PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES IN CATHARANTHUS ROSEUS L. IN RESPONSE TO BORON NUTRITION

Catharanthus roseus L., a medicinally important plant was grown till maturity at varying levels of boron (0.033, 0.066, 0.33 and 3.3 mg B L^?1) supply. Optimum yield was observed in plants receiving 0.33 mg B L^?1. Plants receiving deficient boron showed growth reduction and visual symptoms such as chlorosis and cupping of young emerging leaves and apical tip necrosis. The number and size of the flowers, pods and seeds formed and the pollen viability of the boron deficient plants was markedly reduced. The threshold values for deficiency and toxicity were 57 and 79 μg B g^?1 dry weight for vegetative growth and 60.4 and 68.9 μg B g^?1 dry weight for reproductive growth, respectively, and is reported for the first time in periwinkle. An increase was observed in reducing and non-reducing sugars and in activity of acid phosphatase and ribonuclease in boron stressed plants.     

Pigeonpea improvement: An amalgam of breeding and genomic research

In the past five decades, constant research has been directed towards yield improvement in pigeonpea resulting in the deployment of several commercially acceptable cultivars in India. Though, the genesis of hybrid technology, the biggest breakthrough, enigma of stagnant productivity still remains unsolved. To sort this productivity disparity, genomic research along with conventional breeding was successfully initiated at ICRISAT. It endowed ample genomic resource providing insight in the pigeonpea genome combating production constraints in a precise and speedy manner. The availability of the draft genome sequence with a large‐scale marker resource, oriented the research towards trait mapping for flowering time, determinacy, fertility restoration, yield attributing traits and photo‐insensitivity. Defined core and mini‐core collection, still eased the pigeonpea breeding being accessible for existing genetic diversity and developing stress resistance. Modern genomic tools like next‐generation sequencing, genome‐wide selection helping in the appraisal of selection efficiency is leading towards next‐generation breeding, an awaited milestone in pigeonpea genetic enhancement. This paper emphasizes the ongoing genetic improvement in pigeonpea with an amalgam of conventional breeding as well as genomic research.     

Correlation between Tennant method and Standardized Precipitation Index for predicting environmental flow condition using rainfall in Godavari Basin

Paddy and Water Environment - Environmental flow is necessary to maintain a healthy ecosystem and sustain aquatic lives. Its assessment is thus aimed at analysing the minimum flow of water required...     

Profiling nutraceuticals in bael [Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa] at various stages of fruit development

Bael [Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa], a medicinally important fruit tree grown on the Indian sub-continent, contains two bio-active furanocoumarins, marmelosin and psoralen, with pharmacological properties, plus two powerful groups of natural anti-oxidants, polyphenols and tannins. The present investigation aimed to measure the levels of these nutraceuticals at various stages of fruit development [150–345 days after fruit set (DAFS)] in two promising selections of bael from the Institute, CISH B-1 and CISH B-2, using a simple high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique. Marmelosin and psoralen were extracted from 5 g of homogenised fruit mesocarp using benzene, while tannins were extracted as tannic acid with 80% (v/v) methanol in water. Polyphenol concentrations were measured spectrophotometrically at 760 nm using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. The concentrations of marmelosin declined from 1,660 and 726 µg g^?1 at 150 DAFS, to 523 and 170 µg g^?1 at 345 DAFS in CISH B-1 and CISH B-2, respectively, whereas psoralen concentrations decreased from 216 and 41 µg g^?1 to 102 and 9 µg g^?1 during the same growth period in CISH B-1 and CISH B-2, respectively. Tannic acid concentrations decreased from 1.65 and 2.02 g 100 g^?1 at 150 DAFS, to 1.52 and 1.54 g 100 g^?1 at 345 DAFS in CISH B-1 and CISH B-2, respectively. The concentrations of total polyphenols did not show any significant changes in either bael selection over the same growth period. The concentrations of marmelosin and psoralen in CISH B-1 were highest in October (150 DAFS), while these values peaked in November (190 DAFS) in CISH B-2. The results suggest that fruit harvested at an early stage of growth (October–November) contained higher concentrations of nutraceuticals, increasing their suitability for fruit processing and use in the phyto-pharmaceutical industries.     

Synergisms in Science: Climate Change and Integrated Pest Management Through the Lens of Communication—2019 Student Debates

Every year, the Student Debates Subcommittee (SDS) of the Student Affairs Committee (SAC) for the annual Entomological Society of America (ESA) meeting organizes the Student Debates. This year, the SAC selected topics based on their synergistic effect or ability to ignite exponential positive change when addressed as a whole. For the 2019 Student Debates, the SAC SDS identified these topic areas for teams to debate and unbiased introduction speakers to address: 1) how to better communicate science to engage the public, particularly in the area of integrated pest management (IPM), 2) the influential impacts of climate change on agriculturally and medically relevant insect pests, and 3) sustainable agriculture techniques that promote the use of IPM to promote food security. Three unbiased introduction speakers gave a foundation for our audience to understand each debate topic, while each of six debate teams provided a strong case to support their stance or perspective on a topic. Debate teams submitted for a competitive spot for the annual ESA Student Debates and trained for the better part of a year to showcase their talents in presenting logical arguments for a particular topic. Both the debate teams and unbiased introduction speakers provided their insight toward a better understanding of the complexities of each topic and established a foundation to delve further into the topics of science advocacy and communication, climate change, and the many facets of integrated pest management.     

A fluorescence spectroscopic study on wood

Summary Fluorescence spectroscopy has been suggested as an important tool for identification of timber (Krishna, Chowdhury 1935; Dyer 1988; Sum et al. 1991). In the present study measurements of fluorescence excitation and emission spectra from solid wood blocks, powder and their extract in methanol from heartwood ofAcacia nilotica (Babul),Albizia lebbek (Kokko),Pterocarpus marsupium (Bijasal),Toona ciliata (Toon),Tectona grandis (Teak) andEucalyptus tereticornis (Eucalypt) have been made. Fluorescence spectra obtained from solid dry wood is independent of excitation wavelength, whereas those obtained from extracts exhibited excitation wavelength dependence indicating presence of many fluorescent chemicals. The need for systematic study of wood extracts in different polar and nonpolar solvents, which would be useful for purposes of identification of wood species, is stressed.We wish to thank Mr. A. K. Ananthanarayana, Head, W. S. P. Division, for useful suggestions. Mrs. B. S. Kamala, Scientist-SE, W. P. U. Division, for providing identified samples of wood and Professor H. B. Tripathi of Kumaun University, Nainital, for providing facilities for recording fluorescence spectra