Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is a C4 grass plant, originated from the tropics and generally from more heat and drought tolerant regions. In present study the experiments were conducted in a split plot design with three replications during post-rainy season 2020-21 at Centre on Rabi Sorghum (ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research) Solapur under three levels of water regimes (three environments) along with four checks viz., Phule Suchitra, CSV-26, Phule Anuradha & M35-1. Drought tolerant and susceptible genotypes were categorized on the basis of Stress Susceptible Index (SSI), Weighted Geometric Mean index (WGMI) and regression line. Growth Stage -I correlation coefficient between maturity, plant height and panicle length [0.46**] was positive and significant which indicates that as plant height and maturity increases, panicle length also increases. Growth Stage – II correlation coefficient between panicle length and peduncle length [0.62**] was positive and significant, which shows higher the peduncle length, higher will be the panicle length and it is directly related to higher stover yield. Under all environments it was observed that, higher the peduncle length, earlier will be the flowering. Under GS-1, GS-II and WW environment Correlation between days to 50% flowering, maturity of the plant were [0.44**], [0.56**] and [0.57**] respectively shows positive and significant relationship under all environments. This is the common trait found in all environments. In water stress conditions Phule suchitra (20.07) and DTE-14 (21.14) varieties gave high grain yield as compared to other early verities. In physiological experiment, stomatas were observed in stem leaf and flag leaf which showed that flag leaf played important role in photosynthesis and supply of more energy to the plant for growth and development. The results are first of its kind observed under this study.
In order to determine best selection criteria for moisture stress tolerance, thirty-one diverse genotypes including 27 bread wheat lines along with two triticale and one each of durum and barley were evaluated to assess different components of variability, correlation and path analysis using various morpho-physiological, grain yield and yield contributing traits in moisture-stress conditions under both field and controlled conditions. Analysis of variance revealed significant genotypic variation for all the traits studied under field and controlled conditions which indicated the presence of sufficient genetic variability amongst genotypes for these traits. Grain yield per plant, tillers per plant and harvest index exhibited moderate estimates for PCV, GCV, heritability and genetic advance while seedling dry weight exhibited high PCV and GCV coupled with high heritability and genetic advance. Based on correlation and path analysis, grains per spike, biological yield and harvest index emerged to be the important selection criteria under moisture stress conditions. Flag leaf area, peduncle length and dry matter accumulation also appeared to be the important traits based on their direct or indirect contributions towards grain yield. Most of the seedling traits showed positive correlations among themselves, but none showed significant positive correlation with biological yield, harvest index and grain yield per plant at maturity. Elite genotypes viz., HPW 432, HPW 433, Tarmori, Kanku, Old Synthetic 26 and Old Synthetic 54 having good combination of important yield components and / or morpho-physiological traits could be utilized in the wheat improvement programme for enhancement of productivity under moisture-stress conditions.
The present study was conducted at the Research Farms, Department of Climate Change and Agricultural Meteorology and Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, during the rabi season of 2021-22. The experiments were conducted under split plot design with 3 replications having three dates of sowing (20th October, 5th November and 20th November) and 2 disease inoculation levels (Inoculated and un-inoculated)in main plots with three varieties (HD 2967, PBW 725 and HD 3087) in sub plots. The experiments were conducted under open conditions and under poplar plantation. The micrometeorological parameters like photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), canopy temperature and relative humidity within crop were observed at periodic intervals under both growing environments. Among micrometeorological parameters, Incident PAR (1280 Watt/ m2 in open and 910 Watt/ m2 under poplar plantation) and temperature inside the canopy (25.8ºC in open and 24.6ºC under poplar plantation) was maximum in 20thNovember sowing. While, relative humidity (56.3% in open and 59.0 % under poplar plantation) was maximum in 20th October sown crop. The grain yield was maximum (38.3 q/ha) in 20th October sowing followed by 5th November (37.0 q/ha) and 20th November (33.5 q/ha) sown crop under open conditions. Whereas, under poplar plantation, grain yield was comparatively lesser than open conditions. The grain yield was maximum (27.6 q/ha) in 20th October sowing followed by 5th November (26.0 q/ha) and 20th November (21.4 q/ha) sown crop under poplar plantation. Among different varieties, PBW 725 gave higher grain yield under open and poplar plantation conditions.
A set of 14 exotic-based wheat genotypes along with two check varieties were evaluated in four environments. The experimentation was conducted for two consecutive years during 2018–19 and 2019–20 at Karnal and Hisar locations. The variability observed in exotic-based genotypes is much higher than check varieties. Simultaneous improvement of GFeC, GZnC, and GPC is possible due to strong and positive correlation among the studied traits.Two genotypes i.e.,G7 (BFKW-7) and G3 (BFKW-3) are suitable candidates to be utilized as potential donors for simultaneous improvement of all three traits, as these are found to be both stable and have high trait value.G4 (BFKW-4) for GFeC and GPC, and G11 (BFKW-11) for GFeC and GZnC, and G10 (BFKW-10) for GZnC and GPC were also potential donors. These stable genotypes would be a potential source for high GFeC, GZnC, and GPC to develop biofortified wheat varieties.
Gene identification is the process of identifying genomic DNA regions that encode proteins. It has a wide range of applications in structural genomics, functional genomics, metabolomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and other genetic-related studies such as genetic disorder detection, treatment and prevention. There are several methods for finding genes, including the ab-initio method (intrinsic) and the sequence similarity search. Crops are typically improved by crossing plants with desired traits, such as high yield or drought tolerance, and selecting the best offspring after multiple generations of testing. It could take 8 to 10 years to develop a new variety. Breeders are very interested in new technologies that can speed up or improve the efficiency of this process. The term "marker-assisted selection" has been used in plant breeding and genetics science since the mid-1990s. The term MAS broadly refers to all forms of selection based on genetic data. MAS is becoming increasingly important in today's world because it aids and improves plant breeding efficiency by monitoring the presence or absence of desirable genes in breeding populations. This is achieved by precisely transferring genomic regions of interest (Foreground Selection) and hastening the recovery of the recurrent parent genome (Background Selection).
Insect pests are highly dependent on starch-rich cereals and cause severe damage to the cereal grain and nutrient yield. Amylase trypsin inhibitor protein degrades the digestive enzyme alpha-amylase which plays a key role in carbohydrate metabolism as well as the growth and development of insects. These inhibitor proteins are mainly found in cereal crops like wheat, maize, and barley which are rich sources of starch. Due to the defensive mechanism against pests, Amylase trypsin inhibitor protein is a prominent candidate for pest management in cereal crops. It could be used in marker-assisted plant breeding and genome mapping. Thisreview contains information on amylase trypsin inhibitor proteins their characterization, mechanism, purification, and various analyses. Amylase trypsin inhibitor proteins prevent various diseases such as diabetes but also cause wheat allergy, baker’s asthma, and food allergies. The reviewed information allows further strategies and information to control pests from cereal crops as a natural defense and reduce human allergies.
Performance of wheat varieties released during the period 2010-21 has been examined for different production environments of India. Their productivity and quality characteristics have been reviewed for the ten year period 2012-21. Instead of central-peninsular India, now north-western plains are emerging as a territory where tremendous improvement has been observed not only in wheat productivity but also in quality characteristics like bread and chapati quality, grain weight, sedimentation value, gluten index and HMWGS combinations. With the advent of good quality wheat, prospects of commercialization have increased for the wheat harnessed under timely-sown condition of NWPZ. Breeding prospects for further improvement in value addition properties are also better in this zone. It has been suggested to promote and exploit commercial aspect of these assets gathered through successful wheat breeding.
An experiment was undertaken by utilizing fifty selected elite genotypes and released varieties of rice for ten yields and yield contributing characters to assess genetic divergence at Zonal Agriculture Research Station, Igatpuri, Dist. Nashik during kharif-2020. Path coefficient analysis revealed that test weight exhibited highest positive direct effect on grain yield plant-1 and subsequently by spikelet fertility, number of panicles plant-1, plant height, number of spikelet panicle-1, panicle length and days to physiological maturity. Whereas, number of fertile spikelet panicle-1 recorded the highest negative direct effect on grain yield plant-1. The characters viz; number of panicles plant-1, number of spikelet panicle-1, spikelet fertility, test weight had exerted significant positive direct effect on grain yield plant-1 and correlation of these characters with grain yield plant-1 was positively significant. Fifty genotypes were grouped into eight clusters. Cluster II was biggest and consisted of 19 genotypes followed by cluster I with 11 genotypes. The cluster III and V both were consist of 8 genotypes. All remaining clusters viz. cluster IV, VI, VII and VIII were solitary. Intra cluster distance was ranged from zero (cluster IV, VI, VII and VIII) to 13.15 (cluster V). The highest intra cluster distance was observed in cluster V followed by cluster III, cluster II and cluster I. From the inter cluster D2 values of the eight clusters, it can be seen that the highest divergence occurred between cluster VII and VIII followed by cluster I and VI, cluster VI and VII suggesting that the crosses involving varieties from these clusters would give wider and desirable recombination. Keywords:-Cluster, correlation, genetic diversity, Rice
Karnal bunt and black point are major issues in Haryana's seed production programmes, reducing the quality of wheat seed. During the rabi season of 2021-22, a survey was conducted to determine the status of Karnal bunt and black point in major wheat growing regions covering 11 districts of northern Haryana, viz., Hisar, Yamunanagar, Sirsa, Fatehabad, Ambala, Jind, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Karnal, Panipat, and Sonipat. A total of 849 wheat grain/seed samples were collected from 49 grain markets and seed producers as part of the survey. The results revealed that range of Karnal bunt and black point infection was between 0.05–0.40 and 0.05-2.25 per cent respectively in these districts which was exceeding the permissible limit of Indian Minimum Seed Certification Standards (0.25%) for quality wheat seed production. For Karnal bunt, the infected samples were 281 (33.09%) and rejected samples were 4 (0.47%) having infection more than 0.25 per cent. While the infected samples for black point were 740 (87.16%). The maximum average infection of Karnal bunt was found in Karnal (0.413%), Hisar (0.278%) and Kurukshetra (0.273%) and the minimum was recorded in Sirsa (0.012%), Ambala (0.077%) and Fatehabad (0.104%). Maximum average infection of black point was found in Sonipat (0.218%) followed by Fatehabad (0.189%) and lowest was found in Ambala (0.042%) followed by Kurukshetra (0.082%).
Wheat crop has a major role in current food system and global food security. Beyond doubt, wheat production has increased substantially, however, there has been increase in world’s population also, thereby, leading to increased food supply demand. To fulfil this demand, science today needs more efficient and new technologies for breeding wheat with faster pace. Conventional wheat breeding is time consuming as it requires the selfing from F1 generation onwards to attain homozygosity. However, with the novel biotechnological tools there has been speeding up of the wheat breeding programmes. Doubled haploidy (DH) is one of the cutting-edge technologies which has been accepted widely for the improved wheat breeding programmes. Using DH technology, it is possible to attain the 100% homozygosity in a single generation and time to get complete homogenous breeding lines reduces to 1-2 years. Androgenesis (anther culture and microspore culture) and wheat × maize wide hybridization are two major methods to develop the double haploids in wheat. However, they have some limitations and need other techniques for DH induction. Among the different wide hybridization methods for DH development, Imperata cylindrica mediated chromosome elimination is known as most economical and efficient. Application of this method with the conventional breeding is game changing tool in wheat breeding programmes, and complement the conventional breeding to develop the improved lines in shortest time.
Aegilops tauschii (2n=2x=14), the D-genome donor is the closest progenitor to modern wheat representing a large proportion of unexplored genetic variation. Flourishing in the adverse climatic conditions it can be utilized in the wheat improvement programmes. We targeted to develop and characterize the primary synthetics amphiploids from nine different accessions of Ae. tauschii and one Triticum durum cv. PBW114 through spontaneous chromosomal doubling. Being fertile with ~50% survival rate, the amphiploids were selfed for five generations without any selection and 38 F6 amphiploids were obtained. They were evaluated for chromosome number and pairing behaviour, different agro-morphological traits and diseases of leaf rust, yellow rust and powdery mildew. Nineteen amphiploids had 2n = 42 chromosomes, four had 2n=28, two had 41 chromosomes. While in the remaining 12 amphiploids, the chromosome number varied from 24 to 42, some with abnormal pairing. Large variations were observed in agromorphological traits with 32 amphiploids showing better thousand grain weight than the hexaploid check varieties and PBW114. Response to the three targeted diseases varied widely across the panel. Twenty-four D-genome specific SSRs used to assess the genetic diversity showed that the amphiploids from same cross combinations were grouped differently. We observed that development of a new species is a complex event, and combining divergent genomes into one nucleus with chromosome doubling inflicts considerable stress on a newly emerged species with rapid genomic instability in nascent allopolyploid individuals to enable their immediate survival. However, this is an effective and novel means of creating new diversity for wheat improvement programmes.
The research work was carried out on paddy variety PB1509 in Department of Seed Science and Technology, CCS HAU Hisar during 2021 to assess the efficacy of various fungicides in improving seed quality and seed health. The results revealed that maximum germination (91.11%) was recorded in the seeds treated with Pyraclostrobin 10% CS followed by the seeds treated with Picoxystrobin 6.78% +Tricylcazole 20.33% SC (90.67%) with single dose. With double dose, maximum and significantly high germination was recorded in seeds treated with Picoxystrobin 6.78%+Tricylcazole 20.33% SC treated seeds (88.33%) followed by the seeds treated with Azoxystrobin18.2% + Difenoconazole 11.4% SC (88.17%) in comparison to control seeds (84.67%). In single dose, poor vigour index-I (1749) was observed in Picoxystrobin 12%+Propiconazole 7% SC treated paddy seeds followed by Propiconazole 13.9%+ Difenconazole 13.9% EC (1789) treated seeds in comparison to control (2254). In double dose, detrimental effect on vigour index-I was recorded in majority of fungicidal treatments in comparison to control (2254). Maximum infection (25.00%) was observed in untreated seeds while no infection was recorded in the seeds treated with double dose of amistar top, nativo, galileo sensa and systiva. The seed infection reduced significantly after two weeks in both single and double dose. Double dose significantly reduced the infection from 9.05 to 5.95%. The fungus found on rotten and ungerminated paddy seeds could not be identified. The frequency of unidentified fungus was maximum (0.23) in control (untreated seeds) followed by cabrio top (0.11) and minimum (0.03) was found in nativo, galileo sensa and systiva treated seeds. Doubling the dose reduces the frequency of infection significantly from 0.09 to 0.07. It is concluded from the study that seed treatment with Pyraclostrobin 10% CS or Picoxystrobin 6.78%+Tricylcazole 20.33% SC with single dose is beneficial for seed quality enhancement while seed treatment with Trifloxystrobin 25%+Tebuconazole 50% WG (native) or Picoxystrobin 6.78%+Tricylcazole 20.33% SC (galileo sense) or Fluxapyroxad 33.3% FS (systiva) are beneficial for controlling the seed borne fungi which is considered as effective disease management strategy.
problem in major rice growing areas where there is acute scarcity of water and in rainfed areas where cultivation depends on the seasonal rainfall. So, in order to overcome the scarcity of water for rice cultivation, breeders have made prompt efforts to breed the genotypes which can tolerate the drought stress condition. So, to develop such an efficient breeding programme, selecting the plants with desirable root characters is one of the major objectives that enables plants to withstand stress condition. Hence, the present investigation was carried under aerobic condition to evaluate 21 aerobic genotypes released by recognized agricultural institutes/universities for drought tolerance whose potentiality conferred by root traits and also correlation studies with grain yield by taking field trial involving the same genotypes. The root studies can be done in PVC pipes as well as in polythene bags. Eight genotypes viz., MAS-26, MAS -946-1, CR DHAN-204, CR DHAN- 206, CR DHAN-210, DRR DHAN-41, DRR DHAN 54, DRR DHAN-55 and one check variety Belgaum Basmati showed significantly superior mean values for most of root traits. The grain yield had positive significant association with root length, root volume, root/shoot ratio and root number indicating the perfect criteria for selection for genetic improvement for drought tolerance. Therefore, for efficient breeding programme suitable for drought tolerance these genotypes can be potential donors in drought resistance breeding programme.
An experiment was conducted during kharif 2019 to 2020 at Instructional Farm, College of Agriculture, Sumerpur (Rajasthan) to study the impact of integrated methods of weed management and organic nutrient sources on soil physical properties and balance sheet after maize harvest (Zea mays L.). The experiment comprises 06 weed management and 05 nutrient management practices in split-plot design with three replications. The treatments stale seedbed + hoeing once at 20 DAS + application of 5 t ha-1 of straw mulch at 30 DAS and weed free check maintained up to 60 DAS of maize however found significantly effective in increasing the crop productivity but improved the above properties non significantly over rest of treatments. The soil physico-chemical properties viz., pH & EC and available nutrients viz., N, P2O5, K2O, Zn and Fe in soil did not influence significantly by various weed management treatments after harvest of maize except organic carbon content. The nutrient balance was negative but minimum was in weed free check and stale seedbed + hoeing at 20 DAS + straw mulch at 30 DAS. Among the organic nutrient management treatments, 75% RDN through vermicompost in two split + seed treatment with beejamurt + two sprays of jeevamurt did not affect the soil physio-chemical properties viz., pH & EC and available nutrients (Fe and Zn) in soil after harvest of maize was remained unaffected while the available NPK and organic carbon of soil was influenced significantly during the study period. The treatment 100% RDN through FYM gave the mean maximum values of these parameters while the lowest was recorded in treatment 75% RDN through vermicompost + seed treatment with beejamurt + two sprays of jeevamurt (at 500 l ha-1 at sowing and 30 DAS). The balance sheet indicated that minimum net loss of nitrogen was in 100% RDN through vermicompost while phosphorus and potassium was recorded in 100% RDN through FYM at the end of the experiment. The mean available nitrogen, phosphorus and organic carbon in the soil were also significantly increased in this treatment. The balance sheet indicated that minimum net loss of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium was recorded in treatment 75% RDN through vermicompost + seed treatment with beejamurt + two sprays of jeevamurt.
Wheat is staple food crop for the world. Nutrient management is one of the important determinants of the yield of the crop. Conventional fertilizers are having several challenges in form of the cost, their losses in the environment and their use efficiencies. Nanofertilizer is emerging as a potential alternative to these fertilizers owing to their small size. Nanofertilizers for both macro and micro nutrients have seen the improvement in the yield and other quality parameters and nutrient content in grain. These also have potential to address the abiotic stress in the crop and holds potential for biofortification.
Wheat is an important source of energy and nutrition including antioxidants having health benefits to humans. In this investigation, 19 and 12 prominent wheat genotypes grown (during cropping season 2019-20) at three locations in two production environments representing North-Western Plains Zone (NWPZ) and Central Zone (CZ), respectively, were used for evaluating their antioxidant potential. There was a significant positive correlation between total soluble phenol and ABTS activity (p<0.01) while non-significant with DPPH scavenging activity in NWPZ genotype. However, there was a significant positive correlation of total soluble phenol with DPPH (p<0.01) and ABTS (p<0.05) radical scavenging activities in CZ genotypes. The genotypes HI 1628 and PBW 771 of NWPZ and HI 1634, CG 1029 and GW 322 of CZ exhibited higher mean phenolic content and antioxidant potential and were found comparatively stable across their environments with respect to the parameters tested. Overall, the Karnal location (NWPZ) was shown to have higher phenolic content and ABTS activity compared to genotypes grown at different locations of both the zones. The additive main effects and multiplicative interaction-based ANOVA indicated highly significant effect of environment, genotype and genotype(x) environment interactions on soluble phenolics and antioxidants among genotypes in both the zones. The identified genotypes can be used for cultivation and improving nutritional value.
