Mehdi Rahimi
@kgut.ac.ir
Associate prof. of Plant Breeding, Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Science and High Technology and Environmental Sciences, Graduate University of Advanced Technology, Kerman, Iran
Graduate University of Advanced Technology, Kerman, Iran
Mehdi Rahimi was born in Shiraz, Iran, in 1978. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Science and High Technology and Environmental Sciences, Graduate University of Advanced Technology, Kerman, Iran. His research interests are in the areas of plant breeding (classical breeding, biometry, abiotic stress, molecular breeding, genomics, gene expression). He received his Ph.D. in plant breeding at Tarbiat Modares University during 2008-2013 and M.Sc. in plant breeding at University of Guilan during 2004-2007 and his B.Sc. in agronomy and plant breeding from Shiraz University.
EDUCATION
• Bachelor in plant breeding and agronomy, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Fars, Iran, 1997 – 2001.
• Master in plant breeding, Guilan University, Rasht, Gilan, Iran, 2004 – 2007.
MSc thesis title: Use of diallel cross for evaluating heterosis and combining ability in rice cultivars
• PhD in plant breeding, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran, 2008 – 2013.
PhD thesis title: Identification of QTLs Controlling Important Yield Related Traits of Rice in Different Irrigation Conditions
• Visiting scientist, CREA - Genomics Research Centre, Fiorenzuola d'Arda, Piacenza, Italy, December 2012 - June 2013
RESEARCH INTERESTS
1) Improvement of Crops and horticulture plants through classical and molecular genetic methods
2) Plant biotechnology
3) Molecular markers, Genetic diversity and Gene expression
4) Identify quantitative traits loci by QTL mapping and association mapping and genetic maps
5) Biometry - Genetic analys
Scopus Publications
Scholar Citations
Scholar h-index
Scholar i10-index
Scopus Publications
Shazia Hanif, Athar Mahmood, Talha Javed, Safura Bibi, Muhammad Anjum Zia, Saima Asghar, Zunaira Naeem, Sezai Ercisli, Mehdi Rahimi, and Baber Ali
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
AbstractBarley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is a significant cereal crop belonging to Poaceae that is essential for human food and animal feeding. The production of barley grains was around 142.37 million tons in 2017/2018. However, the growth of barley was influenced by salinity which was enhanced by applying a foliar spray of salicylic acid. The current study investigated to evaluated the potential effect of SA on the barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) plants under salinity stress and its possible effects on physiological, biochemical, and growth responses. The experiment was conducted at Postgraduate Research Station (PARS), University of Agriculture; Faisalabad to assess the influence of salicylic acid on barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) under highly saline conditions. The experiment was conducted in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 3 replicates. In plastic pots containing 8 kg of properly cleaned sand, two different types of barley (Sultan and Jau-17) were planted. The plants were then watered with a half-strength solution of Hoagland’s nutritional solution. After the establishment of seedlings, two salt treatments (0 mM and 120 mM NaCl) were applied in combining three levels of exogenously applied salicylic acid (SA) (0, 0.5, and 1 mg L-1). Data about morphological, physiological, and biochemical attributes was recorded using standard procedure after three weeks of treatment. The morpho-physiological fresh weight of the shoot and root (48%), the dry mass of the shoot and root (66%), the plant height (18%), the chlorophyll a (30%), the chlorophyll b (22%), and the carotenoids (22%), all showed significant decreases. Salinity also decreased yield parameters and the chl. ratio (both at 29% and 26% of the total chl. leaf area index). Compared to the control parameters, the following data was recorded under salt stress: spike length, number of spikes, number of spikelets, number of tillers, biological yield, and harvest index. Salicylic acid was used as a foliar spray to lessen the effects of salinity stress, and 1 mg L-1 of salicylic acid proved more effective than 0.5 mg L-1. Both varieties show better growth by applying salicylic acid (0 mg L-1) as a control, showing normal growth. By increasing its level to (0.5 mg L-1), it shows better growth but maximized growth occurred at a higher level (1 mg L-1). Barley sultan (Hordeum vulgare L.) is the best variety as compared to Jau-17 performs more growth to mitigate salt stress (0mM and 120mM NaCl) by improving morpho-physiological parameters by enhancing plan height, Root and shoot fresh and dry weights, as well as root and shoot lengths, photosynthetic pigments, area of the leaves and their index, and yield attributes and reduce sodium ions.
Fazal Abbas, Hafiz Nazar Faried, Gulzar Akhtar, Sami Ullah, Talha Javed, Muhammad Asif Shehzad, Khurram Ziaf, Kashif Razzaq, Muhammad Amin, Fahad Masoud Wattoo,et al.
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Shahla Hashemi Shahraki, Tayebeh Ahmadi, Babak Jamali, and Mehdi Rahimi
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Abstract Background The biochemical and growth changes resulting from exposure of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) seedlings to silver nanoparticles and silver were investigated. Over a two-week period, seedlings were exposed to different concentrations (0, 40, and 80 ppm) of silver nanoparticles and silver. Results Our findings revealed that at concentrations of 40 and 80 ppm, both silver nanoparticles and silver nitrate led to decreased weight, root and shoot length, as well as chlorophyll a and b content. Conversely, these treatments triggered an increase in key biochemical properties, such as total phenols, carotenoids and anthocyanins, with silver nanoparticles showing a more pronounced effect compared to silver nitrate. Moreover, the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) rose proportionally with treatment concentration, with the nanoparticle treatment exhibiting a more substantial increase. Silver content showed a significant upswing in both roots and leaves as treatment concentrations increased. Conclusions Application of varying concentrations of silver nanoparticles and silver nitrate on basil plants resulted in reduced growth and lower chlorophyll content, while simultaneously boosting the production of antioxidant compounds. Notably, anthocyanin, carotenoid, and total phenol increased significantly. However, despite this increase in antioxidant activity, the plant remained unable to fully mitigate the oxidative stress induced by silver and silver nanoparticles.
Fazal Abbas, Hafiz Nazar Faried, Gulzar Akhtar, Sami Ullah, Talha Javed, Muhammad Asif Shehzad, Khurram Ziaf, Kashif Razzaq, Muhammad Amin, Fahad Masoud Wattoo,et al.
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
AbstractPakistan is the 8th most climate-affected country in the globe along with a semi-arid to arid climate, thereby the crops require higher irrigation from underground water. Moreover, ~ 70% of pumped groundwater in irrigated agriculture is brackish and a major cause of secondary salinization. Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is an important vegetable crop with an annual growth rate of about 3.3% in Pakistan. However, it is a relatively salt-sensitive crop. Therefore, a dire need for an alternate environment-friendly technology like grafting for managing salinity stress in cucumber by utilizing the indigenous cucurbit landraces. In this regard, a non-perforated pot-based study was carried out in a lath house to explore indigenous cucurbit landraces; bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) (cv. Faisalabad Round), pumpkin (Cucurbit pepo. L) (cv. Local Desi Special), sponge gourd (Luffa aegyptiaca) (cv. Local) and ridge gourd (Luffa acutangula) (cv. Desi Special) as rootstocks for inducing salinity tolerance in cucumber (cv. Yahla F1). Four different salts (NaCl) treatments; T0 Control (2.4 dSm–1), T1 (4 dSm–1), T2 (6 dSm–1) and T3 (8 dSm–1) were applied. The grafted cucumber plants were transplanted into the already-induced salinity pots (12-inch). Different morpho-physio-biochemical, antioxidants, ionic, and yield attributes were recorded. The results illustrate that increasing salinity negatively affected the growing cucumber plants. However, grafted cucumber plants showed higher salt tolerance relative to non-grafted ones. Indigenous bottle gourd landrace (cv. Faisalabad Round) exhibited higher salt tolerance compared to non-grafted cucumber plants due to higher up-regulation of morpho-physio-biochemical, ionic, and yield attributes that was also confirmed by principal component analysis (PCA). Shoot and root biomass, chlorophylls contents (a and b), activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POX) enzymes, antioxidants scavenging activity (ASA), ionic (↑ K and Ca, ↓ Na), and yield-related attributes were found maximum in cucumber plants grafted onto indigenous bottle gourd landrace. Hence, the indigenous bottle gourd landrace ‘cv. Faisalabad round’ may be utilized as a rootstock for cucumber under a mild pot-based saline environment. However, indigenous bottle gourd landrace ‘cv. Faisalabad round’ may further be evaluated as rootstocks in moderate saline field conditions for possible developing hybrid rootstock and, subsequently, sustainable cucumber production.
Mehdi Rahimi and Sandip Debnath
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
AbstractSelection of desirable genotypes or progenies is perhaps the most important practical method in plant and animal breeding programs. The selection index method is the most useful method to choose superior genotypes based on using simultaneous several traits. The optimum and base selection indices are the two indicators that are most used in plant and animal breeding. In this paper, a simple and practical code was developed for the analysis of optimum, base, and Pesek and Baker selection indices. Four different criteria were used to evaluate the selection index, and the phenotypic and genotypic variance–covariance matrix of traits was obtained based on statistical or genetical design. Moreover, an index that was more efficient on these coefficients was used for the breeding program. The results showed that simultaneous selection for the important traits desired by the breeder through economic values such as heritability, genetic, or phenotypic correlation is the most effective method for selecting the best genotypes. Therefore, the best progeny or genotype can be selected to use in breeding programs. This program provides detailed information on selection indices of segregation and natural populations involving any number of individuals or genotypes. These codes are much easier and simpler than other programs and provide more information than other programs. This code is easy to execute in both R and SAS programs.
Mehdi Rahimi, Mojtaba Mortazavi, Ameneh Mianabadi, and Sandip Debnath
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Abstract Background Basil is one of the most famous herbs, which has broad usage as a fresh vegetable and therapeutic and pharmaceutical services. The main abiotic stress limiting basil production globally is drought. As a result, appropriate drought screening-which effectively separates high-yielding but drought-sensitive genotypes from drought-tolerant genotypes-is necessary for the optimal selection of high-yielding basil cultivars under drought stress conditions. So, a split plot experiment with three replications based on a completely randomized design were carried out in a pot under field conditions for this investigation. Water levels (full irrigation or control, moderate stress, and severe stress) were assigned as main plots, while 22 basil accessions were given as sub-plots. In this study, leaf yield as well as physio-biochemical traits had measured on accessions. Results Our results revealed large variation in yield, essential oil (%), protein, proline, chlorophyll, total phenol and flavonoids traits across the 22 accessions. The percentage of leaf yield reduction in moderate drought stress than normal conditions showed that G1 (−6.5%), G17 (−7.05%), G20 (−9.01%), and G12 (−10.9%) accessions had the least changes, respectively. Although in severe drought stress than normal conditions, the G1 (−32.01%), G12 (−33.12%), G4 (−33.24%), G7 (−34.11%), and G17 (−34.93%) accessions had the least amount of change in plant leaf yield, respectively. Furthermore, the highest yield reduction occurred in moderate and severe stress conditions in G18 (−25.36%) and G8 (−42.98%) accessions, respectively. Cluster analysis based on the ward method in both conditions (moderate and severe drought conditions) placed the accessions in three groups, and accessions were identified as tolerant, whose average traits in that group were higher than the total average. The principal component analysis also showed that in moderate drought conditions, the first two components explained about 95.28% of the total variation, while in severe drought conditions, these two components explained about 96.37% of the total variation. Conclusions The different multivariate analyses (cluster analysis, PCA, mean comparison) were used to identify tolerant and sensitive accessions based on all traits. The accessions G3, G4, G6, and G7 were found to be tolerant to stress, while G10, G15, G16, and G20 were found to be sensitive to drought. These accessions are a useful step in producing drought-tolerant, high-yielding accessions and can be utilized in breeding programs for basil.
Zia ur Rehman Khan, Nasir Assad, Muhammad Naeem-ul-Hassan, Muhammad Sher, Fatema Suliman Alatawi, Mohsen Suliman Alatawi, Awatif M.E. Omran, Rasha M.A. Jame, Muhammad Adnan, Muhammad Nauman Khan,et al.
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Zia ur Rehman Khan, Nasir Assad, Muhammad Naeem-ul-Hassan, Muhammad Sher, Fatema Suliman Alatawi, Mohsen Suliman Alatawi, Awatif M. E. Omran, Rasha M. A. Jame, Muhammad Adnan, Muhammad Nauman Khan,et al.
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
AbstractIn this study, a polar extract of Aconitum lycoctonum L. was used for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), followed by their characterization using different techniques and evaluation of their potential as antioxidants, amylase inhibitors, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agents. The formation of AgNPs was detected by a color change, from transparent to dark brown, within 15 min and a surface resonance peak at 460 nm in the UV–visible spectrum. The FTIR spectra confirmed the involvement of various biomolecules in the synthesis of AgNPs. The average diameter of these spherical AgNPs was 67 nm, as shown by the scanning electron micrograph. The inhibition zones showed that the synthesized nanoparticles inhibited the growth of Gram-positive and negative bacteria. FRAP and DPPH assays were used to demonstrate the antioxidant potential of AgNPs. The highest value of FRAP (50.47% AAE/mL) was detected at a concentration of 90 ppm and a DPPH scavenging activity of 69.63% GAE was detected at a concentration of 20 µg/mL of the synthesized AgNPs. 500 µg/mL of the synthesized AgNPs were quite efficient in causing 91.78% denaturation of ovalbumin. The AgNPs mediated by A. lycoctonum also showed an inhibitory effect on α-amylase. Therefore, AgNPs synthesized from A. lycoctonum may serve as potential candidates for antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic agents.
Ammara Saleem, Asma Zulfiqar, Muhammad Zafar Saleem, Baber Ali, Muhammad Hamzah Saleem, Shafaqat Ali, Ebru Derelli Tufekci, Ali Rıza Tufekci, Mehdi Rahimi, and Reham M. Mostafa
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
AbstractAgricultural production is severely limited by an iron deficiency. Alkaline soils increase iron deficiency in rice crops, consequently leading to nutrient deficiencies in humans. Adding iron to rice enhances both its elemental composition and the nutritional value it offers humans through the food chain. The purpose of the current pot experiment was to investigate the impact of Fe treatment in alkaline (pH 7.5) and acidic (pH 5.5) soils to introduce iron-rich rice. Iron was applied to the plants in the soil in the form of an aqueous solution of FeSO4 with five different concentrations (100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 mM). The results obtained from the current study demonstrated a significant increase in Fe content in Oryza sativa with the application of iron in both alkaline and acidic pH soils. Specifically, Basmati-515, one of the rice cultivars tested, exhibited a notable 13% increase in iron total accumulation per plant and an 11% increase in root-to-shoot ratio in acidic soil. In contrast to Basmati-198, which demonstrated maximum response in alkaline soil, Basmati-515 exhibited notable increases in all parameters, including a 31% increase in dry weight, 16% increase in total chlorophyll content, an 11% increase in CAT (catalase) activity, 7% increase in APX (ascorbate peroxidase) activity, 26% increase in POD (peroxidase) activity, and a remarkable 92% increase in SOD (superoxide dismutase) in acidic soil. In alkaline soil, Basmati-198 exhibited respective decreases of 40% and 39% in MDA and H2O2 content, whereas Basmati-515 demonstrated a more significant decrease of 50% and 67% in MDA and H2O2 in acidic soil. These results emphasize the potential for targeted soil management strategies to improve iron nutrition and address iron deficiency in agricultural systems. By considering soil conditions, it is possible to enhance iron content and promote its availability in alkaline and acidic soils, ultimately contributing to improved crop nutrition and human health.
Mehdi Rahimi, Masoud AhmadiAfzadi, and Mojtaba Kordrostami
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
AbstractOne of the well-known medicinal plants in the Falcaria genus is Sickleweed. Falcaria species exhibit a high degree of genetic variability, posing challenges in the examination of genetic diversity due to the significant potential for hybridization and introgression among them. Utilizing morphological traits and molecular markers may prove to be a valuable approach in evaluating and harnessing germplasm, considering the current obstacles faced in breeding this medicinal herb. In 2021, fifteen Sickleweed populations were cultivated in pots under field conditions, employing a randomized complete block design with three replications. This aimed to assess genetic diversity and conduct marker-trait association analyses utilizing morpho-physiological characteristics and SSR markers. The Sickleweed populations displayed considerable genetic diversity across all traits. Through cluster analysis of traits and the utilization of the UPGMA method based on the Gower distance matrix, the population was classified into three distinct clusters. Upon examining all genotypes, 52 polymorphic bands were detected, with an average of 8.68 bands per primer. The average expected heterozygosity across all loci was 0.864, while the average PIC was 0.855. Molecular data analysis employing the Jaccard similarity index and UPGMA method revealed the division of Sickleweed populations into two major groups. Furthermore, the results of molecular variance analysis indicated that variation within the population exceeded that between populations. Thirty-two SSR fragments were found to be significantly associated with genomic regions controlling the studied traits, determined through the application of stepwise regression. Selection based on molecular markers offers a rapid method for breeding programs, with the genetic information obtained from these markers playing a crucial role. Therefore, alongside traits, selecting superior genotypes and populations of high value in breeding programs becomes feasible. The findings highlight that certain markers are linked to multiple traits, emphasizing the critical importance of this characteristic in plant breeding for the simultaneous improvement of numerous traits. The study’s insights regarding markers hold potential for application in Sickleweed breeding programs.
Shaista Jabeen, Muhammad Fraz Ali, Atta Mohi ud Din, Talha Javed, Nouriya Salah Mohammed, Sunbal Khalil Chaudhari, Muhammad Ammar Javed, Baber Ali, Lixin Zhang, and Mehdi Rahimi
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
AbstractUndoubtedly, it is important to remain vigilant and manage invasive grasses to prevent their spread and mitigate their negative impact on the environment. However, these aggressive plants can also play a beneficial role in certain contexts. For example, several invasive grasses provide valuable forage for livestock and have disease control potential. Therefore, a research experiment was conducted to explore the pros and cons of this approach, not only for surrounding vegetation but also for human and animal disease control. The study is primarily focused on developing livestock feed, plant-derived herbicides, and an understanding of the phytotoxic effects of invasive species. All plant parts of Cenchrus ciliaris L., Polypogon monspeliansis L., and Dicanthium annulatum (Forssk.) Stapf, were tested for their phyto-chemical screening, proximate, and toxicity analysis which was caused by the methanolic extract of these grass species. Qualitative phytochemical screening tests were performed for proximate composition analysis and toxicity assessment essays. The phytochemical analysis revealed the positive results for alkaloids, flavonoids, coumarins, phenols, saponins, and glycosides, while negative for tannins. Comparison of proximate analysis intimated maximum moisture (10.8%) and crude fat (4.1%) in P. monspeliensis, whereas maximum dry matter (84.1%), crude protein (13.95%), crude fiber (11%), and ash (7.2%) in D. annulatum. Five (10, 100, 500, 100, 10,000 ppm) and three (10, 1000, 10,000 ppm) different concentrations of methanolic extract prepared from C. ciliaris, P. monspeliansis, and D. annulatum were used respectively for root inhibition and seed germination essay. Furthermore, three different concentrations (10, 30, 50 mg) of plant fine powder were used for sandwich method test. There was a significant decline in the growth rate of experimental model radish seeds (P > 0.005), and results from sandwich method tests showed suppressed growth of root hairs, inhibiting the anchoring of the radish seed. In comparison, results manifest that; P. monspeliansis indicated an upsurge of inhibition (66.58% at 10,000 ppm), D. annulatum revealed soar germination (75.86% in controlled conditions), and C. ciliaris exhibited dramatic shoot up of inhibition because of sandwich method test (14.02% at 50 mg). In conclusion, although grasses are toxic, it is important to consider the beneficiary account.
Jahangir Ahmed, Ghulam Qadir, Muhammad Ansar, Fahad Masoud Wattoo, Talha Javed, Baber Ali, Romina Alina Marc, and Mehdi Rahimi
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
AbstractSeed shattering is a critical challenge that significantly reduces sesame production by 50%. These shattering losses can be reduced by selecting shattering resistant genotypes or by incorporating modern agronomic management such as paclobutrazol, which can boost productivity and prevent seed shattering in sesame. Two-years of field trials were conducted to examine the effect of sesame genotypes, environment, and paclobutrazol (PBZ) concentrations. Twelve sesame genotypes were used in a four-way factorial RCBD with three replications and five PBZ concentrations (T0 = Control; T1 = 150; T2 = 300; T3 = 450; and T4 = 600 mg L− 1) under rainfed conditions of Pothwar. The findings revealed significant variations in the major effects of all examined variables (genotypes, locations, years, and PBZ levels). Sesame genotypes PI-154304 and PI-175907 had the highest plant height, number of capsule plant− 1, seed capsule− 1, 1000 seed weight, biological yield, and seed yield, while also having the lowest seed losses and shattering percentage. Regarding environments, NARC-Islamabad generated the highest plant height, number of capsule plant− 1, shattering percentage, and biological yield; however, the URF-Koont produced the highest seed yield with the lowest shattering percentage. Additionally, plant height, capsules plant− 1, and biological yield were higher in 2021, while seed capsule− 1, 1000 seed weight, seed losses, shattering percentage, and seed yield were higher in 2020. PBZ concentration affected all measured parameters; plant height and number of seed capsule− 1 decreased with increasing PBZ concentrations. 450 mg L− 1 PBZ concentration generated the highest biomass, number of capsules plant− 1, and seed yield. At the same time, PBZ concentration 600 mg L− 1 generated the smallest plant, the lowest seed capsules− 1, the greatest thousand seed weight, and the lowest shattering percentage. The study concluded that paclobutrazol could dramatically reduce shattering percentage and shattering losses while increasing economic returns through better productivity. Based on the findings, the genotypes PI-154304 and PI-175907 with paclobutrazol level 450 mgL− 1 may be suggested for cultivation in Pothwar farming community under rainfed conditions, as they showed promising shattering resistance as well as enhanced growth and yield.
Muhammad Azeem, Kulsoom Pirjan, Muhammad Qasim, Athar Mahmood, Talha Javed, Haji Muhammad, Shoujun Yang, Renjie Dong, Baber Ali, and Mehdi Rahimi
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
AbstractMoringa oleifera Lam. is a common edible plant, famous for several nutritional and therapeutic benefits. This study investigates the salt -induced modulations in plant growth, physio-biochemical responses, and antioxidant performance of M. oleifera grown under 0, 50, and 100 mM NaCl concentrations. Results showed that the plant effectively managed moderate salinity (50 mM NaCl) by maintaining succulence, weight ratios, and biomass allocation patterns of both shoot and root with minimal reduction in dry biomass. However, high salinity (100 mM NaCl) remarkably declined all growth parameters. The plant accumulated more Na+ and Cl−, while less K+ under salinity as compared to the control. Consequently, osmotic potentials of both root and leaf decreased under salinity, which was corroborated by the high amount of proline and soluble sugars. Increased level of H2O2 with significantly unchanged membrane fluidity indicating its role in perceiving and managing stress at moderate salinity. In addition, increased activities of superoxide dismutase, and catalase, with increased glutathione and flavonoid contents suggest an integrated participation of both enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant components in regulating ROS. On the other hand, high salinity caused an outburst of ROS indicated by high H2O2, MDA, and electrolyte leakage. As a response, moringa drastically increased the activities of all antioxidant enzymes and contents of antioxidant molecules including ascorbic acid, glutathione, total phenols, and flavonoids with high radical scavenging and reducing power capacities. However, a considerable amount of energy was used in such management resulting in a significant growth reduction at 100 mM NaCl. This study suggests that moringa effectively resisted moderate salinity by modulating physio-biochemical attributes and effectively managing ion toxicity and oxidative stress. Salt stress also enhanced the medicinal potentials of moringa by increasing the contents of antioxidant compounds including ascorbic acid, glutathione, total phenols, and flavonoids and their resulting activities. It can be grown on degraded/ saline lands and biomass of this plant can be used for edible and medicinal purposes, besides providing other benefits in a global climate change scenario.
Mahnaz Shirazi, Mehdi Rahimi, Karim Sorkheh, and Sezai Ercisli
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Biswajit Pramanik, Sandip Debnath, Mehdi Rahimi, Md. Mostofa Uddin Helal, and Rakibul Hasan
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Genetic variations are a crucial source of germplasm heterogeneity, as they contribute to the development of new traits for plant breeding by offering an allele resource. Gamma rays have been widely used as a physical agent to produce mutations in plants, and their mutagenic effect has attracted much attention. Nonetheless, few studies have examined the whole mutation spectrum in large-scale phenotypic evaluations. To comprehensively investigate the mutagenic effects of gamma irradiation on lentils, biological consequences on the M1 generation and substantial phenotypic screening on the M2 generation were undertaken. Additionally, the study followed the selected mutants into the M3 generation to evaluate the agronomic traits of interest for crop improvement. Seeds of lentil variety Moitree were irradiated with a range of acute gamma irradiation doses (0, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, and 350 Gy) to induce unique genetic variability. This research focused on determining the GR50 value while considering seedling parameters and examining the status of pollen fertility while comparing the effects of the gamma irradiation dosages. The GR50 value was determined to be 217.2 Gy using the seedling parameters. Pollens from untreated seed-grown plants were approximately 85% fertile, but those treated with the maximum dosage (350 Gy) were approximately 28% fertile. Numerous chlorophyll and morphological mutants were produced in the M2 generation, with the 300 Gy -treated seeds being the most abundant, followed by the 250 Gy -treated seeds. This demonstrated that an appropriate dosage of gamma rays was advantageous when seeking to generate elite germplasm resources for one or multiple traits. Selected mutants in the M3 generation showed improved agronomic traits, including plant height, root length, number of pods per plant, and yield per plant. These investigations will contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the mutagenic effects and actions of gamma rays, providing a basis for the selection and design of suitable mutagens. This will facilitate the development of more controlled mutagenesis protocols for plant breeding and help guide future research directions for crop improvement using radiation-induced mutation breeding techniques.
Mehdi Rahimi, Mojtaba Kordrostami, and Jaber Nasiri
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Sickleweed (Falcaria vulgaris) is the name of a species of annual, and perennial herbaceous plants of the genus Falcaria. Climate change could negatively influnces the performance of various plant species in plant kingdom. In this study, 15 different sickleweed populations from seven provinces of the country were collected based on an unbalanced nest design with 10 replications and the percentage of essential oil, types of chlorophyll, phenol, proline, protein, and carotenoids were measured on them. The results showed that there was a significant difference between populations at the level of one percent for the studied traits. The results of the mean comparison showed that populations Ard-Shaban and Qaz-Ilan in terms of the evaluated traits and especially the percentage of essential oil were at the upper of the studied samples and selected as suitable populations. In addition, populations Gilan-Deylaman and Kur-Gerger-e Sofla were also identified as superior populations in terms of studied traits by cluster analysis and principle component analysis (PCA). Since the high level of proline and biochemical and physiological traits in plants can play a role in plants’ tolerance to stresses, therefore, populations with high values of these traits can be used in stress tolerance breeding programs. Therefore, in this study, populations Gilan-Deylaman and Kur-Gerger-e Sofla can be suitable populations for this purpose. In addition, the essential oil of this plant is used in the treatment of diseases, and therefore populations Ard-Shaban and Qaz-Ilan, which showed a high percentage of essential oil, can be used in breeding programs to increase the performance of this trait.
Mojtaba Mortazavi, Masoud Torkzadeh-Mahani, Mehdi Rahimi, Mahmood Maleki, Safa Lotfi, and Ali Riahi-Madvar
Elsevier BV
Mehdi Rahimi and Elaheh Ranjbaran
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Sandip Debnath, Achal Kant, Pradipta Bhowmick, Ayushman Malakar, Shampa Purkaystha, Binod Kumar Jena, Gaurav Mudgal, Mehdi Rahimi, Md Mostofa Uddin Helal, Rakibul Hasan,et al.
MDPI AG
In the scenario of global climate change, understanding how plants respond to drought is critical for developing future crops that face restricted water resources. This present study focuses on the role of WRKY transcription factors on drought tolerance in tomato, Solanum lycopersicum L., which is a significant vegetable crop. WRKY transcription factors are a group of proteins that regulate a wild range of growth and developmental processes in plants such as seed germination and dormancy and the stress response. These transcription factors are defined by the presence of a DNA-binding domain, namely, the WRKY domain. It is well-known that WRKY transcription factors can interact with a variety of proteins and therefore control downstream activities. It aims to simulate the effect of curcumin, a bioactive compound with regulatory capacity, on the protein–protein interaction events by WRKY transcription factors with an emphasis on drought stress. It was found that curcumin binds to WRKY with an energy of −11.43 kcal/mol with inhibitory concentration (Ki) 0.12 mM and has the potential to improve fruit quality and reinforce drought tolerance of S. lycopersicum, according to the results based on bioinformatics tools. The root means square deviation (RMSD) of the C-α, the backbone of 2AYD with ligand coupled complex, displayed a very stable structure with just a little variation of 1.89 Å. MD simulation trajectory of Cα atoms of 2AYD bound to Curcumin revealed more un-ordered orientation in PC1 and PC10 modes and more toward negative correlation from the initial 400 frames during PCA. Establishing the binding energies of the ligand–target interaction is essential in order to characterize the compound’s binding affinity to the drought transcription factor. We think we have identified a phyto-agent called curcumin that has the potential to enhance the drought tolerance. Compared to the part of the mismatch repair-base technique that can be used to fix drought related genes, curcumin performed better in a drop-in crop yield over time, and it was suggested that curcumin is a potential candidate factor for improving drought tolerance in tomatoes, and it needs future validation by experiments in laboratory and field.
Shahla Hashemi Shahraki, Fereshteh Mohamadhasani Javar, and Mehdi Rahimi
Hindawi Limited
A molecule’s antibacterial and antiviral action is exclusively linked to substances that selectively eradicate bacteria and viruses or inhibit their growth without significantly damaging adjacent tissues. The purpose of this research is to evaluate quantitative and qualitative phytochemical analysis and the antibacterial effects of Manilkara zapota fruit extract on some Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus cereus, and Listeria monocytogenes) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae) bacteria in laboratory conditions. Qualitative chemical screening was used to identify different classes of active chemical compounds, and quantitative analysis of the chemical composition of the plant was used to measure the contents of flavonoid, total phenol, anthocyanin, and antioxidant activity. Antibacterial effects of Manilkara zapota ethanol extract were determined by disk diffusion methods, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). Qualitative chemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, quinones, terpenoids, and glycosides while the presence of saponins was not observed. The bacterial inhibition zones against Listeria monocytogenes, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Bacillus cereus are 15.44 ± 0.33, 12.23 ± 0.11, 8.85 ± 0.2, 14.22 ± 0.33, 15 ± 0.44, 9.33 ± 0.13, 10.33 ± 0.36 and 14.55 ± 0.45 mm, respectively. MIC and MBC of the extract in Gram-positive bacteria were 25 and 50, and in Gram-negative bacteria were 50 and 100 mg/ml, respectively. The findings imply that Manilkara zapota extract includes a good amount of plant compounds and can be a significant source for a variety of uses, including antibacterial.
Sumanta Prasad Chand, Sandip Debnath, Mehdi Rahimi, Shampa Purakayastha, and Sanghamitra Rout
Inderscience Publishers
Mahmoud Magdy, Mohammad Golam Mostofa, Mehdi Rahimi, and Diaa Abd El Moneim
Frontiers Media SA
Mohammed A. A. Hussein, Manal Eid, Mehdi Rahimi, Faten Zubair Filimban, and Diaa Abd El-Moneim
PeerJ
Genetic improvement mainly depends on the level of genetic variability present in the population, and the degree of genetic diversity in a population largely determines the rate of genetic advancement. For analyzing genetic diversity and determining cultivar identities, a molecular marker is a useful tool. Using 30 SSR (simple sequence repeat) and 30 RAPD (randomly amplified polymorphic DNA) markers, this study evaluated the genetic divergence of 17 mango cultivars. The effectiveness of the two marker systems was evaluated using their genetic diversity characteristics. Additionally, the effects of SM (simple matching) and Dice similarity coefficients and their effects on mango clustering were evaluated. The findings showed that SSR markers generated 192 alleles, all of which were polymorphic (100%). With RAPD markers, 434 bands were obtained, 361 of which were polymorphic (83%). The average polymorphic information content (PIC) for RAPD and SSR was 0.378 and 0.735, respectively. Using SSR markers resulted in much higher values for other genetic diversity parameters compared to RAPD markers. Furthermore, grouping the genotypes according to the two similarity coefficients without detailed consideration of these coefficients could not influence the study results. The RAPD markers OPA_01, OPM_12 followed by OPO_12 and SSR markers MIAC_4, MIAC_5 followed by mMiCIR_21 were the most informative in terms of describing genetic variability among the cultivars under study; they can be used in further investigations such as genetic mapping or marker-assisted selection. Overall, ‘Zebda’ cultivar was the most diverse of the studied cultivars.
Maryam Hatami, Mojtaba Mortazavi, Zahra Baseri, Batool Khani, Mehdi Rahimi, and Sahar Babaei
Hindawi Limited
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) which is associated with cognitive dysfunction and memory lapse has become a health concern. Various targets and pathways have been involved in AD’s progress, such as deficit of acetylcholine (ACh), oxidative stress, inflammation, β-amyloid (Aβ) deposits, and biometal dyshomeostasis. Multiple pieces of evidence indicate that stress oxidative participation in an early stage of AD and the generated ROS could enable neurodegenerative disease leading to neuronal cell death. Hence, antioxidant therapies are applied in treating AD as a beneficial strategy. This review refers to the development and use of antioxidant compounds based on natural products, hybrid designs, and synthetic compounds. The results of using these antioxidant compounds were discussed with the given examples, and future directions for the development of antioxidants were evaluated.
Nihar Ranjan Chakraborty, Shyam Sundar Lakshman, Sandip Debnath, and Mehdi Rahimi
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
AbstractExploration of heterosis is a strategy for enhancing sunflower yield and productivity. In India, the greatest constraints on sunflower production are stagnant and inconsistent yields. By raising them in a variety of ecological conditions, stable per-se performance with the highest yielding potential sunflower hybrids were selected. Sustainable agriculture requires the use of desirable hybrids with high seed yields and oil content too. By making three distinct crossing sets from 32 sunflower genotypes, 11 cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS), and 21 restorer lines, a total of 124 hybrids were developed (comprising both lines and tester). After extensive field evaluation of all hybrids, only eight superior F1s belonging to all three sets, as well as the three national control hybrids KBSH-53, LSFH-171, and DRSH-1, were selected for stability analysis in four agro-ecological regions of West Bengal, India viz., Nimpith, Baruipur, Bankura, and Berhapore. The genetic stability of several phenotypic characters was assessed using statistical models that examine genotype-environment interaction (G × E) in multi-locational yield trials. In this experiment, the performance of hybrids under various environmental circumstances over two-year periods was measured using regression coefficient (bi) and deviations from regression (S2di). With the exception of genotypes CMS-852A × EC-601751 for volume weight (0.9335) and CMS-302A × EC-623011 for head diameter (0.0905) and volume weight (0.6425), all sunflower genotypes for all concerned traits had extremely minor and negligible deviations from regression (S2di), which showed significant values. The genotypes having insignificant values of S2di were more stable. The economic heterosis of these novel hybrids was also quantified. CMS-302A × EC-623011 in which seed yield was recorded 20.90, 20.91, 20.95 and 20.90% higher than DRSH-1 at Nimpith, Baruipur, Bankura and PORS (Berhampur), respectively. The research revealed that CMS-302A × EC-623011, CMS-853A × EC-623027 and P-2–7-1A × EC-512682 exhibited good seed production and stability for critical agronomic parameters in addition to oil content. As a result, the current researches enlighten to find out how stable the expression of important economic traits in sunflower hybrids is.