Natural variation in glycine-rich region of Brassica oleracea cold shock domain protein 5 (BoCSDP5) is associated with low temperature tolerance

Zinc finger knuckle genes are associated with tolerance to drought and dehydration in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is a very important food legume and needs improved drought tolerance for higher seed production in dry environments. The aim of this study was to determine diversity and genetic polymorphism in zinc finger knuckle genes with CCHC domains and their functional analysis for practical improvement of chickpea breeding. Two CaZF-CCHC genes, Ca04468 and Ca07571, were identified as potentially important candidates associated with plant responses to drought and dehydration. To study these genes, various methods were used including Sanger sequencing, DArT (Diversity array technology) and molecular markers for plant genotyping, gene expression analysis using RT-qPCR, and associations with seed-related traits in chickpea plants grown in field trials. These genes were studied for genetic polymorphism among a set of chickpea accessions, and one SNP was selected for further study from four identified SNPs between the promoter regions of each of the two genes. Molecular markers were developed for the SNP and verified using the ASQ and CAPS methods. Genotyping of parents and selected breeding lines from two hybrid populations, and SNP positions on chromosomes with haplotype identification, were confirmed using DArT microarray analysis. Differential expression profiles were identified in the parents and the hybrid populations under gradual drought and rapid dehydration. The SNP-based genotypes were differentially associated with seed weight per plant but not with 100 seed weight. The two developed and verified SNP molecular markers for both genes, Ca04468 and Ca07571, respectively, could be used for marker-assisted selection in novel chickpea cultivars with improved tolerance to drought and dehydration.

The Glycine-Rich RNA-Binding Protein Is a Vital Post-Transcriptional Regulator in Crops

Glycine-rich RNA binding proteins (GR-RBPs), a branch of RNA binding proteins (RBPs), play integral roles in regulating various aspects of RNA metabolism regulation, such as RNA processing, transport, localization, translation, and stability, and ultimately regulate gene expression and cell fate. However, our current understanding of GR-RBPs has predominantly been centered on Arabidopsis thaliana, a model plant for investigating plant growth and development. Nonetheless, an increasing body of literature has emerged in recent years, shedding light on the presence and functions of GRPs in diverse crop species. In this review, we not only delineate the distinctive structural domains of plant GR-RBPs but also elucidate several contemporary mechanisms of GR-RBPs in the post-transcriptional regulation of RNA. These mechanisms encompass intricate processes, including RNA alternative splicing, polyadenylation, miRNA biogenesis, phase separation, and RNA translation. Furthermore, we offer an exhaustive synthesis of the diverse roles that GR-RBPs fulfill within crop plants. Our overarching objective is to provide researchers and practitioners in the field of agricultural genetics with valuable insights that may inform and guide the application of plant genetic engineering for enhanced crop development and sustainable agriculture.

Plant RNA Binding Proteins as Critical Modulators in Drought, High Salinity, Heat, and Cold Stress Responses: An Updated Overview

Plant abiotic stress responses are tightly regulated by different players at multiple levels. At transcriptional or post-transcriptional levels, several RNA binding proteins (RBPs) regulate stress response genes through RNA metabolism. They are increasingly recognized as critical modulators of a myriad of biological processes, including stress responses. Plant RBPs are heterogeneous with one or more conservative RNA motifs that constitute canonical/novel RNA binding domains (RBDs), which can bind to target RNAs to determine their regulation as per the plant requirements at given environmental conditions. Given its biological significance and possible consideration as a potential tool in genetic manipulation programs to improve key agronomic traits amidst frequent episodes of climate anomalies, studies concerning the identification and functional characterization of RBP candidate genes are steadily mounting. This paper presents a comprehensive overview of canonical and novel RBPs and their functions in major abiotic stresses including drought, heat, salt, and cold stress conditions. To some extent, we also briefly describe the basic motif structure of RBPs that would be useful in forthcoming studies. Additionally, we also collected RBP genes that were modulated by stress, but that lacked functional characterization, providing an impetus to conduct further research.