An evaluation of furrows for managing soil and water loss from a shallow Alfisol under simulated rainfall

Furrows are widely used in rainfed areas of semi-arid India for soil and water conservation. The orientation of furrows, either down or across slope, and their spacing influence the effectiveness of furrows as soil and water conservation measures. We evaluated treatments with furrows aligned down and across 3% sloping land at spacings of 90, 60 and 30 cm under simulated rainfall intensities of 80 and 100 mm/h on a shallow Alfisol. A bare plot without any furrows was considered as a control. A large (24 m × 3 m) rainfall simulator developed at the Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), Hyderabad, was used for this controlled study. Run-off was measured by a calibrated tipping bucket run-off recorder. The effects of the treatments on peak flow rate (L/s), sediment loss with run-off water (kg/ha/mm), peak sediment concentration (g/L), run-off (per cent rainfall) and time to peak (min) were investigated. When compared with the control (no furrows), across slope furrowing with 60- and 30-cm spacing reduced sediment yields by 19.9 and 21.3 kg/ha/mm of run-off, respectively, under a rainfall intensity of 80 mm/h and 24 and 25.3 kg/ha/mm of run-off, respectively, under a rainfall intensity of 100 mm/h. For the control, sediment loss was 50.72 kg/ha/mm run-off and 56.68 kg/ha/mm run-off for rainfall intensities of 80 and 100 mm/h, respectively. Similar trends were recorded from observations of peak flow, time to peak and peak sediment concentration. Run-off hydrographs demonstrated the conservation value of across slope furrowing by delaying run-off initiation, reducing run-off and slowly releasing the run-off after the cessation of rainfall. The results show that furrow orientation has major effects on reducing run-off, whereas furrow spacing has insignificant effects.     

Antiradical properties of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) flour extracts

Epidemiological studies support the belief that whole grains are protective against several chronic diseases. The health benefits of whole grains are attributed in part to their unique phytochemical composition. Major phytochemicals in grains include various classes of phenolic compounds, flavonoids and coumarin derivatives, etc. Phenolic compounds present in grains possess antioxidant properties that are associated with the health benefits of grains and grain products. Sorghum is one of the main staple cereal grains in hot dry tropics and ranks fifth among cereal crops in the world. Although sorghum is rich in phenolics and tannins which are proven anticancer and cardioprotective constituents, human consumption of sorghum is limited. To our knowledge, there is limited literature on the profile of antioxidant phytochemicals in the local white variety of sorghum. Hence, the objective of this study was to investigate the antioxidant property of white sorghum flour extracts in vitro and also to identify the fractions responsible for the antioxidant activity. In the present study, we analyzed the antioxidative properties of various extracts (water, 60% methanol, 60% ethanol, and 60% t-butanol) of white sorghum flour employing the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) model system. Phenolics, antiradical and antioxidant activities were also examined in chromatographic sub-fractions of the soxhlet methanolic extract. Our results indicated that the various extracts exhibited significant antioxidant activity that did not correlate with the phenolic content. Further, two sub-fractions eluted with methanol and acetone/methanol were found to possess strong antioxidant activity in two assay systems. Our results suggest that a diet rich in sorghum may be useful in combating diseases in which free radical production plays a key role.     

Potential of Azotobacter spp. as biocontrol agents against Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium oxysporum in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) and tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum)

During the current investigation, 51 bacterial isolates/mutants of Azotobacter chroococcum, Azospirillum spp. and Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus were tested for antifungal activity against three fungal pathogens, namely Rhizoctonia solani cotton, Rhizoctonia solani rice and Fusarium oxysporum tomato using a dual-culture technique under laboratory conditions. Ten isolates/mutants were found to be inhibitory against R. solani cotton, six against R. solani rice and twelve against F. oxysporum tomato. Nearly 50% of the isolates/mutants were siderophore positive. The antimicrobial substance was found to be extracellular and proteinaceous in nature, but in some strains it was found to be associated with other complex material also. Almost all the positive isolates/mutants showed production of antibiotic and antifungal compounds. On the basis of this study, in vitro results under laboratory conditions were reproduced in pot experiments in the greenhouse and chosen isolates/mutants of A. chroococcum were found to be effective biocontrol agents against R. solani cotton (disease index 16.7%) and R. solani rice (2.5%) in cotton crop, whereas in guar, the crop disease index was 2.5% against R. solani cotton, 13.3% against R. solani rice and 0% against F. oxysporum tomato in tomato crop compared with their respective checks.     

Morphological parameters and genetic diversity of progenies from seed production areas and unimproved stands of teak (Tectona grandis L.f.) in India

We compared morphological and genetic attributes of prog-eny obtained from three seed production areas (SPAs) and three corre-sponding unimproved stands (UIS) of teak (Tectona grandis L.f) at three bro...     

Dimethoate induced biochemical perturbations in rat pancreas and its attenuation by cashew nut skin extract

The significant antiradical activity of cashew skin extract was previously described. In this investigation, the extent of protection offered by cashew nut skin extract (CSE) against the damage induced in rat pancreas by sub chronic doses dimethoate (DM), an organophosphorous pesticide was studied. Rats were supplemented with CSE at 20 mg/kg b.w./d after a daily dose of DM at 40 mg/kg/d b.w. for 2 months. Weekly random blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT); pancreatic damage markers like amylase and lipase; oxidative damage markers such as reactive oxygen species generated, extent of lipid peroxidation, host antioxidant defenses like reduced glutathione (GSH); GSH-dependent enzyme activities viz., glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR); free radical scavenger enzymes viz., catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD); xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes like DT-diaphorase and NADPH-diaphorase were measured in the four different groups namely (1) control, (2) DM treated, (3) CSE supplemented, (4) CSE supplements following DM treatment. Random blood glucose levels increased significantly on exposure to DM compared to that in control rats (119 ± 5 mg/dl vs. 92 ± 4 mg/dl), while the blood glucose levels in CSE supplemented rats were comparable to that of controls. DM treated rats exhibited impaired glucose tolerance at the end of two months as indicated by OGTT, while DM treated rats with CSE supplements showed normal glucose tolerance. Pancreatic specific marker enzymes like amylase and lipase in serum were restored to normalcy in rats supplemented with CSE following treatment with DM which otherwise was increased in the DM treated rats. Distinctly lower levels of GSH, increased levels of ROS, higher extent of lipid peroxidation, along with alterations in antioxidant enzymes and increase in xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes were evident in pancreas of DM treated rats. However, CSE supplement ameliorated the biochemical alterations in the pancreatic milieu in DM treated rats. Treatment with CSE significantly protected rat pancreas from injury, thus ameliorating and restoring tissue antioxidant status and also conferring normal glucose tolerance. The active components present in cashew skin extract can perhaps be effective in reducing the extent of pancreatic injury and in overcoming tissue damage caused by exposure to dimethoate.     

Hydrothermal and biotechnological treatments on nutraceutical content and antioxidant activity of rice bran

The effect of processing such as steaming, germination and parboiling on nutraceuticals and in vitro bioactive properties of rice bran from three different rice varieties namely Jyothi (pigmented), IR64 and Sona masuri (non-pigmented) were investigated. Within the varieties envisaged, pigmented Jyothi variety contained higher levels of vitamin E, soluble, bound and total polyphenol, flavanoids, free radical scavenging activity and total antioxidant activity. Direct steam exposure of bran resulted in an increase in, ether extractives and oryzanol, as well as retention of all the vitamin E components, bound polyphenols, flavonoids and decrease in soluble and total polyphenol content, free radical scavenging activity and total antioxidant activity compared to native. Parboiling as well as germination of paddy resulted in an increase, in the content of ether extractives and oryzanol, whereas other bioactive properties decreased compared to native. Hence it may be concluded that bioactive components and antioxidant properties were significantly higher in Jyothi bran compared to the other two paddy brans, and processing leads to changes in bioactive properties with maximum retention of bioactive components in the steamed bran.     

Diversity in Phytochemical Composition and Antioxidant Capacity of Dent,Flint, and Specialty Corns

Dent, flint, and specialty genotypes of Indian yellow maize were evaluated for phytochemical content and their hydrophilic antioxidant capacity. Solid‐phase extraction coupled with solid–liquid extraction was used to obtain free phenolics and flavonoids from maize samples, reducing the use of excessive solvents and handling time. Bound phenolics were extracted with enhanced acidic hydrolysis to improve extractability. The phenolic contents in Indian maize genotypes ranged from 46 to 79 μmol of ferulic acid equivalents per gram of sample on a dry basis (db). Carotenoids in Indian maize genotypes were found to be equivalent to Chinese yellow maize and ranged from 13 to 24 μg/g of sample (db), whereas tocol content varied greatly in the range of 607–1,238 μg of α‐tocopherol equivalents/g of sample (db). Dent and flint corn did not exhibit differences (P > 0.05) in their phenolic contents, whereas among the specialty genotypes sweet corn contained the highest phenolics but least carotenoids (P < 0.05). Bound extracts appeared to contribute largely to 2,2′‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, and ferric reducing antioxidant power of maize genotypes. Sweet corn exhibited higher antioxidant capacity (P < 0.05) among all the genotypes. The antioxidant capacities correlated well with the total phenolic contents of the maize genotypes.     

Biochemical Composition of Pulp and Seed of Wild Jack (Artocarpus hirsutus Lam.) Fruit

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - Wild jack (Artocarpus hirsutus Lam.) is an endemic perennial tree of Western Ghats of India. Wild jack, a timber purpose tree, is distributed in several Kaan...     

Dysoxylum binectariferum Hook.f (Meliaceae), a rich source of rohitukine

Rohitukine, a chromane alkaloid, is a precursor of flavopiridol, a promising anti-cancer compound. Currently in Phase III clinical trials, flavopiridol is a potent inhibitor of several cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs). Rohitukine was first reported from Amoora rohituka (0.083% dry weight) followed by that in Dysoxylum binectariferum (0.9% dry weight), both belonging to the family Meliaceae. Here, we report incredibly high yields of rohitukine (7% dry weight) in trees of D. binectariferum from the Western Ghats, India. Crude extracts of the tree were found to be highly effective against ovarian and breast cancer lines tested.