Potential of imidacloprid to control four species of psocids (Psocoptera: Liposcelididae) infesting stored grain

The effectiveness of the neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid was evaluated against four psocid pests of stored grain. This research was undertaken because of the growing importance of psocids in stored grain and the need to identify methods for their control. The mortality and reproduction of adults of Liposcelis bostrychophila Badonnel, L. entomophila (Enderlein), L. decolor (Pearman) and L. paeta Pearman in wheat treated with imidacloprid were determined. There were five application rates (0.5, 1, 2, 5 and 10 mg AI kg(-1) grain) and an untreated control. There were significant effects of application rate on both adult mortality and reproduction for all four species, but the effect of imidacloprid was sometimes more pronounced on reproduction. Imidacloprid was most effective against L. bostrychophila, with 100% adult mortality after 7 d at 5 mg AI kg(-1), 14 d at 2 mg AI kg(-1) and 28 d at 0.5 and 1 mg AI kg(-1). No live progeny were produced at 2 mg AI kg(-1). For L. decolor, there was 100% adult mortality after 28 d at 10 mg AI kg(-1) and no live progeny were produced at 2 mg AI kg(-1). For L. entomophila, there was 100% adult mortality after 14 d at 10 mg AI kg(-1) and 28 d at 2 and 5 mg AI kg(-1). No live progeny were produced at 10 mg AI kg(-1). At 10 mg AI kg(-1) there was 100% mortality of L. paeta adults after 28 d exposure and no live progeny developed. Because reproduction at some application rates occurred only in the first 14 d of exposure, it is concluded that the application rate leading to population extinction was 1 mg AI kg(-1) for L. bostrychophila, 2 mg AI kg(-1) for L. decolor and L. entomophila and 5 mg AI kg(-1) for L. paeta. This study shows that imidacloprid has potential as a grain protectant to control all four Liposcelis species in stored grain.     

Monitoring of meteorological drought and its impact on rice (Oryza sativa L.) productivity in Odisha using standardized precipitation index

The dynamics of meteorological drought and its relationship with block level rice productivity over the Eastern Indian state of Odisha was assessed during the wet season (June to November) using the standardized precipitation index (SPI). The time series of rainfall data (1983–2008) from 168 rain gauge stations was used to derive the 1- and 3-month SPI of different wet season months. The 1- and 3-month SPI data were interpolated to map spatial patterns of meteorological drought and its severity, and the maps of a drought (2008) and normal (2007) year were discussed in detail. Further, the time series of SPI was exploited to assess the drought risk in Odisha. Correlation analysis of 1- and 3-month SPI with rice productivity index (RPI) showed that the SPI of 1-month time scale particularly in July (r = 0.49) and October (r = 0.33) had significantly stronger relationship with RPI than any of the 3-month SPI individually during wet season. The cumulative degree of severity of drought could be better explained by 3-month SPI map when drought events are well spread in the preceding months. Regression models were developed using 1- and 3-month SPI for forecasting rice productivity of blocks with varying proportion of rainfed area in Odisha. Model developed based on 1-month SPI accounted for 27% yield variability in rice and could be used for forecasting rice productivity.     

Impact of tillage and crop establishment methods on crop yields,profitability and soil physical properties in rice–wheat system of Indo‐Gangetic Plains of India

Conservation agriculture (CA) based on best‐bet crop management practices may increase crop and water productivity, as well as conserve and sustain soil health and natural resources. In a 2‐year study, we assessed the effects of tillage and crop establishment (TCE) methods on productivity, profitability and soil physical properties in a rice–wheat (RW) system. The six TCE treatments were used to study the impact, which are puddled transplanted rice followed by conventionally tilled wheat (CTPR–CTW), direct‐seeded rice on the flat followed by zero‐till wheat (CTDSR–ZTW), zero‐till direct‐seeded rice with residue followed by zero‐till wheat with residue (ZTDSR+R–ZTW+R), transplanted rice after rotavator puddling followed by zero‐till wheat (RTTPR–ZTW), transplanted rice after rotavator puddling followed by rotary till wheat (RTTPR–RTW) and farmer practice rice–wheat (FP–RW). Result of the study revealed that mean rice yield was not significantly affected by different TCE methods. Wheat planted with ZTDSR+R–ZTW+R gave 30% larger grain yield than FP‐RW. Overall, among all the TCE treatments, the RW system yields and net returns were maximum under ZTDSR+R–ZTW+R. The fastest mean infiltration rate (0.10 cm hr^–1) was registered in ZTDSR+R–ZTW+R plots, whereas the slowest was in FP‐RW plots (0.05 cm hr^–1). Bulk density at 15–20 cm soil depth was least in ZTDSR+R–ZTW+R (1.70 Mg m^–3) and greatest in FP‐RW (1.73 Mg m^–3). Results from this study revealed that conventionally tilled (CT) and transplanting of rice could be successfully replaced by adoption of the profitable double ZT–RW system.     

Bioactivity of antioxidants in extruded products prepared from purple potato and dry pea flours

Measuring antioxidant activity using a biologically relevant assay adds important evidence to aid in understanding the role of phytochemicals based on data from in vivo and chemical assays of extrusion processed purple potato and pea flours. A cellular antioxidant activity assay could provide biologically relevant information on bioactive compounds in raw as well as processed food products. The objective of this study was to investigate the complete phytochemical profiles, antioxidant activity, cellular antioxidant activity, and their contribution to bioactivity in purple potato flour, dry pea flour, raw formulations, and extrusion cooked products prepared with the above ingredients. The free fraction of extracts contributed 68, 64, and 88% to total phenolics, total antioxidant activity (ORAC value), and total flavonoids, respectively, in purple potato flour (PPF). Similarly, extracts in the free fraction contributed 87, 86, and 64% to total phenolics, total antioxidant activity (ORAC value), and total flavonoids, respectively, in dry pea flour (DPF). The amount of total phenolics and total flavonoids in purple potato flour and the antioxidant activity of PPF and DPF were comparable to published data. However, a higher amount in the total flavonoids and lower in the total phenolics of DPF were observed. Caffeic, p-coumaric, and ferulic acids were mostly observed in the bound extracts of raw formulations as in the extrudates, whereas chlorogenic acid was predominant in the free extracts. The extruded products had significantly higher (p < 0.05) content of total phenolics, ORAC antioxidant activity, and flavonoids, compared to the raw formulations. Extrusion processing increased the cellular antioxidant activity of the extrudates prepared from 35:65 and 50:50 PPF/DPF (w/w) of ingredients compared with control raw formulations in a dose-dependent manner. Increase of PPF significantly increased (p < 0.05) the cellular antioxidant activity of 35-50% PPF formulations.     

Ultrastructural demonstration of cilia and ciliary rootlets in mammalian uterine tube epithelium in different functional states.

Tissue from the infundibulum region of the uterine tube (oviduct) of guinea pigs, cattle, sheep, and swine was examined by electron microscopy. In all specimens, cilia and ciliary rootlets were present in variable numbers in the ciliated cells during both the follicular and the luteal phases of the estrous cycle. True degeneration of cilia was not evident during luteal phase or pregnancy. The ciliary rootlets in ruminant and nonruminant species had structural similarities to those described in people and rhesus monkeys. These organelles measured approximately 1 mum long in most species studied, but in the cow, the rootlets, extending downward into the cytoplasm from the proximal end of the basal body, reached a length of 2 mum. The rootlets had a cross-striation of thick and thin bands, the period measuring 40 to 60 nm. Mitochondria were closely associated with the rootlets. The rootlets usually formed a small angle to the axis of the cilium. These organelles probably function as anchoring or stabilizing structures for the motile cilia. Results indicated that the rootlets are more widely distributed in mammalian uterine tube cilia than previously postulated. Polyribosomes, microfilaments, microtubules, and electron-opaque fibrous granules were frequently seen in the cytoplasm of the ciliated cells. The presence of fibrous granules in close association with the basal bodies indicate that these granules have a role in the development of cilia and rootlets. Cilia and precursor fibrous granules were also seen in porcine fetal uterine tube epithelial cells.     

Long‐term effects of fertilizer and manure applications on soil quality and yields in a sub‐humid tropical rice‐rice system

Widespread yield stagnation and productivity declines in the rice–rice cropping system have been reported and many of the associated issues are related to soil quality. A long‐term experimental study was initiated in 1969 to assess the impact of continuous cultivation of rice as a single crop grown in wet as well as dry seasons using varying levels of chemical fertilizer and manure applications on soil quality indicators (physical, chemical and biological), a sustainable yield index (SYI) and a soil quality index (SQI). The treatments comprised chemical fertilizers and farmyard manure (FYM) either alone or in combination viz. control, N, NP, NK, NPK, FYM, N+FYM, NP+FYM, NK+FYM and NPK+FYM, laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Soil samples were collected after the wet season rice harvest in 2010 and were analysed for physical, chemical and biological indicators of soil quality. A SYI based on long‐term yield data and SQI using principal component analysis (PCA) and nonlinear scoring functions were calculated. Application of NPK fertilizers in combination with FYM significantly increased the average grain yield of rice in both wet and dry seasons and enhanced the sustainability of the system compared to the control and plots in receipt of fertilizers. The SYI for the control was higher in the wet season than in the dry one, whereas the reverse was true for NPK+FYM treatment. The value of the dimensionless SQI varied from 1.46 in the control plot to 3.78 in the NPK+FYM one. A greater SYI and SQI in the NPK+FYM treatment demonstrated the importance of using a chemical fertilizer in combination with FYM. For the six soil quality indicators selected as a minimum data set (MDS), the contribution of DTPA‐Zn, available‐N and soil organic carbon to the SQI was substantial ranging from 59.4 to 85.7 per cent in NPK+FYM and control plots, respectively. Thus, these soil parameters could be used to monitor soil quality in a subhumid tropical rice–rice system.     

Re‐evaluating the biophysical and technologically attainable potential of topsoil carbon sequestration in China's cropland

To assess the topsoil carbon sequestration potential (CSP) of China's cropland, two different estimates were made: (i) a biophysical potential (BP) using a saturation limit approach based on soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation dynamics and a storage restoration approach from the cultivation‐induced SOC loss, and (ii) a technically attainable potential (TAP) with a scenario estimation approach using SOC increases under best management practices (BMPs) in agriculture. Thus, the BP is projected to be the gap in recent SOC storage to either the saturation capacity or to the SOC storage of uncultivated soil, while the TAP is the overall increase over the current SOC storage that could be achieved with the extension of BMPs. The recent mean SOC density of China's cropland was estimated to be 36.44 t/ha, with a BP estimate of 2.21 Pg C by a saturation approach and 2.95 Pg C by the storage restoration method. An overall TAP of 0.62 Pg C and 0.98 Pg C was predicted for conservation tillage plus straw return and recommended fertilizer applications, respectively. This TAP is comparable to 40–60% of total CO₂ emissions from Chinese energy production in 2007. Therefore, carbon sequestration in China's cropland is recommended for enhancing China's mitigation capacity for climate change. However, priority should be given to the vast dry cropland areas of China, as the CSP of China is based predominantly on the dry cropland.     

High frequency plant regeneration through adventitious multiple shoot organogenesis in epicotyl explants of Indian gooseberry (Emblica officinalis Gaertn)

Shoots regenerated adventitiously on epicotyl segments from in vitro seedlings of Emblica officinalis var. ‘Kanchan’. Epicotyls derived from 2-week-old aseptic seedlings were most responsive and produced a maximum number of 303 shoots per explant in Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium (MS) augmented with 8.8 μM N⁶-benzyladenine (BA) + 1.425 μM indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Shoots readily elongated in MS lacking growth regulators and rooted in half-salt-strength MS (1/2 MS) supplemented with indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) or α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). The highest rooting response was recorded in 1/2 MS containing 14.7 μM IBA. Plantlets were acclimatized inside the green house and 80% of the plantlets survived on transfer to garden soil.     

Campylobacter detection in commercial turkeys

1. Frequency of Campylobacter detection was monitored in three flocks of turkeys. The effect of week of production was evaluated for hens in flocks 1 and 2, and the effect of week, gender and litter (fresh or used) was assessed for flock 3. 2. Gastrointestinal tracts, poult box liners, drinkers and faecal droppings were sampled. Conventional microbiological procedures were used to isolate and identify the presence of Campylobacter. Campylobacter latex agglutination tests were used for confirmation. 3. Peak colonisation occurred at approximately 3 weeks of production. Frequency of Campylobacter isolation from bird sources paralleled isolation from waterers. Frequency of detection from birds placed on used litter was lower than detection from birds placed on fresh litter (2% vs 58%). Gender did not affect frequency of detection. 4. Minimising peak colonisation at 3 weeks and managing litter are opportunities to reduce the occurrence of this organism in turkeys.