Agricultural and Biological Sciences, Plant Science, Agronomy and Crop Science, General Agricultural and Biological Sciences
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Scopus Publications
Scopus Publications
Botanical Insights: Taxonomy, Diversity, and Global Distribution of Aloe vera R.V. Kumaraswamy, B.T. Jeevitha, D. C. Shweta, Geetha Govind Aloe Genome Genetics Genomics and Breeding, 2026 Aloe vera is a perennial succulent plant renowned for its diverse medicinal, cosmetic, and therapeutic properties. In this chapter, we describe the taxonomy, phylogeny, diversity, geographical distribution, cultivation, commercial practices, significance, and conservation status of Aloe vera. Geographically, its distribution spans the arid regions across Africa, Asia, and America, thriving under low-moisture conditions. The bioactive components in Aloe vera's gel and latex, including vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and enzymes, contribute to its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and wound-healing properties. Its medicinal applications are vast, ranging from external uses in skin care, wound healing, and joint pain relief to internal benefits, such as improving digestive health, immunity, and reducing cholesterol. Aloe vera faces challenges including habitat destruction, overharvesting, and climate change. Conservation efforts emphasize sustainable cultivation and exploration of underexplored aloe species. Research on genetic and metabolic engineering, metabolite biosynthesis using synthetic biology, and clinical trials to validate its therapeutic potential are the need of the hour. Addressing gaps in knowledge and ensuring sustainable practices can pave the way for innovative aloe-based solutions in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics while safeguarding its biodiversity.
Evaluation of bird’s eye chilli landraces against yellow thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis (Hood.) S.S. Varun, T.R. Sunitha, G. Pramod, Geetha Govind, A.M. Ashok Priyadarshan Journal of Entomological Research, 2025 This investigation aimed to identify indigenous sources of host plant resistance (HPR) by evaluating eighteen local bird’s eye chilli landraces along with three check varieties under natural field conditions. The resistance was quantified using thrips population density (per three young shoots) and the mean leaf curl index (MLCI) across different crop stages. The mean thrips population ranged from 7.07 to 16.08 per three young shoots in rabi and 7.63 to 18.80 in summer, with UASBCF-29 consistently recording the lowest infestation. The mean leaf curl index varied from 19.00 to 65.33% across landraces, with UASBCF-29, UASBCF-27, and UASBCF-30 classified as moderately resistant (MLCI:19.00 - 23.33%). No landrace exhibited complete resistance; however, UASBCF-29 showed the lowest thrips count (7.35 per three young shoots) in both seasons and minimal leaf curl damage (19.50%), indicating strong antibiosis and antixenosis mechanisms. Eleven landraces were susceptible, while six, including the check varieties Byadagi Kaddi and Byadagi Dabbi, were highly susceptible.
HOMEOBOX2, the paralog of SIX-ROWED SPIKE1/HOMEOBOX1, is dispensable for barley spikelet development Venkatasubbu Thirulogachandar, Geetha Govind, Götz Hensel, Sandip M Kale, Markus Kuhlmann, Lennart Eschen-Lippold, Twan Rutten, Ravi Koppolu, Jeyaraman Rajaraman, Sudhakar Reddy Palakolanu, Christiane Seiler, Shun Sakuma, Murukarthick Jayakodi, Justin Lee, Jochen Kumlehn, Takao Komatsuda, Thorsten Schnurbusch, Nese Sreenivasulu Journal of Experimental Botany, 2024 The HD-ZIP class I transcription factor Homeobox 1 (HvHOX1), also known as Vulgare Row-type Spike 1 (VRS1) or Six-rowed Spike 1, regulates lateral spikelet fertility in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). It was shown that HvHOX1 has a high expression only in lateral spikelets, while its paralog HvHOX2 was found to be expressed in different plant organs. Yet, the mechanistic functions of HvHOX1 and HvHOX2 during spikelet development are still fragmentary. Here, we show that compared with HvHOX1, HvHOX2 is more highly conserved across different barley genotypes and Hordeum species, hinting at a possibly vital but still unclarified biological role. Using bimolecular fluorescence complementation, DNA-binding, and transactivation assays, we validate that HvHOX1 and HvHOX2 are bona fide transcriptional activators that may potentially heterodimerize. Accordingly, both genes exhibit similar spatiotemporal expression patterns during spike development and growth, albeit their mRNA levels differ quantitatively. We show that HvHOX1 delays the lateral spikelet meristem differentiation and affects fertility by aborting the reproductive organs. Interestingly, the ancestral relationship of the two genes inferred from their co-expressed gene networks suggested that HvHOX1 and HvHOX2 might play a similar role during barley spikelet development. However, CRISPR-derived mutants of HvHOX1 and HvHOX2 demonstrated the suppressive role of HvHOX1 on lateral spikelets, while the loss of HvHOX2 does not influence spikelet development. Collectively, our study shows that through the suppression of reproductive organs, lateral spikelet fertility is regulated by HvHOX1, whereas HvHOX2 is dispensable for spikelet development in barley.
Aberrant imprinting may underlie evolution of parthenogenesis Olga Kirioukhova, Jubin N. Shah, Danaé S. Larsen, Muhammad Tayyab, Nora E. Mueller, Geetha Govind, Célia Baroux, Michael Federer, Jacqueline Gheyselinck, Philippa J. Barrell, Hong Ma, Stefanie Sprunck, Bruno Huettel, Helen Wallace, Ueli Grossniklaus, Amal J. Johnston Scientific Reports, 2018
The genetic basis of composite spike form in barley and ‘miracle-wheat’ Naser Poursarebani, Tina Seidensticker, Ravi Koppolu, Corinna Trautewig, Piotr Gawroński, Federica Bini, Geetha Govind, Twan Rutten, Shun Sakuma, Akemi Tagiri, Gizaw M Wolde, Helmy M Youssef, Abdulhamit Battal, Stefano Ciannamea, Tiziana Fusca, Thomas Nussbaumer, Carlo Pozzi, Andreas Börner, Udda Lundqvist, Takao Komatsuda, Silvio Salvi, Roberto Tuberosa, Cristobal Uauy, Nese Sreenivasulu, Laura Rossini, Thorsten Schnurbusch Genetics, 2015
