基于GIS的流域土壤侵蚀和产沙量模型（摘选）

基于USLE模型利用地理信息系统（GIS）和遥感（RS）对Wadsa-Chincholi流域年土壤流失量空间分布进行调查。空间输入数据由Arc GIS 9.3和RS（ERDAS IMAGINE 9.3图像处理软件）提供,利用USLE对网格内年均输沙量的空间分布进行预测。USLE参数基本单元的网格单元尺寸（GCS）分别为50 m×50 m、100 m×100 m和200 m×200 m。根据流域出口对年均输沙量进行估算。此外,将利用通用土壤流失方程（USLE）估算的产沙量与观测值进行对比。利用USLE模型预测得到50 m×50 m、100 m×100 m和200 m×200 m的年均输沙量分别为在63.80、18.83和3.67 t（hm2·年）。200 m×200 m GCS预测值与观测得到的产沙量基本相符。因此,在200 m×200 m GCS情况下,利用USLE模型得到的预测结果能够用于对Wadsa-Chincholi流域产沙量空间分布的研究。从水土保持角度来看,研究区域涵盖了侵蚀非常严重、侵蚀严重、侵蚀非常高、高度侵蚀和中度侵蚀类,这都需要引起重视。      

Effect of blue-green algae on aggregate stability and rice yield under different irrigation and nitrogen levels

The application of blue-green algae improved the aggregation status of rice field soils under different levels of irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer (urea) and increased the grain yield of rice significantly.     

Conservation and storage of Curcuma amada Roxb. synseeds on Luffa sponge matrix and RAPD analysis of the converted plantlets

Curcuma amada Roxb. (family Zingiberaceae), is gaining global attention as potential source of new drug molecule(s) as it is credited with compounds having remarkable pharmacological properties. Recognizing the risk of loss of genetic variability of C. amada in response to imprudent exploitation of the natural resources coupled with unsystematic cultivation practices, preservation of its genetic resources has attracted the current research attention. The present study exploited the multifarious properties of Luffa sponge (i.e. sound physical strength, stability in texture/shape over wide pH range and repeated autoclaving, cost effective availability, etc.) as a novel matrix for synthetic seed conservation. In this study, we have evaluated the consequences of the presence of two fungicides, namely - bavistin and rosebengal, in the gel matrix as well as in the Luffa sponge for conservation of contamination free germplasm of C. amada. A maximum of 50% and 75% regrowth could be recorded amongst rosebengal and bavistin containing synthetic seeds respectively after 4 weeks of plating on plant growth regulator-free MS medium. Further growth of the encapsulated microshoots was significantly impeded by the presence of rosebengal within the synthetic seeds. On the contrary, the bavistin containing synthetic seeds demonstrated five times better regeneration ability to contamination-free shoots. A total of 78% survival was achieved upon transfer of these healthy plantlets to glass-house. RAPD fingerprinting revealed 84.62% genetic similarity between randomly selected synthetic seed derived plantlets. This report strengthened the vital conservation approach of C. amada using inexpensive Luffa sponge as storage matrix and bavistin for eradication of contaminations.     

Agro-morphological characterization of ovary culture-derived plants of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Plants derived from unpollinated ovary culture of ten rice genotypes showed significant variability in agro-morphological characteristics. The ovary-derived plant (H1) populations were completely haploid, doubled haploid or haploid-doubled haploid mixture. Haploids had very drastic reduction in plant height, panicle length, grain length, breadth and number and spikelet fertility (0.0%–2.1%). Doubled haploids from the hybrid of UPRI 95–121 × UPRI 95–165 were normal with fertility ranging between 69.6% and 97.7%. A genetic segregation in ratio of 1:1 was observed for five pigmentation characters in the H1 population derived from hybrid UPRI 95–122 × UPRI 95–165. Plant height showed the largest coefficient of variability (28.5%) followed by the number of spikelets per panicle (24.2%), number of grains per panicle (22.0%), percent seed set (9.2%) and panicle length (9.0%). The range of variation in the H1 population from fully fertile hybrid PMS 2A (CMS) × IR 31802 (restorer) was similar to its corresponding F2 population for plant height, spikelet fertility and number of grains/panicle. A single clone of plants from the cultivar BG 1321 exhibited complete male sterility but normal female fertility when pollinated with other varieties. Ovary-derived plants from the CMS lines PMS 2A and IR 58025A showed stable male sterility and those from thermosensitive genetic male sterile line UPRI 95–140 showed thermosensitive genetic male sterility. These lines have potential in the hybrid breeding program and are being currently exploited. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Development of non-narcotic (opiumless and alkaloid-free) opium poppy, Papaver somniferum

A mutation breeding programme using gamma rays and ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS) was carried out for genetic conversion of narcotic ‘opium poppy’ into non-narcotic ‘seed poppy’. Two families contained 31 latexless (opiumless) and 23 partial latex-bearing plants which were identified in the M² and confirmed in the M³ generations by the ‘ray-pluck’ method. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC)-densitometry of powdered capsule hulls (straw) from 22 representative plants also revealed that none of the five opium alkaloids (morphine, codeine, thebaine, papaverine and narcotine) was present in the straw. Six plants also possessed high seed yield (4.0–5.66 g/capsule vs. 3.39 g for control) and seven had a high seed oil content (50.7-53.5%). The best mutant genotype, LL-34 of the family C¹-Comb-113-2, with 5.66 g/capsule seeds containing 52.6% oil was designated as cv. ‘Sujata’. This, perhaps the world's first opiumless and alkaloid-free seed poppy cultivar, offers a cheap and permanent (fundamental) solution to the global problem of opium-linked social abuse. Simultaneously, it serves as a safe and potential food crop with protein-rich seeds and healthy unsaturated seed oil.     

Further Studies on the Restoration of Fertility in Triticum durum×T. timopheevi Hybrids

Twenty one F₁ hybrids involving three Triticum durum cultivars and eleven forms of T. timopheevi were backcrossed to their respective durum parents. Backcross fertility (BC₁ grain set) of these sterile hybrids improved with the rise in temperature at the time of pollination. A mean temperature of less than 20 °C results in poor seed set while higher mean temperatures around 24 °C result in increased seed set. It is suggested that a large number of backcross seeds can be produced by pollinating these hybrids late in the season, i.e., after 20th of March in northern India.     

Effect of drip irrigation and mulches on physiological parameters,soil temperature,picking patterns and yield in capsicum (Capsicum annuum L.)

Water and temperature are critical for producing vegetable crops, especially during winter, when the availability of water is meager and temperature falls. Studies of drip irrigation and mulch were undertaken to find the effect on different growth and yield parameters in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with four main and four subplots. Irrigation levels were placed on main plots and mulches on subplots with three replicates for each. All recorded vegetative parameters were higher with drip irrigation at 1.0 pan evaporation (Epan) and black polythene mulch. Physiological parameters such as photosynthesis rate (18.01 and 17.45 μmol m^?2 s^?1), transpiration rate (6.19 and 5.86 mmol H₂O m^?2 s^?1) and chlorophyll content (27.34 and 28.39; 39.22 and 41.27 SPAD, respectively at 50 and 100 days after planting) were maximal in crops with drip irrigation at 1.0 Epan and mulched with black polythene. Soil and canopy temperature were significantly higher on flood irrigation at 1.0 Epan. Soil temperature was higher with the black polythene mulch, but canopy temperature was higher with no mulch. A higher level of drip irrigation and black polythene mulch result in early picking with higher yields compared with flood irrigation and no mulch.     

Cyanobacteria in alkaline soil and the effect of cyanobacteria inoculation with pyrite amendments on their reclamation

The succession of cyanobacteria was studied in a usar (alfisol, solonetz, alkaline) soil, located in a tropical region of upper Gangetic plain, following the first rainfall for a period of 10 months (i.e., July–April). A dozen cyanobacteria were identified to grow on the soil surface and their appearance was in the following order: Microcoleus sp., Calothrix brevissima, Scytonema sp., Cylindrosprmum licheniformae, Cylindrosprmum fertilissima, Nostoc calcicola, Nostoc punctiformae, Aphanothece parietina, Nostoc commune, Aulosira fertilissima, Phormidium sp., and Oscillatoria sp. Among these cyanobacteria, N. calcicola was the dominant species. N. calcicola was inoculated on the alkaline soil and incubated under ambient conditions in the light for 2 years in the laboratory. Changes in soil properties were more rapid after the incorporation of pyrite (FeS₂). Recovery was monitored by using a filamentous heterocystous cyanobacterium N. calcicola and its bicarbonate-resistant (HCO₃^–R) mutant. The mutant strain showed better response to modification of soil pH following growth in soil.     

Towards collection of wild relatives of crop plants in India

A total of 373 species of wild relatives of crop plants representing 120 genera and 48 families were collected from different phytogeographical regions of India during a mission mode sub-project on Sustainable Management of Plant Biodiversity under National Agricultural Technology Project during 1999–2005. Significant diversity representing endemic/rare/endangered species has been discussed in this paper. The information on phytogeographical distribution, life form, economic types and assessment of threat has also been included. Thrust areas for future target collections and conservation have been discussed to serve as reference for management of genetic resources.