Genetics of hyperpigmentation associated with the Fibromelanosis gene (Fm) and analysis of growth and meat quality traits in crosses of native Indian Kadaknath chickens and non-indigenous breeds

1. The study investigated the extent of hyperpigmentation (a trait fixed in native Indian Kadaknath chickens), bodyweight, carcase quality and leanness at 12 weeks of age in F(1) and back-crosses of Kadaknath with White Leghorn, White Plymouth Rock and Aseel Peela chickens. 2. The objective of the study was to determine if hyperpigmentation was affected by the major gene Fibromelanosis (Fm) and to evaluate the effects of different proportions of Kadaknath genes on growth and carcase quality. 3. The pigmentation pattern of skin indicated that Fm behaved as the primary locus affecting dermal-hyperpigmentation and that the sex-linked Id locus produced an epistatic effect. 4. The results suggested that variable allelic forms of Id were acting in different crosses, which resulted in variation in melanosis of the host. However, no conclusive pattern for shank pigmentation could be explained through genotyping of the Id and Fm loci. 5. Analysis of quantitative traits indicated the positive impact of a Kadaknath genomic proportion of 50% or more on meat texture and carcase leanness. Improvement in leanness occurred in White Rock crosses but not in White Leghorn and Aseel Peela crosses. 6. Thigh-meat texture was influenced more by enhanced Kadaknath genomic proportions than the breast-meat. It was concluded that introgression of Kadaknath genomic proportion beyond 50% in a cross with meat-type chickens, irrespective of the impact Fm, brought improvement in meat quality whereas no such advantage was obtained for growth traits. 7. The beneficial impact of the Kadaknath genome on meat quality calls for further studies to identify causative genes for their selective use to improve meat quality in Kadaknath crossbred chickens.     

Molecular detection of important abortion-causing microorganisms in preputial swab of breeding bucks using PCR-based assays

Infectious diseases and aetiological agents related to female reproductive systems were extensively covered compared to its male counterpart. There needs a proper study to bridge this gap, where microflora and infectious agents of both male and female reproductive are mutually intelligible. With this study, we aimed to evaluate the microbial contamination of the preputial cavity and also screened for abortion-causing agents which are zoonotic as well. In goats, such types of abortions are caused by Brucella melitensis, Chlamydophila, Campylobacter and Coxiella etc. One of the major sources of contamination of semen is the preputial cavity, which is exposed to the external environment leading to spread of infection into the female via semen straws or by natural service. In the current study, good quality bucks (n = 32, Barbari = 12, Jamunapari = 10, Jakhrana = 10) which were routinely used for semen collection were screened for their preputial swabs, for the presence of the above pathogens. For detection of Brucella melitensis, OMP31 based TaqMan® probe real-time PCR assay was used, and for Chlamydia, 16srRNA gene based SYBR® green real-time PCR assay was employed for detection of Chlamydophila abortus. While for Campylobacter spp. and Coxiella burnetii, 16srRNA gene based conventional PCR and Trans-PCR were used, respectively. In the current study, of the screened preputial swabs, none of them showed positive for Brucella and Coxiella, but of the screened 32 samples 17 showed positive for Chlamydia (53.13%) and two (6.25%) showed positive for Campylobacter spp. The current study emphasizes on the farms and laboratories which were regularly involved in screening of brucellosis also often overlook the other potential non-brucella pathogens, causing abortions eventually incurring severe economic losses to the goat keepers.     

Morphological and physiological responses of rice roots and shoots to varying water regimes and soil microbial densities

To understand the responses of rice roots and shoots to non-continuously-flooded soil–water regimes together with varied levels of soil microbial density, studies were conducted evaluating three different water regimes: intermittent flooding (IF) through the vegetative stage (IF-V), IF extended into the reproductive stage (IF-R), and soil maintained with no standing water (NSW); and three levels of soil microbial density: normal, reduced (autoclaved), and enhanced (EMS). At flowering, EMS-treated plants were found to have increased root-length density and greater root oxidizing activity rates under both IF-V and IF-R and more available soil nitrogen (ASN) under IF-V. Earlier senescence of plants grown with EMS was also observed under all water treatments. Water regime was seen to have a major effect on grain yield with a number of causal mechanisms involved. Significant relationships were observed between root oxidizing activity rate (ROA) and ASN, and between ROA and the chlorophyll content of lower leaves. The EMS effects were apparently not caused by microorganisms directly, but rather by differences in ASN facilitated by interaction between water regime and soil microbial activity. The latter would probably vary with different levels of soil organic carbon, but this additional parameter was not investigated. Further study on the role of soil organic matter under similar conditions is warranted for better understanding of these relationships, which have significant effects on rice grain yield.     

Synergistic effect of inoculating plant growth-promoting Pseudomonas spp. and Rhizobium leguminosarum-FB1 on growth and nutrient uptake of rajmash (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) Pseudomonas lurida-NPRp15 and Pseudomonas putida-PGRs4 possessing multiple plant growth-promoting traits were isolated from rhizoplane of pea and rhizosphere of garlic, respectively. The effects of individuals and combinations of Pseudomonas spp. with effective root nodulating symbiotic nitrogen fixing Rhizobium leguminosarum-FB1 on plant growth, nutrient uptake and yield of the rajmash plant were studied under greenhouse conditions. Bacterial inoculation resulted in significantly higher values for plant dry biomass, N, P, K, Zn and Fe contents as compared to the uninoculated control. Furthermore, dual inoculation of P. lurida-NPRp15 with R. leguminosarum-FB1 significantly increased root and shoot dry weight, nodulation, nutrient uptake, pod yield, and nutrient content of pods of rajmash VL63 compared to controls, single and triple inoculation. The results of the study indicate the potential of harnessing the benefit of plant growth-promoting and nitrogen-fixing microorganisms to improve the growth and yield of rajmash.     

Impact of Supplemental Calcium Chloride on Yield,Quality, Nutrient Status,and Postharvest Attributes of Tomato

Little is known regarding the impact of calcium chloride applications during growth and development on tomato postharvest quality. This trial investigated supplemental calcium chloride applications on yield, nutrient content, texture, and postharvest quality of tomato fruit. Calcium (Ca) nutrient solution concentrations were: 60, 180, and 360 mg·L^?1 calcium, while foliar applications were (0, 1, and 2% calcium chloride w/v). Plants grown with 60 mg·L^?1 Ca had a high incidence of blossom end rot, which was not affected by calcium chloride sprays. Fruit nutrient concentrations were affected by calcium delivered through the nutrient solution. As fruit cluster position increased, fruit nutrient concentrations significantly decreased. Foliar calcium chloride sprays affected fruit soluble solids content and dry weight, but did not affect texture. Pericarp elasticity increased concomitantly with calcium in the nutrient solution. Postharvest disease incidence was not affected by calcium treatment, though weight loss during storage was negatively affected by calcium chloride sprays.     

Comparative analysis of mechanical properties of size film. I. Performance of individual size materials

Starch has been the most popular and economic size material. Synthetic binders have also been developed to be used as size material to improve weaving loom efficiency. Some synthetic size materials have got restrictions in use mainly because of ecological reasons. In the recent years, many modifications have come up in the starch as a sizing agent. Different modification can give different properties, which can be suited for a particular application. In the present study, for comparative analysis of different varieties of natural starch, modified starch and synthetic size material have been evaluated and mechanical properties like cohesion power, adhesion power, abrasion resistance, bending rigidity etc. were studied. PVA shows best properties among all size material. Among modified starch, starch ester shows better properties.     

Antibacterial Activity of 2-(2′,4′-Dibromophenoxy)-4,6-dibromophenol from Dysidea granulosa

2-(2′,4′-Dibromophenoxy)-4,6-dibromophenol isolated from the marine sponge Dysidea granulosa (Bergquist) collected off the coast of Lakshadweep islands, Indian Ocean, exhibited potent and broad spectrum in-vitro antibacterial activity, especially against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), vancomycin resistant Enterococci (VRE), vancomycin sensitive Enterococci (VSE) and Bacillus spp. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was evaluated against 57 clinical and standard strains of Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. The observed MIC range was 0.117–2.5 μg/mL against all the Gram positive bacteria and 0.5–2 μg/mL against Gram negative bacteria. The in-vitro antibacterial activity observed was better than that of the standard antibiotic linezolid, a marketed anti-MRSA drug. The results establish 2-(2′,4′-dibromophenoxy)-4,6-dibromophenol, as a potential lead molecule for anti-MRSA and anti-VRE drug development.     

Reproductive stage tolerance to salinity and alkalinity stresses in rice genotypes

Salinity and alkalinity (sodicity) seriously threaten rice production in south Asia. Improving screening methodologies for identifying sources of tolerance is crucial for breeding salt tolerant rices. Rice genotypes of varying tolerance (tolerant, semi‐tolerant and sensitive) were screened in saline soil of electrical conductivity, ECe 4 and 8 dS/m and alkali soil of pH 9.5 and 9.8 in lysimeters. Vegetative growth events were less affected by both the stresses in comparison to reproductive stage. Grain yield was reduced by 26.7%, 45.7% and 50.3% at ECe 8 dS/m in three tolerance groups respectively. At pH 9.8 the reduction was 25.1%, 37.2% and 67.6% in the three groups respectively. Higher floret fertility contributed to higher seed set and grain yields in tolerant genotypes whereas higher spikelet sterility led to poor seed set and lower grain yields in sensitive genotypes. The 1000 grains weight was also significantly reduced at ECe 4 or pH 9.8. Screening at reproductive stage for morphological traits like floret fertility is thus more useful to identify rice genotypes tolerant to both salinity and alkalinity stress. Genotypic (G) and environmental (E) effects and GE interactions were highly significant for the growth attributes and grain yield. Based on analysis of variance, genotypes tolerant to salinity and alkalinity as well to both the stresses were identified.     

Sweet-potato productivity as affected by recurrent use of vines as planting-material

Yield performances of apical shoot cuttings of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) obtained from crops raised 2 or 4 times recurrently through vines, were compared with those obtained from tubers. The recurrent use of vines as planting-material did not show any marked variation in market-grade tuber yield, but it significantly decreased vine yield and increased weevil infestation in tubers. Cultivars ‘Cross-4’, ‘RS-5’ differed significantly in performance