Mapping and QTL Analysis of Gynoecy and Earliness in Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia L.) Using Genotyping-by-Sequencing (GBS) Technology

A high-density, high-resolution genetic map was constructed for bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.). A total of 2013 high quality SNP markers binned to 20 linkage groups (LG) spanning a cumulative distance of 2329.2 cM were developed. Each LG ranging from 185.2 cM (LG-12) to 46.2 cM (LG-17) and average LG span of 116.46 cM. The number of SNP markers mapped in each LG varied from 23 markers in LG-20 to 146 markers in LG-1 with an average of 100.65 SNPs per LG. The average distance between markers was 1.16 cM across 20 LGs and average distance between the markers ranged from 0.70 (LG-4) to 2.92 (LG-20). A total of 22 QTLs for four traits (gynoecy, sex ratio, node and days at first female flower appearance) were identified and mapped on 20 LGs. The gynoecious (gy-1) locus is flanked by markers TP_54865 and TP_54890 on LG 12 at a distance of 3.04 cM to TP_54890 and the major QTLs identified for the earliness traits will be extremely useful in marker development and MAS for rapid development of various gynoecious lines with different genetic background of best combiner for development of early and high yielding hybrids in bitter gourd

Genetics, genomics and breeding of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Groundnut is an important food and oil crop in the semiarid tropics, contributing to household food consumption and cash income. In Asia and Africa, yields are low attributed to various production constraints. This review paper highlights advances in genetics, genomics and breeding to improve the productivity of groundnut. Genetic studies concerning inheritance, genetic variability and heritability, combining ability and trait correlations have provided a better understanding of the crop's genetics to develop appropriate breeding strategies for target traits. Several improved lines and sources of variability have been identified or developed for various economically important traits through conventional breeding. Significant advances have also been made in groundnut genomics including genome sequencing, marker development and genetic and trait mapping. These advances have led to a better understanding of the groundnut genome, discovery of genes/variants for traits of interest and integration of marker‐assisted breeding for selected traits. The integration of genomic tools into the breeding process accompanied with increased precision of yield trialing and phenotyping will increase the efficiency and enhance the genetic gain for release of improved groundnut varieties

Design and Optimization of 200 Ton H- Type Hydraulic Press

A hydraulic press is a machine using a hydraulic cylinder to generate a compressive force. The hydraulic press works on Pascal’s principle, which states that the pressure throughout a closed system is constant. Hydraulic presses are commonly used for forging, clinching, moulding, blanking, punching, deep drawings and metal forming operations.200-ton capacity hydraulic frame and cylinder are modelled using Solidworks and analysed by solidworks simulation using finite element analysis. The objective of the project is to optimize the total mass and cost of hydraulic press while assuring adequate stiffness by using honeycomb structure on ram. Honey comb structures allows the minimization of material used to reach minimal weight and minimal material cost by providing high strength without compromising the output quality

Growth response of Catla catla (Actinopterygii: Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) to soya and maize supplemented traditional feed mixture

Background. In Indian carp culture, a 1 : 1 mixture of rice bran and oil cake is traditionally used as feed in powder form; it is nutritionally inadequate and also a large part of it goes unutilized as the fish cannot feed on the powder effectively. With a view to improve its nutritional quality and reduce the wastage, the mixture was supplemented with soya and maize flours and converted into pellet form. The performance of the supplemented diets was evaluated by feeding them to catla, Catla catla, one of the popular Indian major carps. Materials and methods. Two test diets were formulated supplementing the feed mixture with soya flour (10% and 20%) and maize flour (39%), replacing equal quantities of rice bran and oilcake. These diets along with the control diet were fed to triplicate groups of catla fry maintained in outdoor cement tanks for 120 days. Results. The test diets enhanced growth and net fish production significantly (P < 0.05). This resulted in higher economic returns under the two test treatments. Survival of fish ranged from 74% to 76%.  Carcass of fish receiving the test diets had significantly (P < 0.05) higher lipid and lower moisture levels. Digestive enzyme activity was affected positively (P < 0.05) by the test diets. Conclusion. Replacing rice bran and oilcake from the traditional feed mixture with soya and maize flours proved economically viable

Inertial currents in the Indian Ocean derived from satellite tracked surface drifters

Satellite-tracked surface drifters were used to analyze the characteristics of inertial currents in the tropical Indian Ocean. The drifters were drogued at 15 m depth and had wind-produced slips less than 0.1 % of the wind speed. The rotary spectra of surface velocity components indicated the significance of inertial currents. They are circular (rotary coefficient > 0.5), highly intermittent and contribute up to 46 % to the total kinetic energy of the surface flow field. Events of inertial activity, either triggered by the passage of atmospheric disturbances or by the local fluctuations in the atmospheric pressure (winds), did not last for more than 4 to 5 inertial cycles. The observed inertial frequency exhibited a shift towards the red end of the spectrum by 12 %. Cyclonic storm induced inertial events even at a location 300 km away from it. (C) 2000 Ifremer/CNRS/IRD/Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.Des flotteurs de surface suivis par satellite ont été utilisés pour analyser les caractéristiques des courants d'inertie dans l'océan Indien tropical. Largués à 15 mètres de profondeur, ces flotteurs présentent une vitesse de dérive inférieure à 0,1 % de celle du vent. Le spectre de rotation des composantes de la vitesse superficielle souligne l'importance des courants d'inertie. Ceux-ci sont circulaires (coefficient de rotation >0.5), très intermittents et ils contribuent environ à 46 % de l'énergie cinétique totale du champ de courants superficiels. Les événements de l'activité inertielle, qu'ils soient provoqués par le passage de perturbations atmosphériques ou par des fluctuations locales de pression atmosphérique (vents), ne durent pas plus de 4 à 5 cycles d'inertie. La fréquence d'inertie observée est déplacée vers les basses fréquences du spectre d'environ 12 %. Un cyclone génère des événements inertiels jusqu'à 300 kilomètres du lieu où il se situe

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Structural interpretation of the Konkan basin, southwestern continental margin of India, based on magnetic and bathymetric data

Magnetic and bathymetric studies on the Konkan basin of the southwestern continental margin of India reveal prominent NNW-SSE, NW-SE, ENE-WSW, and WNW-ESE structural trends. The crystalline basement occurs at about 5-6 km below the mean sea level. A mid-shelf basement ridge, a shelf margin basin, and the northern extension of the Prathap Ridge complex are also inferred. The forces created by the sea-floor spreading at Carlsberg Ridge since late Cretaceous appears to shape the present-day southwestern continental margin of India and caused the offsets in the structural features along the preexisting faults

MULTIVARIATE ASSESSMENT OF YIELD AND ITS COMPONENTS IN OKRA [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] GENOTYPES

Not AvailableOkra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] is a valuable vegetable in many regions of the world, especially in the tropics and sub-tropics. It is not only a nutrient-rich vegetable but also an important medicinal herb (Yuan et al., 2014). Although India is the largest producer of okra with 6.35 million tonnes production (72.9% of total world production) from 0.53 million hectare area (Anonymous, 2015), its productivity potential is low. A major constraint in okra productivity is the low genetic potential of the present okra varieties. Improvement of okra requires a broad spectrum of genetic variability from which useful characters can be selected for developing broad-based populations to be used in hybridization programme (Lester et al., 1990; Hammond and Charrier, 1983). Genetic distance estimates form the basis for selecting parental combinations. Genetic distance estimates for population can be estimated by different methods. One of the approaches is to apply multivariate analysis as it has extensive use in summarizing and describing the inherent variation among crop genotypes. Multivariate statistical tools include Mahalanobis D2 analysis, cluster analysis, principal component analysis (PCA) and discriminate analysis (Oyelola, 2004). Mahalanobis D2 multivariate analysis (Mahalanobis, 1936) for obtaining quantitative estimates of genetic divergence and Tocher’s method for grouping of different genotypes of a particular crop are more valuable tools in choosing suitable parents for heterosis breeding. PCA can be used to uncover similarities between variables and classify the genotypes. With this backdrop, an attempt was made in the present study to assess the nature and magnitude of genetic divergence of some okra genotypes consisting of advanced breeding elite lines developed at Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bangalore using various multivariate analysis tools.Not Availabl