Development of a user friendly water balance model for paddy

A water balance model for paddy is developed primarily based on the principle of conservation of mass of soil–water within the root zone. The water balance for paddy is different from that of field crops because paddy requires standing water in the field during most of its growth period. This model requires soil, crop and meteorological data as inputs. This user friendly model was developed using computer programmes C and Visual Basic (VB) 6.0. It simulates various water balance components such as evapotranspiration, deep percolation, surface runoff and depth of irrigation water and ponding depth in the field on a daily basis. For estimation of deep percolation loss, physically based saturated and unsaturated flow processes are incorporated into the model to consider ponding (if there is standing water in the field), saturation (if moisture content of soil is in between field capacity and saturation) and depletion (if moisture content of soil is below field capacity) phases of paddy field. This article presents development of a user friendly water balance model for paddy and also its validation using published data.     

Kunitz trypsin inhibitor polymorphism in the Korean wild soybean (Glycine soja Sieb. & Zucc.)

Kunitz trypsin inhibitor (KTi) in 1368 accessions of wild soybean (Glycine soja Sieb. & Zucc.), collected from three regions of Korea, was examined for allelic diversity and geographical distribution. Five electrophoretically distinguishable KTi forms were detected: three were common (Tia, Tib and Tia/Tib) and two were previously unreported (Tib^i7‐1 and Tibⁱ⁵). The Tia allele was predominant (93.49%). Alleles Tib, Tib^i7‐1 and Tibⁱ⁵ were detected with the frequencies of 3.47, 0.55 and 0.11%, respectively. The heterozygous form (Tia/Tib) was detected with the frequency of 2.26%. The nucleotide sequence of Tib^i7‐1 was identical to that of the Tib‐derived variant allele Tif, with the exception of three nucleotides: A→G at position +244, A→C at position +286 and G→C at position +601. The latter two were similar to Tia, suggesting that Tib^i7‐1 is an intermediate allele between Tia and Tib. The gene for Tibⁱ⁵ showed 100% similarity with the Japanese intermediate allele Tibⁱ⁵. This study demonstrates that Korean wild soybeans are remarkably rich source of new KTi alleles not reported before.     

Application of Polymer Science to Properties of Gluten

Much of the knowledge from polymer science studies can be usefully applied to increase understanding of the properties of gluten and how they are related to composition. Low solubility of gluten proteins compared to many other proteins that have been studied evidently arises from the low entropy of mixing of the largest-sized glutenins and a relatively high value for the Flory-Huggins interaction parameter mainly due to a low concentration of ionisable groups. Grain hardness is a property that appears to depend on the proteins that are concentrated at the starch/matrix interface and how they control adhesion. Dough mixing properties, dough strength and extensibility can be understood in terms of the extension of large glutenin molecules giving rise to rubber elasticity and to the presence of molecular entanglements which contribute strength and extensibility to dough systems.     

Potential Inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2 and Functional Food Components as Nutritional Supplement for COVID-19: A Review

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - The severe acute respiratory syndrome is a viral respiratory infection and commonly called as COVID-19, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2...     

Rice Bran Oil: Emerging Trends in Extraction,Health Benefit,and Its Industrial Application

Rice bran oil(RBO) is unique among edible vegetable oils because of its unique fatty acid composition, phenolic compound(γ-oryzanol, ferulic acid) and vitamin E(tocopherol and tocotrienol). It has become a great choice of cooking oil because of its very high burning point, neutral taste and delicate flavour. Non-conventional methods of RBO extraction are more efficient and environmentally friendly than conventional extraction methods. Advances in RBO extraction using innovative extraction strategies like super/sub-critical CO_2, microwave-assisted, subcritical H_2 O, enzyme-assisted aqueous and ultrasoundassisted aqueous extraction methods have proven to significantly improve the yields along with improved nutritional profile of RBO. The compositions and strategies for stabilization of RBO are well discussed. The constituents are present in the RBO contribute to antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antidiabetic and anti-cancerous properties to RBO. This has helped RBO to become an important substrate for the application in food(cooking oil, milk product and meat product) and non-food industries(polymer, lubricant, biofuel, structural lipid and cosmetic). This review provided comprehensive information on RBO extraction methods, oil stabilization, existing applications and health benefits.     

Tolerance to excess moisture in maize (Zea mays L.): susceptible crop stages and identification of tolerant genotypes

Excess moisture (water-logging) during the summer–rainy season is one of the major production constraints for maize (Zea mays L.) in a large area of Southeast Asia. Identification and development of genotypes capable of withstanding the stress conditions could be an ideal and affordable approach suitable for resource poor maize-growing farmers of such areas. We attempted to identify the most susceptible/critical crop stage(s) of maize for excess moisture stress, and to develop a screening technique and selection strategies for identification of germplasm tolerant to excess moisture stress. Among the four crop stages, i.e. early seedling (V2), knee-high (V7), tasseling (VT) and milk stage (R1), V2 was found to be highly susceptible, followed by the V7 stage. A screening technique (cup method) was developed/standardized, and was found to be an efficient technique for large-scale screening of maize genotypes against excess soil moisture stress. Germplasm was screened using this technique followed by field evaluation at the V7 growth stage (seventh leaf visible). Excess soil moisture stress severely affected various growth and biochemical parameters, impaired anthesis and silking, and eventually resulted in poor kernel development and yield. However, remarkable variability was found among the genotypes studied. Genotypes with good carbohydrate accumulation in stem tissues, moderate stomatal conductance, <5 days ASI, high root porosity, and early brace root development ability have been found to have good tolerance against the hypoxia/anoxia caused by excess soil moisture conditions.     

Biological control of Macrophomina phaseolina by chemotactic fluorescent Pseudomonas aeruginosa PN1 and its plant growth promotory activity in chir-pine

Ten strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PN1 ˜ PN10) isolated from rhizosphere of chir-pine were tested for their plant growth promontory properties and antagonistic activities against Macrophomina phaseolina in vitro and in vivo. P. aeruginosa PN1 produced siderophore, IAA, cyanogen and solubilized phosphorus, besides producing chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase. In dual culture, P. aeruginosa PN1 caused 69% colony growth inhibition. However, cell free culture filtrate also posed inhibitory effect but to a lesser extent. After 90 days, P. aeruginosa PN1 increased plant growth and biomass in pots trial containing M. phaseolina-infested soil. PN1 showed the strong chemotaxis toward root exudates resulting in effective root colonization. Moreover, increased population in rhizosphere of these bacteria was also recorded after 90 days of treatment. Thus, chemotactic fluorescent P. aeruginosa PN1 exhibited strong antagonistic property against M. phaseolina, suppressed the disease and improved plant growth of the seedlings of chir-pine proving potential biocontrol agent.     

Ovsynch Plus protocol improves ovarian response in anovular Murrah buffaloes in low‐breeding season

The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of ovarian response and pregnancy rate in anovular buffaloes following Ovsynch and Ovsynch Plus protocols. Buffaloes (n = 55) were divided into two groups: Ovsynch group (n = 26): GnRH (10 μg, GnRH1) on Day 0, PGF₂α (25 mg) on Day 7, GnRH (10 μg, GnRH2) on Day 9; Ovsynch Plus group (n = 29): 500 IU equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) 72 hr (day ?3) prior to Ovsynch protocol, followed by fixed timed artificial insemination (FTAI) 6 and 24 hr after GnRH2 injection in bot groups. Transrectal ultrasonography was performed daily, that is, from day 0 and ?3 in Ovsynch and Ovsynch Plus group, respectively for ovarian response and pregnancy diagnosis at day 30 post‐insemination. In Ovsynch Plus group, administration of eCG prior to GnRH1 increased (p < .001) the diameter (mm) of dominant follicle (DF) from 10.15 ± 0.26 to 12.23 ± 0.34 within 72 hr of treatment resulting higher ovulatory response to GnRH1. Ovulation after GnRH1 was higher (p < .01) in Ovsynch Plus group (96.6%) than Ovsynch group (61.5%). However, ovulation rate to GnRH2 was similar (p > .05) between groups (Ovsynch group: 76.9% vs. Ovsynch Plus group: 70.0%). Mean DF diameter (mm) that ovulated to both GnRHs was higher (p < .01) than non‐ovulated counterparts in both groups (Ovsynch group: 10.80 ± 0.27 vs. 8.47 ± 0.53; Ovsynch Plus group: 11.99 ± 0.24 vs. 9.5 ± 0.63). Pregnancy was established in buffaloes which responded to both GnRHs, irrespective of groups, being higher (p = .52) in Ovsynch Plus group (34.5%) than Ovsynch group (23.1%), though non‐significant. In summary, this study showed that eCG inclusion prior to Ovsynch regimen improves ovulatory response in anovular buffaloes during low‐breeding season.     

Studies on hymenopteran parasites ofMelanagromyza obtusa (Malloch) (diptera,agromyzidae), a pest ofCajanus cajan spreng., in India

Four hymenopteran species viz.Ormyrus orientalis Walker (Ormyridae),Euderus lividus (Ashmead) (Eulophidae),Eurytoma sp. (Eurytomidae) andSenegalella sp. (Torymidae) were reared and studied as parasites ofMelanagromyza obtusa (Malloch) (Dipt., Agromyzidae) in India. The biology ofM. obtusa and their parasites is briefly described. A view is given on the possibility of using these parasites for biological control.