Assessment of genetic diversity in Indian Barnyard millet (Echinochloa spp. complex) using morphological and molecular markers

In the present study, morphological and molecular markers (RAPD primers) were used to analyze the genetic diversity and genetic relationships among 21 accessions of Echinochloa spp. complex comprising the wild and cultivated species collected from Melghat and adjoining regions of Vidarbha, Maharashtra. The availability of diverse genetic resources is a prerequisite for genetic improvement of any crop including barnyard millet. A high degree of molecular diversity among the landraces was detected. Among the 21 genotypes, two major groups (A and B) were formed, at 67.28 % similarity, which clearly encompasses 15 accessions of E. frumentacea and 6 accessions of E. colona. Higher similarity was observed in accessions of E. frumentacea. The accessions IC 597322 and IC 597323 also IC 597302 and IC 597304 showed more than 94% similarity among themselves. The classification of genetic diversity has enabled clear-cut grouping of barnyard millet accessions into two morphological races (E. frumentacea and E. colona)

Floral bud distortion in soybean and incidence in Central India

We describe a peculiar and often harmful budding disorder in soybean, leading to huge yield loss in India. To determine the prevalence of floral distortion in soybean, an extensive random roving survey was undertaken in the soybean-growing regions of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and the adjoining part of Karnataka states during two successive seasons of kharif (monsoon-planted) crops – Oct 2010 and Sept 2011. The average rate of the disorder ranged from 8.0% to 14.6% and severity from 2.0 to 90.0% during 2010 and 2011, respectively. Affected plants were found to have either no or deformed pods and distorted flowers, and they remained green after maturity. All the soybean varieties grown in the surveyed region (i.e. JS 335, JS 93-05, JS 73-23, JS 95-60, AMS-MB-5-19, CO-2, Bragg, JS 10-44, Samrat) were affected by the disorder. The PCR-based diagnosis revealed the absence of phytoplasma in symptomatic soybean samples.Keywords: Glycine max, chlorosis, green stem, thickening and twisting stem, yield loss

Expression of Tolerance to Pod Borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Relation to Biochemical Content of Chickpea Leaves

The pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera) is one of the most serious pest of chickpea and plant resistance is an important component for managing this pest. To develop cultivars with resistance to insects, it is important to understand the role of different components associated with resistance to insects. Therefore, in this study we characterized RIL’s (recombinant inbred lines) population for total phenol content leaves and organic acid profiles in the leaf exudates which are associated with tolerance to H. armigera. Chickpea leaves contained phenol and five major organic acids, which were identified as malic acid, oxalic acid, acetic acid, citric acid, and fumaric acid. The high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) profiles of the leaf exudates of 196 RIL’s exhibited amounts of all organic acids were negatively correlated with egg count, larval incidence and with pod damage. Total phenol levels were negatively associated with egg count, larval incidence and pod damage percentage

Decolorization and wood degrading ability of locally isolated basidiomycetes

735-739The decolorization of synthetic dyes was evaluated using locally isolated basidiomycetes. Out of one hundred and twenty one samples collected, three best isolates were selected on the basis of their guaiacol oxidation and CBB G 250 decolorization potential on solid media, out of which AFC 25 has shown some distinct ability to decolorize all synthetic dyes. Synthetic dyes like anthraquinonic, azo and triphenyl methane were tested for decolourization at room temperature, pH 6 and 0.01% w/v concentration in liquid culture. Maximum decolourization observed in BPB to the extent of 97.57%. In wood weight loss assay, the percent wood weight loss was highest with AFC 25 (31.35%). The species was identified as Pleurotus nebrodensis (Inzenga) Quel by partial sequence analysis and the culture was deposited in the National Fungal Culture Collection of India (Accession No NFCCI 2060) while the sequence was submitted to Genebank (JF714975). </span

Improvement of Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) for Salinity Tolerance under in vitro Condition

Aim: The primary aim of the present study was to screen the salt tolerant calli and optimization of&nbsp;&nbsp; in-vitro regeneration protocol from selected screen calli. Methodology: The cotyledonary leaf explants was sterilized by using 1% Bavistin, 0.1% Mercuric chloride and 70% ethanol followed by washing with distilled water. Sterilized explants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different concentration of NaCl (i.e. 0, 50mM, 100mM, 200mM, 300 mM and 400 mM) to check the salinity tolerance ability of PKV pink genotype. In vitro screening of callus was studied by morphological characters like colour and texture of callus, callus growth percentage, relative water contained, cell survivility and proline content from saline stress and unstress calli to confirm the saline tolerance pressure to regenerate the PKV Pink safflower genotype. Results: MS medium supplemented with 150 mM NaCl showed 50% survival of calli, whereas no growth was obtained in high concentration of NaCl. Moreover, biochemical assay like proline estimation was done for its confirmation from different NaCl stress and unstress calli. The proline accumulation found to be highest callus grown on MS media supplemented with 150 mM NaCl as compared to control. Also studied the morphological observation i.e. colour and texture of calli, callus growth percentage, relative water content and cell viability under different NaCl stress to select the saline tolerance pressure to regenerate the tolerance line in PKV Pink. The saline tolerance shoots failed to produce in vitro rooting on the standardized rooting medium. So, the different approach like higher auxin shock and grafting experiment were attempted to overcome the rooting problem. Higher auxin shock experiment failed but grafting approach found satisfactory to overcome the rooting in saline tolerance shoot and for development of saline tolerance line in PKV Pink safflower genotype. Conclusion: The development of abiotic stress tolerance plants found the better understanding of physiological and biochemical changes in plants under in vitro stress conditions.&nbsp

Transcriptomic signature reveals mechanism of flower bud distortion in witches’-broom disease of soybean (Glycine max)

Abstract Background Soybean (Glycine max L. Merril) crop is major source of edible oil and protein for human and animals besides its various industrial uses including biofuels. Phytoplasma induced floral bud distortion syndrome (FBD), also known as witches’ broom syndrome (WBS) has been one of the major biotic stresses adversely affecting its productivity. Transcriptomic approach can be used for knowledge discovery of this disease manifestation by morpho-physiological key pathways. Results We report transcriptomic study using Illumina HiSeq NGS data of FBD in soybean, revealing 17,454 differentially expressed genes, 5561 transcription factors, 139 pathways and 176,029 genic region putative markers single sequence repeats, single nucleotide polymorphism and Insertion Deletion. Roles of PmbA, Zn-dependent protease, SAP family and auxin responsive system are described revealing mechanism of flower bud distortion having abnormalities in pollen, stigma development. Validation of 10 randomly selected genes was done by qPCR. Our findings describe the basic mechanism of FBD disease, right from sensing of phytoplasma infection by host plant triggering molecular signalling leading to mobilization of carbohydrate and protein, phyllody, abnormal pollen development, improved colonization of insect in host plants to spread the disease. Study reveals how phytoplasma hijacks metabolic machinery of soybean manifesting FBD. Conclusions This is the first report of transcriptomic signature of FBD or WBS disease of soybean revealing morphological and metabolic changes which attracts insect for spread of disease. All the genic region putative markers may be used as genomic resource for variety improvement and new agro-chemical development for disease control to enhance soybean productivity

Not Available

Not Available: Soybean (Glycine max L. Merril) crop is major source of edible oil and protein for human and animals besides its various industrial uses including biofuels. Phytoplasma induced floral bud distortion syndrome (FBD), also known as witches’ broom syndrome (WBS) has been one of the major biotic stresses adversely affecting its productivity. Transcriptomic approach can be used for knowledge discovery of this disease manifestation bymorpho-physiological key pathways.We report transcriptomic study using Illumina HiSeq NGS data of FBD in soybean, revealing 17,454 differentially expressed genes, 5561 transcription factors, 139 pathways and 176,029 genic region putative markers single sequence repeats, single nucleotide polymorphism and Insertion Deletion. Roles of PmbA, Zn-dependent protease, SAP family and auxin responsive system are described revealing mechanism of flower bud distortion having abnormalities in pollen, stigma development. Validation of 10 randomly selected genes was done by qPCR. Our findings describe the basic mechanism of FBD disease, right from sensing of phytoplasma infection by host plant triggering molecular signalling leading to mobilization of carbohydrate and protein, phyllody, abnormal pollen development, improved colonization of insect in host plants to spread the disease. Study reveals how phytoplasma hijacks metabolic machinery of soybean manifesting FBD.This is the first report of transcriptomic signature of FBD or WBS disease of soybean revealing morphological and metabolic changes which attracts insect for spread of disease. All the genic region putative markers may be used as genomic resource for variety improvement and new agro-chemical development for disease control to enhance soybean productivity.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableThis is the first report of transcriptomic signature of FBD or WBS disease of soybean revealing morphological and metabolic changes which attracts insect for spread of disease. All the genic region putative markers may be used as genomic resource for variety improvement and new agro-chemical development for disease control to enhance soybean productivity.Not Availabl