The onion, Allium cepa, is an important vegetable crop around the world. Globally, India ranks second in onion production, but yields are often much lower than in many other onion producing countries. This study reports on one major contributing factor to low onion yields in India: the presence of a weedy mimic that is morphologically similar to onion until the onset of flowering. We used morphological and molecular methods to identify this mimic as Asphodelus fistulosus, an exotic weed not previously reported in India. Our study indicated that molecular markers derived from the rbcL and/or matK chloroplast genes in a DNA barcoding approach allow accurate identification of this weed using any tissue and even at early developmental stages. Our results also showed that visual examination of seed lots coupled with DNA barcoding analysis of samples of 5-10 individual seeds can be used to confirm identification. The ability to easily identify contaminating material before and during cultivation can allow farmers to minimise production losses and prevent further spreading of this weed.
22The β actin gene is involved in various cellular housekeeping processes 23 including transcription, mRNA processing, cell signaling and chromosome 24 remodeling. For regulating the expression of this gene under different 25 environmental conditions, the promoter region of the β actin gene is 26 structurally dynamic with multiple regulatory features in the upstream region.27 Most previous information about the 5' regulatory region of the β actin gene 28 has been limited to in vitro laboratory experiments. Considering the need for 29 functional versatility of expression of this gene in the Catfish Clarias batrachus 30 in different environments, here we have analyzed the 5' regulatory region of β 31 actin and identified numerous elements that are variable. We have made 2 32 comparisons of individuals from three populations found in three different 33 diverse ecological systems, as well as in three sister species, to elucidate its 34 structural diversity. Our results show that the 5' regulatory region has 35 considerable diversity and changes in architecture with respect Cis-acting 36 regulatory elements. These changes may be linked to positive selection in 37 combating pollution or disease like conditions encountered by the organism.38 These observations leads to the conclusion that 5' regulatory region of a 39 housekeeping gene like β actin, modify its architecture as per the 40 environmental conditions. These modifications specifically includes diversity of 41 TF binding sites indicating the assortment of environmental variables and only 42 one third region of 5' regulatory region is conserved which was yet not 43 highlighted. 44 45 Author summary 46 47 Promoter is a regulatory region where the basal transcription machinery 48 assembles to initiate the process of transcription. It plays crucial role in 49 controlling the gene expression. The 5' regulatory region includes TATA box, 50 CAAT box, GC box and Cis -acting regulatory elements. Most previous 51 information about the 5' regulatory region of the β actin gene has been limited 52 to in vitro laboratory experiments. Our study results show that the 5' 53 regulatory region has considerable diversity and changes in architecture with 54 respect Cis-acting regulatory elements. These changes may be linked to 55 positive selection in combating pollution or disease like conditions encountered 56 by the organism. These observations leads to the conclusion that 5' regulatory 3 57 region of a housekeeping gene like β actin, modify its architecture as per the 58 environmental requirements. These modifications precisely includes diversity of 59 TF binding sites indicating the assortment of environmental variables and only 60 one third region of 5' regulatory region is conserved. These findings clearly 61 define a novel role of promotor of β actin gene which was yet not highlighted. 62 These findings can broaden our understanding in linking TF in 5' regulatory 63 regions to a specific environmental variable/disease conditions. This may 64 become a simple strategy in under...
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