Genetic regulation of diapause and associated traits in Chilo partellus (Swinhoe)

Diapause is an endocrine controlled arrested metabolic state to delay development or reproduction under unfavorable conditions. To gain an understanding of importance of diapause for ecological adaptation, it is important to study regulation of diapause in insects. We examined genetics of diapause in Chilo partellus by crossing the hibernating (HD), aestivating (AD), post-hibernating (PHD), post-aestivating (PAD), and nondiapause (ND) strains. Reciprocal crosses were also made to gain full understanding of diapause regulation and the maternal effects, if any. Data were recorded on fecundity, egg hatching, larval survival, diapause induction and termination, adult emergence, and morphometrics of larvae, pupae and adults in the parents (P1, P2), F1 hybrids, and the reciprocal crosses. Genetic analysis showed that AD strain is general combiner, which also improved egg hatching, larval survival, diapause termination, adult emergence and proportion of females in the progenies. Incidence of diapause was highest in HD × AD, whereas termination was greatest in PHD × AD. However, ND strain and its reciprocal crosses with other strains did not exhibit any noticeable developmental response associated with diapause. Specific combining ability analysis suggested that where PHD and AD strains exist together there will be likely reduction in diapause incidence, increased survival with greater fitness and faster multiplication of their progenies resulting in outbreak of C. partellus. Degree of dominance estimates revealed that diapause, developmental and morphometric traits in C. partellus are governed by over dominance gene effects, and mainly depend on parental diapause history

Impact of Variegated Temperature, CO2 and Relative Humidity on Survival and Development of Beet Armyworm Spodoptera exigua(Hubner) under Controlled Growth Chamber

Climate change will have a noteworthy bearing on survival, development, and population dynamics of insect pests. Therefore, we contemplated the survival and development of beet army worm, Spodoptera exigua under different temperatures, (15˚C, 25˚C, 35˚C, and 45˚C), CO2 (350, 550, 750 ppm) and relative humidity (55%, 65%, 75% and 85%) regimes. Maximum larval and pupal weights were recorded in insects reared at 25˚C. The growth of S. exigua was faster at 35˚C (larval period 7.4 days and pupal period 4.5 days) than at lower temperatures. At 15˚C, the larval period was extended for 61.4 days and there was no adult emergence from the pupae till 90 days. The S. exigua hatchling was absent at 45˚C. The larval survival ranged from 31.6% - 57.2%, maximum survival was recorded at 25˚C, and minimum at 45˚C. The maximum (84.27%) and minimum adult emergence were recorded in insects reared at 25˚C and 35˚C respectively. Maximum fecundity (384.3 eggs/female) and egg viability (51.97%) were recorded in insects reared at 25˚C. Larval and pupal periods increased with an increase in CO2 concentration. The highest pupal weights (128.6 mg/larva) were recorded at 550 ppm. The highest larval survival (73.50%) was recorded at 550 ppm and minimum (37.00%) at 750 ppm CO2. Fecundity was the highest in insects reared at 550 ppm CO2 (657.4 eggs/female), and the lowest at 750 ppm. Maximum larval and pupal weights were recorded in insects reared at 75% relative humidity (RH). The growth rate of S. exigua was faster at 85% RH than at lower RH. The larval survival ranged between 40.0% - 58.5%. Maximum adult emergence (88.91%) was recorded in insects reared at 75% RH and minimum at 85% RH. Maximum fecundity (447.6 eggs/female) and the highest egg viability (72.95%) were recorded in insects reared at 75% and 65% RH respectively. Elevated temperatures and relative moistness will diminish the life cycle, while hoisted CO2 will drag the life expectancy. Therefore, there is a need for thorough assessment of the impact of climatic factors on the population dynamics of insect pests, crop losses, and sustainability of crop production

The Role of Natural Enemies and Biopesticides for Sustainable Management of Major Insect Pests of Legumes

Pulses are the important components of a healthy diet and take an important place in the traditional diets throughout the World (Malaguti et al. 2014). pulses are damaged by a large number of insect species, both under field conditions and in storage (Clement et al. 2000). Among legume insect pests, Helicoverpa armigera is the single largest yield shrinking factor in food legumes, causes an estimated loss of US$317 million in pigeonpea and$328 million in chickpea (ICRISAT 1992). Worldwide, it causes an estimated loss of over $2 billion annually, despite over$1 billion value of insecticides used to control H. armigera (Sharma 2005). Another pod borer Maruca vitrata causes loss to the tune of US$30 million annually (Saxena et al. 2002). Pigeonpea yield losses due to pod borer are 25–70 fly is second most important pest of pigeonpea in northern and central India, and cause 10 - 50 reported to cause 5 - 25 can induce up to 58 et al. 1994) and annually$2.4 billion estimated losses in yield (Song et al. 2006, Tilmon et al. 2011). Legume flower thrips (LFT), Mylothris sjostedti Trybom in cowpea V. unguiculata in tropical Africa causes yield losses ranging from 20% to 100% (Karungi et al. 2000)

Reaping the Potential of Wild Cajanus Species through Pre-Breeding for Improving Resistance to Pod Borer, Helicoverpa armigera, in Cultivated Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.)

Pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera) causes the highest yield losses in pigeonpea, followed by pod fly (Melanagromyza obtusa). High levels of resistance to pod borer are not available in the cultivated genepool. Several accessions of wild Cajanus species with strong resistance, and different resistance mechanisms (antixenosis and antibiosis) to pod borer have been identified. These accessions can be utilized to improve the pod borer resistance of cultivated pigeonpea. Using pod borer resistant Cajanus scarabaeoides and Cajanus acutifolius as pollen donors and popular pigeonpea varieties as recipients, pre-breeding populations were developed following simple- and complex-cross approaches. Preliminary evaluation of four backcross populations consisting of >2300 introgression lines (ILs) under un-sprayed field conditions resulted in identifying 156 ILs with low visual damage rating scores (5.0–6.0) and low pod borer damage (<50%). Precise re-screening of these ILs over different locations and years resulted in the identification of 21 ILs having improved resistance to pod borer. Because these ILs were derived from wild Cajanus species, they may contain different alleles for different resistance components to pod borer. Hence, these ILs are ready-to-use novel and diverse sources of pod borer resistance that can be utilized for improving the pod borer resistance of cultivated pigeonpea

Evaluation of the effect of different Dates of Sowing Regimes in Chickpea against Legume Pod Borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner)

Effect of different sowing dates on chickpea crop and varietal factors against the incidence of legume pod borer Helicoverpa armigera, pod damage and yield were studied at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru, Hyderabad, Telangana during the post rainy seasons of 2019-20, and 2020-21. Ten Chickpea genotypes were sown at monthly intervals during first weeks of September, October and November. Each entry was sown in a 6 row plots, with 10 x 30 cm spacing. There were four replications in a split plot design. Among the different sowing regimes tested, November sown crop was found to be optimal and right time for sowing of the chickpea genotype to evade the pod borer coincidence. The borer population fluctuated with the change in dates of sowing. Pod borer population was higher in the early sown crop (September) and with delayed dates of sowing in October and November population decreased. There were significant differences in percent pod damage across genotypes ranging from 10.50 to 40.66 per cent. Minimum pod damage was observed in ICCV 10 and maximum pod damage was observed in ICC 3137. The grain yield ranged from 316.4 kg/ha to 836.1 kg/ha. The highest grain yield was recorded in ICCV 10 and lowest in ICC 3137. Correlation results of pod borer incidence in ICC 3137 showed positive correlation with maximum, minimum temperature and solar radiation, while rainfall and humidity were negatively correlated. Screening the different chickpea genotypes for resistance or tolerance to H. armigera allowed us in detection of a resistant/tolerant varieties which has shown the minimum level of damage in pods and further for ensuring higher yield with less pod borer damage, November is the optimal time for sowing of Chickpea

Morpho-physiological traits and leaf surface chemicals as markers conferring resistance to sorghum shoot fly (Atherigona soccata Rondani)

Sorghum shoot fly, Atherigona soccata,causes substantial economic losses in sorghum globally. Cultural practices and host plant resistance are effective measures for mitigating the losses caused by sorghum shoot fly. Therefore, we evaluated 32 sorghum genotypes consisting of a set of 10 restorer lines, 10 CMS (cytoplasmic male-sterile) lines and their respective maintainers exhibiting resistance/susceptibility to shoot fly along with resistant and susceptible checks under field conditions. The traits such as leaf glossiness, leaf sheath pigmentation, percentage plants with shoot fly deadhearts and number of shoot fly eggs per plant were used as morphological markers for selecting genotypes with resistance to shoot fly during the rainy and post rainy seasons of 2016 and 2017. The test material was also subjected to biochemical analysis (total soluble sugars, protein and tannin contents), while the leaf surface chemicals were analysed by GC–MS to identify the compounds associated with resistance/susceptibility to shoot fly. The genotypes differed significantly for all the traits, except percentage plants with shoot fly deadhearts during the 2016 rainy season. The genotypes ICSB 458, ICSA/B 467, ICSA/B 487, ICSA/B 14037, IS 18551 and ICSV 93046 exhibited moderate to high levels of resistance to shoot fly based on number of plants with shoot fly deadhearts, plants with shoot fly eggs and total number of shoot fly eggs. The shoot fly resistant genotypes ICSB 84, ICSA/B 467, ICSB 487, ICSB 14024, and IS 18551 had low shoot fly deadheart incidence, higher amounts of condensed tannins, soluble sugars, phenols and lower protein content as compared to the susceptible genotypes. Thirteen unique compounds were identified from leaf surface extracts by GC–MS which were associated with shoot fly resistance/susceptibility. While HPLC analysis revealed that Protocatechuic and coumaric acids were present in most of the sorghum genotypes, but their amounts were significantly greater in resistant as compared to the susceptible ones. The findings of the study highlight the importance of various morphological and biochemical traits conferring resistance to sorghum shoot fly, and these traits can be used as markers to identify shoot fly resistant genotypes for use in breeding programs

Glassy State Lead Tellurite Nanobelts: Synthesis and Properties

The lead tellurite nanobelts have been first synthesized in the composite molten salts (KNO3/LiNO3) method, which is cost-effective, one-step, easy to control, and performed at low-temperature and in ambient atmosphere. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectrum, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and FT-IR spectrum are used to characterize the structure, morphology, and composition of the samples. The results show that the as-synthesized products are amorphous and glassy nanobelts with widths of 200–300 nm and lengths up to tens of microns and the atomic ratio of Pb:Te:O is close to 1:1.5:4. Thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and investigations of the corresponding structure and morphology change confirm that the nanobelts have low glass transition temperature and thermal stability. Optical diffuse reflectance spectrum indicates that the lead tellurite nanobelts have two optical gaps at ca. 3.72 eV and 4.12 eV. Photoluminescence (PL) spectrum and fluorescence imaging of the products exhibit a blue emission (round 480 nm)

Reliability and accuracy of single-molecule FRET studies for characterization of structural dynamics and distances in proteins

Single-molecule Förster-resonance energy transfer (smFRET) experiments allow the study of biomolecular structure and dynamics in vitro and in vivo. We performed an international blind study involving 19 laboratories to assess the uncertainty of FRET experiments for proteins with respect to the measured FRET efficiency histograms, determination of distances, and the detection and quantification of structural dynamics. Using two protein systems with distinct conformational changes and dynamics, we obtained an uncertainty of the FRET efficiency ≤0.06, corresponding to an interdye distance precision of ≤2 Å and accuracy of ≤5 Å. We further discuss the limits for detecting fluctuations in this distance range and how to identify dye perturbations. Our work demonstrates the ability of smFRET experiments to simultaneously measure distances and avoid the averaging of conformational dynamics for realistic protein systems, highlighting its importance in the expanding toolbox of integrative structural biology