International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics
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Identification of Novel QTLs/Defense Genes in Spring Wheat Germplasm Panel for Seedling and Adult Plant Resistance to Stem Rust and Their Validation Through KASP Marker Assays
No full textStem rust is one of the major diseases threatening wheat production globally. To identify novel resistance quantitative trait loci (QTLs), we performed 35K Axiom Array SNP genotyping assays on an association mapping panel of 400 germplasm accessions, including Indian landraces, in conjunction with phenotyping for stem rust at seedling and adult plant stages. Association analyses using three genome wide association study (GWAS) models (CMLM, MLMM, and FarmCPU) revealed 20 reliable QTLs for seedling and adult plant resistance. Among these 20 QTLs, five QTLs were found consistent with three models, i.e., four QTLs on chromosome 2AL, 2BL, 2DL, and 3BL for seedling resistance and one QTL on chromosome 7DS for adult plant resistance. Further, we identified a total of 21 potential candidate genes underlying QTLs using gene ontology analysis, including a leucine rich repeat receptor (LRR) and P-loop nucleoside triphosphate hydrolase, which have a role in pathogen recognition and disease resistance. Furthermore, four QTLs (Qsr.nbpgr-3B_11, QSr.nbpgr-6AS_11, QSr.nbpgr-2AL_117-6, and QSr.nbpgr-7BS_APR) were validated through KASP located on chromosomes 3B, 6A, 2A, and 7B. Out of these QTLs, Sr.nbpgr-7BS_APR was identified as a novel QTL for stem rust resistance which has been found effective in both seedling as well as the adult plant stages. Identified novel genomic regions and validated QTLs have the potential to be deployed in wheat improvement programs to develop disease resistant varieties for stem rust and can diversify the genetic basis of resistance
Root and Leaf Anatomy, Ion Accumulation, and Transcriptome Pattern under Salt Stress Conditions in Contrasting Genotypes of Sorghum bicolor
Get PDFRoots from salt-susceptible ICSR-56 (SS) sorghum plants display metaxylem elements with thin cell walls and large diameter. On the other hand, roots with thick, lignified cell walls in the hypodermis and endodermis were noticed in salt-tolerant CSV-15 (ST) sorghum plants. The secondary wall thickness and number of lignified cells in the hypodermis have increased with the treatment of sodium chloride stress to the plants (STN). Lignin distribution in the secondary cell wall of sclerenchymatous cells beneath the lower epidermis was higher in ST leaves compared to the SS genotype. Casparian thickenings with homogenous lignin distribution were observed in STN roots, but inhomogeneous distribution was evident in SS seedlings treated with sodium chloride (SSN). Higher accumulation of K+ and lower Na+ levels were noticed in ST compared to the SS genotype. To identify the differentially expressed genes among SS and ST genotypes, transcriptomic analysis was carried out. Both the genotypes were exposed to 200 mM sodium chloride stress for
24 h and used for analysis. We obtained 70 and 162 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) exclusive to SS and SSN and 112 and 26 DEGs exclusive to ST and STN, respectively. Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis unlocked the changes in metabolic pathways in response to salt stress. qRT-PCR was performed to validate 20 DEGs in
each SSN and STN sample, which confirms the transcriptomic results. These results surmise that anatomical changes and higher K+/Na+ ratios are essential for mitigating salt stress in sorghum apart from the genes that are differentially up- and downregulated in contrasting genotypes
Precise irrigation water and nitrogen management improve water and nitrogen use efficiencies under conservation agriculture in the maize‑wheat systems
Get PDFA 3-year field experiment was setup to address the threat of underground water depletion and sustainability of agrifood systems. Subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) system combined with nitrogen management under conservation agriculture-based (CA) maize-wheat system (MWS) effects on crop yields, irrigation water productivity (WPi), nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and profitability. Grain yields of maize, wheat, and MWS in the SDI with 100% recommended N were significantly higher by 15.8%, 5.2% and 11.2%, respectively, than conventional furrow/flood irrigation (CT-FI) system. System
irrigation water savings (~ 55%) and the mean WPi were higher in maize, wheat, and MWS under the SDI than CT-FI system. There was saving of 25% of fertilizer N in maize and MWS whereas no saving of N was observed in wheat. Net returns from MWS were significantly higher (USD 265) under SDI with 100% N (with no subsidy) than CT-FI system despite with higher cost of production. The net returns were increased by 47% when considering a subsidy of 80% on laying SDI system. Our results showed a great potential of complementing CA with SDI and N management to maximize productivity, NUE, and WPi, which may be economically beneficial and environmentally sound in MWS in Trans-IGP of
South Asia
Incidence of stem rot disease of groundnut in relation to weather parameters in major groundnut growing areas of Telangana
Get PDFGroundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important oilseed crop and the economic production of groundnut is constrained by soil-borne diseases. Stem rot, caused by the necrotrophic fungus Sclerotium rolfsii, was the most common soil-borne disease in groundnut. A roving survey was conducted in major groundnut growing areas of Telangana during kharif 2019 and rabi 2019-20 to collect a preliminary data of the incidence level and pattern of prevalence of the stem rot disease. The district of Warangal has the highest incidence of stem rot. The lowest incidence of stem rot was found in Telangana's Wanaparthy and Nagarkurnool districts. Disease incidence was correlated with weather parameters, during Kharif-2019, temperature, relative humidity and rainfall showed positive correlation, whereas evaporation showed negative correlation, during Rabi-2019-20, temperature, relative humidity and evaporation showed positive correlation and rainfall showed negative correlation. This study provided an elementary idea about the per cent disease incidence as well as paved the path for developing ecosystem specific management strategy to reduce impact of soil borne diseases of groundnut in different districts of Telangana
The choice and preference of sorghum value chain actors in Mali
Get PDFThe production and adoption of sorghum-improved varieties are faced with biotic and abiotic stresses affecting both its utilization and marketability by different actors in the sorghum value chain. This study aims to understand why and how different social groups and value chain actors make decisions on the utilization of sorghum and how these decisions influence the choice and adoption of the sorghum
cultivars introduced and promoted by the breeding programs. This study was conducted in Mali’s Sudan and Savanna zones, wherein the different agroecological zones have differentiated production and utilization realities and traits demand. Mixed methods (surveys, focus group discussions, key informant interviews) combined with intersectional and value chain approaches were used for data
collection and analysis. The data were collected from 836 respondents in 12 villages including 384 females (46%) and 452 males (54%) representing sorghum growers, processors, consumers, and traders. While the findings show gender-specific trait preferences, actors’ traits choices revealed the gender dynamics in value chains in which the different roles, interests, and challenges of men and women influence their choices and adoption of sorghum cultivars. The results also revealed there is an increased opportunity for the sale of sorghum grains (38%); this may be explained by the continuous efforts made by research institutes to develop high-yield sorghum varieties and the evolving processing sector in Mali
Combining ability studies of grain Fe and Zn contents of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) in West Africa
Get PDFMicronutrient malnutrition is a major challenge in Africa, where half a million children die each year because of lack of micronutrients in their food. Pearl millet is an important food and fodder crop for the people living in the Semi-Arid regions of West Africa. The present study was conducted to determine the stability, combining ability, and gene action conditions of the high level of Fe and Zn content in grain and selected agronomic traits. Hence, eight genotypes were selected based on the availability of grain Fe and Zn contents and crossed in a full diallel mating design. Progenies from an 8 × 8 diallel mating along with the parents were evaluated in an alpha lattice design with three replications in three locations for two years. The parental lines Jirani, LCIC 9702 and MORO, had positive significant general combining ability (GCA) effects for grain Fe concentration, while Jirani and MORO had positive significant GCA effects for grain Zn concentration. For the specific combining ability (SCA), among the 56 hybrids evaluated, only the hybrids LCIC 9702 × Jirani and MORO × ZANGO had positive significant SCA effects for grain Fe concentration across locations, and for grain Zn concentration, the hybrids Gamoji × MORO, LCIC 9702 × Jirani, and ICMV 167006 × Jirani had positive significant SCA effects. The reciprocal effects were significant for grain Zn concentration, grain yield, flowering time, plant height, test weight, and downy mildew incidence, suggesting that the choice of a female or male parent is critical in hybrid production. Grain Fe and Zn concentration, flowering time, plant height, panicle length, panicle girth, panicle compactness, and downy mildew incidence were found to be predominantly under additive gene action, while grain yield and test weight were predominantly under non-additive gene action. A highly positive correlation was found between grain Fe and Zn concentrations, which implies that improving grain Fe trait automatically improves the grain Zn content. The stability analysis revealed that the hybrid ICMV 167006 × Jirani was the most stable and high-yielding with a high level of grain Fe and Zn micronutrients
Identification of genomic regions linked to blast (Pyricularia grisea) resistance in pearl millet
Get PDFBlast disease causes serious economic yield losses in pearl millet. Identification and introgression of genomic regions associated with blast resistance can help to develop resistant cultivars to minimize yield losses incurred from blast outbreaks. In this study, 384 advanced pearl millet genotypes were screened against six blast pathotype-isolates (major pearl millet growing agro-ecologies of India), namely, Pg 45, Pg 118, Pg 138, Pg 186, Pg 204 and Pg 232. Analysis of variance showed significant (P < .001) variation among genotypes for blast reaction (susceptible to resistance). ICMR 08111 and ICMR 10888 genotypes showed resistance to all six blast pathotypes. A genome-wide association study performed with 264,241 single nucleotide polymorphic markers could successfully identify 15 SNPs (P = 1.26 x 10-7 to 9.22 x 10-12) underlying the genomic regions governing blast-resistance across five different chromosomes. The SNPs reported had a significant association in at least two of the three models tested (GLM, MLM and Farm CPU). These SNPs can be used in pearl millet-resistant breeding programmes after their function has been validated across different genetic backgrounds
On-farm participatory evaluation and selection of crop varieties at climate changes in Southern Niger
Get PDFParticipatory varietal selection (PVS) is one of the most rapid and cost-effective ways for breeders, farmers, and agronomists to identify high-yielding and well adapted varieties to current climate threats and to obtain feedback from the potential end users in the early phases of the breeding cycle (s). On the other hand, a participatory evaluation of improved and local varieties of pearl millet, sorghum, cowpea, and groundnut was conducted in Southern Niger during the growing seasons of 2020 and 2021. The farmers’ varietal and trait preferences were identified through on-farm participatory variety testing and focus group discussions. The findings showed that farmers’ preferred varieties match most often with scientists, and the farmers’ most preferred traits in the study area were yield, yield components, and earliness. The highest average grain yields across environments were recorded from pearl millet variety ICRI-TABI, sorghum variety SSD35, cowpea variety Dan Hajia, and groundnut variety 55-437. In the study area, farmers' strategies for tackling climate change and variability included selecting early maturing varieties with high yields and tolerant to drought, pests, and diseases. These findings could be critical for increasing farmers’ farming systems productivity and thereby contributing to poverty alleviation and food security in the Sahel
Globally Scalable and Locally Adaptable Solutions for Agriculture
No full textPrecision agriculture and smart farming will soon replace the conventional methods adopted in agriculture; these technologies are capable of increasing the productivity of crops and also optimizing the inputs, and at the same time sustaining the environmental resources. The ability of satellite data in precision farming has been made evident through several projects and research activities adopted across India. The past decade has seen a rapid increase in the use of satellite-based remote sensing data in crop mapping and crop monitoring. This growth can be attributed to at least three factors—the availability of open remote sensing data, advanced machine learning methods, and access to cloud computing platforms that can handle big data storage and processing. In this book chapter, we propose Globally Scalable and Locally Adaptable Solutions for Agriculture that can facilitate in crop monitoring at a larger scale. This chapter focuses on the use of open-source high-resolution (in terms of spectral, spatial, and temporal resolution) satellite data; open source cloud-based platforms, and big data algorithms that are reforming agriculture. This book chapter will detail the available open-source satellite data and platforms with use cases. We also discuss in detail the methodology of developing a crop monitoring system using Google Earth Engine that can be globally scaled and locally adaptable, using a case study of the wheat crop for Samastipur district, Bihar, India
Climate Change and Microbes: Mechanisms of Action in Terrestrial and Aquatic Biosystems
No full textThe most crucial issue in the contemporary environmental picture is climate change. Climate change causes changes in a variety of elements at the same time, resulting in complicated alterations in the terrestrial and aquatic microbial population. These issues develop due to rising CO2 levels, greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, changing temperature trends, and global warming, which directly and indirectly affect soil microbial communities. Microbial interactions play a vital role in the worldwide fluctuations of the significant biogenic greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide, and methane). They usually respond to climate change immediately. Microbes regulate terrestrial and aquatic greenhouse gas fluxes. Thus, considering microbe’s intricate interactions with various biotic and abiotic variables. The promise of lowering greenhouse gas emissions by regulating terrestrial and aquatic microbial processes to combat climate change is a tempting option for the future. This environmental issue is resolved by changing the microbial community structure and composition, a key feedback response mechanism for climate change when microbial communities and their mechanisms are coupled, a good strategy for addressing climate change emerges