A hybrid swarm intelligence algorithm for region-based image fusion.

This paper proposes a novel multi-hybrid algorithm named DHPN, using the best-known properties of dwarf mongoose algorithm (DMA), honey badger algorithm (HBA), prairie dog optimizer (PDO), cuckoo search (CS), grey wolf optimizer (GWO) and naked mole rat algorithm (NMRA). It follows an iterative division for extensive exploration and incorporates major parametric enhancements for improved exploitation operation. To counter the local optima problems, a stagnation phase using CS and GWO is added.

A novel multi-hybrid differential evolution algorithm for optimization of frame structures.

Differential evolution (DE) is a robust optimizer designed for solving complex domain research problems in the computational intelligence community. In the present work, a multi-hybrid DE (MHDE) is proposed for improving the overall working capability of the algorithm without compromising the solution quality. Adaptive parameters, enhanced mutation, enhanced crossover, reducing population, iterative division and Gaussian random sampling are some of the major characteristics of the proposed MHDE algorithm.

Transcriptional Regulation of Small Heat Shock Protein 17 (sHSP-17) by Transcription Factor Confers Tolerance in under Heat Stress.

Heat shock transcription factors (HSFs) contribute significantly to thermotolerance acclimation. Here, we identified and cloned a putative HSF gene () of 1218 nucleotide (acc. no.

Genetic Enhancement of Cereals Using Genomic Resources for Nutritional Food Security.

Advances in genomics resources have facilitated the evolution of cereal crops with enhanced yield, improved nutritional values, and heightened resistance to various biotic and abiotic stresses. Genomic approaches present a promising avenue for the development of high-yielding varieties, thereby ensuring food and nutritional security. Significant improvements have been made within the omics domain, specifically in genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics.

Elucidating the process of SNPs identification in non-reference genome crops.

Advances in the next generation sequencing technologies, genome reduction techniques and bioinformatics tools have given a big impetus to the identification of genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in crops. NGS technologies can make available a large amount of sequence data in a short span of time. The huge data requires detailed bioinformatics analysis steps, including preprocessing, mapping, and identification of sequence variants.

Genetic Diversity, Conservation, and Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources.

Plant genetic resources (PGRs) are the total hereditary material, which includes all the alleles of various genes, present in a crop species and its wild relatives. They are a major resource that humans depend on to increase farming resilience and profit. Hence, the demand for genetic resources will increase as the world population increases.

Epigenetics and its role in effecting agronomical traits.

Climate-resilient crops with improved adaptation to the changing climate are urgently needed to feed the growing population. Hence, developing high-yielding crop varieties with better agronomic traits is one of the most critical issues in agricultural research. These are vital to enhancing yield as well as resistance to harsh conditions, both of which help farmers over time.

Genetic Augmentation of Legume Crops Using Genomic Resources and Genotyping Platforms for Nutritional Food Security.

Recent advances in next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have led the surge of genomic resources for the improvement legume crops. Advances in high throughput genotyping (HTG) and high throughput phenotyping (HTP) enable legume breeders to improve legume crops more precisely and efficiently. Now, the legume breeder can reshuffle the natural gene combinations of their choice to enhance the genetic potential of crops.

Phylogeny and pathogenicity of causing anthracnose of cv. Bhaderwah-Rajmash from northern Himalayas, India.

Unlabelled: With an annual loss of up to 100%, anthracnose caused by  is one of the most devastating diseases of common beans ( L.). Due to few distinctive morphological characters, species are frequently misidentified.

Physiological and Multi-Omics Approaches for Explaining Drought Stress Tolerance and Supporting Sustainable Production of Rice.

Drought differs from other natural disasters in several respects, largely because of the complexity of a crop's response to it and also because we have the least understanding of a crop's inductive mechanism for addressing drought tolerance among all abiotic stressors. Overall, the growth and productivity of crops at a global level is now thought to be an issue that is more severe and arises more frequently due to climatic change-induced drought stress. Among the major crops, rice is a frontline staple cereal crop of the developing world and is critical to sustaining populations on a daily basis.

An Efficient Adaptive Salp Swarm Algorithm Using Type II Fuzzy Entropy for Multilevel Thresholding Image Segmentation.

Salp swarm algorithm (SSA) is an innovative contribution to smart swarm algorithms and has shown its utility in a wide range of research domains. While it is an efficient algorithm, it is noted that SSA suffers from several issues, including weak exploitation, convergence, and unstable exploitation and exploration. To overcome these, an improved SSA called as adaptive salp swarm algorithm (ASSA) was proposed.

Predictive modeling of surface and dimensional features of vapour-smoothened FDM parts using self-adaptive cuckoo search algorithm.

Despite numerous advantages of fused deposition modeling (FDM), the inherent layer-by-layer deposition behavior leads to considerable surface roughness and dimensional variability, limiting its usability for critical applications. This study has been conducted to select optimum parameters of FDM and vapour smoothing (chemical finishing) process to maximize surface finish, hardness, and dimensional accuracy. A self-adaptive cuckoo search algorithm for predictive modelling of surface and dimensional features of vapour-smoothened FDM-printed functional prototypes has been demonstrated.

Efficient High-throughput Techniques for the Analysis of Disease- Resistant Plant Varieties and Detection of Food Adulteration.

Over the past two decades, the advances in the next generation sequencing (NGS) platforms have led to the identification of numerous genes/QTLs at high-resolution for their potential use in crop improvement. The genomic resources generated through these high-throughput sequencing techniques have been efficiently used in screening of particular gene of interest particularly for numerous types of plant stresses and quality traits. Subsequently, the identified-markers linked to particular trait have been used in Marker-Assisted Backcross Breeding (MABB) activities.

The First Report of Target-Site Resistance to Glyphosate in Sweet Summer Grass ().

Sweet summer grass is a problematic weed in the central Queensland region of Australia. This study found glyphosate resistance in two biotypes (R1 and R2) of sweet summer grass. The level of resistance in these biotypes was greater than 8-fold.

Genetic mapping for grain quality and yield-attributed traits in Basmati rice using SSR-based genetic map.

Rice grain shape and nutritional quality traits have high economic value for commercial production of rice and largely determine the market price, besides influencing the global food demand for high-quality rice. Detection, mapping and exploitation of quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with kernel elongation and grain quality in Basmati rice is considered as an efficient strategy for improving the kernel elongation and grain quality trait in rice varieties. Genetic information in rice for most of these traits is scanty and needed interventions through the use of molecular markers.

Improved protocol for efficacious in vitro androgenesis and development of doubled haploids in temperate japonica rice.

DH (Doubled haploid) is the immortal mapping population and an outcome of single meiotic cycle, contributed from male partner. An improved procedure was developed for high frequency androgenesis in japonica genotypes, K-332 and GS-88 and their F1s. A total of 207 fertile, green, di-haploid plants were generated from K-332 × GS-88 hybrids using the improved anther culture protocol.

Marker association study of yield attributing traits in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.).

Common bean is gaining acceptance as one of the most valuable major food consumed worldwide owing to innumerable nutritional and therapeutic benefits. Comparatively less productivity in underdeveloped countries encouraged us to proceed for QTL mining of yield traits in common bean. Heretofore, multiple yield associated markers have been detected all over the world; even so, the present work is looked on as the first report on identification of novel/new potent markers by exploiting the germplasm of Northern India.

Evolutionary modelling of the COVID-19 pandemic in fifteen most affected countries.

COVID-19 or SARS-Cov-2, affecting 6 million people and more than 300,000 deaths, the global pandemic has engulfed more than 90% countries of the world. The virus started from a single organism and is escalating at a rate of 3% to 5% daily and seems to be a never ending process. Understanding the basic dynamics and presenting new predictions models for evaluating the potential effect of the virus is highly crucial.

Functional Markers for Precision Plant Breeding.

Advances in molecular biology including genomics, high-throughput sequencing, and genome editing enable increasingly faster and more precise cultivar development. Identifying genes and functional markers (FMs) that are highly associated with plant phenotypic variation is a grand challenge. Functional genomics approaches such as transcriptomics, targeting induced local lesions in genomes (TILLING), homologous recombinant (HR), association mapping, and allele mining are all strategies to identify FMs for breeding goals, such as agronomic traits and biotic and abiotic stress resistance.

Lignin degradation and nutrient cycling by white rot fungi under the influence of pesticides.

The production of enzymes involved in lignin degradation (laccase, ligninase), carbon cycling (β-glucosidase), and phosphorous cycling (phosphomonoesterase) by white rot fungi () was studied. In the presence of chlorpyrifos, carbofuran, and their mixture, laccase activity was highest on the 7th day, i.e.