Unravelling genetic architecture and development of core set from elite rice lines using yield-related candidate gene markers.

Unlabelled: Assessing genetic diversity and development of a core set of elite breeding lines is a prerequisite for selective hybridization programes intended to improve the yield potential in rice. In the present study, the genetic diversity of newly developed elite lines derived from and crosses were estimated by 38 reported molecular markers. The markers used in the study consist of 24 gene-based and 14 random markers related to grain yield-related QTLs distributed across the rice genome.

Identification and expression analysis of miRNAs and elucidation of their role in salt tolerance in rice varieties susceptible and tolerant to salinity.

Soil salinization is a serious problem for cultivation of rice, as among cereals rice is the most salt sensitive crop, and more than 40% of the total agricultural land amounting to approximately 80 million ha the world over is salt affected. Salinity affects a plant in a varieties of ways, including ion toxicity, osmotic stress and oxidative damage. Since miRNAs occupy the top place in biochemical events determining a trait, understanding their role in salt tolerance is highly desirable, which may allow introduction of the trait in the rice cultivars of choice through biotechnological interventions.

Biochemical and molecular characterisation of exogenous cytokinin application on grain filling in rice.

Background: Poor filling of grains in the basal spikelets of large size panicles bearing numerous spikelets has been a major limitation in attempts to increase the rice production to feed the world's increasing population. Considering that biotechnological intervention could play important role in overcoming this limitation, the role of cytokinin in grain filling was investigated based on the information on cell proliferating potential of the hormone and reports of its high accumulation in immature seeds.

Results: A comparative study considering two rice varieties differing in panicle compactness, lax-panicle Upahar and compact-panicle OR-1918, revealed significant difference in grain filling, cytokinin oxidase (CKX) activity and expression, and expression of cell cycle regulators and cytokinin signaling components between the basal and apical spikelets of OR-1918, but not of Upahar.