Polyamines (PAs) and nitric oxide (NO) are crucial signalling molecules that exhibit a promising role in improving stress tolerance in plants, maintaining their growth and development. They act as ...protecting agents for plants through activation of stress adaptation strategies such as membrane stabilisation, acid neutralisation and suppression of ROS generation. NO interacts with PAs during several developmental processes and stress responses. External supplementation of PAs to plants is also reported to cause an increase in NO content. However, it is unclear whether PAs promote synthesis of NO by either as substrates, cofactors, or signals. Impact of NO on synthesis of PAs has been also reported in some studies, yet the exact governing mechanisms of the interrelation between NO and PAs is currently obscure. Understanding the crosstalk between PAs and NO during growth and stress condition in plants can aid in providing better tolerance to plants against stressful environment.
This work presents a parasitic wide band compact planar antenna for 5 G mm-wave applications. Besides having high bandwidth (5.22 GHz), the prospective antenna provides an enhanced gain of 5.23dBi ...which is achieved due to the reflector elements used in the design. The radiating element has a small planar rectangular geometry, with optimised dimensions of 0.342 λ
0
× 0.199 λ
0
× 0.005 λ
0
at 28 GHz frequency of interest and has been designed and fabricated on a substrate of Rogers-RT/Duroid 5800 having a thickness of 0.147λ
0
with loss-tangent of 9 × 10
−4
and permittivity of 2.2. The proposed antenna operates in the frequency range of 24.71 to 29.93 GHz which falls under the n257 and n258 NR operating band of the FR2 band as defined by ITU for the millimetre wave 5 G spectrum. It is also affirmed in the study that the impedance bandwidth can be tuned by controlling the coupling gap between the radiating and parasitic patches. The measured results of the fabricated prototype of the patch are compared with the simulated results and the two results are in good agreement with each other. The pursuance of the proposed design in terms of gain, efficiency, radiation pattern, and wide bandwidth, qualifies the prototype as a viable option for mm-wave communication.
(Indian mustard) is a commercially important oil seed crop, which is highly affected by many biotic stresses. Among them,
leaf blight and powdery mildew are the most devastating diseases leading to ...huge yield losses in
around the world. In this regard, genetic engineering is a promising tool that may possibly allow us to enhance the
disease resistance against these pathogens.
(non-expressor of pathogen-related gene 1) is a bonafide receptor of salicylic acid (SA) which modulates multiple immune responses in plants especially activation of induced and systemic acquired resistance (SAR). Here, we report the isolation and characterization of new
homolog (
) from
The phylogenetic tree constructed based on the deduced sequence of
NPR1 with homologs from other species revealed that
grouped together with other known
proteins of Cruciferae family, and was nearest to
. Furthermore, expression analysis showed that
was upregulated after SA treatment and fungal infection but not by jasmonic acid or abscisic acid. To understand the defensive role of this gene, we generated
transgenic lines overexpressing
, and further confirmed by PCR and Southern blotting. The transgenic lines showed no phenotypic abnormalities, and constitutive expression of
activates defense signaling pathways by priming the expression of antifungal
genes. Moreover,
transgenic lines showed enhanced resistance to
and
as there was delay in symptoms and reduced disease severity than non-transgenic plants. In addition, the rate of disease spreading to uninfected or distal parts was also delayed in transgenic plants thus suggesting the activation of SAR. Altogether, the present study suggests that
is involved in broad spectrum of disease resistance against fungal pathogens.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome‐coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) regulates autophagic flux by blocking the fusion of autophagosomes with lysosomes, causing the accumulation of membranous vesicles for ...replication. Multiple SARS‐CoV‐2 proteins regulate autophagy with significant roles attributed to ORF3a. Mechanistically, open reading frame 3a (ORF3a) forms a complex with UV radiation resistance associated, regulating the functions of the PIK3C3‐1 and PIK3C3‐2 lipid kinase complexes, thereby modulating autophagosome biogenesis. ORF3a sequesters VPS39 onto the late endosome/lysosome, inhibiting assembly of the soluble NSF attachement protein REceptor (SNARE) complex and preventing autolysosome formation. ORF3a promotes the interaction between BECN1 and HMGB1, inducing the assembly of PIK3CA kinases into the ER (endoplasmic reticulum) and activating reticulophagy, proinflammatory responses, and ER stress. ORF3a recruits BORCS6 and ARL8B to lysosomes, initiating the anterograde transport of the virus to the plasma membrane. ORF3a also activates the SNARE complex (STX4‐SNAP23‐VAMP7), inducing fusion of lysosomes with the plasma membrane for viral egress. These mechanistic details can provide multiple targets for inhibiting SARS‐CoV‐2 by developing host‐ or host–pathogen interface‐based therapeutics.
Onion is attacked by destructive soil-borne fungal plant pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cepae, resulting in basal rot disease. In the present study, three Trichoderma species (T. pseudokoningii, ...T. harzianum and T. reesei) and leaves of solanaceous weed Withania somnifera were used for management of this disease. The in vitro interaction study revealed T. harzianum as the most effective biocontrol agent against the pathogen. In a pot trial, dried leaf material of W. somnifera (1%, 2% and 3% w/w) and inoculum of T. harzianum were mixed in the pot soil previously inoculated with the pathogen. The highest incidence of the disease (87%) was found in positive control (pathogen inoculation without any amendment). Different rates of dry leaf material reduced the incidence of the disease to 41-66%. T. harzianum in combination with leaf material reduced the incidence of the disease to 20-53%. In a laboratory bioassay, the dry leaf extract of W. somnifera was prepared in methanol and partitioned with n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol. The highest concentration (200 mg mL-1) of all except for the n-butanol fraction significantly decreased fungal biomass over control. This study concludes that basal rot of onion can be controlled by combined application of W. somnifera dry leaf material and biological control agent T. harzianum.
RESUMO: A cebola é atacada por um patógeno fúngico no solo, Fusarium oxysporum, que resulta na doença da podridão basal. No presente estudo, três espécies de Trichoderma (T. pseudokoningii, T. harzianum e T. reesei) e as folhas da planta daninha solanácea Withania somnifera foram utilizadas para o manejo dessa doença. O estudo de interação in vitro revelou que T. harzianum é o agente de biocontrole mais eficaz contra o patógeno. Em um ensaio em vaso, misturou-se material de folha seca de W. somnifera (1%, 2% e 3% p/p) e o inóculo de T. harzianum no substrato já inoculado com o patógeno. A maior incidência da doença (87%) foi observada em controle positivo (inoculação de patógenos sem qualquer alteração). Diferentes doses do material da folha seca reduziram a incidência da doença para 41-66%. Em combinação com o material foliar, T. harzianum reduziu a incidência da doença para 20-53%. Em um bioensaio laboratorial, foi preparado um extrato de folhas secas de W. somnifera em metanol e particionado com n-hexano, clorofórmio, acetato de etilo e n-butanol. A concentração mais elevada (200 mg mL-1) de todas as frações, exceto a de n-butanol, diminuiu significativamente a biomassa fúngica em relação ao controle. Este estudo conclui que a podridão basal da cebola pode ser controlada pela aplicação combinada de material de folha seca de W. somnifera e o agente de controle biológico T. harzianum.
Summarised depiction of the localization, secretion, and transport functions of PE/PPE proteins in M. tb. PE/PPE proteins are translocated across the mycobacterial membrane by the ESX-5 secretion ...system, which mediates the secretion and membrane localization of the proteins. The figure highlights the mechanistic contribution of PE/PPE proteins in the molecular import and export system of M. tb. The molecular transport functions are carried out by the PE/PPE heterodimers as well as the individual PPE protein.
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Permeation through bacterial cells for exchange or uptake of biomolecules and ions invariably depend upon the existence of pore-forming proteins (porins) in their outer membrane. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) harbours one of the most rigid cell envelopes across bacterial genera and is devoid of the classical porins for solute transport across the cell membrane. Though canonical porins are incompatible with the evolution of permeability barrier, porin like activity has been reported from membrane preparations of pathogenic mycobacteria. This suggests a sophisticated transport mechanism that has been elusive until now, along with the protein family responsible for it. Recent evidence suggests that these slow-growing mycobacteria have co-opted some of PE/PPE family proteins as molecular transport channels, in place of porins, to facilitate uptake of nutrients required to thrive in the restrictive host environment. These reports advocate that PE/PPE proteins, due to their structural ability, have a potential role in importing small molecules to the cell's interior. This mechanism unveils how a successful pathogen overcomes its restrictive membrane's transport limitations for selective uptake of nutrients. If extrapolated to have a role in drug transport, these channels could help understand the emergence of drug resistance. Further, as these proteins are associated with the export of virulence factors, they can be exploited as novel drug targets. There remains, however, an interesting question that as the PE/PPE proteins can allow the 'import' of molecules from outside the cell, is the reverse transport also possible across the M. tb membrane. In this review, we have discussed recent evidence supporting PE/PPE's role as a specific transport channel for selective uptake of small molecule nutrients and, as possible molecular export machinery of M. tb. This newly discovered role as transmembrane channels demands further research on this enigmatic family of proteins to comprehend the pathomechanism of this very smart pathogen.
Horticulture plays a pivotal role in the economy of Jammu and Kashmir. Owing to favourable agro-climatic conditions, temperate horticulture is fast expanding in the state which is characterised by ...the increasing dominance of apple cultivation. In the present study, an attempt has been made to evaluate the long term trends in the productivity and areal expansion of apple cultivation in the state. It has been observed that area under apple cultivation has witnessed a considerable increase (326%) from year the 1975–1976 to the year 2015–2016. This trend is translated in the compound growth rates of both area and yield which has witnessed an increase at the rate of 0.69 and 3.09 respectively. The decomposition model analysis predicted that apple production is mainly contributed by area effect (65.73) followed by interaction effect (23.71) and yield effect (10.55). The rapid increase in the area under apple cultivation can be attributed to higher profitability. Climate change has also played a role in encouraging the shift in land use pattern in the state. The yield of apple is showing clear signs of stagnation and is hovering between 9 and 10 MT/ha during the last four decades. Therefore, policy intervention by the government along with the up-gradation of pre and post-harvest technology is the need of the hour to boost the productivity of this sector.
ABSTRACT Sclerotium rolfsii is a soil-borne fungal plant pathogen that causes diseases in more than 500 plant species. Chemical fungicides used to control this disease cause environmental pollution, ...therefore, plant derived compounds can be used as alternative to synthetic fungicides to reduce environmental pollution. Chenopodium album is a weed of family Chenopodiaceae that is used as food and also has medicinal importance. In the present study, antifungal activity of methanolic root extract of C. album was evaluated against S. rolfsii using six concentrations viz. 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 g 100 mL-1 amended in malt extract as growth medium. All the root extract concentrations significantly reduced fungal biomass by 15-58% over control. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of the methanolic root extract of C. album was performed. Six compounds were identified in methanolic root extract through GC-MS analysis. The most abundant compound was 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, mono(2-ethylhexyl) ester (58.56%) followed by 9-octadecenoic acid (Z)-, methyl ester (12.75%) and 9-octadecenoic acid (Z)-, methyl ester (10.27%), which might be responsible for antifungal activity of methanolic root extract of C. album.
RESUMO Sclerotium rolfsii é um patógeno vegetal fungoso do solo que causa doenças em mais de 500 espécies de plantas. Os fungicidas químicos utilizados para controlar essa doença causam poluição ambiental. Portanto, compostos derivados de plantas podem ser usados como alternativa aos fungicidas sintéticos para reduzir a poluição ambiental. Chenopodium album é uma planta daninha da família Chenopodiaceae que é utilizada como alimento e também tem importância medicinal. No presente estudo, a atividade antifúngica do extrato metanólico de raiz C. album foi avaliada diante de S. rolfsii utilizando seis concentrações, ou seja, 0,5, 1,0, 1,5, 2,0, 2,5 e 3,0 g 100 mL-1, alteradas em extrato de malte como meio de crescimento. Todas as concentrações de extrato de raiz reduziram significativamente a biomassa fúngica em 15-58% em relação ao controle. Foi feita a análise por cromatografia gasosa com espectrômetro de massa (GCMS) do extrato metanólico de raiz de C. album. Seis compostos foram identificados em extrato metanólico de raiz por meio de análise por GC-MS. O composto mais abundante foi o ácido 1,2-benzenodicarboxílico, mono (2-etil-hexil) éster (58,56%), seguido de ácido 9-octadecenoico (Z)-, éster metílico (12,75%), e ácido 9-octadecenoico (Z)-, éster metílico (10,27%), o que pode ser responsável pela atividade antifúngica de extrato metanólico de raiz de C. album.
In the current era of rapid industrialization, the foremost challenge is the management of industrial wastes. Activities such as mining and industrialization spill over a large quantity of toxic ...waste that pollutes soil, water, and air. This poses a major environmental and health challenge. The toxic heavy metals present in the soil and water are entering the food chain, which in turn causes severe health hazards. Environmental clean‐up and reclamation of heavy metal contaminated soil and water are very important, and it necessitates efforts of environmentalists, industrialists, scientists, and policymakers. Phytoremediation is a plant‐based approach to remediate heavy metal/organic pollutant contaminated soil and water in an eco‐friendly, cost‐effective, and permanent way. This review covers the effect of heavy metal toxicity on plant growth and physiological process, the concept of heavy metal accumulation, detoxification, and the mechanisms of tolerance in plants. Based on plants' ability to uptake heavy metals and metabolize them within tissues, phytoremediation techniques have been classified into six types: phytoextraction, phytoimmobilization, phytovolatilization, phytodegradation, rhizofiltration, and rhizodegradation. The development of research in this area led to the identification of metal hyper‐accumulators, which could be utilized for reclamation of contaminated soil through phytomining. Concurrently, breeding and biotechnological approaches can enhance the remediation efficiency. Phytoremediation technology, combined with other reclamation technologies/practices, can provide clean soil and water to the ecosystem.
Pathogenesis-related proteins (PRs) are the antimicrobial proteins which are commonly used as signatures of defense signaling pathways and systemic acquired resistance. However, in
Brassica juncea
...most of the PR proteins have not been fully characterized and remains largely enigmatic. In this study, full-length cDNA sequences of SA (
PR1
,
PR2
,
PR5
) and JA (
PR3
,
PR12
and
PR13
) marker genes were isolated from
B. juncea
and were named as BjPR proteins. BjPR proteins showed maximum identity with known PR proteins of
Brassica
species. Further, expression profiling of
BjPR
genes were investigated after hormonal, biotic and abiotic stresses. Pre-treatment with SA and JA stimulators downregulates each other signature genes suggesting an antagonistic relationship between SA and JA in
B. juncea
. After abscisic acid (ABA) treatment, SA signatures were downregulated while as JA signature genes were upregulated. During
Erysiphe cruciferarum
infection, SA- and JA
-
dependent
BjPR
genes showed distinct expression pattern both locally and systemically, thus suggesting the activation of SA- and JA-dependent signaling pathways. Further, expression of SA marker genes decreases while as JA-responsive genes increases during drought stress. Interestingly, both SA and JA signature genes were induced after salt stress. We also found that
BjPR
genes displayed ABA-independent gene expression pattern during abiotic stresses thus providing the evidence of SA/JA cross talk. Further, in silico analysis of the upstream regions (1.5 kb) of both SA and JA marker genes showed important
cis
-regulatory elements related to biotic, abiotic and hormonal stresses.
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