Characterization of the effect of a QTL for drought resistance in rice, qtl12.1, over a range of environments in the Philippines and eastern India

A large-effect QTL for grain yield under drought conditions (qtl12.1) was reported in a rice mapping population derived from Vandana and Way Rarem. Here, we measured the effect of qtl12.1 on grain yield and associated traits in 21 field trials: ten at IRRI in the Philippines and 11 in the target environment of eastern India. The relative effect of the QTL on grain yield increased with increasing intensity of drought stress, from having no effect under well-watered conditions to having an additive effect of more than 40% of the trial mean in the most severe stress treatments. The QTL improved grain yield in nine out of ten direct-seeded upland trials where drought stress was severe or moderate, but no effect was measured under well-watered aerobic conditions or under transplanted lowland conditions. These trials confirm that qtl12.1 has a large and consistent effect on grain yield under upland drought stress conditions, in a wide range of environments.     

Chemical Fractions of Mn in Acidic Soils and Selection of Suitable Soil Extractants for Assessing Mn Availability to Maize (Zea Mays L.)

Twenty surface (0–15 cm) samples of acidic soils were analyzed for water soluble (WS), exchangeable (EX), lead displaceable (Pb-disp.), acid soluble (AS), manganese (Mn) oxide occluded (MnOX), organically bound (OB), amorphous Fe oxide occluded (AFeOX), crystalline iron (Fe) oxide occluded (CFeOX) and residual (RES) fractions of Mn, and also for extractable Mn in some common soil extractants: (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) (pH 7.3), DTPA (pH 5.3), AB-DTPA (pH 7.6), Mehlich-3 (pH 2.0), Modified Olsen, 0.005 M calcium chloride (CaCl₂), 1 M magnesium chloride (MgCl₂) and ion exchange resins. The WS-Mn fraction showed a significant and positive correlation with Mn extractable in DTPA (pH 5.3) and AB-DTPA (pH 7.6), while both WS-Mn and EX-Mn fractions correlated significantly and positively with Mn concentration and uptake by maize plants grown in these soils. The AB-DTPA (pH 7.6) and DTPA (pH 5.3) appeared suitable to assess the availability of Mn in acidic soils.     

利用卫星遥感和GIS技术测定印度切蒂斯格尔地区干旱热带森林的土地利用、生物量和碳贮量

2001-2002年间,利用卫星遥感和GIS技术研究印度切蒂斯格尔邦的赖布尔地区干旱热带森林的土地利用、生物量和碳贮量情况。主要森林类型为:柚木森林、混合林、衰退森林和婆罗双树混交林。在这些不同森林类型中,立地的坡度和坡面影响森林植被类型、生物量和碳贮量。不同森林类型中,木材积蓄积量、生物量和碳贮量的变化范围分别为:35.59～64.31 m3·hm-2、45.94～78.31Mg·hm-2和22.97～33.27Mg·hm-2。混合林中每公顷的木材蓄积量、生物量和碳贮量最大,衰退森林中的最低。混合林、柚木森林、衰退森林和婆罗双树混交林的总碳量分别为8170.72 Mg、81656.91 Mg、7833.23 Mg和7470.45 Mg。蒂斯格尔邦地区干旱热带森林处于不成熟的生长阶段,且具有很强的碳回收潜力。图6表7参49。     

Zinc fertilization in rice-wheat cropping system under upland calcareous soil

Zinc (Zn) fertilization is important for Zn crop biofortification as well as increasing yields, thus proper Zn recommendations for soil application is needed for Zn deficient soils. The effectiveness of Zn applications was evaluated in different combinations of rates (2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10.0?kg?ha^?1 per year) and frequencies (initial, alternate, and every year) in rice (Oriza sativa L.) – wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping system in a Zn-deficient upland calcareous soil in the fourth year. Zn applications to rice at 7.5 and 10?kg?ha^?1 of alternate year and 5.0 to 10?kg?ha^?1 of every year had the highest rice equivalent yield as compared to no-Zn treatment. Hence, Zn application to rice at 7.5?kg?ha^?1 at alternate years is the lowest rate at which highest rice equivalent yield of rice-wheat cropping system can be obtained.     

Marker-assisted breeding to develop the drought-tolerant version of Sabitri,a popular variety from Nepal

Sabitri is a rice variety grown in a large part of the rainfed areas of Nepal. It was originally developed for irrigated condition; hence, this variety suffers high yield decline under drought. Two QTLs, qDTY _3.2 and qDTY _12.1 , with large effects on grain yield under drought were identified in the Sabitri background in separate QTL mapping studies. The present study reports the development of Sabitri near isogenic lines (NILs) with combinations of these two QTLs and their characterization under drought. To do so, marker-assisted backcross breeding (MABB) was combined with phenotypic selection to develop high-yielding drought-tolerant NILs with Sabitri grain type. Apart from this, drought-tolerant variants for grain type with high yield under non-stress were identified among the developed NILs. Early days to flowering of up to 13 days and reduction in plant height of up to 13 cm as compared to Sabitri were observed in the developed NILs. Some of these NILs showed higher yield compared to Sabitri and relatively higher tolerance to drought, indicating the capture of positive alleles and interactions during the course of selection. The developed NILs possessed high yield potential which make them suitable materials for the testing of water-saving technologies in irrigated areas. Based on their performance, these NILs can be deployed in rainfed areas in Nepal and other countries of South Asia to increase yield stability.     

Identification of common QTL for resistance to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</Emphasis> in three doubled haploid populations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica napus</Emphasis> (L.)

Sclerotinia stem rot (SR) is one of the most devastating diseases of canola/rapeseed. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) analyses were carried out to identify loci responsible for resistance to SR in three doubled haploid DH populations (H1, H2 and H3). Petiole inoculation technique PIT was used to evaluate the all populations for resistance to SR. Genetic maps were developed using sequence related amplified polymorphism SRAP and simple sequence repeat SSR markers. Genetic maps of the H1 and H2 populations were developed using 508 and 478 markers, respectively. Previously published genetic map of the H3 population was also used in this study. The QTL analysis was carried out for each replicate separately as well as on the average of all the replicates. The numbers of identified QTL in each analysis varied from four to six in the H1 population, three to six in the H2 population and two to six in the H3 population. A number of common QTL were identified between the replicates of each population. Two common QTL were identified on linkage group A7 and C6 between the H1 and H3 populations and one QTL on A9 between the H2 and H3 populations. We are the first to report, identification of common QTL between different populations of Brassica napus.     

On the Structure and Molt Controlling Function of the Y-Organ in the Prawn Penaeus indicus

The morphological and histological structure of the Y-organ of Penaeus indicus is described. The gland 1–2 × 0.3 mm (LXW) is located in between the mandibular and posterior dorsoventral muscle at the junction of prebranchial and branchial chambers. Histochemical tests were performed to determine the chemical nature of the Y-organ cells. Significant changes in the size and tinctorial affinity of the Y-organ cells were observed in relation to the molt cycle. Y-organectomy experiments revealed that the onset of premolt development was inhibited, suggesting the presence of molt inducing factor in the Y-organ.     

Breeding for drought tolerance: Direct selection for yield, response to selection and use of drought-tolerant donors in upland and lowland-adapted populations

Drought is the most important constraint reducing rice yield in rainfed areas. Earlier efforts to improve rice yield under drought mainly focused on improving secondary traits because the broad-sense heritability (H) of grain yield under drought stress was assumed to be low, however gains in yield by selecting for secondary traits have not been clearly demonstrated in rice. In present study, the effectiveness of direct selection for grain yield was assessed under lowland reproductive stage stress at Raipur in eastern India and under upland reproductive stage drought stress at IRRI. The selection under severe stress (in both upland and lowland trials) resulted in greater gains under similar stress levels (yield reduction of 65% or greater under stress) in evaluation experiments than did selection under non-stress conditions, with no yield reduction under non-stress conditions. We observed similar H of grain yield under stress and non-stress conditions, indicating direct selection for yield under drought will be effective under both lowland and upland drought stresses. None of the secondary traits (panicle exsertion, harvest index, leaf rolling, leaf drying) included in our study showed a higher estimate for H than grain yield under stress. Secondary traits as well as indirect selection for grain yield under non-stress situation were predicted to be less effective in improving yield under drought in both lowland and upland ecosystem than direct selection for grain yield under the respective stress situations. The low, but positive values observed for genetic correlation (r_G) between yield under stress and non-stress indicated that it is possible to combine drought tolerance with high-yield potential but low values also indicated that selection for grain yield needs to be carried under stress environments. The study also indicated that under lowland drought stress, the use of highly drought-tolerant donors, as parents in crosses to high yielding but susceptible varieties resulted in a much higher frequency of genotypes combining high-yield potential with tolerance than did crosses among elite lines with high-yield potential but poor tolerance. Breeding strategies that use drought-tolerant donors and that combine screening for yield under managed drought stress with screening for yield potential are likely to result in the development of improved cultivars for drought-prone rainfed rice producing areas.     

Population structure and regeneration patterns of tree species in climate-sensitive subalpine forests of Indian western Himalaya

The population structure of tree species has been explored in order to elucidate regeneration potential of the subalpine forests of Indian western Himalaya. For this study, the subalpine forest area was divided into three strata, i.e., lower altitude （〈3000 m）; mid-altitude （3000-3200 m）; and high altitude （〉3200m）. Considering the major compositional attributes, an increase in altitude came with a significant decline in tree density and the total basal area for all the sites. However, no such clear trends were observed for recruits （i.e., seedlings and saplings）. Seedling density did not exhibit uniform patterns for sites and altitude strata. In general, overall seedling density was greater at the Pindari site compared to the Lata and Tungnath sites. By comparison, significant variation in seedling density along the altitude strata was recorded for the Tungnath and Pindari sites only. Likewise, sapling density patterns varied across the sites and altitude strata, and significant variation in sapling density along the altitude strata was recorded only for the Lata site. At the Pin- daft site, the continuous increase in sapling density along with increasing altitude was revealing. The Pindari forests of exhibited expanding population structure. In contrast, greater accumulation of individuals in the sapling class and sharp decline toward both higher tree classes and lower seedling classes was generally apparent for the Lata and Tungnath sites. This indicates that the replacement in tree size classes from sapling stage is not proportional and the population may decline in the long-term. Considerable variation in patterns of forest and dominant species popula- tion structure were evident across altitude strata. But in all cases irrespective of sites, we found growth at the high-altitude stratum, in the form of entire forests or dominant species. This trend deserves further investigation to explore its relevance under changing climate scenarios.     

Population genetic structure and diversity of high value vulnerable medicinal plant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acorus calamus</Emphasis> in India using RAPD and chloroplast microsatellite markers

Acorus calamus is a highly valued medicinal plant with global distribution used in several drugs of health care systems. We evaluated the genetic diversity and population structure of 50 populations of A. calamus from different geographical regions in India through RAPD and chloroplast microsatellite markers. From the total screened 82 RAPD primers and 18 cpSSR primers, 10 RAPD and nine cpSSRs were found polymorphic. The selected 10 RAPD primers produced a total of 96 reproducible bands, out of which 65 wer...