Reselection of a Pearl Millet Cultivar Utilizing Residual Variability for Downy Mildew Reaction*

‘BJ 104’ was the most widely grown pearl millet hybrid in India until it became susceptible to downy mildew (DM) in 1984—85. Residual variability for resistance was found in both parental lines, 5141 B (maintainer of 5141 A) and J 104, and through four generations of pedigree selection under intense disease pressure in the DM nursery, two lines, IC-MA841 (from 5141 B) and ICMP 84814 (from J 104), were selected resulting in a reconstituted DM resistant hybrid (‘ICMH 84814’) which was equal in yield to the original ‘BJ 104’. The reconstituted hybrid, though phenotypically similar, can be distinguished from “BJ 104” being slightly taller, flowers later, has heavier heads, and 1000-seed weight, but tillers less. A similar exercise was attempted on Tifton 23 B, the female parent of the first widely grown hybrid (‘HB 3’— the male parent was also J 104), but no variability for resistance to DM was found.     

Greenhouse evaluation and inheritance analysis of transgenic cotton expressing <Emphasis Type="Italic">PTM3</Emphasis>, a MADS-box gene of Aspen

The PTM3 (MADS-box) gene characterized from flower of Aspen was ectopically expressed in cotton and was found to result in desirable agronomic traits. Among several transgenic lines, the PTM3 cotton event-10 was found to flower significantly earlier than the control and yield better [Ramachandran et al. (2011)]. We report our findings on performance based on greenhouse evaluation and inheritance of PTM3 cotton event-10. The T₁ progeny of event-10 were grown in pots under RBD design. The progeny were confirmed by kanamycin imbibition test, PCR, and GUS assay which showed the segregation of transgene at about 3:1 ratio. GUS assay was performed with pollen from all transgenic plants; plants that expressed gus in all pollen versus those that showed segregation for expression were found to be at a ratio of 1:2. Similar to observations made in the T₀ generation of event-10, the agronomic evaluation of T₁ progeny exhibited, on an average, earliness of 13 days in flowering, 13.5 days in crop maturity, and 22% of yield enhancement. The T₂ progeny of homozygous lines were grown on field soil in the greenhouse under strip trial design to see the effect as observed from potted plants of T₁ progeny. Inheritance of transgene cassette to T₂ progeny was confirmed by the same tests used to analyze T₁ progeny. As exhibited by T₀ and T₁ progenies, the T₂ progeny also showed earliness of 8 days in flowering, 12 days in crop maturity, and 17% of yield enhancement. The data generated from the progeny over two generations confirms that the PTM3 cotton event-10 is superior in agronomic characters as compared to non-transgenic cotton and is of interest for breeding shorter duration varieties with improved yield.     

Fluorometric detection of enzyme activity with synthetic supramolecular pores

The reversible blockage of synthetic pores formed by rigid-rod beta barrels, either by substrates or products, was used to sense a variety of enzymatic reactions in high-throughput format with "naked-eye" fluorescent detection. Improvement of sensor sensitivity beyond three orders of magnitude by straightforward internal mutations underscores the functional plasticity of rigid-rod beta barrels. Such detectors of enzyme activity with the aforementioned characteristics are needed in areas as diverse as proteomics and environmentally benign organic synthesis.     

Effects of dietary protein on growth performance,nutrient utilization,digestive enzymes and physiological status of grey mullet,Mugil cephalus L. fingerlings reared in inland saline water

A 60 days feeding trial was conducted to illustrate the effect of graded levels of protein on the growth and metabolic enzymes of grey mullet (Mugil cephalus L.) fingerlings reared in inland saline water (ISW). Six isoenergetic (16 MJ/kg) and isolipidic (60 g/kg) diets containing 240, 260, 280, 300, 320 and 340 g crude protein (CP)/kg diet were formulated and fed to triplicate. Weight gain %, specific growth rate, protein utilizing efficiency, feed efficiency and RNA:DNA ratio were significantly higher (p < .05) in 320 and 300 g CP/kg diets. Fish fed with 240 g CP/kg diet showed significantly higher (p < .05) feed intake, whole‐body lipid content, hepatosomatic index value and liver glycogen content. Transaminase enzymes and malate dehydrogenase activities were elevated in fish fed 340 g CP/kg diet. Protease activity increased with increasing dietary CP level, but amylase activities showed an inverse relationship. No significant (p > .05) variations were observed for lactate dehydrogenase, oxidative stress enzymes, blood parameters and serum osmolality among all the treatment groups, but red blood cell count increases with increasing dietary CP levels. Based on the results, feeding dietary protein level of 300 g CP/kg is economically viable for rearing of grey mullet in ISW.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal association in Asteraceae plants growing in the arid lands of Saudi Arabia

The present research was undertaken to explor the possibility of arbuscular mycorrhizal(AM) association with Asteraceae plants in the arid lands of Saudi Arabia(Al-Ghat, Buraydah, Thumamah and Huraymila). AM fungal colonization in the roots, spore numbers in the rhizosphere soil, fungal species diversity and correlation between AM properties and soil properties were determined. The highest colonization was in Conyza bonariensis(65%) from Al-Ghat, Anthemis cotula(52%) from Buraydah and C. bonariensis(53%) from Thumamah. The lowest was in Vernonia schimperi(41%) from Al-Ghat, Pulicaria undulata(25%) from Buraydah, Acanthospermum hispidum(34%) from Thumamah, Asteriscus graveolens(22%) and V. schimperi(22%) from Huraymila. Vesicular and arbuscular colonization were also presented in all plant species examined. The number of spores were 112–207 in Al-Ghat, 113–133 in Buraydah, 87–148 in Thumamah and 107–158 in Huraymila. Funneliformis mosseae, Glomus etunicatum, G. fasciculatum and G. aggregatum were identified. Relative frequency of AM fungal species varied widely and was irrespective of location and plant species. Diversity index varied with the rhizosphere soils of different plant species at various locations. Soil properties varied with locations and no distinct correlations were observed among the soil properties, root colonization and the number of spores. The results of the present study specified the association of AM fungi in different plants of Asteraceae and its significance in the ecological functioning of annual plants in the punitive environments of the rangelands in Saudi Arabia.