A stable cytoplasmic male-sterile line of Brassica juncea carrying restructured organelle genomes from the somatic hybrid Trachystoma ballii+B. juncea

A cytoplasmic male-sterile (CMS) line of Brassica juncea has been developed by combining the cytoplasm originating from the somatic hybrid Trachystoma ballii+B. juncea, and the nucleus of B. juncea cv. Pusa Bold by repeated backcrossing. Male-sterile plants closely resembled the normal fertile B. juncea in general morphology, but had delayed flowering (5–7 days) when compared with fertile ‘Pusa Bold’ which flowered in 45 days. Stamens of the male-sterile line were transformed into petaloid structures. Pollen abortion occurred after tetrad formation. Female fertility of the male-sterile line was normal. Molecular analysis of organelle genomes indicated extensive mitochondrial DNA recombinations in the CMS line. Preliminary analysis of the chloroplast genome of the CMS line also indicated chloroplast DNA recombination.     

Response of soil physical properties to tillage and residue management on two soils in a cool temperate environment

In view of their potential benefits, reduced or no tillage (NT) systems are being advocated worldwide. Concerns about impairment of some soil conditions, however, cast doubt on their unqualified acceptance. We evaluated the effects of 6 years of tillage and residue management on bulk density, penetration resistance, aggregation and infiltration rate of a Black Chernozem at Innisfail (loam, 65 g kg⁻¹ organic matter, Udic Boroll) and a Gray Luvisol at Rimbey (loam, 31 g kg⁻¹ organic matter, Boralf) cropped to monoculture spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in a cool temperate climate in Alberta, Canada. Tillage systems were no tillage and tillage with rototilling (T), and two residue levels were straw removed (−S) and straw retained (+S). Bulk density (BD) of the 0–7.5 and 7.5–15 cm depths was significantly greater under NT (1.13–1.58 Mg m⁻³) than under T (0.99–1.41 Mg m⁻³) in both soils, irrespective of residue management. In both soils, penetration resistance (PR) was greater under NT than under T to 15 cm depth. Residue retention significantly reduced PR of the 0–10 cm soil in NT, but not in T. In the 0–5 cm depth of the Black Chernozem, the >2 mm fraction of dry aggregates was highest under NT + S (72%), and lowest under T − S (50%). The wind-erodible fraction (dry aggregates <1 mm size) was smallest (18%) under NT + S and largest (39%) under T − S. Soil aggregation benefited more from NT than from residue retention. Proportion of wind-erodible aggregates was generally greater in the Gray Luvisol than in the Black Chernozem. In the Black Chernozem, steady-state infiltration rate (IR) was significantly lower (33%) under NT than under T. Residue retention improved IR in both NT and T. In the Gray Luvisol, IR was not significantly affected by tillage and residue management. Despite firmer soil, NT and residue retention are recommended to improve aggregation in the cool temperate region of Western Canada.     

Variation and covariation for Gibberella ear rot resistance and agronomic traits in testcrosses of doubled haploid maize lines

Gibberella ear rot (GER) of maize caused by Fusarium graminearum reduces grain yield and leads to contamination of the grains with deoxynivalenol (DON), a mycotoxin that adversely affects the health of humans and animals. The objectives of this study were to (1) analyze means and genotypic variances for line per se performance (LP) and testcross performance (TP) of doubled haploid (DH) lines for GER severity and DON concentration as well as for some agronomic traits, (2) examine correlations among these traits, (3) validate QTL for resistance detected in previous studies for LP and their effect on TP and (4) investigate the relative efficiency of indirect selection (RE) for LP to improve TP. Testcross progenies of 94 DH lines originating from four flint populations were developed using a susceptible dent tester as pollinator. Artificial inoculations with F. graminearum led to appreciable disease development. Average TP for GER severity and DON concentration were lower than the mean mid-parent values of the tester and DH lines, indicating mid-parent heterosis for resistance. Genotypic variation for resistance was significant for LP and TP. Genotypic correlations between LP and TP were low and resistance QTL for LP had no significant effects on TP. Accordingly, RE for resistance was low, suggesting to allocate resources mostly to the evaluation of testcrosses. Correlations of resistance to GER and DON contamination with grain yield (measured under non-inoculated conditions) were not significant, indicating that selection for resistance and higher grain yield can be carried out simultaneously.     

Changes in Growth, Ions and Metabolites in Two Callus Lines of Vigna radiata which Differ in Salt Tolerance

NaCl-resistant (selected at 300 mM NaCl) and non-selected cell lines of Vigna radiata were compared for growth, various ions and metabolites at weekly intervals up to 28 days of culture in the presence or absence of NaCl (0–300 mM). The sale-resistant line grew significantly better than the non-selected line at NaCl concentrations higher than 50 mM. The resistant line accumulated significantly more Na⁺ and maintained higher levels of K⁺ under NaCl stress than the non-selected line. Both lines accumulated various metabolites, e.g. protein, proline and soluble amino-nitrogen under stress, but this accumulation was greater in the non-selected line than in the resistant one. On the other hand, total content of reducing sugars and sucrose (soluble sugars) was significantly higher in the latter than the former. Moreover, the concentration of soluble sugars in resistant calli was much higher than the other intracellular metabolites. Thus, sugars and ions are likely the major osmoregulants in the resistant line of V. radiata under salt stress.     

A model for optimal allocation of canal water based on crop production functions

A model for optimal distribution of water in the canal command areas has been developed. Water production functions in the form of polynomial expressions were developed from existing experimental information. Using the production functions, water distribution is indicated in order to obtain maximum returns. It has been shown that higher returns can be obtained from canal command areas by a suitable modification of the existing water release pattern at the outlet.     

Identification of barley strains with improved amino acid balance

Summary Four barley strains viz. 1098–2, 1098–7, 1098–9 and 733–6, obtainedfrom the progeny of the crosses, Jyoti x Hyproly and Vijay x Hiproly which showed an increase in the grain protein content and an improvement in amino acid balance, were identified.     

Zoonotic cases of camelpox infection in India

This study reports the first conclusive evidence of zoonotic camelpox virus (CMLV) infection in humans associated with outbreaks in dromedarian camels (Camelus dromedaries) in northwest region of India during 2009. CMLV infection is usually restricted to camels and causes localised skin lesions but occasionally leads to generalised form of disease. However, the present outbreak involved camel handlers and attendants with clinical manifestations such as papules, vesicles, ulceration and finally scabs over fingers and hands. In camels, the pock-like lesions were distributed over the hairless parts of the body. On the basis of clinical and epidemiological features coupled with serological tests and molecular characterization of the causative agent, CMLV zoonosis was confirmed in three human cases. Clinical samples such as skin scabs/swabs and blood collected from affected animals and humans were analysed initially, for the presence of CMLV-specific antigen and antibodies by counter immunoelectrophoresis (CIE); serum neutralization test (SNT); plaque-reduction neutralization test (PRNT) and indirect immunoperoxidase test which was later confirmed by amplification of CMLV-specific ankyrin repeat protein (C18L) gene. Virus isolation was successful only from samples collected from camels. Further, sequence analyses based on three full-length envelope protein genes (A27L, H3L and D8L) revealed 95.2-99.8% and 93.1-99.3% homology with other Orthopoxviruses at nucleotide and amino acid levels, respectively. Phylogram of the three genes revealed a close relationship of CMLV with Variola virus (VARV). Considering the emerging and re-emerging nature of the virus, its genetic relatedness to VARV, zoonotic potential and productivity losses in camels; the control measures are imperative in curtailing economic and public health impact of the disease. This is the first instance of laboratory confirmed camelpox zoonosis in India.     

Serosurveillance for Japanese encephalitis virus infection among equines in India

The seroprevalence of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) among equines was evaluated from January 2006 to December 2009 in 13 different states of India by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test and virus neutralization test (VNT). Antibodies against JEV were detected in 327 out of 3,286 (10%) equines with a maximum prevalence reported in the state of Manipur (91.7%) followed by Gujarat (18.5%), Madhya Pradesh (14.4%), and Uttar Pradesh (11.6%). Evidence of JEV infection was observed in equines in Indore (Madhya Pradesh) where a 4-fold or higher rise in antibody titer was observed in 21 out of 34 horses in November 2007 to October 2006. In March 2008, seven of these horses had a subsequent 4-fold rise in JEV antibody titers while this titer decreased in nine animals. JEV-positive horse sera had a JEV/WNV (West Nile virus) ratio over 2.0 according to the HI and/or VNT. These results indicated that JEV is endemic among equines in India.     

Tonicity effects on intact single muscle fibers: relation between force and cell volume

Contraction of isolated, intact frog muscle fibers under increasing tonicity of the external solution was studied by adding (i) effectively impermeant sodium chloride and sucrose and (ii) permeant potassium chloride. Force of isometric contraction decreased as a function of tonicity, independent of the permeability of the solute. In contrast, cell volume changed with tonicity in impermeant solutes and was constant with potassium chloride. The results are evidence that ionic strength in the sarcoplasm directly influences the contraction mechanism. Also, the findings show that force development is unaffected by changes in fiber volume, suggesting that the force per cross-bridge is constant at different distances between the thin and myofilaments. Finally, in light of the length-force relation, the results support the idea that cross-bridges are independent force generators.