Disease Note: Identification of Curvularia oryzae as cause of leaf spot disease on oil palm seedlings in nurseries of Thailand

The causal agent of leaf spot disease of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) seedling nurseries in Thailand was identified as Curvularia oryzae. The fungus was isolated from leaves with disease symptoms, characterized by morphological properties, and pathogenicity tested. The identity of the phytopathogenic fungus was confirmed through polymerase chain reaction analysis using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) primers, which amplified about a 1 kb product. Sequencing this DNA product confirmed this pathogen was C. oryzae. Furthermore, the pathogenicity test showed that C. oryzae could infect oil palm seedlings.     

First report of leaf spot on lettuce caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Curvularia aeria</Emphasis>

In 2017, leaf spots were found on lettuce growing in fields in Songkhla Province, southern Thailand. The fungus isolated from the spot lesions on the leaves was identified as Curvularia aeria (Bat., J.A.Lima and C.T.Vasconc.) Tsuda based on morphological characteristics and DNA sequences of the ITS region of the rRNA gene. After a conidial suspension of the isolate was sprayed on lettuce seedlings, the leaf spots developed on lettuce seedlings, and the fungus was reisolated; leaves of plants inoculated with water did not develop spots. This is the first report of C. aeria causing leaf spot on lettuce.     

Development of a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cajanus cajanifolius</Emphasis>-based CMS Hybrid Technology in Pigeonpea

Pigeonpea is an important food legume of the semi-arid tropics grown mainly under subsistence agriculture. As a first step to address the five decades-long yield stagnation, a proof-of-concept for a commercially viable CMS-based hybrid technology with high standard heterosis and fertility restoration has been demonstrated. Six generations of backcrossing and selection for male sterility, and agronomic superiority using a Cajanus cajanifolius- (A₄ cytoplasm) based CMS donor (ICPA 2039) and a medium-maturity group recurrent parent ICPL 20176 (ICPB 2043) which resulted in a stable male sterile line (ICPA 2043) with near-perfect male sterility and superior agronomic traits. Following backcrossing and selections, the A-line (ICPA 2043) appeared to be morphologically similar in terms of various qualitative and quantitative traits compared to the B-line (ICPB 2043). However, differences between ICPA 2043 and ICPB 2043 were observed for days to maturity, 100-seed weight, pods plant^-1, and seed weight plant^-1. These differences may not be genetic but physiological. The best heterotic restorer line selected in a cross (ICPH 2671) combination restored a mean of 96.49% male fertility in 36 environments (12 locations, 3 years). Present investigation did not reveal significant G×E interaction for fertility restoration, indicating the possibility of obtaining high and stable grain yields in the pigeonpea growing areas of South and Central India.     

The drivers and methodologies for exploiting wild <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cajanus</Emphasis> genome in pigeonpea breeding

With the exception of Cajanus cajan (L.) Millspaugh (pigeonpea), the remaining species of genus Cajanus have not been domesticated. For millennia these taxa have persisted in natural habitats through self-sown seeds. These wild species are an asset for sustaining future pigeonpea breeding programmes since they contain certain traits (genes) that are necessary for encountering various breeding challenges related to crop improvement and adaptation. In this review we identify the key traits from wild Cajanus species, and discuss various physical and genetic constraints encountered in their utilization in introgression breeding. Some noteworthy achievements recorded from inter-specific breeding programmes in pigeonpea are also discussed. These include the development of (1) high protein (>?28%) genotypes (2) cytoplasmic nuclear male sterility systems (3) highly (>?95%) self-pollinating genotypes, and (4) resistance sources to sterility mosaic disease, nematodes, salinity, photo-insensitivity, pod borers, podfly, bruchids, and Phytophthora blight. To help pigeonpea breeders engaged in inter-specific breeding programmes, we suggest the division of the secondary gene pool germplasm into two sub-group/tiers on the basis of ease in hybridization.     

Maternal inheritance of male sterility in the progeny of a natural hybrid between Cajanus lineatus and C. cajan

Adoption of pigeonpea hybrids in central and southern India is showing high impact with on‐farm yield advantages of >30%. The hybrid pigeonpea technology, the first in any legume crop, is based on a cytoplasmic‐nuclear male‐sterility (CMS) system. For a long‐term sustainability of hybrid programme, it is imperative that both nuclear diversity and cytoplasmic diversity are maintained among hybrid parents. In this context, a continuous search for new CMS‐inducing cytoplasms is necessary. This paper reports detection of maternal inheritance of male sterility in the progeny derived from a natural hybrid between a wild relative [Cajanus lineatus (W. & A.) Maesen comb. nov.] of pigeonpea and an unknown pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] genotype. In the present study, the male sterility was maintained up to BC₇F₁ generation by an advanced breeding pigeonpea line ICPL 99044. This male sterility inducing cytoplasm of C. lineatus was tagged as A₆. In future, this CMS genetic stock can be used to develop a range of new pigeonpea hybrids with high yield and adaptation.     

Ascertaining clonal fidelity of tissue culture raised plants of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bambusa balcooa</Emphasis> Roxb. using inter simple sequence repeat markers

One of the major applications of plant tissue culture technology is that the regenerants are genetically identical to the mother plant. Although, of the various methods of in vitro propagation, axillary branching method is regarded as the safest, the possibility of genetic variation (somaclonal variation) cannot be ruled out even in this method. In the present study, inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) marker assay was employed to validate the clonal fidelity of in vitro raised Bambusa balcooa plantlets multiplied by enhanced axillary proliferation up to 33 passages. Fifteen ISSR primers generated a total of 99 amplicons among the tissue-cultured progenies. Analysis of ISSR patterns revealed that the bands were shared by both the parent clump and the in vitro raised plants confirming the genetic stability in the latter.     

Evaluating novel microbe amended composts as biocontrol agents in tomato

An investigation was conducted to evaluate the potential of antagonistic cyanobacteria/bacterial cultures amended compost and compost tea preparations for suppressing diseases caused by plant pathogenic fungi Fusarium oxysporum, Pythium debaryanum, Pythium aphanidermatum and Rhizoctonia solani in tomato. Two types of microbe-fortified composts and the compost tea preparations, along with the recommended biological control (Trichoderma formulation) and chemical control (Thiram-Carbendazim), were used for inoculating the potting mixture. Comparative performance of the treatments revealed the superiority of both the composts/compost tea preparations in enhancing seed germination, seedling length and biomass in the fungi challenged treatments. The most effective control of the diseases was obtained by the composts amended with Anabaena oscillarioides C12 and Bacillus subtillis B5 and the compost tea preparations. Both treatments provided significantly better control than the other treatments in terms of reduction in disease severity, reduction of fungal load and enhancement of plant parameters. Our study reveals the efficacy of microbe-fortified composts for use in control of the studied root diseases caused by phytopathogenic fungi.     

Agroforestry systems in the rural landscape – a case study in Garhwal Himalaya, India

A mid altitude (700–1200 m amsl.) village in Garhwal Himalaya was analysed in terms of energy and economic efficiency of different land use-land cover types constituting the landscape. Simultaneous agroforestry, sequential agroforestry, home garden and community forests accounted for 27.47%, 27.47%, 1.1% and 43.96% of the total geographical area of the village. Simultaneous agroforestry is the traditional land use involving substantial input of manure derived from forest litter and animal excreta and was practised on terraced slopes in private ownership. Tree cover in this system was represented by nine species with total average density of 390 trees ha⁻¹, Grewia optiva and Boehmeria rugulosa being the most dominant. Sequential agroforestry system involving slash-burn practice and cultivation on unterraced slopes without tillage and manuring was an illicit land use on community lands where forestry land use is desirable as per the government policy. Per ha annual energy input in simultaneous agroforestry system was 305267 MJ compared to 279 MJ in sequential agroforestry and 27047 MJ in home garden. In monetary terms, highest per ha annual output was obtained from simultaneous agroforestry (Rs 25370, Rs 35 = US$1) followed by home garden (Rs 18200) and sequential agroforestry (Rs 9426). Local food, fodder and fuelwood production was in excess of the local consumption. While most of the surplus food was stored, surplus fodder and fuelwood were sold for cash. Production in simultaneous agroforestry system in private lands was sustained with substantial biomass and nutrient inputs from the community and government forests. Land use-land cover changes in the region are driven by the interaction of ecological, policy and human factors. It is concluded that present policy of treating forests and agriculture as closed and independent ecological or production systems needs to be replaced by an integrated land use policy. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Breeding high-protein pigeonpea genotypes and their agronomic and biological assessments

Proteins, inevitable for nutritional security of human beings and legumes, by far, are the cheapest source of this vital nutrient. The escalating prices and never halting population growth limit the per capita availability of protein-rich legumes. In view of limited land resource and need to grow other food crops, the greater protein harvests are possible only by increasing the protein levels of popularly grown legumes. In this context, attempts were made for raising the protein content in pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] through traditional plant breeding tools. For this, the high-protein trait was successfully transferred from wild relatives of pigeonpea to the cultivated types. In the derived inbred lines, the protein content was significantly enhanced from 20% - 22% to 28% - 30%. Two high-protein lines HPL 40 and HPL 8 also produced 2100 and 1660 kg/ha grain yield, respectively. This simply means that, in comparison with traditional cultivars, the cultivation of high-protein lines will provide additional 100 kg/ha of digestible protein to the farming family. This paper, besides describing the breeding procedures, also discusses the accomplishments of this breeding endeavour with respect to its various nutritional and biological properties.