Strategies for utilization of crop wild relatives in plant breeding programs.

Crop wild relatives (CWRs) are weedy and wild relatives of the domesticated and cultivated crops, which usually occur and are maintained in natural forms in their centres of origin. These include the ancestors or progenitors of all cultivated species and comprise rich sources of diversity for many important traits useful in plant breeding. CWRs can play an important role in broadening genetic bases and introgression of economical traits into crops, but their direct use by breeders for varietal improvement program is usually not advantageous due to the presence of crossing or chromosome introgression barriers with cultivated species as well as their high frequencies of agronomically undesirable alleles. Linkage drag may subsequently result in unfavourable traits in the subsequent progeny when segments of the genome linked with quantitative trait loci (QTL), or a phenotype, are introgressed from wild germplasm. Here, we first present an overview in regards to the contribution that wild species have made to improve biotic, abiotic stress tolerances and yield-related traits in crop varieties, and secondly summarise the various challenges which are experienced in interspecific hybridization along with their probable solutions. We subsequently suggest techniques for readily harnessing these wild relatives for fast and effective introgression of exotic alleles in pre-breeding research programs.

Indexing Resilience to Heat and Drought Stress in the Wild Relatives of Rapeseed-Mustard.

Wild species are weedy relatives and progenitors of cultivated crops, usually maintained in their centres of origin. They are rich sources of diversity as they possess many agriculturally important traits. In this study, we analysed 25 wild species and 5 U triangle species of Brassica for their potential tolerance against heat and drought stress during germination and in order to examine the early seedling stage. We identified the germplasms based on the mean membership function value (MFV), which was calculated from the tolerance index of shoot length, root length, and biochemical analysis. The study revealed that B. napus (GSC-6) could withstand high temperatures and drought. Other genotypes that were tolerant to the impact of heat stress were B. tournefortii (RBT 2002), D. gomez-campoi, B. tournefortii (Rawa), L. sativum, and B. carinata (PC-6). C. sativa resisted drought but did not perform well when subjected to high temperatures. Tolerance to drought was observed in B. fruticulosa (Spain), B. tournefortii (RBT 2003), C. bursa-pastoris (late), D. muralis, C. abyssinica (EC694145), C. abyssinica (EC400058) and B. juncea (Pusa Jaikisan). This investigation contributes to germplasm characterization and the identification of the potential source of abiotic stress tolerance in the Brassica breeding programme. These identified genotypes can be potential sources for transferring the gene(s)/genomic regions that determine tolerance to the elite cultivars.

Role of Nuclear Morphometry in Breast Cancer and its Correlation with Cytomorphological Grading of Breast Cancer: A Study of 64 Cases.

BACKGROUND: Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a simple, rapid, inexpensive, and reliable method of diagnosis of breast mass. Cytoprognostic grading in breast cancers is important to identify high-grade tumors. Computer-assisted image morphometric analysis has been developed to quantitate as well as standardize various grading systems. AIMS: To apply nuclear morphometry on cytological aspirates of breast cancer and evaluate its correlation with cytomorphological grading with derivation of suitable cutoff values between various grades. SETTINGS AND DESIGNS: Descriptive cross-sectional hospital-based study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 64 breast cancer cases (29 of grade 1, 22 of grade 2, and 13 of grade 3). Image analysis was performed on Papanicolaou stained FNAC slides by NIS -Elements Advanced Research software (Ver 4.00). Nuclear morphometric parameters analyzed included 5 nuclear size, 2 shape, 4 texture, and 2 density parameters. RESULTS: Nuclear size parameters showed an increase in values with increasing cytological grades of carcinoma. Nuclear shape parameters were not found to be significantly different between the three grades. Among nuclear texture parameters, sum intensity, and sum brightness were found to be different between the three grades. CONCLUSION: Nuclear morphometry can be applied to augment the cytology grading of breast cancer and thus help in classifying patients into low and high-risk groups.

Primary Endometrial Squamous Cell Carcinoma in-situ with Extensive Icthyosis Uteri: A Rare Case Report.

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the endometrium is a rare entity with primary endometrial squamous cell carcinoma in-situ being more uncommon. We report a 60-year-old multiparous post-menopausal woman who presented with a lower abdominal swelling alongwith difficulty in urination for five months. Total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy showed an enlarged uterus with pyometra. A diagnosis of primary squamous cell carcinoma in-situ of the endometrium was made on histopathology.

Study of nuclear morphometry on cytology specimens of benign and malignant breast lesions: A study of 122 cases.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer has emerged as a leading site of cancer among women in India. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) has been routinely applied in assessment of breast lesions. Cytological evaluation in breast lesions is subjective with a "gray zone" of 6.9-20%. Quantitative evaluation of nuclear size, shape, texture, and density parameters by morphometry can be of diagnostic help in breast tumor. AIMS: To apply nuclear morphometry on cytological breast aspirates and assess its role in differentiating between benign and malignant breast lesions with derivation of suitable cut-off values between the two groups. SETTINGS AND DESIGNS: The present study was a descriptive cross-sectional hospital-based study of nuclear morphometric parameters of benign and malignant cases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 50 benign breast disease (BBD), 8 atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH), and 64 carcinoma cases. Image analysis was performed on Papanicolaou-stained FNAC slides by Nikon Imaging Software (NIS)-Elements Advanced Research software (Version 4.00). Nuclear morphometric parameters analyzed included 5 nuclear size, 2 shape, 4 texture, and 2 density parameters. RESULTS: Nuclear morphometry could differentiate between benign and malignant aspirates with a gradually increasing nuclear size parameters from BBD to ADH to carcinoma. Cut-off values of 31.93 µm2, 6.325 µm, 5.865 µm, 7.855 µm, and 21.55 µm for mean nuclear area, equivalent diameter, minimum feret, maximum ferret, and perimeter, respectively, were derived between benign and malignant cases, which could correctly classify 7 out of 8 ADH cases. CONCLUSION: Nuclear morphometry is a highly objective tool that could be used to supplement FNAC in differentiating benign from malignant lesions, with an important role in cases with diagnostic dilemma.