Detection and characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ageratum enation virus</Emphasis> and a nanovirus-like satellite DNA1 from zinnia causing leaf curl symptoms in India

Leaf curl in Zinnia elegans was observed in a subtemperate region in northern India, and the causal organism was identified as Ageratum enation virus (AEV). The virus appeared to be monopartite and associated with nanovirus-like satellite DNA1. The whole genome was amplified by rolling circle amplification, cloned, and sequenced using a primer walking strategy. The genome (FN543099) was composed of 2753 nucleotides (nt) and that of DNA1 (FN543100) of 1374 nt. DNA-β was not detected from any of the infected samples. The study presents the first report of a begomovirus from Zinnia spp. in India and the complete nucleotide sequence characterization of AEV associated with nanovirus-like satellite DNA1.     

Cellular coupling of potassium channels with β2 adrenoceptors in mediating myometrial relaxation in buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

Choudhury, S., Garg, S. K., Singh, T. U., Mishra, S. K. Cellular coupling of potassium channels with β₂ adrenoceptors in mediating myometrial relaxation in buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis). J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap. 33 , 22–27. Present study unravels the functional presence of potassium channels and their involvement in mediating β₂ adrenoceptors‐induced myometrial relaxation in buffalo myometrium. Isolated myometrial preparations exhibited rhythmic spontaneity with regular pattern of amplitude and frequency. Levcromakalim produced concentration‐dependent inhibitory effect on myometrial spontaneity and relaxant effect and the dose–response curve (DRC) was shifted towards right in the presence of glybenclamaide. In the tissues pretreated with glybenclamide, relaxant effect of albuterol was significantly (P < 0.05–0.001) lower (pD₂ = 6.94, R_max = 96.8 ± 3.3%; n = 5) compared with albuterol alone (pD₂ = 8.55, R_max = 101.1 ± 6.3%; n = 6) and the DRC was shifted to right. In the presence of tetraethyl ammonium (TEA) also, significant (P < 0.001) rightward shift of DRC of albuterol with decrease in maximal effect (pD₂ = 8.05, R_max = 71.2 ± 7.4%; n = 7 vs. control pD₂ = 8.55, R_max = 101.1 ± 6.3%; n = 6) was observed. On the other hand, 4‐aminopyridine (1 mm ) sensitized the myometrial strips and increased the amplitude and frequency/min of myometrial spontaneity but failed to significantly alter the DRC of albuterol. Results of present study suggest the functional presence of K_ATP, BK_Ca and K_V channels in buffalo myometrium, but β₂‐adrenoreceptor agonist‐induced myometrial relaxation seems to be K_ATP and BK_Ca channel‐dependent only. Further, our studies also suggest promising therapeutic potential of potassium channel modulators as tocolytics in buffaloes.     

Chemical pre-treatments improve seed germination and seedling growth in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Semecarpus kurzii</Emphasis>: an ethnomedicinally important plant

Semecarpus kurzii Engl. is an important ethnomedicinal plant used for curing tumours, inflammation, fever and pain, and is also a source of iso ricinoleic acid. During the present investigation, effect of chemical pre-treatments on germination and seedling growth revealed significant differences. Different pre-treatments could improve germination and treatment with KNO₃ (9.9 mM) was significantly superior (94%) to the untreated control (76%). Mean daily germination varied among the treatments (0.90–4.14 seeds per day), when compared with 2.27 seeds per day in control. Mean germination time was significantly reduced from 22.14 days (control) to 16.40 days (19.8 mM KNO₃) and 17.16 days (1.45 mM GA₃). Treatment with KNO₃ (19.8 mM) and GA₃ (1.45 and 2.90 mM) significantly reduced the time for 50% germination. Treatment with higher concentrations of GA₃ and KNO₃ exhibited significantly faster germination initiation (11.0 and 12.0 days, respectively) over the control (17.0 days). Seedling vigour index was not improved by pre-treatments. Chemical treatments did not improve shoot growth, collar thickness, or number of seedling leaves; however, root growth was significantly improved over control. Treatment with GA₃ (2.90 mM) promoted leaf elongation but reduced leaf width significantly. Treatment with KNO₃ and GA₃ could be recommended to obtain healthy seedlings for establishing new plantations of this important medicinal plant species.     

Chemical pre-treatments improve seed germination and seedling growth in Semecarpus kurzii:an ethnomedicinally important plant

Semecarpus kurzii Engl.is an important ethnomedicinal plant used for curing tumours,inflammation,fever and pain,and is also a source of iso ricinoleic acid.During the present investigation,effect of chemical pretreatments on germination and seedling growth revealed significant differences.Different pre-treatments could improve germination and treatment with KNO_3 (9.9 mM)was significantly superior(94%) to the untreated control(76%).Mean daily germination varied among the treatments(0.90–4.14 seeds per day),when compared with 2.27 seeds per day in control.Mean germination time was significantly reduced from 22.14 days(control) to 16.40 days(19.8 mM KNO_3) and 17.16 days(1.45 mM GA_3).Treatment with KNO_3(19.8 mM) and GA_3(1.45 and 2.90 mM)significantly reduced the time for 50% germination.Treatment with higher concentrations of GA_3 and KNO_3 exhibited significantly faster germination initiation(11.0 and 12.0 days,respectively) over the control(17.0 days).Seedling vigour index was not improved by pre-treatments.Chemical treatments did not improve shoot growth,collar thickness,or number of seedling leaves; however,root growth was significantly improved over control.Treatment with GA_3(2.90 mM) promoted leaf elongation but reduced leaf width significantly.Treatment with KNO_3 and GA_3 could be recommended to obtain healthy seedlings for establishing new plantations of this important medicinal plant species.     

Response of potato cv. Kufri Sadabahar to zinc sulfate application under tarai region of Uttarakhand

In order to determine the response of potato cv. Kufri Sadabahar to zinc (Zn) sulfate application, the present investigation was carried out during winter season of 2014–15 and 2015–16. The layout of experimental field was laid in a randomized block design with three replications. The experiment included three levels of Zn sulfate (15, 20 and 25 kg/ha) applied as basal and split doses along with control (without Zn), forming ten different treatments, which were distributed randomly in each block. Pooled data indicated that treatment T₇ (Zn sulfate @ 25 kg/ha as basal) produced maximum dry leaf weight (0.68 and 0.76 g) at 45 and 60 days after planting, respectively, with tuber yield of 36.45 t/ha and harvest index of 74.90%. Results also indicated that benefit:cost ratio (2.18 and 2.28) and net returns (Rs. 192.56 thousand and Rs. 209.40 thousand) from the potato crop during both the years, respectively, were obtained under treatment T₇.     

Wild onion (Asphodelus tenuifolius Cav.) interference in lentil and chickpea crops and its management through competitive cropping

The interference of wild onion with various densities of lentil and chickpea and its management through competitive cropping were studied under field conditions from 2001–2002 and 2002–2003 at Jabalpur, India. The observed yield loss and predicted yield loss related to wild onion indicated that wild onion was less competitive with chickpea than with lentil. As a result of intraspecies competition, the dry weight and number of seeds per plant for wild onion were reduced with increasing density. The suppressing effect of different crops on the seed rain of wild onion was in the order of pea > mustard > wheat > chickpea > linseed > lentil > French bean. Wheat, pea, and mustard were the most competitive crops against wild onion. The high shading ability of these crops was thought to contribute to the suppression of wild onion. French bean offered the least suppression while chickpea, linseed, and lentil showed moderate weed suppression.     

Identification and characterization of SNPs in released,landrace and wild accessions of mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) using whole genome re-sequencing

Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology - Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek var. radiata] is vital grain legume having nutritional and socio-economic importance, especially in the...     

Synergy of remotely sensed data in spatiotemporal dynamic modeling of the crop and cover management factor

Soil erosion is a threat to the water quality constituents of sediments and nutrients and can cause long-term environmental damages. One important parameter to quantify the risk of soil loss from erosion is the crop and cover management factor (C-factor), which represents how cropping and management practices affect the rates and potential risk of soil erosion. We developed remotely sensed data-driven models for dynamic predictions of C-factor by implementing dynamic land cover modeling using the SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) model on a watershed scale. The remotely sensed processed variables included the enhanced vegetation index (EVI), the fraction of photosynthetically active radiation absorbed by green vegetation (FPAR), leaf area index (LAI), soil available water content (AWC), slope gradient (SG), and ratio of area (AR) of every hydrologic response unit (HRU) to that of the total watershed, comprising unique land cover, soil type, and slope gradient characteristics within the Fish River catchment in Alabama, USA between 2001 and 2014. Linear regressions, spatial trend analysis, correlation matrices, forward stepwise multivariable regression (FSMR), and 2-fold cross-validation were conducted to evaluate whether there were possible associations between the C-factor and EVI with the successive addition of remotely sensed environmental factors. Based on the data analysis and modeling, we found a significant association between the C-factor and EVI with the synergy of the environmental factors FPAR, LAI, AWC, AR, and SG (predicted R² (R_pred²) = 0.51; R² = 0.68, n = 3 220, P < 0.15). The results showed that the developed FSMR model constituting the non-conventional factors AWC (R_pred² = 0.32; R² = 0.48, n = 3 220, P < 0.05) and FPAR (R_pred²= 0.13; R² = 0.28, n = 3 220, P = 0.31) was an improved fit for the watershed C-factor. In conclusion, the union of dynamic variables related to vegetation (EVI, FPAR, and LAI), soil (AWC), and topography (AR and SG) can be utilized for spatiotemporal C-factor estimation and to monitor watershed erosion.     

Strategies to mitigate the adverse effect of drought stress on crop plants—influences of soil bacteria: A review

Drought stress affects plant growth and causes significant issues in meeting global demand for food crops and fodder. Drought can cause physiological, physicochemical, and morphological changes in plants, which negatively affects plant growth and productivity. To combat this under the increasing global threat of water shortage and rapid population expansion, it is crucial to develop strategies to meet global food demands. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) may provide a safe solution to enhancing crop yields through various mechanisms. These soil bacteria can provide drought tolerance to crop plants, allowing them to survive and thrive in water-scarce conditions. Productions of phytohormones, free radical-scavenging enzymes, and stress-combating enzymes that can increase tolerance to drought-induced stress are key features of plant-associated microbial communities. This review summarizes the beneficial properties of microbes that help plants tolerate water scarcity and highlights the bacterial mechanisms that enhance drought tolerance in plants.     

Pluchea lanceolata (Rasana): Chemical and biological potential of Rasayana herb used in traditional system of medicine

Pluchea lanceolata (DC.) Oliv. & Hiern, (Family: Asteraceae) is a rapidly spreading perennial herb, considered valuable for the management of anti-inflammatory disease. Scientific reports dealing with phytochemical and pharmacological research and its traditional have been reviewed. Reports have also suggested that its prominent constituents viz. triterpenoids, sterols, flavonoids and lactones originate from this plant arbitrate their effects by modulating several therapeutic targets.Out of about 80 species of Pluchea, some of them are on extinct and only 16 have traditional uses in several countries of Asian, Middle East and North American region. The present review covers the period 1935–2011.