Agro-morphological characterization of local garlic (Allium sativum L.) germplasm accessions collected from different regions of Jammu and Kashmir

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is increasingly becoming an essential component in human diet due to tremendous health-promoting benefits; its traditional local types are preferred for their taste. Garlic clones have specific adaptations to different agro-climatic regions; some have adapted to specific environments through artificial and natural selection. The study was undertaken to assess the variation in some agro-morphological characters of 17 local garlic germplasm accessions collected from different regions of Jammu and Kashmir including far-flung areas of Karthaie Padder Kishtwar and Balot Bhaderwah Doda. Most of these local garlic germplasm accessions are characterized by more pungent smell and distinctive taste often with pigmented coat layers. Some of these accessions have been cryo-preserved in National Gene Bank at ICAR-NBPGR New Delhi. The results have demonstrated the existence of a good amount of agro-morphological diversity in these local garlic germplasm accessions. Different ecotypes exhibit considerable variation among themselves in agronomic characteristics. Therefore, there is a need for concerted efforts for exploration, collection and maintenance of locally available garlic germplasm possessing quality traits including disease and pest resistance besides good storability characteristics for future garlic crop improvement programmes in the region

Exploration, collection and conservation of multicrop germplasm from Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, India

Systematic exploration and germplasm collection trips were conducted across Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir state covering Chatroo valley, Padder valley and Kishtwar main including areas of Dachan, Surror, Sarthal, Bhonjwa and Drabshala during 2013, 2015 and 2018. A total of 113 germplasm accessions belonging to 29 species of crops and wild relatives from as many as 40 collection sites were collected at altitudes ranging from 1340-2670 m. Several areas in Sarthal, Bhonjwa, Dachan and Gulabgarh Padder were first time explored. Crop group wise accessions collected are pulses (39) mostly common beans, cereals (30) mostly maize, vegetables and spices (25), pseudocereals and millets (16), besides one accession each of Glycine max, Solanum pseudocapsicum and Nicotiana tabacum. The germplasm has been conserved in National Gene Bank (NGB), New Delhi. This study highlights information on the germplasm collected/observed and threats leading to biodiversity loss/genetic erosion in the highly fragile region of Kishtwar

Biochemical evaluation of dent corn (Zea mays L.) genotypes cultivated under rainfed conditions in the hills of north western Indian Himalayan state of Jammu and Kashmir

The aim of present study was to investigate protein, oil and fatty acid composition in 11 maize (Zea mays) genotypes collected from diverse locations in the hills of north western Indian Himalayan state of Jammu and Kashmir in order to get an idea about the extent of variability in these biochemical traits in the local germplasm. The study revealed significant variation in these quality traits. The protein content among the genotypes ranged from 10.7% to 18.7% while oil content varied between 2.26% and 4.80%. Higher protein content in some of the genotypes especially IC-0617877 (18.7%) and IC-0617880 (17.6%) is noteworthy. The saturated fatty acids of palmitic (C16:0), stearic (C18:0), arachidic (C20:0) and unsaturated fatty acids of oleic (C18:1), linoleic (C18:1) and elaidic (C18:1) were detected and quantified in these genotypes. Considerable variation has been recorded in fatty acid composition; 13.8-33.4% for palmitic acid, 21.5-48.1% for linoleic acid, 19.2-39% for oleic acid, 0.2-2.4% for elaidic acid, 2.5- 8.5% for stearic acid and 0.1-6.6% for arachidic acid. Higher oleic acid content recorded in all the genotypes excepting IC-0617881 is a useful trait. Strikingly, highest oil (4.80%), palmitic acid (33.4%), stearic acid (8.5%) and arachidic acid (6.6%) contents have been recorded in this remarkably cold tolerant genotype with reddish yellow seeds containing moderate protein content of 13.8 %. The appreciable variation in these quality traits could be exploited in breeding programmes for improvement of this crop and opening up new opportunities for its food and industrial end uses

Use of Phenomics for Differentiation of Mungbean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) Genotypes Varying in Growth Rates Per Unit of Water

In the human diet, particularly for most of the vegetarian population, mungbean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) is an inexpensive and environmentally friendly source of protein. Being a short-duration crop, mungbean fits well into different cropping systems dominated by staple food crops such as rice and wheat. Hence, knowing the growth and production pattern of this important legume under various soil moisture conditions gains paramount significance. Toward that end, 24 elite mungbean genotypes were grown with and without water stress for 25 days in a controlled environment. Top view and side view (two) images of all genotypes captured by a high-resolution camera installed in the high-throughput phenomics were analyzed to extract the pertinent parameters associated with plant features. We tested eight different multivariate models employing machine learning algorithms to predict fresh biomass from different features extracted from the images of diverse genotypes in the presence and absence of soil moisture stress. Based on the mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE), and R squared (R2) values, which are used to assess the precision of a model, the partial least square (PLS) method among the eight models was selected for the prediction of biomass. The predicted biomass was used to compute the plant growth rates and water-use indices, which were found to be highly promising surrogate traits as they could differentiate the response of genotypes to soil moisture stress more effectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is perhaps the first report stating the use of a phenomics method as a promising tool for assessing growth rates and also the productive use of water in mungbean crop

Wounding activates a 47 kDa MAP kinase in <i>Catharanthus roseus </i> (L.) G. Don.

107-112Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don. is an important medicinal plant (Fam. Apocynaceae) known for its alkaloids that are accumulated in response to various biotic and abiotic stresses including wounding. Mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinases are important components of cellular signaling system transducing these stress stimuli into intracellular responses by phosphorylation of downstream transcription factors, regulators or inhibitors leading to expression of stress responsive genes. Here, we report the activation of a 47 kDa MAP Kinase in C. roseus in response to wounding. The immunoprecipitation coupled with in-gel kinase assay revealed tyrosine phosphorylation of the protein. Partial purification of the MAP kinase was also attempted. We observed a size variation for the kinase when purified using different schemes

CrMPK3, a mitogen activated protein kinase from <it>Catharanthus roseus</it> and its possible role in stress induced biosynthesis of monoterpenoid indole alkaloids

Abstract Background Mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade is an important signaling cascade that operates in stress signal transduction in plants. The biologically active monoterpenoid indole alkaloids (MIA) produced in Catharanthus roseus are known to be induced under several abiotic stress conditions such as wounding, UV-B etc. However involvement of any signaling component in the accumulation of MIAs remains poorly investigated so far. Here we report isolation of a novel abiotic stress inducible Catharanthus roseus MAPK, CrMPK3 that may have role in accumulation of MIAs in response to abiotic stress. Results CrMPK3 expressed in bacterial system is an active kinase as it showed auto-phosphorylation and phosphorylation of Myelin Basic Protein. CrMPK3 though localized in cytoplasm, moves to nucleus upon wounding. Wounding, UV treatment and MeJA application on C. roseus leaves resulted in the transcript accumulation of CrMPK3 as well as activation of MAPK in C. roseus leaves. Immuno-precipitation followed by immunoblot analysis revealed that wounding, UV treatment and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) activate CrMPK3. Transient over-expression of CrMPK3 in C. roseus leaf tissue showed enhanced expression of key MIA biosynthesis pathway genes and also accumulation of specific MIAs. Conclusion Results from our study suggest a possible involvement of CrMPK3 in abiotic stress signal transduction towards regulation of transcripts of key MIA biosynthetic pathway genes, regulators and accumulation of major MIAs.</p

Physiological traits reveal potential for identification of droughttolerant mungbean[Vigna radiata (L.)Wilczek] genotypes undermoderate soil-moisture deficit

Not AvailableCanopy temperature is an important physiological trait usedfor screening drought tolerance in several crop plants.Mungbean being often exposed to post-flowering drought,we evaluated a set of 48 genotypes for variability in post-flowering canopy temperature and its association with roottraits and other physiological parameters contributing todrought tolerance under soil-moisture deficit stressconditions. Overall, canopy temperature depressionrevealed significant association with seed yield. Root traitslike number of lateral branches and dry root weight exhibitedsignificant negative correlation with canopy temperature.Leaf SPAD readings were positively associated with grainyield and most of the high SPAD genotypes maintainedhot canopies under drought. Some genotypes withcontrasting variation in SPAD levels (DMG-1050 and SML-1628) maintained their photosystem PSII health at par.Moreover, cool canopy was no guarantee for better PSIIhealth or vice versa. This study identified some cool canopygenotypes (VC-6173-C, IC-325770 and ML-2082) and agenotype (DMG-1050) with novel trait combinations likehigh SPAD and better PSII health despite high canopytemperature which can be used as donors in mungbeanbreeding programs. Present study explores geneticvariation in these adaptation traits contributing to plantperformance under soil-moisture deficit stress conditionsand potential of physiological breeding approaches forgenetic enhancement of this legume cropICA

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Not AvailableExperiments were conducted to elucidate the physiological basis of high SGW of LOK-1, a wheat cultivar grown in dry and hot environments in the central and peninsular zones of India. SGW of LOK-1 was least affected by removal of spikelets indicating little competition between the grains within the spike for assimilates. Reduction in SGW due to defoliation was less and the contribution of stem reserves to the grain development was high in LOK-1 relative to other cultivars. It seems that high level of expression of genes such as expansin (TaExpA6) contributes to the high SGW of LOK-1.Not Availabl