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Recently, Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a revolutionary field, providing a great opportunity in shaping modern crop breeding, and is extensively used indoors for plant science. Advances in crop phenomics, enviromics, together with the other “omics” approaches are paving ways for elucidating the detailed complex biological mechanisms that motivate crop functions in response to environmental trepidations. These “omics” approaches have provided plant researchers with precise tools to evaluate the important agronomic traits for larger-sized germplasm at a reduced time interval in the early growth stages. However, the big data and the complex relationships within impede the understanding of the complex mechanisms behind genes driving the agronomic-trait formations. AI brings huge computational power and many new tools and strategies for future breeding. The present review will encompass how applications of AI technology, utilized for current breeding practice, assist to solve the problem in high-throughput phenotyping and gene functional analysis, and how advances in AI technologies bring new opportunities for future breeding, to make envirotyping data widely utilized in breeding. Furthermore, in the current breeding methods, linking genotype to phenotype remains a massive challenge and impedes the optimal application of high-throughput field phenotyping, genomics, and enviromics. In this review, we elaborate on how AI will be the preferred tool to increase the accuracy in high-throughput crop phenotyping, genotyping, and envirotyping data; moreover, we explore the developing approaches and challenges for multiomics big computing data integration. Therefore, the integration of AI with “omics” tools can allow rapid gene identification and eventually accelerate crop-improvement programs.

Genome editing is a relevant, versatile, and preferred tool for crop improvement, as well as for functional genomics. In this review, we summarize the advances in gene-editing techniques, such as zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like (TAL) effector nucleases (TALENs), and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) associated with the Cas9 and Cpf1 proteins. These tools support great opportunities for the future development of plant science and rapid remodeling of crops. Furthermore, we discuss the brief history of each tool and provide their comparison and different applications. Among the various genome-editing tools, CRISPR has become the most popular; hence, it is discussed in the greatest detail. CRISPR has helped clarify the genomic structure and its role in plants: For example, the transcriptional control of Cas9 and Cpf1, genetic locus monitoring, the mechanism and control of promoter activity, and the alteration and detection of epigenetic behavior between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) investigated based on genetic traits and related genome-wide studies. The present review describes how CRISPR/Cas9 systems can play a valuable role in the characterization of the genomic rearrangement and plant gene functions, as well as the improvement of the important traits of field crops with the greatest precision. In addition, the speed editing strategy of gene-family members was introduced to accelerate the applications of gene-editing systems to crop improvement. For this, the CRISPR technology has a valuable advantage that particularly holds the scientist’s mind, as it allows genome editing in multiple biological systems.

Selenium in wastewater is of particular concern due to its increasing concentration, high mobility in water, and toxicity to organisms; therefore, this study was carried out to determine the removal efficiency of selenium using iron and manganese-based bimetallic micro-composite adsorbents. The bimetallic micro-composite adsorbent was synthesized by using the chemical reduction method. Micro-particles were characterized by using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy for elemental analysis after adsorption, which confirms the adsorption of selenium on the surface of the micro-composite adsorbent, scanning electron microscopy, which shows particles are circular in shape and irregular in size, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller which results from the total surface area of particles were 59.345m 2 /g, Zeta particle size, which results from average particles size were 39.8 nm. Then it was applied to remove selenium ions in an aqueous system. The data revealed that the optimum conditions for the highest removal (95.6%) of selenium were observed at pH 8.5, adsorbent dosage of 25 mg, and contact time of 60 min, respectively, with the initial concentration of 1 ppm. The Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models match the experimental data very well. The results proved that bimetallic micro-composite could be used as an effective selenium adsorbent due to the high adsorption capacity and the short adsorption time needed to achieve equilibrium. Regarding the reusability of bimetallic absorbent, the adsorption and desorption percentages decreased from 50 to 45% and from 56 to 53%, respectively, from the 1st to the 3rd cycle.

Supercapacitors are widely used as electrical energy storage devices as a backup in industry power appliances and also in household appliances. The use of carbonaceous material in developing supercapacitors results in a lower energy storage capacity but is accompanied by the desire for higher stability. Meanwhile, the application of metal oxides or conducting polymers in supercapacitors provides a high storage capacity albeit with reduced stability. This research focuses on fabricating a hybrid of carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-based polythiophene (PTH) composites for feasibility in supercapacitor application. By analyzing the results, it was found that the 0.2 g CNT/PTH composite has electrical conductivity, σ of 0.022 s/cm which was lower than 0.5 g CNT/PTH composite which had 0.038 s/cm of electrical conductivity. Besides that, the specific capacitance, CS of the 0.2 g CNTs, and 0.5 g CNTs with PTH composites were found to be 0.032 F/g and 0.057 F/g, respectively. The energy density, however, was found to be higher in 0.2 g CNT/PTH composite with a value of 0.0062 w/g whereas 0.0035 w/g for 0.5 g CNT/PTH composite. Based on the attained data, it can be concluded that the weight% of CNTs in the composite can be the preferred choice that does affect the overall performance of the supercapacitor.

Sap-sucking insects cause severe damage to cotton production. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play vital regulatory roles in various development processes and stress response, however, the function of lncRNAs during sap-sucking insect infection in cotton is largely unknown. In this study, the transcriptome profiles between resistant (HR) and susceptible (ZS) cotton cultivars under whitefly infestation at different time points (0, 4, 12, 24, and 48 h) were compared. A total of 6,651 lncRNAs transcript and 606 differentially expressed lncRNAs were identified from the RNA-seq data. A co-expression network indicated that lncA07 and lncD09 were potential hub genes that play a regulatory role in cotton defense against aphid infestation. Furthermore, CRISPR/Cas9 knock-out mutant of lncD09 and lncA07 showed a decrease of jasmonic acid (JA) content, which potentially lead to increased susceptibility toward insect infestation. Differentially expressed genes between wild type and lncRNA knock-out plants are enriched in modulating development and resistance to stimulus. Additionally, some candidate genes such as Ghir_A01G022270, Ghir_D04G014430 , and Ghir_A01G022270 are involved in the regulation of the JA-mediated signaling pathway. This result provides a novel insight of the lncRNA role in the cotton defense system against pests.

Yield is one of the most important agronomic traits for the breeding of rapeseed (Brassica napus L), but its genetic dissection for the formation of high yield remains enigmatic, given the rapid population growth. In the present review, we review the discovery of major loci underlying important agronomic traits and the recent advancement in the selection of complex traits. Further, we discuss the benchmark summary of high-throughput techniques for the high-resolution genetic breeding of rapeseed. Biparental linkage analysis and association mapping have become powerful strategies to comprehend the genetic architecture of complex agronomic traits in crops. The generation of improved crop varieties, especially rapeseed, is greatly urged to enhance yield productivity. In this sense, the whole-genome sequencing of rapeseed has become achievable to clone and identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs). Moreover, the generation of high-throughput sequencing and genotyping techniques has significantly enhanced the precision of QTL mapping and genome-wide association study (GWAS) methodologies. Furthermore, this study demonstrates the first attempt to identify novel QTLs of yield-related traits, specifically focusing on ovule number per pod (ON). We also highlight the recent breakthrough concerning single-locus-GWAS (SL-GWAS) and multi-locus GWAS (ML-GWAS), which aim to enhance the potential and robust control of GWAS for improved complex traits.

Wild medicinal herbs have been used as folk and traditional medicines all across the world since well before recorded history. This present study was designed to test the antimicrobial activities of five different solvent extracted samples ( n-hexane , n-butanol , ethyl acetate , methanol , and water ) of Peganum harmala using stems and seeds. Two different strains of Gram-negative bacteria ( Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia) , two Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilus and Staphylococcus aureus) , and one fungal strain ( Candida albicans ) were used. The antimicrobial activities were measured using a disc diffusion assay. Two concentrations of the extracts (1 and 2mgDisc -1 ) were used. Ethyl acetate fraction was found more affective among the tested solvents and showed maximum activity (zone of inhibition) against S . aureus ( 65.53 and 81.10% ) , E . coli ( 46.22 and 61.29% ) while n-butanol and water fractions gave maximum activity against S . aureus (78.86 and 70.00%) and K . pneumonia (57.00 and 61.39%) respectively. Water fraction showed maximum activity against C . albicans (60.00 and 81.88%). In the case of the stem, Ethyl acetate again showed more activity against B . subtilus (38.57 and 42.10%) and S. aureus (36.66 and 46.66%) while n-butanol showed maximum activity against K . pneumonia (24.55 and 32.44%) and E . coli (27.93 and 37.61%). Methanol was found more effective against C . albicans (25.71 and 43.80%). Seed extracted samples were found more effective compared to the stem. Ethyl acetate , butanol , and aqueous extracted samples showed good activity against the tested microbes, so these fractions are recommended for study their mechanism of actions and isolation of bioactive metabolites responsible for antimicrobial activities. The P . harmala should be evaluated for their bioactive compounds to be used in future studies. Our objective is to provide the framework for future study on the roles of P . harmala as traditional medicines.

Noble metal nanoparticles (NMNPs) are viable alternative green sources compared to the chemical available methods in several approach like Food, medical, biotechnology, and textile industries. The biological synthesis of platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs), as a strong photocatalytic agent, has proved as more effective and safer method. In this study, PtNPs were synthesized at four different temperatures (25 °C, 50 °C, 70 °C, and 100 °C). PtNPs synthesized at 100 °C were smaller and exhibited spherical morphology with a high degree of dispersion. A series of physicochemical characterizations were applied to investigate the synthesis, particle size, crystalline nature, and surface morphology of PtNPs. The biosynthesized PtNPs were tested for the photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiations. The results showed that PtNPs exhibited remarkable photocatalytic activity by degrading 98% of MB only in 40 min. The acid phosphatase mediated PtNPs showed strong bacterial inhibition efficiency against S. aureus and E. coli. Furthermore, it showed high antioxidant activity (88%) against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazil (DPPH). In conclusion, this study provided an overview of the applications of PtNPs in food chemistry, biotechnology, and textile industries for the deterioration of the natural and synthetic dyes and its potential application in the suppression of pathogenic microbes of the biological systems. Thus, it could be used as a novel approach in the food microbiology, biomedical and environmental applications.

Recently food shortage has become the major flagging scenario around the globe. To resolve this challenge, there is dire need to significantly increase crop productivity per unit area. In the present study, 24 genotypes of rice were grown in pots to assess their tillering number, number of primary and secondary branches per panicle, number of grains per panicle, number of grains per plant, and grain yield, respectively. In addition, the potential function of miR156 was analyzed, regulating seed sequence in rice. Furthermore, OsSPL14 gene for miR156 was sequenced to identify additional mutations within studied region. The results demonstrated Bas-370 and L-77 showed highest and lowest tillers, respectively. Bas-370, Rachna basmati, Bas-2000, and Kashmir Basmati showed high panicle branches whereas, L-77, L-46, Dilrosh, L-48, and L-20 displayed lowest panicle branches. Bas-370 and four other studied accessions contained C allele whereas, L-77 and 18 other investigated accessions had heterozygous (C and T) alleles in their promoter region. C-T allelic mutation was found in 3 rd exon of the OsSPL14 gene. The sequence analysis of 12 accessions revealed a novel mutation (C-T) present ~2bp upstream and substitution of C-A allele. However, no significant correlation for novel mutation was found for tillering and panicle branches in studied rice accessions. Taken together present results suggested novel insight into the binding of miR156 to detected mutation found in 3 rd exon of the OsSPL14 gene. Nevertheless, L-77, L-46, Dilrosh, L-48, and L-20 could be used as potential breeding resource for improving panicle architecture contributing yield improvement of rice crop.