Microbial Contributions for Rice Production: From Conventional Crop Management to the Use of ‘Omics’ Technologies

Rice, the main staple food for about half of the world’s population, has had the growth of its production stagnate in the last two decades. One of the ways to further improve rice production is to enhance the associations between rice plants and the microbiome that exists around, on, and inside the plant. This article reviews recent developments in understanding how microorganisms exert positive influences on plant growth, production, and health, focusing particularly on rice. A variety of microbial species and taxa reside in the rhizosphere and the phyllosphere of plants and also have multiple roles as symbiotic endophytes while living within plant tissues and even cells. They alter the morphology of host plants, enhance their growth, health, and yield, and reduce their vulnerability to biotic and abiotic stresses. The findings of both agronomic and molecular analysis show ways in which microorganisms regulate the growth, physiological traits, and molecular signaling within rice plants. However, many significant scientific questions remain to be resolved. Advancements in high-throughput multi-omics technologies can be used to elucidate mechanisms involved in microbial–rice plant associations. Prospectively, the use of microbial inoculants and associated approaches offers some new, cost-effective, and more eco-friendly practices for increasing rice production.

Assessment of the Trend and Development of Regional Economy in Central Asia

Assessment the trend of regional economic development is significant to address the economic situation and developmental policy. This study assesses the regional economic development in Central Asia since 1992. Several developmental indicators were applied. The results demonstrated that the regional economy was gradually growing. Relatively, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan enjoyed a rapid economic growth. Production of oil increased in Kazakhstan as exporting rose to China whereas declined in Uzbekistan – shifted to natural gas. Central Asia is moving gradually toward industrial and trade economic sector. Nevertheless, enormous natural resources were exported from Central Asia to China and Russia, and strong economic relationship was established with Europe, India and Algeria. Therefore, this research is significant for general understanding in economic growth of Central Asia, and it may be helpful for further studies.

Role of Organic Growth Supplement In vitro Multiplication of Orchid Species- A Review

The main purpose of this article is to review role of several organic growth additives such Apple juice, coconut water (CW), maize extract, banana homogenate (BH), peptone and protocorms etc which stimulate the multiplication rate of various orchid species in in vitro multiplication. These organic growth supplements help to increase the number of shoots, root and leaf in culture medium. In many orchid tissue culture, organic growth supplements, which are the most essential medium aspect to stimulate tissue growth, production and facilitate the regeneration of shoot. The banana homogenate (BH) had the highest rate of regeneration and root developments. The use of organic growth supplements resulted in increased regeneration, the creation of more shoots and the development of fresh plantlets. Amino acids, proteins, vitamins, carbohydrates and various types of organic compounds are present in these growth supplements. These components have the potential to play a significant role in the development and creation of culture. Now more research is needed to figure out which factors are responsible for the organic additives’ promoter effect.

Efficiency of fertilization with coated urea in the cultivation of cactus pear under rainfed conditions in Brazilian savannah

Cactus pear is an important species for animal feeding in the regions of dry climate. There is no information on the fertilization with coated urea in the cultivation of cactus pear under rainfed conditions in the savannah region. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the forage potential of Nopalea cochenillifera variety Doce in yellow latosol under rainfed conditions in the Brazilian savannah, comparing the fertilization with urea and coated urea in different levels. A randomized block design was adopted, in a 2 × 4 × 2 factorial scheme, with the factors corresponding to two sources of nitrogen (urea and urea coated with polymers, N+), four levels of nitrogen (0, 60, 120 and 240 kg/ha/year) and two harvests (year I and year II). The plants were evaluated after 1 year of growth, in each year of evaluation, regarding the characteristics of growth, production, chemical and mineral composition and nutritional value. The level of 240 kg/ha provided higher emission of cladodes per plant (17.33 and 18.17), respectively, for N+ and urea. The highest nitrogen use efficiency was found in the level of 60 kg N/ha (142 kg/ha/year). NFC values were 3.5 g/kg dry matter (DM) higher when the cactus pear was fertilized with urea in year I and 5.4 g/kg DM in year II. The use of conventional urea promoted better results of agronomic and nutritional characteristics of the cactus pear, under rainfed regime, when compared to the use of urea coated with polymers.

Guilds of German Bakers of St Petersburg in the First Half of the 19th Century: Conflict Resolution Practices and Everyday Life

Referring to materials from the Russian State Historical Archive and the Central State Historical Archive of St Petersburg, this article investigates mechanisms of competition and resolving conflicts between tradesmen in St Petersburg and the level of German masters’ adaptation to a new cultural and social environment. It reveals an opportunity to reach a deeper understanding of bread production in the capital over a long period of time. Competitive confrontations between guilds reflect not only the negative aspects of monopolistic tendencies among trade masters, but also the vitality of St Petersburg trades. This manifested itself in constant rivalry among the guilds of Russian and German bread makers, confectioners, pretzel bakers, roll makers, and non-guild pastry makers. The intensive competition could increase or decrease due to national, confessional, cultural, and territorial factors. The 1830s and 1840s were the last period of this open competition: after, all such guilds were united into a single organisation. The author provides a periodisation that conditionally reflects the fundamental stages in the development of the guilds: 1721–1785 (their establishment), 1785–1840s (their flourishing), and the 1850s–1870s (unification and standardisation with new regulations). The struggle for the partial monopolisation of market segments in the 1830s and 1840s pointed to the need for clearer structures. The prosperity, entrepreneurship, and influence of German bakers manifested themselves in the black-market sale of a certain type of securities: bakery certificates whose price could reach 12,000 paper roubles. Bread production in St Petersburg can be used as a positive example of an institution that underwent a century-long cycle of modernisation characteristic of an immobile and conservative society. This cycle of modernisation was based on a catch-up model of development and contributed to dynamic innovation (the introduction of mechanical dough mixers from Germany). The author puts forward a hypothesis that the increase in stiff competition pointed to the limits of the market and thus the limits of growth: production volume could no longer grow arbitrarily, which meant that access to guilds became more restricted.

Exploring the Potential of Corynebacterium glutamicum to Produce the Compatible Solute Mannosylglycerate

The compatible solute mannosylglycerate (MG) has exceptional properties in terms of protein stabilization and protection under salt, heat, and freeze-drying stresses as well as against protein aggregation. Due to these characteristics, MG possesses large potential for clinical and biotechnological applications. To achieve efficient MG production, Corynebacterium glutamicum was equipped with a bifunctional MG synthase (encoded by mgsD and catalyzing the condensation of 3-phosphoglycerate and GDP-mannose to MG) from Dehalococcoides mccartyi. The resulting strain C. glutamicum (pEKEx3 mgsD) intracellularly accumulated about 111 mM MG (60 ± 9 mg gCDW−1) with 2% glucose as a carbon source. To enable efficient mannose metabolization, the native manA gene, encoding mannose 6-phosphate isomerase, was overexpressed. Combined overexpression of manA and mgsD from two plasmids in C. glutamicum resulted in intracellular MG accumulation of up to ca. 329 mM [corresponding to 177 mg g cell dry weight (CDW)−1] with glucose, 314 mM (168 mg gCDW−1) with glucose plus mannose, and 328 mM (176 mg gCDW−1) with mannose as carbon source(s), respectively. The product was successfully extracted from cells by using a cold water shock, resulting in up to 5.5 mM MG (1.48 g L−1) in supernatants. The two-plasmid system was improved by integrating the mgsD gene into the manA-bearing plasmid and the resulting strain showed comparable production but faster growth. Repeated cycles of growth/production and extraction of MG in a bacterial milking-like experiment showed that cells could be recycled, which led to a cumulative MG production of 19.9 mM (5.34 g L−1). The results show that the newly constructed C. glutamicum strain produces MG from glucose and mannose and that a cold water shock enables extraction of MG from the cytosol into the medium.

PENGARUH DOSIS KOMPOS TANDAN KOSONG KELAPA SAWIT YANG DI PERKAYA ABU BOILER TERHADAP SIFAT KIMIA TANAH ULTISOL, PERTUMBUHAN, PRODUKSI, KADAR HARA DAN LOGAM BERAT PB PADA TANAMAN SAWI (Brassica juncea L.)

The purpose of this study was to study the effect of improved quality of oil palm empty fruit bunch compost on the chemical properties of ultisol soil, growth, production, nutrient content, and heavy metals Pb in mustard plants. This study was conducted from March 2015 to January 2016. The study was conducted with a single factor experiment with 13 treatments and 3 replications, so that 39 unit experiments were obtained which were placed into a Completely Randomized Design. The treatment consisted of 4 tankos compost, namely tankos compost. The beginning of the composting process was added to boiler ash at 4 dosage levels, namely 0% (K1), 15% (K2), 25% (K3), 35% (K4), then given into the soil with 3 dose levels, namely 10 tons/ha (D1), 20 tons/ha (D2), 30 tons/ha (D3). Observational data was analyzed statistically using the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with the F test at an alpha level of 5%. If the treatment is found a significant effect, it will be continued with the Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at the alpha level of 5%. The results showed that the various doses of oil palm empty fruit bunch compost plus added boiler ash at the beginning of the composting process at the same dose had a significant effect on increasing Ca-dd, Mg-dd, K-dd soils and decreasing Al-dd soils, plant height, number of leaves, leaf width and K content of mustard plants. The best dose that can produce the highest production was the composting process treatment that was added with 15% boiler ash at a dose of 10 tons/ha (K1D1). In the Pb heavy metal content was not measurable, so the plant was suitable for consumption.

Effects of concentrate mixture level on nutrient digestibility, growth, production and reproduction performance of Jamunapari goat under semi intensive condition

Twenty female Jamunapari goats of live weight of 10.5 ± 1.2 kg at 08± 0.56 months of age were used for 240 days feeding trial. Goats were assigned to four dietary treatments in a completely randomized design with five (05) goats in each group. All animals were supplied ad libitum green grass and water. They were supplied 150, 200, 250, 300 gm concentrate mixture per day with roughage for group T1, T2, T3, and T4 respectively. Total dry matter (TDM) intake (413.2, 456.67, 489.2 and 495.7g/day) in groups T1, T2, T3, and T4, respectively, was significantly (p≤0.01) influenced by the level of concentrate in the diet. Average total digestible crude protein (DCP) intake (3.1, 3.5, 3.9, 4.0 g/kg body weight and average total digestible nutrient (TDN) intake 21.1, 22.3, 24.7, 25.1 g/kg body weight was significantly (p≤0.01) higher in group T4 and lower in group T1. The nutrient intake and digestibility were also significantly higher (p≤0.01) in T4 group. The percent digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), ether extract (EE) and nitrogen free extract (NFE) were 70.1, 75.99, 73.50, 67.24, 62.13 and 49.60%, 73.14, 76.97,76.84, 68.32, 64.04 and 53.25%, 75.45,78.44,78.67,70.43,68.43 and 59.77%, 79.56, 80.16,81.69,72.45,70.82 and 63.09% in T1, T2, T3 and T4 group, respectively. Reproductive performances, birth weight of kids and litter size did not differ significantly between groups, but had significant effect on feed digestibility and milk production. Daily 300 gm concentrate mixture along with roughage is necessary for better growth, production and reproduction performance of Jamunapari doe in semi-intensive system. Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.8(2): 223-230, August 2021

Effect of Reduced Dietary Copper Levels Sourced from Organic and Nanoparticles Forms on Performance and Nutrient Utilization in Giriraja Birds

Background: Copper (Cu) is an essential trace mineral for growth, production and health of poultry. Due to its poor absorption from inorganic source which is common supplemental form, large amount of Cu is excreted in the excreta. This experiment was conducted to assess the bioavailability of Cu from organic and nano sources at lower level of supplementation to reduce the excretion level without compromising the growth performance of chicken. Methods: A total of 420-day-old Giriraja chicks were randomly assigned to 7 treatment groups having 4 replicates each (15 chicks per replicate). The basal diets of both chick (0-6 weeks) and grower phases (7-10 weeks) were supplemented with 20 and 30 ppm of Cu from inorganic source as control (T1), the groups T2, T3 and T4 supplemented with 100, 75 and 50% of control from organic Cu, T5, T6 and T7 treatment diets supplemented with 75, 50 and 25% of control from Cu nanoparticles, respectively. Result: The grower phase and cumulative body weight gain was significantly (p less than 0.05) higher in T2 compared to T1, T6 and T7 groups, while the feed intake in chick phase was lower in T2, T5 and T7 groups as compared to T1, T3, T4 and T6. The chick phase feed conversion ratio was significantly (p less than 0.05) better in T2 and T5 groups compared to T1, T3, T4, T6 and T7, whereas the cumulative FCR was better in T2 and T5 compared to T6 and T7 groups, while it was not affected during grower phase. The dry matter and crude protein metabolizability were significantly (p less than 0.05) higher in T2 and T5, the organic matter and ether extract metabolizability was higher only in T5. The crude fiber and nitrogen free extract was not affected by the treatment diets. Nitrogen excretion was significantly (p less than 0.05) lower and its retention was higher in T2 and T5 treatment groups but was comparable with control. The Cu excretion through excreta was significantly (p less than 0.05) higher and its retention was lower in control as compared to all dietary treatments. Hence, it was concluded that the Cu supplementation from organic or nanoparticles form can be reduced by 50 and 75% of standard, respectively without compromising the growth performance of birds and nutrient digestibility of diets.