Yield components,light interception and marker compound accumulation of stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) affected by planting material and plant density under western Himalayan conditions

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of planting material and plant density on stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) under western Himalayan conditions during 2011 and 2012. The experiment conducted in a split plot design consisted of two types of planting material (rooted slips and fresh seedlings) in the main plot and five inter- and intra-row spacing in subplots with three replications. Yield attributes and dry leaf biomass yield of stevia were not affected by the type of planting material; however, plant density significantly influenced the yield attributes and leaf and stem dry biomass. Although the wider spacing (60 × 45 cm) gave more leaves, higher leaf area index, higher leaf dry mass per plant as compared to closer spacing, it resulted in lower values of these attributes per unit area. Plants spaced in 30 × 30 cm accumulated 41.2% and 42.8% more total biomass than 60 × 45 cm. Steviol glycoside content did not change due to different planting materials and plant densities; however, closer plant spacing (30 × 30 cm) recorded 114.8% and 70.0% higher steviol glycoside accumulation compared to wider row spacing (60 × 45 cm) in 2011 and 2012, respectively.     

Seed Maturation Indicators in Pyracantha crenulata Roxb. in Kumaun Central Himalaya

Fruits of Pyracantha crenulata were collected from two locations varying by approximately 550 m in elevation from south aspect for assessing seed maturation indicators. The mean seed size (length×diameter) across the collection dates varied between 1.61 ± 0.7 and 4.93 ± 0.06 mm² across both the locations. The seed moisture content negatively correlated with germination. The change in fruit colour from dark green to light orange, the range of fruit moisture content (30.43% ± 0.06 to 36.10% ± 0.25) and the seed moisture content between 68.8% ± 0.68 and 71.6 ± 0.62 coincided with maximum germination and appear to be major indicators of seed maturation in Pyracantha crenulata.     

Treatment of wheat straw using tannase and white-rot fungus to improve feed utilization by ruminants

Background

Current research to enrich cattle feed has primarily focused on treatment using white rot fungi, while there are scarce reports using the enzyme tannase, which is discussed only in reviews or in the form of a hypothesis. In this context, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of tannase on wheat straw (WS) and also the effect of lyophilized tannase at concentrations of 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3% (w/w) on WS followed by fermentation with Ganoderma sp. for 10 d and compared in relation to biochemical parameters, crude protein (CP) content, and nutritional value by calculating the C/N ratio in order to improve the nutritional value of cattle feed.

Results

Penicillium charlesii, a tannase-producing microorganism, produced 61.4 IU/mL of tannase in 54 h when 2% (w/v) tannic acid (TA) was initially used as a substrate in medium containing (% w/v) sucrose (1.0), NaNO₃ (1.0), and MgSO₄ (0.08 pH, 5.0) in a 300-L fermentor (working volume 220 L), and concomitantly fed with 1.0% (w/v) TA after 24 h. The yield of partially purified and lyophilized tannase was 5.8 IU/mg. The tannin-free myco-straw at 0.1% (w/w) tannase showed 37.8% (w/w) lignin degradation with only a 20.4% (w/w) decrease in cellulose content and the in vitro feed digestibility was 32.2%. An increase in CP content (up to 1.28-fold) along with a lower C/N ratio of 25.0%, as compared to myco-straw, was obtained.

Conclusions

The use of tannin-free myco-straw has potential to improve the nutritional content of cattle feed. This biological treatment process was safe, eco-friendly, easy to perform, and was less expensive as compared to other treatment methods.     

一氧化氮和繁殖控制

一氧化氮 (NO) ,被认为是动物体内重要的生物信使。NO是由 L -精氨酸在 NO合成酶的作用下合成的。NO合成酶在许多哺乳动物细胞中都有大量的同分异构体。近几年的研究结果表明 ,NO对繁殖功能的许多方面都有很大的影响。NO可控制下丘脑和垂体水平上的促性腺激素的分泌、LH峰的机制、性行为、性激素的合成、卵泡存活和排卵。本文对 NO控制下丘脑 -垂体 -性腺轴的关键分子机理进行综述     

Soil Chemical and Biological Activities under Vegetable Intensive Colocasia-based Cropping System in Indian Sub-Himalayas

ABSTRACT

Lack of crop diversification with suitable vegetable-based cropping system is a major constraint in limiting the productivity and sustainability of north-western Indian sub-Himalayas. To find out a sustainable vegetable-based cropping system in this region, a three year colocasia-based vegetable intensive experiment was conducted at Hawalbagh, Almora, India in a sandy clay loam soil under sub-temperate climatic conditions. Seven colocasia-based vegetable cropping systems along with rice–wheat system were compared under recommended package and practices. The system productivity in terms of colocasia equivalent yield was highest under colocasia–onion–frenchbean (52.38 Mg ha^?1) system. Sustainable yield index was highest with colocasia–gardenpea–frenchbean system (0.86). After 3 years, total soil organic carbon (0–5%), available N (2–22%), P (–7% to 14%) and K (3–15%) concentrations were increased in all cropping systems except rice–wheat system, where negative balance of available P (7%) was observed over that of initial soil. Significantly higher soil microbial activity, soil carbohydrate, dehydrogenase, protease, acid and alkaline phosphatases activity were observed under colocasia–onion system. The results suggest that colocasia–onion–frenchbean system with higher productivity improves soil fertility and enhances enzymatic activities.     

Minimum light intensity threshold to prevent negative effects on broiler production and welfare

1. Research focused on lower light intensity levels is required to set minimum standards appropriate for production and welfare of intensively housed broilers. The objective of this research was to study light intensity (0.1 to 10 lx) effects on Ross × Ross 308 and 708 genotypes.

2. Three experiments (35 d each) using 18 720 broilers were conducted with the initial experiment using two replicates of 0.1, 1, 5 and 10 lx. The second and third experiments examined 0.5, 1, 5 and 10 lx with treatments replicated twice in each experiment in a randomised complete block design with experiment acting as a block. In each experiment, mixed sex broilers from each genotype were housed in 6 equally sized pens per room.

3. In Experiment 1, the introduction of 0.1 lx at d 7 caused high levels of mortality and poor growth rate from d 7 to 14 and was discontinued.

4. In Experiments 2 and 3, increasing light intensity increased body weight gain (0–35 d) and feed intake (0–35 d) in a quadratic and linear fashion, respectively. Similarly, mortality corrected gain to feed ratio (FCR, 0–35 d) demonstrated a quadratic response with a maximum at 5 lx. Carcass, breast meat and skin, abdominal fat and drum skin, as a percentage of live weight, increased while drum bone and wing yield decreased in a linear fashion with increasing light intensity. Total carcass composition was unaffected by light intensity.

5. Genotype effects were numerous. No interactions were found between genotype and light intensity.

6. Ocular dimensions and the incidence of foot pad lesions decreased in a quadratic and linear fashion, respectively, with increasing light intensity. In contrast, welfare-associated gait score and mortality levels were not affected by light intensity.

7. It was concluded that performance, breast meat yield and bird welfare improved with increasing light intensity. The data support 5 lx as a minimum light intensity in broiler production.     

Development of the Nondestructive Leaf Area Estimation Model for Valeriana (Valeriana jatamansi Jones)

Leaf area (LA) is an important parameter related to plant growth and physiology. An allometric model was developed to estimate the LA of endangered medicinal plant Valeriana jatamansi using linear measurements such as leaf length (L) and width (W). LA and other leaf dimensions were measured using a laser leaf area meter. Leaves from seven accessions of valeriana were collected from the experimental site during 2015. Different regression models were developed between LA and other leaf components, viz. L, W, etc. The linear model having LW as an independent variable (y = 0.487 + 0.644 LW) provided the best estimation [coefficients of determination (R²) = 0.974, root mean square error (RMSE) = 2.222, coefficient of variation (CV) = 4.529]. Validation of the selected model showed a higher correlation between the actual leaf area (ALA) and the predicted leaf area (PLA) [R² = 0.956, RMSE = 2.310, CV = 5.319, predicted residual error sum of squares (PRESS) = 1067.352].     

The butter flavorant, diacetyl, forms a covalent adduct with 2-deoxyguanosine, uncoils DNA, and leads to cell death

Diacetyl (DA), a natural butter flavorant, is a causative agent for the lung disease obliterative bronchiolitis. Mutagenic properties of 1,2-dicarbonyls have previously been empirically linked to their possible interaction with DNA nucleobases. This study for the first time identifies chemically the adduct of DA with 2-deoxyguanosine. Selective reactivity of DA with 5'-TTTGTTTTT-3' over 5'-TTTTTTTTT-3' indicated its propensity to modify specifically the guanosine residue. Treatment of plasmid DNA, pBR322, with DA induced changes in electrophoretic mobility that are typical of ternary structure disruption. Such DNA nucleobase interaction of DA translated into increased apoptosis in DA-treated SH-SY5Y cells in a dose-dependent manner (IC(50) = 0.114 ± 0.0421 mM). The traditional carbonyl scavengers metformin, 2-thiobarbituric acid, and d-penicillamine protected cells from DA toxicity in proportion to their rates of reaction with DA, with d-penicillamine causing a maximal increase in the IC(50) to 5.23 ± 0.0992 mM when co-incubated with DA.     

The potential of small ruminant farming as a means of poverty alleviation in rural southern India

Small ruminant production has the potential to address the global challenge of greatly increased food production in impoverished rural areas in a manner that is socioeconomically sustainable and carbon efficient. Twenty-six small ruminant landless farmers in three villages in the Kanchipuram District of the state of Tamil Nadu were surveyed with regard to their sheep farming practice and production indices, with the preliminary aim of evaluating the potential of small ruminant farming in alleviating poverty in parts of rural in southern India. The small ruminant farmers reared mostly indigenous Madras Red sheep as a means of generating primary or supplementary income. Participatory interviews were undertaken to enable the completion of a questionnaire pertaining to sheep production over the four most recent annual production cycles (referred to as instances) at the time of the study. When calculating the annual farm profits without taking into consideration the opportunity cost of labour, 83% of annual sheep production cycles over a 4-year period added to household incomes. Further, 23% of the instances that accounted for the opportunity cost of labour, household income was raised above the Indian Government’s defined poverty line solely through small ruminant farming. Management practices were identified, while participating in landless farmer interviews provided an insight into the husbandry, or lack thereof, which resulted in low lambing percentages and rates of high ewe losses, perinatal lamb mortality and abortion. The study showed both the vulnerability and potential resilience of small ruminant farming to natural disaster, in this case catastrophic flooding in 2015. While small ruminant farming generated income in most instances, the way it is practiced creates opportunities for simple changes in husbandry and management that could make it more efficient in poverty alleviation.