A short review on sugarcane: its domestication,molecular manipulations and future perspectives

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is a special crop plant that underwent anthropogenic evolution from a wild grass species to an important food, fodder, and energy crop. Unlike any other grass species which were selected for their kernels, sugarcane was selected for its high stem sucrose accumulation. Flowering in sugarcane is not favored since flowering diverts the stored sugar resources for the reproductive and developmental energy needs. Cultivars are vegetatively propagated and sugarcane breeding is still essentially focused on conventional methods, since the knowledge of sugarcane genetics has lagged that of other major crops. Cultivar improvement has been extremely challenging due to its polyploidy and aneuploidy nature derived from a few interspecific hybridizations between Saccharum officinarum and Saccharum spontaneum, revealing the coexistence of two distinct genome organization modes in the modern variety. Alongside implementation of modern agricultural techniques, generation of hybrid clones, transgenics and genome edited events will help to meet the ever-growing bioenergy needs. Additionally, there are two common biotechnological approaches to improve plant stress tolerance, which includes marker-assisted selection (MAS) and genetic transformation. During the past two decades, the use of molecular approaches has contributed greatly to a better understanding of the genetic and biochemical basis of plant stress-tolerance and in some cases, it led to the development of plants with enhanced tolerance to abiotic stress. Hence, this review mainly intends on the events that shaped the sugarcane as what it is now and what challenges ahead and measures taken to further improve its yield, production and maximize utilization to beat the growing demands.

     

Mutations in U4atac snRNA, a component of the minor spliceosome, in the developmental disorder MOPD I

Small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) are essential factors in messenger RNA splicing. By means of homozygosity mapping and deep sequencing, we show that a gene encoding U4atac snRNA, a component of the minor U12-dependent spliceosome, is mutated in individuals with microcephalic osteodysplastic primordial dwarfism type I (MOPD I), a severe developmental disorder characterized by extreme intrauterine growth retardation and multiple organ abnormalities. Functional assays showed that mutations (30G>A, 51G>A, 55G>A, and 111G>A) associated with MOPD I cause defective U12-dependent splicing. Endogenous U12-dependent but not U2-dependent introns were found to be poorly spliced in MOPD I patient fibroblast cells. The introduction of wild-type U4atac snRNA into MOPD I cells enhanced U12-dependent splicing. These results illustrate the critical role of minor intron splicing in human development.     

Metabolite profiling identifies a key role for glycine in rapid cancer cell proliferation

Metabolic reprogramming has been proposed to be a hallmark of cancer, yet a systematic characterization of the metabolic pathways active in transformed cells is currently lacking. Using mass spectrometry, we measured the consumption and release (CORE) profiles of 219 metabolites from media across the NCI-60 cancer cell lines, and integrated these data with a preexisting atlas of gene expression. This analysis identified glycine consumption and expression of the mitochondrial glycine biosynthetic pathway as strongly correlated with rates of proliferation across cancer cells. Antagonizing glycine uptake and its mitochondrial biosynthesis preferentially impaired rapidly proliferating cells. Moreover, higher expression of this pathway was associated with greater mortality in breast cancer patients. Increased reliance on glycine may represent a metabolic vulnerability for selectively targeting rapid cancer cell proliferation.     

Beyond the Cereal Box: Breeding Buckwheat as a Strategic Crop for Human Nutrition

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - While intensification of farming systems is essential for achieving the Millennium Development Goal of “Zero hunger”, issues such as availability of...     

Exploring genetic diversity of rice cultivars for the presence of brown planthopper (BPH) resistance genes and development of SNP marker for Bph18

Brown planthopper (BPH) is the most devastating insect pest in rice‐growing areas. Information on availability of BPH resistance alleles and their sources enhances BPH‐resistant breeding programmes. In this study, 260 highly diversified rice cultivars or breeding lines were screened for the presence of five major BPH resistance genes (Bph10, Bph13, Bph18, Bph20 and Bph21) using gene‐specific markers. The analysis revealed that 137 of the 260 cultivars possess at least one BPH resistance gene. Bph10 was predominant while Bph20 was the least distributed. Moreover, two and three different resistance gene combinations were found in the cultivars. Molecular markers play an important role in molecular breeding programmes. A tightly linked PCR‐based co‐dominant Bph18 marker was developed, which is cost effective and time effective and simpler than available Bph18 CAPS marker (7312.T4A). We strongly believe that the identified BPH‐resistant cultivars can be used as alternative resistance gene sources and also as resource for novel BPH resistance genes. The developed Bph18 marker will be highly useful in molecular breeding applications of BPH‐resistant breeding programmes.     

Role of live microbial feed supplements with reference to anaerobic fungi in ruminant productivity: A review

To keep the concept of a safe food supply to the consumers, animal feed industries world over are showing an increasing interest in the direct-fed microbials(DFM) for improved animal performance in terms of growth or productivity. This becomes all the more essential in a situation, where a number of the residues of antibiotics and/or other growth stimulants reach in milk and meat with a number of associated potential risks for the consumers. Hence, in the absence of growth stimulants, a positive manipulation of the rumen microbial ecosystem to enhance the feedstuff utilization for improved production efficiency by ruminants has become of much interest to the researchers and entrepreneurs. A few genera of live microbes(i.e., bacteria, fungi and yeasts in different types of formulations from paste to powder) are infrequently used as DFM for the domestic ruminants. These DFM products are live microbial feed supplements containing naturally occurring microbes in the rumen. Among different DFM possibilities, anaerobic rumen fungi(ARF) based additives have been found to improve ruminant productivity consistently during feeding trials. Administration of ARF during the few trials conducted, led to the increased weight gain, milk production, and total tract digestibility of feed components in ruminants. Anaerobic fungi in the rumen display very strong cell-wall degrading cellulolytic and xylanolytic activities through rhizoid development, resulting in the physical disruption of feed structure paving the way for bacterial action. Significant improvements in the fiber digestibility were found to coincide with increases in ARF in the rumen indicating their role. Most of the researches based on DFM have indicated a positive response in nutrient digestion and methane reducing potential during in vivo and/or in vitro supplementation of ARF as DFM. Therefore, DFM especially ARF will gain popularity but it is necessary that all the strains are thoroughly studied for their beneficial properties to have a confirmed ‘generally regarded as safe' status for ruminants.     

Colorimetric studies of benzoquinoline based hot brand monoazo reactive dyes and their dyeing performance on various fibers

A series of hot brand monoazo reactive dyes (9a-l) were obtained by the coupling of diazotized 1Hbenzo[ g]pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinoline-3-ylamine (5) with various cyanurated coupling components (8a-l) in good yield. Synthesized dyes were characterized by various spectroscopic techniques. Their dyeing performances as reactive dyes have been assessed on silk, wool, and cotton fabrics. The percentage dye bath exhaustion and fixation on different fibers were found to be very good. The dyed fabric showed moderate to very good light fastness and good to excellent washing and rubbing fastness properties. Spectral properties and colorimetric data of synthesized dyes have also been studied in detail.     

Development of a DNA marker for distinguishing CMS lines from fertile lines in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The main objective of the present study was to identify mitochondrial DNA based marker, which can distinguish male sterile and fertile counterparts of the cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) lines used in production of rice hybrids. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis in CMS lines: IR58025A & IR62829A and their respective maintainers: IR58025B & IR62829B identified a polymorphic DNA fragment of about 510 bp size that was present in both CMS (A) and absent in their maintainer (B) lines. Sequencing followed by database analysis of the polymorphic fragment indicated about 97% similarity with mitochondrial NADH gene subunits of rice, maize and wheat. Based on the variable sequence regions, a site specific primer pair (BF-STS-401) was designed. PCR analysis showed that BF-STS-401 could amplify a strong band of 464 bp size in CMS and a faint band of the same size in maintainer line. To act as a positive control and avoid possible errors in PCR, BF-STS-401 was multiplexed with a new primer pair (BF-STS-402), derived from mitochondrial atp9 subunit of rice, producing monomorphic amplification indiscriminately in both CMS and maintainer lines. Both the primer pairs in combination clearly differentiated CMS lines from their corresponding maintainer lines. This primer combination was validated in a set of diverse genotypes consisting of different sources of CMS lines, restorer lines, hybrids, varieties and mixed samples from private seed companies. Our results suggested that the multiplex primer pairs developed in this study can be effectively utilized to assess the genetic purity in commercial seed lots of CMS lines and hybrids of rice.     

Catch and trade bans for seahorses can be negated by non-selective fisheries

1. All seahorse species (genus Hippocampus) are listed under Schedule I of India's Wild Life Protection Act, making all capture and trade of seahorses illegal. In the more than 15 years since the ban, little work has been done to assess its effects on seahorse conservation.
2. Between 2015 and 2017, fisheries and trade surveys were conducted along the south-east coast of India, in the state of Tamil Nadu, historically known to be a hub for seahorse catches and trade.
3. Seahorses were primarily landed as bycatch, although in greater quantities by traditional drag nets than as trawl bycatch. Total annual catches were estimated between 4.98 million and 13.64 million seahorses, 87% of which were caught by active non-selective gear.
4. Generalized additive models revealed that seahorse catch per unit effort had non-linear relations with depth and latitude, and were higher in biogenic habitats, with active, bottom-used, and non-selective gears (e.g. trawls).
5. The illegal nature of the trade in seahorses hampered an understanding of trade routes and trade volumes. Catch estimates indicated that 11.21–30.31 tonnes of seahorses probably entered trade, yet interviews with traders only documented trade of about 1.6 tonnes.
6. Fishers reported a decreasing availability of seahorses. Since most seahorses come from bycatch in persistent fisheries that are not directly affected by the ban on seahorse capture, this decline is likely to represent a population decline.
7. A fishery and trade ban for incidentally caught species, particularly in a poorly regulated fishery, appears to add little conservation value. There needs to be a shift in the management approach, moving from a ban towards spatial and temporal restrictions, and toward enforcing existing fishery regulations.