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This study investigated the impact of feeding 17% moringa leaf meal (MLM) on the ruminal and fecal microbial composition and body weight gain (BWG) performance of lambs ( Ovis aries ) and kids ( Capra hircus ). A total of n  = 28 lambs ( n  = 14, no-moringa, n  = 14, 17% moringa) and 24 kids ( n  = 12, no-moringa, n  = 12, 17% moringa) were involved in the experiment and body weight was recorded fortnightly. Metagenomic shotgun sequencing was performed on 28, 22, and 26 ruminal solid, liquid fraction, and fecal samples from lambs, and 23, 22, and 23 samples from kids. Moringa supplementation significantly increased BWG in lambs (21.09 ± 0.78 to 26.12 ± 0.81 kg) and kids (14.60 ± 1.29 to 18.28 ± 1.09 kg) ( p -value ≤ 0.01). Microbiome analysis revealed an elevated Firmicutes:Bacteroidetes ratio in the moringa diet group. Moringa-fed animals exhibited increased microbial genera associated with volatile fatty acids (VFAs) production ( Prevotella, Anaerovibrio, Lachnospiraceae, Butyrivibrio, Christensenella ) and starch and fiber digesters ( Proteobacteria, Ruminococcus ). The increase in the bacterial genus Sharpea suggested possible methane reduction and decreased proportion of pathogens, Aliarcobacter _ ID28198 , Campylobacter _ ID194 and Campylobacter _ ID1660076 suggest health benefits. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis demonstrated significant alterations in microbial gene pool and metabolic pathways related to carbohydrate, protein, lipid and energy metabolism, indicating potential improvements in animal health. Overall, moringa feeding showed higher energy recovery, improved growth, and potential benefits in methane reduction and reduced pathogenic bacteria. Key points • Study assessed the effects of Moringa olifera diet on lambs and kids. • Improved growth performance noted with moringa diet. • Moringa feed increased Firmicutes:Bacteroidetes ratio in rumen.

Goat is an important livestock species that contribute significantly to global food supply by converting complex plant biomass into animal protein, depending on the gut commensal microbiota for digestion of complex plant biomass. Gastrointestinal tract (GIT) microbiome manipulation using natural plant-based feed supplement is one of the promising strategies for improving livestock performance and mitigating enteric biogases. Moringa oleifera improves animal performance, yet its effects on microbiota structure and functional remodelling across GIT remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the impact of moringa supplementation on microbiota structure and functional remodelling across the gut in goats. We show that moringa induces microbiota restructuring associated with metabolic output in terms of body weight gain in goat. The forestomach (FS) and large intestine (LI) showed specific enrichment of efficient fibre utilizing and fermentative microbial community, particularly Ruminococcus flavefaciens, Sodaliphilus sp., Prevotella sp., Treponema bryantii, Faecousia sp., and Phocaeicola sp., whereas small intestine exhibited greater abundance of lactate producing microbes such as Rombustia hominis. These spatial patterns reflect alternative metabolic pathways across the GIT driven by nutrient availability. Moringa supplementation selectively enriched microbial genes involved in the metabolic cascades such as production of butyrate and propionate via succinate pathway in FS, while reductive acetogenesis via Wood-Ljungdahl pathway in LI. Decreased abundance of Entodinium and increased abundance of Prevotella were observed in moringa supplemented diet. Our findings provide mechanistic insight into how diet modulates gut microbial ecosystems, demonstrating that a plant-based feed supplement intervention can restructure microbial composition and functional potential along the GIT.

Sugarcane ( Saccharum  spp.) is a major cash crop that drives the economy of several countries owing to being an important source for sugar, bioethanol, and ethanol production globally. Several biotic and abiotic stresses have been reported to reduce the overall yield and production of sugarcane globally. Salinity is major abiotic stress which drastically influences the yield and hence needs a holistic approach to develop salt-tolerant sugarcane varieties. Efforts of conventional breeding approaches toward the development of salt-tolerant varieties are being hampered due to the presence of narrow genetic pool and complicated genome architecture of sugarcane. Substantial efforts have been made to expedite marker-assisted breeding approach. Recent advancements in the plant molecular biology have led to the identification of some of the identification of few potential genes for developing transgenic salt-tolerant sugarcane. The emergence of omics-based technologies such as genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics with the deciphering of genome sequences have substantially enhanced the pace of sugarcane improvement. Genome-wide analysis has revealed several salt inducible regulatory sequences, transcription factors, and miRNAs, which could be a potential tool for developing salt-tolerant sugarcane varieties. The potential of recent genome-editing technologies for enhancing salt tolerance in sugarcane is also being explored. The present review highlights the biotechnological intervention emerging from the recent omics-driven research for developing salt tolerance in sugarcane.

Petunia hybrida is an important ornamental plant grown in many countries including India. It is a good model plant for the study of genetics and molecular biology. During a survey in 2013–2014, severe leaf curling was observed on most of the P. hybrida grown in the Sikar district, Rajasthan. The infected plants were analyzed for begomovirus infection by rolling circular amplification (RCA) and sequenced. Full length sequences confirmed the association of monopartite begomovirus with betasatellites. Phylogenetic analysis showed the highest percentage of identity with Chilli leaf curl virus ( ChLCuV ) and therefore considered to be an isolate of ChLCuV. Recombination analysis showed that ChLCuV has broadened its host range by recombination process. To the best our knowledge, this is the first report of natural occurrence of ChLCuV on P. hybrida in India.

Plant viruses encode suppressors of posttranscriptional gene silencing, an adaptive antiviral defense responses that confines virus infection. Previously, we identified single-stranded DNA satellite (also known as DNA- β ) of ~1,350 nucleotides in length associated with Croton yellow vein mosaic begomovirus (CYVMV) in croton plants. The expression of genes from DNA- β requires the begomovirus for packaged, replication, insect transmission and movement in plants. The present study demonstrates the effect of the βC1 gene on the silencing pathway as analysed by using both transgenic systems and transient Agrobacterium tumefaciens based delivery. Plants that carry an intron-hairpin construct covering the βC1 gene accumulated cognate small-interfering RNAs and remained symptom-free after exposure to CYVMV and its satellite. These results suggest that βC1 interferes with silencing mechanism.

Spinach ( Spinacia oleracea ) leaves with vein yellowing and reduced leaf size were observed in Rasidpura, Rajasthan Province, India. The complete DNA-A and betasatellite sequences of the virus isolated from infected spinach leaves were determined and comprised 2,753 and 1,367 nucleotides, respectively. The sequence had the highest level of nucleotide sequence identity (88 %) with an isolate of Papaya leaf curl virus and likely represents a new species, for which we propose the name Spinach yellow vein Sikar virus . This is the first report of a Begomovirus associated with satellite molecules infecting the host S. oleracea in India.

The diversity of begomovirus and associated betasatellite complexes was analyzed from infected leaf samples of radish, tomato, chili, torai (ridge gourd), cotton, spinach, citrus and guar bean collected from different geographical regions of northern India. Leaves showing the characteristic begomovirus symptoms were used for cloning and sequencing for further characterization of the begomovirus complexes. In the present study, coat protein (CP) was amplified from eight different infected crop samples and betasatellites from only six. Our results showed significant diversity of CP and betasatellites of monopartite begomovirus in different crops in northern India. Phylogenetic analysis of CP and betasatellites test sequences exhibit a close relationship to diverse crops infecting begomovirus complexes. This strengthens the increase of host range of begomovirus in India.