Plant growth promoting potential of multifarious endophytic Pseudomonas lini strain isolated from Cicer arietinum L.

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum), one of the major pulse crops in India, endured extreme reduction in production due to various abiotic and biotic stresses. Endophytic bacteria residing in the nodules and roots of chickpea plants enable host in combating these stresses. Twenty one endophytic bacteria isolated from nodules and roots of chickpea were screened for multiple plant growth promoting traits like ammonia, organic acid, siderophore, hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and phytohormone indole acetic acid (IAA) production. Out of these, 86% isolates produced ammonia, around 50% isolates produced organic acid, HCN and siderophore, 29% isolates produced ACC (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid) deaminase, while only 14% isolates solubilized phosphate. Interestingly, all the isolates were able to produce IAA ranging from 11.6–85.2 μg/ml, isolate CPJN 13 being the maximum IAA producer (85.5±2.33 μg/ml). Isolate CPJN13 was selected for IAA optimization studies. The yield of IAA increased up to 4 fold i.e. 331±4.96 μg/ml at optimized conditions. IAA production was also confirmed by TLC and HPLC analysis of crude IAA extract. The application of CPJN13 on chickpea seedlings resulted in significant increase in plant growth parameters. The 16S rDNA sequencing of CPJN13 revealed its similarity with Pseudomonas lini strain and submitted to NCBI with accession number MF574502. To best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the presence of P. lini as endophyte in chickpea nodules. The results of this study imply that the endophytic P. lini has a potential role to enhance the plant growth.

Enhanced growth and antioxidant efficiency of Vigna radiata seedlings in the presence of titanium dioxide nanoparticles synthesized via the sonochemical method

Nanosized titanium dioxide (nTiO2) is one of the most diverse nanomaterials available today but inconclusive studies on the effects of nTiO2 on plants are withholding its successful application in agriculture. In the present work, an attempt has been made to evaluate the interaction of nTiO2 with Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek from the seed germination stage until the plants were 14 days old. TEM analysis revealed that nTiO2 was synthesized in the size range of 1–10 nm and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the crystal structure. The plants were raised hydroponically in nutrient solution spiked with two different concentrations of nTiO2 (10 and 100 mg L−1). Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) results established the accumulation of nTiO2 in leaves. In response to the presence of nTiO2, V. radiata plants performed better as indicated by their increased seed germination, root and shoot length, higher fresh and dry weight and elevated chlorophyll and flavonoid contents. Germination percentage of V. radiata seeds increased by about 22% at 10 mg L−1 and 14% at 100 mg L−1 nTiO2 concentration. Maximum stimulation of total chlorophyll, flavonoids and phenolic contents was observed at 100 mg L−1 nTiO2 concentration in 7-day old plants, where an astonishing 8 fold increase in chlorophyll, 3 fold increase in flavonoids and 2 fold increase in phenolics was observed. However, a decrease in carbohydrate and protein contents and an increase in lipid peroxidation also marked the presence of mild oxidative stress that was neutralized by increased activity of antioxdant enzymes namely catalase, glutathione reductase and glutathione-s-transferase. The activity of superoxide dismutase was more or less stable while glutathione peroxidase activity reduced compared to the control plants. The higher ABTS and DPPH free radical scavenging activities of the nTiO2 treated plants also supported effective neutralization of free radicals.

Genome wide identification of mungbean (Vigna radiata [L.] R. Wilczek) Late Embryogenesis Abundant (LEA) protein gene family

Mungbean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) an important legume crop with valuable nutritional and health benefits is severely affected by drought conditions. Desiccation tolerance is a capacity of seeds to survive and maintain physiological activities during storage and stress conditions. LEA proteins are group of stress associated proteins that help the plants survive water deficit stress. Here we have performed genome-wide analysis of mungbean LEA (VrLEA) genes, and also insilico physical/functional characterization. Gene-positioning showed that 307 VrLEAs are present in all the eleven chromosomes, but are unevenly distributed.Upstream promoter sequence analysis of LEA genes revealed the occurrence of MYB transcription factor (TF)in higher number compared to other TFs i.e., bZIP, AP2, WRKY, NAC and bHLH.Further, we downstreamed our analysis to fewer VrLEAs, based on drought responsive data. The VrLEAs obtained from the earlier experimental data were examined for its organelle localization and found that they are intracellular functional proteins.

Influence of Trichoderma spp on Macrophoma theicola branch canker disease in South Indian tea gardens, India

Branch canker disease caused by the fungus Macrophoma theicola is a major stem disease that reduces the yield of south Indian tea plantations. Hence the present study aimed to assess the efficacy of the biocontrol agent Trichoderma spp against various isolates of Macrophoma spp. For this matter, different tea-growing regions of south India were surveyed for the isolation and characterization of Macrophoma spp. Then, fungal biocontrol strains (Trichoderma viride, Trichoderma atroviride, Trichoderma harzianum, and Gliocladium virens) were procured from microbial type culture collection Centre (MTCC) to screen their antagonistic potential on different isolates Macrophoma spp. The spores of Macrophoma spp were examined through a light microscope and identified by their peculiar morphological features such as non-septum pycnidiospores present in the sac and oval shape spore with stalk and confirmed using 18S rRNA gene sequence. The results revealed that the biocontrol G. virens followed by T. harzianum showed a higher inhibitory effect on different isolates of Macrophoma spp in the dual plate and culture filtrate studies. In the well diffusion method, the fungal biocontrol agents were found to be exhibit non-significant differences on different isolates of branch canker pathogen. The hyphal interactions studies showed that the pathogenic hyphal wall shrunk and penetrated by the interaction of G. virens.

The first assessment of genetic diversity among Turkish leek accessions using molecular and morphological markers

Considering the high importance of leek as a vegetable crop, this species is rarely an object of molecular genetic studies. In this study, SRAP and ISSR markers were used for the first time to investigate the genetic diversity in Turkish leek accessions together with some morphological characters. The study was conducted in Erciyes University Faculty of Agriculture in 2018–2020. Thirty-seven local varieties were collected from different towns in Turkey. Also, nineteen leek accessions, which originated from different regions of Turkey, had been kindly obtained from Plant Gene Banks, USDA. Seventeen SRAP and three ISSR markers were screened; all of them exposing 137 reproducible bands, of which 114 resulted in polymorphic. Polymorphism information content (PIC) varied between 0.209 and 0.840. Genetic similarities varied from 0.563 to 0.960, with an average of 0.789. In addition to molecular markers, the entire gene pool was morphologically characterized over two-year data. For this purpose, eight characters, which play a key role in leek breeding, were measured. At the end of the study, the analyzes made according to the molecular and morphological data were compared both separately and in combination. In all groupings, it was found remarkable that the accessions numbered 98*3, 40*1, 40*4, and 40*6 were positioned differently from the others. These results have provided important insights into the genetic variability of Turkish leek accessions for the first time. Also, the diversity analysis performed in this study provides valuable information to researchers for future studies.

A revised list of seaweeds from the Red Sea (1756–2020)

A taxonomic list of macro marine algae (seaweeds) described in the literature for the Red Sea during the years 1756–2020 is presented. The list was prepared using existing published studies, local monitoring reports, as well as “grey” or unpublished lists of seaweeds for the area. Altogether, we examined more than 300 publications and compiled more than 900 taxonomic names, of which 576 correspond to valid species, whilst 355 names were considered synonyms for these species. The phylum Chlorophyta (green seaweeds) was represented by 37 currently accepted genera and 133 species (including 74 species synonyms). The phylum Ochrophyta (Phaeophyceae only; brown seaweeds) was represented by 52 genera, 157 species and 99 synonyms; and the phylum Rhodophyta (red seaweeds) by 130 genera, 286 species and 182 synonyms. The brown seaweed Sargassum appears to be a particularly biodiverse genus in the area represented by 58 species and 26 synonyms. Our study shows the inconsistency and lack of long-term taxonomic studies and recent molecular investigations of seaweeds from nearly the whole Red Sea.

Protective effect of Boldine against neuroinflammation in spinal cord injury in rats

The successful clinical management of spinal cord injury (SCI) is still a unmet medical need. Despite advances in novel therapeutics, the multifactorial etiology of SCI still poses significant challenge to the mankind. Thus, in the present study, we intend to scrutinize the protective effect of Boldine (BOL), an alkaloid obtained from the boldo tree against experimental spinal cord injury. The effect of BOL was investigated on locomotor function of rats with various biomarkers of oxidative stress (MDA, SOD and GSH), inflammation (TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6), and apoptosis. Results suggest that BOL showed improvement in locomotor function (on BBB scale) of rats with does-dependent reduction in oxidative stress and inflammation. It also reduces neuronal apoptosis in flow cytometry experiment. The study successfully demonstrated the possible clinical utility of BOL against SCI.

Comparative analysis of Phytochemical Constituents and Antioxidant activity of two Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cultivars

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is a widely used fruit, which contains several interesting bioactive compounds and possess health-promoting properties. Seeing the importance of this fruit, it is crucial to study its quality characteristics. Hence, in the current study, we assessed phenolic content, flavonoid content and antioxidant activity of different plant parts (leaves, rind and arils) of two pomegranate cultivars (Kesar and Ganesh). The analysis of phytochemical constituents in the cultivars revealed that, the content of phenolics ranged from 49.3 to 602 mg TAE/g plant material and the content of flavonoids ranged from 0.27 to 18.8 mg RE/g plant material. The maximum amount of phenolics and flavonoids was observed in the rind extracts as compared to the leaves and arils in both the cultivars. On the other hand, the antioxidant activity determined by different antioxidant models exhibited various degrees of antioxidant activity in different plant parts of the cultivars and was found to be highest in rind and aril extracts than that of leaves. Among the solvents methanol and ethanol gave highest extraction yields as compared to water and acetone. Total phenolics and flavonoids were significantly different with methanol and ethanol being the most efficient solvent and acetone being the least efficient one. Correlation between the antioxidant activity and phenolics and flavonoid content was found to be significant. Thus the results strongly indicated that there were significant differences between pomegranate cultivars. Generally the cultivar Ganesh has higher antioxidant activity as well as total phenolics and flavonoid content in comparison to Kesar.

Taxonomic notes on some species in the genus Clausena (Rutaceae) in China based on molecular and morphological data

Clausena (Rutaceae) is only one genus native both to the Monsoon region and to tropical and subtropical Africa in the subfamily Aurantioideae. The most distinctive morphological character in this genus is the gynophore supporting the ovary and the morphology of pistil can help to define the natural groups of species. Based on the morphological data of flowers and molecular phylogeny of ITS, trnL-F and atpB-rbcL, the taxonomic problems of some species in China are resolved here. The species C. lenis has a separate status in the genus Clausena, then C. lansium stands apart from other species except C. lenis; the species status of five species, C. odorata, C. vestita, C. dunniana, C. emarginata, and C. anisum-olens are restated.