ADOPTION OF IMPROVED FARM PRACTICES IN MAIZE BY THE FARMERS OF NUAPADA DISTRICT OF ODISHA

Maize (Zea Mays L.) is considered as a unique cereal crop for its diversified use and suitability under various cropping systems. In India it is the third largest cereal crop in terms of acreage. The present study was conducted in Khariar block of Nuapada district of Odisha. Descriptive research design was followed, since the present study is fact-finding and present description of the respondents as well as the area. There are 117 villages in the selected block out of that 12 villages were selected through Random sampling based on existence of Maize cultivation. From the above analysis, it was concluded that majority (85.00%) of respondents were male. Majority (45.00%) of the respondents belonged to both the age group of (20-35) years and (36-55) years. Majority (80.00%) of respondents were married. Majority (70.00%) of respondents were having annual income more than 51,000. Majority (35.00%) of respondents were having education qualification up to High School. Majority (60.00%) of respondents were having land holding of 1-2 hectare. Majority (75.00%) of respondents were occupation Maize Farming and other crops farming collectively. Majority (80.00%) of respondents were having joint family. Majority (65.00%) of respondents were having family size of more than 5 members. Majority (45.00%) of respondents were having semi-cemented house. Majority (40.00%) of respondents were having social participation in Farmers Society. Majority (65.00%) of respondents daily used mobile. Majority (70.00%) of respondents were having maize farming experience up to 1-20 years. Majority (45.00%) of respondents were having medium level knowledge regarding Maize Cultivation Practices. Majority the adoption of Improved Production Technology of Maize was found to be high that is 75.00 percent. According to the response from the respondents, non-performance of visit by agricultural personnel time to time ranked I for constraints faced by the respondents, Lack of hybrid seed ranked II, Lack of credit facility at time ranked III, Lack of proper resources and capital ranked IV and so on. According to the suggestions received from the respondents, Hybrid seed should be available in time, Credit should be available earlier and timely, Availability of fertilizers and other inputs should be in time, Technical advice and training should be given at right time and so on.

Performance and reaction of faba bean genotypes to chocolate spot disease

Background This study aimed to development new faba bean hybrids resistant to chocolate spot disease and using them in breeding programs. Six faba bean genotypes were crossed in a diallel system excluding reciprocals during three growing seasons of 2017/18, 2018/19 and 2019/20 growing seasons. Results Results scored high variability among genotypes (parents and their crosses) in most studied characters. All characters were affected by inbreeding and most crosses recorded high significant in all characters especially the positive significance of resistance to chocolate spot disease (gain) was 5 for all studied resistance characters. Conclusions All studied plant growth and yield characters were affected negatively by chocolate spot disease. Moreover, it can be concluded that the commercial cost of producing hybrid seed can be reduced by growing F1 or directly.

Mapping and validation of markers linked to Rf gene in sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum var grossum)

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS), is the most valuable system in commercial hybrid seed production in hot pepper. Whereas in sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum var grossum), the unavailability of a stable restorer’s line is one of the major constraints in commercial hybrid breeding. Identifying the markers linked to CMS and nuclear restorer-of-fertility (Rf) genes will help in the production of CMS hybrids in sweet pepper. In the present study, we identified seven markers co-segregating with Rf genes using bulk segregating analysis (BSA) on the F2 Rf-segregating mapping population. Among these, the CRF-SCAR marker proved to be linked to the fertility restorer gene and it could be used for screening of genotypes to identify restorers and non-restorer lines in future Capsicum breeding programs and help in the establishment of CMS system for commercial hybrid seed production.

Male Fertility Genes in Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and Their Utilization for Hybrid Seed Production

Hybrid varieties can provide the boost needed to increase stagnant wheat yields through heterosis. The lack of an efficient hybridization system, which can lower the cost of goods of hybrid seed production, has been a major impediment to commercialization of hybrid wheat varieties. In this review, we discuss the progress made in characterization of nuclear genetic male sterility (NGMS) in wheat and its advantages over two widely referenced hybridization systems, i.e., chemical hybridizing agents (CHAs) and cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS). We have characterized four wheat genes, i.e., Ms1, Ms5, TaMs26 and TaMs45, that sporophytically contribute to male fertility and yield recessive male sterility when mutated. While Ms1 and Ms5 are Triticeae specific genes, analysis of TaMs26 and TaMs45 demonstrated conservation of function across plant species. The main features of each of these genes is discussed with respect to the functional contribution of three sub-genomes and requirements for complementation of their respective mutants. Three seed production systems based on three genes, MS1, TaMS26 and TaMS45, were developed and a proof of concept was demonstrated for each system. The Tams26 and ms1 mutants were maintained through a TDNA cassette in a Seed Production Technology-like system, whereas Tams45 male sterility was maintained through creation of a telosome addition line. These genes represent different options for hybridization systems utilizing NGMS in wheat, which can potentially be utilized for commercial-scale hybrid seed production.

​Effect of Foliar Spray of Nutrients, Growth Regulators on Seed Yield and Quality in Hybrid Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp]

Background: The new generation special fertilizers have been introduced exclusively for foliar feeding and fertilization. The increased supply of nutrients and good response by plants resulted in enhanced translocation of nutrients to reproductive structures.Therefore, it is planned to study the effect of different nutrients as a foliar spray for growth, yield and seed quality parameters of hybrid pigeon pea. Methods: The experiment on effect of foliar spray of nutrients, growth regulators on seed yield, quality in hybrid pegionpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp] was conducted at Seed Farm, College of Agriculture, Vijayapura, Karnataka during kharif 2019-2020. The treatment consisting of foliar spray of control (T1), 1% Pulse magic (T2), 1% 19:19:19 (T3), 0.2% Borax (T4), 50 ppm NAA (T5), 1% Pulse magic+1%19:19:19 (T6), 1% Pulse magic+0.2% Borax (T7), 1% Pulse magic+50 ppm NAA (T8), 1% Pulse magic+1% 19:19:19+0.2% Borax (T9), 1% Pulse magic+ 1% 19:19:19+50 ppm NAA (T10), 1% Pulse magic+1% 19:19:19+50 ppm NAA+0.2% Borax (T11). Foliar spray was taken at flower initiation and peak flowering stage. Result: The results revealed that, foliar application of Pulse magic @1% +19:19:19@1%+ NAA@50 ppm + [email protected]% recorded higher number of branches (10.60), number of pods per plant (239.33), number of seeds per plant (5.75), test weight (12.18g), hybrid seed yield per plant (48.17g), hybrid seed yield per plot (1188.83g), hybrid seed yield per ha (1499kg /ha) and seed quality parameters viz: seed germination (93%), shoot length (15.08 cm), root length (18.67 cm), seedling vigour index(2649), lower electric conductivity (0.59 dSm-1) and protein percentage (22.18 %) respectively.

Characterization of the Mitochondrial Genome of a Wheat AL-Type Male Sterility Line and the Candidate CMS Gene

Heterosis utilization is very important in hybrid seed production. An AL-type cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) line has been used in wheat-hybrid seed production, but its sterility mechanism has not been explored. In the present study, we sequenced and verified the candidate CMS gene in the AL-type sterile line (AL18A) and its maintainer line (AL18B). In the late uni-nucleate stage, the tapetum cells of AL18A showed delayed programmed cell death (PCD) and termination of microspore at the bi-nucleate stage. As compared to AL18B, the AL18A line produced 100% aborted pollens. The mitochondrial genomes of AL18A and AL18B were sequenced using the next generation sequencing such as Hiseq and PacBio. It was found that the mitochondrial genome of AL18A had 99% similarity with that of Triticum timopheevii, AL18B was identical to that of Triticum aestivum cv. Chinese Yumai. Based on transmembrane structure prediction, 12 orfs were selected as candidate CMS genes, including a previously suggested orf256. Only the lines harboring orf279 showed sterility in the transgenic Arabidopsis system, indicating that orf279 is the CMS gene in the AL-type wheat CMS lines. These results provide a theoretical basis and data support to further analyze the mechanism of AL-type cytoplasmic male sterility in wheat.

Assessing the Suitability of Elite Lines for Hybrid Seed Production and as Testers in Wide Crosses With Wheat Genetic Resources

The use of genetic resources in breeding is considered critical to ensure future selection gain, but the absence of important adaptation genes often masks the breeding value of genetic resources for grain yield. Testing genetic resources in a hybrid background has been proposed as a solution to obtain unbiased estimates of breeding values for grain yield. In our study, we evaluated the suitability of European wheat elite lines for implementing this hybrid strategy, focusing on maximizing seed yield in hybrid production and reducing masking effects due to susceptibility to lodging, yellow rust, and leaf rust of genetic resources. Over a 3-year period, 63 wheat elite female lines were crossed with eight male plant genetic resources in a multi-environment field experiment to evaluate seed yield on the female side. Then, the resulting hybrids and their parents were tested for plant height, lodging, and susceptibility to yellow rust and leaf rust in a further field experiment at multiple locations. We found that seed yield was strongly influenced by the elite wheat line choice in addition to environment and observed substantial differences among elite tester lines in their ability to reduce susceptibility to lodging, yellow rust, and leaf rust when the hybrid strategy was implemented. Consequently, breeders can significantly increase the amount of hybrid seed produced in wide crosses through appropriate tester choice and adapt genetic resources of wheat with the hybrid strategy to the modern cropping system.

Claviceps africana (ergot).

C. africana is the ergot pathogen of Sorghum bicolor, now found in most sorghum-producing areas of the world. It is primarily a problem for hybrid seed production, but epidemics on local varieties have occurred (Pazoutová and Frederickson, 2005). Large numbers of secondary conidia produced on infected panicles become airborne and are presumed to be the means by which the fungus has spread rapidly across continents in recent years. The fungus may also be carried in the form of sclerotia and/or sphacelia among harvested seed, and this may be the means of spread between continents, but the seed lots can be cleaned or treated with fungicides. Alternative hosts are predominantly wild and weedy Sorghum spp., but some wild grasses can become infected; any of these might provide a reservoir between planting seasons or a bridge between regions.