In this study, AP2 DNA-binding domain-containing transcription factor, was cloned from the African rice () and compared with 3000 rice genotypes. Further, the phylogenetic and various structural analysis was performed using in silico approaches. Further, to understand its allelic variation in rice, SNPs and indels were detected among the 3000 rice genotypes which indicated that while coding region is highly conserved, yet noncoding regions such as UTR and intron contained most of the variation. Phylogenetic analysis of the sequence in different as well as in diverse eudicot species revealed that DREB from various species were diversed much earlier than other genes. Further, structural features and in silico analyses provided insights into different properties of OglDREB2A protein. The neutrality test on the coding region of from different genotypes of showed the lack of selection in this gene. Among the different developmental stages, it was upregulated at tillering and flag leaf under salinity treatment indicating its positive role in seedling and reproductive stage tolerance. Real-time PCR analysis also indicated the conserve expression pattern of this gene under salinity stress across the three different species having different degree of salinity tolerance.

The aim of this study is to determine the effect of neem leaves in preserving the mineral elements content of two tomato types from Sokoto state, Nigeria. Healthy, ripe and firm tomato fruits brought from Sokoto City, were selected, cleaned for this study. 5%, 10% and 25% by were prepared by dissolving respective 5g, 10g and 25g neem extracts in 9.5, 9.0 and 7.5 liters of distilled water respectively to preserve tomatoes. The experiment was laid in a completely randomized design. And elements, Na, K, Ca, Mg, and P were determined in the tomatoes after the experiment using atomic absorption spectroscopy. The levels of Na, K, Ca, and P in Daneka after preservation ranges are: 1.1-1.3(ppm), 2.1-2.3 (ppm), 1.0-1.3 (ppm), 0.30-0.34 (ppm), and 0.3200-0.3330 (ppm) respectively. The levels of Na, K, Ca, and P in UTC after preservation ranges are: 1.6-1.10 (ppm), 1.6-1.10 (ppm), 0.10-1.16 (ppm), 0.30-0.35 (ppm), and 0.9997-1.0998 (ppm) respectively; revealing an increasing trend of elemental contents of all the tomato cultivars with an increasing neem concentration. Thus, the neem leaves indicate the capacity to preserve a typical quality parameter of tomatoes, that is concentration of Na, K, Ca, and P elements at p < 0.05 significant level.

BackgroundMicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNAs that play versatile roles in post-transcriptional gene regulation. Although much is known about their biogenesis, and gene regulation very little is known about their evolutionary relation among the closely related species.ResultAll the orthologous miRNA genes of Oryza sativa (japonica) from 10 different Oryza species were identified, and the evolutionary changes among these genes were analysed. Significant differences in the expansion of miRNA gene families were observed across the Oryza species. Analysis of the nucleotide substitution rates indicated that the mature sequences show the least substitution rates among the different regions of miRNA genes, and also show a very much less substitution rates as compared to that of all protein-coding genes across the Oryza species. Evolution of miRNA genes was also found to be contributed by transposons. A non-neutral selection was observed at 80 different miRNA loci across Oryza species which were estimated to have lost ~87% of the sequence diversity during the domestication. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that O. longistaminata diverged first among the AA-genomes, whereas O. brachyantha and O. punctata appeared as the eminent out-groups. The miR1861 family organised into nine distinct compact clusters in the studied Oryza species except O. brachyantha. Further, the expression analysis showed that 11 salt-responsive miRNAs were differentially regulated between O. coarctata and O. glaberrima. ConclusionOur study provides the evolutionary dynamics in the miRNA genes of 10 different Oryza species which will support more investigations about the structural and functional organization of miRNA genes of Oryza species.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-017-4089-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The purpose of this work was to assess the effect of turmeric on concentrations of selected mineral elements resent in two tomato types from Sokoto state, Nigeria. Healthy, ripe and firm tomato brought from Sokoto, was selected, cleaned for this study. 5%, 10% and 25% by were dissolved in respective 5g, 10g and 25g neem extracts in 9.5, 9.0 and 7.5 liters of distilled water respectively to preserve tomatoes. The experiment was laid in completely randomized design. And elements, Na, K, Ca, Mg, and P were determined in the tomatoes after the experiment using atomic absorption spectroscopy. When Daneka tomato was observed, 2.0 to 2.5 (ppm), 3.2 to 3.7 (ppm), 2.2 to 2.6 (ppm), 0.42 to 0.46 (ppm), and 0.4510 to 0.4800 (ppm) are the respective concentrations revealed under turmeric storage method for Na, K, C, Mg, and P. The protection of concentration of different elements is dependent on the concentration of the turmeric applied in the preservation methods. 3.5 to 3.8 (ppm), 2.7 to 2.9 (ppm), 1.4 to 1.8 (ppm), 0.45 to 0.49 (ppm), and 1.2 to 1.9 (ppm) are the ranges of elements compositions of UTC tomatoes after storage under turmeric, for Na, K, Ca, Mg, and P respectively. At the end, the study has indicated, a raising concentration of elements in the all the tomato types depending on the rising turmeric concentration. Impliedly, the turmeric indicates a potential to preserve a typical quality parameter of tomatoes, that is concentration of elements at p < 0.05 significant level.