Effect of inoculum rate on the performance of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Rhizobium strains in the field

Summary The influence of three inoculum rates on the performance of three chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Rhizobium strains was examined in the field on a Mollisol soil. Increasing amounts of inoculum improved the performance of the strains. A normal dose (10⁴ cells per seed) applied at different intervals gave non-significant increases in nodulation, nitrogenase activity (acetylene reduction assay), nitrogen uptake and grain yield. A ten-fold increase in inoculum increased nodule number, shoot dry weight, nitrogenase activity (ARA) and grain yield, but increases over the control were significant only for nodule dry weight and nitrogen uptake by shoot and grain. The highest level of inoculum (100 × normal) significantly increased nodule dry weight, grain yield, total nitrogenase activity (ARA) and nitrogen uptake by shoot and grain. Strain TAL 620 was more effective than the other two. Combined nitrogen (60 kg N ha^–1) suppressed nodulation and nitrogenase activity (ARA).Research paper No. 4345 from the Experiment Station, G. B. P. U. A. & T., Pantnagar, Nainital, U. P.     

Effect of handling and water stress on water status and rooting of loblolly pine stem cuttings

Two experiments were conducted to determine theeffect of handling, short-term storage, andinitial water stress on cutting water potential (_W) and rooting of loblolly pine(Pinus taeda L.) stem cuttings. First,stock plants and cuttings were measured for_W at predawn (04:00 a.m.) and earlymorning (09:00 a.m.). Cuttings were thensevered, wrapped in wet paper towels, andplaced in insulated containers for 2 or 7 h atapproximately 30 °C or for 21 h in coldstorage (4 °C). Water potentials ofcuttings were measured at the end of eachstorage period. Second, effects of initialwater stress on rooting performance of cuttingswere tested by withholding water from dormant(winter) and succulent (summer) cuttings forvarying periods of time. After each dryingtreatment, _W was measured on asample of cuttings and the remainder of thecuttings were transferred to a greenhouse withintermittent mist for 12 weeks.Storage of cuttings for long periods (7 to 21h) of time under low vapor pressure deficitconditions resulted in less negative waterpotentials of the cuttings. Dormant cuttingsrooted at higher percentages, even after beingexposed to lower values of _W Thelower values of _W in dormantcuttings could be attributed to higher ambientvapor pressure deficit during the drying phase. Results suggest that subjecting cuttings tomoderate water stress for a short period oftime does not adversely affect the rooting ofcuttings. Cutting water potentials below –1.7MPa appeared to reduce rooting of succulentcuttings and water potentials below –2.0 MPaaffected rooting in dormant cuttings.     

Effects of potential probiotic Bacillus subtilis KADR1 and its subcellular components on immune responses and disease resistance in Labeo rohita

The present study was conducted to determine the effects of Bacillus subtilisKADR1 and its subcellular components on immunity and disease resistance in Labeo rohita against Aeromonas hydrophila infection. Fish were fed diet containing different concentrations of live bacterial cells (DI‐10⁶, DII‐10⁸ and DIII‐10¹⁰ CFU/g) and another group of fish were immunized intraperitoneally with cellular components (WCPs, CWPs and ECPs) of Bacillus subtilisKADR1. After 4 weeks of trial, fish were challenged intraperitoneally with Aeromonas hydrophila cell suspension and survival percentage was recorded. Significantly higher post‐challenge survivability was recorded in fish groups fed 10⁸ CFU/g of KADR1 (80.24%; RPS = 75.76%) or immunized with WCPs (77.77%; RPS = 72.73%), compared with the control (18.51%). Analysis of immunological parameters viz. serum lysozyme, phagocytosis, serum total protein, respiratory burst, serum IgM levels, superoxide dismutase and alternative complement pathway activity reflected significant enhancement (p < .05) of immune response in fish fed 10⁶, 10⁸ and 10¹⁰ CFU/g of live cells, or immunized with cellular components of Bacillus subtilisKADR1, with the highest values were observed DII fed group, followed by the group immunized with WCPs. Our results suggest that dietary administration of Bacillus subtilisKADR1 at 10⁸ CFU/g can effectively enhance the immune responses and disease resistance in Labeo rohita against Aeromonas hydrophila.     

Effects of endotoxin-induced fever and probenecid on disposition of enrofloxacin and its metabolite ciprofloxacin after intravascular administration of enrofloxacin in goats

Pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin and its active metabolite ciprofloxacin were investigated in normal, febrile and probenecid‐treated adult goats after single intravenous (i.v.) administration of enrofloxacin (5 mg/kg). Pharmacokinetic evaluation of the plasma concentration–time data of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin was performed using two‐ and one‐compartment open models, respectively. Plasma enrofloxacin concentrations were significantly higher in febrile (0.75–7 h) and probenecid‐treated (5–7 h) goats than in normal goats. The sum of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin concentrations in plasma ≥0.1 μg/mL was maintained up to 7 and 8 h in normal and febrile or probenecid‐treated goats, respectively. The t1/2β, AUC, MRT and ClB of enrofloxacin in normal animals were determined to be 1.14 h, 6.71 μg.h/mL, 1.5 h and 807 mL/h/kg, respectively. The fraction of enrofloxacin metabolized to ciprofloxacin was 28.8%. The Cmax., t1/2β, AUC and MRT of ciprofloxacin in normal goats were 0.45 μg/mL, 1.79 h, 1.84 μg.h/mL and 3.34 h, respectively. As compared with normal goats, the values of t1/2β (1.83 h), AUC (11.68 μg ? h/mL) and MRT (2.13 h) of enrofloxacin were significantly higher, whereas its ClB (430 mL/h/kg) and metabolite conversion to ciprofloxacin (8.5%) were lower in febrile goats. The Cmax. (0.18 μg/mL) and AUC (0.99 μg.h/mL) of ciprofloxacin were significantly decreased, whereas its t1/2β (2.75 h) and MRT (4.58 h) were prolonged in febrile than in normal goats. Concomitant administration of probenecid (40 mg/kg, i.v.) with enrofloxacin did not significantly alter any of the pharmacokinetic variables of either enrofloxacin or ciprofloxacin in goats.     

Isolation and Culture of Ovine and Bubaline Small and Large Pre-antral Follicles: Effect of Cyclicity and Presence of a Dominant Follicle

Studies were conducted to examine the effects of the cyclicity and the presence of a dominant follicle (DF) in ovary on the recovery and in vitro growth of pre-antral follicles (PFs) in sheep and buffalo. Small pre-antral follicles (SPFs, 100–250 μm) and large pre-antral follicles (LPFs, 250–450 μm) were isolated from slaughterhouse ovaries in the breeding seasons by a mechanical and enzymatic method. The sheep and buffalo PFs were cultured in vitro for 6 and 15 days, respectively, and examined for their growth, survival and antrum formation rates and growth rates of oocytes in cultured pre-antral follicles. The follicles of the sheep and buffalo were recovered and cultured simultaneously within replicates. The recovery rates (number per ovary) of both SPFs and LPFs were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in cyclic ewes (SPFs: 22.0 ± 3.3 vs 12.1 ± 2.6 and LPFs: 16.0 ± 3.6 vs 9.2 ± 1.8) and buffaloes (SPFs: 9.2 ± 1.3 vs 4.1 ± 1.0 and LPFs: 10.3 ± 2.7 vs 5.4 ± 0.7) compared with those recovered from acyclic ones. Presence of a DF in ovary significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the recovery rates of LPFs in ewes (9.06 ± 2.7 vs 16.4 ± 3.8) but had no effect in buffalo. Cyclicity of animals or follicular dominance had no effects on in vitro growth, survival and antrum formation rates and growth rates of oocytes in cultured PFs of SPFs and LPFs in both sheep and buffalo. The in vitro growth, survival and antrum formation rates of LPFs and growth rates of oocytes in cultured LPFs were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those observed in SPFs in both sheep and buffalo. The overall recovery and growth rates of the PFs were lower in buffaloes compared with ewes.     

Biochar and crop residue application to soil: effect on soil biochemical properties,nutrient availability and yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

In the recent past, biochar and crop residues have attracted lots of attention as a viable strategy for maintaining soil health. This paper evaluates the comparative effect of two different doses (equivalent to 2 and 5 t C ha^?1) of each of pine needle and Lantana biochar (PBC and LBC), wheat residue and lentil residue (WR and LR) on soil biological properties, nutrient availability and yield of rice and wheat in pot culture. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) revealed higher C content of biochar than crop residues. Evaluation of biochemical quality reflected high recalcitrance indices of C and N for both PBC and LBC. Application of LBC and PBC increased the wheat grain yield significantly by 6.2%–24.2% over control. Both PBC and LBC significantly increased N and P uptakes in grain over the control and crop residues. Both biochars recorded a significant decrease of 33.9 and 71,7% in β-glucosidase activity in comparison to control at termination of study. PBC and LBC also resulted in more soil available N, P and K in soil at different intervals. The geometric mean of enzyme activities (GMea) reflected improved soil quality by PBC and LR and reduction by LBC application.     

Identification of a Mycoplasma ovis-like organism in a herd of farmed white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in rural Indiana

Mycoplasma ovis is a hemoplasma parasite of sheep, goats, and reindeer; however, natural hemoplasma infection in white-tailed deer has not previously been reported. Subsequent to finding many coccoid, bacillary, and ring-shaped organisms, consistent with hemotropic mycoplasmas, on RBCs from a 72-day-old female white-tailed fawn, we sought to (1) identify the putative hemoplasma observed in blood from the fawn, (2) evaluate others in the herd for hemoplasma infection, and (3) identify clinicopathologic characteristics of hemoplasma-infected white-tailed deer. EDTA-anticoagulated whole blood was collected from the fawn and 8 apparently healthy does in the same herd. CBCs were performed on 7 nonclotted samples from the fawn and 6 does. DNA was extracted from all samples, followed by PCR amplification of bacterial (16S rDNA) and protozoal (18S rDNA) genes. The nearly complete 16S rDNA product from the fawn's sample was directly sequenced and compared with known sequences in the GenBank database. Samples from the fawn and 7 of 8 does were PCR-positive using hemoplasma-specific and M ovis-specific protocols. The fawn was PCR-negative for Anaplasma spp., Babesia spp., and Theileria spp. The 16S rDNA sequence from the fawn (GenBank accession number, FJ824847) was most closely related to M ovis (AF338268), having 98.5% sequence identity. The fawn had a mild nonregenerative anemia, a neutrophilic left-shift with toxic change, aspiration bronchopneumonia, and gastrointestinal disease. Hematologic values, including blood film evaluation, in infected does were unremarkable. The M ovis-like organism may have acted as either an opportunistic or primary pathogen in the fawn. The high occurrence of subclinical infections in the does suggests that white-tailed deer may act as wildlife reservoirs for M ovis.     

Phytochemical and antimicrobial studies on Drynaria quercifolia

Friedelin, epifriedelinol, beta-amyrin, beta-sitosterol, beta-sitosterol 3-beta-D-glucopyranoside, and naringin were isolated from the dried rhizome of Drynaria quercifolia. The methanol extract showed broad and concentration-dependent antibacterial activity.