Genome-editing (GE) is having a tremendous influence around the globe in the life science community. Among its versatile uses, the desired modifications of genes, and more importantly the transgene (DNA)-free approach to develop genetically modified organism (GMO), are of special interest. The recent and rapid developments in genome-editing technology have given rise to hopes to achieve global food security in a sustainable manner. We here discuss recent developments in CRISPR-based genome-editing tools for crop improvement concerning adaptation, opportunities, and challenges. Some of the notable advances highlighted here include the development of transgene (DNA)-free genome plants, the availability of compatible nucleases, and the development of safe and effective CRISPR delivery vehicles for plant genome editing, multi-gene targeting and complex genome editing, base editing and prime editing to achieve more complex genetic engineering. Additionally, new avenues that facilitate fine-tuning plant gene regulation have also been addressed. In spite of the tremendous potential of CRISPR and other gene editing tools, major challenges remain. Some of the challenges are related to the practical advances required for the efficient delivery of CRISPR reagents and for precision genome editing, while others come from government policies and public acceptance. This review will therefore be helpful to gain insights into technological advances, its applications, and future challenges for crop improvement.

Advances in proteome research have opened the gateway to understanding numerous metabolic pathways and fundamental mechanisms involved in abiotic stress tolerance. In the present study, the antioxidant capacity of four tomato genotypes i.e., Kashi Amrit, Kashi Anupam, EC-317-6-1, and WIR-4360 was determined under drought stress to ascertain the scavenging potential for reactive oxygen species (ROS). A significant increase in the superoxide dismutase (SOD), Ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and catalase (CAT) activities in all the four genotypes under drought stress was observed, which seemed to be associated with a protective role against ROS (p < 0.001). Based on the antioxidant enzyme activities, a proteomic approach was applied to study differential protein expression in two selected genotypes from different species i.e., EC-317-6-1 (Solanum pimpinellifolium) and Kashi Amrit (Solanum lycopersicum) grown under irrigated, drought, and re-watering conditions. To reveal the protein network regulated under these conditions, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis was employed to identify and quantify the number of proteins in drought-sensitive (Kashi Amrit) and tolerant (EC-317-6-1) genotypes. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight analysis (MALDI-TOF) revealed a total of 453 spots after fine-tuning factors i.e., smoothness, saliency, and minimum area that responded to drought. Out of 453 total spots, 93 spots were identified in Kashi Amrit and 154 in EC-317-6-1 under irrigated conditions, whereas 4 spots were identified in Kashi Amrit and 77 spots in EC-317-6-1 under drought conditions. Furthermore, differentially expressed proteins were distinguished according to the fold change of their expression. Information provided in this report will be useful for the selection of proteins or genes in analyzing or improving drought tolerance in tomato cultivars. These findings may assist in the construction of a complete proteome database encompassing various divergent species which could be a valuable source for the improvement of crops under drought-stress conditions in the future.

A research trial was conducted at Agronomy Farm (SKUAST-K, Wadura, Jammu & Kashmir), during kharif 2017 and 2018 to evaluate nutrient removal in rice under various rice establishment methods and weed control measures. The study comprised of two factors: rice establishment techniques {Transplanting (TPR); Direct seeding (DSR) and System of rice intensification (SRI)} as main plot treatments and weed control measures {Butachlor @ 1500 g a.i ha⁻¹ (B); Penoxsulam @ 22.5 g a.i ha⁻¹ (P); Pyrazosulfuron ethyl + Pretilachlor @ 15 and 600 g a.i ha⁻¹ (PP); Bensulfuron methyl + Pretilachlor @ 60 and 600 g a.i ha⁻¹ (BP); 2 Conoweeding/Hand Weeding (CW/HW); Weed free (WF) and weedy check (WC)} as sub-plot treatments meant to evaluate the best establishment method and weed management practice for rice. Over DSR and transplanted rice, the SRI technique yielded a significant increase in dry biomass accumulation (17.04 and 17.20 t ha⁻¹) and grain (7.92 and 8.17 t ha⁻¹) and straw (9.60 and 10.17 t ha⁻¹) yields. Penoxsulam herbicide significantly showed higher grain and straw yield of 8.19 and 8.28 t ha⁻¹ and 10.13 and 10.44 t ha⁻¹, respectively, than other weed management measures by comparing the means using critical difference. TPR excelled in reducing dry weed biomass more than other established methods. All herbicides considerably reduced dry weed biomass, but Penoxsulam herbicide showed the greatest reduction in dry weed biomass and proved superior against complex weed flora. Weeds showed maximum contribution towards total Biomass under DSR, among rice establishment techniques. In contrast, among different weed control measures, it was maximum in weedy check treatment (Untreated Control) and minimum in penoxsulam treatment. SRI significantly excelled in crop (grain and straw) nutrient uptake compared to the DSR and TPR method, although different crop establishment techniques non-significantly influenced nutrient concentrations. Furthermore, penoxsulam treatment demonstrated higher crop (grain and straw) nutrient uptake among the various weed management measures. However, available soil nutrients were observed among establishment techniques, highest in DSR and lowest in SRI. Moreover, direct-seeded rice excelled SRI and transplanted rice in weed nutrient uptake, and among the different herbicidal treatments, penoxsulam recorded the lowest uptake in weeds. Nutrient budgeting demonstrated that DSR showed the maximum percentage of nutrient removal by weeds, and the minimum ratio was in TPR. In contrast, the lowest rate of nutrients removed via weeds were seen in penoxsulam application under various weed management measures.

The western Himalayan region is susceptible to minor climate changes because of its fragile ecology, which might threaten the valley’s prestigious ecosystems and socio-economic components. The Himalayas’s local climate and weather are vulnerable to and interlinked with world-scale climatic changes since the region’s hydrology is predominantly dominated by snow and glaciers. The Himalayas, notably the Jammu and Kashmir region in the western Himalayas, has clearly shown distinct and robust evidence of climate change. This study used observed data to examine the climatic variability and trends of change in precipitation and temperature for the Kashmir valley between 1980 and 2020. Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Kokernag, Qazigund, Kupwara, and Srinagar (Shalimar) meteorological stations in the Kashmir valley were studied in detail for long- and short-term as well as localized fluctuations in temperature and precipitation. The annual temperature and precipitation fluctuations were calculated using Sen’s slope approach, and the sloping trend was determined using linear regression. The research showed statistically insignificant growing trends in maximum and minimum temperatures throughout the Kashmir valley. The average annual temperature in the Kashmir valley increased by 1.55 °C during the last 41 years (from 1980 to 2020), with a higher rise in maximum and minimum temperature by 2.00 and 1.10 °C, respectively. However, precipitation showed a non-significant decreasing trend concerning time series analysis over 1980 to 2020 in Kashmir valley. Results of annual average maximum temperature at all the stations revealed that Pahalgam (2.2 °C), Kokernag (1.8 °C), and Kupwara (1.8 °C) displayed a steep upsurge and statistically significant trends; however, annual average minimum temperature followed an increasing trend from 1980 to 2020 at all the stations except Shalimar. However, non-significant declining trends in precipitation were recorded at all the locations in Kashmir valley. This changing pattern of temperature and precipitation could have significant environmental consequences, affecting the western Himalayan region’s food security and ecological sustainability.

Green mold (caused by Trichoderma harzianum) is a destructive disease in mushrooms which limits commercial production. The present investigation was carried out to verify the in vitro and in vivo effect of locally available botanicals and bacterial biocontrol agents against this disease. The in vitro evaluation of ethanol extract of botanicals against mycelial growth of T. harzianum at 1, 2, and 3% concentrations showed that Juglans regia and Allium sativum exhibited maximum mycelial growth inhibition of 84.9 and 79.8%, respectively. When the same botanicals were tested against the mycelial growth of A. bisporus, it was observed that J. regia, Curcuma longa, and Azadirachta mellea were least inhibitory (4.66–7.4%). From the in vivo evaluation of plant botanicals at 2% concentration, J. regia and C. longa had the highest average weight (11.8–11.9 g) of a single fruit body and a combined button yield of 11.3–11.9 kg/quintal compost. Among the bacterial bioagents evaluated in vitro, Pseudomonas flourescens, Azotobacter sp., and Bacillus subtilis displayed stimulatory effects of varying degrees on the mycelial growth of A. bisporus but exhibited antagonistic effects on T. harzianum. B. subtilis-38, and P. flourescens-104. Azotobacter-108 caused the highest mycelial growth inhibition of 97.6, 97.4, and 90.3% of T. harzianum, respectively. The current study reveals that the integration of botanical and bacterial antagonists in pathogen-infested white button mushroom casing reduces green mold infection with corresponding yield gains.

The present systematic research on cultural, morphological, and pathogenic variability was carried out on eighty isolates of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum collected from major common bean production belts of North Kashmir. The isolates were found to vary in both cultural and morphological characteristics such as colony color and type, colony diameter, number of days for sclerotia initiation, sclerotia number per plate, sclerotial weight, and size. The colony color ranged between white and off-white with the majority. The colony was of three types, in majority smooth, some fluffy, and a few fluffy-at-center-only. Colony diameter ranged between 15.33 mm and 29 mm after 24 h of incubation. The isolates took 4 to 7 days for initiation of sclerotia and varied in size, weight, and number per plate ranging between 14 and 51.3. The sclerotial arrangement pattern on plates was peripheral, sub peripheral, peripheral, and subperipheral, arranged at the rim and scattered. A total of 22 Mycelial compatibility groups (MCGs) were formed with seven groups constituted by a single isolate. The isolates within MCGs were mostly at par with each other. The six isolates representing six MCGs showed variability in pathogenicity with isolate G04 as the most and B01 as the least virulent. The colony diameter and disease scores were positively correlated. Sclerotia were observed to germinate both myceliogenically and carpogenically under natural temperate conditions of Kashmir. Germplasm screening revealed a single resistant line and eleven partially resistant lines against most virulent isolates.