A seed germination trial was conducted to study the germination behaviour of Rubus ellipticus seeds collected from different sources in Himachal Pradesh. Significant differences were observed in the germination per cent of seeds collected from different sources. The maximum germination of 84.00% was recorded in seeds collected from the Darlaghat source whereas the minimum germination of 59.00% was recorded in seeds collected from Bharan in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. The seeds collected from Shoghi recorded the highest moisture content of 6.46% whereas the minimum moisture content of 5.39% was recorded from seeds collected from Joharji in the Solan district. The maximum seed weight of 0.07 g (100 seeds) was recorded in seeds collected from Joharji, whereas, the minimum seed weight of 0.05 g was recorded in seeds collected from Beolia in the Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. It is recommended on the basis of the present investigation that seeds of R. ellipticus be collected from the Darlaghat seed source in Solan district for the raising of seedlings in the nursery owing to better germination.
Biotic stress due to fungal infection is detrimental to the growth and development of chickpea. In our study, two chickpea genotypes viz Cicer pinnatifidum (resistant) and PBG5 (susceptible) were inoculated with (1 × 104 spore mL−1) of nectrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinerea at seedling stage. These seedlings were evaluated for morphological, ultrastructural, and molecular differences after 3, 5 and 7 days post inoculation (dpi). Visual symptoms were recorded in terms of water-soaked lesions, rotten pods and twigs with fungal colonies. Light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the differences in number of stomata, hyphal network and extent of topographical damage in resistant (C. pinnatifidum) and susceptible (PBG5) genotypes, which were validated by stomatal index studies done by using fluorescence microscopy in the infection process of B. cinerea in leaves of both chickpea genotypes. In case of control (water inoculated) samples, there were differences in PCR analysis done using five primers for screening the genetic variations between two genotypes. The presence of a Botrytis responsive gene (LrWRKY) of size ~300 bp was observed in uninoculated resistant genotype which might have a role in resistance against Botrytis grey mould. The present investigation provides information about the variation in the infection process of B. cinerea in two genotypes which can be further exploited to develop robust and effective strategies to manage grey mould disease.
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