Evaluation of 19,460 Wheat Accessions Conserved in the Indian National Genebank to Identify New Sources of Resistance to Rust and Spot Blotch Diseases

A comprehensive germplasm evaluation study of wheat accessions conserved in the Indian National Genebank was conducted to identify sources of rust and spot blotch resistance. Genebank accessions comprising three species of wheat-Triticum aestivum, T. durum and T. dicoccum were screened sequentially at multiple disease hotspots, during the 2011-14 crop seasons, carrying only resistant accessions to the next step of evaluation. Wheat accessions which were found to be resistant in the field were then assayed for seedling resistance and profiled using molecular markers. In the primary evaluation, 19,460 accessions were screened at Wellington (Tamil Nadu), a hotspot for wheat rusts. We identified 4925 accessions to be resistant and these were further evaluated at Gurdaspur (Punjab), a hotspot for stripe rust and at Cooch Behar (West Bengal), a hotspot for spot blotch. The second round evaluation identified 498 accessions potentially resistant to multiple rusts and 868 accessions potentially resistant to spot blotch. Evaluation of rust resistant accessions for seedling resistance against seven virulent pathotypes of three rusts under artificial epiphytotic conditions identified 137 accessions potentially resistant to multiple rusts. Molecular analysis to identify different combinations of genetic loci imparting resistance to leaf rust, stem rust, stripe rust and spot blotch using linked molecular markers, identified 45 wheat accessions containing known resistance genes against all three rusts as well as a QTL for spot blotch resistance. The resistant germplasm accessions, particularly against stripe rust, identified in this study can be excellent potential candidates to be employed for breeding resistance into the background of high yielding wheat cultivars through conventional or molecular breeding approaches, and are expected to contribute toward food security at national and global levels.

Carcinoid tumor of the cecum presenting with acute appendicitis: a case report

BACKGROUND

Acute appendicitis is the most common cause of acute abdomen. Carcinoid tumor of the appendix is a rare incidental finding that can present with the clinical picture of acute appendicitis.

CASE REPORT

During open surgery for acute appendicitis, a 3 cm solid mass, not noticed externally, was palpated at the base of the appendix. The mass and the appendix were excised by en-bloc wedge resection. The histopathological examination of the lesion revealed carcinoid tumor.

CONCLUSION

The aim of this presentation is to remind that neoplasms of the appendix may, although rarely, present the clinical picture of acute appendicitis, and to highlight that they, particularly those located at the base of the appendix and in cecum, may be overlooked during laparoscopy. The importance of preoperative computerized tomography ins uch cases has to be underlined.

Arsenic tolerances in rice (Oryza sativa) have a predominant role in transcriptional regulation of a set of genes including sulphur assimilation pathway and antioxidant system

World wide arsenic (As) contamination of rice has raised much concern as it is the staple crop for millions. Four most commonly cultivated rice cultivars, Triguna, IR-36, PNR-519 and IET-4786, of the West Bengal region were taken for a hydroponic study to examine the effect of arsenate (As(V)) and arsenite (As(III)) on growth response, expression of genes and antioxidants vis-à-vis As accumulation. The rice genotypes responded differentially under As(V) and As(III) stress in terms of gene expression and antioxidant defences. Some of the transporters were up-regulated in all rice cultivars at lower doses of As species, except IET-4786. Phytochelatin synthase, GST and γ-ECS showed considerable variation in their expression pattern in all genotypes, however in IET-4786 they were generally down-regulated in higher As(III) stress. Similarly, most of antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX), catalase (CAT), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR) and dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) increased significantly in Triguna, IR-36 and PNR-519 and decreased in IET-4786. Our study suggests that Triguna, IR-36 and PNR-519 are tolerant rice cultivars accumulating higher arsenic; however IET-4786 is susceptible to As-stress and accumulates less arsenic than other cultivars.

Deformation of metallic liquid drop by electric field for contacts in molecular–organic electronics

We study and use the behaviour of a metallic liquid drop in the presence of an external electric field (EF). The droplet profile is governed by the stabilizing surface energy and the destabilizing electrostatic energy, with a critical voltage beyond which the droplet becomes unstable. We explore the EF-induced behaviour of low melting temperature alloy in the liquid state and observe that the droplet modifications in the linear response regime can be retained upon cooling the drop to the solid state. We demonstrate that this procedure can be used as an electrode with precise dimensions for applications in molecular and polymer electronics.