Shaheen, T. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2021

AhNGE : A Database for Arachis hypogaea Nodule Developmental Gene Expression

Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) inside root-nodules is a primary and sustainable source of soil nitrogen. Understanding nodule development and metabolism in crop legumes may lead to more effective SNF in agriculture. Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) is an economically important allotetraploid legume with non-canonical nodule developmental features. Recent genome sequencing of peanut has opened the possibility of making peanut a model for studying atypical nodule development. To help the community of nodule biologists, we have developed a database called AhNGE (Arachis hypogaea Nodule Developmental Gene Expression: http://nipgr.ac.in/AhNGE/index.php). AhNGE contains RNAseq data from six data points of nodule development in A. hypogagea cv. Tifrunner. This data represents a dynamic view of gene expression during peanut nodule development. Research in model legumes has generated a huge knowledgebase in the last twenty years. To streamline comparative genomics among legumes, we performed ortholog analysis among four legumes (Cicer, Glycine, Lotus, and Medicago) and one non-legume (Arabidopsis). This will facilitate the integration of existing knowledge in nodule development with the Arachis transcriptome. The available data can be retrieved using a single or batch query or searching using gene ID, from above mentioned five species. The output displays the gene expression pattern in graphical as well as tabular form, along with further options to download the sequence data. The database is linked with PeanutBase, the main genomic resource of peanut. Additionally, the expression level of different splicing variants can be retrieved from the database. In summary, AhNGE serves as an important resource for the scientific community working on nodule development.

bioinformatics↗

bioRxiv2021

EMS-based mutants are useful for enhancing drought tolerance in spring wheat

Sustainable wheat production in drought prone areas can be achieved by developing resilient wheat varieties. In the present study, chemical mutagenesis was used to induce mutations in a cultivated wheat variety NN-Gandum-1. In total, 44 mutants were selected based on their high yield potential for exposing to well-watered (W1) and rainfed (W2) conditions for one season. Then 24 mutants were selected, and were exposed to W1 and W2 regimes. On the basis of least relative reduction in physiological parameters under W2 regime, five mutants were selected for conducting exome capturing assays. In total, 184 SNPs were identified in nine genes (ABC transporter type 1, Aspartic peptidase, Cytochrome P450, transmembrane domain, Heavy metal-associated domain, HMA, NAC domain, NAD (P)-binding domain, S-type anion channel, Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2 and UDP-glucuronosyl/UDP-glucosyltransferase). Maximum number of mutations were observed in chr.2D, which contained mutations in three genes i.e. ABC transporter type 1, NAD (P)-binding domain and UDP-glucuronosyl/UDP-glucosyltransferase which may have a role in conferring drought tolerance. The selected mutants were further tested for studying their biochemical responses under both the regimes for two years. The extent of membrane damage was estimated through malondialdehydeand hydrogen per oxidase and tolerance to drought stress was assessed via antioxidant enzymes in leaves. The selected mutants under drought stress increased the accumulation of proline content, total soluble sugars, total free amino acids, while decreased total chlorophyll content, carotenoids and total soluble protein. Finally, the procedure of narrowing down the number of developed mutants from a large mutation population (>4000) is found useful for exploring the complex trait like drought without compromising yield potential. These mutants can further be explored to understand the genetic circuits of drought tolerance in wheat which will pave the way towards improving livelihood of resource poor farming community mostly relying on cereal food.

plant biology↗