Adoption of CRISPR-Cas for crop production: present status and future prospects.

Background: Global food systems in recent years have been impacted by some harsh environmental challenges and excessive anthropogenic activities. The increasing levels of both biotic and abiotic stressors have led to a decline in food production, safety, and quality. This has also contributed to a low crop production rate and difficulty in meeting the requirements of the ever-growing population.

Draft genome sequence of strains AOA1 and AKS2, the potential plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria.

This report describes the draft genome sequence of strains AOA1 and AKS2 isolated from maize rhizosphere soil in South Africa. plays important biological roles as plant growth promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR). strains also exhibit numerous biotechnological application potentials in agriculture and diverse industrial settings.

Impacts of anthropogenic disturbance on forest vegetation cover, health, and diversity within Doma forest reserve, Nigeria.

Forest encroachment is a common practice that has led to the destruction of canopy trees in the Guinea savanna part of Nigeria. This study investigated the influence of human activities on vegetation health and species composition of Doma forest reserve located in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Landsat satellite data from 1986 to 2021 were utilized to assess forest cover change, land surface temperature (LST), and vegetation indices (VIs).

Draft genome sequence of sp. AYS6, a potential plant growth-promoting endophyte.

Here, we report the draft genome sequence of . AYS6, an endophyte isolated from the roots of maize plant in Mafikeng, South Africa. The genome was 7,072,605 bp and exhibited a GC content of 45.

Dataset of shotgun metagenomic evaluation of lettuce ( L.) rhizosphere microbiome.

Lettuce ( L.) is an important vegetable grown and consumed across the world, including South Africa and its rhizosphere constitutes a dynamic community of root associated microbes. Dataset of the microbial community profile of the lettuce rhizospheric soils obtained from Talton, Gauteng Province of South Africa was subjected to metagenomic evaluation using the shotgun approach.

Maize rhizosphere modulates the microbiome diversity and community structure to enhance plant health.

Metagenomic has been explored in investigating microbiome diversity. However, there is limited available information on its application towards securing plant health. Hence, this study adopts the metagenomic approach to unravel the microbiome diversity associated with healthy (LI and MA) and Northern corn leaf blight (NCLB) infected (LID and MAD) maize rhizosphere in the maize growing field at Lichtenburg and Mafikeng, North-West province of South Africa.

Characterization and antagonistic potentials of selected rhizosphere species against some species.

fungi have been proved as efficient bioagents with great antifungal properties while many species in the plant's rhizospheres have been characterized as plant growth-promoting agents. However, many rhizosphere are yet to be fully explored for plant disease management. In this study, species were isolated from the rhizosphere of maize, banana, and cassava, and their biocontrol potentials were screened against some species from oak leaves (F2B and F3) and laboratory cultures (Fus 296 and Fus 294).

Shotgun Metagenomic Survey of the Diseased and Healthy Maize (Zea mays L.) Rhizobiomes.

The effective functioning of the rhizosphere microbiome significantly contributes to plant development, disease resistance, and agricultural sustainability. Hence, it is a major predictor of plant health. This study evaluated the microbial diversities and functions associated with healthy and diseased maize rhizosphere at selected farms in North West Province, South Africa.

Trichoderma: Potential bio-resource for the management of tomato root rot diseases in Africa.

Trichoderma spp. are among the front-line microorganisms commonly employed in novel biotechnology applications. They have been well-proven as biopesticides, biofertilizers, and biostimulants for managing plants against biotic and abiotic stresses.

Plant Disease Management: Leveraging on the Plant-Microbe-Soil Interface in the Biorational Use of Organic Amendments.

Agriculture is faced with many challenges including loss of biodiversity, chemical contamination of soils, and plant pests and diseases, all of which can directly compromise plant productivity and health. In addition, inadequate agricultural practices which characterize conventional farming play a contributory role in the disruption of the plant-microbe and soil-plant interactions. This review discusses the role of organic amendments in the restoration of soil health and plant disease management.

The impact of tantalite mining on the flora diversity in Nasarawa state, Nigeria.

The activities of the artisanals and small-scale miners in Nasarawa state, Nigeria, are increasing daily without considering the loss of biodiversity, which has continuously disrupted ecological functions and environmental balance. The study aimed at investigating the effect of tantalite mining activities on flora diversity. Three study sites were selected for floristic data collection, comprising tantalite mining site A situated in Azara, Awe LGA; tantalite mining site B situated in Tunga, Awe LGA; and referred site C situated along the Makurdi-Obi Road, Lafia LGA.