Long-lived giant number fluctuations in a swarming granular nematic

Coherently moving flocks of birds, beasts, or bacteria are examples of living matter with spontaneous orientational order. How do these systems differ from thermal equilibrium systems with such liquid crystalline order? Working with a fluidized monolayer of macroscopic rods in the nematic liquid crystalline phase, we find giant number fluctuations consistent with a standard deviation growing linearly with the mean, in contrast to any situation where the central limit theorem applies. These fluctuations are long-lived, decaying only as a logarithmic function of time. This shows that flocking, coherent motion, and large-scale inhomogeneity can appear in a system in which particles do not communicate except by contact.     

Site-specific nutrient requirements of NPK for potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in Western Indo-gangetic plains of India based on QUEFTS

Abstract

Potato productivity in India is static due to unbalanced use of nutrients and intensive cropping system. Nutrient use efficiency and yield can be increased by application of nutrients based on quantitative approaches. We calibrated the quantitative evaluation of fertility of tropical soils (QUEFTS) model for the estimation of NPK requirements for different targeted yields of potato. Published data sets were used to calibrate the model. The results of the study showed that to produce one ton of potato tubers, 18, 4, and 24?kg N, P, and K, respectively, would be needed with internal efficiencies of 55, 285, and 42?kg tuber dry yield/kg N, P, and K removed. The observed yields of potato with different amount of nutrients were in agreement with the values predicted by the model. Therefore, the QUEFTS model based NPK fertilizer recommendations can be adopted for site-specific nutrient management of potato.     

Changes in nutritional value of guava fruits infected by major post-harvest pathogens

Post-infection changes in ascorbic acid, sugars, proteins and phenols were studied in guava fruits infected by major post-harvest pathogens which in order of importance wereColletotrichum gloeosporioides, (Penz.),Botryodiplodia theobromae, Pat.,Rhizopus arrhizus Fischer.,Phomopsis psidii Nag Raj and Ponnappa apud Ponnappa and Nag Raj, andPestalotiopsis versicolor (Speg.) Steyaert. Contents of ascorbic acid, sugars and proteins declined in the fruits infected byBotryodiplodia theobromae, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Pestalotiopsis versicolor, Phomopsis psidii andRhizopus arrhizus. Total phenols increased in fruits infected byPestalotiopsis versicolor andRhizopus arrhizus while reverse was observed in fruits infected by other pathogens.Part of the Ph.D. thesis submitted by the senior author to the Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner.     

Crop water stress index for scheduling irrigation of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) based on water use efficiency considerations

The study was conducted to determine the feasibility of canopy temperature based crop water stress index (CWSI) for scheduling irrigation of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea). Field crop experiments were conducted in Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh (India) during three consecutive cropping seasons (2015, 2016 and 2017). The experimental field was divided into five plots with different levels of irrigation treatments based on depletion of total available soil water (TASW) in the crop root zone. The maximum soil moisture depletion (SMD) of TASW at 10%, 30% and 50%, full irrigated (non-stressed) and extremely dry (full stressed) conditions were maintained in respective plots. Relationships were developed between canopy-air temperature differential (T_C-T_A) and vapour pressure deficit (VPD) for non-stressed and fully stressed conditions to generate non-water-stressed baseline (NWSB) and maximum water-stressed baseline (MWSB) baselines for Indian mustard crop. The CWSI was computed for different SMD of TASW by using a proven empirical approach based on the baselines. The irrigation treatment corresponding to 30% SMD with a mean CWSI of 0.4 resulted in optimal yield and maximum water use efficiency. Results of the study suggest that established CWSI value can be used to detect stress and schedule irrigations for Indian mustard.     

Potential of extracts of the tropical plant Balanites aegyptiaca (L) Del. (Balanitaceae) to control the mealy bug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae)

The effects of extracts of different parts of the perennial tropical plant Balanites aegyptiaca (L) Del., including various solvent extracts of roots, methanol extracts from leaves, fruits, flowers and roots, partially purified saponins obtained from its roots and a standard saponin were studied on the life cycle (adult longevity, number of eggs, crawlers, adults, weight of adults and % wax content) of a laboratory-reared parthenogenic line of the mealy bug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae). Extracts derived from various parts of B. aegyptiaca (leaves, fruits, flowers, and roots in methanol) affected the life cycle of M. hirsutus with a methanol root extract being the most effective at a concentration of 500 μg ml⁻¹. Partially purified saponin of B. aegyptiaca and the commercial bark saponin extract (Sigma) from Quillaja saponaria at a concentration of 500 μg ml⁻¹ were effective in reducing the longevity of M. hirsutus. Significant reductions in oviposition by M. hirsutus were found for all the extracts at a concentration of 500 μg ml⁻¹. Extracts also affected the number of emerging crawlers, number of adults as well as the weight and wax content of emerging adults. These studies suggest that B. aegyptiaca plant extracts and saponins can be useful botanical insecticides for the protection of crops from mealy bugs.     

Studies on life cycle of mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), on different hosts at different constant temperatures

The life cycle of a laboratory reared parthenogenic line of mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) was investigated on six host plants (Lagenaria siceraria var.clavata, Solanum tuberosum L. var. Kufri Chandramukhi, Praecitrullus fistulosus (Stocks) Pangalo var. MTNH1, Cucurbita pepo var. Styriaca, Triticum aestivum L. var. Lokvan, H. rosa sinensis L.) at five constant temperatures (25, 29, 35, 38, 42 °C). The number of emerging crawlers and adults as well as weight of adults varied with host and temperature. P. fistulosus and H. rosa sinensis were suitable hosts for laboratory rearing of M. hirsutus. However, ease of maintenance of P. fistulosus to produce M. hirsutus under laboratory conditions is an additional advantage compared to using green plants such as H. rosa sinensis. Among the range of constant temperatures, 38 °C was found to be the most favourable for the development and survival of M. hirsutus. These results suggest that P. fistulosus fruits are suitable hosts for laboratory rearing and life cycle studies of M. hirsutus.     

Melanosis Inhibition and SO2 Residual Levels in Farmed Tiger Shrimp (Penaeus monodon) Following Different Sulfite-Based Treatments

Inhibition of melanosis was studied in farmed tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) treated with different concentrations of sulfite-based formulations. Treatments, applied by dipping for 0.5 h, were carried out immediately following the harvest. Melanosis, sensory quality, and the level of SO₂ residues in the muscle were determined in a selection of the most effective treatments. The minimum dose to avoid melanosis and keep quality for at least 10 days was found to be 30 g kg^?1. With all the treatments, the statutory limit of 0.3 g kg^?1 SO₂ in the edible part was not exceeded by any of the samples analyzed.     

Development and Identification of Novel Rice Blast Resistant Sources and Their Characterization Using Molecular Markers

To develop and characterize introgression lines for leaf and neck blast resistance, 326 introgression lines were developed using various accessions of six different AA genome wild species in the genetic background of elite Indian varieties like PR114 and Pusa 44 and were screened for blast resistance. Stringent phenotyping coupled with genotyping using gene based markers led to the identification of four resistant introgression lines, which showed promising resistance and do not possess any of the tested genes. Furthermore, multi-location screening confirmed the field resistance of the four introgression lines to both leaf and neck blast. Molecular characterization of these introgression lines using genome-wide simple sequence repeat markers revealed the presence of small percentage of wild Oryza genome introgrssion. So these lines can be used for mapping and identification of novel leaf and neck blast resistance genes. Thus, these four introgression lines can be considered as new genetic resources for blast resistance.