Treatment of wheat straw using tannase and white-rot fungus to improve feed utilization by ruminants

Background： Current research to enrich cattle feed has primarily focused on treatment using white rot fungi, while there are scarce reports using the enzyme tannase, which is discussed only in reviews or in the form of a hypothesis. In this context, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of tannase on wheat straw （WS） and also the effect of lyophilized tannase at concentrations of 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3% （w/w） on WS followed by fermentation with Ganodermo sp. for 10 d and compared in relation to biochemical parameters, crude protein （CP） content, and nutritional value by calculating the C/N ratio in order to improve the nutritional value of cattle feed. Results： Penicillium charlesii, a tannase-producing microorganism, produced 61.4 IU/mL of tannase in 54 h when 2% （w/v） tannic acid （TA） was initially used as a substrate in medium containing （% w/v） sucrose （1.0）, NaNO3 （1.0）, and MgSO4 （0.08 pH, 5.0） in a 300-L fermentor （working volume 220 L）, and concomitantly fed with 1.0% （w/v） TA after 24 h. The yield of partially purified and lyophilized tannase was 5.8 IU/mg. The tannin-free myco-straw at 0.1% （w/w） tannase showed 37.8% （w/w） lignin degradation with only a 20.4% （w/w） decrease in cellulose content and the in vitro feed digestibility was 32.2%. An increase in CP content （up to 1.28-fold） along with a lower C/N ratio of 25.0%, as compared to myco-straw, was obtained. Conclusions： The use of tannin-free myco-straw has potential to improve the nutritional content of cattle feed. This biological treatment process was safe, eco-friendly, easy to perform, and was less expensive as compared to other treatment methods.     

Toxicity of linear alkyl benzene sulphonate on some aquatic plants

The effect of different concentrations of linear alkyl benzene sulphonate under laboratory conditions on Salvinia molesta Mitchell, Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle, Ceratophyllum demursum L., Lemna minor L., Spirodella polyrhiza (L.) Schleid, and Pistia stratiotes L. was studied. A dose dependent effect on protein and chlorophyll a and b contents leading to substantial changes were noticed in the ultrastructural features as evident from scanning electron microscopy.     

Study of allozyme diversity in guar [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.] germplasm

Guar [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.] is an important commercial crop of India, mainly cultivated in the northwestern part and neighboring areas of Pakistan. High morphological diversity is reported in guar. The present study attempts to analyze the genetic diversity in cultivated guar using allozyme polymorphism and compare it with reported morphological diversity. Accessions for the study were selected from a set of guar germplasm conserved at the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi. The morphological data of 108 selected accessions was subjected to UPGMA clustering. Fifty-five accessions were then picked randomly from the clusters generated. Tris-borate system (pH 8.3) was found to be most effective for detection of allozyme polymorphism in guar. Ten enzymes were selected for the study out of 18 systems tried, namely, malate dehydrogenase, malic enzyme, phosphogluco isomerase, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, esterase, peroxidase, alcohol dehydrogenase, glutamate dehydrogenase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and shikimate dehydrogenase. A total of 20 loci were detected with 34 alleles. The number of polymorphic loci in different accessions was observed to be highly variable (0–9). An average of 1.27 allozyme per polymorphic locus was observed. The allele frequency data of the 55 accessions was used to determine genetic diversity parameters. The dendrogram generated on genetic distance showed three clusters in the distance range of 0–0.28. Most of the accessions were in the first clusters in a narrow distance range of 0–0.08. The second cluster consisted of improved varieties and accession from Pakistan. The third cluster of accessions was genetically more distant but there was no definite segregation of accessions according to the place of collection. The accessions from south west Rajasthan were scattered in all the three clusters showing higher variability in this region, also supported by higher morphological variation. The genetic distance was low among accessions of guar, indicating low diversity in India.     

Variation in the reproductive performance ofEpiricania melanoleuca (Fletcher) (Lep., Epipyropidae) in relation to stage and sex of the hostPyrilla perpusilla (Walker) (Hem., Lophopidae) during rearing

Rearing ofEpiricania melanoleuca (Fletcher) on adult females ofPyrilla perpusilla (Walker) augmented the productivity of the former, which is an effective nymphal and adult ectoparasitoid of the latter, in terms of yield of total and viable eggs. The applied value of this finding in field biocontrol program is highlighted.

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Zusammenfassung Wurden die ektoparasitischen Raupen vonEpiricania melanoleuca auf adulten Weibchen der Zuckerrohr-Zikade,Pyrilla perpusilla aufgezogen, vergrößerte sich die Zahl und Lebensfähigkeit der Eier, die von den daraus resultierenden Faltern abgelegt wurden. Das Ergebnis wird im Hinblick auf einen Einsatz des Parasitoiden zur biologischen Bekämpfung des Schädlings erörtert.

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With one table     

Amino acid profile of winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC): a rich source of vegetable protein

Twenty one cultivars of winged bean (17 of Indian origin and 4 exotic strains obtained from Sri Lanka) were cultivated on marginal (alkaline) soils in the sub-tropics and evaluated for their food value. Whereas the seeds showed wide variations in total protein content (38.1 to 45 per cent), the amino acid compositions were in close proximity to those of soybean. Nevertheless, some strains of winged bean registered higher levels of certain amino acids as compared to soybean.     

Improvement of phosphorus uptake, phosphorus use efficiency, and grain yield of upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) in response to phosphate-solubilizing bacteria blended with phosphorus fertilizer

Phosphorus (P) limitation in soil is a major concern for crop productivity. However, the use of chemical fertilizer is hazardous to the environment and costly. Therefore, the use of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) is an eco-friendly approach for a sustainable agricultural system. In the present study, a field trial was conducted for two consecutive years to study the effects of three PSB strains isolated, Bacillus licheniformis, Pantoea dispersa, and Staphylococcus sp., with different P fertilizer rates on P uptake, P use efficiency (PUE), and grain yield of rice. The activities of soil enzymes were also studied in relation to PSB treatments. Comparative analysis of the yield and biochemical parameters revealed that inoculation of PSB consortium could reduce almost 50% of the recommended P dose in rice cultivation. Three PSB strains in combination with 50% P dose was most effective and showed the highest increases in P uptake and PUE as compared to the uninoculated control. Moreover, the PSB consortium combined with 50% P dose contributed to 50.58% and 35.64% yield increases compared to the uninoculated control for 2018 and 2019, respectively. Significant increases in the activities of soil dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, and acid phosphatase were also recorded under PSB treatment.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Abelmoschus angulosus</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">mahendragiriensis</Emphasis> (Malvaceae): a new taxonomic variety of wild okra from Eastern Ghats of India

Abelmoschus angulosus var. mahendragiriensis R.C.Misra var. nov., from a gorge in the Mahendragiri hills of Odisha in the Eastern Ghats is described and illustrated. Information about the type specimen, illustration, taxonomic affinities, distribution and ecology and field photographs showing vegetative and floral parts of the new variety along with an identification key with diagnostic characters in relation to other known varieties are provided.     

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.