Genetic resources of rice in the Western Himalayan region of India: current status

The Western Himalayan region of India possesses rich genetic diversity of rice (Oryza sativa L.). Rice landraces having withstood the rigors of biotic and abiotic stresses, suit to the local conditions of farms and reflect socio-cultural preferences can still be found in crop fields located distantly in rural and tribal areas. This region is known for growing World fame basmati in the foot hills and many varieties of red rices grown at higher elevations, known for cold tolerance and medicinal properties. Genetic resources of rice were collected for about 8 years (1999–2006) and 1069 germplasm accessions including 154 named landraces were collected. Prominent landraces such as Begumi, Ramjwain, Thapachini, Naurang, Hansraj, Tilakchandan, Lalsati, Jhini, Mushakbudji, Jattoo, Barpasso, Qadirbeigh, Safedbrez, Shahie known for their special quality attributes were collected. The change in land use, cropping patterns and aggressive introduction of modern varieties in the region has resulted in the loss of a large number of landraces especially from irrigated lands. The present paper looks at the status of rice genetic resources, genetic variability, genetic erosion and future strategies to conserve rice germplasm on farm and to maximize its use in rice breeding.     

Polymorphism of 5'-region of the bovine growth hormone receptor gene

Genes coding for growth hormone (GH) and GH receptor (GHR) are candidates for quantitative trait markers in farm animals. This work describes a search for nucleotide sequence polymorphisms within the 5′‐region of the bovine GHR gene. Two new single nucleotide polymorphisms were found: restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) at a Fnu4HI/TseI site (C/T transition at position ?1104), and at a Sau96I site (C/T transition at position ?262). The Fnu4HI/TseI polymorphic site is located within the 1.2‐kbp LINE‐1 retrotransposon upstream of the P1 promoter, while the Sau96I RFLP locates in the P1 promoter for exon 1A. The appearance of the Sau96I RFLP was studied in representatives of two bovine species, Bos taurus and Bos indicus. An absolute correlation was observed between Sau96I genotype and the insertion/deletion of LINE‐1.     

Effect of inoculum rate on the performance of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Rhizobium strains in the field

Summary The influence of three inoculum rates on the performance of three chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Rhizobium strains was examined in the field on a Mollisol soil. Increasing amounts of inoculum improved the performance of the strains. A normal dose (10⁴ cells per seed) applied at different intervals gave non-significant increases in nodulation, nitrogenase activity (acetylene reduction assay), nitrogen uptake and grain yield. A ten-fold increase in inoculum increased nodule number, shoot dry weight, nitrogenase activity (ARA) and grain yield, but increases over the control were significant only for nodule dry weight and nitrogen uptake by shoot and grain. The highest level of inoculum (100 × normal) significantly increased nodule dry weight, grain yield, total nitrogenase activity (ARA) and nitrogen uptake by shoot and grain. Strain TAL 620 was more effective than the other two. Combined nitrogen (60 kg N ha^–1) suppressed nodulation and nitrogenase activity (ARA).Research paper No. 4345 from the Experiment Station, G. B. P. U. A. & T., Pantnagar, Nainital, U. P.     

Towards collection of wild relatives of crop plants in India

A total of 373 species of wild relatives of crop plants representing 120 genera and 48 families were collected from different phytogeographical regions of India during a mission mode sub-project on Sustainable Management of Plant Biodiversity under National Agricultural Technology Project during 1999–2005. Significant diversity representing endemic/rare/endangered species has been discussed in this paper. The information on phytogeographical distribution, life form, economic types and assessment of threat has also been included. Thrust areas for future target collections and conservation have been discussed to serve as reference for management of genetic resources.     

Collection of plant genetic resources from Andaman and Nicobar Islands

The Andaman and Nicobar (A&N) group of islands is immensely rich in plant biodiversity. Andaman’s native tribes are hunter-gatherers, sustaining on wild or marine food and practically do not have any cultivation. Diversity in cultivated crops is presently maintained in home gardens by settlers from the mainland and other adjoining countries. The National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) through explorations either alone or in association with CARI or with other ICAR institutes has collected 1234 accessions in 48 exploration and collection missions. Variability was collected in rice, cowpea, black gram, green gram, okra, Chinese spinach, ash gourd, taro, cucumber, pumpkin, bottle gourd, ridge gourd, bitter gourd, chilli, greater yam and coconut. Indigenous landraces are absent. The in situ conservation of the wild relatives of crops is well taken care of by a large number of protected forest reserves.     

Effect of runoff concentration on growth and yield of jujube

Different combinations of slope (0.5, 5 and 10%), slope length (5.12, 7.0, 8.5, 10.75 and 14.5 m) and catchment size (0, 31.5, 54, 72, 99 and 144 m²) aimed at generating runoff supplement of 200–400 mm per tree were studied with respect to yield of runoff, soil moisture storage and fruit yield of jujube (Zizyphus mauritiana Lam.) under hot arid conditions. The runoff and soil moisture storage increased with the slope and decreased with the slope length. Similar trends were observed with regard to the fruit yield. Catchment/planted area ratios of 2:1, 1.5:1 and 0.87:1, respectively, are recommended for higher yields of jujube on slopes of 0.5, 5 and 10% with slope lengths of 8.5, 7.0 and 5.12 m.     

Nitrogen and vermicompost interaction on soil and leaf nutrient status of kinnow mandarin in vertisols of Jhalawar district

A field experiment entitled “nitrogen and vermicompost interaction on soil and leaf nutrient status of kinnow mandarin in vertisols of Jhalawar district” was conducted at the Fruit Research Farm, Department of Fruit Science, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Jhalawar (Rajasthan) during 2012–13 to study the effect of different levels of nitrogen and vermicompost on physico-chemical properties of soil and leaf micro and macro nutrient contents of Kinnow mandarin. The result indicated that application of T₁₅ treatment i.e. nitrogen at 350 g/plant + vermicompost 20 kg/plant was found best with regard to improvement in soil physico-chemical properties like organic carbon content (0.44%), available nitrogen (N) (379.36 kgha^?1), available phosphorus (P) (25.56 kgha^?1), available potassium (393.29 kgha^?1) and reduces electrical conductivity (0.34 dSm^?1), soil pH (7.42) and calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) content percentage (15.20) of soil.     

Biochar and crop residue application to soil: effect on soil biochemical properties,nutrient availability and yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

In the recent past, biochar and crop residues have attracted lots of attention as a viable strategy for maintaining soil health. This paper evaluates the comparative effect of two different doses (equivalent to 2 and 5 t C ha^?1) of each of pine needle and Lantana biochar (PBC and LBC), wheat residue and lentil residue (WR and LR) on soil biological properties, nutrient availability and yield of rice and wheat in pot culture. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) revealed higher C content of biochar than crop residues. Evaluation of biochemical quality reflected high recalcitrance indices of C and N for both PBC and LBC. Application of LBC and PBC increased the wheat grain yield significantly by 6.2%–24.2% over control. Both PBC and LBC significantly increased N and P uptakes in grain over the control and crop residues. Both biochars recorded a significant decrease of 33.9 and 71,7% in β-glucosidase activity in comparison to control at termination of study. PBC and LBC also resulted in more soil available N, P and K in soil at different intervals. The geometric mean of enzyme activities (GMea) reflected improved soil quality by PBC and LR and reduction by LBC application.     

Long-term effects of fertilization and manuring on productivity and soil biological properties under rice (Oryza sativa)–wheat (Triticum aestivum) sequence in Mollisols

Long-term effects of chemical fertilizers and farmyard manure (FYM) in rice (Oryza sativa)–wheat (Triticum aestivum) cropping system were monitored for two consecutive years after 38 and 39 years on productivity and soil biological properties of Mollisols. The study encompasses varying chemical fertilizer levels of optimum fertilizer rate (120, 26 and 37 kg ha^?1 N, P and K, respectively) for both the crops. The treatments were application of 50% NPK, 100% NPK, 150% NPK, 100% NPK + hand weeding (HW), 100% NPK + Zn, 100% NP, 100% N, 100% NPK + 15 t FYM ha^?1, 100% NPK(-S) and unfertilized control. The rice and wheat yields were highest with 100% NPK + 15 t FYM ha^?1. This treatment also gave maximum and significantly more counts of bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes in soil than all the other treatments after crop harvest. The soil microbial biomass C (410.0 and 407.5 µg g^?1) and N (44.53 and 48.30 µg g^?1) after rice and wheat, respectively, were highest with 100% NPK + 15 t FYM ha^?1, which were significantly higher over all the other treatments. The activities of soil enzymes like dehydrogenase, acid and alkaline phosphatase, arylsulphatase and urease and CO₂ evolution rate with 100% NPK + 15 t FYM ha^?1 were also found significantly higher over the other treatments. Fertilizer treatments with 100% NPK and 150% NPK were comparable and significantly better than application of 50% NPK, 100% N, 100% NP and 100% NPK(-S) in various studied soil biological properties. Integrated use of 100% NPK with FYM sustained the higher yields and soil biological properties under rice–wheat cropping system in Mollisols. Application of Zn and hand weeding with 100% NPK were found better over 100% NPK alone in rice and wheat productivity. Imbalanced use of chemical fertilizers had the harmful effect on soil biological health.     

Effect of long-term balanced and imbalanced inorganic fertilizer and FYM application on chemical fraction of DTPA-extractable micronutrients and yields under rice–wheat cropping system in mollisols

The imbalanced use of chemical fertilizers under intensive cultivation practices over a period of years leads to various soil-associated problems particularly nutrient availability. Thus, to examine the effect of long-term application of balanced and imbalanced inorganic fertilizer and farm yard manure (FYM) application on the chemical fraction of DTPA-extractable micronutrients under rice–wheat cropping system after 29 years, the observations were recorded from the ongoing field experiment at Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, India. An application of balanced inorganic fertilizer with FYM in rice, while without FYM in wheat significantly improved the DTPA-extractable Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu after rice and wheat crops in both the surface and sub-surface soil layers. Lowest DTPA-extractable Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu were recorded, in surface and sub-surface soil under rice and wheat crops in control. The highest DTPA-extractable Zn, in both surface and sub-surface layers of rice (3.31, 1.62 mg kg⁻¹, respectively) and wheat (2.96, 0.99 mg kg⁻¹, respectively) was recorded because of application of N₁₈₀+P₈₀+K₄₀+Zn(F) + FYM in rice and N₁₈₀+P₈₀+K₄₀+Zn(F) in wheat. However, the DTPA-extractable Fe, Mn and Cu were highest in rice and wheat because of N₁₂₀+P₄₀+K₄₀+FYM and N₁₂₀+P₄₀+K₄₀ application, respectively. The balanced use of inorganic fertilizer with FYM (N₁₈₀+P₈₀+K₄₀+Zn(F) + FYM) in rice and without FYM [N₁₈₀+P₈₀+K₄₀+Zn(F)] in wheat supported the highest rice (6.74 t ha⁻¹) and wheat (3.50 t ha⁻¹) grain yields, while lowest in control. Based on the study results, long-term application of FYM at 5 tonnes ha⁻¹ in rice crop sustained the availability of DTPA-extractable cationic micronutrients to rice and wheat in Mollisols.