scholarly journals Citrus Biotechnology: Current Innovations and Future Prospects

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ghulam Mustafa ◽  
Muhammad Usman ◽  
Faiz Ahmad Joyia ◽  
Muhammad Sarwar Khan

Citrus is a valuable fruit crop worldwide. It not only provides essential minerals and vitamins but is also of great commercial importance. Conventional research has contributed a lot to the improvement of this fruit plant. Numerous improved varieties have been developed through conventional breeding, mutational breeding, polyploidization and tissue culture yet pathogens continue to emerge at a consistent pace over a wide range of citrus species. Citriculture is vulnerable to various biotic and abiotic stresses which are quite difficult to be controlled through conventional research. Biotechnological intervention including transgenesis, genome editing, and OMICS offers several innovative options to resolve existing issues in this fruit crop. Genetic transformation has been established in many citrus species and transgenic plants have been developed having the ability to tolerate bacterial, viral, and fungal pathogens. Genome editing has also been worked out to develop disease-resistant plants. Likewise, advancement in OMICS has helped to improve citrus fruit through the knowledge of genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, interactomics, and phenomics. This chapter highlights not only the milestones achieved through conventional research but also briefs about the achievements attained through advanced molecular biology research.

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Gosslau ◽  
Chi-Tang Ho ◽  
Shiming Li

Chronic inflammation and dysregulation of apoptotic pathways leading to free radical-induced tissue damage are widely recognized as major underlying causes of major degenerative diseases, including cancer, diabetes, neurological and cardiovascular disorders. Citrus fruits are rich sources of polyphenolic flavonoids well known for their wide range of pharmacological properties. Rutin (quercetin-3-O-rutinoside) and diosmin (diosmetin 7-Orutinoside) are two major polyhydroxyflavone glycosides abundantly found in citrus peels and, to a lesser extent, in pulp of a variety of different citrus species. During digestion, hydrolysis by intestinal enzymes and gut microbiota lead to the release of their corresponding bioactive aglycones (e.g., quercetin or diosmetin). Data obtained in cell-based, animal and clinical studies demonstrated strong preventive and/or therapeutic effects of rutin and its aglycone flavone quercetin. Although lesser studies available, our recent literature review suggests diosmin as promising citrus fruit polyhydroxyflavonoids, effective against various diseases associated with chronic inflammation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-107
Author(s):  
Mariarosaria Leporini ◽  
Rosa Tundis ◽  
Vincenzo Sicari ◽  
Monica Rosa Loizzo

Citrus is the most cultivated fruit crop in the world and occupies a place of considerable importance in the country’s economy. Almost 33% of the citrus fruits are processed for juice production; however, a great amount of wastes, including peels, segment membranes, and seeds are also produced. Indeed, citrus fruits consist of 45% juice, 26% pulp, 27% peels, and 2% seeds. Pruning, a cultural practice involving the removal of tree branches and limbs, was applied to improve fruit’s quality. A large amount of leaves are produced through pruning. These agri-food matrices contain a wide range of bioactive phytochemicals compared to fruits. The present review covers the past 5 years of research carried out in chemistry, health properties, and applications in food and nutraceutical industries of all portions of citrus fruit and its major bioactive compounds. Additionally, patents are also included.


Weed Science ◽  
1979 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 497-501 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. D. Boyette ◽  
G. E. Templeton ◽  
R. J. Smith

An indigenous, host-specific, pathogenic fungus that parasitizes winged waterprimrose [Jussiaea decurrens(Walt.) DC.] is endemic in the rice growing region of Arkansas. The fungus was isolated and identified asColletotrichum gloeosporioides(Penz.) Sacc. f.sp. jussiaeae(CGJ). It is highly specific for parasitism of winged waterprimrose and not parasitic on creeping waterprimrose (J. repensL. var.glabrescensKtze.), rice (Oryza sativaL.), soybeans [Glycine max(L.) Merr.], cotton (Gossypium hirsutumL.), or 4 other crops and 13 other weeds. The fungus was physiologically distinct from C.gloeosporioides(Penz.) Sacc. f. sp.aeschynomene(CGA), an endemic anthracnose pathogen of northern jointvetch[Aeschynomene virginica(L.) B.S.P.], as indicated by cross inoculations of both weeds. Culture in the laboratory and inoculation of winged waterprimrose in greenhouse, growth chamber and field experiments indicated that the pathogen was stable, specific, and virulent in a wide range of environments. The pathogen yielded large quantities of spores in liquid culture. It is suitable for control of winged waterprimrose. Winged waterprimrose and northern jointvetch were controlled in greenhouse and field tests by application of spore mixtures of CGJ and CGA at concentrations of 1 to 2 million spores/ml of each fungus in 94 L/ha of water; the fungi did not damage rice or nontarget crops.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. 505
Author(s):  
Ping Zhang ◽  
Yu Wang ◽  
Chenxi Li ◽  
Xiaoyu Ma ◽  
Lan Ma ◽  
...  

Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus deneoformans are opportunistic fungal pathogens found worldwide that are utilized to reveal mechanisms of fungal pathogenesis. However, their low homologous recombination frequency has greatly encumbered genetic studies. In preliminary work, we described a ‘suicide’ CRISPR-Cas9 system for use in the efficient gene editing of C. deneoformans, but this has not yet been used in the C. neoformans strain. The procedures involved in constructing vectors are time-consuming, whether they involve restriction enzyme-based cloning of donor DNA or the introduction of a target sequence into the gRNA expression cassette via overlap PCR, as are sophisticated, thus impeding their widespread application. Here, we report the optimized and simplified construction method for all-in-one CRISPR-Cas9 vectors that can be used in C. neoformans and C. deneoformans strains respectively, named pNK003 (Genbank: MW938321) and pRH003 (Genbank: KX977486). Taking several gene manipulations as examples, we also demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the new simplified all-in-one CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing tools in both Serotype A and Serotype D strains, as well as their ability to eliminate Cas9 and gDNA cassettes after gene editing. We anticipate that the availability of new vectors that can simplify and streamline the technical steps for all-in-one CRISPR-Cas9 construction could accelerate genetic studies of the Cryptococcus species.


Author(s):  
Gesa Busch ◽  
Erin Ryan ◽  
Marina A. G. von Keyserlingk ◽  
Daniel M. Weary

AbstractPublic opinion can affect the adoption of genome editing technologies. In food production, genome editing can be applied to a wide range of applications, in different species and with different purposes. This study analyzed how the public responds to five different applications of genome editing, varying the species involved and the proposed purpose of the modification. Three of the applications described the introduction of disease resistance within different species (human, plant, animal), and two targeted product quality and quantity in cattle. Online surveys in Canada, the US, Austria, Germany and Italy were carried out with a total sample size of 3698 participants. Using a between-subject design, participants were confronted with one of the five applications and asked to decide whether they considered it right or wrong. Perceived risks, benefits, and the perception of the technology as tampering with nature were surveyed and were complemented with socio-demographics and a measure of the participants’ moral foundations. In all countries, participants evaluated the application of disease resistance in humans as most right to do, followed by disease resistance in plants, and then in animals, and considered changes in product quality and quantity in cattle as least right to do. However, US and Italian participants were generally more positive toward all scenarios, and German and Austrian participants more negative. Cluster analyses identified four groups of participants: ‘strong supporters’ who saw only benefits and little risks, ‘slight supporters’ who perceived risks and valued benefits, ‘neutrals’ who showed no pronounced opinion, and ‘opponents’ who perceived higher risks and lower benefits. This research contributes to understanding public response to applications of genome editing, revealing differences that can help guide decisions related to adoption of these technologies.


Author(s):  
Albert P. Kausch ◽  
Kimberly Nelson-Vasilchik ◽  
Michael Tilelli ◽  
Joel P. Hague

Author(s):  
G. M. Waterhouse

Abstract A description is provided for Phytophthora nicotianae var. parasitica. Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. HOSTS: On a very wide range of host plants comprising 58 families including: avocado, castor, Cinchona spp., citrus, cotton, eggplant, guava, lucerne, papaw, parsley, pineapple, Piper betle, rhubarb, sesame, strawberry, tomato. DISEASES: Damping-off of seedlings (tomato, castor, citrus, cotton); root rot (citrus, avocado, strawberry, lucerne); crown rot (parsley, rhubarb, strawberry, lucerne); brown stem rot of tobacco; stem canker and tip blight of Cinchona spp. ; leaf blight (castor, sesame, pineapple, Piper betle) and fruit rot (citrus, tomato, guava, papaw, eggplant). GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Africa (Ethiopia, Mali, Madagascar, Mauritius, Morocco, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Southern Rhodesia, Tanganyika); Asia (Burma, Ceylon, China, Formosa, India, Israel, Japan, Java, Malaya, Philippines); Australia & Oceania (Australia, Hawaii, Tasmania); Europe (Cyprus, France, Germany, Great Britain, Holland, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Portugal, U.S.S.R.); North America (Bermuda, Canada, Mexico, U.S.A.); Central America & West Indies (Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Jamaica, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Trinidad);. South America (Argentina, Brazil, British Guiana, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela). TRANSMISSION: Soil-borne, spreading rapidly after heavy rain or where soil remains moist or water-logged (40: 470). Also recorded in drainage water in India and in reservoirs and canals supplying citrus groves in U.S.A. (23: 45; 39: 24). A method for determining a disease potential index in soil using lemon fruit has been described (38: 4). Also present in testas of seeds from diseased citrus fruit which may infect nursery seedbeds (37: 165).


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tingdong Li ◽  
Jiacheng Hu ◽  
Yu Sun ◽  
Boshu Li ◽  
Dingliang Zhang ◽  
...  

1998 ◽  
Vol 42 (11) ◽  
pp. 2863-2869 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Herreros ◽  
C. M. Martinez ◽  
M. J. Almela ◽  
M. S. Marriott ◽  
F. Gomez De Las Heras ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT GM 193663, GM 211676, GM 222712, and GM 237354 are new semisynthetic derivatives of the sordarin class. The in vitro antifungal activities of GM 193663, GM 211676, GM 222712, and GM 237354 against 111 clinical yeast isolates of Candida albicans,Candida kefyr, Candida glabrata, Candida parapsilosis, Candida krusei, and Cryptococcus neoformans were compared. The in vitro activities of some of these compounds against Pneumocystis carinii, 20 isolates each of Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus, and 30 isolates of emerging less-common mold pathogens and dermatophytes were also compared. The MICs of GM 193663, GM 211676, GM 222712, and GM 237354 at which 90% of the isolates were inhibited (MIC90s) were 0.03, 0.03, 0.004, and 0.015 μg/ml, respectively, for C. albicans, including strains with decreased susceptibility to fluconazole; 0.5, 0.5, 0.06, and 0.12 μg/ml, respectively, for C. tropicalis; and 0.004, 0.015, 0.008, and 0.03 μg/ml, respectively, forC. kefyr. GM 222712 and GM 237354 were the most active compounds against C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, and Cryptococcus neoformans. AgainstC. glabrata and C. parapsilosis, the MIC90s of GM 222712 and GM 237354 were 0.5 and 4 μg/ml and 1 and 16 μg/ml, respectively. The MIC90s of GM 222712 and GM 237354 againstCryptococcus neoformans were 0.5 and 0.25 μg/ml, respectively. GM 193663, GM 211676, GM 222712, and GM 237354 were extremely active against P. carinii. The efficacies of sordarin derivatives against this organism were determined by measuring the inhibition of the uptake and incorporation of radiolabelled methionine into newly synthesized proteins. All compounds tested showed 50% inhibitory concentrations of <0.008 μg/ml. Against A. flavus and A. fumigatus, the MIC90s of GM 222712 and GM 237354 were 1 and 32 μg/ml and 32 and >64 μg/ml, respectively. In addition, GM 237354 was tested against the most important emerging fungal pathogens which affect immunocompromised patients. Cladosporium carrioni, Pseudallescheria boydii, and the yeast-like fungi Blastoschizomyces capitatus and Geotrichum clavatum were the most susceptible of the fungi to GM 237354, with MICs ranging from ≤0.25 to 2 μg/ml. The MICs of GM 237354 against Trichosporon beigelii and the zygomycetesAbsidia corymbifera, Cunninghamella bertholletiae, and Rhizopus arrhizus ranged from ≤0.25 to 8 μg/ml. Against dermatophytes, GM 237354 MICs were ≥2 μg/ml. In summary, we concluded that some sordarin derivatives, such as GM 222712 and GM 237354, showed excellent in vitro activities against a wide range of pathogenic fungi, includingCandida spp., Cryptococcus neoformans, P. carinii, and some filamentous fungi and emerging invasive fungal pathogens.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophia Tsouka ◽  
Meric Ataman ◽  
Tuure Hameri ◽  
Ljubisa Miskovic ◽  
Vassily Hatzimanikatis

AbstractThe advancements in genome editing techniques over the past years have rekindled interest in rational metabolic engineering strategies. While Metabolic Control Analysis (MCA) is a well-established method for quantifying the effects of metabolic engineering interventions on flows in metabolic networks and metabolic concentrations, it fails to account for the physiological limitations of the cellular environment and metabolic engineering design constraints. We report here a constraint-based framework based on MCA, Network Response Analysis (NRA), for the rational genetic strain design that incorporates biologically relevant constraints, as well as genome editing restrictions. The NRA core constraints being similar to the ones of Flux Balance Analysis, allow it to be used for a wide range of optimization criteria and with various physiological constraints. We show how the parametrization and introduction of biological constraints enhance the NRA formulation compared to the classical MCA approach, and we demonstrate its features and its ability to generate multiple alternative optimal strategies given several user-defined boundaries and objectives. In summary, NRA is a sophisticated alternative to classical MCA for rational metabolic engineering that accommodates the incorporation of physiological data at metabolic flux, metabolite concentration, and enzyme expression levels.


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