The 10th “Tropical Oil Crops Forum,” organized by Coconut Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (CRICATAS), was held in Conference Room 201 on June 6th, 2024. Distinguished researchers from the CRICATAS attended the meeting, which was chaired by Professor Dr. Yaodong Yang, the Director of the Coconut Research Department of CRICATAS. Young scientists Md. Abu Sayed and Md. Babul Akter from Bangladesh gave presentations. Dr. Md. Abu Sayed's presentation was titled "Comparative Analysis of microRNAs Reveals Molecular Mechanism Responses to Cold Stress in Seedlings of Two Coconut Varieties." This research examined the molecular changes in seedlings of two coconut varieties, Hainan Tall (HT) and Green Dwarf (GD), under cold stress conditions over various time periods. The study focused on the regulation of gene expression by microRNAs (miRNAs), which play crucial roles in post-transcriptional gene regulation during cold stress. The results suggest that novel-miRNA-126-3p plays a significant role in acclimating coconut seedlings to cold stress, providing a theoretical basis for breeding cold-tolerant coconut varieties.
Dr. Md. Babul Akter's presentation was titled "Map-based Cloning of a Panicle Apical Abortion (paa-h) Mutant Gene in Rice." His research highlighted the unique morphological characteristics of a panicle apical abortion (PAA) mutant, where abortion occurs at the top of the panicle before flowering. Using the map-based cloning method, the Os04g56160 (paa-h) gene was isolated, which regulates panicle tip abortion in rice. The function of the Os04g56160 gene encoding the H+-ATPase, was confirmed through the phenotype of the T-DNA insertion mutant. This study provides insights into the molecular mechanism of PAA and aims to maintain panicle identity for high yield in rice breeding programs. The relevant research methods are worth our reference.
