Studies on fertility restoration of A4 cytoplasm in pigeonpea

Fertility restoration of CMS-based hybrids is an integral part of breeding hybrids and the development of new hybrid parents with desirable agronomic and market preferred traits on regular intervals is essential for sustainability of such programs. This paper reports identification of 25 male-sterility maintainers and 179 fertility restorers of A₄ cytoplasm in pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.). Multi-location evaluation of hybrids exhibited high stability for fertility restoration across diverse environments. The diversity study showed a large variation for important traits both at phenotypic as well as genetic levels. The potential use of this information in hybrid pigeonpea breeding has been discussed.     

In vitro plant regeneration of non-toxic Jatropha curcas L.: Direct shoot organogenesis from cotyledonary petiole explants

Jatropha curcas, the energy plant has attained great attention in recent years because of its biodiesel production potential; however, oil and deoiled cakes are toxic. A non-toxic variety of J. curcas is reported from Mexico. A simple and efficient protocol has been developed for plant regeneration using cotyledonary petiole explants of non-toxic variety of J. curcas. The percentage of induction of shoot buds (59.11%), and the number of shoot buds (5.01) per explant was achieved on Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) medium supplemented with 2.27 μM thidiazuron (TDZ). These induced shoot buds multiplied when subcultured on MS medium supplemented with 10 μM kinetin (Kn), 4.5 μM 6-benzyl aminopurine (BAP), and 5.5 μM α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) for 4 weeks and subsequent elongation achieved on MS medium supplemented with 2.25 μM BAP and 8.5 μM indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Shoots more than 2 cm long were harvested and cultured on MS medium containing different concentrations and combinations of IBA, IAA, NAA, and 0.25 mg L^?1 activated charcoal, and 19.91% rooting was achieved in 15 μM IBA, 5.7 μM IAA, and 16.5 μM NAA after 4 weeks with more than 90% survival rate.     

Haematological modulation and growth of Labeo rohita fingerlings: effect of dietary mannan oligosaccharide,yeast extract,protein hydrolysate and chlorella

The present study was conducted for 60 days to delineate the efficacy of various dietary immunomodulators like mannan oligosaccharide (MOS), yeast extract (YE), protein hydrolysate (PH) and chlorella (CL) in Labeo rohita fingerlings. Five hundred and eighty‐five L. rohita fingerlings (average weight: 4.15 ± 0.07 g) were randomly distributed in 13 treatment groups with each of three replicates. Thirteen semi‐purified isonitrogenous (crude protein 324.7–332.5 g kg^?1) and isocaloric (17.66–17.80 MJ kg^?1) diets were prepared with three graded levels (1%, 2% or 4%) of immunostimulants, except the control. At the end of the feeding trial, weight gain%, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, leucocyte count, erythrocyte count, haemoglobin content, serum protein, globulin, albumin–globulin ratio, nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) value and survival percentage were evaluated. Growth was significantly higher in the MOS‐fed group. All the immune parameters studied were also recorded higher in the MOS 1%‐supplemented group. The survival percentage after challenging with Aeromonas hydrophila was higher (P<0.05) in the MOS‐, YE‐ and PH‐fed groups and the lowest in the CL‐treated group. It can be concluded that dietary supplementation of MOS at a 1% dietary level promotes growth and survival in L. rohita fingerlings. In contrast, higher inclusion levels of immunostimulants led to an immunosuppressive effect in L. rohita fingerlings.     

Simulating coconut growth, development and yield with the InfoCrop-coconut model

Simulation modeling of perennial crops has immense potential for generating information for plantation managers. We report the development of the InfoCrop-coconut model and its application to coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) growing in diverse tropical and subtropical environments. The model is based on the generic crop model InfoCrop that simulates various annual crops in tropical and subtropical regions. The InfoCrop-coconut model was calibrated and validated with data compiled from published studies comprising many physiological, agronomical and nutritional experiments conducted between 1978 and 2005 in diverse geographic locations throughout India. The treatments included various water and nutrient regimes and varieties of coconut. Time to first flowering varied between 4 and 6 years, leaf production varied from 8 to 15 leaves year(-1) and nut yield ranged from 3000 to 27,000 nuts ha(-1) year(-1). The genetic coefficients used for calibration and validation were generated from field experiments conducted during 1995-2005. Model efficiency and validation performance were analyzed statistically. Simulated trends in phenological development, total dry mass and its partitioning, and nut yield agreed closely with observed values, although a 15% error was observed in a few cases. Considering that field measurements have an experimental error of 10-15% and wide variation existed within treatments, the model adequately simulated the effects of management practices and agro-climatic conditions over short periods. For a range of agro-climatic zones, simulated potential yields varied from 26 to 30 Mg ha(-1) year(-1) and potential annual dry mass production varied from 52 to 62 Mg ha(-1), depending on environment. We conclude that InfoCrop-coconut can be used to increase the efficiency of agronomic experiments designed to aid coconut crop management.     

Assessment of biomass and net primary productivity of a dry tropical forest using geospatial technology

This study quantifies biomass, aboveground and belowground net productivity, along with additional environmental factors over a 2-3 year period in Barnawapara Sanctuary of Chhattisgarh, India through satellite remotesensing and GIS techniques. Ten sampling quadrates20×20, 5×5 and 1×1 m were randomly laid for overstorey (OS), understorey (US) and ground vegetation(GS), respectively. Girth of trees was measured at breast height and collar diameters of shrubs and herbs at 0.1 m height. Biomass was estimated using allometric regression equations and herb biomass by harvesting. Net primary productivity (NPP) was determined by Ssumming biomass increment and litter crop values. Aspect and slope influenced the vegetation types, biomass and NPP in different forests. Standing biomass and NPP varied from 18.6 to101.5 Mg ha^-1 and 5.3 to 12.7 Mg ha^-1 a^-1, respectively,in different forest types. The highest biomass was found in dense mixed forest, while net production recoded in Teak forests. Both were lowest in degraded mixed forests of different forest types. OS, US and GS contributed 90.4, 8.7and 0.7%, respectively, for the total mean standing biomass in different forests. This study developed spectral models for the estimation of biomass and NPP using Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and other vegetation indices.The study demonstrated the potential of geospatial tools for estimation of biomass and net productivity of dry tropical forest ecosystem.     

Comparative evaluation of raw and roasted soybean in lactating crossbred cows

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of roasting whole soybean in the local level on their chemical composition, nitrogen fractions, in situ degradability, and feeding performance in crossbred (Karan Swiss and Karan Fries) dairy cows. Twelve lactating crossbred cattle (369.08 ± 17.53 kg body weight) were randomly divided into two groups on the basis of milk yield (10.18 kg/day) and day of calving (89 days) in a randomized block design. Cows were fed green maize fodder and concentrate mixtures with 1 kg raw soybean as fed basis (7.6% of total diet) in the control group, where as roasted soybean replaced raw soybean in the treatment group to make both diets isonitrogenous and isocaloric. The roughage to concentrate ratio was around 55:45 in both diets. The cows were housed in individual byres and fed experimental diet for 90 days. The total dry matter intake per animal in both groups was similar. The digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, ether extract, and neutral detergent fiber was comparable in both groups. The average milk production and fat-corrected milk yield per day was similar during the trial. Milk fat, milk protein, and solids not fat content remained unaffected and similar in both groups. All the animals maintained their body weight in both groups. Thus, rumen bypassing of protein fractions at the present method of bypassing did not have the desired level of beneficial effect in medium producing crossbred cows.     

Floristic attributes of small cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton) growing areas in the Western Ghats of peninsular India

A field study was conducted in the Western Ghats of peninsular India to test the following two hypotheses: (1) lower floristic diversity for the cardamom hill reserves (CHR —a traditional agroforestry system of the tropics) compared to undisturbed evergreen forests and (2) a truncated vegetation structure for shade trees in the cardamom areas. The experimental sites involved three CHRs and an evergreen forest site.The CHRs, regardless of their locations, were characterized by lower floristic diversity and density than the evergreen forest site. The undisturbed forest site at Ayyappancoil registered the highest floristic richness and diversity (Simpson's floristic diversity index, D=0.93), followed by the well-managed CHR site, suggesting that managerial interventions may have a strong bearing on the floristic diversity of CHRs. The current suite of species in the CHRs included both heliophilic as well as shade-tolerant components. However, dominant tree species, their density and relative abundance exhibited marked variations among the CHR sites, albeit about one-third of the species were common at all sites.Stand physiognomy was characterized by the dominance of a single layer of trees in the CHRs, while the wet evergreen forest exhibited a multilayered canopy structure. Some of the lower height classes were poorly represented in the cardamom areas, whereas the evergreen forests depicted an inverse J shaped height distribution pattern. Implicit in the truncated stand structure of the CHR is the poor regeneration status, due to systematic removal of the lower size classes.     

Chemical analysis of essential oils of Eupatorium adenophorum and their antimicrobial,antioxidant and phytotoxic properties

Essential oils from inflorescences and roots of Eupatorium adenophorum Spreng (Asteraceae) have been investigated for their antimicrobial, phytotoxic and antioxidant activities. Based on GC–MS, the oil from inflorescences is dominated by sesquiterpenes (55.9 %) with γ-cadinene (18.4 %), γ-muurolene (11.7 %), 3-acetoxyamorpha-4,7(11)-diene-8-one (7.4 %) and bornyl acetate (6.3 %) as the major constituents. The oil obtained from the roots contained both sesquiterpenes (34.3 %) and monoterpenes (32.5 %) in almost equal proportions with E,E-cosmene (19.9 %), γ-muurolene (10.1 %), isothymol (7.5 %), β-cadinene (7.0 %) and α-phellandren-8-ol (5.9 %) as the major constituents. Both oils exhibited significant antifungal activity against five phytopathogenic fungi. The inflorescence oil showed higher antibacterial activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae, while the root oil was more effective against Staphylococcus aureus. The oils strongly inhibited or delayed germination and seedling growth of the weed Phalaris minor in a dose-dependent manner. As evidenced by a DPPH assay, the essential oils also exhibited significant free radical scavenging activity.     

Adventitious rooting in shoot cuttings of Azadirachta indica and Pongamia pinnata

Adventitious rooting in shoot cuttings of neem (Azadirachta indica) and karanj (Pongamia pinnata) was investigated in different seasons. The influence of auxins and B-vitamins (neem only) was evaluated. Maximum rhizogenesis coincided with the emergence of new sprouts i.e. February (neem) and March (karanj). Considering both rooting percentage and root biomass, IBA was the most effective auxin tested. Compared to auxin free controls, IBA (1000 ppm in neem and 800 ppm in karanj) significantly increased adventitious rooting percentage (80 to 100 % respectively), the numbers of roots and root biomass for both species. In neem, B-vitamin treatment yielded 40–50% rooting for cuttings. This was significantly greater than rooting for controls but equivalent to IAA treatments. In neem, some of the cuttings treated with 2000–3000 ppm IBA had well developed root systems without any sprouts. In karanj, all auxin treatments promoted sprouting. The level of total soluble sugars in the rooting zone of neem and karanj was higher in non-rooted than rooted cuttings.     

印度加瓦尔喜马拉雅山的亚热带的宽叶榆绿木(Anogeissus latifolia)林恢复状况(英文)

研究了位于印度加瓦尔海平面(950～1100m)上的亚热带森林的再生生长状况。对生长在不同方位(东、西、北、南)研究地的植被进行了定量分析。研究结果表明:宽叶榆绿木(Anogeissus latifolia)的树木、幼树和幼苗层在研究地点的所有方位显生长优势。长叶松(Pinusroxburghii)和毛白杨(Terminalia tomentosa)的树木、小树在研究地点的北部显生长优势。树木层的最高(380株·ha-1)和最低密度(260株·ha-1)分别出现在南坡和北坡。幼树的最高(1790株·ha-1)和最低密度(970株·ha-1)分别出现在东坡和西坡。树木和灌木层的多样性分别为0.846～1.710和1.943-2.847。与其它种的相比较(4%～33%),宽叶榆绿木(Anogeissus latifolia)的相对剪枝强度较高(45%-57%),此种是在北坡中最重要的树种。目前研究表明,如果不合理开采继续进行,宽叶榆绿木(Anogeissus latifolia)就有可能被其他种代替,在树种的成分和森林重建方面会发生剧烈的变化。人类活动的压力,地理方位和土壤营养已引起了树种的成分和森林重建方面的变化。