Growth promotion of transplanted rice plant by bioagents effective against bacterial leaf blight disease of rice under glasshouse conditions

The experiment was conducted to evaluate growth promotion of transplanted rice by fungal and bacterial bioagents effective against bacterial leaf blight of rice, under glasshouse conditions. Bioagent formulations (PBA -1, PBA -2, FLP 88, Pf 83, Isolate 40 and T. harzianum) were applied as seed treatment, seedling root dip and foliar spray and compared with chemical treatment and untreated check. All bioagent formulations were significantly effective in increasing number of tillers per hill, root length, total phenolic content in rice leaves, fresh and dry root weight, fresh and dry shoot weight, flag leaf area, grain yield and 1000 grain weight over check. Present study revealed that potential fungal and bacterial bioagents effective against bacterial leaf blight disease of rice, exhibited plant growth promoting activities and resulted 22.38 to 32.08 % increase in grain yield over untreated check, even if there is no disease

Effect of fungal and bacterial bioagent application on total phenolic content in rice leaves pre-inoculated with Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Uyeda and Ishiyama) Dowson

Present study was carried out to observe the effect of fungal and bacterial bioagents on total phenolic content in rice leaves pre-inoculated with Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae and on disease severity of bacterial leaf blight of rice. Two commercial formulations of Trichoderma harzianum (PBA-1) and Pseudomonas fluorescens (PBA-2) and four formulations of fluorescent pseudomonads and Trichoderma spp. viz, P. fluorescens (Pf 83, rice leaf isolate), fluorescent pseudomonad (FLP 88, rice leaf isolate), T. harzianum (rice leaf isolate), Trichoderma spp. (isolate 40, isolated from rice field soil) were evaluated. Significantly higher mean value of total phenolic content of rice leaves was observed with the application of bioagent formulations as compared to check (pre-inoculated with X. oryzae pv. oryzae), chemical treatment and healthy plant. Maximum mean total phenolic content (342.22 ?l/g) in rice leaves was observed with Pf 83, which was followed by PBA-2 (334.44 ?l/g) and T. harzianum (330.00 ?l/g). Decrease in disease severity of bacterial leaf blight was observed with the increase of total phenolic content in rice leaves which resulted in increased grain yield and 1000 grain weight

Effect of bioagent application time against bacterial leaf blight of rice caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Uyeda and Ishiyama) Dowson

Present investigation was carried out to test the effect of time of application on efficacy of Trichoderma harzianum and Pseudomonas fluorescens formulations against bacterial leaf blight of rice, under field condition. Foliar sprays with bioagent(s) in three time sequences i.e. 7 days before, simultaneously and 7 days after inoculation of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae inoculation significantly reduced disease severity over check during Kharif 2006 and 2007. Maximum reduction in bacterial leaf blight disease was obtained with the application of T. harzianum on 7 days before inoculation of pathogen during Kharif 2006 and 2007 and maximum increase in grain yield was obtained with the application of PBA-2 seven days before inoculation of pathogen. It was revealed that prophylactic spray of bioagents one week prior to pathogen inoculation was significantly (106 cfu/g) effective in reducing disease severity of bacterial leaf blight of rice as compared to chemical treatment

Magneto-Optical Spectrum Analyzer

We present a method for the investigation of gigahertz magnetization dynamics of single magnetic nano elements. By combining a frequency domain approach with a micro focus Kerr effect detection, a high sensitivity to magnetization dynamics with submicron spatial resolution is achieved. It allows spectra of single nanostructures to be recorded. Results on the uniform precession in soft magnetic platelets are presented.Comment: 5 pages, 7 figure

Management of powdery mildew and aphid in organically grown Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) through different oils

All the cultivated Brassica species exhibited powdery mildew severity with highest (43.2%) on Brassica juncea followed by B. rapa (28.0%) which is widely cultivated in India. Yield losses from 10-90 per cent with reduction in 6.47 per cent oil content have been estimated from different Brassica species. Hence, the present study was carried out to evaluate different oils to manage powdery mildew disease and aphids in an organically grown mustard crop. Five oils (castor, groundnut, sunflower, neem and mustard oil) and ghee were evaluated against powdery mildew (Erysiphae cruciferarum) and aphid (Lipaphis erysimi) of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea). Castor oil 50 EC, neem oil 50 EC and mustard oil 50 EC and deshi ghee 50 EC (@ 100 ml/10 litre water) were effective over untreated control in reducing  powdery mildew disease severity when applied as foliar spray (@ 5 ml/litre) in the experiment carried out in organic field (plot No. B-2 at Agronomy Instruction Farm, S. D. Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar). Maximum reduction in germinated conidia (66.0%) over control, disease severity (50.0%), area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) values (51.8%) and maximum increase over control in 1000 seed weight (16.7%) and seed yield (10.3%) was observed with neem oil. This was followed by the application of ghee which exhibited reduced disease severity (22.9%) and AUDPC values (30.6%) and increased seed yield (8.1%) and the application of castor oil 50 EC which exhibited an increased in seed yield (8.0%) and reduced powdery mildew severity (20.8%). Shortest log phase was observed with neem oil during 10th std. week. All the oils tested (castor, groundnut, sunflower, neem and mustard oil) and deshi ghee were effective in reducing aphid population (39.5 to 65.9%) and damage index (6.1 to 25.1%). A maximum reduction in aphid population (65.9%) over control and lowest aphid damage index (3.70) was observed with neem oil 50 EC 6 days after 2nd spray. Application of neem oil, castor oil and deshi ghee resulted in increased seed yield (8.1 to 10.4%). This information could be useful in devising strategies for powdery mildew and aphid management in organic cultivation, eco-friendly management and IPM of mustard

Evaluation of Spur and Colour Mutant Cultivars of Apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) for their Suitablity under Mid Hill Conditions of Uttaranchal

Out of 9 apple cultivars belonging to spur and colour mutants, Red Spur exhibited the largest fruit size (6.38 cm x 7.69cm) followed by Red Chief (6.37 cm x 7.11 cm) and Vance Delicious (5.95 cm x 6.68 cm). The maximum value of average fruit weight (170.4 g) and fruit volume (193.1 ml) were observed in Red Spur. Maximum value for firmness (1.35 kg/cm2) and T.S.S. (12.50°B) were observed in Red Chief with the lowest acidity in Vance Delicious (0.23%). The highest value for total sugars (8.45%) was recorded in Vance Delicious and for reducing sugars (6.98%) in Red Chief . On the basis of these characteristics, spur type cultivars Red Chief and Red Spur, with maximum yield/tree of 27.4 kg and 24.3 kg respectively, and the colour mutant cultivar, Vance Delicious with an yield of 25.1 kg were suitable for cultivation under mid-hill conditions of Uttaranchal

Genotype × environment interaction for morphological and quality traits of wheat varieties under different nitrogen regimes in the foothills of Shivalik range of Himalayas

Variation among twelve winter wheat varieties with respect to N efficiency (NE) were assessed in field trial planned as per factorial experimental design (two years × three nitrogen doses × twelve genotypes) in which treatments were randomized in three replications under three nitrogen levels (control, 150, 250 kg/ha) for two successive years at N. E. Borlaug Crop Research Center, Pantnagar. Stability analysis of nitrogen efficiency contributing traits was performed using mean performance, linear regression and the deviation from regression. No single genotype performed well enough for all the traits under study. QLD 33, HD 2967 and QLD 39 were stable for root length showing good performance for nitrogen uptake. HD 3112 was most stable variety for most of the characters whereas, QLD 33 was found to perform best under higher levels of nitrogen fertilisation, thus, not efficient enough. But, QLD 33 showed delayed maturity which could be linked with an increase in grain yield thus, it could be said that functional stay green phenotypes should increase the grain filling period and boost yield

EVALUATION OF HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF STEM EXTRACTS OF CUSCUTA REFLEXA (ROXB) IN RATS

Objective: Cuscuta Reflexa (Convolvulaceae) is a plant with a variety of ethnic medicinal uses along with antioxidant activity. Hence it was planned to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity with alcoholic extracts of stem of Cuscuta reflexa (AESCR) and aqueous extracts of stem of Cuscuta reflexa (AQESCR).Methods: Hepatoprotective activity of both the extracts was studied against paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Functional (thiopentone induced sleeping time), physical (wet liver weight and volume), biochemical parameters Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Serum direct bilirubin (BILD), Serum total bilirubin (BILT), Serum albumin (ALB), Serum total proteins (PRO), Serum cholesterol (CHO), and histopathological changes of livers were assessed in control/toxicant/standard/and extract treated animals with paracetamol induced hepatotoxic models in rats.Results: In LD50 studies for AESCR and AQESCR up to the maximum dose level of 2000 mg/kg dose no mortality was observed in any of the animals, indicating the practically nontoxic. When compared to toxicant control groups both the extracts have significantly reduced the paracetamol induced elevated levels of serum ALT, AST, ALP, BILT, BILD, CHO, and elevated the levels of ALB and PRO. The histopathological changes (steatosis), necrosis etc. Were partly or fully prevented in animals treated with the two extracts.Conclusion: AESCR and AQESCR showed a significant hepatoprotective effect against paracetamol induced hepatic damage. The medium and high doses of AESCR and AQESCR (200 and 400 mg/kg) treated groups showd better hepatoprotective activity when compared to standard drug silymarin (25 mg/kg).Â