Marker‐assisted introgression of bacterial blight and blast resistance into IR 58025B,an elite maintainer line of rice

IR 58025A is a very popular wild‐abortive cytoplasmic male sterile (WA‐CMS) line of rice and is extensively used for hybrid rice breeding. However, IR 58025A and many hybrids derived from it possess mild aroma (undesirable in some parts of India) and are highly susceptible to bacterial blight (BB) and blast diseases. To improve IR 58025A for BB and blast resistance, we have introgressed a major dominant gene conferring resistance against BB (i.e. Xa21) and blast (i.e. Pi54) into IR 58025B, the maintainer line of IR 58025A. An introgression line of Samba Mahsuri (i.e. SM2154) possessing Xa21 and Pi54 genes in homozygous condition and fine‐grain type was used as donor parent, and backcross breeding strategy was adopted for targeted introgression of the resistance genes. PCR‐based molecular markers tightly linked to Xa21 and Pi54 were used for selection of BB‐ and blast‐resistant lines, while closely linked markers were used for identification of backcross‐derived plants devoid of Rf4 and aroma. At BC₂F₅, four backcross‐derived lines possessing resistance against BB and blast, devoid of aroma, high yield, short plant stature, long‐slender grain type and with recurrent parent genome recovery ranging from 88.8% to 98.6% were selected and advanced for further evaluation. The improved versions of IR 58025B, viz. SB54‐11‐143‐9‐44‐5, SB54‐11‐143‐9‐44‐98, SB54‐11‐143‐9‐44‐111 and SB54‐11‐143‐9‐44‐171, behaved as perfect maintainers when test‐crossed with WA‐CMS lines. Agronomically superior lines of improved IR 58025B are being converted to CMS line through backcrossing for developing high‐yielding and biotic stress‐resistant rice hybrids.     

Modeling and error analysis of kinematic-wave equations of furrow irrigation

A moving control volume approach was used to model the advance phase of a furrow irrigation system whereas a fixed control volume was used to model the nearly stationary phase and the runoff rate. The resulting finite-difference equations of the kinematic-wave model were linearized and explicit algebraic expressions were obtained for computation of advance and runoff rate. The solutions for the advance increment and the runoff rate were compared with the nonlinear scheme, the zero-inertia model, and a set of field data. A close agreement was found between the models and the field data. Assuming a constant infiltration rate, a differential equation was derived to estimate the error between the kinematic-wave model and the zero-inertia model in predicting the flow cross-sectional area along the field length. The differential equation and two dimensionless terms were used to define the limits for use of the kinematic-wave model in furrow irrigation.     

Optimization of furrow irrigation system design parameters considering drainage and runoff water quality constraints

The design problem of furrow irrigation systems considering runoff and drainage water quality was formulated as an optimization problem, with maximization of net benefits as the objective. A power advance function with an empirically derived relationship between the furrow irrigation design variables and relative crop yield were used in the formulation. The generalized geometric programming technique was used to solve for the optimal values for the design variables that maximized the net benefits from a furrow irrigation system. The optimal efficiency for which the system must be designed under a given set of soil, crop, and economic conditions is not known in advance. In the design, the application efficiency was not specified a priori. It was an output from the optimal design. The analysis suggested that it might not be economical to design surface irrigation systems to achieve a high application efficiency that is specified a priori. In the absence of environmental degradation problems from irrigation, it may sometimes be profitable to design surface irrigation systems to operate at less than the standard application efficiency (55%–90%) that is routinely used in the design. Formulation of the design problem as an optimization problem would yield the optimal application efficiency that would maximize the net benefits to the farmer under any given set of conditions.     

Host range of Alternaria alternata—a potential fungal biocontrol agents for waterhyacinth in India

The host ranges of Alternaria alternata and fungi native to India and pathogen of waterhyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) were evaluated using 29 plant species (some with several cultivars tested) representing 18 families of economic and ecological importance. The results showed that only waterlettuce (Pistia stratiotes), another common weed in India, was infected by A. alternata. The use of these pathogens in the biological control of waterhyacinth would not be expected to affect plants of economic and ecological importance in India.     

Inactivation of bacterial fish pathogens by medium-chain lipid molecules (caprylic acid, monocaprylin and sodium caprylate)

The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of caprylic acid (CA), monocaprylin (MC, monoglyceride ester of CA) and sodium caprylate (SC) on Edwardsiella ictaluri, E. tarda, Streptococcus iniae and Yersinia ruckeri in Mueller Hinton broth (MHB) were investigated. In addition, the bactericidal kinetics of CA and MC on the aforementioned pathogens in MHB, and that of SC in water, were determined. The MIC of CA and SC on E. ictaluri, E. tarda, S. iniae and Y. ruckeri were 7.5 and 50 mM, 7.5 and 50 mM, 10 and 25 mM, and 7.5 and 25 mM respectively. For MC, the MIC was in between 2.5 and 5 mM for all the pathogens. The MBC of CA, MC and SC on E. ictaluri, E. tarda, S. iniae and Y. ruckeri were 10, 5 and 100 mM; 10, 5 and 100 mM; 15, 5 and 75 mM; and 10, 5 and 75 mM respectively. The three lipid molecules exerted a substantial antimicrobial effect on the fish pathogens studied. The results indicate that CA and its derivatives could potentially be used for treating and controlling bacterial fish diseases, but extensive validation studies in fish are needed before recommending their usage.     

Molecular markers for yellow stem borer Scirpophaga incertulas (Walker) resistance in rice

Breeding for yellow stem borer resistance in rice is difficult owing to the complex genetics of the trait and inherent difficulties in screening. Identification of molecular markers linked to the trait would enhance phenotypic evaluation for the trait. An F₂ population was developed using parents contrasting in their reaction to yellow stem borer resistance. Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis,in conjunction with bulked segregant analysis, enabled us to identify four phenotype-specific RAPD markers. The markers C1₃₂₀ and K6₆₉₅ were linked with resistance and AH5₆₆₀ and C4₁₃₀₀ with susceptibility. The markers K6₆₉₅ and AH5₆₆₀ were linked to the gene(s) at distances of 12.8 cM and 14.9 cM, respectively. Scoring of these markers in a set of germplasm confirmed their reproducibility and their association with the trait. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Expression Profile of Luteinizing Hormone Receptor Gene in Hierarchal Follicles and Regressing Oviduct Tissues of White Leghorn Hens During Moulting

In the present study, the expression profile of luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) was investigated in the ovary, magnum and uterus and in hierarchcal follicles (F‐1, F‐2, F‐3 and F‐4) of hens subjected to moulting to establish their involvement in moulting and presence in non‐gonadal tissues. Fifty‐two layers (72 weeks) were subjected to moult for a period of 14 days. Four birds were sacrificed each time on 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 14 days of moulting, and samples (ovary, magnum, uterus and hierarchal follicles) were collected aseptically for the quantitative study by real‐time polymerase chain reaction. The ovary, isthmus, uterus and magnum weight reduced significantly during induced moulting. From the 4 DOM, this reduction was drastic and reached approximately 80% of original weight in the case of ovary, isthmus and magnum and approximately 65% of original weight in the case of uterus on 14 DOM. Ovarian yellow follicles decreased gradually from 1 DOM to 4 DOM, after that no normal yellow follicle was observed in moulted bird. The number of atretic follicles increased gradually during the course of induced moulting, reaching the peak at 5 DOM. The LHR mRNA was detected in non‐gonadal tissues like magnum and uterus. The LHR expression was significantly (p < 0.05) down regulated in ovary, magnum and uterus throughout the treatment. These results indicated that LHR may have a role in reproductive tissue regression during moulting.     

Comparison of various deep convolutional neural network models to discriminate apple leaf diseases using transfer learning

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Plant diseases are the major factor behind production loss in agriculture. The traditional manual methods for disease detection in plants involve expert...