Functional Growth Model for Pod Development in Greengram and Blackgram

Identification of readily measured traits that are associated with higher productivity of field crops is important to breeders. The objective of this study was to find out whether pod filling rate or duration of pod filling greatly decide final pod weight in greengram and blackgram. The effective pod filling duration is only 16 days in both the crops. Pod filling rate is more important than duration of pod development. Richards function is found to more closely fit the data on pod development from anthesis to maturity in both the species.     

Effect of Seed Pre-sowing Hardening on Physiological Behaviour and Seed Yield of Berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) Crop

A field experiment was conducted at Central Research Farm, Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi to study the effect of seed pre-sowing hardening on seed emergence, physiological behaviour — and seed yield of berseem ( Trifolium alexandrinum L. Var. S-99-1) crop. For this purpose, seed pre-sowing hardening were made by soaking of seeds in tap water for 24 and 36 hours separately and later dried back to their original weight or left undried. These seeds were sown at two depths (5 and 3 cm) and judged against control (no soaking). Results demonstrated that augmented effect of seed hardening on seed emergence and physiological process responsible for seed yield was recorded in descending order of harden seeds (of 24 hours soaking) > non harden seeds (of 24 hours soaking) > harden seeds (of 36 hours soaking); while non-harden seeds of 36 hours soaking adversely affect the plant growth because of leaching of sugar during excess soaking — an element for reduced seed vigour potential. Seed hardening system developed the strength of seed emergence on account of efficient catabolic process releasing high water soluble sugars needed for efficient germination process. Further this process augmented the absorption mechanism of mineral nutrients (particularly phosphorus and nitrogen with marginal variation in calcium) was quite evident at bloom stage — indicating a high metabolic activity during this period. Performance of seed hardening was effective at 5 cm deep sowing.     

Salmonella enteritidis clearance and immune responses in chickens following Salmonella vaccination and challenge

Our previous work showed that the cell-mediated immunity (CMI) was enhanced by live Salmonella vaccine (LV). The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of live and killed Salmonella vaccines on Salmonella enteritidis (SE) clearance and to determine if the clearance was mediated by cell-mediated and/or humoral immunity. Chickens were first immunized at 2 weeks of age followed by a booster dose at 4 weeks, challenged with live SE 2 weeks later (6-week-old) and tested for CMI, antibody response and SE clearance 1-week post SE-challenge (7-week-old). Spleen cell proliferation induced by SE-flagella and Concanavalin A (Con A) were significantly higher and SE shedding was significantly lower in the LV group. The splenic CD3 population was significantly lower and B cells were higher in the control group compared to all the SE-challenged groups (with and without vaccination). Serum antibody to SE-flagella and envelope were significantly higher in the KV group compared to all the other groups. These results suggest that LV protects against SE infection, probably by enhancing the CMI.