowering and 10 in non-flowering) and 64 novel miRNAs (40 in flowering and 24 in non-flowering) unique to specific tissues in our analysis. TFs, including CsMADS and CsMYb , showed significant modulation in expression in flowering tissue, followed by CsHB . Additionally, the miRNAs were predicted to be involved in carbohydrate metabolism, phytohormone signalling, regulation of flower development, and response to stress, cold, and defence. The comprehensive study has enhanced our understanding of the regulatory machinery comprising factors like phytohormones, abiotic stress, apocarotenoid genes, transcription factors, and miRNAs responsible for the synthesis of apocarotenoids and developmental processes during and after flowering.

Fungal endophytes are valued for biosynthesizing chemically diverse metabolic cascade with interesting biological activities. In the current investigation, two compounds were isolated from Penicillium polonicum, an endophyte of Zingiber officinale. The active moieties, glaucanic acid (1) and dihydrocompactin acid (2) were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of P. polonicum and characterized by NMR and mass spectroscopy. Further, bioactive potential of the isolated compounds was evaluated by antimicrobial, antioxidant and cytotoxicity assays. Compounds 1 and 2 displayed antifungal activity against phytopathogen Colletotrichum gloeosporioides with more than 50% reduction in its growth. Both the compounds exhibited antioxidant activity against free radicals (DPPH and ABTS) and cytotoxicity activity against cancer cell lines respectively. The compounds, glaucanic acid and dihydrocompactin acid are being reported for the first time from an endophytic fungus. This is the first report on the biological activities of Dihydrocompactin acid produced by endophytic fungal strain.

Abstract The present study reports a unique broad spectrum UDP-glycosyltransferase from Glycyrrhiza glabra involved in multiple stress responses and abscisic acid mediated glycosylation. The identified UGT72L11gene was cytoplasmic with ORF of 1425 bp encoding a 52.2 kDa protein of 474 amino acids. Phylogenetic analysis revealed maximum homology (73.3%) with epicatechin 3-glucosyltransferase (ACC38470) from Medicago truncatula exhibiting sequence uniqueness. The gene was differentially expressed in shoot tissues and significantly upregulated in abscisic acid treatment (122.3 folds) and under cold stress (36 folds) in planta. In-silico Structure-Activity-Relationship revealed GLU279, ARG386, PRO380 and TRP379 residues being involved in receptor-ligand interactions. The UGT72L11 protein was optimal between 10ºC to 30ºC preferring quercetin-UDPGlc (Km 0.23) over kaempferol-UDPGlc (Km 0.47). The purified recombinant protein showed multi-substrate O-glycosylation towards various classes of aglycones, abscisic acid, and also displayed C-glycosylation with colchicine as a foundation for the future medicinal applications.

Over the past half century, limited use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and conservation of the environment and natural resources have become the interdependent goals of sustainable agriculture. These practices support agriculture sustainability with less environmental and climatic impacts. Therefore, there is an upsurge in the need to introduce compatible booster methods for maximizing net production. The best straightforward strategy is to explore and utilize plant-associated beneficial microorganisms and their products. Bioinoculants are bioformulations consisting of selected microbial strains on a suitable carrier used in the enhancement of crop production. Fungal endophytes used as bioinoculants confer various benefits to the host, such as protection against pathogens by eliciting immune response, mineralization of essential nutrients, and promoting plant growth. Besides, they also produce various bioactive metabolites, phytohormones, and volatile organic compounds. To design various bioformulations, transdisciplinary approaches like genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, proteomics, and microbiome modulation strategies like gene editing and metabolic reconstruction have been explored. These studies will refine the existing knowledge on the diversity, phylogeny and beneficial traits of the microbes. This will also help in synthesizing microbial consortia by evaluating the role of structural and functional elements of communities in a controlled manner. The present review summarizes the beneficial aspects associated with fungal endophytes for capitalizing agricultural outputs, enlists various multi-omics techniques for understanding and modulating the mechanism involved in endophytism and the generation of new bioformulations for providing novel solutions for the enhancement of crop production.

Fungal endophytes can be considered as a new source of biological control and plant growth promoting agents. Moreover, the huge repertoire of extracellular enzymes produced by them has great biotechnological importance in medicine, agriculture and industry. The current study aimed at the assessment of plant growth promotion and biocontrol potential of endophytic fungal isolates associated with Dioscorea bulbifera L. for efficiently improved plant growth and protection of hosts from various infections. Overall, the experimental work revealed significant results where, 81% of the endophytic fungal isolates exhibited biocontrol potential against atleast one or more bacterial pathogens. The endophytic fungal isolate ARW2 (Clonostachys pseudochroleucha) was found to be highly effective against Gram positive bacteria whereas N4 (Parathyridaria percutanea) and H1B (Curvularia lunata) were effective against Gram negative bacteria. 52% of the endophytic fungal isolates were found to possess strong inhibition potential against fungal pathogens. H22 (F. proliferatum) and G8 (F. equiseti) demonstrated strong inhibition potential with percent inhibition ranging from 50 to 70%. The plant growth promoting activity of endophytic fungal isolates depicted that 52%, 27% and 2% isolates were capable of siderophore production, phosphate solubilisation and HCN production respectively. A quantitative estimation of IAA production revealed that almost all the isolates were producing IAA ranging from 1.2 to 200 & mu;g/mL. Further assessment of extracellular enzymatic potential revealed that 37.5%, 31%, 18%, 12.5% and 4% of the endophytic fungal isolates exhibited activity positive results for amylase, lipolytic, protease, cellulolytic and chitinase activity, respectively. Our results indicate that these endophytic fungal isolated can be a promising source for future applications in medicine, agriculture and industry.

Apple scab is one of the most commercially significant apple diseases, caused by the ascomycete fungus Venturia inaequalis. In gene-for-gene (R-Avr) interactions, a subset of effectors known as avirulence (Avr) gene products can be identified by the host, resulting in the activation of the host defence response. Several important scab resistance (R) genes have been identified in apple cultivars and wild relatives; however, little is known about interacting Avr genes from V. inaequalis. Major Avr genes such as AvrRvi1, AvrRvi2, and AvrRvi5 have been extensively studied in this fungus. A few complicated interactions involving AvrRvi2 AvrRvi8 and AvrRvi9 have also been discovered. Several Avr analogues have been predicted from this fungus using comparative genomics techniques. Therefore, the aim of this study is to characterize several Avr genes in V. inaequalis to better understand host-pathogen interactions in this pathological system. This review provides an up-to-date understanding of the large number of Avr genes identified to date in V. inaequalis.