Deciphering trait associated morpho-physiological responses in pearlmillet hybrids and inbred lines under salt stress.

Pearl millet is a staple food for more than 90 million people residing in highly vulnerable hot arid and semi-arid regions of Africa and Asia. These regions are more prone to detrimental effects of soil salinity on crop performance in terms of reduced biomass and crop yields. We investigated the physiological mechanisms of salt tolerance to irrigation induced salinity stress (ECiw ~3, 6 & 9 dSm-1) and their confounding effects on plant growth and yield in pearl millet inbred lines and hybrids. On average, nearly 30% reduction in above ground plant biomass was observed at ECiw ~6 dSm-1 which stretched to 56% at ECiw ~9 dSm-1 in comparison to best available water. With increasing salinity stress, the crop performance of test hybrids was better in comparison to inbred lines; exhibiting relatively higher stomatal conductance (gS; 16%), accumulated lower proline (Pro; -12%) and shoot Na+/K+(-31%), synthesized more protein (SP; 2%) and sugars (TSS; 32%) compensating in lower biomass (AGB; -22%) and grain yield (GY: -14%) reductions at highest salinity stress of ECiw ~9 dSm-1. Physiological traits modeling underpinning plant salt tolerance and adaptation mechanism illustrated the key role of 7 traits (AGB, Pro, SS, gS, SPAD, Pn, and SP) in hybrids and 8 traits (AGB, Pro, PH, Na+, K+, Na+/K+, SPAD, and gS) in inbred lines towards anticipated grain yield variations in salinity stressed pearl millet. Most importantly, the AGB alone, explained >91% of yield variation among evaluated hybrids and inbreed lines at ECiw ~9 dSm-1. Cumulatively, the better morpho-physiological adaptation and lesser yield reduction with increasing salinity stress in pearl millet hybrids (HHB 146, HHB 272, and HHB 234) and inbred lines (H77/833-2-202, ICMA 94555 and ICMA 843-22) substantially complemented in increased plant salt tolerance and yield stability over a broad range of salinity stress. The information generated herein will help address in deciphering the trait associated physiological alterations to irrigation induced salt stress, and developing potential hybrids in pearl millet using these parents with special characteristics.

Different Treatments for Sugarcane Juice Preservation.

This investigation aimed to optimize the time, pH, pressure, and temperature of sugarcane juice pasteurization and to develop a "ready to serve" bottled sugarcane juice with a high preservation efficiency. Fresh sugarcane juice was extracted from sugarcane genotype Co 89003, and beverage samples were collected using three different treatments: sulphitation of juice with the addition of potassium metabisulphite (KMS-25, 50, 100, and 150 ppm), acidification of juice (addition of citric acid, to reduce the pH of the juice to 4.8, 4.5, and 4.25), and steam treatment of the canes (5 min, 10, and 15 min at 7 psi). In all treatments, the juice was pasteurized in glass bottles @ 65 °C for 25 min and stored at low temperature (5 °C) in pre-sterilized glass bottles. Juice properties such as the ˚Brix, total sugar, pH, and total phenolic content decreased with storage, whereas the microbial count, titrable acidity, and reducing sugar content significantly increased during storage. The addition of KMS, citric acid, and the steam treatment reduced the browning of juice and maintained the color of juice during storage, by inhibiting the polyphenol oxidase enzyme activity, from 0.571 unit/mL to 0.1 unit/mL. Among the selected treatments, sugarcane juice with KMS (100 and 150 ppm) and steam treatment of the canes for 5 and 10 min at 7 psi showed the minimum changes in physico-chemical properties, sensory qualities, and restricted microbial growth. Thesulphitation treatment with pasteurization proved best for increasing the shelf life of sugarcane juice upto 90 days with refrigeration. Similarly, the steam-subjected cane juice (10 and 15 min at 7 psi) could be effectively preserved for upto 30 days with refrigeration, without any preservative.

Detection of Specific Polypeptide(s) Synthesized during the Sequential Stages of Differentiation in Dioscorea species

ABSTRACTThe present investigation was aimed to detect the specific polypeptide(s) appeared during the sequential stages of differentiation. Among different explants, only nodal explants showed good results for callusing. Depending on the fresh and dry weight, best callus growth was observed on MS medium supplemented with NAA (2.5 mg/L) inDioscorea alata and 2, 4-D (2.0 mg/L) inD. deltoidea, respectively. This callus was used for the regeneration. Roots differentiation was observed on MS medium + NAA (2.0 mg/L) + IBA (0.5 mg/L) and shoots on MS medium + BAP (2.0 mg/L) + NAA (0.5 mg/L) in D. alata while in D. deltoidea, roots on RT medium + IAA (1.0 mg/L) and shoots on RT medium + BAP (1.0 mg/L) + NAA (0.5 mg/L). Continuous decrease was seen in the total soluble protein during the differentiation inD. alatawhereas inD. deltoidea, the protein content decreased upto initiation stage. Four root specific polypeptides (MW 25.56, 24.35, 19.13 and 18.2 kDa) and three shoot specific polypeptides (MW 53.7, 25.12 and 19.13 kDa) were synthesized during the differentiation inD. alata. Similarly, two root specific (MW 33.9 and 31.69 kDa) and one shoot specific (MW 16.98 kDa) polypeptide band were appeared during differentiation in D. deltoidea.