Volume 35, Number 3 (May, 2008)
ABSTRACT Field experiments were conducted at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore to study the performance of different systems of rice cultivation under varied nitrogen levels. The different systems of rice cultivation evaluated in the study were : (i) direct seeding of sprouted seeds under puddled condition, direct seeding of (ii) sprouted and (iii) dry seeds under unpuddled condition and (iv) transplanting of seedlings under unpuddled condition. In the puddled soil condition treatment plots, 5 cm depth of water was maintained throughout the crop growing period. In respect of unpuddled condition plots, 5 cm depth of irrigation was given at 80% of the available soil moisture condition. The nitrogen levels were 50, 75, 100, 125 and 150% of recommended dose of nitrogen. The results revealed that the direct seeding of sprouted seeds under puddled condition recorded higher growth and yield parameters than other systems of cultivation. Among the nitrogen levels the beneficial effect was evident at 150% of recommended dose of nitrogen which was comparable with that at 125 and 100% of recommended dose of nitrogen. In case of water savings, the direct seeding of sprouted seeds under unpuddled soil condition recorded the higher water productivity than the puddled condition. Therefore, in water scarcity situations, the direct seeding of sprouted seeds under unpuddled soil condition alongwith 100% of recommended dose of N could be a viable alternative in terms of efficient water use and water economy. The benefit : cost ratio was recorded higher in direct seeding of sprouted seeds under puddled condition with 100% of recommended dose of nitrogen. This was followed by direct seeding of sprouted seeds under unpuddled condition with 100% of recommended dose of nitrogen. A field experiment was conducted at the College Farm, College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad during the rabi 2005. The soil of the experimental site was sandy clay loam in texture with a medium content of organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous, high in available potassium status and slightly alkaline in reaction (pH 8.1). The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design replicated thrice with 12 weed control treatments. The results indicate that hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAT recorded highest plant height, .dry matter production, tillers/m2, nutrient uptake by crop and lowest nutrient uptake by weeds throughout the crop growth period. Among the herbicidal treatments, during active tillering stage (around 25 DAT) the pre-emergence application of anilophos 0.4 kg a. i./ha and oxadiargyl @ 70 g a. i./ha was effective in recording higher growth parameters, while at later stages (maximum tillering to harvest) anilpohos 0.3 kg a. i./ha+one HW at 25 DAT and oxadiargyl 50 g a. i./ha+one HW at 25 DAT were the best treatments. The highest grain and straw yield was registered by hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAT followed by anilophos 0.3 kg a. i./ha+one HW at 25 DAT and oxadiargyl 50 g a. i./ha+one HW at 25 DAT. ABSTRACT Field experiments were conducted at Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai during kharif and rabi seasons of 2000-01 and 2001-02 to study the effect of nitrogen and potassium management in maximizing the productivity of hybrid rice (ADTRH 1 and CORH 2). The experiments were laid out in randomized block design with three replications. The treatments included sources and levels of nitrogen and split application of N and K. The results revealed that application of 10 t/ha green manure alongwith 200 kg/ha inorganic nitrogen improved the yield and yield attributes of rice hybrids (ADTRH 1 and CORH 2) and also recorded higher yield (8155 and 8233 kg/ha in kharif and 7799 and 7691 kg/ha in rabi seasons during both the years of study, respectively). Similarly, application of N and K in four equal splits at active tillering, panicle initiation, booting and flowering recorded higher yield of 7653 and 7484 kg/ha in kharif and 7330 and 7154 kg/ha in rabi seasons, respectively.
ABSTRACT Field experiments were conducted at Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai during kharif and rabi seasons of 2000-01 and 2001-02, to study the effect of nitrogen and potassium management on yield attributes, yield and quality parameters of hybrid rice (ADTRH 1 and CORH 2). The experiments were laid out in randomized block design with three replications. The treatments included sources and levels of nitrogen and split application of N and K. The results revealed that application of 10 t/ha green manure alongwith 200 kg/ha inorganic nitrogen improved the yield attributes, yield and quality parameters of rice hybrids (ADTRH 1 and CORH 2) and recorded higher yield of 8233 kg/ha in kharif and 7691 kg/ha in rabi seasons during both the years. Similarly, application of N and K in four equal splits at active tillering, panicle initiation, booting and flowering recorded higher yield of 7484 kg/ha in kharif and 7154 kg/ha in rabi seasons, respectively.
ABSTRACT Field experiments were conducted at Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai during kharif and rabi seasons of 2000-01 and 2001-02, to study the effect of nitrogen and potassium management on nutrient uptake, yield and economics of hybrid rice (ADTRH 1 and CORH 2). The experiments were laid out in randomized block design with three replications. The treatments included sources and levels of nitrogen and split application of N and K. The results revealed that application of 10 t/ha green manure alongwith 200 kg/ha inorganic nitrogen increased the nutrient uptake, yield and economics of rice hybrids (ADTRH 1 and CORH 2) and recorded higher yield of 8233 kg/ha in kharif and 7691 kg/ha in rabi seasons. Similarly, application of N and K in four equal splits at active tillering, panicle initiation, booting and flowering recorded higher yield of 7484 kg/ha in kharif and 7154 kg/ha in rabi seasons, respectively. ABSTRACT In order to evaluate and classify morphological and morpho-physiological traits of bread wheat genotypes in drought and non-drought stress conditions, 567 bread wheat genotypes were sown in modified augmented design with four replications. Two replications were considered as drought condition and two as non-drought. Factor analysis based on principal component analysis method and varimax rotation indicated that four important factors accounted for about 89.6 and 87.5% of the total variation among traits in drought and non-drought stress conditions, respectively. In drought stress condition, the first factor assigned 42.8% of total variation between traits and was significantly related with spike yield and its components. Therefore, this factor was regarded as spike seed yield factor. Other factors in drought stress condition accounted for 20, 17 and 10% of variation between traits and were entitled as plant seed yield, spike density and assimilate transmission factors, respectively. In non-drought stress condition, the first factor assigned 35% of total variation between traits and was significantly related with traits plant and spike seed yield, plant and spike harvest index, number of seeds/spike and plant height. This factor was regarded as plant seed yield factor. Other factors in non-drought stress condition accounted for 25.5, 16.6 and 11% of variation between traits and were entitled as production, assimilate transmission and spike density factors, respectively. Overall results revealed effect of different environments on extracted factors, per cent of variation accounted for by factors and traits related with each factor. A field experiment was conducted at a fixed site on medium black soil of Maize Research Station, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Khedbrahma during kharif 2002-05 to study the effect of rate and frequency of ZnSO4 application with and without FYM on yield, uptake of Zn and its status in post-harvest soil. The pooled results showed that the treatment receiving combined application of 5 t FYM/ha and 16 kg ZnSO4/ha every year significantly increased the grain and straw yields, content and uptake of Zn in grain and straw and DTPA-Zn in post-harvest soil as compared to rest of the treatments but it was found at par with treatments of 5 t FYM/ha every year alongwith 12 kg ZnSO4/ha every year or 16 kg ZnSO4/ha at alternate year. An application of 5 t FYM/ha every year significantly improved organic carbon status in soil but it was at par with application of FYM in conjunction with ZnSO4 at any level either every year or at alternate year. Though, the maximum net returns incurred due to 5 t FYM/ha alongwith 16 kg ZnSO4/ha every year, it was closely followed by application of 5 t FYM/ha every year alongwith 16 kg ZnSO4/ha at alternate year.. ABSTRACT The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the effects of using treated municipal wastewater and different irrigation systems on corn and sunflower yield and water use efficiency (WUE). This study was done in an experimental farm in south wastewater treatment plant in Isfahan. In this, experiment was employed in randomized complete block design with five treatments and three replications. Treatments were : Furrow irrigation with normal water (FIN), Surface drip irrigation with wastewater (SDI), Sub-surface drip irrigation with wastewater in 15 cm depth (SDI 15), Sub-surface drip irrigation with wastewater in 30 cm depth (SDI 30) and Furrow irrigation with wastewater (FIW). Results indicated that SDI 30 as compared to other treatments had highest seed yield and WUE with significant difference, while FIN and FIW had lowest of these parameters value.
ABSTRACT Antioxidative enzymes provide the first line of defence against oxygen toxicity. This experiment was conducted in order to study the effect of water deficit and selenium foliar application on some physiological characteristics, yield and yield components of five sunflower varieties. Experiments were carried out in the experimental field of Karaj Islamic Azad University and Tarbiat Moalem University in 2005. In field experiment, a split split plot design under randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications was used. Irrigations were in main plots (normal, witholding water at the beginning of flowering), varieties (Record, Armavierski,Chernianka, Zaria and Progress ) in sub-plots and selenium (selenit sodium) concentration (Se=0,Se1=18 g/ha) spraying at the beginning of flowering were in sub-sub plots. In field experiment, following characters were studied : seed yield, 1000-seed weight , number of seeds per head, leaf area index, leaf cell membrane stability and antioxidant enzymes activity (superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutation peroxidase). Water deficit decreased seed yield but spraying selenium increased seed yield significantly. Selenium treatment increased leaf cell membrane stability, 1000-seed weight and antioxidant enzyme activity (SOD, CAT and GPX), but it decreased number of seeds per head and leaf area index. Higher leaf cell membrane stability and 1000-seed weight appeared in Progress variety. Maximum leaf area index appeared in seed filling stage in both the irrigation treatments. Progress variety showed maximum seed yield stability and antioxidant enzyme activity. It seems antioxidant enzymes can be used as a selection marker for water-scarce environments and selenium application can improve drought tolerance in sunflower. This element also can be important in producing safe food (oil) for human. In order to investigate the efficacy of split, reduced and whole rates of oxyfluorfen in controlling common lambsquarters and also to evaluate possible soybean injuries, an experiment was laid out in research greenhouses of Karaj College of Agriculture, University of Tehran in 2005. Results revealed significant differences between treatments with common lambsquarters dry weight, soybean biomass and yield, and percentages of injury two weeks after treatment. The highest reduction for all above attributes was observed at 1 l/ha. Oxyfluorfen at this dose controlled common lambsquarters 90%, but also reduced biomass and yield of soybean 45%. All split rates reduced weed biomass as much as whole rates did. However, soybean yield reductions were lower at split rates than those of whole rates were. Reduced rate of 0.25 l/ha had no significant effects on both weed and soybean. Applying split rate of oxyfluorfen at 0.35 l/ha twice at biweekly interval was the most efficient treatment. Herein, although the dry weight of weed was reduced 85%, soybean yield just decreased 20%. In addition, In order to investigate the appropriate rate and time of application of oxyfluorfen for common lambsquarters control in soybean, a field experiment was laid out at the research farm of College of Agriculture of Tehran University during 2004-05. There were significant differences between treatments with weed density and dry weight. Oxyfluorfen applied pre at 0.6 l/ha had the lowest efficiency (68%) to reduce common lambsquarters dry weight, followed by oxyfluorfen at 1 l/ha when applied at V2 soybean growth stage. In most treatments due to the phytotoxic effects of herbicide on soybean, the seed yields even were lower than whole season weed infected treatment. Finally, the highest seed yield (2091 kg/ha) was achieved at 0.6 l/ha when applied at V2 soybean growth stage. ABSTRACT Field experiment was undertaken during 2002-03 at Oilseed Research Unit Farm of Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola to study the effect of different treatments on soybean in soybean-sunflower crop sequence under integrated nutrient management. Results indicated that treatment NPK (RDF)+FYM 5 t/ha (T7) gave the highest seed, straw and biological yield at par with 150% NPK of RDF (T5) and NPK (RDF)+crop residue incorporation (T6).
ABSTRACT Delay in planting Brassica, resulting in higher temperatures above 27°C during flowering, caused floral sterility and yield loss. Nevertheless, an experiment was conducted in 2006 at the Agricultural Research Station, Esfahan. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of heat stress during flowering on yield and yield components of canola at delay cropping. A split-plot layout within randomized complete block design with three replications was used. Main plots were two planing date (27 September was normal cropping and 11 November was delay cropping), sub-plots were inclusive of species B. napus (Option 500, Hyola 330, Hyola 401, Sargol and RGS 003 were spring types and Modena, SLM 046, Opera and Zarfam were winter types), two varieties of B. rapa (Echo and Park land) and one variety of B. juncea (Land race). The result showed effect of cropping date on MR (main raceme yield as a proportion of total yield) and 1000-seed weight was increased significantly and also cropping date on SR (success ratio, % ratio of pods produced per flower produced), SF (main racemes seed yield (g) per flower), number of seeds per pod on the main racemes seed and seed yield were decreased significantly. Effect of variety on MR, SR, SF, number of seeds per pod, weight per 1000 seeds and seed yield was more significant. While the highest amount of the agronomic trait was in varieties SLM, Zarfam and RGS 003, whereas the lowest MR and SR were in varieties H-401, Echo, Park land and Land race and lowest SF, number of seeds per pod, weight per 1000 seeds and seed yield were in Echo and Park land. Reactions of cropping date and variety were more significant on MR, 1000-seed weight and seed yield. According to reaction of different varieties effect of delay cropping, it was resulted that the best variety for delay cropping was the variety with high quantity of MR (%), SR (%), SF (g), 1000-seed weight, number of seeds per pod and the number flowers and pods per plant; therefore, under this similar requirement varieties SLM 046 and RGS 003 had these properties.
ABSTRACT Disposal of spent wash is causing environmental problems due to high BOD and COD but contains valuable macro and micro minerals hence can be called liquid gold (cf. Petroleum) for agriculture. The treated distillery effluent was applied as ferti-irrigation i. e. application of effluent through irrigation water after proper dilution during 2004-05 and 2005-06 to Saccharum officinarum (Sugarcane COS 94257) crop as pre-sown and post-sown. Treated soil (pre-sown) revealed that the available potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus/ha increased soil fertility and infiltration of treated effluent at the depth of soil 0-30 and 30-60 cm was also observed. Post-sown effect was also analyzed on the dilution of 1 : 3 (one irrigation+50% RDF) and 1 : 4 (two irrigations+25% RDF) at 0-15 cm depth top soil. The significant results of germination %, GRI, highest cane girth, number of clump, milliable cane, kg Brix, pole in cane, purity coefficient and yield of sugarcane have been observed, however, fibre and juice quality showed reduction statistically. Utilization of treated distillery effluent has been discussed for restoration of Bagad River at Gajraula and Ganga river at Brajghat, Garhmukteshwar, Ghaziabad (U. P.) for aquatic biodiversity. ABSTRACT The research work was conducted on screening of mango varieties against leaf cutting weevil, Deporaus marginatus Pascoe in the nursery. The variety Himsagar was most susceptible to the attack of mango leaf cutting weevil. During the month of August, the weevil caused maximum damage in the tender leaves of mango by scrapping and hampered the photosynthetic activity of saplings. Bangalora was found to be least affected by the leaf cutting weevil. Among other varieties, this weevil also significantly damaged Langra, Ratna, Sorikhas and Subarna Rekha. ABSTRACT A comparative study was conducted with 19 germplasms of mango grown in West Bengal. The cultivars were distinguished on the basis of physical and biochemical parameters with the objective to characterize germplsams and screen them for processing purpose and future breeding improvement programme. Principal component analysis, which explained 67.15% of variance among the cultivars revealed that varieties like Daudia, Himsagar, Zardalu and Chandankosa were optimum varieties in respect to biochemical composition and the varieties Dilshad, Daudia, and Chini Champa showed higher fruit weight Cluster analysis also categorized the germplasms according to their potentiality. Soil degradation and nutrient depletion have gradually increased and have become serious threats to agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The reduction of fallow from 6 to 2 years has had serious impact on food production in SSA, which has been on decline every year. The beneficial effects of arbuscular mycorrhizae on the micronutrient uptake and their partitioning in cassava are not well described. Field and pot experiments were conducted at Ajibode village and IITA, respectively, located in a derived savanna belt of Nigeria to investigate the role of AM fungi on micronutrient uptake and partitioning in cassava. Leuceana leucocephala and Senna siamea served as the multipurpose trees at Ajibode village. Glomus clarum (Nicholson and Schenck) was used to inoculate the cassava on the field. The pot experiments were set-up at IITA with G. fasciculatum as inoculant. The AM fungi introduced were able to enhance the uptakes of some of the trace elements (49.3 to151.8% for Fe, 28.6 to 48.7% for Zn and 22.9 to 73.7% for Cu) in cassava both on the field and semi-controlled experiments. Fe (upto 687.98 µg/g) and Cu (35.06 µg/g) were significantly partitioned to the roots, while the tissue concentration of Zn (76.5 µg/g) was significantly higher in most cases in the shoots than the roots. It was concluded that introduction of exotic AM fungi could improve cassava micronutrient uptake under alley cropping where competition for nutrient uptake was always fierce. Therefore, AM fungi are beneficial for greater productivity of cassava under low fertility conditions. ABSTRACT The dearth of fertile ‘virgin’ land and inaccessibility to standard chemical fertilizers, coupled with low tuber yields have made yam (Dioscorea spp.) cultivation unprofitable in its traditional growing zone of West Africa. It is, therefore, pertinent to develop appropriate cropping systems that can maintain high yam tuber yield under intensive continuous cropping. A split-split plot arranged in randomized complete block design was used to investigate the treatment effects of cropping systems and soil amendments on yam yield in the four consecutive years. Continuous cropping (CC), natural fallow, CC+Pueraria phaseoloides (CCP) and CC+Gliricidia sepium (CCG) served as the main blocks, while the sub-plots were the four levels of soil amendments [arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus inoculation (M+), non-mycorrhizal inoculation (M-), manure and M+manure applications]. The two yam varieties served as the plots. About 38-250 and 2-234% increases were recorded in CC+Pueraria and a CC+Gliricidia treatment, respectively (as the case may be), above continuous cropping plots. Combination of manure and AM fungus inoculation greatly enhanced the yams tuber yields. Our trials suggested that yam productivity could be enhanced under continuous cropping system through the use of agronomic interventions such as legume intercropping, the use of AM fungi and manure. ABSTRACT Among the botanicals tested, NSKE was found to be a promising botanical insecticide with minimum shoot damage both in the first (8.02%) and second crop (8.03%) which was on par with neem oil 8.81 and 9.26% and this was followed by negundo. The fruit damage was also less in NSKE and neem oil for the first and second crop with highest level of yield and B : C ratio. Preliminary studies on insecticidal activities of acetonic plant extracts at different concentrations against Bihar hairy caterpillar of jute, Spilarctia obliqua have been made under laboratory conditions. Among the seven plant extracts viz., Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss), Bach (Acorus calamus L.), Karanja (Pongamia pinnata L.), Vasac (Adhatoda vasica Nees), Dalchini (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume), Tejpata (Cinnamomum tamala Nees and Eberm) and Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum Nees) screened, bach (Acorus calamus) showed most promising results recording 75.55% larval mortality at 96 h after treatment. LC50 value of bach was found to be 34.9147 with lower and upper fiducial limit ranging from 24.4393 to 49.8802 and corresponding regression equation as Y = 2.873+1.3782399x. The efficacy of bach was compared with commercial botanical, microbial and synthetic chemical pesticides. At the same time, combination effect of bach with these chemicals was studied. No antagonistic effect was found in any case. However, bach-azadirachtin combination showed a considerable synergistic effect.
ABSTRACT Often sesame seed is prone to damage in storage by the pests viz., fig moth and red flour beetle. Mixing neem seed kernel based EC containing azadirachtin (10000 ppm) and dung ash with seed was found effective in controlling these pests. Mixing azadirachtin at 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 ml per kg each of sesame seed showed no incidence of fig moth and red flour beetle upto one month. Azadirachtin at concentrations 5 and 10 ml each per kg of seed was also effective upto 6.5 months showing low incidence of the pests. The incidence of the pests was found nil at 15, 20 and 25 ml of azadirachtin per kg of seed upto 6.5 months. The dung ash was effective at 5 and 10 g per kg of seed upto 2.5 months with no incidence of theses pests. At concentration 15 g per kg of seed dung ash was effective upto six months. However, at concentrations 20 and 25 per kg of seed, it was effective upto seven months. ABSTRAC Damage, influence of crop on oviposition and fecundity of Lasioderma serricorne were studied on six crop materials, namely, sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), maize (Zea mays), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), groundnut (Arachis hypogaea), cassava (Manihot esculenta) and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). Damage ability test involved introducing 10 unsexed L. serricorne into 25 g whole seeds of sorghum, maize, cowpea and groundnut, unmilled dried cassava and tomato fruits. One month after infestation (MAI), L. serricorne evoked the highest damage on cassava. Damage on tomato and cowpea were not significantly different from each other but they were significantly different from cassava. At 2 MAI, damage on cowpea, groundnut and tomato was higher than other crops. When muslin cloths were soaked in ethanolic extract of each crop material for 30 min, there was no significant difference in oviposition. However, with 24 h treatment of muslin cloths, groundnut extract induced highest oviposition. Data on adult emergence were taken for 28 consecutive days beginning from emergence of the first adult in the experimental set-ups and cumulated on weekly basis. Cereals supported reproduction and development of L. serricorne better than non-cereal products with highest number (58) of adult emergence recorded in sorghum at one week from emergence of the first adult. At 2nd week, 107 F1 adults observed in maize were not significantly different from 89 F1 adults observed in sorghum. At 3rd week, maize supported highest number (129) of F1 adults, which was followed by groundnut (112 F1 adults) and tomato (69 F1 adults). The highest number of F1 adults was observed in groundnut (85 F1 adults) and tomato (66 F1 adults), respectively, at the forth week. Fecundity was lowest in cowpea. ABSTRACT Experiments were conducted at Annamalai University, India to study the efficacy of integrated approach involving insect agents Neochetina spp. and plant product Coleus amboinicus/aromaticus spray on water hyacinth control under field condition and its impact on insect histology. In three different ponds, the integrated approach of releasing the insect agents @ two/plant followed by spraying the plant product at 25% concentration recorded the cent per cent reduction in fresh weight and chlorophyll content of the weed on 75 days after spraying. No insect mortality rate was observed due to plant product. Further, the insects did not suffer any mortality due to direct exposure to the plant product spray at the highest concentration tried viz., 25% spray and they also did not suffer any histological infection leading to altered histological architecture in respect of various tissues such as cuticular membrane, fat body, foregut, midgut, hindgut, salivary gland and testis. The life history of Spodoptera litura Fabricius was studied at 27±1°C in the laboratory. Investigation was carried out on five different crops presumably observed as host plants of S. litura. The data were analyzed based on age-stages and variability of developmental rate among individuals of the pest. The highest intrinsic rate of increase (r), the finite rate of increase (l) and the net reproduction rate (Ro) of S. litura were 0.174, 1.192 females/female/day, 1370.74 offspring/individual, respectively, observed on castor, while the highest mean generation time (T) 45.48 days was observed on cotton. The life expectancy of newly deposited eggs is 17.34, 17.44, 16.39, 17.45 and 17.98 on castor, tobacco, groundnut, cotton and cabbage, respectively. The age specific fecundity of S. litura was 395.64, 179.32, 186.25, 292.64 and 25.14 progeny/day on 42nd, 44th, 41st, 46th and 51st days for castor, tobacco, groundnut, cotton and cabbage, respectively. Studies on age specific distribution of the pest on different hosts revealed that the eggs and larvae contributed the highest to the population, whereas the contribution of pupae and adults was negligible. ABSTRACT A field experiment was conducted to study the role of brassinolide (0.10, 0.25 and 0.50 ppm) and salicylic acid (500, 1000 and 1500 ppm) on nitrate reductase, catalase and peroxidase activities, and nucleic acid metabolism of greengram cv. PDM 54. Altogether, eight treatments were given as foliar spray including two types of control, namely, water spray and no spray. Foliar application of these plant growth regulators once at pre-flowering and second time at flowering stage significantly influenced NRase, catalase and peroxidase activities in the leaves of greengram over control and water spray. DNA and RNA contents were also increased over control and water spray due to application of these bio-regulators. Brassinolide (BR) at 0.25 ppm and salicylic acid (SA) at 1000 ppm were most effective indicating optimum doses, respectively, and BR was found to be superior to SA in inducing such effects. It is assumed that stimulatory effect on the enzyme activities of greengram plant by foliar application of BR and SA might be mediated through nucleic acid. ABSTRACT The region of influence of the basin of the Panuco river, that includes the urban zone of the city of Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico and the north of Veracruz state, contains an elevated level of water pollution, owing to the discharges of urban and agro-industrial water, in addition to the effects of the biomagnification of toxic compounds such as the heavy metals accumulated greatly in lagoons and in trophic chains in this region. The purpose of the present research was to determine the decontamination capacity of the mangroves species. The study areas include the lagoons San Andres, Carpintero, La Costa, Garrapatas and Pueblo Viejo. The mangrove species dynamics and indices such as of Shannon´s diversity, Sörensen´s affinity, forestry production, exploitation and the content of heavy metals were determined at each site. The dominant species observed were Rhizophora mangle (3-13 m), Laguncularia racemosa (6-8 m), Avicenia germinans (6-13 m) and Conocarpus erectus (>2 m). From north to the south, the dominance changed from A. germinans to L. racemosa. This last specie was the most exploited, with the highest dominance and density, with an importance value of 71.2%; the next species was R. mangle with 66.6%. The heavy metals of the sediments were Cd (2.82), Pb (28.57) and Cr (40.27 ppm). The lead content in leaves and branches (dry basis) of L. racemosa was 4.96 and 2.26 ppm, respectively. These results indicate that we could use the mangrove as bioremedial agents to reduce the contaminants originated from the discharges of industrial water which are fixed in the woody portions. P. Rahim Foroughbakhch, Robert J. Ferry Sr., J. L. Hernandez-Piñero, Marco A. Alvarado Vazquez and Alejandra Rocha Estrada [Quantitative measure of leaf epidermal cells as a taxonomic and phylogenetic tool in the identification of Stanhopea species (Orchidaceae) in the absence of flowers]. Crop Res. 35(3) : 295-302 (2008).Departamento de Botánica Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, UANL A. P. F.-2, 66451 San Nicolás de los Garza, N. L., México *(e-mail : rahim.f@gmail.com and rahimforo@hotmail.com). ABSTRACT Orchids of the genus Stanhopea are presently identified only by their floral structure characteristics. A statistical analysis of a significant portion of a genus discloses that measurements of the adaxial and abaxial epidermal cell areas by a leaf printing method can be correlated with specific recognized species, allowing an objectively positive or nearly positive confirmation of the identity of a species in the absence of flowers and without damage to plants. Additionally, species arranged in a descending order of their adaxial and abaxial epidermal cell areas correlate to a hierarchy from primitive to advanced floral forms reflecting the evolutionary radiation of the genus. Thus, it is established here that in Stanhopea large epidermal leaf cells represent an evolutionary primitive condition in equatorial South America which transitionally turned to individuals towards Mexico with smaller and evolutionarily more recent cells.
ABSTRACT For a better understanding of the effects of S-3307 on the ability of resist different chilling stress of rice seedlings, the injury rate of rice seedlings and some cold tolerant physiology items of different density S-3307 soaking on two materials Dyou 527 and Dyou 162 were studied. The results showed that under chilling stress, the injury rate of rice seedlings, electrolyte leakage, soluble sugar content, free proline content and MDA increased, but SPAD, root vigour and respiratory rate decreased. The biggest effect of chilling stress was after seed bourgeoned 15 days, lasted for four days, then were after seed bourgeoned 20 days, lasted for six days and after seed bourgeoned seven days, lasted for two days. Soaking seeds with S-3307 could increase the cold tolerance of rice seedlings, the best soaking density was 40 mg/l. Mechanism of cold tolerance was this. Comparing with CK, not only the increasing extent of MDA, electrolyte leakage and the decreasing extent of SPAD, root vigour and respiratory rate decreased, but also the increasing extent of soluble sugar content, free proline content increased. So, the cold tolerance of rice seedlings enhanced. Different varieties have different cold tolerance, Dyou162 was better than Dyou 527.
ABSTRACT The loss of vigour and viability of various sized sunflower seeds could be effectively controlled by dry and finely powdered chemicals viz., para amino benzoic acid @ 50 mg/ kg of seed; pharmaceutical formulation viz., aspirin (ortho-acetyl salicylic acid, originally a chemical compound derived from salix, now commercially synthesized) @ 50 mg/kg of seed and crude plant material viz., red hot chilli powder (active ingredient, capsaicin, cv. Capsicum frutesence L.) @ 1 g/ kg of seed. The invigoration effects were more or less similar in all the three seed sizes (large, medium and small) of the same seed stock. Use of large seed stocks as planting material performed much better for germinability and field performance than the medium and small sized seeds. Among the treatments, para amino benzoic acid and red chilli powder in particular showed significantly higher results in extending germinability as well as improving field performance and productivity. The interactions between treatments and seed sizes were statistically non-significant implying thereby that the treatment effects were independent of seed sizes. However, the results clearly indicate the suitability of large seed stocks of sunflower as the planting material; the medium sized seeds performed moderately better results as such, use of small seed which showed poor results in terms of storability should be avoided as far as possible ABSTRACT Pre-storage dry dressing treatments of 3-month old (high-medium vigour) rice (cvs. Lalat and IR 64) seeds with aspirin (active ingredient, ortho-acetylsalicylic acid) @ 100 mg/kg of seed, celin (active ingredient, ascorbic acid) @ 500 mg/kg of seed, bleaching powder (active ingredient, calcium hypochlorite) @ 2 g/kg of seed, potassium phosphate @ 100 mg/kg of seed, red hot chilli fruit and Trigonella seed powder (dry and finely powdered), each at 1 g/kg of seed significantly improved post-storage germinability as well as field performance and productivity of the resultant crop over untreated control. The pre-storage wet treatment (soaking-drying) was less effective in improving storability and field performance than the dry treatments, probably due to partial soaking injury in high-medium vigour rice seeds. It has been found that treatment effects are independent of cultivar differences in improving storability and field performances over their respective untreated control. On the basis of the results of the present experiment, pre-storage dry treatments with aspirin, bleaching powder and Trigonella seed powder are suggested for the improvement of storability and field performance of high-medium vigour rice seeds. ABSTRACT Various insecticides as inhibitors of general esterases from Helicoverpa armigera [Lepidpotera : Noctuidae] were examined for their mode of action and corresponding isozymes involved in it from different regions by electrophoresis and biochemical methods. Cypermethrin was found as a mixed type inhibitor of general esterases with higher Km (0.833 mM) and Vmax (0.500 mg of a-naphthol formed/g of American bollworm /min X 102) values in control of Ludhiana with respect to Mansa region. Endosulphan showed non-competitive mode of action representing constant Km but gradual decline in Vmax in both the regions with increasing inhibitor concentration were observed. Quinalphos a potent inhibitor of general esterases showed competitive mode of action with constant Vmax and gradual increase in Km values with the increase in inhibitor concentrations. Electrophoretically, suppression of isozymes in case of quinalphos (0.005%) was maximum and only single (Rm : 0.67) isozyme appeared in case of Ludhiana, whereas three (Rm : 0.67,0.76 and 0.80) different isozymes in case of Mansa region general esterases. Two isozymes with Rm values 0.50 and 0.67 and three isozymes with Rm values 0.24, 0.33 and 0.67 were appeared in Ludhiana and Mansa region general esterase treated with endosulphan (0.3%), respectively. Cypermethrin (0.1%) treated gels showed two isozymes (Rm : 0.71 and 0.88) in case of Ludhiana, whereas number of isozymes reached nine (E4 to E12) in case of Mansa region. Mode of action and isozymic suppression are correlated in case of quinalphos. ABSTRACT An experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2005 to study the root characteristics of hybrid rice as influenced by moisture and split application of nitrogen. Maximum root length was recorded under treatment W4 and treatment W2 recorded significantly higher root volume and root dry weight at both the stages of crop. Treatment N3 (¼ B+¼ MT+¼ PI+¼ GF) recorded significantly maximum root length, root volume and root dry weight at both the stages of crop except dry weight at harvest. The interaction effect was found non-significant.
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