Effect of surface crusting on emergence of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr) seedlings II. Influence of tillage treatment,planting method and time of crust formation

The influence of tillage treatment and the time of crust formation after planting on the degree of surface crusting and seedling emergence of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.), planted on the flat and on ridges, are described. Crusts were developed artificially at specific times after planting. Under non-crusted conditions (control), more rapid drying of the soil in the seed zone occurred in conventionally-tilled, ridge-planted (Tcr) and minimum-tilled, flat-planted (Tmf) seedbeds compared with excessively and conventionally-tilled, flat-planted (Tef and Tcf) seedbeds. The formation of surface crusts induced a reduction in moisture loss from the seed zone. On drying, large crust blocks with a smooth surface developed in Tef plots whereas, in Tmf plots, small crust blocks with a rough surface appeared. Both the rate of emergence and the ultimate emergence of soybeans were in the order Tef > Tcf > Tcr > Tmf under non-crusted conditions and, on average, in the order Tcr > Tcf > Tef > Tmf under crusted conditions. Crusts which formed within two days of sowing were more injurious because these were hard and impenetrable, and were present at the normal time of seedling emergence. Crusts induced 72 h after planting had less effect on seedling emergence because, by the time they could form, emergence was already almost completed.     

Heavy infection of Ichthyophthirius multifiliis in striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus,Sauvage 1878) and its treatment trial by different therapeutic agents in a control environment

ABSTRACT

Striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) fingerlings were stocked (60 fishes/m³) in cemented square tanks for ornamental fishery purposes at the College Fish Farm in Mangalore. A total of 400 fishes with a mean weight (g) ranging from 3.24 ± 1.21 to 6.70 ± 1.13 and a mean length (cm) of 7.50 ± 0.94 to 9.50 ± 1.10 were examined. A severe outbreak of salt-like granule white spots was found on the body surface. Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, a ciliate pathogen, was identified as the causative agent by clinical signs, wet mount, and histopathological observations. Infected fishes were transferred and equally distributed to the 0.45 m³ glass aquaria and treated with three treatments: (T1) methylene blue + salt; (T2) raising temperature with salt; and (T3) formalin + malachite green. The best fingerling survival (55 ± 9.36%) was obtained by elevated water temperature with salt in T2.     

Lysine limitation alters the storage pattern of protein,lipid and glycogen in on‐growing Atlantic salmon

This experiment aimed to test the interaction of lysine limitation with nutrient accretion and muscle carnitine depot in Atlantic salmon. Fish were fed adequate or low‐lysine diets for 3 months. Lysine intake was significantly less (48%) in fish fed the low‐lysine diet as compared with that fed the adequate one. There was no difference in dietary amino acids between treatments, with the exception of lysine. The lower lysine intake was reflected in plasma free lysine being 52% less while the free lysine concentration in the liver and muscle were unaffected. Although there was no significant difference between voluntary feed intakes among treatments, fish fed the low‐lysine diet had reduced growth, protein and energy deposition as compared with fish fed the adequate lysine diet. White trunk muscle contained more glycogen and less protein in fish fed the low‐lysine diet while no difference in lipid was observed. The livers from fish fed the low‐lysine diet contained less glycogen and slightly more fat and protein than the livers from fish fed the adequate lysine diet. Lysine limitation reduced carnitine in the liver without affecting muscle carnitine depot. Thus, low‐lysine diets did not likely affect the fatty acid oxidation capacity. This fact was supported by unaffected fatty acid profiles and lipid classes between treatments during the 3‐month study. In conclusion, lysine limitation does not deplete the muscle carnitine depot during the on‐growing seawater phase of Atlantic salmon, but affects the deposition pattern of nutrients.     

Low expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit Mdα2 in neonicotinoid‐resistant strains of Musca domestica L.

BACKGROUND: Neonicotinoid action as well as resistance involves interaction with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). In the housefly, neonicotinoid resistance also involves cytochrome P450, as indicated by bioassay with synergist as well as altered expression. In bioassay, synergism was only partial and indicated possible target‐site resistance. The nAChR α2 subunit is important in neonicotinoid toxicity to insects, and gene expression of the Mdα2 subunit was investigated in field populations and laboratory strains of neonicotinoid‐resistant and insecticide‐susceptible houseflies, Musca domestica L. The genomic sequence covering exon III–VII of Mdα2 was analysed for mutations. RESULTS: Gene expression profiling of Mdα2 revealed notable differences between neonicotinoid‐resistant and insecticide‐susceptible houseflies. On average, the neonicotinoid‐resistant field population 766b and the imidacloprid selected strain 791imi had 60% lower copy numbers of Mdα2 compared with the susceptible reference strain. Sequencing of exon III–VII of the Mdα2, encoding acetylcholine binding‐site regions and three out of four transmembrane domains, did not reveal any mutations explaining the increased neonicotinoid tolerance in the strains examined. CONCLUSION: Previous discoveries and the results of this study suggest that the neonicotinoid resistance mechanism in Danish houseflies involves both cytochrome P450 monooxygenase‐mediated detoxification and reduced expression of the nAChR subunit α2. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Biology and management of the fast‐emerging threat of broomrape in rapeseed–mustard

Broomrapes (Phelipanche and Orobanche spp.) are obligate root parasites of the family Orobanchaceae. The natural variation in Orobanchaceae exists in plants involving Triphysaria versicolor (facultative hemiparasite), Striga hermonthica (obligate hemiparasite) and Phelipanche aegyptiaca, formerly Orobanche aegyptiaca (holoparasite). The family Orobanchaceae has 90 genera. The four major parasitic species of broomrape are Phelipanche ramosa in the Brassicas, especially in rapeseed, Phelipanche cernua in tobacco and sunflower, P. aegyptiaca in solanacious crops and in Brassica juncea and Phelipanche crenata in leguminous crops. They are prevalent, infesting nearly 1.2% of the world's arable land. In India, P. ramosa and P. aegyptiaca cause severe infestations of Brassica and have threatened its cultivation in major growing areas. In addition, a single broomrape plant can release >100 000 seeds that remain viable for decades in the soil. This provides the parasite with a great genetic adaptability to environmental changes, including host resistance, agronomical practices and herbicide treatments. Different control measures, such as manual weeding, herbicide applications, solarization, crop rotation and integrated broomrape management practices, have been proposed in order to reduce the broomrape menace and improve yields in farmers' fields. Breeding for broomrape resistance also could be an economic, feasible and environmental friendly control method. The present article reviews the current status of research on broomrape in India and abroad, as well as suggests strategies for its effective management.     

Plant Growth Regulators Influence 14CO2 Assimilation and Translocation of Assimilates in Indian Mustard

Effect of plant growth regulators Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), Gibberellic acid (GA₃) and Kinetin on ¹⁴CO₂ assimilation, partitioning of ¹⁴C into major biochemical fractions and translocation of assimilates was studied in different parts of Indian Mustard ( Brassica juncea ) at late ripening stage. Leaves, stem and pod walls are photosynthetically active and are important sources for seed filling. NAA and kinetin increased the ¹⁴CO₂ assimilation rate in all the three photosynthetically active parts. All the three growth regulators increased the export of ¹⁴assimilates out of source organs and increased the movement of assimilates into the reproductive parts (pods). The increased movement of photoassimilates into the developing pods may be due to the stimulation of sink activity by the growth regulators which resulted in the higher demand for photoassimilates. It was suggested that growth regulators may increase yield by altering distribution of assimilates in the mustard plants.     

Molecular mapping of QTLs for resistance to Fusarium wilt (race 1) and Ascochyta blight in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Fusarium wilt (FW) and Ascochyta blight (AB) are two important diseases of chickpea which cause 100 % yield losses under favorable conditions. With an objective to validate and/or to identify novel quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for resistance to race 1 of FW caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris and AB caused by Ascochyta rabiei in chickpea, two new mapping populations (F_2:3) namely ‘C 214’ (FW susceptible) × ‘WR 315’ (FW resistant) and ‘C 214’ (AB susceptible) × ‘ILC 3279’ (AB resistant) were developed. After screening 371 SSR markers on parental lines and genotyping the mapping populations with polymorphic markers, two new genetic maps comprising 57 (C 214 × WR 315) and 58 (C 214 × ILC 3279) loci were developed. Analysis of genotyping data together with phenotyping data collected on mapping population for resistance to FW in field conditions identified two novel QTLs which explained 10.4–18.8 % of phenotypic variation. Similarly, analysis of phenotyping data for resistance to seedling resistance and adult plant resistance for AB under controlled and field conditions together with genotyping data identified a total of 6 QTLs explaining up to 31.9 % of phenotypic variation. One major QTL, explaining 31.9 % phenotypic variation for AB resistance was identified in both field and controlled conditions and was also reported from different resistant lines in many earlier studies. This major QTL for AB resistance and two novel QTLs identified for FW resistance are the most promising QTLs for molecular breeding separately or pyramiding for resistance to FW and AB for chickpea improvement.