WEATHER REPORT- 2018
W
eather at Umiam (Barapani), Meghalaya for the period of January to December, 2018 was represented by daily rainfall, maximum and minimum temperature, relative humidity (morning and evening), wind speed and direction and evaporation data recorded at the agro- meteorological observatory of the Institute. The total annual (2018) rainfall received was 2277.9 mm, with 65% contribution from monsoon months (June to September) alone. The rainfall (monsoon and annual) was 4-5% less than normal year. A total of 121 annual rainy days were recorded, of which 69 days was recorded within monsoon months. The remaining rainy days were recorded during pre- and -post monsoon months. The monthly and annual rainfall pattern was similar to normal year till October (Fig 1) but in November, it was 88% less than normal year.Maximum one day rainfall was 86.7 mm received on August 13th, 2018. The total annual pan evaporation loss was 836.0 mm. The rainfall amount was more than the pan evaporation from April to October and but the reverse was observed for rest of the months.
The mean monthly maximum (Mean Tmax) and minimum (Mean Tmin) temperatures showed similar pattern of change throughout the year (Fig 2 a). The mean Tmax varied between 26.7 to 29° C for all the months except for October to March where it varied from 20.7 to 26.5° C. It was observed that Tmax was either similar or more than its long period average (LPA) value for almost all the months. The phenomenon of higher than normal Tmax was also observed during last few years, indicating a slow but persistent increase in Tmax over the place. The highest mean monthly Tmax of 29.0° C was observed in the month of August. The mean monthly Tmin was highest (21.0° C) in the month of July and lowest (6.8° C) in January. It can be seen that the mean monthly minimum temperature increased after January to reach the maximum on July and thereafter, decreased to the minimum at January again. For most of the months, the mean monthly Tmin values were either similar or lower than its LPA value, indicating towards the decrease in Tmin over the years in the place.
Fig 1. Monthly & annual rainfall pattern at
Umiam, Meghalaya Fig 2. Monthly values of mean maximum &
minimum temperature during 2018
Fig 3. Monthly values of mean relative humidity during 2018
Variation in morning relative humidity (RH-morning) lesser compared to the evening relative humidity (RH-evening) (Fig 2 b). The RH (evening) showed larger variation as it varied between 44.3% and 79.5%
in February and June, respectively. The RH-evening was much lower than its LPA value in many months of the years which is mainly due to increase in Tmax at Umiam. The average wind speed was highest at 2.8 km/hr in the month of March but average monthly wind speed was lower than normal (23 to 57%) years.
The average wind speed has decreased persistently over the years.
CROP SCIENCES Rice
Development of phosphorus efficient rice by marker assisted back cross breeding
Few promising homozygous BC2F4 population developed from the cross of rice line (Swarna and Bhalum 4) were screened in the field of Soil Science and they showed better performance over the parents (Fig 4a & b).
Fig 4 a. Experimental Plot (b)Crossed materials developed from (Swarna X Bhalum 4) at
maturity
Screening of rice genotypes for the presence of the rice QTL phosphorus uptake 1
One hundred and sixty genotypes of lowland rice and seventy genotypes of upland rice were screened for the presence of the rice QTL Phosphorus uptake 1(Pup1) using a set of 7 SSRs markers viz., K1, K5, K20 1,K20 2,K29 1,K29 2 and K29 3. Kasalath was taken as a reference. The difference in the amplicon size between the reference and the samples was too less and could not be differentiated in the agarose gel for markers namely, K 1 (125/122), K 5 (272/280), K 20 1 (240/243), K 20 2 (282/285), K 29 1 (212/216), K 29 2 (219/212) and K 29 3 (236/238), thus new SSRs viz., K 41(382), K 42(918), K 43(912), K 45(276), K 46(523), K 46 2(227), K 48(847), K 52(505) and K 59(550) which shows presence of the amplicon in the reference (Kasalth) and absence in the non Kasalth will be used for further study.
Screening rice germplasm for Blast resistance One hundred and sixty genotypes of lowland rice and seventy genotypes of upland rice were screened for resistance to blast using a set of 8 SSRs markers viz., AP4007, C1454, Pibdom, RM208, AP5659 5, NBS2 Pi9, YL155/ YL87 and YL153/
YL154 conferring resistance to the genes Pi2, Pib, Pi9 and Pita, respectively (Fig 9). The marker AP4007 could identify 160 genotypes showing the presence of gene Pi2, Pibdom could identify 106 genotypes showing the presence of the gene Pib, RM208 could identify 80 genotypes showing the presence of the gene Pi2, AP5659 5 could identify 44 genotypes showing the presence of the gene Pi9, YL155/ YL87 could identify 57 genotypes showing the presence of the gene Pita and YL153/ YL154 could identify 81 genotypes showing the presence of the gene Pita.
Assessment of genetic diversity among rice germplasm
Molecular screening of rice germplasm was performed using a set of 50 SSR markers identified under generation challenge programme of IRRI, Philippines. Neighborhood clustering based on Roger’s genetic distance had differentiated the genotypes into three major clusters. Model based clustering with a burn-in period of 50000 and Montecarlo Markov chain replication of 50000 based on maximum likelihood had also differentiated the genotypes into 3 groups. Around 122 genotypes with affiliation probability of ≥80% were found to be pure whereas 28 genotypes with affiliation probability of
<80% were identified as admixture having mixed ancestry. The distant lines with high performance were subjected to hybridization programme.
Marker assisted screening for presence of fertility restorer genes
Both gene based and gene linked molecular markers were used to identify the potential fertility restorers. Restoration of fertility of the WA CMS was governed by two major loci namely, Rf3 located on chromosome 1 and Rf4 on chromosome 10 (Table 1). For Rf3, 119 genotypes were found to be homozygous for restorer alleles with both linked as well as gene based markers. With respect to Rf4 gene, 125 genotypes were homozygous for restorer allele of Rf4 with both gene linked marker. Thus,Rf4 was the most predominant allele as compared to Rf3.
Fig 5. Model based clustering of rice germplasm
Table 1. Screening for fertility restorer genes in rice germplasm
Markers Rf3Rf3 Rf3rf3 rf3rf3 Missing Total Markers Rf4Rf4 Rf4rf4 rf4rf4 Missing Total DRRM-
RF3-5 89 59 2 0 150 RMS-
SF21-5 127 5 16 2 150
DRRM-
RF3-10 128 17 3 2 150 RM6100 22 25 103 0 150
RMS-
PRR9-1 119 24 4 3 150 DRCG-
RF4-14 125 7 15 3 150
Identification of promising rice genotypes
In RCRT (upland) RCPL1 413 (3.6 t/ha), RCPL1 129 (3.2 t/ha) and RCPL1 131 (3.2 t/ha) again confirmed their superiority for yield. As far as
RCRT (lowland) is concerned, RCPL 300 (3.t q/ha) and RCPL1 145 (3.6 t/ha) were the high performer for grain yield.
Fig 6. Black rice germplasms
Fig 7. Low light experimental area
Fig 8. Light Intensity during crop growth kharif 2018
Study of rice yield under low light intensity using genomic approaches
Field trial of fifty screened genotypes was undertaken under control and two shade-net conditions Characterization of black rice genotypes
A set of 10 black rice genotypes were characterized for yield and its contributing traits.
Latara (33.89 g) followed by PnahSder (26.16 g) and KbaHeh (22.17 g) were found superior (Fig 6).
Utilization of these lines in developing black rice varieties, short in stature with higher yield can be a remarkable breakthrough in enhancing farmers’
income and livelihood.
Table 2. Effect of low light on physiological traits at anthesis
Unit
Transpiration rate
(E) Stomatal Conductance
(GH2O) Photosynthetic Rate
(A) Intracellular CO2 Concentration (ci) mmol m-2 s-1 mmol m-2 s-1 µmol m-2 s-1 ppm Genotypes Control 30% shade Decrease
% Control 30% shade Decrease
% Control 30% shade Decrease
% Control 30% shade Increase
% IR-8 8.9 6.6 25.5 413.6 358.0 13.5 22.9 18.0 21.5 302.3 333.7 10.4 Swarna
Prabha 9.6 6.6 31.0 505.5 412.8 18.4 23.6 17.7 24.9 308.6 320.9 4.0 Purandu 10.0 9.5 4.1 450.6 427.3 5.2 22.0 20.9 5.2 305.9 326.2 6.6 Subhadra 12.0 10.5 12.7 735.2 668.0 9.1 29.8 26.2 12.3 328.0 329.9 0.6 BVD111 12.3 7.4 40.4 810.8 558.7 31.1 31.1 22.0 29.4 333.4 337.6 1.3 Danteswari 9.0 8.8 2.4 643.3 629.3 2.2 24.1 22.6 6.3 337.3 348.0 3.2 Bhalum-4 10.5 6.5 38.4 775.5 547.4 29.4 23.6 17.7 24.9 355.9 361.2 1.5 Palghar-2 12.5 6.1 51.6 871.0 518.7 40.5 27.7 20.3 26.8 352.3 363.3 3.1 Katkabhog 9.2 6.5 29.5 624.6 565.7 9.4 24.6 17.1 30.7 324.0 343.3 6.0
(30% and 50% shading), respectively, during kharif 2018 (Fig 7) with the following checks viz., Swarna Prabha (SP, Tolerant) and IR-8 (Susceptible). Light intensity was recorded daily during the crop period (Fig 8).
Photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and stomatal conductance are sensitive/responsive to low light. A lesser reduction in stomatal conductance, transpiration rate and photosynthetic rate was observed in genotypes Purandu, Subhadra and Danteswari; this indicates more open stomata in tolerant genotypes allowing greater conductance, and thereby, better photosynthesis and transpiration rates as indicated by the results (Table 2). More of starch accumulation was observed under shading than normal light, indicating an active sink activity in grains under low light in relatively tolerant genotypes. A higher sucrose synthase activity in grains under shading identifies with the observations (Fig 9). Grain yield per plant, spikelet fertility, biological yield, number of effective panicles etc. were observed as key traits in response to low light intensity.
Low light intensity tolerant genotypes identified were namely Subhadra, Khira, Jyati, Narendra-1, T. Basumati, Purandu, BVD 111, Danteswari, Bardogi dhan, and Kunti. Susceptible genotypes included ASD-18, Palghar 2, Satika, Murgibalam, Rimynkon and Kba rim.
Fig 9. AGPase and Sucrose synthase activity in grains at 30DAA
Evaluation of Maize germplasm
The composite lines developed by the Institute viz., RCM 1 1, RCM 1 2 (popcorn), RCM 1 61, RCM 75 and RCM 76 were evaluated for
mean performance and stability. These lines were maintained and their yield potential were evaluated (Table 3). Also a set of maize germplasm maintained by Plant Breeding section was evaluated for yield performance and stability using GGE Biplot (Fig 10).
Based on comparison plot analysis, RCMGP 126, RCMGP 114, RCMGP 85, RCMGP 118, RCMGP 120, RCMGP 128 and RCMGP 127 gave higher yield and these lines were also stable throughout different years.
Table 3. Performance of maize composite developed by the Institute
Genotypes Yield (t/ha)
RCM 1-1 3.7
RCM 1-2 (pop corn) 2.5
RCM 1-3 3.8
RCM 1-61 4.3
RCM 1-75 4.1
RCM 1-76 4.4
Rapeseed and Mustard
Based on the evaluation of 25 yellow sarson germplasm for agro-morphological traits, the genotypes were grouped into three major groups (Fig 11). Cluster I had 9 genotypes whereas cluster II and III had 6 and 10 genotypes, respectively. As far Indian mustard genotypes are concerned, 37 genotypes were grouped into two major clusters. There were 18 genotypes in Cluster I whereas Cluster II had 19 genotypes.
Fig 11. Clustering of yellow sarson (red) and Indian mustard (blue) genotypes Soybean
Soybean 1 (US1) is a pure selection from a cross PK 1137 x Bragg and was released by the State seed Sub Committee Meeting held at Raj, Bhawan, Shillong on 6th August, 2018 (Figs 12-13). It has a
Fig 12. Umiam
soybean 1 Fig 13. Inspection of AICRP Soybean flowering duration of 68-72 days and yield potential of 2.6-2.9 t/ha. It is an erect type genotype with plant height of 65-75 cm. One genotype RCS 110, a semi- spreading genotype was found to be promising with a yield potential of 2.7-3.1 t/ha. The IVT and AVT1 of AICRP on Soybean were conducted. In IVT, code 14, code 16 and code 28 were found to be promising. The PS 1613 was most performing genotype in AVT1.
Evaluation of shelf life of Perilla (Perilla frutescens L.) for viability and medicinal bneenefits
First field trial of forty Perilla genotypes under augmented design was undertaken for the study to select the genotypes for shelf life studies (Fig. 14).
Fig 14. Perilla experimental area Table 4. Descriptive Statistics of field performance of Perilla genotypes
Parameters No. Of
Obser. Min Max Mean SD (n) Var (n) Kurtosis
(Pearson) Skewness (Pearson)
Height 39 114.4 257.6 199.1 38.37 1472.4 -0.36 -0.76
No of Internodes 39 12.6 22 17.52 2.25 5.06 -0.24 -0.02
No of Branches 39 15.6 28.6 22.38 3.14 9.87 -0.38 -0.07
Length of largest
Inflorescence 39 4.8 18.6 8.89 3.16 9.96 0.92 1.05
No. of Inflorescence plt-1 39 52.8 270.8 140.0 64.1 4108.3 -0.74 0.65 No of florets in largest
inflorescence 39 36.8 88.8 60.88 14.07 197.9 -0.77 0.40
Yield plt-1 39 1.534 24.22 10.11 5.62 31.60 0.14 0.71
1000 SW 39 0.902 2.34 1.66 0.34 0.11 -0.36 -0.12
Fibre % 36 13.5 35.25 22.85 4.30 18.47 1.61 -0.01
Fat % 37 30.29 53.5 41.08 5.00 24.97 0.18 0.40
Based on the field and proximate data, the perilla genotypes highlighted for shelf life studies include PR-MN-6, PR-MN-7, PR-MN-11, PR-SK-12, PR-AR-1, PR-AR-2, and PR-NL-5