Salicylic Acid Induced Changes on Some Physiological Parameters Symptomatic for Oxidative Stress in Maize (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Zea mays</Emphasis> L.) Grown under Cinnamic Acid Stress

In the present work, alleviation of cinnamic acid (CA) stress by salicylic acid (SA) was observed. CA influenced the physiological and biochemical parameters. CA significantly repressed growth variables like shoot and root height, fresh and dry biomass of the maize seedlings. The contents of chlorophylls, carotenoids, protein and activity of nitrate reductase were inhibited significantly. CA enhanced the accumulation of proline, ion leakage and lipid peroxidation due to induction of oxidative stress in maize. The activities of antioxidant enzymes, namely superoxide dismutase, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase, guaiacol peroxidase increased in CA stress. However, exogenous SA regulated the toxic effects of CA. The indices of oxidative stress appeared to be attenuated by SA. Pigment content and activities of enzymes increased approximately up to the level of control. CA caused phytotoxicity to Zea mays. The natural growth regulator has potential to overcome the adverse effects caused by CA.     

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.     

Effect of AM fungi and phosphorus fertilization on P-use efficiency,nutrient acquisition and root morphology in pea (Pisum sativum L.) in an acid Alfisol

Phosphorus (P) availability to plants is a major constraint in acid soils. A study was conducted to determine the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) under varying inorganic P and irrigation regimes on P availability and P-use efficiency in garden pea (Pisum sativum L.) in a Himalayan acid Alfisol. The experiment comprised of 14 treatments replicated thrice in a randomized block design. The results revealed that integrated use of AM fungi and inorganic P at either of the two irrigation regimes (IW/CPE_0.6 or IW/CPE_1.0) enhanced the green pea pod weight, green pod productivity and agronomic efficiency of applied P to the extent of 8.4%, 7.2% and 30.7%, respectively, over non-AMF counterparts as well as “generalized recommended NPK dose and irrigations (GRD).” AMF inoculation also led to enhanced nitrogen (N), P and potassium (K) acquisition (uptake) by 16.3%, 18.2% and 6% over non-AMF counterpart treatments. Further, AMF inoculation at varying P and irrigation regimes sharply enhanced the rooting depth (21.4%), root volume (23.5%), root dry weight (14.9%), root weight density (13.7%) as well as N concentration in root nodules (3.4%) over non-AMF counterparts and GRD practice. AMF also enhanced the mycorrhizal root colonization by 3.2 folds at flowering stage in AMF inoculated pea plants. AMF-imbedded treatments did not alter the available soil nutrient status (macronutrients and micronutrients) significantly in comparison to non-AMF counterparts in pea, available P status, however, increased to the extent of 6.5% over initial status. Further, AMF imbedded plots showed a slight build-up in soil organic carbon with nominal decrease in soil bulk density. AMF inoculation in pea also led to fertilizer P economy by about 25% soil-test-based P dose. Overall, AMF holds great potential in enhancing nutrient acquisition especially P besides influencing root morphology in order to harness better crop yields vis-à-vis fertilizer P economy by about 25% soil-test-based P dose in Himalayan acid Alfisol.     

Conservation tillage and mulching effects on the adaptive capacity of direct-seeded upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) to alleviate weed and moisture stresses in the North Eastern Himalayan Region of India

A field experiment was conducted to study the effects of tillage and mulch on weed growth, soil moisture storage, productivity and profitability of upland rice during 2012–2013 at Lembucherra, India. Tillage treatments included CT-RI: conventional tillage with 100% residue incorporation and NT-RR: no-till with 100% residue retention. Mulches included rice straw (SM), Gliricidia (GM), brown manuring (BM) and none (NM). CT-RI registered the highest total weed density (89–168 weeds m^?2) and biomass (9.6–183 g dry weight m^?2) than those for the NT-RR (75–161 weed m^?2 and 8–155 g dry weight m^?2). In addition, NT-RR stored (122–172 mm) more soil moisture (0–40 cm soil depth) in comparison with that for the CT-RI treatment (110–161 mm) during crop growing season. Tillage treatments did not have the significant effect on yields. NT-RR reduced the cost of cultivation by 31.5% compared with that for the CT-RI. Thus, the net returns under NT-RR were more than those for the CT-RI. The BM recorded the lowest weed biomass and density as compared to that under other mulches. Therefore, cultivation of upland rice using NT along with BM mulching enhanced productivity and profitability of rice cultivation in India.     

Mapping of easy to screen SSR markers for selection of RFLP markers-bracketed downy mildew resistance QTLs in pearl millet

There is a growing necessity to replace chemical agents with ecofriendly materials, arising from the impact on the environment and/or human health, which calls for the design of new broad-spectrum fungicides. In this work, chitosan oligomers (COs), propolis (Ps) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) mixtures in solution were assessed to control the growth of different phytopathogenic fungi and oomycetes in vitro. Binary solutions of COs-Ps and COs-AgNPs evinced the highest antifungal effect against Fusarium circinatum and Diplodia pinea fungi, respectively, with a ca. 80% reduction in their mycelial growth. The COs solution by itself also proved to be greatly effective against Gremmeniella abietina, Cryphonectria parasitica and Heterobasidion annosum fungi, causing a reduction of 78%, 86% and 93% in their growth rate, respectively. Likewise, COs also attained a 100% growth inhibition on the oomycete Phytophthora cambivora. On the other hand, Ps inhibited totally the growth of Phytophthora ×alni and Phytophthora plurivora. The application of AgNPs reduced the mycelial growth of F. circinatum and D. pinea. However, the AgNPs in some binary and ternary mixtures had a counter-productive effect on the anti-fungal/oomycete activity. In spite of the fact that the anti-fungal/oomycete activity of the different treatments showed a dependence on the particular type of microorganism, these solutions based on natural compounds can be deemed as a promising tool for control of tree diseases.     

Nematode parasite infections of domestic pigs in a sub-tropical and high-rainfall area of India

Fourteen hundred and ninety-six domestic pigs, Sus scrofa domestica L., from a sub-tropical and high-rainfall area of India were examined over a period of 18 months to ascertain their nematode parasite spectrum. The eleven species recovered, arranged in descending order of prevalence, are as follows: Ascaris suum, Oesophagostomum dentatum, Bourgelatia diducta, Stephanurus dentatus, Globocephalus connorfilii, Physocephalus sexalutus, Ascarops dentata, A. strongylina, Pseudocruzia orientalis, Setaria bernardi and Gnathostoma hispidum. This is also the first report of the occurrence of Setaria bernardi in pigs in India. A. Suum, the most prevalent species (51.67%) found in the pigs of the region, is presumably of zoonotic importance. Another species of public health significance that was encountered in the survey was Gnathostoma hispidum. The overall infection rate was considerably higher (76.42%) in the low-altitude region than in the high-altitude one (62.50%). The highest level of infection (73.2%) was observed during autumn and the lowest (63.0%) in winter.     

28 kDa Fasciola gigantica cysteine proteinase in the diagnosis of prepatent ovine fasciolosis

Coprological confirmation of ovine fasciolosis in the field, prior to out breaks of the disease and/or strategic antifluke medication, seem to be of little consequence. Efforts are, therefore, being made to evolve a putative antigen specific to serodiagnostic test for early diagnosis during prepatency. In the present investigation, 28 kDa cysteine proteinase was used in ELI SA and Western blot to detect Fasciola gigantica antibodies and further Dipstick-ELISA was developed for field application, using known positive monospecific sera from experimentally infected sheep with 100 F. gigantica metacercariae. Isolation of 28 kDa cysteine proteinase was achieved from bubalian origin flukes. The specific antigen, recognised homologous antifluke antibodies by Western blot as early as 2nd week post-infection (wpi) with 100% sensitivity, in sera samples of sheep harbouring 38 flukes and by 10th wpi in sheep harbouring 3-8 flukes. All sheep were found positive for the infection when ELISA and/or Dipstick-ELISA was applied from 4th wpi. In pooled sera of infected sheep, these were positive during 4th wpi.     

A new cardenolide from the roots of Terminalia arjuna

A new cardenolide, 16,17-dihydroneridienone 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-O-beta-D-galactopyranoside (1), was isolated from the roots of Terminalia arjuna.