Comparative efficiency of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria under greenhouse conditions for promoting growth and aloin-A content of Aloe barbadensis

This study was conducted with Aloe barbadensis in order to investigate the efficacy of four phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB), Pseudomonas synxantha 10223, Burkholderia gladioli 10242, Enterobacter hormaechei 10240 and Serratia marcescens 10241 to solubilize Mussorie rock phosphate (MRP) and to evaluate its effects on growth, soluble P content and P uptake compared with control, i.e. uninoculated plants. Pot experiments were conducted in a greenhouse, in soil supplemented with MRP. Each PSB treatment showed different effects on different plant growth parameters. The maximum increase in leaf length (23.7%), total number of leaves (33.33%) and dry rind weight (69.10%) was observed in plants treated with P. synxantha 10223 compared with control. Whereas, maximum increase in root length (23.43%), fresh leaves weight (79.03%), dry gel weight (113.08%) and total gel volume (112.10%), was observed in plants treated with S. marcescens 10241 compared with uninoculated plants. Maximum increase in aloin-A content [114.92% (per g dry gel weight) and 322.32% (per plant dry gel weight)] was observed in plants treated with P. synxantha 10223 compared with control plants. Root colonization by inoculated PSB as estimated by RAPD technique showed that all PSB were able to survive in the rhizosphere of Aloe plants.     

Productivity of capsicum influenced by conjoint application of isolated indigenous PGPR and chemical fertilizers

Inorganic fertilizers alone cannot sustain high levels of productivity. This study was conducted to determine whether higher productivity of capsicum could be achieved by conjoint application of chemical fertilizers and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). Four PGPR isolates (RS₂, RS₃, RS₄, and RS₇) from capsicum roots and rhizosphere were evaluated at Solan, Himachal Pradesh (India), during 2009–2012. Two best performers: RS₂ and RS₇ were tried singly or in consortium with different levels of chemical fertilizers under field conditions, Randomized Block Design, replicated thrice. The conjoint use of 100% recommended nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) doses through chemical fertilizers (RDF) plus PGPR significantly increased fruit yield, plant height, and biomass by 37%, 20%, and 30%, respectively, over sole application of 100% RDF (control). Further, response of capsicum to 80% RDF plus PGPR was statistically comparable with control. The results, therefore, indicate the potential of isolated PGPR strains to substitute about 20% NP fertilizers besides enhanced productivity of capsicum.     

Recombinase Polymerase Amplification assay for rapid detection of a geminivirus associated with potato apical leaf curl disease

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Recombinase Polymerase Amplification (RPA) assay was developed for specific detection of Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus-potato (ToLCNDV [potato]),...     

The potential of entomopathogens in biological control of white grubs

Abstract

White grubs are highly polyphagous and most destructive soil pests inflicting damage to a wide variety of crops. In India, more than 1000 species of white grubs are known of which over 40 species attack wide range of plants. White grubs are naturally infected by various entomopathogens which include fungi, bacteria and nematodes. Entomopathogenic fungi offer great potential and members of genera Beauveria and Metarhizium are widely used against white grubs. Several commercial products of entomopathogenic fungi like Bio Green, ORY-X, Grub X 10G, Betel, Biotrol FMA and Meta-Guard have been developed for the control of white grubs. In India, good control of white grubs in paddy, ginger and sugarcane has been achieved with different entomofungi. Among EPNs, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora is moderately effective against Popillia japonica and Rhizotrogus majalis. H. indica and H. bacteriophora are effective against potato white grubs in India. Paenibacillus popilliae cause milky disease in P. japonica grubs. The bacterium is pathogenic to Holotrichia consanguinea, H. serrata and Leucopholis lepidophora. In north-western Himalaya, B. cereus is highly toxic to the grubs of H. seticollis and Anomala dimidiata.     

First report of flower chafer beetle, Oxycetonia versicolor, on pigeonpea and mungbean from Punjab, India

The occurrence of flower chafer beetle, Oxycetonia versicolor (Fabricius) (Scarabaeidae: Coleoptera) damaging the flowers of important grain legumes such as pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) and mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) is reported for the first time from Punjab, India. Heavy infestation of these flower beetles at flowering may cause considerable damage to these crops. A mild to moderate level of infestation of 15?C17 beetles per ten plants was recorded at the time of peak flowering period on both the grain legumes. Adult beetles devour the flowers and buds, thereby greatly reducing the number of pods that are set. Information on important taxonomic characters of the beetle is highlighted in this report. Careful monitoring and timely reporting on this chafer beetle is necessary to avoid any future outbreak.     

Genetic analysis of quantitative traits across environments in linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.)

Summary Fourteen lines of linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) were evaluated for general and specific combining ability through line × tester cross analysis using five diverse testers in two different environments. Seventy F₁'s and nineteen parental genotypes were raised in completely randomized block design with two replications with respect to yield and yield related traits. Considerable genetic variation was observed for all the traits studied. The additive as well as non-additive gene effects played significant role in the inheritance of yield and related traits with preponderance of non-additive gene effects for all the traits studied. Higher proportion of general combining ability × environment interaction variance as compared to specific combining ability × environment estimates was recorded. Additive genetic variances were more sensitive than non-additive genetic variances to the changing environment. Low estimates of heritability (narrow sense) for primary branches per plant, capsules per plant, seeds per capsule, seed yield per plant, harvest index and oil content and medium heritability for days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height and 1000-seed weight was observed. Among the female parents LCK-9816, Parvati, Himalini, KL-168 were good general combiners for yield and related traits along with oil content, whereas among male parents, Surbhi and KL-224 were good general combiners for yield related traits and oil content but KL-221 was good general combiner for seed yield and related traits.     

Induction of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium</Emphasis> wilt (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium oxysporum</Emphasis> f. sp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">pisi</Emphasis>) resistance in garden pea using induced mutagenesis and in vitro selection techniques

Wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. pisi is a serious production constraint for peas worldwide. An attempt was made to isolate wilt-resistant mutants in two susceptible pea genotypes, Arkel and Azad P-1, employing induced mutagenesis and in vitro selection techniques. Two thousand seeds of each genotype were mutagenized either with ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS, 0.2% and 0.3%) or gamma rays (5-22.5 kR) in ⁶⁰Co gamma cell for three consecutive years. Screening of different mutagenized populations under wilt-sick plots resulted in the isolation of 25 mutants exhibiting complete or enhanced wilt resistance compared to parental genotypes. Five of these wilt-resistant mutants also outperformed the susceptible background genotypes in terms of yield and other horticultural traits. Efforts were also made to isolate wilt-resistant regenerants from callus cultures exhibiting insensitivity to culture filtrate (CF) of F. oxysporum f. sp. pisi. A total of 250 regenerants (R ₀) were obtained from CF-insensitive calli selected from medium supplemented with 20% culture filtrate. When evaluated in artificially inoculated sick plots, only five R ₂ lines obtained from the regenerants exhibited enhanced wilt resistance compared to parental cultivars. However, the selected lines did not exhibit resistance levels equivalent to those shown by wilt-resistant lines isolated through in vivo mutagenesis. To conclude, induced mutagenesis through irradiation and EMS treatments exhibited superiority over in vitro selection for inducing wilt resistance in peas.     

Pathological study of non-neoplastic urinary bladder lesions in cattle and buffaloes: a preliminary report

A total of 236 urinary bladders (94 cattle and 142 buffaloes) collected from Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India, were studied for spontaneous lesions. These adult animals belonged to Institute’s organized dairy farm and rural areas in the Rohilkhand region of Uttar Pradesh. Grossly, congestion, hemorrhages, and cystoliths in urinary bladders were diagnosed. Histopathologically, the major conditions diagnosed were acute cystitis, 44 (18.64%), including, congestion, hemorrhages, sub-acute cystitis; chronic cystitis, 74 (31.35%), including chronic cystitis un-complicated type, lymphocytic cystitis, plasmolymphocytic cystitis, follicular cystitis, hyperplasia, nodular/acinar hyperplasia, and cystolithiasis; and nothing unusual diagnosed, 118 (50.00%). Similar types of pathological conditions were diagnosed in both species of animals with exception of follicular cystitis and nodular/acinar hyperplasia which was diagnosed respectively only in buffaloes and cystoliths in cows. In addition, a good number of 17/25 (68%) urinary bladder samples tested were found positive for presence of bovine papillomavirus type-2 (BPV-2) by polymerase chain reaction. These included eight cases of acute cystitis, an equal number of cases of chronic cystitis, and one normal bladder. BPV-2 is known as potential source of enzootic bovine hematuria along with other co-factors in enzootic areas. Lesions of zoonotic significance, like tuberculosis, etc., were not diagnosed. None of the observed lesions represented conditions, which, by themselves, would warrant carcass condemnation in buffaloes.     

Pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of moxifloxacin in buffalo calves

The pharmacokinetics of moxifloxacin were investigated in buffalo calves following a single intravenous and intramuscular administration of moxifloxacin (5 mg kg⁻¹ body wt.). Moxifloxacin concentrations in plasma and urine were determined by microbiological assay. Pharmacokinetic analysis of disposition data indicated that intravenous administration data were best described by a two compartment open model, whereas intramuscular administration data were best described by a one compartment open model. Following intravenous administration, the elimination half life (t_1/2β), volume of distribution (Vd_(area)) and total body clearance were 2.69 ± 0.14 h, 1.43 ± 0.08 L kg⁻¹ and 371.2 ± 11.2 ml kg⁻¹ h⁻¹, respectively. Following intramuscular administration, the absorption half life (t_1/2ka) was 0.83 ± 0.20 h. The systemic bioavailability (F) of moxifloxacin in buffalo calves was 80.0 ± 4.08%. Urinary excretion of moxifloxacin was less than 14% after 24 h of administration of drug. In vitro binding of moxifloxacin to plasma proteins of buffalo calves was 28.4 ± 3.77%. From the data of surrogate markers (AUC/MIC, C_max/MIC), it was determined in the buffalo calves that when administered by intravenous or intramuscular route at 5 mg kg⁻¹, moxifloxacin is likely to be effective against bacterial isolates with MIC ? 0.1 μg ml⁻¹.     

Resistance to bean common mosaic potyvirus strains and its inheritance in some Indian land races of common bean

Evaluation of 397 common bean accessions of diverse origin revealed the presence of effective sources of resistance against bean common mosaic potyvirus strains prevalent in Himachal Pradesh, a north-western Himalayan state of India. 21 accessions viz., KR 7, KR 225, KR 295, KRC 4, KRC 7, KRC 11, KRC 12, KRC 13, KRC 16, KRC 22, Amanda, Black Turtle Soup, Contender, Hans, Great Northern UI 123, Improved Tender Green 40031, Jubila, Kentucky wonder, Monroe, Premier and Sanilac, were found resistant to NL-1n and NL-7n strains. Some of the genotypes showed strain specific resistance. Pattern of inheritance studied in Hans, Contender, KRC 4 and KRC 22 of Indian origin against strain NL-1n revealed that single dominant gene governed the resistance in Hans and Contender whereas single recessive gene determined the resistance in KRC 22 and KRC 4. SCAR marker SW13₆₉₀ amplified a product of 690 bp in Hans and Contender, confirmed the presence of I gene in these cultivars. The implications of above genes in breeding for programme for BCMV resistance are discussed.