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Optimum quantity of nitrogen fertilizer to maximize the production and minimize the cost of cultivation is need of the day. Therefore, it is obligatory to know the nitrogen demand of potato crop for economical production and minimizing the negative effect on environment. Consequently, an experiment was conducted at CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, for 2 years to investigate the effect of nitrogen levels on newly developed potato varieties Kufri Surya and Kufri Sadabahar. Nitrogen dose of 300 kg/ha gave the highest values for growth parameters which were at par with 225 kg/ha nitrogen, whereas the maximum values for yield parameters as well as dry matter content (tubers + haulms) were recorded with nitrogen dose of 225 kg/ha. It means nitrogen above 225 kg/ha has no significant effect on crop yield parameters. The variety Kufri Sadabahar gave significantly higher values for all the growth and yield parameters than Kufri Surya. It was concluded that the variety Kufri Sadabahar supplied with nitrogen 225 kg/ha gave the maximum productivity (388.7 q/ha), net income (Rs. 2,08,576/ha) and benefit to cost ratio (2.31). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought and high temperature stress affect chickpea growth and productivity. Often these stresses occur simultaneously in the field and lead to a wide range of molecular and metabolic adaptations. Two chickpea varieties; GPF2 (heat sensitive) and PDG4 variety (heat tolerant) were exposed to 35 °C for 24 h individually and along with drought stress. Five heat responsive signalling genes and 11 structural genes were analyzed using qPCR along with untargeted metabolites analysis using GC MS. Expression of antioxidant genes (CaSOD and CaGPX, CaAPX and CaCAT), transcription factors (CaHSFB2, CaHSFB2A, CaHSFB2B, CaHSP17.5 and CaHSP22.7) and signalling genes (CaCAM, CaGAD, and CaMAPK) were upregulated in GPF2 as compared to PDG4 variety. Principal component analysis (PCA), partial least-square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and heat map analysis were applied to the metabolomics data to identify the differential response of metabolites in two chickpea varieties. GC-MS analysis identified 107 and 83 metabolites in PDG4 and GPF2 varieties respectively. PDG4 variety accumulated more sugars, amino acids, sugar alcohols, TCA cycle intermediates which provided heat resistance. Additionally, the differential metabolic pathways involved in heat tolerance were alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism, pantothenate CoA biosynthesis, fructose and mannose metabolism and pentose phosphate pathway in PDG4 variety. There was less accumulation of metabolites in the primed plants of both varieties as compared to the non-primed plants indicating less damage due to heat stress. The present study gives an overview of the molecular changes occurring in response to heat stress in sensitive and tolerant chickpea. • Chickpea is exposed to terminal heat and drought stress. • Five heat signaling genes and 11 structural genes were analyzed using qPCR along with GC-MS analysis. • High temperature and combinatorial stress enhanced the expression of almost all genes in GPF2. • In PDG4 only selective genes and metabolites were upregulated. • Priming modulates the transcriptional, metabolic activity and maintains cellular homeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ascochyta Blight is a fungal disease caused by Ascochyta rabiei is a devastating disease of chickpea (C. arietinum) worldwide. A. rabiei completed its cycle in sporophytic and gametophytic both stages. Various approaches have been applied to determine genetics of resistance to Ascochyta Blight of chickpea and to map and tag the chromosomal regions using molecular markers. Mild resistance is present in many germplasms of chickpea but resistance clubbed with early flowering is the major breeding objective regarding this disease in chickpea. The RILs are scored for disease reactions in the field and genotyped for polymorphic molecular markers [isozyme, RAPD, SSR, ISSR, SNPs]. The disease occurrence scored quantitatively and QTLs have been analyzed. These DNA markers can be used for marker-assisted selection for Ascochyta Blight resistance in chickpea and to develop cultivars with durable resistance through gene pyramiding. This review reflects a status and strategy for molecular marker assisted breeding and widening of genetic base in chickpea for Ascochyta resistance for future use. Ascochyta Blight is a fungal disease caused by Ascochyta rabiei is a devastating disease of chickpea (C. arietinum) worldwide. A. rabiei completed its cycle in sporophytic and gametophytic both stages. Various approaches have been applied to determine genetics of resistance to Ascochyta Blight of chickpea and to map and tag the chromosomal regions using molecular markers. Mild resistance is present in many germplasms of chickpea but resistance clubbed with early flowering is the major breeding objective regarding this disease in chickpea. The RILs are scored for disease reactions in the field and genotyped for polymorphic molecular markers [isozyme, RAPD, SSR, ISSR, SNPs]. The disease occurrence scored quantitatively and QTLs have been analyzed. These DNA markers can be used for marker-assisted selection for Ascochyta Blight resistance in chickpea and to develop cultivars with durable resistance through gene pyramiding. This review reflects a status and strategy for molecular marker assisted breeding and widening of genetic base in chickpea for Ascochyta resistance for future use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]