The role of priming and memory in rice environmental stress adaptation: Current knowledge and perspectives.

Plant responses to abiotic stresses are dynamic, following the unpredictable changes of physical environmental parameters such as temperature, water and nutrients. Physiological and phenotypical responses to stress are intercalated by periods of recovery. An earlier stress can be remembered as 'stress memory' to mount a response within a generation or transgenerationally. The 'stress priming' phenomenon allows plants to respond quickly and more robustly to stressors to increase survival, and therefore has significant implications for agriculture. Although evidence for stress memory in various plant species is accumulating, understanding of the mechanisms implicated, especially for crops of agricultural interest, is in its infancy. Rice is a major food crop which is susceptible to abiotic stresses causing constraints on its cultivation and yield globally. Advancing the understanding of the stress response network will thus have a significant impact on rice sustainable production and global food security in the face of climate change. Therefore, this review highlights the effects of priming on rice abiotic stress tolerance and focuses on specific aspects of stress memory, its perpetuation and its regulation at epigenetic, transcriptional, metabolic as well as physiological levels. The open questions and future directions in this exciting research field are also laid out.

Jasmonates, gibberellins, and powdery mildew modify cell cycle progression and evoke differential spatiotemporal responses along the barley leaf.

Barley (Hordeum vulgare) is an important cereal crop, and its development, defence, and stress responses are modulated by different hormones including jasmonates (JAs) and the antagonistic gibberellins (GAs). Barley productivity is severely affected by the foliar biotrophic fungal pathogen Blumeria hordei. In this study, primary leaves were used to examine the molecular processes regulating responses to methyl-jasmonate (MeJA) and GA to B. hordei infection along the leaf axis. Flow cytometry, microscopy, and spatiotemporal expression patterns of genes associated with JA, GA, defence, and the cell cycle provided insights on cell cycle progression and on the gradient of susceptibility to B. hordei observed along the leaf. Notably, the combination of B. hordei with MeJA or GA pre-treatment had a different effect on the expression patterns of the analysed genes compared to individual treatments. MeJA reduced susceptibility to B. hordei in the proximal part of the leaf blade. Overall, distinctive spatiotemporal gene expression patterns correlated with different degrees of cell proliferation, growth capacity, responses to hormones, and B. hordei infection along the leaf. Our results highlight the need to further investigate differential spatial and temporal responses to pathogens at the organ, tissue, and cell levels in order to devise effective disease control strategies in crops.

Bioactive fractions from Allium humile alleviate the risk of high fat diet induced atherosclerosis in albino Wistar rats by inhibiting protein kinase C.

Atherosclerosis is a global concern that worsens with age, and plants that are effective medicinal herbs can give a viable alternative. PKC is a key factor in cardiovascular and other disorders; targeting it can reduce the risk of these diseases. We evaluated Allium humile for PKC inhibition and therapeutic efficacy against atherosclerosis. Soxhlet extraction was done to obtain extracts (hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol, ethanol and aqueous) and then tested for DPPH radical scavenging and PKC inhibitory activity. The methanolic extract was more active than the other extracts, so it was subjected to column chromatography, and seventeen fractions were obtained. Only 11, 12, and 15 showed good activity against PKC. Wistar rats were divided into six groups and each group received high fat diet for 30 days. Then the three potent fractions (10 mg/kg) were administered for 15 days along with high fat diet. Fraction II had the highest effectiveness (P < 0.0001) in decreasing lipid levels, lipid peroxidation, reducing IL-6 and TNF-α expression, and raising nitric oxide. This also demonstrated a decrease in PKC activity, as well as a decrease in the formation of the lipoidal layer in the aorta wall and rupture of the intima and media as validated by histological analysis. The two compounds, phytol acetate and cyanidin 3-(6″-o-malonyllaminaribioside) were characterised in fraction II by NMR and HRMS and cyanidin 3-(6″-o-malonyllaminaribioside) inhibited PKC more efficiently. Thus, Allium humile has strong anti-atherogenic activity as well as the ability to inhibit PKC both in vitro and in vivo.

Metabolomics-mediated elucidation of rice responses to salt stress.

MAIN CONCLUSION: Role of salinity responsive metabolites of rice and its wild species has been discussed. Salinity stress is one of the important environmental stresses that severely affects rice productivity. Although, several vital physio-biochemical and molecular responses have been activated in rice under salinity stress which were well described in literatures, the mechanistic role of salt stress and microbes-induced metabolites to overcome salt stress in rice are less studied. Nevertheless, over the years, metabolomic studies have allowed a comprehensive analyses of rice salt stress responses. Hence, we review the salt stress-triggered alterations of various metabolites in rice and discuss their significant roles toward salinity tolerance. Some of the metabolites such as serotonin, salicylic acid, ferulic acid and gentisic acid may act as signaling molecules to activate different downstream salt-tolerance mechanisms; whereas, the other compounds such as amino acids, sugars and organic acids directly act as protective agents to maintain osmotic balance and scavenger of reactive oxygen species during the salinity stress. The quantity, type, tissues specificity and time of accumulation of metabolites induced by salinity stress vary between salt-sensitive and tolerant rice genotypes and thus, contribute to their different degrees of salt tolerance. Moreover, few tolerance metabolites such as allantoin, serotonin and melatonin induce unique pathways for activation of defence mechanisms in salt-tolerant varieties of rice, suggesting their potential roles as the universal biomarkers for salt tolerance. Therefore, these metabolites can be applied exogenously to the sensitive genotypes of rice to enhance their performance under salt stress. Furthermore, the microbes of rhizosphere also participated in rice salt tolerance either directly or indirectly by regulating their metabolic pathways. Thus, this review for the first time offers valuable and comprehensive insights into salt-induced spatio-temporal and genotype-specific metabolites in different genotypes of rice which provide a reference point to analyze stress-gene-metabolite relationships for the biomarker designing in rice. Further, it can also help to decipher several metabolic systems associated with salt tolerance in rice which will be useful in developing salt-tolerance cultivars by conventional breeding/genetic engineering/exogenous application of metabolites.

Exploring the tumor immune microenvironment in ovarian cancer: a way-out to the therapeutic roadmap.

INTRODUCTION: Despite cancer treatment strides, mortality due to ovarian cancer remains high globally. While immunotherapy has proven effective in treating cancers with low cure rates, it has limitations. Growing evidence suggests that both tumoral and non-tumoral components of the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) play a significant role in cancer growth. Therefore, developing novel and focused therapy for ovarian cancer is critical. Studies indicate that TIME is involved in developing ovarian cancer, particularly genome-, transcriptome-, and proteome-wide studies. As a result, TIME may present a prospective therapeutic target for ovarian cancer patients. AREAS COVERED: We examined several TIME-targeting medicines and the connection between TIME and ovarian cancer. The key protagonists and events in the TIME and therapeutic strategies that explicitly target these events in ovarian cancer are discussed. EXPERT OPINION: We highlighted various targeted therapies against TIME in ovarian cancer, including anti-angiogenesis therapies and immune checkpoint inhibitors. While these therapies are in their infancy, they have shown promise in controlling ovarian cancer progression. The use of 'omics' technology is helping in better understanding of TIME in ovarian cancer and potentially identifying new therapeutic targets. TIME-targeted strategies could account for an additional treatment strategy when treating ovarian cancer.

Network pharmacology combined with molecular docking and in vitro verification reveals the therapeutic potential of Delphinium roylei munz constituents on breast carcinoma.

Delphinium roylei Munz is an indigenous medicinal plant to India where its activity against cancer has not been previously investigated, and its specific interactions of bioactive compounds with vulnerable breast cancer drug targets remain largely unknown. Therefore, in the current study, we aimed to evaluate the anti-breast cancer activity of different extracts of D. roylei against breast cancer and deciphering the molecular mechanism by Network Pharmacology combined with Molecular Docking and in vitro verification. The experimental plant was extracted with various organic solvents according to their polarity index. Phytocompounds were identified by High resolution-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HR-LC/MS) technique, and SwissADME programme evaluated their physicochemical properties. Next, target(s) associated with the obtained bioactives or breast cancer-related targets were retrieved by public databases, and the Venn diagram selected the overlapping targets. The networks between overlapping targets and bioactive were visualized, constructed, and analyzed by STRING programme and Cytoscape software. Finally, we implemented a molecular docking test (MDT) using AutoDock Vina to explore key target(s) and compound(s). HR-LC/MS detected hundreds of phytocompounds, and few were accepted by Lipinski's rules after virtual screening and therefore classified as drug-like compounds (DLCs). A total of 464 potential target genes were attained for the nine quantitative phytocompounds and using Gene Cards, OMIM and DisGeNET platforms, 12063 disease targets linked to breast cancer were retrieved. With Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment, a total of 20 signalling pathways were manifested, and a hub signalling pathway (PI3K-Akt signalling pathway), a key target (Akt1), and a key compound (8-Hydroxycoumarin) were selected among the 20 signalling pathways via molecular docking studies. The molecular docking investigation revealed that among the nine phytoconstituents, 8-hydroxycoumarin showed the best binding energy (-9.2 kcal/mol) with the Akt1 breast cancer target. 8-hydroxycoumarin followed all the ADME property prediction using SwissADME, and 100 nanoseconds (ns) MD simulations of 8-hydroxycoumarin complexes with Akt1 were found to be stable. Furthermore, D. roylei extracts also showed significant antioxidant and anticancer activity through in vitro studies. Our findings indicated for the first time that D. roylei extracts could be used in the treatment of BC.

Biochemical and Computational Assessment of Acute Phase Proteins in Dairy Cows Affected with Subclinical Mastitis.

Subclinical mastitis (SCM) is a predominant form of mastitis wherein major visible signs of disease are absent. The present study aimed to determine acute phase proteins (APPs) like ferritin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and microalbumin (Malb) in 135 composite milk and serum samples of healthy (n = 25) and SCM (n = 110) cows. As bovine mastitis is an inflammatory disease, the present study also aimed at finding novel anti-inflammatory compounds from natural sources by repurposing approach using computational studies. The findings of the present study revealed substantial elevation (p < 0.001) in milk SCC and an increase in ferritin, CRP, and Malb (p < 0.001) in milk and sera of the SCM group as compared to healthy animals. Receiver operating characteristics of milk SCC, milk, and serum APPs unraveled statistically substantial alteration (p < 0.001). Further, SCC was correlated with milk APPs ferritin (r = 0.26 **, p < 0.002), CRP (r = 0.19 *, p < 0.02), and Malb (r = 0.21 *, p < 0.01). Additionally, milk SCC was correlated with serum ferritin (r = 0.28 **, p < 0.001), CRP (r = 0.16, p > 0.05), and Malb (r = 0.16, p > 0.05). The findings of molecular docking revealed that Chaetoglobosin U was the most effective molecule that showed the highest binding affinity (kcal/mol) of -10.1 and -8.5 against ferritin and albumin. The present study concluded that the estimation of cow-side tests, SCC, and APPs in milk/serum is suitable to detect SCM and screening herd community. Furthermore, Chaetoglobosin U could be developed as a promising anti-inflammatory inhibitor; however, further studies are required to validate these findings.

Artificial intelligence and cheminformatics tools: a contribution to the drug development and chemical science.

In the ever-evolving field of drug discovery, the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) with cheminformatics has proven to be a powerful combination. Cheminformatics, which combines the principles of computer science and chemistry, is used to extract chemical information and search compound databases, while the application of AI and ML allows for the identification of potential hit compounds, optimization of synthesis routes, and prediction of drug efficacy and toxicity. This collaborative approach has led to the discovery, preclinical evaluations and approval of over 70 drugs in recent years. To aid researchers in the pursuit of new drugs, this article presents a comprehensive list of databases, datasets, predictive and generative models, scoring functions and web platforms that have been launched between 2021 and 2022. These resources provide a wealth of information and tools for computer-assisted drug development, and are a valuable asset for those working in the field of cheminformatics. Overall, the integration of AI, ML and cheminformatics has greatly advanced the drug discovery process and continues to hold great potential for the future. As new resources and technologies become available, we can expect to see even more groundbreaking discoveries and advancements in these fields.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Immunomodulatory efficacy of Cousinia thomsonii C.B. Clarke in ameliorating inflammatory cascade expressions.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Cousinia thomsonii is traditionally known for treating various diseases including joint pain, swelling, body ache, asthma, dermatitis, cough and arthritis. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study employs lipopolysaccharide induced inflammatory wistar-rat model to evaluate efficacy of Cousinia thomsonii active-extracts on the expression of crucial inflammatory markers viz. iNOS, PPAR-γ, Rel-A, COX-2 and serum analysis of CRP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Methanol and aqueous extracts were administered orally at 25, 50, 100 mg/kg doses for 21 days. Serum was collected on 22nd day and rats were sacrificed to extract paw tissues. Dexamethasone (0.5 mg/kg) served as positive control. Immunoblotting and qPCR was used for expression analysis of iNOS, PPAR-γ, Rel-A, COX-2 respectively. ELISA was employed for evaluating CRP levels. Discovery-studio and Auto-Dock-Vina were used to check docking interactions of various identified compounds. RESULTS: Both extracts caused dose-dependent decline in iNOS, Rel-A, COX-2 and CRP levels, while there was a dose-dependent increase in PPAR-γ expression. Methanol extract dominated immunomodulatory potential as compared with the aqueous extract. The results of the GCMS revealed the presence of ten compounds. Some of these compounds include 1-Octacosanol, Ethyl Linoleate, 1-Heptacosanol, 1-Hexadecanol, 1-Dodecanol and Behenic alcohol having strong anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-acne and anti-viral activities. Molecular Docking scores were calculated between each target protein and selected compounds. The best affinity/interactions were observed between 1-Octacosanol towards iNOS, PPAR-γ, Rel-A, COX-2 and CRP with binding energy of -10.4, -11.1, -8.6, -9.9 and -7.9 (kcal/mol) respectively. These compounds may act as strong inhibitors for iNOS, Rel-A, COX-2 and CRP or as agonists for PPAR-γ; thereby inducing anti-inflammatory/immuno-modulatory activities. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that Cousinia thomsonii contains therapeutically active compounds and thus could serve as potential therapeutic regimen against diverse inflammatory diseases.

Milk-Compositional Study of Metabolites and Pathogens in the Milk of Bovine Animals Affected with Subclinical Mastitis.

Bovine milk is an important food component in the human diet due to its nutrient-rich metabolites. However, bovine subclinical mastitis alters the composition and quality of milk. In present study, California mastitis testing, somatic cell count, pH, and electrical conductivity were used as confirmatory tests to detect subclinical mastitis. The primary goal was to study metabolome and identify major pathogens in cows with subclinical mastitis. In this study, 29 metabolites were detected in milk using gas chromatography−mass spectrometry. Volatile acidic compounds, such as hexanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid, lauric acid, octanoic acid, n-decanoic acid, tricosanoic acid, tetradecanoic acid, and hypogeic acid were found in milk samples, and these impart good flavor to the milk. Metaboanalyst tool was used for metabolic pathway analysis and principal component estimation. In this study, EC and pH values in milk were significantly increased (p < 0.0001), whereas fat (p < 0.04) and protein (p < 0.0002) significantly decreased in animals with subclinical mastitis in comparison to healthy animals. Staphylococcus aureus was the predominant pathogen found (n = 54), followed by Escherichia coli (n = 30). Furthermore, antibiotic sensitivity revealed that Staphylococcus aureus was more sensitive to gentamicin (79.6%), whereas Escherichia coli showed more sensitivity to doxycycline hydrochloride (80%).

Genome-wide association study, haplotype analysis, and genomic prediction reveal the genetic basis of yield-related traits in soybean (Glycine max L.).

Identifying the genetic components underlying yield-related traits in soybean is crucial for improving its production and productivity. Here, 211 soybean genotypes were evaluated across six environments for four yield-related traits, including seed yield per plant (SYP), number of pods per plant number of seeds per plant and 100-seed weight (HSW). Genome-wide association study (GWAS) and genomic prediction (GP) analyses were performed using 12,617 single nucleotide polymorphism markers from NJAU 355K SoySNP Array. A total of 57 SNPs were significantly associated with four traits across six environments and a combined environment using five Genome-wide association study models. Out of these, six significant SNPs were consistently identified in more than three environments using multiple GWAS models. The genomic regions (±670 kb) flanking these six consistent SNPs were considered stable QTL regions. Gene annotation and in silico expression analysis revealed 15 putative genes underlying the stable QTLs that might regulate soybean yield. Haplotype analysis using six significant SNPs revealed various allelic combinations regulating diverse phenotypes for the studied traits. Furthermore, the GP analysis revealed that accurate breeding values for the studied soybean traits is attainable at an earlier generation. Our study paved the way for increasing soybean yield performance within a short breeding cycle.

Recent developments in multi-omics and breeding strategies for abiotic stress tolerance in maize (Zea mays L.).

High-throughput sequencing technologies (HSTs) have revolutionized crop breeding. The advent of these technologies has enabled the identification of beneficial quantitative trait loci (QTL), genes, and alleles for crop improvement. Climate change have made a significant effect on the global maize yield. To date, the well-known omic approaches such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics are being incorporated in maize breeding studies. These approaches have identified novel biological markers that are being utilized for maize improvement against various abiotic stresses. This review discusses the current information on the morpho-physiological and molecular mechanism of abiotic stress tolerance in maize. The utilization of omics approaches to improve abiotic stress tolerance in maize is highlighted. As compared to single approach, the integration of multi-omics offers a great potential in addressing the challenges of abiotic stresses of maize productivity.

The Key to the Future Lies in the Past: Insights from Grain Legume Domestication and Improvement Should Inform Future Breeding Strategies.

Crop domestication is a co-evolutionary process that has rendered plants and animals significantly dependent on human interventions for survival and propagation. Grain legumes have played an important role in the development of Neolithic agriculture some 12,000 years ago. Despite being early companions of cereals in the origin and evolution of agriculture, the understanding of grain legume domestication has lagged behind that of cereals. Adapting plants for human use has resulted in distinct morpho-physiological changes between the wild ancestors and domesticates, and this distinction has been the focus of several studies aimed at understanding the domestication process and the genetic diversity bottlenecks created. Growing evidence from research on archeological remains, combined with genetic analysis and the geographical distribution of wild forms, has improved the resolution of the process of domestication, diversification and crop improvement. In this review, we summarize the significance of legume wild relatives as reservoirs of novel genetic variation for crop breeding programs. We describe key legume features, which evolved in response to anthropogenic activities. Here, we highlight how whole genome sequencing and incorporation of omics-level data have expanded our capacity to monitor the genetic changes accompanying these processes. Finally, we present our perspective on alternative routes centered on de novo domestication and re-domestication to impart significant agronomic advances of novel crops over existing commodities. A finely resolved domestication history of grain legumes will uncover future breeding targets to develop modern cultivars enriched with alleles that improve yield, quality and stress tolerance.

Identification of superior haplotypes in a diverse natural population for breeding desirable plant height in soybean.

KEY MESSAGE: Plant height of soybean is associated with a haplotype block on chromosome 19, which classified 211 soybean accessions into five distinct groups showing significant differences for the target trait. Genetic variation is pivotal for crop improvement. Natural populations are precious genetic resources. However, efficient strategies for the targeted utilization of these resources for quantitative traits, such as plant height (PH), are scarce. Being an important agronomic trait associated with soybean yield and quality, it is imperative to unravel the genetic mechanisms underlying PH in soybean. Here, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) significantly associated with PH in a natural population of 211 cultivated soybeans, which was genotyped with NJAU 355 K Soy SNP Array and evaluated across six environments. A total of 128 SNPs distributed across 17 chromosomes were found to be significantly associated with PH across six environments and a combined environment. Three significant SNPs were consistently identified in at least three environments on Chr.02 (AX-93958260), Chr.17 (AX-94154834), and Chr.19 (AX-93897200). Genomic regions of ~ 130 kb flanking these three consistent SNPs were considered as stable QTLs, which included 169 genes. Of these, 22 genes (including Dt1) were prioritized and defined as putative candidates controlling PH. The genomic region flanking 12 most significant SNPs was in strong linkage disequilibrium (LD). These SNPs formed a single haplotype block containing five haplotypes for PH, namely Hap-A, Hap-B, Hap-C, Hap-D, and Hap-E. Deployment of such superior haplotypes in breeding programs will enable development of improved soybean varieties with desirable plant height.

In Silico Tools for Analysis of Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the Bovine Transferrin Gene.

Dairy cattle with a high milk yield are susceptible to many infectious diseases, such as mastitis. Subclinical mastitis (SCM) is the most prevalent form of mastitis that predominantly affects animal health, and causes adverse effects on the quality and quantity of milk. In dairy animals, subclinical mastitis often remains undetected, as no gross changes in udder characteristics are visible. In the present study, 135 Holstein Friesian dairy animals were selected and screened as healthy (n = 25) and mastitic (n = 110) based on diagnostic tests such as the California mastitis test, pH, electrical conductivity, and somatic cell count. In this study, the somatic cell count was used as a gold-standard test in differentiating subclinical mastitis animals from healthy ones. The present study was carried out to study polymorphisms in the bovine transferrin gene in cows (with subclinical mastitis and healthy). For the early detection of resistant/or susceptible animals, a useful marker could be provided by the detection of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the transferrin gene, which are often associated with mammary innate immune response. The sequencing results revealed three nucleotide substitutions: two transversions (230 A > C, 231 C > A) and one transition (294 A > G) in susceptible cows as compared to disease-free subjects. The nucleotide variations at position 230 (GAC > GCA) and 231 (GAC > GCA) were nonsynonymous, and corresponded to an amino acid change from aspartic acid to alanine; whereas at position 294 (GAA > GAG), the mutation was synonymous. In the present study, many in silico tools were taken into consideration to determine the effect of SNPs on protein structure and function. The PROVEAN tool found the amino acid substitution to be neutral and deleterious. PolyPhen-2 revealed the amino acid variations at positions 320 and 321 to most likely be damaging; and at the 341 position, the variations were benign. The I-Mutant and MUpro tools found that the protein stability decreased for nonsynonymous variations. The SIFT tool revealed the protein function was likely to be affected in nonsynonymous variations, with no change in the case of synonymous ones. Phylogenetic analysis of the bovine transferrin gene revealed a close relation of the CA allele with the Bos taurus transferrin, while the G allele was closely related to a cross of Bos indicus × Bos taurus serotransferrins, followed by the Bison bison transferrin. The least relation was shown by both alleles to Capra hircus, Ovis aries, and Bubalus bubalis.

Toxicological impact of sodium benzoate on inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress and biochemical markers in male Wistar rats.

Sodium benzoate is a widely used food and pharmaceutical preservative due to its antibacterial and antifungal activity. In the present study effect of different concentrations of sodium benzoate on hepatic antioxidants, inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1ß and IL-6), biochemical markers and histopathology of liver was evaluated. Twenty five adult rats (aged 1-2 months) with 5 rats per group were randomly distributed into 5 groups. Group 1 rats were used as control and all groups (1-5) were provided with water and fed ad libitum. In addition to usual water and food, rats of group 2, 3, 4 and 5 were treated with 70, 200, 400 and 700 mg/kg b.wt of sodium benzoate once a day via oral gavage for 30 days. Our results showed that activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), glutathione-s-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in rats decreased significantly when treated with 200, 400 and 700 mg/kg b.wt of sodium benzoate. Increase in the concentration of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, serum total protein, albumin, globulin, urea and creatinine was found to be dose dependent. Severe histopathological damage was observed in the hepatic tissue at higher concentrations of sodium benzoate. It was noticed that high concentrations of sodium benzoate (200, 400 and 700 mg/kg b.wt) produce significant increase in inflammatory cytokine markers (TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1ß and IL-6) in comparison to control. Sodium benzoate at concentration of 70 mg/kg b.wt did not produce any significant changes in any of the above studied parameters.

Toxicological analysis of synthetic dye orange red on expression of NFκB-mediated inflammatory markers in Wistar rats.

Orange red is a food and cosmetic coloring agent made by the amalgamation of two azo dyes carmoisine and sunset yellow. The current study demonstrates the effect of different concentrations of orange red on antioxidant status, inflammatory biomarkers (TNFα, IFNγ, IL1ß, IL6, COX-2, iNOS, and NFκB/p65), biochemical enzymes, and liver histology. In totality, 25 male Wistar rats were procured and arbitrarily alienated into 5 different groups each with 5 animals. Group I was taken as the control. Groups II-V were designated as treatment groups. Groups II and III were administered with (5 and 25 mg/kg b.wt.) and groups IV and V with (150 and 300 mg/kg b.wt.) of orange red via oral gavage for 30 days. It was observed that both low and high concentrations of orange red (25, 150, and 300 mg/kg) remarkably augmented the levels of serum inflammatory cytokines (TNFα, IFNγ, IL1ß, and IL6) and the protein and gene expression of COX-2, iNOS, and NFκB/p65. A significant decrease in glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, superoxidase dismutase, and catalase activity was observed with increasing concentration of orange red. Furthermore, an increase in the level of several vital biochemical parameters and damage severity to hepatic tissue was also found dose dependent.

The influence of endophytes on rice fitness under environmental stresses.

KEY MESSAGE: Endophytes are crucial for the promotion of rice growth and stress tolerance and can be used to increase rice crop yield. Endophytes can thus be exploited in biotechnology and genetic engineering as eco-friendly and cost-effective means for the development of high-yielding and stress-tolerant rice plants. Rice (Oryza sativa) crop is continuously subjected to biotic and abiotic stresses, compromising growth and consequently yield. The situation is exacerbated by climate change impacting on ecosystems and biodiversity. Genetic engineering has been used to develop stress-tolerant rice, alongside physical and chemical methods to mitigate the effect of these stresses. However, the success of these strategies has been hindered by short-lived field success and public concern on adverse effects associated. The limited success in the field of stress-tolerant cultivars developed through breeding or transgenic approaches is due to the complex nature of stress tolerance as well as to the resistance breakdown caused by accelerated evolution of pathogens. It is therefore necessary to develop novel and acceptable strategies to enhance rice stress tolerance and durable resistance and consequently improve yield. In the last decade, plant growth promoting (PGP) microbes, especially endophytes, have drawn the attention of agricultural scientists worldwide, due to their ability to mitigate environmental stresses in crops, without causing adverse effects. Increasing evidence indicates that endophytes effectively confer fitness benefits also to rice under biotic and abiotic stress conditions. Endophyte-produced metabolites can control the expression of stress-responsive genes and improve the physiological performance and growth of rice plants. This review highlights the current evidence available for PGP microbe-promoted tolerance of rice to abiotic stresses such as salinity and drought and to biotic ones, with special emphasis on endophytes. Associated molecular mechanisms are illustrated, and prospects for sustainable rice production also in the light of the impending climate change, discussed.

Features and applications of haplotypes in crop breeding.

Climate change with altered pest-disease dynamics and rising abiotic stresses threatens resource-constrained agricultural production systems worldwide. Genomics-assisted breeding (GAB) approaches have greatly contributed to enhancing crop breeding efficiency and delivering better varieties. Fast-growing capacity and affordability of DNA sequencing has motivated large-scale germplasm sequencing projects, thus opening exciting avenues for mining haplotypes for breeding applications. This review article highlights ways to mine haplotypes and apply them for complex trait dissection and in GAB approaches including haplotype-GWAS, haplotype-based breeding, haplotype-assisted genomic selection. Improvement strategies that efficiently deploy superior haplotypes to hasten breeding progress will be key to safeguarding global food security.