Community water management to intensify agricultural productivity in the polders of the coastal zone of Bangladesh

Paddy and Water Environment - Most of the lands of the southern coastal zone of Bangladesh are protected from tidal flooding and storm surges by embankments constructed during the 1960s and 1970s,...     

High night-time temperature during flowering and pod filling affects flower opening,yield and seed fatty acid composition in canola

Winter canola (Brassica napus L.) is highly sensitive to increasing temperatures during the reproductive and pod-filling stages. Although the impact of high day-time temperature stress on yield and quality has been documented in canola, similar information under high night-time temperature (HNT) stress is not available. Using six hybrids and four open-pollinated cultivars, we observed a marked shift in peak flowering towards earlier, cooler hours of the morning under HNT. Averaged across two independent experiments, the photochemical efficiency of photosystem II was significantly decreased (3%), with a significant increase in thylakoid membrane damage (13%) in the leaves of susceptible cultivars under HNT stress. Similarly, the susceptible cultivars also recorded significant reduction in biomass (34%), pod number (22%), pod weight (37%) and total seed weight (40%) per plant while the same set of agronomic traits were not affected among the tolerant cultivars. Quantitative impact of heat stress was confirmed with increased sensitivity to HNT exposure from gametogenesis until maturity resulting in a significantly higher yield loss compared to stress exposure from post-flowering till maturity. HNT significantly decreased oil concentration, but increased protein concentration and saturated fatty acid levels in seeds of the susceptible cultivars. However, HNT had no impact on the unsaturated fatty acids in both hybrids and the open-pollinated cultivars. Breeding targets based on fatty acid composition for enhancing canola seed quality may not be easily amenable due to the inconsistency documented with the compositional changes under heat stress. In summary, our findings conclude that canola hybrids are better suited to regions experiencing heat stress, compared to open-pollinated cultivars, indicating the possibility of a complete shift to hybrid canola cultivation under predicted hotter climates in the future.     

Acquired Thermo‐Tolerance and Trans‐Generational Heat Stress Response at Flowering in Rice

In rice, pre‐exposure to sublethal treatment followed by harsh lethal treatment is known to improve tolerance of different abiotic stresses at the vegetative stage within and across generations. Our major aim was to test the phenomenon of thermo‐tolerance at flowering across (trans)‐generations and within generation using rice cultivars contrasting for heat stress tolerance at flowering. To test trans‐generational response, plants were exposed to higher temperature at flowering stage and seeds obtained from previous generations were exposed to heat stress during flowering, which recorded significantly lower fertility when exposed to the same degree of stress in their subsequent generations. A pre‐acclimation to moderately high acclimating temperatures imposed over three different durations during the vegetative and initial reproductive stage showed positive response in the tolerant N22, particularly under severe heat stress (40 °C). This finding indicates the possibility of acquiring ameliorative thermo‐tolerant mechanisms at anthesis, restricted to tolerant genetic backgrounds to combat subsequent harsh conditions within the same generation. However, trans‐generational memory was ineffective in mitigating spikelet sterility losses in both tolerant and susceptible backgrounds. Rice is extremely sensitive to heat stress during flowering; hence, similar exercise across other crops of interest needs to be carried out before generalizing conclusions.     

Preliminary study on antifertility activity of Calotropis procera roots in female rats

The effect of ethanolic extract of the roots of Calotropis procera has been studied in albino rats to explore its antifertility and hormonal activities. A strong antiimplantation (inhibition 100%) and uterotropic activity was observed at the dose level of 250 mg/kg (1/4 of LD(50)). No antiestrogenic activity could be detected.     

Optimization of Farmyard Manure to Substitute Mineral Fertilizer for Sustainable Productivity and Higher Carbon Sequestration Potential and Profitability under Gardenpea-French Bean Cropping System in the Indian Himalayas

Carbon sequestration potential (CSP) and sustainability of gardenpea-french bean cropping system was assessed with farmyard manure (FYM) application vis-à-vis mineral fertilization as recommended NPK (NPK) and integrated nutrient management practices (INM) after six years’ cropping in Indian Himalayas. Application of 20 tons FYM ha^?1 provided highest CSP (0.527 Mg C ha^?1 year^?1) in soil and sustainability index. With the help of quadratic equations, it was estimated that maximum profit (optimum yield) and turn over of invested money could be achieved with application of 20.0 and 15.6 t FYM ha^?1, respectively. Application of 5.9 and 8.9 tons FYM ha^?1 would substitute NPK and INM, respectively. Pod number plant^?1 was the most important yield-contributing attribute as found from principal component analysis. Pod yield could be modelled through multiple linear equation with help of yield attributes.     

Specific fluctuations in the composition of lipoxygenase- and glycosidase-generated flavors in some cultivated teas of Assam

Variations of fatty acid compositions, glycosides precursors, and lipoxygenase and glycosidase enzymatic activities were used simultaneously to differentiate for nine genetically different cultivated teas, four seasonal changes, and the affect of leaf maturity. The muscatel flavor of second-flush teas was associated with increased activities of glycosidase and several terpenes, phenolics, and aliphatic compounds bound to glycosides, whereas high levels of fatty acids and lipoxygenase activity biosynthesized more green volatiles in monsoon teas. Sequential hydrolysis of lipids and lipoxygenase-mediated reactions, during withering and rolling, showed a 3-fold increase of hexenol, hexenal, and related volatiles, but they decreased to the levels of fresh leaf during drying. However, a 4-fold increase of the floral bend of volatiles found in black tea developed due to the hydrolysis of the glycoside precursors throughout processing stages. About 45 key volatiles were monitored for flavor superiority among different clones. Various parameters affecting yield of volatiles were optimized and recommended.     

Soil Chemical and Biological Activities under Vegetable Intensive Colocasia-based Cropping System in Indian Sub-Himalayas

ABSTRACT

Lack of crop diversification with suitable vegetable-based cropping system is a major constraint in limiting the productivity and sustainability of north-western Indian sub-Himalayas. To find out a sustainable vegetable-based cropping system in this region, a three year colocasia-based vegetable intensive experiment was conducted at Hawalbagh, Almora, India in a sandy clay loam soil under sub-temperate climatic conditions. Seven colocasia-based vegetable cropping systems along with rice–wheat system were compared under recommended package and practices. The system productivity in terms of colocasia equivalent yield was highest under colocasia–onion–frenchbean (52.38 Mg ha^?1) system. Sustainable yield index was highest with colocasia–gardenpea–frenchbean system (0.86). After 3 years, total soil organic carbon (0–5%), available N (2–22%), P (–7% to 14%) and K (3–15%) concentrations were increased in all cropping systems except rice–wheat system, where negative balance of available P (7%) was observed over that of initial soil. Significantly higher soil microbial activity, soil carbohydrate, dehydrogenase, protease, acid and alkaline phosphatases activity were observed under colocasia–onion system. The results suggest that colocasia–onion–frenchbean system with higher productivity improves soil fertility and enhances enzymatic activities.     

New strategies for the elimination of polio from India

The feasibility of global polio eradication is being questioned as a result of continued transmission in a few localities that act as sources for outbreaks elsewhere. Perhaps the greatest challenge is in India, where transmission has persisted in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar despite high coverage with multiple doses of vaccine. We estimate key parameters governing the seasonal epidemics in these areas and show that high population density and poor sanitation cause persistence by not only facilitating transmission of poliovirus but also severely compromising the efficacy of the trivalent vaccine. We analyze strategies to counteract this and show that switching to monovalent vaccine may finally interrupt virus transmission.