Central Tuber Crops Research Institute

About: Central Tuber Crops Research Institute is a facility organization based out in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Starch & Fermentation. The organization has 475 authors who have published 587 publications receiving 10285 citations.

Nucleic acid spot hybridization based species-specific detection of Sclerotium rolfsii associated with collar rot disease of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius

Abstract: Collar rot is one of the most destructive and prevalent disease of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius, resulting in heavy yield losses. The causative organism, Sclerotium rolfsii is a soil-borne polyphagous fungus characterized by prolific growth and ability to produce persistent sclerotia. The pathogen propagules surviving in soil and planting material are the major sources of inoculum. This study presents the suitability of DNA hybridization technique for species specific detection of S. rolfsii in soil and planting material. The detection limit of the probe was 10-15 pg of pure pathogen DNA. The developed probe was found to be highly specific and could be used for accurate identification of pathogen up to the species level. The protocol was standardized for detection of the pathogen in naturally infected field samples.

Evaluation of Intra and Inter-specific Variability among Species of Curcuma using Microsatellite Markers

Abstract: Microsatellite markers such as ISSRs and SSRs were used to study the genetic variability among 15 selected accessions in 8 species of Curcuma germplasm comprising of two accessions in each of the seven Curcuma species and one of C. longa. Of the primers tested, 10 (out of 10) ISSR and 7 (out of 10) SSR primers were selected for their reproducibility and high polymorphism. A total of 166 polymorphic ISSR bands were detected out of 176 bands and a total of 123 polymorphic SSR bands were detected out of 135 bands. Results demonstrated an extensive genetic variability within the selected accessions as well as the value of ISSR and SSR markers in characterization of Curcuma species. Marker scoring data was used to construct UPGMA dendrogram and Pearson Correlation Coefficient. For both markers a high similarity in dendrogram clustering was obtained. All dendrograms, including that obtained by the combined use of both the ISSR and SSR marker data, depicted the genetic relationship/variability among the accessions, depending upon their species similarity/dissimilarity.

Comparison of Nitrate Reductase Activity in the Leaves of Tropical Root and Tuber Crops

Abstract: The first reaction, reduction of nitrate to nitrite, is catalyzed by the metallo-protein nitrate reductase (NR) in the cytosol. Another metallo-protein, nitrite reductase, catalyzes the second reaction in the chloroplasts and or plastids in which nitrite is reduced to ammonia. The electron donors for this sequential reduction are NAD(P)H (Ni R reaction) and reduced ferredoxin from PSII (nitrite reductase reaction). Lesser activity of NR exists in the epidermal and cortical cells of roots and leaves in plants.