Assessment of In-vitro culture through Nodal explants of Dendrocalamus hamiltonii

The present experimental study was aimed to overcome the traditional methods of propagation that limit the number of propagules by in-vitro regeneration through nodal explants of Dendrocalamus hamiltonii with a comparative study of growth regulators during the shooting and rooting process. Dendrocalamus hamiltonii is distributed from the Himalayas (Nepal) to the northern part of Burma. Collection of explants was done from different selected sites of CPTs. There was the use of HgCl2 and Ca (OCl)2 as sterilizing agents in different concentrations and its effect was visualized during the sprouting stage. Culm explants were cultured in a bottle containing White media (Wm) supplemented with BA and Kinetin for sprouting and IAA, IBA, NAA for rooting. There is also the use of IAA+IBA+NAA in combined form as a supplementary solution 0.1% HgCl2 treatment for 20-minute results into77.80% aseptic buds and 72% bud -break. Among the used growth-hormones, BA with concentration 0.25mg/l and 0.50mg/l respectively were appropriate for shoot-multiplication rate, 4.01±0.3 and 4.3±0.4 were ideal observation incorporation with BA (1.00mg/l) and BA (1.50mg/l) respectively. Maximum sprouting rate14.77±3.37with application of BA (2.00mg/l) and maximum shoot length4.3±0.4 is observed at BA (1.50mg/l). The applications of rooting hormone IAA+IBA+NAA in the concentration of 1.0 mg/l results in 72.5±0.3(rooting) and 11.1±0.3 (av. No. of the root).

Nutrient uptake by black gram (Vigna mungo L. Hepper) as influenced by phosphorus and boron fertilization in acid Inceptisol of Meghalaya

Phosphorus and boron are required for growth and development of black gram, and play an important role in the uptake of other nutrients such as N and K. The availability of P and B is less in acid soil because of fixation and leaching losses. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of P and B on N and K uptake in black gram with four levels of phosphorus (0, 25, 50, 75 kg ha-1) and four levels of boron (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 kg ha-1) comprising of 16 treatments. The trail was laid out in split plot design and replicated three times. Phosphorus was used as main plot and boron as sub-plot. Significantly highest nitrogen concentration in black gram seed was observed at P75B1.5 as 3.82%, whereas in straw, it was observed at P75B1 as 1.75%. However, significant nitrogen uptake by seed and straw was recorded as 43.85 and 39.55 kg ha-1 at P75B1.5, respectively. Similarly, significantly highest potassium concentration in seed and straw was observed at P75B1.5 as 1.13% and 1.64%. Significant highest uptake of K by seed and straw was recorded at P75B1.5 as 13.00 kg ha-1 and 36.86 kg ha-1, respectively. Therefore, 75 kg P2O5 and 1.5 kg B ha-1 is considered optimum for achieving higher nitrogen and potassium uptake by black gram in acid Inceptisol of Meghalaya.

Storage behaviour of the pickle prepared from various cultivars of aonla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.)

The aonla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) is commonly referred to as a "Miracle Fruit for the Health", owing to the high nutritious and therapeutic value of its fruits. But the fresh fruits are not ingested freely due to the astringent taste caused by fruit tannins. In production and acreage under aonla cultivation Uttar Pradesh is the leading state in the country. The study aims to understand the storage behaviour of the pickle prepared from the aonla fruit. Pickle was prepared from the eight aonla cultivars viz - Kanchan, Banarasi, Krishna, Chakaiya, NA – 8, NA – 7, NA – 6, and NA – 9. Physicochemical characters (such vitamin 'C' (ascorbic acid), total soluble solids (T.S.S.), browning, and acidity), and sensory/organoleptic scores were recorded at the monthly interval during storage. The result showed that the aonla pickle is acceptable up to nine months thereafter, reduction was noted in the physicochemical and organoleptic scores. Among all cultivars tested, NA-7 was found to be ideal for pickle preparation.

Soil properties among Indian Central Himalayan agroecosystems as affected by altitude and size variations

The present study has been performed among Central Himalayan agroecosystems (AGEs) to analyze the changes in some physico- chemical properties of soils along four altitudes viz. very low (VLA), low (LA), mid (MA) and high altitude (HA). The AGEs were categorized into three size classes i.e. small, medium, and large based on the regional availability of landholding sizes. Results revealed that the size of the AGEs significantly affected only physical parameters of the soil while chemical parameters remain unaffected, this may be due to the regional similarity in management practices of AGEs which governed by the identical seasonal cropping patterns, local food selectivity and economic status of the peasant. The soil bulk density was recorded maximum at VLA (1.00 g cm-3) and decreased with increasing altitude and sizes of agroecosystem thus the correlations were significant. Water holding capacity depicted positive relation with porosity (r= 0.229, P<0.01) and OC (r= 0.273) while negative relation with silt (r= -0.172), bD (r= -0.221,) and pH (r= -0.081). Soil nitrogen was reported highest at MA in medium sized agroecosystems, during the rainy season (0.287 %) followed by winter (0.257 %) and summer season (0.243 %). Overall maximum soil carbon stock was observed at MA (41.41 t ha-1) > HA (37.85 t ha-1) > LA (33.00 t ha-1) > VLA (30.16 t ha-1). Suitable management practices of higher altitudes reflected as the high fertility of the soil in those regions (SQI= HA> MA> LA> VLA) which must be followed by the farm managers of lower altitudes.

Performance of wheat and mustard in agroforestry system under terai conditions of U.P., India

A large area is available in the form of boundaries, bunds, block plantations, wastelands where this system can be adopted. Poplar and Eucalyptus are suitable and promising agroforestry tree species, which is planted cropping system. In this particular study, Economical aspects and viability of wheat and Mustard have been studied. Trees intercropped with crops attained better growth and higher litter. In the study of nutrients (NPK) it is reviewed that all the three nutrients increase as the age of trees increases. All the nutrients increases as the tree age are increased. It is clearly seen after the whole research work done, nutrients in the soil are high insole plantation of trees. The yield of intercrops is low in the fields which are cultivated along with trees. The height of intercrops is higher under Poplar than intercrops under Eucalyptus. This might be due to the leaf pattern and its canopy shade. No significant results were obtained for tillers per plant and effective tillers per plant in wheat, however, more tillers were found in pure cropping. In Mustard primary branches per plant and seeds per siliqua were at par under Eucalyptus, Poplar, and pure cropping. Yield parameters such as secondary branches per plant, siliqua per plant, and test weight were significantly higher in pure cropping. The grain and straw/stover yields of both the crops under Eucalyptus and Poplar decreased significantly as compared to open fields (crops without Eucalyptus and Poplar). Net returns from a crop grown with Eucalyptus, & Poplar and sole cropping revealed that maximum income (Rs.82819.00/ha) was recorded in pure cropping (monoculture) of wheat, whereas net returns from Mustard grown Eucalyptus, Poplar and sole cropping revealed that maximum income (Rs.67275.00/ha) and whereas negative net returns of Rs.3943.47/ha (under 4years Eucalyptus) and also negative net returns Rs. 8731.00/ha (under 5 years Poplar) was recorded in Mustard oil.

New record of Humbertium proserpina (Humbert, 1862) from Tenkasi district, Tamil Nadu, India

Species of genus Humbertium (Land planarian) are widely distributed in Southeast Asia, around greenhouses and gardens. However, taxonomy and cytogenetic data in this genus are restricted to a few species. Present report of hammerhead snake worm recorded from five falls in Courtallam, Tenkasi district, Tamil Nadu, India.Species was identified based on the photographs. This the first record of species from the Western Ghats in Tenkasi district of Tamil Nadu, India.

Production Trend, Constraints, and Strategies for Millet Cultivation in Nepal: A Study from Review Perspective

Millet cultivation is making a quick comeback in the Nepalese agrarian landscape after years of institutional neglect. Agricultural agencies and farmers ignored these cereals while giving precedence over rice, wheat, and other crops such as oilseeds and pulses. Millets can foster well in poor soil conditions with less water, fertilizer, and pesticides. The main objectives of the study were to assess prospects and potentiality of millet, constraints during farming, and the possible strategies to overcome problems by analyzing the data and secondary literature. Districts in the eastern part of Nepal show dominance in millet production. Millet contains a comparative advantage over other cereals in terms of soil climatic adaptability, drought resistance, insect pest tolerance, and management factors. Further, the health-promoting factors play an important role in tackling food security and malnutrition problems, particularly in mid and high hills. The preference of tourists towards "dhido" has further increased its demand at present. However, lack of domain-specific high-yielding varieties, high preference towards major cereals, and poor marketing infrastructure particularly in marginal areas are the constraints mainly considered for unexpected production of millet. Millet features a high possibility of improving the production which can be supported with subsidy, improving tourism, promoting the millet products with agro-based industries, and motivating the growing farmers. Proper local and national strategies to cope with the limitation will help to uplift millet farming from minor cereals to exportable standards.

CRISPR-based genome editing: Catching impossibles for citrus improvements

Citrus is globally one of the major fruit crops, occupying a place of prominence in international trade and tariff through horticultural commodities. Despite such distinction, citrus crop is confronted with a variety of biotic and abiotic stresses, thereby, sustaining production is always a daunting task. The genome size of citrus is rather small, ranging from 265 to 400 MB, probably an advantage for controlled trait specific editing. The evolution of next generation sequencing has facilitated the whole genome sequencing of as many 10 citrus species with 16 draft genome sequences, offering near future possibility to develop genome tailored citrus species or inducing the desired genetic transformation to address the issues chronically ailing commercial citrus cultivation in India, which is by no mean, a simple task to accomplish. Despite genetically intrinsic challenges involved in generating transgenics in perennial crop like citrus, several transgenics have been developed in namely, sweet orange, lemon, and grapefruit loaded with some useful traits. But, the public perception and the time taken to develop trangenics in citrus and less success ratio led the researchers adapt alternate ways. Of late, the thumping success of genome editing tools, especially Clustered. Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)-Cas9 system has provided a new molecular tailoring machine for citrus improvement. In several citrus species like sweet orange, pummelo, and grapefruit CRISPR-Cas9 system has resulted in value added multiple traits-based transgenics. However, the major drawback of the CRISPR/Cas9 system is the generation of significant off-target cleavage sites as a result of complexing of gRNA with mismatched complementary target DNA within the genome. The use of CRISPR as genome editing technology is anticipated to induce many desired traits in citrus in years to come with more commercial applications in field for changed canopy structure, root traits, regular bearing, extended fruit maturity, besides multiple disease resistance.

Morpho-molecular characterization of Bipolaris and Exserohilum spp. infecting various agricultural crops

The study was undertaken with major objective to differentiate fungal isolates belonging to various species of Bipolaris and Exserohilum infecting various agricultural crops. After routine isolation and purification of more than 35 attempts, 13 isolates were morphologically characterized into 8 species namely, Bipolaris cynodontis (IQBC-1 and DQBC-2), B. holmii (IQBH-1), B. micropus (IQBM-1), B. oryzae (DQBO-1, DQBO-2), B. sorghicola (DQBS-1, DQBS-2), B. tetramera (DQBT-1, DQBT-2), Exserohilum longirostrata (IQEL-1) and E. rostratum (DQER-1 and DQER-2). Molecular characterization of all the isolates using RAPD, ISSR and URP markers also revealed genetic variation. Out of 24 RAPD primers, only 9 (OPA-2, OPA-4, OPA-9, OPB-4, OPB-8, OPC-1, OPC-2, OPC-5 and OPE-5) could amplify the DNA sequence showing good polymorphism. Out of 20 ISSR primers, only 6 (ISSR 1, ISSR 13, ISSR 15, ISSR 17, ISSR 19 and ISSR 20) could show good polymorphism. Out of 13 URPs, only 5 (URP 4R, URP 6R, URP 9F, URP 13R and URP 38F) could amplify with a greater number of bands. In all the three makers, similarity matrix value using Jaccard’s coefficient ranged from 0.149 to 0.548 revealing genetic co-relation among isolates. Combined clustering of RAPD, ISSR and URP data showed relatively low genetic similarity coefficient ranging from 14.92 to 54.76 among isolates which revealed stronger co-relation among isolates. Cluster analysis based on UPGMA provided a clear resolution of relationship among all the 13 isolates belong to 6 Bipolaris and 2 Exserohilum species and confirmed the morphological characterization of the same. Further, molecular markers especially, RAPD, ISSR and URP have revolutionized the genetic analysis of plant pathogens including fungi and their application can greatly help in characterizing related genera and delineation of inter and intra-species complex of fungi.

Fruit characters and yield of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) as influenced by different concentrations of gibberellic acid

The effect of gibberellic acid concentrations on fruit characters and yield of strawberry was studied on two varieties, namely ‘Sweet Charlie’ and ‘Winter Dawn’ during November, 2018 to March, 2019. Foliar application of three different concentration of GA3 viz. 50 ppm, 75 ppm and 100 ppm were done at 40 days and 60 days after planting. Experimental results showed that GA3 @ 75 ppm had the best effect to increase yield components and yield of both the varieties. Under GA3 @ 75 ppm, Winter Dawn exhibited higher fruit diameter (3.38cm) and fruit length (4.74cm) as compared to Sweet Charlie (3.28cm fruit diameter and 4.60cm fruit length). Though the fruit weight was slightly higher in Sweet Charlie (18.36g) as against Winter Dawn (17.90g) under the best treatment i.e. 75 ppm GA3 the yield recorded was higher in Winter Dawn (573.62g/plant and 24.04t/ha) as against Sweet Charlie (445.43g/plant and18.73t/ ha) due to higher number of fruits (32.44/plant) produced by Winter Dawn as compared to Sweet Charlie (24.94/plant). So, Winter Dawn variety produced 28.35% higher yield as compared to Sweet Charlie under GA3 @ 75 ppm treatment.