The Bacillus amyloliquefaciens-SN13 and model crop rice (Oryza sativa) were chosen to understand the complex regulatory networks that govern plant-PGPR interaction under salt stress. During stress, ...inoculation with SN13 significantly increased biomass, relative water content, proline and total soluble sugar in rice while decreased lipid peroxidation and electrolyte leakage. Extensive alterations in gene expression were also observed in rice root transcriptome under stress in the presence of SN13. Rhizobacteria induced changes in expression of a considerable number of photosynthesis, hormone, and stress-responsive genes, in addition to cell-wall and lipid metabolism-related genes under salt stress as compared to salt stress or SN13 inoculation alone, indicating its potential role in reducing the harmful effects of salinity. To validate RNA-seq data, qRT-PCR was performed for selected differentially expressed genes representing various functional categories including metabolism, regulation, stress-response, and transporters. Results indicate qualitative and quantitative differences between roots responses to SN13 under stressed and unstressed conditions. Functional expressions of OsNAM and OsGRAM in yeast showed enhanced tolerance to various abiotic stresses, indicating crucial SN13-rice interaction in imparting beneficial effects under stress. This is first detailed report on understanding molecular mechanism underlying beneficial plant-microbe interaction in any economically important model crop plant under abiotic stress.
Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are well-known enzymes due to their role in detoxification of xenobiotic compounds. However, their biochemical action is still not so clear in imparting tolerance to ...several abiotic stresses in crop plants. In our previous study, we observed that rice tau class OsGSTU30 plays a significant role in the detoxification of Cr(vi). Interestingly, q-RT PCR analysis also revealed higher expression of OsGSTU30 under drought conditions. In this study, we characterize OsGSTU30 in response to drought as well as heavy metal Cr(vi) stresses through overexpression in Arabidopsis thaliana. Biochemical and physiological analyses revealed that OsGSTU30 overexpression lines have improved tolerance against both stresses as compared to wild-type plants. Kinetic analysis and molecular docking confirmed that OsGSTU30 enzyme possesses both GST as well as glutathione peroxidase (GPx) like activity. Differentially expressed stress-responsive genes were also identified by transcriptome analysis, involved in different biological pathways during abiotic stresses. These results suggest the signaling functions of OsGSTU30 apart from its catalytic activity during abiotic stress responses and can be further exploited for improving the stress tolerance in crops.
Chickpea (
Cicer arietinum
L.) is a pulse crop valued for its high protein content, grown in semi-arid tropics and Mediterranean regions. Its yield remains affected by biotic and abiotic stresses ...with drought alone being responsible for up to 50% annual loss of yield. Transcriptome analysis of a sensitive and a tolerant cultivar of chickpea has been done earlier to unravel the molecular basis for drought and salinity stress responses. In the present study, we performed transcriptome analysis of two drought-tolerant genotypes, BG-362 and P-256, under polyethylene glycol-simulated drought stress to decipher the genes and pathways that are commonly regulated in these genotypes. RNA-Seq using Illumina platform generated 152 million high-quality reads. Reference-guided assembly of genome yielded a total of 37,943 transcripts representing 22,701 genes. Among the 1624 genes that were observed to be differentially expressed under drought, 97 genes were common in both the genotypes. These included the upregulated genes, such as probable mannitol dehydrogenase, serine hydroxymethyltransferase 4-like, 17.5 kDa class I heat shock protein-like, cytochrome P450 81E8-like, and galactinol-sucrose galactosyltransferase-like, and downregulated genes, such as probable xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase protein 23, abscisic acid 8′-hydroxylase 1-like, Calmodulin-like protein 11, and proline dehydrogenase 2 mitochondrial-like genes. A major finding was the involvement of transcription factors, including AP2-EREBP, bHLH, bZIP, C3H, MYB, NAC, WRKY, and MADS. The present study is the first comparative analysis of RNA-Seq data for two drought-tolerant chickpea genotypes. These findings would help in improving drought tolerance across chickpea genotypes.
Organophosphorus compounds (OPs) are phosphoric acid derivatives represented by the formula (R2XP=O/S), R as organic groups; however, they need not contain a direct carbon-phosphorus bond. The ...organophosphorus compounds can be categorized into three classes, viz., organophosphates, carbamates nerve agents. The OPs having application as insecticides are generally phosphorothioates (i.e., containing P=S bond). These sulfur analogs are first bioactivated (in vivo) and converted to oxygen analogs responsible for exerting toxic action. These organophosphorus compounds are esters, fluorides, anhydrides, and amides of phosphoric, phosphorothioate, and phosphorodithioic acids. The toxicity of OPs is related to their molecular structure, metabolism in the targeted organisms, concentration, mode of decomposition, application, ingestion in organisms, etc. Exposure to OPs leads to the appearance of neurological symptoms followed by acute poisoning by targeting the target primarily, acetylcholine (AChE). However, secondary targets and other harmful effects besides nerve system problems are also reported. Organophosphates poison insects and other animals, including birds, amphibians, and mammals. These chemicals can have neural effects (Neurotoxicity), non-neuronal effects, or acute toxicity, which may also result in fatality. Their uncontrollable widespread became a significant threat to the environment; thus, corrective measures have been essential to save living beings and the environment from further damage.
Drought is the major abiotic factors that limit crop productivity worldwide. To withstand stress conditions, plants alter numerous mechanisms for adaption and tolerance. Therefore, in the present ...study, 106 rice varieties were screened for drought tolerance phenotype via exposing different concentrations of polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG) in the hydroponic nutrient medium at the time interval of 1, 3, and 7 days to evaluate the changes in their root system architecture. Further, based on root phenotype obtained after PEG-induced drought, two contrasting varieties drought-tolerant Heena and -sensitive Kiran were selected to study transcriptional and physiological alterations at the same stress durations. Physiological parameters (photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration), and non-enzymatic antioxidants (carotenoids, anthocyanins, total phenol content) production indicated better performance of Heena than Kiran. Comparatively higher accumulation of carotenoid and anthocyanin content and the increased photosynthetic rate was also observed in Heena. Root morphology (length, numbers of root hairs, seminal roots and adventitious roots) and anatomical data (lignin deposition, xylem area) enable tolerant variety Heena to better maintain membrane integrity and relative water content, which also contribute to comparatively higher biomass accumulation in Heena under drought. In transcriptome profiling, significant drought stress-associated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in both the varieties. A total of 1033 and 936 uniquely upregulated DEGs were found in Heena and Kiran respectively. The significant modulation of DEGs that were mainly associated with phytohormone signaling, stress-responsive genes (LEA, DREB), transcription factors (TFs) (AP2/ERF, MYB, WRKY, bHLH), and genes involved in photosynthesis and antioxidative mechanisms indicate better adaptive nature of Heena in stress tolerance. Additionally, the QTL-mapping analysis showed a very high number of DEGs associated with drought stress at AQHP069 QTL in Heena in comparison to Kiran which further distinguishes the drought-responsive traits at the chromosomal level in both the contrasting varieties. Overall, results support the higher capability of Heena over Kiran variety to induce numerous genes along with the development of better root architecture to endure drought stress.
•106 rice varieties were screened to evaluate drought stress-responsive traits.•Two contrasting cultivars Heena and Kiran were selected for comparative analysis.•Transcriptome reveals extensive alteration in metabolic and regulatory pathways.•Overall comparative differences reveal drought tolerance mechanism in rice.
Studies examining the intricate interplay between poverty, female literacy, child malnutrition, and child mortality are rare in demographic literature. Given the recent focus on Millennium ...Development Goals 4 (child survival) and 5 (maternal health), we explored whether the geographic regions that were underprivileged in terms of wealth, female literacy, child nutrition, or safe delivery were also grappling with the elevated risk of child mortality; whether there were any spatial outliers; whether these relationships have undergone any significant change over historical time periods.
The present paper attempted to investigate these critical questions using data from household surveys like NFHS 1992-1993, NFHS 1998-1999 and DLHS 2002-2004. For the first time, we employed geo-spatial techniques like Moran's-I, univariate LISA, bivariate LISA, spatial error regression, and spatiotemporal regression to address the research problem. For carrying out the geospatial analysis, we classified India into 76 natural regions based on the agro-climatic scheme proposed by Bhat and Zavier (1999) following the Census of India Study and all estimates were generated for each of the geographic regions.
This study brings out the stark intra-state and inter-regional disparities in infant and under-five mortality in India over the past two decades. It further reveals, for the first time, that geographic regions that were underprivileged in child nutrition or wealth or female literacy were also likely to be disadvantaged in terms of infant and child survival irrespective of the state to which they belong. While the role of economic status in explaining child malnutrition and child survival has weakened, the effect of mother's education has actually become stronger over time.
The present article represents the data for analysis of microbial consortium (P.putida+C.vulgaris) mediated amelioration of arsenic toxicity in rice plant. In the current study the transcriptome ...profiling of treated rice root and shoot was performed by illumina sequencing (Platform 2000). To process the reads and to analyse differential gene expression, Fastxtoolkit, NGSQCtoolkit, Bowtie 2 (version 2.1.0), Tophat program (version 2.0.8), Cufflinks and Cuffdiff programs were used. For Proteome profiling, total soluble proteins in shoot of rice plant among different treatments were extracted and separated by 2D poly acrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and then proteins were identified with the help of MALDI-TOF/TOF. In gel based method of protein identification, the isoelectric focusing machine (IPGphor system,Bio-Rad USA), gel unit (SDS-PAGE) and MALDI-TOF/TOF (4800 proteomic analyzer Applied Biosystem, USA) were used for successful separation and positive identification of proteins. To check the differential abundance of proteins among different treatments, PDQuest software was used for data analysis. For protein identification, Mascot search engine (http://www.matrixscience.com) using NCBIprot/SwissProt databases of rice was used. The analyzed data inferred comprehensive picture of key genes and their respective proteins involved in microbial consortium mediated improved plant growth and amelioration of As induced phyto-toxicity in rice. For the more comprehensive information of data, the related full-length article entitled “Microbial consortium mediated growth promotion and Arsenic reduction in Rice: An integrated transcriptome and proteome profiling” may be accessed.
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•RNA Seq. and protein profiling presented new dimensions of Se mediated As tolerance.•Se ameliorated As toxicity by modulating Lsi1, NIP1;1, NRAMP and ABCG transporters.•Up-regulation ...of GST, PRX, GRX and HSPs suggested amelioration of oxidative stress.•Se provided As tolerance through TFs e.g., MYB, WRKY, AUX/IAA responsiveness.•Omics approaches established comprehensive verification of As-Se responsive proteins.
Arsenic (As), a chronic poison and non-threshold carcinogen, is a food chain contaminant in rice, posing yield losses as well as serious health risks. Selenium (Se), a trace element, is a known antagonist of As toxicity. In present study, RNA seq. and proteome profiling, along with morphological analyses were performed to explore molecular cross-talk involved in Se mediated As stress amelioration. The repair of As induced structural deformities involving disintegration of cell wall and membranes were observed upon Se supplementation. The expression of As transporter genes viz., NIP1;1, NIP2;1, ABCG5, NRAMP1, NRAMP5, TIP2;2 as well as sulfate transporters, SULTR3;1 and SULTR3;6, were higher in As + Se compared to As alone exposure, which resulted in reduced As accumulation and toxicity. The higher expression of regulatory elements like AUX/IAA, WRKY and MYB TFs during As + Se exposure was also observed. The up-regulation of GST, PRX and GRX during As + Se exposure confirmed the amelioration of As induced oxidative stress. The abundance of proteins involved in photosynthesis, energy metabolism, transport, signaling and ROS homeostasis were found higher in As + Se than in As alone exposure. Overall, present study identified Se responsive pathways, genes and proteins involved to cope-up with As toxicity in rice.
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