ABSTRACT
Aim: The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of different integrated crop management (ICM) practices on productivity, resource-use efficiency and energetics of pigeonpea crop so as to overcome various production- and climatic-vulnerabilities in Indo-Gangetic Plains Region (IGPR). Methodology: A study was conducted during Kharif 2017 in pigeonpea under pigeonpea–wheat cropping system at IARI, New Delhi, India to assess the influence of nine different ICM modules [Conventional tillage (CT) based: 04 (ICM1–ICM4); Conservation agriculture (CA) based: 04 (ICM5–ICM8); Organic agriculture based: 01 (ICM9)] on productivity, PAR interception, resource-use-efficiency and energetics in pigeonpea in randomized block design replicated thrice. Results: Pigeonpea seed yield was significantly higher in ICM7 (1.92 t ha-1) – a CA-based ICM module which was followed by ICM5, ICM8 and ICM6. In general, the CA based ICM modules showed an edge over CT based ICM modules with reference to growth, yield and PAR interception. The resource-use-efficiency indices like total water-use-efficiency (TWUE), irrigation water-use-efficiency (IWUE), economic water-productivity (WPE), partial factor productivity of applied nutrients (NPK) also exhibited same trend as that of seed yield with highest TWUE (2.96 kg ha-mm–1) and WPE (104.5 INR ha-mm–1) in ICM7 module. The energy output was highest in ICM7 (2, 23, 664 MJ ha-1) followed by ICM5, ICM8 and ICM6. The trend of energy-use-efficiency was ICM4>ICM2>ICM1>ICM3>ICM5>ICM7>ICM6>ICM8>ICM9, respectively. Interpretation: Conservation agriculture (CA) based modules like ICM7 can be recommended to the farmers for enhancing the plant growth, PAR interception, crop productivity, resource-use efficiency and energetics in pigeonpea alone or on pigeonpea-wheat cropping system basis in semi-arid Indo-Gangetic plains region (IGPR).
ABSTRACT
Fusarium wilt caused byFusarium udumButler(Fud) is a constant threat to pigeonpea productivity in several parts of the world. Understanding the molecular basis of pigeonpea-Fudinteraction is necessary to improve resistance to Fudand thereby the productivity of pigeonpea. Temporal and spatial changes were studied in defense enzymes namely catalase, peroxidase (PO), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), Phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), ?-1,3-glucanase and chitinase at pre-initiation (S1), disease initiation (S2) and severe diseased (S3) stages in root, stem and leaf tissues of 2 susceptible and 2 resistant cultivars of pigeonpea inoculated with Fud. Comparison of various treatment combinations revealed that all the defence enzymes showed temporal and spatial variation in activity/expression pattern. PO increased in all the tissues of all the varieties from S1 to S2 and declined thereafter in S3 stage, and induction was higher in resistant cultivars. Catalase and PPO were induced highly in resistant cultivars inoculated with Fud, and the pattern was stage-specific and tissue-specific in nature. Catalase induction occurred at S2 in uninoculatedplants whereas it started at S1 in Fudinoculatedplants. PPO level diminished from S2 to S3 stage, and in susceptible varieties, it reached even below the control. PAL, ?-1,3-glucanase and chitinase activity were induced at S1, and S2 and values at S3 decreased progressively. Induction of chitinase was significantly high in leaves whereas ?-1,3-glucanase activity was high in stem tissues. Both control and challenged plants had a higher level of ?-1,3-glucanase activity at later stages of disease development, but the proportionate increase was much higherin resistant cultivars. The activity/expression pattern of these defence enzymes reveals their use as biochemical markers for resistance and provides scope for manipulating their expression and development of wilt-resistant transgenic pigeonpea
ABSTRACT
Pod fly, Melanagromyza obtusa is an important emerging pest and a major constraint to increase the production and productivity of pigeonpea. The concealed mode of life of pod fly within the pod makes it difficult to control. Hence, host plant resistance is an important tool for the management of this pest. Therefore, a set of forty genotypes were screened for resistance to pod fly under field conditions and characterized for morphological and biochemical traits in the pods. The correlation studies revealed that, among morphological and biochemical constituents of pigeonpea, pod length (r=0.389*), pod width (r=0.380*), protein content (r=0.857**), total carbohydrates (r=0.782**), reducing sugars (r=0.848**) and total free amino acids (r=0.832**) in the pod walls were positively correlated with per cent pod damage, whereas pod wall thickness (r= -0.762**), trichome density (r= -0.745**) and phenol content (r= -0.871**) had significant negative correlation with pod fly damage. Therefore, these traits can be used as phenotypic and biochemical markers to identify pigeonpea genotypes with resistance to M. obtusa, and use in pod fly resistance breeding program.
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Study was carried out for genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance of eight characters in fifty four germplasm lines. Analysis of variance revealed significant difference among genotypes for all the nine characters studied. The magnitude of PCV and GCV was moderate to high for pods per plant, seed yield and primary branches per plant. High heritability was recorded for days to 50% flowering, seed yield per plant, number of pods per plant, test weight and plant height. High heritability combined with high genetic advance was recorded for number of pods per plant and seed yield per plant indicating that these characters are controlled by additive gene effect and phenotypic selection of these characters would be effective for further breeding purpose.
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Objective: To investigate the protective effects of pigeonpea leaves on myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury in rats. Methods: A model of myocardial ischemia reperfusion was established by ligating the anterior descending coronary arteries. Rats were administrated with extract from pigeonpea leaves (125, 200, and 500 mg/kg) before ischemia, and the size of myocardial infarction, arrhythmia score, and morphological changes of cardiomyocytes were determined. Results: Compared with the model group, pigeonpea leaves could reduce arrhythmia severity and incidence (P<0.05 or 0.01) and the size of myocardial infarction (P<0.05). Pigeonpea leaves could ameliorate the pathological lesion. Conclusion: Pigeonpea leaves have the protective effects on myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury in rats.
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A reliable method of plant regeneration has been achieved from Axillary buds. Shoots appeared from explants when cultured on Murashige and skoog (MS) medium supplemented with BAP (Benzyl amino purine), Napthalene acetic acid (NAA) and Kinetin at various combinations. Elongated shoots were rooted with 70.6% rooting frequency in MS medium with indole buteric acid (IBA) at 1.0mg/l. The rooted plantlets were established well in soilrite mixture medium with 91% success and days taken for acclimatization were 12.8 days. This protocol was used in Agrobacterium mediated transformation. The transformation was carried out using the Agrobacterium strain LBA4404 containing the binary vector pCAMBIA2301 harboring npt II as selectable marker and GUS as reporter gene.
ABSTRACT
An efficient direct shoot bud differentiation and multiple shoot induction from shoot tip explants of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L.) has been achieved. The frequency of shoot bud regeneration was influenced by the type of explants, genotype and concentrations of cytokinin. Explants viz. shoot tip isolated from 10 day old seedlings showed better explants response Explants were cultured on Murashige and skoog (MS) medium augmented with different concentrations of BAP and NAA. Among the various concentrations tested, 2.0mg/l BAP (Benzyl amino purine) and 0.1 mg/l Napthalene acetic acid (NAA) were found to be the best for maximum shoot bud differentiation. Percentage, as well as the number of shoots per explant showing differentiation of shoot buds was higher on MS media supplement with BAP and optimal BAP concentration for shoot regeneration was 2mg/l. The elongated shoots were successfully rooted on MS medium containing different concentrations of auxins. Among them indole buteric acid (IBA) at 1.0mg/l induced maximum frequency of rooting. Regenerated plants were successfully established in soil where 91% of them have been developed into morphologically normal and fertile plants. This method can thus be advantageously applied in the production of transgenic pigeon pea plants.
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A field experiment was conducted on a sandy clay soil at Agricultural Research Station, Basanthpur, Medak district of Andhra Pradesh during the kharif seasons of 2009-‘10 and 2010-’11 to study the variation in relative water content (RWC) of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L) Mill Sp.) as influenced by plant densities and supplemental irrigation through drip. Three varied plant densities of pigeonpea (D1–55,555 plants ha- 1, D2–41,666 plants ha-1 and D3–33,333 plants ha-1) were tested as 3 main treatments with 4 irrigation levels as sub treatments involving control (I1 - rainfed), drip irrigation at flowering with 20 mm depth of water (I2), drip irrigation at pod development with 20 mm depth of water (I3) and drip irrigation at flowering and pod development with 20 mm depth of water at each stage, respectively (I4). The RWC was estimated at 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, 120, 135, 150, 165 days after sowing and at harvest. Daily evaporation and rainfall were also recorded at the experimental site. The crop in lower plant density of D3 had higher relative water content in comparison to D2, intermediate and D1, higher plant densities at flowering and pod development stages irrespective of the irrigation treatments imposed. Further, supplemental irrigation at flowering and pod formation stages showed marginal rise in the relative water content irrespective of densities. Lowest relative water content was recorded under nonirrigated rainfed control (I1) at higher plant densities of D1 both at flowering and pod development stages.
ABSTRACT
Molecular markers are the most powerful genomic tools to increase the efficiency and precision of breeding practices for crop improvement. Progress in the development of genomic resources in the leading legume crops of the semi-arid tropics (SAT), namely, chickpea (Cicer arietinum), pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) and groundnut (Arachis hypogaea), as compared to other crop species like cereals, has been very slow. With the advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS) and high-throughput (HTP) genotyping methods, there is a shift in development of genomic resources including molecular markers in these crops. For instance, 2,000 to 3,000 novel simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers have been developed each for chickpea, pigeonpea and groundnut. Based on Sanger, 454/FLX and Illumina transcript reads, transcriptome assemblies have been developed for chickpea (44,845 transcript assembly contigs, or TACs) and pigeonpea (21,434 TACs). Illumina sequencing of some parental genotypes of mapping populations has resulted in the development of 120 million reads for chickpea and 128.9 million reads for pigeonpea. Alignment of these Illumina reads with respective transcriptome assemblies have provided >10,000 SNPs each in chickpea and pigeonpea. A variety of SNP genotyping platforms including GoldenGate, VeraCode and Competitive Allele Specific PCR (KASPar) assays have been developed in chickpea and pigeonpea. By using above resources, the first-generation or comprehensive genetic maps have been developed in the three legume speciesmentioned above. Analysis of phenotyping data together with genotyping data has provided candidate markers for drought-tolerance-related root traits in chickpea, resistance to foliar diseases in groundnut and sterility mosaic disease (SMD) and fertility restoration in pigeonpea. Together with these traitassociated markers along with those already available, molecular breeding programmes have been initiated for enhancing drought tolerance, resistance to fusarium wilt and ascochyta blight in chickpea and resistance to foliar diseases in groundnut. These trait-associated robust markers along with other genomic resources including genetic maps and genomic resources will certainly accelerate crop improvement programmes in the SAT legumes.
ABSTRACT
A field experiment was conducted during kharif 2005 and 2006 to study the effect of fertilizer, farmyard manure and biofertilizers on growth and yield of pigeonpea. The result revealed that 50%RDF + seed treatment with Rhizobium@200 g/kg seed recorded significantly more number of branches (16.3/Pl.), pods (151.3/Pl.), higher grain yield (1358 kg/ha) and net returns (Rs. 15541/-) followed by RDF+FYM and Rhizobium inoculation (14/Pl., 142/Pl.,1325 kg/ha and Rs. 13304/-) and 50%RDF+ dual inoculation with Rhizobium and PSB (14/Pl, 133/Pl., 1305 kg/ha and Rs. 14462/-) respectively.
ABSTRACT
A field experiment was conducted to study the impact of Sulphur (S) and Phosphorus (P) on yield, nutrient status of soil and their contents in pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) during the year 2008-2009. Seven treatments were studied in Factorial Randomized Block Design with three replications. The treatment combinations were derived from three levels of sulphur (0, 20 and 40 kg S ha-1) and four levels of phosphorus (0, 25, 50 and 75kg ha-1). The experimental soil was medium black, slightly calcareous, clay in texture and slightly alkaline in reaction. The results indicated a significant increase in grain yield (14.81 q ha-1) and straw yield (41.26 q ha-1) of pigeonpea after 20 kg S ha-1 and 50 kg P2O5 ha-1 treatment with common dose of nitrogen @ 30 kg ha-1. The increase in grain and straw yield was 102.77 and 52.87% as compare to higher over control. Maximum number of pods plant -1, maximum number of grains pod-1 and test weight by this treatment was also observed as compared to control. Application of S and P improved soil fertility status and S alone did not influence P availability. Hence, in order to maintain the fertility status of the soil at high level, combine application of 20 kg S ha-1 with 50 kg P2O5 ha-1 is essential. The residual fertility status of soil is advocated for rainfed pigeonpea crop grown on vertisol in Vidarbha region.
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Changes in different biochemical parameters like total phenolic content, protein pattern, polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase and isozymes of peroxidase were compared in sterility mosaic resistant (Hy3C) and susceptible (Type-21) pigeonpea varieties at different growth stages both under inoculated and uninoculated conditions. Resistant variety was characterized by the presence of specific isoperoxidase and proteins but only little difference was recorded between resistant and susceptible variety with respect to preformed or induced total phenolics and peroxidase activity. The activity of polyphenol oxidase increased substantially in susceptible variety following infection. Role of these changes is discussed in relation to disease resistance.
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Ammonia assimilatory and ureide biogenic enzymes were measured in the cytosol fraction of pigeonpea nodules during the period 15-120 days after sowing. The activity of enzymes involved in the initial assimilation of ammonia, i.e. glutamine synthetase, glutamate synthase, asparagine synthetase and aspartate aminotransferase, substantially increased activities during the period of plant growth and reached a maximum value around 105 days after sowing. These increases paralleled the increase in nodule mass, nitrogenase activity and ureide content in nodules. Though no regular pattern was obtained for their specific activities, yet these activities when expressed relative to the specific activity of nitrogenase were many fold higher at each stage of development. Similar increases were observed in the activities of enzymes associated with the formation of ureides from purines. In almost all cases, the activities were again maximum around 90-105 days after sowing. The specific activities of nucleotidase, nucleosidase, xanthine dehydrogenase, uricase and allantoinase, when expressed relative to the specific activity of nitrogenase at vegetative, flowering and podsetting stages were again many fold higher indicating the sufficiency of the levels of these enzymes for the biosynthesis of ureides. The data presented are consistent with the proposal that in ureide producing legumes, ammonia is initially assimilated into glutamine, aspartate, etc., which are metabolised for the de novo synthesis of purines. The purines are then utilised for the production of ureides by a group of enzymes investigated here.
ABSTRACT
Allantoic acid production from IMP, XMP, inosine, xanthosine, hypoxanthine, xanthine, uric acid and allantoin was investigated by incubating each of these substrates with Cajanus cajan cytosol and bacteroid fractions separately in the presence and absence of NAD+ and allopurinol. Allantoic acid synthesis by bacteroid fraction could only be observed with uric acid and allantoin as substrates. Addition of NAD+ or allopurinol to the reaction mixtures had no effect. However, with cytosol fraction, allantoic acid was produced by each of these substrates, with maximum rate with allantoin. With NAD+ or with allopurinol, allantoic acid was produced only with uric acid and allantoin as substrates. NADH production with cytosol fraction could again be observed with all the substrates. Except with uric acid and allantoin, allopurinol completely inhibited NADH formation. Regardless of the presence or absence of allopurinol, none of the substrates exhibited significant activity with bacteroid fraction. Based on the activities of glutamine synthetase, glutamate synthase, glutamate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, asparagine synthetase, nucleotidase, nucleosidase, xanthine dehydrogenase, uricase and allantoinase and their intracellular localisation in various nodule fractions, a probable pathway for the biogenesis of ureides in pigeonpea nodules has been proposed.