Horizon e-Publishing Group (HePG): E-Journals
Not a member yet
2977 research outputs found
Sort by
Estimation of combining ability effect in bottle gourd (Lagineria siceraria (Molina) Standl.) for yield and attributing characters for thirty - six hybrids through line x tester design
Full text linkGeneral and specific combining ability effects were studied for 15 characters in line x tester design were studied in bottle gourd - 12 lines, 3 testers and 36 hybrids. The effective hybrid combination identified was Subam x Punjab Komal in terms of days to first harvest, fruit length and number of fruits and number of fruits vine-1. Among the lines, Subam (L3), Mysore Local (L9) and Manadipet Local (L4) and the testers Punjab Komal (T3) and Arka Bahar (T2) looked as best general combiners for quality and yield traits. Accordingly, analysis of the general combining ability effects and average performance of the parents showed that the lines Subam (L3), Mysore Local (L9) and Manadipet Local (L4) were the best parents for increasing productivity, while the testers Punjab Komal (T3) and Arka Bahar (T2) were found to be good parents for enhancing earliness. Subam x Punjab Komal (L3 x T3) was identified as the result of hybrid selection based on specific combining ability effects. This hybrid showed more specific combining ability effects for sex ratio, number of fruits vine-1, days to first female flower anthesis, days to first harvest and node of first female flower appearance, fruit length which are the yield attributing characters in addition to high per se performance. This hybrid can be utilized in either heterosis breeding or cross breeding programmes for good quality and quantity yield in bottle gourd. Combining ability analysis helps the breeders to identify the gene of interact and use that in improving yield
Spilanthes acmella extract alleviates cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity and DNA damage in human embryonic kidney cells
Full text linkKidney dysfunction has a devastating effect on health and quality of life, as it is one of the vital organs responsible for maintaining body homeostasis. Chemotherapeutic agents, especially anticancer medications, induce significant toxicity, resulting in renal dysfunction and irreversible kidney damage. This has led to a renewed focus on finding safer, more effective alternatives, such as pharmaceuticals derived from natural sources. The present study investigates the protective effects of ethyl acetate extract of Spilanthes acmella (EASA) against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed Alkaloids and phenols as the predominant constituents. A neutral red uptake assay determined the non-toxic concentration of S. acmella and the combinatorial treatment with EASA restored cell viability to 72 %, compared to 47 % in cisplatin treated cells. The antioxidant enzymes SOD and catalase were shown to be diminished by cisplatin, indicating oxidative damage, accompanied by an increase in lipid peroxidation products. EASA significantly elevated enzyme levels and reduced membrane peroxides. Reactive oxygen species production was shown to be reduced in groups co-treated with EASA, as assessed by DCFDA fluorimetry studies. The comet assay also showed a reduction in cisplatin-induced DNA damage following EASA co-treatment. These findings demonstrate that EASA may mitigate the oxidative stress generated by cisplatin, thereby preventing oxidative renal injury.
Selected soil physical properties and maize yield influenced by tillage systems and fertilizer types in southwest Nigeria
Full text linkManagement practices can alter soil physical properties and maize (Zea mays L.) yield. The study examined the influence of tillage systems, nitrogen (N) fertilizer and cattle dung (CD) applications on selected soil physical properties and maize yield from 2018 to 2019 in southwest Nigeria. The soil at the site had a sandy loam texture with an annual mean air temperature of 27 °C and annual mean precipitation of 1214 mm. Tillage practices were zero tillage (ZT), minimum tillage (MT) and conventional tillage (CT); N fertilizer at the rate of 120, 90 and 0 kg N ha-1 (control); and CD was applied at the rate of 10, 5 and 0 ton ha-1 (control). Soil bulk density, total porosity and saturated hydraulic conductivity were measured at the 0-15 cm depth after maize harvest. Bulk density was 7 % higher, but total porosity was 6 % lower for MT than CT at 5 tons ha-1 of CD in 2019. Saturated hydraulic conductivity was 17 % higher for 10 compared with 5 tons ha-1 of CD in 2018. Maize yield was 35-57 % higher for MT compared with CT or ZT at 0 and 120 kg N ha-1 in 2018 and 27-88 % higher for CT and MT compared with ZT at all N application rates in 2019. Soil bulk density was positive, but total porosity was negatively correlated in 2018. The MT with 120 kg N ha-1 or 5 tons ha-1 of CD application enhanced bulk density, lowered total porosity and increased maize yield in southwest Nigeria
Resistance sources of rice cultivars against Pantoea blight: A new threat to rice cultivation in India
Full text linkThe climatic variation in recent times has added a new problem to the rice crop, where leaves and panicles are blighted and the grains remain unfilled. The Pantoea genus is linked to a novel rice disease that induces leaf and panicle blight, adversely affecting rice output and quality. Pantoea dispersa is a Gram-negative bacterium recognized for its extensive environmental adaptation and potential as a plant pathogen and an opportunistic human disease. This study aimed to identify the bacterial pathogen by the 16S rDNA gene, the growth requirement of the bacteria and the resistant cultivar source against the panicle blight disease of rice. The bacterial pathogen was isolated from the Bargarh district of Odisha, India and the isolate was named ODBP1 and identified based on morphological and biochemical characterization. The isolate was amplified in molecular Identification using the universal primer pair 27F and 1492R. Optimization of growth parameters for Pantoea dispersa strain ODBP1 was conducted on M9 minimal medium with various carbon and nitrogen sources added and maintained at different pH and storage conditions. Screening of rice varieties for resistance against Pantoea dispersa, causing panicle blight disease, was scored in 65 paddy cultivars with different durations. None of the varieties showed an immune reaction to Pantoea Blight; only resistant, moderately resistant, moderately susceptible, susceptible and highly susceptible disease reactions were recorded. The yield attributes of highly susceptible late maturing varieties were observed, with disease and disease incidence percentages of 88.72 % and 87.77 %, respectively. By investigating the specific growth requirements of P. dispersa and evaluating the resistance profiles of different rice cultivars, this study aims to bridge gaps in understanding pathogen behaviour and plant defence, contributing to effective integrated disease management strategies that support crop productivity and agricultural resilience
Optimized RNA isolation method for field-grown mature rice roots
Full text linkHigh-quality RNA extraction was crucial for downstream functional genomics applications. Tissue-specific gene expression studies relied heavily on understanding molecular mechanisms at the cellular level. RNA isolation from mature field-grown rice roots posed significant challenges due to polysaccharides, secondary metabolites and other contaminants. The study contributed to development of a modified TRIzol-based RNA isolation protocol for mature field-grown rice roots. The TRIzol RNA extraction protocol was modified and compared its efficiency with four established methods: RNeasy Plant mini kit, CTAB-LiCl method, SDS method and TRIzol method. The key modifications included an increased extraction volume (1.5 mL per 100 mg tissue) and a higher ethanol concentration (80 %), along with streamlined steps to reduce processing time. The modified TRIzol method yielded an average of 537 ng/µL of high-quality RNA (A260/A280 ~ 2) from mature field-grown rice root tissues. The RNA obtained using the modified TRIzol method was validated through cDNA synthesis and amplification of the housekeeping gene actin. Syber green-based RT-qPCR revealed a single peak in the melt curve analysis, confirming the specificity of primers for cDNA binding. The optimized TRIzol protocol offered a faster, cost-effective and user-friendly approach for isolating high-quality RNA from mature field-grown rice roots compared to existing methods. Due to its high efficiency and reliability, this protocol serves as a robust and practical tool for functional genomics and molecular biology research involving challenging plant tissues
Prevalence, characterization and cross infectivity of Rhizoctonia species causing rice sheath blight complex in Tamil Nadu
Full text linkSheath blight of rice is a significant biotic stress caused by various Rhizoctonia species, including Rhizoctonia solani (sheath blight), Rhizoctonia oryzae-sativae (aggregate sheath spot) and Rhizoctonia oryzae (sheath spot). The presence of these diverse Rhizoctonia species highlights the complexity of sheath diseases and emphasizes the need for management approaches to mitigate their impact on rice production. In the current study, 37 isolates of Rhizoctonia spp. were collected from various rice-growing regions of Tamil Nadu, India during 2021-22. The isolates were characterized phenotypically and for their virulence pattern. The cultural characteristics including mycelial and sclerotial morphology of the isolates were recorded, aiding in the identification and characterization of the pathogens. An amplicon size of 265 bp was obtained in PCR analysis of R. solani isolates which confirmed their belonging to anastomosis group AG1-IA. Further differentiation using species-specific primers GMRS-3, GMRO-3 and GMROS-2 revealed that 30 isolates belonged to R. solani and 7 to R. oryzae-sativae. The highly virulent isolates of R. solani and R. oryaze-sativae were selected for host range studies in different hosts and the results indicated that all the plant and weed species were found to be infected by both R. solani and R. oryzae-sativae except pig weed and khaki weed
Impact of physical and chemical mutagenesis on growth and flowering parameters in tuberose variety Arka Prajwal
No full textThe present study evaluated the effects of physical (gamma radiation) and chemical (ethyl methane sulphonate, EMS) mutagens on the growth and flowering parameters of Arka Prajwal in the M1V1 generation. Uniform-sized bulbs were subjected to gamma radiation (1.5 kR, 2.0 kR and 2.5 kR) and EMS treatments (0.3%, 0.4% and 0.5%) to induce variability. Growth parameters, including sprouting time, plant height, number of leaves, leaf dimensions and plant spread, exhibited significant variation across treatments. Gamma radiation delayed bulb sprouting (21.27–25.83 days) compared to control (12.53 days), while EMS treatments showed intermediate sprouting times (14.75–20.13 days). Plant height and leaf dimensions were highest in 0.4% EMS-treated plants, with notable increases in leaf width and plant spread. Flowering parameters demonstrated that EMS treatments accelerated spike emergence and floret opening compared to gamma irradiation. EMS-treated plants (0.3%) showed the earliest flowering, with reduced days to spike emergence (73.47 days) and first floret opening (90.38 days). Spike length and rachis length were slightly reduced in gamma-treated plants, while EMS-treated plants maintained longer spikes and rachis. The number of florets per spike was highest under EMS treatment (44.93 florets for 0.3%), accompanied by improved floret dimensions and weight. The study highlights that EMS enhanced growth and flowering performance in Arka Prajwal, while higher doses of gamma radiation adversely affected these parameters. This research provides insights into the potential of mutagenesis for improving floricultural traits in tuberose
Assessing per se performance, variability, association and principal component analysis in sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica [L.]Roem.) genotypes for different horticultural attributes
Full text linkLuffa cylindrica [L.] Roem., known as sponge gourd, belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family and the present investigation, conducted with 48 sponge gourd genotypes, aimed to evaluate various horticultural traits at the Department of Vegetable Science, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in Coimbatore. The experimental results exhibited significant differences among the genotypes evaluated, with a higher PCV compared to the GCV, suggesting that environmental factors strongly influence the expression of these characters. The high heritability, coupled with high genetic advance, was observed for most characters studied, indicating that they are primarily controlled by additive gene action. This suggests that selection based on these characters would be effective for identifying suitable genotypes. The correlation study among various traits showed the highest positive significant association for the weight of individual fruit (0.86), followed by the number of fruits per vine (0.67) and fruit diameter (0.45). With fruit yield per vine as the designating trait, these traits were identified as the most important yield determinant characters. Principal Component Analysis revealed that days to first male flower anthesis, days to first female flower anthesis, node bearing first male flower and node bearing first female flower components exhibited with an eigenvalue of unity and accounting for 67.91 % of total variance. Characters with positive values in each PC are the important yield-determining characters and hence, all these characters can be well relied upon for the selection of a suitable genotype
Optimization of high-density planting configurations for poovan banana (Musa spp.) in coconut-based agroforestry system of the Cauvery delta zone of India
Full text linkBananas (Musa spp.) are a crucial global agricultural commodity, playing a vital role in tropical agroecosystems. The Poovan cultivar demonstrates high productivity and adaptability in coconut-based agroforestry systems. This study investigates the influence of planting geometries on crop performance in the Cauvery delta zone, assessing five spatial configurations (2.1 × 2.1 m to 0.9 × 0.9 m) across morphological, physiological and economic parameters. Results indicate that wider spacing (2.1 × 2.1 m) significantly enhances leaf morphological traits, yielding maximum leaf length (148.17 cm), breadth (77.75 cm) and a Leaf Area Index (LAI) of 2.61 m²/plant. Fruit quality is also improved, with increased bunch weights (16 kg), larger fruit dimensions (20 cm length), higher sugar content (22 Brix) and greater firmness (4.5 kg/cm²). Conversely, denser spacing increases plant population per unit area but results in reduced individual plant growth and fruit quality. Economic analysis reveals that the 1.5 × 1.5 m spacing is the most cost-effective, achieving a benefit-cost ratio of 1.14, optimizing yield and revenue potential. These findings highlight the complex relationship between plant density, resource allocation and productivity in tropical agricultural systems. By identifying optimal planting geometries, this study provides practical recommendations for sustainable intensification in coconut-based agroforestry, maximizing land use efficiency while ensuring high-quality banana production. Optimizing spacing helps maximize land productivity, improve microclimate and ensure sustainable farm income. Banana intercropping in coconut gardens is a viable practice to enhance land productivity and farmer income. However, appropriate spacing (2.1 m x 2.1 m) is crucial to minimize resource competition and maximize returns. Continued research and extension services can help optimize these systems for diverse agro-ecological zones. The results offer a valuable framework for improving productivity and economic resilience, aiding farmers in making informed decisions to enhance profitability best economic returns often come from spacing like 2.1 m x 2.1m, balancing yield and input cost in integrated farming systems
Bioefficacy of α-Bisabolol-rich essential oil separated from Curcuma inodora rhizome of Konkan region, India
Full text linkCurcuma inodora Blatt., an ornate species from the Zingiberaceae family native to the peninsular region, holds unexploited medicinal potential. This study presents the first comprehensive report on the rhizome oil of C. inodora, integrating in-vitro, in-silico and in-vivo approaches. The essential oil was extracted using a relatively novel ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction method, employing ethanol as the solvent, with a yield of 0.69 %. GC/HRMS analysis identified α-Bisabolol (45.64 %), β-Thujene (17.25 %) and β-Bisabolene (14.24 %) as the major components. In-vitro antimicrobial activity was assessed using broth and agar dilution methods, while antioxidant potential was evaluated via 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and nitric oxide (NO) radical scavenging assays. Anti-inflammatory properties were tested using three distinct protein inhibition-based methods. These evaluations reflect the plant\u27s traditional use in folk medicine for treating microbial infections, inflammation and oxidative stress. SwissADME server was used for in-silico ADMET profiling. Acute oral toxicity was assessed in Wistar rats following OECD 423 guidelines, including histopathological analysis. The α-Bisabolol-rich oil exhibited potent antibacterial activity against all tested strains, strong antifungal action against Candida albicans, significant antioxidant activity in the NO assay and notable anti-inflammatory effects. The ADMET analysis indicated high gastrointestinal absorption, favorable bioavailability and no Lipinski rule violations. Toxicity studies showed an LD₅₀ > 2000 mg/kg, confirming safety. These significant bioactivities are primarily attributed to α-Bisabolol, a major constituent recognized for its pharmacological importance. Therefore, the α-Bisabolol enriched rhizome oil of C. inodora holds considerable therapeutic promise, justifying further pharmacological and clinical investigations for potential drug development