Molecular heterogeneity of plpE gene in Indian isolates of Pasteurella multocida and expression of recombinant PlpE in vaccine strain of P. multocida serotype B: 2

Outer membrane proteins of Pasteurella (P.) multocida have been known to be protective immunogens. Pasteurella lipoprotein E (PlpE) has been reported to be an important cross reactive outer membrane protein in P. multocida. The gene encoding the PlpE of P. multocida serotypes A: 3, B: 2 and D: 1 was amplified from the genomic DNA. The amplified products were cloned and the nucleotide sequence was determined. Sequence analysis of the recombinant clones revealed a single open reading frame of 1,011 bp, 1,008 bp and 1,017 bp encoding a protein with a calculated molecular mass of 37.829 kDa, 37.389 kDa and 37.965 kDa for serotypes A: 3, B: 2 and D: 1 respectively. The comparison of the plpE sequence in different capsular types revealed a high degree (>90%) of homology. Furthermore, the plpE gene of Haemorhhagic septicaemia causing serotype (B: 2) was expressed in E. coli and recombinant PlpE was strongly immunostained by antiserum against whole cell antigen, indicating that the protein is expressed in vivo.     

Heterosis and combining ability analysis for yield and its components in Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern & Coss)

Half diallel analysis of eight parents was carried out to identify the high heterotic crosses and their relationship in terms of general and specific combining ability (GCA &; SCA) in Brassica juncea L. Czern and Coss at IARI, New Delhi, during 2007–2008 and 2008–2009. The relative heterosis and heterobeltiosis were observed to be the highest with respect to seed yield per 100 siliquae and days from sowing to 50% flowering in case of cross IC-199715 × IC-199714, EC-289602 × Prakash in the number of primary branches per plant and harvest index, Agra Local × Pusa Bahar in the length of main axis, Poorbijaya × Agra Local in the number of siliquae on main axis and EC-289602 × Pusa Bahar in the biologic yield per plant and seed yield per plant. Different cross combinations exhibited the maximum value of better and mid-parent heterosis for the remaining traits, viz., days to maturity, number of secondary branches per plant, plant height and 1000-seed weight. GCA and SCA variances were significant in all characters. The variance of GCA (σ²g) was observed to be higher from sowing to 50% flowering and maturity in plant height and 1000-seed weight, whereas the variance of SCA (σ²s) was higher in seed yield and other remaining parameters.     

Vertical transmission of sublethal granulovirus infection in the tobacco caterpillar <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spodoptera litura</Emphasis>

Larvae that survived sublethal infection of Spodoptera litura granulovirus (SlGV) as 4th and 5th instars led to an increase in the larval period of treated larvae when compared with control. While pupal period and pupal weight remained unaffected, a significant alteration in sex ratio was observed. Although survivor moths could mate successfully, there was a significant reduction in the proportion of ovipositing females in treated larvae as compared with control. A significant reduction in fecundity of moths emerging from treated larvae was also noticed, but the egg viability was never influenced by the treatment. However, there was a significant increase in progeny mortality in treated larvae over control. The offspring mortality in survivors increased up to three subsequent generations but not thereafter. Hence, repeated field applications of inoculum are required. The implication of the present findings in terms of reduced fecundity coupled with increased larval development indicates that vertical transmission can lead to increased virus dispersal, both of which would reduce the host's innate capacity for population increase. This is particularly important in S. litura, which is a migratory species and occurs sporadically in a particular agro-ecosystem.     

Deep Tillage,Soil Moisture Regime,and Optimizing N Nutrition for Sustaining Soil Health and Sugarcane Yield in Subtropical India

A field experiment was conducted at ICAR-Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow, with three tillage practices (T₁: Control- two times ploughing with harrow and cultivator, each followed by planking before sugarcane planting; T₂: Deep tillage with disc plough (depth 25–30 cm) before planting followed by harrowing, cultivator, and planking; and T₃: Subsoiling at 45–50 cm and deep tillage with disc plough/moldboard plough (depth 25–30 cm) followed by harrowing, cultivator, and planking before planting, two soil moisture regimes (M₁: 0.5 irrigation water (IW)/cumulative pan evaporation (?CPE) ratio and M₂: 0.75 IW/CPE ratio) at 7.5 cm depth of IW, and four N levels (N₁- 0, N₂- 75, N₃- 150, and N₄-225 kg N ha^?1) in sugarcane plant crop. Deep tillage and subsoiling increased porosity and reduced bulk density in surface/subsurface soil. Further, these physical changes also improved soil biological and chemical properties responsible for higher crop growth and yield. Deep tillage and subsoiling reduced the compaction by 6.12% in 0–15 cm depth in sugarcane plant crop at maximum tillering stage. The highest N uptake (158.5 kg ha^?1) was analyzed with deep tillage and subsoiling compared to all other tillage practices. Maintaining suboptimal moisture regime with deep tillage and subsoiling showed the highest IW use efficiency (157.16 kg cane kg^?1 N applied). Mean soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC) in ratoon crop was higher compared to plant crop. During initial tillering stage, ratoon crop showed higher SMBC with application of deep tillage and subsoiling (1209 mg CO₂-C g^?1 soil day^?1) at 0–15 cm depth and 1082.9 mg CO₂-C g^?1 soil day^?1 at 15–30 cm depth. Thus, it could be concluded that besides improving sugarcane yield, soil health could be sustained by adopting subsoiling (45–50 cm depth) and deep tillage (20–25 cm depth), with soil moisture regime of 0.75 IW/CPE and application of 150 kg N ha^?1 in sugarcane (plant crop).     

Retrieval of rice crop growth variables using multi-temporal RISAT-1 remotely sensed data

Microwave remote sensing sensors have great potential due to their capability to operate in any weather condition for the wide range of agricultural applications. The rice crop variables such as leaf area index (LAI) and plant height (PH) were retrieved for the monitoring of crop growth to improve crop production. The interaction of rice crop variables with medium spatial resolution (25 m) Radar Imaging Satellite-1 (RISAT-1) data for Varanasi district, India, was examined. The multi-temporal dual polarization (HH- and HV-) images having frequency 5.35 GHz at C-band were investigated. Crop growth profile derived from the analysis of temporal backscattering (July–October, 2013) showed 3–4 dB difference throughout its growth cycle. The rice crop variables were retrieved by the inversion of polynomial models and showed higher values of coefficient of determination (R²) for HH-polarization in comparison to HV-polarization.     

Resource use efficiency of broiler production in tunnel-ventilated environmental control vis-à-vis open-sided conventional shed during summer

Present study was conducted to assess the resource use efficiency of broilers production, in tunnel-ventilated environment control (ECBH) and open-sided conventional (OSCBH) house under different stocking densities. Different treatments comprised of T ₀ (birds with floor space, 1.0/ft²/bird in open-sided conventional broiler house (OSCBH) as control, while different treatments in tunnel-ventilated environment control broiler house (ECBH) were T ₁, T ₂, T ₃, T ₄ and T ₅ with floor space of 1.0, 0.9, 0.8, 0.7and 0.6 ft² per bird, respectively. The results of shed microclimate indicated that shed temperature and temperature humidity index (THI) at 12:00 and 15:00 IST and maximum and minimum temperature in OSCBH were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher than ECBH. Litter moisture and pH did not differ significantly and were within permissible limits in both OSCBH and ECBH. Final body weight, body weight gain, feed intake were significantly higher and FCR, PER and EER were significantly better in ECBH than OSCBH (T ₀) even at 10% increase in stocking density (T ₂). Margin of receipt in T ₂ in ECBH from sale of live bird/unit area and kilogram live weight per unit area was maximum which was Rs. 5.08/- and 3.56/- higher than T ₀ for OSCBH.     

Polymorphism in 5′ untranslated region of heat‐shock protein 70 gene as marker of post‐partum anoestrus in Murrah buffaloes

The enormous production potential of buffaloes has never been accomplished due to various reproductive insufficiencies. Among them, post‐partum anoestrus, a multifactorial disorder, is predominant but any genetic association is yet to be established. This study focused to identify novel polymorphisms in heat‐shock protein 70 (HSP70) gene and its possible association with post‐partum anoestrus in Murrah buffaloes. A 579‐bp fragment from 5′ untranslated region of HSP70 gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction from blood genomic DNA of 614 animals maintained under similar management conditions. In phase‐I experiment, custom sequencing and restriction enzyme (RE) digestion of the amplified fragment were performed in 40 buffaloes with similar post‐partum oestrous conditions over previous consecutive three or more gestations—20 animals each showing post‐partum anoestrus (>120 days after parturition) and normal cyclicity (<65 days after parturition). While in phase‐II experiment, herd screening by RE analysis was performed in remaining 574 animals. Four transversions at T‐75G, C+31G, T+38G and C+97A and three transition mutations at T‐153C, T+33C and A+44G positions were observed. Polymorphism at T+38G site revealed significant (p < .05) variation, where homozygous G was present only in post‐partum anoestrous animals while nucleotide T was present randomly in both groups of phase‐I animals whereas phase‐II experiments revealed homozygous G in 55 animals. Regression analysis in relation to average post‐partum interval against genotypic frequencies at T+38G also depicted significant association. HSP70 gene polymorphism at T+38G position can therefore be used as genetic marker for excluding probable post‐partum anoestrous buffaloes from herd for breeding programmes.     

Agroecology as a Climate Change Adaptation Strategy for Smallholders of Tehri-Garhwal in the Indian Himalayan Region

Climate change is expected to increase temperatures and rainfall in the Himalayan region and place stress on local livelihoods by affecting agro-biodiversity, crop yield, cropping patterns and the species composition of forests. This paper reports findings of a survey of farmers into the role of agroforestry or ‘agroecological intensification’ for reducing climate change vulnerability. The survey was conducted in the Tehri-Garhwal district of Uttarakhand, a Himalayan State of India. Existing traditional agroforestry was found to provide ecosystem services to farmers at various scales ranging from the global to household level, contributing to the livelihoods and resilience of the farmers to climate change. The strategies of farmers for adaptating to climate change include adoption of agroforestry due to its diversified agricultural and forest products and services. The analysis suggests that policies should consider agroforestry as a tool for improving the livelihood and resilience to climate change of farmers.