Low-light and its effects on crop yield: Genetic and genomic implications

Shade indicates decreased sunlight. The agricultural importance of shade imparts to its deteriorative effect of cropyield. Rice is not only the most widely used food crop by a third of the population of the world, but it has also beenestablished as the model monocot plant for study. This article describes several important aspects of shade on rice yieldwith appropriate examples in other plants such as Arabidopsis. To start with, how different environmental or growthconditions create shade is explained. The morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics due to differentkinds of shade are selectively explained. The molecular characteristics of rice under shade from genetic, genomic andepigenetic studied are discussed. Signalling components for the manifestation of shade tolerance responses and theirinterconnection with other signalling networks and hormone pathway components are from recent reports. A list ofgenes, micro-RNAs and metabolites that are involved in shade responses is presented. Lastly, implications forsustainable yield under shade is discussed. This review will be useful not only for cutting-edge information on shadetolerance but will also build framework for upcoming new rice varieties with sustainable yield under shade.

Carbohydrates and polyphenolics of extracts from genetically altered plant acts as catalysts for in vitro synthesis of silver nanoparticle

Eco-friendly biosynthetic approach for silver nanoparticles production using plant extracts is an exciting advancement inbio-nanotechnology and has been successfully attempted in nearly 41 plant species. However, an established model plantsystem for systematically unraveling the biochemical components required for silver nanoparticles production is lacking.Here we used Arabidopsis thaliana as the model plant for silver nanoparticles biosynthesis in vitro. Employing biochemical, spectroscopic methods, selected mutants and over-expressor plants of Arabidopsis involved in pleotropicfunctions and sugar homeostasis, we show that carbohydrates, polyphenolics and glyco-proteins are essential componentswhich stimulated silver nanoparticles synthesis. Using molecular genetics as a tool, our data enforces the requirement ofsugar conjugated proteins as essentials for AgNPs synthesis over protein alone. Additionally, a comparative analysis ofAgNPs synthesis using the aqueous extracts of some of the plant species found in a brackish water ecosystem (Gracilaria,Potamogeton, Enteromorpha and Scendesmus) were explored. Plant extract of Potamogeton showed the highest potentialof nanoparticles production comparable to that of Arabidopsis among the species tested. Silver nanoparticles production inthe model plant Arabidopsis not only opens up a possibility of using molecular genetics tool to understand the biochemicalpathways and components in detail for its synthesis.