Journal of Applied and Natural Science
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Effect of edible coatings for enhancing shelf-life and quality in Ber (Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk.) fruits
Get PDFAn experiment was conducted to study the effect of post-harvest application of different edible coatings like Chitosan (0.5%, 1.0%, 2.0%), Guar gum (1%, 1.5%, 2%), Gum tragacanth (1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0%) on shelf life and quality of cv. BAU ber. Fruits of uniform size were harvested at physiological maturity and treated with various edible coatings. Observations were recorded at intervals of 4 days from storage on physiological loss in weight, fruit length, breadth, colour, TSS, total sugar, reducing sugar,acidity, and ascorbic acid. The results revealed that coating of fruits resulted in reduced loss in fruit weight and higher level of ascorbic acid content, TSS, acidity, total sugar, reducing sugar as compared to the fruits under control. The most effective coating was Guar gum (2%) that extended the shelf life of ber up to 16 days. Fruits under control had a shelf life of only10 days
Growth and yield of transplanted rice as affected by different cultivars and weed management practices
Get PDFAn experiment was conducted to study the competitive ability of rice cultivars in different weed management practices in transplanted rice. Five cultivars viz. BPT-5204, Malviya 36, HUBR2-1, Swarna and Adamchini were tested for three weed management practices viz. Hand weeding, Bispyribac-sodium@25g ha-1 and Weedy check. Among the different cultivars tested, the Swarna proved to be the best selection in producing higher grain (4.6 t ha-1) and straw yield (5 t ha-1) as well as harvest index (44.4%) due to more no. of tillers hill-1, dry matter accumulation, no. of panicles hill-1, no. of grains/panicle and test weight (20.3 g). The grain and straw yield in Swarnawere 130 and 43% higher than the lowest yielding cultivar Adamchini respectively. The best weed control was achieved by hand weeding thrice at 25, 55 and 85 DAT. The grain yield was 58 and 27 % higher through hand weeding than that of weedy check and Bispyribac-sodium applied treatment, respectively. To examine the performance of different rice cultivars in terms of growth and yield potential, evaluation of these cultivars is necessary with different weed management practices. Therefore, release of best weed suppressive rice cultivars for the farmers is important for improving the productivity as well as reduced cost of production for feeding the ever growing population of the country in the year to come
Seed size and its influence on germination, seedling growth and biomass in Saraca asoca (Roxb). De Wilde, critically endangered tree species of Western ghats, India
Get PDFSaraca asoca (Roxb). De Wilde is one of the high traded medicinal plant species of India. There is a huge demand for bark of this species both in domestic and international markets. There is a demand for quality planting materials for large scale plantation. Forest department and farmers have already initiated captive plantation of this species. Several factors affect the seedling quality in nursery. Seed grading is one among them. The present study aims at understand the influence of seed size on seed germination and seedling vigour in S. asoca. Association study showed that seed length was positively correlated with seed weight (r= 0.887), seed width (r=0.697) and thickness (r=0.621). Therefore, seed length was used to categorize seedlot into small (< 30.0 mm), medium (30.1-40.0 mm) and large (> 40.1 mm) seeds. Result showed that larger seeds produced maximum germination (86.7%) as compared to smaller seeds (45.0%). Moreover, larger seeds attained higher collar diameter (3.34 mm) and dry biomass viz., leaf biomass (0.91 g), shoot biomass (0.31 g), root biomass (0.95 g) and entire seedling biomass (2.17 g) as compared to smaller seeds. Seedlings raised from medium seeds were at par with larger seeds in most of the traits. Therefore, it is suggested to use seedlot having > 30 mm length, preferably larger seeds (> 40 mm) in the nursery for better establishment of quality seedlings
Studies on intra-specific variations in the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae) under different geographical regions
Get PDFStudies on intraspecific variations in insect pests are an important tool for preparation of management strategy in different geographical regions. In this paper we tried to establish that these variations are also found in the diamondback moth (P. xylostella) populations under north Indian conditions with respect to reproductive biology.The pest populations were collected from five different geographical regions viz. Hisar (800feet), Kangra (2200feet), Solan (4200 feet), Theog (7500feet) and Kinnaur (9000feet) and then reared under laboratory conditions at 25±1oC on cauliflower. The life table analysis revealed that the female from the Kangra population laid maximum eggs (332.16 eggs/female) whereas the number of eggs laid by the female from the Hisar, Solan, Theog and Kinnaur population was 189.53, 207, 252 and 270 eggs/female, respectively. The doubling time (DT) was observed to be the lowest for Kangra (3.12 days) and maximum for the Hisar (4.59 days) population, whereas weekly multiplication rate was minimum for the Solan (2.252) and maximum for the kangra (4.73) population. The true generation time was the lowest for the Kangra (18.54 days) and highest for the Hisar (24.38 days) population. The true intrinsic rate of increase (rm) was found to be maximum (0.222 female progeny/female/day) for the Kangra whereas for the Kinnaur, Theog, Solan and Hisar population it was 0.203, 0.202, 0.182 and 0.151 female progeny/female/day thereby indicating that the Kangra population is more prolific as compared to the population from other geographical regions. The results are indicative of geographical variations among different populations of P. xylostella
Assessment of genetic diversity in Indian Barnyard millet (Echinochloa spp. complex) using morphological and molecular markers
Get PDFIn the present study, morphological and molecular markers (RAPD primers) were used to analyze the genetic diversity and genetic relationships among 21 accessions of Echinochloa spp. complex comprising the wild and cultivated species collected from Melghat and adjoining regions of Vidarbha, Maharashtra. The availability of diverse genetic resources is a prerequisite for genetic improvement of any crop including barnyard millet. A high degree of molecular diversity among the landraces was detected. Among the 21 genotypes, two major groups (A and B) were formed, at 67.28 % similarity, which clearly encompasses 15 accessions of E. frumentacea and 6 accessions of E. colona. Higher similarity was observed in accessions of E. frumentacea. The accessions IC 597322 and IC 597323 also IC 597302 and IC 597304 showed more than 94% similarity among themselves. The classification of genetic diversity has enabled clear-cut grouping of barnyard millet accessions into two morphological races (E. frumentacea and E. colona)
Effect of dietary zinc on the growth and metabolic enzyme activities of golden mahseer (Tor putitora) fry
Get PDFThe golden mahseer (Tor putitora) is an important and high valued sport and food fish of national and international importance. Therefore for promotion of golden mahseer, proper mineral supplementation in early developmental stages is very important. The present study evaluated the effects of dietary zinc on growth, survivaland physiological response of Tor putitora fry. One thousand eight hundred fry (avg.wt 54.35±3.09 mg) were randomly distributed into 6 treatment groups with triplicates each. Six iso-nitrogenous (40±0.02% to 41.44±0.01% crude protein) semi-purified diets were prepared with graded levels of dietary zinc. Zinc sulphate was added as the dietary zinc source to the basal diet. The results indicated that specific growth rate (SGR) was of value 2.52 ±0.23 gm of T. putitora fry which increased with dietary zinc levels up to a concentration of 40 mg Zn Kg-1 in diet. The zinc dependent metabolic enzymes and antioxidant enzymes was also observed to be highest in groups supplemented with 40 mg zinc/kg feed. The overall results of the present study suggest the efficacy of dietary zinc on growth, survival and physiological response of golden mahseer fry in order to garner the possibility of establishing the species to commercial aquaculture
Variable survival ability of rhizobacteria in cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) rhizosphere
Get PDFA study was undertaken to compare the survival efficacy of two native, previously characterized bacterial biovars viz. Bacillus subtilis BCU5 and Pseudomonas fluorescens PCU17 with Bacillus subtilis strain MTCC1789 and Pseudomonas fluorescens strain MTCC4828, procured from Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh,India in cumin rhizosphere and bulk soil. All the four bacterial types were made rifampicin resistant and the mutants were applied as inoculants at the dosage of 6 log, 7 log and 8 log colony forming units (cfu) g-1 dry soil weight in pots containing cumin seedlings. The cfu of rhizosphere and bulk soil of pots was observed per week for four weeks. The results show that the initial population decline is a common feature of bioinoculants. In rhizosphere and bulk soil, the native bacterial biovars survived better than their procured counterparts. The population of P. fluorescens strain MTCC4828r in rhizosphere soil declined faster and reached below detection limit whereas the P. fluorescens biovar PCUr rhizosphere final population dropped to 3.1 log, 2.9 log and 2.13 log cfu g-1 soil dry weight with 8 log, 7 log and 6 log cfu g-1 soil dry weight inoculum treatment, respectively. In contrast to P. fluorescens strain MTCC4828r, the population of B. subtilis strain MTCC1789r stabilized after some decline and was comparable with B. subtilis biovar BCU5 population. Study concludes that the inoculant population decline in soil was the result of lower microbial load carrying capacity of soil than the provided inoculum densities. Also, the native bacteria survived better than procured ones in rhizosphere soil
Mining bee Andrena (Agandrena) agilissima (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae): A new record from India with morphological and molecular notes
Get PDFThe mining bee Andrena agilissima (Scopoli, 1770), is recorded for the first time in India from the western agro-climatic zone of its Punjab state. This is the first account of morphological and molecular characteristics of A. agilissima. This new record now increases the number of mining bees known in India to 21. Taxonomic commentsand metric values of 40 morphological characters have been presented. The mean values for body length, head width, compound eye length, median ocellus diameter, forewing length and hamuli number were 14.04±0.04 mm, 4.26±0.003 mm, 2.327±0.008 mm, 0.255±0.005 mm, 12.75±0.022 mm and 17.00±0.00, respectively. Using thestandard barcoding protocols, cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 marker (standard DNA barcode region) based 658 bp DNA barcode sequence of the species has been established, as a first step towards the DNA barcode library of solitary bees of Punjab. The barcode sequence generated for the species has been registered by Gen- Bank, National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) under accession ‘KT960836’ and Barcode of Life Data (BOLD) Systems under Barcode Index Number ‘BOLD:AAY6909’. The floral sources for A. agilissima in Punjab are also provided. The results can be used to further study the races/ecotypes in different parts of country, habitat management studies, plant-pollinator interactions and in conservation programmes for the species. Further, the precise identification of A. agilissima and the inventory of its foraging plants would provide new opportunities for its potential use as pollinator of crops
Bioefficacy of some insecticides against shoot and fruit borer, Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee on brinjal under Hisar agro-climatic conditions during kharif season
Get PDFA field experiment was conducted to study the bioefficacy of some insecticides against Leucinodes orbonalis during kharif season of 2014 on brinjal var. BR-112 at Entomology Research Area of CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar. Five foliar sprays of insecticides viz., cypermethrin 25EC @ 43.75 g a.i/ ha, fenvalerate 20EC @40 g a.i/ ha, deltamethrin 2.8EC @ 14 g a.i/ ha, chlorpyriphos 20EC @ 200 g a.i/ ha, Prempt 20EC @ 150 g a.i/ ha, malathion 50EC @ 250 g a.i/ ha and Nimbecidine 0.03% @ 3 ml/l were evaluated and it was found that all the insecticides proved significantly superior (at 5% level) to control (untreated) in reducing the damage of shoot and fruit borer in brinjal. Among all, deltamethrin proved most effective in reducing shoot damage (60.40%) and fruit damage, on number basis (88.87%) and weight basis (88.89%) over control. Deltamethrin recorded the highest marketable fruit yield of 132.27q/ha and lowest was found in case of Nimbecidine (33.53 q/ha). Highest (1:8.7) cost to benefit ratio was recorded in deltamethrin followed by fenvalerate (1:8.5), cypermethrin (1:6.5), chlorpyriphos (1:4.5), Prempt (1:1.9), malathion (1:0.6) and Nimbecidine (1: -0.3). From these findings, it was revealed that synthetic pyretheroids being the most effective and economic over other insecticides, may be incorporated in IPM practices followed against brinjal shoot and fruit borer
Inside the plant: Bacterial endophytes and abiotic stress alleviation
Get PDFBacterial endophytes are the microbes internally associated with the plant, nourished in an isolated environment which is free from the external harsh and changeable ecological condition. They entered into the plant tissues and alleviate the biotic and abiotic stresses by producing numerous secondary metabolites. They are engaged with the de novo synthesis of structural compounds and stimulation of plant immunity. They are also involved in the process of exclusion of the pathogen by niche competition and actively take part in phenylpropanoid metabolism. Abiotic stresses in particular salinity problem, low pH, heavy metal toxicity and accumulation of recalcitrant complex compounds in the soil affecting the plant health are a major threat to the agriculture sector in crop production and stability of ecosystems. To cope with these problems agriculture productivity has been intensified by using synthetic chemicals and pesticides causes numerous problems worldwide. Endophytic bacteria are thus being utilized as a substitute to reduce the use of toxic chemicals and pesticides. They may be employed as a biological agent in the plant growth promotion and for the management of the global environment. There is a tremendous scope for the isolation and identification of new endophytic bacteria with excellent potential