G × E interactions in QTL introgression lines of Spanish-type groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Multi-environment testing at five locations for rust and late leaf spot (LLS) resistance with 41 introgressed lines (ILs) bred using marker-assisted backcross breeding in the genetic background Spanish- type groundnut varieties identified significant genotype, and genotype 9 environment interactions (GEI) for LLS disease resistance and yield parameters. Significant GEI effects suggest the need to identify location specific breeding lines to achieve gains in pod yield and LLS resistance. The observed variable LLS disease reaction among the ILs in part suggests influence of background genotype on the level of resistance. A breeding scheme with early generation selection using molecular markers followed by phenotyping for LLS, and multi-location testing of fixed breeding lines was optimized to enhance selection intensity and accuracy in groundnut breeding. The ILs, ICGVs 14431, 14436 and 14438 with pooled LLS score at 90 DAS of 3.5–3.7 were superior to respective recurrent parent for pod yield, with early maturing similar to recurrent parents. The pod yield advantage in ILs is attributed by more number of pods, besides resistance to LLS that contributes to better filling

The Indian COSMOS Network (ICON): validating L-band remote sensing and modelled soil moisture data products

Availability of global satellite based Soil Moisture (SM) data has promoted the emergence of many applications in climate studies, agricultural water resource management and hydrology. In this context, validation of the global data set is of substance. Remote sensing measurements which are representative of an area covering 100 m2 to tens of km2 rarely match with in situ SM measurements at point scale due to scale difference. In this paper we present the new Indian Cosmic Ray Network (ICON) and compare it’s data with remotely sensed SM at different depths. ICON is the first network in India of the kind. It is operational since 2016 and consist of seven sites equipped with the COSMOS instrument. This instrument is based on the Cosmic Ray Neutron Probe (CRNP) technique which uses non-invasive neutron counts as a measure of soil moisture. It provides in situ measurements over an area with a radius of 150–250 m. This intermediate scale soil moisture is of interest for the validation of satellite SM. We compare the COSMOS derived soil moisture to surface soil moisture (SSM) and root zone soil moisture (RZSM) derived from SMOS, SMAP and GLDAS_Noah. The comparison with surface soil moisture products yield that the SMAP_L4_SSM showed best performance over all the sites with correlation (R) values ranging from 0.76 to 0.90. RZSM on the other hand from all products showed lesser performances. RZSM for GLDAS and SMAP_L4 products show that the results are better for the top layer R = 0.75 to 0.89 and 0.75 to 0.90 respectively than the deeper layers R = 0.26 to 0.92 and 0.6 to 0.8 respectively in all sites in India. The ICON network will be a useful tool for the calibration and validation activities for future SM missions like the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR)

Molecular breeding tools improved drought tolerant groundnut variety for resistance to foliar fungal diseases

A largely rainfed crop in India, drought tolerance, particularly mid- and end-season tolerance, is a key trait in groundnut varieties. A combination of both empirical and trait-based approaches was used in breeding programs of ICAR and ICRISAT, resulting in release of few tolerant varieties that have superior pod yield under drought stress and/or have enhanced water-use-efficiency. There is a need to breed varieties with drought tolerance, disease resistance and quality traits that suit different production ecologies as well as meet the needs of the farmers, consumers and industries. ICRISAT has released an early-maturing (90-95 d) and drought- tolerant variety ICGV 91114 for the drought-prone Ananthapur district of Andhra Pradesh, India, where about 0.7 m ha area is under groundnut cultivation and has low (300 mm) and erratic (30-40 rainy days) rainfall. On-farm studies conducted with ICGV 91114 during 2008-10 showed 30% reduction in yield variability over the years. Following screening in hot-spots of both rust and LLS disease during 2014 rainy season, a total of 27 introgression lines derived from ICGV 91114 were selected and advanced for evaluation in multi-location trials at six locations in 2015 under rainfed conditions. Based on the pod yield under rainfed conditions and disease resistance, three superior introgression lines (ICGV 14410, ICGV 13189, ICGV 14421) were proposed for the first-ever NILs trial (near-isogenic lines trial) along with eight others conducted under All India Coordinated Research Project on Groundnut (AICRP-G) at national level

Indigenous knowledge of the traditional and qualified ayurveda practitioners on the nutritional significance and use of red rice in medications

506-511Red rice Rakthashali (with red husk and grain) is the native staple food of Dakshina Kannada (Karnataka) and Kasaragod (Kerala) district. A study was conducted to collect and document information from the traditional and qualified practitioners on the use of red rice in various medications and therapies to find its applicability as a functional food especially in promoting lactation. Red rice was found beneficial to health in terms of its nutritional significance and its applicability in various medications like in allergies, skin ailments, uterus related problems, nerve disorders, gastro-intestinal problems, liver, kidney disorders, fever, infections and in promoting lactation

Certificate training on value addition to little millet [appendix 7 of the joint technical final report (October 2010 - March 2013)]

This appendix contains recipes developed for millet-based products for rural markets as well as home consumption. It also outlines a training programme regarding the nutritional aspects of millet for food security and nutrition, plus courses on value addition and marketing of millet through women entrepreneurs. The project succeeded in increasing productivity, income generation, famer livelihoods, and consumption of millet varieties for improved nutritional security while reducing the postharvest drudgery of women farmers

Hand book for school children : importance of millets in daily diets for food and nutrition security [appendix 11 of the joint technical final report (October 2010 - March 2013)]

This booklet for school children provides information while raising awareness about nutrition and a balanced diet, and aims at providing knowledge about the importance and use of nutritious small millets. The inclination of people towards the ready-to-eat and fast foods has contributed to the discard of nutritious millets in the Indian diet. Hence the “Handbook on nutrition for school children” aims at reintroducing small millets into their daily diet to promote healthy living. This book also introduces the importance of a balanced diet and nutritious millets among the farming community through educating their children

N-[(2-Chlorophenyl)sulfonyl]-2-methoxybenzamide

The title compound, C14H12ClNO4S, crystallizes with two molecules in the asymmetric unit. The dihedral angles between the benzene rings are 89.68 (1) (molecule 1) and 82.9 (1)° (molecule 2). In each molecule, intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bonds between the amide H atom and the methoxy O atom generate S(6) loops. In the crystal, molecule 2 is linked into inversion dimers through pairs of C—H...O interactions, forming an R22(8) ring motif. Molecules 1 and 2 are further linked along the b-axis direction through C—H...π interactions. The crystal structure is further stabilized by several π–π stacking interactions [centroid–centroid separations = 3.7793 (1), 3.6697 (1) and 3.6958 (1) Å], thus generating a three-dimensional architecture

1-Tosyl-4-[2-(trifluoromethyl)benzyl]piperazine

In the crystal structure of the title compound, C19H21F3N2O2S, the piperazine ring adopts a chair conformation. The dihedral angles between the mean plane of the piperazine ring and the tosyl and trifluoromethylphenyl rings are 74.52 (3) and 68.30 (2)°, respectively. The sulfonamide N atom deviates from the plane defined by the three attached atoms by 0.327 (1) Å. The crystal structure is stabilized by weak C—H...π interactions