Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions from five contrasting rice production systems in the tropics

Carbon footprint (CF) quantification of major rice production systems (RPSs) is a prerequisite for developing strategies for climate change mitigation in agriculture. Total life cycle greenhouse gas emissions (LC-GHGs) from rice production to consumption might provide precise CFs for RPSs. Therefore, we assessed three segments (pre-farm, on-farm, and post-farm) of LC-GHGs under five major contrasting RPSs, i.e., aerobic rice (AR), shallow lowland rice(SLR), system of rice intensification (SRI), ...     

Genetic mapping and quantitative trait locus analysis of resistance to sterility mosaic disease in pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.]

Sterility mosaic disease (SMD), considered as the “green plague of pigeonpea” and caused by pigeonpea sterility mosaic virus (PPSMV) is one of the major biotic factors, which leads to heavy yield losses and hence poses a big challenge for pigeonpea production in the Indian subcontinent. Variability in the sterility mosaic pathogen revealed the occurrence of five different isolates in India. Among them, three distinct SMD isolates have been characterized, viz., Patancheru, Bangalore and Coimbatore. Molecular tools offer a viable option to tackle these biotic stresses via identification of the genomic regions associated with the trait such as SMD resistance. With an aim of identifying the gene(s)/QTLs linked with SMD resistance, two F₂ populations, i.e. ICP 8863 × ICPL 20097 (segregating for Patancheru SMD isolate) and TTB 7 × ICP 7035 (segregating for both Patancheru and Bangalore SMD isolates) were developed and F_2:3 families were phenotyped for resistance to respective isolate(s) of SMD. After screening over 3000 SSR markers on parental genotypes of each mapping population, intra-specific genetic maps comprising of 11 linkage groups and 120 and 78 SSR loci were developed for ICP 8863 × ICPL 20097 and TTB 7 × ICP 7035 populations, respectively. Composite interval mapping (CIM) based QTL analysis by using genetic mapping and phenotyping data provided four QTLs for Patancheru SMD isolate and two QTLs for Bangalore SMD isolate. Identification of different QTLs for resistance to Patancheru and Bangalore SMD isolates is an indication of involvement of different genes conferring the resistance to these two SMD isolates. One QTL namely qSMD4 identified within an interval of 2.8 cM on LG 7 explaining 24.72% of phenotypic variance, once it is validated in other genetic background, seems to be a promising QTL for use in marker assisted selection. In summary, this is the first study on development of intra-specific genetic maps and identification of QTLs for SMD resistance in pigeonpea.     

Oxygen consumption in trilobite larvae of the mangrove horseshoe crab (Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda; Latreille, 1802): effect of temperature,salinity, pH,and light–dark cycle

A set of feeding trials was carried out for different microalgal species and processed diets for the culture of the New Zealand pipi, Paphies australis. Five microalgal species (Isochrysis galbana clone T-ISO, Pavlova lutheri, Tetraselmis suecica, Chaetoceros muelleri, and Thalassiora pseudonana clone 3H) and three formulated diets (baker's yeast, wheat flour, and corn flour) were fed to spat, juvenile, and adult pipi for 21 days. Unfed pipi were used in the control group. The spat and juvenile pipi showed a major shell increase with I. galbana while the greatest wet weight increase was obtained with P. lutheri. The shells of adult pipi grew better with corn flour, and the P. lutheri-fed group obtained the greatest wet weight. Results of proximate analysis in adult pipi revealed that proteins and lipids were accumulated in the tissue for all fed groups, while carbohydrate levels were depleted in all treatments including the control group. It is suggested that the gonads have developed during the experiment.     

A Practical Approach for Sexing Zebrafish,Danio rerio

This study aimed at a simple, rapid, reliable, practical, and non-destructive sexing technique for mature zebrafish (0.61 ± 0.011 g each). In the first experiment, 36 fish of each sex were selected on the basis of the presence of a prominent genital papilla on mature females and bred randomly. All the couples laid fertilized eggs with a mean fecundity of 304 eggs per female, for a 100% sexing accuracy. In the second experiment, 140 mature zebrafish were randomly selected and individually sexed like in the first experiment. Each fish was then dissected in order to confirm the reliability of this sexing technique through the observation of either the ovaries or the testes. Upon dissection, an accuracy of 100% was recorded. This study demonstrates that sexing mature zebrafish only on the basis of the presence of a prominent genital papilla on the mature female is a reliable technique.     

Effects of 41 Years of Application of Inorganic Fertilizers and Farm Yard Manure on Crop Yields,Soil Quality,and Sustainable Yield Index under a Rice-Wheat Cropping System on Mollisols of North India

The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the effect of integrated nutrient management (INM) on crop yield sustainability and soil quality in a long-term trial initiated during the wet season of 1971 under a humid subtropical climate. Over 41 years of study, 100% nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) + farm yard manure (FYM) at 15 t ha^?1 recorded the most sustainable grain yields. Optimal and superoptimal NPK fertilizers gave quite similar crop yields to that of 100% NPK + FYM at 15 t ha^–1 up to two decades but thereafter yields declined sharply due to emergence of zinc (Zn) deficiency. The sustainable yield index (SYI) values indicated that wheat yields were more sustainable than rice. Soil organic carbon and available N, P, K, and Zn in the control plot decreased the most, whereas 100% NPK + FYM at 15 t ha^–1 improved available N, P and K, maintained soil organic carbon, and decreased Zn over initial levels. Grain yield and SYI were more significantly correlated with Soil Organic Carbon (SOC). Continuous application of FYM contributed the maximum Soil Quality Index (SQI) (0.94), followed by Zn.     

Study of anti-inflammatory,analgesic and antipyretic activities of seeds of Hyoscyamus niger and isolation of a new coumarinolignan

A chemical and biological validation of the traditional use of Hyoscyamus niger seeds as anti-inflammatory drug has been established. The methanolic extract of seeds of H. niger (MHN) was evaluated for its analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities in experimental animal models at different doses. MHN produced significant increase in hot plate reaction time, while decreasing writhing response in a dose-dependent manner indicating its analgesic activity. It was also effective in both acute and chronic inflammation evaluated through carrageenin-induced paw oedema and cotton pellet granuloma methods. In addition to its analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity, it also exhibited antipyretic activity in yeast-induced pyrexia model. Furthermore, the bioactive MHN under chemical investigation showed the presence of coumarinolignans as major chemical constituent and yielded a new coumarinolignan, cleomiscosin A methyl ether (1) along with four known coumarinolignans, cleomiscosin A (2), cleomiscosin B (3), cleomiscosin A-9′-acetate (4) and cleomiscosin B-9′-acetate (5). The structure elucidation of 1 was done by spectroscopic data interpretation and comparative HPLC analysis. Cleomiscosin A, but not its isomer cleomiscosin B, reduced dry and wet weight of cotton pellet granuloma in mice. This suggests that cleomiscosin A is an important constituent of MHN responsible for anti-inflammatory activity.     

Fluorescent caged compounds of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-d): photorelease technology for controlled release of 2,4-D

A novel controlled-release formulation (CRF) of the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) was developed to reduce its negative environmental impacts by improving its herbicidal efficacy. The 2,4-D was chemically caged by coupling with photoremovable protecting groups (PRPGs) of coumarin derivatives. Photophysical studies of caged compounds showed that they all exhibited strong fluorescence properties. Controlled release of 2,4-D was achieved by irradiating the caged compounds using UV-vis light (310, 350, and 410 nm). The effect of various factors such as pH, solvent, and different substituents at the seventh position of coumarin moiety on the rate of photorelease was studied. The herbicidal activity of caged compounds and 4-(hydroxymethyl)-7-substituted coumarins was studied against Vigna radiata . The new formulation provided greater control over the release of 2,4-D by UV-vis light and also demonstrated the potential of the PRPGs not only to act as a delivery device but also to possess herbicidal activity after photorelease.     

RESPONSE OF YOUNG BEARING PECAN TREES TO SPRING FOLIAR NICKEL APPLICATIONS

The lower critical leaf concentration for nickel (Ni) has not been fully determined for commercial pecan [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch.] orchards. In a two-year study, foliar Ni was applied to orchard trees in early spring beginning at the parachute stage of leaf development and followed by two additional applications at two week intervals. Yield, yield efficiency (ratio of yield to trunk area), trunk growth, leaf area, specific leaf weight, nut weight, nut quality, and kernel percentage were unaffected by treatment. Leaf Ni was increased, but leaf zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) concentrations were reduced by foliar Ni application. The lack of a detectable response to Ni treatment indicates that a July leaflet Ni concentration in the control (2.87 μg g^?1) met this pecan orchard's Ni requirement, establishing a lower critical threshold for leaf Ni than proposed elsewhere.