Nanocarrier-mediated foliar zinc fertilization influences expression of metal homeostasis related genes in flag leaves and enhances gluten content in durum wheat.

Wheat is the staple food for most of the world's population; however, it is a poor source of zinc. Foliar fertilization of zinc via zinc loaded chitosan nanocarriers (Zn-CNP) post-anthesis has proved to be a promising approach for grain zinc enhancement in durum wheat as evidenced in our earlier study. However, the molecular mechanism of uptake of zinc via Zn-CNP remains unclear.Foliar application of Zn-CNP was performed at post anthesis stages in two durum wheat cultivars (MACS 3125 and UC1114, containing the Gpc-B1 gene), and expression levels of several metal-related genes were analyzed during early senescence. Zn-CNP application indeed caused changes in gene expression as revealed by qPCR data on representative genes involved in metal homeostasis, phloem transporters, and leaf senescence. Furthermore, zinc-regulated transporters and iron (Fe)-regulated transporter-like protein (ZIP) family [ZIP1, ZIP7, ZIP15], CA (carbonic anhydrase), and DMAS (2'-deoxymugineic acid synthase) in flag leaves exhibited significant correlation with zinc content in the seeds. The analysis of grain endosperm proteins showed enhancement of gamma gliadins while other gluten subunits decreased. Gene expression within ZIP family members varied with the type of cultivar mostly attributed to the Gpc-B1, concentration of external zinc ions as well as the type of tissue analyzed. Correlation analysis revealed the involvement of the selected genes in zinc enhancement.At the molecular level, uptake of zinc via Zn-CNP nanocarrier was comparable to the uptake of zinc via common zinc fertilizers i.e. ZnSO4

Neonatal lingual gastric duplication cyst: A rare case report

Enteric duplication cysts occurring in tongue is rare. They present with feeding difficulty and rarely with respiratory distress. A one day old male baby presented with swelling in the oral cavity, interfering with feeding and inability to close the mouth. Under general anesthesia, subtotal excision was done and histopathology was gastric duplication cyst of fundic variety

Evaluation of Drought Tolerance in Emmer Based Wheat Double Haploid Lines Using Surrogate Traits and Stress Tolerance Indices

Wheat is one of the major cereals and staple food cultivated worldwide, affected by severe environmental and climate changes. Global warming has led to significant variations in wheat production, accounting for losses up to 6.4% for each 1°C rise in temperature. Recurrent droughts in cultivable areas are anticipated to increase the risk of wheat yield loss by almost 12% by the end of the 21stcentury. The present study was undertaken to identify component traits contributing to drought tolerance and to evaluate wheat doubled haploid (DH) lines for drought tolerance using various stress tolerance indices. Fifty-three wheat DH lines and 11 check varieties were evaluated for grain yield, agronomic, physiological traits and drought tolerance indices under rainfed and restricted irrigation conditions in the 2019-20 cropping season. The results of ANOVA revealed that various yield contributing, agronomic and physiological traits showed highly significant genotypic variation. A significant positive correlation was observed between grain yield under rainfed (Ys) and restricted irrigation (Yp) conditions and geometric mean productivity (GMP), mean productivity (MP), harmonic mean (HM), stress tolerance index (STI) and yield index (YI). Principal component analysis (PCA) showed a significant positive correlation between stress susceptibility index (SSI) and tolerance (TOL). Based on PCA and cluster analysis, the test entries like DH 989 and DH 554, along with check cultivars NI 5439, NIAW 1415, DPW 621-50, were more stable in a rainfed environment while DH 807, DH 430, DH 435, DH 417 and DH 431 were highly adapted to restricted irrigation conditions.DH 66, DH 227,DH 931, DH 62, DH 942 DH 875, DH 134 and DH 179 were identified as susceptible genotypes. Cluster analysis also classified the genotypes into four groups, i.e., resistant, susceptible, tolerant and moderately tolerant to drought conditions. As per our study, few genotypes susceptible to drought exhibited yield reduction while the tolerant genotypes were stable, suggesting their genetic variability and utilization in a breeding program.</jats:p

Mapping and validation of a major QTL for yellow pigment content on 7AL in durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. ssp durum)

Yellow pigment content in durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. ssp. durum) is an important criterion for both pasta bright yellow color and human health because of antioxidant properties of carotenoids involved in this pigmentation. In the present study, QTLs for yellow pigment content in durum wheat were mapped in a population of 140 RILs developed from a intraspecific cross between a released variety (PDW 233) and a landrace (Bhalegaon 4). This trait was evaluated in one location for 3 years and in two more locations for one additional year (five different year x location combinations further called "environments"). Yellow pigment content was highly heritable across the five different environments. Analysis of variance showed the significant effect of genotype, environment and genotype x environment interaction on the trait. Five different QTLs linked to yellow pigment content were identified on chromosome 1A, 3B, 5B, 7A and 7B across five different environments. The strongest one located on the distal part of the long arm of chromosome 7A, QYp.macs-7A, explained 55.22% of the variation in the trait, while, remaining four QTLs explained 5-8.75% of phenotypic variation in yellow pigment content. Marker analysis revealed significant association of one ISSR and one AFLP fragment with the trait. These two markers were linked to the major QTL QYp.macs-7A and were converted into SCAR markers. These SCAR markers were further validated on another population as well as 38 diverse genotypes so as to prove their potential in marker assisted selection. These markers will be very useful for the marker assisted breeding of durum wheat for higher yellow pigment content