Senescence-associated genes (SAGs) are identified in Arabidopsis and other plants according to their function. Herein, we identified 23 SAGs containing the senescence domain (PF06911) across four cotton species: G. arboreum (4 GaSAG), G. raimondii (4 GrSAG), G. hirsutum (8 GhSAG), and G. barbadense (7 GbSAG). They were phylogenetically classified into four clades, each with similar motif composition and gene structure. The gene distribution and phylogenetic analysis showed the gain and loss of genes from chromosomes during evolution. Additionally, the GhSAGs (Gh_D12G034100, Gh_A12G040600) are expressed at high levels in tissue and developmental stages, while showing low expression in abiotic stress conditions such as cold, drought, heat, and salt. Gh_A02G203200 and Gh_D08G268900 show high expression in stress conditions. Two GhSAG, Gh_A06G075500 and Gh_D06G073900 are predicted to be localized in cell membranes and show low expression under abiotic stress conditions, developmental stages, and tissues, and high expression under biotic stress. We have identified 73 cis-regulatory elements out of which 43 cis-regulatory elements in GhSAGs that belong to different functional categories, viz. Growth and conditional responses, biotic and abiotic stresses, hormonal responses, and other regulatory pathways. AlphaFold's 3-D model of the SAG domain shows that one face has a more positive charge and the other has a more negative charge. The functional enrichment and protein-protein interactions of GhSAG genes reveal their roles in protein transport and stress response processes. The qRT-PCR analysis of selected five GhSAG treated with MeJA, SA, NaCl, and PEG for different time intervals shows that GhSAG expression is relatively downregulated, with unique upregulated expression patterns under SA treatments. Overall, it has been suggested that SAG genes might have a crucial role in tissue functioning, development, and plant survival under stressful conditions. This study will lay the groundwork for future investigations into the detailed function of each gene. (c) 2024 SAAB. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.

The plant immune system works against pathogens and seems to have co-evolved with plants. Perception of pathogens by plant receptors leads to the initiation of signaling cascades that drive plant immunity. In events of plant-pathogen interaction, reactive oxygen species (ROS) function as first-line warriors in triggering plant immunity. The production of ROS is initiated with the perception of microbes and is mediated by RBOHs (respiratory burst oxidase homologues). The generated ROS trigger the signaling cascades involving one or more phytohormones, leading to cellular reprogramming. In this article, we present our perspective on when ROS come into play and interact with other chemical signatures of the cells to develop plant immunity. At last, we briefly discuss the components of plant-pathogen interaction that could potentially be utilized for developing broad-spectrum disease-resistant crop plants.

The growing demand for nanomaterials has driven interest in sustainable alternatives such as Lignocellulosic biomass (LCB). As a renewable and ecofriendly resource, LCB offers great potential for producing nanomaterials through its nanostructured components (cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin). These components can be converted into nanocellulose, nano hemicellulose, and lignin-derived nanoparticles with wide ranging applications. Nanocellulose demonstrated exceptional high-strength properties, making it valuable for the paper and pulp, packaging, drug delivery and filtration. Lignin based nanoparticles are gaining attention for their roles in biomedicine, biorefineries, and advanced nano composite materials. Additionally, LCB-derived carbon nanomaterials such as carbon quantum dots show promise due to their biocompatibility and functional versatility. Despite these promising developments, challenges remain, including limited access to monomeric units and high energy demands persist in processing. Integrating chemical and biochemical processes offers more efficient and scalable nanoparticles synthesis. This review presents recent progress in LCB-derived macromolecules for nanoparticle production, focusing on synthesis methods, material properties, and emerging applications across environmental, medical, and industrial sectors.

Agriculture faces the increasing demands of a growing global population amid simultaneous challenges to soils from climate change and human-induced contamination. Cover plants are vital in sustainable agriculture, contributing to soil health improvement, erosion prevention, and enhanced climate resilience, but their role in contaminant management is underexplored. Herein we review the utilization of cover plants for remediating contaminants such as metals, organic pollutants, nitrate, antibiotics, antimicrobial resistance genes, plastics, and salts. We explore phytoremediation strategies - including phytoextraction, phytodegradation, and phytostabilization - in cover plant management. We highlight the challenges of selecting effective cover plants and the need for biomass removal of non-biodegradable contaminants, and we advocate incorporating phytoremediation concepts into sustainable agricultural management practices beyond nutrient cycling and climate resilience.

Allium cepa (onion) suffers significant yield losses due to anthracnose disease caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Current control methods, such as biocontrol agents, have limited effectiveness, while agrochemical applications pose risks to human health and the environment. Genomics-assisted breeding can be useful in getting a diverse genetic pool of wild Allium species to improve disease resistance in cultivated varieties. In this study, we used 42 intron length polymorphic and 22 chloroplast-based SSR markers to identify wild Alliums for anthracnose resistance. Genetic analysis using the marker data showed that two wild types, 6AfistAKO-17 and 15Afistul, are very different from the cultivated types. Immunomodulator benzo-thiadiazole-7-carbothioic acid S-methyl ester evoked a long-lasting immune response in wild Alliums. Transcriptome profiling showed that 131 immune-related genes were more than twice as active in wild Alliums compared to cultivated ones. These included MAPKs (7 genes), WRKY transcription factors (10), R genes (19), MYB transcription factors (28), cytochrome P450s (46), transcriptional activators (14), and other immune-associated genes (7). The results from the anatomical analysis showed that wild Alliums have more callose in their vascular bundles, thicker wax on their leaf surfaces, and closed stomata, which were confirmed by fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy, indicating that wild Alliums have a stronger immune system than the cultivated Alliums. Our findings suggest that wild Alliums possess both immunity and immune memory-related genes. This study suggests that molecular markers could help transfer the immunity-related genes from wild Alliums to cultivated Alliums to protect them from anthracnose infestation.

The utilization of natural deep eutectic solvents in the extraction of lignin presents a promising sustainable approach for biorefineries. While lignin extracted with NADES has been utilized in various applications, there is a lack of research on its potential for CO2 adsorption. This article aims to assess the potential of CO2 adsorption on lignin extracted with NADES. In this work, lignin was studied, and their properties were analyzed using analytical techniques such as FTIR, XRD, TGA, SEM, BET, and particle size analysis. The gravimetric adsorption method was employed to evaluate the CO2 adsorption capacity of lignin. Thermal analysis showed broader decomposition at 416.45 °C, suggesting potential suitability for exploration of CO2 adsorption. The lignin exhibited high selectivity towards CO2 at an adsorption capacity of 75 mg/g at 30 bar. Lignin exhibited Type-II adsorption isotherm which indicates existence of multilayer adsorption. CO2 adsorption performance agrees well with BET and SEM results, revealing low surface area in the NADES extracted lignin and dense-like structure. It also showed good stability after 10 adsorption/desorption cycles. The overall results of this study suggests that the lignin extracted with NADES has the potential for application in CO2 adsorption that requires further exploration.

Since treelines are generally fire-free, the trees growing there are expected to have thin bark, unless adaptation to other factors than fire results in the selection of a thick bark. Related to this is also higher proportional investment in inner bark in such an environment of infrequent fire. This study has considered stem bark thickness both in absolute and relative terms and also in the frame of the composition of outer and inner bark components of 20 tree species along an elevation transect (2100–3300 m) in high ranges of the Central Himalaya leading to treelines. The study species varied from 2.1 to 16.2 mm for total bark thickness and from 1.2 to 18.85

This review aims to critically assess contemporary challenges and prospective avenues in the sustainable handling and management of organic waste (OW), elucidating its environmental ramifications and exploring techno-economic perspectives. Reviewing current knowledge is synthesized to provide insights that will help develop innovative strategies and policies. These strategies and policies foster a holistic approach to mitigating the environmental impacts associated with OW while also addressing economic issues. The imperative of integrating advanced technologies and holistic environmental considerations into OW management is underscored by recent findings. Environmental footprints can be minimized through innovations such as decentralized processing systems. Further, understanding techno-economic dynamics reveals the potential for sustainable practices, indicating a shift towards circular economies. By integrating environmental and economic aspects of OW management, we can enhance waste management strategies. The focus of this review is the significance of OW generation and management, including agricultural, municipal, and green sources, as well as microbial treatment platforms as a critical factor. The report discusses the benefits of anaerobic digestion and composting in OW treatment and the advantages of biotransformation in sustainable waste management through biofuel and biofertilizer (BioF) production. To maximize OW potential as a valuable resource for sustainable development, the review integrates environmental concerns with techno-economic perspectives. To unlock the full potential of OW as a valuable resource in sustainable development, this review addresses barriers. It advances future directions in OW handling and management by integrating environmental considerations with techno-economic perspectives.

Population growth and industrialization have aided in the development of different environmental toxins and the subsequent contamination of the environment. Biotechnology and microbial ecology have revolutionized the field of metagenomics, which has opened up new avenues for the use of genomics in environmental remediation. Contaminant biodegradation is a long-term and cost-effective solution to environmental contamination. Before the beginning of next-generation sequencing (NGS), the field of environmental metagenomics was extremely limited. NGS enables researchers to profile complete microbial communities from complex samples, find new organisms, and investigate the microbial diversity dynamic nature in changing environments. Traditional or culture-dependent molecular techniques are presently used to characterize contaminants detoxifying/degrading microorganisms, but these techniques can be biased and do not always provide reliable information. Though, using culture-independent molecular techniques, currently evolving metagenomic approaches, such as NGS technologies, can provide accurate data and demonstrate very valuable information about the environmental microorganism's metagenome, metagenomic and bioinformatic approaches are among the most advanced tools for profiling microbial communities capable of removing metals from wastewater. In this chapter, metagenomic approaches are explored as a means of profiling and understanding microbial communities. Metagenomics plays an important role in the development of sustainable and effective bioremediation strategies.

Soil efflux of CO2 ( F_CO_2 ) is known to be dependent on natural drying and rewetting of the soil. Although the central Indian Himalayan region is predominantly occupied with two ecosystems, i. e. Pine (Pinus roxburghii) and Oak (Quercus leucotrichophora), differences in their F_CO_2 dynamics and responses of F_CO_2 to varying wet and dry spells were hardly known. To address this knowledge gap, this study provides a comparative assessment of F_CO_2 variability from Pine and Oak ecosystems of central Himalaya as a response to rainfall induced wet and dry spells of monsoon and winter seasons. The F_CO_2 data presented in this study are collected for 242 days of 2021–22 that include monsoon and winter seasons from a Pine and an Oak sites. The mean F_CO_2 s of Pine and Oak sites are found to be 3.95(± 0.02) and 3.61(± 0.01) μmol.m−2.s−1, respectively. We find that the winter reduction in the F_CO_2 in comparison to monsoon at the Pine site (78 F_CO_2 and monsoon rainfall amount at the Oak site, unlike the Pine site, indicate a negative relationship. The rainfall spell duration and amount of monsoon wet spells are noted to have an inverse relationship with F_CO_2 at both sites, although, increasing rainfall spell duration in winter is noted to increase F_CO_2 at Pine and Oak sites. Similarly, increasing F_CO_2 is observed with increasing dry spells of monsoon at both sites. Results of this study indicate that in comparison to Oak, F_CO_2 variability at Pine ecosystem is primarily driven by abiotic factors wherein wet spell is a major determinant.

Contaminants in the environment pose a significant threat to ecosystem health and human well-being. Microbes can be utilized for the remediation of these pollutants in a sustainable and potentially efficient manner. Embracing microbe-mediated remediation processes and leveraging omics technologies to advance this field are discussed in this chapter. A holistic understanding of microbial functionalities, their interactions with pollutants, and their detoxification mechanisms was achieved by integrating genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic data. By identifying key degradative pathways and novel microbes that degrade pollutants, metagenomic sequencing enabled the development of targeted bioaugmentation strategies. Transcriptomic profiles revealed genes upregulated during pollutant metabolism, providing insight into microbes' adaptive responses. Using proteomics analysis, enzymes involved in contaminant breakdown were identified, boosting bioremediation efficiency. The metabolomics analysis revealed the byproducts formed during pollutant degradation, indicating safety and effectiveness. On the basis of these omics-driven insights, combined with ecological considerations, robust, tailored remediation strategies were developed. It demonstrates the potential of omics technologies to unravel complex environmental interactions while also paving the way for improved bioremediation practices.

Based on the research conducted so far, hydrogen sulphide (H2S) plays a crucial role in the development and stress resilience of plants. H2S, which acts as a signalling molecule, responds to different stresses such as heavy metals, drought, and salinity, and it regulates various aspects of plant growth and development including seed germination, root development, stomatal movement, flowering, and fruit ripening. Additionally, H2S is involved in mediating legume-Rhizobium symbiosis signalling. It modulates plant responses to external environmental stimuli by interacting with other signalling molecules like phytohormones, nitric oxide, and reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, H2S exerts these regulations since it can modify protein functions through a reversible thiol-based oxidative posttranslational modification called persulfidation, particularly in stress response and developmental processes. As a result, H2S is recognised as an important emerging signalling molecule with multiple roles in plants. Research in this field holds promise for engineering stress tolerance in crops and may lead to potential biotechnological applications in agriculture and environmental management.

In flowering plants, the tapetum degeneration in post-meiotic anther occurs through developmental programmed cell death (dPCD), which is one of the most critical and sensitive steps for the proper development of male gametophytes and fertility. Yet the pathways of dPCD, its regulation, and its interaction with autophagy remain elusive. Here, we report that high-level expression of Arabidopsis autophagy-related gene BECLIN1 (BECN1 or AtATG6) in the tobacco tapetum prior to their dPCD resulted in developmental defects. BECN1 induces severe autophagy and multiple cytoplasm-to-vacuole pathways, which alters tapetal cell reactive oxygen species (ROS)-homeostasis that represses the tapetal dPCD. The transcriptome analysis reveals that BECN1- expression caused major changes in the pathway, resulting in altered cellular homeostasis in the tapetal cell. Moreover, BECN1-mediated autophagy reprograms the execution of tapetal PCD by altering the expression of the key developmental PCD marker genes: SCPL48, CEP1, DMP4, BFN1, MC9, EXI1, and Bcl-2 member BAG5, and BAG6. This study demonstrates that BECN1-mediated autophagy is inhibitory to the dPCD of the tapetum, but the severity of autophagy leads to autophagic death in the later stages. The delayed and altered mode of tapetal degeneration resulted in male sterility.