Systems biology of seeds: decoding the secret of biochemical seed factories for nutritional security.

Seeds serve as biochemical factories of nutrition, processing, bio-energy and storage related important bio-molecules and act as a delivery system to transmit the genetic information to the next generation. The research pertaining towards delineating the complex system of regulation of genes and pathways related to seed biology and nutrient partitioning is still under infancy. To understand these, it is important to know the genes and pathway(s) involved in the homeostasis of bio-molecules.

Containment evaluation, cold tolerance and toxicity analysis in transgenic tomato ( L. cv. Pusa Ruby).

The present study reports engineered cold tolerance and toxicity analysis in genetically modified tomato ( L. cv. Pusa Ruby) developed through constitutive over expression of gene.

Bioactive potential of Indian stinging plants leaf extract against pathogenic fungi.

Background & methods We investigated the in vitro antioxidant and antifungal activity by agar disc diffusion assay of leaf extract of some stinging plants namely, Urtica dioica L., Tragia involucrate L., Carduus nutans L.

Identification and molecular characterization of Dof transcription factor gene family preferentially expressed in developing spikes of L.

We report 48 putative DNA binding with one finger () TF genes from genome and transcriptome data of finger millet ( L.; FM), involved in plant developmental process. To characterize seed-specific Dof genes, transcript profiles of 32 identified from transcriptome data of developing spikes of FM genotypes were further analyzed in different tissues (root, stem, and leaf) and developmental stages of spikes (S, S, S and S) in two FM genotypes [GE1437 (low protein genotype; LPG) and GE3885 (high protein genotype; HPG)].

Finger Millet: A "Certain" Crop for an "Uncertain" Future and a Solution to Food Insecurity and Hidden Hunger under Stressful Environments.

Crop growth and productivity has largely been vulnerable to various abiotic and biotic stresses that are only set to be compounded due to global climate change. Therefore developing improved varieties and designing newer approaches for crop improvement against stress tolerance have become a priority now-a-days. However, most of the crop improvement strategies are directed toward staple cereals such as rice, wheat, maize etc.

Stinging plants: as future bio-weapon.

In the present opinion paper, we have been introducing for the first time the stinging plants and/or their biological toxins as novel bio-threat agents that may be used for the development of bio-weapons for self-defence purpose. The selected studied stinging plants are having dual role as nutraceutical and ethno-pharmacological uses apart from their less explored stinging property. However, future detailed work is required for identification and characterization of the precise stinging chemical components that will be used for the formulation of novel bio-warfare agents for self-defence purpose.

Systems Biology for Smart Crops and Agricultural Innovation: Filling the Gaps between Genotype and Phenotype for Complex Traits Linked with Robust Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability.

In recent years, rapid developments in several omics platforms and next generation sequencing technology have generated a huge amount of biological data about plants. Systems biology aims to develop and use well-organized and efficient algorithms, data structure, visualization, and communication tools for the integration of these biological data with the goal of computational modeling and simulation. It studies crop plant systems by systematically perturbing them, checking the gene, protein, and informational pathway responses; integrating these data; and finally, formulating mathematical models that describe the structure of system and its response to individual perturbations.

Overexpression of NAC gene from Lepidium latifolium L. enhances biomass, shortens life cycle and induces cold stress tolerance in tobacco: potential for engineering fourth generation biofuel crops.

We report elevated biomass and altered growth characteristics of tobacco plants up on transformation with a NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2,CUC2) gene (GenBank Accession FJ754254) isolated from Lepidium latifolium L. (LlaNAC). Transgenic plants showed significant differences in fresh weight, midrib length of longest leaf, leaf area, height of the plant, root and shoot weights, etc.

Fluctuation of Dof1/Dof2 expression ratio under the influence of varying nitrogen and light conditions: involvement in differential regulation of nitrogen metabolism in two genotypes of finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.).

In order to gain insights into the mechanism of high nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of finger millet (FM) the role of Dof2 transcription factor (TF), which is a repressor of genes involved in C/N metabolism was investigated. The partial cDNA fragment of EcDof2 (912-bp; GenBank acc. no.

RNAi Mediated curcin precursor gene silencing in Jatropha (Jatropha curcas L.).

Curcin, a type I ribosomal inhibiting protein-RIP, encoded by curcin precursor gene, is a phytotoxin present in Jatropha (Jatropha curcas L.). Here, we report designing of RNAi construct for the curcin precursor gene and further its genetic transformation of Jatropha to reduce its transcript expression.

Analysis of Jatropha curcas transcriptome for oil enhancement and genic markers.

Oil-rich seeds of Jatropha curcas are being focussed as a source of bio-diesel. However, prior to its industrial use, a lot of crop improvement efforts are required in Jatropha. Availability of a large number of EST sequences of Jatropha in public domain allow identification of candidate genes for several agronomic characters including oil content in seeds.

Female plants of Hippophae salicifolia D. Don are more responsive to cold stress than male plants.

Hippophae salicifolia D. Don (Seabuckthorn) grows in stressful environment of high altitude under conditions of low temperature and low availability of water. We have studied gender based differences in physiochemical response to cold stress in male and female plants of Seabuckthorn.

Semi-quantitative analysis of transcript accumulation in response to drought stress by Lepidium latifolium seedlings.

Cross-amplification of five Arabidopsis abiotic stress-responsive genes (AtPAP, ZFAN, Vn, LC4 and SNS) in Lepidium has been documented in plants raised out of seeds pre-treated with potassium nitrate (KNO 3) for assessment of enhanced drought stress tolerance. cDNA was synthesized from Lepidium plants pre-treated with KNO 3 (0.1% and 0.

Cloning and characterization of GPAT gene from Lepidium latifolium L.: a step towards translational research in agri-genomics for food and fuel.

Glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT) catalyzes first and the rate limiting step in glycerolipid synthesis pathway, which in turn contribute to stabilization of plasma membrane structure and oil lipid synthesis in plant cells. Here, we report cloning and characterization of GPAT gene from Lepidium latifolium (LlaGPAT). The cDNA sequence (1,615 bp) of LlaGPAT gene consisted of 1,113 bp ORF encoding a protein of 370 aa residues, with deduced mass of 41.

Isolation and characterization of ripening related pectin methylesterase inhibitor gene from banana fruit.

Identification of ethylene-regulated and ripening-related genes from banana (Musa acuminata Var. Harichaal) fruits using DDRT-PCR led to the isolation of differentially expressed partial cDNA of pectin methylesterase inhibitor (MaPMEI) gene. Its full-length cDNA sequence consisted of a 567 bp ORF, encoding a protein of 189 aa with deduced molecular mass 19.

Cold tolerance in Osmotin transgenic tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is associated with modulation in transcript abundance of stress responsive genes.

Our containment trials have established cold tolerance in Nicotiana tabacum osmotin (Nt Osm) transgenic tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Pusa Ruby).

DRE-binding transcription factor gene (LlaDREB1b) is regulated by various abiotic stresses in Lepidium latifolium L.

We have isolated and in silico characterized a cold-induced LlaDREB1b encoding a putative DRE-binding transcription factor from Lepidium latifolium. Its cDNA (JN214345) sequence (998 bp) consisted of a 642 bp ORF, 168 and 188 bp of 5' and 3' UTR regions, respectively, encoding a protein of 213 aa with deduced molecular mass 23.85 kDa and pI of 4.

Isolation and characterization of cold responsive NAC gene from Lepidium latifolium.

Cold stress is one of the major limiting factor in crop productivity. Plants growing in colder regions acclimatize to severe conditions owing to the presence of 'cold stress tolerant genes'. Isolation and functional characterization of these genes are important before their exploitation in modern agricultural practices.

Chlorophyllase in Piper betle L. has a role in chlorophyll homeostasis and senescence dependent chlorophyll breakdown.

Total chlorophyll content and chlorophyllase (chlorophyll-chlorophyllido hydrolase EC 3.1.1.

Role of chlorophyllase in chlorophyll homeostasis and post-harvest breakdown in Piper betle L. leaf.

Piper betle L., a dioecious shade-loving perennial climber is one of the important Pan-Asiatic plants. More than hundred landraces having marked variation in leaf chlorophyll (Chl) content are in cultivation in India.

Breaking seed dormancy in Hippophae salicifolia, a high value medicinal plant.

Seed dormancy is an important limiting factor in exploitation of an economically important species to its fullest. Hippophae salicifolia D. Don (seabuckthorn), a rich source of medicinal metabolites shows both exogenous and endogenous dormancy.