Kwanu Local – A High Yielding Traditional Maize Cultivar of Jaunsar Tribal Region of Uttarakhand and a Promising Genetic Resource for Maize Improvement

164-169Globally maize is the second most important crop in terms of acreage where as in India it ranks third after wheat and rice. Maize productivity has been breaking unprecedented barriers owing chiefly to wide scale cultivation of high yielding hybrids. Sustaining high yields of hybrids necessitates continued efforts for creation of novel gene assemblages and/or discovery of such naturally existing constellations. Traditional local cultivars are an important source of the latter. Kwanu Local is an example of such a traditional cultivar that contributes significantly towards sustaining food, fodder and fuel requirement of Jaunsari tribal community of Kwanu cluster in Dehradun district of Uttarakhand. It is a tall, high yielding, medium duration, semi-dent yellow bold-grained cultivar and owes its characteristic present form to multiple infusions from diverse populations that have taken place over the long history of its cultivation in the region. Its cultivation over a vast contiguous expanse and the selection practices followed by the farming community ensure maintenance of high heterozygosity in the population, assuring sustained high yields. The cultivar possesses many desirable features that make it a potential genetic resource for a variety of traits of agronomic importance (cob length, cob girth, number of kernels/row and kernel size). Its use for increasing kernel size has been well demonstrated. Kernel size in the backcross progenies involving inbreds VQL 1 (255 g) and V 400 (215 g) as recipients and Kwanu Local (343 g) as donor exhibited kernel size range of 260-293 g (VQL 1 x Kwanu Local) and 228-245 g (V 400 x Kwanu Local), showing increase of 6-14 and 2-15%, respectively, in the two crosses. With its local adaptability and high yield coupled with other desirable traits, Kwanu Local holds potential as a promising genetic resource for maize improvement

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The manual ‘Doubled Haploid Production in Maize Using In Vivo Maternal Haploid Induction System' aims at providing the users with basic information on various steps involved in the process of production of doubled haploids (DH) in maize using maternal haploid inducer lines. In the first few chapters, the concept of DH production is briefly explained to familiarize the users with the underlying genetic mechanisms involved in generating homozygous lines from heterozygous source germplasm. The DH production steps described in the manual have been adapted from the CIMMYT DH production protocol to enable users to implement the protocol with available facilities and under limited resource conditions. The manual also contains information on haploid induction rate (HIR) and DH production efficiency achieved with CIMMYT haploid inducer line TAILP1, performance of DH lines generated at ICAR-VPKAS, and the comparative economics of DH and conventional breeding. Status of DH breeding at the national level, strategies for developing indigenous genetic resources for further enhancing efficiency of DH technology and enabling wider access to the generated DH germplasm, and approaches to promote wider adoption of DH technology is also discussed. Relevant publications are listed in the end for further reading.Not AvailableNot Availabl

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Not AvailableMaize is the most important cereal crop globally after wheat and rice in terms of area under cultivation; however, the diverse uses of maize make it the most important crop worldwide. Biofortification of important cereal crops is recognized as an inexpensive and effective means of malnutrition alleviation. Significant progress has been made in developing biofortified varieties in maize especially lysine- and provitamin A-enriched varieties. Use of marker-assisted selection has helped speed breed varieties by shortening the varietal development process. Progress for other nutritionally important traits such as methionine, iron, and zinc, however, has been constrained by the lack of robust molecular markers. Transgene delivery and gene editing approaches have shown promise by accelerating creation of novel sources for these traits by altogether circumventing the long conventional breeding methods. Integration of molecular markers with doubled haploid technology and targeted gene editing presents opportunities for speedy delivery of biofortified maize cultivars in the future.Not Availabl

Value addition and nutritional fortification of finger millet [<i>Eleusine</i> <i>coracana</i> (L.) Gaertn.] using bark of <i>Gethi</i> (<i>Boehmeria</i> <i>regulosa</i> Wedd.) tree

519-524Finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.], an important coarse cereal of Indian Subcontinent and Africa, is devoid of gluten and, therefore, lacks the bread making quality of wheat. A traditional method of imparting finger millet the bread making quality of wheat using bark of a tree locally known as Gethi (Boehmeria regulosa Wedd.) and, the physical properties and nutritional composition of the bark are reported in the present study. The method has been found effective with other coarse cereals such as maize, sorghum, pearl millet and barnyard millet, and pseudo-cereals, viz. buckwheat and amaranth. Preliminary phytochemical analysis of the bark showed presence of appreciable amounts of phenolics, flavonoids and antioxidant activity, besides high viscosity. The bark is also rich in iron and zinc, signifying its potential efficacy in nutritional fortification of coarse cereals and pseudo-cereals apart from improving their bread making quality

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Not AvailableFinger millet [Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.], an important coarse cereal of Indian Subcontinent and Africa, is devoid of gluten and, therefore, lacks the bread making quality of wheat. A traditional method of imparting finger millet the bread making quality of wheat using bark of a tree locally known as Gethi (Boehmeria regulosa Wedd.) and, the physical properties and nutritional composition of the bark are reported in the present study. The method has been found effective with other coarse cereals such as maize, sorghum, pearl millet and barnyard millet, and pseudo-cereals, viz. buckwheat and amaranth. Preliminary phytochemical analysis of the bark showed presence of appreciable amounts of phenolics, flavonoids and antioxidant activity, besides high viscosity. The bark is also rich in iron and zinc, signifying its potential efficacy in nutritional fortification of coarse cereals and pseudo-cereals apart from improving their bread making qualityNot Availabl

Evaluation of nutraceutical properties of finger millet genotypes from mid hills of northwestern Himalayan region of India

39-47Finger millet Eleusine coracana L., commonly called Ragi, is a rich source of phytochemicals and have number of health beneficial effects. The present study evaluated the total antioxidant activity (TAA), condensed tannins (CT), micronutrient content (Fe & Zn), diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and phenolic compounds in 35 finger millet genotypes. The assayed genotypes showed 0.91-0.99 mg/g CT, 23.79-56.51 mM/kg TAA, 1.76-44.47 µM/g DPPH scavenging activity, 44.14-88.09 µg/mL ABTS activity, 100-463.53 µM FRAP value, 37.04-69.13 ppm Fe and 28.94-46.77 ppm Zn. HPLC analysis showed that gallic, tannic, ferulic, caffeic and o-coumaric acid to be major polyphenols in all genotypes. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed significantly higher CT, TAA with relatively good amount of Fe and Zn in VL Ragi 146, VL Mandua 352, VL 336, VL 373, VL 325, VL 351, GPHCPB 7, GPHCPB 3, GPHCPB 52 and VR 708 genotypes. Agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis classified the 35 genotypes into two clusters; Cluster I had higher CT, TAA, FRAP, DPPH, ABTS, while cluster II recorded higher Fe and Zn. This study clearly demonstrated the nutraceutical properties with higher antioxidant potential of identified genotypes, which can be suitably deployed for nutritional security, particularly in developing countries

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Not AvailableGlobally maize is the second most important crop in terms of acreage where as in India it ranks third after wheat and rice. Maize productivity has been breaking unprecedented barriers owing chiefly to wide scale cultivation of high yielding hybrids. Sustaining high yields of hybrids necessitates continued efforts for creation of novel gene assemblages and/or discovery of such naturally existing constellations. Traditional local cultivars are an important source of the latter. Kwanu Local is an example of such a traditional cultivar that contributes significantly towards sustaining food, fodder and fuel requirement of Jaunsari tribal community of Kwanu cluster in Dehradun district of Uttarakhand. It is a tall, high yielding, medium duration, semi-dent yellow bold-grained cultivar and owes its characteristic present form to multiple infusions from diverse populations that have taken place over the long history of its cultivation in the region. Its cultivation over a vast contiguous expanse and the selection practices followed by the farming community ensure maintenance of high heterozygosity in the population, assuring sustained high yields. The cultivar possesses many desirable features that make it a potential genetic resource for a variety of traits of agronomic importance (cob length, cob girth, number of kernels/row and kernel size). Its use for increasing kernel size has been well demonstrated. Kernel size in the backcross progenies involving inbreds VQL 1 (255 g) and V 400 (215 g) as recipients and Kwanu Local (343 g) as donor exhibited kernel size range of 260-293 g (VQL 1 x Kwanu Local) and 228-245 g (V 400 x Kwanu Local), showing increase of 6-14 and 2-15%, respectively, in the two crosses. With its local adaptability and high yield coupled with other desirable traits, Kwanu Local holds potential as a promising genetic resource for maize improvement.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableDirectorate of Sorghum Research (DSR) and GBPUA&T has explored Uttarakhand state and a total of thirty broomcorn sorghum accessions were collected from five districts. The maximum frequency of 9 accessions were collected from Almora and Chamoli districts, followed by Bageshwar (6), Rudraprayag (5) and Nainital comprising only one accession. The germplasm collection represented with all basic races of sorghum viz., bicolor (3), bicolor caudatum (3), durra (1), and guinea-bicolor (18). The variability within the collections is very high. Most of the accessions are very tall (16) in plant height, very loose ear head (21), bold seeded (29) and grayed orange colour seed (24). Almora, Bageshwar and Nainital districts having (1.8934 – 2.000) with highest landraces diversity, whereas in Rudra Prayag and Chamoli districts showed medium (1.000 – 1.8229) landraces diversity. Almora, Bhageshwar and Nainital districts having high races diversity (0.66 –1.00); whereas in Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts having least (0-0.65) races diversity. Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts showed high diversifying area with (3-4) races richness followed by Nainital, Bhageshwar and Almora districts having (1-3) racial richness.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableLatest agricultural technologies and information need to be taken to the door steps of all the stakeholders within agriculture domain particularly to the farmers. Proper dissemination of this information to the farmer has been the major bottleneck in boosting crop production with quality, even though numerous technologies are available. The contribution of knowledge as a factor of production is being increasingly given central importance in economic development. Indeed, agriculture has become knowledge intensive, changing rapidly, and making farm management more complex. Skills and knowledge are becoming more critical for success. At such times, the efforts of ICAR-VPKAS, Almora in bridging the information gap among farmers under Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav (MGMG) programme as a ray of hope for future success of agricultural interventions in this area.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableThe use of in vivo haploid induction system makes the doubled haploid (DH) technology easier to adopt for the conventional maize breeders. However, despite having played an important role in the initial developmental phases of DH technology, Indian maize research has yet to harvest its benefits. Haploid Inducer Lines (HILs) developed by CIMMYT are being widely used in maize breeding programmes in many countries including India. There, however, is no published information on the efficiency of DH line production using CIMMYT HILs in Indian maize breeding programmes. In the present study, the efficiency of DH production using CIMMYT’s tropically adapted inducer line TAILP1 was investigated with eight source populations including two of sweet corn. The average haploid induction rate (HIR) of TAILP1 was 5.48% with a range of 2.01 to 10.03%. Efficiency of DH production ranged from 0.14 to 1.87% for different source populations with an average of 1.07%. The information generated will be useful for maize breeders intending to use DH technology for accelerated development of completely homozygous lines.Not Availabl