Genotypic variation for yield and morphological traits in

ABSTRACT Genetic variability is the main basis of improvement in crops. An experiment comprising fifteen old and new wheat varieties was planted in randomized complete block design with three replications at the Agricultural Research Farm of NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar during crop season, 2003-2004. Data were recorded on yield and some other morphological traits. Statistical analysis of the data was carried out and means were separated using the least significance difference test. Correlation coefficients were also determined. Analysis of variance revealed that the varieties differed significantly for days to 50% heading, days to 50% anthesis, plant height and grain yield ha -1 . However, differences were non-significant for physiological maturity, biological yield and harvest index. Days to 50% anthesis showed significantly positive correlations with days to 50% heading, days to maturity and grain yield. Grain yield also exhibited significantly positive correlation with biological yield

Characterization of sorghum germplasm for various morphological and fodder yield parameters

This study was performed to evaluate and characterize 24 sorghum accessions for various morphological and fodder yield parameters. The germplasm displayed considerable variability for leaf color, midrib color, panicle shape, days to 50% flowering, leaf area, flag leaf area, plant height and green fodder yield, while differences of smaller magnitude were observed for number of leaves and tillers plant-1. Genotype Fsd -sorghum was mature early with minimum days to maturity (63) while maximum plant height (232 cm) was observed for Acc.1692. Moreover, Acc.1827 exhibited maximum leaf area (447 cm2) and the highest green fodder yield at 50% maturity (58 t ha-1) was recorded for Acc. 1763. The results of this study indicate that significant genetic diversity exists among the sorghum accessions. The genetic potential of Fsd-sorghum, accessions 1692, 1827 and 1763 can be exploited in future sorghum breeding programs. Further, these genotypes are recommended for commercial cultivation to meet the fodder needs of the country.Keywords: Fodder, Sorghum bicolor, accession

GENOTYPIC VARIATION FOR YIELD AND YIELD RELATED TRAITS AND THEIR CORRELATION STUDIES IN WHEAT

ABSTRACT The main basis of improvement in crops is the development of desirable genotypes. An experiment consisting of fifteen wheat genotypes was planted in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications at the Agricultural Research Farm, Malakandher, NWFP Agricultural University Peshawar during 2003-04. Data were recorded on some important yield related traits. Statistical analysis was carried out and the means were separated by the Least Significant Difference (LSD) test. Significant differences were observed among the genotypes for the number of productive tillers m -2 and grain yield. However, the differences were not significant for the characters of grains spike -1 , spikelets spike -

Distribution of Cytomegalovirus Genotypes among Neonates Born to Infected Mothers in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection contributes to considerable long-term sequelae in neonates and children all over the world. The association between viral genotypes and severity of clinical cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is yet to be defined. The objective of this study was to find the impact of active CMV infection during pregnancy and the clinical significance of genotypes in neonates with congenital cytomegalovirus infections in Pakistan.A total of 409 blood samples from pregnant women seeking health care services at the two antenatal hospitals of Islamabad during January to December 2012 were tested by ELISA and nested-PCR. Pregnant women with active infection (detected as IgM positive, PCR positive or positive on both assays) were followed until delivery, to detect the outcome of overt cCMV infection in neonates. Genetic characterization of CMV strains was performed by sequence analysis of envelope glycoproteins: gB, gN and gH to detect the contributing CMV genotypes.The seroprevalence of anti-CMV IgG and IgM was 97.5% (399 out of 409) and 12.7% (52 out of 409), respectively, while 20% (82/409) pregnant women were found positive for CMV DNA by PCR. Logistic regression analysis showed a significant association of active infection with parity [OR = 2.56, 95% CI = 1.82-2.62, p = 0.04], febrile illness [OR = 1.84, 95% CI = 1.76-3.65, p = 0.01] and jaundice [OR = 22.5, 95% CI = 4.53-85.02, p = 0.002]. We were able to isolate virus in 41 out of 70 neonates; 36.6% (15 out of 41) of them were symptomatic at birth while 63.4% (26 out of 41) were asymptomatic. The most prominent clinical feature observed in symptomatic neonates was hepatosplenomegaly (26.6%; 4 out of 15). All three genotypes gB, gN and gH were found with the highest frequency of gB1 genotype, found in 75% infants with hepatic damage. Phylogenetic analysis of Pakistani strains showed 96%-100% homology to their prototype strains.Active CMV infection during pregnancy is a major cause of congenital CMV infection with comparable distribution of all three genotypes: gB, gN and gH in symptomatic and asymptomatic neonates. Our findings emphasize to conduct a comprehensive large scale survey and introduction of country wide routine screening at maternity clinics for early diagnosis of CMV to reduce its associated devastating outcomes

Clinical Abnormalities found in Newborns with Symptomatic Congenital CMV Infection.

<p>Clinical Abnormalities found in Newborns with Symptomatic Congenital CMV Infection.</p

Oligonucleotide primers and thermal conditions used for PCR and sequencing of cytomegalovirus.

<p>Oligonucleotide primers and thermal conditions used for PCR and sequencing of cytomegalovirus.</p

Association of clinical infection in newborns compared to the mother’s gestational stage of CMV exposure.

<p>Association of clinical infection in newborns compared to the mother’s gestational stage of CMV exposure.</p

Genotype distribution of CMV in neonates born with congenital infection.

<p>Genotype distribution of CMV in neonates born with congenital infection.</p

Results of IgM, IgG and PCR testing for diagnosis of CMV infection in pregnant women.

<p>Results of IgM, IgG and PCR testing for diagnosis of CMV infection in pregnant women.</p

Phylogenetic analysis of gB, gN and gH genotypes of HCMV.

<p>The reference strains and isolates detected through BLAST are given for genetic comparison. The phylogenetic tree with 1000 bootstrap replicates was reconstructed using neighbor joining method and Kimura two-parameter distances model incorporated in MEGA v5.0. The number at the nodes indicates bootstrap values shown above 50. Fig 2A, 2B and 2C represent genetic relationships of gB, gH and gN genotypes of CMV respectively. The strains detected in this study are represented by sample identification with codes mentioned as PAK: Pakistan, NIH: National Institute of Health Islamabad.</p