NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE VARIATION IN LEPTIN GENE OF MURRAH BUFFALO (BUBALUS BUBALIS)

Leptin is a 16 kD protein, synthesized by adipose tissue and is involved in regulation of feed intake, energy balance, fertility and immune functions. Present study was undertaken with the objectives of sequence characterization and studying the nucleotide variation in leptin gene in Murrah buffalo. The leptin gene consists of three exons and two introns which spans about 18.9kb, of which the first exon is not transcribed into protein. In buffaloes, the leptin gene is located on chromosome eight and maps to BBU 8q32. The leptin gene was amplified by PCR using oligonucleotide primers to obtain 289 bp fragment comprising of exon 2 and 405 bp fragment containing exon 3 of leptin gene. The amplicons were sequenced to identify variation at nucleotide level. Sequence comparison of buffalo with cattle reveals variation at five nucleotide sequences at positions 983, 1083, 1147, 1152, 1221 and all the SNPs are synonymous resulting no in change in amino acids. Three of these eight nucleotide variations have been reported for the first time in buffalo. The results indicate conservation of DNA sequence between cattle and buffalo. Nucleotide sequence variations observed at leptin gene between Bubalus bubalis and Bos taurus species revealed 97% nucleotide identity

Inheritance study and stable sources of maydis leaf blight (Cochliobolus heterostrophus) resistance in tropical maize germplasm

Maydis leaf blight (MLB), a serious foliar fungal disease of maize, may cause up to 40% losses in yield. The present studies were undertaken to identify the stable sources of MLB resistance, its inheritance study, and testing of MLB resistance linked markers from diverse background in the Indian adapted tropical maize genotypes. A set of 112 inbred lines were screened under artificially created epiphytotics conditions at three hotspot locations. Analysis across multi-locations revealed significant effects of genotypes and environments, and non-significant effects due to genotypes × environment interaction on disease incidence. A total of 25 inbred lines with stable resistance were identified across multi-locations. Inheritance of resistance was studied in six F1s and two F2s of resistant and susceptible parents. The null hypothesis of segregation of resistance and susceptible for mono and digenic ratios in two F2 populations was rejected by Chi-square test. The non-significant differences among the reciprocal crosses depicted the complete control of nuclear genome for MLB resistance. Partial dominance in F1s and normal distribution pattern in F2s of resistant and susceptible parents suggested polygenic nature of MLB resistance. Correlation studies in F2 populations exhibited significant negative correlation between disease score and days to flowering. Five simple sequence repeats (SSRs) markers, found associated to MLB resistance in different studies were unable to differentiate amongst MLB resistance and susceptible parents in our study. This emphasizes the need of fine mapping for MLB resistance in Indian germplasm. The identified stable sources of resistance and information on inheritance study can be used further in strengthening of resistance breeding against MLB

Biochemical estimation of phytic acid and inorganic phosphate in diverse maize germplasm to identify potential donor for low phytic acid (LPA) trait in tropical genetic background

Not AvailablePhytic acid (PA), an anti-nutritional factor in maize (Zea mays L.) grains form various salts by chelating essential vital mineral elements namely, Fe3+, Zn2+, Mg2+, etc. affecting their bioavailability. Low phytic acid (LPA) maize can play a vital role as an important food and feed crop to diversify the existing food basket to address micronutrient malnutrition. Globally efforts to identify LPA maize genotypes in the existing germplasm are limited. Keeping this in view, the present experiment was designed using the diverse set of maize germplasm including landraces, composites, inbred lines and hybrids of field corn and also some genotypes of quality protein maize and sweet corn to explore the extent of variability for PA in the existing germplasm and to identify the LPA maize genotypes. The mean PA content across 104 genotypes excluding LPA mutants varied from 1.7 mg/g (CML150) to 4.5 mg/g (VMH45) whereas inorganic phosphate (Pi) varied from 0.07 mg/g (LM16) to 0.95 mg/g (PMH9). The correlation coefficient between PA and Pi across genotypes was negative but moderate (-0.35) (P = 0.00024). The present study has identified two inbred lines namely, CML150 (1.7 mg/g) and CML176 (1.8 mg/g) which do not differ significantly with either of the two LPA mutants namely, LPA1 (1.3 mg/g) and LPA2 (1.7 mg/g). The study further indicated that PA content is generally low in white kernel colour germplasm as compared to other kernel colours. The identified genotypes could be potential donor for developing LPA maize genotypes and also their utilization in the breeding for development of LPA maize cultivars.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableGlobally, maize is an important cereal food crop with the highest production and productivity. Among the biotic constraints that limit the productivity of maize, the recent invasion of fall armyworm (FAW) in India is a concern. The first line of strategy available for FAW management is to evaluate and exploit resistant genotypes for inclusion in an IPM schedule. Screening for resistant maize genotypes against FAW is in its infancy in India, considering its recent occurrence in the country. The present work attempts to optimize screening techniques suited to Indian conditions, which involve the description of leaf damage rating (LDR) by comparing injury levels among maize genotypes and to validate the result obtained from the optimized screening technique by identification of lines potentially resistant to FAW under artificial infestation. Exposure to 20 neonate FAW larvae at the V 5 phenological stage coupled with the adoption of LDR on a 1–9 scale aided in preliminary characterize maize rize maize genotypes as potentially resistant, moderately resistant, and susceptible. The LDR varies with genotype, neonate counts, and days after infestation. The genotypes, viz., DMRE 63, DML-163-1, CML 71, CML 141, CML 337, CML 346, and wild ancestor Zea mays ssp. parviglumis recorded lower LDR ratings against FAW and can be exploited for resistance breeding in maize.ICAR-NAS

Behavior of organic gelatin/phenolic micro balloon composite under compressive loading, static and low velocity impact

618-630<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";mso-bidi-font-family:="" mangal;mso-ansi-language:en-gb;mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:="" hi"="" lang="EN-GB">The physical properties like density/porosity, stress-strain behavior and energy absorption of organic gelatin/phenolic micro balloon (PMB) composite is studied with respect to its water content and content of phenolic micro balloon. Quasi static compression tests and low velocity impact (LVI) tests are conducted on the gelatin/PMB composite samples with three different gelatin to water ratios (by weight) 1G:2W, 1G:3W and 1G:4W and four PMB contents 0%, 2.5%, 5% and 10% of the combined gelatin-water weight. The stress-strain behavior of the composite is studied through quasi-static compression tests at different loading rates. Low velocity impact tests are conducted to check the energy absorption of specimens and high speed videos of the impact tests were acquired to analyze the behavior of gelatin/PMB composite. The stress-strain tests show that the stiffness of the composite is dependent on both PMB and water content and that the behavior of composite is strain rate dependent or viscoelastic. The high speed imaging of the LVI tests conform with the energy absorption calculations that gelatin’s energy absorption capability increases with increase in the water content as the lateral spread (and consequently the vertical compression of the composite samples) increases with water content. Further the stiffness of the composite increases with the increase of PMB content and reduction of water content. It is also found that 1G:4W composite with 0% PMB content absorbs the maximum energy and hence is ideal for energy absorption purpose.</span

Compendium of lectures on Integrated Management Strategies for Major Crop Pests & Diseases in Developing Countries” (With special focus on Fall Army Worm)

NANAMANAG

Heterosis in Genomic Era: Advances in the Molecular Understanding and Techniques for Rapid Exploitation

Not AvailableHeterosis has been widely exploited in plants and animals, and also revolutionized agriculture by improving important agronomic traits. However, the molecular mechanism is still remaining elusive. Though different classical models, viz., dominance, overdominance and epistasis still holds true, the recent studies on epigenomics, transcriptomic, proteomic, metabolomics and circadian model have provided new insights. Multigene models have been proposed as the basis of complementation of allelic and gene expression variation, which is a major probable contributor to heterosis. The evolving epigenetic and genomic field put forward the role of interaction of alleles from different parental genomes in reprogramming the genes involved in stress tolerance, fitness and growth of hybrids. In the majority of the studies, transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic studies have found many complex regulatory network changes in genetic, epigenetic, regulatory and biochemical levels and only a few patterns could be established. Thus, heterosis is the outcome of the series of interactions in the genomes. Furthermore, epigenetic modifications of the circadian clock genes and their reciprocal regulators were reported to regulate the expression of downstream genes and pathways leading to more product accumulation in hybrids. Moreover, the majority of the epigenetic studies are limited to Arabidopsis thaliana and Zea mays, however, such studies on different crops may further bring more insights on the role of epigenetic mechanisms in determining heterosis. Further, none of the models is capable to explain heterosis alone which reflects the limitations of the individual model. The present review critically assesses different theories from different fields and also unravels the existing rapid methods to exploit them.Not Availabl

Compendium of Lectures of Model Training Course on Maize Production Technology and Management Strategies for Fall Armyworm

NANADirectorate of Extension, GO

Demographic profile and clinical characteristics of patients presenting with acute ocular burns

Purpose: To study and compare the demographic and clinical profile of acute ocular burns (AOB) in children and adults. Methods: This retrospective case series included 271 children (338 eyes) and 1300 adults (1809 eyes) who presented to two tertiary eye care centers within one month of sustaining AOB. Data regarding demographics, causative agents, severity of injury, visual acuity (VA), and treatment were collected and analyzed. Results: Males were more commonly affected particularly among adults (81% versus 64%, P < 0.00001). Among children, 79% sustained domestic injuries, whereas 59% of adults had work-place injuries (P < 0.0001). Most cases were due to alkali (38%) and acids (22%). Edible lime (chuna, 32%), superglue (14%), and firecrackers (12%) in children, and chuna (7%), insecticides, lye, superglue (6% each), toilet cleaner (4%) and battery acid (3%) in adults, were the main causative agents. The percentage of cases with Dua grade IV-VI was greater in children (16% versus 9%; P = 0.0001). Amniotic membrane grafting and/or tarsorrhaphy were needed in 36% and 14% of affected eyes in children and adults, respectively (P < 0.00001). The median presenting VA was logMAR 0.5 in children and logMAR 0.3 in adults (P = 0.0001), which improved significantly with treatment in both groups (P < 0.0001), but the final VA in eyes with Dua grade IV-VI burns was poorer in children (logMAR 1.3 versus logMAR 0.8, P = 0.04). Conclusion: The findings clearly delineate the at-risk groups, causative agents, clinical severity, and treatment outcomes of AOB. Increased awareness and data-driven targeted preventive strategies are needed to reduce the avoidable ocular morbidity in AOB