Comparative proteomic analysis of high‐ and low‐fertile buffalo bull spermatozoa for identification of fertility‐associated proteins

The present study identified few potential proteins in the spermatozoa of buffalo bulls that can be used as an aid in fertility determination through comparative proteomics. The sperm proteome of high‐fertile buffalo bulls was compared with that of low‐fertile buffalo bulls using two‐dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D‐DIGE), and the differentially expressed proteins were identified through mass spectrometric method. The protein interaction network and the functional bioinformatics analysis of differentially expressed proteins were also carried out. In the spermatozoa of high‐fertile bulls, 10 proteins were found overexpressed and 15 proteins were underexpressed at the level of twofold or more (p ≤ 0.05). The proteins overexpressed in high‐fertile spermatozoa were PDZD8, GTF2F2, ZNF397, KIZ, LOH12CR1, ACRBP, PRSS37, CYP11B2, F13A1 and SPO11, whereas those overexpressed in low‐fertile spermatozoa were MT1A, ATP5F1, CS, TCRB, PRODH2, HARS, IDH3A, SRPK3, Uncharacterized protein C9orf9 homolog isoform X4, TUBB2B, GPR4, PMP2, CTSL1, TPPP2 and EGFL6. The differential expression ranged from 2.0‐ to 6.1‐fold between the two groups, where CYP11B2 was high abundant in high‐fertile spermatozoa and MT1A was highly abundant in low‐fertile spermatozoa. Most of the proteins overexpressed in low‐fertile spermatozoa were related to energy metabolism and capacitation factors, pointing out the possible role of pre‐mature capacitation and cryo‐damages in reducing the fertility of cryopreserved buffalo spermatozoa.     

The Effects of Temperature and Soil Moisture on Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Genotype Sensitivity to Isoxaflutole

Isoxaflutole at 75 g ai ha^?1 is registered in Australia for the control of several broadleaf weeds in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Although isoxaflutole provides satisfactory control of problematic weeds, under certain conditions crop injury can occur. Higher air temperature and moisture content of soil are reported to affect the metabolism of soil applied herbicide. Controlled environment experiments were used to determine the tolerance of chickpea to isoxaflutole under a range of temperature and soil moisture levels. For the soil moisture study, the variables examined were two desi chickpea genotypes (Kyabra as a tolerant cultivar and Yorker as a sensitive cultivar), three soil moisture levels [50 % field capacity (FC), 75 % FC and FC] with three herbicide rates [0, 75 (recommended rate) and 300 g ai ha^?1]. For the temperature by soil moisture study, the variables examined were two other desi chickpea genotypes (97039‐1275 as a tolerant line and 91025‐3021 as a sensitive line), three temperature regimes (20/5, 30/15 and 35/25 °C), two soil moisture conditions (50 % FC and FC) with the same three herbicide rates. The results demonstrated that the chickpea genotypes exhibited differential tolerance to isoxaflutole, but that differences in response were affected by rate, temperature and soil moisture. Increasing temperature and soil moisture content made the susceptible chickpea genotype more vulnerable to isoxaflutole damage. Injury to the susceptible genotype in terms of increased leaf chlorosis and reduction in shoot height and dry matter production increased as soil moisture increased from 50 % FC to FC and temperature increased from 20/5 to 35/25 °C. Overall damage of the sensitive genotype from increasing rates of isoxaflutole also increased when soil moisture content increased from 50 % FC to FC within the fixed temperature regime of 30/15 °C. The sensitivity of chickpea to isoxaflutole depends on existing temperature and moisture content and the chances of crop damage were enhanced with increasing temperature and moisture levels.     

Solubility Relationships of Iron and Evaluation of its Fertility Status in Degraded Soils

This study was conducted to determine the solubility of iron (Fe) and identify the solid phases responsible for controlling its solubility in these soils by using Baker soil test (BST) computer program. The results indicated that the ferric ion (Fe³⁺) activity in all the soils, except the acidic ones, nearly approached the theoretical solubility line of known minerals, namely soil-Fe, amorphous-Fe, maghemite, and lepidocrocite. Solubility of Fe in acid soils of Ranchi (soil 3) and Cooch-Behar (soil 6) did not match the theoretical solubility lines of any of the known minerals. The acidic soils of Ranchi and Cooch-Behar were sufficient for Fe with respect to both quantity and intensity factor based on BST rating, while alkaline (soil 1) and calcareous (soil 5) were sufficient in reserve Fe; deficiency of iron still could be suspected because of high pH. These findings elucidate the role of solid phase controlling iron solubility in soil solution of degraded soils.     

Problems with No-till Crops

Abstract

Seven new granular herbicides were evaluated in Taiwan for the control of weeds in broadcast flooded rice. In general, herbicides applied early (6 days after seeding) gave better weed control but caused more crop damage than when applied late (12 days after seeding). Benthiocarb applied at 6 days after seeding, when most weeds were at the one to two leaf stage, was highly selective in controlling broad-leaved weeds and sedges with no sustained injury to rice. Butachlor failed to control broad-leaved weeds at the two to three leaf stage. The initial toxicities of C-288 (dimethatryn plus piperophos, 1:4) piperophos (C-19490), and CRD 71.6388 were too severe to warrant their use in direct-seeded flooded rice in Taiwan. Among the herbicides tested, thiochlormethyl and molinate and thiochlormethyl when applied late, were the most selective. When applied 12 days after seeding or at the three to four leaf stage of weeds, both treatments provided excellent control of weeds without causing any crop injury.     

Karyotype analysis and chromosomal evolution in Asian species of Corchorus (Malvaceae s. l.)

Here, we report the karyotypes and mean haploid idiograms of the ten Asian Corchorus species (2n = 2x = 14). Chromosomes were small, with a mean chromosome length of 2.30 μm. The largest chromosome was recorded in C. pseudo-olitorius (3.50 μm) and the shortest in C. pseudocapsularis (1.60 μm). The karyotypes of the two cultivated species (C. capsularis and C. olitorius) and C. pseudo-olitorius were the most diverse and specialized, whereas those of C. depressus and C. trilocularis were the least diverse. C. fascicularis had the most asymmetrical and C. urticifolius the most symmetrical karyotypes. An increase in genome size was accompanied by increasing karyotype diversity in terms of morphologically distinct chromosome types and interchromosomal asymmetry, with uneven distribution of additional DNA throughout the karyotype. A positive correlation between interchromosomal asymmetry and dispersion index suggested that size differences between chromosomes were mainly associated with karyotype asymmetry. Karyotypes of the Corchorus species became progressively asymmetrical in the course of evolution. Relationships among the ten Corchorus species were defined by using a neighbor-joining tree inferred from inter-simple sequence repeat data. C. fascicularis and C. pseudocapsularis, with shorter karyotypes and smaller genomes, were closely related to C. pseudo-olitorius and C. capsularis, respectively, which were characterized by relatively longer karyotypes and larger genomes. However, the two cultivated species with different levels of interchromosomal asymmetries, dispersion indices and genome sizes were distantly related. Taking this molecular evidence into consideration, we have discussed chromosomal evolution in relation to karyological data including genome size.     

Ethno-medicinal plants used by Bengali communities in Tripura,northeast India

Northeastern India has high medicinal plant diversity due to variance in topography and physiognomy. We documented the uses of various medicinal plants by the Bengali people of West district and South district of Tripura state for their own health care as well as for domesti-cated animals. Based on semi structured interviews, group discussions and information from local informants, a total of 93 species of medicinal plants of 52 families and 83 genera were documented. These plants were used to treat more than 55 different human diseases and 6 diseases of livestock. Sixty-eight plant species were used singly and the rest were used in combination with other species for therapeutic formulations of various diseases. Leaves of plants were most often used for most of the ethnobotanical preparations. Maximum consensus value of 96% was recorded for Chromolaena odorata （L.） King ＆amp;H. Rob., and the mini-mum was 15%for Bambusa balcooa Robx. Of the 93 plant species, 75 species showed pharmacological properties. Prospects for augmenting existing knowledge and enhancing the use of traditional medicinal plants are discussed.     

Genetic analysis of adult plant leaf rust resistance in three bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars

Genetic basis of adult plant leaf rust resistance in three released Indian wheat cultivars viz. DWR195, RAJ3765 and HP1731 was investigated through detailed inheritance study under controlled polythene house condition at Flowerdale, India. The F₂, F_3, F₄ and F₅ generations were analyzed with the most frequent and virulent Indian leaf rust pathotype 121R63-1. Two complementary recessive genes imparted resistance in DWR195, two complementary dominant genes governed the resistance of RAJ3765 whereas two independent dominant genes were involved in the resistance of HP1731. The genes responsible for adult plant resistance in the three cultivars were not allelic. The two complementary genes of DWR195 and two independent dominant genes of HP1731 have been isolated as single gene lines. Utilization of resistance from HP1731, which carries two independent dominant genes, will be easy as compared to DWR195 and RAJ3765.     

EST‐SSR analysis provides insights about genetic relatedness,population structure and gene flow in grass pea (Lathyrus sativus)

Grass pea (Lathyrus sativus) is an important food‐legume crop for resource‐poor farmers in the developing world. However, given its cultivation in the most underprivileged regions, the crop has not received appropriate scientific attention particularly from the genomic perspective, thereby giving it a status of genomic orphan. Nevertheless, some recent studies have attempted to develop modern molecular tools to strengthen the genetic and genomic research. In the present investigation, a comprehensive collection comprising 176 accessions was analysed using EST‐simple sequence repeats (SSRs). The SSR analysis revealed existence of a total of 51 alleles with an average polymorphic information content value of 0.35. A moderate level of gene diversity was noticed that ranged from 0.04 to 0.73 with an average of 0.43. Noticeably, two distinct subpopulations were recovered using cluster analysis. In addition, the presence of admixtures in population reflected the strong possibilities of gene flow between the accessions across the geographical boundary. In summary, we provide additional insights about the informativeness of available EST‐SSR markers along with an extended understanding of relatedness, genetic structure and gene flow in an under‐researched legume crop.     

Interspecific hybridization between Corchorus sidoides F. Muell. and C. siliquosus L., a natural polyploid

In Corchorus sidoides F. Muell x C. siliquosus L. , the pod set was 19.05 per cent. and the percentage of pod harvested (out of set pods) was 100 per cent.. All seeds of the cross pods were non-viable.In C. siliquosus L. x C. sidoides F. Muell. , the pod set was 8.7 per cent. and the percentage of pod harvested was 100. In this case the seeds were also non-viable.The genus Corchorus comprises species which are systematically widely related. The possibility of getting viable hybrids in this case is impossible because the phylogenetic relationship does not allow of getting viable seeds. A karyotypic study of these species will throw light on this aspect and breeders will then get a tool for handling this subject.Department of Agriculture, Calcutta University     

深施氮肥(15N标记尿素)对稻田水层化学性质的影响及水稻对深施氮肥的回收率

碳铵粒肥深施是提高氮素回收率,增加水稻等多种作物产量的合理施肥方法之一^[1-4,11].国际稻田肥力和肥料评价纲(INSFFER)在南亚、东南亚等十余个稻产国家的试验表明尿素粒肥深施是增产增收的经济施肥法^[12].