Inheritance of alloplasmic fertility restoration in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) system has been exploited worldwide in field and vegetable crops. In eggplant, alloplasmic CMS lines were developed through interspecific hybridization between Solanum aethiopicum L.?×?S. melongena L., while the restorer (R) lines were isolated from the reciprocal cross. The knowledge about inheritance of Rf gene is must for its further use in breeding and molecular studies. Therefore, four sets of CMS (D-CMS 291A, D-CMS 99A, D-CMS 5A and D-CMS 72A) and restorer (R 2-1, R 3-4, R 6-2 and R 2596-2) lines were used to develop F₁, F₂ and backcross progenies, to understand the inheritance mechanism. Phenotyping of all the populations and test of goodness of fit revealed involvement of a single dominant gene (Rf) for fertility restoration. The visual scoring of flowers for male sterility and fertility was further validated with the tests on pollen stainability, germination and index. Among others, media containing 0.5% agar?+?300 ppm calcium nitrate?+?5% sucrose?+?50 mg/l boric acid?+?400 mg/l PEG 4000 furnished the best results for in vitro pollen germination. Differences between and within male sterile and restorer lines were observed for pistil and stamen length and girth, pollen stainability and germination. Stable expression of CGMS and restorer lines in all the generation progenies confirmed their utility in future eggplant breeding programs.

     

Mapping of Aegilops umbellulata‐derived leaf rust and stripe rust resistance loci in wheat

Aegilops umbellulata, a non‐progenitor diploid species, is an excellent source of resistance to various wheat diseases. Leaf rust and stripe rust resistance genes from A. umbellulata were transferred to the susceptible wheat cultivar WL711 through induced homoeologous pairing. A doubly resistant introgression line IL 393‐4 was crossed with wheat cultivar PBW343 to develop a mapping population. Tests on BC₂F₇ RILs indicated monogenic inheritance of seedling leaf rust and stripe rust resistance in IL 393‐4 and the respective co‐segregating genes were tentatively named LrUmb and YrUmb. Bulked segregant analysis placed LrUmb and YrUmb in chromosome 5DS, 7.6 cM distal to gwm190. Aegilops geniculata‐derived and completely linked leaf rust and stripe rust resistance genes Lr57 and Yr40 were previously located in chromosome 5DS. STS marker Lr57/Yr40MAS‐CAPS16 (Lr57/Yr40‐CAPS16), linked with Lr57/Yr40 (T756) also co‐segregated with LrUmb/YrUmb. Seedling infection types differentiated LrUmb from Lr57. Absence of leaf rust‐susceptible segregants among F₃ families of the intercross (IL 393‐4/T756) indicated repulsion linkage between LrUmb and Lr57. YrUmb expressed a consistently low seedling response under greenhouse conditions, whereas Yr40 expressed a higher seedling response. Based on the origin of LrUmb/YrUmb from the U genome and Lr57/Yr40 from the M genome, as well as phenotypic differences, LrUmb and YrUmb were formally named Lr76 and Yr70, respectively. These genes have been transferred to Indian wheat cultivars PBW343 and PBW550, and advanced breeding lines are being tested in state and national trials.     

Insecticidal potential of an endophytic fungus, Cladosporium uredinicola, against Spodoptera litura

The tobacco cutworm, Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) (Fabricius), is a polyphagous pest which has developed physiological resistance against a number of known insecticides. In order to reduce the load of synthetic insecticides, ecofriendly alternative strategies are needed. The present studies were conducted to evaluate the insecticidal potential of the endophytic fungus Cladosporium uredinicola isolated from Tinospora cordifolia (Thunb.) on S. litura. Development of S. litura was significantly prolonged when larvae were fed on diet amended with ethyl acetate extract of C. uredinicola at concentrations of 1.25–2.00 μl?g^?1. The negative effects of fungal toxin on development of S. litura further resulted in a significant reduction in adult emergence, longevity and reproductive potential at higher concentrations. A significantly higher number of adults showed morphological deformities when larvae were fed on diet amended with 2.00 μl?g^?1 concentration. The inhibitory effects on growth and development of S. litura indicate toxicity of ethyl acetate extract of C. uredinicola, which is further evidenced by reduced food utilization by larvae. The antifeedant and toxic effects of ethyl acetate extract of C. uredinicola observed in the present studies can be attributed to a bioactive compound produced by the fungus, so this study provides evidence that C. uredinicola isolated from T. cordifolia possesses anti-insect properties and may play an important role in protecting plants against insect pests.     

Peptidase inhibitor from Mucuna pruriens seeds inhibits the growth and development of Zeugodacus cucurbitae larvae

Phytoparasitica - Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett) is an economically significant destructive pest of many vegetable and fruit crops. Peptidase inhibitors are a class of plant proteins that cause...     

Feeding potential of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cryptolaemus montrouzieri</Emphasis> against the mealybug <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phenacoccus solenopsis</Emphasis>

Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) is an exotic species native to the USA, damaging cotton and other plant families. The feeding potential of different development stages of Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant, a biological control agent against mealybugs, was investigated on different development stages of P. solenopsis. Fourth instar grubs and adults of C. montrouzieri were the most voracious feeders on different instars of mealybug. The number of 1^st instar nymphs of mealybug consumed by 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th instar larvae and adult beetles of C. montrouzieri was 15.56, 41.01, 125.38, 162.69 and 1613.81, respectively. The respective numbers of 2^nd and 3^rd instar nymphs of mealybug consumed were 11.15 and 1.80, 26.35 and 6.36, 73.66 and 13.32, 76.04 and 21.16, 787.95 and 114.66. The corresponding figures for adult female mealybugs were 0.94, 3.23, 8.47, 12.71 and 73.40, respectively. The results indicate that C. montrouzieri has the potential to be exploited as a biocontrol agent in North India; inoculative releases of 4^th instar larvae and adults may provide instant control of P. solenopsis. Field experiments should be conducted to determine the efficiency of the ladybird on this mealybug.     

Growth and carcass composition of giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man), fed different isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets

A feeding experiment was conducted for 135 days to observe the effect of different isonitrogenous (35% crude protein) and isocaloric (385 kcal) diets on the growth and carcass composition of giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii ( De Man 1879 ). Three experimental diets (ED1, ED2 and ED3) were prepared using locally available ingredients. These diets differed mainly in terms of percent contribution of major protein sources such as fish meal, soybean meal, groundnut oil cake and mustard oil cake. Experimental diets were evaluated against a commercial diet, which served as the control (CD). Juveniles 1.87–2.44 g in size were stocked at a population density of 40 000 ha⁻¹ and fed thrice daily at 10% in the beginning and reducing gradually to 7% and 5% of the body weight during the experimental period. No significant differences (P>0.05) in the growth performance were observed; however, a significantly (P<0.05) higher yield (721.9 kg ha⁻¹ 135 days⁻¹) was recorded for prawn fed with control diet, followed by experimental diet 2 (676.5 kg ha⁻¹ 135 days⁻¹, having soybean meal as a major protein source). The survival ranged between 63.8% and 77.7%, with different diets showing significantly higher survival. The apparent feed conversion ratio values of diets ranged between 3.15 and 3.49, with experimental and control diets showing non‐significantly lower AFCR values. At the end of the experiment, representative specimens from each treatment were collected and their carcass composition was measured. Analysis of variance showed that carcass protein and total carbohydrate contents were significantly (P<0.05) higher in prawns fed on a fish–soybean meal‐based diet (ED3) and a control diet. The total lipid contents of prawns, however, did not differ significantly among the various dietary treatments. The results of our study suggest that the experimental diets could be used effectively for M. rosenbergii without compromising growth and flesh quality.     

Optimising parameters for biolistic gun-mediated genetic transformation of tea [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze]

Summary

Genetic improvement of tea through breeding is difficult. Therefore, transgenic tea plants expressing the osmotin gene from Nicotiana tabacum were produced using parameters optimised for biolistic-gun mediated transformation. During optimisation, a total of 4,500 somatic embryos were bombarded using nine combinations of variable target distances and burst pressures, while keeping the gap distance (0.6 cm) and macrocarrier flight distance (16 mm) constant.A total of 90 independent, PCR-positive lines were generated. Southern hybridisation confirmed integration of the osmotin gene in 26 out of 27 PCR-positive lines (three independent lines from each of the nine parameter combinations were selected at random). Statistical analysis revealed that the efficiency of transgene integration was significantly affected by target distance. Only those lines derived from somatic embryos bombarded with 1.0 µg plasmid DNA using a 7.58 MPa burst pressure and 9-cm target distance showed osmotin expression. This was evident from strong northern hybridisation and RT-PCR signals. Leaves of 4-year-old transgenic plants growing in a contained polythene tunnel showed improved osmotic adjustment in response to osmotic stress imposed by NaCl. The osmotic potentials of transgenic leaves immersed in 100 mM or 200 mM NaCl solutions were more negative than those of non-transformed control leaves.