Biofortification: Future Challenges for a Newly Emerging Technology to Improve Nutrition Security Sustainably.

Biofortification was coined as a term to define a plant breeding strategy to increase the micronutrient content of staple food crops to reduce the burden of micronutrient deficiencies in low- and middle-income countries. In 2003, the HarvestPlus program, based in the centers comprising the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, was initiated to implement the biofortification strategy. This article discusses what has been achieved, what has been learned, and the key challenges to embed biofortification in food systems and to expand its impact.

Peruvian origin and global invasions of five continents by the highly damaging agricultural pest (Diptera: Agromyzidae).

Identification of the geographic origin of invasive species can be critical to effective management and amelioration of negative impacts in the introduced range. is a polyphagous leafmining fly that is a devastating pest of many vegetable and floriculture crops around the world. Considered native to South and possibly Central America, became invasive in the 1980s and has since spread to at least 30 countries on five continents.

Deciphering the genetic basis of agronomic, yield, and nutritional traits in rice (Oryza sativa L.) using a saturated GBS-based SNP linkage map.

Developing high-yielding rice varieties that possess favorable agronomic characteristics and enhanced grain Zn content is crucial in ensuring food security and addressing nutritional needs. This research employed ICIM, IM, and multi-parent population QTL mapping methods to identify important genetic regions associated with traits such as DF, PH, NT, NP, PL, YLD, TGW, GL, GW, Zn, and Fe. Two populations of recombinant inbred lines consisting of 373 lines were phenotyped for agronomic, yield and grain micronutrient traits for three seasons at IRRI, and genotyped by sequencing.

Liquid-nitrogen-free CTAB DNA extraction method from silica-dried specimens for next-generation sequencing and assembly.

Next-generation sequencing requires intact and high-quality DNA. However, typical liquid-nitrogen DNA extraction methods are expensive and not practical for field sample collections. Hence, we present a cost-effective method for DNA extraction from silica-dried leaf samples, eliminating the need for liquid nitrogen.

Deep Learning Enables Instant and Versatile Estimation of Rice Yield Using Ground-Based RGB Images.

Rice ( L.) is one of the most important cereals, which provides 20% of the world's food energy. However, its productivity is poorly assessed especially in the global South.

Molecular dissection of connected rice populations revealed important genomic regions for agronomic and biofortification traits.

Breeding staple crops with increased micronutrient concentration is a sustainable approach to address micronutrient malnutrition. We carried out Multi-Cross QTL analysis and Inclusive Composite Interval Mapping for 11 agronomic, yield and biofortification traits using four connected RILs populations of rice. Overall, MC-156 QTLs were detected for agronomic (115) and biofortification (41) traits, which were higher in number but smaller in effects compared to single population analysis.

Enabling Trade in Gene-Edited Produce in Asia and Australasia: The Developing Regulatory Landscape and Future Perspectives.

Genome- or gene-editing (abbreviated here as 'GEd') presents great opportunities for crop improvement. This is especially so for the countries in the Asia-Pacific region, which is home to more than half of the world's growing population. A brief description of the science of gene-editing is provided with examples of GEd products.

The Mutation of Rice MEDIATOR25, OsMED25, Induces Rice Bacterial Blight Resistance through Altering Jasmonate- and Auxin-Signaling.

Rice bacterial blight disease caused by pv. () is one of the most severe diseases of rice. However, the regulatory mechanisms of rice defense against remain poorly understood.

Effect of rice bran protein concentrate as wall material adjunct on selected physicochemical and release properties of microencapsulated β-carotene.

Rice bran protein is an emerging protein source from rice milling that possesses health benefits and emulsifying capacity suitable for hypoallergenic encapsulation applications, especially for lipophilic compounds such as β-carotene. The purpose of this study is to develop and characterize β-carotene encapsulates with maltodextrin and rice bran protein. Rice bran protein was prepared using conventional alkali extraction.

Regulatory approaches for genome edited agricultural plants in select countries and jurisdictions around the world.

Genome editing in agriculture and food is leading to new, improved crops and other products. Depending on the regulatory approach taken in each country or region, commercialization of these crops and products may or may not require approval from the respective regulatory authorities. This paper describes the regulatory landscape governing genome edited agriculture and food products in a selection of countries and regions.

Potential of plant-derived peptides for the improvement of memory and cognitive function.

Recently, there has been an increased demand for functional foods, to reduce the risk of age-related cognitive impairment, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease. Among them, plant-derived bioactive compounds, such as phytochemicals and peptides, have notable potential in improving memory and cognitive functions. Many studies have provided potential data concerning the characteristics and structure-activity relationships of memory-enhancing peptides.

Biochemical characteristics and inoculation effects of multi-trait plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria on upland rice (Oryza sativa L. cv PSB Rc23) seedling growth.

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are known to stimulate plant growth because of their versatility in nutrient transformation. However, the success of PGPR inoculation depends not only on their ability to promote plant growth but also on their capacity to metabolize substrates that can be used as energy for the development and survival of the crops. Given the important influence of seed germination and vigor on crop yield, this study investigated the biochemical characteristics and effectiveness of multi-trait PGPR isolates in enhancing upland rice seedling growth and vigor.

Mutation of OUR1/OsbZIP1, which encodes a member of the basic leucine zipper transcription factor family, promotes root development in rice through repressing auxin signaling.

A well-developed root system is essential for efficient water uptake, particularly in drought-prone environments. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the promotion of root development are poorly understood. We identified and characterized a rice mutant, outstanding rooting1 (our1), which exhibited a well-developed root system.

Rice MEDIATOR25, OsMED25, is an essential subunit for jasmonate-mediated root development and OsMYC2-mediated leaf senescence.

The Mediator multiprotein complex acts as a universal adaptor between transcription factors (TFs) and RNA polymerase II. MEDIATOR25 (MED25) has an important role in jasmonic acid (JA) signaling in Arabidopsis. However, no research has been conducted on the role of MED25 in JA signaling in rice, which is one of the most important food crops globally and is a model plant for molecular studies in other monocotyledonous species.

Morpho-physiological and molecular mechanisms of phenotypic root plasticity for rice adaptation to water stress conditions.

Different types of water stress severely affect crop production, and the plant root system plays a critical role in stress avoidance. In the case of rice, a cereal crop cultivated under the widest range of soil hydrologic conditions, from irrigated anaerobic conditions to rainfed conditions, phenotypic root plasticity is of particular relevance. Recently, important plastic root traits under different water stress conditions, and their physiological and molecular mechanisms have been gradually understood.

Resistant starch levels and starch digestibility of selected cooked Philippine brown and milled rices varying in apparent amylose content and glycemic index.

Resistant starch (RS) content, starch digestibility, and hydrolysis index (HI) were analyzed for four selected Philippine rice varieties varying in apparent amylose content (AC) and glycemic index (GI), in cooked brown and milled rice forms. Starch digestibility curves were studied in relation to AC and reported GI values. Brown and milled rices of Improved 2 (IMS2), NSIC Rc160, IR64, and PSB Rc10 were cooked on separate beakers placed in automatic electric rice cookers and based on pre-determined water:rice ratios.

Genome-wide assessment and development of molecular diagnostic methods for imidacloprid-resistance in the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Hemiptera; Delphacidae).

Background: The brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål), is one of the most notorious pests of rice throughout Asia. The brown planthopper has developed high resistance to imidacloprid, a member of neonicotinoid insecticides. Several genes and mutations conferring imidacloprid resistance in N.

The promoted lateral root 1 (plr1) mutation is involved in reduced basal shoot starch accumulation and increased root sugars for enhanced lateral root growth in rice.

Lateral roots (LRs) are indispensable for plant growth, adaptability and productivity. We previously reported a rice mutant, exhibiting a high density of thick and long LRs (L-type LRs) with long parental roots and herein referred to as promoted lateral root1 (plr1). In this study, we describe that the mutant exhibited decreased basal shoot starch accumulation, suggesting that carbohydrates might regulate the mutant root phenotype.

Coping with inclement weather conditions due to high temperature and water deficit in rice: An insight from genetic and biochemical perspectives.

Climatic fluctuations, temperature extremes, and water scarcity are becoming increasingly unpredictable with the passage of time. Such environmental atrocities have been the scourge of agriculture over the ages, bringing with them poor harvests and threat of famine. Rice production, owing to its high-water requirement for cultivation, is highly vulnerable to the threat of changing climate, particularly prolonged drought and high temperature, individually or in combination.

Evolution of GA Metabolic Enzymes in Land Plants.

Gibberellins (GAs) play key roles in various developmental processes in land plants. We studied the evolutionary trends of GA metabolic enzymes through a comprehensive homology search and phylogenetic analyses from bryophytes to angiosperms. Our analyses suggest that, in the process of evolution, plants were able to acquire GA metabolic enzymes in a stepwise manner and that the enzymes had rapidly diversified in angiosperms.

Energy Reserve Compensating for Trade-Off Between Metabolic Resistance and Life History Traits in the Brown Planthopper (Hemiptera: Delphacidae).

Development of insecticide resistance often changes life history traits of insect pests, because metabolic detoxification of insecticides in insect bodies requires huge energetic reserves. The brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål), an important insect pest of rice crop in East and Southeast Asia, has developed strong resistance to imidacloprid from mid-2000s. The aim of this study was to examine the costs of life history traits and reveal changes in energy reserves with developing imidacloprid resistance.

Identification of ε-Poly-L-lysine as an Antimicrobial Product from an Endophyte and Isolation of Fungal ε-PL Synthetase Gene.

The endophytic fungus is known to produce bioactive metabolites, which consequently protect the host plants from biotic and abiotic stresses. We previously found that the overexpression of (a gene for transcription factor) in strain E437 resulted in the secretion of an unknown fungicide. In the present study, the active substance was purified and chemically identified as ε-poly-L-lysine (ε-PL), which consisted of 28-34 lysine units.