Achievements and prospects of grass pea ( Lathyrus sativus L.) improvement for sustainable food production

Grass pea offers an attractive choice for sustainable food production, owing to its intrinsic properties including limited water requirement and drought tolerance. However, low productivity and the presence of a neurotoxin (ODAP) have posed major obstacles to its genetic improvement. Also, biotechnological investments remain limited and the genome is complex and not well understood. Strategies that allow identification of genotypes with reduced ODAP content, coupling of low ODAP content with enhanced yield, and effective seed detoxification methods merit immediate attention. Breeder-friendly genomic tools are being increasingly made available to improve the efficiency of breeding protocols. To this end, the application of next-generation sequencing has provided a means of leveraging the repertoire of genomic resources for this somewhat neglected crop. In this review, we describe progress achieved in Lathyrus genetic improvement. We also explore potential opportunities in Lathyrus research and identify urgent research needs

Post-emergence herbicides efficacy for weed managment in kharif maize

Not AvailableThe escalating labour prices have significantly increased the production cost of kharif maize in India. To addressthis, a field experiment was conducted (2017) to evaluate the efficacy of post-emergence herbicide in kharif maize(Zea mays L.) at ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research, Pusa Campus, New Delhi. The tank-mix post-emergenceherbicide application, viz. tembotrione (120 g/ha) or topramezone (25.2 g/ha) at 15 DAS with 75% atrazine (750 g/ha) or as a sequential application at 25 DAS after pre-emergence (PE) 75% atrazine gave significant weed control inkharif maize by reducing density and dry weight. Significantly higher weed-control efficiency, weed-control index,herbicide efficiency index and lower weed persistence index were found in weed-free check, which was at par withPE atrazine (1000 g/ha) followed by hand weeding at 25 DAS and the post-emergence herbicide application oftembotrione (120 g/ha) /topramezone (25.2 g/ha) as tank-mix with 75% atrazine dose as early post-emergence at 15DAS or as the sequential application of these combinations. Significantly lowest weed index was observed in thesequential application of tembotrione/topramezone at 25 DAS after 75% atrazine dose as PE while the highest weedindex (49.3) with alone halosulfuron application. It was concluded that the application of post-emergence herbicide,viz. tembotrione (120 g/ha) /topramezone (25.2 g/ha) as tank-mix at 15 DAS with 75% dose of atrazine (750 g/ha)or as a sequential application at 25 DAS after 75% atrazine as PE found promising for better weed control and grainyield in kharif maize.Not Availabl

Discovery of widespread transcription initiation at microsatellites predictable by sequence-based deep neural network

Using the Cap Analysis of Gene Expression (CAGE) technology, the FANTOM5 consortium provided one of the most comprehensive maps of transcription start sites (TSSs) in several species. Strikingly, ~72% of them could not be assigned to a specific gene and initiate at unconventional regions, outside promoters or enhancers. Here, we probe these unassigned TSSs and show that, in all species studied, a significant fraction of CAGE peaks initiate at microsatellites, also called short tandem repeats (STRs). To confirm this transcription, we develop Cap Trap RNA-seq, a technology which combines cap trapping and long read MinION sequencing. We train sequence-based deep learning models able to predict CAGE signal at STRs with high accuracy. These models unveil the importance of STR surrounding sequences not only to distinguish STR classes, but also to predict the level of transcription initiation. Importantly, genetic variants linked to human diseases are preferentially found at STRs with high transcription initiation level, supporting the biological and clinical relevance of transcription initiation at STRs. Together, our results extend the repertoire of non-coding transcription associated with DNA tandem repeats and complexify STR polymorphism

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Not AvailableGiven the increasing scarcity of production resources such as water, energy and labor compounded by growing climatic risks – maize based production systems in north - western India are potential alternatives to intensive rice - wheat (RW) rotation. Conservation agriculture (CA) based best - bet crop management practices may increase crop productivity, while conserving and sustaining natural resources. Such practices are also believed to provide mitigation co - benefits through reduced GHG emission and increased soil carbon sequestration. In a nine - year study of conservation agriculture experiment established in 2008, we have evaluated the performance of CA - based management practices [zero tilled permanent bed (PB) and zero tillage flat (ZT)] and conventional till flat (CT) in main plots for four intensified irrigated maize systems [maize - wheat - mungbean (MWMb), maize - chickpea - Sesbania green manure (MCS), maize - mustard - mungbean (MMuMb) and maize - maize - Sesbania (MMS)] in sub plots. The experimental design was split - plot with three replications. Significant (P<0.05) tillage and cropping system interactions were observed for cropping system productivity and carbon dynamics. Agronomic performance (yield attributes) of all the crops (except wheat) grown in sequence with maize was maximum with ZT. Wheat outperformed on PB over ZT and CT. In the initial two years, higher system productivity (maize equivalent yield) was recorded in PB (8.2 - 8.5 Mg ha - 1). The soil organic carbon (SOC) content and its fractions were greatly affected by tillage, and crop establishment methods and cropping systems. The ZT and PB based crop establishment methods increased more SOC stock (0−30 cm) than CT system compared to initial value.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableThe maize-wheat-mungbean (MWMb) cropping system is being advocated as an alternative to the traditional rice-based cropping systems of north-western Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) to address the issues of energy and nutritional scarcity, residue burning, decline in biomass productivity and water tables. In semi-arid regions, the climate-change-induced variability in rainfall and temperature may have an impact on phenological responses of cereals and pulses which in turn would affect biomass production, economic yield and energy and water-use efficiency (WUE) of the crops. Henceforth, quantification of bioequivalent yields, energy requirement, economics and WUE of MWMb system is essentially required owing to have better understanding of this cropping system. Following a 5-year study was conducted under different tillage, crop establishment methods and balanced nutrient management practices showed that MWMb system productivity was recorded highest in zero till permanent (PB) plots and lowest in conventional tilled (CT) plots. PB and ZT plots registered 18.3% and 22.3% higher 5-year pooled MEY compared to CT-Control, respectively. Similar to tillage effects the nutrient management effect on MEY of MWMb rotation was also significant (P< 0.05) for all the 5-years where significantly higher yield was obtained in site specific nutrient management (SSNM) plots compared to other nutrient management plots. Tillage and nutrient management practices also had significant (P<0.05) effect on MWMb system pooled average water use efficiency and economics in 5-years of study. The year-wise cost of cultivation for different crops in MWMb system was almost similar in PB and ZT but was lower than CT plots. PB and ZT plots registered maximum MWMb system pooled average WUE (1.019 -1.131 US$net returns/ha-mm), net returns (US$ 1819-1891/ha) and benefit cost ratio (1.68-1.73), respectively. Similar to tillage effects, the nutrient management also significantly (P<0.05) affected the MWMb system pooled average WUE and economics. Significant (P<0.05) increase in MWMb WUE and economics was recorded in SSNM and RDF for pooled average system WUE (30-35%), net returns (31-38%), and BC ratio (31- 32%), compared to FFP treatments, respectively. However, SSNM and RDF nutrient management treatments remained statistically at par with respect to system WUE, net returns and BC ratio. Thus, adoption of conservation tillage (ZT/PB) practices with improved balanced nutrient management (SSNM/RDF) could be a viable option for achieving higher biomass productivity, water and energy-use efficiency and profitability in MWMb system.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableA greater energy grant in diesel - fedmachinery driven farming substantiate the higher GHGs emission alongwith improper input (fertilizer, pesticide and irrigation) use and intensive soil management. Practicing conservation tillage, residue retention and diversified crop rotations were advocated because of their multiple benefits. Hence we explored the energy requirement and carbon footprint of conservation agriculture (CA) based maize production systems. CoatedNfertilizer [sulphur coated urea (SCU) and neemcoated urea (NCU)]were compared with unfertilized and uncoated prilled urea (PU) in the scenario ofwith andwithout residue retention on permanent beds (PB) under diversified maize systems [MMuMb, maize - mustard - mungbean and MWMb, maizewheat - mungbean] in search of a sustainable and energy efficient production systemwith lesser C - footprint. Results of the 4 - year study showed that crops planted on permanent bed with crop residue (PB+R) registered 11.7% increase in system productivity compared to PB without residue (PB−R). N management through Neem coated urea (NCU) recorded 2.3 and 10.9% higher system productivity compared with non - coated prilled urea plot under PB−R and PB+R, respectively. MMuMb was marginally superior than MWMb system in terms of cropping sequence yield, profitability, and energy and carbon use efficiency. Crop residue retention in zero tilled PB increased cost of cultivation by 125 and 147 USD/ha inMMuMb andMWMb systems, respectively. The quantified carbon footprint value was higher in MWMb system. In CA - based practices, crop residues management contributed the highest energy input (61.5–68.4%) followed by fertilizer application (17–20%). Among N management practices, neem coated urea (NCU) significantly improved system productivity and profitability in all the residue applied plots compared to un - fertilized and prilled urea (PU) applied plots. Similarly, higher energy outputwas also observed inNCU treated plots. However, carbon footprint valuewas higher in PU (268–285 CO2 - e kg/Mg) plots than NCU (259–264 CO2 - e kg/Mg) treated plots. Thus, the study supports and recommends that the CA - basedMMuMb system with efficient N management through NCU is an environmentally safe, clean and energy efficient one, hence can reduce carbon footprint, will ensure food security and will mitigate climate change.ICARNASF-ICA

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Not AvailableGiven the increasing scarcity of production resources such as water, energy and labour coupled with growing climatic risks, maize-based production systems could be potential alternatives to intensive rice-wheat (RW) cropping system of north western Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP). Adoption of conservation agriculture (CA) in maize based systems is widely promoted for minimizing soil degradation and ensuring sustainability under changing climate. Alternative tillage management practices are important strategies for tackling the issues of soil health deterioration, lower profit margins particularly in cereal based intensive crop rotations. We hypothesized that improved agricultural practices suited to production systems and agro-ecologies, such as zero tillage (ZT) and permanent beds (PB) may result in improving crop productivity and positive changes in soil health indicators. Therefore, a longterm study was initiated to assess the effect of three tillage and crop establishment practices [zero tillage, ZT; permanent beds, PB; and conventional tillage, CT] on crop productivity, soil and environmental health under four diversified cropping systems i.e. maize-wheat-mungbean (MWMb), maizechickpea- sesbania (MCS), maize-mustard-mungbean (MMuMb) and maize-maize-sesbania (MMS) continuous maize (Zea mays L.)-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)- mungbean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) in a sandy loam soil (Typic Haplustept) of north-western Indo- Gangetic plains of India. In long-term, across the soil depths, soil organic carbon (SOC) content, its pools and mineral-N fractions were significantly affected by different tillage & crop establishment methods and diversified maize based cropping systems. CA based ZT and PB practices significantly increased the SOC stock (0- 30 cm depth) as compared to initial status. Several researchers also reported that SOC and mineral-N fraction contents in the top 30 cm soil depth are correlated with N2O-N emission. In our study, global warming potential (GWP) under CT system was higher by compared to CA-based ZT and PB, respectively. This might be due to that the several soil and environmental factors influence soil N2O emission and are controlled by a variety of management practices such as type of fertilizers (Albanito et al., 2017), fertilizer application method and time (Tenuta et al., 2015), crop type (Albanito et al., 2017), and tillage practice (Parihar et al., 2018). In current study, the lower N2O emission in ZT and PB can be attributed to increased oxygen diffusion rate into the soil promoting aerobic condition thereby reducing denitrification-led N2O emission. The results of our study suggest that CA and diversified crop rotations should be promoted in north-western IGP and other similar agro-ecologies across the globe for improving crop productivity, soil health restoration and climate change mitigation.Not Availabl