Current Knowledge on Pathogenicity and Management of Stemphylium botryosum in Lentils (Lens culinaris ssp. culinaris Medik).

Stemphylium blight (SB) caused by Ascomycete, Stemphylium botryosum Wallr. has been a serious threat to lentil cultivation, mainly in Bangladesh, Nepal, India, and Canada since its first outbreak in Bangladesh in 1986. The genus Stemphylium Wallr., a dematiaceous hyphomycete, comprises up to 150 species, and is pathogenic on a wide range of plants infecting leguminous as well as nonleguminous crops. In recent years, studies indicated overlapping in morphological characters among the different species under the genus Stemphylium, making the identification and description of species difficult. This necessitates different molecular phylogenetic analysis in species delimitation. Therefore, a detailed understanding of spatial diversity and population structure of the pathogen is pertinent for producing source material for resistance breeding. The role of different weather variables as predisposing factors for the rapid spread of the pathogen necessitates devising a disease predictive model for the judicial application of fungicides. A dearth of information regarding spore biology, epidemiology, race diversity, host-pathogen interaction, and holistic disease management approach necessitates immediate attention towards more intensive research efforts. This is the first comprehensive review on the current state of knowledge and research efforts being made for a better understanding of the SB resistance through cognizing biology, ecology, and epidemiology of S. botryosum and effective disease management strategies to prevent widespread outbreaks of SB. The information regarding the biology and epidemiology of S. botryosum is also crucial for strengthening the "Integrated Disease Management" (IDM) programme. The need for a regional research network is advocated where the disease is becoming endemic.

Versatility of germin-like proteins in their sequences, expressions, and functions.

Germin-like proteins (GLPs) are evolutionary conserved ubiquitous plant glycoproteins belonging to the cupin superfamily. A large number of GLP family members have been identified from different higher and lower plant species, and those have been classified into different subfamilies. Although three histidine residues (H) and one glutamate residue (E) in germin box B and C were conserved among all the GLP subfamily members, how the sequences of one subfamily member differ from the other is unclear. Progress in the field of genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics has made it possible to understand the variation at gene level among different GLP members from diverse genera and also their biological significances. GLPs from different plant species were found to have various enzymatic properties including oxalate oxidase (OxO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), ADP glucose pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase (AGPPase), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activities. 'Omics' study demonstrated the expression as well as involvement of GLP family members in almost every part of higher plants as well as in lower plants. Additionally, GLPs from different species were reported to be involved in biotic as well as abiotic stresses and also in the growth and development. This review describes the present research status of GLPs from different plant species, their expressions, and functional significances. Sequence variation was detected among GLP subfamily members at the amino acid level, and based on the sequence variation and phylogenetic analyses, two new GLP subfamilies have been proposed in this review.

Nine novel DNA components associated with the foorkey disease of large cardamom: evidence of a distinct babuvirus species in Nanoviridae.

Foorkey disease is a serious constraint to the production of large cardamom (Amomum subulatum, family Zingiberaceae). The disease is characterized by profuse proliferation of excessive stunted shoots, which makes the clump totally unproductive. The disease has been known in India since 1936 but the complete genome of the virus had not yet been characterized. In a preliminary study, an associated virus tentatively named as Cardamom bushy dwarf virus (CBDV) was identified based on the partial sequence of a single DNA component (DNA-R). In the present study, a high incidence (37.2-39.3%) of foorkey was recorded in certain plantations in the Darjeeling hills located at lower altitudes (300-1380 m) and CBDV was detected in several field samples by PCR. Nine novel DNA components were isolated and characterized from foorkey affected plants. CBDV contained six major DNA components (DNA-R, -S, -M, -C, -N and -U3) similar to the integral genome components known for the members of the genus Babuvirus in the family Nanoviridae. Additional components, satellite Rep (DNA-sRep1) and unknown components (DNA-Uf1 and -Uf2) were also identified. The size of the genome components ranged from 1028 to 1127. The sequence identity and phylogeny based on the individual components as well as overall genome (59.8-62% identity) distinguished CBDV from the two existing babuvirus species, Banana bunchy top virus and Abaca bunchy top virus. CBDV is the first distinct babuvirus species that affects plant species outside family Musaceae. This study shows further diversity in the genus Babuvirus.