Genetic model analysis on seedling and maturity traits in wheat under rainfed conditions

An experiment was conducted to access the genetic variability among early vigour and quantitative traits under limited moisture in F₂ generation of a 5 × 5 diallel cross of bread wheat. The results indicated that there was significant genotypic variation among the genotypes. Additive dominance model revealed full fitness of the data for RL, DSW, FRW, DRW, spike length, and 1000-grain weight but was partially fit for SL, FSW, R/S, tillers per seedling, plant height, tillers per plant, spikelets per spike, and grain yield per plant. The partially adequate models for these plant characters might be due to the presence of non-allelic interaction, linkage, and non-independent distribution of the genes in the parents. Additive genes coupled with moderate to high narrow sense heritability were involved in the heritage of all the traits, which indicated a higher scope of selection in early generations.     

Gastrointestinal tract morphological alteration by unpleasant physical treatment and modulating role of Lactobacillus in broilers

1.?An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of supposedly unpleasant physical treatment on broiler performance, small intestinal development and ameliorating role of probiotics.

2.?The following treatments were applied from day one: (1) chicks exposed to normal human contact fed basal diet (control); (2) chicks were exposed to unpleasant physical treatment and fed basal diet (UPT-BD); and (3) chicks were exposed to unpleasant physical treatment and fed basal diet supplemented with Lactobacillus (UPT-BDL). Chicks were exposed to UPT from days 1 to 21. Different segments of gastrointestinal tract were sampled at 14, 28, 35 and 42 d of age.

3.?Broilers of UPT-BD had lower feed consumption compared with control group at 7 d of age. Overall, UPT-BDL birds showed higher body weight gain (BWG) and better feed conversion ratio (FCR) over the course of the experiment.

4.?Birds of UPT-BD had lower concentrations of lactic, propionic and butyric acids in the caecum as compared with other groups at 14 d of age. Acetic acid concentration was profoundly decreased in both UPT groups compared to the control.

5.?Duodenal villus height of UPT-BD broilers showed a slight reduction compared to the control and UPT-BDL birds at 14 d of age. Afterwards until day 42, UPT-BDL birds showed the highest villus height among treatments in different parts of the small intestine.

6.?The results suggested that, even though UPT did not have significant inhibitory effects on the development of the small intestine and broiler performance, it negatively affected bacterial metabolic end products in the caecum, which could be ameliorated by the addition of Lactobacillus.     

Association Mapping of Quantitative Trait Loci for Grain Size in Introgression Line Derived from Oryza Rufipogon

Grain size is one of the critical agronomic traits governing grain yield and quality in rice. However, the underlying genetic mechanisms that control grain size in rice are poorly understood. We used an introgression line derived from Zhonghui 8015 and Oryza rufipogon Griff. This introgression line was evaluated under two different environmental conditions to dissect the quantitative trait loci controlling grain size. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed using 28 193 SNPs through a general linear model, and 56 significant SNPs on different loci associated with the 4 grain size traits were detected. Cloned genes including GS3 and qGL3 showed substantial effects on grain length and size. Seven new stable loci were identified with pleiotropic effects on grain size. Haplotype, gene expression analyses, combined gene-based associations, and functional annotations permitted the shortlisting of important dominant genes including GS3 and qGL3.     

Activation of Antioxidant System by KCl Improves the Chilling Tolerance in Hybrid Maize

As maize is a chilling-sensitive crop, low temperatures during the early stages of development can be injurious to crop growth and development. Prime mechanism behind chilling-induced damage is oxidative stress. This study was undertaken to improve the chilling tolerance in hybrid maize by seed priming with KCl. For priming, seeds of the maize hybrid Hycorn 8288 were soaked in 50, 100 and 150 mg l⁻¹ aerated solution of KCl for 24 h and then re-dried close to original weight. Primed and untreated seeds were sown at 27 °C (optimal temperature) and at 15 °C (chilling stress) under controlled conditions. Seed priming improved the performance of maize under both normal and stress conditions. It was found that the chilling tolerance in maize is well associated with the enhanced capacity of the anti-oxidative system. Priming with KCl significantly improved the chilling tolerance mainly by the activation of antioxidants including catalase, superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase enzymes. KCl treatments also improved the germination rate and time, root and shoot length, and fresh and dry weights of seedlings compared with control. Soluble sugars and α-amylase activity determined as general metabolic indicators of stress were also improved by seed priming with KCl. Other possible bases of chilling tolerance in maize included maintenance of high tissue water contents, reduced electrolyte leakage and carbohydrate metabolism. Seed treatment with 100 mg l⁻¹ KCl was the best treatment to improve the performance of hybrid maize both under normal and chilling stress conditions.     

Identification of cultivars of the forage legume Pueraria phaseoloides by electrophoretic patterns of storage proteins

Summary A polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis procedure was developed for discriminating cultivars of the forage legume Pueraria phaseoloides on the basis of the patterns of cotyledon proteins. The genotypic marker proteins were extracted with 5M acetic acid and electrophoresed at pH 3.1 in aluminum lactate buffer. The procedure gave highly reproducible discrimination of ten selected cultivars.     

Improving the Productivity of Bread Wheat by Good Management Practices under Terminal Drought

Drought‐induced damages in crop plants are ranked at top amid all losses instigated by diverse abiotic stresses. Terminal drought (drought at reproductive phase) has emerged as a severe threat to the productivity of wheat crop. Different seed enhancement techniques, genotypes and distribution of crop plants in different spacings have been explored individually to mitigate these losses; however, their interaction has rarely been tested in improving drought resistance in wheat. This study was conducted to evaluate the potential role of different seed enhancement techniques and row spacings in mitigating the adversities of terminal drought in two wheat cultivars during two consecutive growing seasons of 2010–2011 and 2011–2012. Seeds of wheat cultivars Lasani‐2008 (medium statured) and Triple Dwarf‐1 (dwarf height) soaked in water (hydropriming) or CaCl₂ (osmopriming) were sown in 20‐, 25‐ and 30‐cm spaced rows; just before heading, the soil moisture was maintained at 100 % field capacity (well watered) or 50 % field capacity (terminal drought) till maturity. Terminal drought significantly reduced the yield and related traits compared with well‐watered crop; however, osmopriming improved the crop performance under terminal drought. Among different row spacings, wheat sown in 20‐cm spaced rows performed better during both years of study. Wheat cultivar Lasani‐2008 performed better than cultivar Triple Dwarf‐1 under both well‐watered and stress conditions. Maximum net returns and benefit–cost ratio were recorded from osmoprimed seeds of cultivar Lasani‐2008 sown in 20‐cm spaced rows under well‐watered condition. Nonetheless, osmoprimed seeds of cultivar Lasani‐2008 sown in 20‐cm spaced rows were better able to produce good yield under terminal drought.     

A New Source of Resistance to Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici in Spring Wheats (Triticum aestivum)

The use of P. striiformis f. sp. tritici pathotypes virulent or avirulent with respect to both Yr6 and a previously undescribed source of resistance, designated YrA, allowed the recognition of the corresponding host resistance genes m a range of Australian and exotic spring wheats. The phenotypes conferred by the YrA resistance varied when exposed to contrasting light intensities in the post-inoculation phase. The implications of the results in international studies of host resistance to P. striiformis f. sp. tritici are discussed.     

The Genetic Basis of Variation for Salt Tolerance in Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench Seedlings

The genetic basis of salt (NaCll tolerance at the seedling stage was examined in eight accessions of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench which differed in relative NaCl tolerance. The eight accessions were crossed in all possible combinations. The Nad tolerances of the resulting 56 F: hybrids and their eight parents were assessed after two weeks growth in solution cultures containing 0, 103, and 150mM NaCl. Indices of salt tolerance (relative tolerance) were used for analysis using the diallel method. Both additive and dominance effects appeared to be important for the expression of variation under low and high salinity levels, but the effect of genes with dominance properties was more pronounced. Estimates of narrow sense hentabilities for sail tolerance were appreciable, suggesting that rapid improvement in salinity tolerance is possible in this species using high selection pressures in the F₂ population.     

Physiological and biochemical effects of salicylic acid on Pisum sativum exposed to isoproturon

In the present study, attenuation of isoproturon (IPU) toxicity by salicylic acid (SA) was observed. Seven-day-old seedlings of pea (Pisum sativum L. cv. Azad P-1) were treated with 10 mM IPU. IPU influenced physiological and biochemical parameters. IPU significantly inhibited growth variables like shoot and root height, fresh and dry biomass of the pea. The contents of carotenoids, chlorophylls, protein and activity of nitrate reductase were inhibited significantly. IPU enhanced the accumulation of H₂O₂, ion leakage and lipid peroxidation due to induction of oxidative stress in pea. The activities of antioxidant enzymes, namely superoxide dismutase, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase increased while the activities of guaiacol peroxidase decreased. However, exogenous SA regulated the toxic effects of IPU. The indices of oxidative stress appeared to be alleviated by SA. Pigment content and activities of enzymes increased approximately up to the level of control. IPU caused non-target phytotoxicity to P. sativum. The natural growth regulator/allelochemical has potential to overcome the adverse effects caused by IPU.

Abbreviations: CAT: catalase; EL: electrolyte leakage; IPU: isoproturon; LP: lipid peroxidation; MDA: malondialdehyde; NR: nitrate reductase; POD: guaiacol peroxidase; SOD: superoxide dismutase; TCA: trichloroacetic acid     

Carbon availability and microbial biomass in soil under an irrigated wheat-maize cropping system receiving different fertilizer treatments

Seasonal changes in carbon availability and microbial biomass were studied in soil under an irrigated wheat-maize cropping system receiving different fertilizter treatments over the past 10 years. Treatments included N-100 and N-200 (urea at 100 and 200kgNha^–1 year^–1, respectively), FYM-16 and FYM-32 (farmyard manure at 16 and 32tha^–1 year^–1, respectively) and a control (unfertilized). Aerobically mineralizable carbon (AMC; C mineralized after 10 days aerobic incubation at 30°C) increased (13–16%) under wheat at both rates of urea whereas under maize it increased (22%) only with the lower rate of urea. Farmyard manure also increased the content of soil AMC under both crops, the effect being two- to threefold higher under wheat than under maize. Urea application caused an 32–78% increase in the specific respiratory activity (SRA) under wheat but caused an 11–50% decrease during the maize season. Farmyard manure also resulted in a higher SRA under both crops but only at the higher application rate. Under wheat, microbial biomass C (MBC) decreased in urea-treated plots but showed a slight increase at the higher rate of FYM. During the maize season, MBC was higher under both urea (42–46%) and FYM (36–47%) treatments as compared to the control. Microbial biomass turnover rate was highest for FYM-32 (2.08), followed by FYM-16 and urea treatments (1.35–1.49); control plots showed a turnover rate of 0.82. The higher AMC and SRA during the active growth period of wheat than that of maize indicated that root-derived C from wheat was higher in amount and more easily degradable. Received: 16 April 1996