Influence of plant growth regulators on growth, seed yield, quality and economics of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) cv. Sudha

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of plant growth regulators (PGRs) on growth, seed yield, quality and economics of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) cv. Sudha. The seven treatments included in the experiment are two concentrations each of GA3 (50 and 75 ppm), NAA (10 and 25 ppm), Cycocel (100 and 250 ppm) and control (water spray), as presoaking, foliar spray at 30 and 60 DAS. Among different PGRs applied, spray of 75 ppm GA3 resulted in significant maximum plant height. However, maximum number of primary branches and secondary branches plant-1, number of umbels plant-1, number of umbellets umbel-1, number of seeds umbel-1, seed yield and B:C ratio was maximum with 250 ppm Cycocel. Minimum number of days to 50% flowering and maturity and maximum carbohydrate content and protein content were noticed with 75 ppm GA3. Similarly, lowest moisture content in seeds was also observed with 75 ppm GA3, while, the essential oil content in seeds was maximum with 50 ppm GA3. &nbsp

Molecular genetics and phenotypic assessment of foxtail millet (Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv.) landraces revealed remarkable variability of morpho-physiological, yield, and yield‐related traits

Foxtail millet (Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv.) is highly valued for nutritional traits, stress tolerance and sustainability in resource-poor dryland agriculture. However, the low productivity of this crop in semi-arid regions of Southern India, is further threatened by climate stress. Landraces are valuable genetic resources, regionally adapted in form of novel alleles that are responsible for cope up the adverse conditions used by local farmers. In recent years, there is an erosion of genetic diversity. We have hypothesized that plant genetic resources collected from the semi-arid climatic zone would serve as a source of novel alleles for the development of climate resilience foxtail millet lines with enhanced yield. Keeping in view, there is an urgent need for conservation of genetic resources. To explore the genetic diversity, to identify superior genotypes and novel alleles, we collected a heterogeneous mixture of foxtail millet landraces from farmer fields. In an extensive multi-year study, we developed twenty genetically fixed foxtail millet landraces by single seed descent method. These landraces characterized along with four released cultivars with agro-morphological, physiological, yield and yield-related traits assessed genetic diversity and population structure. The landraces showed significant diversity in all the studied traits. We identified landraces S3G5, Red, Black and S1C1 that showed outstanding grain yield with earlier flowering, and maturity as compared to released cultivars. Diversity analysis using 67 simple sequence repeat microsatellite and other markers detected 127 alleles including 11 rare alleles, averaging 1.89 alleles per locus, expected heterozygosity of 0.26 and an average polymorphism information content of 0.23, collectively indicating a moderate genetic diversity in the landrace populations. Euclidean Ward’s clustering, based on the molecular markers, principal coordinate analysis and structure analysis concordantly distinguished the genotypes into two to three sub-populations. A significant phenotypic and genotypic diversity observed in the landraces indicates a diverse gene pool that can be utilized for sustainable foxtail millet crop improvement

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Not AvailableRice is a staple food crop, which ensures the calorie requirement of half of the world’s population. With the continued increase in population, rice will play a key role in achieving the food security. However, in the constantly shrinking scenario of rice fields, the necessity of these extra grains of rice must be met by reducing the yield loss due to various abiotic and biotic stresses. The adverse effects of climate impact both quality and quantity of rice production. One of the most desirable applications of CRISPR/Cas technology would be to develop climate smart rice crop to sustain and enhance its productivity in the changing environment. In this review, we analyze the desirable phenotypes and responsible genetic factors, which can be utilized to develop tolerance against major abiotic stresses imposed by climate change through genome engineering. The possibility of utilizing the information from wild resources to engineer the corresponding alleles of cultivated rice has been presented. We have also shed light on available resources for generating genome edited rice lines. The CRISPR/Cas mediated genome editing strategies for engineering of novel genes were proposed to create a plant phenotype, which can face the adversities of climate change. Further, challenges of off-targets and undesirable phenotype were discussed.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableIntroduction Photosystem II (PSII) protein complex plays an essential role in the entire photosynthesis process. Various known and unknown protein factors are involved in the dynamics of the PSII complex that need to be characterized in crop plants for enhancing photosynthesis efficiency and productivity. Objectives The experiments were conducted to decipher the regulatory proteins involved in PSII dynamics of rice crop. Methods A novel rice regulatory protein PAP90 (PSII auxiliary protein ~90 kDa) was characterized by generating a loss-of-function mutant pap90. The mutation was characterized at molecular level followed by various experiments to analyze the morphological, physiological and biochemical processes of mutant under control and abiotic stresses. Results The pap90 mutant showed reduced photosynthesis due to D1 protein instability that subsequently causes inadequate accumulation of thylakoid membrane complexes, especially PSII and decreases PSII functional efficiency. Expression of OsFtsH family genes and proteins were induced in the mutant, which are known to play a key role in D1 protein degradation and turnover. The reduced D1 protein accumulation in the mutant increased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The accumulation of ROS along with the increased activity of antioxidant enzymes and induced expression of stress-associated genes and proteins in pap90 mutant contributed to its water-limited stress tolerance ability. Conclusion We propose that PAP90 is a key auxiliary protein that interacts with D1 protein and maintains its stability, thereby promoting subsequent assembly of the PSII and associated membrane complexes.Department of Biotechnology, Government of India FileNo. BT/PR-13105/AGR/02/684/2009

Haplotype Analyses of DNA Repair Gene Polymorphisms and Their Role in Ulcerative Colitis

<div><p>Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a major clinical form of inflammatory bowel disease. UC is characterized by mucosal inflammation limited to the colon, always involving the rectum and a variable extent of the more proximal colon in a continuous manner. Genetic variations in DNA repair genes may influence the extent of repair functions, DNA damage, and thus the manifestations of UC. This study thus evaluated the role of polymorphisms of the genes involved in DNA repair mechanisms. A total of 171 patients and 213 controls were included. Genotyping was carried out by ARMS PCR and PCR-RFLP analyses for <i>RAD51</i>, <i>XRCC</i>3 and <i>hMSH2</i> gene polymorphisms. Allelic and genotypic frequencies were computed in both control & patient groups and data was analyzed using appropriate statistical tests. The frequency of ‘A’ allele of <i>hMSH</i>2 in the UC group caused statistically significant increased risk for UC compared to controls (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.16–2.31, <i>p</i> = 0.004). Similarly, the CT genotype of <i>XRCC</i>3 gene was predominant in the UC group and increased the risk for UC by 1.75 fold compared to controls (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.15–2.67, <i>p</i> = 0.03), further confirming the risk of ‘T’ allele in UC. The GC genotype frequency of <i>RAD</i>51 gene was significantly increased (<i>p</i> = 0.02) in the UC group (50.3%) compared to controls (38%). The GC genotype significantly increased the risk for UC compared to GG genotype by 1.73 fold (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.14–2.62, <i>p</i> = 0.02) confirming the strong association of ‘C’ allele with UC. Among the controls, the SNP loci combination of <i>hMSH</i>2:<i>XRCC</i>3 were in perfect linkage. The GTC and ACC haplotypes were found to be predominant in UC than controls with a 2.28 and 2.93 fold significant increase risk of UC.</p></div

<i>hMSH</i>2 genotypic distribution in UC compared to healthy controls.

<p><i>hMSH</i>2 genotypic distribution in UC compared to healthy controls.</p

Allele frequency distributions of <i>hMSH</i>2 <i>XRCC</i>3 <i>RAD</i>51 (G135C) in UC and healthy controls.

<p>Allele frequency distributions of <i>hMSH</i>2 <i>XRCC</i>3 <i>RAD</i>51 (G135C) in UC and healthy controls.</p