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Exploring the tolerance of Iraqi wheat varieties: Evaluating seed germination and early growth of six Iraqi wheat varieties under salinity stress
Get PDFAbiotic stresses reduce the production of crops by 50% which significantly affects the food security globally. Plant growth and development are affected by salinity stress, Salt stress affects about 19.5% of irrigated lands and 2.1% of drylands which is expected to rise in the future. Wheat Triticum aestivum is classified as one of the most significant crop globally besides maize and rice which significantly contribute as a part of daily calories and proteins and it ranked first for its values in domestication and staple food. The purpose of the study was to assess how well various wheat genotypes tolerated salinity under various salinity concentrations, and the varieties were (Iba99, Hadbaa, Hashmiaa, Al-Rasheed, Sham, and Rabiaa). Different NaCl concentrations were used (50, 100, 150, and 200 mM) and Measurements were made on germination %, shoot length, fresh weight, and dried weight. Iba99, Sham and Rabiaa were the best varieties where the seed germination was 100% and other varieties differed slightly (Hadbaa 40, Hashmiaa 80 and Al-Rasheed 60%). The growth parameters results demonstrated that all the shoot lengths and fresh and dry weights were affected by the salinity stress and the correlation was inverse. It was decreased with the NaCl concentration increase. Rabiaa and Iba99 were the more tolerant and demonstrated high growth under salinity whereas Sham showed lowest growth under salinity
Growth and total photosynthetic pigment responses of five accessions of Zea mays L. grown under waterlogging stress
Get PDFThe effect of waterlogging on the growth of five accessions of Zea mays was investigated. The growth parameters, evaluated from 2 WAP (Weeks after planting) included: leaf area, number of nodes, total photosynthetic pigment (TPP) as well as plant height. Results revealed that TZM-4 (7.00±0.296 cm) showed a higher growth under waterlogging stress as observed in shoot length, whilst TZM-5 recorded the lowest growth with (4.83±0.17 cm). Results for the estimation of the total photosynthetic pigment; TZM-4 was observed to have retained a high value (28.23±8.63 mg/kg), while TZM-1 showed the lowest value (15.33±3.23 mg/kg) after 4WAP. For the number of nodes, TZM-1 recorded a high value (4.67±4.67), while TZM-5 had the lowest value (2.33±1.20). By observation, TZM-5 showed a better overall waterlogging tolerance which could be attributed to the development of adventitious roots which aided aeration. Hence, waterlogging stress had negative effects on the growth and TPP of Z. mays. However, TZM-5 showed promising advantage under waterlogging condition while TZM-3 showed poor tolerance in growth rate which makes it a non-favorable choice for planting in waterlogged soil. Thus, this research provides a promising insight for breeders and plant scientists to capitalize on for the breeding of this very important economic crop for sustainable agriculture and food security in a world threatened by climate change
Phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activity of plant leaf extract against enteric bacterial pathogens
Get PDFPunica granatum, a fruit-bearing shrub belonging to the Lythraceae family, offers various benefits to humans, with both its fibers and seeds being valuable. The seeds contain important oil acids such as palmitic, punica, stearic, and oleic acids. In India, P. granatum (pomegranate) leaves have been investigated for their potential antibacterial activity against enteric pathogens. These pathogens are responsible for causing gastrointestinal infections and are often associated with antibiotic resistance. The study aims to explore whether pomegranate leaves possess properties that can combat these enteric pathogens effectively. This research holds promise in identifying a natural and alternative approach to address antibacterial challenges, potentially contributing to the development of novel antimicrobial agents pomegranate is commonly used as a traditional remedy for treating enteric bacterial pathogens. To investigate its antibacterial properties, researchers studied the aqueous extract of P. granatum leaf against enteric pathogens, conducting tests like biochemical examinations and microscopy on the isolates. The phytochemical analysis of P. granatum (pomegranate) leaf aqueous extract revealed the presence of various bioactive compounds. These compounds include amino acids, carbohydrates, alkaloids, steroids, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, tannins, and phenols. To evaluate its antimicrobial activity, the researchers used antibiotic discs, including chloramphenicol, vancomycin, and gentamicin, employing the standard Kirby Bauer method. Results showed that vancomycin had the highest zone of inhibition, followed by chloramphenicol and gentamicin, with respective measurements of 20 mm and 19 mm. Chloramphenicol exhibited sensitivity against Escherichia coli (19 mm), while gentamicin showed sensitivity against Salmonella typhi (20 mm), Staphylococcus aureus (19 mm), and E. coli (18 mm). Vancomycin demonstrated sensitivity against S. aureus (21 mm). The aqueous leaf extract displayed significant antibacterial activity at concentrations of 20, 40 mcg, and 60 μg, showing effective zones of inhibition ranging from 15 mm to 22 mm against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E. coli, S. aureus, Shigella dysentriae, Proteus vulgaris, and S. typhi. In conclusion, the study established that P. granatum leaf extracts possess remarkable antibacterial properties and contain valuable pharmaceutical bioactive compounds. Due to its efficacy in treating gastrointestinal disorders, it is utilized as a natural remedy in traditional medicine
Effects of host plants and substrate colour on the oviposition behaviour of green lacewing Apertochrysa astur (Banks) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)
No full textThe Green lacewing, Apertochrysa astur also known as “aphid lion” is an efficient predator of various soft bodied insect pests. A laboratory experiment was conducted in Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu to observe the preference of A. Astur on their oviposition behaviour. Egg receiving sheets were pasted with black, amber, ash, parrot green, violet, red, light green, pink, blue, fluorescent yellow, sky blue, yellow, orange and white coloured papers. Among all the colours, females of A. astur preferred black colour as a substrate for laying eggs (19.6 per cent of eggs) followed by orange colour substrate (15.5per cent) while white was the least preferred colour (4.0 % eggs). Among the host plants examined, maximum number of eggs was laid in the coconut leaves infested with the invasive whiteflies followed by custard apple and banana. Therefore, whitefly infested coconut leaves and the black coloured substrate can be used in the mass production of A. astur in the laboratory
Biochar for the Control of Plant Pathogens
Get PDFBiochar, the solid product of pyrolysis of biomass at thermal degradation temperatures, is useful in agriculture as manure for enhancing plant growth through the supply of nutrients. It is used in protected cultivation practices of vegetables and flower crops in the pot culture and grow bags especially to improve soil physicochemical properties, and in hydroponics to remove pollutants like heavy metals in the water. The usage of biochar as a potential soil amendment for plant growth promotion, improving soil fertility and plant disease suppression are being explored in recent years. Biochar made from many of the agro waste materials was found to suppress the plant pathogens in the soil and also effective in controlling the pathogens affecting aerial parts of the plants. Although direct antifungal or antibacterial effects and metabolites of biochar are poorly understood, induced systemic resistance in plants through signal transduction and expression of defence chemicals and metabolites have been studied. In addition, microbiome analyses through metagenome sequencing revealed an increase in the population of beneficial microbes (antagonistic to plant pathogens) in the rhizosphere soils applied with biochar
Biology of Spodoptera litura on natural and artificial diet under laboratory conditions
Get PDFArmyworm, Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera; Noctuidae) is one of the most economically significant insect pests in global agriculture. The current study was performed to study the biology of S. litura under laboratory conditions. In the current study, the biological parameters of pests i.e., egg, larva, pupa and adult along with the duration were determined. The mean incubation period of pests on cabbage, maize and artificial diet was 2.86±0.33, 3.09 ± 0.12 and 3.97±0.77 days, respectively. S. litura had five instars. The mean developmental period of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth larval instar on cabbage was 3.44±0.11, 2.09±0.12, 4.11±0.12, 3.00±0.20, 6.68±0.23 and 5.94±0.18 days, respectively while 2.81±0.77, 3.55±0.33, 3.64±0.45, 4.43±0.71, 6.55±0.21 and 5.98±0.19 days on the maize, respectively. The mean developmental periods were 3.85±0.54, 3.45±0.63, 3.67±0.67, 4.37±0.82, 6.55±0.23 and 5.30±0.38 days of first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth larval instars on artificial diet, respectively. The mean total life period of S. litura was 33.43±5.86 days on cabbage and 34.79±6.95 days on maize while 35.98±7.86 days on an artificial diet. The longest developmental period of S. litura was recorded on the artificial diet while the minimum was on cabbage. The mean developmental period of pupa was 7.50±0.71 days on cabbage, 9.87±0.94 days on maize and 11.63±0.99 days on an artificial diet. Females were short-lived as compared to males. The pre-oviposition, oviposition and post-ovipositional period of S. litura on cabbage were recorded as a minimum while maximum on an artificial diet. The maximum number of eggs laid by females with the highest hatchability on cabbage followed by maize and artificial diet. An artificial diet was not good for pest development and growth as compared to a natural diet i.e., cabbage and maize. The findings will provide basic information about food pests which help in pest management
Physical and functional properties of low temperature ground turmeric (Curcuma longa) powder: Properties of low temperature ground turmeric powder
No full textTurmeric (Curcuma longa) rhizome (var. Salem) sample was ground according to two different grinding parameters viz., four grinding methods and two feed temperatures. The effect of grinding methods and feed temperature on some functional and physical properties was evaluated. The average values of the flow property viz., bulk density (506.78 to 537.94 kg/m3), tapped density (611.35 to 635.72 kg/m3), Hausner ratio (1.150 to 1.225) and compressibility index (13.07 to 18.34%) and functional property viz., water absorption index (3.88 to 4.46), water solubility index (16.17 to 26.51%), water holding capacity (268.40% to 307.19%) and oil absorption index (210.57% to 258.04%) with respect to different grinding methods and feed temperatures varied. The ground sample with chilled water circulation method with the ambient temperature feed (L2T0) was found the most suitable for better flow parameters and functional properties
Role of Vitamin A and Vitamin D in management of polycystic ovary syndrome
Get PDFPolycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a very common cause of infertility in reproductive age groups, has increased exponentially in the past few years registering 9% of cases annually worldwide. It is one of the most common syndromes which manifests hormone secretion and its activity. Insulin resistance, obesity, Vitamin and mineral deficiency, etc., are commonly associated with PCOS. Vitamin A is a lipid-soluble vitamin that is useful in antioxidant activity and steroid synthesis is known to prevent the occurrence of PCOS. Vitamin D, a steroid hormone originating from cholesterol is commonly known as “the sunshine vitamin,” is also one of the observed vitamin deficiencies in PCOS women. Supplementation of Vitamins in the diet is essential in the management of PCOS women. This review attempts to brief the role of Vitamin A and Vitamin D as an important agent to overcome the challenges of PCOS by reviewing the investigations of various authors about the potential role of supplementation of Vitamin A and Vitamin D in various model organisms and Randomised Clinical Trials (RCT’s)
Patterns in genetic variation and character association of yield components in turmeric (curcuma longa L.): Genetic variation & character association in turmeric
No full textUnderstanding genetic variability patterns of turmeric yield traits is essential to develop new genotypes with improved traits. The objective of the present study was to investigate the genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance and association of various yield components in turmeric genotypes. The experiment was conducted for two seasons during 2021-22 and 2022-23 using 21 turmeric genotypes at ICAR-IISR, Experimental farm, Peruvannamuzhi, Kerala. The results indicate that the genotypes exhibited significant variation across two seasons for most traits, with the exception of collar girth, weight of primary rhizomes per clump, and number of primary rhizomes per clump, which suggests the presence of genetic variability in the genotypes. Maximum fresh rhizome yield per clump was recorded in the genotype, IISR Pragati. The Genotypic Coefficient of Variation (GCV) was found to be moderate to high for most of the traits except plant height, leaf lamina length, collar girth and fresh rhizome yield per plant, whereas, Phenotypic Coefficient of Variation (PCV) was found to be moderate to high for all the traits except plant height. Heritability was observed moderate to high for all the traits except collar girth, number of primaries per clump, weight of primaries rhizomes per clump and fresh rhizome yield per plant. The petiole length, total leaf area, weight of mother rhizomes per clump and number of mother rhizomes per clump showed high heritability along with genetic advance. Correlation analysis suggested that weight of mother rhizomes per clump had a strong positive association with plant height, number of leaves, leaf lamina length, leaf lamina width, leaf area, total leaf area, and collar girth and had a weak positive relationship with fresh rhizome yield per plant and petiole length. The path analysis revealed, total leaf area, fresh rhizome yield per plant and number of primaries per clump have high direct positive effects with weight of mother rhizomes per clump. The high heritability and genetic advance observed for above mentioned traits suggest that exercising a simple selection could indirectly improve the low heritable low genetic advance traits such as fresh rhizome yield per plant as indicated by correlation and path analysis
Characterization of ancient ceramic shreds: Insights into firing conditions and manufacturing technology
Get PDFFour ancient ceramic shreds from the archaeological site Leletepe in the Fizuli region of the Republic of Azerbaijan and two local raw ceramic pastes were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and thermal analysis (TG-DTG) techniques. XRD analysis of ceramic sherds reveals that all investigated samples contain similar minerals: quartz, feldspar, and clay. Three samples out of four contain calcite. Based on the traditional approach, it has been assumed that the firing process in these samples stopped before 700 °C. The mass loss ratios of samples of ancient ceramics also indicate that reversible dehydroxylation took place in all four samples, thus indicating the initial mild firing conditions. The summary of all the applied methods indicates that the ceramic samples were made using a similar manufacturing technology. According to XRD analysis, samples N1 and N4 contain diopside, and samples N2 and N3 contain maghemite, indicating the different origins of the ceramic shreds. Analysis of the raw ceramic mass also did not reveal the presence of these minerals, which may indicate a discrepancy between the origin of ancient ceramic sherds and modern ones