Journal of Applied and Natural Science
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Quantitative variations in ovarian follicles of female Sprague Dawley rats after exposure to low dose gamma radiation
Get PDFIn the present experiment, an attempt was made to assess the genetic risk of low dose radiations in mammals. For this purpose female Sprague Dawley rats, 11-12 weeks old, were irradiated with whole body Co 60 gamma rays in three fractionated doses of 0.10 Gy (cumulative dose 0.30 Gy) given at an interval of one month at two different dose-rates (0.00368 Gy/min. and 0.0589 Gy/min.). Ovaries were studied for quantitative evaluation of follicles at 1, 4, 12, 28 and 52 weeks after last fractionated exposure. Quantitation revealed lower number of ovarian follicles in irradiated animals than in controls. The follicular number decreased with the advancement of time after last exposure (i.e. 2 months) and reached a peak level on 28 weeks. After that the recovery was evident but the number remained below 25% of total follicles even at 52 weeks autopsy interval, which indicated an irreversible damage in ovarian tissue. Primary follicles were found to be the most radiosensitive among the various types of follicles. The highest loss in these follicles was noted at 12 weeks after exposure with the high dose-rate, where only 10.61% of them were scored. Dose-rate exhibited an inverse relationship with the number of surviving follicles. At the higher dose-rate (0.0589 Gy / min.), depletion in the total follicular number was significantly higher than at the low dose-rate (0.00368 Gy/min.) used
Efficacy of animal origin products and ajwain powder against honey bee diseases in Apis mellifera (Linnaeus) colonies in Uttarakhand-A novel eco-friendly approach
Get PDFThe studies to manage the honey bee bacterial European foul brood ( EFB) disease caused by Melisococcus plutonius and ectoparasitic brood mite disease caused by Varroa destructor in the colonies of Apis mellifera (L.) at different locations of Uttarakhand were conducted during 2012- 2013 by applying eco-friendly formulations i.e. spraying of cow urine (desi cow breed), plant decoctions prepared in cow urine, cow dung cake and cow dung ash powders , ajwain seed powder and compared to an antibiotic, terramycin sugar syrup and synthetic chemicals, sulphur and thymol powder with two applications in a month. The data revealed that the cow urine sprays @ 50, 75 and 100% reduced the disease infection to below detectable limit in 10 to 14 days, respectively, as terramycin treated infected colonies where only 50-55% recovery was seen in EFB infection with highest sealed worker brood areas ( SWBA) in cow urine treated honeybee colonies in comparison to terramycin and untreated colonies. Similarly, on the other hand, cow urine (100%) significantly reduced brood mite infestation (72.10%) with highest mean mite fall (48.73) and highest (SWBA) (854.00 cm2) followed by ajwain powder with reduction in brood mi te infestation(65.84%) with mite fall (46.39) and SWBA (749.00 cm2), cow dung powder with reduction in brood mite infestation (71.35%) ,mite fall ( 42.87), SWBA (682.33 cm2), , followed by cow dung ash powder, cow urine @ 25%, in comparison to plant decoctions prepared in cow urine, synthetic chemicals i.e. thymol and sulphur powder after 4 weeks of treatments. Thus, the animal origin products and ajwain powder can serve as apotential eco- friendly measure for management of honeybee diseases in A. mellifera colonies at different locations of Uttarakhand as they significantly increased sealed worker brood area without affecting the activities of workers, queen bee and bee brood in comparison to chemicals and plant decoctions
Standardization of leaf age for radical scavenging activity in Terminalia arjuna
Get PDFTerminalia arjuna is one of the many such plant that used in indigenous system of medicine for curing different diseases. For effective formulation of herbal drug selection of proper age of the plant is imperative. In the present study, the T. arjuna plant (leaves) was collected from the Botanical garden of Saurashtra University. The leaves were grouped in to various size and growth analysis was performed. Each extract homogenized in methanol and was used for chlorophyll estimation and antioxidant activities. Radical scavenging activity of the methanol extract of different stages leaves were determined using a stable free radical 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH), using Micro plate assay. Further the phenolic compounds were separated by Reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography analysis (RP-HPLC). At the leaf stage when maximum antioxidant activity was observed, phenol like Gallic acid showed distinct peak. The role of phenolic compounds in antioxidant activities is discussed
Screening of three promising rice genotypes for rainfed shallow lowlands of red and lateritic areas of West Bengal, India
Get PDFA field experiment was conducted during kharif 2011-12 at Rice Research Station, Bankura, West Bengal to screen promising rice genotypes suitable for rainfed shallow lowland situation of red and lateritic areas of West Bengal. Among the thirty genotypes of rice tested, only three genotypes gave significantly higher yields over best check variety Swarna sub-1 (5324 kg ha-1). These three promising genotypes of rice were IET 21987 (6898 kg ha-1), IET 21979 (6759 kg ha-1) and IET 21996 (6342 kg ha-1). It is to be noted that IET 21987 is a nomination from Rice Research Station, Bankura, West Bengal. It was nominated to AICRIP trial IVT-RSL during 2010 in the designation of CN 1317-557-56-BNKR 42-2-3
Stage specific upregulation of antioxidant defence system in leaves for regulating drought tolerance in chickpea
Get PDFLeaf is one of the early sensors for the drought stress and is important to study drought tolerance mechanism. Activities of antioxidative enzymes and status of malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), proline and total phenols were studied in leaves of drought tolerant (PDG 3 and PDG 4) and susceptible (PBG 1, GPF 2, PBG 5, L 550 and BG1053) chickpea cultivars under irrigated and rainfed conditions at different development stages. In general, with the age of plant, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) increased but the activities of glutathione reductase (GR), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and peroxidase (POX) decreased in leaves. With some exceptions, in general, higher status of APX and POX in leaves at vegetative stage I (30 days after sowing) and II (60 days after sowing); GR at vegetative stage II and pre-flowering stage and SOD and CAT at seed filling stages in tolerant cultivars under drought stress reflected stage specific upregulation of antioxidant defence system in them. The relatively lower activities of APX and POX in old leaves during seed filling stage make them more prone to enhanced oxidative injury than the young leaves. Lower content of hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde in leaves of tolerant cultivars during seed filling reflects the impact of antioxidant defence system operative at that time. The higher accumulation of proline and total phenol in leaves of tolerant cultivars might be playing important role in drought stress tolerance. These results indicated the importance of upregulation of different antioxidant enzymes at variable stages of leaf development
Performance of pearl millet genotypes under irrigated and rainfed conditions at Hisar, India
Get PDFA field experiment was carried out at Research Farm of Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, India to evaluate the performance of pearl millet genotypes (HHB 67 ‘Improved’, HHB 197, HHB 223 and HHB 234) under different environment (rainfed and irrigated). Results showed that irrigated condition recorded significantly (p < 0.05) higher plant height, dry matter accumulation, root dry weight, ear head girth, test weight and yield of pearl millet than rainfed condition. Root length was significantly (p < 0.05) higher under rainfedthan irrigated condition. Genotypes were found significant (p < 0.05) with respect to plant height at harvest and HHB 234 recorded higher plant height. Genotype HHB 223 recorded higher earhead girth (2.6 cm) and test weight (11.16 g) compared to other genotypes. Interaction effect was also found significant (p < 0.05) with respect to plant height, dry matter accumulation, root length and weight and yield. These were higher in genotype HHB 223 and HHB 234 under irrigated and rainfed condition respectively but at 20 days after sowing, longest root was observed in genotype HHB 67 ‘Improved’ under rainfed condition and genotype HHB 197 under irrigated condition. To examine the performance of pearl millet genotypes in terms of survivality and yield potential, evaluation trials are necessary under different environment. Therefore, release of those varieties under different situations are essential for the sustainability of the fragile arid and semi arid regions of country
Effect of different sowing times and spacings on growth, yield and quality of water spinach (Ipomoea reptans Poir.) under terai region of West Bengal
Get PDFAn experiment was conducted to find out suitable sowing time and spacing as to increase the production of both green and seed yield and its quality of water spinach (Ipomoea reptans Poir.) during the year 2007-08 and 2008-09. The experiment was comprised of three sowing times (1st week of May; 1st week of June and 1st week July) and three spacings (30 cm × 15 cm; 30 cm ×30 cm and 30 cm ×45 cm). It was found that early sowing on 1st week of May and closest spacing of 30 cm ×15 cm alone and their combination executed best results with respect to all parameters. The sowing on 1st week of May with closest spacing of 30 cm ×15 cm produced about 3.26 times higher green yield (18.83 t/ha). On the other hand, sowing on 1st week of June with 30 cm ×15 cm spacing contributed 52.95 percent higher seed yield (0.78 t/ha). All the seed quality testing parameters viz. shelling percentage (62.53), 1000 seed weight (40.56 g), germination percentage (82.40), seedling vigour index (5.38) and seedling growth rate (0.091 g/plant/day) were observed to be highest in 1st week of June with widest spacing of 30 cm ×45 cm. On economic point of view, the combination of 1st week of May along with 30 cm ×15 cm spacing was noticed to be superior amongst all other treatment combinations and that may be adopted for its commercial cultivation in medium to upland situation under terai region of West Bengal
Evaluation of French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) genotypes for seed production
Get PDFAn experimental study was conducted during 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 at Horticulture Research Station, Mondouri, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Monhanpur, Nadia, West Bengal, India, to evaluate the performance of fourteen different bush type French bean genotypes for seed yield and to study varietal characterization based on plant morphology. The genotypes, studied under this experiment were namely, Abhay, Shillong Local-3, Arjun, Selection-9, Arka Anoop, Arka Komal, Badshah, Anupam, Arka Suvidha, Falguni, Sonali, Local, Victoria and Vaishnavi-264. From overall point of view of the outcome of the experiment, it has been revealed that genotype with relatively bolder seeds with more number of seeds per pod, and higher bearing capacity per plant generally gives higher seed yield. Among the genotypes under study, Arka Suvidha was the best one as it produced the highest seed yield (2180.92 kg/ha) and relatively good plant vigour and fairly high seed vigour index (2944.38). Falguni and Mohanpur Local also can be considered promising once for seed production point of view
Ethno-botanical survey for wild plants in fringe villages around Shimla Water Catchment Sanctuary, Himachal Pradesh, India
Get PDFIn this study an ethno-botanical survey was carried out in the fringe villages located at the periphery of Shimla Water Catchment Sanctuary. As the sanctuary area is not completely fenced the villagers have an access inside the sanctuary. An attempt was made to prepare a document of important flora and information from local community about their ethnic uses. The indigenous knowledge of local traditional uses was collected by personal interviews during field trips. Plants with their correct nomenclature were arranged by family name, vernacular name, part use, ethno-botanical remedies and uses. Plants having uses in medicine, ornamental, fodder and many other were studied. The study was entirely focused on revealing the medicinal potential possessed by the plants growing wild in this area and their sustainability for the betterment of mankind
Fungicidal effect of some non-conventional chemicals for management of alternaria blight disease of mustard
Get PDFAlternaria blight disease of mustard caused by a necrotrophic fungus Alternaria brassicae (Berk.) Sacc. Is one of the most important limiting factors, causing yield losses of up to 47% in mustard (Brassica juncea). The aim of this present investigation was to evaluate the fungicidal effect of non-conventional chemicals viz. calcium sulphate (CaSO4), potassium chloride (KCl), potassium sulphate (K2SO4), zinc sulphate (ZnSO4) and borax (Na2B4O7.10H2O) against alternaria blight disease of mustard. The significantly minimum size of spot was recorded in T1 CaS at 0.5% (1.73) followed by T3 CaS at 1.5% (1.75) and T2 CaS at 1.0% (1.78) respectively in comparison to check. The minimum number of average leaf spots/25 mm2 leaf area was observed in T3 CaS at 1.5% (1.78) followed by T1 CaS at 0.5% (2.26). T1 CaS @ at 0.5% showed significantly lowest disease index (13.00%) followed by T15 NaB at 0.75% (17.77%) and T8 KS at 1.0% (18.00%) respectively over check. The average minimum apparent infection rate was recorded in T1 CaS at 0.5% ( 0.504) followed by T9 KS at 1.5% (0.553) and T3 CaS at 1.5% (0.573) respectively. The AUDPC was significantly minimum in all the treatments of CaSO4 i.e. in T1 CaS at 0.5% (32.25), T2 CaS at 1.0% (33.8) and T3 CaS at 1.5% (35.55) in comparison to check (77.95). The foliar spray of CaSO4 at 0.5% concentration induced resistance significantly against alternaria blight and reduce pesticide residue in food and environment