Soil amendments to control common scab of potato

Summary The effect of green manuring and soil amendments in various combinations on common scab of potato have been investigated. Soybean green manuring in combination with partially decomposed wheat straw was most effective with a decrease of 56.9% and 54.8% respectively in scab index and scab incidence. There was also a 14.2% increase in potato yield. Soil microbial population was also studied and a considerable increase in bacterial population was observed with soybean green manuring. Maximum population was recorded at planting and at harvest, microbial population was drastically decreased.     

Co-inoculation of indigenous Pseudomonas oryzihabitans and Bradyrhizobium sp. modulates the growth, symbiotic efficacy, nutrient acquisition, and grain yield of soybean

Soil microbes play a vital role in improving plant growth, crop productivity, and soil health through solubilization of essential nutrients. Present investigation was conducted to access the efficacy of Bradyrhizobium sp. LSBR-3 and the indigenous phosphate-solubilizing Pseudomonas oryzihabitans LSE-3 in improving the symbiosis, nutrient accumulation, and yield of soybean. The isolate LSE-3, selected on the basis of phosphate solubilization, was screened for beneficial traits, antagonistic activities, and pathogenicity. The levels of indole acetic acid production (50.34 ±2.35 μg mL^-1), phosphate solubilization (184.4 ±7.4 mg L^-1), biofilm formation (optical density at 560 mm, 1.389 6 ±0.04), siderophore production (121.46 ±1.61 μg mL^-1), and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase activity (0.51 ±0.07 mmol α-ketobutyrate μg^-1 protein h^-1) were significantly higher with the dual inoculants (LSBR-3 and LSE-3) than with the single inoculant LSBR-3. The plant growth-promoting traits of single and dual inoculants were evaluated for the synergistic effects on soybean under field conditions. Soybean plots treated with LSBR-3 + LSE-3 exhibited improvement in seed germination, plant height, plant biomass, and chlorophyll content compared with the uninoculated control. Dual inoculant treatments resulted in significantly higher symbiotic efficacy evidenced by increased nodulation (40.0 ±0.75 plant^-1), nodule biomass (188.52 ±6.29 mg plant^-1), and leghemoglobin content (11.02 ±0.83 mg g^-1 fresh nodule), and significantly increased activities of phosphatase (75.16 ±3.17 and 58.77 ±6.08 μg p-nitrophenol g^-1 h^-1 for alkaline and acid phosphatase, respectively) and dehydrogenase (32.66 ±1.92 μg triphenylformazan g^-1 h^-1) compared with the control. Dual inoculation with LSBR-3 and LSE-3 enhanced the uptake of macro- and micronutrients, reduced Na content in shoots, and resulted in 10.85% higher grain yield and ca. US$96.80 ha^-1 higher profit compared with the control. This is the first report on the effectiveness of combined inoculation of LSE-3 and LSBR-3 in promoting the growth, symbiotic efficacy, and yield of soybean for sustainable agriculture.     

Results of a phase II clinical trial on the use of ifosfamide for treatment of cats with vaccine-associated sarcomas

OBJECTIVE: To determine clinical activity and toxic effects of ifosfamide when used to treat cats with vaccine-associated sarcoma (VAS). ANIMALS: 27 cats with a nonresectable, recurrent, or metastatic VAS. PROCEDURE: Each cat received ifosfamide (900 mg/m(2) of body surface area) as an IV infusion during a 30-minute period. Diuresis by infusion of saline (0.9% NaCl) solution and administration of mesna were used to prevent urothelial toxicosis. Treatments were administered every 3 weeks, and tumor response was assessed after the second treatment. All ifosfamide-associated toxic effects were graded in accordance with predetermined criteria. RESULTS: 61 treatments were administered to 27 cats (median, 2 treatments/cat; range, 1 to 4 treatments/cat). After ifosfamide treatment, 1 cat had a complete response and 10 had partial responses for an overall response rate of 11 of 27 (41%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 25% to 59%). Responses lasted from 21 to 133 days (median, 70 days; 95% CI, 60 to 113 days). The acute dose-limiting toxicosis was neutropenia, which was detected 5 to 28 days (median, 7 days) after treatment. Median nadir neutrophil count was 1,600 cells/muL (range, 200 to 5,382 cells/microL). Nine (33%) cats had adverse gastrointestinal effects (primarily salivation during the ifosfamide infusion and inappetence after treatment). Two cats were euthanatized because of severe nephrotoxicosis, and 1 cat developed pulmonary edema during diuresis. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Ifosfamide has antitumor activity against VAS in cats and is tolerated well by most cats. Ifosfamide should be evaluated as an adjuvant treatment for cats with VAS.     

Dietary ascorbic acid requirement for growth of striped catfish,Pangasianodon hypophthalmus (Sauvage, 1878) juveniles

A sixty‐day feeding trial was conducted to determine the ascorbic acid (AA) requirement for growth of striped catfish, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus juveniles. Seven iso‐nitrogenous and iso‐energetic (370 g protein per kg and 19.6 MJ/kg) purified diets were prepared with different levels of ascorbic acid such as control (0), T₁ (17.5), T₂ (35), T₃ (70), T₄ (175), T₅ (350) and T₆ (700) mg ascorbic acid (L‐ascorbyl‐2‐polyphosphate) equivalent per kg diet. Fish with a mean body weight of 3.2–3.4 g were stocked (fifteen fish per tank) in triplicates following a completely randomized design. Each group was fed to satiation twice a day for 60 days. Significant differences were observed in growth, survival, body composition and metabolic enzymes activities with different dietary ascorbic acid levels. Maximum weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) were found in fishes fed with 35 mg AA per kg diet, supported by best feed conversion. Fish fed a diet containing vitamin C had the highest activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) compared to those fed with vitamin C‐depleted diets. In this study, based on using broken‐line regression analysis, the dietary vitamin C requirement for growth of P. hypophthalmus juveniles was estimated to be in the range of 46–76 mg AA per kg, depending on the criterion used, growth and liver storage. Our results will be helpful for the formulation of cost‐effective ascorbic acid incorporated diets for striped catfish, P. hypophthalmus.     

Influence of foliar application of manganese on growth,pigment content,and nitrate reductase activity of Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek under salinity

The effect of the micronutrient manganese (Mn) on the physiological performance of green gram [Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek] under saline condition was studied in the present work. Green gram was grown under controlled conditions and treated with different concentrations of sodium chloride (NaCl): 100, 200, and 300 mM. The plant samples were analyzed from 25 to 65 days of plant growth at every 10-day interval. Significant difference was observed in leaf area index, membrane stability index, nitrate reductase enzyme activity, total chlorophyll, and carotenoid content in treated plants. A drastic reduction was recorded at 200 and 300 mM NaCl treated plants in the parameters. The concentration 100 mM resulted in a slight increase of the parameters. Foliar application of Mn as manganese chloride (MnCl₂) was found to improve the physiological parameters in green gram at 200 and 300 mM salinity level and was useful in alleviating the detrimental effects of NaCl.     

Nature of Acidity in Alfisols,Entisols and Inceptisols in Relation to Soil Properties

Twenty acid soils of West Bengal, India, representing Alfisols, Entisols and Inceptisols orders, were studied to characterize their acidity in relation to physicochemical properties. Total potential acidity (TPA), pH-dependent acidity (PDA), total acidity (TA), hydrolytic acidity (HA) and exchange acidity (EA) ranged from 2.02–6.90, 1.75–6.05, 1.18–2.75, 0.98–1.90 and 0.06–0.85 cmol(p⁺) kg^?1, respectively. Relative order for all forms of acidity was: Entisols>Alfisols>Inceptisols. Average contribution of EA to TPA and TA was 9.7% and 19.7%, respectively, and that of PDA to TPA was 90.1%. Contribution of electrostatically bound H⁺ to EA was highest for Inceptisols followed by Entisols>Alfisols, and reverse was true for electrostatically bound aluminum (Al³⁺). All forms of acidity showed significant positive correlations with organic carbon (C) forms of Al but negative correlations with pH of soil. They also showed significant correlations with each other. Soil pH, organic C and exchangeable Al caused most of the variations in different forms of soil acidity.     

Kinetics and Adsorption-Desorption Behavior of AM Nitrification Inhibitor in Mollisols

Kinetics and adsorption-desorption behavior of a potent nitrification inhibitor, 2-amino 4-chloro 6-methyl pyrimidine (AM), was examined in Mollisol samples of different depths. Adsorption of AM was better accounted by pseudo-second order kinetics. Adsorption and desorption data of AM onto soil samples of different depths conformed to single surface Freundlich isotherm model. The values of ln K varied from ?0.1515 (0–15 cm) to 1.5171 (45–60 cm) and of 1/n from 0.9961 (45–60 cm) to 1.3237 (30–45 cm). Computed values of desorption capacity (ln K’) varied from 3.4734 (0–15 cm) to 4.0674 (45–60 cm) while that of 1/n´ from 0.0017 (45–60 cm) to 0.0367 (0–15 cm). Intensity of desorption (1/n´) had significant positive correlation with soil electrical conductance and clay content. The values of desorption index (n´/n) varied from 14.60 (0–15 cm) to 472.33 (30–45 cm) indicating high degree of irreversibility of adsorbed AM and hence poor leaching from these soils.     

Phenetic and genetic diversity in Indian <Emphasis Type="Italic">Luffa</Emphasis> (Cucurbitaceae) inferred from morphometric,ISSR and DAMD markers

Genetic variations and relationships among cultivated and wild genotypes of five taxa of Indian Luffa were examined using inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR), directed amplification of minisatellite DNA (DAMD) markers and morphological characterization. Morphometric evaluation of 21 discrete characters in 51 representative accessions segregated the five taxa of Luffa in three main clusters: the two wild species (L. echinata, L. graveolens) in the first, and the cultivated L. aegyptiaca (smooth gourd) and L. acutangula (ridged gourd)/L. hermaphrodita (Hermaphrodite luffa) in the second and third clusters, respectively. Cumulative data analysis of 15 ISSR and seven DAMD markers revealed high percentage polymorphism (97.67 %), moderate genetic distance (0.06–0.72, avg. 0.51), and low heterozygosity and Shannon index values (H = 0.15; I = 0.22) across all the 76 genotypes assayed. A UPGMA dendrogram, based on the combined marker data, resolved the five taxa in two main clusters with high bootstrap support. The morphological and molecular trees showed incongruence in the number of main clusters resolved and in the disposition of the wild and cultivated taxa in different sub-clusters. The cluster analyses and PCoA plots revealed a nested grouping of the hermaphrodite luffa within the ridge gourd group. The Bayesian STRUCTURE analysis identified three genetic clusters for the five assumed taxa. Outcrossing test revealed a mixed mating system in Indian Luffa. This is the first ever report on the mating system in Luffa using molecular markers. The study also demonstrates the utility of using more than one DNA marker in the assessment of molecular diversity in a widely cultivated crop genus like Luffa with a narrow genetic base.     

Prevalence and clinical features of thoracolumbar intervertebral disc‐associated epidural hemorrhage in dogs

BackgroundIntervertebral disc‐associated epidural hemorrhage (EH) in dogs is a poorly understood neurological condition.ObjectiveTo compare the clinical presentation, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes, and clinical outcome of dogs with acute thoracolumbar intervertebral disc herniation (TL‐IVDH) with and without EH.AnimalsOne hundred sixty client‐owned dogs that underwent MRI and hemilaminectomy for acute TL‐IVDH at a private practice in Colorado, including 63 dogs with EH and 97 dogs without EH.MethodsRetrospective review of medical record data from 160 dogs presenting sequentially to a single practice with acute TL‐IVDH that underwent MRI and hemilaminectomy surgery.ResultsSixty‐three of 160 (39%) dogs had confirmed EH. French Bulldogs were significantly overrepresented (23/63; odds ratio [OR]: 4.1; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.8‐9.0; P < .001) of the EH cases. Dogs with EH were more likely to present with clinical signs less than 48 hours than were dogs without EH (24‐48 vs 48‐72 hours; OR: 2.4; 95% CI: 1.2‐4.6; P = .02) and were more likely to be nonambulatory on presentation (OR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.0‐4.1; P = .04). Dogs with EH were more likely to have <50% cross‐sectional spinal cord compression than dogs without EH (OR: 2.3 vs. 0.4; 95% CI: 1.2‐4.4 and 0.2‐0.9, respectively), longer longitudinal spinal cord compression (3 spaces vs 1 space, P < .001), and greater intrinsic spinal cord change (grade 3/severe vs grade 1/mild; P < .001) based on MRI. The location of the intervertebral disc herniation in French Bulldogs with EH was more likely to be thoracolumbar (OR: 10.8; 95% CI: 2.1‐55.7; P = .03).Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceFrench Bulldogs have a high prevalence of intervertebral disc‐associated EH. Dogs with EH have a shorter clinical course and are more likely to be nonambulatory on initial presentation.     

Morpho-physiological evaluation of Elymus semicostatus (Nees ex Steud.) Melderis as potential donor for drought tolerance in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Gradual deterioration in water resources and unpredictable distribution pattern of annual precipitation amount are major threats having drastic effects on...