小麦-茸毛偃麦草异附加系Y176-3的分子细胞遗传学鉴定

为了解茸毛偃麦草（Thinopyrum intermedium ssp.trichophorum）与小麦经过杂交、回交所选育的小偃麦新种质Y176—3的遗传特性，对该系进行了抗条锈性鉴定与：分子细胞学分析。结果表明，Y176—3对当前的条锈病流行小种和新小种免疫。其根尖细胞染色体数目为2n=44，有2对随体，花粉母细胞减数分裂中期I（PMCMI）染色体构型为2n=22Ⅱ。利用C-带分析，观察到Y176-3中可能附加了一对来自茸毛偃麦草的端部有强带的短染色体。以拟鹅观草（Pseudoroegneria spicata，2n=14）DNA作探针、中国春基因组DNA为封阻进行的原位杂交结果表明。Y176-3含有2条较短的茸毛偃麦草染色体，该染色体属于St组，推测新种质Y176-3中导入的来自茸毛偃麦草的St染色体可能携带新的抗条锈病基因。     

抗条锈病普通小麦-中间偃麦草7St二体异附加系的分子细胞遗传学鉴定

中间偃麦草（Thinopyrum intermedium）携带很多优异基因,是小麦重要的三级基因库。为了将中间偃麦草的优异基因导入小麦,以普通小麦品种阿勃的缺体系为母本,以普通小麦-中间偃麦草部分双二倍体远中4为父本,通过远缘杂交,获得普通小麦-中间偃麦草衍生系ES-24,并对其进行形态学、细胞学、原位杂交、分子标记、抗病性等综合鉴定。细胞学观察结果显示,ES-24有44条染色体,其减数分裂中期I染色体构型为2n=22Ⅱ, 且在减数分裂后期Ⅰ可均等分离,表明其可以稳定遗传。原位杂交和分子标记结果表明,ES-24含有42条普通小麦染色体和1对来自中间偃麦草的7St染色体,并利用Oligo-pTa535得到了7St染色体的FISH核型。条锈病抗性鉴定表明,ES-24在苗期和成熟期均对条锈病表现为高抗。综上结果表明,ES-24是高抗条锈病的普通小麦-中间偃麦草7St二体异附加系,可以作为小麦抗病育种的潜在中间材料。     

小麦-中间偃麦草衍生系的分子细胞遗传学鉴定

对阿勃缺体与小麦-中间偃麦草部分双二倍体中2经杂交、回交选育的两个衍生系(衍生系Ⅰ和衍生系Ⅱ)研究表明,两个衍生系在形态学和细胞学上已经基本稳定,细胞学鉴定结果均为2n=44=22″。两个衍生系与阿勃二体杂交F1花粉母细胞染色体构型以及基因组原位杂交结果表明,衍生系Ⅰ为小麦-中间偃麦草异代换-附加系,衍生系Ⅱ为小麦-中间偃麦草异附加系。     

不同黑麦染色体对普通小麦主要贮藏蛋白组成的影响

为了解不同遗传背景的黑麦染色体对普通小麦主要高分子量谷蛋白亚基(HMW-GS)和醇溶蛋白组成的影响,采用SDS-PAGE和A-PAGE分析了两套小麦-黑麦(Holdfast-King和中国春-Impire) 双二倍体和不同附加系的HMW-GS和醇溶蛋白组成.结果表明:(1)两份双二倍体的HMW-GS都表达出小麦亲本带型和一条迁移率与双亲不一致的条带,醇溶蛋白呈共显性表达.(2)Holdfast-King的1R附加系HMW-GS带型与其双二倍体带型一致,醇溶蛋白呈共显性表达;3R附加系的HMW-GS缺失受体亲本条带并表达出一条迁移率与双亲有差异的条带,其醇溶蛋白缺失受体亲本条带;其余附加系(2R,4R～7R)的HMW-GS和醇溶蛋白带型与其受体亲本带型一致.(3)中国春-Impire的1R附加系HMW-GS带型与其双二倍体一致,醇溶蛋白只表现受体小麦亲本带型,2R到7R附加系的HMW-GS和醇溶蛋白带型都与小麦亲本带型一致.这表明小麦-黑麦异源双二倍体中小麦和黑麦的基因组会相互影响,引起籽粒贮藏蛋白组成表达上的差异;同一种黑麦的不同染色体对籽粒贮藏蛋白组成表达的影响也有差异.     

小麦-中间偃麦草代换系中233的分子细胞学鉴定

为了从小麦-中间偃麦草衍生后代中获得具有优良性状的新种质,利用细胞学和分子标记技术对中间偃麦草衍生系中233进行鉴定。结果表明,中233的根尖细胞染色体数为2n=42,花粉母细胞减数分裂中期Ⅰ的染色体通常配成21个二价体。以中间偃麦草基因组DNA为探针、中国春基因组DNA为封阻进行基因组原位杂交(GISH)分析发现,中233含有2条中间偃麦草染色体和40条小麦染色体,在减数分裂中期I,两条中间偃麦草染色体可以正常配对。利用D基因组特异探针pAs1进行荧光原位杂交(FISH)分析发现,中233缺少了一对小麦的2D染色体。分子标记鉴定进一步表明,中233的1对小麦2D染色体被中间偃麦草染色体所代换。说明中233是一个细胞学稳定的小麦-中间偃麦草二体代换系,初步推断其可能携带有中间偃麦草的优异基因。     

小麦 中间偃麦草衍生后代的细胞学和SSR标记鉴定

为了鉴定小麦与八倍体小偃麦的杂交组合NZ2W5的衍生后代中是否含有中间偃麦草的遗传物质,利用细胞学和SSR技术对该组合的12个衍生单株进行了鉴定.结果表明,NZ2W5组合衍生后代的根尖细胞染色体数目均为2n=42,花粉母细胞减数分裂中期Ⅰ染色体构型均为2n=21Ⅱ.以相关亲本中间偃麦草、小麦-中间偃麦草部分双二倍体远中2、普通小麦合作2号和阿勃以及衍生后代为材料,选取均匀分布于小麦各条染色体上的480个SSR标记进行分析,结果表明,Xbarc008、Xbarc195、Xwmc489、Xcfb3440、Xwmc331和Xgwm608等20个标记在中间偃麦草中具有特异条带,其中定位在小麦4D染色体上的标记Xwmc331可以在NZ2W5组合衍生的12个单株中检测到中间偃麦草119 bp的特异条带.研究结果表明,NZ2W5组合衍生后代的细胞遗传学基本稳定,携带中间偃麦草的遗传物质,涉及的外缘遗传物质可能同源于小麦的第四部分同源群.     

一个小麦-中间偃麦草二体代换系的鉴定与分析

中间偃麦草在小麦改良中具有重要利用价值。本研究利用基因组原位杂交(GISH)、高分子量谷蛋白亚基电泳(SDS-PAGE)和分子标记技术对小麦-中间偃麦草衍生系中209进行鉴定。结果表明,中209的42条染色体中含有2条中间偃麦草染色体,是小麦-中间偃麦草二体代换系;分子标记检测发现,小麦7A染色体上的6个SSR引物Xcfa2028、Xwmc422、Xwmc65、Xbarc127、Xbarc174和Xgwm60在小麦亲本合作2号中均扩增出清晰的DNA条带,而在中间偃麦草和中209中均未扩增出任何条带,表明中209可能缺少了小麦7A染色体;小麦第7部分同源群的SSR标记Xwmc488和STS标记Xmag1715分别在中209中扩增出中间偃麦草的特异带,推断其含有的中间偃麦草染色体与小麦第7同源群染色体存在部分同源关系;SDSPAGE表明中209含有5+10亚基。     

六个八倍体小偃麦的选育和鉴定

以中间偃麦草（Elytrigia intermedia）与普通小麦品种烟农15杂交，从其杂种后代中选育出6个细胞学稳定的八倍体小偃麦山农TE183、山农TE185、山农TE188、山农TE198、山农TE256和山农TE347。这些八倍体小偃麦植株健壮、育性正常、穗大多实，高抗白粉病、务锈病等小麦病害。种子醇溶蛋白电泳分析证明，6个八倍体小偃麦醇溶蛋白图谱中均具有亲本中间偃麦草的特异带，并且山农TE183、山农TE185、山农TE198、山农TE256和山农TE347等5个八倍体小偃麦的带型基本一致，为同一类型，而山农TE188为另一类型。细胞学鉴定结果表明，6个八倍体小偃麦的根尖细胞染色体数目为2n=56，花粉母细胞减数分裂中期I（PMCMI）染色体构型为2n=28II，具有高度的细胞学稳定性。以山农TE188和山农TE198分别与中2、中3和中1、中5杂交，对其杂种F1染色体构型分析结果表明，山农TE188与中。和中2、山农TE198与中1和中5的染色体构成是不同的。综合种子醇溶蛋白电泳和细胞学分析结果，初步认为本研究选育的6个八倍体小偃麦与前人选育的中1、中2、中3、中4、中5等5个八倍体小偃麦所携带的中间偃麦草染色体组可能不完全相同。     

小麦-中间偃麦草蓝粒代换系的创制与鉴定

小麦的蓝粒性状可作为表型标记用于小麦育种和遗传学研究,来自中间偃麦草的蓝粒种质材料尚鲜见报道。本研究通过八倍体小偃麦中5 (2n=8x=56, AABBDDXX)与中国春缺-四体系列材料杂交,在中5×N4BT4A和中5×N7BT7D杂交组合后代中获得了两份蓝粒材料,编号分别为Zh5-a2-1和Zh5-c13-2。利用细胞遗传学和分子标记方法对这两份蓝粒材料进行了染色体组成分析。以中间偃麦草基因组DNA为探针的GISH分析显示,这两份蓝粒材料的染色体数均为2n=42,包括40条小麦染色体和两条中间偃麦草染色体。利用重复序列探针pSc119.2和pAs1进行的FISH分析表明,Zh5-a2-1和Zh5-c13-2均为二体代换系,被代换的一对小麦染色体分别为4B和4D。通过用St、E~e和E~b基因组DNA作探针进行GISH分析,证明这两份蓝粒代换系中的中间偃麦草染色体均为St组染色体,但与中5中的中间偃麦草染色体比较发现这对St组染色体的短臂端部发生了缺失。利用二倍体长穗偃麦草E~e基因组的SNP标记分析证明,两份蓝粒代换系中的中间偃麦草染色体与长穗偃麦草的4E~e染色体同源,即Zh5-a2-1和Zh5-c13-2分别为4St(4B)和4St(4D)代换系,命名为SubZh5-4St(4B)和SubZh5-4St(4D)。同时说明,中间偃麦草的4St染色体上带有蓝粒基因。通过对450个小麦SSR标记进行筛选,获得了4个可跟踪鉴定4St染色体的特异SSR标记。研究结果可用于蓝粒小麦品种的培育和中间偃麦草蓝粒基因的遗传学研究。     

基于TRAP的长穗偃麦草SCAR标记的开发及应用

为了开发长穗偃麦草的特异标记,依据TRAP技术,利用56对固定引物与随机引物的组合对中国春-长穗偃麦草附加系等材料进行PCR扩增,共筛选出160条分布于长穗偃麦草1E-7E染色体的特异扩增片段。通过对104个片段的序列进行同源比对,选择与小麦无同源序列的区段设计138对引物,分别对中国春、长穗偃麦草、中国春-长穗偃麦草附加系进行PCR扩增,最终获得30个长穗偃麦草特异SCAR标记,发展标记的效率为53.6%。利用这些特异SCAR标记对硬粒小麦(AABB)与异源六倍体小麦(AABBEE)杂交产生的F2中38个单株进行扩增鉴定,9个单株仅附加了1条相同的E染色体,其余为多条E染色体或者无E染色体附加。这些SCAR标记在不同材料和世代表现出优越的特异性和稳定性,可用于检测小麦背景中附加的相关长穗偃麦草染色体。     

Comparative Assessment of the Efficacy of Various Nitrogen Fertilizers

Summary

The efficiency of N fertilizers is usually poor; often less than 50% of the applied N is taken up by the crop. This review focuses on various N fertilizers with respect to the significance of different N loss pathways, namely (i) ammonia volatilization, (ii) dinitrogen and nitrogen oxide emissions, and (iii) nitrate leaching. Further, the significance of biological N immobilization, ammonium fixation and, finally, the impact of nitrate vs. ammonium uptake on crop yield are also discussed. The reviewed literature shows that N fertilizers may differ markedly in their susceptibility to losses. There is, however, considerable scope to improve N efficiency of each N source by proper N management practices.     

Pharmacokinetics of Marine-Derived Drugs

Marine organisms represent an excellent source of innovative compounds that have the potential for the development of new drugs. The pharmacokinetics of marine drugs has attracted increasing interest in recent decades due to its effective and potential contribution to the selection of rational dosage recommendations and the optimal use of the therapeutic arsenal. In general, pharmacokinetics studies how drugs change after administration via the processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME). This review provides a summary of the pharmacokinetics studies of marine-derived active compounds, with a particular focus on their ADME. The pharmacokinetics of compounds derived from algae, crustaceans, sea cucumber, fungus, sea urchins, sponges, mollusks, tunicate, and bryozoan is discussed, and the pharmacokinetics data in human experiments are analyzed. In-depth characterization using pharmacokinetics is useful for obtaining information for understanding the molecular basis of pharmacological activity, for correct doses and treatment schemes selection, and for more effective drug application. Thus, an increase in pharmacokinetic research on marine-derived compounds is expected in the near future.     

Novel food and non-food uses for sorghum and millets

Sorghum and millets have considerable potential in foods and beverages. As they are gluten-free they are suitable for coeliacs. Sorghum is also a potentially important source of nutraceuticals such antioxidant phenolics and cholesterol-lowering waxes. Cakes, cookies, pasta, a parboiled rice-like product and snack foods have been successfully produced from sorghum and, in some cases, millets. Wheat-free sorghum or millet bread remains the main challenge. Additives such as native and pre-gelatinised starches, hydrocolloids, fat, egg and rye pentosans improve bread quality. However, specific volumes are lower than those for wheat bread or gluten-free breads based on pure starches, and in many cases, breads tend to stale faster. Lager and stout beers with sorghum are brewed commercially. Sorghum's high-starch gelatinisation temperature and low beta-amylase activity remain problems with regard to complete substitution of barley malt with sorghum malt . The role of the sorghum endosperm matrix protein and cell wall components in limiting extract is a research focus. Brewing with millets is still at an experimental stage. Sorghum could be important for bioethanol and other bio-industrial products. Bioethanol research has focused on improving the economics of the process through cultivar selection, method development for low-quality grain and pre-processing to recover valuable by-products. Potential by-products such as the kafirin prolamin proteins and the pericarp wax have potential as bioplastic films and coatings for foods, primarily due to their hydrophobicity.     

La pourriture fongique des tubercules de pomme de terre en atmosphère contrôlée

Résumé Fusarium culmorum et, dans une moindre mesure,F. avenaceum, F. sambucinum, Colletotrichum coccodes etCylindrocarpon sp. ont été isolés de tubercules entreposés en atmosphère contr?lée (AC) et atteints de pourriture grave. Des expériences d'inoculation de tubercules avec 10 espèces ou variétés fongiques et conservation en AC à 8 et 10°C ont montré que: 1) les champignons non pathogènes en atmosphère normale (ex.:Cylindrocarpon sp.) le devenaient en AC, 2) ceux qui étaient faiblement pathogènes en atmosphère normale étaient nettement plus virulents en AC (ex.:F. culmorum), 3) les espèces ou variétés virulentes en conditions d'air normales (Fusarium sulphureum etPhoma exigua var.foveata) ne provoquaient pas de pourriture plus grave en AC et leur activité pouvait même être légérement freinée.

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Summary The extensive rotting of tubers which occurred during storage trials in controlled atmospheres has led to a mycological and pathological study of the rots. The most frequently isolated species wasFusarium culmorum althoughF. avenaceum, F. Sambucinum, Coletotrichum coccodes and aCylindrocarpon sp. were also present. Tubers of cvs Bintje and Ulla were inoculated with 19 isolates of 10 fungal species or varieties associated with rotting of stored tubers (Table 1). The tubers were incubated at 8 or 10°C in normal or controlled (2% O₂:1% CO₂, 2% O₂:6% CO₂, 2% O₂:12% CO₂, 6% O₂:6% CO₂) atmospheres and the extent of rotting was determined a month later (Tables 2 and 3 and Fig. 2). Species which were weakly virulent in a normal atmosphere (variousFusarium spp. andPhoma exigua var.exigua) were clearly more aggressive in the controlled atmosphere and this was especially evident in the case ofF. culmorum. Species ot pathogenic in a normal atmosphere under experimental conditions (Colletotrichum coccodes, Cylindrocarpon sp.,Phoma eupyrena) caused rotting in the controlled atmosphere. The two species which were virulent in a normal atmosphere (F. sulphureum andP. exigua var.foveata) were also virulent in the controlled atmosphere and in some cases the extent of rotting was even less. As a general rule, rotting caused by weakly virulent fungi was greater in both cultivars in the controlled than in a normal atmosphere.

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Zusammenfassung Eine starke F?ulnis von in Kontrotrollierter Atmosph?re gelagerten Kartoffelknollen veranlasste eine mykologische und pathologische Untersuchung. Der am h?ufigsten isolierte Pilz warFusarium culmorum. F. avenaceum, F. sambucinum, Colletotrichum coccodes undCylindrocarpon sp. wurden ebenfalls bestimmt. Neunzehn St?mme von 10 Pilzsorten oder-Arten welche bei Lagerf?ulnis vorkommen (Tab. 1) wurden auf Knollen der Sorten Bintje und Ulla inokuliert. Die Lagerung wurde bei 8 oder 10°C under Normalbedingungen oder kontrollierter Atmosph?re durchgeführt (2% O₂:1% CO₂, 2% O₂:6% CO₂, 2% O₂:12% CO₂, 6% O₂:6% CO₂). Der F?ulnisgrad (Abb. 1) wurde nach einem Monat bonitiert. Die Ergebnisse sind in den Tabellen 2 und 3 dargestellt und in der Abb. 2 illustriert. Unter in Normalbedingungen nur schwach virulente Arten (verschiedeneFusarien undPhoma exigua var. exigua) waren deutlich aktiver in kontrollierter Atmosph?re. Dies was besonders der Fall fürF. culmorum. Pilze, die im Versuch unter Normalbedingungen nicht pathogen waren (Colletotrichum coccodes, Cylindrocarpon sp., Phoma eupyrena), haben unter kontrollierter Atmosph?re Sch?den verursacht. Hingegen werden die beiden unter Normalbedingungen sehr pathogenen Arten (F. sulphureum undP., exigua var.foveata), durch kontrollierte Atmosph?re wenig beeinflusst. Es wurde sogar in einigen F?llen eine gewisse Verringerung des F?ulnisbefalls beobachtet. Ganz allgemein haben die getesteten kontrollierten Bedingungen die Entwicklung der Pilzf?ulnis an beiden Kartoffelsorten gef?rdert, speziell durch Pilzarten, welche unter Normal-bedingungen wenig Sch?den verursachen.

     

Marine Pharmacology in 2016–2017: Marine Compounds with Antibacterial,Antidiabetic, Antifungal,Anti-Inflammatory,Antiprotozoal, Antituberculosis and Antiviral Activities; Affecting the Immune and Nervous Systems,and Other Miscellaneous Mechanisms of Action

The review of the 2016–2017 marine pharmacology literature was prepared in a manner similar as the 10 prior reviews of this series. Preclinical marine pharmacology research during 2016–2017 assessed 313 marine compounds with novel pharmacology reported by a growing number of investigators from 54 countries. The peer-reviewed literature reported antibacterial, antifungal, antiprotozoal, antituberculosis, and antiviral activities for 123 marine natural products, 111 marine compounds with antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory activities as well as affecting the immune and nervous system, while in contrast 79 marine compounds displayed miscellaneous mechanisms of action which upon further investigation may contribute to several pharmacological classes. Therefore, in 2016–2017, the preclinical marine natural product pharmacology pipeline generated both novel pharmacology as well as potentially new lead compounds for the growing clinical marine pharmaceutical pipeline, and thus sustained with its contributions the global research for novel and effective therapeutic strategies for multiple disease categories.     

Effects of Micronutrient Deficiencies on Human Health: Its Status in South Asia

SUMMARY

Vitamin A, iodine, and iron deficiencies affect large numbers of people worldwide. A deficiency of one or more of these micronutrients adversely affects the physical and mental abilities of humans. South Asia contains a high percentage of these individuals, not just because of its large population, but also the prevalence of deficiency is higher there than in many other parts of the world. The reasons for the high rates of deficiency in South Asia are many, but they include inadequate availability of micronutrient-rich foods, sub-optimal dietary habits, and high rates of infection. Across the region, national plans vary from (a) increasing availability of appropriate foods, (b) introducing new dietary behaviors, (c) improving health status, and (d) directly addressing deficiency through intervention programs. The extent to which each of the countries is making progress toward the goals of these plans can help in understanding the priorities for future efforts to address micronutrient malnutrition. This article discusses the adverse effects of micronutrient deficiencies in humans with special reference to South Asia.     

Citrus Flavonoids in Fruit and Traditional Chinese Medicinal Food Ingredients in China

Flavonoids-enriched tissues of citrus such as peel, immature fruit and flower are consumed as culinary seasonings, tea ingredients in China for centuries. This HPLC quantitative study on the five citrus flavonoids, naringin, hesperidin, neohesperidin, sinensetin and nobiletin on a wide range of Chinese citrus fruits and several Traditional Chinese Medicinal food ingredients in East China, revealed a great diversity in flavonoid composition. Huyou peel (C. paradisi cv. Changshanhuyou) was found to be the best naringin (3.25%) and neohesperidin (2.76%) source; C. aurantium, a major ingredient of several citrus-related TCM, is also a suitable source of naringin and neohesperidin, and a good juice source for flavanone glycosides; the peel of Wenzhoumiju (C. unshiu) is one of the richest local species in hesperidin (up to 6.25%); Zaoju (C. subcompressa) has the highest content of nobiletin (0.59%), a polymethoxylated flavone. LC-ES-MS analysis of Zanthoxylum genus for flavonoids revealed for the first time the presence of significant amounts (0.74%) of hesperidin in the root of Liangmianzhen (Z. nitidum (Roxb.) DC), a relative of Sichuan pepper, which is a spice widely used in China.     

Evolutionary aspects of the trade-off between seed size and number in crops

Whereas the concept that availability of resources drives seed production is sound in principle, it is incomplete as there are many solutions to the allocation of resources that derive from the trade-off between number and size. This paper examines evolutionary aspects of this trade-off in annual grain crops. The analysis is centred on the working hypotheses that, for a given species and environment, allocation of resources to reproduction involves (H1) high plasticity in seed number, which allows for variable resource availability, and (H2) a relatively narrow range of seed size that results from evolutionary and agronomic selection. Comparisons between crops and fish are used to highlight common evolutionary elements in taxa where parents provide little or no care to their offspring, with the consequence that both number and early survival of offspring, hence fitness of parents, are partially related to embryo size and reserves.

The plasticity of seed number in relation to availability of resources is analysed against the established relationship between offspring number and parent growth rate during critical stages. The notion that seed size is under stabilising selection is analysed against three conditions: (1) mean seed size is conservative for a given species and environment, (2) seed size affects fitness, and (3) seed size is heritable. Databases from published papers were compiled to analyse the relative variability of seed size and number, and the heritability of seed size. Evidence for and against the link between seed size and parental fitness is revised using the Smith–Fretwell model as framework (Am. Nat., 108, 499–506).

The proposal of high plasticity of seed number and narrow variability of seed size resulting from stabilising natural selection is generally consistent with evolutionary and genetic considerations. Agronomic selection may have reinforced natural selection leading to relatively narrow seed size in species such as wheat and soybean, where cultivated types retained high plasticity for seed number. In contrast, selection for one or few inflorescences in crops like sunflower and maize may have morphologically reduced seed number plasticity and increased variability of seed size and its responsiveness to resource availability in relation to their wild ancestors.     

Management of Soil Micronutrient Deficiencies in the Rice-Wheat Cropping System

Summary

Within the last three decades, the rice-wheat cropping system has triggered, and with time, aggravated soil micronutrient deficiencies in the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP). This has largely been due to the shift from an earlier rice and wheat monoculture with low yielding, long duration indigenous varieties, to an intensive rice-wheat rotation cropping system with short duration modern high yielding varieties on the same piece of land. The problems related to micronutrient deficiency in the IGP are more due to the size of its available pools in the soil rather than its total contents and are greatly influenced by crop management, or rather its mismanagement. Deficiency of zinc is widespread in the IGP, but with the extensive use of zinc sulfate, zinc deficiency has reduced in some areas of the region. Meanwhile, the deficiency of Fe, Mn and B has increased in the IGP. Deficiency of Cu and Mo is location specific and can limit rice and wheat yields. The adoption and spread of the rice-wheat system in permeable coarse textured soils, particularly in the western IGP, not only caused iron deficiency in rice but also resulted in the emergence of manganese deficiency in wheat. In highly calcareous and acidic soils, boron is the next limiting micronutrient in crop production after zinc. Bumper rice and wheat harvests in the past decade, the declining use of organic manures in the region and except for the widespread use of zinc sulfate, a general lack of awareness amongst farmers on micronutrient deficiency problems has contributed to micronutrients limiting rice and wheat yields in the IGP. Approaches to alleviating micronutrient deficiencies include matching the crop removals of the micronutrients with its replenishments through their respective external carriers, supplementation through organic sources and mobilization/utilization through cultivation of micronutrient efficient crop cultivars. Identification of efficient micronutrient carriers and finding the optimum rate, mode and time of its application is important in ameliorating the micronutrient deficiencies. This article reviews the extent of micronutrient deficiency and discusses various management options available to reduce micronutrient deficiency induced crop yield reduction for rice and wheat in the Indo-Gangetic Plains.