Vaccination of pigs with the S48 strain of Toxoplasma gondii – safer meat for human consumption

As clinical toxoplasmosis is not considered a problem in pigs, the main reason to implement a control strategy against Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) in this species is to reduce the establishment of T. gondii tissue cysts in pork, consequently reducing the risk of the parasite entering the human food chain. Consumption of T. gondii tissue cysts from raw or undercooked meat is one of the main sources of human infection, with infected pork being considered a high risk. This study incorporates a mouse bioassay with molecular detection of T. gondii DNA to study the effectiveness of vaccination (incomplete S48 strain) in its ability to reduce tissue cyst burden in pigs, following oocyst (M4 strain) challenge. Results from the mouse bioassay show that 100% of mice which had received porcine tissues from vaccinated and challenged pigs survived compared with 51.1% of mice which received tissues from non-vaccinated and challenged pigs. The presence (or absence) of T. gondii DNA from individual mouse brains also confirmed these results. This indicates a reduction in viable T. gondii tissue cysts within tissues from pigs which have been previously vaccinated with the S48 strain. In addition, the study demonstrated that the main predilection sites for the parasite were found to be brain and highly vascular muscles (such as tongue, diaphragm, heart and masseter) of pigs, while meat cuts used as human food such as chop, loin, left tricep and left semitendinosus, had a lower burden of T. gondii tissue cysts. These promising results highlight the potential of S48 strain tachyzoites for reducing the number of T. gondii tissues cysts in pork and thus improving food safety.     

Scientific analysis of indigenous techniques for guggal （Commiphora wightii） tapping in India

Guggal, a threatened species that is endemic to western India, is tapped to extract medicinally important oleo–gum–resin(guggul). However, the plant dies after gum exudation. The indigenous tapping techniques used by local people were examined in Gujarat, India to discover the scientific basis behind these techniques: selection of gum inducer, season of tapping, and plant parts to be tapped. First, the presence of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. commiphorae(Xac) in the gum suspension used for tapping was established. This bacterium induces gum oozing from the tapped plants and later, causes them to die off. The population of Xac in gum was found to decrease with the age of the gum. With that, fresh gum increased the tapping success. Second, local people preferred tapping during the warm season, which we validated by determining that Xac growth was best at 30 °C. Tapping during September(mean temperature 25.7–30.0 °C) clearly favoured growth of the pathogen and yielded maximum guggul. Multiple tapping on a mature tree ensured maximum gum extraction before its death. Finally, application of indigenous technology under natural plant stands by the local people ensured availability of this important raw drug for consumption. Our study established that the age–old traditional methods have a strong scientific basis. However, it is imperative to formulate strategies based on contemporary scientific understanding to protect this natural resource before it becomes extinct.     

Estimation of gut contents of freshwater mussel, Lamellidens marginalis L.

This study examined the food organisms found in the gut of freshwater mussels, Lamellidens marginalis L. A total of 34 taxa of food organisms were recorded, out of which 30 taxa belonged to phytoplankton and four taxa to zooplankton. Both the groups comprised three families each: Cyanophyceae (blue‐green algae), Chlorophycea (green algae) and Bacillariophyceae (diatoms) constituted phytoplankton, whereas Euglenaceae, Chlamydodontidae and Brachionidae belonged to zooplankton. The total number of frequencies of phytoplankton (n=537) were almost nine times more than that of zooplankton (n=60). When blue‐green algae, green algae, diatoms and zooplankton (all the three families together) were tested for significant difference (P<0.05) following Duncan's multiple range test, the result showed only two groups. Blue‐green algae, green algae and zooplankton were not significantly different (P<0.05), forming group A, whereas diatoms were significantly different from others, forming group B. The present study showed that the maximum number of organisms that mussels feed upon belong to green algae, followed by diatoms, blue‐green algae and few taxa of zooplankton.     

Irrigation and Nutrient Effects on Growth and Water–Yield Relationship of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Central India

Increasing production of wheat from a limited water supply can result from efficient irrigation and nutrient management. A 3‐year field experiment was conducted at the Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal, to study the growth, yield, seasonal evapotranspiration (ET) and water use efficiency (WUE), and the water–yield relationship of wheat in a soybean–wheat cropping system on vertisols. Three levels of irrigation, viz. I₀, no post‐sowing irrigation; I₁, two irrigations [crown root initiation (CRI) and flowering stage]; and I₂, three irrigations (CRI, maximum tillering and flowering stage) and three nutrient management treatments, viz. F₀, control (without fertilizer/manure); F₁, 100 % NPK (100–21.5–24.9 kg ha^?1); and F₂, 100 % NPK + farmyard manure (FYM‐10 t ha^?1) were tested in a split‐plot design with three replication. It has been established (through anova ) that the year effect was rather negligible and the interaction effects of irrigation and nutrient management on the growth parameters, ET, yield components, yield and WUE were significant. Plant height, progressive leaf area index, dry matter accumulation and crop growth rate were higher in I₂F₂, and I₂F₁ and I₁F₂ were statistically at par. The seasonal ET increased significantly with the increase in water supply in every nutrient treatment and it was highest in I₂F₂ and lowest in I₀F₀. The highest grain yield was obtained in I₂F₂; and a similar yield was recorded in I₃F₁ and I₂F₂. This shows a strong interaction effect between irrigation and nutrients. Yield components, viz. number of ears m^?2, number of grains ear^?1 and 1000‐grain weight were significant. The higher number of ears m^?2 containing greater number of grains with relatively heavier weights appeared to have contributed to the higher yield in I₁F₂, I₂F₁ and I₂F₂. The highest WUE obtained in I₀F₂ did not correspond to the highest yield and maximum ET, but a WUE of 10.43 kg ha^?1 mm^?1 in the I₂F₂ combination corresponded with the highest yield and the seasonal ET requirement was 391.8, which was 137 % greater than the water use at maximum WUE. The ET–grain yield relationship was linear, with a lowest regression slope (i.e. marginal WUE) and elasticity of water production (E_wp) in F₀ and a considerably higher slope and E_wp in F₁ and F₂. As the E_wp is positive and close to one in 100 % NPK treatment, the scope of improving WUE and yield with only inorganic fertilizer is very little, and relatively greater scope exists in the integrated management of organic manure and inorganic fertilizer. The results suggest that integrated nutrient management (100 % NPK + FYM) in conjunction with three irrigations maximized yield of wheat with concomitant improvement in ET and WUE under limited water availability.     

Effect of Growth Regulators on the Productivity of Some Major Oilseed Crops

A number of field experiments were conducted at the Viswavidyalaya Research Farm during 1984–85 to 1986–87 to study the effects of five growth regulators viz. Miraculan (a triacontanol based growth stimulant), Nutron (1-triacontanol growth stimulant), Planofix ( α -napthylacetic acid), Paras or Mixtalol (Higher alcoholic carbon compounds) and N-triacontanol on productivity of five different major oilseed crops viz. rapeseed ( Brassica campestris L. var. yellow sarson), mustard ( Brassica juncea L. Czern and Coss), sesame ( Sesamum indicum L.), linseed ( Linum usitatissimum L.) and safflower ( Carthemus tinctorius L.). Results showed the positive influence of growth regulators on the productivity of crops (10–40 % increase in yield); however the influence was not consistent over the years. N-triacontanol when tried on mustard only improved the grain yield significantly, more so when applied with paras or planofix, sesame was most influenced by spraying planofix and paras. Nutron favourably influenced safflower and linseed. The test weight of grains followed by the number of pods/plant were influenced most by the application of growth regulators. Inconsistency in results over the years, however, need further investigations on the timing of spraying.     

Metabolism of metamitron in goat following a single oral administration of a nontoxic dose level: a continued study

Disposition kinetic behavior and metabolism studies of metamitron and its metabolite in terms of the parent compound were carried out in black Bengal goats after a single oral administration of a nontoxic oral dose at 30 mg kg(-1) of body weight. Metamitron was detected in the blood sample at 5 min (2.23 +/- 0.04 microg mL(-1)), maximum at 1 h (3.43 +/- 0.02 microg mL(-1)) and minimum at 12 h (0.41 +/- 0.01 microg mL(-1)), after a single oral administration. Metabolite [3-methyl-6-phenyl-1,2,4-triazin-5(4H)-one] in terms of the parent compound was detected in the blood sample at 5 min (0.47 +/- 0.006 microg mL(-1)), maximum at 6 h (5.12 +/- 0.02 microg mL(-1)) and minimum at 96 h (1.06 +/- 0.016 microg mL(-1)), after a single oral administration. The t(1/2 K) and Cl(B) values of metamitron were 3.63 +/- 0.05 h and 1.36 +/- 0.016 L kg(-1) h(-1), respectively, whereas the t(1/2K)(m) and Cl(B)(m) values of the metabolite were 38.15 +/- 0.37 h and 0.091 +/- 0.001 L kg(-1) h(-1), respectively, which suggested long persistence of the metabolite in blood and tissues of goat. Metamitron was excreted through feces and urine for up to 48 and 72 h, whereas the metabolite was excreted for up to 168 and 144 h, respectively. Metabolite alone contributed to 96 and 67% of combined recovery percentage of metamitron and metabolite against the administered dose in feces and urine of goat, respectively. All of the goat tissues except lung, adrenal gland, ovary, testis, and mammary gland retained the metabolite residue for up to 6 days after administration.     

Population status and regeneration of a tropical clumping bamboo <Emphasis Type="Italic">Schizostachyum dullooa</Emphasis> under two management regimes

Schizostachyum dullooa (Gamble) Majumder ‘dolu bamboo’ is a thin walled sympodial moderate sized to large tufted bamboo, dominant in the successional fallows of northeast India. The impact of resource management on productivity and sustainability of the species was evaluated by investigating the population status and regeneration in Cachar tropical semi evergreen forest under private property resource management (PPRM) and common property resource management (CPRM) regimes. Population status revealed current-year, one-year, two-year and three-year-old culms contribute 54%, 24%, 16% and 6% of the total culms per clump, respectively, under PPRM. Three-year-old culms were absent in CPRM and population status was thus represented by current year (83%), one-year (16%) and two-year (1%) old culms. Net change, rate of change and % gain in population for different age classes showed the prevalence of management practices under CPRM was unscientific. Efficiency of new culm production per clump used as an index of regeneration was 69.7% in PPRM and 59.88% in CPRM. New culms produced under CPRM were small and thin. We conclude that CPRM is inappropriate for a long term economic and ecological sustainability of the species and alternative management protocols are needed for conservation of the species.     

Influence of tillage practices and nutrient management on crack parameters in a Vertisol of central India

The frequency, size and rate of development of cracks influence the transport of water, nutrients and gases in the soil profile and plant growth processes in Vertisols. Despite their importance, studies on characterising cracks in Vertisols of India are limited. This study attempts to evaluate the influence of different tillage practices, nutrient management and cropping systems on cracking behaviour of a Vertisol in central India. The length, depth, width, area and volume of cracks were recorded after the harvest of the wet season crops, i.e. soybean (Glycine max L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.) from three ongoing tillage experiments with three different cropping systems, i.e. soybean–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), soybean–linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) and rice–wheat. The results revealed that all the crack parameters were significantly negatively correlated with the water content of the 0–15 cm soil layer and, crack width and crack volume were significantly positively correlated with the bulk density of the 0–15 cm soil layer. Gravimetric water content and bulk density of the 0–15 cm soil layer together explained 79% variation in the crack volume. The crack volume was significantly negatively correlated (r=0.86,P=0.01) with the root length density of the previous soybean crop. Rice grown under puddled condition significantly enhanced different crack parameters viz., length, depth, width, surface area and volume of the cracks over nonpuddled direct seeded rice. Sub-soiling practised in soybean under the soybean–linseed system significantly reduced the width, depth, length and surface area of cracks by 12.5, 10, 5 and 12%, respectively, over conventional tillage. No tillage practised in soybean under soybean–wheat system resulted in significant increase in width, depth and volume of the cracks but decrease in length and surface area of cracks over conventional tillage and mould board tillage practice. Application of manure reduced the magnitude of different crack parameters in soybean–linseed cropping system. Thus cracking in Vertisols can be favourably managed by the selection of proper tillage practice, cropping system and organic manure amendments.