Head blight or scab caused by Fusarium graminearum (FG), once ranked as a minor disease in wheat, is now emerging as one of the economically important diseases in India. The present study represents the first in-depth population genetic analysis of the FG from the northern wheat belt of India. In this study, multiple conserved gene sequences comprised of β-tubulin (TUB), translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF), and histone-3 (HIS) regions were used for multi-locus phylogenetic analysis of 123 geographically distinct F. graminearum isolates collected from four different states (Haryana (HR), Punjab (PB), Rajasthan (RJ) and West Bengal (WB)) of India. The phylogenetic and haplotype analysis showed the presence of thirty haplotypes in all the analyzed populations. The haplotypic diversity in the RJ population (Hd = 0.981) was higher than in the HR (Hd = 0.972), PB (Hd = 0.965) and WB population (Hd = 0.962). Recombination events (Rm = 12) and mutation events (485) were also detected. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated that genetic diversity was exclusively due to the differences within populations. The haplotype network was widely dispersed and not associated with specific populations, as a single common haplotype was not detected. The PB population contained both unique (H9, H10 and H11) and shared haplotypes (27 haplotypes) in a higher number in comparison to other geographical locations. Except for haplotype H22 (contains highly aggressive isolates), there was no specific linkage noticed between the isolate aggressiveness and haplotype. The concatenated sequences of all the three genes demonstrated a low level of genetic differentiation (Fst = −0.014 to 0.02) in the analyzed population. Positive values for the neutrality tests in PB, HR and RJ reveal a balancing selection mechanism behind the FG population structure. The WB population showed both positive and negative values of neutrality indices, indicating the role of both population expansion as well as balancing selection in structuring the FG population.

Fusarium graminearum causing head scab (HS) or head blight (HB) disease in wheat is one of the nasty fungi reported to cause significant grain quality and yield loss. Biological control using endophytic bacteria has emerged as a prospective option for containing fungal diseases in an environmentally benevolent, durable, and sustainable manner. In this regard, 112 endophytic bacilli were isolated from the anthesis stage (Zadok’s growth stage 65) from five different wheat genotypes with an aim to identify prospective antagonistic strains against F. graminearum. The molecular identity of the strains was confirmed by matching 16S rRNA sequences of bacterial strains with the gene sequences of type strains available in the National Center for Biotechnology Information database and reported 38 different species of Bacillus in all the five wheat cultivars. Further, it has been observed that only fourteen strains (B. clarus NOK09, B. mojavensis NOK16, B. subtilis NOK33, B. rugosus NOK47, B. mojavensis NOK52, B. clarus NOK59, B. coahuilensis NOK72, B. cabrialesii NOK78, B. cabrialesii NOK82, B. rugosus NOK85, B. amyloliquefaciens NOK89, B. australimaris NOK95, B. pumilus NOK103, and B. amyloliquefaciens NOK109) displayed in-vitro antagonistic effect against Fusarium graminearum fungus. Furthermore, the three endophytic Bacillus strains showing the strongest antagonistic effect (>70% of growth inhibition of fungal mycelium) under in-vitro antagonistic assay were selected for field experiments. In a two-year consecutive field study, a combination of three strains (B. clarus NOK09 + B. subtilis NOK33 + B. amyloliquefaciens NOK109) displayed a remarkable reduction in HS disease index by 81.47% and 77.85%, respectively. Polymerase chain reaction assay detected three genes (ituD, bmyC, and srfA) involved in antibiotic biosynthesis pathways. Additional attributes such as potassium solubilization, siderophore release, and hydrolytic enzyme (protease, lipase, amylase, chitinase, and pectinase) synthesis have been observed in these strains. Overall, the present study was successful in profiling endophytic bacilli and selecting the combination of effective antagonistic endophytic Bacillus strains that could be the best alternative for the sustainable and ecological sound management of HS disease in wheat under field conditions.

Nanotechnology is employed in a number of different sectors, including agriculture, food production, and medicine. However, excessive exposure has been linked to a range of severe health effects. To estimate the correct dosage and extrapolate animal toxicity data to humans, detailed information of NP toxicity is required. Unfortunately, inadequate consideration has been paid to the potential that nanoparticles (NPs) might have a detrimental effect on female reproductive health. In the current study, healthy female rats were given daily doses of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT; 5 mg kg⁻¹ BW), zinc oxide (ZnO; 5 mg kg⁻¹ BW), and mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN; 15 mg kg⁻¹ BW). The primary abnormalities were found to be a reduction in body weight, ovary size, follicle count, and follicular cyst development. The ICP-MS results demonstrated the presence of ZnO and MSN in the liver, kidney, spleen and ovary. When compared to the control, the biodistribution of ZnO and MSN in the ovary was 1.14 and 1.41 times that of Zn and Si, respectively. Thus, the ovarian function is affected by the translocation of ZnO and MSN from the systemic circulation to the ovary. According to the proteomics findings, the differentially expressed proteins include several critical proteins involved in oxidative stress, reproduction, metabolic activities, cytoskeletal dynamics, cell cycle, cell death, and inflammation. NPs affect angiogenesis and extracellular matrix stabilization which is required for follicle development, and they are both mediated by the proteins Pdlim1, Shroom3, Tagln, and TGF-β. Animals treated with MWCNT and ZnO NPs revealed an altered expression of Sox4, Fbxo45, Unc13c, Brsk1, Pde3a, and EphB4 proteins which may contribute to the problems associated with follicle development. TNF-α and IL-1β levels are the most significantly altered by ZnO NP exposure and are associated with decreased fertility and ovarian damage. We conclude that ovarian tissue is an excellent model for studying environmental xenobiotics.