Amino acid composition and biological evaluation of the protein quality of high lysine barley genotypes

The protein quality of high lysine barley genotypes Notch₁ Notch₂,Riso-1508 and Hiproly grown in Indian soil was evaluated by determining amino acid composition and also by rat growth and nitrogen balance studies. Protein and fat contents were found to be highest in Riso-1508. Lysine concentration (5.26 g/16g N) of Riso-1508 was also highest compared to the other high lysine genotypes. Rat feeding trials indicated that the growth promoting qualities of the proteins of genotype Riso-1508 were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than the low lysine barley genotype. The comparatively low lysine barley diet had more digestible protein than the high lysine barley diet. However, the BV and NPU of the high lysine barley were significantly (p < 0.05) higher. This improvement is of importance in meeting the essential amino acid requirements of man as well as other monogastric animals. The study showed that the high lysine barley harvested in Indian agroclimatic conditions retained high lysine quality.     

Antimicrobial activity of triterpenoids from Heliotropium ellipticum.

Seven sterols and triterpenoids have been isolated from H. ellipticum and tested for their antimicrobial activity.     

Tea (Camellia sinensis) clones with shorter periods of winter dormancy exhibit lower accumulation of reactive oxygen species

Tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) is a perennial crop grown throughout the world. During winter, tea undergoes a dormancy period when growth of apical buds almost ceases, severely reducing the commercial yield of tea. Low temperatures prevail during the period of winter dormancy, which alone or in combination with high solar irradiance have the potential to induce oxidative stress in plants. We studied six tea clones under field conditions to test whether a relationship exists between oxidative stress and winter dormancy. Data on the behavior of the enzymatic antioxidative system was collected for all clones during different phases of winter dormancy. There was a strong positive correlation among clones between accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the length of the dormancy period. Clones having shorter dormancy periods exhibited higher induction of antioxidative enzymes. Results suggest that efficient scavenging of ROS is a desirable feature in tea because it leads to lower accumulations of ROS during winter months and is associated with reduced winter dormancy.     

Energy input–output modeling and sensitivity analysis for on-farm mechanically paddy straw bales formation

Paddy and Water Environment - The paddy straw was collected in the form of bales with three mechanical process CI (stubble shaver + rectangular baler), CII (stubble...     

Degradation of AM Nitrification Inhibitor in Soil of Subtropical Region

The aim of the study was to evaluate the degradation and persistence of 2-amino 4-chloro 6-methyl pyrimidine (AM), nitrification inhibitor at 1 and 2 µg g^?1 application rates in soil. The extraction of AM was done by QuEChER’s (Quick, Easy. Cheap. Rugged and Safe) method and the quantitative analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). AM decreased with time at both the levels of application with the decline being faster in the beginning up to 7 d. Dissipation of AM occurred in a single phase with the persistence data fitting well to the first-order kinetics. Half-lives of AM were determined to be 14.33 and 16.7 d at 1 and 2 µg g^–1 levels application rates. Since AM remains effective for an adequate period of time, it can be used for increasing efficiency of nitrogenous fertilizers in rice–wheat cropping systems as well as a safeguard for controlling environmental pollution in subtropical soils.     

Effect of Temperature on Bio-Kinetic Coefficients in UASB Treatment of Municipal Wastewater

Upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB)reactors were used to treat municipal wastewater attemperatures of 6, 11, 15, 20 and 32 °C and athydraulic retention times (HRTs) ranging from 48 to 3 h overan operational period of approximately 860 days. The Monodmodel was used to evaluate substrate utilization. TheArrhenius model was used to calculate the activationenergies from which temperature coefficients weredetermined. It was found that the maximum specific substrateutilization rate constant (k) decreased from 0.387 d^-1(at 32 °C) to 0.041 d^-1 (at 6 °C). Thedecay rate constant (k_d), yield coefficient (Y_g),half velocity constant (K_s) and maximum specific growthrate (μ_m ) were also impacted by temperature in theUASB treatment of municipal wastewater.     

Intercropping Studies in Lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) (Steud. Wats.)

Lemongrass ( Cymbopogon flexuosus (Steud.) Wats) is a perennial, multicut aromatic grass, which yields an essential oil used in perfumery and pharmaceutical industries and Vitamin A, has a long initial lag phase. To utilize the crop growth resources more efficiently during this phase, studies were made to explore the possibility of intercropping food legumes with lemongrass. An experiment conducted during 1992–93 revealed that the food legumes like blackgram ( Vigna mungo (L) Hepper), cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp) or soybean ( Glycine max (L) Merr.) could be intercropped in the initial stages of lemongrass to get extra yields over and above that of lemongrass, without affecting the yield of lemongrass.     

Nutritional stress as a cause of thymic atrophy in broiler chickens

A study was conducted to examine the effect of nutritional stress on the development of the thymus, bursa, and pancreas of 7-to-14-day-old commercial meat-type chickens. One group of 7-day-old chickens was given access to food for only 30 minutes daily for 7 days. The birds were necropsied, and the thymus, pancreas, and bursa were compared with those of the control chickens fed ad libitum and necropsied at 7 and 14 days of age. The thymuses from birds on the restricted diet were atrophied (0.45 +/- 0.08 g) and congested compared with the thymuses from chickens fed ad libitum (1.32 +/- 0.31 g). The bursae from chickens on a restricted diet were also smaller (0.26 +/- 0.08 g) than the bursae from birds with free access to food (0.74 +/- 0.11 g). The restricted diet did not appear to cause any gross or histological pancreatic changes. The thymic lesions produced by nutritional stress were similar to those observed in the runting/stunting syndrome.     

Hydraulic-hydrological simulations of canal-command for irrigation water management

A modelling system that combines the hydraulic simulations of the canal and hydrological simulations of the irrigated command is introduced. It uses MIKE 11 and MIKE SHE, two well-established modelling systems, for the hydraulic and hydrological simulations respectively. In addition, it also has an irrigation scheduling module and a crop growth module. The modelling system is applied to the Mahanadi Reservoir Irrigation Scheme, a large irrigation project in Central India. The results show that presently a significant amount of water is wasted in the command during the monsoon season. It is demonstrated that the minimization of this wastage could lead to a substantial crop production in the subsequent dry season. Furthermore, the simulations illustrate the versatility of the modelling system for planning and analysing the various aspects of an irrigation project.     

Biology and management of the fast‐emerging threat of broomrape in rapeseed–mustard

Broomrapes (Phelipanche and Orobanche spp.) are obligate root parasites of the family Orobanchaceae. The natural variation in Orobanchaceae exists in plants involving Triphysaria versicolor (facultative hemiparasite), Striga hermonthica (obligate hemiparasite) and Phelipanche aegyptiaca, formerly Orobanche aegyptiaca (holoparasite). The family Orobanchaceae has 90 genera. The four major parasitic species of broomrape are Phelipanche ramosa in the Brassicas, especially in rapeseed, Phelipanche cernua in tobacco and sunflower, P. aegyptiaca in solanacious crops and in Brassica juncea and Phelipanche crenata in leguminous crops. They are prevalent, infesting nearly 1.2% of the world's arable land. In India, P. ramosa and P. aegyptiaca cause severe infestations of Brassica and have threatened its cultivation in major growing areas. In addition, a single broomrape plant can release >100 000 seeds that remain viable for decades in the soil. This provides the parasite with a great genetic adaptability to environmental changes, including host resistance, agronomical practices and herbicide treatments. Different control measures, such as manual weeding, herbicide applications, solarization, crop rotation and integrated broomrape management practices, have been proposed in order to reduce the broomrape menace and improve yields in farmers' fields. Breeding for broomrape resistance also could be an economic, feasible and environmental friendly control method. The present article reviews the current status of research on broomrape in India and abroad, as well as suggests strategies for its effective management.