Genome-Wide Identification, Diversification, and Expression Analysis of Lectin Receptor-Like Kinase (LecRLK) Gene Family in Cucumber under Biotic Stress.

Members of the lectin receptor-like kinase (LecRLKs) family play a vital role in innate plant immunity. Few members of the LecRLKs family have been characterized in rice and Arabidopsis, respectively. However, little literature is available about LecRLKs and their role against fungal infection in cucumber. In this study, 60 putative cucumber LecRLK (CsLecRLK) proteins were identified using genome-wide analysis and further characterized into L-type LecRLKs (24) and G-type LecRLKs (36) based on domain composition and phylogenetic analysis. These proteins were allocated to seven cucumber chromosomes and found to be involved in the expansion of the CsLecRLK gene family. Subcellular localization of CsaLecRLK9 and CsaLecRLK12 showed green fluorescence signals in the plasma membrane of leaves. The transcriptional profiling of CsLecRLK genes showed that L-type LecRLKs exhibited functional redundancy as compared to G-type LecRLKs. The qRT-PCR results indicated that both L- and G-type LecRLKs showed significant response against plant growth-promoting fungi (PGPF-Trichoderma harzianum Rifai), powdery mildew pathogen (PPM-Golovinomyces orontii (Castagne) V.P. Heluta), and combined (PGPF+PPM) treatments. The findings of this study contribute to a better understanding of the role of cucumber CsLecRLK genes in response to PGPF, PPM, and PGPF+PPM treatments and lay the basis for the characterization of this important functional gene family.

Insights into nanomycoremediation: Secretomics and mycogenic biopolymer nanocomposites for heavy metal detoxification.

Our environment thrives on the subtle balance achieved by the forever cyclical nature of building and rebuilding life through natural processes. Fungi, being the evident armor of bioremediation, is the indispensable element of the soil food web, contribute to be the nature's most dynamic arsenal with non-specific enzymes like peroxidase (POX), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), non-enzymatic compounds like thiol (-SH) groups and non-protein compounds such as glutathione (GSH) and metallothionein (MT). Recently, the area of nanomycoremediation has been gaining momentum as a powerful tool for environmental clean-up strategies with its ability to detoxify heavy metals with its unique characteristics to adapt mechanisms such as biosorption, bioconversion, and biodegradation to harmless end products. The insight into the elaborate secretomic processes provides us with huge opportunities for creating a magnificent living bioremediation apparatus. This review discusses the scope and recent advances in the lesser understood area, nanomycoremediation, the state-of-the-art, innovative, cost-effective and promising tool for detoxification of heavy metal pollutants and focuses on the metabolic capabilities and secretomics with nanobiotechnological interventions.