Duration of Anthelmintic Effect of Three Formulations of Ivermectin (Oral,Injectable and Pour-on) Against Multiple Anthelmintic-Resistant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Haemonchus contortus</Emphasis> in Sheep

We report the results of investigations that were conducted in a sheep flock in Uttaranchal, India where repeated failure of anthelmintic medication was noted. The study revealed that Haemonchus contortus in sheep had developed resistance to benzimidazoles (fenbendazole, mebendazole and albendazole), imidazothiazole (levamisole) and salicylanide (rafoxanide), while it was fully susceptible to avermectins (ivermectin). Further, the suppression of nematode egg output in faeces of sheep naturally infected with multiple anthelmintic-resistant H. contortus following treatment with ivermectin tablet (0.4 mg/kg body weight (bw), orally), ivermectin injection (1% w/v, 0.2 mg/kg bw, subcutaneously) and ivermectin pour-on (0.5 w/v, 0.5 mg/kg bw) was also studied over a period of 10 weeks post treatment. It was noted that ivermectin tablet after initial clearance of infection (faecal egg count reduction 100%), could not prevent establishment of new patent natural infection for even a single day, while ivermectin pour-on and injection prevented the establishment of new infection for 7 and 14 days post treatment, respectively. Maximum protection period (duration for which mean faecal egg count of sheep reaches 500 eggs per gram of faeces or more) of 68 days was recorded in sheep treated with injectable ivermectin, followed by pour-on (60 days) and oral (53 days) preparations.     

Comparative efficiency of acid phosphatase originated from plant and fungal sources

A study was conducted to demonstrate the comparative efficiency of acid phosphatase generated by plants or fungi towards the hydrolysis of different organic P compounds present in soil. The results revealed that acid phosphatases were most efficient in the hydrolysis of glycerophosphate followed by lecithin and phytin. The P release increased with increase in enzyme concentration. Acid phosphatase generated from fungal sources showed three times greater efficiency in the hydrolysis of phytin, two times greater efficiency in hydrolysis of lecithin than plant phosphatase. Both sources were at par in hydrolyzing glycerophosphate. The results suggest that acid phosphatase generated from plant and fungal sources is different and microbial acid phosphatase to be more efficient than that from plant sources.     

Fishmeal alternative from renewable CO2 for rainbow trout feed

The rapid global growth in fish farming and limited supply of fish meal (FM) has consequently reduced FM inclusion levels in compound feeds leading to a higher reliance on alternative protein sources. Sasya is a single cell protein (SCP) product that has a similar amino acid profile as FM. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of replacing FM with SCP on in vivo digestibility, growth, feed efficiency, whole‐body proximate/amino acid composition and gene expression levels of various hepatic enzymes in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Three isonitrogenous (470 g/kg crude protein) and isolipidic (18 g/kg crude lipid) diets were formulated as follows: Diet 1: control (30% FM); Diet 2:24% FM + 6% SCP and Diet 3:18% FM + 12% SCP. Each diet was hand‐fed to triplicate tanks containing 30 rainbow trout fingerlings (4.99 ± 0.20 g) for 9 weeks. Apparent digestibility coefficients of SCP for dry matter, crude protein, lipid and energy were 60, 80, 93 and 74% respectively. Growth performance (final weight: 69–71 g), feed conversion ratios (0.91–0.94) as well as whole‐body protein and amino acid composition were unaffected by diets. However, Diet 3 significantly increased whole‐body crude fat and energy. Fish fed the SCP‐based diets had significantly higher expression for carnitine palmitoyltransferase‐1b (CPT1b), fatty acid delta 6 desaturase (FADS6) and fatty acid elongase 5 compared to the control. Overall, the quality of the SCP was similar as FM. Therefore, this product could enlarge the portfolio of alternative protein sources that can be used in fish diets and thus open a new market opportunity for use of a new feed resource in the feed industry.     

Relative efficiency of fungal intra‐ and extracellular phosphatases and phytase

A comparison of intra‐ and extracellular acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase and phytase activity in six fungi is reported. A strong linear relationship between intra versus extracellular fungal acid phosphatase (R² = 0.94), alkaline phosphatase (R² = 0.96), and phytase (R² = 0.97) is observed. Three‐fourth of acid phosphatase were generally present inside the fungal cells and only 25 % were released extracellularly after a three weeks period. Phytase shows the reverse trend where thirty nine times higher extracellular phytase activity was noticed than present inside the fungal cells. The extracellular enzymes are found 60 % more efficient in the hydrolysis of phytin than their intracellular counterpart but they are at par in the hydrolysis of glycerophosphate. The results clearly demonstrated that phytase types of phosphatases mostly occur outside the fungal cells whereas most of the acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase are located inside the cells.<?show $6#>     

Agronomic evaluation of mulching and iron nutrition on productivity,nutrient uptake,iron use efficiency and economics of aerobic rice-wheat cropping system

Field experiments were carried out during rainy (kharif) and winter (rabi) seasons (June–April) of 2008–2010 at Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, to study the productivity, nutrients uptake, iron (Fe) use-efficiency and economics of aerobic rice-wheat cropping system as influenced by mulching and Fe nutrition. The highest yield attributes, grain and straw yields (5.41 tonnes ha^?1 and 6.56 tonnes ha^?1, respectively) and nutrient uptake in rice was recorded with transplanted and puddled rice (TPR) followed by aerobic rice with Sesbania aculeata mulch. However, residual effect of aerobic rice with wheat straw mulch was more pronounced on yield attributes, grain and straw yields (4.20 and 6.70 tonnes ha^?1, respectively) and nutrient uptake in succeeding wheat and remained at par with aerobic rice with Sesbania mulch. Application of iron sulfate (FeSO₄) at 50 kg ha^?1 + 2 foliar sprays of 2% FeSO₄ was found to be the best in terms of all the yield attributes, grain and straw yield (5.09 and 6.17 tonnes ha^?1, respectively) and nutrient uptake and remained at par with 3 foliar sprays of 2% FeSO₄. Although residual effect of iron application failed to increase the yield attributes, yield and nutrient uptake nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (N, P, K) except Fe. The highest system productivity, nutrient uptake, gross returns, net returns, B: C ratio and lowest cost of cultivation were recorded with aerobic rice with wheat straw and Sesbania aculeata mulch. Application of FeSO₄ at 50 kg ha^?1 + two foliar sprays of 2% FeSO₄ was found better in respect of system productivity, nutrient uptake, gross returns, net returns, B:C ratio and cost of cultivation in aerobic rice-wheat cropping system. The Fe use efficiency values viz. partial factor productivity (kg grain kg^?1 Fe), agronomic efficiency (kg grain increased kg^?1 Fe applied), agrophysiological efficiency (kg grain kg^?1 Fe uptake), physiological efficiency (kg biomass kg^?1 Fe uptake), apparent recovery (%) utilization efficiency and harvest index (%) of applied Fe were significantly affected due to methods of rice production and various Fe nutrition treatments in aerobic rice and aerobic rice-wheat cropping system.     

Effect of Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus and Trichoderma viride on soil health, yield and N-economy of sugarcane cultivation under subtropical climatic conditions of India

Intensive cropping and exhaustive nature of sugarcane–wheat–rice cropping system in the Indo-Gangetic Plains of South Asia have led to the depletion of soil organic carbon content and inherent soil fertility resulting in a serious threat to the sustainability of these production systems. Bioagents like Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus and Trichoderma viride have great potential to restore soil fertility and promote sugarcane growth. Field experiments, therefore, have been conducted to study the integrated effect of bioagents (G. diazotrophicus and T. viride), Farm Yard Manure (FYM) and fertilizer N on sugarcane rhizosphere, crop yield and N economy for two crop cycles during 2004–2006 and 2005–2007 crop seasons at Lucknow, in the middle Indo-Gangetic plain region. Both bioagents could survive and colonize sugarcane rhizosphere and FYM improved their colonization. Enhanced soil microbial population and microbial carbon (SMC) and nitrogen (SMN) with increasing N level were probably due to more available N in the soil. FYM/bioagents amendment further enhanced the microbial carbon. The uniform increase in the fraction of SMC and SMN of total organic carbon indicated that immobilization/mineralization was being maintained in the soil where enhanced microbial biomass might act later as a source of nutrients.Bioagents ammended FYM enhanced the uptake of N, P and K in sugarcane at all the levels of fertilizer N. It was mainly due to the enhanced nutrient availability in the rhizospheric soil as the soil organic C and available N, P and K content increased with the application of bioagents/FYM. A saving of 76.3 kg N ha⁻¹ was envisaged by the use of G. diazotrophicus inoculated FYM with marginal (2.4 t ha⁻¹) decline in the cane yield. Application of T. viride enriched FYM, however, brought economy in the use of fertilizer N by 45.2 kg ha⁻¹ and also increased the yield by 6.1 t ha⁻¹compared to the control treatment. Overall, strategic planning in terms of an integrated application of these bioagents/manures with fertilizer N will not only sustain soil fertility but will also benefit farmers in terms of reducing their dependence and expenditure on chemical fertilizers.     

Influence of synthetic plant growth substances on the survivorship and developmental parameters of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spilarctia obliqua</Emphasis> Walker (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae)

The nontarget effects of three plant growth stimulants (gibberellic acid, Siapton and triacontanol) and two plant growth retardants (chlormequat chloride and mepiquat chloride) on the survivorship and developmental parameters of Spilarctia obliqua Walker (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) were studied. For each compound, various concentrations (0.125×, 0.25×, 0.5×, × , 2× and 4×; × = labeled dose) bracketing the labeled dose were prepared by serial dilution and mixed with an artificial diet for the insect. Gibberellic acid caused an increase in the larval period at × − 4×, but no marked difference was observed in the pupal period or in larval survival at any concentration. Siapton induced a significant increase in larval period at the two highest doses but caused significant reduction in pest survival at × − 4×. Interestingly, triacontanol induced a significant reduction in pest survivorship at almost all doses. The LC₅₀ for triacontanol was 0.206% and LT₅₀ was 266.5 hours at the labeled dose. However, triacontanol did not cause any significant difference in larval or pupal periods at any dose tested. Chlormequat chloride and mepiquat chloride caused significant reduction of larval survivorship at concentrations higher than the labeled doses, and no effect on the larval period. Intriguingly, a significant reduction in pupal period was observed with chlormequat chloride at × and 0.25×. Based on the marked effect of triacontanol on pest survivorship, this study suggests incorporating triacontanol in integrated pest management modules for S. obliqua. Caution in the use of gibberellic acid and Siapton for pest infestations is also indicated.     

Utility of pearl millet landraces in breeding dual-purpose hybrids for arid zone environments of India

In pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.), single cross hybrids based largely on exotic germplasm, have found very limited adoption in drought-prone arid regions mainly due to their inadequate adaptation to prevalent extremely harsh agro-climatic conditions. This study tested the hypothesis that the use of restorer parents derived from adapted landrace germplasm could be an alternative strategy in developing suitable hybrids for arid regions. Forty inbred restorer lines developed from two phenotypically diverse landraces were used to develop hybrids evaluated in this study for their performance in five typical arid zone environments between 2003 and 2007. Inbred lines from both landrace populations differed significantly in their combining ability for biomass, harvest index and grain and stover yields. A larger proportion of experimental hybrids, based on selected inbred lines, significantly outperformed the commercial checks for grain and stover yields. Increase in grain and stover yields was achieved primarily due to their higher biomass productivity, with no decline in harvest index. Choice of landrace determined the relative grain and stover productivity of their hybrids. Phenotypic differences observed in parental landraces in tillering and panicle length were also visible in their respective hybrids, indicating that characteristics of landrace parental populations were transmitted in their hybrids.     

10年生府竹丛生竹的离体无性繁殖

用10年生丛生竹的节片通过离体腋笋增殖和生根产生出府竹小苗。不同季节对无菌培养物的建立、腋芽发萌和初代培养的影响很大。3片丛生林中,无菌培养物的建立有差别,但腋芽发萌没有差别。用加有31.06uM BA和2.85um IAA的MS液体介质,最大的增值率为3.18;用加有20~25um IBA MS液体介质,离体生根率为66.7~77.8%。用不同的植物生长素,生根所用的天数也不同,而IBA液能在短期促进生根,仅仅为2-3周。成功炼苗后,在装有土壤、沙子和农家肥塑料袋里,离体繁殖的小苗成活率为90%,大约有2000株小苗用于野外栽植。