A comprehensive phenotypic and genotypic evaluation of Spanish groundnuts from diverse crosses to identify superior and stable donors for fresh seed dormancy.

Breeding high yielding groundnut cultivars with 2-3 weeks of fresh seed dormancy, particularly in Spanish-type cultivars, enhances the sustainability of agriculture in groundnuts. In this context, we conducted a comprehensive phenotypic and genotypic evaluation of advanced breeding lines developed in the genetic background of Spanish types. By employing multi-phenotyping and marker data, we identified PBS 15044, 16004, 16013, 16015, 16016, 16017, 16020, 16021, 16026, 16031, 16035, 16037, 16038, 16039, 16041, and 16042 with 2-3 weeks dormancy (> 90%).The various parametric and non-parametric estimates identified the stable fresh dormant genotypes with one or more superior economic trait. PBS 16021, 15044, 16038, and 16039 identified with high hundred pod weight (HPW) were also reported having high intensity of dormancy (> 90% for up to 3 weeks); PBS 15044, 16016, PBS 16038 and PBS 16039 with high hundred kernel weight (HKW) also reported with up to 3 weeks fresh seed dormancy; and PBS 16013, 16031, and 16038 with up to 3 weeks fresh seed dormancy had high shelling percentage (SP). They can be used to develop lines with the desired level of dormancy, and high yields, by designing appropriate breeding strategies.

AMMI and GGE biplot analysis of genotype by environment interaction for yield and yield contributing traits in confectionery groundnut.

The global market has a high demand for premium edible grade groundnut, particularly for table use. India, in particular, exhibits significant potential for exporting confectionary grade large seeded groundnut. The environment plays a significant impact in influencing the expression of seed traits, which subsequently affects the confectionary quality of groundnut genotypes. The states of Gujarat and Rajasthan in India are prominent producers of high-quality groundnuts specifically used for confectionary purposes. The current study was conducted with 43 confectionery groundnut genotypes at Junagadh, Gujarat, and Bikaner, Rajasthan, with the goals of understanding genotype-by-environment interaction (GEI) effects and identifying stable, high yielding confectionery quality groundnut genotypes using AMMI and GGE biplot models. Pod yield per plant (PYP), number of pods per plant (NPP), hundred kernel weight (HKW), and shelling percent (SP) were estimated. The interplay between the environment and genotype has had a notable impact on the manifestation of confectionary grade characteristics in peanuts. The results from the Interaction Principal Component Analysis (IPCA) indicate that HKW contributed 76.68% and 18.95% towards the Global Environmental Index (GEI) through IPCA1 and IPCA2, respectively. Similarly, NPP contributed 87.52% and 8.65%, PYP contributed 95.87% and 2.1%, and SP contributed 77.4% and 16.22% towards GEI through IPCA1 and IPCA2, respectively. Based on the ranking of genotypes, the ideal genotypes were PBS 29079B for HKW, PBS 29230 for NPP. The genotypes PBS 29233 and PBS 29230 exhibited superior performance and stability in terms of pod yield, hundred kernel weight, number of pods per plant, and shelling percentage across various sites. These breeding lines have the potential to be developed for the purpose of producing confectionary grade groundnut with larger seeds, in order to fulfil the growing demand for export.

Integrating data from asymmetric multi-models can identify drought-resistant groundnut genotypes for drought hot-spot locations.

Water/drought stress experiments are frequently conducted under imposed stress or rainout shelters, while natural drought hot-spot investigations are rare. The "drought hot spot" in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, India, is appropriate for drought stress evaluation due to its hot, arid environment, limited rainfall, with over 50% rainfall variability. According to reports, 30 out of 200 groundnut cultivars in India are supposed to possess drought-tolerant characteristics. However, these cultivars are yet to be evaluated in areas that are prone to drought. This study tested these drought-tolerant genotypes in naturally drought-prone areas of Anantapur under rainfed conditions from Kharif 2017 to 2019. Pod yield and rainfall-use-efficiency (RUE) were measured for these genotypes. Genotype and genotype*environment interactions affected pod yield and RUE (GEI). The AMMI model exhibits significant season-to-season variability within the same area with environmental vectors > 90° angles. GGE biplot suggested the 2018 wet season for drought-resistant cultivar identification. Kadiri5 and GPBD5 were the most drought-tolerant cultivars for cultivation in Anantapur and adjacent regions. These types could also be used to generate drought-tolerant groundnut variants for drought-prone regions.

Performance of some early-maturing groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) genotypes and selection of high-yielding genotypes in the potato-fallow system.

India imports the most edible oils because domestic demand exceeds production. Horizontally expanding groundnut production in non-traditional areas especially in the potato-paddy rice-fallow system is possible for increasing production and it requires trait-specific cultivars. Only 1% of oilseeds are grown in non-traditional regions. Nine interspecific groundnut derivatives were tested in potato-fallow system at Deesa, Gujarat, and Mohanpura, West Bengal, and non-potato fallow areas in Junagadh during Kharif 2020 to examine their performance and adaptability. Genotype-by-environment (G×E) interaction significantly affected pod yield and its components in the combined ANOVA. "Mean vs. stability" showed that the interspecific derivative NRCGCS 446 and variety TAG 24 were the most stable and valuable genotypes. GG 7 yielded more pods in Junagadh, whereas NRCGCS 254 yielded more in Mohanpur. Low heritability estimates and strong G×E interaction for flowering days showed complicated inheritance and environmental effects. The shelling percentage was significantly correlated with days to 50% blooming, days to maturity, SCMR, HPW, and KLWR, demonstrating negative connections between maturity, component characteristics, and seed size realisation.

Acetylation of alpha-crystallin with N-acetylimidazole and its influence upon the native aggregate and subunit reassembly.

PURPOSE: An attempt has been made to investigate the involvement and importance of some of the hydrogen bond forming amino acid side chains in intra and inter subunit interactions in alpha-crystallin assembly. METHODS: For this, alpha-crystallin has been acetylated, partially or completely, using N-acetylimidazole. The apparent molecular size, electrophoretic mobility, conformational properties, surface hydrophobicity and chaperone activity of the modified proteins have been determined and compared with those of unmodified native protein as well as of the aggregates reassembled from the modified subunits. RESULTS: Acetylation of the surface-exposed tyrosine side chains has been found to destabilize the integrity of the native assembly with the formation of a somewhat smaller aggregate. This acetylated aggregate appears to adopt a molten globule-like conformation as evidenced from its almost unaltered secondary structure with some detectable alterations in its tertiary structure as well as from its enhanced chaper-one activity exhibited by the reduction assay compared to the native alpha-crystallin. Reassociation studies from either partially or completely acetylated subunits indicate that acetylation perturbs the information needed for native refolding of the subunits from their unfolded state as well as that needed for the normal mode of subunit reassembly. Acetylated subunits exhibit abnormal gel electrophoretic band pattern with distinctly retarded migration compared to the unmodified subunits. However, in spite of the partial/complete acetylation of the subunits or their reassociation from the denatured state, the tryptophan fluorescence emission maxima of the modified proteins and also that of the reassociated aggregates appear to remain unaffected. CONCLUSIONS: Results tend to indicate that the unperturbed hydrogen bonding capability of the relevant side chains in alpha-crystallin is needed for the integrity of the native alpha-crystallin assembly, for the normal refolding of its denatured subunits and also for the correct mode of subunit reassembly.

The D arm of tRNATyr is necessary and sufficient for import into Leishmania mitochondria in vitro.

Transfer RNAs are selectively imported from the cytoplasm into mitochondria of kinetoplastid protozoa such as Leishmania . The specific structural features of tRNA which determine selectivity are largely unknown. Using an in organello system from Leishmania , the import signals on tRNATyrand on a synthetic transcript which binds to the same receptor, were studied by deletion and reconstruction analyses. In both cases, short oligoribonucleotides (minihelices) containing the sequence UGGYAGAG were imported with high efficiency in the presence of ATP. This motif is present in the D arm of tRNATyr, as well as in the majority of imported Leishmania tRNAs. Deletion of the D arm, or a point mutation in the conserved motif, reduces importability. The import signal coincides with the binding site for the mitochondrial receptor TAB. tRNAGln, which is not imported, forms non-productive, TAB-independent complexes with the mitochondrial surface. However, the observation that the imported:bound ratio of the D arm minihelix is higher than that of the entire molecule suggests that the post-binding translocation step is constrained in terms of size or structural flexibility. Kinetic studies of minihelix import indicate stepwise insertion of the molecule into import channels.

Role of an RNA-binding protein in import of tRNA into Leishmania mitochondria.

Nuclear-encoded cytoplasmic tRNAs are imported into the mitochondria of kinetoplastid protozoa by an unknown mechanism. In a Leishmania in organello system, ATP-dependent import of a cloned, unspliced tRNATyr(GUA) transcript was demonstrated by protection from ribonuclease, whereas import of a tRNAGln(CUG) transcript was much less efficient. Specific binding of tRNATyr to two mitochondrial surface proteins of 15 and 22 kilodaltons was observed. Tubulin antisense-binding protein (TAB), the 15-kilodaton species, was purified to apparent homogeneity by RNA affinity chromatography. TAB forms stable complexes with the D stem-loop region of tRNATyr. Immunocytochemical and cell fractionation experiments, combined with limited proteolysis, suggested the association of TAB with the outer mitochondrial membrane. Importantly, anti-TAB antibody specifically inhibited binding as well as import of tRNATyr and of a synthetic structural homolog. These results support the role of TAB as a membrane-bound receptor or carrier for RNA import into Leishmania mitochondria.

Steroid transformation by mutants of Mycobacterium sp. with altered response to antibiotics.

Mycobacterium sp. NRRLB3683 which is capable to convert beta-sitosterol to 1,4-androstadiene-3,17-dione (ADD) was treated with methyl methane sulfonate and two strains with altered sensitivity to various antibiotics were obtained. One of the strain was steroid 1(2)-dehydrogenase negative and the other positive. Efficiency of utilization of sterols followed the order beta-sitosterol > cholesterol > soluble cholesterol. The steroid 1(2)-dehydrogenase negative strain was capable of producing 17KS (AD) from beta-sitosterol and converting AD to testosterone and ADD to AD suggesting the negative role of 1(2)-dehydrogenase in sterol side chain cleavage and decrease in hydrogenase activity by mutation. But this enzyme can perform the reverse reaction under aerobic condition.