Mitigation of greenhouse gas emission with system of rice intensification in the Indo-Gangetic Plains

System of rice intensification (SRI) is an alternate method of conventional puddled, transplanted, and continuously flooded rice cultivation for higher yield, water saving, and increased farmer’s income. The SRI may also have considerable impact on greenhouse gas emission because of difference in planting, water and nutrient management practices. A field experiment was conducted with three planting methods: conventional puddled transplanted rice (TPR), conventional SRI with 12-days-old seedling (SRI) and modified SRI with 18-days-old seedling (MSRI) to study their effect on methane and nitrous oxide emission. Seasonal integrated flux (SIF) for methane was highest in the conventional method (22.59 kg ha^?1) and lowest in MSRI (8.16 kg ha^?1). Methane emissions with SRI and MSRI decreased by 61.1 and 64 %, respectively, compared to the TPR method. Cumulative N₂O–N emission was 0.69, 0.90, and 0.89 kg ha^?1 from the TPR, SRI, and MSRI planting methods, respectively. An average of 22.5 % increase in N₂O–N emission over the TPR method was observed in the SRI and MSRI methods. The global warming potential (GWP), however, reduced by 28 % in SRI and 30 % in MSRI over the TPR method. A 36 % of water saving was observed with both SRI and MSRI methods. Grain yield in the SRI and MSRI methods decreased by 4.42 and 2.2 %, respectively, compared to the TPR method. Carbon efficiency ratio was highest in the MSRI and lowest in the TPR method. This study revealed that the SRI and MSRI methods were effective in reducing GWP and saving water without yield penalty in rice.     

Polar lipids of sun flower (Helianthus annuus L.) seeds

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of polar lipids in sun flower (Helianthus annuus L.) seed is reported in the present study. Ten classes of polar lipids i.e. phosphatidic acid, phosphatidyl inositol, phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, phosphatidyl glycerol, diphosphatidyl glycerol, digalactosyl diglyceride, monogalactosyl diglyceride, esterified sterol glycoside and free fatty acids have been identified. Phosphatidyl choline and phosphatidyl inositol formed the major phosphatide fractions. Only four fatty acids i.e. palmitic, stearic, oleic and linoleic acids were present in measurable amounts in the total polar lipids. There was a great variation in the fatty acid composition in different classes of polar lipids. Arachidic acid was present in all the individual phosphatide fractions. Phosphatidyl glycerol was highly unsaturated followed by esterified sterolglycoside, phosphatidic acid, phosphatidyl ethanolamine + phosphatidyl glycerol, diphosphatidyl glycerol and monogalactosyl diglyceride.     

Novel role of photoinsensitive alleles in adaptation of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] to rainfed short growing seasons of lower latitudes

Soybean is a temperate photosensitive crop but has adapted to sub-tropical and tropical countries of lower latitudes also. Photoperiodic and maturity genes confer latitudinal adaptation in this crop. Genotyping of accessions of higher latitudes have shown the role of photoinsensitivity, conferred by recessive photoperiodic alleles (e1/e2/e3/e4), in adaptation of the crop to high latitudes but information is not available for lower latitudinal countries like India. We genotyped and calculated the photosensitivity of 101 cultivated Indian soybean varieties and found that majority of the varieties (86) were photosensitive and had the dominant alleles at these loci. Four genotypic classes (e1-as/E2/E3/E4, E1/e2/e3/E4, E1/e2/E3/E4 and E1/E2/e3/E4) were observed for varieties with recessive alleles. Photoinsensitive alleles at E1 and E2 loci significantly reduced the days to flower, maturity and photosensitivity percentage. Adaptive role of photoperiodic alleles was inferred from breeder seed requirement of these varieties for 35 years. Although the photosensitive class contributed 81% to the total seed requirement the weighted mean contribution of this class (380 Q/year) was far less than that of photoinsensitive class (648 Q/year). Photoinsensitivity is essential for perpetuation of crop in higher latitudes. Present report highlights the novel role of photoinsensitive alleles in adaptation of soybean to rainfed, short growing and sub-tropical conditions of lower latitudes by conferring earliness.

     

Nitrogen uptake and nitrogen harvest index in durum wheat cultivars varying in their grain protein concentration

Summary In a field experiment, plant (excluding roots) and grain nitrogen at harvest were estimated in 15 durum wheat cultivars varying in their grain protein concentration. They showed significant variation in grain yield, grain protein concentration, biological yield, total plant nitrogen at harvest and residual nitrogen in straw. Harvest index and nitrogen harvest index were calculated from this primary data. Nitrogen harvest index varied from 57 to 83%. Plant nitrogen showed significant positive correlation with biological yield, grain yield and grain protein yield, but the correlations with grain protein concentration, harvest index and nitrogen harvest index were not significant. Nitrogen harvest index was positively correlated with harvest index indicating that the distribution of N between straw and grain to a large extent, but not entirely, depends upon the partitioning of dry matter between the two. Grain protein concentration was neither correlated significantly to plant nitrogen nor to nitrogen harvest index.     

Spirometra sp. in a domestic cat in India

Adult Spirometra sp. were found in an experimental cat. This is the first report from northern India. It is suggested that this infection may have resulted from the feeding of raw fish offal.     

Activity of some enzymes in the serum of dromedary camels.

The activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), acid phosphatase (ACP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and isocitric dehydrogenase (ICD) in the serum of 60 healthy dromedary camels of either sex and different ages (one to 25 years) were determined. The results were analysed with respect to time of year (December-January and May-June), sex and age groups (below four years; four to 10 years; and over 10 years). The overall mean activities of AST, ALT, ALP, ACP, LDH and ICD were 36.1 +/- 0.35, 4.65 +/- 0.35, 27.21 +/- 0.43, 7.18 +/- 0.21, 479.0 +/- 7.33 and 7.74 +/- 0.17 iu litre-1, respectively. Activities of AST, ALT, ALP and ACP were significantly higher during extremely hot conditions (May-June) than in extreme cold (December-January) while the activity of LDH was higher in extremely cold conditions. Analysis of data based on sex revealed that AST, ALT and ALP activities in the serum of male animals were significantly higher than in female animals. The activities of all the enzymes were highest in animals under four years and then gradually decreased with age being lowest in the animals over 10 years.     

X-ray imaging for detecting spongy tissue,an internal disorder in fruits of ‘Alphonso’ mango (Mangifera indica L.)

An internal physiological ripening disorder, “spongy tissue”, affects about 30% of ‘Alphonso’ mangoes, the most popular Indian cultivar. Fruits show no external symptoms at harvest or on ripening but cutting reveals internal damage to the mesocarp which adversely affects fruit quality. Both fully grown green, unripe mangoes and ripe fruits show spongy tissue. A non-destructive x-ray inspection method has been developed to detect affected mangoes. X-ray photographs and x-ray images of fruits having spongy tissue show dark grey patches corresponding to internal cavities in contrast to light grey areas of healthy flesh. The method could be used for quality control for on-line detection and separation of mangoes having spongy tissue prior to packaging, by monitoring x-ray screen images.     

Analysis of potential yields and yield gaps of rainfed soybean in India using CROPGRO-Soybean model

To assess the scope for enhancing productivity of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.), the CROPGRO-Soybean model was calibrated and validated for the diverse soybean-growing environments of central and peninsular India. The validated model was used to estimate potential yields (water non-limiting and water limiting) and yield gaps of soybean for 21 locations representing major soybean regions of India. The average water non-limiting potential yield of soybean for the locations was 3020 kg ha⁻¹, while the water limiting potential was 2170 kg ha⁻¹ indicating a 28% reduction in yield due to adverse soil moisture conditions. As against this, the actual yields of locations averaged 1000 kg ha⁻¹, which was 2020 and 1170 kg ha⁻¹ less than the water non-limiting potential and water limiting potential yields, respectively. Across locations the water non-limiting potential yields were less variable than water limited potential and actual yields, and strongly correlated with solar radiation during the season (R² = 0.83, p ≤ 0.01). Both simulated water limiting potential yield (R² = 0.59, p ≤ 0.01) and actual yield (R² = 0.33, p ≤ 0.05) had significant but positive and curvilinear relationships with crop season rainfall across locations. The gap between water non-limiting and water limiting potential yields was very large at locations with low crop season rainfall and narrowed down at locations with increasing quantity of crop season rainfall. On the other hand, the gap between water limiting potential yield and actual farmers yield was narrow at locations with low crop season rainfall and increased considerably at locations with increasing amounts of rainfall. This yield gap, which reflects the actual yield gap in rainfed environment, is essentially due to non-adoption of improved crop management practices and could be reduced if proper interventions are made. The simulation study suggested that conservation of rainfall and drought resistant varieties in low rainfall regimes; and alleviation of water-logging and use of water-logging tolerant varieties in high rainfall regimes will be the essential components of improved technologies aimed at reducing the yield gaps of soybean. Harvesting of excess rainfall during the season and its subsequent use as supplemental irrigation would further help in increasing crop yields at most locations.