The Effect of Exogenous Applications of Salicylic Acid on Drought Tolerance and Up-Regulation of the Drought Response Regulon of Iraqi Wheat

Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology - Drought is a major limiting factor of wheat production globally. In this research, salicylic acid was used in order to increase drought tolerance in...     

Efficacy of two organotin compounds and neem extract against the sorghum shoot fly

The antifeedants triphenyltin acetate and hydroxide and neem seed kernel extracts in two concentrations each, were evaluated as control measures against the sorghum shoot fly,Atherigonu varia soccata Rond. in comparison with the insecticides presently used for this purpose. The antifeedants appeared to be partially effective and were less active than the insecticides.     

Effect of botanicals on the population dynamics ofNephotettix virescens, rice tungro disease incidence and yield of rice

Leaf extracts ofVitex negundo L,Synadenium grantii Hook. f. andProsopis juliflora (SW) DC, and cake ofAzadirachta indica A. Juss. were evaluated for their efficacy in reducing the population of the green leafhopper,Nephotettix virescens (Distant), and its transmission of rice tungro virus under field conditions. All four plant species tested reduced the population of the vector significantly in both the nursery and main field. The lowest population of the vector was recorded with application of neem cake at 5 kg/0.032 ha of nursery, followed by foliar spray of neem seed kernel extract at 5% in the main field. Rice tungro disease incidence was also less in this treatment, with maximum grain yield of 3580 kg/ha in ‘Kharif’ (July-Oct.) and 3257 kg/ha in ‘Rabi’ (Nov.-March) seasons, and a cost:benefit ratio of 1:3.9 in both seasons. However, the maximum cost:benefit ratio of 1:5.6 and 1:5.8 in Kharif and Rabi seasons, respectively, was recorded withV. negundo.     

Impact of supplementing diets with propolis on productive performance,egg quality traits and some haematological variables of laying hens

One hundred and twenty eight, 28‐weeks‐old Lohmann LSL hybrid layers were used in this experiment, which lasted 12 weeks to investigate the effect of propolis supplementation on the productive performance, egg quality traits and haematological variables of laying hens. All hens were randomly classified into four equal experimental groups, eight replicates (4 birds/each). Hens in group 1 were fed on a commercial diet and considered as control group, while those in groups 2, 3 and 4 were fed on the same commercial diet and supplemented with 250, 500 and 1000 mg propolis/kg diet. The obtained results revealed that daily feed consumption/hen increased insignificantly with increasing propolis level than that of the control group. Regarding the means of egg mass and egg production rate, it was observed that the laying hens fed diets containing 250 and 1000 mg propolis/kg significantly (p < 0.05) produced more and heaver egg in comparison with control group. External egg quality traits have not affected with increasing the level of propolis, while eggshell weight was significantly (p < 0.05) increased. The internal egg quality traits except albumen and yolk percentages increased significantly (p < 0.05) with increasing propolis level for treated hens as compared to those in the control. Concerning the haematological parameters, the results showed that the levels of total protein and globulin increased significantly with increasing propolis level, while cholesterol and liver enzymes were significantly decreased (p < 0.05). Heterophils count of hens in the treated groups significantly decreased, whereas the lymphocyte count significantly increased, resulting in a decreased H/L ratio than that of the control group. Thus, it could be concluded that the supplementation of 250 mg propolis/kg diet is highly recommended to improving egg production, blood constituent and haematological parameters of the commercial laying hens.     

Management of grain discoloration of rice with solvent-free EC formulations of neem and pungam oils

Neem and pungam oil-based emulsifiable concentrate (EC) formulations developed at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University were evaluated for their efficacy to inhibit the mycelial growth of the fungiHelminthosporium oryzae and Pyricularia oryzae causing grain discoloration on rice underin vitro conditions. All three formulations,viz., neem oil 60 EC (acetic acid), neem oil 60 EC (citric acid) and neem oil + pungam oil 60 EC (citric acid), inhibited mycelial growth of the pathogens; they were effective even after 9 months of storage. These formulations effectively controlled the grain discoloration on rice.     

Equilibrium,kinetics and artificial intelligence characteristic analysis for Zn (II) ion adsorption on rice husks digested with nitric acid

Paddy and Water Environment - The use of low-cost adsorbents produced from rice husks that can selectively remove zinc (II) ion from wastewater effluent has been investigated. The disorder and...     

Interactive effect of salinity and silver nanoparticles on photosynthetic and biochemical parameters of wheat

The present study investigated the influence of seed priming with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs), 0, 2, 5 and 10 mM, on growth and biochemical parameters of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under salt stress. As expected, 150 mM of NaCl decreased the shoot fresh and dry weights and chlorophyll contents and increased the catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) activities. Salinity enhanced the concentration of proline, soluble sugars, malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide. Seed priming with Ag NPs increased the shoot fresh and dry weight of normal and salt-stressed plants. Lower concentration of Ag NPs decreased the total soluble sugars and proline contents, while the higher Ag NPs levels increased these contents compared to the control. The combined application of Ag NPs and salt stress increased the soluble sugars and proline contents, while it decreased CAT activity and increased POD activity compared to the respective Ag NPs treatments alone. Overall, our results demonstrated that Ag NPs enhanced the salt tolerance in wheat, but the long-term response of Ag NPs under salt stress needs further investigation.     

Bioremediation of heavy metals from municipal sewage by cyanobacteria and its effects on growth and some metabolites of Beta vulgaris

The present research was done to study the ability of cyanobacterial species for removing heavy metals from sewage. As well, to estimate the growth and some metabolites of Beta vulgaris irrigated with sewage treated by cyanobacterial species. The best removal results were obtained by Anabaena oryzae compared to the other studied cyanobacteria. Whereas A. oryzae showed high removal efficiency for cadmium (Cd²⁺) followed by lead (Pb²⁺), zinc (Zn²⁺), iron (Fe²⁺), copper (Cu²⁺) and manganese (Mn²⁺) (88.5, 83.1, 68.8, 62.0, 55.2 and 42.4%, respectively). Irrigation of plants by untreated or treated sewage generally caused stimulation in the total proteins, proline, carbohydrates and ascorbic acid. B. vulgaris grown in soil irrigated with untreated sewage showed maximum catalase, peroxidase activity, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and lipid peroxidation compared to the other treatments. The heavy metals availability was relatively low in the plant irrigated with treated sewage by cyanobacterial species, so the antioxidants requirement was low and hence the induction of antioxidants was lower compared to the plant irrigated with untreated sewage.     

Efficacy of new EC formulations of neem oil and pungam oil for the management of sheath rot disease of rice

Neem oil (NO) and pungam oil (PO) based emulsifiable concentrate (EC) formulations,viz., neem oil 60 EC (acetic acid) [NO 60 EC(A)], neem oil 60 EC (citric acid) [NO 60 EC(C] and neem oil + pungam oil 60 EC (citric acid) [NO+PO 60 EC(C)], which had been developed at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, were evaluated for their efficacy against sheath rot of rice. All three formulations effectively inhibited the mycelial growth of the pathogen,Sarocladium oryzae, underin vitro conditions. There was no significant difference between efficacy of the freshly prepared and stored formulations in arresting the growth ofS. oryzae; efficacy was maintained even after 9 months of storage. These formulations effectively controlled rice sheath rot and led to increased yield in five field trials. Among the various treatments, the formulation NO 60 EC(A) achieved the highest grain yield in four out of five field trials, with a pooled mean grain yield of 4684 kg/havs 3882 kg/ha in the control. NO 60 EC(A) achieved the maximum cost-benefit ratio of 1:4.8, followed by NO+PO 60 EC(C), with 1:3.3.