Influence of Low Light Irradiance on Grain Filling in Rice (Oryza saliva L.) cultivars

Time course of grain filling pattern in two rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars, grown under normal and low light intensities, was studied. The number of spikelets, partially filled grains and high density grains were monitored at a 5 day interval during grain filling period from uniform panicles tagged at anthesis. The low light tolerant cultivar Swarnaprabha had more high density grains and less partially filled grains throughout the grain filling period and at harvest compared to cultivar Ratna under both normal and low light intensities. Further, the opening of spikelets in two flushes in Swarnaprabha seemed to result in a more efficient resource allocation and hence better yield as compared to Ratna, in which the opening of spikelets was in a single flush on day 10.     

Monitoring biochemical changes in bacterial spore during thermal and pressure-assisted thermal processing using FT-IR spectroscopy

Pressure-assisted thermal processing (PATP) is being widely investigated for processing low acid foods. However, its microbial safety has not been well established and the mechanism of inactivation of pathogens and spores is not well understood. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy was used to study some of the biochemical changes in bacterial spores occurring during PATP and thermal processing (TP). Spore suspensions (approximately 10(9) CFU/mL of water) of Clostridium tyrobutyricum, Bacillus sphaericus, and three strains of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens were treated by PATP (121 degrees C and 700 MPa) for 0, 10, 20, and 30 s and TP (121 degrees C) for 0, 10, 20, and 30 s. Treated and untreated spore suspensions were analyzed using FT-IR in the mid-infrared region (4000-800 cm(-1)). Multivariate classification models based on soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA) were developed using second derivative-transformed spectra. The spores could be differentiated up to the strain level due to differences in their biochemical composition, especially dipicolinic acid (DPA) and secondary structure of proteins. During PATP changes in alpha-helix and beta-sheets of secondary protein were evident in the spectral regions 1655 and 1626 cm(-1), respectively. Infrared absorption bands from DPA (1281, 1378, 1440, and 1568 cm(-1)) decreased significantly during the initial stages of PATP, indicating release of DPA. During TP changes were evident in the bands associated with secondary proteins. DPA bands showed little or no change during TP. A correlation was found between the spore's Ca-DPA content and its resistance to PATP. FT-IR spectroscopy could classify different strains of bacterial spores and determine some of the changes occurring during spore inactivation by PATP and TP. Furthermore, this technique shows great promise for rapid screening PATP-resistant bacterial spores.     

Genetics of soybean-Heterodera glycines system

Genetics of resistance to soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines Ichinohe is very complex. Crosses involving PI 437654, which is resistant to all races of cyst nematodes with other sources of resistance (Peking, PI 88788, and PI 90763) indicated that resistance to race 3 was controlled by four genes, two of which were dominant resistance genes and the other two were recessive resistance genes. For race 5, a four gene model with two recessive and two dominant resistance genes in epistasis has been proposed. For race 14, the results suggested a three gene model with one dominant and two recessive alleles. Several other plant introductions have been isolated which have different genes conditioning resistance. Most of the currently grown soybean varieties derived resistance from Peking and/or PI 88788. Resistance to SCN in these soybean varieties has broken down because of the emergence of several new races and populations of SCN. The use of PI 437654 or Hartwig and other plant introductions with different genes for resistance will broaden genetic diversity and stabilize yield.     

Evapotranspiration relationship with pan evaporation and evapotranspiration ratio of corn under different nitrogen levels and moisture regimes

In a field experiment with four moisture regimes and eight nitrogen levels, the ratios between evapotranspiration and pan evaporation ($\text{Et}\text{Eo}$) were low in the initial stages of crop growth and attained maximum values at 70–80% (20 and 40% available soil moisture depletion (ASMD)), 65% (60% ASMD) and 55% (80% ASMD) of the crop growth stage. Amongst nitrogen levels, the evapotranspiration ratio (ETR) was highest (3573) under no nitrogen and lowest (1312) with 180 kg N/ha. The 20% ASMD regime utilised less water (ETR= 1499 to produce a kilogram of grain than did the other moisture regimes. The lowest evapotranspiration ratio (914) was recorded with 20% ASMD and 180 kg N/ha in combination. The highest ETR (3954) was found with 60% ASMD and no nitrogen. An additive effect of nitrogen and moisture was found, in indicating that they can be substituted one for the other, when one of them becomes a constraint.     

Characterization and antimicrobial susceptibility of biofilm-producing Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli from broiler chickens and their environment in India

Veterinary Research Communications - Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) is responsible for colibacillosis in poultry. APEC remains a constant problem for the poultry industry, despite the use...     

In vitro studies on the binding, antioxidant, and cytotoxic actions of punicalagin

The protective bioactivity of punicalagin, a high molecular weight polyphenol isolated from pomegranate fruit pith and carpellary membrane, against oxidative damages to lipids, amino acids constituting the proteins, and guanosine as a model for DNA has been investigated. The ABTS*-, guanosine, and tryptophan radical generated pulse radiolytically were repaired by punicalagin, k = (0.9-15) x 10(7) dm3 mol-1 s-1. The results are rationalized on the basis of the scavenging activity of punicalagin against various one-electron oxidizing radicals, namely, .OH, N3., and NO2. . The formation of the transient species in these reactions and the rate constants of the scavenging reactions have been probed using a time-resolved kinetic spectrophotometric technique. The antioxidant action of punicalagin is expressed not only through its scavenging reactions but also by its ability to form metal chelates. Binding of punicalagin with bovine serum albumin and metal ions such as iron and copper revealed different binding affinities, whereas its binding with DNA was very weak and nonspecific. In vitro cytotoxic studies against three cell lines, namely, Vero (normal African green monkey kidney cell line), Hep-2 (human larynx epithelial cancer cell line), and A-549 (human small cell lung carcinoma cell line) showed that this polyphenol is toxic only at higher concentration.     

Experiences with Rice Grown on Permanent Raised Beds: Effect of Crop Establishment Techniques on Water Use,Productivity, Profitability and Soil Physical Properties

In recent years, conventional rice production technologies have been leading to deterioration of soil health and declining farm profitability due to high inputs of water and labor. Conservation agriculture(CA) based resource-conserving technologies i.e. zero-tillage(ZT), raised-bed planting and direct-seeded rice(DSR) have shown promise as alternatives to conventional production technologies to overcome these problems. Present study was undertaken during 2009–2012 to establish an understanding of how permanent raised bed cropping system could be practiced to save water at the field application level to improve water productivity and also have the capability to enhance productivity, profitability and soil physical quality. The results showed that among different crop establishment techniques, conventional-tilled puddle transplanted rice(CT-TPR) required 14%-25% more water than other techniques. Compared with the CT-TPR system, zero till direct-seeded rice(ZT-DSR) consumed 6%–10% less water with almost equal system productivity and demonstrated higher water productivity. Wide raised beds saved about 15%–24% water and grain yield decrease of about 8%. Direct-seeded rice after ZT or reduced tillage or on unpuddled soil provided more net income than CT-TPR. The CTTPR system had higher bulk density and penetration resistance due to compaction caused by the repeated wet tillage in rice. The steady-state infiltration rate and soil aggregation( 0.25 mm) were higher under permanent beds and ZT and lower in the CT-TPR system. Under CT-TPR, soil aggregation was static across seasons, whereas it improved under no-till and permanent beds. Similarly, mean weight diameter of aggregates was higher under ZT and permanent beds and increased over time. The study reveals that to sustain the rice productivity, CA-based planting techniques can be more viable options. However, the long-term effects of these alternative technologies need to be studied under varying agro-ecologies in western Uttar Pradesh, India.     

Assessment of perceived farming risks,communication of risk management practices,and evaluation of their efficiency in Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) farming—a survey-based cross-sectional study

Aquaculture International - Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) farming is an important commercial aquaculture production system contributing substantially to the economic and societal...