Magnetic-Proximity-Induced Efficient Charge-to-Spin Conversion in Large-Area PtSe2/Ni80Fe20 Heterostructures.

As a topological Dirac semimetal with controllable spin-orbit coupling and conductivity, PtSe2, a transition-metal dichalcogenide, is a promising material for several applications, from optoelectrics to sensors. However, its potential for spintronics applications has yet to be explored. In this work, we demonstrate that the PtSe2/Ni80Fe20 heterostructure can generate large damping-like current-induced spin-orbit torques (SOT), despite the absence of spin-splitting in bulk PtSe2. The efficiency of charge-to-spin conversion is found to be -0.1 ± 0.02 nm-1 in PtSe2/Ni80Fe20, which is 3 times that of the control sample, Ni80Fe20/Pt. Our band structure calculations show that the SOT due to PtSe2 arises from an unexpectedly large spin splitting in the interfacial region of PtSe2 introduced by the proximity magnetic field of the Ni80Fe20 layer. Our results open up the possibilities of using large-area PtSe2 for energy-efficient nanoscale devices by utilizing proximity-induced SOT.

Low-temperature perception and modulations in Ocimum basilicum commercial cultivar CIM-Shishir: Biosynthetic potential with insight towards climate-smart resilience.

The newly released interspecific hybrid variety CIM-Shishir, resulting from a cross between Ocimum basilicum and Ocimum kilimandscharicum claims to be a multicut, lodging resistant, cold tolerant, high essential oil yielding with linalool rich variety. It has a purple-green stem and has a unique feature and advantage of better survival in the winter season than other O. basilicum varieties, illustrating its physiological mechanisms for cold tolerance. In this study, we subjected both the CIM-Shishir variety and a control plant to cold stress to investigate the impact of low temperatures on various physiological, trichome developments, secondary metabolite constitution aspects related to essential oil production, and gene expression. The analysis revealed a significantly higher density and altered morphology of trichomes on the leaf surface of the variety subjected to low temperatures, indicating its adaptation to cold conditions. Furthermore, when comparing the treated plants under low-temperature stress, it was observed that the relative electrolyte leakage and Malondialdehyde (MDA) contents substantially increased in the control in contrast to the CIM-Shishir variety. This finding suggests that CIM-Shishir exhibits superior cold tolerance. Additionally, an increase in proline content was noted in the variety exposed to low temperatures compared to the control. Moreover, the chlorophyll and anthocyanin content gradually increased with prolonged exposure to low-temperature stress in the newly developed variety, indicating its ability to maintain photosynthetic capacity and adapt to cold conditions. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) also increased under low-temperature conditions in the CIM-Shishir variety, further highlighting its cold tolerance behaviour. In our research, we investigated the comprehensive molecular mechanisms of cold response in Ocimum. We analyzed the expression of key genes associated with cold tolerance in two plant groups: the newly developed hybrid variety known as CIM-Shishir Ocimum, which exhibits cold tolerance, and the control plants susceptible to cold climates that include WRKY53, ICE1, HOS1, COR47, LOS15, DREB5, CBF4, LTI6, KIN, and ERD2. These genes exhibited significantly higher expression levels in the CIM-Shishir variety compared to the control, shedding light on the genetic basis of its cold tolerance. The need for climate-smart, resilient high-yielding genotype is of high importance due to varied climatic conditions as this will hit the yield drastically and further to the economic sectors including farmers and many industries that are dependent on the bioactive constituents of Ocimum.

Magnetodynamic properties of ultrathin films of Fe[Formula: see text]Sn[Formula: see text]-a topological kagome ferromagnet.

Fe[Formula: see text]Sn[Formula: see text] is a topological kagome ferromagnet that possesses numerous Weyl points close to the Fermi energy, which can manifest various unique transport phenomena such as chiral anomaly, anomalous Hall effect, and giant magnetoresistance. However, the magnetodynamic properties of Fe[Formula: see text]Sn[Formula: see text] have not yet been explored. Here, we report, for the first time, the measurements of the intrinsic Gilbert damping constant ([Formula: see text]), and the effective spin mixing conductance (g[Formula: see text]) of Pt/Fe[Formula: see text]Sn[Formula: see text] bilayers for Fe[Formula: see text]Sn[Formula: see text] thicknesses down to 2 nm, for which [Formula: see text] is [Formula: see text], and g[Formula: see text] is [Formula: see text]. The films have a high saturation magnetization, [Formula: see text], and large anomalous Hall coefficient, [Formula: see text]. The large values of g[Formula: see text], together with the topological properties of Fe[Formula: see text]Sn[Formula: see text], make Fe[Formula: see text]Sn[Formula: see text]/Pt bilayers useful heterostructures for the study of topological spintronic devices.

Familial co-segregation and the emerging role of long-read sequencing to re-classify variants of uncertain significance in inherited retinal diseases.

Phasing genetic variants is essential in determining those that are potentially disease-causing. In autosomal recessive inherited retinal diseases (IRDs), reclassification of variants of uncertain significance (VUS) can provide a genetic diagnosis in indeterminate compound heterozygote cases. We report four cases in which familial co-segregation demonstrated a VUS resided in trans to a known pathogenic variant, which in concert with other supporting criteria, led to the reclassification of the VUS to likely pathogenic, thereby providing a genetic diagnosis in each case. We also demonstrate in a simplex patient without access to family members for co-segregation analysis that targeted long-read sequencing can provide haplotagged variant calling. This can elucidate if variants reside in trans and provide phase of genetic variants from the proband alone without parental testing. This emerging method can alleviate the bottleneck of haplotype analysis in cases where genetic testing of family members is unfeasible to provide a complete genetic diagnosis.

Large Spin-To-Charge Conversion at the Two-Dimensional Interface of Transition-Metal Dichalcogenides and Permalloy.

Spin-to-charge conversion is an essential requirement for the implementation of spintronic devices. Recently, monolayers (MLs) of semiconducting transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have attracted considerable interest for spin-to-charge conversion due to their high spin-orbit coupling and lack of inversion symmetry in their crystal structure. However, reports of direct measurement of spin-to-charge conversion at TMD-based interfaces are very much limited. Here, we report on the room-temperature observation of a large spin-to-charge conversion arising from the interface of Ni80Fe20 (Py) and four distinct large-area (∼5 × 2 mm2) ML TMDs, namely, MoS2, MoSe2, WS2, and WSe2. We show that both spin mixing conductance and the Rashba efficiency parameter (λIREE) scale with the spin-orbit coupling strength of the ML TMD layers. The λIREE parameter is found to range between -0.54 and -0.76 nm for the four ML TMDs, demonstrating a large spin-to-charge conversion. Our findings reveal that the TMD/ferromagnet interface can be used for efficient generation and detection of spin current, opening new opportunities for novel spintronic devices.

Spin Pumping through Different Spin-Orbit Coupling Interfaces in ß-W/Interlayer/Co2FeAl Heterostructures.

Spin pumping has been considered a powerful tool to manipulate the spin current in a ferromagnetic/nonmagnetic (FM/NM) system, where the NM part exhibits large spin-orbit coupling (SOC). In this work, the spin pumping in ß-W/Interlayer (IL)/Co2FeAl (CFA) heterostructures grown on Si(100) is systematically investigated with different ILs in which SOC strength ranges from weak to strong. We first measure the spin pumping through the enhancement of effective damping in CFA by varying the thickness of ß-W. The damping enhancement in the bilayer of ß-W/CFA (without IL) is found to be ∼50% larger than the Gilbert damping in a single CFA layer with a spin diffusion length and spin mixing conductance of 2.12 ± 0.27 nm and 13.17 ± 0.34 nm-2, respectively. Further, the ILs of different SOC strengths such as Al, Mg, Mo, and Ta were inserted at the ß-W/CFA interface to probe their impact on damping in ß-W/ILs/CFA. The effective damping reduced to 8% and 20% for Al and Mg, respectively, whereas it increased to 66% and 75% with ILs of Mo and Ta, respectively, compared to the ß-W/CFA heterostructure. Thus, in the presence of ILs with weak SOC, the spin pumping at the ß-W/CFA interface is suppressed, while for the high SOC ILs effective damping increased significantly from its original value of ß-W/CFA bilayer using a thin IL. This is further confirmed by performing inverse spin Hall effect measurements. In summary, the transfer of spin angular momentum can be significantly enhanced by choosing a proper ultrathin interface layer. Our study provides a tool to increase the spin current production by inserting an appropriate thin interlayer which is useful in modifying the heterostructure for efficient performance in spintronics devices.

DNA Fingerprinting and Genetic Relationships Similarities Among the Accessions/Species of Ocimum Using SCoT and ISSR Markers System.

Studies on genetic diversity could enhance taxonomic authentication and evolutionary relationship among the species of Ocimum. Therefore, diversity among 36 Ocimum accessions representing species from different regions of world were analyzed using Start Codon-Targeted Polymorphism (SCoT) and inter-simple sequences repeat (ISSR) marker. Marker systems used in this study was potentially targeted the different regions of the genome and included 18 SCoT and 15 ISSR primers, which showed successful amplification profile for Ocimum. Between these two, SCoT revealed the highest mean value of percentage of Polymorphism (84.6%), polymorphic information content (PIC, 0.65), and resolving power (Rp, 8.80), which were higher than ISSR. A total of 140 and 111 amplicons were obtained with SCoT and ISSR marker. The Mantel test indicted a significant correlation (r2 = 0.44) between ISSR and SCoT, which suggested a common genetical background among the accessions. The principal coordinate study showed the selection of different Ocimum genotypes by the cluster analysis. This study will help and support identification, genetic mapping, and molecular ecology to enhance the breeding program's efficiency for developing elite varieties to meet industrial demand globally. The present study is the first report of the genetic diversity, and relationship determination with SCoT-based molecular marker among Ocimum accessions.

Assessing and integrating the transcriptome analysis with plant development, trichomes, and secondary metabolites yield potential in Mentha arvensisL.

Mentha arvensisL. (corn mint) is well known for the production of menthol, a used commodity in flavouring industries, and provides natural fragrances. Glandular trichomes are responsible for producing specific secondary metabolites in vascular plants having species chemistry. Ten cultivars/varieties of M. arvensis, namely, Saksham, Kosi, Himalaya, Gomti, Sambhav, Kalka, Damroo, Kushal, and Shivalik, were used to study the developmental regulation of trichomes, essential oil yield, chemical constituents of essential oil and morphological parameters were estimated with gene expression using a randomized block design. Simultaneously, RNA sequence-based transcriptome analysis was done to reveal the transcription factors and differential gene analysis, which are responsible for the biosynthesis of essential oil as well as trichome development. Plant growth showed the maximum transition between 35 and 50 days stage, while essential oil and its metabolite bioconversion was observed in between 70 and 100 days stage. Glandular trichomes were maximally increased between 50, 70 days, and 100 days stage in var. Kosi followed by var. Saryu which has rapid growth in oil content. Menthol reductase activity was found to be a regulatory element during development, as it follows the inverse trend of menthol content and leads to menthol accumulation in subcuticular spaces. Transcriptional factors, cog, and nonredundant novel genes were identified. The composition of mintessential oils is regulated at multiple levels, including transcript abundance, catalytic properties of enzyme catalysts, and cell type-specific epigenetic processes.

Genetic improvement of pyrethrum (Tanacetum cinerariifolium Sch. Bip.) through gamma radiation and selection of high yield stable mutants through seven post-radiation generations.

PURPOSE: To increase the size of the flowers for easy plucking, flower yield, pyrethrins content (%), and elite mutant selection in pyrethrum. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To increase pyrethrum production and acclimatize in north Indian plain condition, a genetic improvement program was undertaken to widen the range of variations for size and yield of flowers and pyrethrins content (%) in pyrethrum crop. Pyrethrum seeds of the variety Avadh were irradiated with gamma rays at 20 to 300 Gy doses in Gamma chamber 5000 (cobalt-60 research irradiator). RESULTS: Observations gathered visually in M1 based on vigor, synchronization of flowering, and flower's size. Out of 90 M2 families, 20 mutants were raised in M3 along with the check-in preliminary evaluation trial. The four promising mutants, 1 (20 Gy-3), 7 (40 Gy-5), 10 (40 Gy-8), 14 (60 Gy19-10) was grown for four years in a bench-scale trial (randomized block design, replicated thrice) to test the yield performance and selection of high yielding elite mutant (s). It has been found that pyrethrum is sensitive to gamma rays irradiation and produced a high range of qualitative and quantitative variations. After massive screening over four years, two promising mutants for high dry flower yield and pyrethrins content, namely 7 (40 Gy-5), and 10 (40GY-8) were isolated. CONCLUSIONS: The mutagenesis changed traits mean in positive or negative directions. Pyrethrum plant is highly sensitive to gamma irradiation and produced a high range of variability in the qualitative and quantitative traits. The mutagenesis changed the mean of traits in both positive and negative directions. Due to mutagenic efficacy, two mutants 7 (40 Gy-5), and 10 (40GY-8) were expressed high performance for pyrethrin percent i.e., 87.23 and 59.78% improvement over the check variety 'Avadh', with synchronous flowering. These two mutants are in the pipeline for release as a variety for cultivation in the North Indian plains.

Induced mutation breeding for qualitative and quantitative traits and varietal development in medicinal and aromatic crops at CSIR-CIMAP, Lucknow (India): past and recent accomplishment.

PURPOSE: The nature and kind of some successful mutations achieved through gamma radiation at CSIR-CIMAP, Lucknow are reviewed and described in this article. Medicinal and aromatic crops (MACs) came under the mutation-breeding program very late - perhaps during the 1980s in India. Nevertheless, successes have been glaring and unique too. The plant breeders of the Institute concerted attempts were made for the genetic restructuring of the plant-frame in Hyoscyamus niger L. (black henbane) and Cymbopogon martinii (palmarosa), enhanced alkaloid biosynthesis in henbane, weak, or lack of latex biosynthesis in Papaver somniferum L. (Opium poppy), increased productivity of seeds in Plantago ovata F. (isabgol), and new/increased formation of essential oils in Chamomila recutita [L.] Rauschert (Chamomile) and Cymbopogon winterianus (Java citronella). Several qualitative macro mutations were generated for commercial exploitation, e.g. an unbranched (Ub) and physiologically most efficient variety Aekla and high tropane alkaloid bearing variety Aela of H. niger, opium less oil-seed variety Sujata of opium poppy, a dwarf mutant and a male sterile (ms) line of palmarosa, and new compound yielding variety of chamomile and geranium. CONCLUSIONS: The ample quantitative variation was also created by reshuffling the polygenic background in both seed and vegetatively propagated MACs, and subsequently, with applying mutation breeding approach superior varieties were evolved and released after a rigorous screening in the field-evaluation or under pipeline for release. These varieties are Niharika and Mayuri of psyllium; Vallary, CIMAP Sammohak, CIM Ujjwala, and YEL (yellow) of German chamomile and Manjari and CIM Jeeva of Java citronella.

In Silico Identification of miRNA and Targets from Chrysopogon zizanioides (L.) Roberty with Functional Validation from Leaf and Root Tissues.

microRNAs are small non-coding RNA molecule that plays an important role in metabolism. Chrysopogon zizanioides (L.) Roberty is an important aromatic plant used in perfumery industries, soil, water conservation, and agricultural practices. In this study, the transcriptomic sequence of vetiver leaf and root was subjected to miRNA identification by the computational methods. miRNA identification was carried out using a homology-based method by C-mii software with several other online tools. A total of 80 miRNA were identified from both leaf and root sequences. Target identification was done by identified miRNA sets. A total of 25 and 31 miRNA families were identified in both leaf and root, respectively, with ten common families involve in different ontological function. miR169 and miR5021 regulate most of the target in leaf and root. In vetiver, many primary and secondary metabolism elements are regulated by miRNA as photo-system, transcription factor, terpenoid metabolism, etc. Here is the first in silico study revealing the specific miRNAs and their target genes for corresponding root and leaf tissues respectively in C. zizanioides.

Induced polygenic variations through γ -rays irradiation and selection of novel genotype in chamomile (Chamomilla recutita [L.] Rauschert).

Purpose: To develop elite mutants in chamomile (Chamomilla recutita [L.] Rauschert) for increasing the quantity and quality of essential oil rich in acetylenic compound (2Z,8Z)-matricaria acid methyl ester by applying γ -rays irradiation. Molecular and chemical analysis was performed for ithe dentification/differentiation of mutant genotype. Materials and methods: Chamomile (Chamomilla recutita [L.] Rauschert) variety Vallary seeds were irradiated by applying γ -rays irradiation at 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900 and1000 Gy doses at a dose rate of 55 Gy/min and mutants were isolated and analyzed for the quantity and quality of essential oil. The oil was found to be rich in acetylenic compound (2Z,8Z)-matricaria acid methyl ester and the results obtained were validated using gas chromatography (GC) coupled with either Flame Ionization detection (GC-FID) or mass spectrometer (GC-MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Results: The selected mutant SELM-1 (Selection Mutant-1) showed the production potential of 7.00-7.50 q ha-1 dry flowers and 6.00-6.50 kg ha-1 essential oil yield. Essential oil of mutant SELM-1 contained in [(2Z,8Z)-matricaria acid methyl ester] (76-80%) useful in cosmetic, perfumery, and pharmaceutical industries. Conclusion:γ -rays irradiation method is a very efficient mutation breeding method for chamomile crop. GC-FID or GC-MS and NMR methods are found to be the most powerful methods for screening of essential oil chemical compounds isolated from the mutants. The novel mutant (SELM-1) is very promising in terms of high flower and essential oil yield rich in acetylenic compound (2Z,8Z)-matricaria acid methyl ester (76-80%), hence, it was released as variety in Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant (CIMAP), Lucknow U.P. (India) named as CIM-Ujjwala for commercial cultivation.

Modulations in primary and secondary metabolic pathways and adjustment in physiological behaviour of Withania somnifera under drought stress.

In general medicinal plants grown under water limiting conditions show much higher concentrations of secondary metabolites in comparison to control plants. In the present study, Withania somnifera plants were subjected to water stress and data related to drought tolerance phenomenon was collected and a putative mechanistic concept considering growth responses, physiological behaviour, and metabolite content and gene expression aspects is presented. Drought induced metabolic and physiological responses as well as drastic decrease in CO2 uptake due to stomatal limitations. As a result, the consumption of reduction equivalents (NADPH2+) for CO2 assimilation via the calvin cycle declines significantly resulting in the generation of a large oxidative stress and an oversupply of antioxidant enzymes. Drought also results in the shifting of metabolic processes towards biosynthetic activities that consume reduction equivalents. Thus, biosynthesis of reduced compounds (isoprenoids, phenols and alkaloids) is enhanced. The dynamics of various metabolites have been discussed in the light of gene expression analysis of control and drought treated leaves. Gene encoding enzymes of pathways leading to glucose, fructose and fructan production, conversion of triose phosphates to hexoses and hexose phosphorylation were up-regulated in the drought stressed leaves. The down-regulated Calvin cycle genes were co-ordinately regulated with the down-regulation of chloroplast triosephosphate/phosphate translocator, cytoplasmic fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase and fructose bisphosphatase. Expression of gene encoding Squalene Synthase (SQS) was highly upregulated under drought stress which is responsible for the diversion of carbon flux towards withanolides biosynthesis from isoprenoid pathway.

A cold-tolerant evergreen interspecific hybrid of Ocimum kilimandscharicum and Ocimum basilicum: analyzing trichomes and molecular variations.

Ocimum (Lamiaceae) is an important source of essential oils and aroma chemicals especially eugenol, methyl eugenol, linalool, methyl chavicol etc. An elite evergreen hybrid has been developed from Ocimum kilimandscharicum and Ocimum basilicum, which demonstrated adaptive behavior towards cold stress. A comparative molecular analysis has been done through RAPD, AFLP, and ISSR among O. basilicum and O. kilimandscharicum and their evergreen cold-tolerant hybrid. The RAPD and AFLP analyses demonstrated similar results, i.e., the hybrid of O. basilicum and O. kilimandscharicum shares the same cluster with O. kilimandscharicum, while O. basilicum behaves as an outgroup, whereas in ISSR analysis, the hybrid genotype grouped in the same cluster with O. basilicum. Ocimum genotypes were analyzed and compared for their trichome density. There were distinct differences on morphology, distribution, and structure between the two kinds of trichomes, i.e., glandular and non-glandular. Glandular trichomes contain essential oils, polyphenols, flavonoids, and acid polysaccharides. Hair-like trichomes, i.e., non-glandular trichomes, help in keeping the frost away from the living surface cells. O. basilicum showed less number of non-glandular trichomes on leaves compared to O. kilimandscharicum and the evergreen cold-tolerant hybrid. Trichomes were analyzed in O. kilimandscharicum, O. basilicum, and their hybrid. An increased proline content at the biochemical level represents a higher potential to survive in a stress condition like cold stress. In our analysis, the proline content is quite higher in tolerant variety O. kilimandscharicum, low in susceptible variety O. basilicum, and intermediate in the hybrid. Gene expression analysis was done in O. basilicum, O. kilimandscharicum and their hybrid for TTG1, GTL1, and STICHEL gene locus which regulates trichome development and its formation and transcription factors WRKY and MPS involved in the regulation of plant responses to freezing and cold. The analysis showed that O. kilimandscharicum and the hybrid were very close to each other but O. basilicum was more distinct in all respects. The overexpression of the WRKY coding gene showed high expression in the hybrid as compared to O. kilimandscharicum and O. basilicum and the transcription factor microspore-specific (MPS) promoter has also shown overexpression in the hybrid for its response against cold stress. The developed evergreen interspecific hybrid may thus provide a base to various industries which are dependent upon the bioactive constituents of Ocimum species.