Genetic Variability and Interrelationship Among Opium and its Alkaloids in Opium Poppy (Papaver Somniferum L.)

Summary The plant species Papaver somniferum L. (opium poppy) is grown commercially in several countries under secure area to produce opium and its major alkaloids i.e. morphine, codeine, thebaine, narcotine and papaverine for pharmaceutical industries. In recent years the global demand for these alkaloids and its derivatives are growing. Seeing the global demand there is urgent need to develop high opium yielding varieties integrated with high specific alkaloids. However, a breeding programme focused on developing improved varieties requires knowledge about the genetic variability for the concern traits. Therefore the present investigation was undertaken to examine phenotypic and genotypic variability, broad sense heritability, genetic advance under selection and interrelationship of traits. A total of 122 accessions were found to be highly variables for all the traits studied. Broad sense heritability ranged from 74.18% (for opium yield/plant) to 99.00% (for papaverine content). Expected genetic advance was varied between 33.91% (for morphine content) and 257.46% (for papaverine content). Genetic correlation analysis revealed that opium yield is negatively correlated with morphine and papaverine content. Among alkaloids codeine, thebaine, narcotine and papaverine showed positive correlation among themselves. The correlations among alklaloids were justified based on the biosynthetic pathway of opium alkaloids.     

Assessment of bio-inoculants-mediated nutrient management in terms of productivity,profitability and nutrient harvest index of pigeon pea–wheat cropping system in India

Abstract

Imbalanced and indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers has been adversely influencing the quality of soil, environment, biodiversity and nutrient status in soil. Conjoint application of bio-inoculants (BI) with organic or inorganic sources of nutrients tweaks nutrient synchrony in soil and improves plant nutrition. With this backdrop an experiment was conducted at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi during 2016–2018. The objectives were to identify the suitable combinations of BI-mediated nutrient sources for higher productivity and profitability in pigeon pea–wheat cropping system (PWCS). The nine pigeon pea treatments; four sole applications viz., recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF), vermicompost (VC), farm yard manure (FYM), leaf compost (LC) and four conjoint applications viz., RDF?+?BI, VC?+?BI, FYM?+?BI and LC?+?BI and one control were replicated thrice under randomized block design (RBD). However, in succeeding wheat, each of the treatments applied to pigeon pea was further allocated to two levels (50% and 100%) in factorial RBD. Findings exhibit that FYM?+?BI could result into higher equivalent-system grain productivity (10.4 and 10.8?t?ha^?1 during 1st and 2nd year, respectively) of PWCS. However, profitability parameters of PWCS were higher with the RDF?+?BI. Uptake of nutrients (NPK) was significantly higher with FYM?+?BI in pigeon pea and RDF?+?BI in wheat. Nutrient harvest index (NHI) did not vary significantly in both the crops. Conclusively, bio-inoculation is more productive and beneficial in general, while, over the various combinations, recommendation of FYM?+?BI combination could be more productive and sustainable.     

Genetic diversity analysis in Boerhavia diffusa L. of different geographic locations in India using RAPD markers

Boerhavia diffusa is extensively used in herbal medicines as well as in the Ayurvedic system, because it contains a set of clinically important compounds. In the present study, the genetic variability in Boerhavia diffusa between accessions of different geographical origin within the Indian territory is assessed through random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Twenty-eight accessions of Boerhavia were screened with eighteen primers of which nine were found to be the most informative. The degree of polymorphism was found to be high in accessions collected from different places of Uttar Pradesh (Set II) in comparison to other states of India (Set I). A relatively lower level of polymorphism was recorded in accessions collected from diverse locations around Lucknow (Set III). Accessions from neighbouring geographical regions exhibited more similarity than those from distant regions (as revealed by the set I analysis). Certain diagnostic markers may be correlated with morphological character(s) such as plant type. BDL appeared most distinct and divergent from the rest of the accessions and the BDJ plant in set II also showed least similarity estimate. Fragments of 5.62 Kb and 4.47 Kb with primer GN59 was found to be unique for BDP and BD2 having ovate leaf character, whereas ovoid leaf genotype exhibited 0.79 Kb (GN34 primer) fragment. Similarly a unique band type (0.35 Kb) with primer GN83 was present in BDL and BD1 that share light pink flower. Jaccard's, and Nei and Li similarity coefficient values amongst the accessions were in the range of 0.22 to 0.89 and 0.33 to 0.93, respectively. Association of RAPD markers with the leaf characteristics, flower colour as well as with geographical locations has been made. This shows that RAPD markers are also useful for the study of genetic structure of Boerhavia populations.     

Molecular identification of a phytoplasma associated with Ajwain (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Trachyspermum ammi</Emphasis>) in India

A new disease of Trachyspermum ammi, commonly known as Ajwain in India, was observed in Lucknow, India. The symptoms included small chlorotic leaves, highly proliferating shoots, witches’ broom appearance, shortened internodes and an overall stunted growth. Poor flower heads and fruit setting caused considerable yield losses for farmers. In transmission electron microscopy, pleomorphic bodies were detected in the phloem cells of diseased plants but not in those of healthy plants. The disease etiology was investigated using direct and nested polymerase chain reaction with phytoplasma-specific primers, DNA sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that this phytoplasma clustered in the 16SrVI group. A 1,249 bp sequence (FJ970035) of the 16S rRNA gene from the phytoplasma showed 99% homology with the 16S rRNA gene, (FJ427295) of Ca. Phytoplasma trifolii strain A6 belonging to the phytoplasma group VI (reported from Iran). This is the first report of phytoplasma infection affecting Ajwain (T. ammi).     

GIS-Based Emission Inventory, Dispersion Modeling, and Assessment for Source Contributions of Particulate Matter in an Urban Environment

The Industrial Source Complex Short Term (ISCST3) model was used to discern the sources responsible for high PM₁₀ levels in Kanpur City, a typical urban area in the Ganga basin, India. A systematic geographic information system-based emission inventory was developed for PM₁₀ in each of 85 grids of 2?×?2 km. The total emission of PM₁₀ was estimated at 11 t day^?1 with an overall breakup as follows: (a) industrial point sources, 2.9 t day^?1 (26%); (b) vehicles, 2.3 t day^?1 (21%); (c) domestic fuel burning, 2.1 t day^?1 (19%); (d) paved and unpaved road dust, 1.6 t day^?1 (15%); and the rest as other sources. To validate the ISCST3 model and to assess air-quality status, sampling was done in summer and winter at seven sampling sites for over 85 days; PM₁₀ levels were very high (89?C632 ??g m^?3). The results show that the model-predicted concentrations are in good agreement with observed values, and the model performance was found satisfactory. The validated model was run for each source on each day of sampling. The overall source contribution to ambient air pollution was as follows: vehicular traffic (16%), domestic fuel uses (16%), paved and unpaved road dust (14%), and industries (7%). Interestingly, the largest point source (coal-based power plant) did not contribute significantly to ambient air pollution. The reason might be due to release of pollutant at high stack height. The ISCST3 model was shown to produce source apportionment results like receptor modeling that could generate source apportionment results at any desired time and space resolution.     

Influence of Land-Surface Evapotranspiration on the Earth's Climate

Calculations with a numerical model of the atmosphere show that the global fields of rainfall, temperature, and motion strongly depend on the land- surface evapotranspiration. This confirms the long-held idea that the surface vegetation, which produces the evapotransporation, is an important factor in the earth's climate.     

Involvement of Excess Cadmium on Oxidative Stress and Other Physiological Parameters of Eggplant

To examine tolerance of cadmium (Cd) by eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) cv. ‘Hybrid PK 123’, plants were grown in refined sand in complete nutrient solution for 52 days in a glasshouse at ambient temperature. Cadmium sulfate was superimposed on day 53, at variable levels: nil, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.5 mM. Influence of excess Cd was discernible after 5 days of metal supply at 0.4 and 0.5 mM Cd as depression in growth. At these levels, foliar symptoms were initiated as paling of young leaves at the base progressing upward. With increase in age, affected leaves turned golden yellow and these effects spread to lower leaves. Leaf size and floral initiation were very much restricted. These types of phenotypes induced leaf senescence. Excess Cd reduced the biomass and fruit yield of plants. At higher levels (>0.1 mM) of Cd, fruit formation was completely inhibited and fruits formed at 0.05 and 0.1 mM Cd were smaller in size. Besides this, excess Cd disturbed the metabolism of eggplant by reducing the concentration of chlorophyll (a and b), protein, Hill reaction activity, and activity of antioxidant enzymes—catalase and ascorbate peroxidase; whereas the activity of peroxidase and ribonuclease increased in leaves of eggplant. Cadmium excess reduced the concentration of Fe and Zn and Cd increased that of proline, lipid peroxidation, phenols, reducing sugars and Cd concentration in leaves of eggplant.     

Mineral Profile and Variability in Vegetable Amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor)

Populations in North India depend on a number of vegetable crops of which Amaranthus spp. is the most important since it is the only crop available in the hot summer months when no other foliage crop grows in the field. However, reports on mineral composition of leaves are rare with absolutely no information on the qualitative improvement of foliage yield with special reference to minerals. Studies on correlation among the minerals as well as with yield and leaf attributes are also lacking. Hence, we report the proximate mineral composition in 30 strains of A. tricolor along with some suggestions for qualitative improvement of the foliage yield with reference to minerals. Our study showed that vegetable amaranth is a rich source of minerals like calcium (1.7±0.04 g/100 g), iron (1233.8±50.02 mg/kg), and zinc (791.7±28.98 mg/kg). The heritability estimates were high for most of the traits, with potassium and calcium showing high values, while comparatively lower values were recorded for magnesium and nickel. Nickel was the only mineral that showed positive correlation with all the minerals, as well as with leaf size and foliage yield. Zinc showed strong positive relationship with iron (0.66^**) and manganese (0.74^**), and was the only mineral exhibiting significant positive association with foliage yield. This study would be of use in enhancement of selected minerals in different regions according to local preferences and nutrient deficiency prevalent among the populations.