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Gebru M, Alemayehu G, Bitew Y. Yield and lodging response of tef [ Eragrostis tef (Zucc) trotter] varieties to nitrogen and silicon application rates. Heliyon 2023; 9:e22576. [PMID: 38125445 PMCID: PMC10731001 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Lodging, poor crop varieties and nitrogen management are among the main tef cultivation problems in acidic soils of northwestern Ethiopia. Though Si has been shown to improve crop yield and lodging resistance, knowledge of its effect on tef, along genotypes and nitrogen, is yet to be uncovered. Therefore, a 4 × 2 × 2 factorial field experiment was conducted on fixed experimental plot at the Koga irrigation scheme to assess yield and lodging responses of tef varieties to nitrogen and silicon fertilizer rates during two consecutive years of 2021 and 2022. The experiment comprised four nitrogen levels: 0 (N1), 23 (N2), 46 (N3), and 92 kg N ha-1(N4), two Si levels: 0 (Si1) and 485 (Si2) kg ha-1, and two improved varieties: Hiber-1 (V1) and Quncho (V2) treatment combinations, which were replicated four times. Results showed that regardless of silicon supply and variety, nitrogen had a significant effect (p < .0001) on agronomic attributes of tef grain yield, biomass yield, harvest index, chlorophyll content, plant height, panicle length, leaf area index, and the number of plants m-2 over the two years. Application of N4, N3, and N2 improved grain yield by 166.9, 126.2, and 75.2 % over N1, respectively. The harvest index showed a declining trend with nitrogen rates, which ranged from 36.1 to 26.5 %. Hiber-1 showed a significantly (p < .01) higher panicle length than Quncho. The interaction of nitrogen, silicon, and variety significantly (p < .001) affected lodging index, with a minimum lodging index of 0 % from V1Si1N1 and a maximum lodging index (71.9 %) from V2Si1N4. Maximum net return (2552.6 USD) was obtained from V1Si1N4, while the marginal rate of return (6961.7 %) from V1Si1N3. Therefore, it can be concluded that genotype and optimum nitrogen can maximize yield and lodging resistance of tef, while silicon in the form of carbonized rice husk results no significant effect on tef lodging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mekonnen Gebru
- Wolkite University, Horticulture Department, P.O.Box 07, Wolkite, Ethiopia
- Bahir Dar University, Plant Sciences, Bahir Dar, Amhara, Ethiopia, P.O. Box 79
| | - Getachew Alemayehu
- Bahir Dar University, Plant Sciences, Bahir Dar, Amhara, Ethiopia, P.O. Box 79
| | - Yayeh Bitew
- Bahir Dar University, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Plant Sciences, P.O. Box 5501, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
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2
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Chawla R, Poonia A, Samantara K, Mohapatra SR, Naik SB, Ashwath MN, Djalovic IG, Prasad PVV. Green revolution to genome revolution: driving better resilient crops against environmental instability. Front Genet 2023; 14:1204585. [PMID: 37719711 PMCID: PMC10500607 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1204585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Crop improvement programmes began with traditional breeding practices since the inception of agriculture. Farmers and plant breeders continue to use these strategies for crop improvement due to their broad application in modifying crop genetic compositions. Nonetheless, conventional breeding has significant downsides in regard to effort and time. Crop productivity seems to be hitting a plateau as a consequence of environmental issues and the scarcity of agricultural land. Therefore, continuous pursuit of advancement in crop improvement is essential. Recent technical innovations have resulted in a revolutionary shift in the pattern of breeding methods, leaning further towards molecular approaches. Among the promising approaches, marker-assisted selection, QTL mapping, omics-assisted breeding, genome-wide association studies and genome editing have lately gained prominence. Several governments have progressively relaxed their restrictions relating to genome editing. The present review highlights the evolutionary and revolutionary approaches that have been utilized for crop improvement in a bid to produce climate-resilient crops observing the consequence of climate change. Additionally, it will contribute to the comprehension of plant breeding succession so far. Investing in advanced sequencing technologies and bioinformatics will deepen our understanding of genetic variations and their functional implications, contributing to breakthroughs in crop improvement and biodiversity conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rukoo Chawla
- Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Atman Poonia
- Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Bawal, Haryana, India
| | - Kajal Samantara
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Sourav Ranjan Mohapatra
- Department of Forest Biology and Tree Improvement, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - S. Balaji Naik
- Institute of Integrative Biology and Systems, University of Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - M. N. Ashwath
- Department of Forest Biology and Tree Improvement, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur, Kerala, India
| | - Ivica G. Djalovic
- Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - P. V. Vara Prasad
- Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States
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Haddadi BS, Fang R, Girija A, Kattupalli D, Widdowson E, Beckmann M, Yadav R, Mur LAJ. Metabolomics targets tissue-specific responses in alleviating the negative effects of salinity in tef (Eragrostis tef) during germination. PLANTA 2023; 258:67. [PMID: 37597049 PMCID: PMC10439848 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-023-04224-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023]
Abstract
MAIN CONCLUSION Salinity induced metabolite responses resulted in differential accumulation of flavonoids and antioxidant metabolites in shoots and roots suggesting improved antioxidant capacity in providing salt-adaptive phenotype of tef seedling. Tef [(Eragrostis tef) (Zucc.) Trotter] is an important 'cash crop' of Ethiopia grown mainly for human food, and development of elite tef cultivars with better performance is vital to Ethiopian farmers and breeders. Soil salinity is one of the key constraints that affects tef yield in the Ethiopian lowlands and Rift valley where cultivation of tef is limited. Being a minor crop, the responses of tef towards salinity is unknown. Salinity involves physiological and metabolite reprogramming that can have major impact on germination and seedling establishment. Here we evaluate the in vitro effect of NaCl on tef germination and associate this with metabolomic approaches to suggest salt tolerance mechanisms. In this study, 19 tef varieties were screened for NaCl tolerance and were investigated using untargeted metabolomics. Screened tef varieties showed differential germination rates with NaCl treatment varying from < 20 to 100%. Viable seedlings exposed to NaCl exhibited purple-red pigment accumulation in the roots except for Beten and Tullu nasy varieties. Metabolite comparisons between shoots and roots showed significant differences and, in particular, roots of salt tolerant tef varieties accumulated flavonoid derivatives as well as sugars and cell wall associated metabolites. These metabolic changes were correlated with patterns of antioxidant capacities and total flavonoid content in shoots and roots and suggested a mitigating response by tef to salinity. Our study highlights the role of flavonoid accumulation following salt stress on tef seedlings and further these findings could be used as targets for selective tef breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rui Fang
- Department of Life Sciences (DLS), Aberystwyth University, Wales, SY23 3DA, UK
| | - Aiswarya Girija
- Department of Life Sciences (DLS), Aberystwyth University, Wales, SY23 3DA, UK
- Institute of Biological Rural Environmental Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Wales, SY23 3EE, UK
| | - Divya Kattupalli
- Department of Life Sciences (DLS), Aberystwyth University, Wales, SY23 3DA, UK
| | - Emma Widdowson
- Department of Life Sciences (DLS), Aberystwyth University, Wales, SY23 3DA, UK
| | - Manfred Beckmann
- Department of Life Sciences (DLS), Aberystwyth University, Wales, SY23 3DA, UK
| | - Rattan Yadav
- Institute of Biological Rural Environmental Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Wales, SY23 3EE, UK
| | - Luis A J Mur
- Department of Life Sciences (DLS), Aberystwyth University, Wales, SY23 3DA, UK.
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Genome-wide transcriptome analysis of the orphan crop tef (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter) under long-term low calcium stress. Sci Rep 2022; 12:19552. [PMID: 36380130 PMCID: PMC9666473 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-23844-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Calcium (Ca2+) is one of the essential mineral nutrients for plant growth and development. However, the effects of long-term Ca2+ deficiency in orphan crops such as Tef [(Eragrostis tef) (Zucc.) Trotter], which accumulate high levels of Ca in the grains, remained unknown. Tef is a staple crop for nearly 70 million people in East Africa, particularly in Ethiopia and Eritrea. It is one of the most nutrient-dense grains, and is also more resistant to marginal soils and climatic conditions than main cereals like corn, wheat, and rice. In this study, tef plants were grown in a hydroponic solution containing optimum (1 mM) or low (0.01 mM) Ca2+, and plant growth parameters and whole-genome transcriptome were analyzed. Ca+2-deficient plants exhibited leaf necrosis, leaf curling, and growth stunting symptoms. Ca2+ deficiency significantly decreased root and shoot Ca, potassium (K), and copper content in both root and shoots. At the same time, it greatly increased root iron (Fe) content, suggesting the role of Ca2+ in the uptake and/or translocation of these minerals. Transcriptomic analysis using RNA-seq revealed that members of Ca2+ channels, including the cyclic nucleotide-gated channels and glutamate receptor-like channels, Ca2+-transporters, Ca2+-binding proteins and Ca2+-dependent protein kinases were differentially regulated by Ca+2 treatment. Moreover, several Fe/metal transporters, including members of vacuolar Fe transporters, yellow stripe-like, natural resistance-associated macrophage protein, and oligo-peptide transporters, were differentially regulated between shoot and root in response to Ca2+ treatment. Taken together, our findings suggest that Ca2+ deficiency affects plant growth and mineral accumulation by regulating the transcriptomes of several transporters and signaling genes.
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Sharma KK, Palakolanu SR, Bhattacharya J, Shankhapal AR, Bhatnagar-Mathur P. CRISPR for accelerating genetic gains in under-utilized crops of the drylands: Progress and prospects. Front Genet 2022; 13:999207. [PMID: 36276961 PMCID: PMC9582247 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.999207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Technologies and innovations are critical for addressing the future food system needs where genetic resources are an essential component of the change process. Advanced breeding tools like "genome editing" are vital for modernizing crop breeding to provide game-changing solutions to some of the "must needed" traits in agriculture. CRISPR/Cas-based tools have been rapidly repurposed for editing applications based on their improved efficiency, specificity and reduced off-target effects. Additionally, precise gene-editing tools such as base editing, prime editing, and multiplexing provide precision in stacking of multiple traits in an elite variety, and facilitating specific and targeted crop improvement. This has helped in advancing research and delivery of products in a short time span, thereby enhancing the rate of genetic gains. A special focus has been on food security in the drylands through crops including millets, teff, fonio, quinoa, Bambara groundnut, pigeonpea and cassava. While these crops contribute significantly to the agricultural economy and resilience of the dryland, improvement of several traits including increased stress tolerance, nutritional value, and yields are urgently required. Although CRISPR has potential to deliver disruptive innovations, prioritization of traits should consider breeding product profiles and market segments for designing and accelerating delivery of locally adapted and preferred crop varieties for the drylands. In this context, the scope of regulatory environment has been stated, implying the dire impacts of unreasonable scrutiny of genome-edited plants on the evolution and progress of much-needed technological advances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiran K. Sharma
- Sustainable Agriculture Programme, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), India Habitat Center, New Delhi, India
- International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru, Hyderabad, India
| | - Sudhakar Reddy Palakolanu
- International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru, Hyderabad, India
| | - Joorie Bhattacharya
- International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru, Hyderabad, India
- Department of Genetics, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Aishwarya R. Shankhapal
- Division of Plant and Crop Sciences, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- Plant Sciences and the Bioeconomy, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Pooja Bhatnagar-Mathur
- International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru, Hyderabad, India
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), México, United Kingdom
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6
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Girija A, Jifar H, Jones C, Yadav R, Doonan J, Mur LAJ. Tef: a tiny grain with enormous potential. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 27:220-223. [PMID: 34865980 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2021.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Tef is a highly nutritious gluten-free Ethiopian cereal with food-feed potential. However, its productivity is affected by lodging, weed infestation, terminal drought, small seed size, and shattering. Following the recent availability of tef genome sequences, we highlight the need to harness the benefits that this underutilised crop offers to improve food security.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aiswarya Girija
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA, UK
| | - Habte Jifar
- National Tef Improvement Program, Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), P. O. Box 2003, Adis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Chris Jones
- Feed and Forage Development Program, International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
| | - Rattan Yadav
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA, UK
| | - John Doonan
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA, UK; The National Plant Phenomics Centre (NPPC), Aberystwyth University, Gogerddan campus, Aberystwyth, SY23 3EB, UK
| | - Luis A J Mur
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA, UK.
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7
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Zsögön A, Peres LEP, Xiao Y, Yan J, Fernie AR. Enhancing crop diversity for food security in the face of climate uncertainty. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 109:402-414. [PMID: 34882870 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/04/2021] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Global agriculture is dominated by a handful of species that currently supply a huge proportion of our food and feed. It additionally faces the massive challenge of providing food for 10 billion people by 2050, despite increasing environmental deterioration. One way to better plan production in the face of current and continuing climate change is to better understand how our domestication of these crops included their adaptation to environments that were highly distinct from those of their centre of origin. There are many prominent examples of this, including the development of temperate Zea mays (maize) and the alteration of day-length requirements in Solanum tuberosum (potato). Despite the pre-eminence of some 15 crops, more than 50 000 species are edible, with 7000 of these considered semi-cultivated. Opportunities afforded by next-generation sequencing technologies alongside other methods, including metabolomics and high-throughput phenotyping, are starting to contribute to a better characterization of a handful of these species. Moreover, the first examples of de novo domestication have appeared, whereby key target genes are modified in a wild species in order to confer predictable traits of agronomic value. Here, we review the scale of the challenge, drawing extensively on the characterization of past agriculture to suggest informed strategies upon which the breeding of future climate-resilient crops can be based.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustin Zsögön
- Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, CEP 36570-900, Viçosa, MG, Brazil
| | - Lázaro E P Peres
- Laboratory of Plant Developmental Genetics, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz", Universidade de São Paulo, CP 09, 13418-900, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
| | - Yingjie Xiao
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Jianbing Yan
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Alisdair R Fernie
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
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8
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Bellido AM, Souza Canadá ED, Permingeat HR, Echenique V. Genetic Transformation of Apomictic Grasses: Progress and Constraints. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:768393. [PMID: 34804102 PMCID: PMC8602796 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.768393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The available methods for plant transformation and expansion beyond its limits remain especially critical for crop improvement. For grass species, this is even more critical, mainly due to drawbacks in in vitro regeneration. Despite the existence of many protocols in grasses to achieve genetic transformation through Agrobacterium or biolistic gene delivery, their efficiencies are genotype-dependent and still very low due to the recalcitrance of these species to in vitro regeneration. Many plant transformation facilities for cereals and other important crops may be found around the world in universities and enterprises, but this is not the case for apomictic species, many of which are C4 grasses. Moreover, apomixis (asexual reproduction by seeds) represents an additional constraint for breeding. However, the transformation of an apomictic clone is an attractive strategy, as the transgene is immediately fixed in a highly adapted genetic background, capable of large-scale clonal propagation. With the exception of some species like Brachiaria brizantha which is planted in approximately 100 M ha in Brazil, apomixis is almost non-present in economically important crops. However, as it is sometimes present in their wild relatives, the main goal is to transfer this trait to crops to fix heterosis. Until now this has been a difficult task, mainly because many aspects of apomixis are unknown. Over the last few years, many candidate genes have been identified and attempts have been made to characterize them functionally in Arabidopsis and rice. However, functional analysis in true apomictic species lags far behind, mainly due to the complexity of its genomes, of the trait itself, and the lack of efficient genetic transformation protocols. In this study, we review the current status of the in vitro culture and genetic transformation methods focusing on apomictic grasses, and the prospects for the application of new tools assayed in other related species, with two aims: to pave the way for discovering the molecular pathways involved in apomixis and to develop new capacities for breeding purposes because many of these grasses are important forage or biofuel resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés M. Bellido
- Departamento de Agronomía, Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS – CCT – CONICET Bahía Blanca), Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | | | | | - Viviana Echenique
- Departamento de Agronomía, Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS – CCT – CONICET Bahía Blanca), Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
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9
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Kavi Kishor PB, Anil Kumar S, Naravula J, Hima Kumari P, Kummari D, Guddimalli R, Edupuganti S, Karumanchi AR, Venkatachalam P, Suravajhala P, Polavarapu R. Improvement of small seed for big nutritional feed. PHYSIOLOGY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF PLANTS : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FUNCTIONAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2021; 27:2433-2446. [PMID: 34566283 PMCID: PMC8455807 DOI: 10.1007/s12298-021-01071-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Exploding global population, rapid urbanization, salinization of soils, decreasing arable land availability, groundwater resources, and dynamic climatic conditions pose impending damage to our food security by reducing the grain quality and quantity. This issue is further compounded in arid and semi-arid regions due to the shortage of irrigation water and erratic rainfalls. Millets are gluten (a family of proteins)-free and cultivated all over the globe for human consumption, fuel, feed, and fodder. They provide nutritional security for the under- and malnourished. With the deployment of strategies like foliar spray, traditional/marker-assisted breeding, identification of candidate genes for the translocation of important minerals, and genome-editing technologies, it is now tenable to biofortify important millets. Since the bioavailability of iron and zinc has been proven in human trials, the challenge is to make such grains accessible. This review encompasses nutritional benefits, progress made, challenges being encountered, and prospects of enriching millet crops with essential minerals.
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Affiliation(s)
- P. B. Kavi Kishor
- Department of Biotechnology, Vignan’s Foundation for Science, Technology and Research, Vadlamudi, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh 522 213 India
| | - S. Anil Kumar
- Department of Biotechnology, Vignan’s Foundation for Science, Technology and Research, Vadlamudi, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh 522 213 India
- Bioclues.Org, Hyderabad, India
| | - Jalaja Naravula
- Department of Biotechnology, Vignan’s Foundation for Science, Technology and Research, Vadlamudi, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh 522 213 India
| | | | - Divya Kummari
- Department of Genetics, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500 007 India
| | | | - Sujatha Edupuganti
- Department of Botany, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500 007 India
| | - Appa Rao Karumanchi
- Department of Biotechnology, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, 522 508 India
| | | | - Prashanth Suravajhala
- Bioclues.Org, Hyderabad, India
- Amrita School of Biotechnology, Amrita University, Amritapuri, 690 525, Clappana, Kerala, India
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10
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Venezia M, Creasey Krainer KM. Current Advancements and Limitations of Gene Editing in Orphan Crops. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:742932. [PMID: 34630494 PMCID: PMC8493294 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.742932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Gene editing provides precise, heritable genome mutagenesis without permanent transgenesis, and has been widely demonstrated and applied in planta. In the past decade, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated proteins (Cas) has revolutionized the application of gene editing in crops, with mechanistic advances expanding its potential, including prime editing and base editing. To date, CRISPR/Cas has been utilized in over a dozen orphan crops with diverse genetic backgrounds, leading to novel alleles and beneficial phenotypes for breeders, growers, and consumers. In conjunction with the adoption of science-based regulatory practices, there is potential for CRISPR/Cas-mediated gene editing in orphan crop improvement programs to solve a plethora of agricultural problems, especially impacting developing countries. Genome sequencing has progressed, becoming more affordable and applicable to orphan crops. Open-access resources allow for target gene identification and guide RNA (gRNA) design and evaluation, with modular cloning systems and enzyme screening methods providing experimental feasibility. While the genomic and mechanistic limitations are being overcome, crop transformation and regeneration continue to be the bottleneck for gene editing applications. International collaboration between all stakeholders involved in crop improvement is vital to provide equitable access and bridge the scientific gap between the world's most economically important crops and the most under-researched crops. This review describes the mechanisms and workflow of CRISPR/Cas in planta and addresses the challenges, current applications, and future prospects in orphan crops.
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Numan M, Serba DD, Ligaba-Osena A. Alternative Strategies for Multi-Stress Tolerance and Yield Improvement in Millets. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12050739. [PMID: 34068886 PMCID: PMC8156724 DOI: 10.3390/genes12050739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Millets are important cereal crops cultivated in arid and semiarid regions of the world, particularly Africa and southeast Asia. Climate change has triggered multiple abiotic stresses in plants that are the main causes of crop loss worldwide, reducing average yield for most crops by more than 50%. Although millets are tolerant to most abiotic stresses including drought and high temperatures, further improvement is needed to make them more resilient to unprecedented effects of climate change and associated environmental stresses. Incorporation of stress tolerance traits in millets will improve their productivity in marginal environments and will help in overcoming future food shortage due to climate change. Recently, approaches such as application of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) have been used to improve growth and development, as well as stress tolerance of crops. Moreover, with the advance of next-generation sequencing technology, genome editing, using the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR/Cas9) system are increasingly used to develop stress tolerant varieties in different crops. In this paper, the innate ability of millets to tolerate abiotic stresses and alternative approaches to boost stress resistance were thoroughly reviewed. Moreover, several stress-resistant genes were identified in related monocots such as rice (Oryza sativa), wheat (Triticum aestivum), and maize (Zea mays), and other related species for which orthologs in millets could be manipulated by CRISPR/Cas9 and related genome-editing techniques to improve stress resilience and productivity. These cutting-edge alternative strategies are expected to bring this group of orphan crops at the forefront of scientific research for their potential contribution to global food security.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Numan
- Laboratory of Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 321 McIver Street, Greensboro, NC 27412, USA;
| | - Desalegn D. Serba
- USDA-ARS, U. S. Arid-Land Agricultural Research Center, 21881 N Cardon Ln., Maricopa, AZ 85138, USA;
| | - Ayalew Ligaba-Osena
- Laboratory of Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 321 McIver Street, Greensboro, NC 27412, USA;
- Correspondence:
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