Hybridization and in vitro culture of an orchid hybrid Ascocenda ‘Kangla’

The present study focuses on hybridization program involving two species belonging to two different vandaceous genera, viz., Ascocentrum ampullaceum (Roxb.) Schltr. var. auranticum, a narrow endemic orchid of Manipur and Vanda coerulea Griff., an endangered orchid of Appendix I of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), to synthesize the primary hybrid genus with intermediate and improved characters in the F₁ generation. Observations on the crossability in the present bigeneric cross between V. coerulea and A. auranticum had been achieved with 60% success when V. coerulea was taken as female parent. Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium at half-strength was effective for the development of the hybrid seedlings of V. coerulea × A. auranticum followed by Vacin and Went (VW) and Knudson C (KC) media. The best response of seedling growth was observed on MS medium at half-strength supplemented with 2.3 μM kinetin + 0.5 μM α-naphthalene acetic acid with maximum shoot height (2.7 cm), leaf number (4.6) and root number (4.1) after 150 days of inoculation. The survival percentage and growth performance of the seedlings were found to be higher (80% survival) in potting substrate consisting of brick:charcoal in the ratio 2:1 mulched with moss (Sphagnum sp.) than in potting substrate consisting of brick:charcoal:tree fern in the ratio 2:1:1. The first flowering was observed in the hybrid seedlings of V. coerulea × A. auranticum after 2 years of transfer to the ex vitro environment. Morphologically, the flowers differed from that of the parents clearly showing the success of the hybridization experiment. Registration of the hybrid has been made with the Royal Horticultural Society with the nomenclature Ascocenda ‘Kangla’ (No. T128725).     

Comparative Disposition Kinetics of Albendazole in Sheep Following Oral and Intraruminal Administration

The pharmacokinetics of albendazole was studied in sheep following single oral and intraruminal administration at nematocidal dose rates. The disposition curves of its metabolites indicated increased uptake of the drug in sheep following intraruminal as compared to oral dosing (p<0.05). The increased bioavailability of benzimidazole anthelmintics given by the intraruminal route could be exploited for optimizing the use of anthelmintic for sustained parasite control in small ruminants.     

Effect of Gibberellic Acid Spray and Basal Nitrogen and Phosphorus on Productivity and Fatty Acid Composition of Rapeseed-Mustard

Two field experiments were conducted during] 994-95 to study the effect of spray of 10⁻⁵ M GA3 at 40 days after sowing on mustard ( Brassica juncea (L.) Czern & Coss.) cv. Varuna grown with basally applied 0, 40, 80 and 120 kg N ha⁻¹ (Expt. 1) and 0,15, 30 and 45 kg P ha⁻¹ (Expt. 2) on pod number per plant, seeds per pod, 1000 seed weight, seed yield, biological yield, harvest index and fatty acid composition of oil. No significant difference between water and GA3 spray was found when basally applied nitrogen was 0 or 40 kg N ha⁻¹. N₈₀ proved to be the best for yield characteristics. In another experiment on phosphorus, GA₃ and 30 kg P ha⁻¹ individually enhanced the yield, but interaction of GA₃ and P remained non-significant. The fatty acid composition of oil in both experiments was significantly affected only by nitrogen and phosphorus treatments for oleic acid and erucic acid. It was found that return in the form of yield was more for every kg applied fertilizer under GA, spray treatment. The response was more for N fertilizer in comparison to P. GA₃ at a low level of fertilization significantly increased the return from fertilization.     

Glycinebetaine Improves Chilling Tolerance in Hybrid Maize

Plant growth and development is hampered by various environmental stresses including chilling. We investigated the possibility of improving chilling tolerance in hybrid maize by glycinebetaine (GB) seed treatments. Maize hybrid (Hycorn 8288) seeds were soaked in 50, 100 and 150 mg l^?1 (p.p.m.) aerated solution of GB for 24 h and were dried back. Treated and untreated seeds were sown at 27 °C (optimal temperature) and at 15 °C (chilling stress) under controlled conditions. Germination and seedling growth was significantly hindered under chilling stress. Moreover, chilling stress significantly reduced the starch metabolism and relative water contents (RWC), and increased the membrane electrolyte leakage. However, activities of antioxidants (catalase, superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase) were increased under stress conditions. Seed treatments with GB improved the germination rate, root and shoot length, seedling fresh and dry weights, leaf and root scores, RWC, soluble sugars, α‐amylase activity and antioxidants significantly compared with untreated seeds under optimal and stress conditions. Induction of chilling tolerance was attributed to maintenance of high tissue water contents, reduced membrane electrolyte leakage, and higher antioxidant activities and carbohydrate metabolism. Seed treatment with 100 mg l^?1 GB was the best treatment for improving the performance of hybrid maize under normal and stress conditions compared with control and other levels used.     

Wheat Seed Presoaking for Improved Germination

Seed presoaking improves wheat germination under marginal moisture conditions. The duration of seed presoaking was studied at The University of Arid Agriculture, Rawalpindi, using 10 wheat varieties. Seed presoaking beyond 12 h does not improve germination further, and beyond 21 h, germination rate is drastically reduced.     

Development of Eco-friendly and Non-hazardous Weed Control Technology for Lowland Rice by Smothering through LDPE Film

Intensive use of chemical herbicides and pesticides has raised serious concern about their effect on non-target organisms, plants, human bodies and the environment. Hence there is a continuous search for benign, harmless, non-hazardous and eco-friendly technology to control the growth of weeds which compete with crops for water, nutrients, light and space; thus reducing crop yield significantly. An attempt was made to control the weeds through smothering. This controls the weeds by cutting off light from the photosynthetic portion of weed plants by using black polyethylene sheets (LPDE film) which inhibit the top growth. Experiments to control the weeds in a lowland rice field through smothering were conducted in the high rainfall coastal region of eastern India wth eight treatments including smothering and conventional methods like hand/mechanical weeding and herbicides, etc. The treatment of smothering for one week + puddling + transplanting proved to be better than other conventional methods and may replace herbicide and hand/mechanical weeding totally with a better rice yield.     

Prey consumption during development as well as longevity and reproduction of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Typhlodromus pyri</Emphasis> Scheuten (Acari,Phytoseiidae) at higher temperatures in the laboratory

The predatory mite Typhlodromus pyri Scheuten (Acari, Phytoseiidae) has been reported as an important predator of the European red mite, Panonychus ulmi (Koch) (Acari, Tetranychidae) in apple culture and vineyards at below 25?°C. However, sufficient biological data was lacking on its efficiency at temperatures above 25?°C. Therefore, the purpose of the present laboratory work was to obtain experimental data on prey consumption during development as well as longevity and reproduction of T. pyri on apple leaf discs and in Plexiglas cells at constant temperatures of 25?±?2?°C and 30?±?2?°C with P. ulmi as prey.     

Antibacterial activity of Barringtonia racemosa

The antibacterial activity of the ethanol extract of Barringtonia racemosa roots, its chloroform soluble fraction and, a there from an isolated clerodane diterpenoid is reported.     

Antibacterial activity of Picrasma javanica

The methanol extracts of Picrasma javanica, leaves, seeds, stem and root barks were partitioned (petrol, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol). All obtained extracts and fractions showed a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity, while none was active against the tested moulds.