Application of Pedimap: a pedigree visualization tool to facilitate the decisioning of rice breeding in Sri Lanka.

The development of rice cultivars with desirable traits is essential. The decision-making is a crucial step in rice breeding programs. Breeders can make efficient and pragmatic decisions if an organized pedigree visualization platform is available for the accessions and cultivars in rice breeding germplasm.

Assessment of the elite accessions of bael [Aegle marmelos (L.) Corr.] in Sri Lanka based on morphometric, organoleptic, and elemental properties of the fruits and phylogenetic relationships.

Aegle marmelos L. (Bael) is a native tree fruit species in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Bael is a popular fruit because of its significant nutritional and medicinal properties.

Assessment of the applicability of wood anatomy and DNA barcoding to detect the timber adulterations in Sri Lanka.

The wood adulteration is a common problem and under-studied aspect in the timber industry of Sri Lanka. Hence we conducted a survey to assess the status of timber adulteration and check the applicability of morphometric parameters and DNA barcoding to detect the adulterated timber sources. We interviewed the stakeholders of the timber industry to collect information regarding timber adulterations.

The morpho-genetic and ecological niche analyses reveal the existence of climatically restricted Cycas zeylanica complex in Sri Lanka.

Taxonomy and phylogenesis of Sri Lankan cycad species of the subsection Rumphiae has not been fully resolved and therefore, we conducted an island-wide survey of cycads of the subsection to assess their morphological or genetic variations while exploring the phylogenetic relationship between Sri Lankan Rumphiae and other world cycad species. Further, we assessed the possible distribution of the species in the region through climatic profiling, using maximum entropy modeling approach. We analyzed 21 variable morphological features in collected specimens and used the polymorphism of trnH-psbA locus to understand the phylogeny.

Characterization of the FMDV-serotype-O isolates collected during 1962 and 1997 discloses new topotypes, CEY-1 and WCSA-1, and six new lineages.

The genetic diversity of the FMD viruses collected from the outbreaks during the second half of the 20 Century in Sri Lanka was assessed in the present study. We sequenced the VP1 genomic region of the samples collected during FMDV epidemics caused by serotype O in Sri Lanka during 1962 and 1997. For comparison, we sequenced the VP1 of the related viral isolates collected from other Asian countries.

Real time PCR for the rapid identification and drug susceptibility of Mycobacteria present in Bronchial washings.

Background: Mycobacteria have a spectrum of virulence and different susceptibilities to antibiotics. Distinguishing mycobacterial species is vital as patients with non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections present clinical features that are similar to those of patients with tuberculosis. Thus, rapid differentiation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex from NTM is critical to administer appropriate treatment.

Public Availability of a Genotyped Segregating Population May Foster Marker Assisted Breeding (MAB) and Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) Discovery: An Example Using Strawberry.

Much of the cost associated with marker discovery for marker assisted breeding (MAB) can be eliminated if a diverse, segregating population is generated, genotyped, and made available to the global breeding community. Herein, we present an example of a hybrid, wild-derived family of the octoploid strawberry that can be used by other breeding programs to economically find and tag useful genes for MAB. A pseudo test cross population between two wild species of Fragaria virginiana and F.