International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics
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Analyses of Sequence Features and Expression Patterns of DOF Transcription Factor Genes in Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.)
Get PDFPearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) is a cereal crop that is tolerant to drought, high-temperature and poor-nutrient stresses throughout its life cycle. The DOF (DNA binding with One Finger) family genes encode plant-specific zinc finger transcription factors. These transcription factors have a variety of functions and can be involved in regulating the stress tolerance of pearl millet. In this study, we identified 12 DOF family genes (PgDOFs) in pearl millet. Ten of them were distributed on four chromosomes and the other two were on scaffolds (i.e., non-chromosomal sequences). Protein sequence analysis showed that PgDOFs have the DOF domain in their N-terminal regions and that other conserved motifs are also present in them. PgDOFs and DOF proteins from five other plant species were divided into seven groups, and the 12 PgDOFs could be classified into six of those seven groups. In gene expression analysis, most PgDOFs were upregulated by cold, heat, dehydration and salinity stress. These data can be useful for further characterization of the PgDOFs
Current Status and Future Prospects of Molecular Marker Assisted Selection (MAS) in Millets
No full textNutritional insecurity has become a major concern for the ever-growing world population. Millets, the small-seeded cereal crops, are predominantly cultivated in Asia and Africa and are an excellent alternative to major staple foods because of minimal water requirement, stress tolerance, adaptation to marginal lands, and nutritional superiority compared to other cereal crops. Marker-assisted breeding with the next-generation sequencing (NGS) approaches can speed up the genomic selection for the germplasm resource analysis, allele mining, QTL mapping, genome-wide marker-trait association, gene tagging, and fine mapping for the millet improvement. There is a need to focus on advanced omics and genomics studies in millets to understand the molecular regulation of important traits and their transfer to other staple cereals for improvement. Efficient transformation and genomic resources will have to gain momentum for successful genome editing in millets. This chapter provides an outlook on the use of marker-assisted selection, genome editing, and omics methods in minor millets for nutrient fortification and the creation of climate-resilient millets with improved nutritional benefits
Field management practices in agroforestry systems influence organic carbon and biological properties of soil
No full textDifferent multipurpose tree species integrated into agroforestry may exhibit variable effects on soil characteristics, which not only depend on planted tree species but also on tree management practices being adopted. In the present study, the effect of different tree management practices on soil organic carbon, dehydrogenase activity, microbial biomass carbon and potentially mineralizable nitrogen was assessed in three well-established agroforestry models viz. model 1: crown pruning management [three levels: 0 (unpruned), 50 and 75%] in Albizia procera, model 2: tree density management (three levels: 200, 400 and 800 trees ha−1) in Hardwickia binata, and model 3: in situ soil moisture conservation (SMC) measures [four levels: normal planting (control), stone mulch, deep basin and deep basin + deep ploughing] in Emblica officinalis-based agroforestry. The aim was to determine (1) whether tree management practices have any effect on soil biological properties, and (2) what levels of these management practices are desirable in selected agroforestry systems. We hypothesized that these practices will improve soil in terms of biological properties, with moderate levels being more beneficial. For the purpose, soil samples were collected from two sampling locations [rhizosphere (> 1.5 m from tree base) and the non-rhizosphere zone (outside the tree canopy i.e. < 5 m from tree base), and at each location, from two soil depths (0–15 and 15–30 cm). The findings revealed that unpruned trees of A. procera caused the maximum improvement in soil, followed by trees subjected to 50 and 75% crown pruning. The maximum tree density of H. binata (800 trees ha−1) yielded the highest values of the studied soil biological parameters, followed by 400 and 200 trees ha−1. The SMC measures adopted in E. officinalis had variable effects on studied parameters, with deep basin and deep basin + deep ploughing outweighing stone mulch and normal planting. The values of all the parameters were significantly higher in the rhizosphere as well as in the upper soil (0–15 cm). Conclusively, the study suggests that light crown pruning in A. procera, stocking of 400–800 trees ha−1 of H. binata, and deep basin and/or deep basin + deep ploughing SMC measures in E. officinalis may be adopted as desirable management practices for optimum soil biological health in the semi-arid region of Central India
Breeding dryland legumes for diverse needs: Using multi-location trials and participatory variety selection to develop farmer-preferred groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) and pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) varieties
Get PDFAgriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa is primarily smallholder-based, employing up to 60% of the workforce and accounting for 14%–23% of GDP. The smallholders grow crops for domestic and off-farm markets, necessitating crop variety attributes for which trait mismatches may limit adoption. Indeed, improved variety adoption is varied and limited, especially for self-pollinated crops, in part due to the mismatch in characteristics of commercialised varieties. The international research community leads breeding of varieties for under-invested crops, especially legumes. These varieties are often resilient and productive, but the dynamisms in target agri-food systems may limit their relevance. Gaining a better understanding of the trait profiles that crop value chain actors consider will increase their adoption. This study combined multi-location trials and participatory variety selection (PVS) of pigeon pea and groundnut across different environments to evaluate the efficacy of both processes in the breeding of desired varieties. The present study shows improvement in the new materials regarding performance and preference by farmers. Additionally, PVS showed that men prioritised productivity and market-enhancing traits, whereas women ranked food security traits highest
Comparative Analysis of Pigeonpea Stalk Biochar Characteristics and Energy Use under Different Biochar Production Methods
Get PDFThe disposal of crop residues from agricultural fields is often seen as a burden due to the difficulties involved. However, this study aims to turn pigeonpea stalks into biochar, which can serve as a fuel substitute and soil amendment to sequester carbon. Different pyrolysis methods were employed to investigate the variations in yield, physicochemical characteristics, and higher heating
value (HHV) of biochar produced from pigeonpea stalks. The biochar produced using a muffle furnace exhibited higher fixed carbon and ash content. These characteristics make it beneficial for restoring degraded agricultural soils by enhancing carbon sequestration. In addition, the muffle
furnace biochar demonstrated a total potential carbon ranging from 262.8 to 264.3 g of carbon per kilogram of biochar, along with a CO2 reduction potential ranging from 77.17 to 79.68 CO2 eq per kg. Both the European Biochar Certificate and the International Biochar Initiative confirmed the agronomic abilities of the biochar and its compliance with the highest quality standards for
soil carbon sequestration, with 0.11 H/C and 0.7 O/C ratios. Furthermore, biochar produced by muffle furnace from pigeonpea stalks exhibited superior fixed carbon recovery efficiency (181.66 to 184.62%), densification (5.86 to 6.83%), energy density (1.77 to 2.06%), energy retention efficiency (54.80 to 56.64%), fuel ratio (18.95 to 22.38%), and HHV (30.66 to 32.56 MJ kg-1). Additionally, it
had lower H/C and O/C ratios, suggesting its potential as an alternative solid fuel. The results of the characterization of biochar with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed that the biochar samples prepared with both the methods had
carbonyl (C=O), C=C, and aromatic C-H functional groups; however, the biochar prepared in the muffle furnace had more porosity. In summary, this study highlights the potential of using pigeonpea stalks to produce biochar, which can be utilized as a renewable fuel substitute and soil amendment to sequester carbon. The biochar derived from the muffle furnace exhibited desirable physicochemical characteristics, high carbon content, and excellent energy properties, making it a promising option for various applications
Water use efficiency across scales: from genes to landscapes
Get PDFWater scarcity is already set to be one of the main issues of the 21st century, because of competing needs between civil, industrial, and agricultural use. Agriculture is currently the largest user of water, but its share is bound to decrease as societies develop and clearly it needs to become more water efficient. Improving water use efficiency (WUE) at the plant level is important, but translating this at the farm/landscape level presents considerable challenges. As we move up from the scale of cells, organs, and plants to more integrated scales such as plots, fields, farm systems, and landscapes, other factors such as trade-offs need to be considered to try to improve WUE. These include choices of crop variety/species, farm management practices, landscape design, infrastructure development, and ecosystem functions, where human decisions matter. This review is a cross-disciplinary attempt to analyse approaches to addressing WUE at these different scales, including definitions of the metrics of analysis and consideration of trade-offs. The equations we present in this perspectives paper use similar metrics across scales to make them easier to connect and are developed to highlight which levers, at different scales, can improve WUE. We also refer to models operating at these different scales to assess WUE. While our entry point is plants and crops, we scale up the analysis of WUE to farm systems and landscapes
Prevalence of groundnut dry root rot (Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid.) and its pathogenic variability in Southern India
Get PDFMacrophomina phaseolina is the most devastating and emerging threat to groundnut production in India. An increase in average temperature and inconsistent rainfalls resulting from changing climatic conditions are strongly believed to aggravate the disease and cause severe yield losses. The present study aims to conduct a holistic survey to assess the prevalence and incidence of dry root rot of groundnut in major groundnut growing regions of Southern India, viz., Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. Furthermore, the pathogenic variability was determined using different assays such as morphological, cultural, pathogenic, and molecular assays. Results indicate that disease incidence in surveyed locations ranged from 8.06 to 20.61%. Both temperature and rainfall played a major role in increasing the disease incidence. The pathogenic variability of M. phaseolina isolates differed significantly, based
on the percent disease incidence induced on cultivars of JL-24 groundnut and K-6 groundnut. Morphological variations in terms of growth pattern, culture color, sclerotia number, and sclerotia size were observed. The molecular characterization of M. phaseolina isolates done by ITS rDNA region using ITS1 and ITS4 primers yielded approximately 600 bp PCR amplicons, sequenced and deposited in GenBank (NCBI). Molecular variability analysis using SSR primers indicated the genetic variation among the isolates collected from different states. The present investigation revealed significant variations in pathogenic variability among isolates of M. phaseolina and these may be considered important in disease management and the development of resistant cultivars against groundnut dry root rot disease
Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) crop adaptation to residual moisture stress: conserved water use and canopy temperature modulation are better adaptive mechanisms
Get PDFOilseeds with high productivity and tolerance to various environmental stresses are in high demand in the food and industrial sectors. Safflower, grown under residual moisture in the semi-arid tropics, is adapted to moisture stress at certain levels. However, a substantial reduction in soil moisture has a significant impact on its productivity. Therefore, assessing genetic variation for water use efficiency traits like transpiration efficiency (TE), water uptake, and canopy temperature depression (CTD) is essential for enhancing crop adaptation to drought. The response of safflower genotypes (n = 12) to progressive soil moisture depletion was studied in terms of water uptake, TE, and CTD under a series of pot and field experiments. The normalised transpiration rate (NTR) in relation to the fraction of transpirable soil water (FTSW) varied significantly among genotypes. The genotypes A-1, Bhima, GMU-2347, and CO-1 had higher NTR-FTSW threshold values of 0.79 (R2 = 0.92), 0.74 (R2 = 0.96), 0.71 (R2 = 0.96), and 0.71 (R2 = 0.91), respectively, whereas GMU-2644 had the lowest 0.38 (R2 = 0.93). TE was high in genotype GMU-2347, indicating that it could produce maximum biomass per unit of water transpired. At both the vegetative and reproductive stages, significant positive relationships between TE, SPAD chlorophyll metre reading (SCMR) (p < 0.01) and CTD (p < 0.01) were observed under field conditions by linear regression. The genotypes with high FTSW-NTR thresholds, high SCMR, and low CTD may be useful clues in identifying a genotype’s ability to adapt to moisture stress. The findings showed that the safflower genotypes A-1, Bhima, GMU-2347, and CO-1 exhibited an early decline and regulated water uptake by conserving it for later growth stages under progressive soil water depletion
Evaluation of Agronomic Characteristics, Disease Incidence, Yield Performance, and Aflatoxin Accumulation among Six Peanut Varieties (Arachis hypogea L.) Grown in Kenya
Get PDFDiseases contribute to attainment of less than 50% of the local groundnut potential yield in Kenya. This study aimed to evaluate the agronomic characteristics (flowering and germination), disease incidence, yield performance (biomass, harvest index, 100-pod, 100-seed, and total pod weight), and aflatoxin accumulation in six peanut varieties. A field experiment was conducted using four newly improved peanut varieties: CG9, CG7, CG12, and ICGV-SM 90704 (Nsinjiro), and two locally used varieties: Homabay local (control) and 12991, and in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The disease identification followed the International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) rating scale and further isolation of fungal contaminants was conducted by a direct plating technique using potato dextrose agar. The aflatoxin levels in the peanuts were determined after harvesting using the ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection (UHPLC-FLD) technique. ICGV-SM 90704 showed the least average disease incidence of 1.31 ± 1.75%, (P < 0.05); the lowest total aflatoxin levels (1.82 ± 1.41 μg kg−1) with a range 0.00–0.85 μg kg−1 for total aflatoxins and a range 0.00–1.24 μg kg−1 for Aflatoxin B1. The locally used varieties (12991 and the control) revealed the highest disease incidence (5.41 ± 8.31% and 7.41 ± 1.88%), respectively. ICGV-SM 90704 was the best performing among all the six varieties with an average total pod weight (9.22 ± 1.19 kg), 100-pod weight (262.93 ± 10.8 g), and biomass of (27.21 ± 5.05 kg) per row. The 12991 variety and the control showed the least total pod weight (1.60 ± 0.28 and 1.50 ± 1.11 kg, respectively) (P = 0.0001). The newly improved varieties showed lower disease rates, low levels of aflatoxins, and higher yields than the locally used varieties
Genomics breeding approaches for developing Sorghum bicolor lines with stress resilience and other agronomic traits
Get PDFSorghum, also known as great millet, is a major cereal crop that feeds over 500 million people in more than 100 countries, especially in Africa and Asia. It can grow well under harsh environmental conditions, such as drought, heat, salinity, and soils that are nutritionally poor. The crop is water- and nitrogen-efficient with C4 photosynthesis system and a relatively small genome of about 730 Mb. Its genome has been sequenced and annotated, revealing significant genetic variation and genomics resources. Despite being drought tolerant, there is a great degree of variation among the diverse lines of germplasm for drought and drought associated traits, and hence resilience to drought and other stresses need to be studied through the integration of phenomics and genomics technologies. There is an urgent need to adopt advanced genomics and high-throughput technologies to find candidate genes and alleles for crop traits, develop molecular markers and genomic selection (GS) models, create new genetic variation and design sorghum ideotypes that suit to the changing climate