Uncovering the genomic regions underlying grain iron and zinc content using genome-wide association mapping in finger millet.

Finger millet, being rich source of essential minerals like iron and zinc, is an ideal model to identify candidate genes contributing to high grain iron content (GIC) and zinc content (GZC) in plants. Hence, finger millet diversity panel comprised of 202 genotypes was evaluated in two geographical locations and found to have a wide variation for GIC and GZC. A genome-wide association study using 2977 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers identified reliable marker-trait associations (MTAs). The use of general linear model (GLM) and mixed linear model (MLM) approaches revealed 5 and 8 common MTAs linked to GIC and GZC, respectively, for both Almora and Pantnagar locations, with a high level of significance (P < 0.01). However, 12 significant MTAs were found to be linked with GIC for Pantnagar location alone. The MTAs were associated with specific genes that produce ferritin (Fer1), iron-regulated transporter-like protein (IRT2), and yellow stripe-like 2 proteins (YSL2). These genes are likely linked to GIC variation in finger millet. Additionally, the variation in GZC in finger millet was connected to genes that encode zinc transporters, namely ZIP1 protein (ZIP1) and ZTP29-like protein (ZTP29). Compared to low GIC and GZC genotypes, high GIC and GZC genotypes exhibited greater relative expression of these genes. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-023-03889-1.

Mainstreaming Barahnaja cultivation for food and nutritional security in the Himalayan region.

Selective production of input intensive crops in the present scenario have resulted in productivity stagnation or even decline due to excessive usage of chemicals, affecting the farmers economically. Sustainable agriculture is the way to increase agricultural productivity and economic prosperity by protecting all natural resources. It maintains a balance of soil fertility with crop productivity and nutritional quality. The mixed cropping systems followed earlier in different regions according to their tradition, climatic zone, soil and water conditions were climate-smart approaches to sustainable food production based on practical experiences over the years of old generations. The life style changes, imbalance in farming system in last 70 years and demand for more food as well as declining land resources resulted in intensive agriculture. Besides, least returns and less demand of ethnic crops gave more preference to major staple food crops. Barahnaja is a traditional orphan crops based mixed cropping system practiced in Himalayan region due to its sustainability and assured crop harvest during erratic weather conditions. This traditional farming method is an exemplary scientific approach to derive innovations with respect to productivity, quality, plant soil interactions and organic agriculture. The main focus of the review is to substantiate the characteristics of the traditional mixed cropping system by describing the advantages of the system and opportunities for scientific innovation towards new knowledge and sustainability.

Transcriptome wide identification and characterization of regulatory genes involved in EAA metabolism and validation through expression analysis in different developmental stages of finger millet spikes.

Finger millet is a rich source of seed storage proteins (SSPs). Various regulatory genes play an important role to maintain the quality and accumulation of SSPs in crop seeds. In the present study, nine regulatory genes of EAAs metabolic pathway, i.e., aspartate kinase, homoserine dehydrogenase, threonine synthase, threonine dehydratase, dihydrodipicolinate synthase, cystathionine γ synthase, anthranilate synthase, acetolactate synthase and lysine 2-oxoglutarato reductase/saccharopine dehydrogenase (LOR/SD) were identified from the transcriptomic data of developing spikes of two finger millet genotypes, i.e., GP-45 and GP-1. Results of sequence alignment search and motif/domain analysis showed high similarity of nucleotide sequences of identified regulatory genes with their respective homologs in rice. Results of promoter analysis revealed the presence of various cis-regulatory elements, like nitrogen responsive cis-elements (O2-site and GCN4), light responsive cis-elements, and stress responsive cis-elements. The presence of nine regulatory genes identified from the transcriptomic data of GP-45 and GP-1 was further confirmed by real time expression analysis in high and low protein containing genotypes, i.e., GE-3885 and GE-1437. Results of real time expression analysis showed significantly higher expression (p ≤ 0.01) of regulatory genes in GE-3885 rather than GE-1437 under control and treatment condition. Crude protein content of GE-3885 was found to be significantly higher (p ≤ 0.01) in comparison to GE-1437 under control condition, while under treatment condition GE-1437 was found to be more responsive to KNO3 treatment rather than GE-3885.

Affinity of Smectite and Divalent Metal Ions (Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Cu(2+)) with L-leucine: An Experimental and Theoretical Approach Relevant to Astrobiology.

Earth is the only known planet bestowed with life. Several attempts have been made to explore the pathways of the origin of life on planet Earth. The search for the chemistry which gave rise to life has given answers related to the formation of biomonomers, and their adsorption on solid surfaces has gained much attention for the catalysis and stabilization processes related to the abiotic chemical evolution of the complex molecules of life. In this communication, surface interactions of L-leucine (Leu) on smectite (SMT) group of clay (viz. bentonite and montmorillonite) and their divalent metal ion (Mg(2+), Ca(2+) and Cu(2+)) incorporated on SMT has been studied to find the optimal conditions of time, pH, and concentration at ambient temperature (298 K). The progress of adsorption was followed spectrophotometrically and further characterized by FTIR, SEM/EDS and XRD. Leu, a neutral/non polar amino acid, was found to have more affinity in its zwitterionic form towards Cu(2+)- exchanged SMT and minimal affinity for Mg(2+)- exchanged SMT. The vibrational frequency shifts of -NH3 (+) and -COO(-) favor Van der Waal's forces during the course of surface interaction. Quantum calculations using density functional theory (DFT) have been applied to investigate the absolute value of metal ion affinities of Leu (Leu-M(2+) complex, M = Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Cu(2+)) with the help of their physico-chemical parameters. The hydration effect on the relative stability and geometry of the individual species of Leu-M(2+) × (H2O)n, (n =2 and 4) has also been evaluated within the supermolecule approach. Evidence gathered from investigations of surface interactions, divalent metal ions affinities and hydration effects with biomolecules may be important for better understanding of chemical evolution, the stabilization of biomolecules on solid surfaces and biomolecular-metal interactions. These results may have implications for understanding the origin of life and the preservation of biomarkers.

Surface interaction of L-alanine on hematite: an astrobiological implication.

In the present work, surface interaction of L-alanine (L-ala) has been investigated on hematite (α-Fe2O3), an abundant mineral on Mars, as a function of time (5 min-48 h), pH (4.0 and 6.20 ± 0.10) and concentration (1 × 10(-3) M-10 × 10(-3) M) with optical absorbance and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Adsorption parameters (XM and KL) were calculated from Langmuir adsorption isotherms. L-alanine has maximum affinity (65.31 %) in its zwitterionic form at pH 6.20, while it is only 29.86 % adsorbed at pH 4.0. Possible astrobiological implications are discussed.