Genome editing the way to overcome self-incompatibility in diploid potato breeding

Potatoes are one of the world’s most important food crops, but breeding them is not always easy. The majority of diploid potato clones (Solanum spp.) possess gametophytic self-incompatibility that is primarily controlled by a single multiallelic locus called the S-locus which is composed of tightly linked genes, S-RNase (S-locus RNase) and multiple SLFs (S locus F-box proteins), which are expressed in the style and pollen, respectively. Using S-RNase genes known to function in the Solanaceae gametophytic SI mechanism, we identified S-RNase alleles with flower-specific expression in two diploid self-incompatible potato lines using genome re-sequencing data. Recent advances in genome editing, especially using a Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) approach, have provided a promising solution. By carefully targeting and modifying the genes responsible for self-incompatibility, researchers can make diploid potatoes self-compatible. This change allows plants to produce seeds through self-fertilization, speeding up breeding programs and making the development of disease-resistant, climate-tolerant, and higher-yielding potato varieties much more efficient.

Key words: Genome, potato, diploid, breeding

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Colony dynamics and pectin degradation efficiency of pectinolytic bacteria involved in jute retting during storage in sugarcane bagasse

The present study evaluated colony population dynamics and pectin degradation efficiency of six bacterial isolates (D4N16, D5M4, D5M5, D5R2, D5R15, and MCG4) over a 120-day storage period. Significant variations were observed among isolates and across storage durations. Colony numbers were highest at 15 DAS, with D4N16 (294) and D5R2 (287) showing superior survival, while all isolates gradually declined with time, reaching lowest counts at 120 DAS (ranging from 28 in D5M4 to 108 in D4N16). Pectin degradation activity also showed a decreasing trend over time, with maximum activity recorded at 15 DAS (29.00 in D5M5), followed by a gradual reduction across isolates. Among tested strains, D4N16 and D5R2 maintained relatively higher colony counts and degradation activity, suggesting their potential stability in sugarcane bagasse as a carrier system. These findings highlight sugarcane bagasse as a sustainable and effective medium for bacterial storage, with implications for its application in rapid jute retting.

Key words: Pectinolytic bacteria, storage period, sugarcane bagasse

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An interacting study between planting time and disease incidences in different varieties of tossa jute

Diseases are a major constraint for Tossa jute (Corchorus olitorius) production, and management strategies require a clear understanding of epidemiological factors. An experiment was conducted at the Genome Research Centre, Bangladesh Jute Research Institute, Dhaka, from February to June 2025, to evaluate the effects of sowing date and variety on disease severity and plant survival. The study was laid out in a two-factor Randomized Complete Block Design, assessing four sowing dates (20-February, 05-March, 20-March, 05-April) and four varieties (BJRI Tossa pat 8, O-795, BJRI Tossa pat 9, JRO-524). Data were collected on the severity of die back, stem rot, wilt, and seedling blight, along with total plant population. The results indicated that sowing date, variety, and their interaction significantly influenced disease incidence. Early sowing (20-February) led to the highest severity of wilt (5.27), while late sowing (05-April) corresponded with the highest incidence of seedling blight (14.96). Among varieties, O-795 exhibited superior plant stands and resistance to die back but was most susceptible to wilt. The interaction effect proved most critical; the wilt susceptibility of O-795 was drastically reduced when sowing was delayed to late March. The combination of sowing O-795 on 20-March emerged as the optimal strategy, yielding a high plant count (146.00), the absolute lowest incidence of die back (1.00), and low severity of other diseases.

Key words: Jute, Corchorus olitorius, die back, wilt

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Effect of different biochars on productivity of rice cv. BRRI dhan100 and soil improvement

The present experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of biochar application as a soil amendment on rice yield under SAU (AEZ-28), Dhaka region Boro season condition in 2022-23. The rice variety, BRRIdhan100 were used as planting materials with treatment T0: without biochar, Treatment T1: Rice husk @ 3.0 t ha-1 + cowdung @ 10 t ha– 1, and T2: Biochar application types included Mango Biochar@ 3.0 t ha-1 which was applied at time of final land preparations for broadcasting in surface soil followed by base fertilizer application along with row position directly seeding the pre-germinated seeds)Mahagany biochar   @ 3.0 t ha :(at initial stage of seedlings transplanting). The findings of the current study indicated that BRRI dhan100 biochar application treated by Mahagany biochar had significantly the tallest plant (114.78 cm), highest chlorophyll content (40.95) more tillers hill–1 total (1486.44) and filled grains panicle-1, longest panicle (26.72 cm) as well as highest weight of 1000-grain (22.54 g) which could be led to increase the grain yield 8.97 t ha-1, straw yield 9.47 t ha-1 and harvest index 48.66 %. In correlation coefficient, all the selected characters were positively correlated with grain yield means they have direct contribution for create grain yield but length of panicle and number of effective tillers hill–1 had greater contribution for BRRI dhan100. Further, PC analysis resulted positive and negative response showing such type of contribution for brings about the grain yield. Maximum change in postharvest soil nutrients were also found highest in Mahagany biochar applied plot of BRRI dhan100. Thus, the utilization of biochar might be a sustainable tool to improve plant growth and more yield production across the various agro-climatic zone of Bangladesh also justify the soil health and sustainable crop production.

Key words: Biochars, productivity, BRRI dhan100, soil improvement

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Potential uses of antifreeze proteins: a review

ABSTRACT

The freeze-tolerant organisms are gifted with the AFPs/THPs (antifreeze proteins/thermal hysteresis proteins), which have evolved as an adaptation in extreme cold conditions. AFPs have been identified in vertebrates, invertebrates, plants, bacteria, and fungi. In this review, we deal with, diverse applications in the fields of industry, medical and agriculture such as food technology, cell lines and organ preservation, transplantation and transfusion. AFPs have potential applications in agriculture for the production of economically valuable fishes against low temperature. Other proposed applications of AFPs are found in cryosurgery of tumors and as a component of ice-cream to prevent the formation of hard and large ice crystals. Furthermore, the present study focuses the new insights into the development of methodology to allow the production of synthetic AFPs as well as their potential uses.

Key words: Antifreeze protein, cryopreservation, food safety, cryosurgery.

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Computational tools for sequence based identification and Characterization of antifreeze proteins

ABSTRACT

Living organisms including fishes, microbes, and animals can live in extremely cold weather. To stay alive in cold environments, these species generate antifreeze proteins (AFPs), also referred to as ice binding proteins. Moreover, AFPs are extensively utilized in many important fields including medical, agricultural, industrial, and biotechnological. Several predictors were constructed to identify AFPs. However, due to the sequence and structural heterogeneity of AFPs, correct identification is still a challenging task. In this study, deals with several bio-informatical or computational tools which have been proposed for prediction of AFPs more precisely can predict AFPs more accurately and can participate in a significant role in medical, agricultural, industrial, and biotechnological fields.

Key words: Antifreeze protein, bioinformatics, physicochemical properties, homology modeling

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