Functional Genes in Relation to Residual Feed Intake in Murrah Buffalo Heifers

High Feed efficiency (FE) in growing heifers has economic importance in dairy, but remains less understood in buffaloes. Feed conversion efficiency is defined as dry matter intake (DMI) per unit body weight gain and is determined as residual feed intake (RFI), i.e., the difference between actual and predicted feed intake to gain unit body weight during a feed trial run for 78 days under control feeding. A large variation was identified ranging between -0.42 to 0.35 in growing buffalo heifers (n = 40) of age between 11 to 15 months. An average daily weight gain (ADG) varied between 382.0 and 807.6 g/day when compared with the control-fed heifers at an organized buffalo farm. The whole blood transcriptome data obtained from the selected growing heifers from extremes of estimated high and low RFI efficiency were compared with the reference assembly generated from the transcriptome of multiparous buffaloes (n = 16) of diverse age of maturity, period of regaining post partum cyclicity and level of milk production. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using the reference genome of Mediterranean water buffalo. GO: terms (Padj 0.05, FDR 0.05) enriched by annotated DEGs and biological pathways in gene network for RFI efficiency trait were identified. GO: terms specific to pre-transcriptional regulation of nucleus and Chromatin organization under Nucleoplasm, Energy balancing, Immunity, Cell signaling, ROS optimization, ATP generation through the Electron Transport chain and cell proliferation were determined. The study reveals the indicators targeting the actual metabolic changes and molecular functions underlying the feed utilization capacity of buffaloes. Estimated RFI efficiency revealed a large variation over heifers which may lower the DMI even up to 13.6% thus, enabling an increase in ADG up to 16% by involving efficient heifers in breeding plan. The study revealed a scope of high gain by selective breeding for FE in heifers. FE variants catalogued in the study are useful breed-specific RFI markers for future reference. The study contributes to the understanding of feed efficiency in buffaloes and its association with key interactive traits such as reproduction and growth. This knowledge can be utilized to develop more effective breeding programs.

Co-inoculation of indigenous Pseudomonas oryzihabitans and Bradyrhizobium sp.modulates the growth,symbiotic efficacy,nutrient acquisition,and grain yield of soybean

Soil microbes play a vital role in improving plant growth,crop productivity,and soil health through solubilization of essential nutrients.Present investigation was conducted to access the efficacy of Bradyrhizobium sp.LSBR-3 and the indigenous phosphate-solubilizing Pseudomonas oryzihabitans LSE-3 in improving the symbiosis,nutrient accumulation,and yield of soybean.The isolate LSE-3,selected on the basis of phosphate solubilization,was screened for beneficial traits,antagonistic activities,and pathogenicity.The levels of indole acetic acid production(50.34±2.35μg mL^(-1)),phosphate solubilization(184.4±7.4 mg L^(-1)),biofilm formation(optical density at 560 mm,1.3896±0.04),siderophore production(121.46±1.61μg mL^(-1)),and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase activity(0.51±0.07 mmolα-ketobutyrateμg^(-1) protein h^(-1))were significantly higher with the dual inoculants(LSBR-3 and LSE-3)than with the single inoculant LSBR-3.The plant growth-promoting traits of single and dual inoculants were evaluated for the synergistic effects on soybean under field conditions.Soybean plots treated with LSBR-3+LSE-3 exhibited improvement in seed germination,plant height,plant biomass,and chlorophyll content compared with the uninoculated control.Dual inoculant treatments resulted in significantly higher symbiotic efficacy evidenced by increased nodulation(40.0±0.75 plant^(-1)),nodule biomass(188.52±6.29 mg plant^(-1)),and leghemoglobin content(11.02±0.83 mg g^(-1) fresh nodule),and significantly increased activities of phosphatase(75.16±3.17 and 58.77±6.08μg p-nitrophenol g^(-1) h^(-1) for alkaline and acid phosphatase,respectively)and dehydrogenase(32.66±1.92μg triphenylformazan g^(-1) h^(-1))compared with the control.Dual inoculation with LSBR-3 and LSE-3 enhanced the uptake of macro-and micronutrients,reduced Na content in shoots,and resulted in 10.85%higher grain yield and ca.US$96.80 ha^(-1) higher profit compared with the control.This is the first report on the effectiveness of combined inoculation of LSE-3 and LSBR-3 in promoting the growth,symbiotic efficacy,and yield of soybean for sustainable agriculture.