Effects of changes in N-fertilizer management on water quality trends at the watershed scale

In this study, the ADAPT (Agricultural Drainage and Pesticide Transport) model was calibrated and validated for monthly flow and nitrate-N losses, for the 2000-2004 period, from two minor agricultural watersheds in Seven Mile Creek (SMC-1 and SMC-2) in south-central Minnesota. First, the model was calibrated and validated using the water quality data from the SMC-1 and again independently validated with the SMC-2 dataset. The predicted monthly flow and associated nitrate-N losses agreed reasonably with the measured trends for both calibration (r² = 0.81 and 0.70 for flow and nitrate-N losses, respectively) and validation (r² = 0.85 and 0.78 for flow and nitrate-N losses from SMC-1, and 0.89 and 0.78 for flow and nitrate-N losses from SMC-2, respectively) periods. The model performed less satisfactorily for the snowmelt periods than it did for the entire simulation period. Using the calibrated model, long-term simulations were performed using climatic data from 1955 to 2004 to evaluate the effects of climatic variability and N application rates and timing on nitrate-N losses. The predicted nitrate-N losses were sensitive to N application rates and timing. A decrease in the fall N application rate from 179.3 to 112 kg/ha decreased nitrate-N losses by 23%. By changing application timing from fall to spring at a rate of 112 N kg/ha, nitrate-N losses decreased by 12%. The predicted nitrate-N losses showed a linear response to precipitation with larger losses generally associated with wet years. A 25% increase in mean annual precipitation would offset reductions in nitrate-N loss achieved using better N fertilizer management strategies described above.     

Individual and additive effects of Na+ and Cl− ions on rice under salinity stress

This study was attempted to assess the extent of toxicity contributed by Na⁺ and/or Cl^? ions individually, besides their possible additive effects under NaCl using physiological and biochemical parameters. Despite the fact that most annual plants accumulate both Na⁺ and Cl^? under saline conditions and each ion deserves equal considerations, most research has been focused on Na⁺ toxicity. Consequently, Cl^? toxicity mechanisms including its accumulation/exclusion in plants are poorly understood. To address these issues, effects of equimolar (100 mM) concentrations of Na⁺, Cl^? and NaCl (EC ≈ 10 dS m^?1) were studied on 15-day-old seedlings of two rice cultivars, Panvel-3 (tolerant) and Sahyadri-3 (sensitive), using in vitro cultures. All three treatments induced substantial reductions in germination rate and plant growth with greater impacts under NaCl than Na⁺ and Cl^? separately. Apparently, salt tolerance of Panvel-3 was due to its ability to exclude Na⁺ and Cl^? from its shoots and maintaining low (<1.0) Na⁺/K⁺ ratios. Panvel-3 exhibited better vigour and membrane stability indices coupled with lower reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation levels, besides stimulated synthesis of proline, glycine betaine and ascorbic acid. Overall, the magnitude of toxicity was observed in NaCl > Na⁺ > Cl^? manner. Though Cl^? was relatively less toxic than its countercation, its effect cannot be totally diminished.     

Accelerated development of quality protein maize hybrid through marker‐assisted introgression of opaque‐2 allele

Vivek Maize Hybrid 9‐ a popular single‐cross hybrid developed by crossing CM 212 and CM 145 was released for commercial cultivation in India. The parental lines, being deficient in lysine and tryptophan, were selected for introgression of opaque‐2 allele using CML 180 and CML 170 as donor lines through marker‐assisted backcross breeding. The opaque‐2 homozygous recessive genotypes with >90% recovery of the recurrent parent genome were selected in BC₂F_2, and the seeds with <25% opaqueness in BC₂F₃ were forwarded for seed multiplication. Vivek Quality Protein Maize (QPM) 9, the improved QPM hybrid, showed 41% increase in tryptophan and 30% increase in lysine over the original hybrid. The grain yield of the improved hybrid was on par with the original hybrid. The newly improved QPM maize hybrid released in 2008 will help in reducing the protein malnutrition because its biological value is superior over the normal maize hybrids. This short duration QPM maize hybrid has been adopted in several hill states of North Western and North Eastern Himalayan regions.     

Analysis of the coat protein gene of Indian <Emphasis Type="Italic">Potato virus X</Emphasis> isolates for identification of strain groups and determination of the complete genome sequence of two isolates

Complete coat protein (CP) gene sequences of 66 Potato virus X (PVX) isolates were sequenced and compared with other PVX isolates. The CP gene of these isolates shared 93.9–100.0 % and 97.0–100.0 % identities among them at nucleotide and amino acid sequence level, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis with isolates of known PVX strain groups showed that all 66 isolates were found in clade I (strain groups 1, 3 and 4) and none of them in Clade II (strain groups 2 and 4). The Indian isolates had the 714 bp coat protein gene and were closer to clade I isolates with 92.9–99.5 % identities and distantly related to Clade II isolates (74.2 to 80.0 % identities). Hence, these isolates may belong to either of the strain groups 1, 3 and 4. A threonine residue at position 122 and glutamine residue at position 78 were found conserved in all the Indian isolates suggesting that these isolates cannot overcome Rx1gene and Nx gene mediated resistance, characteristic of group 1 and 3. However, unique amino acid substitutions were observed in Indian isolates and further studies are required to ascertain their role in symptom expression, virulence and host range. In addition, whole genome sequences of two isolates one each from Jalandhar (Punjab) and Kufri (Himachal Pradesh) were also determined. They were 6435 nts long with five ORFs and shared 81.4–97.2 % identities to clade I isolates from USA, Russia, India, Iran, China, Japan, Taiwan and 77.0 to 77.5 % identities with clade II isolates from Peru.     

Developing nitrogen management strategies under drip fertigation for wheat and maize production in the North China Plain based on a 3‐year field experiment

The intensive winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–summer maize (Zea mays L.) cropping systems in the North China Plain (NCP) rely on the heavy use of mineral nitrogen (N) fertilizers. As the fertigated area of wheat and maize in the NCP has grown rapidly during recent years, developing N management strategies is required for sustainable wheat and maize production. Field experiments were conducted in Hebei Province during three consecutive growth seasons in 2012–2015 to assess the influence of different N fertigation rates on N uptake, yield, and nitrogen use efficiency [NUE: recovery efficiency (RE_N) and agronomic efficiency (AE_N)]. Five levels of N application, 0 (FN₀), 40 (FN_40%), 70 (FN_70%), 100 (FN_100%), and 130% (FN_130%) of the farmer practice rate (FP: 250 kg N ha^?1 and 205.5 kg N ha^?1 for wheat and maize, respectively), corresponding to 0, 182.2, 318.9, 455.5, and 592.2 kg N ha^?1 y^?1, respectively, were tested. Nitrogen in the form of urea was dissolved in irrigation water and split into six and four applications for wheat and maize, respectively. In addition, the treatment “drip irrigation + 100% N conventional broadcasting” (DN_100%) was also conducted. All treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results revealed the significant influence of both N fertigation rate and N application method on grain yield and NUE. Compared to DN_100%, FN_100% significantly increased the 3‐year averaged N recovery efficiency (RE_N) by 0.09 kg kg^?1 and 0.04 kg kg^?1, and the 3‐year averaged N agronomic efficiency (AE_N) by 2.43 kg kg^?1 and 1.62 kg kg^?1 for wheat and maize, respectively. Among N fertigation rates, there was no significant increase in grain yield in response to N applied at a greater rate than 70% of FP due to excess N accumulation in vegetative tissues. Compared to FN_70%, FN_100%, and FN_130%, FN_40% increased the RE_N by 0.17–0.57 kg kg^?1 and 0.03–0.34 kg kg^?1and the AE_N by 4.60–27.56 kg kg^?1 and 2.40–10.62 kg kg^?1 for wheat and maize, respectively. Based on a linear‐response relationship between the N fertigation rate and grain yield over three rotational periods it can be concluded that recommended N rates under drip fertigation with optimum split applications can be reduced to 46% (114.6 kg N ha^?1) and 58% (116.6 kg N ha^?1) of FP for wheat and maize, respectively, without negatively affecting grain yield, thereby increasing NUE.     

Mushroom tyrosinase: recent prospects

Tyrosinase, also known as polyphenol oxidase, is a copper-containing enzyme, which is widely distributed in microorganisms, animals, and plants. Nowadays mushroom tyrosinase has become popular because it is readily available and useful in a number of applications. This work presents a study on the importance of tyrosinase, especially that derived from mushroom, and describes its biochemical character and inhibition and activation by the various chemicals obtained from natural and synthetic origins with its clinical and industrial importance in the recent prospects.     

Dravya—As an organic agent for the management of seed-borne fungi of sorghum and its role in the induction of defense enzymes

A commercially developed cytokinin and seaweed extract formulation “Dravya” was used at 0.3% concentration for soaking of sorghum seeds for 12 h to test its effect on germination, vigour index, chlorophyll content and defense enzyme activity against seed mycoflora of sorghum. Among the treatments, Dravya (0.3%) with Dithane M-45 (0.1%) and GLSTIN (0.1%) or separately or in combination resulted is maximum percentage of seed germination, seedling vigour and reduced the incidence of seed mycoflora besides defense enzymes enhancement was noticed. In this study, Dravya was used for seed soaking, foliar spray, separately as well as in combination with GLSTIN and Mancozeb M-45 to test its efficacy in the enhancement of seedling vigour, chlorophyll content and defence enzyme activities. Hence, it is inferred that Dravya is a good growth promoter and improves natural resistance to disease in sorghum.     

Effect of binary combination of some plant-derived molluscicides with MGK-264 or piperonyl butoxide on the reproduction of the snail Lymnaea acuminata

The effects of sub-lethal treatments (20 and 60% of 24-h LC(50)) with plant-derived molluscicides Annona squamosa, acetogenins, Argemone mexicana seed and protopine, in combination (1 + 5) with MGK-264 (ENT 8184) or piperonyl butoxide on the reproduction of Lymnaea acuminata has been studied. The plant-derived molluscicides and their active molluscicidal components, protopine and acetogenins, in combination with ENT 8184 or piperonyl butoxide caused a significant reduction in the fecundity, hatchability and survival of young snails. Combination of A squamosa seed powder with piperonyl butoxide was very effective as it caused a complete arrest of snail fecundity within 24 h of treatment. Removal of the snails to fresh water after the 96-h treatments caused a significant recovery in the fecundity of L acuminata.