OsNAC-like transcription factor involved in regulating seed-storage protein content at different stages of grain filling in rice under aerobic conditions.

In this study, we show that NAC-like transcription factor (TF) has 90% sequence similarity with cDNA of the 5 gene present in the NCBI database. Phylogenetic analysis of the NAC gene family was performed with inclusion of the highly diverse C-terminal sequences. We report that this gene is also found to be orthologous to 8, 2, 6 and paralogous to 6.

Development and application of genomic resources for comparative and translational genomics in legumes through leveraging genomic sequence of .

The expressed sequence tags (ESTs) of common bean were BLAST aligned with barred medic genome sequence and developed 1196 conserved intron spanning primers (CISPs) to facilitate genetic studies in legumes. Randomly selected 288 CISPs, representing loci on barrel medic genome, were tested on 10 selected members of legume family. On the source taxa, the highest single copy amplification success rates of 61.

Identification and fine mapping of a new gene, BPH31 conferring resistance to brown planthopper biotype 4 of India to improve rice, Oryza sativa L.

Background: Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the staple food for more than 3.5 billion people, mainly in Asia.

Genome and Transcriptome sequence of Finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.) provides insights into drought tolerance and nutraceutical properties.

Background: Finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.) is an important staple food crop widely grown in Africa and South Asia.

De novo genome assembly and annotation of rice sheath rot fungus Sarocladium oryzae reveals genes involved in Helvolic acid and Cerulenin biosynthesis pathways.

Background: Sheath rot disease caused by Sarocladium oryzae is an emerging threat for rice cultivation at global level. However, limited information with respect to genomic resources and pathogenesis is a major setback to develop disease management strategies. Considering this fact, we sequenced the whole genome of highly virulent Sarocladium oryzae field isolate, Saro-13 with 82x sequence depth.

Indica rice genome assembly, annotation and mining of blast disease resistance genes.

Background: Rice is a major staple food crop in the world. Over 80% of rice cultivation area is under indica rice. Currently, genomic resources are lacking for indica as compared to japonica rice.

Identification and introgression of QTLs implicated in resistance to sorghum downy mildew (Peronosclerospora sorghi (Weston and Uppal) C. G. Shaw) in maize through marker-assisted selection.

Sorghum downy mildew caused by Peronosclerospora sorghi is a major disease of maize and resistance is under the control of polygenes which necessitated identification of quantitative-trait loci (QTLs) for initiating marker-assisted introgression of resistant QTLs in elite susceptible inbred lines. In the present study, QTLs for sorghum downy mildew (SDM) resistance in maize were identified based on cosegregation with linked simple sequence repeats in 185 F2 progeny from a cross between susceptible (CM500-19) and resistant (MAI105) parents. F3 families were screened in the National Sorghum Downy Mildew Screening Nursery during 2010 and 2011.

Drought yield index to select high yielding rice lines under different drought stress severities.

Background: Drought is the most severe abiotic stress reducing rice yield in rainfed drought prone ecosystems. Variation in intensity and severity of drought from season to season and place to place requires cultivation of rice varieties with different level of drought tolerance in different areas. Multi environment evaluation of breeding lines helps breeder to identify appropriate genotypes for areas prone to similar level of drought stress.

Identification of QTL for growth- and grain yield-related traits in rice across nine locations of Asia.

Rice double-haploid (DH) lines of an indica and japonica cross were grown at nine different locations across four countries in Asia. Genotype-by-environment (G x E) interaction analysis for 11 growth- and grain yield-related traits in nine locations was estimated by AMMI analysis. Maximum G x E interaction was exhibited for fertility percentage number of spikelets and grain yield.

Tagging QTLs for maximum root length in rainfed lowland rice (Oryza sativa L.) using molecular markers.

A number of morphological, physiological and phenological traits are known to improve the performance of rice challenged by drought. Root morphological traits and stress-induced response form important components of drought tolerance. Enhancing grain yield remains the principal objective of most breeding programs.