Czech Journal of Genetics and Plant Breeding - In Press
Identification and functional analysis of CsZIP9, a ZIP transporter involve in cadmium transport in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)Original Paper
Lili Fu, Zhaoyang Hu, Yu Zhang, Yutong Liu, Zhangqi Wu, Yuelong Zhou, Shiqiang Liu, Hailin Xia, Yong Zhou
Agricultural soil contamination with cadmium (Cd) has become an increasingly serious global issue, and cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is highly sensitive to Cd stress. ZIPs (zinc/iron-regulated transporter-like proteins) are involved in the uptake and translocation of divalent cations. However, the functional roles of cucumber ZIP members in Cd transport remain poorly understood. In this study, we cloned and characterised CsZIP9, a ZIP gene from cucumber. Sequence analysis revealed that CsZIP9 contains eight transmembrane domains and shares high homology with known Cd transporting ZIPs. Expression analysis showed that CsZIP9 exhibits leaf preferential expression and is dynamically regulated by Cd stress. Heterologous expression of CsZIP9 in the Cd sensitive yeast mutant Δycf1 significantly increased Cd sensitivity, indicating its Cd transport activity. Moreover, overexpression of CsZIP9 in Arabidopsis enhanced Cd tolerance, as evidenced by reduced root growth inhibition under Cd treatment, although no direct measurements of Cd accumulation were conducted to support this conclusion. Taken together, these results indicate that CsZIP9 encodes a functional cadmium transporter, offering a promising candidate gene for enhancing Cd tolerance in cucumber.
First characterisation of Tsn1 and Tsc2 specific sensitivity genes in Tunisian wheat in response to effectors genes of Pyrenophora tritici-repentisOriginal Paper
Salma Tissaoui, Noura Omri-Benyoussef, Marwa Hassine, Haifa BenMoussa, Bouzid Nasraoui, Amira Mougou-Hamdane
In the last decade, tan spot, a wheat foliar disease, has become more prevalent in North Africa and especially in Tunisia. The necrotrophic fungus Pyrenophora tritici-repentis (Ptr) is the causal agent and is characterised by distinct races which exhibit necrotrophic effector genes ToxA, ToxB, and toxb encoding the host specific toxins PtrToxA, and PtrToxB, respectively. The present study aimed to detect in wheat varieties the presence of Tsn1 and Tsc2 the specific sensitivity genes to the ToxA and ToxB necrotrophic effectors genes, using PCR method. Indeed, nineteen varieties of durum and bread wheat were inoculated with three races 5, 7, and an atypical race, under controlled conditions to determine the varieties’ reaction, and the Ptr-variety interaction profile. The race clustering shows two distinct groups, the first was composed of two races (5 and 7), but the second group is characterised by a different infection profile, including the atypical race. In addition, the analysis clusters the varieties into three main groups based on their susceptibility level. The group1 was composed of the variety Razzak and wheat line ‘Glenlea’ showing high susceptibility to race 5 and race 7, and harbouring the sensitivity genes Tsn1 and Tsc2. The second group was composed of seven durum wheat varieties of intermediate susceptibility to races, and it carried the sensitivity gene Tsc2. The group 3 was composed of the resistant varieties and it do not harbour any of the sensitivity genes, e.g. Zanzibar, Sensas, Cosaco, Accor, Haidra, Inrat100, Portodur, Salim, Sculptur, OumRabiaa, and Karim (all the bread wheat varieties and six durum wheat varieties). Therefore, the results would allow to recommend these varieties in high tan spot-incidence regions in Tunisia. This screening for resistance of the commercialised wheat varieties is the first report in Tunisia and North Africa, demonstrating the genetic richness of different varieties, which can be subsequently used in wheat breeding programs for sustainable tan spot management.
Identification of high-yielding and stable resistance donors for yellow mosaic disease in blackgram (Vigna mungo L. Hepper)Original Paper
Mitali Tiwari, Anshuman Singh, Shivam Yadav, Meenakshi Arya, Amit Kumar, Priyanshi Garg, Bhavana Tiwari, Rakesh Choudhary, Rumana Khan, Ashutosh Singh, Sushil Kumar Chaturvedi
Yellow mosaic disease (YMD) in blackgram (Vigna mungo L. Hepper) is caused by whitefly transmitted begomoviruses, particularly mungbean yellow mosaic virus (MYMV) and mungbean yellow mosaic India virus (MYMIV), that causes substantial economic losses across South and Southeast Asia. Exploitation of host plant resistance to develop resistant cultivars remains the most effective, economically feasible and sustainable management strategy. In northern India, mungbean yellow mosaic India virus (MYMIV) is a major viral disease affecting blackgram crop. The investigations were carried out to identify potential donors carrying genes imparting resistance against MYMIV associated YMD in blackgram through large-scale field-based phenotyping using a standardized 1-9 disease rating scale. A diverse panel of 216 blackgram genotypes comprising released varieties, advanced breeding and experimental lines were evaluated under natural epiphytotic conditions at a MYMIV hotspot (Jhansi, India) during Kharif 2023 and Kharif 2024. Disease severity was recorded at pod-filling stage and percent disease index (PDI) was calculated to classify genotypes into various disease reaction levels. Out of 216 genotypes, 51 genotypes were classified as resistant (PDI < 5%), 81 as moderately resistant (PDI = 5–10%), 58 as moderately susceptible, 25 as susceptible and only one accession as highly susceptible. Presence of the MYMIV-specific amplicon in plants exhibiting YMD symptoms confirmed MYMIV infection at the molecular level and complemented the PDI-based resistance classification. A highly significant negative correlation (r = –0.88) was observed between PDI and SYPP, indicating that MYMIV associated YMD severity accounts for approximately 77% of yield variation. Several released varieties such as IC-236718, IPU-2K-99-221, KU-302 and elite breeding lines RLBU-L1-33 and RLBU-L2-15 showed stable resistance across both Kharif 2023/24 seasons. These genotypes may represent useful allelic diversity for MYMIV-associated YMD resistance and can serve as potential donors in future breeding programmes aimed at developing high-yielding, YMD-resistant blackgram varieties.