Journal of Applied and Natural Science
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Impact of elevated temperature on root traits and microbial interaction in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) genotypes
Get PDFClimate change mainly alters the plant phyllosphere and rhizosphere resource allocations. Compared with shoot parameters, there is less information about how roots, especially root system architecture (RSA) and their interactions with others, may respond to elevated temperature changes. These responses could greatly influence different species acquisition of resources and their competition with their neighbours. The main aim of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of ambient temperature (T1) and elevated temperature (+4oC) (T2) in Open-top chamber (OTC) on root traits and microbial interaction changes in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). A pot experiment was conducted at the Department of Crop Physiology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, during 2020-2021 to investigate the root traits and microbial interactions. Cotton varieties, namely KC3, SVPR6, TSH325, TSH357 and TSH375 were screened at the seedling level for cellular thermo tolerance and further, at the root level, these selected varieties were studied against the elevated temperature condition for 10 days in OTC during the stage of flowering to boll development period along with control temperature condition. Root interactions\u27 intensity and direction may fluctuate as a result of variations in RSA responses between species. Negative root interactions could become more intense under high temperature circumstances and species with bigger roots and greater early root growth had stronger competitive advantages. The present findings showed that elevated temperatures promote various microbial growths in the geothermal regions, enhancing the root angle and root length of cotton species. Among the genotypes, KC3 and SVPR6 performed better under elevated temperatures.
Carbon management Index under different land uses of Conoor region of Western ghats in Tamil Nadu
Get PDFThe increased land-use change (LUC) from native lands to other land use at the Conoor region of western ghats in Tamil Nadu has severely declined soil carbon concentration. Therefore to quantify this decline, Carbon Management Index (CMI) was worked out under major land uses {(Forest (FOR), cropland (CRP), tea plantation (TEA)} using total organic carbon (TOC) and carbon pools under varying degrees of lability {a) NLC (non-labile carbon) b) VLC (very labile carbon) c) LC (labile carbon) d) LLC (less labile carbon)}. Results portray that the carbon pools were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in FOR than in TEA and CRP. The contribution of active pools {(very labile carbon (VLC) and labile carbon (LC)} towards TOC was higher in TEA and CRP, whereas in FOR, the passive pool {(less labile carbon (LLC) and non-labile carbon (NLC)} was higher. TOC (0-45 cm) was concentrated on the surface soils of FOR (32.88 g kg-1), CRP (11.87 g kg-1) and TEA (18.84 g kg-1) and it gradually declined with the increase in depth. The decline in TOC was maximum between 0 – 15 and 15 – 30 cm depth in CRP (30.62%) and FOR (22.17%), whereas it was maximum (37.16%) between 15 -30 and 30 -45 cm depth in TEA. Therefore, LUC spotlights the degradation of carbon pools and its extent was quantified using the carbon management index (CMI). The CMI (0 – 45 cm) recorded at CRP (12.93) and TEA (32.62) signals the need for an implementation of carbon management strategies at Conoor to keep the soils alive and protect biodiversity
Assessment of rice (Co 51) seed ageing through volatile organic compound analysis using Headspace-Solid Phase Micro Extraction/ Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (HS-SPME/GCMS)
Get PDFSeed ageing is an inevitable process that reduces seed quality during storage. When seeds deteriorate as a result of the lipid peroxidation process, it leads to produce toxic volatile organic compounds. These volatiles served as an indicator for the viability of stored seeds. With this background, the study was conducted to profile the volatile organic compounds emitted from rice seeds during storage. Volatile profiling of stored rice var. Co 51 seeds was done through Headspace-Solid phase microextraction/ Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GCMS). The study clearly demonstrated that the significant decrease in physiological and biochemical quality attributes was noted due to an increase in the strength of volatiles released during ageing. When the release of total volatile strength reached more than 40%, a significant reduction in physiological attributes such as germination, root and shoot length, dry matter production and vigour index were observed. With respect to biochemical properties, a significant increase in electrical conductivity of seed leachate, lipid peroxidation and lipoxygenase activity, and decrease in dehydrogenase, catalase and peroxidase activities were observed. However, the highest reduction in all these properties were recorded when the total volatile strength reached to 54.90%. Finally, the study concluded that, among all the volatiles, 1-hexanol, 1-butanol, ethanol, hexanal, acetic acid, hexanoic acid and methyl ester were the most closely associated volatiles with seed deterioration. It indicates that these components could be considered the signature components for assessing the seed quality in rice during storage.
Community composition and status of avian diversity at Campus and Agricultural landscapes of Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar (Haryana)
Get PDFAvian species diversity and their assemblage are responsible for maintaining the integrity and health of any ecosystem. Documentation of avian diversity in different habitats is sensitive tool for monitoring the environmental condition. The present investigation aimed to record the diversity of avian fauna at the main campus and agricultural landscapes of Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana agricultural University, Hisar (Haryana). Line transect and point count methods were used to taking observations on different species of birds. A total of 101 bird species under 17 orders 43 families and 86 genera were recorded; out of them, 78, 17, 5 and one species were resident, winter migrant, summer migrant and passage migrant, respectively. Species richness of order Passeriformes was highest, followed by Pelecaniformes and Muscicapidae, the most diverse family in the study area. Analysis of food and feeding guilds revealed that the insectivorous guild is predominant, followed by Omnivore, Carnivore, Granivore, Frugivore and Nectarivore. Out of the total observed species, 23 have declining population trends at global level, whereas three species (Alexandrine Parakeet, Asian Woollyneck, Black-headed ibis) are listed as Near Threatened and Common Pochard is vulnerable as per IUCN Red List. The species richness was significantly higher in farmland, followed by main campus and experimental orchards. Jaccard’s similarity index between habitats revealed that the main campus and farmland area has a maximum (0.73) similarity in bird communities. This emphasises the significance of these study sites as key habitats for bird species of conservation priorities
Exogenous melatonin improves seed germination and seedling growth in greengram under drought stress
Get PDFDrought stress diminishes seedling germination and vigor by reducing water uptake, inhibiting plant growth and development. Most of the pulse growing areas are under rainfed ecosystems, which significantly reduces crop yield. Melatonin, a growth-regulating compound, is widely used to mitigate the negative effects of abiotic stresses in pulses. With this background, a laboratory experiment was conducted to standardize the optimum melatonin concentration for seed treatment and foliar application in greengram, to minimize the ill effects of drought stress. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications for each treatment. The treatments consisted of soaking seeds with different melatonin concentrations, viz., 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 μM. Seeds were sown in a perti dishes and the drought stress was imposed using poly ethylene glycol 6000 (PEG 6000) @ - 0.4 MPa, and plates were maintained at room temperature (24-30 °C). After the seedlings emerged, various seedling growth parameters like germination percentage, shoot length, root length, vigor index, promptness index, germination stress tolerance index, fresh and dry weight of the seedlings, plant height stress index and root length stress index were recorded. The experimental results showed that drought stress significantly reduced germination percentage and other growth-related parameters in greengram seedlings compared to the melatonin treatments. Among the melatonin treatments, seeds treated with @ 100 μM concentration recorded the highest germination percentage (99.67 %), promptness index (98.80), vigour index (1631.68), shoot and root length (8.9 cm and 7.5 cm), fresh and dry weight of the seedlings (3.249 and 0.147 mg seedling-1) under PEG induced drought stress condition
Acaricidal efficiency of solar 50 % new emulsifiable concentrate formulation against the two-spotted spider mite (TSSM) Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) under laboratory and greenhouse conditions
Get PDFOils are some of the most efficient and secure alternatives to synthetic fungicides, acaricides and insecticides used as pesticides for decades. Around the world, mineral oils are a potential pesticide against many pests. To provide novel active ingredients and new pesticide formulations to the pesticide industry, the major goal of this research was to formulate one of the petroleum fractions and test its acaricidal efficiency against two-spotted spider mite (TSSM), Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae). Solar\u27s physical features were put to the test. Then, it was prepared as an emulsifiable concentrate following the guidelines provided by specialized pesticide organizations for this kind of formulation. The novel formulation was subsequently biologically tested against T. urticae adults in the lab, and it demonstrated good acaricidal activity with an LC50 of 4548 ppm. Under greenhouse conditions, it was also tested against T. urticae immature, adults (males and females) and number of deposited eggs. There was a direct correlation for all stages between concentration, the percentage of immature and adult mortality, and the percentage of egg-hatching inhibition. In the case of the immature, 100% mortality was shown after 7 days of treatment. However, in the case of adult males and females, 100% mortality was shown after 3 days of treatment. Additionally, after 14 days from treatment, it entirely stopped egg depositing. The new formulation might be applied to manage the TSSM.
Modulation of A375 human melanoma cell proliferation and apoptosis by nitric oxide
Get PDFThe present study aimed to assess the effect of NO• on melanoma A375 cell growth and apoptotic cell death. Trypan blue exclusion assay was employed to detect the cytotoxicity induced by controlled steady-state concentrations (given in µM • min) of NO•. The characteristics of the cellular cell cycle and apoptosis in NO•-treated A375 cells were also analyzed by Annexin V/PI and DNA fragmentation assays. Western blotting was applied to detect the expression of apoptosis-related proteins (p53, Bax, Fas, DR5, caspase-3 and -9, and PARP). When exposed to preformed 100% NO• for 8 h reactor system, a cumulative dose of 3360 μM • min reduced the viability by 22% 24 h after treatment and promoted apoptosis, 2.9- and 12.2-folds 24 and 48 h after treatment higher than the argon control, respectively. Cell cycle analysis 48 h after treatment revealed S-phase arrest in cells treated with 3360 μM • min NO•. It was also observed that the expression of p53, DR5, caspase 9 and PARP increased significantly upon NO• treatment. In addition, the present study assessed the inhibitory effects of endogenous NO• on the proliferation of human melanoma cells by employing specific (AMG, 1400W and/or SMTC) and nonspecific (NMA) NO• synthase (NOS) inhibitors resulting in melanoma cell growth inhibition; the highest cytotoxic effect was seen when inducible NOS inhibition by 1 mM 1400W treatment. Collectively, the present data suggest that NO• is involved in a key mechanism limiting melanoma proliferation and apoptosis, which may play in improving the efficacy of melanoma treatment
A comparative study of regional climate trends in the Keoladeo and Bhitarkanika wetlands, India
Get PDFThe climate trend is one of the most dominant factors likely to affect the structure and function of the wetlands of Keoladeo and Bhitarkanika. This study compares the climate conditions and trends of two Ramsar sites in India, the Bhitarkanika and Keoladeo wetlands. Forty-year climate data (1980-2020) were used to identify and measure the strength of possible climate change in these habitats. Mann-Kendall’s test, Sen’s slope estimates and Sequential Mann-Kendall’s (SQMK) test were used to study the long-term and short-term trends of rainfall and climate of Bhitarkanika and Keoladeo. The results of this study matched those of earlier studies conducted at a larger geographical scale. The study indicated significant changes in the parameters of rainfall and temperature trends. A significant increase in annual rainfall (Sen’s slope = 5.24E+00, New p value = 2.75E-02) was observed at Bhitarkanika, while the trend at Keoladeo was positive but insignificant. Both ecosystems are getting warmer. Seasonal changes were also identified in the rainfall and temperature. The summer temperature rise was comparatively stronger at Keoladeo (Tmax: Sen’s slope=2.33E-02, New p value=2.45E-02; Tmin: Sen’s slope=2.68E-02, New p value=1.39E-02). An increase in monsoon temperature was also recorded in both ecosystems. Both wetland ecosystems are vulnerable to climate change, but the Keoladeo wetland is at higher risk because stronger temperature changes have occurred in the past four decades. The SQMK test also suggests a more erratic climate in the Keoladeo wetlands. The study highlights the comparative changes occurring in both ecosystems. This is the first study identifying both long-term and short-term changes in these wetlands at a smaller geographical scale
Importance of silicon in combating a variety of stresses in plants: A review
Get PDFThe abundance of silicon (Si) in the earth\u27s crust is found as silicon dioxide (SiO2). But this abundance of Si is not a sign that the plants take up an adequate amount of Si. This review article incorporates research based on Si to understand the importance of Si in plants under various stress conditions and its role in sustainable agricultural production. Si\u27s application is considered a better approach to providing stress tolerance to plants under stress conditions. The review describes the different phases of Si, its absorption, transport in plants, and its various mechanisms of action to tolerate specific stresses. The uptake and transport of Si through various Si transporters have also been reported. This review also discusses the various mechanisms of Si under biotic or abiotic stress in different plants. The application of Si improves soil quality and soil health and enhances the soil microbial population. In addition, the role of Si in the upregulation and down-regulation of proteins under stressful conditions has also been reported. The information can help to better understand the importance and mechanism of Si in plants and its application in agriculture
Authentication of Harpullia arborea (Blanco) Radlk. - a traditional medicinal plant from India using microscopic techniques
Get PDFHarpullia arborea (Blanco) Radlk., Sapindaceae, known as “black doll’s eyes” or “tulip tree” is a rainforest tree distributed in the tropical forests of peninsular India. Out of the 26 species of the genus, H. arborea is therapeutically more studied and widely used in folk and ayurvedic medicine. In this work, anatomical study of the leaves and stem of H. arborea was performed to provide a microscopical diagnosis for its characterization due to its increasing use in folk and ayurvedic medicine and its differentiation from other species with the same popular name. Standard light and scanning electron microscopy procedures were carried out using paradermal sections of leaf surfaces and transverse sections of lamina, midrib, and petiole. Stem preparations include longitudinal, radial and transverse sections of tertiary branches. The leaf epidermis with stellate non-glandular trichomes, cyclocytic stomata, mucilaginous cells and mesophyll without secretory sclereids, and the stem with confluent axial parenchyma, biseriate xylem rays, and the presence of rhomboidal prismatic crystals in the axial cells are the diagnostic microscopic features of the species. This structural characterization of the stem and leaf allows the identification of H.arborea, allowing certification of the authenticity of raw material