Organic zinc and copper supplementation on antioxidant protective mechanism and their correlation with sperm functional characteristics in goats

Trace minerals feeding had significant effects on sperm production and fertility with better absorption and proper utilization within the body for optimum reproductive function. Several studies have shown that more influenced trace elements in the diets of animals are copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn). Bucks showing deficiency of this mineral might affect the quality of semen production which in turn would affect the fertility. This experiment was thus designed to test the effects of organic Cu and Zn supplementation on antioxidants enzyme activities and sperm functional attributes in fresh semen of bucks. Forty bucks (n = 40, Aged 5 months) were assigned to ten groups of four animals in each group, supplemented (for a period of 8 months) with different levels of organic Zn: 20 mg (T2), 40 mg (T3) and 60 mg (T4), organic Cu: 12.5 mg (T5), 25 mg (T6), 37.5 mg (T7) and combined organic Zn and Cu: 20 + 12.5 mg (T8), 40 + 25 mg (T9), 60 + 37.5 mg (T10), respectively, per kg dry matter and no additional mineral diet (control; T1). One hundred and sixty semen samples were collected through electro‐ejaculator and analysed for sperm quantity, quality, acrosome intactness and plasma membrane integrity and correlated with the catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase enzyme activities in seminal plasma. The results indicated organic Cu and zinc supplemented bucks produced more sperm cells, had higher sperm concentrations, maintained higher (p < .01) sperm livability, plasma membrane and acrosome integrities, more motility and velocity. The increased antioxidant enzyme activities, reduced oxidative stress and lowered lipid peroxidation were positively correlated (p < .05) with the sperm functional attributes. In conclusion, organic Cu and Zn supplement to male goats showed protective roles against oxidative damage and maintained better fresh semen characteristics.     

Influence of in-house produced biochars on cracks and retained water during drying-wetting cycles: comparison between conventional plant,animal, and nano-biochars

Purpose

Biochars produced from different feedstocks (such as wood, pig manure) possess varying physical and chemical properties, which have influence on crack and evaporation rate of biochar-amended soil (BAS). Furthermore, influence of compaction state and drying-wetting cycles on evaporation rate and cracking of BAS has not been investigated comprehensively. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of biochar types, compaction state of BAS, and drying-wetting cycles on crack propagation and retained water (or evaporation rate).

Material and methods

An animal and plant feedstock-based biochars were produced in-house from pig manure (PM) and wood (W), respectively. In addition, nano structured chalk and wheat biochar (CWB) were also produced. Soil amended with individual biochars was compacted in petri-glass discs at two densities. Disc specimens were subjected to multiple drying-wetting cycles, and evaporation rate of specimens and crack area were monitored throughout the experimental period (70 days). Images were captured after every 24 h and processed using image processing technique to obtain the crack intensity factor (CIF).

Results and discussion

The results show that plant-based W BAS showed the high water retention, i.e., low evaporation rate and low CIF. Furthermore, the crack potential of CW BAS was seen to be higher. In dense compacted soil, maximum CIF% can be reduced from 3.9 to 0.4% for W BAS, from 3.9 to 1.7% for PM BAS, and from 3.9 to 1.6% for CW BAS.

Conclusion

WB was able to resist cracking more efficiently than other types of biochar. Evaporation was found to be minimal for plant-based W BAS at 10% biochar percentage. Higher biochar content in soil was seen to increase the water retention of BAS significantly. Dense state of BAS at high biochar content (i.e., 10%) was effective in reducing evaporation rate and crack progression.

     

Evaluation of purgative activity of roots of Rumex nepalensis

The methanol extract of Rumex nepalensis Spreng. roots at the oral dose of 100-400 mg/kg exhibited significant and dose-dependent purgative activity.     

Foliar traits of jasmine plants intercropped in coconut

Shade is one of the important limiting factors in intercropped agro-ecosystems. Objective of this work is to analyze the role of eight foliar traits of juvenile plants of five different species of Jasminum grown under coconut shade. The results reveal the shade tolerant J. pubescence to produce more number of nodes and longer shoots in all the three seasons studied. J. grandiflorum produced longer leaves and internodal distance than other species tested. Winter season shoots were longer with more number of nodes and longer internodal distances than rainy season. Results are discussed in relation to the adaptive behavior of plants to shade.     

Insecticidal fatty acids and triglycerides from Dirca palustris.

Five compounds, 1-5, were isolated from the seed hexane extract of Dirca palustris. Compounds 1-3 were triglycerides, and 4 and 5 were linoleic and oleic acids, respectively. Compounds 1-3 were not biologically active; however, 4 (linoleic acid) and 5 (oleic acid) were insecticidal against fourth instar Aedes aegyptii larvae and exhibited potent feeding deterrent activity against neonate larvae of Helicoverpa zea, Lymantria dispar, Orgyia leucostigma, and Malacosoma disstria.     

Evaluation of two Indian native chicken breeds for reproduction traits and heritability of juvenile growth traits

The present study was conducted to evaluate two Indian native chicken breeds, namely, Aseel and Kadaknath for fertility, hatchability, genetic parameters of juvenile growth traits, and semen quality traits at the onset of sexual maturity. The fertility was similar in Aseel (86.96%) and Kadaknath (85.15%); however, a relatively higher hatchability was observed in Kadaknath (77.94%) than Aseel (70.74%). Heritability estimates of body weights at 4 weeks of age were almost similar in Aseel (0.37) and Kadaknath (0.39), while the estimate of body weight at 6 weeks of age was higher in Aseel (0.42) than Kadaknath (0.31). The heritability estimate of shank length at 6 weeks of age was lower in Aseel (0.16) compared to Kadaknath (0.35). The age at first egg in the flock was comparable in Aseel (148 days) and Kadaknath (150 days). Aseel breed with significantly (P ≤ 0.001) higher body weight, absolute and relative testes weights had significantly higher semen volume (P ≤ 0.05) and sperm motility (P ≤ 0.01) but had lower seminal plasma cholesterol level (P ≤ 0.05) as compared to Kadaknath. It can be concluded that there is a scope for genetic improvement of these two native breeds for juvenile growth traits since heritability estimates of these traits were relatively high.     

Genetic survey of 10 Indian coconut landraces by simple sequence repeats (SSRs)

A rich genetic diversity of coconut exists in farmer's fields, which represent valuable genetic resource for breeding. The study was conducted to assess the pattern of diversity in 102 coconut palms representing 10 landraces from 3 coconut-growing communities of India using 14 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. A total of 90 alleles were detected with an average of 6.42 alleles per locus and an average polymorphism information content of 0.61. Expected heterozygosity (H_e) was highest for the two tall landraces from Pallikkara community, while the least heterozygosity was observed for the dwarf coconut landraces from Vayalar community. Mean fixation index (F_ST) of 0.42 indicates a high level of population differentiation. A low gene flow (N_m) of 0.37 was observed. Based on molecular data, genetic similarities were calculated. The unweighted pair group method with arithmetic averages (UPGMA) cluster analysis grouped the landraces according to their geographical locations and breeding behaviour. The practical implications of this study in farmer participatory evaluation and conservation of coconut genetic resources are highlighted.     

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.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Morinda citrifolia</Emphasis> L. (Rubiaceae): a multi-purpose tree for coastal ecosystems and its variability in Konkan region of India

Noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) or Indian mulberry is an evergreen tree species of coastal tropics and has several uses as herbal medicine, cosmetic, vegetable, animal feed, dye and timber. It is a storehouse of useful phytochemicals including caprylic acid, damnacanthal, lineolic acid, morindine, octonic acid and xeronine. The species is hardy, tolerant to shade and salinity hence suitable for marginal lands of tropical coastal ecosystem. Nineteen accessions of noni were collected across the Konkan coast of Goa and Maharashtra states of western India. They are conserved in Indian National Gene Bank assigned with national identity as indigenous collection (IC) numbers viz., IC 0595272 to IC 0595277; IC 0598228 to IC 0598231; IC 0598515 to IC 0598516; IC 0598232 to IC 0598235; IC 0612951 to IC 0612953. The field grown germplasm accessions were characterised using quantitative traits of stem, leaf, flower, fruit and seeds. High degree of variation was recorded for fruit weight and number of seeds per fruit. The results are discussed in the light of evolution, dispersal and utilization. This report aims to summarize the various reports on uses, composition of phytochemcials, and diversity of noni to harness its utilization by increasing human inhabitants in tropical coastal lands.     

Quantification of Dry-Matter Accumulation and Nutrient Uptake Pattern of Short Day Onion (Allium cepa L.)

Understanding the physiology of dry-matter accumulation and nutrient uptake pattern of an onion crop is an essential criteria for optimizing fertilizer practices. An experiment was conducted to estimate the dry-matter accumulation and nutrient uptake pattern of short day onion. The dry-matter accumulation and nutrient uptake followed the sigmoid growth curve pattern. Uptake of nitrogen and potassium was slow for the first 15 days followed by rapid uptake from 15 to 60 days after transplanting and accounted for 76.2–78.2% of total uptake. Takeup of phosphorus, sulfur, manganese, zinc, and copper uptake was greater during 30 to 75 days after transplanting and accounted for 64.9–70.6% of total uptake. The deficiency of nutrients during these period reduces the crop yield significantly. The dry-matter accumulation and nutrient-uptake pattern reported in this study provide an opportunity for optimizing quantity and timing of nutrient application through fertilizers for short day onions.