Journal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences
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Improvement of crop and soil management practices through mulching for enhancement of soil fertility and environmental sustainability: A review
Get PDFThe logarithmic phase of the human population creates high food demand near the future throughout the world. On the flip side, improved crop production requires uninterrupted water irrigation. Therefore, sensible agricultural inputs are needed to overcome these concerns. New technology-based innovative agronomic research steps will boost the contemporary agriculture practices in developed and developing countries. Agricultural cropping systems could follow mulching practices as one of the best crop management practices for its water and nutrient management potential. It is primarily to accomplish healthy economic and environmental bonds. By covering the soil's surface with biodegradable resources such as organic and inorganic materials, mulching improves the physicochemical characteristics of the soil. This approach provides a favorable environment for the development of plant growth and fosters the activities of microbial communities. Additionally, it reduces the growth of weeds, manages erosion, gets rid of pesticide residue, and increases soil fertility. Mulching the soil surface has profound benefits in improving the soil moisture levels due to a reduced evaporation rate. This method is a practical agronomic entrance to reduce water scarcity and raise the chance of water conservation, notably in arid and semiarid regions. It can also boost crop security and production to meet the global food requirements. This review significantly focuses on the current influence and advantages of organic mulches for crop establishment in the agriculture sector, which can close the production gap between achievable and actual yield
Influence of Hand Anthropometry and Nutrient Intake on Hand Grip Strength: A Correlational Study Among Young Indian Badminton Players
Get PDFBadminton is a fast shuttle-racquet game, which requires adequate endurance and agility for hitting shots. For consistent and superior performances, players need to develop decent nutritional status and tremendous physical fitness. The present study concerns with the effect of anthropometric indices and nutritional profiles on arm strength for racquet gripping. Adolescent male (N=100) and female (N=100) badminton players aged 10 to 15 years were selected from Nagpur, India, and arm anthropometric indices and skeletal muscles of the players were determined by tape and bioelectrical impedance analyzer respectively. Muscle growing macronutrient (protein) and skeletal developing micronutrients (calcium and phosphorus) were calculated from dietary data for consecutive 3 days by the 24-hour dietary recall method. Arm strength was appraised from the hand grip strength test. Statistically, the assessed data were tested at 1% and 5% significance levels. Pearson correlation coefficients were derived. All the age groups possessed substantially shorter arm lengths (2.41-15.43%) than reference standards. Older groups appeared to have greater arm circumferences (1.00-3.92 cm) than younger groups. Overall, boys showed elevated skeletal muscles (6.69% and 8.29%) than girls. Dietary protein and phosphorus ingestion were significantly higher (45.42-90.88% and 16.18-40.62%) than recommended dietary allowances (RDAs). Calcium intake (23.26-28.48%) was below the RDA. Older male players performed under excellent grade (38%) in the hand grip strength test, depicting masculine supremacy. Positive correlations (r= 0.0710 to 0.5947) between arm anthropometry and nutrient intake with grip strength proved their affirmative effects on delivering various explosive shots, which can enhance the performance level of emerging young players
Host-delivered-RNAi-mediated resistance in bananas against biotic stresses
Get PDFBoth the biotic and abiotic stressors restrict the yield potential of many crops, including bananas. Bananas belong to the genus Musa and are the world’s most popular and widely produced fruit for their nutritional and industrial importance. The demand for bananas is growing each day worldwide. However, different pest infestations are hampering the production of bananas, making it a matter of concern for global food security. Several biotechnological tools and applications including RNA interference (RNAi) have been employed to enhance the biotic stress resistance in plants. The capacity to silence targeted genes at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels makes the RNAi technique a popular choice for gene knock-down and functional genomics studies in crops. Silencing of different suppressor molecule coding genes through RNAi helps crops to combat the detrimental effects of plant pathogens. The host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) technology, also known as the host-delivered RNAi (HD-RNAi), is nowadays gaining popularity due to its ability to target an array of pathogens, comprising bacteria, nematodes, fungi, viruses, and insects. This methodology is employed to manage disease pest outbreaks in a diverse range of crop species, including bananas. Besides HIGS, virus-induced and spray-induced gene silencing (VIGS and SIGS, respectively) are the potential approaches where RNAi technology is exploited to control plant-pathogenic diseases. The current review emphasizes the different kinds of diseases of bananas and the potential of HD-RNAi, a new-age and promising technology to build a barrier against significant crop and economic loss
Effects of protein levels of commercial diets on the growth performance and survival rate of rabbitfish (Siganus guttatus) at the nursing stage
Get PDFThis study aimed to determine the effect of a commercial diet's protein level on the fry-to-fingerling stage. Thirty days-old fries having the initial length and weight of 18.25 ± 0.15 mm fish-1 and 0.036 ± 0.50 g fish-1 respectively have been used in this study. Diet having three protein levels i.e. 30% (trial 1 as control), 35% (trial 2), 40% (trial 3), and 45% (trial 4), respectively, have been used to evaluate the effect of protein, and each trial has been repeated three times. During the study, stocking density was allocated to 1000 fish per composite tank with a volume of 1 m3. After 30 days of rearing, the weight of fingerlings in trial 1 reached up to 1.50 ± 0.02 g fish-1 and it was recorded as 1.52 ± 0.01g for trial 2, these two were lower than that of trials 3 and 4, where fingerling weight was reported 1.69 ± 0.01 and 1.58g fish-1 respectively and obtained the best weight compared to others. The length of fingerlings at the end of the experimental period was also changed in different trials and it was recorded 47.12; 46.92; 50.97; and 48.89 mm fish-1 for trail 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively, among the tested combinations lower fingerlings length was recorded for trial 2 (35% CP), but it is not significantly different for trial 1 and 2 and a significant difference (P < 0.05) was reported for trail 2, 3, and 4. The survival rate of fingerlings ranged from 67.27 to 72.33%. Meanwhile, the herd distribution coefficient variation (CVW) in the treatment using 40% protein (trial 3) was the highest at 72.33% (p < 0.05). The results of the study can be concluded that the level of protein has a significant effect on the various growth parameters of fingerlings
The epidemiological and neurological risk factors of Japanese encephalitis virus in the population of Assam, Northeast India
Get PDFJapanese encephalitis is one of the world's most common public health issues, particularly it is prevalent in the north-eastern Indian states of Assam. This study aimed to find out the risk factors linked to clinical and epidemiological characteristics. A total of 245 cases were found as PCR-positive in Assam. The most common clinical symptoms were fever (87%), seizure (65%), altered sensorium (60%), cold with shivering (74%), vomiting (68%), throat irritation (31%), cough (67%), chest pain (10%), joint pain (18%), mouth ulcer (18%), diarrhea (29%), pain in the abdomen (42.9%), runny nose (64%), redness in eyes (78%), jaundice (25%), and blood in the sputum (25%). Further, the neurological symptoms included vision problems (66.5%), hearing difficulties (55 %), neck stiffness (62%), limb numbness (65%), dizziness (77%), headaches (75.5%), speaking difficulties (63%), hydrophobia (47%), and abnormal behavior (66%). The epidemiological risk factors included contact with pigs (57%), bats (21%), cattle (32%), and rates (66%). In addition, 24.5% of patients observed the death of animals/birds. The protection measure included window screening, sleeping under a mosquito net, and use of insect repellent while sleeping in open compounds (29%) and floods (63%) are considered important risk factors. JE-positive cases include daily habits like working in agriculture fields (28%), in standing water (16%), swimming in nearby lakes (24%), traveling outside their village (40%), and wearing shirts while working in the field (20%), storing water in open containers in or outside the house (62%). These were the epidemiological factors that affected the abundance of the potential mosquito vectors of the JE infection
Performance of electrical energy monitoring data acquisition system for plant-based microbial fuel cell
Get PDFPlant microbial fuel cell (Plant-MFC) is an emerging technology that uses the metabolic activity of electrochemically active bacteria (EABs) to continue the production of bioelectricity. Since its invention and to date, great efforts have been made for its application both in real-time and large-scale. However, the construction of platforms or systems for automatic voltage monitoring has been insufficiently studied. Therefore, this study aimed to develop an automatic real-time voltage data acquisition system, which was coupled with an ATMEGA2560 connected to a personal computer. Before the system operation started it was calibrated to obtain accurate data. During this experiment, the power generation performance of two types of reactors i.e. (i) Plant-MFC and (ii) control microbial fuel cell (C-MFC), was evaluated for 15 days. The Plant-MFC was planted with an herbaceous perennial plant (Stevia rebaudiana), electrode system was placed close to the plant roots at the depth of 20 cm. The results of the study have indicated that the Plant-MFC, was more effective and achieved higher bioelectricity generation than C-MFC. The maximum voltage reached with Plant-MFC was 850 mV (0.85 V), whereas C-MFC achieved a maximum voltage of 762 mV (0.772 V). Furthermore, the same reactor demonstrated a maximum power generation of 66 mW m¯2 on 10 min of polarization, while a power density with C-MFC was equal to 13.64 mW m¯2. S.rebaudiana showed a great alternative for power generation. In addition, the monitoring acquisition system was suitable for obtaining data in real-time. However, more studies are recommended to enhance this type of system
Estimation of nitrogen use efficiency by mango seedlings under nano and convention calcium fertilization using the enriched stable isotope (N-15)
Get PDFThis study aimed to investigate the effect of nano-Ca fertilizer on nitrogen uptake, nitrogen use efficiency and determine the best calcium form and dose for mango. A pot experiment was conducted using two year old mango seedlings (cv. Zebda). The pots were filled with sandy soil (8 kg per pot) and one seedling was transplanted into each pot. Four treatments including nano-Ca, convention Ca, soil application and foliar application have been formulated. Calcium was applied as CaO for both the convention and nanoforms. The enriched (15NH4)2SO4 was applied at a rate of (5g per pot). Plants were harvested at the end of the fall, spring, and summer growth cycles and dried at 70 oC. The dried plant is used for making fine powder and to determine total nitrogen, calcium, and %15N atom excess. Results of the study revealed that in all growth cycles, the 15N translocation was higher under foliar nano-Ca treatment than under convention Ca at a 100% rate. The highest uptake, translocation, and nitrogen use efficiency were observed at 50% (250 mg. L-1) foliar nano-Ca treatment in all cycles. In the Fall growth cycle, the values for nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency at 50% nano-Ca rate was 81.8%, while it recorded 64.9% for 25% rate and 51.2% for 100% rate. Calcium concentration, in shoot and roots, was also higher under nano-calcium (for fall cycle = 3.0 for the shoot and 2.8 for root) than the convention calcium (for fall cycle = 2.7% for the shoot and 2.2 for root) for all cycles. The summer growth cycle recorded the highest total biomass under all treatments compared with the fall or spring growth cycles. Allocation of biomass to the shoot was also reported higher under nano-Ca foliar application than that of soil application in all cycles. The best treatment is 50% (250 mg.L-1) foliar nano-Ca as it resulted in the highest N-15 uptake, translocation, and nitrogen use efficiency. Nano calcium proves to be more efficient as fertilizer than conventional calcium
Identification of Genetic Diversity among Mutant Taro (Colocasia esculenta L. cv WANGI) Using Agro-Morphological Trait and Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR) Molecular Markers
Get PDFTaro (Colocasia esculenta) is one of the traditional crops with enormous sources of dietary fiber, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals contents. Mutation breeding using gamma radiation is one of the most preferred approaches used to induce mutation in taro studies. Molecular markers are widely used to detect such induced mutation and genetic diversity in plants. Therefore, the present study was carried out to evaluate genetic diversity among irradiated taro genotypes in comparison with standard taro variety by using simple sequence repeats (SSR). A total of 200 of M1V4 taro genotypes were used in this study derived from segregating population of chronic-gamma irradiated taro cv Wangi with different ranges of gamma dose. The agro-morphological results revealed that genotype exposure in T6 (120.12 Gy) has the highest plant height (54.53 cm), leaf length (32.24 cm), and leaf width (24.87 cm). Corm's weight was decreased significantly with an increased dose of treatment. All mutants recorded a lower number of corm weight as compared with the control genotype. Out of 10 SSR primers tested, 9 primers have successfully amplified 43 amplicons. The polymorphism information content (PIC) values of SSR markers ranged from 0.20 to 0.80. Cluster analysis classified taro into 3 subgroups mutant and parent genotypes. The results clearly showed that SSR markers are important tools to distinguish mutant genotypes and confirmed their usefulness for phylogenetic studies. Finally, the present investigation indicated that genotypes exposed by T6 (120.12 Gy) are promising high-yielding genotypes that can be recommended as new cultivars and possessed an attractive phenotype appropriate for ornamental use
Effects of Different Substrates on the Growth and Nutritional Composition of Pleurotus ostreatus: A Review
Get PDFMushrooms are a popular food source as they are highly nutritious and flavorful with a high content of proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Mushrooms could be an alternative solution to the world’s food crisis as they are inexpensive to grow on different types of substrates including waste materials. Pleurotus ostreatus, frequently known as oyster mushrooms, are the second most cultivated mushroom in the world. This species is known for its high protein content and easy cultivation. Oyster mushrooms have the potential to produce protein-rich biomass when grown on various substrates. There is a need to identify substrates that are cost-effective for the commercial production of nutritious oyster mushrooms as the substrates used currently are either costly or inadequate to produce oyster mushrooms in the required quantity or quality. Thus, the effects of 6 different lignocellulosic substrates on the growth and nutritional composition of P. ostreatus were reviewed and analyzed in this article. The substrates included in this review were wheat straw, sugarcane bagasse, corncob, softwood sawdust, hardwood sawdust, and general sawdust. Based on the analyzed data, sugarcane bagasse was concluded as the most suitable substrate to grow P. ostreatus. These substrates contain a high amount of nutrients and are also likely to produce a significantly high yield of oyster mushrooms in addition to enhancing the nutritional quality of the mushroom. However, these findings must be evaluated and confirmed through further research in this field
Prevalence of Respiratory Symptoms and Associated Risk Factors among Street Food Vendors in Klang Valley, Malaysia
Get PDFThe street vendors in Malaysia are at an increased risk of developing respiratory symptoms owing to the continuous exposure to road dust, vehicle emissions, extreme weather conditions, and air pollutants from industrial sites. Hence, the current study aimed to establish the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and the risk factors associated with it among street food vendors in Klang Valley, Malaysia through a cross-sectional study among 237 street food vendors. The socio-demographic data, work characteristics, and information on respiratory symptoms were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. The data analysis was done by using the Chi-square test of association and frequency distribution. The study results revealed that the most frequently reported respiratory symptoms among the street food vendors were sore throat (30.8%), followed by cough (29.1%). No significant association was found between age, gender, duration of job and cough, sputum production, breathing difficulty, chest pain, irritated nose, and sore throat. A statistically significant association was found between working hours and sputum production (p=0.014). Further, the working hours were significantly associated with breathing difficulty (p=0.011). A significant association was also found between the type of cooking fuel used and the presence of cough (p=0.001). Results of this study demonstrated a positive association between work-related risk factors such as working hours with breathlessness and sputum production, and also between cough and the type of cooking fuel used. Based on the aforementioned findings, various control measures such as regular monitoring of lung functions and health education programs can be undertaken. Moreover, vendors need to consider using clean fuels instead of charcoal