Local Landraces Research Articles

Assessment of Genetic Divergence through Principal Component Analysis and Clustering in Tomato Germplasm Accessions

The base material of this study comprises of 104 tomato accessions including local landraces, varieties and germplasm collections. The collected tomato accessions were evaluated using 13 quantitative traits by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchial clustering. PCA was done to quantify diversity among the germplasm accessions and also the contribution of individual traits towards diversity. In our study, only the first four (PC1, PC2, PC3 and PC4) of the thirteen principal components yielded eigen value more than one indicating the greater influence of identified traits under study. The first six PCs accounts for 84% of variability whereas, PC1 exhibited 41% of total variability. Cluster analysis aids to classify the genotypes based on the grouping pattern of the accessions under evaluation. According to the dendrogram obtained, cluster analysis grouped 104 tomato accessions into two significant clusters. The first cluster consists of 16 genotypes whereas, the second cluster consists of 88 genotypes. Among the genotypes used in this study EC617055, EC617061, EC638302, Periakulam local and EC631390 were found to be best performing in terms of yield and quality. These accessions can be used as a base material in future breeding programs.

Co-Cultivation and Matching of Early- and Late-Maturing Pearl Millet Varieties to Sowing Windows Can Enhance Climate-Change Adaptation in Semi-Arid Sub-Saharan Agroecosystems

In semi-arid regions, climate change has affected crop growing season length and sowing time, potentially causing low yield of the rainfed staple crop pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) and food insecurity among smallholder farmers. In this study, we used 1994–2023 rainfall data from Namibia’s semi-arid North-Central Region (NCR), receiving November–April summer rainfall, to analyze rainfall patterns and trends and their implications on the growing season to propose climate adaptation options for the region. The results revealed high annual and monthly rainfall variabilities, with nonsignificant negative trends for November–February rainfalls, implying a shortening growing season. Furthermore, we determined the effects of sowing date on grain yields of the early-maturing Okashana-2 and local landrace Kantana pearl millet varieties and the optimal sowing window for the region, using data from a two-year split-plot field experiment conducted at the University of Namibia—Ogongo Campus, NCR, during the rainy season. Cubic polynomial regression models were applied to grain-yield data sets to predict grain production for any sowing date between January and March. Both varieties produced the highest grain yields under January sowings, with Kantana exhibiting a higher yield potential than Okashana-2. Kantana, sown by 14 January, had a yield advantage of up to 36% over Okashana-2, but its yield gradually reduced with delays in sowing. Okashana-2 exhibited higher yield stability across January sowings, surpassing Kantana’s yields by up to 9.4% following the 14 January sowing. We determined the pearl millet optimal sowing window for the NCR to be from 1–7 and 1–21 January for Kantana and Okashana-2, respectively. These results suggest that co-cultivation of early and late pearl millet varieties and growing early-maturing varieties under delayed seasons could stabilize grain production in northern Namibia and enhance farmers’ climate adaptation. Policymakers for semi-arid agricultural regions could utilize this information to adjust local seed systems and extension strategies.

Study the Nutritional Performance of Original and S1 Progeny of Local Maize Germplasm of North East India

Local maize landraces are generally less yielders. Farmers have been cultivating and consuming local maize available in their areas due to specific color and taste of the grains. Only a few attempts were made by the researchers to study the nutritional status in north eastern maize, there was a lot of scope to study the local maize germplasm of the north eastern region for various nutritional compositions further. Considering the above, the following research study was undertaken. The six germplasm and their corresponding S1 progenies along with check were analyzed for estimation of the nutritional traits viz., crude protein, crude fat, carbohydrate, crude fiber, ash, iron and zinc. The mean value for a replicate for each entry in respect of a trait was used for analysis of data in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with two replications. Analysis of variance reveals that the estimates of mean square due to germplasm were significant to highly significant for the traits viz., iron (mg /100 g), zinc (mg /100 g), moisture content (%), crude protein (%), crude fat (%), carbohydrate plus crude fiber (%) and ash (%) indicating sufficient variation among the thirteen entries tested. The result showed ARY2 exhibited high carbohydrate content, crude protein and zinc content.

PRESENT STATUS AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES OF WHEAT (TRITICUM AESTIVUM L.) RESEARCH IN UZBEKISTAN

Wheat (Triticum spp.) is one of the premier staple foods consumed by one-third of the world’s population. Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the only allohexaploid species with a genome formula BBAADD. Until now, from a selection point of view, a decline showed in the genetic potential of this type of wheat. However, the solution to this problem can be by developing high-yielding, disease- and pest-resistant cultivars using wheat-related species, ancient local landraces, and germplasm resources. Therefore, extensive study of the wheat gene pool using molecular tools, including identifying primary sources, is highly beneficial. For wheat improvement, breeding opportunities offer significant enhancements via genetic mapping approaches. The review focuses on the common wheat germplasm, wheat genetic approaches for genetic mapping, identification, and RWA (Russian wheat aphid) resistance, nested association mapping (NAM) population, DNA barcoding of Uzbekistan elite bread wheat cultivars, DNA marker-based screening of wheat germplasm for RWA resistance, future perspectives of wheat breeding in Uzbekistan, marker-assisted selection for abiotic stress tolerance, wheat stripe rust and its control strategies in Uzbekistan, epidemiology of the rust pathogens, pathogen characterization, and varietal resistance.

Genetic and phenotypic diversity of native potatoes (Solanum spp.) from the Central Andes of Peru

The diversity of native potatoes cultivated above 3500 masl in the Pasco region (Central Andes of Peru) has not been fully characterized. It is currently subject to constant genetic erosion caused by biotic and abiotic factors. The research aimed to characterize phenotypically and genotypically 40 native potato landraces representative of 4 Solanum species. Twenty phenotypic descriptors and 10 microsatellites were used for genetic evaluation. Likewise, the ploidy level was evaluated based on the number of chloroplasts in the stomata. The clustering analysis was performed using the Infostat software and the R program with the Adegenet and Polysat libraries. The phenotypic characterization allowed to obtain five groups with a distance coefficient of 9.5. The molecular characterization found seven groups and 58 alleles in total. The average number of alleles per microsatellite was 5.5. 13.2 % of duplicates were identified. The microsatellites STG001, STM1106, ST0032, and STM5127 with an average He of 0.8 and a polymorphism information content (PIC) of 0.5 - 0.8 were the most informative. Finally, the ploidy results were 13 % diploid, 35 % triploid, and 52 % tetraploid. It was evidenced low diversity when using a set of 10 SSR markers, which indicates limited applicability for studying the genetic diversity of local potato landraces. It is necessary to involve a broader range of markers and a more diverse set of genotypes from the Pasco region for further studies.

Valorizing Traditional Greek Wheat Varieties: Phylogenetic Profile and Biochemical Analysis of Their Nutritional Value

Research has highlighted the nutritional benefits of ancient grains, especially emmer (Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccum) and einkorn (Triticum monococcum), compared to modern varieties of common and durum wheat, focusing on their higher levels of antioxidants and phytochemicals. In this study, grains from old Greek landraces of einkorn, emmer, durum and common wheat were compared to modern wheat cultivars, as well as barley, oats and rye grains, to investigate their unique genetic profile and nutritional properties. Genotyping of Triticum species was performed using SSR markers, which allowed differentiation up to cultivar level. Nutritional factors like the total content of bound and free polyphenols, flavonoids, antioxidant activity and fatty acid profile were assessed. The results showed that emmer and einkorn had the highest total polyphenol, flavonoid and mono-unsaturated fatty acids content, as well as higher antioxidant activity than common and durum wheat. Local landraces of common and durum wheat also exhibited higher values than commercial cultivars. The results of this study demonstrate the high nutritional value of ancient wheat varieties. Many of these cultivars have been put aside by more productive, yet with lower qualitative characteristics, commercial cultivars, underlining the importance of maintaining sustainable agricultural practices to ensure their continued cultivation.

Evaluation of nitrate accumulation, bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity in leaves of radish cultivars

ABSTRACT Identifying, and evaluating, the nutritional and toxic compounds in radish (Raphanus sativus L.) is important for breeding. This study investigates the quality and health indices in leaves of radish cultivars: Cherry Belle, Champion, French Breakfast, Sparkler, and a local landrace (Isfahan). Difference were observed in contents of dry matter (7.84–11.23%) and ash (1.12–2.05%) in leaves of radish cultivars. Nitrate content in leaves 1780–5234 mg·kg−1 which was 71.2–209.3% of the permissible limit. “Cherry Belle” and the local cultivar had the highest nitrate content. With increased dry matter accumulation in leaves, nitrate content decreased. Cultivars that have a higher photosynthesis capacity, represent more capability in nitrate consumption. The IC50 in leaves was 33.1%. The local landrace had the highest antioxidant capacity and “Cherry Belle” the lowest. The phenolic content and vitamin C in leaves of radish cultivars was 99.9 mg GAE/100 g and 34.25 mg/100 g, respectively. Radish leaves were rich in vitamin C. It is apparently possible to develop cultivars that have higher content of bioactive compounds and lower nitrate accumulation.

Exploring the phenotypic diversity of rice: A multivariate analysis of local landraces and elite cultivars of Tamil Nadu and Exotic Lines

Exploring the phenotypic diversity of rice: A multivariate analysis of local landraces and elite cultivars of Tamil Nadu and Exotic Lines

Genotyping by Sequencing Reveals Genetic Relatedness and Duplicates amongst Local Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) Landraces and Improved Genotypes in Kenya

Future demand for cassava is expected to increase in order to mitigate climatic changes, sustain food security and provide raw materials for industry. To meet these demands, adoption of modern omics methods ensures reliability, precision and timely delivery of more productive and resilient varieties. A total of 112 mix of duplicate clones, diverse local cassava landraces (LARs) and improved genotypes (IMGs) were genotyped using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) generated through genotyping by sequencing (GBS) approach. About 17% (5808) of the 33672 SNPs were used for hierarchical clustering and ADMIXTURE analysis for ancestries. Approximately 48 and 52% of the germplasms respectively formed 17 independent clusters (identical clones or duplicates) and admixtures (unique or non-duplicated clones). Of the duplicates, 10 clusters were formed from LARs, four from IMGs and three from a mix of both LARs and IMGs, revealing their genetic relatedness. Approximately 71 and 29% of clusters comprised cassava accessions from the same and different geographical regions, respectively, with the geographical restriction of clusters attributed to the limited movement of planting materials across the country, possibly due to a weak seed distribution system or disease-driven quarantine measures. The historical sharing or exchange of stakes or stem cuttings by farmers was linked to the duplication of LARs, whereas IMGs duplication may be associated with convergent evolution, selection, or sharing of common parentage. The high number of admixtures or unique clones implied minimal loss of genetic diversity. These findings can aid designing efficient and effective cassava improvement programs through development of a core set of diagnostic markers.

Gelişmiş Güvenlik ve Besin Değeri için Makarnalık Buğday Islahı: Alüminyum Alımıyla Mücadelede Bir GWAS Yaklaşımı

The importance of producing safe and high-quality food is on the rise, and developing durum wheat varieties with low aluminum content is crucial in meeting this demand. Breeders can achieve this goal by developing new varieties that are more resistant to aluminum uptake. To reach this purpose, aluminum levels in a diverse collection of durum wheat genotypes were evaluated, including Turkish-released cultivars and local landraces, by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used. The results revealed that genotypes ranged from 0.9 to 24.6 mg kg-1, with an average of 3.31 mg kg-1, while 93.1% of them had a low content of ≤ 5 mg kg-1. A genome-wide association study is a robust method for uncovering genetic variations linked to specific traits. In this study, two marker-trait associations were identified on chromosomes 2A and 3A, which explained a phenotypic variation of 14 and 71%. These findings highlight the need for continued monitoring to ensure safe and healthy food for consumers and suggest that collaborative genome-wide association studies and marker-assisted selection can accelerate the development of new durum wheat varieties with reduced aluminum levels. However, further research is necessary to confirm and validate the genetic factors contributing to aluminum content variation among different durum wheat genotypes, although the study's methodology was robust.

Differences in mucilage properties and stomatal sensitivity of locally adapted Zea mays in relation with precipitation seasonality and vapour pressure deficit regime of their native environment.

With ongoing climate change and the increase in extreme weather events, especially droughts, the challenge of maintaining food security is becoming ever greater. Locally adapted landraces of crops represent a valuable source of adaptation to stressful environments. In the light of future droughts-both by altered soil water supply and increasing atmospheric water demand (vapor pressure deficit [VPD])-plants need to improve their water efficiency. To do so, plants can enhance their access to soil water by improving rhizosphere hydraulic conductivity via the exudation of mucilage. Furthermore, plants can reduce transpirational water loss via stomatal regulation. Although the role of mucilage and stomata regulation on plant water management have been extensively studied, little is known about a possible coordination between root mucilage properties and stomatal sensitivity as well as abiotic drivers shaping the development of drought resistant trait suits within landraces. Mucilage properties and stomatal sensitivity of eight Mexican landraces of Zea mays in contrast with one inbred line were first quantified under controlled conditions and second related to water demand and supply at their respective site of origin. Mucilage physical properties-namely, viscosity, contact angle, and surface tension-differed between the investigated maize varieties. We found strong influences of precipitation seasonality, thus plant water availability, on mucilage production (R 2= .88, p< .01) and mucilage viscosity (R 2= .93, p< .01). Further, stomatal sensitivity to increased atmospheric water demand was related to mucilage viscosity and contact angle, both of which are crucial in determining mucilage's water repellent, thus maladaptive, behavior upon soil drying. The identification of landraces with pre-adapted suitable trait sets with regard to drought resistance is of utmost importance, for example, trait combinations such as exhibited in one of the here investigated landraces. Our results suggest a strong environmental selective force of seasonality in plant water availability on mucilage properties as well as regulatory stomatal effects to avoid mucilage's maladaptive potential upon drying and likely delay critical levels of hydraulic dysfunction. By this, landraces from highly seasonal climates may exhibit beneficial mucilage and stomatal traits to prolong plant functioning under edaphic drought. These findings may help breeders to efficiently screen for local landraces with pre-adaptations to drought to ultimately increase crop yield resistance under future climatic variability.

Sweet Basil between the Soul and the Table-Transformation of Traditional Knowledge on Ocimum basilicum L. in Bulgaria.

The study tracks the utilization of Ocimum basilicum L. (sweet basil)-a garden plant popular for its ritual and ornamental value in the past, that is currently applied in various forms and ways as medicine, food, insect repellent, etc.-in Bulgaria. Previous data for Bulgarian rural home gardens showed a significant number of preserved local landraces; however, it remained unclear how people perceive the large varietal diversity of this species and how the traditions related to its use are preserved. We combined a literature review on the cultural value of sweet basil and the breeding of local genetic resources with an online questionnaire, directed to adult laypeople, that sought to access different aspects of past (recalled) and present use and related knowledge. The identification skills of the participants were tested using images of local plant landraces and foreign varieties. Responses from 220 participants showed that potted "Genovese"-type individual was most frequently identified as sweet basil (89.9%), followed by two examples of local landraces in flower. Participants who grow sweet basil or used it in more varied ways had significantly better identification skills. Ocimum basilicum was most frequently reported as food, while ritual/symbolic use was preserved while devalued during the Communism regime (1945-1989). Food and religious uses were negatively associated in the past, but presently, the tendency is completely reversed. Preferences for the informal exchange of seeds and seed-saving practices were discussed.

Nutritional and volatile profiles of pulp and flavedo from four local pummelo cultivars grown in Fujian province of China.

The nutritional and volatile profiles of pulp and flavedo samples from four distinct local pummelo landraces ("Siji," "Pingshan," "Wendan," and "Guanxi") cultivated in Fujian province of China were investigated. "Guanxi" pummelo exhibited relatively high contents of vitamin C (42.01mg/100mL) and phenols (360.61mg/L) and displayed a robust antioxidant capacity (41.15mg/100mL). Conversely, the red pulp from "Pingshan" demonstrated relatively high values of carotenoids (55.96µg/g) and flavonoids (79.79mg/L). Considerable differences were observed in volatile compositions between the two fruit tissues and among the four genotypes. A total of 166 and 255 volatile compounds were detected in the pulp and flavedo samples, respectively. Notably, limonene and β-myrcene were identified as the principal volatile compounds in flavedo, whereas hexanal was highly abundant in the pulp of "Siji," "Pingshan," and "Guanxi." "Wendan" displayed distinct separation from the other three pummelo cultivars in principal component analysis based on the pulp volatile compositions. This distinction was attributed to the higher number and content of volatile compounds in "Wendan" pulp, particularly the remarkable enrichment of β-myrcene. The newly characterized pummelo landraces and genotype/tissue-dependent variations in volatiles provide essential information for the genetic improvement of pummelo aroma, as well as for fruit processing and utilization.

Evaluation of millets for physio-chemical and root morphological traits suitable for resilient farming and nutritional security in Eastern Himalayas.

Millets are nutritionally superior and climate-resilient short-duration crops and hold a prominent place in cropping sequences around the world. They have immense potential to grow in a marginal environment due to diverse adaptive mechanisms. An experiment was conducted in an organic production system in the North Eastern Himalayan foothills of India for 3 consecutive years by evaluating high-yielding varieties (HYVs) of different millets, viz., finger millet, foxtail millet, little millet, barnyard millet, proso millet, and browntop millet, along with local landraces of finger millets (Sikkim-1 and Sikkim-2; Nagaland-1 and Nagaland-2) to identify stable, high-yielding, and nutritionally superior genotypes suited for the region. Among the various millets, finger millet, followed by little millet and foxtail millet, proved their superiority in terms of productivity (ranging between 1.16 and 1.43 Mg ha-1) compared to other millets. Among different varieties of finger millets, cv. VL Mandua 352 recorded the highest average grain yield (1.43 Mg ha-1) followed by local landraces, Nagaland-2 (1.31 Mg ha-1) and Sikkim-1 (1.25 Mg ha-1). Root traits such as total root length, root volume, average diameter of roots, and root surface area were significantly higher in finger millet landraces Nagaland-1, Nagaland-2, and Sikkim-1 compared to the rest of the millet genotypes. The different millets were found to be rich sources of protein as recorded in foxtail millet cv. SiA 3088 (12.3%), proso millet cv. TNAU 145 (11.5%), and finger millet landraces, Sikkim-1 and Nagaland-2 (8.7% each). Finger millet landrace Sikkim-2 recorded the highest omega-6 content (1.16%), followed by barnyard millet cv. VL 207 (1.09%). Barnyard millet cv. VL 207 recorded the highest polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content (1.23%), followed by foxtail millet cv. SiA 3088 (1.09%). The local finger millet landraces Sikkim-1 and Sikkim-2 recorded the highest levels of histidine (0.41%) and tryptophan (0.12%), respectively. Sikkim-1 and Nagaland-2 recorded the highest level of thiamine (0.32%) compared to the HYVs. These findings indicate that finger millet has great potential in the organic production system of the North Eastern Himalayan Region (NEHR) of India, and apart from HYVs like VL Mandua 352, local landraces, viz., Nagaland-2 and Sikkim-1, should also be promoted for ensuring food and nutritional security in this fragile ecosystem.

Estimating genetic diversity among durum wheat (Triticum durum desf.) landraces using morphological and SRAP markers

The durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. ssp. durum Desf.) Landraces are a valuable source of natural germplasm for enhancing the genetic diversity of existing durum wheat cultivars. The study analyzed the genetic diversity of twenty-two durum wheat landraces including eight local Saudi landraces and fourteen introduced landraces using sixteen morphological descriptors and sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) markers. The results showed significant differences between the analyzed agro-morphological parameters and a large degree of genetic variation across the tested landraces. Principle components analysis (PCA) was used to determine agro-morphological relationships among different traits. The first six principal components (PCs) accounted for 78.47 % of the cumulative variability among 22 landraces. The PC1demonstrated variability in coleoptile anthocyanin coloration, straw pith, culm neck glaucosity, flag leaf glaucosity, ear glaucosity, and length of awn at tip relative to length of ear. Wheat landraces (L8, L14, L497, L569, L590, L594, L600, L601, and L602) showed increased diversity in dry region and contributed to PC1. A couple landraces had higher plant height (L12, L598, and L654), heading days (650, 656), and ear length (L12, L594, and L650) respectively. The dendrogram generated from the standardized morphological data separated the twenty-two durum wheat genotypes mainly into two clusters. The landraces 14, 600 and 602 grouped into separate cluster with strong correlation to ear glaucosity. Genetic diversity of these landraces was also evaluated using eight SRAP markers, with 482 amplified fragments and an average polymorphic information content (PIC) of 0.27. The dendrogram based on SRAP markers separated into two clusters with some diversified landraces (L8, 594, 602, 977, and L650). The Mantel test found no significant correlation (phenotypic or genetic) between 22 wheat durum landraces (r = 0.013, p = 0.84, =0.05). The results demonstrated the power of morphological and SRAP markers for detecting diversity among durum wheat landraces in the semi-arid region of Saudi Arabia. Thus, study provides insights into wheat diversity for better in-situ and ex-situ conservation and paves the road for their use in a Saudi durum wheat breeding program.

From Grain to Genome: Investigating Arsenic Levels in Triticum turgidum ssp durum Desf. Using GWAS

Producing safe and high-quality food is increasingly important, and developing durum wheat varieties with low toxicity is crucial to meeting this demand. Durum wheat breeders can achieve this goal by developing new varieties that are either more resistant to arsenic uptake or better adapted to grow in areas with high arsenic levels. High levels of arsenic can pose serious health hazards, which makes it critical to evaluate the arsenic levels. Therefore, this study evaluated the arsenic levels in diverse durum wheat genotypes, including Turkish-released cultivars and local landraces. The results showed that all genotypes had significantly low and non-toxic levels of arsenic, with an average concentration of 5.24 μg/kg. These concentrations were much lower than the minimum reported in numerous published research studies and well below the risky international standard limits for durum wheat grain (0.1 mg/kg). The study also identified two significant marker-trait associations linked to arsenic contents located on chromosomes 4A and 7B, which explained 11-17% of the phenotypic variation. These findings provide valuable insights into the arsenic levels in durum wheat genotypes and highlight the need for ongoing monitoring to ensure safe and healthy food for consumers. By conducting collaborative genome-wide association studies and employing marker-assisted selection, durum wheat breeders can accelerate the creation of new varieties that have reduced arsenic levels by identifying alleles linked to arsenic content. This study emphasizes the importance of developing low-toxicity durum wheat varieties to ensure the safety and quality of our food supply. The findings can inform breeding programs to develop such varieties and contribute to sustainable agriculture. While the study’s methodology was robust, further research is necessary to confirm and validate the genetic factors contributing to variation in arsenic content among different durum wheat genotypes.

Improved agronomic practices and high yielding rice varieties maintain soil health and enhance yield and energy use efficiency under shifting cultivation landscapes of easternHimalayas

AbstractLow productivity, depletion of soil fertility, and inefficient energy use are the major challenges of fragile Jhum (shifting cultivation: 280 M ha worldwide) agro‐ecosystems in north eastern Himalaya. Farmers' participatory field trials were conducted in sloping lands of Meghalaya, India over 3 years to identify suitable agronomic management practices and input responsive rice genotypes for sustaining soil health and enhance carrying capacity of Jhum land. Eleven genotypes of rice (six high yielding varieties [HYVs] and five landraces) were tested under two management practices, namely, improved Jhum (line‐sowing in contour, 50% recommended dose of nutrients (RDN) + farm yard manure 5 Mg ha−1with two hand weeding operations) and traditional Jhum (broadcasting, no manure/fertilizer/pesticides, and single hand weeding) as reference. Improved Jhum practices significantly increased (p = 0.05) rice yield (103.8%–133.7%), improved soil health, farm profitability, net energy output, and energy intensity. The HYVs of rice, namely, RCM 5, Bhalum‐3, and IURON 514 (1.92–1. 96 Mg ha−1) significantly out yielded local landraces, namely, Mannar, Kbaslu, Kba Khasi, Pnahiong, and Pnahlaispah (1.44–1.65 Mg ha−1). The soils under improved Jhum practices had significantly higher SOC (16.9 g kg−1), available N (278.2 kg ha−1), P2O5% (12.8 kg ha−1), K (217.1 kg ha−1), and more water infiltration rate (74.1 mm h−1) over traditional practice after 3 years of our present study. The rice yield for second and third year of cropping were also significantly higher (p = 0.05) under improved Jhum practices (2.23 and 2.01 Mg ha−1, respectively) as compared to traditional Jhum.The net income enhanced by 53% and 85 to 104.6% owing to adoption of improved Jhum and HYVs over local practice and genotypes, respectively. Hence, growing HYVs of rice, namely, RCM 5, Bhalum‐3, and IURON 514 along with improved agronomic practices are recommended for achieving higher productivity, extending carrying capacity, and sustaining soil health in Jhum ecosystems of north eastern Himalaya.

Effect of three cycles of recurrent selection for yield in four Spanish landraces of maize

Landraces of maize (Zea mays L.) have a variability not found in the elite hybrids due to the bottleneck during selection. There is a renewed interest in using that variability, incorporating alleles for specific traits, or widening the general variability of elite germplasm. In Europe, there is also an interest in the direct use of local landraces by farmer’s associations seeking agriculture that preserves crop diversity. Pre-breeding programs are aimed to reduce the yield gap among landraces and improved materials. In the Misión Biológica de Galicia we have carried out three cycles of a S1 recurrent selection program for yield on four local landraces from Northwestern Spain with the objective of obtaining improved populations that might be cultivated by farmers and that could be used as sources of superior inbred lines. One hundred plants were selfed in each landrace and the S1 families were evaluated in a 10 × 10 simple lattice. The 20 S1 families with the highest grain yields were randomly intercrossed to form the selected population of each landrace. After three cycles of selection, each population and its cycles of selection were evaluated in three locations for two years. All the populations had a consistent yield gain in the first cycle of selection. However, the response in later cycles differed among the populations: one population had a continuous increase of 21% per cycle while two populations had a reduced yield in the last cycles. Our results highlight the need to include secondary traits to avoid unintentional indirect effects. We conclude that, in pre-breeding programs, it could be worthy to use large effective numbers to prevent inbreeding depression, particularly when the objective is the direct use of improved landraces. Another conclusion is that recurrent selection does not seem to be as efficient on European germplasm as it is on Corn Belt varieties. Finally, obtaining valuable new germplasm requires a sustained, long-term effort.

QUALITY PERFORMANCE OF DURUM WHEAT (Triticum durum L.) GERMPLASM UNDER RAINFED AND IRRIGATED FIELD CONDITIONS

Wheat is usually grown as a rainfed crop and no irrigation is applied in most production fields. This study was undertaken to evaluate the quality characteristics of durum wheat germplasm in under rainfed and irrigated field conditions during 2019-2020 and 2021-2022 growing seasons. The experiments were laid out in 12x12 alpha lattice block design with two replicates for rainfed and irrigated experiments. Grain protein content, starch content, wet gluten content and test weight were examined for 125 genotypes which consisted of fifty local cultivars, nineteen foreign cultivars used in Turkey, forty two gene bank landraces (ex situ) and fourteen local landraces (in situ). Supplemental irrigation resulted in a decrease in grain protein content and wet gluten content but an increase in starch content. Ex situ landraces (17.48%) and in situ landraces (16.62%) had higher grain protein content mean values under both rainfed and irrigated conditions. The correlation coefficient was 0.82 between grain protein content-wet gluten content whereas it was -0.77 and -0.65 between grain protein content-starch content and wet gluten content-starch content, respectively. The decrease in protein and gluten content in local and foreign cultivars was more dramatic in both years compared to landraces. Our results indicated that ex situ landraces have a great potential in terms of grain quality characteristics. The high genotypic diversity and improved quality characteristics in landraces provided extensive insights for future studies to improve crop quality in areas with limited irrigation opportunities.

Capsaicin derived from endemic chili landraces combats Shigella pathogen: Insights on intracellular inhibition mechanism

Ethnic tribals in northeast India have been growing and maintaining local chili landraces for ages. These chilies are known for their characteristic pungency and immense therapeutic properties. Capsaicin, a significant chili metabolite, is recognized as a natural drug for pain relief, diabetic neuropathy, psoriasis, arthritis, etc. In this study, we tried to observe the influence of locality factors on the pungency and bioactive features of Capsicum annuum L. landraces. We also checked the gastro-protective ability of these chilies, especially in the cure of shigellosis. Phytometabolite characterization and estimation were done through spectrophotometric methods. Preparative and analytical HPLC techniques were employed for extracting and purifying capsaicin-enriched fractions. Shigella flexneri growth retardation was determined through the broth dilution method. Gentamicin protection assay and ELISA were done to assess the intracellular invasion and IL-1β inflammasome production by S.flexneri. The correlation analyses postulated that phenols, flavonoids, chlorophylls, β-carotene, and capsaicin synthase upregulation strongly influenced capsaicin biosynthesis in chili cultivars. Correspondingly, the inhibitory efficacy of the HPLC-purified Balijuri-derived capsaicin was more effective than the Raja-derived capsaicin in inhibiting intracellular Shigella growth. Reduced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL1β) in capsaicin-treated Shigella-infected cells probably reduced inflammation-mediated intestinal damage, limiting bacterial spread. This investigation advocates the unique potential of local chilies in curing deadly ‘shigellosis’ with mechanistic evidence. Our observation justifies the traditional healing practices of the ethnic people of NE India.