Banaras Hindu University

About: Banaras Hindu University is a education organization based out in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Catalysis. The organization has 11858 authors who have published 23917 publications receiving 464677 citations. The organization is also known as: Kashi Hindu Vishvavidyalay & Benares Hindu University.

Development and evaluation of near-isogenic lines for major blast resistance gene(s) in Basmati rice

Abstract: A set of NILs carrying major blast resistance genes in a Basmati rice variety has been developed. Also, the efficacy of pyramids over monogenic NILs against rice blast pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae has been demonstrated. Productivity and quality of Basmati rice is severely affected by rice blast disease. Major genes and QTLs conferring resistance to blast have been reported only in non-Basmati rice germplasm. Here, we report incorporation of seven blast resistance genes from the donor lines DHMASQ164-2a (Pi54, Pi1, Pita), IRBLz5-CA (Pi2), IRBLb-B (Pib), IRBL5-M (Pi5) and IRBL9-W (Pi9) into the genetic background of an elite Basmati rice variety Pusa Basmati 1 (PB1). A total of 36 near-isogenic lines (NILs) comprising of 14 monogenic, 16 two-gene pyramids and six three-gene pyramids were developed through marker-assisted backcross breeding (MABB). Foreground, recombinant and background selection was used to identify the plants with target gene(s), minimize the linkage drag and increase the recurrent parent genome (RPG) recovery (93.5–98.6 %), respectively, in the NILs. Comparative analysis performed using 50,051 SNPs and 500 SSR markers revealed that the SNPs provided better insight into the RPG recovery. Most of the monogenic NILs showed comparable performance in yield and quality, concomitantly, Pusa1637-18-7-6-20 (Pi9), was significantly superior in yield and stable across four different environments as compared to recurrent parent (RP) PB1. Further, among the pyramids, Pusa1930-12-6 (Pi2+Pi5) showed significantly higher yield and Pusa1633-7-8-53-6-8 (Pi54+Pi1+Pita) was superior in cooking quality as compared to RP PB1. The NILs carrying gene Pi9 were found to be the most effective against the concoction of virulent races predominant in the hotspot locations for blast disease. Conversely, when analyzed under artificial inoculation, three-gene pyramids expressed enhanced resistance as compared to the two-gene and monogenic NILs.

Characterization of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) isolated from the rhizosphere of Vigna radiata (mung bean)

Abstract: The rhizosphere is the zone under influence of plant roots where various kinds of microbial activities occur which perform important functions such as increase uptake of nutrients for the host for their better growth and protection from several diseases caused by various phytopathogens. Keeping in this vital role performed by rhizospheric microbes, thirty-nine bacterial isolates were isolated on King's B and nutrient agar media from the rhizosphere region of mung bean plants. Among these isolates, foure were identified as Pseudomonas spp., Bacillus sp., Acinetobacter sp. on the basis of biochemical and 16 S rDNA gene sequencing analysis. All the isolates were screened in vitro for plant growth promoting attributes such as IAA production, phosphate solubilization, ammonia production, catalase production, siderophore production, and antagonistic activity against phytopathogenic Rhizoctonia solani, the causal organism of root rot in mung bean. All the bacterial strains showed significant PGPR attributes and were able to produce indole-3 -acetic acid (ranging from 45.66 µg/ml to 111.94 µg/ml). In addition, the isolated strains enhanced phosphate solubilization activity (ranging from 952.91 µg/ml to 1341.24 µg/ml). Out of all, Pseudomonas spp. showed most potent antifungal activities against R. solani. Thus, the current study has focused on the characterization of rhizobacteria isolated from the rhizosphere of healthy mung bean plant. The results showed that the isolates posses, multiple plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits and can be used as a potential candidate on the soil-plant system to increase their growth as well as productivity.