Development of a rapid process for purification of Bowman-Birk and Kunitz inhibitors from legume seeds, and evaluation of their biophysical, insecticidal, and antimicrobial properties.

Bowman-Birk inhibitor (BBI ~10 kDa) and Kunitz inhibitor (KI ~20 kDa) are serine protease/proteinase inhibitor(s) [PI(s)] ubiquitously found in several Leguminous plant species with insecticidal and therapeutic properties. Due to narrow molecular mass differences, the separation of these inhibitors from a single seed variety is tedious. The present study is aimed to develop a rapid protocol (<24 h) for purifying BBI and KI from legume seeds using mild trichloroacetic acid (TCA) extraction followed by trypsin-affinity chromatography.

Integrated Probe System for Measuring Soil Carbon Dioxide Concentrations.

This article outlines the design and implementation of an internet-of-things (IoT) platform for the monitoring of soil carbon dioxide (CO) concentrations. As atmospheric CO continues to rise, accurate accounting of major carbon sources, such as soil, is essential to inform land management and government policy. Thus, a batch of IoT-connected CO sensor probes were developed for soil measurement.

Genome-wide association studies reveal novel loci for resistance to groundnut rosette disease in the African core groundnut collection.

We identified markers associated with GRD resistance after screening an Africa-wide core collection across three seasons in Uganda Groundnut is cultivated in several African countries where it is a major source of food, feed and income. One of the major constraints to groundnut production in Africa is groundnut rosette disease (GRD), which is caused by a complex of three agents: groundnut rosette assistor luteovirus, groundnut rosette umbravirus and its satellite RNA. Despite several years of breeding for GRD resistance, the genetics of the disease is not fully understood.

Genome-wide association mapping for LLS resistance in a MAGIC population of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.).

The identified 30 functional nucleotide polymorphisms or genic SNP markers would offer essential information for marker-assisted breeding in groundnut. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) on component traits of LLS resistance in an eight-way multiparent advance generation intercross (MAGIC) population of groundnut in the field and in a light chamber (controlled conditions) was performed via an Affymetrix 48 K single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) 'Axiom Arachis' array. Multiparental populations with high-density genotyping enable the detection of novel alleles.

Pangenomic analysis identifies structural variation associated with heat tolerance in pearl millet.

Pearl millet is an important cereal crop worldwide and shows superior heat tolerance. Here, we developed a graph-based pan-genome by assembling ten chromosomal genomes with one existing assembly adapted to different climates worldwide and captured 424,085 genomic structural variations (SVs). Comparative genomics and transcriptomics analyses revealed the expansion of the RWP-RK transcription factor family and the involvement of endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-related genes in heat tolerance.

Analyzing gender differentials in dietary diversity across urban and peri-urban areas of Hyderabad, India.

Background: India's recent increase in urbanization alongside with feminization of rural agriculture could increase the existing gender disparities in dietary diversity. With many rural men migrating to urban areas, women have increased domestic burdens as well as productive burdens such as making informed crop production decisions so household members consume a diverse diet. Given the rapid and recent onset of this phenomenon, there is a need to explore gender differentials in diet diversity across urban and rural areas to assess if certain populations are being disproportionately impacted by this trend.

Towards sustainable watershed-based landscape restoration in degraded drylands: Perceived benefits and innovative pathways learnt from project-based interventions in Ethiopia.

Land degradation is one of the contemporary environmental challenges affecting regions inhabited by over one-third of the global population. In response to land degradation, restoration of degraded landscapes through area closure has been implemented through government and bilateral organizations for the last three decades in Ethiopia. Objectives of this study were to: i) explore the effects of landscape restoration on vegetation cover; ii) identify the perceived benefits to local communities; and 3) synthesize the lessons learnt on communities' willingness to sustain the restored landscapes.

Evaluation of Agronomic Characteristics, Disease Incidence, Yield Performance, and Aflatoxin Accumulation among Six Peanut Varieties ( L.) Grown in Kenya.

Diseases contribute to attainment of less than 50% of the local groundnut potential yield in Kenya. This study aimed to evaluate the agronomic characteristics (flowering and germination), disease incidence, yield performance (biomass, harvest index, 100-pod, 100-seed, and total pod weight), and aflatoxin accumulation in six peanut varieties. A field experiment was conducted using four newly improved peanut varieties: CG9, CG7, CG12, and ICGV-SM 90704 (Nsinjiro), and two locally used varieties: Homabay local (control) and 12991, and in a randomized complete block design with three replications.

Diagnosis of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris causing Fusarium wilt of chickpea using loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and conventional end-point PCR.

Fusarium oxysporum (Fo) is ubiquitous in soil and forms a species complex of pathogenic and putatively non-pathogenic strains. Pathogenic strains cause disease in over 150 plant species. Fusarium oxysporum f.

Water use efficiency across scales: from genes to landscapes.

Water scarcity is already set to be one of the main issues of the 21st century, because of competing needs between civil, industrial, and agricultural use. Agriculture is currently the largest user of water, but its share is bound to decrease as societies develop and clearly it needs to become more water efficient. Improving water use efficiency (WUE) at the plant level is important, but translating this at the farm/landscape level presents considerable challenges.

Copper removal capability and genomic insight into the lifestyle of copper mine inhabiting Micrococcus yunnanensis GKSM13.

Heavy metal pollution in mining areas is a serious environmental concern. The exploration of mine-inhabiting microbes, especially bacteria may use as an effective alternative for the remediation of mining hazards. A highly copper-tolerant strain GKSM13 was isolated from the soil of the Singhbhum copper mining area and characterized for significant copper (Cu) removal potential and tolerance to other heavy metals.

Delineating Marker-Trait Associations for Fusarium Wilt in Chickpea Using the Axiom SNP Array.

Fusarium wilt (FW) caused by f. sp. is a devastating disease of chickpea ().

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria: Salt stress alleviators to improve crop productivity for sustainable agriculture development.

Soil salinity, a growing issue worldwide, is a detrimental consequence of the ever-changing climate, which has highlighted and worsened the conditions associated with damaged soil quality, reduced agricultural production, and decreasing land areas, thus resulting in an unsteady national economy. In this review, halo-tolerant plant growth-promoting rhizo-microbiomes (PGPRs) are evaluated in the salinity-affected agriculture as they serve as excellent agents in controlling various biotic-abiotic stresses and help in the augmentation of crop productivity. Integrated efforts of these effective microbes lighten the load of agro-chemicals on the environment while managing nutrient availability.

Developing future heat-resilient vegetable crops.

Climate change seriously impacts global agriculture, with rising temperatures directly affecting the yield. Vegetables are an essential part of daily human consumption and thus have importance among all agricultural crops. The human population is increasing daily, so there is a need for alternative ways which can be helpful in maximizing the harvestable yield of vegetables.

RNA Pol III promoters-key players in precisely targeted plant genome editing.

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindrome repeat (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein Cas) system is a powerful and highly precise gene-editing tool in basic and applied research for crop improvement programs. CRISPR/Cas tool is being extensively used in plants to improve crop yield, quality, and nutritional value and make them tolerant to environmental stresses. CRISPR/Cas system consists of a Cas protein with DNA endonuclease activity and one CRISPR RNA transcript that is processed to form one or several short guide RNAs that direct Cas9 to the target DNA sequence.

Whole genome resequencing identifies candidate genes and allelic diagnostic markers for resistance to infection in cultivated peanut ( L.).

Bacterial wilt disease (BWD), caused by is a major challenge for peanut production in China and significantly affects global peanut field productivity. It is imperative to identify genetic loci and putative genes controlling resistance to (RRS). Therefore, a sequencing-based trait mapping approach termed "QTL-seq" was applied to a recombination inbred line population of 581 individuals from the cross of Yueyou 92 (resistant) and Xinhuixiaoli (susceptible).

Combining ability studies of grain Fe and Zn contents of pearl millet ( L.) in West Africa.

Micronutrient malnutrition is a major challenge in Africa, where half a million children die each year because of lack of micronutrients in their food. Pearl millet is an important food and fodder crop for the people living in the Semi-Arid regions of West Africa. The present study was conducted to determine the stability, combining ability, and gene action conditions of the high level of Fe and Zn content in grain and selected agronomic traits.

Comprehensive Transcriptome Profiling Uncovers Molecular Mechanisms and Potential Candidate Genes Associated with Heat Stress Response in Chickpea.

Chickpea ( L.) production is highly susceptible to heat stress (day/night temperatures above 32/20 °C). Identifying the molecular mechanisms and potential candidate genes underlying heat stress response is important for increasing chickpea productivity.

Codon Usage Provide Insights into the Adaptation of Rice Genes under Stress Condition.

Plants experience different stresses, i.e., abiotic, or biotic, and to combat them, plants re-program the expression of growth-, metabolism-, and resistance-related genes.

Genetic enhancement of Trichoderma asperellum biocontrol potentials and carbendazim tolerance for chickpea dry root rot disease management.

Advances in biocontrol potentials and fungicide resistance are highly desirable for Trichoderma. Thus, it is profitable to use mutagenic agents to develop superior strains with enhanced biocontrol properties and fungicide tolerance in Trichoderma. This study investigates the N-methyl-n-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (NTG) (100 mg/L) induced mutants of Trichoderma asperellum.

Simulating potential yield of rainfed soybean in northeast Nigeria.

We used the CROPGRO-Soybean model to simulate the production potential of rainfed soybean in northeast Nigeria. Data from ten soybean experiments conducted under optimal conditions in 2016-2018 at Kano and Dambatta in the Sudan savanna (SS) agroecological zone were used to determine the cultivar coefficients and calibrate the model for the varieties TGX 1448-2E and TGX1951-3 F. The model was evaluated with data from four phosphorous response trials conducted at Zaria and Doguwa in the northern Guinea savanna (GS) of Nigeria between 2016 and 2018.

Gene expression and DNA methylation altering lead to the high oil content in wild allotetraploid peanut ().

Introduction: The wild allotetraploid peanut contains a higher oil content than the cultivated allotetraploid . Besides the fact that increasing oil content is the most important peanut breeding objective, a proper understanding of its molecular mechanism controlling oil accumulation is still lacking.

Methods: We investigated this aspect by performing comparative transcriptomics from developing seeds between three wild and five cultivated peanut varieties.