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.

Cytological and morphological studies of diploid and tetraploid species of ipomoea biloba

Abstract: A detailed comparative cytomorphic study of the diploid Ipomoea biloba Forsk. (2n=30) and a naturally-occurring tetraploid form (2n=60) was made. The extent of morphological differences between the two chromosomal types have been presented and discussed. These differences relate to leaf shape and size, pollen size and length of seed coat hair. The course of microsporogenesis was investigated from pachytene stage onwards in both the taxa. Based on these data and their geographical distribution, the mode of origin of the tetraploid taxon and its relationship to the diploid was considered. The close similarity in their exomorphic characters, presence of both the diploid nucleolar chromosomal types in tetraploid and the sympatric distribution of the two taxa are advanced as evidences in favour of the direct role played by diploid biloba in the origin of the tetraploid taxon. However, in view of the prevalence of preferential pairing, low multivalent frequency and high fertility, a segmental allopolyploid origin seems probable.

Study of Genetic Diversity in South Indian Taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott.) Using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Markers

Abstract: Sixty accessions of taro ( Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott.), collected from the three South Indian states were analyzed using nine Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers at Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. The results obtained were utilized for assessing the extent and pattern of intraspecific variation within the species complex. Out of the nine primers, four proved to be highly informative as they could detect high levels of polymorphic fragments and were able to differentiate the accessions. The phylogenetic tree generated using UPGMA cluster analysis revealed that genetic diversity in taro was correlated with the wild and the cultivated forms. The accessions were separated into five major clusters. Out of the five clusters obtained in the dendrogram at 40% level of similarity coefficient, cluster I and cluster II included mainly cultivars. Cluster IV included almost exclusively wild accessions, majority of them being true wild ones with frequent flowering and significant stolon production. The primers were able to distinguish between diploids/triploids accessions. The diploid (clusters I, II, III and IV) and triploid (cluster V) group of accessions tended to form independent clusters and this may be suggestive of agro-ecological and sexual separation between them. These primers will be useful for future genetic analysis and provide taro breeders with a genetic basis for selection of parents for crop improvement programmes.

Testing of Cassava (Manihot esculenta) Varieties for Climate Resilience Under Kerala (India) Conditions

Abstract: The present study was conducted to identify the climate resilience of two widely used varieties of cassava in one of the major cassava growing areas in Kerala, India. The future projections for 2030, 2050, and 2070 were derived using the Long Ashton Research Station-Weather Generator (LARS-WG) with integrated global climate models (GCMs). The projections for the representative concentration pathway-4.5 (RCP-4.5) were tested in the crop model, World Food Studies (WOFOST) to assess the resilience of cassava varieties. The future projections in the study region indicated an increase of up to 2.1 and 2.3 °C for maximum and minimum temperatures respectively, followed by solar dimming. The crop yield predictions based on the outputs from the GCMs indicated that the yield of the long duration cassava var. H-226 increased during 2030 from 8.6 to 12% and that of short duration var. Sree Vijaya increased from 3.6 to 5.5%. With the 2050 scenario, the yield increased from 3.3 to 6.7% for var. H-226 and −4.3 to 1.9% for var. Sree Vijaya, respectively. Whereas, during 2070 was a decrease in the yield for vars H-226 and Sree Vijaya ranging from −9 to 3.8% and −10 to −5.2% respectively. The results indicated that var. H-226 is more resilient to the changing climate than var. Sree Vijaya. As an outcome of this study, the var. H-226 can be considered as climate-resilient, and this information can assist the decision makers in selecting an appropriate crop variety to ensure food security.

Nutrient Management for Sustainable Production of Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) in Saline Inceptisols of West Bengal

Abstract: A field experiment was conducted for two consecutive rabi (winter) seasons during 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 in a natural saline Inceptisol to optimize the requirement of N and P for sustainable production of sweet potato. The results revealed that the mean tuber and vine yields increased significantly with increasing doses of N and P up to 50 kg ha -1 . Higher tuber yield (19.65 t ha -1 ), total uptake of N (73.75 kg ha -1 ) and N use efficiency (143.4 kg tubers per kg N) was observed due to the combined application of 50 kg each of N and P 2 O 5 ha -1 . Significantly highest mean starch content (22.55 %) was obtained due to the application of N and P 2 O 5 @ 50 and 75 kg ha -1 , respectively, while the highest dry matter content (31.45 %) was observed due to the combined application N and P 2 O 5 @ 50 kg ha -1 each. Significantly highest P and K uptake was observed due to the application of 75 kg ha -1 each of N and P 2 O 5 . Highest P use efficiency (87.0 kg tubers per kg P 2 O 5 ) was observed due to the application of 75 and 25 kg ha -1 of N and P 2 O 5 respectively. Application of N and P 2 O 5 @ 50 kg ha -1 each was found to be optimum for sustainable production of sweet potato with good quality tubers and higher nutrient use efficiency. Further, this recommendation offers good scope for food and nutritional security in the saline tracts of Eastern India.

Sol–gel behavior of a novel nanodroplet biomaterial for drug delivery

Abstract: Nanodroplets can be considered as those nano/microemulsions in which the oil itself forms the active agent and the droplet size ambits in the nanometer range. Eugenol is an anti-inflammatory agent and its nanodroplet gel (NDG) has immense potential for topical use. Topical gels oblige some rheological characteristics to nail down the demands of proper application, stability and storage. Thus, the purpose of our study was to comprehend the effect of eugenol on the sol–gel tranisition properties of its NDGs. Towards this goal nanodroplets of eugenol were prepared and evaluated and the three selected nanodroplet formulations with 5, 10 and 5% v/v eugenol were converted into topical gel formulation using 1% w/w Carbopol 940. The NDGs were characterized using frequency sweep, creep recovery and thixotropy. All these tests pointed out that eugenol concentration has significant effect on the sol–gel behavior of NDGs. The NDGs exhibited more viscous (sol) properties than elastic (gel) properties as observed from the frequency sweep studies. The thixotropy of the NDGs was found to decrease with increase in eugenol concentration. Efforts have been made to explain the study results using mechanistic approach. The outcomes of our research studies could be of great use in future endeavors towards development of a topical NDG of eugenol with tailored sol–gel behavior.