Genomic Designing of Climate-Smart Cereal Crops


Book Description

This book highlights modern methods and strategies to improve cereal crops in the era of climate change, presenting the latest advances in plant molecular mapping and genome sequencing. Spectacular achievements in the fields of molecular breeding, transgenics and genomics in the last three decades have facilitated revolutionary changes in cereal- crop-improvement strategies and techniques. Since the genome sequencing of rice in 2002, the genomes of over eight cereal crops have been sequenced and more are to follow. This has made it possible to decipher the exact nucleotide sequence and chromosomal positions of agroeconomic genes. Most importantly, comparative genomics and genotyping-by-sequencing have opened up new vistas for exploring available biodiversity, particularly of wild crop relatives, for identifying useful donor genes.




Omics of Climate Resilient Small Millets


Book Description

This edited book covers all aspects of omics approaches used for the varietal improvement of millets in changing climatic conditions. Millets are the collection of small-grained cereal grasses, that are grown for human carbohydrate needs. They are among the oldest crops, mainly divided into two groups – Major and small millets based on seed size. Small millets are earlier considered orphan crops, but recently due to their nutritional values, they are getting importance in cultivation. This book explores the genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, bioinformatics, and other omics tools that are being widely used to get a clear understanding of mechanistic approaches taken by plant genes to tolerate stress. Various reports are published based on field breeding on these crops, and recently the genome of some of the small millets is released, and many omics studies are published related to its application in varietal improvements. This book reviewed all those recent studies and is of interest to research students, plant breeding scientists, teachers that are working in agriculture and plant biotech universities. Along with this, the book serves as reference material for undergraduate and graduate students of agriculture, and biotechnology. National and international agricultural scientists, policymakers will also find this to be a useful read.




Bioinformatics for agriculture: High-throughput approaches


Book Description

This book illustrates the importance and significance of bioinformatics in the field of agriculture. It first introduces the basic concepts of bioinformatics, such as homologous sequence and gene function analyses, determination of protein structures, and discusses machine learning applications for an in-depth understanding of the desired genes and proteins based on commonly used bioinformatics software and tools, e.g. BLAST, molecular modelling, molecular-docking and simulations, protein-protein and domain-domain interactions. The book also describes recent advances in the high-throughput analysis of whole genome and transcriptome using next-generation sequencing platforms, and functional proteome studies. It also examines the role of computational biology in understanding and improving the nutrient quality and yield of crops. Lastly, the book explores a comprehensive list of applications of bioinformatics to improve plant yield, biomass, and health, and the challenges involved.




Genetic Linkage Map Construction and Identification of Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) Determining Post-anthesis Drought Tolerance and Other Agronomic Traits in Bread Wheat


Book Description

Two bread wheat (T. aestivum L.) accessions were selected as parental lines. Population genotyping was conducted on 143 F2 plants and phenotyping was carried out on 133 F2:3 families. The molecular genetic linkage map was constructed including 293 loci associated to 19 wheat chromosomes. There are 76 new loci compared to the ITMI map. The analysis revealed eight QTLs for days to flowering and seven QTLs for plant height. Five QTLs for spike length were identified. The QTL for seed length on chromosome 5B was mapped for all trait measurements under both conditions. The present study revealed four and six QTLs for thousand-grain weight under control and stress conditions, respectively. Only one QTL on chromosome 4BL was common for both conditions. Five QTLs for thousand-grain weight were found to be specific to stress condition on chromosomes 1B, 4AL, 7AS, and 7DS. Identifying QTLs for thousand-grain weight under post-anthesis drought stress on chromosomes 7DS, 7AS, and 4AL and considering the known reciprocal translocation of 4AL/7BS in wheat, revealed the importance of the chromosomes from the homoeologous group 7 of Triticeae.




The Finger Millet Genome


Book Description

This book is the first comprehensive compilation of deliberations on domestication, genetic and genomic resources, breeding, genetic diversity, molecular maps & mapping of important biotic stress as well as nutritional quality traits, genome sequencing, comparative genomics, functional genomics and genetic transformation. The economic, nutritional and health benefits especially antioxidants mediated antiaging effects of finger millet are also discussed. It also presents the input use efficiency, wide adaptation, post-harvest processing and value addition of the crop. Altogether, the book contains about 300 pages over 16 chapters authored by globally reputed experts on the relevant field in this crop. This book is useful to the students, teachers and scientists in the academia and relevant private companies interested in genetics, pathology, molecular genetics and breeding, genetic engineering, structural and functional genomics and nutritional quality aspects of the crop. This book is also useful to seed and pharmaceutical industries.










Identifying Novel Disease Resistance and Drought Tolerance Genes in a Synthetic NAM Population


Book Description

Wheat was domesticated approximately 10,000 years ago when the tetraploid grass Triticum turgidum (AABB) is thought to have hybridized with the diploid grass Aegilops tauschii Coss. (DD), resulting in hexaploid wheat Triticum aestivum (AABBDD). Most research confirms the D-genome was the last genome to be introduced, is the least diverse, and tends to have fewer known markers. This distinct lack of diversity has hindered breeders and geneticists; diversity could lead to higher yields, better end-use quality, and increased tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress. Synthetic wheat is a tool that can be used to incorporate genetic diversity and provide disease resistance genes not found in common germplasm. Synthetic wheat is made by recreating the hybridization that led to T. aestivum using different subspecies of both T. durum and Ae. tauschii. The result is a primary synthetic hexaploid wheat (AABBDD) that has diverse alleles and trait combinations, and can be readily crossed into adapted germplasm. In addition to being a source of novel disease resistance genes, synthetic wheat lines are also known to have more diverse root systems. The objective of this dissertation was to evaluate a synthetic nested association mapping population, the D-genome Nested Association Mapping Population (DNAM) for novel abiotic and biotic stress tolerance genes. Multiple projects involved screening selections of the DNAM population for resistance to stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis), Fusarium crown rot (Fusarium culmorum and Fusarium pseudograminearum), and cereal cyst nematode (Heterodera avenae and Heterodera filipjevi). One novel gene was found to confer resistance to both H. filipjevi and avenae cereal cyst nematodes. Moderate resistance to fusarium crown rot was also detected, but is contributed both from the recurrent parent of the population as well as by several A. tauschii donor parents. A subset of the DNAM was also used for a three-year, nine environment drought study. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) revealed three quantitative trait loci (QTL) for grain protein concentration and quality across all nine environments, and nine QTL contributing to those same traits within individual environments.




Drought phenotyping in crops: From theory to practice


Book Description

This topic is a unique attempt to simultaneously tackle theoretical and practical aspects in drought phenotyping, through both crop-specific and cross-cutting approaches. It is designed for – and will be of use to – practitioners and postgraduate students in plant science, who are grappling with the challenging task of evaluating germplasm performance under different water regimes. In Part I, different methodologies are presented for accurately characterising environmental conditions, implementing trials, and capturing and analysing the information this generates, regardless of the crop. Part II presents the state-of-art in research on adaptation to drought, and recommends specific protocols to measure different traits in major food crops (focusing on particular cereals, legumes and clonal crops). The topic is part of the CGIAR Generation Challenge Programme’s efforts to disseminate crop research information, tools and protocols, for improving characterisation of environments and phenotyping conditions. The goal is to enhance expertise in testing locations, and to stimulate the development and use of traits related to drought tolerance, as well as innovative protocols for crop characterisation and breeding.