Molecular identification of blast resistance genes in rice landraces from northeastern India

Rice blast disease caused by the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae is one of the most devastating diseases causing huge losses worldwide. In the present study, major blast resistance genes were investigated in landraces originating from northeastern India. Based on phenotypic evaluation, 288 landraces were classified into three distinct groups: resistant (75), moderately resistant (127) and susceptible (86). The genetic frequencies of the 18 major blast resistance genes were between 6.2% and 27.4%, with only two genotypes possessing a maximum of nine blast resistance genes. The cluster and population structure analysis grouped the landraces into two groups. Through principal coordinate analysis, the scatter plots partitioned the resistant and moderately resistant landraces into different groups. Analysis of molecular variance showed maximum (96%) diversity within populations and least (4%) diversity between populations. Association analysis identified six markers, CRG4_2, RM72, tk59-2, pi21_79-3, RM1233 and RM6648, that are significantly associated with blast disease and explained a phenotypic variance of 1.1–6.5%. The associated genes could be used in marker-assisted rice breeding programmes for gene pyramiding to develop rice varietal resistance against blast disease. The present study represents a valuable blast resistance genetic resource that could be used for identification of new R genes, donors for blast resistance, and genomic studies.     

Biocontrol potential of Pseudomonas azotoformans,Serratia marcescens and Trichoderma virens against Fusarium wilt of Dalbergia sissoo

Wilt disease caused by Fusarium solani is a serious constraint to Dalbergia sissoo (shisham) plantations in northern India. In this study, the antagonistic potential of 40 bacterial isolates recovered from rhizophere soil of healthy shisham trees, and a well‐characterized Trichoderma species (Trichoderma virens) were tested for their possibility as biocontrol agents for F. solani. Two promising isolates (S1 and S15) were identified which inhibited pathogen growth, caused chitin degradation, produced siderophores and solubilized phosphate in vitro. Isolate S15 scored highest for hydrogen cyanide (HCN) production while isolate S1 was a non‐HCN producer. These two isolates were identified as Serratia marcescens (S1) and Pseudomonas azotoformans (S15) following sequence analysis of 16S rDNA. In dual culture assays, T. virens caused 80% inhibition of mycelial growth of the test fungus. The three selected antagonists when tested in planta in the glasshouse completely suppressed production of wilt symptoms on 12‐month‐old shisham plants. Further work is needed to ascertain the potential of these isolates to be used as biocontrol agents to manage shisham wilt under field conditions.     

Changes in soil and water quality at sediment–water interface of Penaeus vannamei culture pond at varying salinities

The health of the pond environment in shrimp farming is important for sustainable and profitable aquaculture, in which sediment–water interface is the most important influencing area. With this objective, the key parameters of water and sediment at the interface was studied in shrimp ponds with varying salinities and compared with the surface water and soil to understand the variations and the underlying causes. Total ammonia nitrogen and total alkalinity were higher in water at the interface as compared to surface water, whereas pH, nitrite, oxide forms of nitrogen (NO₃), phosphorus (PO₄) and oxidizing bacteria were observed to be lower. There was no significant difference with respect to macrominerals such as sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium between water at the interface and surface. These changes are profoundly influenced by the uppermost 1.0‐cm thick sediment layer, where the maximum transition of nutrients takes place with the water column. The outcome of the study highlights the effectiveness of water sampling for metabolites at the interface, which reflects at an early stage any potential deterioration of pond environment, which will help the farmer to initiate timely mitigation measures.     

Biochemical and histopathological studies to assess chronic toxicity of triazophos in blood, liver and brain tissue of rats

Triazophos, O,O-diethyl-1-H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl phosphorothioate, (TZ) is an organophosphorus pesticide which is extensively used in agriculture for controlling insect pests. Except a FAO/WHO report no study has investigated its short-term toxicity with respect to its potential to cause biochemical and histopathological alterations. The present study was designed to identify the effect of TZ at different doses (1.64, 3.2 and 8.2 mg/kg) on the oxidative stress parameters in blood as well as organs involved in xenobiotic metabolism (liver and brain) following chronic exposure for 90 days. Moreover, the study also delineates the effect of TZ on the histo-architecture of these organs. The results indicated a dose dependent induction (p < 0.001) of oxidative stress, as evident by increased malondialdehyde (MDA) level and compromised antioxidant defense including glutathione S transferase (GST) activity, glutathione (GSH) content and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) in blood, and increased MDA level with concomitantly decreased GSH content in tissues, following chronic exposure to TZ. The ratio of MDA: FRAP in blood was found to be increased following chronic exposure to TZ and may serve as a suitable indicator of severity of oxidative damage. Onset of such biochemical alterations is one of the early adaptive responses to TZ exposure which leads to histopathological alterations in terms of diffuse fatty changes expanding from mid-zonal area to whole lobule in liver. However, increased oxidative stress did not bring any morphological alteration in brain. The present study concludes that induction of oxidative stress, leading to subsequent histopathological alterations in liver, is an important mechanism underlying the TZ induced chronic toxicity.     

Probiotic efficiency of Bacillus sp. in Labeo rohita challenged by Aeromonas hydrophila: assessment of stress profile,haemato‐biochemical parameters and immune responses

Fish are always susceptible to a wide variety of deadly pathogens which cause a huge loss in aquaculture industries. In this investigation, we have demonstrated the in vivo probiotic efficiency of Bacillus sp. MVF1 (GenBank Acc. No. KP256503) in Labeo rohita challenged with pathogenic strain of Aeromonas hydrophila (MTCC 1739). To check the probiotic potential of the selected bacterial strain, fish were divided into four groups: control, D1, D2 and D3. A total of 100 days (70 days probiotic feeding + 71th day sampling and 28 days challenged test + 29th day sampling) of feeding trial was conducted. To establish the probiotic potential of Bacillus sp. MVF1, certain haematological parameters (haemoglobin, total erythrocyte and leucocyte count), serum biochemical parameters (total protein, albumin and globulin), immune parameters (serum lysozyme and total IgM levels) and hepatic stress profile (malondialdehyde production, superoxide dismutase and catalase activity) have been measured. Our results demonstrated that red blood cell number, white blood cell number and haemoglobin content were much higher in D2 group fish compared to other groups and control fish. Similarly, total protein contents, albumin concentration, globulin concentration, lysozyme activity and IgM production were also recorded to be highest in D2 group fish. This finding clearly indicated the probiotic potential of Bacillus sp. MVF1 in L. rohita. Furthermore, our results also demonstrated that 1 × 10⁷ CFU g^?1 feed (D2) provides better immunity compared to 1 × 10⁵ (D1) and 1 × 10⁹ (D3). Due to beneficial effects, the bacterium Bacillus sp. MVF1 might be useful in aquaculture industries to reduce the disease susceptibility.     

Transfer of Tomato Leaf Curl Virus Resistance from Lycopersicon hirsutum f. glabratum to L. esculentum

Six lines, i.e., H-2, H-11, H-17, H-23, H-24, and H-36, resistant to Tomato Leaf Curl Virus (TLCV) have been developed with controlled introgression of L. hirsutum f. glabratum into Lycopersicon esculentum. The disease incidence, 120 days after inoculation, of those lines derived from L. hirsutum f. glabratum ranged from 8.3 to 35.0 %, whereas in susceptible varieties it ranged from 95.0 to 100 %. The coefficient of infection (CI) values in the resistant lines were very low, ranging from 0.25 to 4.55, whereas in susceptible varieties CI values ranged from 60.56 to 88.96. Line H-2 had the highest resistance by showing the least disease incidence and CI values. The fruit size and days to maturity in resistant lines were close to those of cultivated susceptible varieties. These lines have the scope for being used as varieties in the TLCV infested areas or as foundation lines for further genetic improvement.     

Photodecomposition of an acaricide,fenazaquin, in aqueous alcoholic solution

Fenazaquin (I) is a new acaricide of the quinazoline class. The photodecomposition of I was studied in aqueous methanolic and 2-propanolic solution under UV light (30 h) and sunlight (70 h) separately. The photolytic half-lives in aqueous methanolic solution were found to be 17.1 h (UV) and 38.1 h (sunlight), whereas these were 12.9 h (UV) and 29.2 h (sunlight) for aqueous 2-propanolic solution; all followed a first-order reaction kinetics. Six photoproducts were obtained: beta-phenyl (p-tert-butyl) ethyl alcohol (II), 4-hydroxyquinazoline (III), p-tert-butyl vinyl benzene (IV), 2,4-dihydroxyquinazoline (V), phenyl (p-tert-butyl) acetic acid (VI), and 2-methyl-2-[4'-(2' '-hydroxyethyl)phenyl]propanoic acid (VII). Compounds VI and VII could be isolated only from aqueous 2-propanolic solution under sunlight irradiation. The major degradation products are formed as a result of cleavage of the ether bridge linking the quinazoline and phenyl ring systems of the molecule, oxidation of the tert-butyl substituent, and oxidation of the heterocyclic portion of the quinazoline ring. A probable mechanism of formation of the photoproducts is also suggested.     

Genetic resource enhancement by isolation of diversegenotypes from seed progeny in predominantly sterile rose scentedgeranium Pelargonium graveolens

Four new accessions (BSP1-4) of rose scentedgeranium Pelargonium graveolens were derivedfrom the spontaneous half-sib seed progeny of mostly sterilepopulations of the cultivar accession Bipuli. The seed producingplants of Bipuli had been growing among the populations of cultivaraccessions Hemanti and Kunti in the temperate agroclimate ofKodaikanal, Tamilnadu in India. The four new accessions were comparedwith the cultivar accessions Bipuli, Hemanti and Kunti in fieldexperiments under subtropical agroclimate of Lucknow, Uttar Pradeshfor essential oil yield and quality related traits and in terms oftheir RAPD profiles. The crop yield and essential oil parameters andDNA profiles of the four new accessions and three cultivar accessionsallowed the conclusion that the accessions BSP-1, BSP-2 andBSP-3 were Bipuli × Kunti hybrids and BSP-4was a Bipuli × Hemanti hybrid. The accession BSP-4demonstrated hybrid vigour in several of the essential oil yieldrelated traits; on average basis it out yielded other accessions by afactor of about 2.4. The essential oil of BSP-4 had 89%rhodinol content in which citronellol to geraniol ratio was 1:1 andthe contents of isomenthone, menthone, 10-epi--eudesmol, 6,9-guaiadiene, decanoic acid andisodecanoic acid were relatively lower than in the oils of accessionsBipuli and/or Hemanti. The present study has shown a way for thegeneration of new genotypes in rose scented geranium in which thecultivars have been vegetatively maintained for decades and thegenetic resources are scanty.     

Effects of salinity on the growth and proximate composition of selected tropical marine periphytic diatoms and cyanobacteria

Marine periphytic cyanobacteria and diatoms have been examined as a potential source of feed supplement for rearing aquatic larvae in the aquaculture industry. Culture of the periphytic diatom Amphora sp., Navicula sp., Cymbella sp. and the cyanobacteria Oscillatoria sp. at different salinities showed significant changes in biomass and specific growth rates. Diatoms growth was significantly higher at 35 g L⁻¹, while for cyanobacteria growth was better at 25 g L⁻¹. Significantly higher levels of protein and lipid were found in diatoms at low salinities (15–25 g L⁻¹) and an increase in carbohydrate at high salinities (30–35 g L⁻¹). Conversely, cyanobacteria showed a significantly higher lipid content at 30–35 g L⁻¹ compared with other salinity levels but no significant changes were observed in the protein and carbohydrate contents at different salinity levels. The present findings can be taken into consideration when culturing marine periphytic Amphora sp., Navicula sp., Cymbella sp. and Oscillatoria sp. to provide appropriate levels of protein, lipid and carbohydrate as feed supplement as well as for bioremediation in aquaculture.     

Colchicine treatment of different varieties of potatoes in West Bengal

Summary Colchicine treatment of sprouted tubers before planting increased yield in 17 out of the 20 varieties reported. In some varieties this effect was maintained in the two succeeding years in which the tubers from the various treatments were grown, although no further treatment had been given. The optimum duration of treatment varied between varieties as did overall response. Treatment depressed yield in a few varieties, while in others yield increase was delayed. In 8 out of the 20 varieties abnormalities in tuber shape occurred. Treatment had no effect on maturation except in a few cases where a retardation of 2 or 3 days was recorded.

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Zusammenfassung Die Colchicin-Behandlung von vorgekeimten Knollen steigerte den Ernteetrag bei 17 der angeführten 20 Sorten. Bei manchen Sorten blieb diese Wirkung durch zwei aufeinanderfolgende Jahre in welchen die Knollen nach den verschiedenen Behandlungen gezogen wurden, erhalten, obwohl keine weitere Behandlung angewandt wurde. Die optimale Dauer der Behandlung war je nach den Sorten verschieden, ebenso das allgemeine Ansprechen auf die Behandlungen. Bei wenigen Sorten führte die Behandlung zu einer Ertragsdepression, w?hrenddem bei anderen die Ertragserh?hung verz?gert wurde. Bei 8 der 20 Sorten kamen Abnormit?ten der Knollenform vor. Die Behandlung hatte keine Wirkung auf die Reife ausser in einigen F?llen in welchen eine Versp?tung von 2 bis 3 Tagen verzeichnet wurde.

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Résumé Le traitement de tubercules germés à la colchicine avant la plantation a fait augmenter le rendement de 17 des 20 variétés étudiées. Dans certaines variétés, cet effet se manifesta pendant les deux années successives où les tubercules soumis aux différents traitements furent cultivés, bien que nul autre traitement ne f?t appliqué. La durée optimale du traitement variait d'une variété, à l'autre, de même que la réponse générale au traitement. Le traitement réduisit le rendement de quelques variétés, tandis que dans d'autres cas, l'augmentation du rendement se manifesta avec un certain retard. Dans 8 variétés sur 20, il fut constaté des anomalies de conformation des tubercules. Le traitement n'influen?ait pas la maturation, sauf dans quelques cas où il fut observé un retard de 2 ou 3 jours.