Assessment of genetic diversity in cabbage cultivars using RAPD and SSR markers

Genetic relationship and diversity among seven cabbage cultivars were analyzed using RAPD and SSR markers. These cultivars are of great commercial value in India and are confirmed for their reaction to black rot caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris. However, so far the extent of genetic diversity and relatedness has not been studied in these cultivars. A total of 17 selected RAPD primers generated 90 bands, 76 of which were polymorphic (84.44%). In addition, 27 selected SSR primers generated 67 amplified bands with 59 of which were polymorphic (87.6%). Though both the marker techniques were able to discriminate the cultivars effectively, analysis of combined data of markers (RAPD and SSR) resulted in better distinction of cultivars. By combining both the markers, a total of 157 bands were detected of which 135 bands (85.98%) were polymorphic, i.e. an average of 5.95 bands per primer. High level of polymorphism (> 85%) recorded with two different marker systems indicated a high level of genetic variation existing among the cultivars. Genetic relationship estimated using similarity co-efficient (Jaccard’s) values between different pairs of cultivars varied from 0.21 to 0.77 in RAPD, 0.42 to 0.82 in SSR, and 0.43 to 0.89 with combined markers. A high correspondence had been recorded between the values of genetic variations generated by UPGMA, clustering, and scatter plot diagrams. The cultivars ‘January King Sel. Improved’ and ‘Golden Acre’ are highly divergent cultivars as demonstrated by both the marker systems.     

Heavy metals and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can alter the yield and chemical composition of volatile oil of sweet basil (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ocimum basilicum</Emphasis> L.)

The effects of increasing levels of metals (10 and 20 mg of Cr kg^-1 and 25 and 50 mg of Cd, Pb, and Ni kg^-1 soil) and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi Glomus intraradices on the yield, chemical composition of volatile oil, and metal accumulation in sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) were investigated in a pot experiment. The shoot yield, content of essential oil, and root yield of sweet basil were increased by the application of low dose of Cd, Pb, and Ni as compared to control. The application of high level of metals had deleterious effect on the yield. In soil with low dose of metal applied, AM fungi inoculation significantly enhanced the metal concentration in shoots and had adverse effect on the yield, whereas in soil with high dose of metal applied, AM fungal inoculation reduced the metal concentration in shoot and had beneficial effect on the yield. The content of linalool in basil oil was decreased and that of methyl chavicol was increased by the application of Cr, Cd, and Pb in soil as compared to control. Similarly, the level of linalool and methyl chavicol was decreased and that of methyl eugenol was increased by the application of Ni as compared to control. However, AM fungal inoculation led to maintain the content of linalool, methyl chavicol, and methyl eugenol in volatile oil, which were either increased or decreased by the application of metals. We conclude that the AM–sweet basil symbiosis could be used as a novel approach to enhance the yield and maintain the quality of volatile oil of sweet basil under metal-contaminated soils.     

Modelling the Vertical Variability of the Radiation Flux Density in a Closed Green Crop Stand

As the incident radiation penetrates vertically in any plant stand having green closed canopy, the PAR flux density (Rn) gradually decreases with depth in a manner that the radiation flux density (Rn) is inversely proportional to the photosynthetic-area percentage (Pap), and the radiation interception density (Rid). The radiation interception density (Rid) is a function of net radiation intercepted, total photosynthetic-area percentage and the thickness of that photosynthetic-area.     

ISOLATION AND CHARACTERISATION OF HERPES VIRUS FROM TURKEYS

Turkey herpesvirus (HVT) was isolated from the kidneys of 6 of 8 turkey poults from two flocks. The isolates were identified by syncytial-type of cytopathology, inhibition of plaque formation by 5-bromodeoxyuridine, formation of Cowdry type A intranuclear inclusions in cell cultures, and presence of herpes-type virions in negatively stained preparations and thin sections of infected cell cultures. One of these isolates inoculated into chickens proved apathogenic over an observation period of 10 weeks. Indirect immunofluorescence and serum neutralisation tests revealed serological relationship between these isolates and the strain NSW 1/70 of HVT. Staining of HVT-infected cell culture by Marek's disease herpesvirus (MDHV) antiserum showed intranuclear fluorescence but attempts to prepare HVT precipitating antigen or to demonstrate cross-precipiation between HVT and MDHV were unsuccessful.     

“Kalpa 1” a new late colour development apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) bud sport originated from cv. Starking Delicious

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Breeding in perennial fruit crops is time consuming process with relatively low success rate as compared with annual crops. Apple fruit coloration is...     

A Cretaceous hoofed mammal from India

The sedimentary record documenting the northward drift of India (Late Cretaceous to late Early Eocene) has recently provided important clues to the evolution, radiation, and dispersal of mammals. Here, we report a definitive Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) archaic ungulate (Kharmerungulatum vanvaleni genus et species nova) from the Deccan volcano-sedimentary sequences exposed near Kisalpuri village in Central India. This find has important implications for the origin and diversification of early ungulates and raises three possible paleobiogeographic scenarios: (i) Archaic ungulates may have been cosmopolitan in distribution. (ii) Kharmerungulatum might be an immigrant from Western Asia. (iii) Archaic ungulates may have originated in India.     

Influence of competition,irrigation levels and nitrogen fertilization on protein content and protein yield of three spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars

Protein content and protein yield of three spring wheat cultivars differing in morphological and physiological growth characters were found to be influenced by intercultivar competition, irrigation levels and nitrogen fertilization. The protein content of the tall cultivar C 306 and the protein yield of the dwarf cultivar HD 2160 were more than the other cultivars. Binary mixed stands were not superior to the better component cultivar. Intercultivar competition increased the protein content of dwarf and semi-dwarf cultivars, but decreased the protein content of tall cultivar. On the other hand, protein yield of the dwarf cultivar decreased and that of tall cultivar increased when grown in mixed stands. Protein yield of semi-dwarf cultivar increased when grown with dwarf cultivar, but decreased when grown with tall cultivar. Two or three irrigations increased the protein content and protein yield of all the three cultivars and their mixed stands over one irrigation. Protein content and protein yield of the cultivars and their mixed stands were higher when 150 kg N/ha was applied than when 80 kg N/ha was applied.     

As(III) removal from aqueous solution by adsorption

The removal of As(III) from aqueous solutions at different concentrations, pH and temperatures by haematite has been carried out successfully. The maximum removal was found to be 96 % at concentration 13.34 μmol L^?1, temperature 20 °C and pH 7.0. The process of uptake follows first-order adsorption rate expression and obeys the Langmuir's model of adsorption. The removal of As(III) by haematite is also partially diffusion controlled and mass transfer coefficients, diffusion coefficients and thermodynamic parameters have been determined to explain the results.     

Landraces-potential treasure for sustainable wheat improvement

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Agricultural production is facing serious threat from various biotic and abiotic stresses specifically under climatic challenges. It is becoming increasingly...