Dissecting the causal polymorphism of the Lr67res multipathogen resistance gene.

Partial resistance to multiple biotrophic fungal pathogens in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is conferred by a variant of the Lr67 gene, which encodes a hexose-proton symporter. Two mutations (G144R, V387L) differentiate the resistant and susceptible protein variants (Lr67res and Lr67sus). Lr67res lacks sugar transport capability and was associated with anion transporter-like properties when expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Here, we extended this functional characterization to include yeast and in planta studies. The Lr67res allele, but not Lr67sus, induced sensitivity to ions in yeast (including NaCl, LiCl, KI), which is consistent with our previous observations that Lr67res expression in oocytes induces novel ion fluxes. We demonstrate that another naturally occurring single amino acid variant in wheat, containing only the Lr67G144R mutation, confers rust resistance. Transgenic barley plants expressing the orthologous HvSTP13 gene carrying the G144R and V387L mutations were also more resistant to Puccinia hordei infection. NaCl treatment of pot-grown adult wheat plants with the Lr67res allele induced leaf tip necrosis and partial leaf rust resistance. An Lr67res-like function can be introduced into orthologous plant hexose transporters via single amino acid mutation, highlighting the strong possibility of generating disease resistance in other crops, especially with gene editing.

A Natural Language Processing (NLP) Evaluation on COVID-19 Rumour Dataset Using Deep Learning Techniques.

Context and Background: Since December 2019, the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic has sparked considerable alarm among the general community and significantly affected societal attitudes and perceptions. Apart from the disease itself, many people suffer from anxiety and depression due to the disease and the present threat of an outbreak. Due to the fast propagation of the virus and misleading/fake information, the issues of public discourse alter, resulting in significant confusion in certain places. Rumours are unproven facts or stories that propagate and promote sentiments of prejudice, hatred, and fear. Objective. The study's objective is to propose a novel solution to detect fake news using state-of-the-art machines and deep learning models. Furthermore, to analyse which models outperformed in detecting the fake news. Method. In the research study, we adapted a COVID-19 rumours dataset, which incorporates rumours from news websites and tweets, together with information about the rumours. It is important to analyse data utilizing Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Deep Learning (DL) approaches. Based on the accuracy, precision, recall, and the f1 score, we can assess the effectiveness of the ML and DL algorithms. Results. The data adopted from the source (mentioned in the paper) have collected 9200 comments from Google and 34,779 Twitter postings filtered for phrases connected with COVID-19-related fake news. Experiment 1. The dataset was assessed using the following three criteria: veracity, stance, and sentiment. In these terms, we have different labels, and we have applied the DL algorithms separately to each term. We have used different models in the experiment such as (i) LSTM and (ii) Temporal Convolution Networks (TCN). The TCN model has more performance on each measurement parameter in the evaluated results. So, we have used the TCN model for the practical implication for better findings. Experiment 2. In the second experiment, we have used different state-of-the-art deep learning models and algorithms such as (i) Simple RNN; (ii) LSTM + Word Embedding; (iii) Bidirectional + Word Embedding; (iv) LSTM + CNN-1D; and (v) BERT. Furthermore, we have evaluated the performance of these models on all three datasets, e.g., veracity, stance, and sentiment. Based on our second experimental evaluation, the BERT has a superior performance over the other models compared.

Electroluminescence from Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes with Quantum Defects.

Individual single-walled carbon nanotubes with covalent sidewall defects have emerged as a class of photon sources whose photoluminescence spectra can be tailored by the carbon nanotube chirality and the attached functional group/molecule. Here we present electroluminescence spectroscopy data from single-tube devices based on (7, 5) carbon nanotubes, functionalized with dichlorobenzene molecules, and wired to graphene electrodes. We observe electrically generated, defect-induced emissions that are controllable by electrostatic gating and strongly red-shifted compared to emissions from pristine nanotubes. The defect-induced emissions are assigned to excitonic and trionic recombination processes by correlating electroluminescence excitation maps with electrical transport and photoluminescence data. At cryogenic conditions, additional gate-dependent emission lines appear, which are assigned to phonon-assisted hot-exciton electroluminescence from quasi-levels. Similar results were obtained with functionalized (6, 5) nanotubes. We also compare functionalized (7, 5) electroluminescence data with photoluminescence of pristine and functionalized (7, 5) nanotubes redox-doped using gold(III) chloride solution. This work shows that electroluminescence excitation is selective toward neutral defect-state configurations with the lowest transition energy, which in combination with gate-control over neutral versus charged defect-state emission leads to high spectral purity.

Mining the Vavilov wheat diversity panel for new sources of adult plant resistance to stripe rust.

KEY MESSAGE: Multi-year evaluation of the Vavilov wheat diversity panel identified new sources of adult plant resistance to stripe rust. Genome-wide association studies revealed the key genomic regions influencing resistance, including seven novel loci. Wheat stripe rust (YR) caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) poses a significant threat to global food security. Resistance genes commonly found in many wheat varieties have been rendered ineffective due to the rapid evolution of the pathogen. To identify novel sources of adult plant resistance (APR), 292 accessions from the N.I. Vavilov Institute of Plant Genetic Resources, Saint Petersburg, Russia, were screened for known APR genes (i.e. Yr18, Yr29, Yr46, Yr33, Yr39 and Yr59) using linked polymerase chain reaction (PCR) molecular markers. Accessions were evaluated against Pst (pathotype 134 E16 A + Yr17 + Yr27) at seedling and adult plant stages across multiple years (2014, 2015 and 2016) in Australia. Phenotypic analyses identified 132 lines that potentially carry novel sources of APR to YR. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified 68 significant marker-trait associations (P < 0.001) for YR resistance, representing 47 independent quantitative trait loci (QTL) regions. Fourteen genomic regions overlapped with previously reported Yr genes, including Yr29, Yr56, Yr5, Yr43, Yr57, Yr30, Yr46, Yr47, Yr35, Yr36, Yrxy1, Yr59, Yr52 and YrYL. In total, seven QTL (positioned on chromosomes 1D, 2A, 3A, 3D, 5D, 7B and 7D) did not collocate with previously reported genes or QTL, indicating the presence of promising novel resistance factors. Overall, the Vavilov diversity panel provides a rich source of new alleles which could be used to broaden the genetic bases of YR resistance in modern wheat varieties.

Genetic Analysis Using a Multi-Parent Wheat Population Identifies Novel Sources of Septoria Tritici Blotch Resistance.

Zymoseptoria tritici is the causative fungal pathogen of septoria tritici blotch (STB) disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) that continuously threatens wheat crops in Ireland and throughout Europe. Under favorable conditions, STB can cause up to 50% yield losses if left untreated. STB is commonly controlled with fungicides; however, a combination of Z. tritici populations developing fungicide resistance and increased restrictions on fungicide use in the EU has led to farmers relying on fewer active substances. Consequently, this serves to drive the emergence of Z. tritici resistance against the remaining chemistries. In response, the use of resistant wheat varieties provides a more sustainable disease management strategy. However, the number of varieties offering an adequate level of resistance against STB is limited. Therefore, new sources of resistance or improved stacking of existing resistance loci are needed to develop varieties with superior agronomic performance. Here, we identified quantitative trait loci (QTL) for STB resistance in the eight-founder "NIAB Elite MAGIC" winter wheat population. The population was screened for STB response in the field under natural infection for three seasons from 2016 to 2018. Twenty-five QTL associated with STB resistance were identified in total. QTL either co-located with previously reported QTL or represent new loci underpinning STB resistance. The genomic regions identified and the linked genetic markers serve as useful resources for STB resistance breeding, supporting rapid selection of favorable alleles for the breeding of new wheat cultivars with improved STB resistance.

Low-Temperature Electroluminescence Excitation Mapping of Excitons and Trions in Short-Channel Monochiral Carbon Nanotube Devices.

Single-walled carbon nanotubes as emerging quantum-light sources may fill a technological gap in silicon photonics due to their potential use as near-infrared, electrically driven, classical or nonclassical emitters. Unlike in photoluminescence, where nanotubes are excited with light, electrical excitation of single tubes is challenging and heavily influenced by device fabrication, architecture, and biasing conditions. Here we present electroluminescence spectroscopy data of ultra-short-channel devices made from (9,8) carbon nanotubes emitting in the telecom band. Emissions are stable under current biasing, and no enhanced suppression is observed down to 10 nm gap size. Low-temperature electroluminescence spectroscopy data also reported exhibit cold emission and line widths down to 2 meV at 4 K. Electroluminescence excitation maps give evidence that carrier recombination is the mechanism for light generation in short channels. Excitonic and trionic emissions can be switched on and off by gate voltage, and corresponding emission efficiency maps were compiled. Insights are gained into the influence of acoustic phonons on the line width, absence of intensity saturation and exciton-exciton annihilation, environmental effects such as dielectric screening and strain on the emission wavelength, and conditions to suppress hysteresis and establish optimum operation conditions.

Inhibition of 2C Coxsackie B Virus Protein to Decrease Pathogenicity of Diabetes Mellitus Type 1.

BACKGROUND: Insulin-dependent Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 (T1D) also referred to as autoimmune diabetes. T1D is a chronic disease which is characterized by way of insulin deficiency. The deficiency is due to the loss of pancreatic ß cells and leads to hyperglycemia. There are many factors which play a significant role in T1D disease pathogenicity including genetic predisposition, the immune system, and environmental factors. The environmental factors may include Coxsackie B4 virus, a small RNA virus. OBJECTIVE: The objective of current in silico study is to identify active lead compounds against Coxsackie B4 virus, a small RNA virus which has been reported in diabetic patients after PCR. There is a need to predict inhibitors against TID caused by Coxsackie B4 viral protein that may be used as a drug against TID in the future. METHODS: For this purpose, different bioinformatics databases and tools were used. The protein structure generation and validation, retrieval of ligands and their properties analysis were performed by different databases, web servers, and software tools. Moreover, the docking tools were used to identify the target site of the protein and interaction of different inhibitors with the target protein molecule. RESULTS: Based on the analysis, two lead compounds ZINC00034488 and ZINC00034585 were selected as potential drugs. These compounds are non-toxic and have best interaction energy and fulfill Lipinski rule, Veber rule, Ghose Rule, Weighted QED, Unweighted QED and BBB likeness parameters. CONCLUSION: Our work will help researchers to get an idea about the understanding of chemicals against Coxsackie B4 Viruses and helpful to design a drug and test these chemicals to overcome Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 caused by Coxsackie B4 virus.

Formation of nanocrystalline graphene on germanium.

Graphitization of a polymer layer provides a convenient route to synthesize nanocrystalline graphene on dielectric surfaces. The transparent and conducting wafer scale material is of interest as a membrane and a coating, and for the generation and detection of light, or strain sensing. In this work, we study the formation of nanocrystalline graphene on germanium, a surface which promotes the CVD synthesis of monocrystalline graphene. The surprising result that we obtained through graphitization is the formation of cavities in germanium, over which nanocrystalline graphene is suspended. Depending on the crystallographic orientation of the germanium surface, either trenches in (110)-Ge or pits in (111)-Ge are formed, and their dimensions depend on the graphitization temperature. Using Raman spatial imaging, we can show that nanocrystalline graphene is formed across the entire wafer in spite of the cavity formation. Interestingly, the Raman intensity is suppressed when the material is supported by germanium and is enhanced when the material is suspended. Through simulations, we can show that these effects are induced by the high refractive index of germanium and by interferences of the light field depending on the spacing between graphene and germanium. Using atomic force and scanning electron microscopy, we determined that ripples in the suspended material are induced by the mismatch of thermal expansion coefficients. Our results provide a new route to lithography-free fabrication of suspended membranes.

Speed breeding for multiple quantitative traits in durum wheat.

BACKGROUND: Plant breeding requires numerous generations to be cycled and evaluated before an improved cultivar is released. This lengthy process is required to introduce and test multiple traits of interest. However, a technology for rapid generation advance named 'speed breeding' was successfully deployed in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to achieve six generations per year while imposing phenotypic selection for foliar disease resistance and grain dormancy. Here, for the first time the deployment of this methodology is presented in durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) by integrating selection for key traits, including above and below ground traits on the same set of plants. This involved phenotyping for seminal root angle (RA), seminal root number (RN), tolerance to crown rot (CR), resistance to leaf rust (LR) and plant height (PH). In durum wheat, these traits are desirable in environments where yield is limited by in-season rainfall with the occurrence of CR and epidemics of LR. To evaluate this multi-trait screening approach, we applied selection to a large segregating F2 population (n = 1000) derived from a bi-parental cross (Outrob4/Caparoi). A weighted selection index (SI) was developed and applied. The gain for each trait was determined by evaluating F3 progeny derived from 100 'selected' and 100 'unselected' F2 individuals. RESULTS: Transgressive segregation was observed for all assayed traits in the Outrob4/Caparoi F2 population. Application of the SI successfully shifted the population mean for four traits, as determined by a significant mean difference between 'selected' and 'unselected' F3 families for CR tolerance, LR resistance, RA and RN. No significant shift for PH was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The novel multi-trait phenotyping method presents a useful tool for rapid selection of early filial generations or for the characterization of fixed lines out-of-season. Further, it offers efficient use of resources by assaying multiple traits on the same set of plants. Results suggest that when performed in parallel with speed breeding in early generations, selection will enrich recombinant inbred lines with desirable alleles and will reduce the length and number of years required to combine these traits in elite breeding populations and therefore cultivars.

Speed breeding is a powerful tool to accelerate crop research and breeding.

The growing human population and a changing environment have raised significant concern for global food security, with the current improvement rate of several important crops inadequate to meet future demand 1 . This slow improvement rate is attributed partly to the long generation times of crop plants. Here, we present a method called 'speed breeding', which greatly shortens generation time and accelerates breeding and research programmes. Speed breeding can be used to achieve up to 6 generations per year for spring wheat (Triticum aestivum), durum wheat (T. durum), barley (Hordeum vulgare), chickpea (Cicer arietinum) and pea (Pisum sativum), and 4 generations for canola (Brassica napus), instead of 2-3 under normal glasshouse conditions. We demonstrate that speed breeding in fully enclosed, controlled-environment growth chambers can accelerate plant development for research purposes, including phenotyping of adult plant traits, mutant studies and transformation. The use of supplemental lighting in a glasshouse environment allows rapid generation cycling through single seed descent (SSD) and potential for adaptation to larger-scale crop improvement programs. Cost saving through light-emitting diode (LED) supplemental lighting is also outlined. We envisage great potential for integrating speed breeding with other modern crop breeding technologies, including high-throughput genotyping, genome editing and genomic selection, accelerating the rate of crop improvement.

Unlocking new alleles for leaf rust resistance in the Vavilov wheat collection.

KEY MESSAGE: Thirteen potentially new leaf rust resistance loci were identified in a Vavilov wheat diversity panel. We demonstrated the potential of allele stacking to strengthen resistance against this important pathogen. Leaf rust (LR) caused by Puccinia triticina is an important disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and the deployment of genetically resistant cultivars is the most viable strategy to minimise yield losses. In this study, we evaluated a diversity panel of 295 bread wheat accessions from the N. I. Vavilov Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (St Petersburg, Russia) for LR resistance and performed genome-wide association studies (GWAS) using 10,748 polymorphic DArT-seq markers. The diversity panel was evaluated at seedling and adult plant growth stages using three P. triticina pathotypes prevalent in Australia. GWAS was applied to 11 phenotypic data sets which identified a total of 52 significant marker-trait associations representing 31 quantitative trait loci (QTL). Among them, 29 QTL were associated with adult plant resistance (APR). Of the 31 QTL, 13 were considered potentially new loci, whereas 4 co-located with previously catalogued Lr genes and 14 aligned to regions reported in other GWAS and genomic prediction studies. One seedling LR resistance QTL located on chromosome 3A showed pronounced levels of linkage disequilibrium among markers (r 2 = 0.7), suggested a high allelic fixation. Subsequent haplotype analysis for this region found seven haplotype variants, of which two were strongly associated with LR resistance at seedling stage. Similarly, analysis of an APR QTL on chromosome 7B revealed 22 variants, of which 4 were associated with resistance at the adult plant stage. Furthermore, most of the tested lines in the diversity panel carried 10 or more combined resistance-associated marker alleles, highlighting the potential of allele stacking for long-lasting resistance.

Rapid Phenotyping Adult Plant Resistance to Stem Rust in Wheat Grown under Controlled Conditions.

Stem rust (SR) or black rust caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici is one of the most common diseases of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crops globally. Among the various control measures, the most efficient and sustainable approach is the deployment of genetically resistant cultivars. Traditionally, wheat breeding programs deployed genetic resistance in cultivars, but unknowingly this is often underpinned by a single seedling resistance gene, which is readily overcome by the pathogen. Nowadays, adult plant resistance (APR) is a widely adopted form of rust resistance because more durable mechanisms often underpin it. However, only a handful of SR APR genes are available, so breeders currently strive to combine seedling and APR genes. Phenotyping adult wheat plants for resistance to SR typically involves evaluation in the field. But establishing a rust nursery can be challenging, and screening is limited to once a year. This slows down research efforts to isolate new APR genes and breeding of genetically resistant cultivars.In this study, we report a protocol for rapid evaluation of adult wheat plants for resistance to stem rust. We demonstrate the technique by evaluating a panel of 16 wheat genotypes consisting of near isogenic lines (NILs) for known Sr genes (i.e., Sr2, Sr33, Sr45, Sr50, Sr55, Sr57, and Sr58) and three landraces carrying uncharacterized APR from the N. I. Vavilov Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR). The method can be completed in just 10 weeks and involves two inoculations: first conducted at seedling stage and a second at the adult stage (using the same plants). The technique can detect APR, such as that conferred by APR gene Sr2, along with pseudo-black chaff (the morphological marker). Phenotyping can be conducted throughout the year, and is fast and resource efficient. Further, the phenotyping method can be applied to screen breeding populations or germplasm accessions using local or exotic races of SR.

Insights of Lr28 mediated wheat leaf rust resistance: Transcriptomic approach.

Leaf rust is a fungal disease that causes severe yield losses in wheat. Resistant varieties with major and quantitative resistance genes are the most effective method to control the disease. However, the main problem is inadequate information for understanding resistance mechanism and its usefulness. This paper presents Lr28 mediated genome-wide response of known and unknown genes during wheat-Puccinia triticina interaction. In this study, we prepared Serial Analysis of Gene Expression (SAGE) libraries using seedling wheat mRNA for infected and mock conditions. The libraries were sequenced on Sequencing by Oligonucleotide Ligation and Detection (SOLiD) system generating 37-48 million reads. After mapping and gene expression analysis of ~6-12 million trimmed reads/library, we revealed five major categories comprised of Lr28 controlled transcripts in resistant (+Lr28) isoline (39), transcripts specific to susceptible (-Lr28) isoline (785), transcripts specific to hypersensitive-response (HR) (375), transcripts specific for basal-defense (153) and transcripts for establishment of pathogen (1616). We estimated the impact of specific genes and pathways through mapping on plant resistant gene database (PRGdb), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and phytohormone database. Functional annotation results revealed, receptor binding, homeostatic processes and cytoskeletal components as the major discriminating factors between susceptibility and resistance. We validated 28 key genes using qRT-PCR and found positive results. These findings were projected on hypothetical interaction model to demonstrate interaction mechanism. The study might have significant impact on future rust-resistance breeding through knowledge based smart genetic selection of quantitative resistance genes besides major effect R-gene.

Understanding the graphitization and growth of free-standing nanocrystalline graphene using in situ transmission electron microscopy.

Graphitization of polymers is an effective way to synthesize nanocrystalline graphene on different substrates with tunable shape, thickness and properties. The catalyst free synthesis results in crystallite sizes on the order of a few nanometers, significantly smaller than commonly prepared polycrystalline graphene. Even though this method provides the flexibility of graphitizing polymer films on different substrates, substrate free graphitization of freestanding polymer layers has not been studied yet. We report for the first time the thermally induced graphitization and domain growth of free-standing nanocrystalline graphene thin films using in situ TEM techniques. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) techniques were used to analyze the graphitization and the evolution of nanocrystalline domains at different temperatures by characterizing the crystallinity and domain size, further supported by ex situ Raman spectroscopy. The graphitization was comparable to the substrate supported heating and the temperature dependence of graphitization was analyzed. In addition, the in situ analysis of the graphitization enabled direct imaging of some of the growth processes taking place at different temperatures.

Mining Vavilov's Treasure Chest of Wheat Diversity for Adult Plant Resistance to Puccinia triticina.

Leaf rust (LR) caused by Puccinia triticina, is among the most important diseases of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crops globally. Deployment of cultivars incorporating genetic resistance, such as adult plant resistance (APR) or all-stage resistance, is considered the most sustainable control method. APR is preferred for durability because it places lower selection pressure on the pathogen and is often polygenic. In the search for new sources of APR, here we explored a diversity panel sourced from the N. I. Vavilov Institute of Plant Genetic Resources. Based on DNA marker screening, 83 of the 300 lines were deemed to carry known APR genes; namely, Lr34, Lr46, and Lr67. Interestingly, lines carrying Lr67 were mostly landraces from India and Pakistan, reconfirming the likely origin of the gene. Rapid phenotypic screening using a method that integrates assessment at both seedling and adult growth stages under accelerated growth conditions (i.e., constant light and controlled temperature) identified 50 lines carrying APR. Levels of APR corresponded well with phenotypes obtained in a field nursery inoculated using the same pathotype (R2 = 0.82). The second year of field testing, using a mixture of pathotypes with additional virulence for race-specific APR genes (Lr13 and Lr37), identified a subset of 13 lines that consistently displayed high levels of APR across years and pathotypes. These lines provide useful sources of resistance for future research. A strategy combining rapid generation advance coupled with phenotyping under controlled conditions could accelerate introgression of these potentially novel alleles into adapted genetic backgrounds.

A rapid phenotyping method for adult plant resistance to leaf rust in wheat.

BACKGROUND: Leaf rust (LR), caused by Puccinia triticina and is an important disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The most sustainable method for controlling rust diseases is deployment of cultivars incorporating adult plant resistance (APR). However, phenotyping breeding populations or germplasm collections for resistance in the field is dependent on weather conditions and limited to once a year. In this study, we explored the ability to phenotype APR to LR under accelerated growth conditions (AGC; i.e. constant light and controlled temperature) using a method that integrates assessment at both seedling and adult growth stages. A panel of 21 spring wheat genotypes, including disease standards carrying known APR genes (i.e. Lr34 and Lr46) were characterised under AGC and in the field. RESULTS: Disease response displayed by adult wheat plants grown under AGC (i.e. flag-2 leaf) was highly correlated with field-based measures (R(2) = 0.77). The integrated method is more efficient-requiring less time, space, and labour compared to traditional approaches that perform seedling and adult plant assays separately. Further, this method enables up to seven consecutive adult plant LR assays compared to one in the field. CONCLUSION: The integrated seedling and adult plant phenotyping method reported in this study provides a great tool for identifying APR to LR. Assessing plants at early growth stages can enable selection for desirable gene combinations and crossing of the selected plants in the same plant generation. The method has the potential to be scaled-up for screening large numbers of fixed lines and segregating populations. This strategy would reduce the time required for moving APR genes into adapted germplasm or combining traits in top crosses in breeding programs. This method could accelerate selection for resistance factors effective across diverse climates by conducting successive cycles of screening performed at different temperature regimes.

Light emission, light detection and strain sensing with nanocrystalline graphene.

Graphene is of increasing interest for optoelectronic applications exploiting light detection, light emission and light modulation. Intrinsically, the light-matter interaction in graphene is of a broadband type. However, by integrating graphene into optical micro-cavities narrow-band light emitters and detectors have also been demonstrated. These devices benefit from the transparency, conductivity and processability of the atomically thin material. To this end, we explore in this work the feasibility of replacing graphene with nanocrystalline graphene, a material which can be grown on dielectric surfaces without catalyst by graphitization of polymeric films. We have studied the formation of nanocrystalline graphene on various substrates and under different graphitization conditions. The samples were characterized by resistance, optical transmission, Raman and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy and electron microscopy measurements. The conducting and transparent wafer-scale material with nanometer grain size was also patterned and integrated into devices for studying light-matter interaction. The measurements show that nanocrystalline graphene can be exploited as an incandescent emitter and bolometric detector similar to crystalline graphene. Moreover the material exhibits piezoresistive behavior which makes nanocrystalline graphene interesting for transparent strain sensors.