Development and evaluation of water-in-oil formulation of Pseudomonas fluorescens (FP7) against Colletotrichum musae incitant of anthracnose disease in banana

Banana anthracnose incited by Colletotrichum musae (Berk & Curt.) Arx. is a serious disease both in the field and after harvest. Nineteen isolates of antagonistic bacteria and twelve isolates of yeast were screened for the biocontrol activity against this disease. Pseudomonas fluorescens (FP7) had the highest inhibition rate of mycelial growth of C. musae. Water-in-oil formulation of P. fluorescens (FP7) was developed by adding various oils such as coconut (28.50 %), rice bran (28.50 %) and castor (28.50 %) individually to the bacterial culture. Addition of these oils allowed bacterial populations to survive at various levels up to 210 days of storage, the duration of experiment; whereas in the control treatment (NA broth) it survived at high levels only up to 45 days. Biochemical and antibiotic characterization of P. fluorescens (FP7) in water in oil formulation showed more intensity up to 180 days. Two field trials were conducted to standardize the water in oil formulation. The application of water-in-oil formulation significantly increased the yield (63.56 t/ha), and nutritional factors.     

Cross impact analysis and data mining variable hierarchy of stakeholder responses for sustainable development of Schizothorax fisheries in Kashmir lakes,India

This study documented the history of lake fisheries in Kashmir, India, and estimated the trends in fish production using Kane's cross impact analysis (CIA) and stakeholders’ willingness to pay (WTP) for the restoration of the Schizothorax fisheries. Kane's CIA model for Lake Dal indicated a perceptible drop in Schizothorax production in the long run, and that the total catch is being maintained by an increasing contribution by carp. In Lake Wular, the CIA indicated that the size of the lake still offers scope for the co‐existence and growth of both Schizothorax as well as carp. A Classification and Regression Tree (CART) model was used to data mine multiple stakeholder responses to make a case for sustainable development of the Schizothorax fisheries in the lakes of Kashmir. The amount of time spent on the lakes to earn their livelihoods emerged as the single most important variable that determined WTP by stakeholders followed by income, type of stakeholder and age. The pruned tree gave the hierarchy of the variables that determined WTP. The results made a strong case for a concerted multi‐institutional action plan for the restoration of the Schizothorax fisheries in the lakes of Kashmir.     

Identification of parameters in transient water quality models from stochastic data

An approach is presented for the identification of parameters in time-varying water quality models from stochastic data measured at two points along a stream (input-output type data). The models are plug flow models described by linear-first order partial differential equations. The method employed is to reduce the partial differential equations to a set of ordinary differential equations with the method of characteristics from which an analytical solution is obtained. The time-lag phenomenon presented in plug flow models is used to correlate the input-output data. A gradient method (Bard's method) is employed to identify the parameters in the correlation equation.     

Chlorophyll Content, Hill Reaction and PEPcase Activity in Relation to Hybrid Vigour in Pearl Millet during Early Seedling Growth

Three hybrids of Pennisetum americanum L. Leeke were analyzed for growth and photosynthetic components during early growth and compared with their respective parents. Growth in terms of shoot length, fresh weight and dry weight along with the chlorophylls, and Hill activity revealed better parental and/or mid parental heterosis in all the hybrids over their respective parents. However, PEPcase activity displayed heterosis only in BJ-104. In other two hybrids no heterosis over the parents could be observed indicating thereby that the activity of this enzyme may not be rate limiting in parental lines.
Nevertheless, it appears that in pearl millet hybrids improved photosynthetic apparatus as observed in chlorophyll contents and Hill reaction may be one of the early expressions of hybrid vigour.     

Case–control study on risk factors associated with Brucella Melitensis in goat farms in Peninsular Malaysia

Caprine brucellosis is a bacterial zoonotic infection affecting goats especially in developing countries all over the world. In Malaysia, the risk factors associated with this infection in farms have not been studied. A case–control study was carried out in goat farms in four states of Malaysia to elucidate the risk factors associated with the infection on the farms using structured questionnaires and face-to-face interviews. Results indicate that the introduction of new animals (OR?=?5.25; 90 % CI?=?1.46, 18.88), younger age category of farms (OR?=?5.53; 90 % CI?=?1.09, 21.66), and farms with single breed of goats (OR?=?8.50; 90 % CI?=?1.27, 41.97) were significant risk factors for brucellosis. In order to control brucellosis or possibly eradicate it in goat farms, these factors need to be dealt with. Enforcing stringent importation protocols or complete ban of goat importation from brucellosis endemic countries will help reduce risk of introducing new infection into the country.     

Encapsulation for in vitro short-term storage and exchange of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) germplasm

Synseeds of ginger (Zingiber officinale) were produced using aseptically proliferated 2-week old encapsulating explants (microshoots) upon complexation of 4% sodium alginate prepared in Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium (MS) and 100 mM calcium chloride. Conversion of synseeds into plantlets (conversion) was recorded as 66% and 53% on MS (3% sucrose) and on MS (3% sucrose) + 2.5 mg/l BA media, respectively. However, shoots/synseed were significantly higher on MS (3% sucrose) + 2.5 mg/l BA medium. For short-term storage of germplasm, sucrose-dehydrated synseeds were found better than air-dehydrated or fresh synseeds. Synseeds dehydrated in 0.25 M sucrose liquid medium for 16 h and stored in cryovials (with out medium) at 25 °C for 8 weeks and 12 weeks exhibited 53% and 13% conversion, respectively, on MS (3% sucrose) + 2.5 mg/l BA medium. Plantlets obtained from stored synseeds were hardened, established successfully ex vitro and were morphologically similar to each other as well as their mother plants. This synseed protocol could be useful for short-term storage and exchange of germplasm of ginger between national as well as international laboratories.     

Effects of rapid global warming at the Paleocene-Eocene boundary on neotropical vegetation

Temperatures in tropical regions are estimated to have increased by 3° to 5°C, compared with Late Paleocene values, during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM, 56.3 million years ago) event. We investigated the tropical forest response to this rapid warming by evaluating the palynological record of three stratigraphic sections in eastern Colombia and western Venezuela. We observed a rapid and distinct increase in plant diversity and origination rates, with a set of new taxa, mostly angiosperms, added to the existing stock of low-diversity Paleocene flora. There is no evidence for enhanced aridity in the northern Neotropics. The tropical rainforest was able to persist under elevated temperatures and high levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, in contrast to speculations that tropical ecosystems were severely compromised by heat stress.     

Aquaculture development in India: An economic overview with special reference to coastal aquaculture

Abstract

Coastal aquaculture emerged as a sunrise sector in India during the 1990s. It was identified as a sector full of promise for expanding exports and for adding to foreign exchange. The sector has more than fulfilled its promise and has more in store. This paper gives an overview of the role and development of fisheries in general and aquaculture in particular in India. Growth, sources of growth, contribution to national gross domestic product, impact on rural economy, socio‐economic impacts, generation of backward linkages, and export growth of coastal aquaculture in terms of composition, direction and penetration are reviewed. The paper concludes on an optimistic note for development of coastal aquaculture in the country with the streamlining of policy measures for production and marketing.