Scientists

• DNA Barcode for Species Identification:

DNA barcoding was generated for wild and cultivated species of Luffa, vegetable Amaranthus species complex, Trichosanthes cucumerina complex, Cucumis melo, Brinjal, Allium and wild Musa.

Figure1: a) Trichosanthes cucumerina complex b), Cucumis melo, c) vegetable Amaranthus species complex

• Genetic Diversity and Population Structure Studies:

3115 safflower accessions from the Indian National Gene Bank, including Indian cultivars were assessed for genetic diversity and population structure using 18 polymorphic SSR markers (Agriculture 2023, 13(4), 836; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13040836 ). Similar studies were carried out in Coix lacryma-jobi and Barley.

Figure 2: Population structure of safflower germplasm A). ?K reached maximum when K = 2. B). Two population clusters with admixture group.

• Core Development:

Niger: 3524 accessions from the Indian National Gene Bank were agronomically evaluated at different environments to develop the core set for crop.

Safflower: SNP markers obtained from GBS method were utilized for development of molecular core set in 5000 accessions from the Indian National Gene Bank.

• Transcriptomics:

For the first time, cryobionomics of Banana (Musa sp. AAA cv Borjahaji), a non-model species, was investigated through comprehensive transcript profiling during four stages of cryopreservation (Plants 2023, 12(5), 1165; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12051165 ). The study has shown that the number of DEGs related to membrane lipid remodelling and fatty acid unsaturation (very-long-chain 3-oxoacyl-CoA synthase), as well as stress responsive transcription activators (GRAS, AP2/ERFs, NAC, bZIP and HSFs families), were significantly expressed differentially in sequential stages of cryopreservation.

Figure1:  Histogram of KEGG function classification of DEGs, a) High sucrose treated tissue vs. Control b), LS and PVS2 treated tissue vs. Control, c) LN treated tissue vs. Control

• Molecular cytogenetics and Flow Cytometry:
  • Molecular cytogenetics is utilized in species identification in Vegetable Amaranthus and Cucumber.
  • In wild Musa species flow cytometry technique was utilized for their genome size estimation and ploidy determination, which was complemented with cytogenetic studies (Plants 2023, 12(20), 3605; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12203605), which helped in establishing the identity of samples conserved at the tissue culture of ICAR-NBPGR.
  • Protocol for Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was standardized for Musa species.
  • Chromosome identification and karyotype analysis of Vigna umbellata was carried out using Fluorescence in situ hybridization.
• ?FISH based localization of two rDNA sites in V. umbellata A-B) Interphase with 45S rDNA signals C-D) Metaphase chromosomes with 45S rDNA signals E-F) Interphase with 5S rDNA signals G-H) Metaphase chromosomes with 5S rDNA signals, I) Karyo-Ideogram showing the karyotype of V. umbellata chromosome and the position of hybridization signals from 45S region J) Karyo-Ideogram showing the karyotype of V. umbellata chromosome and the position of hybridization signals from 5S region.

• DNA Fingerprinting:

Developed DNA fingerprinting for varietal differentiation in Sunflower and safflower.

• Temporal variability:

Assessment of temporal variation in diversity of long term stored Safflower germplasm for effective regeneration was performed.