Rice (Oryza sativa) is a very important crop used in various forms for consumption by majority of the population. Its growth and productivity are affected by variety of biotic and abiotic stresses. Soil acidity is among the various factors depressing the rice crop growth and productivity. Majority of soil in Jharkhand, India is acidic having a pH < 5.5 and one of the major limiting factors for rice production. Considering above challenge investigating such genes which are induced under low pH conditions in the traditional variety of rice making them to be tolerant for acidic stress is a great of interest. For this study surface sterilized seeds of some verities were sown in soil containing pots at varying low pH and kept in growth chamber under controlled conditions. Low pH treated varieties were studied for measuring the changes in morphological, biochemical, molecular and micro-structural parameters. Low pH induced changes in growth and biochemical parameters were observed. RT-PCR based differential gene expression pattern of various genes under acidic stress was overserved. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) based changes in characteristics of stomata while optical coherence tomography (OCT) based micro-structural changes in different layers of low pH treated leaves were observed. Online available microarray data of A. thaliana grown under low pH were used for finding novel candidate (hub) genes. Rice homolog of these hub genes were identified and studied for Real-Time PCR based gene expression under low pH stress and obtained findings will be presented.

In vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) is the important character for tropical forage, Brachiaria improvement (Thaikua et al. 2015), and phenotypic recurrent selection is the effective practical method in breeding for increased IVDMD in open-pollinated forage crops (Burson and Young 2001), The available variance within breeding population is the indicator of the possibility of the successful improvement.   Ten genotypes of diploid B. ruziziensis (Thai population) and 10 genotypes of tetraploid ‘Okinawa-1’ (Ishigaki et. al. 2009) were evaluated in completely randomized design with 2 replications. Each genotype was clonal propagated by stolon with roots, and grew in 20 cmx20cm culture plastic pot containing sand, with 8 cm depth. Plants was supplied by water every day, and enriched fluid nutrient (21-21-21) were applied once a week. All plants were cut for adjustment at 1 month after planting. The average shoots of each plant were collected at 5 weeks after the cut. Each sample was oven dried at 65°C for 48 hours, and ground to pass through a 0.5 mm mesh screen. Pepsin-cellulase method was utilized for IVDMD determination. Analysis of variances showed the significant difference of IVDMD within both populations, with the P-value less than 0.0001 for diploid population and 0.0471 for tetraploid group. In vitro dry matter digestibility means with homogeneous group (Tukey test) of the first population was 77.5 A, 76.5 AB, 76.2 ABC, 76.0 ABCD, 75.0 BCDE, 74.6 CDE, 74.4 DE, 74.0 E, 73.8 E, and 72.0 F, while that of the second population was 77.6 A, 75.0 AB, 74.9 AB, 74.4 AB, 73.6 AB, 73.4 AB, 72.4 AB, 72.2 AB, 71.6 AB, 70.9 B. However, there was no significant different on IVDMD between 2 populations (P=0.0966). This study revealed that it is possible in population improvement for increased IVDMD in both populations.

The essential oil industry is a fast growing and changing industry and African plants are now fashionable to be included in new products containing natural products. Essential oils e.g. Pelargonium var Rose, Lippia javanica, Eriocephalus punctulatus, Helichrysum splendidum and cold pressed or vegetable oils of indigenous plants amongst others are the focus areas. Adansonia digitata (Baobab) and Schlerocarya birrea (Marula) oil, pulp and powder of both are under supplied in a growing market of currently developed products that have already been accepted by most international companies. Ximenia africana and X. americana, Citrullus lanatus (Kalahari Melon) oils are now researched for developing market demand and for the requirements in natural products industry. There are almost no existing standards for the products of Africa and if the demand is increasing, the most needed standards should be developed at the same time to avoid exploitation. Advantages and challenges have been identified with potential of sustainable crop development. Climate change and pressure on natural resources can be managed if careful sustainable measures are taken in time. This study could assist role players of community projects, agricultural and rural development schemes in decisions of choosing alternative crops and for skills and entrepreneurship development and poverty alleviation. The information can also be applied by government departments, small scale and emerging farmers in the feasibility studies of utilization of natural products as new enterprises to the advantage of the producers of South Africa and the consumer ultimately.

Changes in climate, increasing human population and reducing arable land area will lead to significant challenges in producing enough food. Therefore, increasingly climate-resilient crops will be required. One way to improve crop resilience and yield is via alterations to tiny pores on the epidermis called stomata. These microscopic structures, which have been present on land plants for over 400 million years, are fundamental to the success of land plants and to improving crop performance.

The opening of stomata allows CO2 uptake and regulates water loss, permits a transpiration stream, and aids in nutrient uptake. Conversely, when stomata close, gaseous exchange is restricted (including water loss) and certain pathogens cannot enter. Over longer durations, stomatal development can be altered to more finely tune gaseous exchanges with the environment, and if necessary, tighten defences against pathogens. Typically, plants with fewer stomata have improved drought tolerance and resistance to stomatal pathogens, but this may be accompanied by reduced CO2 and nutrient uptake, and reduced capacity for plant cooling.

Here, I will outline the latest advances relating to how stomatal development and plant performance can potentially be altered via genetic alterations to stomata development, presenting evidence from multiple plant species. First I will consider Arabidopsis thaliana, and then consider stomatal evolution in the non-vascular land plant moss Physcomitrella patens. I will then discuss how reducing stomatal density affects crop plant performance in a number of key species, including barley, rice and wheat. I will conclude up by discussing the future directions of stomatal research.

Global agricultural production is suffering substantial losses due to climate change-related phenomena such as drought and salinity, which lead to tissue damage and, ultimate, major yield losses. The development of sustainable, ‘green’ technologies is therefore becoming increasingly important. Nanotechnology provides invaluable tools to a variety of industrial sectors. Recent focus has been given to the development and optimization of nanomaterials for application in the agricultural industry towards improved growth, plant protection and overall performance based on their small size, high surface to volume ratio and unique optical properties. This presentation provides an up-to-date description of research activities carried out at the Cyprus University of Technology with the employment of advanced nanoparticles and polymers applied at plant and seed level. This technology offers an attractive alternative to established approaches such as conventional breeding and genetic modification with key advantages, representing a characteristic example of integrative plant physiology where multiple disciplines such as materials science, agriculture and analytical chemistry join forces to develop exciting new tools in modern agriculture.

Ozone is the major air pollutant damaging crops and other vegetation. It causes oxidative stress, resulting in increased synthesis of secondary metabolites. Anthocyanins are naturally occurring secondary metabolites that increase in concentration to fight free radicals and lower damage in leaves. Arabidopsis thaliana, a small flowering plant with short lifecycle is an ideal model organism. Three seed lines varying in anthocyanin production (TT-3, Blh-1, Pap-1) were compared to wild type Col-1. Three other lines were selected with mutations in other antioxidant defenses (Vtc-1, GPA-1, Des-1). Three- to four-week-old seedlings were exposed to 0ppb, 150ppb, 300ppb, 450ppb ozone for eight hours on three consecutive days. Anthocyanin concentrations were determined before exposure and one week after exposure. Lines with more anthocyanins were found to be more resistant as evidenced by less leaf damage. One week after exposures, the anthocyanin lines had increased anthocyanin concentrations up to 5X at 300ppb compared to 0ppb, but not as much at 450ppb. Pap-1, a transformed line that over produces anthocyanins, had the highest anthocyanin production. TT-3, a mutant with no anthocyanins, was severely damaged under 450ppb. In the lines with mutations in other antioxidant defenses, Des-1 and GPA-1 were less sensitive to ozone due to enhanced antioxidant defenses and did not increase anthocyanin concentrations much when exposed to ozone. Vtc-1, deficient in the primary antioxidant defense ascorbate, increased its anthocyanin concentrations 8X even at 150ppb, perhaps in compensation for its lack of primary defense. Results suggest that genetic engineering to enhance anthocyanins could increase crop resistance.