Cytochrome P450s are a group of monooxygenase enzymes involved in primary, secondary and xenobiotic metabolisms. They have a wide application in the agriculture sector where they could serve as a target for herbicides or fungicides, while they could function in the pharmaceutical industry as drugs or drugs structures or for bioconversions. Alternaria species are among the most commonly encountered fungal genera, with most of them living as saprophytes in different habitats, while others are parasites of plants and animals. This study was conducted to elucidate the diversity and abundance, evolutionary relationships and cellular localization of 372 cytochrome P450 in 13 Alternaria species. The 372 CYP proteins were phylogenetically clustered into ten clades. Forty (40) clans and seventy-one (71) cyp families were identified, of which eleven (11) families were found to appear in one species each. The majority of the CYP proteins were located in the endomembrane system. Polyketide synthase (PKS) gene cluster was the predominant secondary metabolic-related gene cluster in all the Alternaria species studied, except in A. porriof, where non-ribosomal peptide synthetase genes were dominant. This study reveals the expansion of cyps in these fungal genera, evident in the family and clan expansions, which is usually associated with the evolution of fungal characteristics, especially their lifestyle either as parasites or saprophytes, with the ability to metabolize a wide spectrum of substrates. This study can be used to understand the biology, physiology and toxigenic potentials of P450 in these fungal genera.

Cancer is one of the most pressing global health challenges. Drug repurposing is regarded as the most effective strategy in developing drug candidates by u

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer with a receptor-negative profile and poor prognosis. It mostly affects young

Fruits and vegetables are major contributors to a healthy diet. They are important sources of micro-nutrients, phytochemicals, and antioxidant compounds such as vitamins and phenolic compounds, which have been demonstrated to have beneficial effects on human health. During the past few decades, global demand and trade on fresh fruits and vegetables has exceeded those of cereals, grains, and tubers in value due to increasing association between fresh produce consumption and better health outcomes. However, fresh fruits and vegetables have high moisture content, which predisposes them to rapid weight loss, mechanical damage, and attack by microbial pathogens, which in turn may lead to quality downgrading or rejection due to sub-standard quality and/or safety concerns. Quality downgrading and/or rejection of fresh produce contribute to the incidence of postharvest losses and waste (wastage). The primary goals of postharvest technology are to maintain the quality and safety of fresh produce, reduce incidences of loss and waste, and facilitate trade and market access through quality control and standards. This chapter examines the problem of postharvest losses of fruits and vegetables, discusses the physiological processes which underpin quality evolution and spoilage, and highlights the range of postharvest technologies which can be applied to maintain quality and reduce wastage. Prospects for new and emerging postharvest technologies, including postharvest biotechnology, in achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) are highlighted. <!----> <!----> <!----> <!---->

Plant breeding involves the utilization of various techniques to develop superior crop varieties with desirable characteristics, including higher yield and improved quality, such as better taste, aroma, texture, and nutrient content, as well as resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. A bibliometric analysis was conducted to assess the global status, focal points, and trends in plant breeding research in Africa over the past two decades. Using VOSviewer and the Bibliometrix R package, this study examined 1682 documents indexed in the Scopus database from 2000 to 2023. The findings revealed a consistent increase in the number of published articles in this field from 2014 to 2022. South Africa emerged as the leading African country, while the USA stood out as the leading international collaborator on plant breeding research in Africa. “Theoretical and Applied Genetics” and “Prasanna BM” emerged as the most impactful source and author in African plant breeding research. Keywords such as “genetics,” “genotype,” “phenotype,” “genetic variation,” “genetic marker,” “single nucleotide polymorphism,” and “quantitative trait locus” were most commonly used in plant breeding research in Africa. CRISPR/Cas9 technology emerged as a current trend in African plant breeding research. Monitoring hotspots and frontiers in plant breeding research is essential for understanding the key directions for future research. These results offer valuable insights into the trajectory of plant breeding research in Africa and provide researchers with useful guidance for future exploration of this domain.