Response of Chickens to Infection with Newcastle Disease Virus Isolated from a Guinea Fowl

An isolate of Newcastle disease virus obtained from a guinea fowl was characterized as a viscerotropic velogenic strain based upon pathogenicity index studies. Following inoculation of the viral isolate oronasally into 3-week-old chickens, clinical signs appeared after an incubation period of 4–5 days and included dullness, depression, dyspnoea, diarrhoea and leg paralysis. The virus caused a mortality of 56% with haemorrhages at the tip of the glands of the proventriculus and caecal tonsil. Histopathological changes were prominent in the lymphoid organs, being characterized by depletion, degeneration and necrosis of the lymphoid tissues. The brain was the first organ affected, with changes being noticed 3 days after infection. Isolation of virus from various organs was more frequent from 5 to 10 days after infection, but the virus persisted in some of the organs until 21 days after infection. In spite of the high mortality, a good immune response was elicited by the isolate, as was evident from the antibody titre.     

T-shaped malformation of the ventral colon in a Thoroughbred filly with colic

A 4-month-old Thoroughbred filly presented for abdominal pain was diagnosed with a T-shaped malformation of the ventral colon at exploratory laparotomy. Following resection and anastomosis of the large colon, no further episodes of abdominal pain occurred during a 12-month follow-up. Acute dehiscence of the linea alba occurred as a complication of the initial laparotomy, but was successfully managed following additional surgical repair. T-shaped malformation of the ventral colon has not previously been reported and is considered a congenital malformation of mesocolon formation.     

Reclamation of saline‐sodic soil under a rice–wheat system by horizontal surface flushing

Saline sodic soil with a high content of soluble carbonates is one of the important agricultural soils on the Central Indo‐Gangetic plains and elsewhere. Conventional reclamation procedures using gypsum application followed by vertical leaching (GC) is uneconomic; high ECe and precipitation of applied gypsum, reacting with soluble carbonates, reduce the efficacy of gypsum in these soils. This paper reports results from a project designed to evaluate reclamation by irrigation of the ploughed soil and turning of soil with a power tiller followed by flushing of standing water after 24 h, a second flushing after 7 days and subsequent application of gypsum and vertical leaching (GF2). Average rice and wheat production after GF2 significantly increased (25 and 62%, respectively) over the conventional practice. Compared with conventional treatment, GF2 significantly reduced the ECe and SAR of the soil and improved physical properties such as ζ‐potential, dispersible clay content, water stable aggregates expressed as MWD, and saturated hydraulic conductivity. Split application of gypsum between flushing (GF1/2 and GF2/3) gave similar results to GF2 in terms of soil amelioration and crop production.     

Antifilarial activity of Azadirachta indica on cattle filarial parasite Setaria cervi

Alcohol and aqueous extracts of flowers of Azadirachta indica were tested in vitro for their potential antifilarial activity against whole worm, nerve muscle (n.m.) preparation and microfilariae of Setaria cervi. The effects of alcohol and aqueous extracts were similar in nature on the spontaneous movements of whole worm and nerve muscle preparation. On the whole worm, the response was characterized by initial increase in tone, rate and amplitude of contractions followed by reversible paralysis. The initial stimulant effect is likely to be due to irritant effect on the cuticle. Nerve muscle preparation responded to both extracts by inhibition of spontaneous movements followed by reversible paralysis; initial stimulation phase was absent. The inhibition was concentration related. Alcohol and aqueous extracts had almost similar lethal effect on the microfilariae of S. cervi, the LC50 being 15 and 18 ng/ml, respectively.     

Influence of noncellulosic contents on nano scale refinement of waste jute fibers for reinforcement in polylactic acid films

In the present study, nanofibrils of cellulose are extracted from waste jute fibers using high energy planetary ball milling process in wet condition. The rate of refinement of untreated fibers having non-cellulosic contents was found slower than treated fibers due to strong holding of fiber bundles by non-cellulosic contents. At the end of three hours of wet milling, untreated fibers were refined to the size of 850 nm and treated fibers were refined to the size of 443 nm. In the subsequent stage, composite films of poly lactic acid (PLA) were prepared by solvent casting with 3 wt% loading of untreated jute nanofibrils, treated jute nanofibrils and microcrystalline cellulose. The influence of non-cellulosic contents on mechanical properties of PLA films are investigated based on results of tensile test, dynamic mechanical analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. The maximum improvement was observed in case of treated jute nanofibril/PLA composite film where initial modulus and tensile strength increased by 207.69 % and 168.67 %, respectively as compared to neat PLA film. These improvements are attributed to the increased interaction of treated jute nanofibrils with PLA matrix due to their higher precentage of cellulosic contents and mechanically activated surface.     

Role of micronutrients on quantitative traits and prospects of its accumulation in linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.)

The adequate growth of plants can be achieved only by a balanced ratio of biologically active nutrients in soil along with its readily availability. Linseed seems to be an advantageous secondary oilseed crop widely used in industrial purposes, which can serve additional purpose of phytoextraction of heavily infested soils with heavy metals. In this study, we have made an effort to find out the optimum dose of heavy metals necessary as micronutrients like copper (Cu), iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) for the enhancement of linseed yield along with the distribution of heavy metals in different plant parts. Quantitative enhancement in different traits of linseed plant due to Cu, Fe and Zn fertilization especially for capsules per plant after maturity suggested positive association between heavy metal supply and morphological traits, which indirectly enhanced seed yield. There was a positive correlation between Zn supply and seed yield. In the treatments with Cu and Fe fertilization, seed yield was positively correlated to plant height, capsules per plant and seeds per five capsules. According to this study, it is concluded that linseed has the ability to accumulate majorly Fe followed by Cu and Zn.     

Influence of forest tree species on reclamation of semiarid sodic soils

Tree plantation is a proven strategy to improve the salt‐affected soils. However, the efficiency of trees to reclaim the soil varies from species to species. This study was therefore, carried out with the objective of assessing the efficiency of 3‐yr old plantations of Prosopis juliflora (Swartz) D.C. (Mesquite), Eucalyptus tereticornis Sm. (Forest Red Gum) and Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. Ex. D.C. (Indian Rosewood) to improve the sodic soil characteristics in Sultanpur districts of Uttar Pradesh, India (26°10′–26°23′N, 81°50′–82°5′E). Soil samples collected from six depths; 0.0–0.1, 0.1–0.3, 0.3–0.6, 0.6–0.9, 0.9–1.2 and 1.2–1.5 m below the surface, were analysed for chemical and physical properties by following standard methods. The infiltration rate (IR) was determined by double concentric infiltrometer and the permeability by constant head permeameter. The trees were measured for their girth at breast height (at 1.33 m from ground) and crown area within a 100 × 100 m sector at each of the sites selected. There were decreases in soil pH (from 10.06 to 9.64) and exchangeable sodium percentage (from 70.6 to 26.9) at the P. juliflora plantation relative to the E. tereticornis and D. sissoo plantations. The organic carbon and nitrogen content increased from 2.0 and 0.18 g/kg to 3.9 and 0.45 g/kg under P. juliflora at the surface (0.0–0.1 m) layer. There was also more exchangeable Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺and K⁺ at exchange sites and a reduction in exchangeable Na⁺ 3 yr after establishing the plantations. There was a significant decrease in surface soil (0.1 m) bulk density from 1.66 to 1.37 (t/m³) but an increase in porosity from 41.2 to 46.3% and water holding capacity from 4.3 to 4.8 g/kg. The IR and soil permeability also increased after 3 yr of tree growth. Prosopis juliflora proved more effective than E. tereticornis and D. sissoo in its ability to enrich a sodic soil with organic matter and establishing better soil–water characteristics.     

An evaluation of furrows for managing soil and water loss from a shallow Alfisol under simulated rainfall

Furrows are widely used in rainfed areas of semi-arid India for soil and water conservation. The orientation of furrows, either down or across slope, and their spacing influence the effectiveness of furrows as soil and water conservation measures. We evaluated treatments with furrows aligned down and across 3% sloping land at spacings of 90, 60 and 30 cm under simulated rainfall intensities of 80 and 100 mm/h on a shallow Alfisol. A bare plot without any furrows was considered as a control. A large (24 m × 3 m) rainfall simulator developed at the Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), Hyderabad, was used for this controlled study. Run-off was measured by a calibrated tipping bucket run-off recorder. The effects of the treatments on peak flow rate (L/s), sediment loss with run-off water (kg/ha/mm), peak sediment concentration (g/L), run-off (per cent rainfall) and time to peak (min) were investigated. When compared with the control (no furrows), across slope furrowing with 60- and 30-cm spacing reduced sediment yields by 19.9 and 21.3 kg/ha/mm of run-off, respectively, under a rainfall intensity of 80 mm/h and 24 and 25.3 kg/ha/mm of run-off, respectively, under a rainfall intensity of 100 mm/h. For the control, sediment loss was 50.72 kg/ha/mm run-off and 56.68 kg/ha/mm run-off for rainfall intensities of 80 and 100 mm/h, respectively. Similar trends were recorded from observations of peak flow, time to peak and peak sediment concentration. Run-off hydrographs demonstrated the conservation value of across slope furrowing by delaying run-off initiation, reducing run-off and slowly releasing the run-off after the cessation of rainfall. The results show that furrow orientation has major effects on reducing run-off, whereas furrow spacing has insignificant effects.     

Tillage Effects on Crop Yield and Physicochemical Properties of Sodic Soils

Tillage modifies soil structure and has been suggested as a practice to improve physical, hydrological and chemical properties of compacted soils. But little is known about effect of long‐term tillage on physicochemical soil properties and crop yield on sodic soils in India. Our objective was to investigate the effect of different tillage regimes on crop yield (wheat and paddy rice) and physicochemical properties of sodic soils. Two sodic sites under conventional tillage for 5 (5‐YT; 5‐year tillage) and 9 (9‐YT; 9‐year tillage) years were selected for this study. Changes in crop yield and physicochemical soil properties were compared with a control, sodic land without any till history, that is, 0‐year tillage/untilled (0‐YT). Five replicated samples at 0‐ to 10‐cm and 10‐ to 20‐cm soils depths were analysed from each site. In the top, 0‐ to 10‐cm soil depth 5‐YT and 9‐YT sites had higher particle density (Pd), porosity, water holding capacity, hydraulic conductivity, organic carbon, total nitrogen (N_t), available nitrogen (N_avail), phosphorus (P_avail) and exchangeable calcium (Exch. Ca⁺⁺) than 0‐YT, whereas bulk density (Bd), C : N ratio and CaCO₃ were significantly lower. Bd, pH, EC and CaCO₃ increased significantly with depth in all the lands, whereas Pd, porosity, water holding capacity, hydraulic conductivity, organic carbon, N_t, N_avail, P_avail and Exch. Ca⁺⁺ decreased. We conclude that continuous tillage and cropping can be useful for physical and chemical restoration of sodic soils. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Genetic basis of seedling-resistance to leaf rust in bread wheat 'Thatcher'

The bread wheat cultivar ‘Thatcher’ is documented to carry the gene Lr22b for adult‐plant resistance to leaf rust. Seedling‐resistance to leaf rust caused by Puccinia triticina in the bread wheat cultivar ‘Thatcher’, the background parent of the near‐isogenic lines for leaf rust resistance genes in wheat, is rare and no published information could be found on its genetic basis. The F₂ and F₃ analysis of the cross ‘Agra Local’ (susceptible) × ‘Thatcher’ showed that an apparently incompletely dominant gene conditioned seedling‐resistance in ‘Thatcher’ to the three ‘Thatcher’‐avirulent Indian leaf rust pathotypes – 0R8, 0R8‐1 and 0R9. Test of allelism revealed that this gene (temporarily designated LrKr1) was derived from ‘Kanred’, one of the parents of ‘Thatcher’. Absence of any susceptible F₂ segregants in a ‘Thatcher’ × ‘Marquis’ cross confirmed that an additional gene (temporarily designated LrMq1) derived from ‘Marquis’, another parent of ‘Thatcher’, was effective against pathotype 0R9 alone. These two genes as well as a second gene in ‘Kanred’ (temporarily designated LrKr2), which was effective against all the three pathotypes, but has not been inherited by ‘Thatcher’, seem to be novel, undocumented leaf rust resistance genes.