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This study aims to elucidate the genetic mechanisms that differentiate genotypes that are resistant and susceptible to citrus canker disease. In this study, the highly susceptible acid lime ALC-35 and resistant lemon variety Kagzi Kalan, being contrasted genotypes for citrus canker (Xanthomonas citri pv. citri) disease, were studied to understand the regulation of defense-related genes (PR1, PAL1, NPR3, NDR1, JAR1, CHI, and EDS1), along with the housekeeping gene GAPC2 at various time points, i.e., 0, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h post-inoculation (hpi) after Xcc inoculation under controlled environmental conditions. Simultaneously, we investigated how Xcc-induced stress is managed in contrasting citrus genotypes at 0, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hpi. Of the different genes, the up-regulation of PAL1, JAR1, NPR3, NDR1, and CHI was registered higher in resistant Kagzi Kalan, while the EDS1 and PR1 genes were up-regulated more in the susceptible ALC-35 citrus genotype. The PAL1 gene was expressed the most at 24 hpi, while most genes, including EDS1, CHI, JAR1, NPR3, NDR1, and PR1, were expressed most at 48 hpi. Out of the various defense-related enzymes studied, the highest activities of peroxidase (POX), phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) were studied in resistant Kagzi Kalan lemon at 48 hpi as compared to susceptible ALC-35 at different time points. The current study clearly revealed how defense genes and associated enzymes contribute to Kagzi Kalan lemon resistance. These genes could be utilized as markers to study canker tolerance in citrus genotypes at the seedling stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Basmati rice is the premium, export-quality, long, slender grains with pleasant aroma. Punjab Basmati 3 (PB3), a unique aromatic rice, is sensitive to photoperiod, semi-dwarf, tolerant to lodging, and resistant to bacterial blight (BB). However, it yields less than Indica varieties, mostly due to lower number of grains per panicle (GPP), which varies between 60 and 80. To increase the GPP in PB3, we transferred the grain number QTL qSPP2.2 from O. longistaminata (A. Chev. et Roehr.) derived introgression line, RIL127 into PB3 using marker-assisted selection (MAS). Marker- assisted foreground selection using polymorphic markers linked to the qSPP2.2 loci in plants from backcross progenies and their advanced self-progenies, coupled with their background analysis for BB resistance (Xa21, xa13), Basmati aroma (Badh2) and intermediate amylose content (wx locus) and analysis of their grain quality characteristics ensured an efficient and successful introgression of the QTL qSPP2.2 into PB3. The phenotypic expression of qSPP2.2 in the Basmati background was studied in BC1F2, BC2F3 and their advanced selfed progenies, and it shows a 35–40% increase in the grain number of PB3, demonstrating a significant improvement of grain yield of the introgressed lines. Together, a large number of backcross progenies and their advanced self-progenies, coupled with MAS for desirable alleles, and extensive phenotyping have resulted in an improved version of PB3 with higher spikelet per panicle (SPP). Correlation analysis using 384 replicated F2 plants revealed no significant correlation between SPP and grain length, however, a significant weak negative correlation (-0.150*) was observed between SPP and grain breadth, suggesting the possibility of raising the GPP and the total output of Basmati rice having exceptional quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Faba bean is a nutritionally and medicinally rich popular legume crop. However, vicine-convicine remain as potential threats for "favism" in human beings. In this study, 189 diverse faba bean accessions have been evaluated for yield component traits and vicine content in seeds followed by a correlation study. Combined genetic variability analysis shows that traits like days to pod initiation (DPI), pod length (PL), test weight (TW) and grain yield have minimally been influenced by the environment. PCA revealed that TW, PL and PW were the primary indicators for deciding yield performance. LC–MS/MS confirms that vicine concentration varied in between 3.489 and 10.025 g/kg and a significant positive correlation (0.40***) was observed between vicine conc. and grain yield of faba bean. Thus, present study demonstrated that the faba bean genotypes containing lower vicine were mostly poor yielding, which might be regulated by vicine in faba bean. Therefore, complete elimination of vicine or development of near-zero vicine faba bean could drastically reduce the yield potential of the crop, hence one has to be very cautious and follow efficient selection strategies while optimizing lower concentration of vicine for development of low vicine varieties. This study shows that faba bean genotypes containing 4.0–5.5 g/kg vicine were fairly productive and also have considerably lower vicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comprehensive LC-MS/MS method, which employs Positive Electrospray Ionization (PEI) and Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) was developed for the simultaneous determination of 35 pesticides belonging to various chemical classes in tomato, brinjal, chili, and okra samples. Extraction was facilitated using a modified QuEChERS method, which allows efficient sample analysis in a single run. Calibration curves for each pesticide exhibited linearity within the concentration range of 0.0025 to 0.1 µg mL−1, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.993 to 0.999. Mean recoveries at five fortification levels (0.01 to 0.5 µg kg−1) ranged from 80 to 90%, demonstrating satisfactory precision (RSD < 20%). The matrix effects, mitigated through an optimized cleanup process, were observed within the range of 6.42% to 19.52%. The developed method having the limit of quantification of 0.01 mg kg−1 for all 35 pesticides, proved to be highly sensitive and rapid for multi-residue estimation in diverse vegetable samples. Subsequently, the method was used to analyze the market samples from Varanasi, India, which revealed the presence of pesticides like Chlorpyrifos, Chlorantraniliproleand Indoxacarb in tomato, brinjal, chili and okra. Therefore, the method could be considered as a robust tool for monitoring pesticide residues in vegetables, aiding in quality assessment and regulatory compliance in the agriculture sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]