Genetic characterization of mango anthracnose pathogen Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Penz. by random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis

Twenty-five isolates of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides causing mango anthracnose were collected from different agroclimatic zones of India. The isolates were evaluated for their pathogenic variability on mango seedlings and genetic characterization using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD molecular techniques). The random primers OPA-1, 3, 5, 9, 11, 15, 16 and 18 were used and the twenty five isolates were grouped into two. The amplified DNA fragments (amplicons) obtained was comparedby agarose gel electrophoresis. Isolate specific RAPD fingerprints were obtained. Out of eight primers in RAPD, OPA-1, 3 and 18 were able to produce reproducible banding pattern. Each of these primers generated a short spectrum of amplicons, located between 661 and 2291-bp markers, indicative of genetic polymorphism. Dendogram revealed more than 75% level of similarity. 4.36% polymorphism was also found in individual isolates that was not statistically significant (P > 0.05) among the sample, it also indicates that all the isolates tested had approximately same genetic identity. The data suggest that RAPD may be of value by virtue of its rapidity, efficiency and reproducibility in generating genetic fingerprints of C. gloeosporioides isolates

Kwanu Local – A High Yielding Traditional Maize Cultivar of Jaunsar Tribal Region of Uttarakhand and a Promising Genetic Resource for Maize Improvement

164-169Globally maize is the second most important crop in terms of acreage where as in India it ranks third after wheat and rice. Maize productivity has been breaking unprecedented barriers owing chiefly to wide scale cultivation of high yielding hybrids. Sustaining high yields of hybrids necessitates continued efforts for creation of novel gene assemblages and/or discovery of such naturally existing constellations. Traditional local cultivars are an important source of the latter. Kwanu Local is an example of such a traditional cultivar that contributes significantly towards sustaining food, fodder and fuel requirement of Jaunsari tribal community of Kwanu cluster in Dehradun district of Uttarakhand. It is a tall, high yielding, medium duration, semi-dent yellow bold-grained cultivar and owes its characteristic present form to multiple infusions from diverse populations that have taken place over the long history of its cultivation in the region. Its cultivation over a vast contiguous expanse and the selection practices followed by the farming community ensure maintenance of high heterozygosity in the population, assuring sustained high yields. The cultivar possesses many desirable features that make it a potential genetic resource for a variety of traits of agronomic importance (cob length, cob girth, number of kernels/row and kernel size). Its use for increasing kernel size has been well demonstrated. Kernel size in the backcross progenies involving inbreds VQL 1 (255 g) and V 400 (215 g) as recipients and Kwanu Local (343 g) as donor exhibited kernel size range of 260-293 g (VQL 1 x Kwanu Local) and 228-245 g (V 400 x Kwanu Local), showing increase of 6-14 and 2-15%, respectively, in the two crosses. With its local adaptability and high yield coupled with other desirable traits, Kwanu Local holds potential as a promising genetic resource for maize improvement

Groundnut Entered Post-genome Sequencing Era: Opportunities and Challenges in Translating Genomic Information from Genome to Field

Cultivated groundnut or peanut (Arachis hypogaea) is an allopolyploid crop with a large complex genome and genetic barrier for exchanging genetic diversity from its wild relatives due to ploidy differences. Optimum genetic and genomic resources are key for accelerating the process for trait mapping and gene discovery and deploying diagnostic markers in genomics-assisted breeding. The better utilization of different aspects of peanut biology such as genetics, genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, epigenomics, metabolomics, and interactomics can be of great help to groundnut genetic improvement program across the globe. The availability of high-quality reference genome is core to all the “omics” approaches, and hence optimum genomic resources are a must for fully exploiting the potential of modern science into conventional breeding. In this context, groundnut is passing through a very critical and transformational phase by making available the required genetic and genomic resources such as reference genomes of progenitors, resequencing of diverse lines, transcriptome resources, germplasm diversity panel, and multi-parent genetic populations for conducting high-resolution trait mapping, identification of associated markers, and development of diagnostic markers for selected traits. Lastly, the available resources have been deployed in translating genomic information from genome to field by developing improved groundnut lines with enhanced resistance to root-knot nematode, rust, and late leaf spot and high oleic acid. In addition, the International Peanut Genome Initiative (IPGI) have made available the high-quality reference genome for cultivated tetraploid groundnut which will facilitate better utilization of genetic resources in groundnut improvement. In parallel, the development of high-density genotyping platforms, such as Axiom_Arachis array with 58 K SNPs, and constitution of training population will initiate the deployment of the modern breeding approach, genomic selection, for achieving higher genetic gains in less time with more precision

Genome-based trait prediction in multi- environment breeding trials in groundnut

Genomic selection (GS) can be an efficient and cost-effective breeding approach which captures both small- and large-effect genetic factors and therefore promises to achieve higher genetic gains for complex traits such as yield and oil content in groundnut. A training population was constituted with 340 elite lines followed by genotyping with 58 K ‘Axiom_Arachis’ SNP array and phenotyping for key agronomic traits at three locations in India. Four GS models were tested using three different random cross-validation schemes (CV0, CV1 and CV2). These models are: (1) model 1 (M1 = E + L) which includes the main effects of environment (E) and line (L); (2) model 2 (M2 = E + L + G) which includes the main effects of markers (G) in addition to E and L; (3) model 3 (M3 = E + L + G + GE), a naïve interaction model; and (4) model 4 (E + L + G + LE + GE), a naïve and informed interaction model. Prediction accuracy estimated for four models indicated clear advantage of the inclusion of marker information which was reflected in better prediction accuracy achieved with models M2, M3 and M4 as compared to M1 model. High prediction accuracies (> 0.600) were observed for days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, hundred seed weight, oleic acid, rust@90 days, rust@105 days and late leaf spot@90 days, while medium prediction accuracies (0.400–0.600) were obtained for pods/plant, shelling %, and total yield/plant. Assessment of comparative prediction accuracy for different GS models to perform selection for untested genotypes, and unobserved and unevaluated environments provided greater insights on potential application of GS breeding in groundnut

Progress of children with severe acute malnutrition in the malnutrition treatment centre rehabilitation program: evidence from a prospective study in Jharkhand, India

Background In Jharkhand, Malnutrition Treatment Centres (MTCs) have been established to provide care to children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM). The study examined the effects of facility- and community based care provided as part the MTC program on children with severe acute malnutrition. Method A cohort of 150 children were enrolled and interviewed by trained investigators at admission, discharge, and after two months on the completion of the community-based phase of the MTC program. Trained investigators collected data on diet, morbidity, anthropometry, and utilization of health and nutrition services. Results We found no deaths among children attending the MTC program. Recovery was poor, and the majority of children demonstrated poor weight gain, with severe wasting and underweight reported in 52 and 83% of the children respectively at the completion of the community-based phase of the MTC program. The average weight gain in the MTC facility (3.8 ± 5.9 g/kg body weight/d) and after discharge (0.6 ± 2.1 g/kg body weight/d) was below recommended standards. 67% of the children consumed food that met less than 50% of the recommended energy and protein requirement. Children experienced high number of illness episodes after discharge: 68% children had coughs and cold, 40% had fever and 35% had diarrhoea. Multiple morbidities were common: 50% of children had two or more episodes of illness. Caregiver’s exposure to MTC’s health and nutrition education sessions and meetings with frontline workers did not improve feeding practices at home. The take-home ration amount distributed to children through the supplementary food program was inadequate to achieve growth benefits. Conclusions Recovery of children during and after the MTC program was suboptimal. This highlights the need for additional support to strengthen MTC program so that effective care to children can be provided

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells do not enhance intra-synovial tendon healing despite engraftment and homing to niches within the synovium

Intra-synovial tendon injuries display poor healing, which often results in reduced functionality and pain. A lack of effective therapeutic options has led to experimental approaches to augment natural tendon repair with autologous mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) although the effects of the intra-synovial environment on the distribution, engraftment and functionality of implanted MSCs is not known. This study utilised a novel sheep model which, although in an anatomically different location, more accurately mimics the mechanical and synovial environment of the human rotator cuff, to determine the effects of intra-synovial implantation of MSCs

Genome-wide association study for type 2 diabetes in Indians identifies a new susceptibility locus at 2q21

Meta-AnalysisThis is the final version of the article. Available from the American Diabetes Association via the DOI in this record.Indians undergoing socioeconomic and lifestyle transitions will be maximally affected by epidemic of type 2 diabetes (T2D). We conducted a two-stage genome-wide association study of T2D in 12,535 Indians, a less explored but high-risk group. We identified a new type 2 diabetes-associated locus at 2q21, with the lead signal being rs6723108 (odds ratio 1.31; P = 3.32 × 10⁻⁹). Imputation analysis refined the signal to rs998451 (odds ratio 1.56; P = 6.3 × 10⁻¹²) within TMEM163 that encodes a probable vesicular transporter in nerve terminals. TMEM163 variants also showed association with decreased fasting plasma insulin and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, indicating a plausible effect through impaired insulin secretion. The 2q21 region also harbors RAB3GAP1 and ACMSD; those are involved in neurologic disorders. Forty-nine of 56 previously reported signals showed consistency in direction with similar effect sizes in Indians and previous studies, and 25 of them were also associated (P < 0.05). Known loci and the newly identified 2q21 locus altogether explained 7.65% variance in the risk of T2D in Indians. Our study suggests that common susceptibility variants for T2D are largely the same across populations, but also reveals a population-specific locus and provides further insights into genetic architecture and etiology of T2D.The major funding for this work comes from Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Government of India, in the form of the grant “Diabetes mellitus—New drug discovery R&D, molecular mechanisms, and genetic and epidemiological factors” (NWP0032-19). R.T. received a postdoctoral fellowship from the Fogarty International Center and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development at the National Institutes of Health (D43-HD-065249)