Genomic insights into CKX genes: key players in cotton fibre development and abiotic stress responses.

Cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase (CKX), responsible for irreversible cytokinin degradation, also controls plant growth and development and response to abiotic stress. While the gene has been studied in other plants extensively, its function in cotton is still unknown. Therefore, a genome-wide study to identify the gene family in the four cotton species was conducted using transcriptomics, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and bioinformatics.

Decoding drought resilience: a comprehensive exploration of the cotton Eceriferum (CER) gene family and its role in stress adaptation.

Background: The cuticular wax serves as a primary barrier that protects plants from environmental stresses. The Eceriferum (CER) gene family is associated with wax production and stress resistance.

Results: In a genome-wide identification study, a total of 52 members of the CER family were discovered in four Gossypium species: G.

Assessing the performance of Moghani crossbred lambs derived from different mating systems with Texel and Booroola sheep.

In our ongoing project, which focuses on the introgression of Booroola/FecB gene and the myostatin (MSTN) gene into purebred Moghani sheep, we assessed the performance of second-generation Moghani crossbreds such as second crossbreds (F2) and initial backcross generation (BC1). These crossbreds were generated through different mating systems, including in-breeding, outcrossing, first paternal backcrossing (PBC1), and first maternal backcrossing (MBC1). Notably, F2 strains exhibited lean tail, woolly fleece and a higher percentage of white coat color compared to BC1.

Genome-wide data suggest a revision in management of the Caspian Sea trout Salmo caspius.

Salmo caspius Kessler, 1877 is one of the most commercially important species of Salmonidae in the southern basin of the Caspian Sea. The occurrence of its wild populations has undergone sever reduction during the last years. In spite of the yearly restocking activity, still no progress on the recovery of its wild population has been observed.

Comparison of the growth performance between pure Moghani sheep and crosses with Texel or Booroola sheep carrying major genes contributing to muscularity and prolificacy.

This study aimed to compare growth performance between Moghani sheep and crossbred lambs resulting from crossbreeding between Moghani pure breed ewes and the lines of rams e.g., Texel Tamlet, Texel Dalzell, Booroola Merino, and Booroola Romney.

Genetic basis of muscle-related traits in sheep: A review.

Sheep is a major contributor to global food production among livestock and one of the great sources of red meat for human consumption. Several QTL and numerous genes with major and minor effects have been identified in association with the muscle characteristics in sheep breeds worldwide. Understanding the genetic background of growth and carcass-related traits in sheep is a major factor in increasing muscle growth, muscle hypertrophy and, eventually, meat production.

Study of QTLs linked to awn length and their relationships with chloroplasts under control and saline environments in bread wheat.

Introduction: Some studies in wheat showed that awns may have a useful effect on yield, especially under drought stress. Up to this time few researches has identified the awn length QTLs with different effect in salinity stress.

Objective: The primary objective of this study was to examine the additive (a) and the epistatic (aa) QTLs involve in wheat awns length in control and saline environments.

MicroRNAs regulate the main events in rice drought stress response by manipulating the water supply to shoots.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small endogenous regulatory RNAs that are involved in a variety of biological processes related to proliferation, development, and response to biotic and abiotic stresses. miRNA profiles of rice (Oryza sativa L. cv.

MicroRNA Signatures of Drought Signaling in Rice Root.

Background: Drought stress is one of the most important abiotic stresses and the main constraint to rice agriculture. MicroRNA-mediated post-transcriptional gene regulation is one of the ways to establish drought stress tolerance in plants. MiRNAs are 20-24-nt regulatory RNAs that play an important role in regulating plant gene expression upon exposure to biotic and abiotic stresses.

In-Depth Transcriptome Sequencing of Mexican Lime Trees Infected with Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia.

Witches' broom disease of acid lime greatly affects the production of Mexican lime in Iran. It is caused by a phytoplasma (Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia). However, the molecular mechanisms that underlie phytoplasma pathogenicity and the mode of interactions with host plants are largely unknown.

Phytoplasma-Responsive microRNAs Modulate Hormonal, Nutritional, and Stress Signalling Pathways in Mexican Lime Trees.

Background: Witches' broom disease of Mexican lime (Citrus aurantifolia L.), which is associated to the phytoplasma 'Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia', is a devastating disease that results in significant economic losses. Plants adapt to biotic stresses by regulating gene expression at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels.

A proteomics approach to study the molecular basis of enhanced salt tolerance in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) conferred by the root mutualistic fungus Piriformospora indica.

Piriformospora indica is a root-interacting mutualistic fungus capable of enhancing plant growth, increasing plant resistance to a wide variety of pathogens, and improving plant stress tolerance under extreme environmental conditions. Understanding the molecular mechanisms by which P. indica can improve plant tolerance to stresses will pave the way to identifying the major mechanisms underlying plant adaptability to environmental stresses.

Shotgun proteomic analysis of the Mexican lime tree infected with "CandidatusPhytoplasma aurantifolia".

Infection of Mexican lime trees (Citrus aurantifolia L.) with the specialized bacterium "CandidatusPhytoplasma aurantifolia" causes witches' broom disease. Witches' broom disease has the potential to cause significant economic losses throughout western Asia and North Africa.

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy.

In 2008 we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, research on this topic has continued to accelerate, and many new scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding.

Isolation and characterization of a first set of polymorphic microsatellite markers in saffron, Crocus sativus (Iridaceae).

Premise Of The Study: Twelve novel polymorphic microsatellite loci were developed and characterized from a repeat-enriched genomic library of Crocus sativus to study population and conservation genetics of this economically and medically important species.

Methods And Results: The microsatellite loci were isolated using a modified Fast Isolation by AFLP of Sequences COntaining repeats (FIASCO) method. The average number of alleles per locus was 2.

Draft genome sequence of Ureibacillus thermosphaericus strain thermo-BF, isolated from Ramsar hot springs in Iran.

Ureibacillus thermosphaericus strain Thermo-BF is an aerobic, thermophilic bacillus which has been characterized to biosynthesize gold nanoparticles. Here we present the draft genome sequence of Ureibacillus thermosphaericus strain Thermo-BF which consists of a 2,864,162-bp chromosome. This is the first report of a shotgun sequenced draft genome of a species in the Ureibacillus genus.

Identification and validation of Asteraceae miRNAs by the expressed sequence tag analysis.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules that play a vital role in the regulation of gene expression. Despite their identification in hundreds of plant species, few miRNAs have been identified in the Asteraceae, a large family that comprises approximately one tenth of all flowering plants. In this study, we used the expressed sequence tag (EST) analysis to identify potential conserved miRNAs and their putative target genes in the Asteraceae.

Proteomic analysis of the Mexican lime tree response to "Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia" infection.

"Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia" is the causative agent of witches' broom disease in the Mexican lime tree (Citrus aurantifolia L.), and is responsible for major tree losses in Southern Iran and Oman. The pathogen is strictly biotrophic, and, therefore, completely dependent on living host cells for its survival.

A proteomics view on the role of drought-induced senescence and oxidative stress defense in enhanced stem reserves remobilization in wheat.

Drought is one of the major factors limiting the yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) particularly during grain filling. Under terminal drought condition, remobilization of pre-stored carbohydrates in wheat stem to grain has a major contribution in yield.

Effects of co-inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobia on fungal occupancy in chickpea root and nodule determined by real-time PCR.

Legume roots in nature are usually colonized with rhizobia and different arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) species. Light microscopy that visualizes the presence of AMF in roots is not able to differentiate the ratio of each AMF species in the root and nodule tissues in mixed fungal inoculation. The purpose of this study was to characterize the dominant species of mycorrhiza in roots and nodules of plants co-inoculated with mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobial strains.

Identification of genes differentially expressed during interaction of Mexican lime tree infected with "Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia".

Background: "Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia", is the causative agent of witches' broom disease in Mexican lime trees (Citrus aurantifolia L.), and is responsible for major losses of Mexican lime trees in Southern Iran and Oman. The pathogen is strictly biotrophic, and thus is completely dependent on living host cells for its survival.

Isolation and characterization of novel microsatellite markers in pomegranate (Punica granatum L.).

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) has been cultivated from ancient times for its economic, ornamental and medicinal properties globally. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of 12 polymorphic microsatellite markers from a repeat-enriched genomic library of Punica granatum L.

Validation of EST-derived STS markers localized on Qfhs.ndsu-3BS for Fusarium head blight resistance in wheat using a 'Wangshuibai' derived population.

A few EST-derived STS markers localized on Qfhs.ndsu-3BS, a major QTL for resistance to Fusarium head blight (FHB) in wheat, have been previously identified in the 'Sumai 3'/'Stoa' population. In this study, we used a 'Wangshuibai' (resistant) /'Seri82' (susceptible) derived population, linkage group, QTL, and quantitative gene expression analysis to assess the genetic background dependence and stability of the EST-derived STS markers for use in marker aided selection to improve FHB resistance in wheat.