Breaking Yield Ceiling in Wheat: Progress and Future Prospects

Wheat is one of the most important staple crops that contribute considerably to global food and nutritional security. The future projections of the demand for wheat show significant enhancement owing to the population growth and probable changes in diets. Further, historical yield trends show a reduction in the relative rate of gain for grain yield over time. To maintain future food security, there is a strong need to find ways to further increase the yield potential of wheat. Grain yield is a quantitative trait that is highly influenced by the environment. It is determined by various interlinked yield component traits. Molecular breeding approaches have already proven useful in improving the grain yield of wheat and recent advances in high-throughput genotyping platforms now have remodelled molecular breeding to genomics-assisted breeding. Hence, here in this chapter, we have discussed various advancements in understanding the genetics of grain yield, its major components, and summarised the various powerful strategies, such as gene cloning, mining superior alleles, transgenic technologies, advanced genome editing techniques, genomic selection, genome-wide association studies-assisted genomic selection, haplotype-based breeding (HBB), which may be/being used for grain yield improvement in wheat and as the new breeding strategies they could also be utilised to break the yield ceiling in wheat

Surgical management of pterygium in a rural hospital using bare sclera versus conjunctival autograft technique

Background: Pterygium is defined as a triangular fibrovascular subepithelial ingrowth of degenerative bulbar conjunctival tissue over limbus onto the cornea. Commonly seen among farmers, fishermen, stone cutters and welders. Both blue and ultraviolet light have been implicated in its causation. Histologically the true Pterygium shows elastotic degeneration of the subconjunctival connective tissue. Pterygium warrant treatment when they encroach the visual axis, induces significant astigmatism or become cosmetically bothersome. My present study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy, safety and recurrence rates of conjunctival autograft and bare sclera techniques in treatment of progressive true pterygium in a rural hospital.Methods: The prospective study was done in the Department of Ophthalmology, Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences, B.G Nagara, Mandya District, Karnataka, India. The study was conducted for a period of 18 months. About 70 patients who presented with progressive pterygium were included in the study.Results: In our study pterygium recurred in 10 cases (14.28%), among which pterygium recurred in 8 cases (22.85 %) using bare sclera technique and in 2 patients (5.71%) using conjunctival autograft technique, best corrected visual acuity remained stable in 37 cases (52.85 %), improved in 33 cases (47.14 %) and worsened in none (0%) of the cases.Conclusions: Conjunctival autografting is a safe and effective procedure in the management of pterygium. The recurrence rate following limbal conjunctival autografting is significantly lower than that following primary conjunctival closure by bare sclera technique

Is antero‑lateral complex of knee joint of critical importance in restoring rotational instability in patients with anterior cruciate ligament tear?

Antero-lateral ligament complex (ALC) is a vital structure for maintaining rotational stability of the knee. Evaluation of ALC radiologically (MRI) is still unpopular in setting of anterior cruciate ligament injury. A dire necessity exists for the orthopedic surgeons in outdoor patient department settings to rule out involvement of ALC. So, that it can be addressed during operating for Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury. The authors have formulated an algorithm on a personal level and have implemented this screening program and initiated screening of young to middle aged patients reporting with rotational knee instability for ALC involvement before recommending final operative plan. This screening program which uses specifically devised physical tests have significantly reduced the number of underdiagnosed Antero Lateral Ligament tear

Effect of stem structural characteristics and cell wall components related to stem lodging resistance in a newly identified mutant of hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

In wheat, lodging is affected by anatomical and chemical characteristics of the stem cell wall. Plant characteristics determining the stem strength were measured in lodging tolerant mutant (PMW-2016-1) developed through mutation breeding utilizing hexaploid wheat cultivar, DPW-621-50. Various anatomical features, chemical composition, and mechanical strength of the culms of newly developed lodging-tolerant mutant (PMW-2016-1) and parent (DPW-621-50), were examined by light microscopy, the Klason method, prostate tester coupled with a Universal Tensile Machine, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. Significant changes in the anatomical features, including the outer radius of the stem, stem wall thickness, and the proportions of various tissues, and vascular bundles were noticed. Chemical analysis revealed that the lignin level in the PMW-2016-1 mutant was higher and exhibited superiority in stem strength compared to the DPW-621-50 parent line. The force (N) required to break the internodes of mutant PMW 2016-1 was higher than that of DPW-621-50. The results suggested that the outer stem radius, stem wall thickness, the proportion of sclerenchyma tissues, the number of large vascular bundles, and lignin content are important factors that affect the mechanical strength of wheat stems, which can be the key parameters for the selection of varieties having higher lodging tolerance. Preliminary studies on the newly identified mutant PMW-2016-1 suggested that this mutant may possess higher lodging tolerance because it has a higher stem strength than DPW-621-50 and can be used as a donor parent for the development of lodging-tolerant wheat varieties

Testing of traditional ways of predicting lactation yield for selecting dairy cattle

There are many conventional methods for predicting the first lactation milk yield in 305 days (FLMY) based on fortnightly part milk yield data in dairy cattle. The different methods used are based on data available over different years as implicated under farm and field conditions. These fortnightly test day milk yields could be utilized in the estimation of 305-day milk yield by ratio method and multiple regression methods. The Sahiwal cattle can be selected for higher FLMY utilizing fifth fortnightly day milk yield (FTDY-5), FTDY-6, FTDY-7, FTDY-8, FTDY-11, and FTDY-18 test day yields. Selection can be carried out for higher first lactation milk yield based on fortnightly test day milk yields in the case of Sahiwal and its crossbred cattle.

Testing of traditional ways of predicting lactation yield for selecting dairy cattle

514-517There are many conventional methods for predicting the first lactation milk yield in 305 days (FLMY) based on fortnightly part milk yield data in dairy cattle. The different methods used are based on data available over different years as implicated under farm and field conditions. These fortnightly test day milk yields could be utilized in the estimation of 305-day milk yield by ratio method and multiple regression methods. The Sahiwal cattle can be selected for higher FLMY utilizing fifth fortnightly day milk yield (FTDY-5), FTDY-6, FTDY-7, FTDY-8, FTDY-11, and FTDY-18 test day yields. Selection can be carried out for higher first lactation milk yield based on fortnightly test day milk yields in the case of Sahiwal and its crossbred cattle

Whispers of Nourishment: Unveiling the Role of Non-Coding RNA in Plant Nutrient Availability

Micronutrients play a vital role in crop growth and development, as they are essential for various physiological processes and biochemical reactions within plants. Insufficient levels of micronutrients in the soil can lead to nutrient deficiencies in plants, resulting in stunted growth, reduced yields, and poor overall health. In the last decades, it has been seen that noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are involved in the regulation of micronutrient uptake, transport, and utilization in plants. They can modulate the expression of genes encoding transporters, chelators, and enzymes related to micronutrient acquisition and utilization. By fine-tuning gene expression, ncRNAs can help plants adapt to varying nutrient availability and optimize their nutrient uptake efficiency. Understanding the interplay between micronutrients and ncRNAs provides insights into the intricate molecular mechanisms underlying nutrient homeostasis and plant adaptation to nutrient stress. This study delves into the origin of various noncoding RNAs, such as miRNA, siRNA, and tsRNA, elucidating their pivotal role in maintaining micro- and macronutrient equilibrium within plant tissues. Overall, this research underscores the intricate interplay between micronutrients and noncoding RNAs in crop plants, shedding light on the intricacies of nutrient regulation and opening up new avenues for future investigation and potential applications in agriculture

Surgical management of pterygium in a rural hospital using bare sclera versus conjunctival autograft technique

Background: Pterygium is defined as a triangular fibrovascular subepithelial ingrowth of degenerative bulbar conjunctival tissue over limbus onto the cornea. Commonly seen among farmers, fishermen, stone cutters and welders. Both blue and ultraviolet light have been implicated in its causation. Histologically the true Pterygium shows elastotic degeneration of the subconjunctival connective tissue. Pterygium warrant treatment when they encroach the visual axis, induces significant astigmatism or become cosmetically bothersome. My present study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy, safety and recurrence rates of conjunctival autograft and bare sclera techniques in treatment of progressive true pterygium in a rural hospital.Methods: The prospective study was done in the Department of Ophthalmology, Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences, B.G Nagara, Mandya District, Karnataka, India. The study was conducted for a period of 18 months. About 70 patients who presented with progressive pterygium were included in the study.Results: In our study pterygium recurred in 10 cases (14.28%), among which pterygium recurred in 8 cases (22.85 %) using bare sclera technique and in 2 patients (5.71%) using conjunctival autograft technique, best corrected visual acuity remained stable in 37 cases (52.85 %), improved in 33 cases (47.14 %) and worsened in none (0%) of the cases.Conclusions: Conjunctival autografting is a safe and effective procedure in the management of pterygium. The recurrence rate following limbal conjunctival autografting is significantly lower than that following primary conjunctival closure by bare sclera technique

Comprehensive meta-QTL analysis for dissecting the genetic architecture of stripe rust resistance in bread wheat

Abstract Background Yellow or stripe rust, caused by the fungus Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) is an important disease of wheat that threatens wheat production. Since developing resistant cultivars offers a viable solution for disease management, it is essential to understand the genetic basis of stripe rust resistance. In recent years, meta-QTL analysis of identified QTLs has gained popularity as a way to dissect the genetic architecture underpinning quantitative traits, including disease resistance. Results Systematic meta-QTL analysis involving 505 QTLs from 101 linkage-based interval mapping studies was conducted for stripe rust resistance in wheat. For this purpose, publicly available high-quality genetic maps were used to create a consensus linkage map involving 138,574 markers. This map was used to project the QTLs and conduct meta-QTL analysis. A total of 67 important meta-QTLs (MQTLs) were identified which were refined to 29 high-confidence MQTLs. The confidence interval (CI) of MQTLs ranged from 0 to 11.68 cM with a mean of 1.97 cM. The mean physical CI of MQTLs was 24.01 Mb, ranging from 0.0749 to 216.23 Mb per MQTL. As many as 44 MQTLs colocalized with marker–trait associations or SNP peaks associated with stripe rust resistance in wheat. Some MQTLs also included the following major genes- Yr5, Yr7, Yr16, Yr26, Yr30, Yr43, Yr44, Yr64, YrCH52, and YrH52. Candidate gene mining in high-confidence MQTLs identified 1,562 gene models. Examining these gene models for differential expressions yielded 123 differentially expressed genes, including the 59 most promising CGs. We also studied how these genes were expressed in wheat tissues at different phases of development. Conclusion The most promising MQTLs identified in this study may facilitate marker-assisted breeding for stripe rust resistance in wheat. Information on markers flanking the MQTLs can be utilized in genomic selection models to increase the prediction accuracy for stripe rust resistance. The candidate genes identified can also be utilized for enhancing the wheat resistance against stripe rust after in vivo confirmation/validation using one or more of the following methods: gene cloning, reverse genetic methods, and omics approaches