Javid Iqbal Mir

Relative expression of CsZCD gene and apocarotenoid biosynthesis during stigma development in Crocus sativus L.

AbstractCrocus sativus is a triploid sterile plant characterized by its red stigmas, which produce significant quantities of carotenoid derivatives formed from the oxidative cleavage of β-carotene and zeaxanthin. The accumulation of three major carotenoid derivatives- crocin, picrocrocin, and safranal- is responsible for the color, bitter taste, and aroma of saffron, which is obtained from the dried stigma of Crocus. Maximum apocarotenoid accumulation occurs during fully developed scarlet stage of stigma development. Zeaxanthin is the precursor for biosynthesis of apocarotenoids. Crocus zeaxanthin 7, 8 (7, 8)-cleavage dioxygenase gene (CsZCD) encodes a chromoplast enzyme that initiates the biogenesis of these apocarotenoids by cleaving zeaxanthin. The Reverse Transcription-PCR analysis revealed that CsZCD gene expression followed different patterns during stigma development. Highest levels of CsZCD gene expression was observed in fully developed scarlet stage of stigma. Real Time PCR analysis showed that there is a sharp increase in gene expression from yellow to orange and orange to scarlet stages of stigma development. Increase in CsZCD gene expression parallels with the apocarotenoid content during the development of stigma, suggesting its regulatory role for apocarotenoid biosynthesis and stigma development in saffron.

WITHDRAWN: Single nucleotide polymorphisms, haplotype association and tumour expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene with lung carcinoma.

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Comparative expression analysis of senescence gene CsNAP and B-class floral development gene CsAP3 during different stages of flower development in Saffron ( Crocus sativus L .)

Crocus sativus, a monocot triploid species belonging to the Iridaceae family, is cultivated for its red stigmatic lobes of the carpel that constitute saffron. Flower development has been extensively studied in different plants. Different floral developmental pathways have been deciphered in many plants. In Crocus sativus, flower is the most important part and understanding the pathway underlying the flower development can pave the way for new avenues to improve its productivity and quality. The combination of class A genes (including APETALA1; CsAP1 and APETALA2; CsAP2), class B genes (including APETALA3; CsAP3 and PISTILLATA; CsPI) and class C genes (including AGAMOUS; CsAG) that are active in each whorl, determines the identity of the organs that will later develop in that whorl. CsAP3 is a class B homeotic gene which promotes petal and stamen formation and has a very important role in flower development. It also activates other genes playing pivotal role in flower development. It has been earlier reported that CsAP3 gene has direct role in activation of CsNAP gene which promotes senescence in plants. Present work was focused on study of relative gene expression changes of CsAP3 and CsNAP gene during different stages of flower development. CsAP3 gene expression was found maximum during late-preanthesis stages of stigma development. Expression increases from stage 5 to stage 6 of flower development and then reduces again from stage 6 to stage 7. CsNAP gene had moderate expression during stage 3 to stage 4 transition and its expression increased abruptly from stage 6 to stage 7 of flower development. There is no direct concordance in the expression of CsAP3 and CsNAP gene expression in saffron. We may conclude that some other factor(s) may be responsible for initiation of CsNAP expression and CsAP3 gene may directly/indirectly be involved in regulating the factors responsible for CsNAP activation.

Optimization of tissue and time for rapid serological and molecular detection of Apple stem pitting virus and Apple stem grooving virus in apple

Majority of the apple trees are known to be infected by two latent viruses, Apple stem grooving virus (ASGV) and Apple stem pitting virus (ASPV). The importance of ASGV and ASPV is due to their non expression of symptoms, worldwide occurrence and wide host range on pome and stone fruits. Due to their latent nature in apple, early and rapid diagnostics plays important role for production of virus free quality planting material. The present investigation was conducted to detect and quantify ASPV & ASGV from different plant parts (spatial) in apple trees during different seasons (temporal) for optimisation of tissue and time for their rapid and early detection. Detection and relative quantification using immuno-molecular diagnostic techniques like, Double Antibody Sandwich-ELISA, Reverse Transcription-PCR and Real Time RT-PCR in various plant parts (leaf, whole flower, sepal, petal, anther, stigma with style, bark, fruit, seed and root) during different seasons was done. The DAS-ELISA based detection revealed infection in all plant parts except root and fruit with ASGV and ASPV, showing more expression in leaves followed by bark and whole flower. Similar results were also observed on RT-PCR based detection. Quantitative real time PCR analysis showed variation in expression of ASGV and ASPV in different parts during different seasons. Results confirmed that the ASGV and ASPV expression is higher in leaves followed by bark and whole flower. Periodic detection of these viruses in different plant parts during all the four seasons revealed varied virus titer from one season to another in the same plant. During all the seasons, both ASPV and ASGV were detected in bark in measurable titer using immuno-molecular detection tools, however via DAS-ELISA, ASGV remained undetected during dormant season. Hence leaves and bark except leaf during fall, can be directly used as detection material for their early and rapid detection leading to production of virus free planting material.

Morphological characterization of walnut genotypes of diverse origin

Walnut (Juglans regia L.) is a major nut crop of temperate region and the existing germplasm available in the country is of seedling origin, thus, contributing towards the large variability in this crop. Therefore, a research study was carried out ICAR-CITH, Srinagar to characterized and decipher the genetic variability among 27 genotypes of Indian walnut (Juglans regia L.) based on morphological characters, viz., growth habit, bearing habit, foliage, fruit and kernel characteristics for further improvement, conservation and utilization. The Erect growth habit was noticed in genotype, viz., CITH-W-12, while semi erect growth habit was noticed in majority of the genotypes. Three types of leaf shapes were recorded i, e narrow elliptic, elliptic, and broad elliptic and based on leaf characteristics all the genotypes could also be categorized viz. pubescence as glabrous, slightly pubescent and pubescent. The genotype was categorized into early, mid and late group based on their fruit maturity duration. High variability was also recorded for fruit shape viz, round, cordate, ovate, long trapezoid, and elliptic. The current findings clearly characterized each genotype and can be identified or grouped individually based on this descriptor. Present study provides the detailed morphological descriptor of walnut which can be utilised for DUS testing of walnut, varietal identification, characterization, registration, documentation etc. The database generated may be useful for comparison against the candidate varieties developed in future

Technique to minimize phenolics in walnut in vitro culture initiation

Total phenol content of the walnut genotypes was determined to explore the relationship between total phenols and regeneration response for different walnut genotypes. Walnut leaves from ten genotypes (CITHWalnut-I, CITH-Walnut-II, BBW-8, CITH-Walnut-IV, BP-3, SP-1, LG-11, Hamdan, Suleiman, and Opex Culchery) were used for extraction of total phenols through modified Folin-Ciocalteu method. Total leaf phenolic content ranges from 140 μg g−1 (WGB-1) to 285 μg g−1 (BBW-8). Phenolic interactions expressed as darkening of the explants lead to death. Among different antioxidants used ascorbic acid @ 350 mg/l was found best with almost no phenol exudation in the medium and shoot initiation occurred after 8 days of inoculation. The number of shoots was highest (10), followed by citric acid used @ 350 mg/l showing low degree of exudation where shoot initiation was noted in 15 days and with 15.0 shhots per explant.

Genetic variability, character association and path analysis for yield and yield contributing traits in peach

Genetic variability, correlation and path coefficient analysis for yield and yield contributing traits were studied on 24 peach (Prunus persica L.) genotypes. Maximum variability recorded for TSS/acid ratio and fruit weight, however, low differences between the phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation indicated low environmental influence on the expression of these traits. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was obtained with acidity, TSS/acid ratio, fruit weight and yield per plant. Fruit weight (r = 0.797), fruit length (r = 0.481), fruit diameter (r = 0.559), fruit pulp thickness (r = 0.630) and stone diameter (r = 0.352) were the most important traits, which possessed significant positive association with fruit yield per plant. Path coefficient analysis revealed that among the different yield contributing traits, fruit weight (0.9786) followed by TSS (0.299), fruit pulp thickness (0.211), stone diameter (0.1933) and ascorbic acid (0.0028) influenced fruit yield per plant directly. The direct effects of these traits on fruit yield were found positive and considerably high. Moreover, fruit length, fruit diameter had positive and higher indirect effect on fruit yield through fruit weight. Selection for fruit yield in peach through these traits will be effective and helpful in future improvement programmes.