Informatics Publishing Limited

S. K. Shah ¹, T. R. Sharma ², K. R. Gupta ²

Affiliations
1 P. G. Department of Geology, University of Jammu, Jammu 180001, IN
2 Jammu and Kashmir Government, Jammu 180001, IN

Abstract

Two ichnogenera Cruziana and Rusophycus have been reported from the Bafliaz Formation of western Pir Panjal. These put the Lower Palaeozoic age of this volcanic suite beyond doubt. The correlation of this suite with the Panjal suite of Permo-Triassic age is, therefore, not warranted.

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T. R. Sharma ¹, K. R. Sharma ²

Affiliations
1 PG Department of Geology, University of Jammu, Jammu-180 001, IN
2 Govt. Gandhi Memorial Science College, Canal Road, Jammu-180 001, IN

Abstract

Several granite plutons occur in the Great and Lesser Himalaya in Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir. These granites assume batholithic to sub-batholithic dimensions and are composed of quartz, orthoclase, microcline, plagioclase, muscovite, biotite, hornblende and tourmaline besides epidote, apatite, futile, zircon, magnetite, ilmenite and sphene as accessories. These granites are peraluminous as the molar proportions of Al₂O₃ is greater than the molar proportions of (K₂O+Na₂O+CaO). High molar AI₂O₃/ (K₂O+Na₂O+CaO) ratios and normative corundum are indicative of the generation of these granites due to partial fusion of crustal materials.

Keywords

Petrology, Granites, Western Himalaya.

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Pramod Prasad ¹, S. C. Bhardwaj ¹, O. P. Gangwar ¹, Subodh Kumar ¹, Hanif Khan ¹, Shravan Kumar ², H. C. Rawal ², T. R. Sharma ²

Affiliations
1 ICAR-Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research, Flowerdale, Shimla 171 002, IN
2 ICAR-National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology, Pusa Campus, New Delhi 110 012, IN

Abstract

Leaf or brown rust caused by Puccinia triticina (Pt) is one of the most important diseases of wheat. Among the rusts, it is the most ubiquitous in all the wheatgrowing regions and causes considerable yield loss. Microsatellite marker-based genotyping and virulence- based phenotyping of 48 pathotypes of Pt was performed. The pathotypes exhibit low virulence frequencies for Indian leaf rust differentials Lr24, Lr9, Lr10, Lr19, Lr28 and Lr9. Using avirulence/virulence formula six major clusters of pathotypes were observed, revealing high degree of phenotypic variation. Molecular analysis performed using SSR markers showed high genetic diversity among the pathotypes, and grouped them in seven major clusters. The percentage of polymorphic loci ranged from 17.95 to 84.62, Nei's gene diversity from 0.07 to 0.32 and Shannon's information index from 0.11 to 0.47. Analysis of molecular variance revealed significantly high genetic variation within Pt population. Mantel's Z test proved low positive correlation (r = 0.28) between virulence and molecular diversity, suggesting independent nature of the duo. These findings offer valuable information for framing suitable disease management strategies through appropriate region-specific gene deployment and improve the understanding of the population biology and evolution of Pt in the Indian subcontinent.

Keywords

Genetic Differentiation, Leaf Rust, Microsatellites, Puccinia triticina, Virulence Phenotype.

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R. L. Kunkerkar ¹, M. Sheshu Madhav ², T. R. Sharma ²

Affiliations
1 Regional Agriculture Research Station, Karjat, Raigad (M.S.), IN
2 Directorate of Rice Research, Hyderabad (A.P.), IN

Abstract

Rice is one of the important staple food crop in the world. Which has been extensively studied both the genetic and molecular level. New technique based on DNA profiling provides novel approaches to varietal characterization which offer advantage over traditional morphological comparisons. Identification of plant varieties/ cultivars and determination of their genetic variability through direct DNA analysis not only help to identify molecular marker across the chromosome for mapping purpose, it also help in gene tagging as well as molecular marker aided selection (MAS), because of several advantages of the molecular method over the biochemical or morphological methods to identify, characterize and determine genetic variability among rice lines, an attempt has been made to characterize different rice lines containing known genes of blast resistance and some of local cultivar with an objective to study the level of DNA polymorphism among different rice lines using PCR based DNA marker and to estimate the genetic variability among 23 rice lines during the year 2003 at NRCPB, New Delhi. PCR based Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD), UPR, ISSR and STMS markers were used for characterization of genetic variability among 23 rice lines. Total 83 primers were used, out of which 30 primers gave polymorphism. A total 1276 number products amplified. Dendrogram was constructed on the basis of the result obtained through PCR. It showed that 23 lines were clustered in to 7 groups. The first group contains 2 isogenic blast resistant lines, second group contains four isolines having different genes of P14. The third cluster contains three rice lines which all contains different genes of PiK, HPU-741 which is local variety, distinguished from the other three variety they having 55 similarity in cluster 4. Three japonica type lines were grouped in cluster five. Cluster 6 having two rice lines which are japonica type having dark nature. Cluster 7 having two varieties which are susceptible for blast.

Keywords

Rice, DNA, RAPD, ISSR, UPR, STMS, Polymorphism, Dendrogram.

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T. R. Sharma ¹

Affiliations
1 Centre for Defence and National Security Studies, Punjab University, Chandigarh, IN

Abstract

The socio-economic factor coupled with historical antecedents have all along shaped politics in Himachal Pradesh, particularly its electoral politics. The most significant impact of these factors has been the emergence of clear cut two party system in the state since 1967. The contest for power in this state is only between the Congress and the BJP with the former drawing its support base from old areas (upper areas of Himachal) and the latter from the new areas (lower areas). There is no regional party in the state and third parties if any have only a nominal existence. It is only in the recent years that a regional outfit, the HVC-Himachal Vikas Congress founded by SukhRam, former union communication minister has come to play a balancing role. Given the fact that SukhRam is a former powerful leader of Congress in the State and was unceremoniously expelled from the Congress in the wake of telecom scam, the congress stands to lose definitely more than the BJP. However, the split in Himachal Vikas Congress in 2000 has seriously affected its bargaining power but neither faction will find it easy to join hands with the Congress.

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S. Datta ¹, B. S. Dhillon ², P. L. Gautam ³, J. L. Karihaloo ⁴, M. Mahadevappa ⁵, C. D. Mayee ⁶, G. Padmanaban ⁷, A. Parida ⁸, R. S. Paroda ⁹, M. Sharma ¹⁰, T. R. Sharma ¹¹, N. K. Singh ¹², R. B. Singh ¹³, R. V. Sonti ¹⁴, A. K. Tyagi ¹⁵, A. Varma ¹⁶, K. Veluthambi ¹⁷

Affiliations
1 Department of Botany, University of Calcutta, Kolkata 700 019, IN
2 Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141 004, IN
3 Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Right Authority, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, Societies Block, NASC Complex, DPS Marg, New Delhi 110 012, IN
4 Agrasen Apartment, Plot 10, Sector 7, Dwarka, New Delhi 110 075, IN
5 Division of Rural Development, JSS Mahavidyapeetha, Mysuru 570 004, IN
6 Raviram Residency, 13/1 Chitale Marg, Dhantoli, Nagpur 440 012, IN
7 Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560 012, IN
8 Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar 751 023, IN
9 Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences, Avenue II, Pusa Campus, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012,, IN
10 Indian Institute of Advanced Research, Koba Institutional Area, Gandhinagar 382 007, IN
11 National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute, Knowledge City, Mohali 140 306,, IN
12 ICAR-National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnolgy, Pusa Campus, New Delhi 110 012, IN
13 National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, NASC Complex, Dev Prakash Shastri Marg, Pusa, New Delhi 110 012, IN
14 National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110 067, IN
15 Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi, South Campus, New Delhi 110 021, IN
16 Advanced Centre for Plant Virology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, IN
17 School of Biotechnology, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai 625 021, IN

Abstract

India does not have a clear stand on the release and consumption of genetically modified crops (food). The only approved crop is Bt-cotton, which has put India on the global map as a cotton exporting country. Even so, Bt-brinjal is under moratorium and GM mustard is prevented from undergoing commercial trial. All these decisions are not based on sound scientific principles. Activism against has successfully prevented exploitation of a powerful technology that can contribute to India’s food and nutrition security. This article attempts to give a balanced perspective of genetic modification technology as one of the serious options to be considered on case to case basis. Ambivalence will seriously affect India’s food security in the future.

Keywords

Bt-Cotton, Food Security, Gene Editing, Genetically Modified Crops, Mustard.

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