Rajendra Kumar

Genetic diversity, population structure and association analysis in linseed ( Linum usitatissimum L.)

The present investigation aimed to explore the level of genetic diversity, determine the population structure in a larger set of germplasm of linseed using microsatellite marker and identify linked markers through association mapping. A total of 168 accessions of linseed were evaluated for major agro-economic traits and SSRs markers deployed for diversity assessment. A total of 337 alleles were amplified by 50 SSRs ranging from 2 to 13 with an average of 6.74xa0±xa02.8 alleles per loci. The neighbor joining based clustering grouped all the accessions into three major clusters that were also confirmed by scatter plot of PCoA. While model based clustering determined four sub-populations (Kxa0=xa04). Further, analysis of molecular variance analysis considering three population showed that maximum variation (79%) was within the population. We identified one putative SSR marker (Lu_3043) linked with days to 50% flowering through both GLM and MLM analysis of association mapping. The results of this preliminary study revealed genetic diversity, population structure in linseed and linked marker which could be utilized in future breeding program.

A Multiple QTL-Seq Strategy Delineates Potential Genomic Loci Governing Flowering Time in Chickpea

Identification of functionally relevant potential genomic loci using an economical, simpler and user-friendly genomics-assisted breeding strategy is vital for rapid genetic dissection of complex flowering time quantitative trait in chickpea. A high-throughput multiple QTL-seq strategy was employed in two inter (Cicer arietinum desi accession ICC 4958 × C reticulatum wild accession ICC 17160)- and intra (ICC 4958 × C. arietinum kabuli accession ICC 8261)-specific RIL mapping populations to identify the major QTL genomic regions governing flowering time in chickpea. The whole genome resequencing discovered 1635117 and 592486 SNPs exhibiting differentiation between early- and late-flowering mapping parents and bulks, constituted by pooling the homozygous individuals of extreme flowering time phenotypic trait from each of two aforesaid RIL populations. The multiple QTL-seq analysis using these mined SNPs in two RIL mapping populations narrowed-down two longer (907.1 kb and 1.99 Mb) major flowering time QTL genomic regions into the high-resolution shorter (757.7 kb and 1.39 Mb) QTL intervals on chickpea chromosome 4. This essentially identified regulatory as well as coding (non-synonymous/synonymous) novel SNP allelic variants from two efl1 (early flowering 1) and GI (GIGANTEA) genes regulating flowering time in chickpea. Interestingly, strong natural allelic diversity reduction (88–91%) of two known flowering genes especially mapped at major QTL intervals as compared to that of background genomic regions (where no flowering time QTLs were mapped; 61.8%) in cultivated vis-à-vis wild Cicer gene pools was evident inferring the significant impact of evolutionary bottlenecks on these loci during chickpea domestication. Higher association potential of coding non-synonymous and regulatory SNP alleles mined from efl1 (36–49%) and GI (33–42%) flowering genes for early and late flowering time differentiation among chickpea accessions was evident. The robustness and validity of two functional allelic variants-containing genes localized at major flowering time QTLs was apparent by their identification from multiple intra-/inter-specific mapping populations of chickpea. The functionally relevant molecular tags delineated can be of immense use for deciphering the natural allelic diversity-based domestication pattern of flowering time and expediting genomics-aided crop improvement to develop early flowering cultivars of chickpea.

Genetic dissection of photosynthetic efficiency traits for enhancing seed yield in chickpea: Dissecting chickpea photosynthetic efficiency

Understanding the genetic basis of photosynthetic efficiency (PE) contributing to enhanced seed yield per plant (SYP) is vital for genomics-assisted crop improvement of chickpea. The current study employed an integrated genomic strategy involving photosynthesis pathway gene-based association mapping, genome-wide association study, quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping, and expression profiling. This identified 16 potential single nucleotide polymorphism loci linked to major QTLs underlying 16 candidate genes significantly associated with PE and SYP traits in chickpea. The allelic variants were tightly linked to positively interacting QTLs regulating both enhanced PE and SYP traits as exemplified by a chlorophyll A-B binding protein-coding gene. The leaf tissue-specific pronounced up-regulated expression of 16 associated genes in germplasm accessions and homozygous individuals of mapping population was evident. Such combinatorial genomic strategy coupled with gene haplotype-specific association and in silico protein-protein interaction study delineated natural alleles and superior haplotypes from a chlorophyll A-B binding (CAB) protein-coding gene and its interacting gene, Timing of CAB Expression 1xa0(TOC1), which appear to be most promising candidates in modulating chickpea PE and SYP traits. These functionally pertinent molecular signatures identified have efficacy to drive marker-assisted selection for developing PE-enriched cultivars with high seed yield in chickpea.

Impact of Thermal and Bioprocessing on Antioxidant and Functional Properties of nine Newly Developed Desi and Kabili Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Cultivars

The present study was undertaken with the objective to examine the effect of thermal (autoclaving, microwave cooking, boiling & roasting) and bioprocessing treatments (soaking & germination) on the antioxidant and functional properties of nine newly developed (five desi & four kabuli) chickpea cultivars. The antioxidant properties were determined by evaluating the total phenolic and flavonoid contents while the functional properties were studied by the DPPH free radical scavenging activity, reducing activity and metal chelating activity. Antioxidant activity of desi cultivars of chickpea was found better than kabuli cultivars of chickpea. Germination showed increase in functional properties whereas hydrothermal and thermal showed decline in the functional properties. TPC and TFC showed positive correlation with antiradical activity (0.934, 0.912), reducing capacity (0.933, 0.846) and metal chelating activity (0.977, 0.895), respectively. It is therefore concluded that germinated flour of desi chickpea cultivar can be further explored in processed product development because they will help in the management of various degenerative diseases as well as their traditional role in the prevention of protein energy malnutrition.

Genome-wide bioinformatics analysis of Dof transcription factor gene family of chickpea and its comparative phylogenetic assessment with Arabidopsis and rice

The genome mining of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) revealed a total of 37 putative Dof genes using NCBI BLAST search against the genome with a highly conserved Dof domain. The translated Dof proteins possessed 150–493 amino acid residues with molecular weight ranging from 16.9 to 54.4xa0kD and pI varied from 4.98 to 9.64 as revealed by ExPASy server ProtParam. The exon–intron organization showed predominance of intronless Dof genes in chickpea. The predicted Dof genes were distributed among the eight chromosomes with a maximum of 9 Dof genes present on chromosome 7 and a single Dof gene was found on chromosome 8.The predominance of segmental gene duplication as compared to tandem duplication was observed which might be the prime cause of Dof gene family expansion in chickpea. The cis-regulatory element analysis revealed the presence of light-responsive, hormone-responsive, endosperm-specific, meristem-specific and stress-responsive elements. Comprehensive phylogenetic analyses of Dof genes of chickpea with Arabidopsis, rice, soybean and pigeonpea revealed several orthologs and paralogs assisting in understanding the putative functions of CaDof genes. The functional divergence and site-specific selective pressures of chickpea Dof genes have been investigated. The bioinformatics-based genome-wide assessment of Dof gene family of chickpea attempted in the present study could be a significant step for deciphering novel Dof genes based on genome-wide expression profiling.

Students Opinion on Policy Work, Economic Implications of Online Shopping in Indian Retail Industry and the Factors of Promoting Small Scale Organizations, Products Through Electronic Mode (Online Mode)

This study deals with the opportunities and challenges being faced by a small scale organization that wants to enter in to the domain of online shopping. The cost of establishment of website and technical expertise required are discussed in a comprehensive and holistic manner. Besides that, the strength, weakness and policies to be adopted by the government the factors of positive and negative implications and economic implications on the brick & morter retail malls were discussed in order to provide the useful insights related to entry of a small scale organization in to online shopping. By examining the above said factors, the organization can make the decision on imbibing the method of online shopping as a promotion tool. This case study is applicable to all the small scale organizations which have thirst to enter in to online shopping arena.

An Analysis of Direct and Moderation Effect on Online Shopping Attitude with special reference to Student Community of Coimbatore (India) based Colleges

This study considers students as the respondents because the researcher felt that the students are potential customers as well as the determining force for the e-tailing companies. So studying the behaviors of the students is very essential and mandatory so as to provide the better solutions for the e-commerce companies. However, there are numerous issues such as moderator role (external factor) on students online shopping attitude, satisfaction level of the consumers on online shopping and their attitude on selecting the products for shopping with respect to online shopping and the perception of the student consumers who are actively involved in online shopping has to be measured by taking their demographics and dependent factors. This study dealt all factors mentioned above to provide valuable inputs to the readers on all the aspects related to behavior of the students (Respondents).

Identifying Transcription Factor Genes Associated with Yield Traits in Chickpea

Identification of potential transcription factor (TF) gene-derived natural SNP allelic variants regulating pod and seed yield component traits by large-scale mining and genotyping of SNPs in natural germplasm accessions coupled with high-resolution association mapping is vital for understanding the complex genetic architecture of quantitative yield traits in chickpea. In these perspectives, the current study employed a genome-wide GBS (genotyping-by-sequencing) and targeted gene amplicon resequencing-based simultaneous SNP discovery and genotyping assays, which discovered 1611 novel SNPs from 736 TF genes physically mapped on eight chromosomes and unanchored scaffolds of kabuli chickpea genome. These SNPs were structurally and functionally annotated in diverse synonymous and non-synonymous coding as well as non-coding regulatory and intronic sequence components of chickpea TF genes. A high-resolution genetic association analysis was performed by correlating the genotyping information of 1611 TF gene-based SNPs with multi-location/years field phenotyping data of six major pod and seed yield traits evaluated in a constituted association panel (326 desi and kabuli germplasm accessions) of chickpea. This essentially identified 27 TF gene-derived SNPs exhibiting significant association with six major yield traits, namely days to 50% flowering (DF), plant height (PH), branch number (BN), pod number (PN), seed number (SN) and seed weight (SW) in chickpea. These trait-associated SNPs individually and in combination explained 10–23% and 32% phenotypic variation respectively for the studied yield component traits. Interestingly, novel non-synonymous coding SNP allelic variants in five potential candidate TF genes encoding SBP (squamosal promoter binding protein), SNF2 (sucrose non-fermenting 2), GRAS [Gibberellic acid insensitive (GAI)-Repressor of GAI (RGA)-SCARECROW (SCR)], bZIP (basic leucine zipper) and LOB (lateral organ boundaries)-domain proteins associated strongly with DF, PH, BN, PN, SN and SW traits respectively were found most promising in chickpea. The functionally relevant molecular signatures (TFs and natural SNP alleles) delineated by us have potential to accelerate marker-assisted genetic enhancement by developing high pod and seed yielding cultivars of chickpea.

Effect of thermal processing on anti nutritional factors and in vitro bioavailability of minerals in desi and kabuli cultivars of chick pea grown in North India.

Genetic variation has a profound effect on the nutritional and anti nutritional profile of pulses. Thus, investigating this fact, comparison of five desi and four kabuli varieties of chickpea were done to assess the effect of genetic variation on the anti nutritional factors, bioavailability of minerals and the influence of hydrothermal (autoclaving, microwave cooking, boiling) and dry roasting processing methods. Results showed that large variability exist in antinutritional and mineral content of selected chickpea cultivars. Antinutritional factors (viz. phytate, tannin and trypsin inhibitor’s content) was found significantly (p>0.05) higher in all desi cultivars of chickpea than their kabuli counterparts. All hydrothermal, thermal and bio processing treatments were found to reduce antinutritional factors in all the cultivars of chickpea. Molar ratios of phytic acid with zinc and iron were high in all selected chickpea cultivars which showed poor bioavailability before processing. The bioavailability of iron and zinc were significantly (pd”0.05) improved as a result of all hydrothermal and thermal processing treatments which were applied in this study. Bioavailability of Fe and Zn was higher in case of kabuli cultivars (8.1% and 40.5%, respectively) than desi cultivars (5.5% and 38.4%, respectively). The most pronounced increment among all the processing treatments of in vitro bioavailability of iron and zinc was with autoclaving treatment (17.5 to 30.9% and 25.6 to 41.4%, respectively) followed by microwave cooking, boiling and roasting. Hydrothermal processing treatments particularly autoclaving shows highest reduction in antinutritional factors and improvement in the availability of iron and zinc in all the cultivars of chickpea. Therefore, promotion of suitable cultivars and proper processing treatment should be encouraged.

Physicochemical, Functional and Biscuit Making Properties of Wheat Flour and Potato Flour Blends

Background: Potato flour, being nutritious and a high source of carbohydrates, has been explored for the manufacturing of biscuits. Methods: Replacement of refined wheat flour with potato flour at various levels (5 to 30%) was done for the preparation of biscuit. The physicochemical and functional properties of wheat flour, potato flour prepared from Kufri Chipsona-1 and flour blends were also studied. Results: The nutritional composition of potato flour indicated a higher fibre (3.50%) and carbohydrate (82.79%) content than wheat flour. Wheat flour showed higher water holding capacity (7.4 ml g-1), oil holding capacity (2.8 ml g-1), water retention capacity (50.4%) and alkaline water retention capacity (55.8%) than potato flour. The crude fibre and carbohydrate content of biscuits increased significantly (p<0.05) from 2.34 to 3.52% and 68.88 to 69.72%, respectively, after incorporation of potato flour. The spread ratio of biscuits decreased with incorporation of potato flour. The L* value decreased significantly (p<0.05) from 30.44 to 25.47 whereas the hardness of biscuits increased significantly (p<0.05) from 9.8 N to 20.8 N on increasing the level of potato flour incorporation. Conclusion: The sensory characteristics of biscuits prepared by replacing wheat flour by 25% potato flour were similar to control sample. The functional properties also showed an increasing trend with increase in the incorporation of potato flour.