Thermal Infrared Radiation for Assessing Crop Water Stress in Wheat

Field studies on differentially irrigated wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) crops were conducted at Pantnagar for two years to evaluate the use of thermal infrared radiation to detect crop water stress. Data show that the stress-degree-day index (mid day canopy-air temperature difference) is influenced by environmental variability other than soil moisture. Improvement in the stress-degree-day (SDD) index was achieved by including the measurements of vapor pressure deficit and approach was termed as plant water stress index (PWSI). Observations indicated that daily variation in SDD values due to meteorological changes was removed through PWSI. Better correlation was found between soil-induced leaf water potential and plant water stress index than between total leaf water potential and plant water stress index. It is concluded that remote sensing of thermal infrared radiation offers a promising technique which can be incorporated into irrigation management programme.     

Growth and reproduction of the vermicomposting earthwormPerionyx excavatus as influenced by food materials

An outdoor study was undertaken using polyethylene containers to assess the suitability of different organic residues, soybean straw (Glycine max L. Merril.), wheat straw (Triticum aestivum L.), maize stover (Zea mays L.), chickpea straw (citer arietinum L.) and city garbage, as food for the tropical epigeic earthwormPerionyx excavatus, and to assess the influence of this earthworm on the decomposition of these materials. Maize stover was found to be the most suitable of the food materials used. Population growth ofP. excavatus was enhanced by addition of these organic materials in the temperature range 24°-30°C, while the population was adversely affected above 30°C in a vermiculture system. Addition of earthworms accelerated the breakdown of residues, which ultimately resulted in a lowering of the C:N ratio, water-soluble carbon and carbohydrates, and increased ash percentage and cation exchange capacity compared with their respective controls.     

Influence of different land uses on soil nitrogen transformations after conversion from an Indian dry tropical forest

The effects of alternate land uses, such as grassland, cropland and mine spoil on mineral nitrogen (N), N-transformation rate and microbial biomass N (MBN) in dry tropical forest soils of India were studied. The mean annual mineral N in the forest, grassland, cropland and mine spoil ecosystems, respectively ranged from 15.24 to 19.58, 17.8 to 18.56, 16.49 to 19.85 and 10.52 to 13.44 µg g^− 1, net nitrification rate from 14.15 to 23.4, 10.11 to 11.38, 8.07 to 9.16, 10.52 to 13.44 µg g^− 1mo^− 1; net N-mineralization rate from 17.38 to 26.36, 13.99 to 15.41, 10.99 to 12.5, 5.43 to 7.68 µg g^− 1mo^− 1and and microbial biomass N from 41.25 to 58.87, 34.47 to 47.95, 27.88 to 30.43 and 22.95 to 25.26 µg g^− 1, respectively. The values were within the range reported by previous studies in different tropical environments. The mean annual net nitrification rates declined after conversion into grassland, cropland and mine spoil by 43, 54 and 78%, respectively, net N mineralization by 33, 46 and 70%, and microbial biomass N by 29%, 42% and 52%, respectively.The MBN was positively related to root biomass and total plant biomass, while microbial-N and inorganic N are reciprocally, while nitrification and N-mineralization are directly related to seasonal soil moisture and temperature. The microbial biomass N, nitrification and N-mineralization are negatively related to smaller fraction (< 0.1 mm) of the soil. Above- and below-ground biomass also have had their impact on microbial biomass N, and thereby N-mineralization. Thus, in dry tropical forests, land-use change affects remarkably the nitrogen transformation process in soil.     

Effect of long-term application of fertilizers on soil quality and rice yield in a salt-affected coastal region of India

The studied soils were collected from a 24-year long-term fertilizer experiment with rice (Oryza sativa L.) grown on tropical Typic Endoaquepts during monsoon season only. The organic carbon (OC) and total nitrogen (TN) status of the soils improved with the N₁₀₀P₂₂K₄₂ treatment than the initial values at the start of the experiment. The available P status of the soils depleted in the N₁₀₀P₁₁K₂₂ and N₀P₀K₀ treatments than the initial value. Soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and basal soil respiration (BSR), activities of urease, acid and alkaline phosphatases as well as fluorescein diacetate hydrolyzing activity (FDHA) were the highest in the N₁₀₀P₂₂K₄₂ treatment. The highest percentage of MBC in OC in the N₁₀₀P₂₂K₄₂ treatment revealed the accumulation of organic matter with an overall improvement in nutrient status of soil, since MBC is a labile pool of plant nutrients. Long-term application of fertilizers (N₁₀₀P₂₂K₄₂) had no deleterious effect on microbial and biochemical soil quality parameters. Rice grain yields were inconsistent with N₁₀₀P₀K₀ and N₀P₀K₀ while that of N₁₀₀P₂₂K₄₂, N₁₀₀P₁₁K₂₂ and N₁₀₀P₂₂K₀ increased gradually during the course of the experiment for each block period of six years. The grain yield of rice showed high significant correlation with the microbial and biochemical soil parameters.     

Hematologic reference intervals for koi (Cyprinus carpio), including blood cell morphology, cytochemistry, and ultrastructure

BACKGROUND: Hematologic data are used routinely in the health care of humans and domestic mammals. Similar data for fish are largely fragmentary or have not been collected. OBJECTIVES: The primary purpose of this study was to determine hematologic reference intervals for koi, an ornamental strain of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Secondarily, the morphology, cytochemical reactions, and ultrastructure of koi blood cells were characterized. METHODS: A CBC was performed manually on heparin-anticoagulated blood specimens using Natt and Herrick's diluent and a Neubauer-ruled hemacytometer. Leukocyte differential counts were done on Wright-Leishman- and Diff-Quik-stained blood smears. Cytochemical reactions of koi leukocytes were determined using commercial kits. Transmission electron microscopy was performed to characterize the ultrastructural features of koi blood cells. RESULTS: Hematologic reference intervals were established for healthy koi for PCV (30-34%), hemoglobin concentration (6.3-7.6 g/dL), RBC count (1.7-1.9 X 10(6)/ microL), WBC count (19.8-28.1 X 10(3)/ microL), RBC indices, and differential leukocyte counts. Lymphocytes were the predominant leukocyte (accounting for up to 80% of all leukocytes), whereas eosinophils were rare. Basophils were positive with PAS staining. Naphthol AS-D chloroacetate esterase activity was observed only in eosinophils. alpha-Naphthyl butyrate esterase and beta-glucuronidase activities were positive in monocytes. Some lymphocytes were reactive for alpha-naphthyl butyrate esterase and acid phosphatase activity. Ultrastructurally, leukocytes, erythrocytes, and thrombocytes were identified on the basis of cytoplasmic organelles and granule appearance. CONCLUSION: Hematologic reference intervals and knowledge of the cytochemical reactions and ultrastructural characteristics of koi leukocytes will help standardize hematologic studies in this species.     

Potide-G derived from potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is active against potato virus YO (PVYO) infection

A PVYO virus-resistant potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Golden Valley) was identified, and further, from its tubers, a small (5.57 kDa) antiviral peptide potide-G was isolated. Application of potide-G on virus susceptible potato (cv. Winter valley) expressed robust resistance to PVYO infection and showed no virus infected morphology. We found that PVYO infection spreads up completely within 3 days post inoculation (dpi) in susceptible cultivar. PVYO was more accumulated toward the basal leaves, when infection occurred longer. Combined results of morphology of PVYO infection, ELISA, RT-PCR, and real-time PCR showed the resistance to the PVYO infection depends on the expression of Ry gene. Indeed, the real-time PCR result showed that the Ry gene up-regulated to 3 times higher in PVYO infected cv. Golden valley. Golden crude protein was found to be active against PVYO infection in the in vivo test. In addition, application of potide-G in a virus susceptible potato potently reduced the viral infection actively with 50 times lower concentration than that of the Golden protein. Further identification of a host-specific resistant gene in a plant and the peptide derived from it offers new opportunities for the development of novel bio-pesticides against plant virus.     

Effect of antioxidant supplementation on free radical scavenging system and immune response in lindane treated scabies patients

The scabicide, lindane induces oxidative stress and immunological alterations. The present study was undertaken to assess the ameliorative effects of antioxidant supplementation in lindane treated scabies patients. Scabies patients were treated with either 1% lindane or 1% lindane along with antioxidant (Lycored or Vitamin-E). Oxidative stress and immunological parameters were evaluated in blood samples and compared with healthy controls. Lindane caused a significant increase in malonedialdehyde (MDA) levels and decrease in reduced glutathione (GSH) and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), which was attenuated by anti-oxidant therapy. The IL-1α levels were significantly enhanced in scabies patients per se and remained unaffected after lindane/anti-oxidant treatment. The TNF-α and nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction levels were not significantly different in all the groups. Topical application of lindane induces significant free radical generation and may cause immunological alterations which can be reversed by antioxidant therapy.     

Identification of potential sources of mungbean yellow mosaic India virus resistance in black gram (Vigna mungo) and expression of antioxidants and R-genes modulating resistance response in cultivated and its two wild relatives

Black gram is one of the most important short duration grain legume, which contributes significantly towards nutritional security and environmental sustainability. The virus specific primers confirms the presence of mungbean yellow mosaic India virus (MYMIV) in representative samples. A total of 27 cultivated and two wild species were found as highly resistant (HR) to MYMIV and validated through molecular markers. The start codon target (SCoT) markers analysis revealed that the SCoT loci, namely, SCoT-4 (2200 bp), SCot-9 (1150/ 1200 bp), SCoT-15 (1150/1100 bp), SCoT-16 (700 bp), SCoT-24 (2500 bp), SCoT-25 (700 bp), SCoT-33 (900/1000 bp), and SCoT-34 (600 bp), were found unique, able to distinguish HR and highly susceptible (HS) genotypes. Biochemical characterization and gene expression profiling revealed the higher expression of antioxidants and R-genes just after pathogen inoculation indicated the activation of defence mechanism in both cultivated and its wild relatives, which modulates the resistant responses in cultivated and wild accessions. These information will be really helpful in accelerating resistance breeding in black gram.