Nutritional quality of sesame seed protein fraction extracted with isopropanol

The nutritional effect of diet containing decorticated sesame seed extracted with isopropanol (DSS-Iso) was evaluated on growth performance, food efficiency ratio, plasma and tissue lipid profile, plasma protein content, and erythrocyte membrane lipid profile of rats on a comparative basis with diets containing casein (control), soybean meal, and decorticated sesame seed extracted with hexane (DSS-Hex). Rats fed a DSS-Iso-based diet showed body weight gain and food efficiency ratio similar to those of the control groups fed diets prepared with casein, soybean meal, and DSS-Hex. However, dietary proteins exerted a separate effect on plasma lipid concentrations of the rats. Rats fed a DSS-Iso-based diet showed significant decreases in plasma total cholesterol (p < 0.01), triglyceride (p < 0.01), and VLDL+LDL cholesterol (p < 0.01) concentrations in comparison to the rats fed diet containing casein. No significant differences in plasma lipid concentrations were observed for the rats fed diets prepared with soybean meal, DSS-Hex, and DSS-Iso. Rats fed the different dietary proteins did not show much variation in plasma proteins, liver lipids, and erythrocyte membrane lipid concentrations, which suggests that DSS-Iso could be a suitable edible protein like casein or soybean meal.     

Micronutrients (Fe,Mn, Zn and Cu) balance under long-term application of fertilizer and manure in a tropical rice-rice system

Purpose

The balance of micronutrients in soils is important in nutrient use efficiency, environmental protection and the sustainability of agro-ecological systems. The deficiency or excess of micronutrients in the plough layer may decrease crop yield and/or quality. Therefore, it is essential to maintain appropriate levels of micronutrients in soil, not only for satisfying plant needs in order to sustain agricultural production but also for preventing any potential build-up of certain nutrients.

Materials and methods

A long-term fertilizer experiment started in 1969 at Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, Odisha, India. Using this experiment, a study was conducted to analyze the balance of micronutrients and their interrelationship. The experiment was composed of ten nutrient management treatments viz. control; nitrogen (N); N + phosphorus (NP); N + potassium (NK); nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK); farmyard manure (FYM); N + FYM; NP + FYM; NK + FYM; and NPK + FYM with three replications. Micronutrients in soil (total and available), added fertilizers and organic manures and in rice plant were analyzed. Besides, atmospheric deposition of the micronutrients to the experimental site was also calculated. A micronutrient balance sheet was prepared by the difference between output and input of total micronutrients.

Results and discussion

Application of FYM alone or in combination with chemical fertilizer increased the diethylenetriamine pentaacetate (DTPA)-extractable Fe, Mn and Zn over the control treatment. The treatment with NPK + FYM had the highest soil DTPA-extractable Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu after 41 years of cropping and fertilization. Application of chemical fertilizers without P decreased the DTPA-extractable Zn over the control while the inclusion of P in the fertilizer treatments maintained it on a par with the control. The application of P fertilizer and FYM either alone or in combination significantly increased the contents of total Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu in soil mainly due to their micronutrient content and atmospheric depositions. A negative balance of Zn was observed in the N, NP, NK and NPK treatments, while a positive balance observed in the remaining treatments. The balance of Mn was negative in all the treatments, due to higher uptake by the rice crop than its addition.

Conclusions

Long-term application of chemical fertilizers together with FYM maintained the availability of micronutrients in soil and, thus, their uptake by rice crop.

     

Use of palm-mat geotextiles for soil conservation: I. Effects on soil properties

Despite geotextile-mats having the potential for soil conservation, field studies on the effects of geotextiles on soil properties are limited. Hence, the utilization of palm-mat geotextiles as a potential soil conservation technique was investigated at Hilton, east Shropshire, U.K. (52°33′5.7″ N, 2°19′18.3″ W). Geotextile-mats constructed from Borassus aethiopum (Borassus palm of West Africa) and Mauritia flexuosa (Buriti palm of South America) leaves are termed Borassus mats and Buriti mats, respectively. Field experiments were conducted at Hilton during 2007–2009, to study the impacts of Borassus and Buriti mats on selected properties of the topsoil (0–5 cm). Ten fixed plots (10 × 1 m on a 15° slope) were established, with duplicate treatments. The treatments were: (i) bare soil; (ii) permanent grassed; (iii) bare soil with 1 m Borassus-mat buffer strips (area coverage ~ 10%) at the lower end of the plots; (iv) bare soil with 1 m Buriti mat buffer strips (area coverage ~ 10%) at the lower end of the plots; and (v) completely-covered with Borassus mats. Initial and final soil samples of the topsoil were collected and analysed for bulk density, aggregate stability, soil organic matter (SOM), total soil C (TSC), total soil N (TSN) and pH. Results indicate that, apart from Borassus completely-covered plots, soil bulk density increased and aggregate stability decreased in all plots after two years. Despite decreases in SOM contents in bare plots, SOM content did not change after two years in the grassed and geotextile treated plots. Treatments had no effects on changes in pH, TSC or TSN. Both Borassus and Buriti mat-covers within the buffer strip plots had little impact on SOM, TSC and TSN changes compared with bare soils within the same plots. Thus, Borassus buffer strip plots were very effective in maintaining some soil properties (i.e. SOM, TSC, and TSN) after two years of erosion by water. In summary, utilization of Borassus mats as buffer strips was very successful in conserving soil properties on a loamy sand soil.     

Microbial Biomass and Activity in a Laterite Soil Amended with Municipal Solid Waste Compost

The dynamics of soil quality indicators, such as microbial biomass-C, soil respiration, and urease and acid phosphatase activities, in a laterite soil (Typic Haplustalf ) amended with different doses of Calcutta municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) were studied over 120 days of incubation at 30 °C under 60 % soil water holding capacity. The parameters were found to increase with the increase in doses of MSWC. Soil microbial biomass-C (MBC) and soil respiration activity reached peak values at 30 days of incubation and then gradually decreased up to 120 days of incubation. Urease and acid phosphatase activities showed peak values at 60 and 90 days of incubation, respectively. The increase in soil enzyme activities with the fall in MBC suggested that the release of enzymes was associated with lysis of microbial cells at the end of their life cycle. There was no indication of any detrimental effect on soil quality indicators of application of MSWC to soil.     

Field resistance to late blight of four indian potato cultivars

Summary The nature and extent of field resistance to late blight, and the effect of plant age and inoculum level on resistance components and host attributes, were studied on the Indian potato cultivars Kufri Chandramukhi, Kufri Jyoti, Kufri Badshah and Kufri Sherpa. Latent period, infection efficiency, colonization rate and sporulation were found to operate in cvs Kufri Jyoti, and Kufri Badshah. Based on component analysis cv. Kufri Jyoti was similar to or sometimes more resistant than Kufri Badshah. No correlation was observed between any of the host attributes and resistance to late blight, except that the erect canopy of Kufri Badshah was associated with its slow blighting rate. At high inoculum, colonization rate and total sporulation were increased but infection efficiency was decreased.     

Occurrence of the A2 mating type ofPhytophthora infestans in India

Summary One hundred and four isolates ofPhytophthora infestans were collected during 1990–93 from different potato growing regions of India. They were paired with mating type A1 ofP. capsici to determine their mating type. All isolates from the Indo-Gangetic plains and Assam were the A1 mating type, whereas a mixed population of A1 and A2 types occurred at Shillong, Darjeeling and Shimla hills. The frequency of A2 isolates was 5–30% in the Shimla hills and 60% and 58% respectively in the Shillong and Darjeeling hills.     

Studies of uptake and toxic effects of NI (II) on Salvinia natans

The uptake of Ni (II) and toxic effects of the metal on some biochemical parameters in Salvinia natans L. were studied. The uptake of Ni (II) by the plants gradually increased with increase in concentration of Ni (II) in the culture medium. Maximum accumulation of Ni (II) was noted within a day and maximum removal (about 90%) was recorded upto 20 Μg mL^?1 of Ni (II). Accumulation of the metal in roots (14.75 Μg mL^?1) is greater than that of shoots (5.25 Μg mL^?1). Ni (II)>10 Μg mL^?1 promoted senescence of Salvinia plants by decreasing chlorophylls, protein, amino acid, Hill activity, dry weight and by inducing necrosis. In the absence of other pollutants, Salvinia plants may be used for removal of Ni (II) from effluents and also as an indicator of Ni pollution.     

Toxico-kinetics, recovery, and metabolism of napropamide in goats following a single high-dose oral administration

Toxicokinetic behavior, recovery and metabolism of napropamide (a pre-emergent herbicide) and its effect on Cytochrome P(450) of liver microsomal pellet were studied following a single high-dose oral administration of 2.5 g kg(-1) and continuous (7 days) oral administration of 500 mg kg(-1) in black Bengal goat. Napropamide was detected in blood at 15 min and the maximum quantity was recovered at 3 h after administration. The absorption rate constant (Ka) value was low indicating poor absorption from the gastrointestinal tract. High elimination half-life (t(1/2) beta) and low body clearance (Cl(B)) values coupled with higher transfer of compound from tissue to central compartment (K(21)) suggest that napropamide persisted in the blood for a long time, i.e., after 72 h of oral administration. The recovery percentage of napropamide, including metabolites, from goats varied from 75.94 to 80.08 and excretion of the parent compound through feces varied from 18.86 to 21.59%, indicating that a major portion of the orally administered napropamide was absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract of goat. Napropamide significantly increased the Cytochrome P(450) content of liver microsomal pellet. The recovery of metabolites from feces, urine, and tissues ranged from 4.2--6.2, 40.81--49.42, and 2.7--11.6%, respectively, during a 4--7 day period. The material balance of napropamide (including metabolites) following a single high-dose oral administration at 2.5 g kg(-1) during 4--7 days after dosing was found to be in the range of 75--80%.     

Free-radical scavenging properties of low molecular weight peptide(s) isolated from S1 cultivar of mulberry leaves and their impact on Bombyx mori (L.) (Bombycidae)

The mulberry leaves have been considered as a sole food source for silkworm, Bombyx mori (L.). In present work an attempt was made to investigate the role of low molecular weight peptide(s) isolated from mulberry leaves on silkworm rearing. Also we have tried to find out the role of free-radical scavenging activities of isolated peptide(s) on silkworm growth. Larval growth rate was found effective under the influence of peptide(s). Consumption rate of larvae after peptide(s) treatment on mulberry leaves was significantly enhanced over control. High antioxidant activity was found in Low molecular weight peptide(s) which have an effect on silkworm.     

Antifeedant activity and toxicity of leaf extracts from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Porteresia coarctata</Emphasis> Takeoka and their effects on the physiology of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spodoptera litura</Emphasis> (F.)

Antifeeding and toxic effects of chemical extracts from Porteresia coarctata Takeoka on the insect pest Spodoptera litura (F.) were investigated in the laboratory. Hexane extracts of P. coarctata leaves were re-dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide and applied in water to leaves of Ricinus communis L. (castor). A concentration of 1,000 and 2,000 ppm extract exhibited significant antifeeding and toxic effects to third instar larvae when compared to the same concentration of dimethyl sulfoxide in water as control. One day after feeding on extract-treated castor leaves, the mortality of S. litura larvae was 50%. Mortality increased to 95% after 11 days at a dosage of 2,000 ppm. Compared to the control, third instar larvae fed on castor leaves treated with P. coarctata leaf extract at different concentrations showed significant reduction in protein and DNA content in the fat body and midgut tissues. Results demonstrate the insecticidal and antifeedant properties of P. coarctata leaf extract against the generalist pest S. litura leading to biochemical changes in the insect body. Thus, P. coarctata contains phytochemicals, and the extract, in crude and pure form, has potential as a botanical insecticide in alternative control strategies against Lepidoptera pests.