Dormancy and viability of Phalaris minor seed in a rice–wheat cropping system

Seed placement, soil temperature and soil moisture content influenced the process of after-ripening in Phalaris minor seeds. Seeds of P. minor collected from the soil just after wheat harvesting exhibited higher germination than seeds from P. minor threshed directly. There was a pronounced impact of periodic inhabitation of seed into the soil on germination after its dispersal. Germination was strongly inhibited when the seed was kept in soil at more than field capacity (FC) or in water. Maximum germination of seed incubated in soil at FC occurred at 30°C while a temperature of 40°C favoured after-ripening of seed when mixed with dry soil or kept dry without any medium. Release from conditional dormancy was quicker in the seed retrieved from the soil kept at 20°C than at 10°C. Seed release from conditional dormancy and germination increased with a rise in temperature from 30 to 40°C when the seed was retrieved from incubation in soil at FC for 70 days. The seed kept immersed in water was least responsive to a rise in temperature. Seed recovered from dry soil, or kept without any medium, responded quickly at both temperatures. Light enhanced the germination of Phalaris minor seed. The seedbank subjected to rice (Oryza sativa) field management conditions lost vigour in comparison with the seed stored in laboratory. There was significant variability in seed viability when exposed to differential water management conditions in rice.     

Complementation between genes for resistance to race 1 of Fusarium oxyspomm f.sp. ciceri in chickpea

The reactions of parents and F₁ and F₂ generations of crosses of chickpea cultivars K-850 with C-104 and JG-62 and F₃ progenies of K-850 × C-104 to race 1 of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceri were studied. The results indicate that K-850 carries a recessive allele for resistance at a locus different from and independent of that carried by C-104 and recessive alleles at both loci together confer complete resistance. The possible contribution of this recessive gene to late wilting in K-850 is discussed. These observations have important implications in breeding for resistance to wilt in chickpea.     

Dietary biofloc supplementation in black tiger shrimp,Penaeus monodon: effects on immunity,antioxidant and metabolic enzyme activities

A 60‐day indoor experiment was conducted to study the effect of dietary supplementation of biofloc on metabolic enzyme activities and immune responses in Penaeus monodon juveniles. Biofloc developed in indoor fibreglass‐reinforced plastic (FRP) tanks (1000 L) was used as dietary supplement in P. monodon (2.90 ± 0.10 g) reared in 1000‐L FRP tanks. Graded level of dried biofloc was included in shrimp basal diets, 0% (control, B0), 4% (B4), 8% (B8) and 12% (B12). The level of metabolic enzymes like malate dehydrogenase (MDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was not significantly different with control up to 8% dietary supplementation. A higher level of total haemocyte count (THC) was noticed in B8 (22.16 ± 2.17 × 10⁶ cells mL^?1) and B4 (21.11 ± 0.56 × 10⁶ cells mL^?1) compared with control, C (14.61 ± 2.74 × 10⁶ cells mL^?1). Biofloc‐supplemented groups recorded significantly higher (P < 0.05) serum SOD and catalase activity (P < 0.01) in comparison with control. The groups fed with 4% dietary biofloc supplement recorded highest relative percentage survival (RPS), 45% after challenge with Vibrio harveyi followed by 36% and 27% RPS in B8 and B12 groups. Based on these results, it can be concluded that supplementation of biofloc even at 4% level in the feed improves immune responses and metabolic activities in black tiger shrimp juveniles.     

Effect of dietary supplementation of periphyton on growth,immune response and metabolic enzyme activities in Penaeus monodon

A 60‐day indoor trial was conducted to study the effect of periphyton supplementation on metabolic and immune responses in tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon. Periphyton developed over bamboo substrate in outdoor tanks (15 m²) was used as dietary supplement for P. monodon (2.02 ± 0.04 g) reared in 1000 L FRP tanks. Graded levels of periphyton were included in shrimp basal diets: 0% (P0), 3% (P3), 6% (P6), 9% (P9) and P0 diet with natural periphyton (NP) over bamboo substrate. At the end of the trial, P6 and NP showed significantly higher (P < 0.01) growth rate, 23.9% and 20%, respectively, compared with control, P0. Comparatively, lower level of metabolic enzymes, such as lactate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, was recorded in treatments P3, P6 and NP compared with control, P0. The periphyton‐supplemented group, P3 had significantly higher (P < 0.05) superoxide dismutase (15.83 ± 0.96) and catalase activity (15.73 ± 0.69) compared to 6.88 ± 2.84 and 9.15 ± 0.67 unit mg^?1 protein min^?1_, respectively, in P0. Similarly, higher total haemocyte counts, 32.58 ± 1.30, 28.51 ± 3.12 and 27.26 ± 4.43 × 10⁶ cells mL^?1_, were recorded in P6, NP and P3, respectively, compared to P0, 23.57 ± 1.80 × 10⁶ cells mL^?1. After challenge with Vibrio harveyi, P3 recorded the highest relative percentage survival 67% followed by NP (58%) and P6 (42%) compared with control. However, treatment with highest periphyton inclusion (P9) did not differ significantly with P0 on growth and immunological parameters. This study indicates that periphyton supplementation at 3–6% level improves growth, immune response and metabolic activities in P. monodon.     

基于软X射线成像的储粮害虫米象生长阶段检测

为了准确检测单粒小麦内部是否感染米象（Sitophilus oryzae）,利用软X射线成像检测技术对感染不同生长阶段米象的小麦颗粒进行成像,试图通过图像分析来确定小麦内部米象的幼虫、蛹和成虫等不同生长阶段,并利用随机重复来评价结果可靠性。通过对被感染米象虫卵不同天数小麦的图像分析发现,图像灰度分布直方图随感染天数变化明显,低灰度值区域（灰度值为10～102）的灰度区域像素点随感染天数增加而减少,中灰度（灰度值为103～162）和高灰度区域（灰度值为163～232)则随感染天数增加而增多。使用包括图像灰度分布和纹理特征等47个特征值,利用线性判别分析（Linear Discriminant Analysis,LDA）与二次判别分析（Quadratic Discriminant Analysis,QDA）建立判别模型,并通过多次随机重复抽样（1 000次）对模型预测效果进行评估分析。结果表明：在95% 置信区间下,在感染与未感染小麦的分类判别中,LDA的判别准确率都在76%以上,除幼虫外生长阶段判别正确率达到95%以上;而QDA的平均判别准确率较低且判别误差也相对较高。因此,该研究使用基于随机重复的LDA判别小麦是否受到米象感染和区分不同生长阶段是准确可靠的。     

Structure–biological activity relationships in triterpenic saponins: the relative activity of protobassic acid and its derivatives against plant pathogenic fungi

BACKGROUND: Triterpenic saponins from Sapindus mukorossi Gaertn. and Diploknema butyracea JF Gmelin were evaluated for in vitro antifungal activity against four phytopathogenic fungi. The study of the structure–antifungal activity relationships of protobassic acid saponins was widened by including semi‐synthetic derivatives. RESULTS: Diploknema butyracea saponins exhibited significant antifungal activity against three fungi (ED₅₀ 230–455 µg mL^?1), whereas S. mukorossi saponin was effective against two fungi (ED₅₀ 181–407 µg mL^?1). The n‐butanol extract after preparative HPLC separation provided two saponins from D. butyracea saponin mixture: 3‐O‐[β‐D ‐glucopyarnosyl‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl]‐16‐α‐hydroxyprotobassic acid‐28‐O‐[arabinopyranosyl‐glucopyranosyl‐xylopyranosyl]‐arabinopyranoside (MI‐I), and 3‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐glucopyranosyl‐glucopyranosyl‐16‐α‐hydroxyprotobassic acid‐28‐O‐[arabinopyranosyl‐xylopyranosyl‐arabinopyranosyl]‐apiofuranoside (MI‐III). The single saponin extracted from S. mukorossi saponin mixture was identified as 3‐O‐[O‐acetyl‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐β‐D ‐arabinopyranosyl‐β‐D ‐rhamnopyranosyl] hederagenin‐28‐O[β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐β‐D ‐rhamnopyranosyl] ester (SM‐I). Monodesmosides resulting from the partial degradation of hederagenin and hydroxyprotobassic acid bisdesmosides exhibited significant reduction in antifungal effect. Further removal of sugar moiety yielded complete loss in activity. The antifungal activity of the triterpenic saponins was associated with their aglycone moieties, and esterification of the hydroxyl group led to change in antifungal activity. CONCLUSION: Sapindus mukorossi saponin, which is effective against Rhizoctonia bataticola (Taub.) Briton Jones and Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc., can be exploited for the development of a natural fungicide. A sugar moiety is a prerequisite for the antifungal activity of triterpenic saponin. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Organizational dynamics of an information system： case study from the forestry sector

The Forest Department in the State of Uttar Pradesh, India developed Forest Management Information System （FMIS） for achieving organizational goals of improved financial and human resource management, improvement in the management of forests and wildlife, and for achieving responsive administration. This paper, based on field research, presents an assessment of the dynamics of FMIS in organizational context for a better understanding of such systems in forestry organizations. The paper also investigates the success of FMIS in assisting decision makers in achieving organizational goals. Based on the knowledge developed during the course of the study, key learning elements have been highlighted for the benefit of the stakeholders in information systems in forest sector.     

Genome-wide QTL analysis for pre-harvest sprouting tolerance in bread wheat

A framework linkage map comprising 214 molecular marker (SSR, AFLP, SAMPL) loci was prepared using an intervarietal recombinant inbred line (RIL) mapping population of bread wheat. The RIL population that was developed from the cross SPR8198 (red-grained and PHS tolerant genotype) × HD2329 (white-grained and PHS susceptible genotype) following single seed descent segregated for pre-harvest sprouting (PHS). The RIL population and parental genotypes were evaluated in six different environments and the data on PHS were collected. Using the linkage map and PHS data, genome-wide single-locus and two-locus QTL analyses were conducted for PHS tolerance (PHST). Single-locus analysis following composite interval mapping (CIM) detected a total of seven QTL, located on specific arms of five different chromosome (1AS, 2AL, 2DL, 3AL and 3BL). These seven QTL included two major QTL one each on 2AL and 3AL. Two of these seven QTL were also detected following two-locus analysis, which resolved a total of four main-effect QTL (M-QTL), and 12 epistatic QTL (E-QTL), the latter involved in 7 QTL × QTL interactions. Interestingly, none of these M-QTL and E-QTL detected by two-locus analysis was involved in Q × E and Q × Q × E interactions, supporting the results of ANOVA, where genotype × environment interaction were non-significant. The QTL for PHS detected in the present study may be efficiently utilized for marker-aided selection for enhancing PHST in bread wheat.     

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) Diversity in Prosopis cineraria (L.) Druce Under Arid Agroecosystems

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi associated with Prosopis cineraria (Khejri) were assessed for their qualitative and quantitative distribution from eight districts of Rajasthan. A total of three species of Acaulospora, one species of Entrophospora, two species of Gigaspora, twenty-one species of Glomus, seven species of Sclerocystis and three species of Scutellospora were recorded. A high diversity of AM fungi was observed and it varied at different study sites. Among these six genera, Glomus occurred most frequently. Glomus fasciculatum, Glomus aggregatum, and Glomus mosseae were found to be the most predominant AM fungi in infecting Prosopis cineraria. Acaulospora, G. fasciculatum, Sclerocystis was found in all the fields studied, while Scutellospora species were found only in few sites. A maximum of thirty-six AM fungal species were isolated and identified from Jodhpur, whereas only thirteen species were found from Jaisalmer. Spores of Glomus fasciculatum were found to be most abundant under Prosopis cineraria.     

Detoxified Jatropha curcas kernel meal as a dietary protein source: growth performance,nutrient utilization and digestive enzymes in common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) fingerlings

Jatropha curcas kernel meal is rich in protein; however, it is toxic. Two durations of detoxification process were investigated: 30 and 60 min; designated as J_a and J_b, respectively. Common carp fingerlings (252 fish; 3.2 ± 0.07 g) were fed diets: control containing fishmeal (FM); S₅₀, J_a50 and J_b50: 50% of FM protein replaced by soybean meal (SBM), detoxified Jatropha kernel meal (DJ_aKM and DJ_bKM); S₇₅, J_a75 and J_b75: 75% of FM protein replaced by SBM, DJ_aKM and DJ_bKM. Highest body mass gain, specific growth rate, metabolic growth rate (MGR) and energy production value were observed for the J_b50 group which were statistically similar to that for control group and significantly (P < 0.05) higher than for all other groups. Lowest feed gain ratio was observed in control group, which was statistically similar to than in J_b50 group. Lowest MGR, protein efficiency ratio, protein productive value and lipid production value were observed in J_a75 group. The dry matter and lipid digestibilities were statistically (P < 0.05) highest in control group and lowest in J_a50 group. Protein and energy digestibilities were statistically similar (P > 0.05) for control and J_b50 groups, and these values were highest among the groups. Highest crude protein efficiency was observed in J_b50 group, whereas lowest in J_b75 group. Relative intestinal length and hepatosomatic index were higher in plant protein–fed groups. Intestinal amylase, protease and lipase activities for control group were statistically higher (P < 0.05) than for plant protein–fed groups. Conclusively, performance of J_b50 group was similar to control group and better than other groups and, thus, is recommended as the most optimal diet for common carp fingerlings.