Morpho-Physiological Responses of Grape Rootstock ‘Dogridge’ to Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Inoculation Under Salinity Stress

Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) alone or in combination with bacterial consortium (AMF+BC) inoculation prior to induced salinity (NaCl @ 150 or 250 mM) were studied on root growth; plant biomass; leaf area; Na⁺ and K⁺ contents; leaf water potential (Ψ_w); osmotic potential (Ψ_π); photosynthesis rate (P_n); and contents of chlorophyll, phytohormones, and polyamines in the grape rootstock ‘Dogridge’, popular among Indian vine growers. AMF inoculation in the NaCl untreated rootstocks plants increased root growth, root and shoot biomass, and leaf area and improved leaf Ψ_w, Ψ_π, P_n, and chlorophyll content, and also countered the stress-induced decline in the NaCl treated plants. The abscisic acid (ABA), cytokinins, and polyamine-spermidine and spermine contents in the leaves of NaCl untreated or treated were significantly increased by the AMF inoculation. Among the treatments, AMF with BC was relatively more effective than AMF alone with respect to changes in above morpho-physiological characters. The results depicted that AMF (AMF alone or AMF+BC) inoculation significantly improved salinity tolerance of grape rootstock and tolerance is induced by improvements in plant water balance, K⁺:Na⁺ ratio, and P_n, besides distinct accumulations in ABA and polyamines-spermine and spermidine. The above findings have potential in suggesting the AMF usefulness in improving the efficacy of ‘Dogridge’ rootstock in grape cultivation under salt affected soils.     

Assessment of suitability of two serotype A candidate vaccine strains for inclusion in FMD vaccine in India

The recent type A foot and mouth disease virus field isolates recovered in India are shown to be antigenically quite divergent from the in-use vaccine strain (IND 17/82), warranting the selection of a suitable vaccine strain which can cover this diversity in antigenic spectrum. In earlier studies employing neutralization test with anti-146S rabbit sera raised against eight candidate vaccine strains, IND 81/00 and IND 40/00 belonging to genotype VII were found to offer the best antigenic coverage. In order to assess the credibility of IND 81/00 and IND 40/00 as vaccine strains, 17 recent isolates received during 2005-2006 and representative isolates from older genotypes were subjected to two-dimensional micro-neutralization assay using bovine convalescent serum (against IND 81/00 and IND 40/00) and bovine vaccinate serum (against IND 40/00). From the results it is evident that both the isolates IND 81/00 (antigenic relationship 'r-value' >0.40 with 86% of isolates) and IND 40/00 ('r-value' >0.40 with 78% of isolates) show nearly equal antigenic relatedness with the recent field viruses and hence both of these are effective vaccine candidates in present context. Though very limited in its extent, these useful data obtained with antisera raised in homologous host system are logical extension of the on going quest for the appropriate vaccine strain and circumvents species disparities in the immune recognition of epitopes.     

Rice straw recycling: A sustainable approach for ensuring environmental quality and economic security

One of the major challenges in Asian countries is the effective management of rice straw. To ensure food security for their ever-growing population, Asian countries grow more rice, leading to increasing rice straw generation. Burning of rice straw, a common practice, is detrimental to both environmental and human health. However, if managed effectively, rice straw has the potential to safeguard the sustainability of agricultural ecosystems and to uplift the economic security of the population de...     

Effects of liquid seaweed extracts in improving the agronomic performance of foxtail millet

Abstract

In recent decades, chemical fertilizers create a thread to organic agriculture and food security. To overcome this issue, the present study aimed to investigate the influence of liquid seaweed extracts (LSEs) prepared from Padina boergesenii (PB) and Gracilaria edulis (GE) on growth, development, biochemical characteristics and yield traits of foxtail millet. The various concentrations of individual (20, 40, 60, and 80%; v/v) and combined (10?+?10, 20?+?20, 30?+?30, and 40?+?40%; v/v) PB and GE LSEs were supplied through foliar spray method. The results imply that germination bioassays, vegetative plant growth were significantly increased in lower concentration of LSEs. Further, exposure of foxtail plants to combined foliar spray application of (20?+?20%; v/v) LSEs enriched photosynthetic pigments, total soluble sugar and total soluble protein, compared with single LSEs and control foliar spray methods. Additionally, LSEs enhanced the yield attributes such as the average number of seeds (971.5/panicle) and mean length of panicle (18.4?cm) in PB?+?GE LSEs (20?+?20%; v/v) treatment. This is the first report, to assess the synergistic biostimulant ability of PB and GE LSEs in plant growth, quality improvement and yield attributes of foxtail millet. In conclusion, this present study suggests that combination of PB?+?GE LSEs foliar spray application could serve as an ideal biostimulant and a potential alternate to hazards chemical fertilizer in the green agriculture.     

Articulating beneficial rhizobacteria-mediated plant defenses through induced systemic resistance: A review

Induced systemic resistance (ISR) is a mechanism by which certain plant beneficial rhizobacteria and fungi produce immunity, which can stimulate crop growth and resilience against various phytopathogens, insects, and parasites. These beneficial rhizobacteria and fungi improve plant performance by regulating hormone signaling, including salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), prosystemin, pathogenesis-related gene 1, and ethylene (ET) pathways,which activate the gene expression of ISR, the synth...     

Preservation of kombucha tea-effect of temperature on tea components and free radical scavenging properties

Kombucha tea is sugared black tea fermented with a consortium of acetic acid bacteria and yeasts (tea fungus) for 14 days. The tea tastes slightly sweet and acidic. The formation of tea fungal biofilms during storage is a big problem when kombucha tea is being stored and commercialized. Various thermal treatments have been tried for long-term storage of kombucha tea. The present study revealed the influence of heat on the biochemical constituents and the free radical scavenging properties of kombucha tea. Heat treatment at 60, 65, and 68 degrees C for 1 min controlled biofilm formation in kombucha tea without changing its clarity, taste, and flavor. However, tea polyphenols and black tea quality parameters showed varying stability during the storage period. A decrease in free radical scavenging properties was also found during the storage period. Because the biological activities of kombucha tea depended on the biochemical constituents, it was concluded that heat treatment was not a suitable method for kombucha tea preservation.     

Water Quality Index and Absorption of Zinc from Electroplating Industry Effluent Using Fungi

The present study deals with the Water Quality Index （WQI） and absorption of zinc from electroplating industry effluent using ftmgi. The physico-chemical parameters such as EC （Electrical Conductivity）, TDS （Total Dissolved Solids）, total hardness, magnesium, calcium, chloride, sodium, potassium, nickel, chromium and zinc content was above the permissible limits of BIS （Bureau of Indian Standards）. The WQI was 13, which showed that the pollution level of the electroplating industry effluent was severe in the rating scale and the effluent was not suitable for disposal without treatment. Three fungal species such as Aspergillus niger, Peinicillium chrysogenum and Rhizopus nigricans were used for absorption studies. Different concentrations （25, 50, 75 and 100%） of electroplating industry effluent along with 1 gm of fungal mycelium with （1%） and without carbon source was incubated in a shaker for a period of 7 days in order to observe zinc absorption capacity. The absorption capacity of zinc was found to be higher in Aspergillus niger followed by Rhizopus nigricans and Penicillium chrysogenum. Among the three fungal species Aspergillus niger had high （50%） potential of zinc absorption with carbon source and low concentration （25%） of electroplating industry effluent.     

Actinobacteria-enhanced plant growth, nutrient acquisition, and crop protection: Advances in soil, plant, and microbial multifactorial interactions

Agricultural areas of land are deteriorating every day owing to population increase, rapid urbanization, and industrialization. To feed today’s huge populations, increased crop production is required from smaller areas, which warrants the continuous application of high doses of inorganic fertilizers to agricultural land. These cause damage to soil health and, therefore, nutrient imbalance conditions in arable soils. Under these conditions, the benefits of microbial inoculants (such as Actinobacteria) as replacements for harmful chemicals and promoting ecofriendly sustainable farming practices have been made clear through recent technological advances. There are multifunctional traits involved in the production of different types of bioactive compounds responsible for plant growth promotion, and the biocontrol of phytopathogens has reduced the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. There are some well-known groups of nitrogen-fixing Actinobacteria, such as Frankia, which undergo mutualism with plants and offer enhanced symbiotic trade-offs.In addition to nitrogen fixation, increasing availability of major plant nutrients in soil due to the solubilization of immobilized forms of phosphorus and potassium compounds, production of phytohormones, such as indole-3-acetic acid, indole-3-pyruvic acid, gibberellins, and cytokinins, improving organic matter decomposition by releasing cellulases, xylanase, glucanases, lipases, and proteases, and suppression of soil-borne pathogens by the production of siderophores, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, and chitinase are important features of Actinobacteria useful for combating biotic and abiotic stresses in plants.The positive influence of Actinobacteria on soil fertility and plant health has motivated us to compile this review of important findings associated with sustaining plant productivity in the long run.     

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) plant protection using dual biological control and plant growth-promoting agents: Current scenarios and future prospects

Various microorganisms live in association with different parts of plants and can be harmful, neutral, or beneficial to plant health. Some microbial inhabitants of plants can control plant diseases by contesting with, predating on, or antagonizing plant pathogens and by inducing systems for plant defense. A range of methods, including plant growth-promoting microorganisms(PGPMs) as biological control agents(BCAs)(BCA-PGPMs) are used for the biological management and control of plant pathogens. S...