Abundance and diversity of arthropods in transgenic Bt and non-Bt cotton fields under Indian conditions

Phytoparasitica - Two-year field studies during Kharif 2015 and 2016 were conducted to assess the abundance and diversity of arthropod communities of Bt cotton carrying Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab proteins...     

Yield enhancement and phosphorus economy in lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus) with integrated use of phosphorus,Rhizobium and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria

The study evaluated the effects of phosphorus (0, 20, 30, and 40 kg P₂O₅ ha^?1) and biofertilizers [Rhizobium (Rhizobium leguminosarum bv viciae), plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) (Pseudomonas fluorescens), Rhizobium + PGPR, and uninoculated control] in lentil. Application of 40 kg P₂O₅ ha^?1 resulted in the highest number of nodules, nodule dry weight, leghemoglobin content in nodules, chlorophyll content, yield attributes, and grain yield. Coinoculated treatment performed better than uninoculated control, and individual inoculations of Rhizobium and PGPR in terms of all above mentioned parameters. Application of 20 kg P₂O₅ ha^?1 + Rhizobium inoculation gave statistically similar and 20 kg P₂O₅ ha^?1 + Rhizobium + PGPR inoculation gave significantly higher grain yield than that by 40 kg P₂O₅ ha^?1 alone. The use of Rhizobium alone and Rhizobium + PGPR consortium can save not only 20 kg P₂O₅ ha^?1 but also increase the grain yield of lentil.     

Genetic variation for tolerance to post-emergence herbicide,imazethapyr in lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.)

Weeds pose a serious constraint to lentil production. Identification and deployment of post-emergence herbicide tolerance in improved varieties can help reduce the production cost and increase the productivity and area under lentil cultivation. Imazethapyr, a post-emergence herbicide was tested on 180 lentil genotypes for two consecutive years. Significant variation among the genotypes was observed for tolerance to imazethapyr. On a 1–5 scale, 12 genotypes were found tolerant, 46 moderately tolerant, 112 sensitive and 10 highly sensitive during the first season, and 11 genotypes were found tolerant, 51 moderately tolerant, 110 sensitive and 8 highly sensitive during the second season. Based on the first year’s result, 30 genotypes, representing tolerant, moderately tolerant, sensitive and highly sensitive reactions, were evaluated to determine the effect of herbicide on morpho-physiological and yield traits. The adverse effect of imazethapyr was significant on growth and yield attributes of lentils. Five genotypes namely LL699, LL1397, IPL406, EC78452 and LL1203 demonstrated tolerance to imazethapyr with limited phytotoxic effect on various morpho-physiological traits. These genotypes showed less reduction (<19%) for seed yield in imazethapyr treated plots as compared to control. These genotypes offer scope for developing post-emergence herbicide tolerant cultivars in lentil.     

Biological nitrogen fixation at elevated temperature in different Azospirillum species and strains

Nitrogenase activity, nitrogenase synthesis, and the growth of four species of Azospirillum were examined at 30°C and 42°C. Azospirillum brasilense Sp 7 did not synthesize nitrogenase at 42°C nor was the enzyme stable at this temperature. In A. lipoferum 708 and A. brasilense 12S the nitrogenase activity was stable at 42°C but the synthesis of nitrogenase was reduced. In A. brasilense Sp 9 the nitrogenase activity was stable and showed the highest C₂H₂ reduction activity at 42°C.     

Symbiotic parameters,growth, nutrient accumulation,productivity and profitability as influenced by integrated nutrient management in lentil (Lens culinaris)

Field experiments evaluated the effects of integrated nutrient management on symbiotic parameters, growth, nutrient accumulation, productivity and profitability of lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus). Application of recommended dose of nutrients (RDN, 12.5 kg N ha^?1 + 40 kg P₂O₅ ha^?1) + 25 kg ZnSO₄ ha^?1 + seed inoculation with biofertilizers [Rhizobium + phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) + plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR)] + 1.0 g ammonium molybdate kg^?1 seed recorded the highest number & dry weight of nodules, leghaemoglobin content, root & shoot dry weight, plant height, number of pods plant^?1 and 100-seed weight. The next best treatment was RDN + seed inoculation with biofertilizers + 1.0 g ammonium molybdate kg^?1 seed. On the basis of mean of three-year data, the treatment of RDN + 25 kg ZnSO₄ ha^?1 + seed inoculation with biofertilizers + 1.0 g ammonium molybdate kg^?1 seed proved the best in realizing the highest grain yield (34.0%), gross returns (34.0%) and net returns (54.8% higher over control). Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the grains and straw were significantly improved where RDN was applied in combination with seed inoculation, basal application of ZnSO₄ and seed treatment with 1 g ammonium molybdate than their single applications.     

Changes in plant water status of Maize (Zea mays L.) with ontogeny

Summary Irrigations scheduled on plant water status ignore the effect of ontogeny on plant water status. Leaf xylem water potential (XWP) of maize sown on three dates in a sandy loam soil was measured under the same environment for evaluating the effect of ontogeny on plant water status. Minimum XWP (measured between 13.00-14.30 h) of the youngest crop was the highest during two crop seasons and the differences in XWP of the youngest and the oldest maize plants ranged from 0.25 to 0.65 MPa during the season. Maximum XWP (measured before dawn) of the youngest crop was nearly 0.1 MPa higher than that of the oldest crop. Diurnal variation in XWP was lowest in the youngest crop. The results highlight the need of ontogeny dependent critical values of plant water status for scheduling irrigation.     

Earthquakes, faults, and nuclear power plants in southern new york and northern new jersey

Seismic activity in the greater New York City area is concentrated along several northeast-trending faults of which the Ramapo fault appears to be the most active. Three nuclear power plants at Indian Point, New York, are situated close to the Ramapo fault. For a reactor site in use for 40 years, the probability that the site will experience an intensity equal to or in excess of the design (safe shutdown) earthquake is estimated to be about 5 to 11 percent.     

The effect of Cd2+ on lipid components of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) seeds

The effect of seven levels of Cd²⁺ viz. 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 60 and 80 ppm (µg/g soil) supplied as cadmium chloride, on lipid components of sunflower seeds was studied in a pot experiment. The total and neutral lipids decreased while polar lipids (phospho and glycolipids) increased with the increasing levels of Cd²⁺. Oleic acid and linoleic acids were the major fatty acids in the total, polar and neutral lipid fractions. Oleic acid generally increased while linoleic acid decreased in all the lipid fractions with Cd²⁺ levels. The neutral lipid fraction had higher levels of palmitic, palmitoleic, stearic and oleic acid as compared to the total and polar lipid fractions. The plant dry weight and seed yield decreased whereas cadmium concentration in seeds increased consistently with increasing Cd²⁺ levels.