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Deep and Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of Rice Plants Infested by the Beet Armyworm (\u3ci\u3eSpodoptera exigua\u3c/i\u3e) and Water Weevil (\u3ci\u3eLissorhoptrus oryzophilus\u3c/i\u3e)

The beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua) and the rice water weevil (Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus) are two important insect pests in rice production. To identify insect-responsive genes in rice, we performed a deep transcriptome analysis of Nipponbare rice leaves infested with both beet armyworm and water weevil using massively parallel signature sequencing (MPSS). Many antisense, alternative, and novel transcripts were commonly and specifically induced and suppressed in the infested tissue. Key genes involved in the defense metabolic pathways such as salicylic acid and jasmonic acid biosynthesis pathways were up-regulated in the infested leaves. To validate theMPSS results, we analyzed the transcriptome of the rice leaves infested with water weevils using Solexa’s sequencing-bysynthesis (SBS) method. The MPSS and SBS data were highly correlated (Pearson’s correlation coefficient=0.85), and 83% of genes had similar gene expression in both libraries. Our comprehensive and in-depth survey of the insect-infested libraries provides a rich genomic resource for further analyzing the function of key regulatory genes involved in insect resistance in rice. Supplementary files are attached below

Econometric modeling of tobacco exports in the milieu of changing global and national policy regimes: repercussions on the Indian tobacco sector

IntroductionTobacco, an important commercial crop, plays a crucial role in farmers' incomes and livelihoods to a sizable population and contributes significant exchange earnings to the Indian economy. Currently, India is the second-largest tobacco producer after China, with a production of 758 million kg (13% of global production) and exports of ~190 million kg of tobacco (9% of global tobacco export volume). However, there are uncertainties surrounding the tobacco sector, such as growing public health and environmental issues associated with tobacco production and consumption and changing national and international tobacco-related policy regimes. In this context, the current study investigates the determinants of tobacco exports and geographical shifts in export destinations over the years.MethodsThe statistical models employed are co-integration, and vector error-correlation models to test the short-run and long-run dynamics relationship between tobacco exports and the explanatory variables, and the Markov chain approach to find out geographical shifts in export destinations.Results and discussionThe econometric model estimated the relationship between the tobacco export volume with domestic production, export price, and global demand for Indian tobacco, and investigated the geographical shift in export destinations of tobacco in the context of changing global and national policy regimes on the sector. The econometric modeling framework confirms that there exists a statistically significant relationship between Indian tobacco export demand, domestic production, export price, and world demand for Indian tobacco. The geographical shift was evident in major export destinations during the post-WHO-FCTC (Framework Convention on Tobacco Control) regime. The model findings direct that India should take advantage of the export price, and global demand for tobacco as India ratified WHO-FCTC; there is no scope for horizontal expansion of the area under tobacco. This modeling framework aids as a tool to direct and explore the possible options with a greater emphasis on export-centric farming system in tobacco production by augmenting crop compliance and quality to meet the standards of international markets

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Not AvailableThirty five leaf blast resistant BC1F2 rice plants were evaluated for eleven morphological characters during kharif season, 2014 at Directorate of Rice Research (DRR), Hyderabad. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the genotypes for most of the traits. Phenotypic coefficients of variability were higher than genotypic coefficients of variability for all the traits. Phenotypic coefficient of variation ranged from 9.58-49.59, while genotypic coefficient of variation ranged from 9.51-54.90. High heritability was recorded in number of filled grains (97%) followed by spikelet fertility (86%), number of productive tillers/plant (56%). Genetic advance as percentage of mean ranged from 4.50% (days to flowering) to 56.1% (number of filled grains/panicle). Plant yield showed positive and significant correlation with panicle weight (0.392) and spikelet fertility (0.817). Number of filled grains (1.166), number of tillers (1.101), plant height (0.351) and panicle weight (0.073) had positive direct effect on plant yield and unfilled grains with high negative direct effect (-1.043). The results indicated that for increasing rice yield with blast resistance, a genotype should possess more number of filled grains, number of tillers per plant, high spikelet fertility and large panicle size with medium plant height.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableAmong 454 SSR markers, 118 markers exhibited polymorphism. Among these, three best polymorphic markers on each chromosome covering all 12 chromosomes were employed for selective genotyping of 188 F2 mapping population derived from APMS-6B, a low stigma exsertion parent and BF-16B, a high stigma exsertion parent and one marker on each chromosome and two reported markers used for single marker analysis. For phenotypic study parents, F1 and F2 population were evaluated for stigma exsertion trait in order to understand the inheritance as well as linkage with SSR markers. A co-segregation analysis with respect to marker (based on the amplification pattern of the marker) and trait phenotype revealed that three markers RM20060 on chromosome 6, RM5647on chromosome 8 and RM4771 on chromosome 10 showed least recombination frequency and these three markers found to be linked to the stigma exsertion trait. These markers could be used in marker assisted selection programs to develop a male sterile line with a high stigma exsertion.Not Availabl