Publications

Adaptation of grain legumes to water-limited environments: selection for physiological, biochemical, and yield component characteristics for improved drought resistance.

The relationships between grain yield of spring wheat and rainfall distribution in western australia using regression models

Sustainable management of hazardous asbestos-containing materials: Containment, stabilization and inertization

Asbestos is a group of six major silicate minerals that belong to the serpentine and amphibole families, and include chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, anthophyllite, tremolite and actinolite. Weathering and human disturbance of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) can lead to the emission of asbestos dust, and the inhalation of respirable asbestos fibrous dust can lead to 'mesothelioma' cancer and other diseases, including the progressive lung disease called 'asbestosis'. There is a considerable legacy of in-situ ACMs in the built environment, and it is not practically or economically possible to safely remove ACMs from the built environment. The aim of the review is to examine the three approaches used for the sustainable management of hazardous ACMs in the built environment: containment, stabilization, and inertization or destruction. Most of the asbestos remaining in the built environment can be contained in a physically secured form so that it does not present a significant health risk of emitting toxic airborne fibres. In settings where safe removal is not practically feasible, stabilization and encapsulation can provide a promising solution, especially in areas where ACMs are exposed to weathering or disturbance. Complete destruction and inertization of asbestos can be achieved by thermal decomposition using plasma and microwave radiation. Bioremediation and chemical treatment (e.g., ultrasound with oxalic acid) have been found to be effective in the inertization of ACMs. Technologies that achieve complete destruction of ACMs are found to be attractive because the treated products can be recycled or safely disposed of in landfills.

Enhancing crop productivity for recarbonizing soil

Concurrent Drought Threaten Wheat and Maize Production and Widen Crop Yield Gaps in the Future

Lentil

Response of Physiological, Reproductive Function and Yield Traits in Cultivated Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Under Heat Stress

Under global climate change, high-temperature stress is becoming a major threat to crop yields, adversely affecting plant growth, and ultimately resulting in significant yield losses in various crops, including chickpea. Thus, identifying crop genotypes with increased heat stress (HS) tolerance is becoming a priority for chickpea research. Here, we assessed the response of seven physiological traits and four yield and yield-related traits in 39 chickpea genotypes grown in normal-sown and late-sown environments [to expose plants to HS (>32/20°C) at the reproductive stage] for two consecutive years (2017-2018 and 2018-2019). Significant genetic variability for the tested traits occurred under normal and HS conditions in both years. Based on the tested physiological parameters and yield-related traits, GNG2171, GNG1969, GNG1488, PantG186, CSJ515, RSG888, RSG945, RVG202, and GNG469 were identified as promising genotypes under HS. Further, ten heat-tolerant and ten heat-sensitive lines from the set of 39 genotypes were validated for their heat tolerance (32/20°C from flowering to maturity) in a controlled environment of a growth chamber. Of the ten heat-tolerant genotypes, GNG1969, GNG1488, PantG186, RSG888, CSJ315, and GNG1499 exhibited high heat tolerance evidenced by small reductions in pollen viability, pollen germination, and pod set %, high seed yield plant^-1 and less damage to membranes, photosynthetic ability, leaf water status, and oxidative processes. In growth chamber, chlorophyll, photosynthetic efficiency, pollen germination, and pollen viability correlated strongly with yield traits. Thus, GNG1969, GNG1488, PantG186, RSG888, CSJ315, and GNG1499 genotypes could be used as candidate donors for transferring heat tolerance traits to high-yielding heat-sensitive varieties to develop heat-resilient chickpea cultivars.

Genome-wide association mapping of nutritional traits for designing superior chickpea varieties

Micronutrient malnutrition is a serious concern in many parts of the world; therefore, enhancing crop nutrient content is an important challenge. Chickpea (<i>Cicer arietinum</i> L.), a major food legume crop worldwide, is a vital source of protein and minerals in the vegetarian diet. This study evaluated a diverse set of 258 chickpea germplasm accessions for 12 key nutritional traits. A significant variation was observed for several nutritional traits, including crude protein (16.56-24.64/100 g), β-Carotene (0.003-0.104 mg/100 g), calcium (60.69-176.55 mg/100 g), and folate (0.413-6.537 mg/kg). These data, combined with the available whole-genome sequencing data for 318,644 SNPs, were used in genome-wide association studies comprising single-locus and multi-locus models. We also explored the effect of varying the minor allele frequency (MAF) levels and heterozygosity. We identified 62 significant marker-trait associations (MTAs) explaining up to 28.63% of the phenotypic variance (PV), of which nine were localized within genes regulating G protein-coupled receptor signaling pathway, proteasome assembly, intracellular signal transduction, and oxidation-reduction process, among others. The significant effect MTAs were located primarily on Ca1, Ca3, Ca4, and Ca6. Importantly, varying the level of heterozygosity was found to significantly affect the detection of associations contributing to traits of interest. We further identified seven promising accessions (ICC10399, ICC1392, ICC1710, ICC2263, ICC1431, ICC4182, and ICC16915) with superior agronomic performance and high nutritional content as potential donors for developing nutrient-rich, high-yielding chickpea varieties. Validation of the significant MTAs with higher PV could identify factors controlling the nutrient acquisition and facilitate the design of biofortified chickpeas for the future.

Growth, Rhizosphere Carboxylate Exudation, and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Colonisation in Temperate Perennial Pasture Grasses Varied with Phosphorus Application

Phosphorus (P) fertiliser is applied regularly to the nutrient-poor sandy soils in southwestern Australia to elevate and/or maintain pasture production. This study aimed to characterise differential growth, root carboxylate exudation, and mycorrhizal responses in three temperate perennial pasture grasses at variable P supply. Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea L. cv. Prosper), veldt grass (Ehrharta calycina Sm. cv. Mission), and tall wheatgrass (Thinopyrum ponticum L. cv. Dundas) with five P rates varying from 0 to 100 mg P kg−1 soil were evaluated in a controlled environment. Rhizosphere carboxylate exudation and mycorrhizal colonisation were assessed. Veldt grass produced the maximum shoot dry weight, highest agronomic phosphorus-use efficiency at low P supply, as well as the highest specific root length and shoot P content at all P rates. Across species, the maximum shoot weight was obtained at 20 and 50 mg P kg−1 soil, which differed significantly from the two lowest P rates (0 and 5 mg P kg−1 soil). Phosphorus application influenced carboxylate exudation, with plants exuding acetate only in the zero P treatment, and citrate and malonate in the P-supplemented treatments. In all three species, acetate and malonate were the major carboxylates exuded (37–51% of the total). Only tall wheatgrass released trans-aconitate. Citrate and malonate concentrations in the rhizosphere increased with P supply, suggesting their important role in P acquisition. Phosphorus applications reduced arbuscular mycorrhizal colonisation and increased root diameter as the P rate increased. Root carboxylate exudation in low-P soil played a role in mobilisation of P via P solubilisation, but the role of exuded carboxylate in soils well supplied with P might be diminished.

Contrasting stomatal regulation and leaf ABA concentrations in wheat genotypes when split root systems were exposed to terminal drought

Botrytis grey mould of chickpea: a review of biology, epidemiology, and disease management*

Botrytis grey mould (BGM), caused by Botrytis cinerea Pers. ex. Fr., is an economically important disease of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), especially in areas where cool, cloudy, and humid weather persists. Several epidemics of BGM causing complete crop loss in the major chickpea-producing countries have been reported. The pathogen B. cinerea mainly survives between seasons on infected crop debris and seeds. Despite extensive investigations on pathological, physiological, and molecular characteristics of B. cinerea causing grey mould type diseases on chickpea and several other hosts, the nature of infection processes and genetic basis of pathogen variability have not been clearly established. This lack of information coupled with the need for repeated application of chemical fungicides forced the deployment of host plant resistance (HPR) as a major option for BGM management. Effective and repeatable controlled-environment and field-screening techniques have been developed for identification of HPR. Of the selected portion of chickpea germplasm evaluated for BGM resistance, only few accessions belonging to both cultivated and wild Cicer spp. were tolerant to BGM, and the search for higher levels of disease resistance continues. Fungicide application based on disease predictive models is helpful in precision-based fungicide application. Integrated disease management (IDM) of BGM has proved more effective than any of the individual disease management components in large-scale, on-farm studies conducted in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. Further information on the biology of B. cinerea and epidemiology of the disease is needed to strengthen the IDM programs. In this paper the biology of B. cinerea including its variability, epidemiology of BGM, identified sources of resistance, and other management options, and available information on biochemical and genetic basis of disease resistance have been reviewed with a mention of future research priorities.

Legume Pangenome: Status and Scope for Crop Improvement

In the last decade, legume genomics research has seen a paradigm shift due to advances in genome sequencing technologies, assembly algorithms, and computational genomics that enabled the construction of high-quality reference genome assemblies of major legume crops. These advances have certainly facilitated the identification of novel genetic variants underlying the traits of agronomic importance in many legume crops. Furthermore, these robust sequencing technologies have allowed us to study structural variations across the whole genome in multiple individuals and at the species level using 'pangenome analysis.' This review updates the progress of constructing pangenome assemblies for various legume crops and discusses the prospects for these pangenomes and how to harness the information to improve various traits of economic importance through molecular breeding to increase genetic gain in legumes and tackle the increasing global food crisis.

Challenges of the establishment of rubber-based agroforestry systems: Decreases in the diversity and abundance of ground arthropods

Film Mulching with Low Phosphorus Application Improves Soil Organic Carbon and Its Decomposability in a Semiarid Agroecosystem

Soil organic carbon (SOC) storage and decomposability are crucial for soil quality. Film mulching and phosphorus (P) application are important agricultural practices on the semiarid Loess Plateau. This study analyzed the combined effects of film mulching and P application on SOC, its fractions, and mineralization kinetics under alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). The six-year field experiment incorporated randomized blocks of split-plot design with two mulching treatments (no film mulching with flat planting and film mulching with ridges and furrows) as main plots and four P levels (P0: 0 kg ha−1, P1: 9.73 kg ha−1, P2: 19.3 kg ha−1, P3: 28.9 kg ha−1) as subplots. Mulching increased SOC content, SOC fractions (light and heavy fraction organic C, microbial biomass C, and dissolved organic C), and mineralization. After six years, mulching increased SOC content by 2.18, 2.60, 2.37, and 0.17 g kg−1 at P0, P1, P2, and P3, relative to no mulching. With increasing P levels, SOC fractions and mineralization increased under no mulching but increased initially and then decreased under mulching. P1 with mulching displayed the highest SOC utilization efficiency and stability. Kinetic models divided SOC into an active and a slow SOC pool, with the latter showing the lowest decomposability and highest stability in P1 with mulching. Overall, film mulching with a low P level, especially 11.9 kg ha−1 P fertilizer, promoted SOC storage under alfalfa on the semiarid Loess Plateau due to the high SOC content with high C utilization efficiency and stability and low decomposability.

Temporal Sensitivity of Maize Starch to Short-Term Low-Light Stress: Critical Window During Early Grain Filling

THE POTENTIAL OF Enhalus acoroides AS A BIOSTIMULANT TO ENHANCE MAIZE GROWTH AND DROUGHT TOLERANCE

HIGHLIGHTS- Biostimulant Potential of Enhalus acoroides- Positive Effects of E. acoroides on Maize Growth- Reduction in H2O2 (Oxidative Stress) by Enhalus acoroides extractABSTRACTDrought poses a significant challenge to crop productivity, with maize particularly vulnerable. Enhancing maize tolerance to drought stress is crucial, and one promising approach involves using biostimulants derived from natural sources. The seagrass Enhalus acoroides is a potential biostimulant due to its rich phytochemical composition, including phenols, tannins, flavonoids, and pigments such as chlorophyll, lutein, pheophytin, and beta-carotene. These compounds exhibit antioxidant activity, suggesting their potential role in enhancing plant resilience to drought stress. This study evaluated the effects of E. acoroides extract on maize growth under drought conditions during the seedling phase and analyzed biochemical changes in maize plants treated with the extract. The extract was prepared using 10% dried E. acoroides leaves with a chloroform-to-ethanol solvent ratio of 9:1 (v/v) and subsequently dissolved in distilled water for final concentrations of 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.15%, 0.2%, and 0.25%. The results demonstrated that E. acoroides extract enhanced plant height, increased shoot and root fresh and dry weights. Additionally, plants sprayed with E. acoroides extract exhibited higher total sugar and protein content in the shoots as compared to non-sprayed plants. Under 20% polyethylene glycol (PEG)-induced drought stress, control plants showed severe leaf wilting, whereas extract-treated plants only had mild wilting. The chlorophyll, reducing sugar, total N, and tocopherol contents were also higher in extract-treated plants under PEG stress than in untreated controls. These findings indicate the potential of E. acoroides extract as a biostimulant for improving drought tolerance in maize.

Fulvic acid modified ZnO nanoparticles improve nanoparticle stability, mung bean growth, grain zinc content, and soil biodiversity

Straw return can increase maize yield by regulating soil bacteria and improving soil properties in arid and semi-arid areas