Combining superior agronomic performance and terminal heat tolerance with resistance to spot blotch (Bipolaris sorokiniana) of wheat in the warm humid Gangetic Plains of South Asia

Seven hundred twenty-nine lines of diverse wheat germplasm lines were evaluated in eight locations of three countries (India, Nepal and Bangladesh) of South Asia for 5 years (1999–2000 to 2003–2004) through Eastern Gangetic Plains Screening Nursery (EGPSN) organized by CIMMYT South Asia, Nepal, for agronomic performance and tolerance to spot blotch of wheat. Each year, the number of lines represented a new set of 150 lines that included six common checks and a different local check at each of the eight locations. One hundred and five lines, 21 in each year, advanced from EGPSN were also tested for 5 years (2000–2001 to 2004–2005) in five locations of South Asia through Eastern Gangetic Plains Yield Trials (EGPYT) to verify spot blotch tolerance and superior yield performance of the selected germplasm. Many lines yielded significantly more than the best check and possessed high levels of spot blotch resistance under warm humid environments of South Asia. The most promising 25 lines have been listed as sources of strong resistance, with 9 lines better yielding than the best resistant check PBW 343 in fewer days to maturity. Most of these superior lines represented elite CIMMYT germplasm and around half were derived from Kauz and Veery. The line EGPYT 67, Kauz//Kauz/Star/3/Prinia/4/Milan/Kauz, was the best for spot blotch resistance, yield, days to maturity, and 1000 grain weight (TKW). The next two lines in the order of merit were EGPYT 84 (Mrng/Buc//Blo/Pvn/3/Pjb 81) and EGPYT 69 (Chirya3/Pastor). The results demonstrate that additional spot blotch resistant wheat genotypes with high grain yield and TKW, and early maturity, have become available as a result of the regional and international collaboration in South Asia.     

Harnessing Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria Beyond Nature: A Review

Root-associated plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) interact with the plant roots and influence plant health and soil fertility. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria play an important role in plant growth by exerting various mechanisms such as biological nitrogen fixation, growth hormone production, phosphate solubilization, siderophore production, hydrolytic enzyme production, antagonistic activity against fungal pathogens etc. Hence, these are employed as inoculants for biofertilizer and biocontrol activities. This review summarizes various mechanisms of PGPR and their potential for use as inoculants. It shows that their use is a worthwhile approach for exploring disease management in conjunction with other strategies.     

Genetic characterization of Indian peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of fusion protein and nucleoprotein gene segments

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is an important viral disease of sheep and goats, endemic in India. The study was undertaken to characterize the local PPRV by sequencing fusion (F) protein and nucleoprotein (N) gene segments and phylogenetic analysis, so as to focus on genetic variation in the field viruses. Selected regions of PPRV genome were amplified from clinical samples collected from 32 sheep and goats by RT-PCR and the resulting amplicons were sequenced for phylogenetic analysis. The phylogenetic tree based on the 322bp F gene sequences of PPRV from five different locations clustered them into lineage 4 along with other Asian isolates. While the 425bp N gene sequences revealed a different pattern of branching, yielding three distinct clusters for Nigerian, Turkey and Indian isolates. Thus, classification of PPRV into lineages based on the N gene sequences appeared to yield better picture of molecular epidemiology for PPRV.     

Diversification of maize (Zea mays L.) through teosinte (Zea mays subsp. parviglumis Iltis & Doebley) allelic

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Zea mays ssp. parviglumis is the progenitor of maize and assume to have tolerance against various biotic and abiotic stresses. It...     

Antibody response of cattle to rinderpest vaccine

Antibody production was studied in cattle infected with rinderpest vaccine virus. Vaccinated cattle produced both IgM and IgG serum antibodies. The IgG antibodies were mainly those of IgG2 subclass. No IgA antibody response was detected in vaccinated animals.     

Zur Wirkung der Individuendichte auf die Kopulation und den Sauerstoffverbrauch von Hieroglyphus nigrorepletus Bol. (Orth., Acrididae)

Isolated pairs ofH. nigrorepletus did not show hastened mating behaviour like those in the crowd. The early mating points towards an expedited secretion of certain sex hormones responsible for inducing early mating under crowding stress.Insects in cages put permanently in open air appeared healthy and vigorous while those in cages in rooms appeared run down. It was found that oxygen consumption in insects of open air cages was 13.3 × 10^–4 ml./sec/adult in average. But there was no significant difference between crowded and isolated insects regarding oxygen consumption.     

Wirkungen eines Chemosterilants auf die Neurosekretion beiAcheta domesticus (L.) (Orthopt., Gryllidae)

Response of neuroendocrines to a chemisterilant in Acheta domesticus L. InAcheta domesticus administration of hemel — a chemosterilant — introduced neurosecretory changes coupled with hampered growth of the oocytes in ovarioles. A reduction in the haemolymphal acid and alkaline phosphatases activity was observed. It indicated that hemel led to reduction in protein and nucleic acid synthesis.     

Antifungal activity of the stem bark of Ailanthus excelsa

The methanol extract of stem barks of Alianthus excelsa was partitioned with chloroform. The chloroform extract showed fungistatic and fungicidal activity against Aspergillus niger, A. fumigatus, Penicillium frequentence, P. notatum and Botrytis cinerea.     

Breast-feeding initiation and determinants of exclusive breast-feeding - a questionnaire survey in an urban population of western Nepal

OBJECTIVE: To assess rates of initiation of breast-feeding and exclusive breast-feeding within 2 months after delivery and to determine the factors influencing exclusive breast-feeding. DESIGN: A health worker-administered questionnaire survey was carried out during the time period 1 August-30 September 2005. SETTING: Immunisation clinics of Pokhara, a submetropolitan city in western Nepal. SUBJECTS: Three hundred and eighty-five mothers who had delivered a child within the previous 2 months. RESULTS: The rates of initiation within 1 h and within 24 h of delivery were 72.7 and 84.4%, respectively. Within 2 months after delivery, exclusive breast-feeding was practised by 82.3% of the mothers. Breast milk/colostrum was given as the first feed to 332 (86.2%) babies but 17.2% of them were either given expressed breast milk or were put to the breast of another lactating mother. Pre-lacteal feeds were given to 14% of the babies. The common pre-lacteal feeds given were formula feeds (6.2%), sugar water (5.9%) and cow's milk (2.8%). Complementary feeds were introduced by 12.7% of the mothers. By logistic regression analysis, friends' feeding practices, type of delivery and baby's first feed were the factors influencing exclusive breast-feeding practice of the mothers. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the higher rates of initiation and exclusive breast-feeding, practices such as pre-lacteal feeds and premature introduction of complementary feeds are of great concern in this urban population. There is a need for promotion of good breast-feeding practices among expectant mothers and also the community, especially the families, taking into account the local traditions and customs.     

Determination of Ultra Trace Level of Uranium in Ground Water of Different Geo-Chemical Environment by Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetry

The mineral mobilisation in ground water due to rock water interaction largely depends on the localized subsurface geo-chemical environment. During this work, traces of uranium were measured by adsorptive stripping voltametry (AdSV) in groundwater having various level of dissolved minerals. Experimental solutions were prepared in the laboratory by spiking natural groundwater with standard solutions of major cations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺), anions (Cl^?1, F^?1, and $ {\text{PO}}^{{3 - }}_{4} $ ), trace metal ions (Cu and Pb) and DOC (Dissolved Organic Carbon). The concentrations of these anions, cations and DOC in subsurface water changes due to changes in the geo-chemical environment at different locations. Experimental results show that major anions do not have any pronounced impact on the analysis of uranium. In the case of cations, only Cu²⁺ shows strong interferences. However addition of 2% Ethylene Diammine Tetra-acetic Acid (EDTA) solution in the ratio of 1:25 removes interference due to copper upto a concentration of <0.2 ppm. Interference with copper was also studied by varying the accumulation potential, pH and concentration of chloroanilic acid. Though no interferences were observed in ground water having dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the range of 0.01–15 ppm, between 15–16 ppm of DOC, the ability to detect uranium by AdSV decreases sharply. Further, if DOC exceeded 16 ppm it was not possible to do the analysis of uranium by AdSV without destruction of DOC, as DOC is a surface active organic compound and accumulates on Hg electrode preferentially over uranium-chloroanilic complex.