Mapping and marker-assisted breeding of a gene allelic to the major Asian rice gall midge resistance gene Gm8

Host plant resistance is the preferred management strategy for Asian rice gall midge (Orseolia oryzae), a serious pest in many rice-growing countries. Identification of simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers that are tightly linked to pest resistance genes can accelerate development of gene pyramids for durable/multiple resistance. Based on conventional and molecular allelism tests, we report herein that rice genotype Aganni possesses Gm8 gene, conferring hypersensitive independent (HR– type) resistance to gall midge biotypes GMB1, GMB2, GMB3, GMB4, and GMB4M. The gene Gm8 was mapped to chromosome 8 within a 400-kbp region, and the SSR markers RM22685 and RM22709 flank the gene closely. Using these closely linked flanking markers, nine other gall midge-resistant genotypes were identified as carrying the same gene Gm8. Through marker-assisted selection, Gm8 has been introgressed into an elite bacterial blight-resistant cultivar, Improved Samba-Mahsuri (IS

Assessment of different methods of rice (Oryza sativa. L) cultivation affecting growth parameters, soil chemical, biological, and microbiological properties, water saving, and grain yield in rice–rice system

Field experiments were conducted at DRR farm located at ICRISAT, Patancheru, in sandy clay loam soils during four seasons, Kharif 2008, Rabi 2008–2009, Kharif 2009 and Rabi 2009–2010, to investigate growth parameters, water-saving potential, root characteristics, chemical, biological, and microbial properties of rhizosphere soil, and grain yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.) by comparing the plants grown with system of rice intensification (SRI) methods, with organic or organic + inorganic fertilization, against current recommended best management practices (BMP). All the growth parameters including plant height, effective tillers (10–45 %), panicle length, dry matter, root dry weight (24–57 %), and root volume (10–66 %) were found to be significantly higher with in SRI-organic + inorganic over BMP. With SRI-organic fertilization, growth parameters showed inconsistent results; however, root dry weight (3–77 %) and root volume (31–162 %) were found significantly superior compared to BMP. Grain yield was found significantly higher in SRI-organic + inorganic (12–23 and 4–35 % in the Kharif and Rabi seasons, respectively), while with SRI-organic management, yield was found higher (4–34 %) only in the Rabi seasons compared to BMP. An average of 31 and 37 % of irrigation water were saved during Kharif and Rabi seasons, respectively, with both SRI methods of rice cultivation compared to BMP. Further, total nitrogen, organic carbon%, soil dehydrogenase, microbial biomass carbon, total bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes were found higher in the two SRI plots in comparison to BMP. It is concluded that SRI practices create favorable conditions for beneficial soil microbes to prosper, save irrigation water, and increase grain yield

SRI-A Method for Sustainable Intensification of Rice Production with Enhanced Water Productivity

Climate change induced higher temperatures will increase crops’ water requirements. Every 10°C increase in mean temperature, results in 7% decline in the yield of rice crop. Hence, there is a need to develop water saving technologies in rice which consumes more than 50% of the total irrigation water in agriculture. System of Rice Intensification (SRI) is one such water saving rice production technology. Experiments were conducted at different locations in India including research farm of Directorate of Rice Research (DRR), Hyderabad, during 2005-10 to assess the potential of SRI in comparison to normal transplanting/Standard Planting (NTP/SP) under flooded condition. SRI recorded higher grain yield (6 to 65% over NTP) at majority of locations. Long term studies clearly indicated that grain yield was significantly higher (12-23% and 4-35% over NTP in Kharif and Rabi seasons, respectively) in SRI (with organic+inorganic fertilizers) while the SRI (with100% organic manures), recorded higher yield (4-34%) over NTP only in the Rabi seasons. Even though, SRI resulted in higher productivity, the available nutrient status in soil was marginally higher (10, 42 and 13% over NTP for N, P and K, respectively) at the end of four seasons. There was a reduction in the incidence of pests in SRI and the relative abundance of plant parasitic nematodes was low in SRI as compared to the NTP. About 31% and 37% saving in irrigation water was observed during Kharif and Rabi seasons, respectively in both methods of SRI cultivation over NTP. SRI performed well and consistently reduced requirement of inputs such as seed and water in different soil conditions. SRI method, using less water for rice production can help in overcoming water shortage in future and it can also make water available for growing other crops thus promoting crop diversificatio

Improvement of two traditional Basmati rice varieties for bacterial blight resistance and plant stature through morphological and marker-assisted selection

Bacterial blight (BB) is a major production threat to Basmati, the aromatic rice prized for its unique quality. In order to improve the BB resistance of two elite, traditional BB-susceptible Basmati varieties (Taraori Basmati and Basmati 386), we utilized the strategy of limited marker-assisted backcrossing for introgression of two major BB resistance genes, Xa21 and xa13, coupled with phenotype-based selection for improvement of their plant type and yield. Improved Samba Mahsuri, an elite high-yielding, fine-grain-type BB-resistant rice variety served as donor for BB resistance. Backcross-derived improved Basmati lines at BC1F5 possessing a single resistance gene (i.e. either Xa21 or xa13) displayed moderate resistance to BB, while lines possessing both Xa21 and xa13 showed significantly higher levels of resistance. Two-gene pyramid lines (Xa21 + xa13) possessing good grain and cooking quality similar to their respective traditional Basmati parents, short plant stature (<110 cm plant height) and higher grain yield than the recurrent parent(s) were identified and advanced. This work demonstrates the successful application of marker-assisted selection in conjunction with phenotype-based selection for targeted introgression of multiple resistance genes into traditional Basmati varieties along with improvement of their plant stature and yield

Canopyana vateriae gen. nov. and sp. nov.-A leafhopper breeding on Vateria indica and a new record of Bhatia distanti (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Selenocephalinae) from south India

Abstract Canopyana gen. nov. with Canopyana vateriae sp. nov. as type species is described and illustrated. The new species was collected on Vateria indica L. (Dipterocarpaceae) while canopy was being sampled in Karnataka. The new genus is similar to Kutara Distant but differs in differently placed antennal bases, shape of the head and the male genitalia. Bhatia distanti Zhang and Webb previously known only from Sri Lanka is recorded for the first time from Western Ghats of India

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Not AvailablePresent investigation was carried out to assess the heterotic yield potential of 162 indica rice hybrids derived from twenty six KMR3/O. rufipogon introgression lines (ILs) and six cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) lines. The derived hybrids and testers were phenotyped for days to 50% flowering, plant height, number of productive tillers and yield per plant. The performance of hybrids was estimated based on standard heterosis over the hybrid check KRH2 along with analysis of variance for combining ability. Among these 3 lines and 20 testers were identified as good general combiners and significantly contributed to yield per plant. Nine out of 162 hybrids viz., IR58025A x IL458, IR58025A x IL467, IR58025A x IL473, DRR9A x IL106, DRR9A x IL109, DRR9A x IL117, DRR9A x IL410, DRR9A x IL478 and IR68897A x IL410 showed significantly high specific combining ability (SCA) and standard heterosis over KRH2. These hybrids are recommended for large scale field evaluation for yieldNot Availabl

Further studies on packaging and storage of some compounded soup powders

Laminated aluminium foil has been found to the best packaing material for storage of compounded soup powders under tropical conditions. At 25^0 C. shelf life of soup powders with medium moisture(3.5-5.5 per cent)and packed in plain sanitary cans is about 8 months which may be extended to about one year in laminated aluminium foil bags. Shelf life is better in low moisture packs compared with medium or high moisture packs

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Not AvailableDuring wet season 2003, over 2600 improved germplasm lines, including 600 drought tolerant introgression lines, 800 indica/tropical japonica derivatives and 800 hybrid rice (Oryza sativa L.) breeding materials were screened in a puddted field (clay soil) under non-fiooded, irrigated (aerobic) conditions with Rasi and Vandana as check varieties. The checks, known for their water stress tolerance were pianted at regular intervals (after every ten entries) to serve as controls. In both the checks, within as well as between the strips, there was no variation for days to heading, whereas a significant variation was found for grain yield character. Apart from visual selection, three different methods utilizing appropriate statistics were employed for identifying promising genotypes. Among the three methods studied, the bias due to overestimation of strip mean of the check variety (method 1) and identification of false positives by nearest-neighbor analysis (method 2) were eliminated by adopting standardized grid selection precedure (method 3). Further, it was found to be very consistent and effective and therefore a suitable method for employing in large breeding populations and/over wide range of environmental variations in the experimental field.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableDuring wet season 2003, two hundred rice (Oryza saliva L.) varieties released for cultivation under various ecologies were screened in a puddled field (clay soil) under non-flooded, irrigated (aerobic) conditions, with Rasi and Vandana as check varieties. The checks known for their adaptation to water stress were planted at regular Intervals (after every ten entries) to serve as controls. Twenty seven varieties showed yield advantage over the check Rasi, The popular varieties grown under irrigated conditions such as Jaya, IR 8, IR 64 etc. were found unsuitable. Most of the varieties with high yield potential and adaptation to aerobic conditions were found among rainfed shallow lowland and hill rice upland varieties, while the frequency of such varieties was very low among rainfed upland group varieties. Most of the selected irrigated varieties showed better pertormance under favourable moisture conditions with a few exceptions like Vikas which combined high yield and adaptation to aerobic environments. However, the semi deep water and deep water varieties were found unsuitable under aerobic conditions. Planting of checks at regular intervals as grids was very useful not only in dctecting varying levels of stress across Icngth and breadth of the field, but also in identifying suitable cultures for varying levels of stressNot Availabl