Genetic Dissection of Grain Zinc and Iron Concentration, Protein Content, Test Weight and Thousand Kernel Weight in Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) through Genome Wide Association Study

Malnutrition due to micronutrients and protein deficiency is recognized among the major global health issues. Genetic biofortification of wheat varieties is both cost-effective and sustainable strategy to contain global micronutrient and protein malnutrition. Genomic regions governing grain zinc concentration (GZnC), grain iron concentration (GFeC), grain protein content (GPC), test weight (TW), and thousand kernel weight (TKW) were investigated in a set of 183 diverse bread wheat genotypes through genome wide association study (GWAS). The RIL population was genotyped using Breeders' 35K Axiom Array and phenotyped in three environments during 2019-2020. A total of 55 marker-trait associations (MTAs) were identified, of which four significant MTAs for GFeC on chromosome 2B, 3A, 3B, 6A and two for GZnC on chromosomes 1A and 7B. Further, a stable SNP was detected for TKW and also identified pleiotropic regions controlling GPC and TKW. In silico analysis revealed a few important putative candidate genes viz., F-box-like domain superfamily, Zinc finger CCCH-type proteins, Serine-threonine/tyrosine-protein kinase, Histone deacetylase domain superfamily and SANT/Myb domain superfamily proteins, etc. The identified novel MTAs will be validated to estimate their effects on different genetic backgrounds for subsequent use in marker-assisted selection (MAS).

​Nodulation, Yield Attributes and Yield of Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.)] Influenced by Different Level of Potassium Humate and Fertility Levels

Background: Optimum crop growth and yield is result of interlinking of several factors. In semi- tropical soil in central plateau and hills zone are deficit in organic carbon and NPK content; therefore inadequate fertilization may leads to pure quality and also lower crop productive capacity of soil. For the maintenance of sustainable and productive production, maintaining soil health is a critical factor. Under low fertility levels, mungbean gives low seed yield. Potassium humate, nitrogen and phosphorus (RDF) application may be increase yield of mungbean in this zone. Method: A field experiment was conducted to study, “Nodulation, yield attributes and yield of mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.)] influenced by different level of potassium humate and fertility. The experiment was carried out in factorial randomized block design with three replications and sixteen treatment combination. Result: Result showed that total number of root nodules, effective nodules, fresh and dry weight of root nodules, leghaemoglobin, nodule index, no. of pods/plant, no. of seeds/pod, test weight, seed and straw yield were observed significantly higher with application of potassium humate @ 4.5 kg/ha. Among different fertility level, the application of 100% RDF significantly increased the total number of root nodules and effective nodules, fresh and dry weight of root nodules, leghaemoglobin, nodule index, no. of pods/plant, no. of seeds/pod and test weight, seed and straw yield. With combined application of potassium humate @ 3.0 kg/ha + 75% RDF significantly higher no. effective nodules, dry weight of root nodules and seed yield were observed, as well as saving of 25% RDF and 1.5 kg potassium humate were also observed.

Character Association and Path Coefficient Analysis in Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea L.)

Background: Correlation analysis informs us about the relative importance of the breeding traits and quite useful for plant breeders to formulate their breeding and selection strategies. Path coefficient analysis splits the correlation coefficient into the measures of indirect and direct effect. It identifies the indirect and direct influence of different autonomous genotype on a dependent trait. Present study aimed to determine major seed contributing components affecting seed yield and also to know the relationship among these components. Methods: Present investigation was carried out on 147 advanced breeding lines to know the correlations and path coefficient for 12 yield and yield contributing traits. The material was evaluated in augmented block design with 07 blocks, each block having 21 lines. A set of three check varieties were repeated in each block. Observations were recorded on number of primary branches/plant, number of secondary branches/plant, plant height (cm), silique/plant, fruiting zone length (cm), main shoot length (cm), number of seeds/siliquae, siliquae length (cm), biological yield/plant (g), seed yield/plant (g), harvest index and test weight. Result: The seed yield per plant showed positive and significant correlation with primary branches per plant (0.273), secondary branches per plant (0.280), siliquae per plant (0.627), biological yield per plant (0.744), harvest index (0.188), test weight (0.212) and oil content (0.225). Biological yield per plant (0.5747) had maximum direct effect on seed yield per plant followed by siliquae per plant (0.2438), harvest index (0.127), oil content (0.118) and test weight. These characters have positive and significant association with seed yield per plant. The study thus indicated that biological yield per plant, siliquae per plant, harvest index and test weight are the important characters which should be considered in selection programme in Indian mustard.

Effects of Sowing Dates on Yield and Yield Components of Different Varieties of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Western Uttar Pradesh

An experiment was conducted during Rabi season (November-December) of 2018–19 to study the effect of three dates of sowing (26th November, 11th December and 25th December) on growth, yield attributes and yield of fivewheat varieties (HD-2967, HD-3086, WH-1105, PBW-343 and PBW-226) at Agricultural Research Farm of IFTM University, Moradabad (UP) India. The experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomized Design with two replications. Sowing was done at spacing of 22.5 cm in sandy loam soil. The observations were recorded on growth, flowering, maturity, yield and yield components. Analysis of variance showed the significant variations were observed for the characters viz. plant height, days to flowering, spikes per plant, days to maturity, grain yield, test weight, straw yield, biological yield and harvest index due to changing dates of sowing. However, varietal variations were recorded for plant height, days to flowering, spikes per plant, days to maturity and test weight. Wheat sown on 26th November recorded significant increase in plant height, tillers plant-1, spikes-1 plant, grain yield and straw yield over late sowing on 11th December and 25th December. There was no significant variation among varieties for yield and yield contributing traits such as grains spike-1, grain and straw yield. Significant interaction effects between dates of sowing and varieties were found for days to flowering which showed that the variety HD-2967 is as best wheat variety for early sown and PBW-226 for late sown conditions in order to obtain better returns.

Genome-wide QTL mapping of yield and agronomic traits in two widely adapted winter wheat cultivars from multiple mega-environments

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis could help to identify suitable molecular markers for marker-assisted breeding (MAB). A mapping population of 124 F5:7recombinant inbred lines derived from the cross ‘TAM 112’/‘TAM 111’ was grown under 28 diverse environments and evaluated for grain yield, test weight, heading date, and plant height. The objective of this study was to detect QTL conferring grain yield and agronomic traits from multiple mega-environments. Through a linkage map with 5,948 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), 51 QTL were consistently identified in two or more environments or analyses. Ten QTL linked to two or more traits were also identified on chromosomes 1A, 1D, 4B, 4D, 6A, 7B, and 7D. Those QTL explained up to 13.3% of additive phenotypic variations with the additive logarithm of odds (LOD(A)) scores up to 11.2. The additive effect increased yield up to 8.16 and 6.57 g m−2 and increased test weight by 2.14 and 3.47 kg m−3 with favorable alleles from TAM 111 and TAM 112, respectively. Seven major QTL for yield and six for TW with one in common were of our interest on MAB as they explained 5% or more phenotypic variations through additive effects. This study confirmed previously identified loci and identified new QTL and the favorable alleles for improving grain yield and agronomic traits.

Phenotypic association among performance, feed efficiency and methane emission traits in Nellore cattle

Enteric methane (CH4) emissions are a natural process in ruminants and can result in up to 12% of energy losses. Hence, decreasing enteric CH4 production constitutes an important step towards improving the feed efficiency of Brazilian cattle herds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between performance, residual feed intake (RFI), and enteric CH4 emission in growing Nellore cattle (Bos indicus). Performance, RFI and CH4 emission data were obtained from 489 animals participating in selection programs (mid-test age and body weight: 414±159 days and 356±135 kg, respectively) that were evaluated in 12 performance tests carried out in individual pens (n = 95) or collective paddocks (n = 394) equipped with electronic feed bunks. The sulfur hexafluoride tracer gas technique was used to measure daily CH4 emissions. The following variables were estimated: CH4 emission rate (g/day), residual methane emission and emission expressed per mid-test body weight, metabolic body weight, dry matter intake (CH4/DMI), average daily gain, and ingested gross energy (CH4/GE). Animals classified as negative RFI (RFI<0), i.e., more efficient animals, consumed less dry matter (P <0.0001) and emitted less g CH4/day (P = 0.0022) than positive RFI animals (RFI>0). Nonetheless, more efficient animals emitted more CH4/DMI and CH4/GE (P < 0.0001), suggesting that the difference in daily intake between animals is a determinant factor for the difference in daily enteric CH4 emissions. In addition, animals classified as negative RFI emitted less CH4 per kg mid-test weight and metabolic weight (P = 0.0096 and P = 0.0033, respectively), i.e., most efficient animals could emit less CH4 per kg of carcass. In conclusion, more efficient animals produced less methane when expressed as g/day and per kg mid-test weight than less efficient animals, suggesting lower emissions per kg of carcass produced. However, it is not possible to state that feed efficiency has a direct effect on enteric CH4 emissions since emissions per kg of consumed dry matter and the percentage of gross energy lost as CH4 are higher for more efficient animals.

Productivity and Nutrient Balance of an Intensive Rice–Rice Cropping System Are Influenced by Different Nutrient Management in the Red and Lateritic Belt of West Bengal, India

Rice is the lifeline for more than half of the world population, and in India, in view of its huge demand in the country, farmers adopt a rice–rice cropping system where the irrigation facility is available. As rice is a nutrient-exhausting crop, sustainable productivity of rice–rice cropping system greatly depends on appropriate nutrient management in accordance with the inherent soil fertility. The application of an ample dose of fertilizer is the key factor for maintaining sustainable rice yields and nutrient balance of the soil. Considering the above facts, an experiment was conducted on nutrient management in a rice–rice cropping system at the university farm of Visva-Bharati, situated in a sub-tropical climate under the red and lateritic belt of the western part of West Bengal, India, during two consecutive years (2014–2016). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Completely Block Design with 12 treatments and three replications, with different rates of N:P:K:Zn:S application in both of the growing seasons, namely, kharif and Boro. The recommended (ample) dose of nutrients was 80:40:40:25:20 and 120:60:60:25:20 kg ha−1 of N:P2O5:K2O:Zn:S in the Kharif and Boro season, respectively. A high yielding variety, named MTU 7029, and a hybrid, Arize 6444 GOLD, were taken in the Kharif and Boro seasons, respectively. The results clearly indicated that the application of a recommended dose of nutrients showed its superiority over the control (no fertilizer application) in the expression of growth characters, yield attributes, yields, and nutrient uptake of Kharif as well as Boro rice. Out of the all treatments, the best result was found in the treatment where the ample dose of nutrients was applied, resulting in maximum grain yield in both the Kharif (5.6 t ha−1) and Boro (6.6 t ha−1) season. The corresponding yield attributes for the same treatment in the Kharif (panicles m−2: 247.9; grains panicle−1: 132.0; spikelets panicle−1: 149.6; test weight: 23.8 g; and panicle length: 30.6 cm) and Boro (panicles m−2: 281.6; grains panicle−1: 142.7; spikelets panicle−1: 157.2; test weight: 24.8 g; and panicle length: 32.8 cm) season explained the maximum yield in this treatment. Further, a reduction or omission of individual nutrients adversely impacted on the above traits and resulted in a negative balance of the respective nutrients. The study concluded that the application of a recommended dose of nutrients was essential for proper nutrient balance and sustainable yields in the rice–rice cropping system.

↵​​Effect of Hermetic Storage on Seed Quality Maintenance of Dolichos Bean [Lablab purpureus (L.) var Typicus Prain]

Background: Dolichos bean is one of the important vegetable legume crops. During storage, protection of seed from bruchid attack is a major problem worldwide. Once the bruchid attacks, the extent of damage could be up to 100%, leading to both quantitative and qualitative loss by making it unfit for consumption. Existing traditional methods are less effective or impractical and the use of chemical methods can be harmful to the farmers and consumers. So, there is urgent need of hermetic storage method for seed quality maintenance. Keeping in view, the present study was carried out to investigate on hermetic storage practices for seed quality maintenance. Methods: Triple-layer PICS technology, a chemical-free hermetic storage was evaluated for storage of dolichos bean to moisture content, germination and quality. Four different types of storage bags viz., jute bags, polythene bags, triple layer PICS bags and jute bags treated with chlorpyrifos were used for evaluating their efficacy in managing dolichos bean seed attributes. The data on various parameters pertaining to seed characteristics and changes in biochemical composition of dolichos bean seeds stored in different bags was recorded at every two month intervals for 3 times (2,4, and 6 months) by using standard protocols. Complete Randomized Design (CRD) (Snedecor and Cochran, 1967) was used for the data analysis. The data was subjected to statistical analysis as per the methods suggested by Panse and Sukhatme (1985). Result: Results on moisture content showed that, in case of storage in PICS bags, there was no decrease in seed moisture content at 2, 4 and 6 months respectively and germination percent in triple-layer PICS bag at 2, 4 and 6 months storage was highest among all bag types. Test weight (g), protein content (%) and carbohydrate content (%) at 2, 4 and 6 months storage respectively were higher in triple layer PICS bag. The mean fat content recorded was highest in jute bag (1.25%) and lowest in triple layer PICS bag (0.63%). Our study concludes that the triple layer PICS bags hermetic technology is efficient in managing maintaining same level of moisture content percent, germination percent and test weight compared to other bags over 3 different periods of storage. The triple layer PICS bags are also highly useful for retaining carbohydrate percent and protein percent at almost the same levels compared to initial values.

Variability of quantitative traits in winter triticale in the central region of Belarus

Introduction: The article presents the results of a long-term study of quantitative traits in winter triticale varieties and accessions grown in the soil/climatic conditions of the central region of Belarus using conventional and intensive cultivation technologies. The effects of the intensification level on the yield, performance constituents and triticale grain quality are described. Purpose: to assess the variability of quantitative traits in winter triticale grown by conventional and intensive cultivation technologies in Belarus. Material and methods: Winter hexaploid triticale varieties and promising accessions grown by traditional and intensive technologies in a competitive variety trial nursery were studied. The plot area was 10 m2; the replication number was three; the design was randomized; the seeding rate was 4.5 million viable seeds per hectare; the observation period was in 2011-2020. Upon intensive cultivation, additional doses of nitrogen fertilizers, trace elements (Cu, Mn), growth regulators and fungicides were applied. The contents of crude protein, gluten and starch in grain were determined by near-infrared spectroscopy Results and discussion: During the observation period, the average yield from the winter triticale accessions in the competitive variety trial nursery was on 69.3 dt/ha and 77.8 dt/ha upon the application of traditional and intensive cultivation technologies, respectively. The additional factors of intensification increased the yield by 8.5 dt/ha or by 12.3 %. The constituents of the main spike performance as well as contents of crude protein and gluten in winter triticale grain also grew. Strengthening of intensification of the cultivation technology didn’t significantly affect the test weight, 1000-grain weight or crude protein content. Conclusions. The use of additional methods of intensification was demonstrated to change the absolute values of the winter triticale indicators, to have no key impact on the level of their environmental of genotypic variability. The test weight and crude protein content were the most stable traits, while the gluten content and yield – the least stable ones, as their values were determined by both varietal specificity and environmental factors