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Rice germplasm has abundant genetic diversity, which provides a feasible solution for mapping loci of multiple traits simultaneously. In this study, a set of 72 rice germplasm lines were evaluated for yield and yield-related traits, and significant phenotypic variation was observed among the lines. Three accessions with high yield performance were identified. The germplasm set comprised five sub-populations and genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified a total of 6 marker-trait associations (MTAs) for the studied traits. These MTAs were located on rice chromosomes 1, 3, 7, 9, and 12 and explained the trait phenotypic variances ranging from 17.8 to 26.3%. Six novel MTAs were identified for yield and yield-related traits. A total of 28 putative annotated candidate genes were identified in a genomic region spanning ~200 kb around the MTAs respectively. Among the important genes underlying the novel MTAs were OsFBK12, bHLH, WRKY, HVA22, and ZmEBE-1, which are known to be associated with the identified novel QTLs. These MTAs provide a pathway for improving high yield in rice genotypes through molecular breeding.

Background: Indigenous traditional coloured rices are rich in dietary fibre, resistant starch, minerals, bioactive compounds and antioxidants like anthocyanins, luteins and phenols. Kavuni is one such brownish black medical landrace of rice considered as nutrition supplement since 400BC as it cures gastritis, peptic ulcer and also enhances blood circulation and known for its anti diabetic and anti-inflammatory properties. Lutein is the only dietary oxycarotenoid found in both the macula and lens of the human eye, and acts as blocker of blue light damage, quench reactive oxygen species, prevent age related macular degeneration, cataracts, cardiovascular disease and lung cancer. Aim: The objective of the present investigation was to characterize the lutein content and antioxidant potential of Kavuni and released mega varieties of rice (ASD 16, Swarna Sub1) and its derivatives obtained from crosses ASD 16 and Kavuni; Swarna Sub1 and Kavuni. Methodology & Results: It was found that lutein (quantified by HPLC) was much higher in Kavuni (225 µg/100 g) compared with white rice varieties (ASD 16-15 µg/100g and Swarna Sub1-21 µg/100 g) and the DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) scavenging ability (for quantification of antioxidant potential) were in the order (Kavuni >>ASD16, Swarna Sub1. Pigmented grain genotypes having higher lutein content had higher percentage of free radical scavenging activity of DPPH and lower IC50 values compared to non pigmented genotypes. Conclusion: It is conceivable that the medicinal landraces of rice could be exploited as one of the potential sources for plant - based pharmaceutical products.

The current research is focused to address the implementation of nanobubbles technology to antibacterial agents against Staphylococcus aureus infections. Nanobubbles technology is a novel, latest research employed in many medical fields including drug discovery. In this present work, supramolecular nanoliquid formulation of potential antiseptic agent chloroxylenol-based Dettol and its enhanced antibacterial activity, biocompatibility assessment was studied. Nanobubble technology was adopted to prepare nanoformulation (NB-D) using a household hand mixer under thermostatically controlled conditions. A high-stability nanoformulation with high potential antibacterial activity against human pathogenic strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus was produced by the nanobubbles created in the antiseptic solution. The overall vitality of both strains was significantly reduced in all dose tests on NB-D treatment as a result of the antibacterial activity as assessed by the well-diffusion assay, turbidometric microdilution assay, biofilm inhibition assay, and total count reduction assay. Biocompatibility of the NB-D formulation was studied by the determination of cytotoxicity against HaCaT—human keratinocytes and hemocytes. NB-D treatment did not induce any notable cytotoxic effect on HaCaT cells by showing none of the changes in cell morphology and architecture. No toxic effect on the hematocytes was observed in NB-D treatment. The enhanced antibacterial activity and best biocompatibility of NB-D result shows that the nanobubble technology could be used as an effective strategy for the formulation of antiseptics or disinfectants against high health risk infectious organisms. The novelty of the work is the formation of supramolecular nanoformulation on antiseptic agent which promised the results enhanced than the raw antiseptic agent.

High grain number is positively correlated with grain yield in rice, but it is compromised because of poor filling of basal spikelets in dense panicle bearing numerous spikelets. The phenomenon that turns the basal spikelets of compact panicle sterile in rice is largely unknown. In order to understand the factor(s) that possibly determines such spikelet sterility in compact panicle cultivars, QTLs and candidate genes were identified for spikelet fertility percentage, panicle compactness and ethylene production that significantly influence the grain filling using recombinant inbred lines developed from a cross between indica rice cultivars, PDK Shriram (compact, high spikelet number) and Heera (lax, low spikelet number). Novel QTLs, qSFP1.1, qSFP3.1 and qSFP6.1 for spikelet fertility percentage; qIGS3.2 and qIGS4.1 for panicle compactness; and qETH1.2, qETH3.1 and qETH4.1 for ethylene production were consistently identified in both kharif seasons of 2017 and 2018. The comparative expression analysis of candidate genes like ERF3, AP2-like ethylene-responsive transcription factor, EREBP, GBSS1, E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase GW2, and LRR receptor-like serine/threonine-protein kinase ERL1 associated with identified QTLs revealed their role in poor grain filling of basal spikelets in dense panicle. These candidate genes thus could be important for improving grain filling in compact-panicle rice cultivars through biotechnological interventions.