Characterization of native Bacillus thuringiensis strains by PCR-RAPD based fingerprinting.

Seventy isolates of Bacillus thuringiensis were isolated from soil samples collected from cotton fields. These isolates were characterized by randomly amplified poylmorphic DNA (RAPD) markers to determine their genetic diversity pattern based on their source of origin. Different random decamer primers were used for RAPD amplification, which generated a total of 1935 fragments; of these 1865 were polymorphic and 68 monomorphic. The primers OPA03, OPA08, OPD14, OPD19, OPD20, OPE17 and OPD19 produced 100% polymorphic fragments, whereas primers OPC06, OPC20 and OPD17 produced 20, 31 and 17 monomorphic fragments, respectively. When the RAPD banding pattern data was subjected to dendrogram construction, the 70 isolates fell into two separate clusters, cluster I and cluster II, which includes 26 and 44 B. thuringiensis isolates, respectively. These two main clusters were further divided into four subclusters at Eucledian distance of 150 and 80% similarity index. All primers showed amplification and indicated the good diversity of B. thuringiensis isolates. The RAPD pattern showed 4-10 bands per isolate, with MWt in the range of 0.4-3.5 Kb and an average of 193.5 fragments were produced per primer. The primer OPE17 was found to be the most discriminatory as it produced 286 polymorphic bands.

Characterization of seed storage proteins in high protein genotypes of cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp].

Twenty one genotypes and two check varieties viz. CS-88 and V-240 of cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. ] were screened for total proteins. The total protein content ranged from 22.4 (HC-3) to 27.9 % (HC-98-64) in 21 genotypes whereas in check varieties it was 25.6 (V-240) and 26.0 % (CS-88). Seven genotypes viz. HC-6, HC-5, CP-21, LST-II-C-12, CP-16, COVU-702 and HC-98-64 having high protein content (26.7 to 27.9 %) were selected for further characterization of their seed storage proteins. Globulins were the major protein fraction ranging from 55.6 (LST-II-C-12) to 58.8 % (CP-16 and HC-6) of total protein. Glutelins was the second major fraction ranging from 14.4 to 15.6 % followed by albumins (8.2 to 11.9 %) and prolamins (2.3 to 5.0 %). Content of free amino acids also showed variations amongst genotypes with COVU-702 having maximum and LST-II-C-12 having minimum content. Essential amino acid analysis revealed that S-amino acids (cysteine and methionine) were the first limiting amino acids followed by tryptophan. From the results presented here it could be suggested that two genotypes viz. LST-II-C-12 and HC-5 be used in breeding programmes aimed at developing high protein moth bean varieties with good quality.

Effect of different additives on the persistence and insecticidal activity of native strains of Bacillus thuringiensis.

The persistence and insecticidal activity of native strains of Bacillus thuringiensis was evaluated in formulations containing different additives such as arrow-root powder, carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC), gum acacia, non-food grade (NFG) starch, and soluble starch. Persistence of B. thuringiensis varied with different additives used in the formulations. Among the different additives used, NFG starch provided maximum protection to B. thuringiensis and native strain 42 showed maximum persistence (83%) which was higher than that obtained in commercial formulation. In commercial formulation, the persistence of B. thuringiensis was 47% only after 3 d of spray. The feeding trials conducted on second instar larvae of H. armigera using leaves sprayed with NFG starch formulation revealed 70% larval mortality while commercial formulation showed 50% mortality during the same period.

RAPD-based SCAR marker SCA 12 linked to recessive gene conferring resistance to anthracnose in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench].

Anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum graminicola, infects all aerial parts of sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, plants and causes loss of as much as 70%. F(1) and F(2) plants inoculated with local isolates of C. graminicola indicated that resistance to anthracnose in sorghum accession G 73 segregated as a recessive trait in a cross with susceptible cultivar HC 136. To facilitate the use of marker-assisted selection in sorghum breeding programs, a PCR-based specific sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) marker was developed. A total of 29 resistant and 20 susceptible recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a HC 136 x G 73 cross was used for bulked segregant analysis to identify a RAPD marker closely linked to a gene for resistance to anthracnose. The polymorphism between the parents HC 136 and G 73 was evaluated using 84 random sequence decamer primers. Among these, only 24 primers generated polymorphism. On bulked segregant analysis, primer OPA 12 amplified a unique band of 383 bp only in the resistant parent G 73 and resistant bulk. Segregation analysis of individual RILs showed the marker OPA 12(383) was 6.03 cM from the locus governing resistance to anthracnose. The marker OPA 12(383) was cloned and sequenced. Based on the sequence of cloned RAPD product, a pair of SCAR markers SCA 12-1 and SCA 12-2 was designed using the MacVector program, which specifically amplified this RAPD fragment in resistant parent G 73, resistant bulk and respective RILs. Therefore, it was confirmed that SCAR marker SCA 12 is at the same locus as RAPD marker OPA 12(383) and hence, is linked to the gene for resistance to anthracnose.

High temperature-induced changes in exopolysaccharides, lipopolysaccharides and protein profile of heat-resistant mutants of Rhizobium sp. (Cajanus).

A thermosensitive wild-type strain (PP201) of Rhizobium sp. (Cajanus) and its 14 heat-resistant mutants were characterized biochemically with regard to their cell surface (exopolysaccharides (EPSs) and lipopolysaccharides (LPSs)) properties and protein profile. Differences were observed between the parent strain and the mutants in all these parameters under high temperature conditions. At normal temperature (30 degrees C), only half of the mutant strains produced higher amounts of EPSs than the parent strain, but at 43 degrees C, all the mutants produced higher quantities of EPS. The LPS electrophoretic pattern of the parent strain PP201 and the heat-resistant mutants was almost identical at 30 degrees C. At 43 degrees C, the parent strain did not produce LPS but the mutants produced both kinds of LPSs. The protein electrophoretic pattern showed that the parent strain PP201 formed very few proteins at high temperature, whereas the mutants formed additional new proteins. A heat shock protein (Hsp) of 63-74 kDa was overproduced in all mutant strains.

Molecular tagging of gene conferring leaf blight resistance using microsatellites in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench].

Resistance to leaf blight in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] accession G-118 was found to segregate as a single dominant trait in a cross to susceptible cultivar, HC-136. Molecular marker(s) linked to the locus for disease resistance was identified using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers coupled with bulk segregant analysis. Genomic DNA from the parental cultivars and bulks were screened by PCR amplification with 50 simple sequence repeat primer pairs. Out of these, 38 SSR primers produced polymorphism between parents. After screening of these 38 SSRs with resistant and susceptible bulk, one SSR primer, Xtxp 309 produced a unique band of approximately 700 bp only in resistant parent and resistant bulk and a unique band of 450 bp only in susceptible parent and susceptible bulk. Upon screening with individual resistant and susceptible recombinant inbred lines (RILs), marker Xtxp 309 produced amplification in 23 of the 26 resistant RILs and no amplification was produced in any of the 25 susceptible RILs. The same marker Xtxp 309 produced amplification in 21 of the susceptible RILs and 3 of the resistant RILs of 450 bp band. This was found to be located at a distance of 3.12 cM away from the locus governing resistance to leaf blight which was considered to be closely linked and 7.95 cM away from the locus governing susceptibility to leaf blight. This marker may prove useful in MAS for gene introgression, plant genetic diagnostics and gene pyramiding for resistance via genetic transformation for disease resistance in plants.

RAPD based DNA markers linked to anthracnose disease resistance in Sorghum bicolor ( L.) Moench.

Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum graminicola is one of the major diseases of sorghum. The locus for disease resistance in sorghum [Sorghum biocolor (L.) Moench] accession G73 was found to segregate as a simple recessive trait in a cross to susceptible cultivar HC136. In order to identify molecular markers linked to the locus for disease resistance, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis was coupled with bulk segregant analysis. DNA from the parental cultivars and the bulks were, screened by PCR amplification with 114 RAPD primers. Three RAPD primers amplified a sequence that consegregated with the recessive resistance allele, while another three amplified a band linked to the susceptible allele. The six disease linked markers were screened with individual resistant and susceptible genotypes to observe degree of linkage of identified RAPD markers with the gene for resistance. Two primer sequences (OPI 16 and OPD 12) were found to be closely linked to the locus for disease resistance.

A molecular marker that segregates with sorghum leaf blight resistance in one cross is maternally inherited in another.

Leaf blight-resistant sorghum accession SC326-6 was crossed to the susceptible cultivar BTx623 to analyze the genetic basis for resistance. Field scoring of inoculated F2 progeny revealed that resistance was transmitted as a dominant single-gene trait. By combining the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique with bulked-segregant analysis, it was possible to identify PCR amplification products that segregated with disease response. Primer OPD12 amplified a 323-bp band (D12R) that segregated with resistance. Creation of longer primers, or SCARs (sequence characterized amplified regions) for D12R resulted in the amplification of a single major band of the predicted size from all the resistant F2 progeny and the resistant parent SC326-6, but not from BTx623 or 24 of 29 susceptible F2 progeny. The SCAR primers also amplified a single band with DNA from IS3620C, the female parent in a cross with BTx623 that has been used to produce a recombinant inbred population for RFLP mapping. An equivalent band was amplified from all 137 recombinant inbred progeny, indicating that organelle DNA is the amplification target in this cross.