Monitoring genetic stability inQuercus serrata Thunb. somatic embryogenesis using RAPD markers

Genetic stability of propagules regeneratedvia somatic embryogenesis is of paramount importance for its application to clonal forestry. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to determine the genetic stability in somatic embryogenesis ofQuercus serrata Thunb. (Japanese white oak). Forty samples from an embryogenic line, consisting of regenerated plantlets, somatic embryos, and embryogenic calli, were examined using 54 decanucleotide primers. A total of 6520 clear reproducible bands obtained from these studies exhibited no aberration in RAPD banding pattern among the tested samples. Our results show that somaclonal variation is absent in our plant propagation system. The genetic stability is discussed in terms of the origin of somatic embryos.     

Evaluation of existing critical limits of leaf nutrient standards in mango

The leaf nutrient status of 30 bearing mango orchards was studied in relation to sandculture-based critical limits already reported for 1–2 year old mango seedlings from India and Florida. Several orchards which could be rated as deficient by these criteria were found to be high yielding and free from deficiency symptoms. Year-to-year variation was significant for yield, P, Ca and S. Similarly, orchards differed significantly in respect to their N, P, K and S status.     

Occurrence of multidrug resistant Salmonella in antimicrobial-free (ABF) swine production systems

This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella species in swine reared in the intensive (indoor) and extensive (outdoor) ABF production systems at farm and slaughter in North Carolina, U.S.A. We sampled a total of 279 pigs at farm (extensive 107; intensive 172) and collected 274 carcass swabs (extensive 124; intensive 150) at slaughter. Salmonella species were tested for their susceptibility against 12 antimicrobial agents using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Serogrouping was done using polyvalent and group specific antisera. A total of 400 salmonellae were isolated in this study with a significantly higher Salmonella prevalence from the intensive (30%) than the extensive farms (0.9%) (P<0.001). At slaughter, significantly higher Salmonella was isolated at the pre- and post-evisceration stages from extensively (29% pre-evisceration and 33.3% post-evisceration) than the intensively (2% pre-evisceration and 6% post-evisceration) reared swine (P<0.001). The isolates were clustered in six serogroups including B, C, E1, E4, G and R. Highest frequency of antimicrobial resistance was observed against tetracycline (78.5%) and streptomycin (31.5%). A total of 13 antimicrobial resistance patterns were observed including the pentaresistant strains with ampicillin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline resistance pattern observed only among isolates from the intensive farms (n=28) and all were serotype Salmonella typhimurium var. Copenhagen. In conclusion, this study shows that multidrug resistant Salmonella are prevalent in ABF production systems despite the absence of antimicrobial selection pressure. In addition, it also highlights the possible role played by slaughterhouse and other environmental factors in the contamination and dissemination of antimicrobial resistant Salmonella in ABF production systems.     

Impact of water management on yield and water productivity with system of rice intensification (SRI) and conventional transplanting system in rice

The system of rice intensification (SRI) reportedly enhances yield with less water requirement. This claim was investigated to determine the effects of alternative cultivation methods and water regimes on crop growth and physiological performance. Treatment combinations compared SRI with the conventional transplanting system (CTS) using standard practices, evaluating both along a continuum from continuous flooding to water applications at 1, 3, 5, or 7 days after disappearance of ponded water (DAD), subjecting plants to differing degrees of water stress while reducing total water expenditure. SRI methods gave significant changes in plants’ phenotype in terms of root growth and tillering, with improved xylem exudation and photosynthetic rates during the grain-filling stage compared to CTS. This resulted in significant increases in panicle length, more grains and more filled grains panicle^?1, greater 1,000-grain weight, and higher grain yield under SRI management. Overall, averaged across the five water regimes evaluated, SRI practice produced 49 % higher grain yield with 14 % less water than under CTS; under SRI, water productivity increased by 73 %, from 3.3 to 5.7 kg ha-mm^?1. The highest CTS grain yield and water productivity were with the 1-DAD treatment (4.35 t ha^?1 and 3.73 kg ha-mm^?1); SRI grain yield and water productivity were the greatest at 3-DAD (6.35 t ha^?1 and 6.47 kg ha-mm^?1).     

Chilli leaf curl virus disease: a serious threat for chilli cultivation

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Chilli pepper or hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.,) is an important spice and vegetable crop of family Solanaceae. Chilli is susceptible to various...     

Heterosis and combining ability vis-à-vis association for green fruit yield and component traits involving male sterile lines in chilli (Capsicum annuum) under wet temperate zone of North Western Himalayas

Fourteen genetically diverse inbred lines comprising of four genic male sterile lines and 10 often pollinated lines as testers were crossed following ‘line × tester’ mating design to generate 40 F₁s. These F₁s, parents and check ‘CH-27’ were evaluated in α-lattice square design, replicated thrice during summer seasons of 2020 and 2021. The male sterile line DPChMS 9-2 was good general combiner for marketable fruit yield and eight other component traits while testers namely, DPCh 10, PBC 535, VVG, Him Palam Mirch-2 and DPCh 40 showed significant GCA for majority of yield related traits. The hybrids DPChMS 9-2 × HPM-2, DPChMS 9-2 × DPCh 40, DPChMS 9-2 × DPCh 101, DPChMS 9-2× VVG and DPChMS 26-1× HPM-1 were the most desirable based on specific combining ability (SCA) and economic heterosis for fruit yield and other important traits. Heterosis was positively correlated with SCA indicating prediction of potential hybrids can be made based on both these parameters simultaneously. Present study provides an opportunity to exploit top hybrids for stability and commercial cultivation.     

Performance evaluation of concurrent rice–fish–prawn culture with and without cull harvesting

This study was carried out in farmers' fields for three experimental culture cycles to evaluate the performance of rice–fish–prawn culture. The treatments carried out were deepwater rice mono‐cropping (R), and rice–fish–prawn culture with cull harvesting (R–FC) and without cull harvesting (R–F). Water pH and total alkalinity were significantly higher (P<0.05) in R–FC than in R–F, while the concentrations of total suspended solids, plankton and chlorophyll a were higher in R–F. Cull harvesting in R–FC had no marked influence on the concentrations of dissolved oxygen, NH₄⁺, nitrite, nitrate and phosphate compared with the R–F treatment. The significantly higher fish and prawn yields (P<0.05) and species‐wise faster individual growth performance in R–FC than in R–F were probably due to periodic cull harvesting, which minimized the competition for food and space as well as physiological stress at reduced density. The paddy yield and percentage increase in paddy yield over rice mono‐crop was significantly higher (P<0.05) in R–FC (25%), followed by R–F (16.9%), probably due to lower chlorophyll a (36.7 mg m^?3) and plankton density (1.4 × 10⁴ L^?1), which minimized the competition for nutrients with rice plants. The highest rice equivalent yield (38.5), output value–cultivation cost ratio (1.56) and enhanced net return (28%) in deepwater rice–fish culture were recorded when cull harvesting was practiced.