Biology subjects

Iqbal, M. S.

Publications and source records attributed to Iqbal, M. S..

5 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Uncovering Superior Alleles and Genetic Loci for Yield-Related Traits in Mungbean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) Through Genome-Wide Association Study

Mungbean is an important legume crop in South and Southeast Asia and Australia in terms of area coverage and production. However, productivity remains low due to limited genetic diversity, necessitating the dissection of the genetic basis of quantitatively inherited yield-related traits to develop stable and high-yielding varieties. In the current study, a total of 296 mungbean minicore germplasm accessions from the World Vegetable Centre were evaluated over three years in Bangladesh to assess their genetic diversity and local adaptation. Out of the 296 accessions, 206 produced flowers and yield, showing significant genetic variation in six yield-related traits: days to flowering (DF), days to maturity (DM), plant height (PH), pods per plant (PODS), 100-seed weight (HSW), and seed yield (YLD). Moderate to high broad-sense heritability was exhibited for all phenotypic traits, including DF (72%) and HSW (62%). Genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted using the 4,307 high-quality SNPs obtained from the genotyping by sequencing method and found 16 genetic loci across the six mungbean chromosomes associated with the six traits. Further, we selected 21 superior germplasm based on multi-trait stability index including four accessions with a higher number of favorable alleles (10). We also employed genomic prediction models and found a moderate prediction accuracy (>30%) for the HSW and YLD. These results will assist in incorporating important alleles into the elite mungbean germplasm through marker-assisted breeding and/or genomic prediction for improving mungbean yield.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2024

Epigenetic silencing and blockade of latency reversal by an HIV-1 encoded antisense transcript

The mechanisms that regulate human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) latency are not fully elucidated. We reported that an HIV-1 antisense transcript (AST) induces epigenetic modifications at the HIV-1 promoter causing a closed chromatin state that suppresses viral transcription. Here we show that ectopic expression of AST in CD4+ T-cells from people with HIV-1 under antiretroviral therapy blocks latency reversal in response to pharmacologic and T-cell receptor stimulation, enforcing transcriptional silencing. We define structural domains and sequence motifs of AST contributing to its latency-promoting functions. Finally, we report an unbiased proteomics screen of AST interactors that revealed an array of previously known and potential new HIV-1-suppressive factors. Our studies identify AST as a first-in-class biological molecule capable of enforcing HIV-1 latency and with actionable curative potential.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Harnessing Landrace Diversity Empowers Wheat Breeding for Climate Resilience

Breeding crops resilient to climate change is urgently needed to help ensure food security. A key challenge is to harness genetic diversity to optimise adaptation, yield, stress resilience and nutrition. We examined the genetic and phenotypic diversity of the A.E. Watkins landrace collection of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum), a major global cereal, through whole-genome re-sequencing (827 Watkins landraces and 208 modern cultivars) and in-depth field evaluation spanning a decade. We discovered that modern cultivars are derived from just two of the seven ancestral groups of wheat, leaving five groups as previously untapped sources for breeding. This provides access to landrace-specific functional variations using structured germplasm, genotyping and informatics resources. Employing complementary genetic populations and approaches, we identified thousands of high-resolution quantitative trait loci (QTL) and significant marker-trait associations for major traits, revealing many Watkins-unique loci that can confer superior traits in modern wheat. Furthermore, we identified and functionally verified causative genes for climate-change adaptation, nutritional enhancement and resistance to wheat blast. Finally, we assessed the phenotypic effects of 44,338 Watkins-unique haplotypes, introgressed from 143 prioritised QTL in the context of modern cultivars, bridging the gap between landrace diversity and current breeding. This study establishes a framework for systematically utilising genetic diversity in crop improvement to achieve sustainable food security.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Comprehensive studies of Head Maralla, Punjab, Pakistan vegetation for ethnopharmacological and ethnobotanical uses and their elaboration through quantitative indices

Head Maralla is a non-recognized wetland with diversified flora that becomes focus of current studies. Whole plant or their parts are being used for treating various maladies and they are the integral part of livelihood in the area. Unique species including Osmunda regalis is used for blood and renal diseases purifier. Wild plant resources are key to traditional ethnobotanical knowledge based practices and industrial applications. Current study reports Head Marala inhabitants interaction with these resources and identify priorities at species and habitat level for conservation. Four sites viz., River Tavi, Upstream Chenab, River Manawarwala Tavi and Bhalolpur were designated to record traditional knowledge through questionnaire and interviews during field trips. One hundred nineteen (119) plant species were identified belonging to 54 families, of which 87 species were of dicot, 12monocots, 05ferns, and 4 species of bryophytes. Fifty percent of the plant species were utilized as a whole for therapeutic purposes, followed by leaves which had more than 20% usage of total consumption. Ailments viz., urination (14%) followed by cough (8%), cold (7%), stomach (6%), asthma (6%), constipation (5%), laxative (5%), diarrhea (4%) etc., were associated with vegetation. Bronchial disorders, pneumonia, dyspepsia, anthelmintic and kidney stones, etc., were also among other diseases commonly cured by traditional knowledge. Fifteen percent of vegetation contributes as fodder species consumed by local community for livestock while almost 17% of local plants were utilized for industrial purposes like timber, fuel, furniture, wooden pots and sports goods. In conclusion the ecosystem of Head Maralla is a complex of aquatic, terrestrial and agricultural land that is located on climatic and geographical divides, which further add to botanical interest as included many wetland habitats with unique diversity of plants. It is suggested to devise comprehensive conservation strategies to safe indigenous knowledge in systematic way for comprehending ecological services.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Genomic insight into biogeographic history, divergence, and adaptive potential of G. purpurascens, a forgotten landrace of G. hirsutum

Continuous selection and adaptation to the local environment resulted in the loss of genetic variation in Gossypium hirsutum, which is the most important source of natural fiber. Wild progenitors are an excellent source for strengthening the genetic base and accumulation of desirable traits in modern cultivars. Here we reevaluate a landrace of Gossypium hirsutum, formerly known as Gossypium purpurascens. We seek to understand the genomic structure, variation, and the adaptive/breeding potential among largely neglected landraces of Gossypium hirsutum purpurascens, providing insights into the biogeographic history and genomic changes likely associated with domestication. Population fixation statistics suggested marked differentiation between G. purpurascens and current varieties, obsolete accessions, and geographical landraces of upland cotton, emphasizing the divergent behavior of G. purpurascens. Phylogeny established the primitive nature of G. purpurascens, the inclusion of which in upland cotton gene-pool can enhance the narrowed genetic base of upland cultivars. Genome-wide associations comprehend multiple loci associated with domestication regions corresponding to flowering and fiber quality. Moreover, the conserved nature of G. purpurascens can provide insight into understanding the evolutionary process of G. hirsutum.

plant biology↗