Amid a rapidly growing global population and increasing threats to crop yields, this review focuses on Speed Breeding (SB) in crop genetics. It traces SB’s development from carbon arc lamp experiments 150 years ago to its modern use with LED technology which significantly accelerates breeding cycles. SB has applications in genetic mapping, genetic modification, and trait stacking, enhancing crop resilience by leveraging allelic diversity. It aligns well with breeding methods like single plant selection and single seed descent. The integration of SB with gene editing, genotyping, and genomic selection holds great promise. However, SB faces challenges related to infrastructure, genotypic variations, and potential stress responses. In summary, SB is a powerful and promising approach to address food security concerns and advancing crop genetics.

Nanobiotechnology has the potential to revolutionize diverse sectors including medicine, agriculture, food, textile and pharmaceuticals. Disease diagnostics, therapeutics and crop protection strategies are fast emerging using nanomaterials preferably nanobiomaterials. It has potential for development of novel nanobiomolecules which offer several advantages over conventional treatment methods. RNA nanoparticles with many unique features are promising candidates in disease treatment. The miRNAs are involved in many biochemical and developmental pathways and their regulation in plants and animals. These appear to be a powerful tool for controlling various pathological diseases in human, plants and animals, however there are challenges associated with miRNA based nanotechnology. Several advancements made in the field of miRNA therapeutics make it an attractive approach, but a lot more has to be explored in nanotechnology assisted miRNA therapy. The miRNA based technologies can be employed for detection and combating crop diseases as well. Despite these potential advantages, nanobiotechnology applications in the agricultural sector are still in its infancy and have not yet made its mark in comparison with healthcare sector. The review provides a platform to discuss nature, role and use of miRNAs in nanobiotechnology applications.

Thrips palmi (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is an important pest of vegetables, ornamentals, and legumes worldwide. Besides damage caused by feeding, it transmits several tospoviruses. Identification of T. palmi at an early stage is crucial in implementing appropriate pest management strategies. Morpho-taxonomic identification of T. palmi based on the adult stage is time-consuming and needs taxonomic expertise. Here, we report a rapid, on-site, field-based assay for identification of T. palmi based on recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA), its first application in insects. RPA primers designed based on 3′ polymorphisms of the Internal Transcribed Spacer 2 region efficiently discriminated T. palmi without any cross-reactivity to other predominant thrips species. RPA was performed with crude DNA, extracted from single T. palmi simply by crushing in sterile distilled water and could be completed within 20 min by holding the reaction tubes in the hand. The assay was further simplified by using fluorescent as well as colorimetric dyes thus eliminating the gel-electrophoresis steps. The presence of T. palmi was visualized by a change in color from dark blue to sky blue. The assay was validated with known thrips specimens and found to be effective in diagnosing the presence of T. palmi in natural vegetation. This on-site, rapid assay for diagnosis of T. palmi can be used by non-expert personnel in the field of quarantine and pest management.

Thrips palmi (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is the predominant tospovirus vector in Asia-Pacific region. It transmits economically damaging groundnut bud necrosis virus (GBNV, family Tospoviridae) in a persistent propagative manner. Thrips serve as the alternate host, and virus reservoirs making tospovirus management very challenging. Insecticides and host plant resistance remain ineffective in managing thrips–tospoviruses. Recent genomic approaches have led to understanding the molecular interactions of thrips–tospoviruses and identifying novel genetic targets. However, most of the studies are limited to Frankliniella species and tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). Amidst the limited information available on T. palmi–tospovirus relationships, the present study is the first report of the transcriptome-wide response of T. palmi associated with GBNV infection. The differential expression analyses of the triplicate transcriptome of viruliferous vs. nonviruliferous adult T. palmi identified a total of 2,363 (1,383 upregulated and 980 downregulated) significant transcripts. The Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses showed the abundance of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in innate immune response, endocytosis, cuticle development, and receptor binding and signaling that mediate the virus invasion and multiplication in the vector system. Also, the gene regulatory network (GRN) of most significant DEGs showed the genes like ABC transporter, cytochrome P450, endocuticle structural glycoprotein, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor, heat shock protein 70, larval and pupal cuticle proteins, nephrin, proline-rich protein, sperm-associated antigen, UHRF1-binding protein, serpin, tyrosine–protein kinase receptor, etc., were enriched with higher degrees of interactions. Further, the expression of the candidate genes in response to GBNV infection was validated in reverse transcriptase-quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). This study leads to an understanding of molecular interactions between T. palmi and GBNV and suggests potential genetic targets for generic pest control.

Nucleic acid extraction is the first and foremost step in molecular biology studies. Extraction of DNA from small, soft-bodied insects is often time-consuming and costly. A fast, easy, and cost-effective DNA extraction method with greater yield and purity of DNA would aid in the rapid diagnostics, screening of large populations, and other routine PCR-based applications. The present study evaluated and standardized a rapid and zero-cost DNA extraction from soft-bodied small insects for routine molecular studies. Five rapid DNA extraction methods viz. extraction in sterile distilled water (SDW), 1X phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.4), 1.4 M sodium chloride (NaCl), 20 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA, pH 8.0), and elution from blotted nitrocellulose membrane (NCM) were compared with standard CTAB extraction buffer and DNeasy^®Blood and Tissue Kit methods. The average yield, purity, storage stability, time, and cost of extraction were assessed for all the methods and compared. A method of DNA extraction by simply crushing the soft-bodied insects in SDW was ideal in terms of yield, purity, storability, and performing routine PCR-based applications including detection of pathogens from vector species. The extraction could be accomplished in 2.5 min only with zero-reagent cost. The method would be useful in rapid molecular diagnostics and screening large populations of soft-bodied insects.