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Background: Groundnut is mainly grown in the semi-arid tropic (SAT) regions worldwide, where abiotic stress like drought is persistent. However, a major research gap exists regarding exploring the genetic and genomic underpinnings of tolerance to drought. In this study, a multi-parent advanced generation inter-cross (MAGIC) population was developed and evaluated for five seasons at two locations for three consecutive years (2018–19, 2019–20 and 2020–21) under drought stress and normal environments. Results: Phenotyping data of drought tolerance related traits, combined with the high-quality 10,556 polymorphic SNPs, were used to perform multi-locus model genome-wide association study (GWAS) analysis. We identified 37 significant marker-trait associations (MTAs) (Bonferroni-corrected) accounting, 0.91- 9.82% of the phenotypic variance. Intriguingly, 26 significant MTAs overlap on four chromosomes (Ah03, Ah07, Ah10 and Ah18) (harboring 70% of MTAs), indicating genomic hotspot regions governing drought tolerance traits. Furthermore, important candidate genes associated with leaf senescence (NAC transcription factor), flowering (B3 domain-containing transcription factor, Ulp1 protease family, and Ankyrin repeat-containing protein), involved in chlorophyll biosynthesis (FAR1 DNA-binding domain protein), stomatal regulation (Rop guanine nucleotide exchange factor; Galacturonosyltransferases), and associated with yield traits (Fasciclin-like arabinogalactan protein 11 and Fasciclin-like arabinogalactan protein 21) were found in the vicinity of significant MTAs genomic regions. Conclusion: The findings of our investigation have the potential to provide a basis for significant MTAs validation, gene discovery and development of functional markers, which could be employed in genomics-assisted breeding to develop climate-resilient groundnut varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite being a highly nutritious and resilient cereal, pearl millet is not popular among consumers and food industries due to the short shelf-life of flour attributed to rapid rancidity development. The biochemical mechanism underlying rancidity, a complex and quantitative trait, needs to be better understood. The present study aims to elucidate the differential accumulation of metabolites in pearl millet that impact the rancidity process. Metabolite profiling was conducted on ten pearl millet genotypes with varying levels of rancidity—comprising high, low, and medium rancid genotypes—utilizing liquid chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) at different accelerated ageing conditions. Through non-targeted metabolomic analysis, crucial metabolites associated with rancidity were identified across various biochemical pathways, including fatty acids, glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, glycerol lipids, flavonoids, alkaloids, and terpenoids. Notably, metabolites such as fatty aldehydes, fatty alcohols, fatty esters, fatty acyls, fatty esters, and fatty amides were significantly elevated in high rancid genotypes, indicating their involvement in the rancidity process. These fatty acids-related metabolites further break down into saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. Four key fatty acids—stearic, palmitic, linoleic and linolenic acid—were quantified in the ten pearl millet genotypes, confirming their role in rancidity development. This investigation promises novel insights into utilizing metabolomics to understand the biochemical processes and facilitate precision breeding for developing low-rancidity pearl millet lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A plethora of studies have uncovered numerous important genes with agricultural significance in staple crops. However, when it comes to orphan crops like minor millet, genomic research lags significantly behind that of major crops. This situation has promoted a focus on exploring research opportunities in minor millets, particularly in finger millet, using cutting-edge methods. Finger millet, a coarse cereal known for its exceptional nutritional content and ability to withstand environmental stresses represents a promising climate-smart and nutritional crop in the battle against escalating environmental challenges. The existing traditional improvement programs for finger millet are insufficient to address global hunger effectively. The lack of utilization of high-throughput platforms, genome editing, haplotype breeding, and advanced breeding approaches hinders the systematic multi-omics studies on finger millet, which are essential for pinpointing crucial genes related to agronomically important and various stress responses. The growing environmental uncertainties have widened the gap between the anticipated and real progress in crop improvement. To overcome these challenges a combination of cutting-edge multi-omics techniques such as high-throughput sequencing, speed breeding, mutational breeding, haplotype-based breeding, genomic selection, high-throughput phenotyping, pangenomics, genome editing, and more along with integration of deep learning and artificial intelligence technologies are essential to accelerate research efforts in finger millet. The scarcity of multi-omics approaches in finger millet leaves breeders with limited modern tools for crop enhancement. Therefore, leveraging datasets from previous studies could prove effective in implementing the necessary multi-omics interventions to enrich the genetic resource in finger millet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Groundnut is mainly grown in the semi-arid tropic (SAT) regions worldwide, where abiotic stress like drought is persistent. However, a major research gap exists regarding exploring the genetic and genomic underpinnings of tolerance to drought. In this study, a multi-parent advanced generation inter-cross (MAGIC) population was developed and evaluated for five seasons at two locations for three consecutive years (2018–19, 2019–20 and 2020–21) under drought stress and normal environments. Results Phenotyping data of drought tolerance related traits, combined with the high-quality 10,556 polymorphic SNPs, were used to perform multi-locus model genome-wide association study (GWAS) analysis. We identified 37 significant marker-trait associations (MTAs) (Bonferroni-corrected) accounting, 0.91- 9.82% of the phenotypic variance. Intriguingly, 26 significant MTAs overlap on four chromosomes (Ah03, Ah07, Ah10 and Ah18) (harboring 70% of MTAs), indicating genomic hotspot regions governing drought tolerance traits. Furthermore, important candidate genes associated with leaf senescence (NAC transcription factor), flowering (B3 domain-containing transcription factor, Ulp1 protease family, and Ankyrin repeat-containing protein), involved in chlorophyll biosynthesis (FAR1 DNA-binding domain protein), stomatal regulation (Rop guanine nucleotide exchange factor; Galacturonosyltransferases), and associated with yield traits (Fasciclin-like arabinogalactan protein 11 and Fasciclin-like arabinogalactan protein 21) were found in the vicinity of significant MTAs genomic regions. Conclusion The findings of our investigation have the potential to provide a basis for significant MTAs validation, gene discovery and development of functional markers, which could be employed in genomics-assisted breeding to develop climate-resilient groundnut varieties.

Main conclusion: The pilot-scale genome-wide association study in the US proso millet identified twenty marker–trait associations for five morpho-agronomic traits identifying genomic regions for future studies (e.g. molecular breeding and map-based cloning). Proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) is an ancient grain recognized for its excellent water-use efficiency and short growing season. It is an indispensable part of the winter wheat-based dryland cropping system in the High Plains of the USA. Its grains are endowed with high nutritional and health-promoting properties, making it increasingly popular in the global market for healthy grains. There is a dearth of genomic resources in proso millet for developing molecular tools to complement conventional breeding for developing high-yielding varieties. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) is a widely used method to dissect the genetics of complex traits. In this pilot study of the first-ever GWAS in the US proso millet, 71 globally diverse genotypes of 109 the US proso millet core collection were evaluated for five major morpho-agronomic traits at two locations in western Nebraska, and GWAS was conducted to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with these traits. Analysis of variance showed that there was a significant difference among the genotypes, and all five traits were also found to be highly correlated with each other. Sequence reads from genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) were used to identify 11,147 high-quality bi-allelic SNPs. Population structure analysis with those SNPs showed stratification within the core collection. The GWAS identified twenty marker–trait associations (MTAs) for the five traits. Twenty-nine putative candidate genes associated with the five traits were also identified. These genomic regions can be used to develop genetic markers for marker-assisted selection in proso millet breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is one kind of erratic behaviour and hazards of environmental consequences such as floods, flash floods, drought, heat & cold waves, cyclones, high and low tides, river bank erosion, salinity intrusion, etc. The household survey and qualitative study approaches were performed to explore the changes in vulnerable peoples' ecological migration perspective in disaster-affected southern part of Bangladesh. People usually move to the nearest town and peri-urban areas to seek jobs due to concurrent cyclones, storm surges, and floods in the coastal areas. Again, heavy rainfall and flash-flood conditions usually create intra-district temporary migration to maintain their daily livelihood smoothly. In the char lands, this migration takes place due to riverbank erosion where family members were forced to relocate to a new residence. It occurs when the income-generating activities of people are disrupted by ecological events. Families leave their homes during the disaster period and return, once the conditions are back to normal. Movement for rural people needs constant land management systems including governance, ownership rights and access and technical support for financing land use and making productive use of land to cope with frequent natural calamities. The government of Bangladesh therefore must consider these challenges and gradually improve its capacity to prepare its technology to renovate the vulnerable local people into a climate resilient one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cereal based cropping system, an integral part of agricultural food system of India and its nourishment depends on site-specific Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) Practices followed. The smartness or resilience closely linked with four important aspects viz., less yield variability to climate aberrations, higher soil carbon buildup, higher yield and sustainability. Rice–rice, rice–wheat, pearlmillet–wheat, sorghum–wheat, rice–maize, maize–wheat and rice–mustard are the common/predominant cereal based cropping system in South Asia. The long-term permanent plot experimental data of 28 sites representing different agro-ecological zones of India with 25–30 years were investigated. The National yield data during the period 1980–2015 showed an increasing trend for all the crops with different rate, even though there is lot of year-to-year fluctuations. The system yield showed increasing trend with highest rate of 81.3 kg/ha/year in maize–wheat to lowest rate of 48.5 kg/ha/year in sorghum–wheat system at the National level. The Composite Resilient Index (CRI) Matrix based Site Specific Management Practices provide a "mid-way" path/balancing of management practices, which is smart/resilient with respect to sustainability, higher yield, less climate variability and good for soil carbon. Results provide an opportunity to researchers, policy makers, planners and developmental agencies to choose INM options according to resource availability, with a focus towards addressing the food security of the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractClimate-resilient wheat genotype plays a crucial role in food and nutritional security of the world. The production of wheat is mainly limited by abiotic stresses such as heat stress and drought. To identify the most appropriate trait for the selection of high yielding genotypes under heat stress (HS) and heat drought (HD) environment, a field experiment was conducted in the western region of Nepal during the wheat growing season of 2021–22 to 2022–23 comprising 20 wheat genotypes under alpha lattice design. The additive main-effect multiplicative interaction (AMMI) and combined analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed environment had the most substantial effect on the expression of the quantitative traits studied with 24 and 48% yield reduction under HS and HD environments, as compared to irrigated. PCA extracted, days to booting (DTB), days to heading (DTH), days to anthesis (DTA), booting-anthesis duration (BtoA), spikelets per spike (NSPS) under irrigated; DTB, DTH, DTA, 10 spike weight (TSW), thousand kernel weight (TKW) under HS; and DTB, BtoA, spike length (SL), TSW under HD environment. Phenotypic correlation and path analysis revealed, to get high yield, selection can be done with DTB, DTH, DTA, booting-heading duration (BtoH), BtoA, plant height (Ph), spikes per meter square (NSPMS), SL, and TKW. Early booting and heading genotypes with longer spikes, more tillers, grains per spike, and seed weight benefits all environments. Extended booting-heading and booting-anthesis duration with shorter heading-anthesis duration are advantageous as well. Taller genotypes yield more under HS and HD environment whereas shorter genotypes are productive under irrigated.

Establishing infrastructure that effectively coordinates social, economic, and environmental growth is crucial to sustainable development. This study aims to identify the current research trends for sustainable and resilient infrastructure in terms of years, classify the various types, research methods, and indicators of infrastructure projects, and compile an overview of indicators from the existing literature. The results are anticipated to contribute to the current knowledge body about sustainable and resilient infrastructure project development by highlighting recurrent themes and emerging trends in the field. This research applied the PRISMA strategy, which incorporates bibliometrics and visualisation tools, to analyse the 442 bibliographic papers published in databases on the topic between 2005 and 2022. According to the findings, the amount of research conducted increased between 2018 and 2021, with China and Europe being the most significant contributors. The total of 105 articles was selected, covering various infrastructural types and approaches. The examination led to the extraction of four sustainable infrastructure indicators: environmental, economic, social and resilient. This study provided valuable data on the latest research trends and indicators for designing sustainable and resilient infrastructure projects which will assist future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change and food security are emerging issues around the globe; not just for human being but also for the livestock sector. Lack of climate resilient fodder and scarcity of green fodder during the lean periods of the year are the biggest concerns for the farmers of the Punjab. In order to cope with these serious issues, Fodder Research Sub-Station, Ayub Agricultural Research Institute has developed a new climate resilient oat variety having More No. of tillers/m2, more crude protein than the existing cultivars and high fodder yield named as "Faisalabad oats-21" in Punjab, Pakistan. It performed best in a series of trials conducted at Fodder Research Sub-Station, AARI, Faisalabad and out-station yield trials throughout the Pakistan during 2007-2021. Candidate line was selected after screening of filial generation obtained by the cross of two germplasm lines i.e. PD2LV65 × AVON by following pedigree method of selection for better green fodder yield and disease resistance during 2007 and 2008. The candidate variety was tested in Preliminary yield trials (2015-16), Advance yield trials (2016-17), Zonal green fodder yield trials (2017-18) and National Uniform fodder Yield Trials (2018-19). It produced an overall 11.3% higher green fodder yield over check variety Sgd. Oats-2011. It produced 18.2% and 16% higher green fodder yield than the check variety in Preliminary & Advanced yield trials, respectively. It consistently surpassed the check with 13.3 % higher green fodder yield in Zonal/Adaptability trials conducted at three different locations of Punjab. Faisalabad Oats-21 out yielded check variety in National Uniform Green Fodder Yield Trials by 5.4 % and 3.79% increase in green fodder in 2018-19 and 2019-20 respectively. It ranked 3rd in 2018-19 and 2019-20 in National/Adaptability trials. When the crop evaluated at different sowing dates, the crop sown on 15th November produced maximum average green fodder yield of 74.8 and 76.6 t/ha in 2019-20 and 2020-21 respectively. It had plant height about 132-135 cm. During the evaluation of its quality traits; it had good quantity of protein (7.42 %). Candidate line(F-411) along with check was supplied to FSC & RD during 2019-20 & 2020-21 to conduct "DUS" trials. Spot examination was conducted in 2021 in which Faisalabad Oats-21 was approved for general cultivation in Punjab. So, this variety could be a good option for the farmers as it is climate resilient and high yielding oat variety that is able to overcome the scarcity of fodder during lean periods of winter and unpredicted weather patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the five most climatically vulnerable districts of Alappuzha in Kerala and Gadag, Kalaburagi, Tumakuru and Chikkaballapura in Karnataka, climate resilient technologies such as the selection of climate resilient varieties, location specific intercropping systems and goat management were demonstrated during 2021. Selection of improved varieties viz., finger millet (ML-365), maize (MAH-14-5), sorghum (SPV 2217) and pigeonpea (BRG-5) performed better with yield of 20.30 q/ha, 27.10 q/ha, 22.75q/ha and 9.30 q/ha, respectively than local varieties. Ground nut + pigeonpea (13.40 q/ha), maize + pigeonpea (71.95 q/ha), green gram + pigeonpea (8.63 q/ha), pigeonpea + black gram (12.25 q/ha) and finger millet + pigeonpea (20.7 q/ha) intercropping systems recorded significantly higher yields compared to their sole crops (12.57 q/ha, 53.97q/ha, 6.25 q/ha, 4.90 q/ha and 20.1 q/ha, respectively). Improved goat shelter with raised platform, reduced the mortality from 40 per cent to 0 and increased number of kids per year (17 kids/year) with net return of Rs.57345/- and B:C ratio of 1.7 compared to traditional goat rearing shelter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grasspea is one of the staple foods of the local people living in the eastern parts of India. An expedition was undertaken during March, 2020 to collect germplasm of grasspea in the lower-Gangetic riverine belt and coastal areas of West Bengal of eastern India lying between latitude 21.43-24.44°N and longitude 87.23-88.90°E. From the results of a structured questionnaire administered to grasspea farmers in 57 villages located in 96 local government areas, it appeared that grasspea is the primary winter pulse cultivated in this region. Large variability of germplasm exist, ranging from small to bold seed, early to late maturing types, moderate to the high biomass type of grasspea. Most of these landraces have been adopted over the years from neighbouring communities, but in a few instances, the varietal replacement was noted, which came either through the involvement of government departments or local seed dealers. The highest proportion of the accessions (52.38%) was collected from the Purba Medinipur district, and the lowest (19.05%) was from Paschim Medinipur. On-spot evaluation of morphological traits, variations was detected in the descriptor characteristics across the locations. A total of 21 accessions was collected and assessed on-spot for different characters, viz., the seed's size, shape, seed colour, taste and texture revealed significant variation. The implications of this survey results for grasspea improvement in India are discussed in the present study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, there is a large demand for nutrient-dense fruits to promote nutritional and metabolic human health. The production of commercial fruit crops is becoming progressively input-dependent to cope with the losses caused by biotic and abiotic stresses. A wide variety of underutilized crops, which are neither commercially cultivated nor traded on a large scale, are mainly grown, commercialized and consumed locally. These underutilized fruits have many advantages in terms of ease to grow, hardiness and resilience to climate changes compared to the major commercially grown crops. In addition, they are exceptionally rich in important phytochemicals and have medicinal value. Hence, their consumption may help to meet the nutritional needs of rural populations, such as those living in fragile arid and semi-arid regions around the world. In addition, local people are well aware of the nutritional and medicinal properties of these crops. Therefore, emphasis must be given to the rigorous study of the conservation and the nutritional characterization of these crops so that the future food basket may be widened for enhancing its functional and nutritional values. In this review, we described the ethnobotany, medicinal and nutritional values, biodiversity conservation and utilization strategies of 19 climate-resilient important, underutilized fruit crops of arid and semi-arid regions (Indian jujube, Indian gooseberry, lasora, bael, kair, karonda, tamarind, wood apple, custard apple, jamun, jharber, mahua, pilu, khejri, mulberry, chironji, manila tamarind, timroo, khirni).

Nowadays, there is a large demand for nutrient-dense fruits to promote nutritional and metabolic human health. The production of commercial fruit crops is becoming progressively input-dependent to cope with the losses caused by biotic and abiotic stresses. A wide variety of underutilized crops, which are neither commercially cultivated nor traded on a large scale, are mainly grown, commercialized and consumed locally. These underutilized fruits have many advantages in terms of ease to grow, hardiness and resilience to climate changes compared to the major commercially grown crops. In addition, they are exceptionally rich in important phytochemicals and have medicinal value. Hence, their consumption may help to meet the nutritional needs of rural populations, such as those living in fragile arid and semi-arid regions around the world. In addition, local people are well aware of the nutritional and medicinal properties of these crops. Therefore, emphasis must be given to the rigorous study of the conservation and the nutritional characterization of these crops so that the future food basket may be widened for enhancing its functional and nutritional values. In this review, we described the ethnobotany, medicinal and nutritional values, biodiversity conservation and utilization strategies of 19 climate-resilient important, underutilized fruit crops of arid and semi-arid regions (Indian jujube, Indian gooseberry, lasora, bael, kair, karonda, tamarind, wood apple, custard apple, jamun, jharber, mahua, pilu, khejri, mulberry, chironji, manila tamarind, timroo, khirni). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]