Journal of Applied and Natural Science
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Comparative evaluation of maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes based on distinctness, uniformity and stability (DUS) testing using physiological and morphological characters
Get PDFA major challenge facing those involved in the testing of new plant varieties for Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability (DUS) is the need to compare them against all those of ‘common knowledge’. A set of maize inbred lines was used to compare how morphological and physio- logical characterization described variety relationships. An experiment was carried out to evaluate test of Distinctiveness, Uniformity and Stability using 26 physiological and 12 morphological characters. Minimum days for 50 % tasseling (50.66 and 50.66 days), minimum days for 50 % silking (53.66 and 53.66 days), minimum days for anthesis silking interval (3.0 and 2.6 days), maximum tassel branching (22.66 and 21.66), maximum cob height (89.70 and 89.16 cm) and maximum cob length (16.96 and 17.75 cm) were recorded in genotype AAIMS-1 in both experiments (2011 and 2012 respectively) and maximum cob width (12.51 and 13.11 cm) and maximum number of grain rows per cob (12.66 and 12.66) were recorded in genotype AAIMS-2 in both experiments (2011 and 2012 respectively). But maximum plant height (155.13 and 153.71cm), minimum days for maturity (86.00 and 88.00 days), maximum grain yield per plant (72.80 and 72.00 g) and maximum 100 seed weight (21.51 and 20.96 g) were recorded in genotype AAIMS-2 and AAIMS-1 respectively in both experiments conducted at experimental farm of Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology & Sciences during the year 2011 and 2012 respectively
A study on innovativeness and regulating conflicts between the fishers and farmers in the Balua wetland
Get PDFWetlands store ground and surface water even when the rainfall is erratic. However, the rising demand for water and land to sustain the ever increasing population has manifested in many kinds of conflicts in wetlands. In the study area, Balua Chaur (wetland) in Bihar state of India, 16 conflicts emerged when the flooded lands offarmers was accessed by the fishers to fish. Such conflicts had further marginalized the already indigent fishers. Factor analysis, to reduce the socioeconomic and psychological variables of the fishers that were associated with innovativeness and further analysis of ANOVA and regression was used. In case of fishers, two major groups of interrelated variables that accounted for 60.6 % of the total variance were identified through this method. Factor 1 accounted for 34.8 % of the total variance that included innovativeness, income, education, mass media exposure, extension contact, livestock ownership, land ownership, mobile use collaborating and competing style of conflict management and named as innovative factors. The ANOVA table and stepwise multiple regression model exhibited that the nuclear family type and livestock have significant impact on the innovativeness of fishers with R2 value 0.255. In this paper, peace and prosperity model based upon the analysis of primary information collected from the fishers, farmers and key informants is proposed to foster innovativeness to enhance the productivity of wetland and resolve conflict to mobilize the resources in efficient and judicial manner
Advent of Trichoderma as a bio-control agent- A review
Get PDFTrichoderma spp are free living filamentous fungi. They are cosmopolitan and versatile in nature. They have the potential to produce several enzymes that can degrade the cell wall materials. Also, they release a number of fungi toxic substances that can inhibit the growth of the fungal pathogens. Many mechanisms have been described on how Trichoderma exert beneficial effects on plants as a bio-control agent. But due to its versatile nature, its potential cannot be explored to its full extent. And it is a developing science in the field of bio-control with its new discoveries adding to the usefulness of the fungi as a bio-control agent. Its development as a bio-control agent passes through many phases and each phase adding novel ideas that will help in the development of an efficient bio-agent which in turn will help in the crop improvement and disease management. The studies on their various aspects responsible for bio-control will open a flood gate to the development of Trichoderma as an efficient and reliable bio-agent and provide a better scope for implementation in crop and disease management. The in vitro antagonistic activity of Trichoderma viride against phytopathogens (Sclerotium rolfsii, Fusarium oxysporum f.s.p. ciceri, Fusarium oxysporum f.s.p. udum) was studied and it was found to be potentially effective against F. oxysporum f.s.p. ciceri followed by F. oxysporum f.s.p. udum and Sclerotium rolfsii
Rainfall trend analysis and its future projection over Gangetic West Bengal (GWB) region of India during post-monsoon and winter season
Get PDFStudying the variability of rainfall and its future projection during post-monsoon and winter season is important for providing the information to the farmers regarding crop planning. For evaluating rainfall scenario, long (1901-2005) and short term (1961-2005 and 1991-2005) rainfall data of nine selected IMD stations of South Bengalwas collected and subdivided into 30 year period up to 1990 and a 15 year period from 1991 to 2005. The data were subjected to trend analysis and available GCM data were compared with the observed rainfall data. The postmonsoon and winter rainfall changes during 1901-2005 were positive (except Krishnangar, -47.67 mm) and negative (except Alipore and Berhampur) respectively. During 1991-2005 all the stations recorded a positive change during post-monsoon, while reverse was true for winter. Among the different GCMs, INGV-ECHM4 estimated the postmonsoon rainfall at the best, whereas winter rainfall successfully estimated by MIROC-Hi. Future projection of both post-monsoon and winter rainfall over the region showed an increasing trend. This will help in policy formulation for water management in agriculture
Species structure and diversity in Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere reserve, Central India
Get PDFThe present study was aimed at quantifying the species structure and diversity in Achanakmar- Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve. Four sites characterized by varying vegetation attributes and representative of the region were selected. One-hectare, permanent plot was established on each of the site and enumeration was car-ried out by stratified random sampling techinique. The forest sites are characterized by poor species composition. A sum of 2440 trees representing 23 species and 17 families were encountered. Tree, sapling and seedling density (stems ha-1) ranged between 260 - 810, 7500 - 35000 and 25000 - 67500, respectively while the basal cover (m2 ha- 1) ranged between 9.96 - 41.6, 0.86 - 5.07 and 0.28 - 0.96, respectively. Species diversity was highest on the dense site and low on medium site. Beta diversity was highest on degraded site. The presence of a large number of seed-lings indicates the great potential source for future sustainable regeneration, provided by appropriate management regime to protect the forest from degradation and conserve the biodiversity
Semi-dwarf narrow rolled leaf mutant in rice: Photosynthetic efficiency and physiological response to gibberellic acid (GA3)
Get PDFLeaf is the major component for fixation of carbondioxide to produce more photoassimilates and maintains source sink relationship in plants. The present investigation was carried out to study the photosynthetic efficiency and physiological response of GA3 of semi-dwraf narrow rolled leaf mutant. Semi-dwarf narrow rolled leaf mutant exhibited reduced plant height, reduced leaf width, reduced panicle length and number of grains per panicle when compared to wild type. Photosynthetic efficiency study revealed that the mutant showed higher photosynthetic efficiency than wild type. Complementation test with GA3 clearly revealed that this mutant is sensitive to GA3 and revert to normal plant height. Scanning Electron Microscope study revealed that mutant had exhibited minimum number of inter-veins between veins, minimum distance between midrib and has slightly larger cell size. Hence, this loss of function mutant is very useful to map the regions associated with panicle length, number of grains per panicle and other traits related to enhancement of yield. The result provides an important clue for further understanding the mechanism of rice leaf development and plant architecture
Studies on combining ability and gene action for yield and quality traits in Baby corn (Zea mays L.)
Get PDFAn investigation was carried out to assess the combining ability and nature of gene action in baby corn (Zea mays L.) genotypes, by making crosses of eight inbred lines namely, HKI 3209, SML 1, EC 595979, CM 128, VQL 1, G 18 seq C5 F 76-2-2-1-1-2-BBB, HKI 209, in diallel mating design (without reciprocal crosses) by following Griffing Model–I and Method–II during rabi season 2013-14 at the experimental farm of BAC, Sabour, Bhagalpur (Bihar). The crosses were evaluated in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) to assess the combining ability and nature of gene action. Based on general combining ability, parents CM 128 and VQL 1 were best parent forbreeding programme for yield and quality improvement. The specific combining ability also indicates that hybrid CM128 x VQL1 was best specific combiner for baby corn yield (4.11q/ha), fodder yield (50.91q/ha) as well as for better quality. The crosses CM 128 x HKI 209 recorded the high mean (7.35%) and SCA effects (2.57 ºBrix) for quality traits. The gene action analysis also revealed preponderance of non-additive gene action for yield and its contributing characters
Additions to the terebrantian (Insecta: Thysanoptera) fauna of Kerala, India
Get PDFExtensive surveys were carried out in Kerala in order to explore the thysanopteran fauna since the state has hardly been studied for the fauna of thrips after Dr. T.N. Ananthakrishnan’s era of Indian thysanopteran taxonomy. Nine species of terebrantian thrips, one in the family Aeolothripidae and the remaining eight in the familyThripidae are being listed as new to Kerala state records collected from different hosts. Diagnostic features, distribution and data on material studied for these species are given. The number of known species of terebrantian thrips in Kerala is thus increased to forty two
Efficacy of anthranilic insecticide E2Y45 20 SC (Chlorantraniliprole) against Plutella xylostella L. in cabbage, Brassica oleracea var. capitata
Get PDFExperiments were conducted at farmer’s cabbage fields to evaluate the bioefficacy of anthranilic insecticide i.e. E2Y45 20 SC (Chlorantraniliprole) having novel mode of action against the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella L. E2Y45 20 SC was applied @ 25.0, 37.5 and 50.0 ml/ha and was compared with Padan 50 SP (cartap hydrochloride) @ 500 g/ha and the untreated control. Lowest mean larval population after two sprays was recorded in higher dose of E2Y 45 20 SC i.e. @ 50.0 ml/ha (0.08 larvae/plant) at 7 days after treatment followed by medium and lower dose of E2Y 45 20 SC i.e. @ 37.5ml/ha (0.10 larvae/plant) and 25.0 ml/ha (0.33 larvae/plant). The larval population in these treatments was significantly lower than standard check, Padan 50 SP (2.56 larvae/plant), and untreated control (9.73 larvae/plant). The highest marketable yield (262.89 q/ha) was recorded in E2Y 45 20 SC @ 50.0 ml/ha which was significantly higher than Padan 50 SP (239.65 q/ha). Lowest yields were recorded in untreated control (106.00 q/ha). Conclusively, medium (37.5 ml/ha) and higher (50.0 ml/ha) dose of E2Y 45 20 SC (chlorantraniliprole) significantly reduced the larval population of P. xylostella and increased the cabbage yield
Impact of climate change on hydrology of Manjalar sub basin of river Vaigai in Tamil Nadu, India
Get PDFThis study evaluates the impacts of possible future climate change scenarios on the hydrology of the catchment area of the Manjalar sub basin of River Vaigai, Tamil Nadu, India carried out at the department of Soil and Water Conservation Engineering, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University during the period of 2011-2014 using Soiland Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). For the climate impact assessment the hydrological model was driven with output of bias corrected Earth System Models of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5): HadGEM2. Climate scenarios were downscaled to a grid resolution of 0.22° x 0.22°. In this study RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 were included for future assessment with three future periods: 2012–2039, 2040–2069, and 2070–2098. The projected increase in maximum and minimum temperature for RCP 4.5 scenario is 0.8 to 2.3 ºC and 0.7 to 1.6 ºC and for RCP 8.5 scenario is 1.1 to 4.0 ºC and 1.0 to 3.1 ºC, respectively. Rainfall is projected to an increase between 9.2 to 15.2 per cent for RCP 4.5 scenario and an increase of 13.6 to 18.8 per cent for RCP 8.5 scenario during 21st century. The soil water storage and stream flow contribution to ground water are likely to increase in RCP 4.5 scenario and it would again decline for RCP 8.5 scenario during 21st century. The increase in annual rainfall evapotranspiration and surface runoff would be more in RCP 8.5 scenario compared to RCP 4.5 scenario. The possible changes projected by the study provide a useful input to effective planning of water resources of the study area