@article {164790, title = {Comparative transcriptomic insights into iron deficiency response in contrasting rice varieties at the seedling stage reveal distinct response strategies and identify novel candidate genes}, journal = {Frontiers in Plant Science}, volume = {17}, year = {2026}, month = {12 March 2026}, abstract = {

Iron deficiency is a major constraint in rice cultivation, particularly under direct-seeded rice (DSR) systems, where aerobic soil conditions reduce iron availability in plant-accessible forms. In this study, the experiment was initiated with screening of 116 germplasm lines of two weeks old line under hydroponics iron-deficient and sufficient conditions. Based on morphological and SPAD (Soil Plant Analysis Development) values, two contrasting rice genotypes - RA23 (tolerant) and LalatMas (susceptible) were selected and investigated to determine the molecular basis of iron deficiency response through comparative transcriptome analyses. A substantial number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in each genotype, revealing distinct transcriptional reprogramming associated with iron acquisition, transport, and homeostasis. Functional classification and enrichment analyses uncovered genotype-specific regulation of pathways related to iron ion transport, general defense and stimulus-response functions, and ADP-binding activity, indicating the involvement of signaling and regulatory proteins. A subset of candidate genes, including both known iron-responsive regulators and previously uncharacterized proteins, was further prioritized based on differential expression patterns, interaction predictions, structural features and expression profiles. Quantitative real-time PCR validation confirmed the expression patterns of selected DEGs, supporting their relevance in iron stress adaptation. Notably, the greater induction of iron transporters in LalatMas likely reflects its stronger compensatory drive to acquire iron relative to RA23. This study provides the first report of leaf-specific transcriptomic signatures associated with iron deficiency in rice and offers a valuable set of candidate genes for functional analysis and breeding of iron-efficient cultivars optimized for DSR and other nutrient-limited agroecosystems.

}, doi = {10.3389/fpls.2026.1764898}, url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1764898/full}, author = {Ananya Sinha and Mohd Fayaz and Siddharth Panda and Ramanathan Sowdhamini} } @article {164008, title = {GRAYU: graph-based database integrating Ayurvedic formulations, medicinal plants, phytochemicals and diseases}, journal = {frontiers}, volume = {16}, year = {2026}, month = {22 January 2026}, abstract = {

The translation of India{\textquoteright}s extensive traditional knowledge on indigenous medicinal plants into modern therapeutic solutions is contingent upon a systematic framework. While traditional Indian medicine offers a rich source of therapeutic leads, this knowledge is often not structured for modern computational analysis, creating a barrier to systematic drug discovery.
To this end, we present GRAYU, a curated and comprehensive online database that integrates data across multiple categories, connecting 1,039 traditional formulations to 12,743 indigenous plants, 129,542 phytochemicals, and 13,480 indicated diseases.\ 
GRAYU provides insights into 1,370,257 plant-phytochemical, 116,531 plant-disease, 2,389 plant-formulation, and 4,087 formulation-disease associations. We show potential applications on phytochemical analogs, sustainable plant substitution, and disease-network analysis, highlighting the potential of integrative graphs to decode shared molecular signatures and therapeutic networks across traditional Ayurvedic formulations.
GRAYU represents a user-friendly resource for researchers to investigate complex bio-associations and formulate novel therapeutic hypotheses, with insights from traditional Indian medicine. GRAYU organises reported associations and computational relationships and can hint at mechanistic causality or biological activity; however, all outputs require contextual interpretation and further experimental validation.

}, keywords = {Data integration, Drug repurposing, Endangered plants, Knowledge graph, Network pharmacology, Traditional foods}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2025.1727224}, author = {Sarthak Joshi and Aditi Pathak and Dheemanth Reddy Regati and Revathy Menon and Deepthi S. Ajith and Aditya Sheshadri and Neerja Viswanathan and Poulomi Ray and Vimarishi Koul and Pratishruti Panda and Shriya Anand Bhambore and Shailya Verma and Ananya Sinha and K. Mohamed Shafi and Murugavel Pavalam and Ramanathan Sowdhamini} }