An economic evaluation of alternative pix application strategies for cotton production using GOSSYM/COMAX

The plant growth regulator pix (mepiquat chloride) is used extensively throughout the USA cotton belt to control excessive plant growth and to enhance early crop maturity in cotton production. Economic returns from pix use can vary greatly across different production environments. This study evaluates the economic returns to dryland cotton obtained from 12 different pix application strategies under two different soil types (Bosket sandy loam and Dundee silty clay loam) and three different weather conditions (normal, cold-wet, and hot-dry) in the Mississippi delta using simulated output from the GOSSYM/COMAX cotton management system. The most profitable pix application strategies varied by soil type. Also, economic returns were larger when using different pix application strategies for different weather conditions as opposed to using one pix application strategy for all weather conditions.     

Measurements of the equation of state of deuterium at the fluid insulator-metal transition

A high-intensity laser was used to shock-compress liquid deuterium to pressures from 22 to 340 gigapascals. In this regime deuterium is predicted to transform from an insulating molecular fluid to an atomic metallic fluid. Shock densities and pressures, determined by radiography, revealed an increase in compressibility near 100 gigapascals indicative of such a transition. Velocity interferometry measurements, obtained by reflecting a laser probe directly off the shock front in flight, demonstrated that deuterium shocked above 55 gigapascals has an electrical conductivity characteristic of a liquid metal and independently confirmed the radiography.     

Localization of metastable atom beams with optical standing waves: nanolithography at the heisenberg limit

The spatially dependent de-excitation of a beam of metastable argon atoms, traveling through an optical standing wave, produced a periodic array of localized metastable atoms with position and momentum spreads approaching the limit stated by the Heisenberg uncertainty principle. Silicon and silicon dioxide substrates placed in the path of the atom beam were patterned by the metastable atoms. The de-excitation of metastable atoms upon collision with the surface promoted the deposition of a carbonaceous film from a vapor-phase hydrocarbon precursor. The resulting patterns were imaged both directly and after chemical etching. Thus, quantum-mechanical steady-state atom distributions can be used for sub-0.1-micrometer lithography.     

Sulfur mineralization in two soils amended with organic manures,crop residues,and green manures

The mineralization of sulfur (S) was investigated in a Vertisol and an Inceptisol amended with organic manures, green manures, and crop residues. Field‐moist soils amended with 10 g kg^—1 of organic materials were mixed with glass beads, placed in pyrex leaching tubes, leached with 0.01 M CaCl₂ to remove the mineral S and incubated at 30 °C. The leachates were collected every fortnight for 16 weeks and analyzed for SO₄‐S. The amount of S mineralized in control and in manure‐amended soils was highest in the first week and decreased steadily thereafter. The total S mineralized in amended soils varied considerably depending on the type of organic materials incorporated and soil used. The cumulative amounts of S mineralized in amended soils ranged from 6.98 mg S (kg soil)^—1 in Inceptisol amended with wheat straw to 34.38 mg S (kg soil)^—1 in Vertisol amended with farmyard manure (FYM). Expressed as a percentage of the S added to soils, the S mineralized was higher in FYM treated soils (63.5 to 67.3 %) as compared to poultry manure amended soils (60.5 to 62.3 %). Similarly the percentage of S mineralization from subabul (Leucaena leucocephala) loppings was higher (53.6 to 55.5 %) than that from gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium) loppings (50.3 to 51.1 %). Regression analysis clearly indicated the dependence of S mineralization on the C : S ratio of the organic materials added to soil. The addition of organic amendments resulted in net immobilization of S when the C : S ratio was above 290:1 in Vertisol and 349:1 in Inceptisol. The mineralizable S pool (S_o) and first‐order rate constant (k) varied considerably among the different types of organic materials added and soil. The S_o values of FYM treated soils were higher than in subabul, gliricidia, and poultry manure treated soils.     

Combining ability for rancidity and associated traits in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum)

Pearl millet occupies an important place in attaining nutritional security in marginal areas; however, as it develops off-flavours, it is less preferred by food industry. The objective of the current study was to determine the variations in rancidity-related traits and estimate the combining ability of inbreds and hybrids for these traits under varied environmental conditions. In this study, 32 hybrids were developed from eight lines and four testers using line × tester mating design and evaluated along with parents and checks 86M86 and HHB 67 for yield and rancidity-associated traits in three environments. The hybrids L7T2 and L6T1 are identified as promising hybrids for grain yield and rancidity. Higher variance due to specific combining ability and predictability ratio for grain yield and rancidity-associated characters indicate the predominance of non-additive gene action. The tester T1 recorded a significant negative GCA effect with low alcoholic acidity. A significant and positive SCA for grain yield was observed in L3T1 and L7T2, whereas for rancidity in L5T4. Alcoholic acidity showed a significant positive association with 1000 seed weight, lipase and lipoxygenase in parents and negative association with 1000 seed weight in hybrids.     

Morph-physiological responses of cotton interspecific chromosome substitution lines to low temperature and drought stresses

Limited knowledge about genetic and physiological traits associated with drought and low temperature stresses and narrow genetic diversity in Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) are serious impediments in its genetic improvement. The objectives of this research were to determine the genetic and physiological traits associated with drought and low temperature effects and to identify chromosomal effects on these traits using chromosome substitution (CS) lines from three alien species of Gossypium, G. barbadense, G. tomentosum, and G. mustelinum, respectively. Two experiments were conducted to study low temperature and drought stress effects during seedling emergence and early growth stages in 21 cotton CS-lines with parent, Texas Marker (TM)-1. In Experiment I, plants were grown at optimum (30/22 °C) and low (22/14 °C) temperature conditions under optimum water and nutrient conditions. In Experiment II, plants were grown at optimum water (soil moisture content of 0.167 m³ m^?3) and in drought (soil moisture content 0.105 m³ m^?3) conditions under optimum temperature conditions. Above- and below-ground growth traits including several root traits of the CS lines were assessed at 25 days after sowing. The findings suggest which substituted chromosome or chromosome segment from the alien species likely harbors one or more genes for higher and lower tolerance to low temperature, respectively. CS-T04 and CSB08sh showed higher and lower tolerance to low temperature, respectively and CS-T04 and CS-B22sh showed higher and lower tolerance, respectively, to drought. CS lines are valuable analytical tool and useful genetic resources for targeted exploitation of beneficial genes for drought and low temperature stresses in Upland cotton.     

Seasonal critical concentration and relationships of leaf phosphorus and potassium status with biomass and yield traits of soybean

Analysis of uppermost fully expanded leaves is useful to detect a deficiency of mineral nutrients such as phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in soybean. Although, the leaf P or K status aids in fertilizer management, information on nutrient seasonal relationships with growth and yield traits at maturity are limited. To investigate this, soybean was grown under varying P or K nutrition under ambient and elevated CO₂ concentrations. Results show significant relationships of the relative total biomass and yield‐related traits with the foliar P and K concentrations measured several times in the season across CO₂ levels. However, the relationships established earlier in the season showed that the growth period between 25 and 37 d after planting (DAP), representing the beginning of flowering and pod, respectively, is the best for leaf sampling to determine the foliar P or K status. The leaf P and K status as well as the critical leaf P (CLPC) and K (CLKC) concentrations for traits such as seed yield peaked around 30 DAP (R2 stage) and tended to decline thereafter with the plant age. The CLPC and CLKC of seed yield indicate that the leaf P and K concentration of at least 2.74 mg g^?1 and 19.06 mg g^?1, respectively, in the uppermost fully expanded leaves are needed between 25 and 37 DAP for near‐optimum soybean yield. Moreover, the greatest impact of P and K deficiency occurred for the traits that contribute the most to the soybean yield (e.g., relative total biomass, seed yield, pod and seed numbers), while traits such as seed number per pod, seed size, and shelling percentages were the least affected and showed smaller leaf critical concentration. The CLPC or CLKC for biomass and seed yield was greater under elevated CO₂ 24–25 DAP but varied thereafter. These results are useful to researchers and farmers to understand the dynamics of the relationship of pre‐harvest leaf P and K status with soybean productivity at maturity, and in the determination of suitable growth stage to collect leaf samples.     

Assessment of the Nutritive,Biochemical, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Potential of Eight Tropical Macro algae Along Kachchh Coast,India as Human Food Supplements

Eight tropical marine macro algae were investigated for in-vitro antioxidant, antibacterial, and biochemical properties. The moisture content [% DW (dry weight)] ranged from 7.21 to 14.72%; ash, 24.92 to 47.04%; lipids, 0.73 to 2.67%; protein, 4.56 to 12.59%; and carbohydrate, 30.1 to 48.51%. The % sum of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) ranged from 21.71 to 78.22%, while omega-6/omega-3 (ω6/ω3) ratio was from 0 to 2.08, which remained within the prescribed World Health Organization (WHO) standards (<10). The % sum of essential amino acids (EAAs) ranged from 86.18 to 204.66, and Na/K ratio ranged from 0.37 to 2.85. The extracts exhibited significant (P < 0.05) values for total phenol (7.25–16.0 µg PGE mg^–1 DW) and total flavonoid (4.06–15.63 µg QE mg^–1 DW) at 200 µg/ml. Antibacterial activity was tested against the selected food spoilage and pathogenic bacteria. The principal component analysis (PCA) confirmed a positive correlation between total phenolic content, 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activities, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), which supports the integration of seaweeds as ingredients in functional foods.     

Genetic diversity and population structure of Indian melon (Cucumis melo L.) landraces with special reference to disease and insect resistance loci

This study was aimed to examine the genetic diversity and population structure of Indian melon landraces with special reference to disease and insect resistance loci. Thirty‐six simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers along with seven markers at disease and insect resistance loci were used for this purpose on a panel of 91 accessions available at Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru, India. Model‐based structure analysis revealed the presence of four groups that were consistent with the results of principal coordinate analysis (PCoA). The delineation of populations was mostly based on geography with improved varieties as a separate group. Ten accessions have been identified to possess beneficial alleles at all the selected disease resistance loci and shall be useful for incorporating multiple disease resistance after phenotypic validation. The results obtained in the current study demonstrate the importance of the Indian melon group as a valuable genetic reservoir and the need to plan strategies for its conservation and utilization in breeding programmes.     

Evaluation of Differential Pore-Volume Distribution (DPVD) Patterns of Porous Clinoptilolite Fractions

Analysis of differential pore-volume distribution (DPVD) patterns of a commercial Clinoptilolite has been conducted experimentally using an analyzer by measuring the N₂ adsorption isotherm. The commercial material was fractionated by sieving through sequential sieves: <125 µ (Z8; fine), 125–250 µ (Z9; medium), and >250 µ (Z10; coarse). The DPVD of the fractions were calculated from the hysteresis loop according to the adsorption and desorption curves of Dollimore-Heal (DH) model. The adsorption cycle had produced dissimilar differential pore volume distribution patterns. For the 10-nm pore width, fine and medium fractions had a maximum pore volume up to 0.0016 cm³/g nm, while the coarse fraction had a little greater value up to 0.002 cm³/g nm. Moreover, the medium fraction had too many hills and valleys in the DPVD. However, the desorption cycle–based DH analysis did not show any marked variation in the DPVD pattern.