Journal of Applied and Natural Science
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Seed polymer coating with Zn and Fe nanoparticles: An innovative seed quality enhancement technique in pigeonpea
A laboratory study was undertaken to know the effect of seed polymer coating with Zn and Fe nanoparticles (NPs) at different concentration (10, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500, 750 and 1000 ppm) in pigeonpea at Department of Seed Science and Technology, UAS, Raichur. Among the treatments seed polymer coating with Zn NPs at 750 ppm recorded significantly higher seed germination (96.00 %), seedling length (26.63 cm), seedling dry weight (85.00 mg), speed of germination (32.95), field emergence (89.67 %), seedling vigour index (2556), dehydrogenase activity (0.975 OD value) and ?-amylase activity (25.67 mm) and lowest abnormal seedlings (2.50 %) over their bulk forms and control followed by Fe and Zn NPs at 500 ppm. However, in contrast to beneficial effects, these NPs also shown inhibitory effect on germination and seedling growth at higher concentration (nano Zn >750 ppm and nano Fe > 500 ppm). Hence, from the results it is concluded that Zn NPs at 750 ppm can be used to enhance quality of the pigeonpea seeds
Screening of Brassica germplasm against Albugo candida (White rust disease) on Brassica species (Rapeseed-mustard)
White rust distributed worldwide, caused by Albugo candida (Pers. Ex. Lev.) Kuntze. (A. Cruciferarum S. F. Gray) is one of the major disease responsible in reducing the yield of rapeseed-mustard. Among various management approaches use of resistant varities is consider best, as it is cost effective and environment friendly. However, till now only few resistant sources against the disease has been reported. Therefore, in the present investigation 70 rapeseed-mustard germplasm have been evaluated in field under epiphytotic conditions during 2011-12 and 2012-13 crop seasons. All the germplasms showed similar disease reaction after screening in both the years. Among 70 germplasm, seven germpalsms i.e. DLDC-1, DRMR-100, DRMR-312, EC-339000, GSL-1, NPJ-158 and RH-0644 were found free from the disease with 0% disease severity. These germplasms could be used in breeding programmes for the development of resistant genotypes having high yield potential
Signature capture of red soil patches and their acidity-A case study of Banka district, Bihar, India
Colour in soils as well as other object is the visual perceptual property which is perceived by human eye. They are governed by spectrum of light corresponding to wavelength or reflected energy of the material. Developed model for soil acidity is based on visual interpretation, principal component and spectral enhancement techniques by using of the satellite image (IRS LISS III, 2014). In this context, red soil patch is much sensitive in red spectral band comparison to green and blue spectral bands and perceived as red tone by human eyes but same soil patch appears green in false colour composite (FCC) image of NIR (0.70-0.80?m), Red (0.60-0.70 ?m) and Green (0.50-0.60?m) bands. The maximum coverage of red soil patches having low pH < 6.5 (1:2.5) was recognized in 44.07 per cent of the total geographical area (3019.56 sq.km) under Banka district. Maximum red soil patches having their acidity were recognised in Katoria (18.56%), Chanan (15.15%), Bounsi (10.44%) and Banka (9.92%) blocks. Overall results indicated that variation of tone in different bands helps for the separation of red soil patches
Study of heterosis and combining ability for earliness and vegetative traits in Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)
The present investigation was undertaken to investigate the extent of heterosis and combining ability on earliness, vegetative traits and yield of Cucumber. A field experiment was designed in line x tester mating design with 11 parents (including 8 parthenocarpic lines namely Pant parthenocarpic cucumber-2, Pant parthenocarpic cucumber-3, Nun-3139, Nun-3121, Nun-3141, Infifnity, Isatis, Kian, and 3 monoecious testers namely PCUC-8, PCUC-15, Pant Kheera -1 {also known as PCUC-28}) and their 24 F1 hybrids to work out the heterosis and combining ability for earliness and yield characters. All traits pertinent to earliness and yield showed significant values for heterosis and combining ability. Appreciable heterosis in desirable direction was found over better parent and check parent by the cross PCUCP-3 x PCUC-15 for earliness characters viz. days to first female flower (-71.18 & -70.31), days to first harvest (-3.40 & -22.01) whereas Cross Kian x PCUC-15 showed maximum number of fruits per plant (8.36 & 106.35) and fruit yield (86.34 & 210.74 respectively). The crosses PCUCP-3 x PCUC-15 and Nun-3139 x PCUC-8 showed significant specific combining ability for earliness and yield characters. Cross Nun-3139 x PCUC-8 showed significant yield regarding heterosis and SCA. Regarding general combining ability for earliness parent Isatis and for yield characters parent Kian stood in top. Cross Nun-3139 x PCUC-8 showed Maximum specific combining ability for node number to first female flower (-0.98), number of fruits per plant (3.39) and fruit yield (220.57)
Effect of low cost mole drainage technology on yield of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under waterlogged vertisols of Maharashtra, India
The field experiment was conducted on performance of mole drainage under irrigated and waterlogged vertisols of Maharashtra at Agricultural Research Station, K. Digraj, Dist. Sangli (M.S.), India during 2009-10 to 2011 -12. An experimental layout of different mole spacings viz. mole drainage (MD) with 2 m (T1), 4 m (T2), 6 m mole spacing (T3) and without drainage i.e. control (T4) in a randomized block design with five replications. The results revealed that the weighted means of yield attributing parameters of chickpea and pooled mean of chickpea yield recorded highest in MD with 4 m mole spacing and which was at par with 6 m mole drain spacing as compare to control plot (without mole drainage). The MD with 2 m mole spacing recorded significantly lowest chickpea yield among mole drained plots which was at par with control. This study indicated that the MD with 4 m mole spacing is recommended for economically feasible production of chickpea under irrigated and waterlogged vertisols of Maharashtra
Effect of different levels of citric acid on quality and storage stability of sugar and jaggery based papaya (Carica papaya L.) fruit bar
A study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of different level of citric acid and packaging material on physico chemical quality, sensory quality and shelf life of developed papaya fruit bar .The study revealed that the moisture content (19.06% to 16.95% in PET jars – 19.06% to 17.06% in glass jars), TSS (64.17 to 69.30°Brix in PETjars and 64.17 to 69.46°Brix in glass jars), Vitamin- C (55.30 to 45.80 mg/100mg in PET jars and 55.30 to 46.75 mg/100mg in glass jars) and total plate count decreased with increasing the level of citric acid from 0.5 to 1.0% after 90 days of storage in. During storage there was a reduction in moisture content, pH and vitamin-C, where as TSS (total soluble solids), optical density and total plate count increased during storage. No microbial detection in developed fresh fruit bar was found. The organoleptic score of the bar samples in glass jars at 0.75% citric acid level was found to be higher followed by samples packed in PET jars and the developed fruit bar was well acceptable even after 90 days of storage. The result indicated that sugar50+jaggery50 at 0.75 percent citric acid level gave better products after 90 days of storage followed by sugar50+jaggery50 at 0.5 percent and sugar50+jaggery50 at 1.0 percent
Molecular characterization of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes using sequence tagged microsatellite site (STMS) markers
Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) commonly also known as gram, Chana, Bengal gram and Garbanzo beans is the second most important pulse crop of the world mainly grown in arid and semi-arid regions. Assessment of genetic variability in the base population is the first step in any breeding programme for selection of genetically divergent parents and their use in the crop improvement programme. In the present investigation 20 genotypes of chickpea were characterized using a specific set of 15 numbers of Sequence tagged microsatellite site (STMS) markers. The number of alleles, allelic distribution and their frequency was estimated and found that the 36 alleles amplified with 15 STMS loci having an average of 2.4 alleles per locus. The number of alleles amplified varied from 1 to 4. The Polymorphic information content value ranged from 0 to 0.965 with an average of 0.373 indicated the considerable efficiency of markers for studying the polymorphism level. All primer showed higher polymorphism among the genotypes except two primers namely, TAA59 and GA105 which were monomorphic in nature. Genetic similarity based on UPGMA clustering the dendrogram grouped the 20 genotypes in three clusters, cluster I, II, III comprised of 2, 4, 14 genotypes, respectively. The maximum similarity was found between genotypes ICRISAT-4183 and ICRISAT- 7722 (0.972). The present study provided an insight of the inter-relationship among the genotypes and highlights the genetic distance by STMS markers. The genetic diversity revealed in this study could be exploited for selective breeding programme of chickpea improvement
Status, abundance and population ecology of Nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus Pallas) in Aligarh District, Uttar Pradesh, India
The data on population ecology of nilgai was collected in Aligarh District, Uttar Pradesh, India from August 2013 to June 2014. A total of 108 herds of nilgai 54 in each season (summer and winter) were encountered, respectively. The density of nilgai was found 0.49/km2 in Aligarh district. While the encounter rate was found 0.66individuals per km. There was a mark seasonal change seen in group size of nilgai i.e. 11.38 ± 2.76, and 22.83 ± 5.40 in winter and summer, respectively. The overall mean group size was found 17.10 ± 4.08. The sex ratio of nilgai was female biased, adult male:adult female ratio was found 1:3 while overall sex ratio was found 61.55%,26.32% and 44% male, yearling and calves on per 100 females, respectively. The nilgai shows mark seasonal change in their group structure. The group size was found maximum at 25% in 0-5 individual category and minimum 9.25 in >21 category in winter, while about 30% were seen in >21 category and only 11% were seen in between 0-5 category in summer season. Thus, the nilgai was found less sociable in winter and more gregarious in summer season
Evaluation of management of bacterial stalk rot of maize (Dickeya zeae) using some chemicals and bio-agents
A virulent strain (M-13) of Dickeya zeae causing bacterial stalk rot of maize, isolated from Hoshiarpur district of Punjab was tested against different antimicrobial agents. Five antibacterial chemicals viz., stable bleaching powder, streptocycline, cristocycline, blitox, kocide and one bioagent (Pseudomonas fluorescens) were evaluated against D. zeae under in vitro and in vivo condition. The chemicals were tested with different concentrations i.e. 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1000 and >1000 ppm and bioagent supernatant used as such without any dilutions. All the test chemicals and bioagent (P. fluorescens strains) reduced the log cfu/ml of D. zeae. Amongst chemicals, stable bleaching powder with 100 ppm concentration showed most effective antibacterial activity which reduced the population of D. zeae with 6.35 log cfu/ml and amongst P. fluorescence strains, MPF-5 strain showed effective result with 8.07 log cfu/ml. In field condition bleaching powder also showed good result to reduce the disease severity with increased the crop yield when used as both methods (drenching and dusting). However, post inoculation drenching with 100ppm concentration showed minimum mean of disease severity (7.13%) with high yield (7.4 kg) in all three maize cultivars (Dekalb Double, Punjab Sweet Corn-1 and PMH-1). The increase yield per cent as compared to control was 52.4% in Dekalb Double, 64% in Punjab Sweet Corn-1 and 57.9 % in PMH-1 maize cultivars
Litterfall, decomposition and nutrient release patterns of different tree species in Taran Taran district of Punjab, India
The present investigation was attempted to assess the leaf litter production, decomposition rate and amount of major nutrient return in Populus deltoides, Eucalyptus tereticornis, Tectona grandis and Pyrus pyrifolia based agroforestry land use systems in Taran Taran district which falls in the north western agro-climatic zone of thePunjab state, India. The litter production in selected tree species was quantified using litter traps and decomposition pattern of leaf litter was investigated by litter bag technique. Litterfall in the selected tree species varied significantly (5 % level of significance) during different months of the study period. Among the four species, P. deltoides exhibited highest leaf litter production (7.8 tons/ha) followed by T. grandis (1.83 tons/ha) and E. tereticornis (1.77 tons/ha) whereas, lowest leaf litter production was observed in P. pyrifolia (0.34 tons/ha). The present study also showed that temperature as compared to rainfall play a significant (5 % level of significance) role in litter decomposition. In case of P. pyrifolia, P. deltoides and T. grandis decomposition take place 100 per cent, 98 per cent and 99 per cent respectively after 10 months whereas in E. tereticornis 87.7 per cent leaf decomposed after 10 months. The nutrients percentage through litter fall was maximum of nitrogen (2.27 %) followed by potassium (1.90 %) and phosphorous (0.32 %). Maximum and minimum N input through leaf litter was in P. deltoides (2.27 %) and P. pyrifolia (1.15 %). The K input (%) was maximum in leaves of T. grandis (0.32) and minimum in E. tereticornis (0.21). The maximum input of P (%) through leaf litter was in P. deltoides (1.90) whereas, minimum value was observed in E. tereticornis (1.27). Tree based agroforestry land use systems improve soil nutrient status as compared to traditional wheat and paddy based land use systems under this region of Punjab. Therefore tree based land use systems need to be promoted over the traditional field crops for realizing better environmental benefits in this region