Phenotypic and genotypic screening of rice genotypes at seedling stage for salt tolerance | Selección fenotípica y genotípica de genotipos de arroz para tolerancia a la salinidad en la etapa de plántulas

Selection for salinity tolerant genotypes of rice based on phenotypic performance alone is less reliable and will delay in progress in breeding. Recent advent of molecular markers, microsatellites or simple sequence repeats (SSRs), have been useful in finding salt tolerant rice genotypes. Three selected SSR markers already known to be polymorphic, viz., RM7075, RM336 and RM253, were used to evaluate rice genotypes for salt tolerance. Phenotypic and genotypic evaluation for salinity tolerance was done at the seedling stage. Phenotyping was done in hydroponic system using salinized (EC 12 dS/m) nutrient solution following IRRI standard protocol. Large variation in salinity tolerance among the rice germplasms was detected. Salt stress (EC 12 dS/m) reduced seedling height by 19.0% and total dry matter of tolerant lines by 40.6%, whereas, total dry matter of susceptible lines were reduced by 46.0-73.5%. All the tested markers were polymorphic and were able to discriminate salt tolerant genotypes from susceptible. The genotypes having similar banding pattern with Pokkali were considered as salt tolerant. Markers RM7075, RM336 and RM253 identified eight, nine and seven salt tolerant genotypes, respectively. Through phenotypic and genotypic study, three genotypes viz., Pokkali, TNDB-100 and THDB were identified as salt tolerant rice genotypes. These SSR markers might have sequence homology with salt tolerant rice genotypes and consequently the markers could able to identify salt tolerant rice genotypes from susceptible ones. Key words: rice, salinity tolerance, SSR markers, seedling stage. RESUMEN La selección para resistencia a la salinidad de genotipos de arroz, basada solamente en el comportamiento fenotípico, es menos confiable y retarda el avance en el mejoramiento. Se han utilizado avances recientes en marcadores moleculares, microsatélites o repeticiones de secuencias simples (SSR por sus siglas en inglés) para determinar genotipos de arroz tolerantes a la salinidad. Se utilizaron tres marcadores SSR viz., RM7075, RM336 y RM253 para evaluar genotipos de arroz para tolerancia a la salinidad. La evaluación fenotípica y genotípica para la tolerancia a la salinidad se realizó en la etapa de plántula. La fenotipificación de once genotipos se realizó en un sistema hidropónico utilizando solución nutritiva salinizada (CE 12 dS/m). Se siguió el protocolo estandarizado del IRRI para evaluar la tolerancia a la salinidad. Se detectó una gran variación en la tolerancia a la salinidad entre el germoplasma de arroz. La altura de las plántulas y la materia seca total de las líneas tolerantes se redujeron en un 19,0 y 40,6%, respectivamente, bajo estrés salino (CE 12 dS/m), en tanto que las de las líneas susceptibles se redujeron en un 46,0% y 73,5%, respectivamente. Los marcadores mostraron polimorfismo y fueron capaces de discriminar los genotipos tolerantes a la salinidad de aquellos susceptibles. Los genotipos con un patrón similar de bandas a Pokkali se consideraron como tolerantes a la salinidad. Los marcadores SSR (RM7075, RM336 y RM253) identificaron ocho, nueve y siete genotipos tolerantes a la salinidad, respectivamente. A través del estudio fenotípico y genotípico, tres genotipos viz., Pokkali, TNDB-100 y THDB se identificaron como cultivares de arroz tolerantes a la salinidad. Estos marcadores SSR podrían tener homología de secuencias con genotipos de arroz tolerantes a la salinidad y por consiguiente, los marcadores podrían ser capaces de identificar genotipos de arroz tolerantes a la salinidad de aquellos susceptibles. Palabras clave: Arroz, tolerancia a la salinidad, marcadores SSR, etapa de plántulas

Estudio de la variabilidad presente en germoplasma de tártago (Ricinus communis L.) en cuanto a racimos, frutos y semillas

Castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) is an oil crop cultivated for industrial use and as an ornamental plant. Lately, the interest for this species has increased for being a raw material for the production of biodiesel, an ecological less pollutant fuel. The resistance to drought is its outstanding characteristic, standing as an opportunity for agricultural development in arid and semiarid areas. In this study the variability of 13 accessions of castor bean is reported based on qualitative and quantitative traits: raceme (shape, compaction, length of primary, number of fruits per raceme, weight of seeds per raceme, number seed per raceme), capsules (dehiscence, spines, 100 weight, color of immature fruits) and seeds (weight of 100, weight in 100 fruits, width, length, width/long and oil content). Principal components analysis explained 87% of the variability with the three first components. Hierarchic classification showed four clusters of accessions, grouping materials based mainly on seeds and fruits dimensions and weight. Variability was also found based on qualitative traits of fruit and racemes. This collection includes accessions of spineless, smooth and indehiscent capsules with different degrees of dehiscence and drop of capsules, waxy or not. The variability found in the studied collection can provide the base material to be used in breeding programs of the species.El tártago (Ricinus communis L.) es cultivado como oleaginosa de uso industrial y planta ornamental. Tanto en Venezuela como a nivel mundial se ha aumentado el interés por esta especie, por ser materia prima para la producción de biodiesel, combustible ecológico menos contaminante. La resistencia a la sequía es su característica más destacada, pudiendo ser sembrado en zonas áridas y semiáridas. En el presente trabajo se reporta la variabilidad encontrada en 13 accesiones de tártago sobre la base de caracteres cualitativos y cuantitativos: forma del racimo, compactación de los frutos, longitud del racimo primario, número de frutos/racimo, peso de semilla/racimo, número de semillas/racimo, dehiscencia y espinosidad de los frutos, peso de 100 frutos, color de frutos inmaduros, peso de 100 semillas, peso de semilla en 100 frutos, ancho, largo, relación ancho/largo de las semillas y contenido de aceite de las semillas. El análisis de componentes principales explicó el 87% de la variabilidad encontrada en los primeros tres componentes. La clasificación jerárquica ascendente mostró cuatro grupos bien definidos de accesiones determinadas principalmente por caracteres de peso y dimensión de frutos y semillas. En los genotipos estudiados también se encontró una importante variabilidad sobre la base de caracteres cualitativos de frutos y racimos. La colección incluye accesiones de frutos sin acúleos (espinas) y lisos, de espinosidad densa a rala, frutos indehiscentes y persistentes, racimos cónicos, cilíndricos y globosos, desde muy ralos hasta muy compactos, con y sin cera. Esta variación puede hacer del germoplasma estudiado un material base para su uso directo y potencial en programas de mejoramiento del cultivo

Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Vegetation Indices and Heat Island Effect: A Remote Sensing Study of Dhaka City, Bangladesh

It is predicted that the COVID-19 lockdown decreased environmental pollutants and, hence, urban heat island. Using the hypothesis as a guide, the objective of this research is to observe the change in vegetation pattern and heat-island effect zones in Dhaka, Bangladesh, before and after COVID-19 lockdown in relation to different forms of land use and land cover. Landsat-8 images were gathered to determine the vegetation pattern and the heat island zones. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and the modified soil-adjusted vegetation index (MSAVI12) were derived for analyzing the vegetation pattern. According to the results of the NDVI, after one month of lockdown, the health of the vegetation improved. In the context of the MSAVI12, the highest MSAVI12 coverages in March of 2019, 2020, and 2021 (0.45 to 0.70) were 22.15%, 21.8%, and 20.4%, respectively. In May 2019, 2020, and 2021, dense MSAVI12 values accounted for 23.8%, 25.5%, and 18.4%, respectively. At the beginning of lockdown, the calculated LST for March 2020 was higher than March 2019 and March 2021. However, after more than a month of lockdown, the LST reduced (in May 2020). After the lockdown in May 2020, the highest UHI values ranging from 3.80 to 5.00 covered smaller land-cover regions and reduced from 22.5% to 19.13%. After the end of the lockdown period, however, industries, markets, and transportation resumed, resulting in the expansion of heat island zones. In conclusion, strong negative correlations were observed between the LST and vegetation indices. The methodology of this research has potential for scholarly and practical implications. Secondly, urban policymakers can use the methodology of this paper for the low-cost monitoring of urban heat island zones, and thus take appropriate spatial counter measures

Selección fenotípica y genotípica de genotipos de arroz para tolerancia a la salinidad en la etapa de plántulas

Selection for salinity tolerant genotypes of rice based on phenotypic performance alone is less reliable and will delay in progress in breeding. Recent advent of molecular markers, microsatellites or simple sequence repeats (SSRs), have been useful in finding salt tolerant rice genotypes. Three selected SSR markers already known to be polymorphic, viz., RM7075, RM336 and RM253, were used to evaluate rice genotypes for salt tolerance. Phenotypic and genotypic evaluation for salinity tolerance was done at the seedling stage. Phenotyping was done in hydroponic system using salinized (EC 12 dS/m) nutrient solution following IRRI standard protocol. Large variation in salinity tolerance among the rice germplasms was detected. Salt stress (EC 12 dS/m) reduced seedling height by 19.0% and total dry matter of tolerant lines by 40.6%, whereas, total dry matter of susceptible lines were reduced by 46.0-73.5%. All the tested markers were polymorphic and were able to discriminate salt tolerant genotypes from susceptible. The genotypes having similar banding pattern with Pokkali were considered as salt tolerant. Markers RM7075, RM336 and RM253 identified eight, nine and seven salt tolerant genotypes, respectively. Through phenotypic and genotypic study, three genotypes viz., Pokkali, TNDB-100 and THDB were identified as salt tolerant rice genotypes. These SSR markers might have sequence homology with salt tolerant rice genotypes and consequently the markers could able to identify salt tolerant rice genotypes from susceptible ones.La selección para resistencia a la salinidad de genotipos de arroz, basada solamente en el comportamiento fenotípico, es menos confiable y retarda el avance en el mejoramiento. Se han utilizado avances recientes en marcadores moleculares, microsatélites o repeticiones de secuencias simples (SSR por sus siglas en inglés) para determinar genotipos de arroz tolerantes a la salinidad. Se utilizaron tres marcadores SSR viz., RM7075, RM336 y RM253 para evaluar genotipos de arroz para tolerancia a la salinidad. La evaluación fenotípica y genotípica para la tolerancia a la salinidad se realizó en la etapa de plántula. La fenotipificación de once genotipos se realizó en un sistema hidropónico utilizando solución nutritiva salinizada (CE 12 dS/m). Se siguió el protocolo estandarizado del IRRI para evaluar la tolerancia a la salinidad. Se detectó una gran variación en la tolerancia a la salinidad entre el germoplasma de arroz. La altura de las plántulas y la materia seca total de las líneas tolerantes se redujeron en un 19,0 y 40,6%, respectivamente, bajo estrés salino (CE 12 dS/m), en tanto que las de las líneas susceptibles se redujeron en un 46,0% y 73,5%, respectivamente. Los marcadores mostraron polimorfismo y fueron capaces de discriminar los genotipos tolerantes a la salinidad de aquellos susceptibles. Los genotipos con un patrón similar de bandas a Pokkali se consideraron como tolerantes a la salinidad. Los marcadores SSR (RM7075, RM336 y RM253) identificaron ocho, nueve y siete genotipos tolerantes a la salinidad, respectivamente. A través del estudio fenotípico y genotípico, tres genotipos viz., Pokkali, TNDB-100 y THDB se identificaron como cultivares de arroz tolerantes a la salinidad. Estos marcadores SSR podrían tener homología de secuencias con genotipos de arroz tolerantes a la salinidad y por consiguiente, los marcadores podrían ser capaces de identificar genotipos de arroz tolerantes a la salinidad de aquellos susceptibles

Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Vegetation Indices and Heat Island Effect: A Remote Sensing Study of Dhaka City, Bangladesh

It is predicted that the COVID-19 lockdown decreased environmental pollutants and, hence, urban heat island. Using the hypothesis as a guide, the objective of this research is to observe the change in vegetation pattern and heat-island effect zones in Dhaka, Bangladesh, before and after COVID-19 lockdown in relation to different forms of land use and land cover. Landsat-8 images were gathered to determine the vegetation pattern and the heat island zones. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and the modified soil-adjusted vegetation index (MSAVI12) were derived for analyzing the vegetation pattern. According to the results of the NDVI, after one month of lockdown, the health of the vegetation improved. In the context of the MSAVI12, the highest MSAVI12 coverages in March of 2019, 2020, and 2021 (0.45 to 0.70) were 22.15%, 21.8%, and 20.4%, respectively. In May 2019, 2020, and 2021, dense MSAVI12 values accounted for 23.8%, 25.5%, and 18.4%, respectively. At the beginning of lockdown, the calculated LST for March 2020 was higher than March 2019 and March 2021. However, after more than a month of lockdown, the LST reduced (in May 2020). After the lockdown in May 2020, the highest UHI values ranging from 3.80 to 5.00 covered smaller land-cover regions and reduced from 22.5% to 19.13%. After the end of the lockdown period, however, industries, markets, and transportation resumed, resulting in the expansion of heat island zones. In conclusion, strong negative correlations were observed between the LST and vegetation indices. The methodology of this research has potential for scholarly and practical implications. Secondly, urban policymakers can use the methodology of this paper for the low-cost monitoring of urban heat island zones, and thus take appropriate spatial counter measures

Tackling a global epidemic threat: Nipah surveillance in Bangladesh, 2006-2021.

Human Nipah virus (NiV) infection is an epidemic-prone disease and since the first recognized outbreak in Bangladesh in 2001, human infections have been detected almost every year. Due to its high case fatality rate and public health importance, a hospital-based Nipah sentinel surveillance was established in Bangladesh to promptly detect Nipah cases and respond to outbreaks at the earliest. The surveillance has been ongoing till present. The hospital-based sentinel surveillance was conducted at ten strategically chosen tertiary care hospitals distributed throughout Bangladesh. The surveillance staff ensured that routine screening, enrollment, data, and specimen collection from suspected Nipah cases were conducted daily. The specimens were then processed and transported to the reference laboratory of Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) and icddr,b for confirmation of diagnosis through serology and molecular detection. From 2006 to 2021, through this hospital-based surveillance platform, 7,150 individuals were enrolled and tested for Nipah virus. Since 2001, 322 Nipah infections were identified in Bangladesh, 75% of whom were laboratory confirmed cases. Half of the reported cases were primary cases (162/322) having an established history of consuming raw date palm sap (DPS) or tari (fermented date palm sap) and 29% were infected through person-to-person transmission. Since the initiation of surveillance, 68% (218/322) of Nipah cases from Bangladesh have been identified from various parts of the country. Fever, vomiting, headache, fatigue, and increased salivation were the most common symptoms among enrolled Nipah patients. Till 2021, the overall case fatality rate of NiV infection in Bangladesh was 71%. This article emphasizes that the overall epidemiology of Nipah virus infection in Bangladesh has remained consistent throughout the years. This is the only systematic surveillance to detect human NiV infection globally. The findings from this surveillance have contributed to early detection of NiV cases in hospital settings, understanding of Nipah disease epidemiology, and have enabled timely public health interventions for prevention and containment of NiV infection. Although we still have much to learn regarding the transmission dynamics and risk factors of human NiV infection, surveillance has played a significant role in advancing our knowledge in this regard

Characteristics of NiV patients, including clinical symptoms and signs, exposure, and outcome of NiV infections reported from Bangladesh between April 2001 to December 2021.

Characteristics of NiV patients, including clinical symptoms and signs, exposure, and outcome of NiV infections reported from Bangladesh between April 2001 to December 2021.</p

Distribution of individuals tested for NiV infection at ten sentinel hospitals in Bangladesh, January 2007 to December 2021.

The red bars represent the number of NiV-positive persons (n = 139), and the grey bars indicate the number of NiV-negative individuals (n = 7011). The small green squares signify the proportion (%) of Nipah cases detected in the calendar year. The horizontal dark blue line implies the overall annual proportion of 1.94%. * In 2007, active sites started reporting the total number of suspected Nipah encephalitis/pneumonitis cases admitted every month.</p