Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) Diversity in Prosopis cineraria (L.) Druce Under Arid Agroecosystems

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi associated with Prosopis cineraria (Khejri) were assessed for their qualitative and quantitative distribution from eight districts of Rajasthan. A total of three species of Acaulospora, one species of Entrophospora, two species of Gigaspora, twenty-one species of Glomus, seven species of Sclerocystis and three species of Scutellospora were recorded. A high diversity of AM fungi was observed and it varied at different study sites. Among these six genera, Glomus occurred most frequently. Glomus fasciculatum, Glomus aggregatum, and Glomus mosseae were found to be the most predominant AM fungi in infecting Prosopis cineraria. Acaulospora, G. fasciculatum, Sclerocystis was found in all the fields studied, while Scutellospora species were found only in few sites. A maximum of thirty-six AM fungal species were isolated and identified from Jodhpur, whereas only thirteen species were found from Jaisalmer. Spores of Glomus fasciculatum were found to be most abundant under Prosopis cineraria.     

促进竹房屋系统及近期发展

竹房屋系统的建造与实用建筑的方法有很大的区别。（1）原竹的利用和构架橡子作为主要的承载元素。（2）劈蔑竹和竹片胶合作为剪切壁，它能起到透风的作用，并能为其结构提供整体的稳定性；（3）根据危害和公共条件的程度作适当的竹子防腐处理;（4）在屋顶结构上，用于承载的接合点与软钢螺丝相结用于竹子的三角架;（5）竹席皱纹片用于顶部的包层。根据房屋的设计、内部的修饰和当地的条件，建造房屋时可采用低成本，在印度,每张板的价格为300～500卢比／m^2。为了改进技术，印度胶合板工业研究与培训所近几年修建了几个样板建筑。活动房的具体建筑、创新理念以及观点在本文进行了阐述。     

Variability in cone,seed and seedling characteristics of Pinus kesiya Royle ex. Gordon

Investigations were made to determine the nature and extent of variations present for 10 morphological characters of cone,seed and seedlings of 17 plus trees(PTs)of Pinus kesiya growing in eastern Himalayas(Meghalaya state) of India.The significant variations has been observed in cone weight,cone length,cone diameter,seed length,seed diameter,seed weight,number of seeds per cone,seed germination,seedling height and seedling collar diameter among different PTs of the species.Significant positive correlation(p \ 0.01) between seed weight,cone length and cone diameter showed that seed weight in P.kesiya depend more on the cone size.Seed germination is found positively correlated(p \ 0.01) with seed weight,seed diameter,cone size and number of seeds per cone in the study.Among geographical factors,latitude and altitude are found positively correlated(p \ 0.05) with cone weight and seed diameter,respectively.The genetic parameters for seed,cone and seedlings of PTs of P.kesiya also showed a wide range of variability in terms of variance,coefficient of variability,broad sense heritability,genetic advance and genetic gain.Seed weight,seeds per cone and seedling diameter showed high heritability values([75) coupled with maximum genetic gain.Traits with such values indicate the presence of good amount of heritable additive components and are under strong genetic control.The findings of the study revealed that PTs expressed both phenotypic and genotypic differences in the seed,cone and seedling characters,which may be attributed to the differences in genetic makeup of various PTs and environmental factors i.e.genotypic and environmental interaction.The presence of high variability in P.kesiya PTs for different characters provide further opportunities to improve the population in subsequent generations so as to establish this species as an important timber tree to be grown on less fertile and degraded soils in its distributional ranges.     

Cutaneous infection associated with Staphylococcus hyicus in cattle

Forty-seven Staphylococcus hyicus strains, one each from 47 of 81 cattle examined, were isolated from cutaneous lesions on different parts of the body. Nineteen of the strains were isolated in pure culture and the rest were isolated in association with either other staphylococci or microfilariae or mange mites. Three out of 10 representative strains produced cutaneous lesions when inoculated intradermally into rabbits.     

Mapping quantitative trait loci associated with grain filling duration and grain number under terminal heat stress in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Terminal heat stress has the potential negative impact on wheat production across the world, especially in South Asia. Under the threat of terminal heat stress, wheat genotypes with stay green trait would suffer from high temperature stress during their long grain filling duration (GFD). The genotypes with short GFD would be advantageous. To identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) for heat tolerance, a RIL population of K 7903 (heat tolerant) and RAJ 4014 (heat sensitive) wheat genotypes was investigated under timely and late‐sown conditions. Heat susceptibility index of GFD, yield components and traits under late‐sown condition were used as phenotypic data for QTL identification. Stable QTLs associated with these traits were identified on chromosomes 1B, 2B, 3B, 5A and 6B. The LOD value ranged from 2.9 to 5.0 and the corresponding phenotyping variation explained ranged from 12.0–22%. QTL for heat susceptibility index for the grain filling duration were colocalized with QTL for productive tillers under late sown and GFD under late‐sown condition on chromosomes 1B and 5A, respectively. These genomic regions could be exploited for molecular wheat breeding programmes targeting heat tolerance.     

Evaluation of insecticides against aphids (Myzus persicae Sulzer) and caterpillars (spodoptera litura [f.]) on tobacco in Karnataka State (India)

0.02% a.i. dicrotophos and dimethoate, 0.025% a.i. demeton-S-methyl, thiometon, chlorfenvinphos and methomyl, and 0.03% a.i. phosphamidon were evaluated in the field for control of aphids (Myzus persicae Sulzer) infesting tobacco. All the insecticides were effective but chlorfenvinphos and methomyl were inferior to the rest. 0.03% and 0.06% a.i. endosulfan and trichlorfon, 0.05% and 0.1% a.i. carbaryl, and 0.025% and 0.05% a.i. methomyl were evaluated in the field for control of caterpillars ofSpodoptera litura (F.) defoliating tobacco. Nearly all the insecticides were effective and carbaryl and trichlorfon gave satisfactory control even at the lower concentrations tested.     

Impact of in-season split application of nitrogen on intra-panicle grain dynamics,grain quality,and vegetative indices that govern nitrogen use efficiency in sorghum

Background

The correct rate and timing of nitrogen (N) has the potential to improve sorghum productivity through modified grain yield components and quality. The impacts of in-season split application of N have little documentation.

Aim

An experiment was conducted to determine the optimum rate and timing of N to relate vegetative indices that govern nitrogen use efficiency and to maximize grain yield and quality under different soil types.

Methods

Pioneer 86P20 was grown in three environments on two different soil types following a completely randomized block design with nine N application treatments. Treatments included differing N rates applied at critical developmental stages of sorghum (planting, panicle initiation, and booting), accompanied with high temporal aerial phenotyping.

Results

Opportunities to increase grain protein content while using split N applications were observed, with panicle initiation identified as a critical developmental stage. In-season split application of N enhances grain yield under low soil mineral N. Split application of 31 kg N ha⁻¹ each at the time of planting, panicle initiation, and booting emerged as optimum N treatment to increase protein content in sorghum. Vegetative indices, that is, normalized difference vegetation index and normalized difference red edge index are capable of predicting grain yield and protein content, respectively. Intra-panicle grain numbers and weights were altered significantly at different portions within panicles, with an opportunity to enhance yield potential at the bottom portion. The strong stay-green trait in this hybrid locked a large proportion of nitrogen in the leaves, which warrants the need for balancing stay-green and senescence in sorghum improvement programs.

Conclusions

Findings highlight that in grain sorghum remobilization of residual leaf N into grain is a target to increase yield and grain quality. An optimized stay-green trait balanced with senescence is recommended for enhancing sorghum yield potential.