Bamboos represent an emerging forest resource of economic significance and provide an avenue for sustainable development of forest resources. The development of the commercial bamboo industry is founded upon efficient molecular and technical approaches for the selection and rapid multiplication of elite germplasm for its subsequent propagation via commercial agro-forestry business enterprises. This review will delve into the micropropagation of Dendrocalamus asper, one of the most widely cultivated commercial varieties of bamboo, and will encompass the selection of germplasm, establishment of explants in vitro and micropropagation techniques. The currently available information pertaining to molecular biology, DNA barcoding and breeding, has been included, and potential areas for future research in the area of genetic engineering and gene regulation have been highlighted. This information will be of relevance to both commercial breeders and molecular biologists who have an interest in establishing bamboo as a crop of the future.
The data provided in the article contains bacterial community profiles present on the surface of red algae (Kappaphycus alvarezii) isolated directly after collection and after 30 days of cultivation in a closed circulation system. The explants of Kappaphycus alvarezii were cultivated in a laboratory setting under controlled growth conditions for 30 days in order to determine bacteria that could adapt to controlled culture conditions. Amplification and sequencing of bacterial 16S rDNA amplicon were performed on bacterial isolates associated with the seedlings. The 16S rDNA gene sequences were analyzed, trimmed, and assembled into contigs using DNA Baser Sequence Assembler (V5) software. Taxonomic identification for the assembled sequences was achieved using the online BLAST (blastn) algorithm, and the construction of a phylogenetic tree was performed using the MEGA7 software. The data reveals a distinct set of microbial variations between day one and day 30. The phylogenetic tree depicts four major clusters, Vibrio, Pseudoalteromonas, Alteromonas, and Bacterioplanes resident on the surface of the K. alvarezii. Comparison between these two bacterial groups provides evidence of the persistent marine bacteria that adapt to the long-term culture in closed circulation systems. Raw data files are available at the GenBank, NCBI database under the accession number of MZ570560 to MZ570580.
Rhodophyta (red algae) comprises over 6000 species, however, there have only been a few comparative transcriptomic studies due to their under-representation in genomic databases. Kappaphycus alvarezii, a Gigartinales algae, is a valuable source of carrageenan and is extensively cultivated in many countries. The majority of seaweed farming in Southeast Asia is done in intertidal zones under varying light (i.e., spectra and irradiance) and carbon dioxide (CO2) conditions, which affects the rate of photosynthesis. This study conducted transcriptome profiling to investigate the photosynthetic mechanisms in K. alvarezii exposed to different wavelengths of light (i.e., blue, green, and red light, in comparison to white light) and CO2 availability. We analyzed the responses of photosynthetic protein complexes to light and observed that light of different wavelengths regulates a similar set of photosynthetic apparatuses. Under CO2 enrichment, genes encoding C3 and C4 enzymes were found to be actively transcribed, suggesting the likely shift in the carbon metabolism pathway or the involvement of these genes in adaptive physiological processes. This study contributes to the understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of photosynthetic carbon metabolism in red algae and has implications for the culture and commercial production of these economically valuable macroalgae.
Commercial seaweed cultivation has undergone drastic changes to keep up with the increasing demand in terms of the quantity and quality of the algal biomass needed to meet the requirements of constant innovation in industrial applications. Diseases caused by both biotic and abiotic factors have been identified as contributing to the economic loss of precious biomass. Biosecurity risk will eventually affect seaweed production as a whole and could cripple the seaweed industry. The current review sheds light on the biosecurity measures that address issues in the seaweed industry pushing towards increasing the quantity and quality of algal biomass, research on algal diseases, and tackling existing challenges as well as discussions on future directions of seaweed research. The review is presented to provide a clear understanding of the latest biosecurity developments from several segments in the seaweed research, especially from upstream cultivation encompassing the farming stages from seeding, harvesting, drying, and packing, which may lead to better management of this precious natural resource, conserving ecological balance while thriving on the economic momentum that seaweed can potentially provide in the future. Recommended breeding strategies and seedling stock selection are discussed that aim to address the importance of sustainable seaweed farming and facilitate informed decision-making. Sustainable seaweed cultivation also holds the key to reducing our carbon footprint, thereby fighting the existential crisis of climate change plaguing our generation.
The recently emerged coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which has been characterised as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), is impacting all parts of human society including agriculture, manufacturing, and tertiary sectors involving all service provision industries. This paper aims to give an overview of potential host reservoirs that could cause pandemic outbreak caused by zoonotic transmission. Amongst all, continues surveillance in slaughterhouse for possible pathogens transmission is needed to prevent next pandemic outbreak. This paper also summarizes the potential threats of pandemic to agriculture and aquaculture sector that control almost the total food supply chain and market. The history lesson from the past, emerging and reemerging infectious disease including the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2002, Influenza A H1N1 (swine flu) in 2009, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in 2012 and the recent COVID-19 should give us some clue to improve especially the governance to be more ready for next coming pandemic.
In agriculture, the convenience and efficacy of chemical pesticides have become inevitable to manage cultivated crop production. Here, we review the worldwide use of pesticides based on their categories, mode of actions and toxicity. Excessive use of pesticides may lead to hazardous pesticide residues in crops, causing adverse effects on human health and the environment. A wide range of high-tech-analytical methods are available to analyse pesticide residues. However, they are mostly time-consuming and inconvenient for on-site detection, calling for the development of biosensors that detect cellular changes in crops. Such new detection methods that combine biological and physicochemical knowledge may overcome the shortage in current farming to develop sustainable systems that support environmental and human health. This review also comprehensively compiles domestic pesticide residues removal tips from vegetables and fruits. Synthetic pesticide alternatives such as biopesticide and nanopesticide are greener to the environment. However, its safety assessment for large-scale application needs careful evaluation. Lastly, we strongly call for reversions of pesticide application trends based on the changing climate, which is lacking in the current scenario.