DNA methylation is a common phenomenon in plants. In plant genomes, its level is comparatively lower than that of animal genomes. It is involved in gene regulation and controls many development pathways. Methylation status of particular DNA sequence controls the potential for transition from vegetative to reproductive growth. It is believed that fully methylated elements are genetically and transcriptionally silent, however, some methylated genes may also be expressed. While hypomethylated elements are active and partially methylated elements, designated programmable, exhibit a variety of development expression programmes during plant development. DNA methylation plays an important role in the evolution of plant species through alloploidy or polyploidy. The methylation pattern in parental plants is highly heritable which is of great interest for plant breeders: DNA methylation also plays an important role in genome defense system by inactivating and methylating the invasive DNA sequences. A methylated sequence may suppress gene expression in other sequences. The generation and breeding of transgenic plants becomes complex due to inactivation of transgenes and instability of their expression. The pattern of methylation is maintained by methyltransferase through DNA replication. Several methods are in use to detect methylated nucleotides motifs that may help in identification of some essential genes.
In India, cross-breeding of indigenous cattle with exotic cattle such as Holstein Friesian and Jersey has been going on since last four decades to improve milk production. Although it has led to increased milk yield, the subfertility in male cross-bred progeny has remained a significant problem. Epigenetic modifications (DNA methylation, histone modifications and chromatin remodelling) are regarded as key players influencing gene expression. DAZL gene plays an important role in germline development and gametogenesis. The methylation and mRNA expression level of this gene have been significantly negatively correlated in the testes of cattle-yak hybrids and their parents. This study analysed the methylation profile of DAZL gene promoter in bull spermatozoa in an attempt to speculate its role in cross-bred cattle subfertility. Semen samples from Sahiwal, Holstein Friesian and Frieswal bulls (Sahiwal X Holstein Friesian) with varying semen motility parameters were collected, and DNA was isolated. Methylation-specific primers were used to amplify part of promoter and exon 1 of DAZL gene using bisulphite-converted DNA. The amplified products were sequenced after cloning in pTZ57R/T vector. Sequence analysis revealed significantly higher DNA methylation of DAZL gene in Frieswal bulls with poor motility (28.26%) as compared to medium (15.21%) and high motility phenotype (6.52%). In pure-bred counterparts, Sahiwal and Holstein Friesian, epigenetic marks were more in the former (15.21%) than the latter (4.34%), but in both cases, the values were lower as compared to the poor motility Frieswal bulls. This suggests that differential hypermethylation of the CpG islands could possibly influence reproductive parameters in bovines.
Mango orchards in Pakistan are deficient in soil micronutrients. Multan is one of the prime regions for mango production in Pakistan; therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the micronutrient status of mango orchards in the Multan region. Soil samples from four different depths (0–30, 30–60, 60–90, and 90–120 cm) and leaf samples were collected from thirteen different locations of Multan. Depth-wise variations in the micronutrient status and the levels of pH, EC, CEC, SOM, and CaCO3 were determined. All data collected from the field and laboratory work of mango orchards under study were analyzed statistically by applying the RCBD design. It was observed that pH and ECe of soil under study were significantly higher in upper depths when compared with lower depths whereas CaCO3 content was contrary to pH and EC as it was observed to be higher from the lower depth of the soil. Moreover, mango leaves from the majority of locations were deficient in total micronutrients due to poorly available micronutrients status of the soil. Thus, there is a serious need to improve the chemical properties of the soil, and the proper dose of micronutrients should be applied every season for sufficient supply throughout the growing cycle of mango in and around the Multan region.
Mango, the king of fruits, is one of the most important fruit crops of Pakistan. In the country, Sammar Bahisht Chaunsa is a major cultivar grown for domestic consumption as well as exporting to international markets; however, the cultivar has a strong disorder of biennial bearing. The main cause of the disorder is lack of immediate, sufficient and vigorous postharvest vegetative growth, which is essential for next year flowering/fruiting. The current study was designed to overcome this fruiting pattern by inducing postharvest vegetative growth immediately after fruit harvesting as this growth is must required for flowering. The trial was conducted in the experimental orchard of Mango Research Station, Shujabad on 25 years old trees of cultivar Sammar Bahisht Chaunsa, planted at 12m apart rows and plants. The experiment was performed during 2015-2020. One level of urea (2%) and two levels of KNO3 (1 % and 2%) alone and in various combinations were applied to mango trees immediately after the fruit harvesting to study their effects on the induction of vegetative growth. It was found that KNO3 at 1% ensured the maximum postharvest growth (67.11%) with maximum flowering (39.49%), and fruit yield (241 kg/plant). However nonsignificant difference (25 to 26 OBRIX) in total soluble solids (TSS) and titratable acidity (TA) was noted(0.7 to 0.9%) in all the treatments. It was concluded that application of KNO3 twice at 10 days interval alone or in combination with urea 2% after the harvesting of fruits was found beneficial for getting proper postharvest growth in mango trees to support subsequent fruit crop.
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