Decoding Climate Resilience: Functional Profiling of Protein Phosphatase 2C Family Genes for Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Rice
Problem • Rice is the primary cereal crop consumed by nearly half the population worldwide • By 2050, there will be a 50% increase in demand for rice • The world’s poor populations depend more on rice, both for income and consumption, than any other food. Rice is the single-largest source of employment and income for rural people • Worldwide, 51–82% of agricultural crop yield is lost annually due to abiotic stress due to climate change • Climate change causes extreme temperatures, erratic rainfall, dangerous droughts, and increased salinity from rising sea levels Solution • To adapt to abiotic stress, rice has intricate signaling pathways, particularly those mediated by the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA), that cause an increase in stress tolerance • Clade A genes of the Protein Phosphatase 2C (PP2C) gene family are known to be negative regulators of the ABA signaling pathway. • “Deleting” these genes activates the ABA pathway and increases stress tolerance in rice without inducing stress CRISPR gene editing technology is the ideal solution Research Goal • While the role of PP2C genes in stress response is recognized, there is a gap in understanding the specific genes within this family that contribute significantly to stress signaling. Furthermore, there is a need for a detailed investigation into the effects of targeted CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) genome editing on rice stress response pathways.
Plantastic Pods: The Grow Stick Rooting Revolution for Seeds & Cuttings
Cultivating plants from seeds or cuttings is a fundamental aspect of gardening and agriculture. While traditional methods have been practiced for centuries, there is a persistent need for innovative and efficient approaches to enhance plant growth and development. This section explores the challenges associated with traditional propagation methods and examines potential solutions offered by emerging technologies and materials. Plant propagation is necessary to allow efficient multiplication and distribution of desirable plant varieties (Sorensen & Garland, 2024). Plant propagation is the process of creating new plants. There are two primary methods of propagation: sexual and asexual. ．Sexual propagation involves the union of pollen and egg, drawing genetic material from two parent plants to create a new, genetically diverse offspring. This process utilizes the floral parts of a plant. ．Asexual propagation, on the other hand, involves taking a part of a single parent plant and inducing it to regenerate into a new plant. The resulting offspring is genetically identical to its parent. This method utilises the vegetative parts of a plant, such as stems, roots, or leaves. One emerging technology that has garnered attention in this field is the use of cocopeat, a sustainable growing medium derived from coconut husks (Pane et al. 2021). Cocopeat has been extensively studied as a potential alternative to peat moss in plant propagation (Gericke, 1940). It offers a favourable balance between air porosity and water holding capacity, promoting root development and nutrient uptake (Kalaivani and Jawaharlal, 2019). Furthermore, cocopeat is a renewable and environmentally-friendly resource, making it an attractive option for sustainable seedling cultivation. Research has shown that the use of cocopeat as a growing medium can enhance the growth of both vegetables and various ornamental plants, such as Impatiens. The biostimulant effect of the Trichoderma atroviride fungus, which can readily colonize coir, has been observed to increase aboveground biomass, flower production, pigments, and nutrient concentration in these plants (Traversari et al., 2024).
Exploiting the beneficial role of Biochar and Titanium (Ti) as a Sustainable and Green Strategy for Improving Agricultural Output in Saudi Arabia: Wheat as an Using Wheat as a Model
The present research work aimed to assess the impact of biochar (BC) amendment (5%) and foliar supplementation of titanium (Ti) at a concentration of 50 mg L-1 TiO2 on the growth, chlorophyll content, and biochemical parameters of wheat (Triticum aestivum L). The results demonstrated significant improvements in several aspects of wheat physiology due to these treatments, both individually and in combination. Plant height, as well as fresh and dry weight of wheat, exhibited substantial increases when subjected to Ti and BC treatments, with the highest enhancements observed in plants treated with both Ti and BC. Furthermore, chlorophyll content, including chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophylls, and carotenoids, showed marked increases in response to individual Ti and BC treatments, with even greater improvements when both treatments were combined. In terms of biochemical parameters, the content of proline, sugars, and free amino acids significantly increased in plants grown in soils amended with BC. Additionally, foliar Ti treatment led to elevated levels of these biochemical constituents. The combined treatment of Ti and BC resulted in the most pronounced effects. Moreover, oxidative damage parameters, such as hydrogen peroxide, lipid peroxide, and electrolyte leakage, were notably reduced in plants subjected to Ti and BC treatments, either individually or together. The activity of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase, exhibited significant increases in response to Ti and BC treatments, further emphasizing their beneficial effects on wheat plants. Overall, this investigation shows that biochar amendment and titanium foliar supplementation both have beneficial effects on wheat development and biochemical parameters; these findings may be relevant to efforts to increase crop productivity and stress tolerance.