Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu (SKUAST-J) is a state agricultural university of Jammu division of the Jammu and Kashmir. SKUAST-J came into existence on 20 September 1999 following the amendment in Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Act 1982 through the State legislature. The university inherited few assets and staff deployed at various stations and sub-stations from erstwhile SKUAST (J&K) to carry on the mission of agriculture research and development. Currently, the main campus of the university, Faculty of Agriculture and Faculty of Basic Sciences is located at Chatha, Jammu. The Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry (F.V.Sc & A.H) is located at R. S. Pura, Jammu..
To understand the physiological and biochemical responses to waterlogging, 1‑year-old citrus rootstocks (‘Carrizo Citrange,’ ‘Rough Lemon,’ ‘Sour Orange,’ and ‘Troyer Citrange’) were subjected to three waterlogging durations (5, 10, and 15 days), each followed by a 7-day recovery period. Plants were analyzed for stomatal conductance, relative leaf water content, electrolyte leakage, chlorophyll content, carotenoids, proline and soluble sugars. Among all rootstocks, ‘Carrizo Citrange’ showed the highest stomatal conductance, relative leaf water content and total soluble carbohydrates alongside the lowest electrolyte leakage and proline content across different waterlogging durations. However, ‘Troyer Citrange’ maintained higher levels of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll and carotenoid content). By contrast, ‘Sour Orange’ showed lower stomatal conductance, relative leaf water content, total soluble carbohydrate, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll and carotenoids alongside the highest electrolyte leakage and proline content across the different waterlogging treatments. Among all rootstocks evaluated, ‘Carrizo’ and ‘Troyer Citrange’ had better tolerance to waterlogging stress by maintaining higher levels of osmoprotectants, followed by ‘Rough Lemon,’ while ‘Sour Orange’ had comparatively less resistance and was the most adversely affected.
A comprehensive study was carried out in an effort to evaluate the genetic diversity of the 96 exotic quinoa cultivars in the North-Western Himalayas, using three quality indices (amino acids, saponin and crude protein content) and 27 agro-morphological traits. In comparison to the check variety Himshakti, nine genotypes (EC-896091, EC-896099, EC-896102, EC-896111, EC-896114, EC-896202, EC-896206, EC-896218 and EC-896224, respectively) were significantly superior for seed yield and other yield traits. Molecular analysis using 96 SSR markers revealed 55 polymorphic markers, with an average of 2.3 alleles per primer. PIC values ranged from 0.041 to 0.680 with a mean value of 0.446. Six genetic clusters were formed using the neighbor-joining analysis. The Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCoA) divided the genotypes into five populations, explaining 44.11
Wheat powdery mildew, caused by the obligate biotrophic fungus Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt), is a devastating disease responsible for substantial global yield reductions. Host resistance offers the most sustainable management strategy, yet its durability is continually undermined by high evolutionary potential of the pathogen, driven by sexual recombination and rapid mutation. To decipher long-term virulence dynamics, we conducted a comparative analysis of Bgt populations in the Northwestern Himalayas over two decades (1994-1998 and 2015-2019). Pathotype profiling of 285 isolates on a common set of nine differential lines revealed a significant shift in virulence structure over time. While the mean virulence complexity per isolate increased in the contemporary population, indicating enhanced pathogenic capability, overall pathotype diversity decreased, suggesting a selective sweep toward fewer, more aggressive lineages. Marked changes in virulence frequency were observed with severe efficacy erosion for Pm1a (virulence increased from 6 to 63%) and Pm8, while virulence against Pm2, Pm3a, and Pm3b declined significantly. Notably, genes Pm2 and Pm4a demonstrated complete and durable effectiveness throughout the study period. Our results identify these as stable resistance donors and underscores the continuous adaptation of Bgt populations. This study provides critical insights for designing durable resistance gene pyramids and underscores the necessity of continuous virulence surveillance to sustain wheat production in the face of evolving pathogen threats.
The identification of oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor1 (OLR1) gene polymorphisms in Murrah buffaloes opens possibilities for understanding the genetic basis of lipid metabolism and its impact on economically important traits. The objective of the present study was to explore genetic polymorphism in OLR1 gene in 100 Murrah buffaloes. Two regions of OLR1 gene i.e. 146 bp and 385 bp fragment of 3'UTR and exon 1, respectively were amplified via PCR and screened for genetic variation using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) technique. The fragments of 3'UTR and exon 1 region of OLR1 gene were digested using restriction enzymes viz., Pst1 and Alu1, respectively. Monomorphic patterns were revealed for both the regions of OLR1 gene through RFLP. Further, a total 50 samples of exon 1 region of OLR1 gene were Sanger sequenced. BioEdit software was used for multiple alignments of sequenced samples. Sequencing results were compared with reference sequence of Bos taurus (NC_037332.1) and nucleotide changes were observed at total five positions in Murrah buffaloes, out of which three were transition and two were transversion changes. Conclusively, in the present study, loci screened through PCR-RFLP technique in Murrah buffaloes were found to be monomorphic indicating absence of genetic variability at these loci. Nucleotide changes observed at different locations through sequencing in Murrah buffaloes as compared to Bos taurus can be used as selection signatures.
A field-deployable and highly specific loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay was developed and validated for the rapid detection of Fusarium oxysporum, the causal agent of corm rot in saffron. Corm rot poses a serious threat to saffron (Crocus sativus L.) cultivation, especially during the flowering stage, resulting in significant yield losses. This study focused on the molecular identification and rapid detection of F. oxysporum in saffron-growing regions of Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir. Cultures of F. oxysporum and eleven other microbial isolates were obtained, and molecular identification was conducted via Sanger sequencing using universal ITS1-F and ITS4-R primers for fungi and 27F/1492R primers for bacteria. Complete genome sequences of all isolates were retrieved from NCBI for comparative analysis. A unique 500 bp sequence specific to F. oxysporum, located between positions 5,500-6,000 on chromosome XII, was identified for designing specific PCR and LAMP primers, which were validated both in silico and experimentally (gel electrophoresis and SYBR Green dye). The LAMP detection method proved simple, sensitive, and suitable for early, on-site detection, as it yields positive results exclusively for F. oxysporum. Sensitivity analysis showed detection as low as 2 ng/μL of DNA, suitable for early on-site diagnosis. The operational simplicity requiring only a basic heat source and straightforward result interpretation makes it suitable for field use in resource-limited settings. Early diagnosis enables timely interventions to limit disease spread and crop losses, while the adaptability of the assay supports broader use in plant health monitoring and crop disease management.
