Assessment of different methods of rice (Oryza sativa. L) cultivation affecting growth parameters, soil chemical, biological, and microbiological properties, water saving, and grain yield in rice–rice system

Field experiments were conducted at DRR farm located at ICRISAT, Patancheru, in sandy clay loam soils during four seasons, Kharif 2008, Rabi 2008–2009, Kharif 2009 and Rabi 2009–2010, to investigate growth parameters, water-saving potential, root characteristics, chemical, biological, and microbial properties of rhizosphere soil, and grain yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.) by comparing the plants grown with system of rice intensification (SRI) methods, with organic or organic + inorganic fertilization, against current recommended best management practices (BMP). All the growth parameters including plant height, effective tillers (10–45 %), panicle length, dry matter, root dry weight (24–57 %), and root volume (10–66 %) were found to be significantly higher with in SRI-organic + inorganic over BMP. With SRI-organic fertilization, growth parameters showed inconsistent results; however, root dry weight (3–77 %) and root volume (31–162 %) were found significantly superior compared to BMP. Grain yield was found significantly higher in SRI-organic + inorganic (12–23 and 4–35 % in the Kharif and Rabi seasons, respectively), while with SRI-organic management, yield was found higher (4–34 %) only in the Rabi seasons compared to BMP. An average of 31 and 37 % of irrigation water were saved during Kharif and Rabi seasons, respectively, with both SRI methods of rice cultivation compared to BMP. Further, total nitrogen, organic carbon%, soil dehydrogenase, microbial biomass carbon, total bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes were found higher in the two SRI plots in comparison to BMP. It is concluded that SRI practices create favorable conditions for beneficial soil microbes to prosper, save irrigation water, and increase grain yield.     

Bulk Superconductivity up to 122 K in the Tl-Pb-Sr-Ca-Cu-O System

New high-temperature superconductors based on oxides of thallium and copper, but not containing barium, have been prepared. A transition temperature (T(c)) of about 85 K is found for (Tl(0.5)Pb(0.5)) Sr(2)CaCu(2)O(7) whereas (Tl(0.5)Pb(0.5))Sr(2)Ca(2)Cu(3)O(9) has a T(c) of about 120 K. Both materials possess tetragonal symmetry with a = 3.80 A, c = 12.05 A for (Tl(0.5)Pb(0.5))Sr(2)CaCu(2)O(7), and a = 3.81 A, c = 15.23 A for (Tl(0.5)Pb(0.5))Sr(2)Ca(2)Cu(3)O(9). A structure refinement of the latter phase has been carried out with single-crystal x-ray diffraction data.     

Antifungal activity of some tetranortriterpenoids

Natural tetranortriterpenoids such as cedrelone from Toona ciliata, azadiradione from Azadirachta indica, limonin, limonol and nomilinic acid from Citrus medica, along with some cedrelone derivatives were tested for their antifungal activity against Puccinia arachidis, a groundnut rust pathogen. Results show that cedrelone was the most effective in reducing rust pustule emergence. Replacement of functional groups or modification of the A or the B ring in cedrelone reduced the effectiveness indicating the importance of specific structural features for activity.     

The effective dominance of resistance genes in relation to the evolution of resistance

Field selection for a rare insecticide resistance (R) gene can be substantially delayed if R is rendered effectively recessive [if all or most heterozygotes ( R + ) are killed by the field dosages] and if a representative sample (+ +, R +, RR) of the population is permitted to escape exposure. The relationship between heterozygote mortality and escape in influencing selection rates has been considered at various frequencies of R. The cases when mating precedes selection, and when selection precedes mating, have been calculated using computer simulations. It is concluded that when R genes are rare it is advantageous (a) to apply the highest possible doses of insecticide in such a form that all exposed insects pick up an amount sufficient to kill all or most heterozygotes, (b) to apply the insecticide to adults after they have mated, rather than to younger adults or to larvae, and (c) to ensure that the proportion of insects given the opportunity to escape contact is as high as practical considerations allow. Once resistance is obvious (when samples are brought into the laboratory for tests), the R gene frequency will have risen to a level which makes the suggested strategy no longer valuable. Alternative strategies are briefly discussed.     

Osteocartilaginous metaplasia in the right atrial myocardium of healthy adult sheep.

Among 172 hearts from clinically normal adult sheep aged 1.5 to 7 years evaluated for the presence of cartilage and/or bone in the right atrial myocardium, 3.49% (6/172) had palpable evidence of osteocartilaginous foci. An additional 8% prevalence was estimated based on radiographs of hearts that contained < or =1 mm foci of nonpalpable, radiographically dense bone. Microscopically, the nodules in the atria were characterized by mature lamellar bone enclosing adipose tissue, with occasional new bone formation by endochondral ossification. No degenerative changes were evident in the affected atrial myocardium, suggesting that these lesions were clinically insignificant background changes.     

Inhibitory activity of probiotic Enterococcus faecium MC13 against Aeromonashydrophila confers protection against hemorrhagic septicemia in common carp Cyprinuscarpio

The present study involved the control of Aeromonas hydrophila in Cyprinus carpio by bacteria Enterococcus faecium MC13 isolated from fish Mugil cephalus intestine. Antagonistic effects were confirmed against Aeromonas hydrophila by cross-streaking and the agar spot method. Probiotic effects of the isolate were confirmed by injection and oral administration to check for nonpathogenicity to fish. All the two probiotics were orally administered to fingerlings of Cyprinus carpio for 60 days through feed. The intestinal load of bacteria and NBT assay were analyzed on 7, 15, 30, and 60th day of treatment. Experimental fish were challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila on 30 and 60th day. The neutrophil activity was higher in E. faecium MC13 fed fish on day 60 (1.525 ± 0.379 OD). In respect of relative percentage survival (RPS), the higher protection of 75 and 77.8% was observed in E. faecium MC13 fed fish on 30 and 60th day of challenge with Aeromonas hydrophila This study identified the bacterial probiont MC13 (Enterococcus faecium) effectively controlled the Aeromonas hydrophila infection in Cyprinus carpio.     

Identification of new resistant sources for bacterial blight in pomegranate

Bacterial blight is a highly devastating disease caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. punicae, recording 60 to 80 percent yield-loss of pomegranate in India. In the present investigation, a total of 209 genotypes including 105 exotic types from USDA, 66 wild types and 38 cultivated types from India were screened and categorized into fifteen clusters using cluster and principal component analysis. Genotypes of cluster 15, viz. 108 B and 99 A from USDA and 318734, Daru-18 and IIHR-30 from India, were found to be resistant to bacterial blight while genotypes of cluster 9 were highly susceptible. Two genotypes, each from cluster 15 (318734) and 9 (Ruby), were compared for biochemical and histological parameters to understand the defense mechanism. Significantly, higher accumulation of defense related metabolites, viz. total phenol, flavonoid and antioxidant contents, were observed in resistant genotype (318734). Fewer numbers of stomatal pores that served as portals of entry for plant pathogens were recorded in this genotype. Resistance observed in genotype 318734 might be due to an incompatible interaction between host and pathogen compared to other genotypes. This is the first report of putative resistance sources in pomegranate against Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. punicae.     

Development and characterization of a fibroblastic‐like cell line from caudal fin of the red‐line torpedo,Puntius denisonii (Day) (Teleostei: Cyprinidae)

A fibroblastic‐like cell line was established from the ornamental fish, red‐line torpedo (Puntius denisonii). The red‐line torpedo fin (RTF) cell line is being maintained in Leibovitz's L‐15 medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) for over 1 year at 28 °C on a continuous basis in normal atmosphere. The growth rate of RTF cells increased as the FBS proportion increased from 5% to 20% at 28 °C with optimum growth at the concentrations of 10% FBS. The morphology of RTF cell was predominantly fibroblastic like. Propagation of these cell lines was serum dependent, with a low plating efficiency (<15%). Karyotyping analysis of RTF cells at the 25th passage indicated that the modal chromosome number was 2n=50. The cell line was cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen at ?196 °C and could be recovered from storage after 6 months with good cell viability. Polymerase chain reaction amplification of a fragment of two mitochondrial genes, 16S rRNA and CO1, confirmed the identity of these cell lines with those reported from this animal species, confirming that the cell lines originated from P. denisonii. The bacterial extracellular products from Vibrio cholerae MTCC3904 and Aeromonas hydrophila were found to be toxic to RTF. The cell lines were not susceptible to viral nervous necrosis virus, a marine fish virus.     

Cytogenetical studies of two amphidiploids in the genus Oryza

Results of cytogenetic studies of 2 amphidiploids, O. glaberrima-sativa and O. sativa-breviligulata, are reported for the first time in the genus Oryza. All the 3 species have 2n=24 chromosomes. They were produced by treating buds of F₁ stubbles with 0.1% colchicine solution.The gigas effect of polyploidy was observed in both the amphidiploids. While the F₁ hybrids were completely sterile polyploidy resulted in 75.0% pollen fertility in both, with 47.0% spikelet fertility in O. glaberrima-sativa and 12.7% in O. sativa-breviligulata. Meiosis in the 2 amphidiploids was generally similar. Quadrivalents ranging from 0 to 12 were observed with 2 modes at 6IV and 8IV. The average number of IVs in the C₂ and C₃ generations ranged from 6.2 to 7.8. Segregation of characters was observed in the C₂ and C₃ generations in O. glaberrima-sativa. The C₂ plants segregated for spikelet size and hairiness. Of the 4 C₃ progenies studied, one segregated in the ratio 3:1 for the presence of anthocyanin pigmentation and hairiness of spikelets.The occurrence of IVs in high frequency and the segregation for differences in characters of the original parents noted in O. glaberrima-sativa are similar to the results reported from autotetraploids of O. sativa. It is suggested that these results point out to the rather close structural similarity in the chromosome complements of the 3 species and provide experimental evidence to the theory that the 2 cultivated species O. sativa and O. glaberrima have evolved independently from a common species O. perennis.