Browsing by Author "Ikebudu, Vivian"

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    Characterization and expression analysis of heme oxygenase genes from sorghum bicolor
    (SAGE Publications, 2019) Mulaudzi-Masuku, Takalani; Ikebudu, Vivian; Muthevhuli, Mpho
    Heme oxygenases (HOs) have a major role in phytochrome chromophore biosynthesis, and chromophores in turn have antioxidant properties. Plant heme oxygenases are divided into the HO1 sub-family comprising HO1, HO3, and HO4, and the HO2 sub-family, which consists of 1 member, HO2. This study identified and characterized 4 heme oxygenase members from Sorghum bicolor. Multiple sequence alignments showed that the heme oxygenase signature motif (QAFICHFYNI/V) is conserved across all SbHO proteins and that they share above 90% sequence identity with other cereals. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed that SbHO genes were expressed in leaves, stems, and roots, but most importantly their transcript level was induced by osmotic stress, indicating that they might play a role in stress responses. These findings will strengthen our understanding of the role of heme oxygenases in plant stress responses and may contribute to the development of stress tolerant crops.
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    Identification and characterisation of sorghum bicolor heme oxygenase-1 (sbho1) gene and its role in conferring biotic and abiotic stress tolerance to plants
    (University of the Western Cape, 2019) Ikebudu, Vivian; Mulaudzi-Masuku, Takalani
    Biotic and abiotic stresses such as herbivore attack, pathogen infection, salinity, drought, cold, heat and UV radiation, are unfavourable conditions that affect plant growth and productivity globally (Fedoroff et al., 2010). Agricultural productivity and food security are severely limited by salinity, drought and temperature. These environmental factors occur as a result of climate change, which is predicted to cause an increase in the occurrence of severe weather and may stimulate increased damage to plants (Zhu, 2016). Pathogen and herbivore attacks caused a 31 - 42 % loss in crop yield and about 6 - 20 % post-harvest loss (Tesfaw & Feyissa, 2014). Estimates have shown that over 50 % loss of crop yield worldwide is as a result of abiotic stresses (Lobell et al., 2011) and their severity would lead to an increase in loss of arable land yearly. Population growth and migration to these arable lands further increases the issue of land desiccation and by 2050, food production will have to be increased by at least 70 % to meet the growing demand for quality, nutritious and sustainable food. Various biotic and abiotic stresses lead to the increased production of reactive oxidative species (ROS) in plants that cause damage to proteins, lipids and nucleic acids, resulting in cell death (Choudhury et al., 2017).