Biennial Research Report

TRADITIONAL IMPROVEMENT, GENETIC ENGINEERING AND ORGANIC FARMING

2026-09-20T10:24:54Z

TRADITIONAL IMPROVEMENT, GENETIC ENGINEERING AND ORGANIC FARMING Ali, Mohammad; Rahman, Azizur Genetic Engineering (GE) is a technique of combining plant, animal, bacteria, virus and/or even human genes that do not occur through cross breeding. It's a technique genetics and biotechnology used to cut up and join together genetic materials to introduce the hybrid DNA into another organism to change character(s). After the discovery of double helical structure and composition of DNA, it was realized that segments of DNA determine characters and pass through one generation of the next. Biochemists and biotechnologists have techniques of genetic modification through GE; products are called transgenic organisms or GMO. In 1996 first GE tomatoes in Canada. Last 25 yrs Canada has been growing GE products namely canola, corn, potatoes, soybean, sugar beets. In addition, Alpha alpha, Apples, Cottons, Sugarcane, Eggplant, Papaya, Squash are grown around the world. To determine organic products - price look up (PLU) code and seal on the product, a five digit number starts with 9 is organic, a four digit code starts with 4 means conventionally grown, a five digit code starts with 8 is GMO. Limitations of organic farming are labour intensive, low yield, very expensive products, expensive marketing because of small amount product. Many grocery stores sell ordinary products as organic. In Bangladesh 0.177 million ha under organic production. Advantages of organic products are better in quality, environment friendly, keeps the soil healthy in good condition. Thousands of varieties developed using conventional breeding techniques. All these varieties are very high demanding of fertilizer, irrigation, pesticides and management. Many barriers in transferring interspecific or intergeneric gene. These genes produce protein, protein to enzymes and enzymatic reaction express different characters. Today's Breeders are pretty well equipped to increase profitability of farm products using biotechnological techniques, safety issues of GE foods. More than 80 GM foods approved for sale. 75% of processed foods with GE products, from chips to soda, 70% of GE products are animal feed, no illness reported because of GE food, 900 research findings around the world explored and no evidence of risk to human health or environment. 22% yield increase w/68% increased farmers portis, organic manure, green manure, bone meal, crop rotation, companion planting, biological control, insect redators, Naturally occuring pyrethrin and rotenone. Conclusions may be drown as considering world acreage, yield, labour cost, affordability of general people and 9 billion population in 2050 when 70% more food will be required.

GENES, PROTEINS, AND MOLECULAR MARKERS FOR IMPROVING ROOT TRAITS IN WHEAT (Triticum aestivum L.)

2026-09-20T10:24:45Z

GENES, PROTEINS, AND MOLECULAR MARKERS FOR IMPROVING ROOT TRAITS IN WHEAT (Triticum aestivum L.) Halder, Tanushree Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production in the world is challenged by different biotic and abiotic stresses, which are increasing with climate change. Unravelling the molecular genetics quantitative trait loci (QTL), candidate genes and proteins of root traits is essential wheat root trait improvement through breeding. One hundred and three recombinant inbred lines (RILs) RILs of Synthetic W7984 × Opata M85 and 14 pairs of near-isogenic lines (NILs: pairs of genetically identical lines except for genomic regions (GRs)) of wheat were used to phenotype root traits in a semi-hydroponic system. The composite interval mapping method was used to discover QTL for root traits from RILs. Candidate genes and proteins for root traits were identified from NILs through genotype-phenotype association analysis, and label-free proteomics, respectively. The RILs exhibited significant variation in root traits; 14 QTL for eight root traits were identified mainly on chromosome groups 5, 6 and 7. Important QTL for shallow root (Q.rd.uwa.7BL: Xbarc50) and high RM (Q.rm.uwa.6AS: Xgwm334) were validated in two independent F2 populations of Synthetic W7984 × Chara and Opata M85 × Cascade, respectively. Separately, 10 of 14 NIL pairs showed significant variation between their isolines for root traits; 15 putative candidate genes for root traits, including outstanding genes TraesCS4A02G185300 and TraesCS4A02G442700 encoding UDP-glycosyltransferase and TraesCS4A02G330900 encoding leucine-rich repeat receptorlike protein kinase were identified on targeting GRs on chromosomes 4BS, 4BL, 4AS, and 7AL of NILs. Furthermore, three candidate protein biomarkers for total root length and root dry mass in NIL pairs targeting GRs on chromosomes 4A and 7A—asparagine synthetase (TraesCS4A02G109900), signal recognition particle 19 kDa protein (TraesCS7A02G333600) and 3,4-dihydroxy-2-butanone 4-phosphate synthase (TraesCS7A02G415600)—with consistent gene expressions at protein and mRNA transcription (qRT-PCR) levels were identified. Our research provides an improved understanding of molecular control of root traits and potential for marker-assisted root breeding in wheat.

GENES, PROTEINS, AND MOLECULAR MARKERS FOR IMPROVING ROOT TRAITS IN WHEAT (Triticum aestivum L.)

2026-09-20T10:24:39Z

IMPROVING MANAGEMENT AND UNDERSTANDING OF MAJOR DISEASES OF SUGAR BEET

2026-09-20T10:24:51Z

IMPROVING MANAGEMENT AND UNDERSTANDING OF MAJOR DISEASES OF SUGAR BEET Bhuiyan, Md Ziaur Rahman Sugar beet is a sugar-yielding crop that contributes 25% of the global sucrose production. Economic production of sugar beet is hampered by Cercospora leaf spot (CLS) (Cercospora beticola), Rhizoctonia crown and root rot (RCRR) (Rhizoctonia solani), Sclerotinia root rot (SRR) (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum), and Rhizopus root rot (Rhizopus arrhizus) diseases. These diseases can reduce yield by 15 to 40%. On CLS, buildup of fungicide-resistance strains is a major issue due to poor implementation of fungicides and understanding of disease development at early stages. The identification of germplasm resistant to RCRR disease is hindered by the lack of effective inoculation methods. Identification of SRR and RRR pathogens is crucial for their proper management. The objectives of this research were 1. To evaluate the role of adjuvants in improving the efficacy of fungicides on CLS, 2. To characterize the infection process during early stages of infection by C. beticola, 3. to identify an effective inoculation method for RCRR, and 4. to identify and characterize the causal organisms of SSR and RRR. The value of adjuvants was evaluated in greenhouse and field conditions. Application of fungicides with or without adjuvants before disease onset reduced disease severity of CLS in greenhouse condition. In field conditions, additions of adjuvants did not improve the effectiveness of fungicides and few of them negatively impacted root yield. The initial stage of infection on CLS susceptible and resistant sugar beet variety were compared using confocal microscopy. C. beticola biomass accumulation, percent leaf cell death and disease severity were all significantly greater in the susceptible variety compared to the resistant variety (P<0.05). R. solani inoculated on the crown and roots were compared in a replicated trial in greenhouse conditions. The root inoculation method provided a more consistent disease rating of the sugar beet variety in the greenhouse for screening of RCRR cultivars in a resistance breeding program. Based on morphological and molecular techniques, causal organisms of SRR and RRR were characterized and were found to be pathogenic to sugar beet varieties tested in-vitro and in the greenhouse conditions.