Rheological properties of pasta dough during pasta extrusion: Effect of moisture and dough formulation

A study was conducted to investigate the effect of dough formulation and hydration level on the rheological properties of pasta dough during pasta extrusion. Semolina 100%, whole wheat 100%, and the following mixtures semolina-whole wheat (49:51), semolina-flaxseed flour (90:10), whole wheat-flaxseed flour (90:10), and semolina-whole wheat-flaxseed flour (39:51:10) were the formulations used for the experiments. Dough was hydrated at 30, 32, and 34% moisture content. Pasta was extruded with a capillary and a semi-commercial pasta extruder to determine the apparent viscosity of the dough during extrusion conditions and its relationship to the behavior of the dough during pasta processing. Results showed that non-traditional pasta dough behaved like a shear thinning fluid that can be described by the Power Law model. Increased hydration levels and/or presence of flaxseed flour on the dough formulation decreased the apparent viscosity of the dough, which correlated with extrusion pressure, mechanical energy, and specific mechanical energy that were required to extrude the dough in the pasta extruder. The strong correlations found between the apparent viscosity of the dough and the pasta extrusion parameters indicates the possibility of using a capillary rheometer to determine the appropriate hydration level of ingredient formulations before extruding with a pasta press.     

Prevalence of brucellosis and infectious bovine rhinotracheitis in organized dairy farms in India

This study was carried out to investigate the prevalence of bovine brucellosis and infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) in organized dairy farms with history of abortion in India. ELISA and Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) were used to detect the seropositive animals and the test results indicated that 22.18% and 13.78% animals were declared as sero-positive by ELISA and RBPT, respectively. Milk Ring Test (MRT) was carried out only in one farm and 12.82% of the tested animals were turned positive. Culture examination analysis of milk samples, two animals revealed the presence of organisms indistinguishable from Brucella spp. The organism was confirmed as brucella by morphological characteristics and biochemical tests. An overall sero-prevalence of antibodies against IBR was found to be 60.84%. None of the genital and nasal swab samples was found to be positive for presence of bovine herpesvirus -1 (BHV-1) on repeated passage in Madin-Darby Bovine Kidney (MDBK) cell lines. Brucella and IBR considered as the causal agent for abortions in these farms. The present study indicates the urgent need and the necessity for control of these infectious diseases which cause heavy economic losses to the organized farms.     

Harnessing Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria Beyond Nature: A Review

Root-associated plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) interact with the plant roots and influence plant health and soil fertility. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria play an important role in plant growth by exerting various mechanisms such as biological nitrogen fixation, growth hormone production, phosphate solubilization, siderophore production, hydrolytic enzyme production, antagonistic activity against fungal pathogens etc. Hence, these are employed as inoculants for biofertilizer and biocontrol activities. This review summarizes various mechanisms of PGPR and their potential for use as inoculants. It shows that their use is a worthwhile approach for exploring disease management in conjunction with other strategies.     

Analysis of association between various fertility indicators and production traits in Mehsana buffaloes

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Female fertility in domestic animals in India has exhaustively suffered owing to indiscriminate breeding with single objective of increasing milk production....     

Potential use of karanjin (3-methoxy furano-2′,3′,7,8-flavone) as a nitrification inhibitor in different soil types

Karanjin, a furanoflavonoid (3-methoxy furano –?2 ′ , 3 ′ , 7, 8-flavone), is obtained from the seeds of karanja tree (Pongamia glabra Vent.), which is reported to have nitrification inhibitory properties but has been tested in few soil types. Efficiency of karanjin as a nitrification inhibitor in seven different soils of India was tested in a laboratory incubation study. The soils (800?g) were adjusted to field capacity moisture content, fertilized with urea and urea combined with karanjin at a rate of 20% of applied urea-N (100?mg?kg^???1 soil) and incubated at 35°C for a period of 7 weeks, during which urea [CO(NH₂)₂], ammonium (NH₄ ^?+?), nitrite (NO₂ ^???) and nitrate (NO₃ ^???) content in the soils was measured periodically and nitrification inhibition at different stages was calculated. Urea hydrolysis was almost complete within 72?h of application in all the soils and was not affected by karanjin. Karanjin had conserved ammonium in all the soils at all stages and nitrate formation was effectively minimized. Nitrite in soils was short-lived and low. Nitrification inhibition by karanjin remained high for a period of approximately 6 weeks, decreased with time and ranged from 9?–?76% for all the soils. The study shows that this plant product can be an effective nitrification inhibitor in several types of soil.     

Enhancement in growth and quality parameters of tea [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze] through inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in an acid soil

The present study was undertaken to determine the effect of inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) from natural and cultivated tea rhizospheres (NTR and CTR, respectively) on growth as well as on quality parameters of tea [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze]. Seeds (after germination) and cuttings were inoculated with AMF consortia from NTR and CTR in non-sterilized acid soil (pH 5.0). Seedlings and cuttings were grown under net-house conditions and the data on growth and quality parameters were recorded up to 2 years. Tea plants were found to be highly colonized by AMF (74–83%) after 1 year. The significant increase in most of the growth parameters (root/shoot length, dry weight; r/s ratio) was recorded in AMF-treated plants, which also showed better tea quality parameters than noninoculated plants. Maximum significant increases up to 31% and 100%, over control, were recorded in amino acids and total protein content, respectively. Similarly, maximum increase in total polyphenols (15%) and caffeine content (34%) over control was also significant. Enhanced sugar content (maximum 16% in total soluble sugars, maximum 45% in reducing sugars, and maximum 69% in non-reducing sugars) was recorded in AMF-inoculated plants. In most cases, better response was observed in tea plants inoculated with AMF consortia from NTR. These results indicate that growth and quality of tea can be improved by AMF inoculations in acid soils.     

Pseudomonas corrugata: A suitable bacterial inoculant for maize grown under rainfed conditions of Himalayan region

Colonization and survival of the inoculated bacteria in rhizosphere of maize were investigated in field and pot experiments conducted for 3 consecutive years under rainfed conditions of Himalayan region. The effect of bacterial inoculations on growth and yield related parameters of maize were also evaluated. While three bacterial species, viz. Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas corrugata were tested in 1st year experiments, P. corrugata (based on the 1st year results) was chosen for inoculation in the subsequent experiments. All the three bacterial inoculants showed good rhizosphere competence giving high inoculum numbers (log₁₀ 11.13-11.34 cfu g⁻¹). The bacterial inoculations by B. megaterium, B. subtilis and P. corrugata resulted in an increment in grain yield of maize up to 122.4%, 135.2% and 194.3%, respectively, as compared to respective control. In 1st year, the antibiotic marked (Nal^r Rif^r) inoculant P. corrugata resulted in the highest increase in grain yield, statistically significant (P<0.05) as compared to control, B. megaterium and B. subtilis. In 2nd and 3rd year experiments, P. corrugata increased the grain yield up to 147.28% and 149.93%, respectively, as compared to control. The best performance and consistent trend of P. corrugata to increase plant yields was credited to its initial isolation from rhizosphere of maize growing under temperate conditions. The overall beneficial effects of bacterial inoculations on maize were contributed to (1) the colonization and survival of the introduced bacteria, and (2) stimulation of the indigenous microflora in the rhizosphere. Based on the comprehensive results obtained in this study, P. corrugata may be recommended as suitable bioinoculant for maize fields of temperate climate grown under rainfed conditions.