Real-time nitrogen management in aerobic rice by adopting leaf color chart (LCC) as influenced by silicon

Leaf color chart (LCC) guides fertilizer nitrogen (N) application to rice as per requirement of the crop on the basis of a critical leaf color. Two field experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of silicon (Si) and LCC based N management in aerobic rice. Following LCC-based N management, from 60 to 90 kg N ha^?1 and 75 to 100 kg N ha^?1 with 10–40% and 25–30% less fertilizer N was used without any reduction in yield as compared to the package of practices of 100 (50 kg N ha^?1 as basal + two split of 25 kg N ha^?1) kg N ha^?1 respectively, during both the seasons. The highest grain yield was noticed with 90 kg N ha^?1 (30 kg N ha^?1 as basal + LCC-3) and 100 kg N ha^?1 (50 kg N ha^?1 as basal + two split of 25 kg N ha^?1) along with the application of calcium silicate (CaSiO₃) at 2 t ha^?1 as sources of Si and on par with 60 kg N ha^?1 (no basal + LCC-3) and 75 kg N ha^?1 (30 kg N ha^?1 as basal + LCC-3), respectively, during the season in 2008 and 2009. Higher fertilizer N use efficiency was recorded with Si and need-based N management using LCC-3 rather than recommended dose of fertilizer N.     

Insecticidal natural products: new rocaglamide derivatives from Aglaia roxburghiana

An Erratum for this article has been published in Pest Management Science 56(5) 493 (2000). In the course of the screening for novel, naturally occurring pesticides from the plant family Meliaceae, an extract of the stem bark of Aglaia roxburghiana was found to exhibit significant insecticidal activity. In addition to rocaglamide, a known insecticide isolated from several species of the genus Aglaia, 15 new natural products were isolated from this plant. Isolation and structure elucidation of the natural products is described. The outstanding insecticidal activities of some of the compounds as well as a structure–activity relationship study are presented. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Study of anti-inflammatory,analgesic and antipyretic activities of seeds of Hyoscyamus niger and isolation of a new coumarinolignan

A chemical and biological validation of the traditional use of Hyoscyamus niger seeds as anti-inflammatory drug has been established. The methanolic extract of seeds of H. niger (MHN) was evaluated for its analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities in experimental animal models at different doses. MHN produced significant increase in hot plate reaction time, while decreasing writhing response in a dose-dependent manner indicating its analgesic activity. It was also effective in both acute and chronic inflammation evaluated through carrageenin-induced paw oedema and cotton pellet granuloma methods. In addition to its analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity, it also exhibited antipyretic activity in yeast-induced pyrexia model. Furthermore, the bioactive MHN under chemical investigation showed the presence of coumarinolignans as major chemical constituent and yielded a new coumarinolignan, cleomiscosin A methyl ether (1) along with four known coumarinolignans, cleomiscosin A (2), cleomiscosin B (3), cleomiscosin A-9′-acetate (4) and cleomiscosin B-9′-acetate (5). The structure elucidation of 1 was done by spectroscopic data interpretation and comparative HPLC analysis. Cleomiscosin A, but not its isomer cleomiscosin B, reduced dry and wet weight of cotton pellet granuloma in mice. This suggests that cleomiscosin A is an important constituent of MHN responsible for anti-inflammatory activity.     

SOME DELETERIOUS EFFECTS OF LONG-TERM SALT STRESS ON GROWTH,NUTRITION, AND PHYSIOLOGY OF GERBERA (GERBERA JAMESONII L.) AND POTENTIAL INDICATORS OF ITS SALT TOLERANCE

Tolerance of gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii L.) to long-term sodium chloride (NaCl) salt stress was evaluated by subjecting plants to 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 mM NaCl levels for ten weeks. Increased NaCl led to a significant decrease in leaf and stem biomass. Salt stress significantly affected sodium (Na⁺), potassium (K⁺) concentrations in leaves, stems and roots leading to sharp declines in K⁺/Na⁺ ratios. Magnesium concentrations in stems and roots also showed significant declines. Adverse effect of salt stress on chlorophyll content was also significant. Proline seemed less effective in osmotic adjustment under long-term high salt stress. Switching from vegetative to reproductive growth phase was crucial for certain physiological functions. Leaf Na⁺ concentration showed significant correlation with important traits. These data suggest that NaCl threshold level in irrigation water for gerbera is around 10 mM. Leaf fresh weight, chlorophyll content and leaf K⁺/Na⁺ ratio are promising indicators of salt-sensitivity of gerbera.     

Effect of Genotype and Growth Temperature on Sorghum Grain Physical Characteristics,Polyphenol Content,and Antioxidant Activity

This paper reports how genotype and growth temperature affect the physical characteristics and polyphenol content in sorghum grains. Two day/night temperature regimes, 32/21 and 38/21°C, were used to grow six sorghum genotypes (CCH1, CCH2, AQL33/QL36, Ai4, PI563516, and IS 8525). The physical characteristics (hardness, weight, and diameter) of sorghum grain and their free, bound, and total polyphenol contents were determined. Grain antioxidant activity was evaluated by 2,2′‐azinobis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) diammonium salt and 2‐2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl assays. The results indicate that the weight and diameter of the sorghum kernels were significantly increased in all genotypes except for CCH1, under higher temperature, whereas kernel hardness decreased. Genotype had a significant influence polyphenol content (IS 8525 about four times higher than PI563516 under optimum temperature) and antioxidant activity, but temperature did not, with the exception of IS 8525 in which polyphenol content (reduced by about 10%) and antioxidant activity were lower at the high temperature. Polyphenol content was strongly positively correlated with antioxidant activity. This research provides valuable information on the properties of different sorghum genotypes under expected future increased temperatures that may be of value for varietal selection for specific end use.     

Real-time, volatile-detection-assisted control for microwave drying

A real-time, volatile-detection-assisted control system was designed for microwave drying. Detected volatile signals were integrated to a fuzzy logic algorithm to determine the drying temperature. A phase controller was used to automatically and continuously adjust the microwave power. A data acquisition unit with developed program was employed to integrate the entire control. Carrot samples were used in system tests. The results showed that the designed system could successfully achieve the desired temperature, power, and volatiles control and lead to acceptable product's quality.     

Dynamic viscoelastic, calorimetric and dielectric characteristics of wheat protein isolates

Dynamic oscillatory rheology of two wheat protein isolate (Prolite 100 and Prolite 200) doughs (≈48% moisture content, wet basis) were studied over a frequency range of 0.1–10 Hz during temperature sweep from 20 to 90 °C at a heating rate of 2 °C/min. Both doughs behaved similarly during heating; showed a threshold value and increased sharply, thereafter. Prolite 200 dough had a higher elastic modulus (G′) and lower phase angle (δ) whereas Prolite 100 showed a distinct gel point at 52.2 °C followed by significant increase up to 90 °C. Rheological data of doughs after isothermal heating at 90 °C for 15 min followed by cooling to 20 °C resulted in strong mechanical strength. However, Prolite 100 dough showed more viscoelastic characteristics with significant transformation from liquid-like to solid-like behavior after heating than Prolite 200. Thermal analysis of isolates indicated distinct endothermic peaks in wider temperature range (50–130 °C) at various moisture levels. Lower temperatures could be associated with denaturation of various fractions of proteins whereas higher temperature linked to glass transition temperature of isolates. SDS–PAGE did not show any clear distinction among protein subunits between two isolates. Dielectric measurements of isolates at frequencies from 500 to 3000 MHz and temperature range between 30 and 80 °C indicated Prolite 200 had higher dielectric constant (ε′) and loss factor (ε″) than Prolite 100. Isolates showed significant changes in dielectric properties above 50 °C indicating protein denaturation and supported rheological and calorimetric data.     

Compositional analysis and rheological properties of gum kondagogu (Cochlospermum gossypium): a tree gum from India

Gum kondagogu ( Cochlospermum gossypium) is a tree exudate gum that belongs to the family Bixaceae. Compositional analysis of the gum by HPLC and LC-MS revealed uronic acids to be the major component of the polymer ( approximately 26 mol %). Furthermore, analysis of the gum by GC-MS indicated the presence of sugars such as arabinose (2.52 mol %), mannose (8.30 mol %), alpha- d-glucose (2.48 mol %), beta- d-glucose (2.52 mol %), rhamnose (12.85 mol %), galactose (18.95 mol %), d-glucuronic acid (19.26 mol %), beta- d-galactouronic acid (13.22 mol %), and alpha- d-galacturonic acid (11.22 mol %). Gum kondagogu, being rich in rhamnose, galactose, and uronic acids, can be categorized on the basis of its sugar composition as a rhamnogalacturonan type of gum. The rheological measurements performed on the gum suggest that above 0.6% (w/v) it shows a Newtonian behavior and shear rate thinning behavior as a function of gum concentration. The viscoelastic behavior of gum kondagogu solutions (1 and 2%) in aqueous as well as in 100 mM NaCl solution exhibits a typical gel-like system. The G' (viscous modulus)/ G' (elastic modulus) ratios of native gum kondagogu (1 and 2%) in aqueous solution were found to be 1.89 and 1.85 and those in 100 mM NaCl to be 1.54 and 2.2, respectively, suggesting a weak gel-like property of the polymer. Crossover values of G' and G' were observed to be at frequencies of 0.432 Hz for 1% and 1.2 Hz for 2% for native gum in aqueous condition, indicating a predominantly liquid- to solid-like behavior, whereas crossover values of 2.1 Hz for 1% and 1.68 Hz for 2% gum in 100 mM NaCl solution suggest a larger elastic contribution.     

Retrieval of rice crop growth variables using multi-temporal RISAT-1 remotely sensed data

Microwave remote sensing sensors have great potential due to their capability to operate in any weather condition for the wide range of agricultural applications. The rice crop variables such as leaf area index (LAI) and plant height (PH) were retrieved for the monitoring of crop growth to improve crop production. The interaction of rice crop variables with medium spatial resolution (25 m) Radar Imaging Satellite-1 (RISAT-1) data for Varanasi district, India, was examined. The multi-temporal dual polarization (HH- and HV-) images having frequency 5.35 GHz at C-band were investigated. Crop growth profile derived from the analysis of temporal backscattering (July–October, 2013) showed 3–4 dB difference throughout its growth cycle. The rice crop variables were retrieved by the inversion of polynomial models and showed higher values of coefficient of determination (R²) for HH-polarization in comparison to HV-polarization.