Comparative expression analysis of sucrose phosphate synthase gene family in a low and high sucrose Pakistani sugarcane cultivars.

Sugarcane is the world's largest cultivated crop by biomass and is the main source of sugar and biofuel. Sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) enzymes are directly involved in the synthesis of sucrose. Here, we analyzed and compared one of the important gene families involved in sucrose metabolism in a high and low sucrose sugarcane cultivar. A comprehensive in silico analysis of the SoSPS family displayed their phylogenetic relationship, gene and protein structure, miRNA targets, protein interaction network (PPI), gene ontology and collinearity. This was followed by a spatial expression analysis in two different sugarcane varieties. The phylogenetic reconstruction distributed AtSPS, ZmSPS, OsSPS, SoSPS and SbSPS into three main groups (A, B, C). The regulatory region of SoSPS genes carries ABRE, ARE, G-box, and MYC as the most dominant cis-regulatory elements. The PPI analysis predicted a total of 14 unique proteins interacting with SPS. The predominant expression of SPS in chloroplast clearly indicates that they are the most active in the organelle which is the hub of photosynthesis. Similarly, gene ontology attributed SPS to sucrose phosphate synthase and glucosyl transferase molecular functions, as well as sucrose biosynthetic and disaccharide biological processes. Overall, the expression of SPS in CPF252 (high sucrose variety) was higher in leaf and culm as compared to that of CPF 251 (low sucrose variety). In brief, this study adds to the present literature about sugarcane, sucrose metabolism and role of SPS in sucrose metabolism thereby opening up further avenues of research in crop improvement.

Nerium oleander could be used for sustainable management of traffic-borne elemental-enriched roadside soils.

Metal pollutants released from motor vehicles are deposited in roadside environments. Metals are non-biodegradable and biomagnify in the food chain causing significant health hazards at all levels of the ecosystem. Hence, management of contaminated roadside verges is critically important and should be kept in mind while planning specific management strategies of such areas. Native vegetation could help to decontaminate heavy metal polluted soils in the best sustainable way. Therefore, this study was designed to assess the potential of Nerium oleander to accumulate heavy metals commonly released by automobiles such as Pb, Cd, Ni, and Zn along with various C and N compounds from five different locations along a busy road in Punjab, Pakistan, during summer and winter seasons. N. oleander showed the ability to absorb C, N, and heavy metals Pb and Cd; the maximum concentration of Pb and Cd was 8.991 mg kg-1 and 0.599 mg kg-1, respectively. These pollutants negatively affected photosynthetic pigments, gas exchange attributes, soluble proteins, and free amino acids. But antioxidant activity of N. oleander was found to be increased in both seasons. The metal accumulation in the plant was higher in the summer though. We highly recommend that by growing N. oleander at roadside verges for decontamination of vehicular pollutants could lead to sustainable management of these corridors.

Assessment of trace metals in five most-consumed vegetables in the US: Conventional vs. organic.

Metal concentrations (As, Cd, Pb, Cr, Ba, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn) in conventional and organic produce were assessed, specifically, five most-consumed vegetables from the US including potato, lettuce, tomato, carrot and onion. They were from four representative supermarkets in a college town in Florida. All vegetables contained detectable metals, while As, Cd, Pb, Cr, and Ba are toxic metals, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn are nutrients for humans. The mean concentrations of As, Cd, Pb, Cr and Ba in five vegetables were 7.86, 9.17, 12.1, 44.8 and 410 µg/kg for organic produce, slightly lower than conventional produce at 7.29, 15.3, 17.9, 46.3 and 423 µg/kg. The mean concentrations of Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn in five vegetables were 3.86, 58.5, 632, and 2528 µg/kg for organic produce, comparable to conventional produce at 5.94, 68.2, 577, and 2354 µg/kg. For toxic metals, the order followed tomato < lettuce < onion < carrot < potato, with root vegetables being the highest. All metals in vegetables were lower than the allowable concentrations by FAO/WHO. Health risks associated with vegetable consumption based on daily intake and non-carcinogenic risk based on hazard quotient were lower than allowable limits. For the five most-consumed vegetables in the US, metal contents in conventional produce were slightly greater than organic produce, especially for Cd and Pb.