AAUOKHYB -1 : An excellent Okra hybrid developed by Assam Agricultural University (AAU) suitable for diverse agro-climatic situation of North East India

A hybrid development programme on okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) was undertaken at the Assam Agricultural University (AAU), Jorhat. The work included collection and evaluation of okra germplasm, identification of parents for hybridization, selfing of identified parental lines, making crosses and production of hybrid seeds, testing of hybrids for yield and resistance to Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus (YVMV) disease, adaptability under diverse agro-climatic condition and testing in all India trials. The programme resulted in development and identification of excellent Okra hybrid AAUOKHYB-1 in 2017.  The performance of the hybrid was very good under diverse agro-climatic conditions yielding about 162.0 q/ha fruit yield which is 32.5% higher than the best commercial check Arka Anamika. The hybrid showed resistant (R) reaction to YVMV disease. A wide range of heterosis upto 43% was exhibited by the hybrid in different vegetable research centers of the country as compared to the best check variety

Evaluation of rice–legume–rice cropping system on grain yield, nutrient uptake, nitrogen fixation, and chemical, physical, and biological properties of soil

To achieve higher yields and better soil quality under rice–legume–rice (RLR) rotation in a rainfed production system, we formulated integrated nutrient management (INM) comprised of Azospirillum (Azo), Rhizobium (Rh), and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) with phosphate rock (PR), compost, and muriate of potash (MOP). Performance of bacterial bioinoculants was evaluated by determining grain yield, nitrogenase activity, uptake and balance of N, P, and Zn, changes in water stability and distribution of soil aggregates, soil organic C and pH, fungal/bacterial biomass C ratio, casting activities of earthworms, and bacterial community composition using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) fingerprinting. The performance comparison was made against the prevailing farmers’ nutrient management practices [N/P2O5/K2O at 40:20:20 kg ha−1 for rice and 20:30:20 kg ha−1 for legume as urea/single super-phosphate/MOP (urea/SSP/MOP)]. Cumulative grain yields of crops increased by 7–16% per RLR rotation and removal of N and P by six crops of 2 years rotation increased significantly (P < 0.05) in bacterial bioinoculants-based INM plots over that in compost alone or urea/SSP/MOP plots. Apparent loss of soil total N and P at 0–15 cm soil depth was minimum and apparent N gain at 15–30 cm depth was maximum in Azo/Rh plus PSB dual INM plots. Zinc uptake by rice crop and diethylenetriaminepentaacetate-extractable Zn content in soil increased significantly (P < 0.05) in bacterial bioinoculants-based INM plots compared to other nutrient management plots. Total organic C content in soil declined at 0–15 cm depth and increased at 15–30 cm depth in all nutrient management plots after a 2-year crop cycle; however, bacterial bioinoculants-based INM plots showed minimum loss and maximum gain of total organic C content in the corresponding soil depths. Water-stable aggregation and distribution of soil aggregates in 53–250- and 250–2,000 μm classes increased significantly (P < 0.05) in bacterial bioinoculants-based INM plots compared to other nutrient management plots. Fungal/bacterial biomass C ratio seems to be a more reliable indicator of C and N dynamics in acidic soils than total microbial biomass C. Compost alone or Azo/Rh plus PSB dual INM plots showed significantly (P < 0.05) higher numbers of earthworms’ casts compared to urea/SSP/MOP alone and bacterial bioinoculants with urea or SSP-applied plots. Hierarchical cluster analysis based on similarity matrix of DGGE profiles revealed changes in bacterial community composition in soils due to differences in nutrient management, and these changes were seen to occur according to the states of C and N dynamics in acidic soil under RLR rotation

Comparison of CD4 and CD8 counts and ratio in HIV negative pulmonary tuberculosis patients with normal healthy controls

Background: There is an equivocal contention that Tuberculosis may be a cause of non-HIV-associated CD4+ T cell lymphopenia. In HIV negative patients, CD4+ and CD8+ T cell count suppression has been associated with TB infection. Prediction of HIV coinfection in newly diagnosed pulmonary TB patients with negative HIV status by estimation of CD4, CD8 count and CD4:CD8 ratio.Methods: Newly diagnosed pulmonary TB patients comprising of 30 numbers with negative HIV status were subjected for estimation of CD4, CD8 counts and ratio for prediction of HIV coinfection. Equal number of healthy controls was also included in the study for comparison of the values.Results: Significantly lower CD4 and CD8 counts among pulmonary TB infected HIV negative patients as compared with healthy controls was found. The CD4:CD8 ratio was normal when compared with healthy controls.Conclusions: The present study highlights the importance of estimation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell counts and ratio in newly diagnosed pulmonary TB patients with negative HIV status. Prediction ability in combination with early detection and appropriate management play major role in evading emergence of drug resistance among the HIV-TB coinfected patients

Review and selection of recycling technology for lithium-ion batteries made for EV application - A life cycle perspective

The lithium-ion battery is the source of renewable energy and the battery-operated vehicles are gradually replacing fossil fuel-based automobiles. Though Electric Vehicles (EVs) do not produce emissions through tailpipes, yet the issues pertaining to recycling of the lithium-ion batteries employed in EVs lead to environmental burdens. The EVs sale in global market exceeds a million per year. It is estimated that there will be a huge amount of unprocessed waste of lithium-ion battery packs when these vehicles retire after the service life. The re-use of batteries can reduce the waste generation, however the cumulative burden of the battery wastes will be substantial considering the increasing trend of the electric-vehicle market. There are various methods employed for recycling of lithium-ion batteries. The existing literature reports that their environmental impact is significant. The challenge is to choose a method which causes minimal disruptions to the environment in terms of cost, pollution and energy consumption, which can be effectively addressed by a life cycle analysis based selection method. In this paper, a review is conducted on the current recycling technologies and WPM (Weighted Product Method) based Multi-Criteria Approach is employed to optimally choose the best recycling process for lithium-ion batteries from life cycle perspective

Synthesis of chiral polymer by Mukaiyama alcohol polymerization and its characterization

In this paper we have reported the synthesis of chiral polymer by asymmetric aldol polymerization of bis(silyl enol ether) and dialdehyde by Mukaiyama aldol reaction which is one of the most important aldol reaction for chiral polymer synthesis. We have studied the polymerization reaction in two different catalytic conditions such as by using a chiral catalyst viz. 1,1′-binaphthyl-2,′-diol (BINOL) which is modified by reacting it with diethyl zinc solution in hexane. Another catalyst used for the polymerization reaction is lipase, which is a triacylglycerol hydro lases; EC 3.1.1.3, belongs to a most popular group of enzyme and are used for chiral synthesis. A comparative study has also been made for the polymerization reaction in both the catalytic systems. The results obtained in various reaction conditions by changing amount of catalyst, monomer ratio etc. has also been discussed. The polymers were characterized by IR, NMR, GPC, TGA-DTA, specific rotation and circular dichrosm study and it was found that both catalytic conditions give the chiral polymer of approximately same enatioselectivity

Climate Resilient Agriculture Experiences from NICRA Implementation in North Bank Plains Zone of Assam

Not AvailableClimate change impacts on agriculture are being witnessed all over the world, but countries like India are more vulnerable in view of the huge population dependent on agriculture, excessive pressure on natural resources and poor coping mechanisms. The warming trend in India over the past 100 years has indicated an increase of 0.60°C. The projected impacts are likely to further aggravate field fluctuations of many crops thus impacting food security. There are already evidences of negative impacts on yield of wheat and paddy in parts of India due to increased temperature, water stress and reduction in number of rainy days. Increased abnormalities in amount and distribution of rainfall has also been observed in North Bank Plains Zone (NBPZ) of Assam along with increase in numbers of wet spell driven flash floods and seasonal droughts in recent years. Planned adaption is essential to increase the resilience of agricultural production to climate change. Several improved agricultural practices evolved over time for diverse agroecological regions in India have potential to enhance climate change adaptation, if deployed prudently. Management practices that increase agricultural production under adverse climatic conditions also tend to support climate change adaptation because they increase resilience and reduce yield variability under variable climate and extreme events. Keeping this in view, National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture was implemented under All India Coordinated Research Project for Dryland Agriculture, Biswanath Chariali centre on 2011in two selected villages of North Lakhimpur, Chamua and Ganakdoloni. The main aim of the project is to enhance resilience of Indian agriculture to climate change and climate variability through strategic research and technology demonstration. In this bulletin the authors have penned down the experiences gained from implementation of NICRA in NBPZ of Assam. It is hoped that the bulletin will be able to serve the purposes towards achieving its objectives and act as a benchmark study for the entire area. It is expected that the information contained in this bulletin will be exploited by the scientist of different disciplines and extension officials for making rational recommendation. The authors will remain ever grateful to Project Coordinator, (AICRPDA), CRIDA, Hyderabad and Director of Research (Agri), AAU for their guidance, encouragement and sincere support. The authors extend thankfulness to the fellow Scientists, Research Associates and other technical staff for their cooperation and help. The authors express their thankfulness to Sharada Offset, Biswanath Chariali for printing the report.Not Availabl