<div>Background: Growth Hormone (GH) gene codes for the growth hormone, an anabolic hormone synthesized and secreted by the somatotroph cells of pituitary. Growth hormone influences many processes such as growth, lactation, reproduction and metabolism. Genetic variation in the gene are utilized as markers for selecting animals that are superior in terms growth, production and reproduction traits. Information available on the polymorphism of growth hormone gene of Ganjam and Baigani goats of Odisha is scanty. The current investigation was done to explore the genetic variation of this gene and its association with morphometric traits. 
 
Methods: Genetic polymorphism in exon 2 and 3 of Growth hormone gene in Ganjam goat and Baigani goat was explored with sample size of 100 goats for each. The goats belonged to three locations: Khallikote, Rambha, Chattrapur of Ganjam district. The goats were recorded for their body weights, morphometric traits and morphological traits. Genomic DNA was isolated, the target segment comprising exons 2 and 3 was amplified and PCR-RFLP was carried out using Hae III restriction enzyme. Genotypes were scored. 
 
Result: PCR of the locus resulted in 422 bp PCR product. PCR-RFLP using Hae III restriction enzyme yielded only two variants in both the populations. The variant A had only one restriction recognition site on the target gene segment yielding two bands with size of 366bp and 56bp whereas the variant B did not have any restriction site with single band of 422bp. Three genotypes AA, AB and BB were found in both the population. In both the population, the gene and genotype frequency were significantly deviated from the Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium frequency. There was a significant difference in the genotype frequencies of growth hormone gene between Ganjam and Baigani goats. The AB genotype had higher mean value for all morphometric traits than AA and BB genotype though the differences were not found to be significant.</div>

<div>PCR-RFLP Polymorphism of Growth Hormone Gene and Its Association with Growth and Morphometric Traits in Ganjam and Baigani Goats of Odisha</div>

Background: This investigation was aimed to determine the association of growth hormone GH1 (A781G) and GH2 (A1575G) locus with growth traits in Beetal goats by using PCR-RFLP method. 
 
Methods: A total of 60 blood samples from Beetal goat were collected along with growth records (body weight in kg) at 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 month of age maintained at Goat Dairy Farm Rajbagh, Jammu. DNA was extracted from blood samples by using DNA extraction kit. The target segment of GH 1 and 2 locus was amplified and digested with HaeIII restriction enzyme for scoring of genotypes. 
 
Result: The amplified PCR product obtained for GH1 (422 bp) and GH2 (116 bp) locus were digested with HaeIII restriction enzyme at 37&deg;C for 15 min. The resultant digested products revealed three genotypes for GH1: AA (422 bp), BB (366 bp, 56 bp) and AB (422 bp, 366 bp and 56 bp) whereas, one genotype was observed for GH2 i.e., BB (88bp and 28bp). The genotypic frequencies in Beetal goat for GH1 were found to be 0.05 for AA genotype, 0.80 for AB genotype, 0.15 for BB genotype, whereas gene frequencies was 0.45 for A allele and 0.55 for B allele. GH2 locus was found to be monomorphic. The highly significant (P&lt;0.01) Chi-square (&chi;&sup2;)-test value for GH1 locus showed that the population was not in HWE. BB genotype has a significantly higher (P&lt;0.01) body weight followed by AA and AB genotypes at 9 and 12 month of age. Thus, GH1 locus can be used as a candidate gene to improve growth traits and selection of superior animals at an early age of 9 months for phenotypic selection programmes in Beetal goats.

Genetic Polymorphisms and Association of Growth Hormone Gene with Growth Traits in Beetal Goat

<div>This study was conducted in Mia chicken breed to evaluate the association between four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), in insulin (INS) and growth hormone (GH) genes, with growth traits. Three genotypes for the SNP A3971G of INS gene and the SNP G662A and C423T of GH gene were present in the population while only two genotypes were found in the Mia chicken breed for SNP T3737C of INS gene (TT and TC). The SNP T3737C INS gene and G662A GH gene had significant association with growth traits (P &lt; 0.05). A significant association of T3737C INS gene with body weight (BW) was observed at 10 to 12 weeks of age and average daily gain (ADG) at 6-8 weeks of age. The SNP G662A of the GH gene was significantly associated (P &lt; 0.05) with BW of Mia chicken at ages from 7 to 14 weeks and with ADG (4-6; 6-8; 8-10; 10-12 and 2-16 weeks). Chicken with the GG genotype had greater BW and ADG compared to the other genotypes. The results demonstrated that this SNP G662A GH gene may be used as a candidate marker gene for genetic improvement of growth traits in Mia chicken breed.</div>

<div>Association of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the insulin and growth hormone gene with growth traits of Mia Chicken</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">This study was conducted to identify the diversity of chicken growth hormone (cGH) single nucleotide polymorphs&rsquo; (SNP) and their association on morphometric and growth traits of three Nigerian chicken breeds namely Funaab Alpha (FA), Shikabrown (SB) and Nigerian local chicken (NLC). Morphometric traits measured include shank length (cm), breast girth (cm) and breast width (cm) while growth traits measured were final body weight, av. weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio all at laying stages respectively. &nbsp;Morphometric and growth traits were significantly influenced (P&lt;0.05) between the different breeds. &nbsp;The SNP panel showed two base pair substitution mutation (GT and CA) on locus 5 chromosome for the FA and locus 6 chromosome for the SB and NLC respectively. The G &ndash; T alignment produced genotypes GG and GT, with TT not observed. Also C &ndash; A alignment produced genotypes CC and CA, with AA not observed. The NLC breed had the highest number of haplotypes of 6 while FA and SB had 4 haplotypes each implying that the local breed had more allelic variation than the other two breeds. Also FA had heterozygosity of 0.48 while SB and NLC had a value of 0.44, indicating higher genetic variability of FA breed than the rest with negative theta value (-0.0843) of F-statistics indicating high level of outbreeding. The conducted association of SNP genotypes showed no significant association effects (P&gt;0.05) on the morphometric traits, except for SB breed where CA genotypes was significantly associated with CC for bodyweight, and in NLC breed where CC genotype was also significantly associated with CA genotypes for shank length.&nbsp;</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Influence of chicken growth hormone (cGH) SNP genotypes on morphometric and growth traits of three chicken breeds in Nigeria.</div>

<div>Background: Foxtail millet is one of the nutri-cereal foods for the people of semi arid regions. Proper nutrient management and source-sink alteration are major keys for achieving higher productivity in millets. However, potassium is not recommended to foxtail millet and the potential yield is not exploited. And also the study of source-sink alteration in foxtail millet by using plant growth regulators is meager. 
 
Methods: An experiment was conducted to study the impact of plant growth retardants viz., chlormequat chloride (CCC) and mepiquat chloride (MC) with the nutrient potassium (K2SO4 - 1%) on growth, gas exchange parameters and grain yield of foxtail millet under rainfed condition. Plant growth retardants with potassium consortium were used as foliar spray at flower initiation stage under field condition. Standard methods were used to measure the plant height, root length, number of leaves, LAD, CGR and grain yield. The photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and leaf temperature were measured by using the instrument PPS. 
 
Result: Foliar spray of CCC (250 ppm) with 1% K2SO4 showed supremacy to enhance crop growth rate, leaf area duration, photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and grain yield compared to other treatments. However, lowest plant height (100.7 cm) and number of leaves were observed by CCC (250 ppm) alone. Highest photosynthetic rate (26.84) and transpiration rate (17.94) were registered by CCC + K2SO4. Lowest leaf temperature of 34.1&ordm;C was registered by 1% K2SO4 compared to control (35.6&deg;C). CCC with K2SO4 recorded highest LAD value of 46.1 which is on par with K2SO4 alone (45.9). CCC with K2SO4 registered highest grain yield of 2.13 t ha-1 with increased yield of 18.3% over control. However, highest benefit cost ratio of ratio of 2.75 was recorded by 1% K2SO4 alone.</div>

​Impact of Foliar Spray of Plant Growth Retardants with Potassium on Growth Traits, Gas Exchange Parameters and Grain Yield in Foxtail Millet (Panicum italicum L.)

Data on growth, reproduction and wool traits of 1603 Harnali sheep maintained at Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar over a period of 22 years (1992-2013) were utilized for genetic analysis. The overall least squares mean for birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), six month body weight (SMW), age at first lambing (AFL), weight at lambing (WL), average lambing interval (ALI), greasy fleece weight (GFW), staple length (SL) and Fibre diameter (FD) were estimated as 3.35&plusmn;0.02 kg, 12.41&plusmn;0.08 kg, 16.30&plusmn;0.12 kg, 707.05&plusmn;2.07 days, 26.91&plusmn;0.10 kg and 402.85&plusmn;2.40 days, 1.62&plusmn;0.02 kg, 5.65&plusmn;0.03 cm and 25.85&plusmn;0.07 &micro;, respectively. The effect of year of birth, sex of lamb and dam&rsquo;s weight at lambing were significant for all growth traits. The effect of year of birth and dam&rsquo;s weight at lambing were significant for all reproduction traits and GFW. No definite trend was observed over the years for body weights and reproductive traits. The effect of sex was significant for early growth traits. The heritability estimates were moderate for all the growth traits with high genetic correlations of BW and WW with SMW. Reproduction traits had lower estimates of heritability which indicated presence of lower additive genetic variance for these traits. Heritability estimates for studied wool traits were moderate to high. Positive genetic and phenotypic correlation of BW and WW with six month body weight and grease fleece weight indicated that selection for six month body weight would increase body weight and grease fleece weight.

Genetic studies on growth, reproduction and wool production&nbsp;traits in Harnali sheep

Records of 195 crossbred pigs (75 % Landrace + 25% Desi ), raised over a period of 2 years from 2014 to 2015, maintained at the Livestock Production Research (Pigs), Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Uttar Pradesh were used in this study to determine the effect of various environmental factors on growth and litter traits. Growth was recorded in terms of body weight at birth and thereafter at weekly interval up to 8 wks and then at 12, 16, 20 and 24 weeks of age. Generation interval had a significant effect on body weights at all ages. Piglets born in first generation had higher growth at most of the study period. Effect of sex was significant on body weight at most of the ages, except at 7, 8, 16 and 24 week. Male piglets had a higher growth at most of the weeks except at birth, 8 and 16 weeks. Piglets born in season II (March, April, May and June) had higher growth at most of the weeks, except at 4 and 5 weeks. Season of birth had a significant effect on body weight at birth, 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 16 and 20 weeks of age. Effect of year of birth was significant on body weight at birth, 1, 2, 6, 16 and 20 weeks of age only. Piglets born in 2014 had higher growth at most of the weeks, except at 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 weeks of age. Generation I &amp; II had a significant effect on litter traits, except average weight at birth. Piglets born in second generation had higher litter traits compared to the first generation. Effect of parity of dam was also significant on all litter traits.&nbsp;

Growth and litter traits in crossbred pigs across the non-genetic factors

In present investigation, 325 single-hatched RIR chicks that has undergone 30 generation of selection based on 40-week part-period egg production were evaluated for growth and layer economic traits using least-squares analysis of variance. Overall least-square means of body weight at 16, 20, 40 and 64 weeks of age were 1362.6&plusmn;21.4g, 1791.6&plusmn;24.5g, 2184.6&plusmn;26.2g and 2433.8&plusmn;34.2g, respectively. Males were significantly heavier than females (P&pound;0.001) at all ages. Least-square means of age at sexual maturity, egg weight at 28, 40 and 64 weeks of age, egg number up to 40 and 64 weeks of age were 134.5&plusmn;0.9days, 44.8&plusmn;0.3g, 47.73&plusmn;0.4g, 51.5&plusmn;0.7g, 118.3&plusmn;1.2eggs and 214.5&plusmn;4.8eggs, respectively. Heritability estimates were high for growth and low to medium for layer economic traits. &nbsp;Genetic and phenotypic correlations among body weights were high and positive. The egg production up to 40 weeks revealed high and positive genetic (0.89&plusmn;0.15) as well as phenotypic (0.63) correlations with egg production up to 64 weeks suggesting the its usefulness as selection criterion for genetic improvement of annual egg production.

Genetic analysis of growth, production and reproduction traits after&nbsp;long-term selection in Rhode Island Red chicken

<div>Background: Symbiotic associations between legumes and Rhizobia are ancient and fundamental. However, the plant growth-promoting endophytes other than Rhizobia are not yet fully explored for pulses productivity. The present study was aimed to isolate efficient endophytic bacteria from pulses, assess their diversity, screen their plant growth-promoting activities and to test their potential as bio inoculants for pulses. 
 
Methods: We have isolated several endophytic bacteria from pulse crops more specifically from blackgram (Vigna mungo) and greengram (Vigna radiata). After careful screening, 15 promising endophytic isolates were selected for this study. The identification of endophytic bacterial isolates was performed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The isolates were tested for their potential for the plant growth-promoting traits such as nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, indole-3-acetic acid production, siderophore secretion and antifungal activity. Pot culture experiments were conducted with the screened potential endophytic cultures. 
 
Result: The 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that species of Enterobacter, Bacillus, Pantoea, Pseudomonas, Acromobacter, Ocrobacterium were found as endophytes in blackgram and greengram. The in vitro screening identified Bacillus pumilus (BG-E6), Pseudomonas fluorescens (BG-E5) and Bacillus licheniformis (BG-E3) from blackgram and Pseudomonas chlororaphis (GG-E2) and Bacillus thuringiensis (GG-E7) from greengram as potential plant growth-promoting endophytes. These strains showed antagonism against plant pathogenic fungi. Upon inoculation of these endophytic PGPR strains, the blackgram and greengram growth and yield got increased. Among the strains, BG-E6 recorded 14.7% increased yield in blackgram and GG-E2 accounted for a 19.5% yield increase in greengram compared to respective uninoculated control. The experimental results showed that there was a host specificity found among the endophytic bacterial cultures with pulses. The cross inoculation of endophytic strains did not perform well to enhance the growth and yield of their alternate hosts.&nbsp;</div>

<div>Assessing the Plant Growth-promoting Traits and Host Specificity of Endophytic Bacteria of Pulse Crops</div>

<div>Background: The corriedale sheep breed was imported into J and K during sixties for use in improvement of local sheep and are maintained at Mountain Research Station of Sheep and Goat, SKUAST- K. The animals over the years were allowed to mate within the selected animals of the flock as there was hardy any fresh importation of exotic animals from last 49 years due to which closed flock population was established within the farm. This has led to apprehensions over the loss of genetic diversity through years. 
 
Methods: The present study was to undertaken to evaluate the performance of Corriedale sheep under temperate climate and to estimate the inbreeding coefficient and its effect on growth and fitness traits of Corriedale sheep maintained at Mountain Research Centre for Sheep and Goat (MRCSG), F.V.Sc and A.H, SKUAST-K Shuhama, Kashmir. The information on performance and pedigree spanning over a period of 49 years (1969-2017) was collected and utilized for the study. The traits studied were birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), 6 months weight (6MW), 9 months weight (9MW) and 12 months weight (12MW) age at first lambing (AFL), litter size (LS), total lambs born per ewe (TLB) and survival rate (SR).&nbsp; 
 
Result: The averages estimates for BW, WW, 6MW, 9MW, 12MW, AFL, LS, TLB and SR were 3.72&plusmn;0.01 kg, 13.31&plusmn;0.07 kg, 18.65&plusmn;0.05kg, 22.15&plusmn;0.04 kg, 25.84&plusmn;0.06 kg 807.20&plusmn;4.34 days, 1.08&plusmn;0.00, 4.83&plusmn;0.03 and 80.76&plusmn;1.98, respectively. The overall inbreeding coefficient (F) and proportion of population inbred (per cent) for Corriedale sheep were 18.3 and 43.3, respectively. The increased inbreeding coefficient had negative impact and highly significant (p&lt;0.01) on all the traits under study except LS. The increased inbreeding coefficient (F) also had a negative impact on all the traits under study. With increase in the level of inbreeding there was a decrease in total body weight traits, lambs born per ewe and survival rate where as age at first lambing was increasing with the increase. he results indicated as decrease of 0.25 kg, 1.45 kg, 5.04 kg, 5.53 kg and 5.48 kg in body weight of the animals at birth, weaning weight, six months, nine months and twelve months from 1969-2017. To overcome the negative impact of inbreeding coefficient in the flock introduction of genetic variability through importation of Corriedale germplasm into the farm is highly recommended.</div>

PCR-RFLP Polymorphism of Growth Hormone Gene and Its Association with Growth and Morphometric Traits in Ganjam and Baigani Goats of Odisha

Genetic Polymorphisms and Association of Growth Hormone Gene with Growth Traits in Beetal Goat

Association of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the insulin and growth hormone gene with growth traits of Mia Chicken

Influence of chicken growth hormone (cGH) SNP genotypes on morphometric and growth traits of three chicken breeds in Nigeria.

Impact of Foliar Spray of Plant Growth Retardants with Potassium on Growth Traits, Gas Exchange Parameters and Grain Yield in Foxtail Millet (Panicum italicum L.)

Genetic studies on growth, reproduction and wool production traits in Harnali sheep

Growth and litter traits in crossbred pigs across the non-genetic factors

Genetic analysis of growth, production and reproduction traits after long-term selection in Rhode Island Red chicken

Assessing the Plant Growth-promoting Traits and Host Specificity of Endophytic Bacteria of Pulse Crops

Effect of Inbreeding Coefficient on Growth and Fitness Traits in a Closed Flock of Corriedale Sheep