Minimizing ammonia volatilization from urea,improving lowland rice (cv. MR219) seed germination,plant growth variables,nutrient uptake,and nutrient recovery using clinoptilolite zeolite

The anionic nature and high cation exchange capacity (CEC) of clinoptilolite zeolite can be exploited to reduce ammonia (NH₃) loss from urea and to improve soil chemical properties to increase nutrient utilization efficiency in lowland rice cultivation. A closed-dynamic airflow system was used to determine NH₃ loss from treatments (20, 40, and 60 g clinoptilolite zeolite pot^?1). Seed germination study was conducted to evaluate the effects of clinoptilolite zeolite on rice seed germination. A pot study was conducted to determine the effects of clinoptilolite zeolite on rice plant growth variables, nutrient uptake, nutrient recovery, and soil chemical properties. Standard procedures were used to determine NH₃ loss, rice plant height, number of leaves, number of tillers, dry matter production, nutrient uptake, nutrient recovery, and soil chemical properties. Application of clinoptilolite zeolite (15%) increased shoot elongation of seedlings and significantly reduced NH₃ loss (up to 26% with 60 g zeolite pot^?1), and increased number of leaves, total dry matter, nutrient uptake, nutrient recovery, soil pH, CEC, and exchangeable Na⁺. Amending acid soils with clinoptilolite zeolite can significantly minimize NH₃ loss and improve rice plant growth variables, nutrient uptake, nutrient recovery, and soil chemical properties. These findings are being validated in our ongoing field trials.     

Effect of Seed Size on Germination and Seedling Growth in Greengram (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) and Blackgram (Vigna mungo L. Hepper) Cultivars

The effect of seed size on germination and seedling growth was assessed using cultivars of greengram and blackgram. Significant positive correlation was noticed between seed size and germination, seedling height, root length, primary leaf size and seedling weight. The possible advantages of choosing cultivars with heavier seeds for attaining better crop stand especially under rainfed situation are discussed.     

Genetic analysis of threshability in grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]

The ease with which seeds are detached from panicles is one of the early domestication traits. Genotypes with sticky panicles are hard to thresh, and whenever threshed, the grain tends to remain attached to the glume which reduces market value and processability. This study was conducted to determine the genetic mechanisms underlying the threshability trait in sorghum. Four seed parents and eleven pollinators differing for threshability were intercrossed in Design II mating scheme and the resulting hybrids and the parents were grown in four environments. Threshability was estimated as the ratio of seed yield to panicle weight (TW) and proportion of seeds without sticky glumes (TG). Variation was significant among the entries, inbreds and hybrids with GCA for TG and TW varying markedly. Mean TG for inbred and hybrids of low threshable genotypes was not markedly different indicating that threshability trait is under the control of additive genes with dominant or partially dominant effects. Segregation analysis indicates that the TG trait may be under the control of few major genes with approximately one to three loci affecting the trait.     

Leaf yield component combining abilities in mulberry (Morus spp.)

A line × tester analysis was carried out in mulberry (Morus spp.) to determine the genetic interaction in the expression of various quantitative characters including leaf yield. Eight clonal varieties were selected, 3 of them were designated as lines (♀) viz. Berhampore-1, China white and MS-5 and 5 of them were called as testers (♂) viz. Mandalaya, Kosen, Assamjati, MS-1 and Kajli. Combining ability studies were conducted on these parents along with their F₁ hybrids for the variables laminar index, growth rate, weight of 100 dry leaves, number of primary branches per plant, plant height, nodal distance, leaf-twig ratio, aerial biomass, moisture content, moisture retention capacity and leaf yield. Broad genetic variability was observed among the genotypes. The ratio of General Combining Ability (GCA) and Specific Combining Ability (SCA) indicated the predominance of non-additive genes in mulberry. While China white (female) and MS-1 (male) were the best general combiners among the parents, Berhampore-1 × Kajli was the best cross for leaf yield. Results suggest that selective crossing followed by proper screening may be the best approach for breeding of high yielding varieties in mulberry. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Changes in soil and water quality at sediment–water interface of Penaeus vannamei culture pond at varying salinities

The health of the pond environment in shrimp farming is important for sustainable and profitable aquaculture, in which sediment–water interface is the most important influencing area. With this objective, the key parameters of water and sediment at the interface was studied in shrimp ponds with varying salinities and compared with the surface water and soil to understand the variations and the underlying causes. Total ammonia nitrogen and total alkalinity were higher in water at the interface as compared to surface water, whereas pH, nitrite, oxide forms of nitrogen (NO₃), phosphorus (PO₄) and oxidizing bacteria were observed to be lower. There was no significant difference with respect to macrominerals such as sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium between water at the interface and surface. These changes are profoundly influenced by the uppermost 1.0‐cm thick sediment layer, where the maximum transition of nutrients takes place with the water column. The outcome of the study highlights the effectiveness of water sampling for metabolites at the interface, which reflects at an early stage any potential deterioration of pond environment, which will help the farmer to initiate timely mitigation measures.     

Microsatellite-based analysis of genetic diversity in 91 commercial Brassica oleracea L. cultivars belonging to six varietal groups

Brassica oleracea L. includes various types of important vegetables that show extremely diverse phenotypes. To elucidate the genetic diversity and relationships among commercial cultivars derived by different companies throughout the world, we characterized the diversity and genetic structure of 91 commercial B. oleracea cultivars belonging to six varietal groups, including cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kohlrabi, kale and kai-lan. We used 69 polymorphic microsatellite markers showing a total of 359 alleles with an average number of 5.20 alleles per locus. Polymorphism information content (PIC) values ranged from 0.06 to 0.73, with an average of 0.40. Among the six varietal groups, kohlrabi cultivars exhibited the highest heterozygosity level, whereas kale cultivars showed the lowest. Based on genetic similarity values, an UPGMA clustering dendrogram and a two-dimensional scale diagram (PCoA) were generated to analyze genetic diversity. The cultivars were clearly separated into six different clusters with a tendency to cluster into varietal groups. Model-based structure analysis revealed six genetic groups, in which cabbage cultivars were divided into two subgroups that were differentiated by their head shape, whereas cauliflower and kai-lan cultivars clustered together into a single group. Furthermore, we identified 18 SSR markers showing 27 unique alleles specific to only one cultivar that can be used to discriminate 22 cultivars from the others. Our phylogenetic and population structure analysis presents new insights into the genetic structure and relationships among 91 B. oleracea cultivars and provides valuable information for breeding of B. oleracea species. In addition, we demonstrate the utility of SSR markers as a powerful tool for discriminating between the cultivars. The SSR markers described herein will also be helpful for Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability (DUS) test of new cultivars.     

Development of mulberry varieties for sustainable growth and leaf yield in temperate and subtropical regions of India

Sericulture is an agro-based industry, which heavily depends on mulberry (Morus spp.) for its sustainability, as mulberry leaf is the only available feed for the silkworm Bombyx mori L. Sericulture, in West Bengal and other subtropical regions in India, suffers from lack of adequate quantity of quality mulberry leaf during the colder months, the best season for rearing the high yielding bivoltine silkworm hybrids. In order to develop mulberry varieties, which can sustain normal growth during these colder months to yield better, efforts have been made in different research institutes in India. The present report is part of such an effort in which accessions in germplasm bank were screened for better growth, leaf retention and leaf yield contributing associated traits. Twenty three selected parents were crossed, 3,500 seeds were sown, 2,700 seedlings were transplanted to progeny row trail, selected 210 hybrids were evaluated under primary yield trial and finally nine hybrids along with a control variety were studied in detail for all leaf yield contributing traits under final yield trial. Stability analysis was adopted to identify hybrids, which can yield stably across seasons. The hybrids CT-44 and CT-11 out yielding the control by 17.17 and 7.11% were selected as these hybrids yield 7.93 and 8.15 mt/ha leaf respectively during the colder months (February) for their direct use as cultivars in West Bengal and other subtropical areas of India to sustain bivoltine sericulture to produce quality and gradable silk fibers.     

Defensin (TvD1) from Tephrosia villosa exhibited strong anti-insect and anti-fungal activities in transgenic tobacco plants

Plant defensin is a small, cationic, cysteine-rich broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptide with four or five disulfide bridges and has been shown to be a component of the innate immunity system in plants. In the present study, the defensin gene (TvD1) from Tephrosia villosa was overexpressed in tobacco and characterized. Two high-expression (T1, T26) and one low-expression (T13) plant lines were selected through semi-quantitative RT-PCR and used for bioassays along with non-transgenic controls. The high-expression plant line exhibited strong in vivo anti-fungal and anti-feedant activity against the pathogen Rhizoctonia solani and the first and second instar larvae of the Spodoptera litura (F.), the tobacco cutworm, respectively. The low-expression plant line showed a moderate level of tolerance/resistance in the bioassays. The recombinant peptide (rTvD1) exhibited toxicity to tobacco pollen grains in the germination assay, but transgenic plants produced copious fertile pollen and set capsules with viable seeds. The results of this study demonstrate that the single gene (TvD1) effectively controls both fungal and insect pests and, hence, it can be used for crop transformation.     

Effects of low‐density lipoproteins as additive on quality parameters and oxidative stress following cryopreservation of mithun (Bos frontalis) spermatozoa

Artificial breeding of mithun poses several challenges including lack of standard protocol for cryopreservation of spermatozoa. This is further complicated by harmful effects of hen's egg yolk (EY) as additive in extender. Purified low‐density lipoproteins (LDL) extracted from EY have been shown as beneficial over EY extender for long‐term semen storage in several species. This investigation explored use of LDL versus EY on semen quality and oxidative stress following freezing–thawing of spermatozoa. A total of 25 of 50 ejaculates based on biophysical parameters were selected for the experiment. After diluting with the Tris‐citrate‐glycerol (TCG) extender, each sample was split into three equal aliquots: Group I, control, EY; Group II and Group III contained 8% and 10% purified LDL, respectively. Frozen–thawed samples were evaluated for motility parameters (progressive, and in the bovine cervical mucus penetration test [BCMPT]), viability, sperm and nuclear abnormality, acrosome integrity, and enzymatic (leakage of intracellular contents) and biochemical (oxidative stress) profiles and in vitro fertility (IVF) assay. Study revealed a significant (p < .05) improvement in viability, sperm and nuclear abnormality, acrosome integrity, motility (progressive and in cervical mucus), cholesterol content, and reduction in the leakage of intracellular enzymes in Group II. Moreover, intactness of acrosome and biochemical membranes was protected significantly (p < .05) in addition to significant (p < .05) improvement in binding per cent and binding index in IVF assay in extender containing 8% LDL. These results demonstrate that although cryopreservation of mithun's spermatozoa in EY was comparable with other species, addition of 8% LDL holds a clear advantage over EY or 10% LDL.     

Biotransformation of tuna waste by co-fermentation into an aquafeed ingredient

Dried skipjack tuna ( Katsuwonus pelamis) waste (red meat, gills, viscera, fins, etc.) were mixed with 25% wheat flour and inoculated with a starter culture of Lactobacillus plantarum National Collection of Industrial Microorganisms (NCIM) 2912 (10⁸–10⁹ cells mL⁻¹) and Bacillus licheniformis MTCC 6824 (10⁷–10⁸ cells mL⁻¹). Changes in the nutritional quality (crude protein, crude fat, crude ash, crude fibre and nitrogen-free extract and aminoacids) were monitored during a fermentation period of 14 days. The proximate analysis showed significant changes in the composition of L. plantarum -fermented tuna (LPFT) and B. licheniformis -fermented tuna (BLFT) from the unfermented raw materials. Fermentation of tuna waste has resulted in a significant ( P <0.05) increase in the protein content of tuna waste between days 6 and 12. All the amino acid contents in BLFT increased during fermentation, whereas, in LPFT the levels of serine, histidine, tyrosine, methionine, cystine and phenylalanine contents were decreased. A marginal increase in calcium and phosphorus levels was recorded in the fermented products. The results of the study suggest that LPFT or BLFT can be used as a novel aquafeed ingredient for different fish species.