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.

Detection of mosaic virus disease in cassava plants by sunlight-induced fluorescence imaging: a pilot study for proximal sensing

Abstract: Cassava mosaic disease CMD is a prominent virus infection that causes considerable crop damage and yield reduction. Early detection of crop damage by remote sensing could be a useful tool for initiating remedial measures to reduce further crop damage. This article presents a non-destructive method for detection and classification of CMD infection, based on the red:far-red chlorophyll chl fluorescence image ratio. This pilot study was carried out in 14 varieties of potted cassava plants Manihotesculenta Crantz with a multispectral imaging system MSIS consisting of an electron multiplying charge coupled device EMCCD camera. Sunlight-induced chl fluorescence SICF images of plant leaves were recorded using the MSIS at the Fraunhofer lines of O2-B at 687 nm and O2-A at 759.5 nm and their off-lines at 684 and 757.5 nm. The recorded images were analysed using the Fraunhofer line discrimination FLD technique to extract the SICF from the solar reflectance in the recorded images. The chl fluorescence image ratio red:far-red, F687:F760 was computed and correlated with the laser-induced chl fluorescence LICF ratio F685:F735 determined by point monitoring, chl content variation, and the net photosynthetic rate Pn. The scatter plot of the F687:F760 image ratio showed good discrimination between different levels of CMD infection as evidenced by the high sensitivity and specificity values. It is observed that the fluorescence image ratio F687:F760 has a good correlation with Pn coefficient of determination R2 = 0.85, chl content R2 = 0.82, and the LICF ratio F685:F735R2 = 0.80, thereby highlighting the potential of the SICF image ratio in the discrimination of CMD infection. The results clearly indicate that changes in the red:far-red fluorescence image ratio due to CMD stress can easily be detected at an early stage and the technique has great potential for monitoring the health of crops and vegetation from proximal sensing platforms.

Population structure of elephant foot yams (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson) in Asia.

Abstract: The corms and leaves of elephant foot yams (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson) are important foods in the local diet in many Asian regions. The crop has high productivity and wide agroecological adaptation and exhibits suitability for the agroforestry system. Although the plant is assumed to reproduce via panmixia, a comprehensive study on the genetic background across regions to enhance wider consumer palatability is still lacking. Here, ten informative microsatellites were analyzed in 29 populations across regions in India, Indonesia and Thailand to understand the genetic diversity, population structure and distribution to improve breeding and conservation programs. The genetic diversity was high among and within regions. Some populations exhibited excess heterozygosity and bottlenecking. Pairwise FST indicated very high genetic differentiation across regions (FST = 0.274), and the Asian population was unlikely to be panmictic. Phylogenetic tree construction grouped the populations according to country of origin with the exception of the Medan population from Indonesia. The current gene flow was apparent within the regions but was restricted among the regions. The present study revealed that Indonesia and Thailand populations could be alternative centers of the gene pool, together with India. Consequently, regional action should be incorporated in genetic conservation and breeding efforts to develop new varieties with global acceptance.

Spectrophotometric Determination of Cyanoglucosides in Cassava

Abstract: A new method is reported for determination of cyanoglucosides in cassava. The method is simple, rapid, and sensitive. Ten g cassava tuber is homogenized with warm (65-70 degrees C) 80% ethanol (1 + 6, w/v) to extract cyanoglucosides (CNG). The ethanol is evaporated, and an aliquot of the extract (0.1-0.2 mL) is incubated with added linamarase in pH 6.0 phosphate buffer for 15 min at 30 degrees C. The reaction is stopped by adding 0.2 N sodium hydroxide, the solution is neutralized, and cyanide is estimated by adding chloramine T and barbituric acid-pyridine reagent and measuring the absorbance at 570 nm. Complete CNG extraction and rapid inactivation of endogenous linamarase is possible with 80% ethanol. There is no interference from extractives in the linamarase reaction or in the estimation of cyanide. Recovery of added linamarin (as cyanide) is 98% by this assay. The minimum detection limit of cyanide in the assay is 0.1 micrograms/mL.

Extracellular amylase(s) production by fungi Botryodiplodia theobromae and Rhizopus oryzae grown on cassava starch residue.

Abstract: The fungi Botryodiplodia theobromae and Rhizopus oryzae produce extracellular amylase when grown on a liquid medium containing 2% (WN) soluble starch or cassava starch residue(CSR) (as starch equivalent), a waste generated after extraction of starch from cassava, as the sole carbon source. Using CSR as the sole carbon source, the highest amylase activity of 3.25 and 3.8 units (mg, glucose released x ml(-1) x h(-1)) were obtained in shake flask cultures during the late stationary phase of growth of B. theobromae and R. oryzae, respectively. These values were slightly lower than the values obtained using soluble starch as the carbon source. Maximum enzyme synthesis in CSR incorporated medium occurred at the growth temperature of 30 degrees C and pH 6.0. Presence of inorganic NH4+ salts like ammonium acetate and ammonium nitrate in culture medium yielded more amylase than the other nitrogen sources. Amylase(s) production in the controlled environment of a Table-Top glass Jar Fermenter (2-L capacity) was 4.8 and 5.1 units for B. theobromae and R. oryzae, respectively using CSR as the carbon substrate. It is concluded that CSR, a cheap agricultural waste obtained after starch extraction from cassava could replace soluble starch as carbon substrate for commercial production of fungal amylase(s).

Antifungal Activity of Diketopiperazines and Stilbenes Against Plant Pathogenic Fungi In Vitro

Abstract: The present study aimed to investigate antifungal activity of a stilbene and diketopiperazine compounds against plant pathogenic fungi, including Phytophthora capsici, P. colocasiae, Botrytis cinerea and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Minimal inhibition concentrations (MIC) and minimal fungicidal concentrations (MFC) of stilbenes and diketopiperazines for each fungus were determined using microplate method. Best activity was recorded by stilbenes against P. capsici and P. colocasiae. All four test compounds were effective in inhibiting different stages of the life cycle of test fungi. Stilbenes were more effective than diketopiperazines in inhibiting mycelial growth and inhibiting different stages of the life cycle of P. capsici and P. colocasiae. Rupture of released zoospores induced by stilbenes was reduced by addition of 100 mM glucose. The effects of stilbenes on mycelial growth and zoospore release, but not zoospore rupture, were reduced largely when pH value was above 7. In addition, stilbenes were investigated for its antifungal stability against Phytophthora sp. The results showed that stilbenes maintained strong fungistatic activity over a wide pH range (pH 4–9) and temperature range (70–120 °C). The compound stilbenes exhibited strong and stable broad-spectrum antifungal activity, and had a significant fungicidal effect on fungal cells. Results from prebiocontrol evaluations performed to date are probably useful in the search for alternative approaches to controlling serious plant pathogens.