CgtA E /Obg E /YhbZ is an Escherichia coli guanine nucleotide binding protein of the Obg/GTP1 subfamily whose members have been implicated in a number of cellular functions including GTP-GDP sensing, sporulation initiation, and translation. Here we describe a kinetic analysis of CgtA E with guanine nucleotides and show that its properties are similar to those of the Caulobacter crescentus homolog CgtA C . CgtA E binds both GTP and GDP with moderate affinity, shows high guanine nucleotide exchange rate constants for both nucleotides, and has a relatively low GTP hydrolysis rate. We show that CgtA E is associated predominantly with the 50S ribosomal subunit. Interestingly, CgtA E copurifies with SpoT, a ribosome-associated ppGpp hydrolase/synthetase involved in the stress response. The interaction between CgtA E and SpoT was confirmed by reciprocal coprecipitation experiments and by two-hybrid assays. These studies raise the possibility that the ribosome-associated CgtA E is involved in the SpoT-mediated stress response.

Application of nanoscience in phytopathology has shown a rapid progress in recent days. Nanoparticles applied through seed treatment improves seed germination, growth and seedling vigour along with its properties of antimicrobial effect. In the present study, influence of four nanoformulations viz. chitosan based zinc, Pseudomonas fluorescens based zinc, pomegranate aril based sulphur and pomegranate aril based silver nanoformulation was assessed on soybean seed quality parameters. All four nanoformulation promoted germination per cent, seedling length, seedling vigour and dry weight. Pomegranate aril based silver nanoformulation @500 ppm was found best because, it suppressed fungal infection (97.33%) during germination effectively in addition to positive influence on seedling growth (seedling vigour index-2831), which is on par with Carboxin 37.5% + Thiram 37.5% DS (2 g/Kg of seed) fungicide. A trend of decreasing germination per cent and seedling vigour index of soybean JS 335 seeds were observed while using higher concentration (above 1000 ppm) of pomegranate aril based sulphur nanoformulation due to its toxicity. Further, these results can be effeciently utilized in choosing nanoformulation for management of diseases.

Bio priming:The interaction of different strains of the same bio agent (organism) with different crop species differ greatly, so screening of different isolates for plant growth promoting traits is a key factor of consideration for successful bio priming. To study the effect of biopriming duration on seed, peanut seeds were bioprimed with actinobacteria for 2, 4 and 6 hr. The seed biopriming of 2hr duration was found to be best as it increased root length, shoot length and dry biomass seedling vigour.