Functional Genomics for Developing Climate Resilient Crops - Volume II
This study identifies and characterises the calmodulin (CAM) and calmodulin-like (CML) gene family in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus). Expression analyses under abiotic stress conditions revealed key genes potentially involved in stress responses, particularly drought and salinity. These findings provide insights into the functional roles of CaM and CML genes and their application in developing stress-tolerant watermelon varieties.
This article belongs to the collection: Functional Genomics for Developing Climate Resilient Crops - Volume II.
This review explores plant drought memory, emphasizing molecular and physiological strategies plants use to encode, retain, and leverage stress imprints for enhanced resilience. The roles of DNA methylation, histone remodeling, small RNAs, and abscisic acid are highlighted. Memory-induced root system plasticity, transgenerational inheritance, and interactions with beneficial soil microbes are also discussed. By integrating cutting-edge tools like CRISPR-Cas9 and single-cell multi-omics, this work presents a path toward engineering drought-resilient crops to tackle climate volatility and global food security challenges.
This article belongs to the collection: Functional Genomics for Developing Climate Resilient Crops - Volume II.
This study is important because it identifies a potential genetic approach to enhance plant resistance against Alternaria blight (Alternaria burnsii), a disease causing severe economic losses. By demonstrating the role of PdCCoAOMT in lignin biosynthesis and disease mitigation, it offers a novel strategy for crop protection. The findings could contribute to the development of resistant crop varieties, reducing yield losses and improving agricultural sustainability.
This article belongs to the collection: Functional Genomics for Developing Climate Resilient Crops - Volume II.
Shading significantly reduces grain size, 1000-grain weight, starch content, and enzyme activities in the grain development of wheat (Triticum aestivum). Phenotypic and transcriptome analyses of wheat cv. ZY96-3 under normal and shaded conditions revealed shading strong effect on grain-filling rates and starch metabolism. Transcriptomic results identified altered pathways, including photosynthetic antenna proteins, carbon fixation, and starch metabolism. Key genes (e.g. PetC, Fd, LFNR1) were linked to electron transport. These findings provide insights into breeding wheat with high photosynthetic efficiency for low-light regions.
This article belongs to the collection: Functional Genomics for Developing Climate Resilient Crops − Volume II.
This study investigated the impact of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) on alternative splicing in Catharanthus roseus using RNA-Seq. We identified differentially expressed alternatively spliced genes and co-expressed splicing factors (SFs) in response to MeJA treatment. Findings suggest that MeJA activates SFs, leading to specific mRNA isoforms that enhance the plant’s ability to respond to environmental and developmental signals. This work provides insights into the complex regulatory mechanisms underlying adaptive responses of C. roseus.
This article belongs to the collection: Functional Genomics for Developing Climate Resilient Crops - Volume II.
NF-Y is a key transcription factor found in plants, animals, and fungi, with higher plants having more NF-Y subunits. It consists of three parts (NF-YA, NF-YB, and NF-YC) that work together to regulate gene activity by binding to DNA or interacting with other proteins. NF-Y plays a vital role in plant growth and development. Understanding its structure and function can help improve crops and support sustainable agriculture.
This article belongs to the collection: Functional Genomics for Developing Climate Resilient Crops - Volume II.
