Silver nanowires (Ag NWs) have become a ubiquitous part of flexible electronic devices. The good electrical conductivity of silver, coupled with the excellent ductility and bendability exhibited by the wires make them ideal for flexible devices. Additionally, deposited films of Ag NWs are also found to be transparent due to the incomplete areal coverage of the wires. Thus, Ag NWs are widely used as transparent conducting electrodes (TCEs) for flexible and wearable electronics, replacing the traditionally used metal oxide based TCEs. The properties and functionality of NWs can be further improved by forming composites with other materials. Composites have been synthesized by combining Ag NWs with metals, metal oxides, and polymers. Both dry and wet- techniques have been used to synthesize and deposit these composites, which have unique structural, chemical, and functional properties leading to myriad applications. This review focuses on recent developments in the field of Ag NW-based composites. An overview of the various fabrication techniques is provided, with a particular focus on coating and printing techniques, which are widely used for depositing Ag NWs. The application of the composites in diverse fields is also discussed. While the most common application for these composites is as TCEs, they are also used in sensors (physical, chemical, and biological), displays, and energy-related applications. The structural and environmental stability of the composites is also discussed. Given the wide interest in the development of printed flexible electronic devices, new Ag NW-based composites and application areas can be expected to be developed going forward.
Picrorhiza kurroa is an important medicinal herb valued for iridoid glycosides, Picroside-I (P-I) and Picroside-II (P-II), which have several pharmacological activities. Genetic interventions for developing a picroside production platform would require knowledge on biosynthetic pathway and key control points, which does not exist as of today. The current study reports that geranyl pyrophosphate (GPP) moiety is mainly contributed by the non-mevalonate (MEP) route, which is further modified to P-I and P-II through phenylpropanoid and iridoid pathways, in total consisting of 41 and 35 enzymatic steps, respectively. The role of the MEP pathway was ascertained through enzyme inhibitors fosmidomycin and mevinolin along with importance of other integrating pathways using glyphosate, aminooxy acetic acid (AOA) and actinomycin D, which overall resulted in 17%-92% inhibition of P-I accumulation. Retrieval of gene sequences for enzymatic steps from NGS transcriptomes and their expression analysis vis-à-vis picrosides content in different tissues/organs showed elevated transcripts for twenty genes, which were further shortlisted to seven key genes, ISPD, DXPS, ISPE, PMK, 2HFD, EPSPS and SK, on the basis of expression analysis between high versus low picrosides content strains of P. kurroa so as to eliminate tissue type/ developmental variations in picrosides contents. The higher expression of the majority of the MEP pathway genes (ISPD, DXPS and ISPE), coupled with higher inhibition of DXPR enzyme by fosmidomycin, suggested that the MEP route contributed to the biosynthesis of P-I in P. kurroa. The outcome of the study is expected to be useful in designing a suitable genetic intervention strategy towards enhanced production of picrosides. Possible key genes contributing to picroside biosynthesis have been identified with potential implications in molecular breeding and metabolic engineering of P. kurroa.
Sheath blight caused by necrotrophic fungus Rhizoctonia solani Kühn is one of the most serious diseases of rice. Use of high yielding semi dwarf cultivars with dense planting and high dose of nitrogenous fertilizers accentuates the incidence of sheath blight in rice. Its diverse host range and ability to remain dormant under unfavorable conditions make the pathogen more difficult to manage. As there are no sources of complete resistance, management through chemical control has been the most adopted method for sheath blight management. In this review, we provide an up-to-date comprehensive description of host-pathogen interactions, various control measures such as cultural, chemical, and biological as well as utilizing host plant resistance. The section on utilizing host plant resistance includes identification of resistant sources, mapping QTLs and their validation, identification of candidate gene(s) and their introgression through marker-assisted selection. Advances and prospects of sheath blight management through biotechnological approaches such as overexpression of genes and gene silencing for transgenic development against R. solani are also discussed.
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