A High-yielding Drought-tolerant Groundnut Variety Abhaya

Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea), an important oilseed and food crop of Andhra Pradesh, India is grown largely as a rainfed crop during the rainy season. Drought is the major abiotic stress affecting yield and quality of rainfed groundnut in the state. Yield losses due to drought are highly variable depending on its timing, intensity and duration coupled with other location specific environmental factors such as irradiance and temperature (Nigam et al. 2001). Thus the groundnut productivity in rainy season in the state ranges between 500 kg ha-1 and 1200 kg ha-1 (Reddy et al. 2003)

Complete breakdown of the Debye model of rotational relaxation near the isotropic-nematic phase boundary: Effects of intermolecular correlations in orientational dynamics

The Debye-Stokes-Einstein (DSE) model of rotational diffusion predicts that the rotational correlation times $\tau_{l}$ vary as $[l(l+1)]^{-1}$, where $l$ is the rank of the orientational correlation function (given in terms of the Legendre polynomial of rank $l$). One often finds significant deviation from this prediction, in either direction. In supercooled molecular liquids where the ratio $\tau_{1}/\tau_{2}$ falls considerably below three (the Debye limit), one usually invokes a jump diffusion model to explain the approach of the ratio $\tau_{1}/\tau_{2}$ to unity. Here we show in a computer simulation study of a standard model system for thermotropic liquid crystals that this ratio becomes much less than unity as the isotropic-nematic phase boundary is approached from the isotropic side. Simultaneously, the ratio $\tau_2/\eta$ (where $\eta$ is the shear viscosity of the liquid) becomes {\it much larger} than hydrodynamic value near the I-N transition. We have also analyzed the break down of the Debye model of rotational diffusion in ratios of higher order rotational correlation times. We show that the break down of the DSE model is due to the growth of orientational pair correlation and provide a mode coupling theory analysis to explain the results.Comment: Submitted to Physical Review

Protective responses of antioxidant enzymes against bisphenol-A induced oxidative stress in Asian Seabass Lates calcarifer

1458-1463Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disruptor used as plastic monomer and plasticizer widely present in the aquatic environment. In the present study, the effect of BPA on the antioxidant system in Lates calcarifer was documented. Three different concentrations such as 1, 10, 100 µg/l were selected and exposed to fishes for 30 days. After BPA exposure, antioxidant parameters were estimated against control. The levels of marker enzymes were assessed in the gill, muscle, liver and brain tissues. The results showed that the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and lipid peroxidation (LPx) were increased in treated groups than control. On the other hand, reduced glutathione (GSH) level was decreased in BPA exposed groups compared to control. Based on the results, imbalance in the antioxidant defence system clearly indicated that the BPA toxicity could lead to susceptible oxidative stress in various tissues of the fish L. calcarifer

Fatty acid desaturase-2 (ahFAD2) mutant alleles in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) pre-breeding lines: an insight into the source, features, discourse, and selection of novel pre-breeding lines

High oleic peanuts and derived food products offer longer shelf life benefits to the food processing industry in addition to multiple health benefits to the consumers. The two mutant alleles, ahFAD2A and ahFAD2B control composition of oleic, linoleic and palmitic acid content in peanut. A total of 563 peanut pre-breeding lines were tested for the presence ahFAD2A and ahFAD2B mutant alleles using allele specific markers. The ahFAD2A mutant allele was present in 82 lines, while none of these lines had ahFAD2B mutant allele. Among botanical types, ahFAD2A mutant allele was more frequent in lines with Virginia growth habit than Spanish bunch although no correlation of ahFAD2A mutant allele with high oleic acid content and growth habit could be established. Oleic and linoleic acid content in 82 prebreeding lines ranged from 39.70 to 62.70% and 17.76 to 31.95%, respectively, with maximum oleic to linoleic acid ratio of 4. Oleic acid was found to be negatively correlated with linoleic and palmitic acid. Further, pre-breeding lines with ahFAD2A mutant allele, high oleic content and high oleic to linoleic ratio were investigated and novel lines were identified for resistance to late leaf spot, short duration, higher pod yield and other yield related traits. These novel pre-breeding lines can be used as a potential donor in peanut improvement programme and to diversify the primary gene pool including initiating further research on induction of fresh ahFAD2B mutant allele

Advances in Crop Improvement and Delivery Research for Nutritional Quality and Health Benefits of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Groundnut is an important global food and oil crop that underpins agriculture-dependent livelihood strategies meeting food, nutrition, and income security. Aflatoxins, pose a major challenge to increased competitiveness of groundnut limiting access to lucrative markets and affecting populations that consume it. Other drivers of low competitiveness include allergens and limited shelf life occasioned by low oleic acid profile in the oil. Thus grain off-takers such as consumers, domestic, and export markets as well as processors need solutions to increase profitability of the grain. There are some technological solutions to these challenges and this review paper highlights advances in crop improvement to enhance groundnut grain quality and nutrient profile for food, nutrition, and economic benefits. Significant advances have been made in setting the stage for marker-assisted allele pyramiding for different aflatoxin resistance mechanisms—in vitro seed colonization, pre-harvest aflatoxin contamination, and aflatoxin production—which, together with pre- and post-harvest management practices, will go a long way in mitigating the aflatoxin menace. A breakthrough in aflatoxin control is in sight with overexpression of antifungal plant defensins, and through host-induced gene silencing in the aflatoxin biosynthetic pathway. Similarly, genomic and biochemical approaches to allergen control are in good progress, with the identification of homologs of the allergen encoding genes and development of monoclonal antibody based ELISA protocol to screen for and quantify major allergens. Double mutation of the allotetraploid homeologous genes, FAD2A and FAD2B, has shown potential for achieving >75% oleic acid as demonstrated among introgression lines. Significant advances have been made in seed systems research to bridge the gap between trait discovery, deployment, and delivery through innovative partnerships and action learning

High oleic peanuts for Asia and Africa to meet the needs of the food processing industries

High oleic peanuts offer longer shelf-life benefits to food processing industry, health benefits to consumers and increases profitability to farmers through premium price compared to normal peanuts. International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in collaboration with national partners of India has developed high oleic peanuts in Spanish and Virginia Bunch growth habit suitable for cultivation in Asia and Africa. The oleic acid concentration in high oleic peanuts is 80+2% as against 45-50% in normal peanuts. The high oleic lines were developed using SunOleic 95R as donor parent from the USA employing marker-assisted selection (MAS) and marker-assisted backcrossing (MABC) approaches. Process innovation in breeding and testing pipeline that include, high through phenotyping using Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS), genotyping, rapid generation advancement under controlled conditions, target site testing to fix the best allele combinations and multi-location testing resulted in enhanced rate of genetic gain for high oleic trait. ICRISAT has shared high oleic peanut lines with national partners in India, Uganda, Tanzania, Mali, Malawi, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Australia. High oleic lines are in national trials under All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Peanut (AICRP-G) during rainy 2017 and 2018 and this is the first such speciality trial being conducted in India and it is expected that India will release its first high oleic peanut variety in 2019. Fast-track development and commercialization of high oleic varieties in India was enabled through partnerships

Molecular breeding for introgression of fatty acid desaturase mutant alleles (ahFAD2A and ahFAD2B) enhances oil quality in high and low oil containing peanut genotypes

High oleate peanuts have two marketable benefits, health benefits to consumers and extended shelf life of peanut products. Two mutant alleles present on linkage group a09 ( ahFAD2A) and b09 ( ahFAD2B) control composition of three major fatty acids, oleic, linoleic and palmitic acids which together determine peanut oil quality. In conventional breeding, selection for fatty acid composition is delayed to advanced generations. However by using DNA markers, breeders can reject large number of plants in early generations and therefore can optimize time and resources. Here, two approaches of molecular breeding namely marker-assisted backcrossing (MABC) and marker-assisted selection (MAS) were employed to transfer two FAD2mutant alleles from SunOleic 95R into the genetic background of ICGV 6110, ICGV 6142 and ICGV 6420. In summary, 82 MABC and 387 MAS derived introgression lines (ILs) were developed using DNA markers with elevated oleic acid varying from 62 to 83%. Oleic acid increased by 0.5-1.1 folds, with concomitant reduction of linoleic acid by 0.4-1.0 folds and palmitic acid by 0.1-0.6 folds among ILs compared to recurrent parents. Finally, high oleate ILs, 27 with high oil (53.0-57.9%), and 28 ILs with low oil content (42.4-49.9%) were selected that may be released for cultivation upon further evaluation

Improving oil quality by altering levels of fatty acids through marker-assisted selection of ahfad2 alleles in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Peanut plays a key role to the livelihood of millions in the world especially in Arid and Semi-Arid regions. Peanut with high oleic acid content aids to increase shelf-life of peanut oil as well as food products and extends major health benefits to the consumers. In peanut, ahFAD2 gene controls quantity of two major fatty acids viz, oleic and linoleic acids. These two fatty acids together with palmitic acid constitute 90% fat composition in peanut and regulate the quality of peanut oil. Here, two ahfad2 alleles from SunOleic 95R were introgressed into ICGV 05141 using marker-assisted selection. Marker-assisted breeding effectively increased oleic acid and oleic to linoleic acid ratio in recombinant lines up to 44% and 30%, respectively as compared to ICGV 05141. In addition to improved oil quality, the recombinant lines also had superiority in pod yield together with desired pod/seed attributes. Realizing the health benefits and ever increasing demand in domestic and international market, the high oleic peanut recombinant lines will certainly boost the economical benefits to the Indian farmers in addition to ensuring availability of high oleic peanuts to the traders and industry

Assessment of trace metal contamination in a historical freshwater canal (Buckingham Canal), Chennai, India

The present study was done to assess the sources and the major processes controlling the trace metal distribution in sediments of Buckingham Canal. Based on the observed geochemical variations, the sediments are grouped as South Buckingham Canal and North Buckingham Canal sediments (SBC and NBC, respectively). SBC sediments show enrichment in Fe, Ti, Mn, Cr, V, Mo, and As concentrations, while NBC sediments show enrichment in Sn, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, and Hg. The calculated Chemical Index of Alteration and Chemical Index of Weathering values for all the sediments are relatively higher than the North American Shale Composite and Upper Continental Crust but similar to Post-Archaean Average Shale, and suggest a source area with moderate weathering. Overall, SBC sediments are highly enriched in Mo, Zn, Cu, and Hg (geoaccumulation index (Igeo) class 4– 6), whereas NBC sediments are enriched in Sn, Cu,Zn, and Hg (Igeo class 4–6). Cu, Ni, and Cr show higher than Effects-Range Median values and hence the biological adverse effect of these metals is 20%; Zn, which accounts for 50%, in the NBC sediments, has a more biological adverse effect than other metalsfound in these sediments. The calculated Igeo, Enrichment Factor, and Contamination Factor values indicate that Mo, Hg, Sn, Cu, and Zn are highly enriched in the Buckingham Canal sediments, suggesting the rapid urban and industrial development of Chennai MetropolitanCity have negatively influenced on the surrounding aquatic ecosystem