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Item Current status of application of digital technologies in plantation crops(2024) Hebbar, K.B.; Ravi BhatThe plantation sector in India, comprising crops like coconut, arecanut, tea, coffee, rubber, and oil palm, significantly contributes to the national economy, supporting over 30 million small-scale growers. Despite its importance, the sector faces challenges in resource management, labour shortages, and environmental sustainability. The integration of digital technologies such as loT, AI, drones, and block chain is revolutionizing plantation crop management. These technologies enhance resource efficiency, facilitate precise crop monitoring, predict yields, detect diseases, and improve pest control. Additionally, AI-driven tools and big data analytics aid in optimizing irrigation, fertilization, and market strategies. Drones offer advantages in aerial surveys and pesticide application, while blockchain ensures transparency in the supply chain, especially for export-oriented crops. The collaborative efforts between agricultural and technological sectors are paving the way for a more sustainable, efficient, and competitive plantation industry. This integration is crucial for addressing resource limitations and ensuring long-term growth and global market competitiveness in the plantation sector.Item Predicting current and future climate suitability for arecanut (Areca catechu L.) in India using ensemble model(2024) Hebbar, K.B; Abhin Sukumar P; Sanjo Jose V; Ramesh, S.V.; Ravi BhatClimate change has the potential to influence plant development, physiology, and distribution. Arecanut (Areca catechu L.), with its long life span of 60–70 years, thrives in a tropical habitat remains exposed to various abiotic and biotic factors. It is pertinent to comprehend the adaptation strategies of this crop towards climate change over time. The Biomod2 ensemble platform for species distribution modeling was utilized to predict the potential impact of climate change on the adaptability of the crop. The extracted study region of India was used for prediction, and the final run of 6 models ensemble includes 894 occurrence points and 9 climate variables with 80%–20% of training and validation sets. The model’s outputs had area under curve (AUC) values of 0.943 and true skills statistics (TSS) of 0.741, which are regarded as accurate. The research area was categorized into five groups: very high, high, moderate, low, and very low. The examination involved assessing the shift in each category from the present to two prospective scenarios (shared socio-economic pathways; SSP 2–4.5 and SSP 5–8.5) projected for the 2050s and 2070s. A shift in the climate suitability area from ‘very high’ and ‘high’ categories to ‘moderate’ or ‘very low’ categories was observed suggesting the need for adaptive strategies to sustain the current yield levels. Amongst the regions, Karnataka state, which at present has more than 50% area under cultivation, is highly vulnerable and more area is coming under ‘very low’ and ‘low’ categories from eastern side. Meanwhile, in north eastern part of the country a shift in high suitable region from northwest to southwest is observed. Overall, the model prediction suggests that some parts of west and south interior regions of the country warrant immediate consideration in order to adapt to future climate change, whereas some part of north east can be considered for future cultivation.Item Perspectives on the cardioprotective, neuroprotective and anti-obesity functions of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.)(2024) Shameena Beegum; Ramesh, S.V.; Pandiselvam, R.; Neema, M.; Daliyamol; Manikantan, M.R.; Hebbar, K.BWidely acclaimed as the "tree of life," the coconut is intrinsically woven into human culture as a source of food, shelter, and medicine. Coconut oil and its derivatives have found diverse applications in both food and industry. Of late, the consumption of coconut in the form of oil and its derivatives has been proven to be beneficial. Taking into account the most recent clinical evidences, an attempt was made to present a concise review of the cardioprotective, neuroprotective, and anti-obesity effects of coconut and its derivatives. Our analysis reveals that research evidence supports the cardioprotective and neuroprotective effects of coconut. Numerous clinical trials have proven the anti-obesity and hypoglycemic effects of coconut oil and products. High contents of myocardial anti-oxidants, and differential metabolism of medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs) provide cardioprotective effects. The ketogenic effect of coconut derived products confers neuroprotective measures and enhanced energy expenditure in the metabolism of MCFAs and polyphenolic anti-oxidants are suggested to offer anti-obesity effects. Nevertheless, further research with more randomized, controlled, large clinical trials that evaluate the optimal dosage and side effects, if any, are warranted. Based on this comprehensive review, it is understood that MCFAs are the key component, apart from the phytochemicals such as polyphenols, tocopherols, and other antioxidants that accord these health benefits. Overall, the health benefits of coconut and its derivatives are perceptible, though there is a need for long-term clinical trials. Also a shift of research focus from coconut fatty acids and oil to other phytochemicals and to design appropriate clinical and epidemiological studies to discover coconut biomolecules of health importance is warranted.Item Regulation of coconut somatic embryogenesis: decoding the role of long non‑coding RNAs(2024) Sabana, A.A; Ginny Antony; K. P. Gangaraj; Tony Grace; Rajesh, M.K.Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides that lack significant protein coding potential and have been shown to regulate various biological processes. This study was designed to identify lncRNAs in coconut and their role in the process of somatic embryogenesis in coconut, a crop with high recalcitrance to in vitro culture. RNA-Seq data of coconut embryogenic calli of the West Coast Tall cultivar was exploited for in silico prediction of lncRNA. From a total of 6328 transcripts, which were annotated as uncharacterised or with no homology hits with the existing database, 5110 putative lncRNAs are identified. We also studied the relationship between lncRNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs) and mRNAs and found that some of the lncRNAs act as miRNA precursors, some as potential miRNA targets and some function as endogenous target mimics (eTMs) for miRNAs. Real-time quantitative PCR confirmed that 10 selected lncRNAs showed significant differences in the expression pattern in different stages of coconut somatic embryogenesis. Our results suggest the existence of diverse lncRNAs in coconut embryogenic calli, some of which are differentially expressed. The information generated in this study could be of great value in understanding the molecular mechanisms governing somatic embryogenesis in coconutItem CRISPR/Cas9 –based genome editing to expedite the genetic improvement of palms: challenges and prospects(2024) Ramesh, S.V.; Rajesh, M.K.; Alpana Das; Hebbar, K.BItem New report on the invasive Bondar's Nesting Whitefly (Paraleyrodes bondari Peracchi) on oil palm in India(2024) N. B. V. Chalapathi Rao; B. S. Ramani; B. V. K. Bhagvan; Sabana, A.A.; Rajesh, M.K.This communication is the new report of the neotropical invasive Bondar's Nesting Whitefly (BNW) , Paraleyrodes bondari Peracchi (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)incidence in oil palm in India. A typical feature of BNW infestation is the presence of woolly wax nests on the abaxial surface of oil palm leaflets. The nesting whitefly population was observed to increase phenomenally on oil palm and within a year ie., from 2021 to 2022, a 100 per cent palm infestation was observed. During this period the intensity per palm increased by 24.49 per cent and per leaf increased by 63.28 per cent. Analysis of the partial mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) sequences from adult specimens indicated 100% nucleotide identity with Bondar's Nesting Whitefly from coconutItem Nano-potassium intercalated composted coir pith: A slow-release fertilizer suitable for laterite soils of humid tropics of India(2024) Bhavishya; Kizhaeral Sevathapandian Subramanian; Murali Gopal; Ravi Bhat; Swapna Shanmukan Nair; Malavika Radhakrishnan; Rajesh, M.K.High potassium (K)-demanding plantation crops are grown in laterite soils of the humid tropics of India; these soils generally contain low to medium K content. Nano-fertilizers offer an excellent alternative to conventional fertilizers as they release nutrients slowly for a longer period, enhancing their use efficiency. In this study, nano-zeolite based K fertilizer (NZK) was synthesized and intercalated into raw coir pith (CNZK) and composted coir pith (CCNZK). These were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and UV–visible spectroscopy, and the intercalation of NZK was confirmed. The K content in CNZK and CCNZK was estimated to be 27.2% and 31.6%, respectively. Desorption studies indicated that nano-potassium fertilizer alone, and when intercalated into the composted coir pith, was found to release K slowly for a longer period (>480 h) in the laterite soils. Our study suggests that nano-potassium intercalated composted coir pith can be synthesized for slow release of K in the laterite soils of the humid tropics of India.Item Inter-specific hybrids in Areca spp.: Verification using SCoT markers(2024) Rajesh, M.K.; Nagaraja, N.R.; Sabana, A.A.; Muralikrishna, K.SDisease resistance has been a major goal in crop improvement programmes in arecanut (Areca catechu L.), where the fruit rot disease or Mahali, caused by Phytophthora meadii, is a major production constraint in India. The wild Areca spp., such as A. triandra and A. concinna, have been reported to possess resistance to P. meadii. Developing inter-specific hybrids between A. catechu and A. triandra or A. concinna could be one of the strategies to introgress the disease-resistant trait from the wild Areca spp. into cultivated arecanut. In this study, we report the utilization of start codon targeted (SCoT) markers to differentiate A. catechu from A. triandra and A. concinna and the development of sequence-characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers to enable authentication of true inter-specific hybrids between them. The technique would effectively verify inter-specific hybrids at the seedling stage itself.Item Euwallacea perbrevis (Schedl, 1951) and associated novel fungal symbiont, Fusarium sp.: A potential cause of wilting in cocoa, Theobroma cacao in India(2024) Shivaji Hausrao Thube; R Thava Prakasa Pandian; Rajkumar; Merin Babu; Josephrajkumar, A.; Santhoshkumar P; B.J. Nirmal Kumara; Vinayaka Hegde; Balanagouda Patil; H. Rajashekara; T. Prabhulinga; Babasaheb B. F; Shailesh Gawande; Dipak Nagrale; M. Devindrappa; Rajesh, M.K.Cocoa is a commercially important beverage crop that faces new challenges in the context of climate change, which can alter pest and disease dynamics in cocoa plantations. In the Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka, India, an abrupt increase in cocoa wilt was observed during the 2017–18 and 2018–19 seasons. Systematic examination of affected trees revealed consistent attacks of Euwallacea perbrevis (Schedl, 1951; Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae). In-depth studies of the wilted trees revealed the association of the plant pathogenic fungus Fusarium sp. with Euwallacea perbrevis. The identity of the obtained pure culture from the insect and infected tree was confirmed as Fusarium sp. using amplification of ribosomal DNA, RNA polymerase II largest subunit (RPB1) and translation elongation factor 1 (Tef1) genes. Notably, this study reports a remarkable case of mutualistic association between ambrosia beetles and Fusarium sp., belonging to the Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC), rather than the Ambrosia Fusarium clade (AFC). This finding highlights the intriguing diversity of mutualistic relationships in nature and sheds new light on the complex interactions between organisms. The present study also investigated the impact of rainfall on the colonization and spread of the Euwallacea-Fusarium complex. The findings revealed that rainfall was identified as a predisposing factor for the incidence and spread of attacks. Additionally, the study conducted a comprehensive analysis of the modeling of Euwallacea-Fusarium complex spread over a specific period of time.Item Multi-gene phylogeny and phenotypic analyses revealed an association of different Colletotrichum species with inflorescence dieback and leaf spot of arecanut in India(2024) Prathibha, V.H.; Rajesh, M.K; Akshay Dinesh; Balanagouda Patil; Daliyamol; Nagaraja, N.R.; Rajkumar; Sabana, A.A.; K.P. Gangaraj; K.P. Thejasri; Sunil S. Gangurde; Vinayaka HegdeArecanut is one of the economically important plantation crops. Among the various diseases, inflorescence dieback and leaf spot/blight diseases caused by Colletotrichum spp. have re-emerged as major factors impeding arecanut production in India in the last few years. To understand the Colletotrichum species complex in the arecanut system, we have characterized Colletotrichum spp. associated with inflorescence dieback and leaf spot/ blight of arecanut based on a combination of phenotypic, multi-locus (ITS, ACT, CHS-1, GAPDH, HIS3 and TUB2) phylogeny and pathogenicity studies. A total of 26 Colletotrichum isolates were obtained from arecanut inflorescence dieback (13 isolates) and leaf spot/blight (13 isolates) infected tissues collected from disease-endemic regions of Karnataka, Kerala and Tripura states of India. The combined multi-locus sequence analyses and a critical examination of phenotypic characters revealed the association of Colletotrichum aoteaora as a dominant species with arecanut inflorescence dieback disease. On the other hand, two Colletotrichum species, viz., C. siamense and C. fructicola, were distinctly associated with leaf spot/blight disease. All the Colletotrichum isolates studied were pathogenic to arecanut. Significant variations in lesion size were observed among the different species with cross-infection ability on inflorescence and leaves. This study represents the first comprehensive study of Colletotrichum spp. associated with arecanut inflorescence dieback and leaf spot/blight diseases. In addition, the study is the first record of C. aoteaora, C. siamense, and C. fructicola associated with the arecanut crop in this country. It provides valuable information for implementing effective IDM strategies against these diseases in India.Item A new pod bioassay method to determine the toxicity of insecticides against Tea mosquito bug, Helopeltis theivora(2024) T. N. Madhu; Saneera, E.K; R. Thava Prakasha Pandian; Sujithra, M; Bhavishya; Nagaraja, N.R.; Elain Apshara, S.; Josephrajkumar, A.; Rajesh, M.KItem Development of rapid, efficient and cost effective screening technique for testing arecanut against Phytophthora meadii incitant of fruit rot disease(2024) Prathibha, P.S.; Nagaraja, N.R.; Rajesh, M.K.; Daliyamol; K. P. Thejasri; Rajkumar; Vinayaka Hegde; Uchoi AnokTo accelerate identification of disease resistant arecanut germplasm or hybrids against Phytoph- thora , it is very much imperative to develop bioassays which could differentiate resistant and susceptible cultivars efficiently. Here, a cost effective and rapid technique, called the “Detached Leaf Assay ”, was developed to identify resistant germplasm at the seedling stage itself. Zoospore production in highly virulent Phytophthora meadii (P19) was standardized by incubating under a 12 hours light and dark regime. Zoospore suspension was adjusted to 105 spores ml-1 in Petri plates. Subsequently, surface sterilized arecanut leaves were floated in zoospore suspension and incubated at temperature of 24 ± 1 °C. Disease symptoms, including water-soaked lesions, were recorded three days after inoculation. Infection lesion increased from 1 to 7.3 cm2 . The pathogen was re-isolated and confirmed with the original culture. The assay was successfully validated to screen arecanut accessions, wild types and hybrids against P. meadii . This technique is the first to be developed, and it is simple, cost-effective, and faster. It also provides consistent infection and could be effectively utilized to screen arecanut germplasm or hybrids against P. meadii in the seedling stage itself.Item 5-Azacytidine promotes the induction of embryogenic calli and somatic embryos from transverse thin cell layer (tTCL) cultures in coconut(2024) Keezhath Thazha Kuniyil Amritha; Muralikrishna, K.S.; Jasmin Habeeb; Chandran, K.P.; Paulraj, S.; Rajesh, M.KCoconut (Cocos nucifera L.) is highly recalcitrant to in vitro interventions. There is a need to overcome various bottlenecks to standardize a repeatable protocol for in vitro regeneration in coconut to meet the requirements of quality planting materials. Epigenetic processes, especially DNA methylation, are known to assay crucial roles in regulating genes controlling plant growth and development, especially somatic embryogenesis. In this study, we demonstrate that the supplementation of 5-azacytidine (5-azaC), a demethylating agent, in the coconut tissue culture media can enhance the formation of embryogenic calli, somatic embryos, and plantlet regeneration from transverse thin sections of mature zygotic embryos. Transverse thin cell layer (tTCL) sections of zygotic embryos were cultured onto Y3 medium supplemented with different concentrations of 5-azaC (0, 10, 15, and 20 μM), auxins (2,4-D, picloram and atrazine; 75 and 100 μM) and thidiazuron (TDZ;4.5 μM). Explants were exposed to constant 5-azaC and reduced auxin concentration in subsequent sub-culturing. Our results indicated supplementing 15 μM 5-azaC, in combination with picloram (75 μM) and TDZ (4.54 μM), improved the percentage of callusing (95.8%) and formation of embryogenic calli (87.5%), and formation of somatic embryos (4.7) and plantlets (4.0) per explant in comparison with control having 80.8%, 75.0%, 1.6 and 0.67, respectively from tTCL sections of mature zygotic embryos. The results will form the basis for designing more efficient coconut tissue culture protocols.Item Chromosome scale genome assembly and annotation of coconut cultivar Chowghat Green Dwarf(2024) Rajesh, M.K.; Roli Budhwar; Rohit Shukla; Praveen Kumar Oraon; Shailendra Goel; Bobby Paul; Dr. Regi Jacob Thomas; Akshay Dinesh; Jayasekhar, S.; Chandran, K.P.; Muralikrishna, K.S; B. J. Nirmal Kumar; Alpana DasThe high-quality genome of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) is a crucial resource for enhancing agronomic traits and studying genome evolution within the Arecaceae family. We sequenced the Chowghat Green Dwarf cultivar, which is resistant to the root (wilt) disease, utilizing Illumina, PacBio, ONT, and Hi-C technologies to produce a chromosome-level genome of ~ 2.68 Gb with a scaffold N50 of 174 Mb; approximately 97% of the genome could be anchored to 16 pseudo-molecules (2.62 Gb). In total, 34,483 protein-coding genes were annotated; the BUSCO completeness score was 96.80%, while the k-mer completeness was ~ 87%. The assembled genome includes 2.19 Gb (81.64%) of repetitive sequences, with long terminal repeats (LTRs) constituting the most abundant class at 53.76%. Additionally, our analysis confirms two whole-genome duplication (WGD) events in the C. nucifera lineage. A genome-wide analysis of LTR insertion time revealed ancient divergence and proliferation of copia and gypsy elements. In addition, 1368 RGAs were discovered in the CGD genome. We also developed a web server ‘Kalpa Genome Resource’ (http://210.89.54.198:3000/), to manage and store a comprehensive array of genomic data, including genome sequences, genetic markers, structural and functional annotations like metabolic pathways, and transcriptomic profiles. The web server has an embedded genome browser to analyze and visualize the genome, its genomics elements, and transcriptome data. The in-built BLAST server allows sequence homology searches against genome, annotated transcriptome & proteome sequences. The genomic dataset and the database will support comparative genome analysis and can expedite genome-driven breeding and enhancement efforts for tapping genetic gains in coconut.Item Design, development and evaluation of a tractor mounted air blast sprayer for coconut and arecanut(2023) Pandiselvam, R.; Mathew, A.C.; Syed Imran; Thava Prakasa Pandian, R.; Manikantan, M.R.Item Screening methods to assess cocoa genotypes for resistance to black pod rot disease(2024) Chaithra, M.; Elain Apshara, S.Item Design, development and evaluation of a tractor mounted air blast sprayer for coconut and arecanut(2023) Pandiselvam, R.; Mathew, A.C.; Syed Imran; Thava Prakasa Pandian, R.; Manikantan, M.R.Item Physical, Chemical and Functional Attributes of Neera Honey Infused Extrudates(2023) Pandiselvam, R.; Liya T. Joseph; Manikantan, M.R.; Anandu Chandra Khanashyam; Shameena Beegum; Ramesh, S.V.; D. Balasubramanian; Neenu, S.; Murali Gopal; Mathew, A.C.; Hebbar, K.B.Owing to the demand for the consumption of healthy extrudates, this study explored the infusion of neera (coconut inflorescence sap) honey in rice flour, corn flour and coconut milk residue blend-based extrudates. Neera honey, the concentrated coconut inflorescence sap, has numerous nutrients and a natural source of essential vitamins. Hence, the potential of neera honey as a biofortifying compound for the production of healthy extrudates was investigated. The rice and corn based extrudates supplemented with different concentration of neera honey have been prepared until the mix reaches 16 and 20% (w.b.) of feed moisture. Effect of addition of neera honey on the physical properties (expansion ratio, bulk density, specific length), functional properties (water absorption, water solubility, oil absorption), biochemical properties (total carbohydrates, total sugar, reducing sugar, phenolics, flavonoids, antioxidants), color parameters(L*, a*, b*), proximate compositions (moisture content, ash, protein, fat) and mineral profile of extrudates were recorded. Results suggest that addition of neera honey had a significant (p < 0.05) impact on all the physico-chemical parameters evaluated. Incorporation of neera honey (feed moisture 20%) resulted in extrudates with less expansion, high bulk density and specific length, having high sugar, protein, phenolics, vitamin C and antioxidant activity. The combination of 60% rice flour + 25% corn flour +15% coconut milk residue samples infused with neera honey upto 16% feed moisture was found suitable for the preparation of nutritious extrudates based on functional characterization and minerals evaluation.Item Synergetic Effect of Fermented Coconut Inflorescence Sap for the Production of Virgin Coconut Oil(2023) Pandiselvam, R.; A. T. Akshay; Manikantan, M.R.; Ramesh, S.V.; Hrishikesh Patil; Murali GopalItem Individual and interactive effect of ultrasound pre-treatment on drying kinetics and biochemical qualities of food: A critical review(2023) Pandiselvam, R.; Alev Yüksel Aydar; Naciye Kutlu; Raouf Aslam; Prashant SahniOne of the earliest and most prevalent processing methods to increase the shelf-life of foods is drying. In recent years, there has been an increased demand to improve product quality while lowering processing times, expenses, and energy usage in the drying process. Pre-treatments are therefore effectively used before drying to enhance heat and mass transfer, increase drying efficiency, and lessen degradation of final product quality. When food is dried, changes are expected in its taste, color, texture, and physical, chemical, and microbial properties. This has led to the need for research and development into the creation of new and effective pre-treatment technologies including high-pressure processing, pulsed electric field, ultraviolet irradiation, and ultrasound. Sound waves that have a frequency >20 kHz, which is above the upper limit of the audible frequency range, are referred to as “ultrasound”. Ultrasonication (US) is a non-thermal technology, that has mechanical, cavitational, and sponge effects on food materials. Ultrasound pre-treatment enhances the drying characteristics by producing microchannels in the food tissue, facilitating internal moisture diffusion in the finished product, and lowering the barrier to water migration. The goal of ultrasound pre-treatment is to save processing time, conserve energy, and enhance the quality, safety, and shelf-life of food products. This study presents a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals of ultrasound, its mechanism, and how the individual effects of ultrasonic pre-treatment and the interactive effects of ultrasound-assisted technologies affect the drying kinetics, bioactive components, color, textural, and sensory qualities of food. The difficulties that can arise when using ultrasound technology as a drying pretreatment approach, such as inadequate management of heat, the employment of ultrasound at a limited frequency, and the generation of free radicals, have also been explained.