Effect of Oviductal Proteins on Structural and Functional Characteristics of Cryopreserved Sperm in Murrah Buffaloes*

The present study was undertaken to elucidate the effect of non‐luteal oviductal proteins on sperm characteristics in Murrah buffaloes. Oviducts from healthy buffaloes were collected immediately after slaughter and the oestrous cycle phase was determined as either luteal or non‐luteal based on ovarian morphology. Non‐luteal oviducts (n = 80) were flushed from the isthmic end of the oviduct with PBS, fluid was centrifuged at 10 000 g at 4°C for 20 min and then dialysed and clarified. The supernatant obtained was lyophilized to concentrate the protein and stored at ?20°C till use. Sixteen good quality ejaculates from four Murrah buffalo bulls were collected using an artificial vagina. After fresh semen analysis, each ejaculate was split into two parts and extended in Tris–citrate–egg yolk glycerol dilutor. Part I of the split ejaculate was treated with non‐luteal oviductal proteins at the dose rate of 1 mg/ml of diluted semen, while part II remained as control. The extended semen was equilibrated for 4 h at 5°C, filled in 0.5 ml French straws, exposed to LN₂ vapour, plunged into LN₂ and then stored at ?196°C. The equilibrated and frozen–thawed semen was evaluated for sperm motility, viability, acrosomal integrity, cervical mucus penetration test and hypo‐osmotic sperm swelling test (HOST). In frozen–thawed semen, the percentage of sperm motility, viability and acrosomal integrity was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the treatment group compared to the control group. The incorporation of non‐luteal oviductal proteins in the extender increased the ability of sperm to penetrate cervical mucus both after equilibration and the freeze‐thaw process. Similarly, the proportion of sperm with intact plasma membrane, as revealed by HOST values, was also significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the treatment group (32.6%) than the control group (27%) in frozen–thawed semen. It was inferred that incorporation of non‐luteal whole oviductal fluid proteins improved the sperm quality in frozen–thawed semen in Murrah buffaloes.     

Evaluation of HEC-HMS and WEPP for simulating watershed runoff using remote sensing and geographical information system

Although a variety of rainfall-runoff models are available, selection of a suitable rainfall-runoff model for a given watershed is essential to ensure efficient planning and management of watersheds. Such studies are relatively limited in developing nations, including India. In this study, rainfall-runoff modeling was carried out using HEC-HMS and WEPP hydrologic models, and remote sensing and GIS (geographical information system) techniques in the Upper Baitarani River basin of Eastern India using daily monsoon season (June–October) rainfall and the corresponding streamflow data of 6 years (1999–2005). Other input data such as soil map, land use/land cover map, and slope map were prepared using remote sensing and GIS techniques. The modeling results revealed that both the models under predict streamflow for 1999, 2002, 2004, and 2005 and over predict for 2001 and 2003, whereas HEC-HMS under predicts and WEPP over predicts streamflow for the year 2000. The percent deviation of total runoff volume simulated by HEC-HMS ranges between −2.55 and 31%, while it varies from −13.96 to 13.05% for the WEPP model which suggests that the WEPP model simulates annual flow volumes more accurately than the HEC-HMS model for most years. However, the lower values of root mean square error (RMSE) and RMSE-observation standard deviation ratio coupled with the higher values of Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency, percent deviation and coefficient of determination for HEC-HMS during calibration and validation periods indicated that the streamflow simulated by HEC-HMS is more reliable than that simulated by WEPP. Overall, it is concluded that the HEC-HMS model is superior to the WEPP model for simulating daily streamflow in the Baitarani River basin of Eastern India.     

Small but critical: semi-natural habitat fragments promote bee abundance in cotton agroecosystems across both Brazil and the United States

Landscape Ecology - Bees are the most important pollinators of crops worldwide. For most bees, patches of semi-natural habitat within or adjacent to crops can provide important nesting and food...     

Regeneration and characterization of Swertia chirata Buch.-Ham. ex Wall. plants from immature seed cultures

First generation immature seeds (R₁) were collected from a field transferred micropropagated plant and seeds were induced to develop organogenic calli in Swertia chirata, a traditional revenue earning medicinal plant. Half strength MS medium with different growth regulators namely, BA, Kn (2.22–4.44 μM), NAA (2.69–5.37 μM), and 2.26 μM 2,4-D were used to induce callus and organogenesis. Isolated shoots produced roots either in the same medium or in presence of NAA (2.69–10.74 μM) or IBA (2.46–9.8 μM). Fully developed plantlets were successfully transplanted to soil and the fertile seed bearing plants developed. Occasionally plants derived from more than 56 weeks old calli showed some morphological variations. Such variations in regenerated plants is not reflected in their chromosomal constitution, with normal 2n = 26 chromosomes. Likewise, no variation was observed in DNA fingerprinting patterns among the short-term raised culture regenerants, which were morphologically similar to that of the donor plant illustrating their genetical uniformity and clonal fidelity. On the contrary, variation in DNA fingerprinting patterns was observed in long-term culture raised plants.     

Management of Sesbania aculeata Incorporation and Nitrogen on the Performance of Transplanted Rice in Calcareous Soil

Two field experiments were conducted to optimize the days for decomposition of dhaincha (Sesbania aculeata) with different nitrogen (N) levels and scheduling in transplanted rice in calcareous soil in a split-plot design with three replications. Incorporation of dhaincha one day before transplanting (1-DBT) obviated the need for allowing N gap. Nitrogen scheduling as 50% at active tillering + 40% at panicle initiation + 10% at flowering recorded the maximum grain yield (59.05 q ha^?1) and N–?phosphorus (P)–?potassium (K) uptake. The different N fractions in post-harvest soil were in the order of total N> total hydrolyzable N> non-hydrolyzable N> exchangeable ammonium (NH₄⁺)–?N and nitrate (NO₃^?)–?N. Thus, in calcareous soil, rice may be transplanted immediately after burying the dhaincha without any time gap along with 80 kg N ha^?1. Also, application of nitrogenous fertilizer in three splits, delaying N application until active tillering stage, is beneficial for improving rice productivity.     

Sunflower allelopathy for weed control in agriculture systems

Recent developments in weed science and allied aspects have involved several interdisciplinary approaches. In this context, indiscriminate use of herbicides for weed control has become a questionable subject, which besides controlling the weeds, the chemical herbicides are harmful in many ways to soil, crops, other plants and the environment as a whole. Taking into consideration ecologically sound weed management, in modern days the reliance on chemical herbicides has decreased and a shift towards naturally occurring biological herbicides has received great attention throughout the world. Sunflower is an annual dicotyledonous plant, herbaceous, erect, and a native of North America. It is thermo and photo-insensitive, hence it can be grown year round in sub-tropical and tropical countries. Only two spp. Helianthus annuus L. and Helianthus tuberosum are cultivated for food, the remaining spp., are ornamentals weeds and wild plants. However, H. annuus is allelopathic and inhibits the growth and development of other plants thus reducing their productivity. Sunflower is a major oil-yielding crop in India and its cultivation in northwest India started 25 to 30 years ago in areas located in the plains. In this region, rice-wheat rotation became very popular owing to its high yields; however, these crops are highly infested by weeds, thus farmers use herbicides for their control. Hence, this rotation consumes a maximum quantity of herbicides in this region, which has resulted in several problems viz., environmental pollution, human health hazards, and development of herbicide resistance in weeds. Thus, serious ecological questions about the reliance on herbicides for weed control in this rotation have been raised. One of the alternatives to overcome these problems is with the use of allelopathic strategies, including the use of weed-smothering crops for weed management and for the sustainability of agriculture. The field, pot culture, and laboratory studies have shown that inclusion of sunflower crops in rotation and intercropping considerably reduced the weed population in the current and succeeding crops. Rhizosphere soil of sunflower drastically smothered the weed germination, population, and biomass. The residual suppression effect of sunflower also persisted in the next crop up to 75 days. Thus, it is conceptualized that the inclusion of such oilseed crops before the rice crop in the rice-wheat rotation may provide satisfactory weed control in the succeeding rice crops and may minimize the use of herbicides. Likewise, the replacement of sorghum by summer sunflower oilseed crops may also help in the control of summer as well as winter weeds. More studies in this direction may provide avenues for satisfactory weed management in agro-ecosystems and may help to minimize the use of herbicides and thereby pave the way to develop sustainable agricultural practices for biodiversity conservation and enhancing biological integrity.     

Exogenously applied plant growth regulator protects rice from heat-induced damage by modulating plant defense mechanism

Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology - This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of biostimulants such as spermidine (1&nbsp;mM, 2&nbsp;mM), indole-3-acetic acid...     

Stress mitigating and immunomodulatory effect of dietary pyridoxine in Labeo rohita (Hamilton) fingerlings

A 60‐day experiment was carried out to delineate stress mitigating and immunomodulatory role of dietary pyridoxine (PN) in Labeo rohita fingerlings exposed to endosulfan. Two hundred and seventy fingerlings were randomly distributed into six treatments in triplicates. Five iso‐caloric and iso‐nitrogenous purified diets were prepared with graded levels of pyridoxine. Six treatment groups were T₀ (10 mg PN+without endosulfan), T₁ (0 mg PN+endosulfan), T₂ (10 mg PN+endosulfan), T₃ (50 mg PN+endosulfan), T₄ (100 mg PN+endosulfan) and T₅ (200 mg PN+endosulfan). The role of pyridoxine on stress mitigation and immunomodulation was assessed by biochemical and haemato‐immunological parameters like aspartate aminotransaminase, alanine aminotransaminase, lactate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase, superoxide dismutase and catalase were significantly (P<0.05) lower while acetylcholinesterase was significantly (P<0.05) higher in pyridoxine‐fed groups. Erythrocytes count, haemoglobin content and total serum protein, albumin, globulin, nitroblue tetrazolium and lysozyme activity were significantly (P<0.05) higher while cortisol and blood glucose were decreased significantly (P<0.05) in pyridoxine‐fed groups. Percentage survival after challenge with Aeromonas hydrophila was highest in T₀ group. The results obtained in present study indicate that dietary pyridoxine supplementation at 100 mg PN kg^?1 diet reduces the endosulfan‐induced stress and triggers immune response in L. rohita fingerlings.     

Development of production management strategies for a long-duration rice variety: Rajendra Mahsuri—using crop growth model,DSSAT, for the state of Bihar,India

Paddy and Water Environment - Increasing crop production is an inevitable demand of a current growing population all over the world. Implementation of best field crop practices potentially enables...