Manta birostris landed at Tuticorin

On 31.03.2006 one female Manta birostris measuring 370 cm in total length 620 cm in breadth and weighing 1550 kg was caught by "singi valai" (a type of bottom set gill net) from a depth of 40 m off Tuticorin and brought to Tuticorin north landing centre

Phenotypic evaluation of indigenous Brinjal types suitable for rainfed conditions of South India (Tamil Nadu)

Research work was undertaken in brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) local types to identify suitable varieties for cultivation with high yield and quality traits under Madurai (Southern India) condition. The study reveals that highly significant differences were observed for most of the traits. Mean performance showed that EP 27 (1.93 kg) registered the highest fruit yield per plant followed by EP 3 (1.83 kg). From the nutrient point of view, the genotype Keerikai recorded highest ascorbic acid content of 13.87 mg/100 g, followed by Kallampatty. Earliness was one of the important criteria under rainfed conditions which ranged from 75.00 (Keerikai Local) to 85.00 (EP 28). Hence, these genotypes could be better utilized for further breeding programme for the improvement of fruit yield.Keywords: Mean performance, yield attributes, selection, eggplantAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(27), pp. 4338-4342

Variability analysis in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) crosses under drought stress

Climate change in recent years has affected crop production to a greater extent. To overcome these effects, climate-resilient varieties are needed. Tomato is a versatile crop. However, its growth is hindered when it is affected by drought stress. Hence, a variability analysis of tomatoes under drought stress was carried out at Horticulture College and Research Institute, Coimbatore. Variability studies revealed that all the crosses for all parameters exhibited higher phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) values than genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV), indicating the influence of environmental effects. For all the crosses, viz., EC169966 × LE118, EC177824 × LE27 and Arka Ashish × LE27, high PCV and high GCV were recorded for characteristics including fruit number per plant, yield per plant, lycopene content and peroxidase activity. Characteristics such as the number of flowers per cluster, fruit number per plant, individual weight of fruit, yield per plant, relative water content, proline content, peroxidase activity and ascorbic acid content recorded higher heritability coupled with high genetic advance as a percentage of the mean (GAM). Thus, direct selection of the above parameters improves drought-tolerant breeding programs in tomato

Gene Action and Combining Ability Analysis in Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.)

Combining ability analysis in brinjal genotypes indicated significant genotypic and environmental variations for all the 15 characters studied. Both general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) variances showed significant interactions. Genotypes Palamedu Local (L5), Alagarkovil Local (L4), Melur Local (L6) and Annamalai (T1) were found to be good general combiners, and the crosses L3 x T3 (Kariapatty Local x Punjab Sadabahar), L8 x T1, (Nilakottai Local x Annamalai), L4 x T1 (Alagarkovil Local x Annamalai), L6 x T2 (Melur Local x KKM 1), L7 x T3 (Keerikai Local x Punjab Sadabahar) and L7 x T2 (Keerikai Local x KKM 1) were identified as good specific combiners for fruit yield and other related traits. These hybrid combinations can be used for commercial exploitation for fruit yield in brinjal

Nonclassical trajectories in head-on collisions

Rutherford scattering is usually described by treating the projectile either classically or as quantum mechanical plane waves. Here we treat them as wave packets and study their head-on collisions with the stationary target nuclei. We simulate the quantum dynamics of this one-dimensional system and study deviations of the average quantum solution from the classical one. These deviations are traced back to the convexity properties of Coulomb potential. Finally, we sketch how these theoretical findings could be tested in experiments looking for the onset of nuclear reactions.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figure

A note on the foetus of the hump-back dolphin from Tuticorin coast, Gulf of Mannar

On 16-2-'94 a female Hump - back dolphin Sousachinensis (Osbeck)measuring 2.235 mm and weighing 80 kg was accidently caughtin drift gillnet off Tuticorin. When the dolphin was cut openeda foetus measuring 250 mm was obteilned from i