Thumbnail Image

Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa

In the imperial Gazetteer of India 1878, Pusa was recorded as a government estate of about 1350 acres in Darbhanba. It was acquired by East India Company for running a stud farm to supply better breed of horses mainly for the army. Frequent incidence of glanders disease (swelling of glands), mostly affecting the valuable imported bloodstock made the civil veterinary department to shift the entire stock out of Pusa. A British tobacco concern Beg Sutherland & co. got the estate on lease but it also left in 1897 abandoning the government estate of Pusa. Lord Mayo, The Viceroy and Governor General, had been repeatedly trying to get through his proposal for setting up a directorate general of Agriculture that would take care of the soil and its productivity, formulate newer techniques of cultivation, improve the quality of seeds and livestock and also arrange for imparting agricultural education. The government of India had invited a British expert. Dr. J. A. Voelcker who had submitted as report on the development of Indian agriculture. As a follow-up action, three experts in different fields were appointed for the first time during 1885 to 1895 namely, agricultural chemist (Dr. J. W. Leafer), cryptogamic botanist (Dr. R. A. Butler) and entomologist (Dr. H. Maxwell Lefroy) with headquarters at Dehradun (U.P.) in the forest Research Institute complex. Surprisingly, until now Pusa, which was destined to become the centre of agricultural revolution in the country, was lying as before an abandoned government estate. In 1898. Lord Curzon took over as the viceroy. A widely traveled person and an administrator, he salvaged out the earlier proposal and got London’s approval for the appointment of the inspector General of Agriculture to which the first incumbent Mr. J. Mollison (Dy. Director of Agriculture, Bombay) joined in 1901 with headquarters at Nagpur The then government of Bengal had mooted in 1902 a proposal to the centre for setting up a model cattle farm for improving the dilapidated condition of the livestock at Pusa estate where plenty of land, water and feed would be available, and with Mr. Mollison’s support this was accepted in principle. Around Pusa, there were many British planters and also an indigo research centre Dalsing Sarai (near Pusa). Mr. Mollison’s visits to this mini British kingdom and his strong recommendations. In favour of Pusa as the most ideal place for the Bengal government project obviously caught the attention for the viceroy.

Browse

20211
Reset filters
Subject: Agricultural Biotechnology × Author: KUMAR, KAUSHAL × End date: 2022 ×
Reset filters

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Molecular profiling of little millet genotypes using iron and zinc transporter based SSR markers of foxtail millet
    (DRPCAU, PUSA, 2021) KUMAR, KAUSHAL; Anjani, Kumar
    The present study entitled "Molecular profiling of little millet genotypes using iron and zinc transporter based SSR markers of foxtail millet" was carried out to identify useful microsatellite-based markers of foxtail millet, which can be used for characterization of little millet genotypes based on their iron and zinc content. Altogether, 2 genotypes of foxtail millet and 26 genotypes of little millet were used for molecular profiling using iron and zinc based designed genic SSR markers. The grain iron and zinc content were determined in 26 genotypes of little millet and they were categorized in 3 groups having high, medium and low iron and zinc content. For molecular profiling of little millet genotypes, genic SSR markers were designed using BatchPrimer3 against the 21 iron and zinc transporter genes of foxtail millet. The SSRs were detected in all the genes except five genes. A total of 39 SSRs were detected and 36 primers were designed. The trinucleotides repeats were found to be most common. The most common repeat motif was found to be GCG/CGC. Using the 36 designed genic SSR molecular markers, reproducible amplification was successfully achieved in foxtail millet. Out of 36 designed genic SSR molecular markers, 14 genic SSR markers showed successful amplification in 26 little millet genotypes. The 14 primers showed the polymorphic bands in the little millet genotypes (38.88 % transferability). Using a panel of 14 designed and transferable primers, 126 alleles were detected in foxtail and little millet. In little millet, 108 alleles were obtained, in which 34 were unique alleles. The molecular size of amplified product varied from 93 bp to 1083 bp. The polymorphism per cent was 50 in the primer SI-ZT-1A and SI-ZT-1B whereas the lowest value found in the primer SI-ZT-P29-E and SI-ZT-9A i.e. 0 with an average of 30.07. The PIC value varied from 0.245 to 0.827 with an average of 0.578. The DC of the primer ranged from 0.1826 in the primer SI-ITP-2 to 0.9947 in primer SI-ZT-1A with an average of 0.6888. The primers having dinucleotides repeats were the most effective in determining the allele in little millet and the maximum number of alleles was detected by the primer targeting gene zinc transporter 7. The Dice’s similarity coefficient was 0.8000 for the foxtail millet genotype pair whereas for little millet pair wise combination, the maximum similarity coefficient (0.7222) was found between the genotype WV-155 and WV-156 while 6 pair-wise combinations had shown minimum possible similarity (0.000). According to the cluster analysis and the principle coordinate analysis, the genotypes were differentiated into three groups which clearly differentiate high and low iron and zinc containing genotypes. Cluster I has the 5 genotypes, cluster II has 11 genotypes, cluster III has 12 genotypes. The experimental results amply emphasized that the panel of primers employed during experimentation was useful and adequate to discriminate the little millet genotypes in relation to iron and zinc content. These markers can therefore be used effectively and efficiently for further studies in relation with grain iron and zinc content.