Genetic gains in forage sorghum for adaptive traits for non - conventional area through multi-trait-based stability selection methods.

Introduction: In the Asian tropics, unpredictable weather increases the risk of abiotic stresses in sorghum areas, making it harder to meet predicted demand. Genotype-by environment interaction (GEI) and the lack of an effective multi-trait-based selection approach make it challenging to breed climateresilient forage sorghum that adapts to nonconventional areas. Methods: The present investigation carried out to estimate genetic parameters, inter trait associations, genetic gain under selection (SGs) of 95 diverse forage sorghum genotypes. Fourteen forage yield and other secondary traits were evaluated at five different growing seasons at two locations. Negative and positive genetic gains under selection were estimated across different growing seasons including Kharif, Rabi and Summer in the year 2020 and 2021. Results and discussion: The GEI effects were significant (P < 0.001) for all the studied traits. The multi trait based stability indices have been said to assist breeders in ensuring sustained progress in primary traits likeforage yield without sacrificing genetic advancement in secondary traits. Fourteen genotypes were selected through each evaluation methods including genotype - ideotype distance index (MGIDI), multi-trait stability index (MTSI), multi-trait stability and mean performance (MTMPS) and multi-trait index based on factor analysis and genotype-ideotype distance (FAIBLUP Index), assuming 15% selection intensity. According to MGIDI, the selected genotypes exhibited desired positive genetic gains for dry forage yield per plant, inter-nodal length, green forage yield per plant, and plant height and negative genetic gains for days to 50% flowering. The strength and weakness plot is a potential graphical tool as portrayed by MGIDI, to identify and develop desirable genotype for particular environment. Two genotypes, G36 (302B) and G89 (348B) were found to be common across all four evaluation methods based on all the studied traits. Background: Multi-trait stability evaluation approaches are reliable and accessible for selecting multiple traits under varied testing environments with low multicollinearity issues. These tools proved effective in enhancing selection strategies and optimising breeding schemes for the development of climate-resilient forage sorghum genotypes. The aforementioned genotypes were found to be the most reliable, high-yielding, and earlymaturing and could be suggested for variety and hybrid development and ideotype breeding programmes to ensure the food and nutritional security.

Unveiling the Genetic Symphony: Harnessing CRISPR-Cas Genome Editing for Effective Insect Pest Management.

Phytophagous insects pose a significant threat to global crop yield and food security. The need for increased agricultural output while reducing dependence on harmful synthetic insecticides necessitates the implementation of innovative methods. The utilization of CRISPR-Cas (Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) technology to develop insect pest-resistant plants is believed to be a highly effective approach in reducing production expenses and enhancing the profitability of farms. Insect genome research provides vital insights into gene functions, allowing for a better knowledge of insect biology, adaptability, and the development of targeted pest management and disease prevention measures. The CRISPR-Cas gene editing technique has the capability to modify the DNA of insects, either to trigger a gene drive or to overcome their resistance to specific insecticides. The advancements in CRISPR technology and its various applications have shown potential in developing insect-resistant varieties of plants and other strategies for effective pest management through a sustainable approach. This could have significant consequences for ensuring food security. This approach involves using genome editing to create modified insects or crop plants. The article critically analyzed and discussed the potential and challenges associated with exploring and utilizing CRISPR-Cas technology for reducing insect pest pressure in crop plants.

Insect-pathogen crosstalk and the cellular-molecular mechanisms of insect immunity: uncovering the underlying signaling pathways and immune regulatory function of non-coding RNAs.

Multicellular organisms are constantly subjected to pathogens that might be harmful. Although insects lack an adaptive immune system, they possess highly effective anti-infective mechanisms. Bacterial phagocytosis and parasite encapsulation are some forms of cellular responses. Insects often defend themselves against infections through a humoral response. This phenomenon includes the secretion of antimicrobial peptides into the hemolymph. Specific receptors for detecting infection are required for the recognition of foreign pathogens such as the proteins that recognize glucans and peptidoglycans, together referred to as PGRPs and ßGRPs. Activation of these receptors leads to the stimulation of signaling pathways which further activates the genes encoding for antimicrobial peptides. Some instances of such pathways are the JAK-STAT, Imd, and Toll. The host immune response that frequently accompanies infections has, however, been circumvented by diseases, which may have assisted insects evolve their own complicated immune systems. The role of ncRNAs in insect immunology has been discussed in several notable studies and reviews. This paper examines the most recent research on the immune regulatory function of ncRNAs during insect-pathogen crosstalk, including insect- and pathogen-encoded miRNAs and lncRNAs, and provides an overview of the important insect signaling pathways and effector mechanisms activated by diverse pathogen invaders.

Underutilized legumes: nutrient status and advanced breeding approaches for qualitative and quantitative enhancement.

Underutilized/orphan legumes provide food and nutritional security to resource-poor rural populations during periods of drought and extreme hunger, thus, saving millions of lives. The Leguminaceae, which is the third largest flowering plant family, has approximately 650 genera and 20,000 species and are distributed globally. There are various protein-rich accessible and edible legumes, such as soybean, cowpea, and others; nevertheless, their consumption rate is far higher than production, owing to ever-increasing demand. The growing global urge to switch from an animal-based protein diet to a vegetarian-based protein diet has also accelerated their demand. In this context, underutilized legumes offer significant potential for food security, nutritional requirements, and agricultural development. Many of the known legumes like Mucuna spp., Canavalia spp., Sesbania spp., Phaseolus spp., and others are reported to contain comparable amounts of protein, essential amino acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), dietary fiber, essential minerals and vitamins along with other bioactive compounds. Keeping this in mind, the current review focuses on the potential of discovering underutilized legumes as a source of food, feed and pharmaceutically valuable chemicals, in order to provide baseline data for addressing malnutrition-related problems and sustaining pulse needs across the globe. There is a scarcity of information about underutilized legumes and is restricted to specific geographical zones with local or traditional significance. Around 700 genera and 20,000 species remain for domestication, improvement, and mainstreaming. Significant efforts in research, breeding, and development are required to transform existing local landraces of carefully selected, promising crops into types with broad adaptability and economic viability. Different breeding efforts and the use of biotechnological methods such as micro-propagation, molecular markers research and genetic transformation for the development of underutilized crops are offered to popularize lesser-known legume crops and help farmers diversify their agricultural systems and boost their profitability.

Insight into aphid mediated Potato Virus Y transmission: A molecular to bioinformatics prospective.

Potato, the world's most popular crop is reported to provide a food source for nearly a billion people. It is prone to a number of biotic stressors that affect yield and quality, out of which Potato Virus Y (PVY) occupies the top position. PVY can be transmitted mechanically and by sap-feeding aphid vectors. The application of insecticide causes an increase in the resistant vector population along with detrimental effects on the environment; genetic resistance and vector-virus control are the two core components for controlling the deadly PVY. Using transcriptomic tools together with differential gene expression and gene discovery, several loci and genes associated with PVY resistance have been widely identified. To combat this virus we must increase our understanding on the molecular response of the PVY-potato plant-aphid interaction and knowledge of genome organization, as well as the function of PVY encoded proteins, genetic diversity, the molecular aspects of PVY transmission by aphids, and transcriptome profiling of PVY infected potato cultivars. Techniques such as molecular and bioinformatics tools can identify and monitor virus transmission. Several studies have been conducted to understand the molecular basis of PVY resistance/susceptibility interactions and their impact on PVY epidemiology by studying the interrelationship between the virus, its vector, and the host plant. This review presents current knowledge of PVY transmission, epidemiology, genome organization, molecular to bioinformatics responses, and its effective management.

Combatting insects mediated biotic stress through plant associated endophytic entomopathogenic fungi in horticultural crops.

Horticultural production is a vital catalyst for economic growth, yet insect infestations reduce horticultural crop yield and quality. Pesticides and other pest control methods are used during planting to eliminate pests that cause direct and indirect losses. In such situations, endophytic entomo-pathogenic fungi (EEPF) can act as a potential tools for biological control. They protect plants by boosting growth, nutrition, morpho-physiology and salt or iron tolerance. Antixenosis, antibiosis and plant tolerance change insect performance and preferences. EEPF- plant colonisation slows herbivore development, food consumption, oviposition and larval survival. EEPF changes plant physio-chemical properties like volatile emission profile and secondary metabolite production to regulate insect pest defences. EEPF produces chitinases, laccases, amylases, and cellulases for plant defence. Recent studies focused on EEPF species' significance, isolation, identification and field application. Realizing their full potential is difficult due to insufficient mass production, storage stability and formulation. Genetic-molecular and bioinformatics can help to build EEPF-based biological control systems. Metagenomics helps study microbial EEPF taxonomy and function. Multi-omics and system biology can decode EEPF interactions with host plants and microorganisms. NGS (Next Generation Sequencing), comparative genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, metatranscriptomics and microarrays are used to evaluate plant-EEPF relationships. IPM requires understanding the abiotic and biotic elements that influence plant-EEPF interaction and the physiological mechanisms of EEPF colonisation. Due to restricted research, there are hundreds of unexplored EEPFs, providing an urgent need to uncover and analyse them.

Proofing Direct-Seeded Rice with Better Root Plasticity and Architecture.

The underground reserve (root) has been an uncharted research territory with its untapped genetic variation yet to be exploited. Identifying ideal traits and breeding new rice varieties with efficient root system architecture (RSA) has great potential to increase resource-use efficiency and grain yield, especially under direct-seeded rice, by adapting to aerobic soil conditions. In this review, we tried to mine the available research information on the direct-seeded rice (DSR) root system to highlight the requirements of different root traits such as root architecture, length, number, density, thickness, diameter, and angle that play a pivotal role in determining the uptake of nutrients and moisture at different stages of plant growth. RSA also faces several stresses, due to excess or deficiency of moisture and nutrients, low or high temperature, or saline conditions. To counteract these hindrances, adaptation in response to stress becomes essential. Candidate genes such as early root growth enhancer PSTOL1, surface rooting QTL qSOR1, deep rooting gene DRO1, and numerous transporters for their respective nutrients and stress-responsive factors have been identified and validated under different circumstances. Identifying the desired QTLs and transporters underlying these traits and then designing an ideal root architecture can help in developing a suitable DSR cultivar and aid in further advancement in this direction.