Productivity of capsicum as influenced by fertigation with chemical fertilizers and humic acid

Studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) fertigation through drip on nutrient distribution and productivity of capsicum. The experiment was set up in Randomized Block Design with three levels of fertigation (100, 80 and 60% of recommended NPK) without humic acid (sole fertigation) and with humic acid (combined fertigation). Combined fertigation registered lower available N and K and higher available P in deeper soil layers. Fruit yield was 17–27 percent higher under combined fertigation over sole fertigation. Fertilizer use efficiency was higher in combined fertigation. Significantly higher N, P and K uptake was also observed under combined fertigation. Further, growth and yield of capsicum were statistically at par between 100 percent (sole fertigation) and 80 percent recommended NPK dose (combined fertigation). The results, therefore, ensures the partial replacement of chemical fertilizers with more economic and environmentally safe organic materials when applied through drip.     

Development of Bt transgenic potatoes for effective control of potato tuber moth by using cry1Ab gene regulated by GBSS promoter

Transgenic of Indian potato cultivar Kufri Badshah expressing synthetic, modified cry1Ab gene were developed against potato tuber moth (Phthorimaea opercullela Z.) a destructive pest. The cry1Ab gene was in spatial and temporal expression under the control of tuber-specific GBSSi promoter. The transformation vector pBinCG1 was developed harbouring transgene expression cassette comprising cry1Ab gene under the control of potato GBSSi promoter, castor bean catalase intron (5′UTR) and OCS termination signals. Selected kanamycin-resistant putative transformed potato lines were evaluated by positive PCR amplification of 713 bp, 1206 bp and 700 bp with npt II, GBSSi promoter and cry1Ab gene specific primers, respectively. Gene integration in transformed potato plants was elucidated through Southern hybridization and in planta transgene expression analysis. Transgene expression was highest in stolons, followed by tubers matured leaves and young leaves. Insect bioassay of stored transgenic tubers resulted in significant retardation and mortality in neonate tuber moth larvae. RT-PCR and northern hybridization confirmed stable expression in stored tubers. These transgenic lines; thus can represent an effective resistance management strategy which can significantly reduce the selection pressure on target and non-target insect pests to a threshold level.     

印度,孟加拉西部的Terai地区的大叶合欢预处理及标准化豆荚采集时间和豆荚长度

在孟加拉西部的Pundibari地区,研究在4个采集（豆荚）时间,3个采集豆荚长度（〈10cm,10-20cm和〉20cm）,以及进行的13种预处理对大叶合欢种苗生长和萌发率的影响。豆荚采集时间为2月19日,且没有任何预处理,大叶合欢种子萌发率为92.5%。这明确表明,在2月19日采集的种子具有非休眠,有活力和生理成熟的特性。从长度为10-20 cm豆荚剥离出的种子,2月19日播种,种苗生长良好。利用硫脲预处理种子后,种子的萌发率并没有表现出明显提高,但是当利用低浓度硫脲（100 μL·L-1）预处理种子后,有利于种苗生长。     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichoderma</Emphasis> inoculation and trash management effects on soil microbial biomass,soil respiration,nutrient uptake and yield of ratoon sugarcane under subtropical conditions

A field experiment was conducted during 2003–2005 and 2004–2006 at the Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow, India to study the effect of Trichoderma viride inoculation in ratoon sugarcane with three trash management practices, i.e. trash mulching, trash burning and trash removal. Trichoderma inoculation with trash mulch increased soil organic carbon and phosphorus (P) content by 5.08 Mg ha⁻¹ and 11.7 kg ha⁻¹ over their initial contents of 15.75 Mg ha⁻¹ and 12.5 kg ha⁻¹, respectively. Soil compaction evaluated as bulk density in 0- to 15-cm soil layer, increased from 1.48 Mg m⁻³ at ratoon initiation (in April) to 1.53 Mg m⁻³ at harvest (in December) due to trash burning and from 1.42 Mg m⁻³ at ratoon initiation (in April) to 1.48 Mg m⁻³ at harvest (in December) due to trash mulching. The soil basal respiration was the highest during tillering phase and then decreased gradually, thereafter with the advancement of crop growth. On an average, at all the stages of crop growth, Trichoderma inoculation increased the soil basal respiration over no inoculation. Soil microbial biomass increased in all plots except in the plots of trash burning/removal without Trichoderma inoculation. The maximum increase (40 mg C kg⁻¹ soil) in soil microbial biomass C, however, was observed in the plots of trash mulch with Trichoderma inoculation treatment which also recorded the highest uptake of nutrient and cane yield. On an average, Trichoderma inoculation with trash mulch increased N, P and K uptake by 15.9, 4.68 and 23.6 kg ha⁻¹, respectively, over uninoculated condition. The cane yield was increased by 12.8 Mg ha⁻¹ with trash mulch + Trichoderma over trash removal without Trichoderma. Upon degradation, trash mulch served as a source of energy for enhanced multiplication of soil bacteria and fungi and provided suitable niche for plant–microbe interaction.     

Improving quality of sugarcane-growing soils by organic amendments under subtropical climatic conditions of India

A field trial was conducted on an inceptisol to assess the effect of different bio-manures on sugarcane yield, cane quality, and changes in soil physico-chemical and microbial properties in plant–ratoon system. Seven treatments, viz. control, vermicompost, farmyard manure (FYM), biogas slurry, sulphitation pressmud cake (SPMC), green manuring with intercropped Sesbania, and recommended dose of NPK (150:60:60 kg ha⁻¹), were randomized within a block and replicated three times. Improvement in bulk density and infiltration rates was recorded after the addition of various bio-manures. The highest organic C was recorded in the vermicompost (0.54%) and pressmud (0.50%) treatments. The highest increase in soil microbial biomass C (185.5%) and soil microbial biomass N (220.2%) over its initial value was recorded with the addition of FYM. Dry matter production in plant, as well as ratoon crop, was significantly higher by bio-manure application over the control. Plant N uptake was highest in the pressmud treatment (227.7 kg ha⁻¹), whereas P and K uptake were highest (41.4 and 226.50 kg ha⁻¹) in vermicompost treatment. The highest number of millable canes (95.6 and 101.0 thousand ha⁻¹) in plant and ratoon crop were obtained with the addition of pressmud. The highest yield (76.7 t ha⁻¹) was recorded in planted cane with vermicompost application, whereas ratoon yield was highest (78.16 t ha⁻¹) with pressmud application. In both planted and ratoon crop, organic amendments produced yields statistically similar to those with recommended NPK (76.1 and 78.1 t ha⁻¹ for plant and ratoon cane).     

In vitro maturation and fertilization in the Nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) using oocytes and spermatozoa recovered post-mortem from animals that had died because of foot and mouth disease outbreak

The ability to rescue gametes from endangered or wildlife species and to subsequently produce viable embryos holds tremendous potential as a means to increase the population size of endangered or wildlife species. The objective of this study was to assess the developmental competence of gametes recovered from nilgai that had died because of foot and mouth disease outbreak. Oocytes collected from the ovaries of seven dead nilgais were allowed to mature in vitro and were tested for developmental potential by in vitro fertilization (IVF) with epididymal spermatozoa collected also post-mortem. The average number of oocytes (n = 517) recovered per ovary was 36.9, and the side (right or left), size and weight of the ovaries had no significant effect on the number and quality of oocytes recovered. In vitro maturation studies indicated that the proportion of matured oocytes (MII stage) at 18, 24 and 30 h was 55.6%, 63.4% and 63.6%, respectively. Furthermore, 43% of the matured oocytes cleaved following in vitro fertilization and 12% of the cleaved oocytes (6/49) developed to the 4-8 cell stage. These findings suggest that the gametes recovered from nilgai post-mortem could be utilized for in vitro production of embryos.     

Evaluation of promoters and visual markers for transformation of eastern white pine

This report serves to evaluate possible promoters for use in theproduction of transgenic eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.).Embryogenic cultures of eastern white pine were bombarded with goldparticles coated separately with a variety of gene constructs containingthe UidA -glucuronidase (GUS) or green fluorescentprotein (GFP) reporter gene. Transient expression of the UidAgene, driven by a novel algal virus adenine methyl transferase genepromoter, as well as five other promoters used in angiospermtransformation, were evaluated. The maize alcohol dehydrogenase promoterwas not effective in eastern white pine cultures. The construct with thedoubled Cauliflower Mosaic Virus 35S promoter plus Alfalfa Mosaic Virusenhancer showed the highest levels of expression. GUS expression wasdetected within 24 hours, but decreased after 5 days and was notdetectable 15 days after bombardment. Expression of GUS activity wasrecorded mainly in somatic embryonal heads of various stages ofdevelopment and occasionally in suspensor cells. Similar to GUSexpression, modified green fluorescent protein (GFP) was detected in theembryonal head cells 24 hours after bombardment. GFP-expressingsuspensor cells were both more infrequent and difficult to detect, astheir highly vacuolate nature rendered the GFP presence less visibleagainst the yellow background autofluorescence.     

Increasing prevalence of Coxiella burnetii seropositive Danish dairy cattle herds

A study based on bulk tank milk samples from 120 randomly selected dairy cattle herds was conducted to estimate the prevalence of Coxiella burnetii seropositive dairy herds, to describe the geographical distribution, and to identify risk factors. Using the CHEKIT Q-fever Antibody ELISA Test Kit (IDEXX), the study revealed a prevalence of 79.2% seropositive herds, 18.3% seronegative herds, and 2.5% serointermediate herds based on the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Multifactorial logistic regression showed statistically significant associations (P < 0.01) between C. burnetii seropositivity and increasing herd size (OR = 1.02 per cow increment) and increasing regional average number of cattle per dairy herd (OR = 1.02 per animal increment). Herds >150 cows had 17.9 times higher odds of testing positive compared to herds <80 cows. The regional average number of cattle herds per square kilometer was borderline significantly related to the occurrence of seropositive dairy herds (P = 0.06). The results indicate an increased prevalence of seropositive dairy herds since the previous survey in 2008 and an adverse impact of increasing herd size and cattle density on the risk of seropositivity.     

Compatibility of silver barb Puntius gonionotus (Bleeker) with Indian major carps in a grow-out polyculture

The compatibility and growth performance of silver barb Puntius gonionotus (Barbonymous gonionotus) with the three Indian major carps, i.e., Catla catla, Labeo rohita and Cirrhinus mrigala, were assessed in a 10‐month carp polyculture trial. Treatments T‐1, T‐2, T‐3 and T‐4 were stocked with three of the above four carp species, with an absence of silver barb, mrigal, rohu and catla, respectively, while all four species were stocked in treatment T‐5. The treatments were stocked at 6000 fingerlings ha⁻¹, with an equal species ratio maintained in each treatment. Incorporation of silver barb into the polyculture system neither affected the survival of any carp irrespective of species combination nor yielded significant changes in biomass production among treatments, except for the one without catla, where it was significantly low. The study revealed a higher extent of competition between silver barb and rohu, perceptible from the lower growth of one in the presence of the other. Although a certain level of competition of silver barb with mrigal was evident, competition with catla was not perceptible. Irrespective of species combination with silver barb as a component species, similar total biomass production in treatments revealed the feasibility of its incorporation into the Indian major carp‐based polyculture practice without affecting the total yield.     

Studies on experimental chlamydial mastitis in goat histoenzymology

Two strains of Chlamydia psittaci (one isolated from aborted goat foetus and the other from brain of a buffalo calf that had died of meningoencephalitis) were injected intracisternally into six goats to produce experimental mastitis. Cryostat sections of 7–8 μm thickness, obtained from udder, teat, liver and kidney of infected and control animals were incubated for histoenzymic demonstration of alkaline-(AKPase), acid-(ACPase) and adenosine-tri-(ATPase) phosphatases; lactate-(LDH) and succinate-(SDH) dehydrogenases and for reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate diaphorase (NADPH-D). Results demonstrated that AKPase and NADPH-D declined while ACPase accumulated in acinar cells of udder while both NADPH-D and ACPase decreased in teat sinus epithelium. Hepatic canaliculi in perilobular areas of liver lobules registered complete absence of AKPase and ATPase. Hepatocytes and renal tubules accumulated LDH, SDH and NADPH-D. The interstitial connective tissue of udder and kidney presented higher levels of AKPase. Comparison of results with biochemical alterations in the level of these enzymes revealed striking discrepancies which seem to arise because of failure of biochemical procedures to discriminate between functional cells of tissue and inflammatory cells. The functional significance of histoenzymic alterations has been discussed.