Development and genetics of maize doubled haploid lines

The present study was carried out to develop doubled haploid lines using in-vivo maternal haploid induction technique.The study was aimed at the reliability of haploid seed identification through the R1-nj visual colored marker,identification of spontaneous doubling in tropical germplasm, optimization of colchicine percentage and seedlingcutting methods for artificial chromosome doubling and revealing the genetics of newly developed DH-lines. Twotropical haploid inducer lines with 4-6% HIR were used as male parents and crossed with a single hybrid FH-949as female donor parent. The R1-nj visual colored marker was used to sort haploid from diploid kernels. To checkthe spontaneous chromosome doubling rate these haploid kernels were grown in the field. In the laboratory, differentcolchicine percentages and seedling cutting treatments were used to double these maternal haploids. Thedata for seedling survival and DHo seed formation was collected and generalized linear model GLM was used tointerpret treatment results. SAS 9.2 was used to estimate confidence intervals for the binomial proportion havingzero frequencies. Out of twenty doubled haploid lines developed, five were crossed with three OPVs in line ×tester mating design. The data was collected and evaluated for combining ability and type of gene action for theyield and its related traits. The R1-nj dominant anthocyanin marker was found to be 91 percent effective in identifyingmaternal haploid seeds at the dormant stage. The spontaneous doubling percentage of maternal haploidswas recorded 0.8%. All the lines showed good general combining ability. The additive type of gene action wasprevailing in most of the traits studied

Physio-biochemical responses and defining selection criteria for drought tolerance in Sorghum bicolor

Forty cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) sorghum lines were evaluated for different physiological and biochemicaltraits under drought stress. Considerable genetic variability was found among all physio-biochemical traits i.e.water potential (Ψ w), stomatal conductance (gs), photosynthetic efficiency, acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutraldetergent fiber (NDF), ash and sugar contents. Results indicated that ash contents were found to be most adverselyaffected by drought stress followed by sugar contents and stomatal conductance respectively. However, thevalues of crude protein, acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were observed to be increaseunder stress condition. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to recognize drought tolerant lines.Selection criteria was based upon findings of correlation analysis among all studied traits. The positive associationof water potential, stomatal conductance and photosynthetic efficiency with desirable traits viz. ash and sugarcontents; and NDF association with undesirable traits viz. ADF and NDF revealed a way forward to design futurebreeding programs of sorghum crop under the prevailing scenario of climate change

Genetic Improvement of Sorghum for Biomass Traits Using Genomics Approaches

Nonrenewable energy resources deplete with the passage of time due to rapid increase in industrialization and population. Hence, countries worldwide are investing dearly in substitute energy resources like biofuel from miscellaneous set of feedstocks. Among the energy crops, sorghum serves as a model crop due to its drought tolerance, small genome size (730 Mb), high biomass, dry matter contents, quick growth, wide adaptability to diverse climatic and soil conditions and C4 photosynthesis. Sweet sorghum with high sugar content in stalk is an efficient feedstock for advanced biofuels and other bio-based products from sugars. However, high biomass sorghum has the utility as a feedstock for cellulosic biofuels. The enhanced yield of monomeric carbohydrates is a key to cheap and efficient biofuel production. The efficiency of lignocellulosic biofuels is compromised by recalcitrance to cell wall digestion, a trait that cannot be efficiently improved by traditional breeding. Therefore, scientists are looking for solutions to such problems in biomass crop genomes. Sorghum genome has been completely sequenced and hence this crop qualifies for functional genomics analysis by fast forward genetic approaches. This chapter documents the latest efforts on advancement of sorghum for biomass potential at morphological and molecular level by exploiting genomics approaches

Effect of early tranexamic acid administration on mortality, hysterectomy, and other morbidities in women with post-partum haemorrhage (WOMAN): an international, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background Post-partum haemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal death worldwide. Early administration of tranexamic acid reduces deaths due to bleeding in trauma patients. We aimed to assess the effects of early administration of tranexamic acid on death, hysterectomy, and other relevant outcomes in women with post-partum haemorrhage. Methods In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we recruited women aged 16 years and older with a clinical diagnosis of post-partum haemorrhage after a vaginal birth or caesarean section from 193 hospitals in 21 countries. We randomly assigned women to receive either 1 g intravenous tranexamic acid or matching placebo in addition to usual care. If bleeding continued after 30 min, or stopped and restarted within 24 h of the first dose, a second dose of 1 g of tranexamic acid or placebo could be given. Patients were assigned by selection of a numbered treatment pack from a box containing eight numbered packs that were identical apart from the pack number. Participants, care givers, and those assessing outcomes were masked to allocation. We originally planned to enrol 15 000 women with a composite primary endpoint of death from all-causes or hysterectomy within 42 days of giving birth. However, during the trial it became apparent that the decision to conduct a hysterectomy was often made at the same time as randomisation. Although tranexamic acid could influence the risk of death in these cases, it could not affect the risk of hysterectomy. We therefore increased the sample size from 15 000 to 20 000 women in order to estimate the effect of tranexamic acid on the risk of death from post-partum haemorrhage. All analyses were done on an intention-to-treat basis. This trial is registered with ISRCTN76912190 (Dec 8, 2008); ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00872469; and PACTR201007000192283. Findings Between March, 2010, and April, 2016, 20 060 women were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive tranexamic acid (n=10 051) or placebo (n=10 009), of whom 10 036 and 9985, respectively, were included in the analysis. Death due to bleeding was significantly reduced in women given tranexamic acid (155 [1·5%] of 10 036 patients vs 191 [1·9%] of 9985 in the placebo group, risk ratio [RR] 0·81, 95% CI 0·65–1·00; p=0·045), especially in women given treatment within 3 h of giving birth (89 [1·2%] in the tranexamic acid group vs 127 [1·7%] in the placebo group, RR 0·69, 95% CI 0·52–0·91; p=0·008). All other causes of death did not differ significantly by group. Hysterectomy was not reduced with tranexamic acid (358 [3·6%] patients in the tranexamic acid group vs 351 [3·5%] in the placebo group, RR 1·02, 95% CI 0·88–1·07; p=0·84). The composite primary endpoint of death from all causes or hysterectomy was not reduced with tranexamic acid (534 [5·3%] deaths or hysterectomies in the tranexamic acid group vs 546 [5·5%] in the placebo group, RR 0·97, 95% CI 0·87-1·09; p=0·65). Adverse events (including thromboembolic events) did not differ significantly in the tranexamic acid versus placebo group. Interpretation Tranexamic acid reduces death due to bleeding in women with post-partum haemorrhage with no adverse effects. When used as a treatment for postpartum haemorrhage, tranexamic acid should be given as soon as possible after bleeding onset. Funding London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Pfizer, UK Department of Health, Wellcome Trust, and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Phenotypic tendency of achene yield and oil contents in sunflower hybrids

The knowledge about heterosis breeding of achene yield in sunflower is known; however, dissection of the genetic components of achene yield and seed quality traits is limited. Therefore, the prescribe study was conducted using Line × Tester design to determine combining abilities, and about the maternal-and-paternal gene actions involved in achene yield and seed quality traits in 21 single cross hybrids. Significant mean differences for achene yield and seed quality traits were observed, with total attributed variation (R2 = 0.89). Principal component analysis (P < 0.05) explained 92.6% variation and using factor analysis, we found factor 1 had primary variables (AW, AL, AT, HD, PH, PC, LA and OC) contributed 35.6% variation to achene yield. Combining ability analysis showed the positive general combining ability for E%, HD, PH, 100 AW and AYP in parental inbred lines, whilst, hybrids had positive specific combining ability for E%, HD, PH, 100 AW, DTF, DTM, OA, LA, OC and AYP. Females contributed significantly higher (P < 0.05) for AYP, E%, HD, NWPH, PH, 100 AW, LA and OA than that of males. Two-way hierarchical clustering showed the most promising hybrid H5 (A-18 × G-79) in Cluster V. The hybrid H5 also showed heterosis, heterobeltosis and commercial heterosis, therefore, genetic exploitation of H5 is highly desirable in future breeding to map QTLs/genes in arid/semi-arid zones and /or similar growing conditions to boost up yield and seed quality traits

GENETIC VARIABILITY IN SUNFLOWER (HELIANTHUS ANNUUS L.) FOR ACHENE YIELD AND MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERS

ABSTRACT The research was conducted in the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad during year 2011. Ten accessions of sunflower were evaluated for genetic variability and association of morphological traits among themselves and with achene yield. The data were recorded on quantitative i.e. days to 50% flowering, days to 50% maturity, plant height, number of leaves per plant, leaf area, head diameter, % filled achene, achene weight per head and 100 achene weight and qualitative traits i.e. lead habit, leaf shape, head shape, head angle at maturity, achene size, achene stripes and achene colour and subjected to analysis of variance, correlation and path coefficient analysis. Differences among the accessions were significant for all the traits under study except % filled achenes. The accession A-79 showed better performance for number of leaves per plant, leaf area, head diameter, % filled achenes, 100 achene weight and achene weight per head.HBRS-1, G-33 and G-8 also had appreciable performance for many traits. Genotypic correlations of achene weight were positive and significant with leaf area, number of leaves per plant, head diameter and 100 achene weights. Phenotypic correlations of all the traits were non-significant with achene weight per head. The trait 100 achene weight had the highest direct effect on achene weight per head followed by leaf area and days to 50%maturity. Days to 50% maturity had the highest positive indirect effect on achene weight per head via head diameter followed by head diameter and leaf area through 100 achene weight. It is suggested that 100 achene weight, leaf area and head diameter may be used in breeding program for selection of high yielding sunflower types

Role of combining ability and heterosis in improving achene yield of Helianthus annuus: An overview

Abstract: Sunflower is an important oil seed crop, used for the manufacturing of vegetable ghee and margarine. It can also be used as bird seed and animal feed. When sunflower seed integrated into soil it can recover the soil fertility because, it is a good source of calcium, nitrogen and potassium

An Optimal Energy Optimization Strategy for Smart Grid Integrated with Renewable Energy Sources and Demand Response Programs

An energy optimization strategy is proposed to minimize operation cost and carbon emission with and without demand response programs (DRPs) in the smart grid (SG) integrated with renewable energy sources (RESs). To achieve optimized results, probability density function (PDF) is proposed to predict the behavior of wind and solar energy sources. To overcome uncertainty in power produced by wind and solar RESs, DRPs are proposed with the involvement of residential, commercial, and industrial consumers. In this model, to execute DRPs, we introduced incentive-based payment as price offered packages. Simulations are divided into three steps for optimization of operation cost and carbon emission: (i) solving optimization problem using multi-objective genetic algorithm (MOGA), (ii) optimization of operating cost and carbon emission without DRPs, and (iii) optimization of operating cost and carbon emission with DRPs. To endorse the applicability of the proposed optimization model based on MOGA, a smart sample grid is employed serving residential, commercial, and industrial consumers. In addition, the proposed optimization model based on MOGA is compared to the existing model based on multi-objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) algorithm in terms of operation cost and carbon emission. The proposed optimization model based on MOGA outperforms the existing model based on the MOPSO algorithm in terms of operation cost and carbon emission. Experimental results show that the operation cost and carbon emission are reduced by 24% and 28% through MOGA with and without the participation of DRPs, respectively