Impact of Biofertilizers on grain yield in spring wheat under varying fertility conditions and wheat-cotton rotation

High nitrogen fixing and phytohormone producing diazotrophs such as Azotobacter were isolated, identified and used as bioinoculants on wheat and cotton with varying doses of nitrogen under field conditions. The impact of bio-inoculants was determined on the basis of their effect on yield, dry weight and survival rate of bacteria at different days of plant growth under field conditions in two consecutive seasons (2000–01 and 2001–02). Pronounced effects were seen by the use of bio-inoculants in wheat crop. The effects were more visible in the second year as the level of bio-inoculants was maintained in the soil. A net saving of 25–30?kg nitrogen was observed using chosen bio-inoculants for wheat crop.     

Non-destructive estimation of chlorophyll and nitrogen content in leaf of Rosa damascena (Mill)

Chlorophyll (Chl) and nitrogen (N) status of leaves provide valuable information about the physiological condition of plants. The conventional methods for measuring Chl and N contents in leaves are destructive, costly, time-consuming, and do not allow repetitive measurement of the same sample. The Damask Rose (Rosa damascena Mill) is an important aromatic crop in the western Himalaya region in India. Generally, flower yield and oil yield of the Damask rose are correlated with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) levels in the leaf at the bud development stage. The dynamics of N within the rose plant have not been reported clearly. Thus, there is a pressing need for non-destructive techniques to estimate Chl and N content in the leaf of the Damask rose. Our objective was to establish an appropriate mathematical relationship between the Chl content index (CCI) value and the total Chl/N contents for non-destructive estimation of total Chl and N in the leaf of the Damask rose. The regression models were developed with destructively measured parameters (total Chl and N) as the dependent variable and a parameter derived from CCM-200 as the independent variable (CCI). We found that polynomial regression models are suitable for non-destructive estimation of total Chl, and the model predicted values were very close to traditionally measured values with a root mean square prediction error (RMSEp) less than 0.20?mg?g^?1 of Chl. In the case of N estimation, a power regression model was appropriate with lowest Akaike's information criteria (AIC) and root mean square validated error (RMSEv) value. Significant correlations (P?≤?0.001) were observed between traditionally measured values and our model predicted values in both cases.     

Potassium management in rice–maize systems in South Asia

Potassium (K) availability in soils is largely governed by their mineralogical composition. The extent of weathering of primary K‐bearing minerals, the chemical pathways through which weathering takes place, as well as the dynamic equilibrium between various K fractions in soils are factors which determine different soil types of varying K‐supplying capacity. The marked variability of K availability in soils in South Asia needs to be taken into account when formulating K‐management strategies in intensive cereal‐based systems in response to K application. Evidence from long‐term fertilizer experiments in rice–rice (R‐R) or rice–wheat (R‐W) systems strongly indicates significant yield responses to K application and negative K balances where K application is either omitted or applied suboptimally. However, K‐fertilizer recommendations in South Asia are generalized over large areas while farmers neglect K application to crops and remove crop residues from fields. These practices may strongly affect yield and soil K‐fertility status in the emerging rice–maize (R‐M) systems in different locations of South Asia. The dry‐matter yield of the R‐M system is usually much higher than that of the R‐R or R‐W system causing high withdrawal of nutrients from the soil. The current review assesses various K forms and K availability in diverse soil types of South Asia supporting rice‐based systems. Aspects considered include: long‐term crop yield and its response to added nutrients, K balance for intensive rice‐based systems, and the role of crop residues in supplying K to crops. Emerging data from either completed or on‐going experiments on the R‐M systems in India and Bangladesh have revealed very high system productivity and variable responses and agronomic K‐use efficiency of maize and rice. Potassium responses of maize are extremely high and variable for soils in Bangladesh. Finally, a plant‐based strategy for field‐specific nutrient management is presented and the need for models and decision support systems for developing efficient K management of the R‐M system is also discussed.     

Timber species grouping in Bangladesh: linking wood properties

Timber species grouping (TSG) is essential for meaningful and cost-optimal use of wood. Bangladesh forests are exceedingly diverse and comprise many woody species which are potentially suitable for versatile uses including structural materials. Traditionally, widely known tree species are used for structural timber because technological properties of most of the species are poorly known. In this study, a hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis based on three selected wood properties [i.e., wood density, modulus of elasticity (MOE) and modulus of rupture (MOR)] of seventy-nine timber species was done. The clustering process led to the formation of four distinct species groups [i.e., very low (TSG1), low (TSG2), medium (TSG3) and high (TSG4)]. However, the species grouping patterns also varied from trait to trait. This might be due to moderate relationship between density and MOE (r ² = 0.46) or MOR (r ² = 0.52). Species of the TSG1 group are mainly characterized by extremely low trait values, while the TSG4 group consists of species having exceedingly high trait values. The TSG2 and TSG3 groups are characterized by low and medium trait values. Hence, it is suggested to select suitable species from these groups, particularly the lesser known high-quality species in afforestation and reforestation programs to meet future timber demand in Bangladesh.     

Immunization with a multisubunit vaccine considerably reduces establishment of infective larvae in a rodent model of Brugia malayi

Although recombinant vaccines have several advantages over conventional vaccines, protection induced by single antigen vaccines is often inadequate for a multicellular helminth parasite. Therefore, immunoprophylactic efficacy of cocktail antigen vaccines comprised of several combinations of three Brugia malayi recombinant proteins BmAF-Myo, Bm-iPGM and Bm-TPP were evaluated. Myosin + TPP and iPGM + TPP provided the best protection upon B. malayi infective larval challenge with ∼70% reduction in adult worm establishment over non-vaccinated animals that was significantly higher than the protection achieved by any single antigen vaccine. Myosin + iPGM, in contrast did not provide any enhance protection over the single recombinant protein vaccines. Specific IgG, IgM level, IgG antibody subclasses levels (IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b, IgG3), lymphocyte proliferation, reactive oxygen species level and cytokines level were also determined to elucidate the characteristics of the protective immune responses. Thus the study undertaken provided more insight into the cocktail vaccination approach to combat LF.     

Development and validation of a sensitive enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for blood plasma cortisol in female cattle,buffaloes, and goats

A highly sensitive enzyme immunoassay (EIA) that used the second antibody coating technique and the cortisol-horseradish peroxidase conjugate as a label for determination of free and total cortisol in blood plasma of dairy animals (cows, buffaloes, and goats) was developed. For biological validation of the EIA, blood samples were collected from the animals at 48 and 24 h before and 0, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, 96, 108, 120, and 132 h after dexamethasone administration. The EIA was performed directly with 20 μL of fresh plasma (for free cortisol) and also with 20 μL of heat-treated plasma (for total cortisol) after 1:5 dilutions with PBS. Cortisol standards ranging from 0.39 to 200 pg/well/20 μL were used, and the sensitivity of the EIA procedure was found to be 0.39 pg/well/20 μL, which corresponded to 0.02 ng/mL. In comparison with RIA the EIA was at least 4 times more sensitive and required 5 times less cortisol antiserum. In female cattle, buffaloes, and goats, the total, free, and bound plasma cortisol before dexamethasone administration was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the total, free, and bound cortisol after dexamethasone administration. It can be concluded from these studies that the direct, sensitive EIA validated for estimating the free and total cortisol concentrations was sufficiently reliable and quick for studying the dynamics of cortisol distribution in blood plasma of dairy animals.     

Aquaculture and stress management: a review of probiotic intervention

To meet the ever‐increasing demand for animal protein, aquaculture continuously requires new techniques to increase the production yield. However, with every step towards intensification of aquaculture practices, there is an increase in stress level on the animal as well as on the environment. Feeding practices in aqua farming usually plays an important role, and the addition of various additives to a balanced feed formula to achieve better growth is a common practice among the fish and shrimp culturists. Probiotics, also known as ‘bio‐friendly agents’, such as LAB (Lactobacillus), yeasts and Bacillus sp., can be introduced into the culture environment to control and compete with pathogenic bacteria as well as to promote the growth of the cultured organisms. In addition, probiotics are non‐pathogenic and non‐toxic micro‐organisms, having no undesirable side effects when administered to aquatic organisms. Probiotics are also known to play an important role in developing innate immunity among the fishes, and hence help them to fight against any pathogenic bacterias as well as against environmental stressors. The present review is a brief but informative compilation of the different essential and desirable traits of probiotics, their mode of action and their useful effects on fishes. The review also highlights the role of probiotics in helping the fishes to combat against the different physical, chemical and biological stress.     

Influences of incorporating detoxified Jatropha curcas kernel meal in common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) diet on the expression of growth hormone‐ and insulin‐like growth factor‐1‐encoding genes

Jatropha curcas is a drought‐resistant shrub or small tree widespread all over the tropics and subtropics. The use of J. curcas (L) kernel meal in fish feed is limited owing to the presence of toxic and antinutritional constituents. In this study, it was detoxified using heat treatment and organic solvent extraction method. The detoxification process was carried out for 60 min to obtain the detoxified meal. Cyprinus carpio L. fingerlings (n = 180; avg. wt. 3.2 ± 0.07 g) were randomly distributed in five treatment groups with four replicates and fed isonitrogenous diets (crude protein 38%) for 8 weeks. The inclusion levels of the detoxified Jatropha kernel meal (DJKM) and soybean meal (SBM) were as follows: control diet was prepared with fish meal (FM) and wheat meal, without any DJKM and SBM; diets S₅₀ and J₅₀: 50% of FM protein replaced by SBM and DJKM respectively; diets S₇₅ and J₇₅: 75% of FM protein replaced by SBM and DJKM respectively. Highest body mass gain and insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) gene expression in brain, liver and muscle were observed for the control group, which were statistically similar to those for J₅₀ group and significantly (p < 0.05) higher than for all other groups, whereas growth hormone gene expression in brain, liver and muscle exhibited opposite trend. Insulin‐like growth factor‐1 concentration in plasma did not differ significantly among the five groups. Conclusively, growth performance was in parallel with IGF‐1 gene expression and exhibited negative trend with GH gene expression.     

Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) ES Cell–Like Cells are Capable of In Vitro Skeletal Myogenic Differentiation

When buffalo embryonic stem (ES) cell–like cells that expressed surface markers SSEA‐4, TRA‐1‐60, TRA‐1‐81, CD9 and CD90 and intracellular markers OCT4, SOX2 and FOXD3, as shown by immunofluorescence, and that expressed REX‐1 and NUCLEOSTEMIN as confirmed by RT‐PCR, were subjected to suspension culture in hanging drops in absence of LIF and buffalo foetal fibroblast feeder layer support, they differentiated to form three‐dimensional embryoid bodies (EBs). Of 231 EBs examined on Day 3 of suspension culture, 141 (61.3 ± 3.09%) were of compact type, whereas 90 (38.4 ± 3.12%) were of cystic type. The cells obtained from EBs were found to express NF‐68 and NESTIN (ectodermal lineage), BMP‐4 and α‐skeletal actin (mesodermal lineage), and α‐fetoprotein, GATA‐4 and HNF‐4 (endodermal lineage). When these EBs were cultured on gelatin‐coated dishes, they spontaneously differentiated to several cell types such as epithelial‐ and neuron‐like cells. When EBs were cultured in the presence of 1 or 2% DMSO or 10^?8 m or 10^?7 m retinoic acid for 25 days, ES cells could be directed to form muscle cell–like cells, the identity of which was confirmed by expression of α‐actinin by immunofluorescence and of MYF‐5, MYOD and MYOGENIN genes by RT‐PCR. MYOD was first detected on Day 10 in both treatment groups and on Day 15 in controls, whereas MYOGENIN was first detected on Day 10, Day 15 and Day 25 in the presence of retinoic acid, in the presence of DMSO and in controls, respectively. The present study demonstrates the ability of buffalo ES cell–like cells to undergo directed differentiation to cells of skeletal myogenic lineage.