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.

Transcriptome profiling of in vitro lines propagated from corm bud tip of elephant foot yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius) approves complete potyviruses elimination

Abstract: The most characterised Dasheen mosaic virus and many other unreported putative viruses are involved in the mixed viral mosaic infection of elephant foot yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius). The in vitro propagation of corm bud tips for virus free plantlet production was carried out in three different culture phases consisting of callusing, shoot regeneration and rooting. A 100 % survival rate was recorded on hardening in sand: soil: coir pith (1:1:1) mixture. A total of 84 % of regenerated plantlets were found to be virus free on indexing of 21 in vitro lines with species specific/genus specific serological and molecular diagnostic techniques. Transcriptome sequencing was carried out for two randomly selected in vitro plants and a mosaic infected field sample. Not any of the known potyviruses were traced in the transcriptome profiles of supposed virus free plants thus confirming the complete potyviruses elimination. Disease symptoms or re-occurrence was not observed in the hardened virus-free lines of the plant.

Productivity of Cassava (Manihot esculenta) as affected by drip fertigation in humid tropics

Abstract: Field experiments were carried out at Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Kerala, India during three seasons, 2009-2010, 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 to investigate the response of cassava to precision approaches in irrigation and fertigation. The experiments were laid out in split plot design with three replications. The main plots included three levels of drip irrigation viz., (I 1 - irrigation at 100% pan evaporation (PE), I 2 - 80% PE and I 3 - 60% PE). The sub plots comprised of three fertigation schedules viz., three ratios of recommended nitrogen and potassium fertiliser doses applied at growth stages of 1-40 days, 40-80 days and 80-120 days (F 1 -50:30:20, F 2 -30:50:20 and F 3 -50:40:10). Minisetts of cassava variety 'Sree Vijaya' was planted at a distance of 60 x 45 cm during the dry spell (Dec- May) in all the years. Results indicated that irrigation at 100% PE yielded maximum tuber yield in all the seasons (43.9 t ha -1 ). There was no significant difference in yield among the fertigation schedules. However, interaction effects showed that I 1 F 1 resulted in better growth characters, yield attributes and yield followed by I 1 F 3 . On an average, 280 mm, 224 mm and 168 mm of water were applied in I 1 , I 2 and I 3 irrigation levels respectively during the growing season. Water use efficiency determined was also higher for irrigation at I 1 level of irrigation.

Binary- and triple-enzyme cocktails and their application mode affect fermentable sugar release from pretreated lignocellulo-starch biomass

Abstract: Lignocellulo-starch biomass (LCSB) comprising roots and vegetable processing wastes has high starch besides cellulose and hemicelluloses and warrants different pretreatment and saccharification approaches. The fermentable sugar yield from steam/dilute sulphuric acid (DSA)-pretreated biomass during saccharification with binary [cellulase + amylolytic enzyme (Stargen)] or triple (cellulase + xylanase + Stargen) enzyme cocktails was compared. The factors such as pH (5.0), temperature (50 °C) and enzyme dosage (16 FPU/g cellulose) for cellulase (Ecozyme RT80) action were optimized using response surface methodology. As pretreated liquor is rich in sugars, whole slurry saccharification was needed for LCSBs and saccharification efficiency (120 h) was significantly higher for steam-pretreated biomass with all application modes. Preferential hydrolysis of starch in steam-pretreated biomass by Stargen followed by cellulolysis was advantageous than the application sequence with cellulase followed by Stargen. Triple-enzyme-based saccharification of steam-pretreated biomass significantly enhanced the overall conversion efficiency (OCE; 85–98%) compared to only 28–49% in the native untreated biomass, while lower OCE was observed in the case of DSA-pretreated and saccharified biomass. Supplementation with both xylanase and Stargen pronouncedly enhanced the OCE for steam-pretreated biomass with only insignificant difference between the exposure periods, indicating the obligatory need for both enzymes for optimal saccharification of LCSBs.

Assessing the influence of climate model biases in predicting yield and irrigation requirement of cassava

Abstract: The present study is conducted to assess the influence of climate model biases in the predictions of yield and water requirement of cassava in one of the major cassava growing regions in India. Simple linear bias correction methods are used for temperature, and non-linear corrections are used for other meteorological variables. The WOFOST and CROPWAT models are used to predict the crop yield and water requirement of cassava using the scenarios of 2030, 2050, and 2070 for the representative concentration pathway 4.5 derived from the Long Ashton Research Station Weather Generator (LARS-WG). The percentage change in crop yield predictions with and without bias corrections of meteorological variables ranges from 7.6 to 10.8%, 1.6 to 5.4%, and − 3.0 to 4.0% respectively for 2030, 2050, and 2070. The bias corrections made an increment in the gross irrigation requirements of cassava with 16.5, 17.8, and 16.0% in 2030, 2050, and 2070 respectively, compared to the values without bias corrections. The outcome of this study indicates that raw meteorological variables directly from the climate models result over-/underestimation of yield and irrigation requirements of cassava, and the bias corrections help to issue reliable crop yield predictions. Results show zero yield reductions of cassava until 2050, and beyond that, there can be reductions in the crop yield. The gross irrigation requirements of cassava increase in the future to achieve higher productivity. However, this study needs to extend to other major growing regions in India to derive a general conclusion.