DUS Characterization of Tamil Nadu Traditional Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) Varieties

Background: Twenty-seven landraces of rice (Oryza sativa L.), collected from different parts of Tamil Nadu, were characterised according to the DUS guidelines of the Plant Varieties Protection and Farmers’ Rights Authority, GOI. Methods: Rice accessions were planted with three replications using the randomized block design (RBD) in 2019 at the Plant Breeding Farm, Department of Genetics and plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University. Result: Observations were recorded on 49 different agro-morphological traits, out of 49 descriptors analysed, six were monomorphic, seventeen were dimorphic, thirteen were trimorphic, seven were tetramorphic and spikelet: density pubescence of lemma, 1000 grain weight of fully developed grains and decorticated grain colour showed five expressive states and lemma and palea colour reported six expressive states. Contemporary research work will be advantageous for breeders to choose the right parent for crop improvement and the researchers for genetic diversity among landraces.

Estimating genetic diversity in Sorghum bicolor using molecular markers

Aim: The present study aimed at measuring the genetic diversity of a set of 219 sorghum accessions differing in their grain colour. Methodology: About 219 diverse sorghum lines differing in their grain colour were obtained from National Bureau of Plant Genetics Resources (NBPGR), New Delhi and genotyped using 17 SSR markers. Polymorphism information content (PIC) and allele frequency were determined using PowerMarker V3.25. Clustering and factorial analysis were performed using DARwin 6.0. GenAlex version 6.5 was used to perform Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCoA) and AMOVA. Diversity analysis was performed by using Darwin. Results: Genotyping of 219 sorghum accessions using 17 SSR markers produced a total of 399 alleles with an average PIC value of 0.85 and gene diversity of 0.87. Highest allele frequency was observed for the marker, Xtxp 265 whereas highest major allele frequency was observed in 196 accessions for the marker, Xtxp 278. Diversity analysis divided the 219 accessions into three clusters (1, 2 and 3) and genotypes belonging to same geographical origin were found to be clustered together. Interpretation: SSR marker based genetic diversity analysis grouped 219 sorghum accessions into three clusters. Grouping and clustering of accessions was mostly based on the geographical origins with some exceptions which may be due to cross hybridisation of accessions between countries paving a way for cross gene flow.

Isolation, sequencing of the HvnHID gene and its role in the purple-grain colour development in Tibetan hulless barley

2-hydroxyisoflavanone dehydratase (HID) plays an important role in isoflavone biosynthesis. In this study, HID was isolated from the seeds of the purple-grained Tibetan hulless barley variety Nerumuzha and the white-grained variety Kunlun 10. The HvnHID gene includes the 981 bp open reading frame and encodes a protein of 327 amino acids. It has a typical Abhydrolase_3 domain (78–306) and belongs to the carboxylesterase (CXE) family of the Abhydrolase_3 (α/β hydrolase) superfamily. There are eight nucleotide differences in the HvnHID coding sequence and two amino acid differences (one in the Abhydrolase_3 domain) between Nerumuzha and Kunlun 10. The HvnHID of hulless barley has the closest relationship with the HID in Hordeum vulgare, and the most distant relationship in Panicum hallii. At the early-mid stage of the seed colour development, the HvnHID expression levels in the purple and black seeds were significantly higher than in the white and blue ones (P < 0.01). During the seed colour development of purple-grained hulless barley, the expression of the key genes (HvnF3'H, HvnDRF, HvnANT1, and HvnGT) in the anthocyanidin biosynthetic pathway increased significantly, while the HvnHID expression decreased significantly (P < 0.01). Thus, it is likely that HvnHID negatively regulates the anthocyanidin biosynthesis. This result provides an important basis for further study of the biological functions of HvnHID in the anthocyanidin biosynthetic pathway.

Every zircon deserves a date: selection bias in detrital geochronology

Detrital zircon geochronology can help address stratigraphic- to lithospheric-scale geological questions. The approach is reliant on statistically robust, representative age distributions that fingerprint source areas. However, there is a range of biases that may influence any detrital age signature. Despite being a fundamental and controllable source of bias, handpicking of zircon grains has received surprisingly little attention. Here, we show statistically significant differences in age distributions between bulk-mounted and handpicked fractions from an unconsolidated heavy mineral sand deposit. Although there is no significant size difference between bulk-mounted and handpicked grains, there are significant differences in their aspect ratio, circularity and colour, which indicate inadvertent preferential visual selection of euhedral and coloured zircon grains. Grain colour comparisons between dated and bulk zircon fractions help quantify bias. Bulk-mounting is the preferred method to avoid human-induced selection bias in detrital zircon geochronology.

Grain Quality, Provitamin A Carotenoid Profiles, and Sensory Quality of Provitamin A-Biofortified Maize Stiff Porridges

Provitamin A-biofortified maize could contribute to the alleviation of vitamin A deficiency (VAD), which is prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa due to a high consumption of starchy, maize-based diets. Four varieties of provitamin A biofortified maize were studied for grain colour, grain texture, thousand kernel weight, and hectolitre mass. Provitamin A biofortified maize stiff porridges were prepared and their retained provitamin A was determined using lutein, zeaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, and β-carotene (all-trans and cis isomers) as standards. Provitamin A concentration in the biofortified porridges ranged from 2.24 to 3.18 µg/g and retention from 91–105%. Descriptive sensory analysis and the 5-point facial hedonic test were used to evaluate the sensory quality of the porridges. The biofortified maize porridges were described as sticky, fine, with high intensity residual grain, and having a slightly bitter aftertaste with a cooked maize flavour and aroma, whereas the intensities of these attributes were insignificant in white maize porridge. About 33% of the consumer sample (N = 60) liked the porridges and 28% disliked the porridges, whilst approximately 38% of the consumers were neutral. The findings suggest that biofortified maize stiff porridge can deliver a significant amount of provitamin A to targeted consumers, but the acceptance of biofortified maize still needs to be improved on.

Consumer preference and the technological and nutritional quality of different bean colours

Beans can be found in different grain colours, and for this reason, it is important to understand the technological and nutritional quality of the diverse types of beans that are consumed. The objectives of this work were to identify the traits that determine Brazilian consumer choice of different bean colours and to evaluate whether different bean colours present differences in technological and nutritional traits. For this purpose, beans of different colours (white, cranberry, matte red kidney, shiny red kidney, and black) were obtained from supermarkets. The samples were evaluated for consumer preference and the technological and nutritional traits of the beans. In southern Brazil, the majority of the survey participants (58%) preferred black beans, and their choice was based on consumption habit (66%) and grain colour (30%). Different bean colours presented differences for all traits related to technological and nutritional quality, except for potassium concentration. Consumption habit and grain colour defined consumer choice for black beans. Black beans were preferred by 58% of the participants, and this type of bean has high concentrations of calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc and copper.