Fertilization of purple coneflower (Echinacea Purpúrea L.) in the conditions of the Central chernozem region

The modern pharmaceutical industry uses Echinacea purpurea plants in the production of about 30% of all medicines. Many studies have been conducted to assess the effects of biological and immune activity of Echinacea purpurea on animals and humans (Sharayevskaya et al., 2010). Due to the small distribution area of this valuable crop, research aimed at its use as a double yielding crop is relevant. Plants are deficient in readily available forms of mineral elements after mowing. Studies were conducted to determine the effect of «AgroMaster» fertilizer grade 13-14-13 on the growth and development of Echinacea plants. We studied single and double application of the fertilizer at a dose of 2,0 and 4,0 kg per hectare. Growth and development processes of Echinacea purpurea plants were characterized by different intensity before and after cutting in experimental variants. The fertilizer had a significant impact on the biometric parameters of plants. In particular, the dynamics of plant growth in height had a positive trend in all variants with the use of fertilizer. At the same time, the optimum dose of fertilizer (2,0 kg per hectare) with double treatment of crops was revealed. Single treatment of crops with the minimum (2,0 kg per hectare) and maximum (4,0 kg per hectare) had no prolonging effect on Echinacea purpurea plants. Thus, the use of AgroMaster fertilizer of 13-14-13 grade in the crops of Echinacea purpurea is justified, with the advantage of double treatment of crops at a dose of 2,0 kg per hectare.

Response of CERES-wheat and CROPGRO-urd model (DSSAT model v 4.5) for tarai region of Uttarakhand

The study aimed response of CERES-wheat and CROPGRO-urd model for tarai region of Uttarakhand. Field experiments were conducted at N. E. Borlaug, Crop Research Centre, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand during rabi and kharif seasons 2007 and 2008. CERES-wheat and CROPGRO-urd models version v 4.5 were used in this study. Cultivar specific genotypic coefficients were derived for wheat and urd during calibration. Model validation based on several independent sets of growth and yield data, including different nitrogen and irrigation levels. For all parameters t-test was found non-significant (‘t’ calculated values were smaller than t tabulated values at 5% level of significance), indicating that there were least differences between observed and predicted values. The result obtained with the model demonstrated satisfactorily prediction of phenology, growth and yield and thus it can be used for the prediction of wheat and urd growth as well as yield in this region

Effect of Different Nutrient Management Practices on Productivity and Profitability of Double Zero Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea L.)

A field experiment was conducted at Crop Research Center, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh in Rabi season 2021 with a view to compare the production potential under different nutrient management practices and also to find out the economic viability of this cultivar for soil quality. The experiment was analysed in Randomised block design (RBD) and the treatments comprised of Control (T1), 100% N (T2), 100% NP (T3), 100% NPK (T4), 125%NPK (T5), 100% NPK+ S@40kg ha-1 (T6), 100%NPK+ Zn@5kg ha-1 (T7), 100%NPK + B@1kg ha-1 (T8), 75% NPK+ VC@ 2t ha-1 (T9), 75%NPK+FYM@ 6t ha-1 (T10), 75%NPK + VC@ 2t ha-1+ Azotobacter (T11) and 75%. NPK + FYM@6t ha-1 + Azotobacter (T12). Results revealed that treatment T11 and T12 exhibited significant influence on yield attributes and yields of mustard as compared to the application of 100% NPK alone. The maximum gross return was obtained in T12 followed by T11. The highest net return was obtained in T5 followed by T12, T6 and T11, whereas, minimum gross return and net return was obtained in T1.T11 recorded higher gross return and net return but the B:C ratio was lower due to higher cost of vermicompost. Higher values of B: C ratio (4.23) was obtained in T6 and T5 respectively. The current study reveals that T11 and T12 exhibited significant beneficial for yield, yield attributes and profitability of mustard.

Evaluasi Cendawan Endofit Asal Tanaman Karet untuk Mengendalikan Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Patogen Penyakit Gugur Daun Colletotrichum

<p><em>Colletotrichum leaf fall disease caused by </em>Colletotrichum gloeosporioides<em> is an important disease in rubber plants. The </em>C. gloeosporioides<strong><em> </em></strong><em>Infection can reduce production by 7%-45%. Controlling the pathogen using endophytic fungi is very promising because it can suppress inoculum and pathogen colonization, induce plant resistance, and trigger plant growth. The study aimed to evaluate the endophytic fungus isolate from rubber to control </em>C. gloeosporioides<strong><em> </em></strong><em>as a pathogen that caused the rubber leaf fall disease. This research was carried out in the laboratory and greenhouse of the Indonesian Industrial and Beverage Crop Research Institute (IIBCRI), Sukabumi, from March to November 2018. The isolates used were endophytic fungi isolates from rubber plants, which were tested for their inhibition against </em>C. gloeosporioides<em> in vitro on rubber leaves and seedlings, and their mechanism. The variable observed were the inhibition rate, incubation periods, number of spots, disease severity, and plant growth. The results showed that the endophytic fungus could inhibit the growth of </em>C. gloeosporioides<em> about 64.17% - 86.67%. The high inhibitory activity (&gt;80%) in isolates CEPR.19, CEPR.6, CEBPM.21, DTJE.1, and DMJE27 were 86.67%; 83.33%; 83.33%; 82.92%, and 82.50%, respectively. The observations on seedlings obtained three potential fungal isolates to control </em>C. gloeosporioides<em> on rubber leaves, namely CEBPM.21, CEPR19, and DTJE.1 with suppression of disease severity about 68.57%; 67.88%, and 60.20% with their mechanisms of action inducing resistance, antibiosis, competition, and hyperparasites.</em><em></em></p>

Characterization of Elite Genotypes for Fusarium Wilt Resistance in Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millspaugh]

Background: The development of Fusarium wilt resistant varieties is a major challenge in pigeonpea breeding and need to be addressed on priority basis. In this study, efforts had been made to characterize the elite pigeonpea genotypes for Fusarium wilt resistance at morphological and molecular level. Methods: The present study was undertaken during kharif season of year 2018-19 at NEB, Crop Research Centre, G.B.P.U.A and T, Pantnagar. The experimental materials for present study consisted of 15 elite pigeonpea genotypes and three commercially grown popular varieties as checks. The molecular analysis was conducted during year 2019-20 and a susceptible variety BAHAR was used as check. The nine yield based indices were used for morphological analysis. The molecular analysis was carried out by using five already reported Fusarium wilt linked SSR markers. Result: The results revealed that the marker ASSR 363, ASSR 366, ASSR 1, ASSR 23 and ASSR 148 were highly effective in differentiating the resistant and susceptible genotypes of pigeonpea for wilt disease. On the basis of morphological and molecular studies, it was concluded that the genotype PA 626 was the most superior genotype as it not only yielded higher than all the three checks but also shown resistance against wilt at both phenotypic and genotypic level.

Pre-Sowing Seed Traetments of Panchagavya and Plant Growth Regulators on Growth, Yield And Yield Attributing Traits of Field Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Variety-IPF (4-9)

A field experiment was conducted during rabi 2020 at Crop Research Farm, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, SHAUTS, PRAYAGRAJ, (U.P.). The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design and comprised of 13 treatments and 3 replications. The treatments which are T0 -Control, T1-Panchagavya 3%, T2-Panchagavya 5%, T3- Panchagavya 5%, T4-Panchagavya 5%, T5- Gibberellic acid 10 ppm for 6 hours, T6-Gibberllic acid 10ppm for 12 hours, T7- Gibberellic aid 15ppm for 6 hours, T8-Gibberlic acid 15 ppm for 12hours, T9-IAA at 50 ppm, T10-IAA at 100 ppm, T11-NAA at 50 ppm, T12-NAA at 100 ppm used. The result showed that viz., Field emergence, Plant height 90 DAS, Days to 50% flowering, Number of branches, Days to maturity, Number of pods per plant, Number of seed per pod, Seed yield per plant (gm), Biological yield (gm), Seed index (gm) and Harvest index were recorded significantly highest in the treatment of T8-Gibberllic acid 15 ppm for 12 hours and the least performance was observed in T0-Control when compared to other treatments. Hence, the seed treatment of Gibberellic acid 15ppm for 12hours could be recommended for the Field Pea.

Applications of CRISPR/Cas9 System in Vegetatively Propagated Fruit and Berry Crops

Fruit and berry crops, as well as grapes, are important parts of the human diet and, at the same time, significant objects of genetic, breeding, biochemical and nutritional research. Traditional approaches of crop research and improvement are now complemented by effective modern genetic technologies. In this review, we analyze and summarize the achievements in genome editing of fruit, berry crops and grapes. New approaches accelerate the improvement of genotypes for many groups of traits: plant resistance to unfavorable environmental factors, flowering and ripening time, plant architectonics, fruit shelf time and biochemical composition. Genome editing using the CRISPR/Cas9 system has been successfully tested on the most important vegetatively propagated fruit and berry crops (apple, pear, orange, kumquat, grapefruit, banana, strawberry and kiwi) and grapes. About 30 genes of these crops have been used as targets for the introduction of desired mutations using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. The most valuable results are the improvement of important agronomic traits. For 24 genes it has been shown that their knockout can result in the improvement of varieties. In addition, the review pays attention to the comparative analysis of the explant types of vegetatively propagated crops used for the delivery of editing genetic constructs, as well as the comparison of the editing efficiency depending on the variation of the objects used, delivery methods, etc. The article discusses the existing limitations that need to be overcome for a wider application of genomic editing in order to improve varieties of fruit and berry crops, as well as grapes.

Green manuring with crimson clover as an alternative to mineral fertilization in maize production

Role of mineral fertilizers is to complement the soils’ indigenous supply of minerals for crop plants nutrition. Among the mineral nutrients, nitrogen is generally considered as the most yield-contributing. Obtaining nitrogen from legumes is potentially more sustainable than from industrial sources. Crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) has long been appreciated as cover crop grown for green manuring due to its capability for binding the atmospheric nitrogen into plant-available form. Green manuring effects of crimson clover for succeeding maize crop were tested in 2019 year on two locations of Northeastern Croatia differing in soil texture: 1) on the site A where the soil was compact and dominated by clay and 2) on the site B where the soil was loose and dominated by loam. The research was conducted in a year with favourable rainfall during maize vegetation. Results have shown that green manuring with crimson clover for maize as the main crop delivered somewhat lower maize grain and aboveground mass yields than the conventional full-dose mineral fertilization on deep fertile soils around Osijek (Northeastern Croatia). When compared to conventional agronomy, green manuring was associated with additional agrotechnical operations required for crimson clover cover crop establishment and its herbage incorporation into soil prior to seeding main maize crop. Research should be continued in more different environments (year × location combinations) in order to produce reliable evaluation of crimson clover’s green manuring services.

Bioefficacy and Economics of Certain Novel Generation Insecticides against Spotted Pod Borer, Maruca vitrata (Geyer) in Greengram (Vigna radiata L.)

Background: Spotted pod borer, Maruca vitrata, cause greater damage by attacking flowers, pods in greengram plants. This study investigates the efficacy and economics of certain novel insecticides when sprayed against spotted pod borer in green gram. Methods: The experiment was conducted at Crop Research Center, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut, during kharif 2019 in randomized block design with eight treatments (Emamectin benzoate, Spinosad, Chlorantroniliprole, Indoxacarb, Novaluron, Profenophos, Triazophos and control) and three replications on variety SML668. Observations were taken at three, seven and eleven days after the first and second spray and the data thus recorded were analyzed. Result: The insecticide Chlorantraniliprole 20SC @ 0.025 ml/ lit has shown the highest efficacy with low per cent pod damage (7.33) and maximum grain yield (8.61q/ ha) against M. vitrata from the first day of application followed by Spinosad 45SC @ 0.25 ml/ lit with pod damage of 10.67 per cent and grain yield of 5.08 q/ ha. The highest cost-benefit ratio was obtained in Emamectin benzoate treatment (1:8.54), followed by chlorantraniliprole (1: 6.76).