Frequency and fertility restoration efficiency of Rf3 and Rf4 genes in Indian rice

Identification of new parental lines is crucial for developing ecology‐specific hybrids with ideal agronomic performance. We screened a total of 570 different ecology‐specific Indian rice varieties for the presence of fertility restorer genes, Rf3 and Rf4 using tightly linked markers DRRM Rf3‐10 and RM6100, respectively. Among these varieties, 13% carried Rf3Rf3/Rf4Rf4, 31% carried rf3rf3/rf4rf4, 6% carried Rf3Rf3/rf4rf4 and remaining 50% carried Rf4Rf4/rf3rf3 allelic combinations. A mini set of 40 varieties with variable allelic combinations of fertility restorer genes were testcrossed with WA and Kalinga‐based CMS lines. All the 80 F₁s were evaluated for spikelet fertility and fertility restoration ability. Rf3Rf3/rf4rf4 genotypes mostly behaved as partial maintainers or partial restorers. In contrast, rf3rf3/Rf4Rf4 genotypes were partial or effective restorers. However, double dominant genotypes showed better fertility restoration than the genotypes containing Rf3 or Rf4 individually. Some of the genotypes showed unexpected restoration pattern implying occurrence of other fertility restorer(s) apart from Rf3 and Rf4. The perfect restorers and maintainers identified in this study can be directly used in hybrid rice breeding.     

The action of phosphine against the eggs of phosphine-resistant and -susceptible strains of Rhyzopertha dominica F

The effect of phosphine at exposure periods of 24, 48 and 120 h on hatching and mortality of 0- to 1-day-old eggs of susceptible (TN6) and resistant (FC10) strains of Rhyzopertha dominica of field origin was investigated. The fumigant affected hatching in both the strains. In a 48-h exposure at 27 (+/- 2) degrees C, the LD99 doses for the eggs of TN6 and FC10 were 0.56 and 3.25 mg litre-1, respectively. Significant reduction in hatching was observed in treated batches with progressive increase of phosphine dose in the first 2-3 days. On subsequent days the numbers hatching were often similar to those in controls, and sometimes exceeded control hatch, especially following a 5-day exposure. A critical change in the order of susceptibility of egg and adult stages of the two strains was noticed. In 48-h exposures, eggs of the susceptible strain were more tolerant than their adults, whilst the reverse was true in the resistant strain.     

Reclamation of saline‐sodic soil under a rice–wheat system by horizontal surface flushing

Saline sodic soil with a high content of soluble carbonates is one of the important agricultural soils on the Central Indo‐Gangetic plains and elsewhere. Conventional reclamation procedures using gypsum application followed by vertical leaching (GC) is uneconomic; high ECe and precipitation of applied gypsum, reacting with soluble carbonates, reduce the efficacy of gypsum in these soils. This paper reports results from a project designed to evaluate reclamation by irrigation of the ploughed soil and turning of soil with a power tiller followed by flushing of standing water after 24 h, a second flushing after 7 days and subsequent application of gypsum and vertical leaching (GF2). Average rice and wheat production after GF2 significantly increased (25 and 62%, respectively) over the conventional practice. Compared with conventional treatment, GF2 significantly reduced the ECe and SAR of the soil and improved physical properties such as ζ‐potential, dispersible clay content, water stable aggregates expressed as MWD, and saturated hydraulic conductivity. Split application of gypsum between flushing (GF1/2 and GF2/3) gave similar results to GF2 in terms of soil amelioration and crop production.     

Experimental evaluation of Pentas lanceolata flowers for wound healing activity in rats

The ethanolic extract of the flowers of Pentas lanceolata given by oral route to rats at dose of 150 mg kg(-1) day(-1) for 10 days, was studied for its effect on wound healing, using excision wound mode. Significant increase in granulation tissue weight, tensile strength, hydroxyproline and glycosaminoglycan content was observed. Moderate increase in protein content was seen. There was significant reduction in the wound area measurement of the test group as compared to that of controls. The efficacious prohealing action may be due to increased collagen deposition as well as better alignment and maturation.     

Combined treatments of spinosad and chlorpyrifos-methyl for management of resistant psocid pests (Psocoptera: Liposcelididae) of stored grain

The combined efficacy of spinosad and chlorpyrifos-methyl was determined against four storage psocid pests belonging to genus Liposcelis. This research was undertaken because of the increasing importance of these psocids in stored grain and the problem of finding grain protectants to control resistant strains. Firstly, mortality and reproduction were determined for adults exposed to wheat freshly treated with either spinosad (0.5 and 1 mg kg(-1)) or chlorpyrifos-methyl (2.5, 5 and 10 mg kg(-1)) or combinations of spinosad and chlorpyrifos-methyl at 30 degrees C and 70% RH. There were significant effects of application rate of spinosad and chlorpyrifos-methyl, both individually and in combination, on adult mortality and progeny reduction of all four psocids. Liposcelis bostrychophila Badonnel and L. decolor (Pearman) responded similarly, with incomplete control of adults and progeny at both doses of spinosad but complete control in all chlorpyrifos-methyl and combined treatments. In L. entomophila (Enderlein) and L. paeta Pearman, however, complete control of adults and progeny was only achieved in the combined treatments, with the exception of spinosad 0.5 mg kg(-1) plus chlorpyrifos-methyl 2.5 mg kg(-1) against L. entomophila. Next, combinations of spinosad (0.5 and 1 mg kg(-1)) and chlorpyrifos-methyl (2.5, 5 and 10 mg kg(-1)) in bioassays after 0, 1.5 and 3 months storage of treated wheat were evaluated. The best treatment was 1 mg kg(-1) of spinosad plus 10 mg kg(-1) of chlorpyrifos-methyl, providing up to 3 months of protection against infestations of all four Liposcelis spp. on wheat.     

Serum antibody response of Indian major carp, Labeo rohita to three species of pathogenic bacteria; Aeromonas hydrophila, Edwardsiella tarda and Pseudomonas fluorescens

The immune response to mixed whole cell antigens of Aeromonas hydrophila, Edwardsiella tarda and Pseudomonas fluorescens, the common Gram negative bacterial pathogens associated with diseases of Indian major carps were evaluated for their efficacy in triggering antibody responses in rohu, Labeo rohita (Ham.). The rohu yearlings were either immunized with antigens from single bacterial strain, A. hydrophila, E. tarda and P. fluorescens or a combination of all three. An antibody response was detected at 1st week post immunization that rose significantly (p<0.05) at 4th week post immunization in all the immunized groups. The antibody level started declining after 8th week but persisted up to 10th week post immunization in all the immunized groups. Similarly, no significant difference (p>0.05) in the antibody level was found between groups immunized with single and mixed bacterial antigens. Moreover, the use of mixed bacterial antigens did not jeopardize the specific immune response to the vaccine components. Upon challenge with single pathogen, a high relative percent survival was recorded in the group immunized with mixed bacterial antigens and was comparable to those fish immunized with the single bacteria.     

Isolation and characterization of microsatellites in Bambusa arundinacea and cross species amplification in other bamboos

Isolation and characterization of microsatellites was analysed in Bambusa arundinacea and cross species amplification studied in other bamboos. Microsatellites, tandem repeats of short nucleotide (1–6 bp) sequences, are the DNA marker of choice because of their highly polymorphic, ubiquitous distribution within the genome, ease of genotyping through Polymerase chain reaction, selectively neutral, co‐dominant and multiallelic nature. Six microsatellites, three polymorphic and three monomorphic have been characterized for the first time in a bamboo species, Bambusa arundinacea belonging to the family Poaceae. The numbers of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 13. Cross species amplification was tested in 18 other bamboo species. Monomorphic simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were found to be cross amplified in most of the species tested and polymorphic ones in only three to four species. The utility of SSR loci in a genetic diversity study of B. arundinacea and other cross‐amplified bamboo species has been discussed. This study will help in population genetic studies in bamboo species.