Waterlogging tolerance of pea at germination

Peas (Pisum sativum L.) are exposed to waterlogging at germination when grown as relay in rice‐based cropping. Ninety‐one germplasm accessions were evaluated in relay (sown in waterlogged soil), and subsequently 10 diverse genotypes compared under relay and sole cropping (conventional tillage sowing) over two seasons in Bangladesh. Contrasting genotypes, BM‐3, NL‐2 and Kaspa, were further evaluated in three waterlogging treatments (drained control, 4 and 8 days waterlogging) in the glasshouse. Conspicuous variation in waterlogging tolerance at germination was observed in the field and confirmed under controlled conditions. In relay sowing in 2011, emergence of a few genotypes was affected by waterlogging. In 2012, emergence in relay was severely affected (12 plants/m²) compared to sole sowing (37 plants/m²). Among genotypes BM‐3 had 6 plants/m² emerge, which all subsequently died, in contrast to NL‐2 in which emergence was 13 plants/m² with all plants surviving. In the glasshouse, there was 14% emergence in BM‐3, 40% in NL‐2 and 55% in Kaspa after 8 days of waterlogging. Such marked differences in waterlogging tolerance at germination in the model pea are the first reported and illustrate prospects for selection to improve adaptation to relay sowing in South Asia.     

Grain yield,nitrogen use efficiency and tillage intensity in wheat as affected by precision nutrient management

ABSTRACT

The present studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of different nutrient management practices under two tillage options in wheat. The experiments were laid out in split-plot design with a combination of two varieties (WH 1105 and HD 2967) and two tillage options (Conventional and No tillage) in the main plot and six precision nutrient management practices [absolute control, site-specific nutrient management with Nutrient Expert for wheat (SSNM-NE)(170 kg nitrogen (N)/ha), SSNM NE+GreenSeeker (GS)(153/158 N kg/ha), N₁₂₀ (120 kg N/ha) before irrigation, N₁₂₀ after irrigation and N Rich (180 kg N/ha)] in subplot replicated thrice. The grain yield and quality characters in no tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) were similar but agronomic efficiency was higher in NT. Both the varieties (WH 1105 and HD 2967) gave similar grain yield and quality. Wheat variety WH 1105 recorded significantly higher sodium dodecyl sulfate sedimentation (SDS) and gluten index. The treatment SSNM NE+GS had resulted in 107.1% higher grain yield than no nitrogen control but similar to enriched N plot (180 kg N/ha). The grain protein, SDS and gluten index in need-based nutrient management (SSNM+GS) treatment were found to be similar as recorded in SSNM-NE (170 kgN/ha) and N enriched plot (180 kg N ha^?1). The agronomic efficiency and recovery efficiency in SSNM+GS were also better than SSNM NE.     

Rice-residue biochar influences phosphorus availability in soil with contrasting P status

ABSTRACT

Thermo-chemical conversion of crop residues to produce biochar is an emerging strategy in the context of sustainable phosphorous (P) use and residue management. An incubation study for 90 d was conducted to investigate the effects of rice-residue biochar (0, 10, 20 and 40 g kg^?1) in combination with inorganic-P (KH₂PO₄) (0, 25 and 50 mg kg^?1) on phosphorous availability in medium- and high-P status soils. Increasing biochar addition rates alone or in combination with inorganic-P resulted in a significant increase in P pools, i.e. plant available P or Olsen-P (from 8 to 132 mg kg^?1 in medium-P and 15 to 160 mg kg^?1 in high-P soils), microbial biomass P and various mineral-bound inorganic-P fractions in the order (Ca-P > organic-P > Al-P > loosely held/soluble-P > Fe-P > reductant soluble-P). Further, lower phosphatase activity (19–50%) with increasing rates of biochar addition in both soils elucidates the ability of biochar to act as a long-term source of available P in the experimental soils. The results demonstrate that rice-residue biochar can directly or indirectly enhance the status of available P in soils and hence can be used as a beneficial amendment to meet the crop P demand.     

Inheritance and molecular mapping of restorer‐of‐fertility (Rf) gene in A2 hybrid system in pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan)

Inheritance of fertility restorer gene in pigeonpea was studied using F₂ and BC₁F₁ populations derived from cross AL103A × IC245273. It was found to be controlled by single dominant gene. Out of 228 SSR primer pairs, 33 primer pairs showed parental polymorphism, while four primers were found polymorphic in bulk segregant analysis (BSA). These four primers viz., CcM 1615, CcM 0710, CcM 0765 and CcM 1522 were used for genotyping of F₂ population and were found to be placed at 3.1, 5.1, 28.1 and 45.8 cM, respectively. Two of them, CcM 1615 and CcM 0710, evinced clear and unambiguous bands for fertility restoration in F₂ population. The Rf gene was mapped on linkage group 6 between the SSR markers CcM 1615 and CcM 0710 with the distances of 3.1 and 5.1 cM, respectively. The accuracy of the CcM 1615 was validated in 18 restorers and six maintainer lines. The marker CcM 1615 amplified in majority of male restorer lines with a selection accuracy of 91.66%.     

Toxicological effects and recovery of the corneal epithelium in Cyprinus carpio communis Linn. exposed to monocrotophos: an scanning electron microscope study

This study was conducted based on the evidence of fish habitats in North India being affected by organophosphate pesticides draining from agricultural fields into bodies of water, especially during the rainy season. Various tissues of fish such as scales, gills ovaries, kidney, and liver have been studied from the toxicological point of view, but the toxicological effects of aquatic pollutants on fish cornea have not been investigated to date. We conducted comparative toxicological studies on the cornea of Cyprinus carpio communis using two sublethal (0.038 and 0.126 ppm) concentrations of monocrotophos pesticide for 30 days. Corneas from all the groups were evaluated by a scanning electron microscope. The fish exposed to the monocrotophos pesticide developed corneal necrosis due to the formation of crystalloid‐like structures, thinning and shrinkage of microridges on the corneal epithelium. After 30 days, fish from the monocrotophos‐treated tank were transferred to normal environmental conditions. After 60 days under natural condition, epithelial cells did not fully recover. In conclusion, exposure to monocrotophos induces irreversible changes in the cornea of C. carpio communis. As fish and mammalian visual systems share many similarities, the reported finding may offer useful insights for further toxicological and ophthalmological studies in humans.     

Comparison of Composition,Protein, Pasting,and Phenolic Compounds of Brown Rice and Germinated Brown Rice from Different Cultivars

Physical characteristics, amino acids composition, protein profiling, pasting characteristics, and phenolic compounds of brown rice (BR) and germinated brown rice (GBR) from different paddy cultivars (PB1, PS44, PB1509, PB1121, and PS5) were investigated. L* (lightness) decreased, but a* (redness and greenness) and b* (yellowness and blueness) increased with germination. Protein and ash content increased, whereas fat and amylose contents decreased with germination. GBR showed lower hardness and gumminess than BR. Foam stability and water absorption capacity from GBR flour were higher compared with BR flour. Accumulation of γ‐aminobutyric acid, histidine, arginine, proline, methionine, and acidic amino acids increased significantly with germination, and increase was related to change in accumulation of glutelin and prolamins. The accumulation of prolamins and glutelin acidic and basic subunits decreased with germination. GBR flour showed lower pasting viscosities compared with BR flour. Ferulic acid, p‐coumaric acid, and quercetin were present in both fractions of the bound form. GBR showed improved nutritional quality that varied in different cultivars. PB1121 was observed to be the best for producing GBR owing to greater changes brought in protein content, essential amino acids, catechin, chlorogenic acid, protocatechuic acid, vanillic acid, and foam stability.     

Biochar has little effect on soil dissolved organic carbon pool 5 years after biochar application under field condition

Biochar application can improve soil properties, such as increasing soil organic carbon content, soil pH and water content. These properties are important to soil dissolved organic carbon (DOC); however, the effects of biochar on DOC concentration and composition have received little research attention, especially several years after biochar application under field conditions. This study was conducted in a long‐term experimental field where the biochar was only applied once in 2009. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of different biochar application rates (0, 30, 60 and 90 t ha^?1) on the dynamics of soil water content, DOC concentration and DOC compositions (reducing sugar, soluble phenol and aromatics) over nine samplings during a 12‐month period in 2014. Our results showed that soil water content and DOC concentration varied from 7.1% to 14.5% and 59 to 230 mg C kg^?1 soil during the 12 months, respectively. However, the biochar application rates did not significantly (p > 0.05) affect soil water content, DOC concentration and DOC composition at the same sampling period. The DOC concentration across the biochar treatments was positively correlated to soil water content. Moreover, the DOC composition (reducing sugar, soluble phenol or aromatics) and their concentrations were positively correlated to the total DOC concentration. In addition, biochar did not affect soil bulk density, pH, saturated hydraulic conductivity and crop yields. The results indicated that some benefits of biochar to soil may not persist 5 years after the application of biochar under a field condition.     

Phenology,pollination and breeding system of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aegle marmelos</Emphasis> (Linn.) correa (Rutaceae) from India

Studies on reproductive biology are difficult but useful in species like Aegle marmelos (Linn.) Correa which is of considerable socio-economic importance and possess morphogenetic variation and qualities of wider adaptability to different soils. Cytology, phenology, pollination, breeding system and natural regeneration of wild and cultivated trees from India revealed the existence of diploid (2n = 18) and tetraploid trees (2n = 36) in Pachmarhi hills and only diploid trees in Punjab plains and Shiwalik hills. The diploid and tetraploid trees showed normal meiosis and high pollen fertility. Phenological events which included leaf fall, leaf emergence, floral bud break, flowering and fruiting are nearly the same in wild and cultivated trees. Natural pollen transfer in the species was highly efficient. Levels of fruit set following open pollination was quite high and is reduced considerably following hand pollination probably due to some injury caused to stigma during experiments. Inspite of synchronous nature of anther dehiscence and stigmatic receptivity, selfing in a flower was avoided due to herkogamy. Some selfing, however, occurred through geitonogamous mode as bagging of panicles yielded 12.21 ± 0.99 to 14.12 ± 0.91% fruit set. High pollen ovule ratio (9,250–10,600) indicated toward the obligate outbreeding nature. The species suited to insect and wind mode of pollination. High amount of air borne pollen grains deposited on glycerine smeared glass microscopic slides suggested towards the wind mode of pollination. Though flowers are dull coloured a variety of insects visited the flowers due to sweet fragrance and stamen/pollen as food reward. Among insect pollinators, honey bee (Apis dorsata) was the major and legitimate pollinator while the rest were either minor pollinators or mere visitors. Inspite of high fruit/seed set, natural regeneration through seeds was poor as fallen fruits were destroyed by fungal pathogens and white ants. The species also propagated vegetatively through coppices and root suckers. It lacks agamospermy as bagging of emasculated flowers yielded no fruit. It is inferred that ‘bael’ which lacks agamospermy reproduced successfully through gamospermy (xenogamy and geitonogamy) and vegetative mode (coppices and root suckers). We also concluded that tetraploid trees growing in the Pachmarhi hills with large sized fruits possessed better potentialities in horticulture if planted through root suckers or coppices.