Bisma Riaz - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Bisma Riaz
Journal of Experimental Botany, 2019
Folates are indispensable co-factors for one-carbon metabolism in all organisms. In humans, subop... more Folates are indispensable co-factors for one-carbon metabolism in all organisms. In humans, suboptimal folate intake results in serious disorders. One promising strategy for improving human folate status is to enhance folate levels in food crops by metabolic engineering. In this study, we cloned two GmGCHI (GTP cyclohydrolase I) genes (Gm8gGCHI and Gm3gGCHI) and one GmADCS (aminodeoxychorismate synthase) gene from soybean, which are responsible for synthesizing the folate precursors pterin and p-aminobenzoate, respectively. We initially confirmed their functions in transgenic Arabidopsis plants and found that Gm8gGCHI increased pterin and folate production more than Gm3gGCHI did. We then co-expressed Gm8gGCHI and GmADCS driven by endosperm-specific promoters in maize and wheat, two major staple crops, to boost their folate metabolic flux. A 4.2-fold and 2.3-fold increase in folate levels were observed in transgenic maize and wheat grains, respectively. To optimize wheat folate enhancement, codon-optimized Gm8gGCHI and tomato LeADCS genes under the control of a wheat endosperm-specific glutenin promoter (1Dx5) were co-transformed. This yielded a 5.6-fold increase in folate in transgenic wheat grains (Gm8gGCHI + /LeADCS +). This two-gene co-expression strategy therefore has the potential to greatly enhance folate levels in maize and wheat, thus improving their nutritional value.
Antioxidants
The recent advances in plant biology have significantly improved our understanding of reactive ox... more The recent advances in plant biology have significantly improved our understanding of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as signaling molecules in the redox regulation of complex cellular processes. In plants, free radicals and non-radicals are prevalent intra- and inter-cellular ROS, catalyzing complex metabolic processes such as photosynthesis. Photosynthesis homeostasis is maintained by thiol-based systems and antioxidative enzymes, which belong to some of the evolutionarily conserved protein families. The molecular and biological functions of redox regulation in photosynthesis are usually to balance the electron transport chain, photosystem II, photosystem I, mesophyll and bundle sheath signaling, and photo-protection regulating plant growth and productivity. Here, we review the recent progress of ROS signaling in photosynthesis. We present a comprehensive comparative bioinformatic analysis of redox regulation in evolutionary distinct photosynthetic cells. Gene expression, phylogenie...
An experiment was conducted to evaluate the genetic diversity of Bt cotton germplasm through morp... more An experiment was conducted to evaluate the genetic diversity of Bt cotton germplasm through morphological and within-boll yield attributes at the experimental area of the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan, during 201516 crop season. The experiment was carried out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with two replications. Genetic diversity assessment among 60 Bt cotton genotypes is studied using principle component analysis (PCA). The coefficient of variance, genetic advance, and heritability have been estimated for each trait. Analysis of variance showed the significant variation among the genotypes for all the traits under investigation. Highest heritability and genetic advance were recorded for bolls per plant and lint mass per boll. In PCA, first five PCs exhibited more than one Eigen value. In PC-I, sympodial branches, monopodial branches, bolls per plant and seed cotton yield per plant were the most important traits contributing 26.15% in the total variati...
The Crop Journal, Feb 1, 2018
Abstract Genome editing is one of the most promising biotechnologies to improve crop performance.... more Abstract Genome editing is one of the most promising biotechnologies to improve crop performance. Common wheat is a staple food for mankind. In the past few decades both basic and applied research on common wheat has lagged behind other crop species due to its complex, polyploid genome and difficulties in genetic transformation. Recent breakthroughs in wheat transformation permit a revolution in wheat biotechnology. In this review, we summarize recent progress in wheat genetic transformation and its potential for wheat improvement. We then review recent progress in plant genome editing, which is now readily available in wheat. We also discuss measures to further increase transformation efficiency and potential applications of genome editing in wheat. We propose that, together with a high quality reference genome, the time for efficient genetic engineering and functionality studies in common wheat has arrived.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Nov 21, 2018
Plant tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses is complicated by interactions between different s... more Plant tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses is complicated by interactions between different stresses. Maintaining crop yield under abiotic stresses is the most daunting challenge for breeding resilient crop varieties. In response to environmental stresses, plants produce several metabolites, such as proline (Pro), polyamines (PAs), asparagine, serine, carbohydrates including glucose and fructose, and pools of antioxidant reactive oxygen species. Among these metabolites, Pro has long been known to accumulate in cells and to be closely related to drought, salt, and pathogen resistance. Pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C) is a common intermediate of Pro synthesis and metabolism that is produced by ornithine aminotransferase (OAT), an enzyme that functions in an alternative Pro metabolic pathway in the mitochondria under stress conditions. OAT is highly conserved and, to date, has been found in all prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. In addition, ornithine (Orn) and arginine (Arg) are both precursors of PAs, which confer plant resistance to drought and salt stresses. OAT is localized in the cytosol in prokaryotes and fungi, while OAT is localized in the mitochondria in higher plants. We have comprehensively reviewed the research on Orn, Arg, and Pro metabolism in plants, as all these compounds allow plants to tolerate different kinds of stresses.
Maize ZmC1 and ZmR transcription factors belong to the MYB-type and bHLH families, respectively, ... more Maize ZmC1 and ZmR transcription factors belong to the MYB-type and bHLH families, respectively, and control anthocyanin biosynthesis. In this study, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation was used to generate transgenic wheat plants that overexpress ZmC1 and ZmR or both, with the objective of developing anthocyanin-enriched wheat germplasm. Three kinds of stable transgenic wheat lines were obtained. The integration of target genes in the transgenic wheat plants was confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis. We found that single overexpression of ZmC1 regulates pigmentation in the vegetative tissues such as coleoptiles, auricles, and stems. The single overexpression of ZmR controls the coloration in reproductive tissue like spikelets and seeds. The simultaneous overexpression of ZmC1 and ZmR showed the strongest pigmentation in almost all tissues. Furthermore, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis revealed that expression of the two transgenes, and of two conserved homologous and six associated structural genes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis in wheat were greatly up-regulated in the transgenic plants. Similarly, quantitative analysis for anthocyanin amounts based on HPLC-MS also confirmed that the transgenic wheat plants with combined overexpression of ZmC1 and ZmR accumulated the highest quantity of pigment products. Moreover, developing seeds overexpressing ZmR exposed to light conditions showed up-regulated transcript levels of anthocyanin biosynthesis-related genes compared to dark exposure, which suggests an important role of light in regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis. This study provides a foundation for breeding wheat materials with high anthocyanin accumulation and understanding the mechanism of anthocyanin biosynthesis in wheat.
Helia
In breeding programs, it is imperative to recognize the genetic variations and levels of associat... more In breeding programs, it is imperative to recognize the genetic variations and levels of association between traits that directly or indirectly affect the yield. Achene yield and related traits in forty-nine sunflower genotypes were studied for genetic variability, correlations and path coefficient analysis. The phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) were higher than the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for the all the studied traits in sunflower. The most active association of achene yield was found with achene/head, 100-achene weight and plant height. However, oil contents had a negative association with achene filling percentage, 100-achene weight, number of leaves and stem diameter. The maximum direct influence on achene yield were exerted by head diameter followed by achene filling percentage, 100 achene weight, achene/head and number of leaves. In contrast, plant height, days to maturity and stem diameter had the negative direct impact on yield. The genetic correlat...
Food Chemistry
Folates are essential micronutrients in the human diet. Germplasm rich in folates can be used as ... more Folates are essential micronutrients in the human diet. Germplasm rich in folates can be used as genetic resource for diet and breeding to produce new varieties with enhanced folates. To investigate the natural variation of folates among wheat cultivars and identify high folate materials for breeding, we studied the grain folate contents of 360 wheat samples consisting of 315 wheat genotypes grown in North China using the high performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) method. The total folate content among wheat genotypes ranged from 10.15 ± 2.86 to 91.44 ± 5.64 µg per 100 g grains, thus showing a remarked variation. Fifty-two wheat cultivars, such as Henong58-3, were identified as good sources of folates. 5-Formyltetrahydrate and 5-methyltetrahydrate were found to be the two major folate derivatives in wheat germplasm. In addition, we found that environment factor also had significant effect on folate production. This investigation can help wheat breeders for folate improvement.
Helia
For determination of best general and specific combiners for achene yield and related components,... more For determination of best general and specific combiners for achene yield and related components, a study on a 7×7 diallel fashion in sunflower was conducted at experimental field of Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. The data were recorded on quantitative traits; days to maturity, plant height, stem diameter, head diameter, number of leaves, Achene per head, achene yield per plant, 100-achene weight, filled achene percentage and oil contents and subjected to Analysis of variance and combining abilities. The accessions were significant for studied traits except oil contents. The accessions A-544, A-554 and A-552 showed significant general combining ability effects days to maturity, plant height, stem diameter, head diameter, number of leaves and filled achene, achene per head and achene yield per plant. The best cross combination A-546×A-560 showed significant specific combining ability effects for number of leaves and filled ...
To increase seed yield and oil contents, variability in breeding material is a pre-requisite. Pla... more To increase seed yield and oil contents, variability in breeding material is a pre-requisite. Plant material was comprised of forty-nine sunflower genotypes to investigate the variability and identification of superior genotypes by multivariate analysis. The data were recorded for ten quantitative traits; days to maturity (DM), plant height (PH), stem diameter (SD), head diameter (HD), number of leaves (NOL), achene per head (APH), achene yield per plant (AYP), 100achene weight (100AW), filled achene percentage (FA) and oil contents (OC). The genotypes showed significant variation for all traits except OC. A highly significant association of achene yield was observed with 100AW. Principal component analysis (PCA) separated into four components (PC-I, II, III, IV) with Eigenvalue greater than one accounting for 62.63% of the total variation. Total variance percentage was maximum in PC-I (24.4%) followed by PC-II (14.70%). Cluster analysis further classified the sunflower genotypes in...
Journal of Experimental Botany, 2019
Folates are indispensable co-factors for one-carbon metabolism in all organisms. In humans, subop... more Folates are indispensable co-factors for one-carbon metabolism in all organisms. In humans, suboptimal folate intake results in serious disorders. One promising strategy for improving human folate status is to enhance folate levels in food crops by metabolic engineering. In this study, we cloned two GmGCHI (GTP cyclohydrolase I) genes (Gm8gGCHI and Gm3gGCHI) and one GmADCS (aminodeoxychorismate synthase) gene from soybean, which are responsible for synthesizing the folate precursors pterin and p-aminobenzoate, respectively. We initially confirmed their functions in transgenic Arabidopsis plants and found that Gm8gGCHI increased pterin and folate production more than Gm3gGCHI did. We then co-expressed Gm8gGCHI and GmADCS driven by endosperm-specific promoters in maize and wheat, two major staple crops, to boost their folate metabolic flux. A 4.2-fold and 2.3-fold increase in folate levels were observed in transgenic maize and wheat grains, respectively. To optimize wheat folate enhancement, codon-optimized Gm8gGCHI and tomato LeADCS genes under the control of a wheat endosperm-specific glutenin promoter (1Dx5) were co-transformed. This yielded a 5.6-fold increase in folate in transgenic wheat grains (Gm8gGCHI + /LeADCS +). This two-gene co-expression strategy therefore has the potential to greatly enhance folate levels in maize and wheat, thus improving their nutritional value.
Antioxidants
The recent advances in plant biology have significantly improved our understanding of reactive ox... more The recent advances in plant biology have significantly improved our understanding of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as signaling molecules in the redox regulation of complex cellular processes. In plants, free radicals and non-radicals are prevalent intra- and inter-cellular ROS, catalyzing complex metabolic processes such as photosynthesis. Photosynthesis homeostasis is maintained by thiol-based systems and antioxidative enzymes, which belong to some of the evolutionarily conserved protein families. The molecular and biological functions of redox regulation in photosynthesis are usually to balance the electron transport chain, photosystem II, photosystem I, mesophyll and bundle sheath signaling, and photo-protection regulating plant growth and productivity. Here, we review the recent progress of ROS signaling in photosynthesis. We present a comprehensive comparative bioinformatic analysis of redox regulation in evolutionary distinct photosynthetic cells. Gene expression, phylogenie...
An experiment was conducted to evaluate the genetic diversity of Bt cotton germplasm through morp... more An experiment was conducted to evaluate the genetic diversity of Bt cotton germplasm through morphological and within-boll yield attributes at the experimental area of the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan, during 201516 crop season. The experiment was carried out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with two replications. Genetic diversity assessment among 60 Bt cotton genotypes is studied using principle component analysis (PCA). The coefficient of variance, genetic advance, and heritability have been estimated for each trait. Analysis of variance showed the significant variation among the genotypes for all the traits under investigation. Highest heritability and genetic advance were recorded for bolls per plant and lint mass per boll. In PCA, first five PCs exhibited more than one Eigen value. In PC-I, sympodial branches, monopodial branches, bolls per plant and seed cotton yield per plant were the most important traits contributing 26.15% in the total variati...
The Crop Journal, Feb 1, 2018
Abstract Genome editing is one of the most promising biotechnologies to improve crop performance.... more Abstract Genome editing is one of the most promising biotechnologies to improve crop performance. Common wheat is a staple food for mankind. In the past few decades both basic and applied research on common wheat has lagged behind other crop species due to its complex, polyploid genome and difficulties in genetic transformation. Recent breakthroughs in wheat transformation permit a revolution in wheat biotechnology. In this review, we summarize recent progress in wheat genetic transformation and its potential for wheat improvement. We then review recent progress in plant genome editing, which is now readily available in wheat. We also discuss measures to further increase transformation efficiency and potential applications of genome editing in wheat. We propose that, together with a high quality reference genome, the time for efficient genetic engineering and functionality studies in common wheat has arrived.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Nov 21, 2018
Plant tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses is complicated by interactions between different s... more Plant tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses is complicated by interactions between different stresses. Maintaining crop yield under abiotic stresses is the most daunting challenge for breeding resilient crop varieties. In response to environmental stresses, plants produce several metabolites, such as proline (Pro), polyamines (PAs), asparagine, serine, carbohydrates including glucose and fructose, and pools of antioxidant reactive oxygen species. Among these metabolites, Pro has long been known to accumulate in cells and to be closely related to drought, salt, and pathogen resistance. Pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C) is a common intermediate of Pro synthesis and metabolism that is produced by ornithine aminotransferase (OAT), an enzyme that functions in an alternative Pro metabolic pathway in the mitochondria under stress conditions. OAT is highly conserved and, to date, has been found in all prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. In addition, ornithine (Orn) and arginine (Arg) are both precursors of PAs, which confer plant resistance to drought and salt stresses. OAT is localized in the cytosol in prokaryotes and fungi, while OAT is localized in the mitochondria in higher plants. We have comprehensively reviewed the research on Orn, Arg, and Pro metabolism in plants, as all these compounds allow plants to tolerate different kinds of stresses.
Maize ZmC1 and ZmR transcription factors belong to the MYB-type and bHLH families, respectively, ... more Maize ZmC1 and ZmR transcription factors belong to the MYB-type and bHLH families, respectively, and control anthocyanin biosynthesis. In this study, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation was used to generate transgenic wheat plants that overexpress ZmC1 and ZmR or both, with the objective of developing anthocyanin-enriched wheat germplasm. Three kinds of stable transgenic wheat lines were obtained. The integration of target genes in the transgenic wheat plants was confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis. We found that single overexpression of ZmC1 regulates pigmentation in the vegetative tissues such as coleoptiles, auricles, and stems. The single overexpression of ZmR controls the coloration in reproductive tissue like spikelets and seeds. The simultaneous overexpression of ZmC1 and ZmR showed the strongest pigmentation in almost all tissues. Furthermore, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis revealed that expression of the two transgenes, and of two conserved homologous and six associated structural genes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis in wheat were greatly up-regulated in the transgenic plants. Similarly, quantitative analysis for anthocyanin amounts based on HPLC-MS also confirmed that the transgenic wheat plants with combined overexpression of ZmC1 and ZmR accumulated the highest quantity of pigment products. Moreover, developing seeds overexpressing ZmR exposed to light conditions showed up-regulated transcript levels of anthocyanin biosynthesis-related genes compared to dark exposure, which suggests an important role of light in regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis. This study provides a foundation for breeding wheat materials with high anthocyanin accumulation and understanding the mechanism of anthocyanin biosynthesis in wheat.
Helia
In breeding programs, it is imperative to recognize the genetic variations and levels of associat... more In breeding programs, it is imperative to recognize the genetic variations and levels of association between traits that directly or indirectly affect the yield. Achene yield and related traits in forty-nine sunflower genotypes were studied for genetic variability, correlations and path coefficient analysis. The phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) were higher than the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for the all the studied traits in sunflower. The most active association of achene yield was found with achene/head, 100-achene weight and plant height. However, oil contents had a negative association with achene filling percentage, 100-achene weight, number of leaves and stem diameter. The maximum direct influence on achene yield were exerted by head diameter followed by achene filling percentage, 100 achene weight, achene/head and number of leaves. In contrast, plant height, days to maturity and stem diameter had the negative direct impact on yield. The genetic correlat...
Food Chemistry
Folates are essential micronutrients in the human diet. Germplasm rich in folates can be used as ... more Folates are essential micronutrients in the human diet. Germplasm rich in folates can be used as genetic resource for diet and breeding to produce new varieties with enhanced folates. To investigate the natural variation of folates among wheat cultivars and identify high folate materials for breeding, we studied the grain folate contents of 360 wheat samples consisting of 315 wheat genotypes grown in North China using the high performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) method. The total folate content among wheat genotypes ranged from 10.15 ± 2.86 to 91.44 ± 5.64 µg per 100 g grains, thus showing a remarked variation. Fifty-two wheat cultivars, such as Henong58-3, were identified as good sources of folates. 5-Formyltetrahydrate and 5-methyltetrahydrate were found to be the two major folate derivatives in wheat germplasm. In addition, we found that environment factor also had significant effect on folate production. This investigation can help wheat breeders for folate improvement.
Helia
For determination of best general and specific combiners for achene yield and related components,... more For determination of best general and specific combiners for achene yield and related components, a study on a 7×7 diallel fashion in sunflower was conducted at experimental field of Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. The data were recorded on quantitative traits; days to maturity, plant height, stem diameter, head diameter, number of leaves, Achene per head, achene yield per plant, 100-achene weight, filled achene percentage and oil contents and subjected to Analysis of variance and combining abilities. The accessions were significant for studied traits except oil contents. The accessions A-544, A-554 and A-552 showed significant general combining ability effects days to maturity, plant height, stem diameter, head diameter, number of leaves and filled achene, achene per head and achene yield per plant. The best cross combination A-546×A-560 showed significant specific combining ability effects for number of leaves and filled ...
To increase seed yield and oil contents, variability in breeding material is a pre-requisite. Pla... more To increase seed yield and oil contents, variability in breeding material is a pre-requisite. Plant material was comprised of forty-nine sunflower genotypes to investigate the variability and identification of superior genotypes by multivariate analysis. The data were recorded for ten quantitative traits; days to maturity (DM), plant height (PH), stem diameter (SD), head diameter (HD), number of leaves (NOL), achene per head (APH), achene yield per plant (AYP), 100achene weight (100AW), filled achene percentage (FA) and oil contents (OC). The genotypes showed significant variation for all traits except OC. A highly significant association of achene yield was observed with 100AW. Principal component analysis (PCA) separated into four components (PC-I, II, III, IV) with Eigenvalue greater than one accounting for 62.63% of the total variation. Total variance percentage was maximum in PC-I (24.4%) followed by PC-II (14.70%). Cluster analysis further classified the sunflower genotypes in...