The present investigation was carried out using 51 diverse bitter gourd accessions as material for studying genetic diversity and relatedness using morphological and SSR markers. A wide variation was observed for morphological traits like the number of days to the first female flower anthesis (37.33–60.67), the number of days to the first fruit harvest (47.67–72.00), the number of fruits/plant (12.00–46.67), fruit length (5.00–22.23 cm), fruit diameter (1.05–6.38 cm), average fruit weight (20.71–77.67 g) and yield per plant (513.3–1976 g). Cluster analysis for 10 quantitative traits grouped the 51 accessions into 6 clusters. Out of 61 SSR primers screened, 30 were polymorphic and highly informative as a means to differentiate these accessions. Based on genotyping, a high level of genetic diversity was observed, with a total of 99 alleles. The polymorphic information content (PIC) values ranged from 0.038 for marker BG_SSR-8 to 0.721 for S-24, with an average of 0.429. The numbers of alleles ranged from 2 to 5, with an average of 3.3 alleles per locus. Gene diversity ranged from 0.04 for BG_SSR-8 to 0.76 for S-24, showing a wide variation among 51 accessions. The UPGMA cluster analysis grouped these accessions into 3 major clusters. Cluster I comprised 4 small, fruited accessions that are commercially cultivated in central and eastern India. Cluster II comprised 35 medium- to long-sized fruited accessions, which made up an abundant and diverse group. Cluster III comprised 11 long and extra-long fruited accessions. The polymorphic SSR markers of the study will be highly useful in genetic fingerprinting and mapping, and for association analysis in Momordica regarding several economic traits.

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Background Pasteurella multocida is the main cause of several infections of farm animals, and the immunity gained from commercial vaccines is for the short term only and needs to be routinely administered, so work on new vaccines against virulent P. multocida is crucial. Results In this study, the OmpH gene was amplified from ten P. multocida strains, and the PCR products were sequenced and analyzed. The results of RFLP analysis of OmpH gene digested by MspI enzyme showed that all of ten strains examined possessed one restriction site and two fragments, 350 and 650 bp. The OmpH sequence of strain No. 10 was cloned into bacterial expression vector pUCP24, and the recombinant pUCP24-OmpH was expressed in E. coli DH5α. Serum samples obtained from the ELISA test from a group of vaccinated rats indicate that the antibodies were present at high titer in immunized rats and can be tested as a vaccine candidate with a challenge. Conclusions In rats infected with the DNA vaccine and inactivated vaccine, a significant increase in serum antibody levels was observed. In addition, the DNA vaccine provided the vaccinated rats with partial protection; however, the protective efficacy was greater than that offered by the live attenuated vaccine. This successful recombinant vaccine is immunogenic and may potentially be used as a vaccine in the future.