Systematics and taxonomic delimitation of vegetable,grain and weed amaranths: a morphological and biochemical approach

Amaranthus is a cosmopolitan genus comprising large number of species with many morphotypes cultivars/accessions having diversified morphological features. The species, morphotypes within Amaranthus are very closely related requiring microclassification even revision in present taxonomic status. Most of the works have been done employing grain Amaranthus and their putative ancestors applying morphological and molecular data. In present study along with morphological features, phenolic compounds (secondary metabolites), isozyme profile of acid phosphatase were applied to get comprehensive reflection of interrelationship and relative closeness among the species, morphotypes/accessions of few vegetable, grain and weed Amaranthus. Both the vegetable and grain Amaranthus are supposed to have originated from respective weed progenitor through occasional outcrossing and gradual domestication. The study strongly vouched the previous interpretations regarding interrelationship of grain Amaranthus and their derivation from their putative progenitor also showed clear separate clustering of vegetable and grain Amaranthus with their close relatives. A sharp congruence in cluster pattern was achieved between morphological dendrogram and cumulative dendrogram computed on morphological and biochemical parameters, which is a rare event in systematics.     

Physicochemical assessment and phosphorus storage of canal sediments within the Everglades Agricultural Area, Florida

Purpose

Excess nutrients such as phosphorus (P) transported from the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) in South Florida, USA, to downstream water bodies have been identified as contributing to trophic imbalances within the Florida Everglades. Decades of farming drainage from the EAA has led to accumulation of sediments in regional canals which may be transported to downstream ecosystems and act as potential internal source of P.

Materials and methods

Intact sediment cores were collected from three main conveyance and three farm canals within the EAA. Physicochemical assessment, mineralogy, P speciation, and storage were determined for surface and subsurface layers.

Results and discussion

The main conveyance canal sediments had higher total P (TP) concentrations (1,280?±?360?mg?kg^-1) than the farm canals (960?±?540?mg?kg^-1), while farm canal sediments showed higher organic matter content (28?C53?%) compared to the main canal (24?C27?%) sediments. The minerals found in main conveyance canal sediments were similar to those found in Lake Okeechobee. The labile KCl?CP fraction comprised <2?% of TP from all canal sediments, while NaOH?CPi (i?=?inorganic) fraction consisted of 1?C14?% of TP. The majority of P in the canal sediments was contained in the HCl?CP fraction (Ca?CP and Mg?CP), comprising >50?% of TP in the main and farm canal sediments. An estimated 73 metric tons (mt) of P was stored in the 0?C10-cm layer of the three main conveyance canals within the EAA boundary of which 57-mt P is reactive and potentially available for release at different time scales.

Conclusions

The EAA canal sediments are highly organic with low bulk density and susceptible of being transported to downstream ecosystems. Many factors can impact the potential release of the reactive stored P, including redox potential of sediments as well as the overlying water column P concentration. Further investigation of potential P release from these sediments is warranted.     

Comparative nutrient utilization,growth, and rumen enzyme profile of mithun (Bos frontalis) and Tho-tho cattle (Bos indicus) fed on tree-leaves-based ration

A study was conducted to compare the nutrient utilization, growth, and rumen enzyme profile of mithun (Bos frontalis) and Tho-tho cattle (Bos indicus) reared in the same feeding and managemental conditions. For the purpose, male mithun (n = 8) and male Tho-tho cattle (n = 8) of 1.5 years age, selected from the farm of National Research Centre on Mithun, Nagaland, India, were fed on mixed-tree-leaves-based ration as per the requirement of NRC (2001) for cattle for 12 months. Average daily gain (ADG), average dry matter intake (DMI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) for all animals were recorded. A metabolic trial was conducted at 6 months of the experiment to assess the digestibility coefficient of different nutrients and nutritive value of ration. At 12 months of the experiment, rumen liquor was collected from all animals and analyzed for rumen enzyme profiles, viz., carboxymethylcellulase, xylanase, α-amylase, β-glucosidase, α-glucosidase, urease, and protease. It was found that ADG (507.8 g vs 392.8 g), DM intake (6.59 vs 5.85 kg/day) and DMI/W^0.75 (98.75 g vs 91.00 g/day), crude protein intake (780 vs 700 g/day), and total digestible nutrient intake (3.65 vs 3.32 kg/day) were higher (p < 0.05) in mithun than cattle. The nitrogen balance was higher and FCR was better (p < 0.05) in mithun compared with cattle. The digestibility coefficient of different nutrients was similar (p > 0.05) between the species. The microbial enzyme profiles of mithun and cattle were not different (p > 0.05). The better growth performance of mithun than cattle as found in the present study clearly indicates that the mithun has higher genetic potential for growth than Tho-tho cattle of north-eastern hilly region of India.     

Effect of split application of zinc on yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.) in an inceptisol

Abstract

Rice is mostly transplanted under puddled low land soil conditions in India, where Zinc (Zn) deficiency is a common problem. The objective of this study was to find out the efficacy of split application of Zn on growth and yield of rice in an inceptisol. The split application of Zn as ZnSO₄ · 7H₂O performed better than its single basal application, while the split application of Zn-EDTA did not show any significant difference on yield and yield components of rice over its single basal application. Zn-EDTA was found to be better for growth and yield of rice among the two sources of Zn. The soil application of Zn at 1.0 kg ha^?1 as Zn-EDTA (T₇) recorded highest grain yield of 5.42 t ha^?1, filled grain percentage of 90.2%, 1000-grain weight of 25.41 g and number of panicles m^?2 of 452. The Zn content of grain and straw were found to be maximum in the treatment T₇ i.e. 38.19 and 18.27 mg kg^?1, respectively. Linear regression studies indicated that grain yield of rice is significantly influenced by Zn content of grain, Zn content of straw and DTPA extractable Zn content of soil at the level of 95.96, 96.74 and 95.57%, respectively.     

EFFECT OF NEEM-OIL COATED PRILLED UREA WITH VARYING THICKNESS OF NEEM-OIL COATING AND NITROGEN RATES ON PRODUCTIVITY AND NITROGEN-USE EFFICIENCY OF LOWLAND IRRIGATED RICE UNDER INDO-GANGETIC PLAINS

The nitrogen (N) fertilizer-use efficiency (20–50%) is low in rice fields in India. The neem-oil coated urea can increase N-use efficiency in lowland rice, but the desirable thickness of neem-oil coating onto urea is not known yet. Therefore, field experiments were conducted during kharif (rainy) season years 2004 and 2005 at the Research Farm of Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi to know the suitable thickness of neem-oil coating on prilled urea (PU) for increased N-use efficiency and yield. The treatments comprised of twelve combinations of four N sources (PU coated with neem-oil thickness of 0, 500, 1000 and 2000 mg kg^?1 PU) and three N levels (50, 100, and 150 kg N ha^?1) plus a no-N control. Prilled urea (PU) refers to the common urea available commercially in prills, which is different from urea super granules. Application of urea coated with neem-oil thickness of 1000 mg kg^?1 PU resulted in significantly higher growth, yield parameters, grain yield, N uptake, and efficiency of aromatic rice (Oryza sativa L.) over uncoated PU. Nitrogen application at 122 kg ha^?1 was optimum for increased yield of rice. Nitrogen-use efficiency decreased significantly and substantially with each successive increase in levels of N from 50 to 150 kg ha^?1.     

Hemagglutinins in vegetative tissues of Bengal gram

Hemagglutinating activity was identified in the roots and vegetative tissues of Bengal gram using rabbit erythrocytes. The activity in the roots appears to be similar to that of the seeds in respect to their sugar inhibition property. Seed and root extracts were found to have fetuin inhibitory agglutinating activity, whereas cotyledons showed different sugar specificity. However, 7-day cotyledons and roots from 3 and 7-day plants were also found to have galactose and N-acetyl-D-galactosamine inhibitory activity. Protein profile in different tissues during their developmental stages was analyzed by SDS-PAGE. A major band at 66 kDa was common to all tissues at different stages of their development except 3-day cotyledons where 2 major bands at 22 kDa and 74 kDa were observed. Two prominent bands at 74 kDa and 86 kDa were found along with 60 kDa protein in 3-day old roots whereas a major band at 33 kDa was found in 15-day old roots. Total protein content and specific activity of hemagglutinin were measured. Increase in specific activity with lower protein content was observed in cotyledons of 15-day old plant. Specific activity was eight times higher in the roots and four times more in leaf tissues of 7-day old plants in comparison to 15-day old plants. Stems also showed a significant increase of specific activity (p = 0.013) in 7-day old plants without any significant alteration in the protein content.     

Long-term feeding ecology and habitat use in harbour porpoises Phocoena phocoena from Scandinavian waters inferred from trace elements and stable isotopes

Background  

We investigated the feeding ecology and habitat use of 32 harbour porpoises by-caught in 4 localities along the Scandinavian coast from the North Sea to the Barents Sea using time-integrative markers: stable isotopes (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N) and trace elements (Zn, Cu, Fe, Se, total Hg and Cd), in relation to habitat characteristics (bathymetry) and geographic position (latitude).     

Zn, Cu, Cd and Hg binding to metallothioneins in harbour porpoises Phocoena phocoena from the southern North Sea

Background  

Harbour porpoises Phocoena phocoena from the southern North Sea are known to display high levels of Zn and Hg in their tissues linked to their nutritional status (emaciation). The question arises regarding a potential role of metallothioneins (MTs) with regard to these high metal levels. In the present study, metallothionein detection and associated Zn, Cd, Cu and Hg concentrations were investigated in the liver and kidney of 14 harbour porpoises collected along the Belgian coast.     

Effect of fibre diameter and cross-sectional shape on moisture transmission through fabrics

The current work incorporates an experimental study on the effect of fiber cross sectional shape and fibre diameter on moisture transmission properties of the fabric. Water vapour transmission of the fabrics was measured using the PERMETEST. In plane liquid flow through the fabric was measured using a gravimetric in-plane wicking tester and vertical movement of liquid along the fibres against gravity was also observed using a vertical wicking tester. With the change in shape factor and fibre diameter, it is seen that with increase in fibre specific surface area wicking rate through fabric increases, whereas water vapour permeability of the fabric reduces.