Identification of a Promising Novel Genetic Source for Rice Root-Knot Nematode Resistance through Markers Associated with Trait-Specific Quantitative Trait Loci.

Direct-seeded rice (DSR) is gaining popularity among farmers due to its environmentally safe and resource-efficient production system. However, managing the rice root-knot nematode (RRKN), , remains a major challenge in DSR cultivation. Developing genetic resistance is a pragmatic and effective approach compared to using hazardous pesticides.

High-quality genome elucidates its potential use in improving stress resilience and therapeutic properties of bitter gourd.

Introduction: is the closest wild species that can be crossed with an important fruit vegetable crop, , has immense medicinal value, and placed under II subclass of primary gene pool of bitter gourd. is tolerant to major biotic and abiotic stresses. Genome characterization of as a wild relative of bitter gourd will contribute to the knowledge of the gene pool available for improvement in bitter gourd.

Fine mapping of , a major QTL governing resistance to bakanae disease in rice.

Bakanae disease caused by is an emerging disease of rice causing losses in all rice-growing regions around the world. A BCF population was developed by backcrossing the recurrent parent Pusa Basmati 1121 (PB1121) with the recombinant inbred line RIL28, which harbors a major quantitative trait locus (QTL) governing resistance to bakanae, . MassARRAY-based single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) assays targeting the genomic region of helped in fine mapping the QTL to a region of 130 kb between the SNP markers and using 24 recombinants.

Genetic Enhancement for Biotic Stress Resistance in Basmati Rice through Marker-Assisted Backcross Breeding.

Pusa Basmati 1509 (PB1509) is one of the major foreign-exchange-earning varieties of Basmati rice; it is semi-dwarf and early maturing with exceptional cooking quality and strong aroma. However, it is highly susceptible to various biotic stresses including bacterial blight and blast. Therefore, bacterial blight resistance genes, namely, + and , and fungal blast resistance genes + and were incorporated into the genetic background of recurrent parent (RP) PB1509 using donor parents, namely, Pusa Basmati 1718 (PB1718), Pusa 1927 (P1927), Pusa 1929 (P1929) and Tetep, respectively.

Identification and Characterization of Pathotypes Responsible for an Emerging Bakanae Disease of Rice in India.

The bakanae disease of rice, or foolish seedling disease, is a well-known pathogen infecting rice hosts. Several studies have characterized isolates collected from distant geographical regions and within similar geographical areas for secondary metabolite production, population structure, and diversity analysis, but none have attempted to characterize the isolates for virulence in a differential set of rice genotypes. Based on the disease response, a set of five rice genotypes with differing resistance levels were selected as a differential set for further characterization of the pathogen.

Molecular mapping of genomic regions and identification of possible candidate genes associated with gynoecious sex expression in bitter gourd.

Bitter gourd is an important vegetable crop grown throughout the tropics mainly because of its high nutritional value. Sex expression and identification of gynoecious trait in cucurbitaceous vegetable crops has facilitated the hybrid breeding programme in a great way to improve productivity. In bitter gourd, gynoecious sex expression is poorly reported and detailed molecular pathways involve yet to be studied.

Genome-wide association study reveals novel genomic regions governing agronomic and grain quality traits and superior allelic combinations for Basmati rice improvement.

Background: Basmati is a speciality segment in the rice genepool characterised by explicit grain quality. For the want of suitable populations, genome-wide association study (GWAS) in Basmati rice has not been attempted.

Materials: To address this gap, we have performed a GWAS on a panel of 172 elite Basmati multiparent population comprising of potential restorers and maintainers.

From farm to plate: Spatio-temporal characterization revealed compositional changes and reduced retention of γ-oryzanol upon processing in rice.

Background: Antioxidants detain the development and proliferation of various non-communicable diseases (NCDs). γ-oryzanol, a group of steryl ferulates and caffeates, is a major antioxidant present in rice grain with proven health benefits. The present study evaluated the distribution and dynamics of γ-oryzanol and its components in spatial and temporal scales and also delineated the effect of processing and cooking on its retention.

Rice Pangenome Genotyping Array: an efficient genotyping solution for pangenome-based accelerated genetic improvement in rice.

The advent of the pangenome era has unraveled previously unknown genetic variation existing within diverse crop plants, including rice. This untapped genetic variation is believed to account for a major portion of phenotypic variation existing in crop plants. However, the use of conventional single reference-guided genotyping often fails to capture a large portion of this genetic variation leading to a reference bias.

Population Dynamics of Wide Compatibility System and Evaluation of Intersubspecific Hybrids by - Hybridization in Rice.

The exploitation of heterosis through intersubspecific hybridisation between and has been a major breeding target in rice, but is marred by the cross incompatibility between the genomes. Wide compatibility (WC) is a triallelic system at the locus on chromosome 6 that ensures the specificity of hybridisation within and between and The allele that favours intercrossing is sparsely distributed in the rice gene pool and therefore warrants identification of diverse WC sources to develop superior intersubspecific hybrids. In this study, we have identified several novel WC sources through the marker-assisted screening of a large set of 950 rice genotypes.

Genome-Wide Association Mapping Reveals Novel Putative Gene Candidates Governing Reproductive Stage Heat Stress Tolerance in Rice.

Temperature rise predicted for the future will severely affect rice productivity because the crop is highly sensitive to heat stress at the reproductive stage. Breeding tolerant varieties is an economically viable option to combat heat stress, for which the knowledge of target genomic regions associated with the reproductive stage heat stress tolerance (RSHT) is essential. A set of 192 rice genotypes of diverse origins were evaluated under natural field conditions through staggered sowings for RSHT using two surrogate traits, spikelet fertility and grain yield, which showed significant reduction under heat stress.

Kühn Pathophysiology: Status and Prospects of Sheath Blight Disease Management in Rice.

Sheath blight caused by necrotrophic fungus Kühn is one of the most serious diseases of rice. Use of high yielding semi dwarf cultivars with dense planting and high dose of nitrogenous fertilizers accentuates the incidence of sheath blight in rice. Its diverse host range and ability to remain dormant under unfavorable conditions make the pathogen more difficult to manage.

Genome-wide association study identifies loci and candidate genes for grain micronutrients and quality traits in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

Malnutrition due to micronutrients and protein deficiency is recognized among the major global health issues. Genetic biofortification of wheat is a cost-effective and sustainable strategy to mitigate the global micronutrient and protein malnutrition. Genomic regions governing grain zinc concentration (GZnC), grain iron concentration (GFeC), grain protein content (GPC), test weight (TW), and thousand kernel weight (TKW) were investigated in a set of 184 diverse bread wheat genotypes through genome-wide association study (GWAS).

Population Structure of a Worldwide Collection of Tropical Rice Indicates Limited Geographic Differentiation and Shows Promising Genetic Variability Associated with New Plant Type.

Abating the approaching yield plateau in rice requires taking advantage of potential technologies that requires knowledge on genetic diversity. Hybrid breeding, particularly in rice, requires the recruitment of large genetic variability from outside because the available genetic diversity of the cultivated pool has already been utilized to a great extent. In this study, we examined an assembly of 200 tropical lines collected worldwide for population genetic structure and variability in yield-associated traits.

Drought Tolerant Near Isogenic Lines of Pusa 44 Pyramided With and , Show Accelerated Recovery Response in a High Throughput Phenomics Based Phenotyping.

Reproductive stage drought stress (RSDS) is a major challenge in rice production worldwide. Cultivar development with drought tolerance has been slow due to the lack of precise high throughput phenotyping tools to quantify drought stress-induced effects. Most of the available techniques are based on destructive sampling and do not assess the progress of the plant's response to drought.

A novel LOX3-null allele (lox3-b) originated in the aromatic Basmati rice cultivars imparts storage stability to rice bran.

Rapid deterioration of rice bran due to the LOX3 enzyme catalysed oxidation of PUFA is the major bottleneck for its utilization in various downstream applications. In the present study, we have identified a set of nine novel LOX3-null rice accessions carrying a deletion of C residue in the exon2 causing a frameshift mutation resulting in a truncated non-functional LOX3 protein. Our study, further manifested the predominance of C deletion based LOX3-null allele, named lox3-b, in the aromatic rice germplasm particularly in the Indian Basmati rice group.

Molecular Breeding for Improving Productivity of L. cv. Pusa 44 under Reproductive Stage Drought Stress through Introgression of a Major QTL, .

Increasing rice production is quintessential to the task of sustaining global food security, as a majority of the global population is dependent on rice as its staple dietary cereal. Among the various constraints affecting rice production, reproductive stage drought stress (RSDS) is a major challenge, due to its direct impact on grain yield. Several quantitative trait loci (QTLs) conferring RSDS tolerance have been identified in rice, and is one of the major QTLs reported.

Genetic Analysis and Molecular Mapping of the Quantitative Trait Loci Governing Low Phytic Acid Content in a Novel LPA Rice Mutant, PLM11.

Breeding rice varieties with a low phytic acid (LPA) content is an effective strategy to overcome micronutrient deficiency in a population which consume rice as a staple food. An LPA mutant, Pusa LPA Mutant 11 (PLM11), was identified from an ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS)-induced population of Nagina 22. The present study was carried out to map the loci governing the LPA trait in PLM11 using an F population derived from a cross between a high phytic acid rice variety, Pusa Basmati 6, with PLM11.

Genetic Architecture and Anthocyanin Profiling of Aromatic Rice From Manipur Reveals Divergence of Landraces.

Aromatic rice of Manipur popularly known as is a speciality glutinous rice, for which protection under geographical indication in India has been granted recently. The agronomic and nutraceutical variability of the rice germplasm is yet to be genetically characterized. To address this gap, characterization of ninety-three landraces for agro-morphological traits, grain pigmentation, antioxidant properties, and molecular genetic variation was carried out to unravel their population genetic structure.

Discovery of a Novel Induced Polymorphism in 1 Gene Governing Semi-Dwarfism in Rice and Development of a Functional Marker for Marker-Assisted Selection.

The semi-dwarfing allele, has been widely utilized in developing high-yielding rice cultivars across the world. Originally identified from the rice cultivar Dee-Geo-Woo-Gen (DGWG), , derived from a spontaneous mutation, has a 383-bp deletion in the gene. To date, as many as seven alleles of the gene have been identified and used in rice improvement, either with a functional single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), with insertion-deletions (InDels), or both.

Marker Assisted Development and Characterization of Herbicide Tolerant Near Isogenic Lines of a Mega Basmati Rice Variety, "Pusa Basmati 1121".

Background: Direct-seeded rice (DSR) is a potential technology for sustainable rice farming as it saves water and labor. However, higher incidence of weed under DSR limits productivity. Therefore, there is a need to develop herbicide tolerant (HT) rice varieties.

Marker aided introgression of 'Saltol', a major QTL for seedling stage salinity tolerance into an elite Basmati rice variety 'Pusa Basmati 1509'.

Marker assisted backcross breeding was used to transfer Saltol, a major QTL for seedling stage salinity tolerance from the donor FL478 to Pusa Basmati 1509 (PB 1509), a high yielding and early maturing Basmati rice variety. Foreground selection was carried out using three markers namely, AP3206f, RM3412b and RM10793, linked to Saltol. In addition, 105 genome-wide SSR markers polymorphic between FL478 and PB 1509 were used in background selection.