Cytological investigation on interspecific progenies of red fleshed Saccharum robustum

Saccharum robustum is one of the wild species and its chromosome number ranges from 2n =60 to 200. This group of S.robustum clones exhibit red flesh colour, robust growth and tolerance to abiotic stresses. In this study, 27 hybrid progenies developed from two polycrosses ‘involving’ red fleshed S.robustum clones were used as experimental material. The progenies were grouped into six categories based on the flesh colour and the cytological information was correlated. Six cytological groups were observed in the progenies. It was observed that all six progenies of NG 77-76 were of 2n=70 cytotype but among the progenies of NG 77-84, 57.1% were with 2n=70, 23.8% were with 2n=72 and the remaining four types were available in 0.83%. From this it is concluded that more cytotypes can be developed using NG 77-84 as female parent compared to NG 77-76. When the flesh colour was correlated with the diploid chromosome number, a significant negative correlation was observed. It is also inferred that the only one progeny having red flesh colour and 2n=60, might have developed as a result of un-intentional selfing

Distribution scenario of diseases in sugarcane germplasm at Kannur, Kerala

Survey and monitoring were done at monthly intervals during 2017-2019 for the occurrence of diseases in sugarcane germplasm at ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute Institute Research Centre, Kannur. The study revealed the occurrence of ring spot in Saccharum species as well as in hybrid clones. Other diseases recorded were smut, rust, stalk rot, banded sclerotial disease and YLD. Among these diseases, only few clones such as IJ 76 552 and 28 NG 82 (Saccharum robustum), Co 844 and Co 62175 (Indian hybrids) were affected by smut. Rust is the common disease in the 32 hybrid clones and in four clones of S. spontaneum viz. IND 81-20, IND 81-74, IND 81-82 and IND 81-83. Only one S. officinarum clone IJ 76 501 was affected by rust till now. Stalk rot was observed mostly in S. officinarum clones and in few hybrid clones, respectively during 2017-2019. For the first time, leaf blight due to banded sclerotial disease was noticed in NG 77-145 of S. robustum, Agoul, Baroukha, Chin and Dark Pindaria of S. barberi and IS 76-168 of S. officinarum during 2019

A rapid method to prepare crystalline fine particle chromite powders

Fine particle $MgCr_2O_4, ZnCr_2O_4$ and $LaCrO_3$, have been obtained by rapidly heating an aqueous solution containing the corresponding metal (M) nitrate, chromium nitrate and maleie hydrazide in appropriate mole ratios at 375°C. The solution boils, froths and ignites to burn with a frame and yields voluminous chromite powders. Formation of spine1 chromites, $MCr_2O_4$, and pcrovskite $LaCrO_3$ was confirmed by their characteristic powder X-ray diffraction patterns and infrared spectra. The surface area of the chromites ranged from 32 to $72 m^{2/g}$

Combustion synthesis of rare earth cuprates

Rare earth cuprates, La2CuO4 Nd2CuO4, La1.8M0.2CuO4 (M=Ca.Sr) and Nd1.85Ce0.15CuO4 have been prepared by the combustion of redox mixtures containing corresponding metal nitrates and maleic hydrazide, C4H4N2O2, at 350°C. The solid combustion products are submicron size amorphous powders which on heat treatment (700°C, 30 minutes) yield crystalline single phase cuprates. Strontium doped lanthanum cuprate, La1.8Sr0.2CuO4, shows an onset of superconductivity at 36K

Combustion synthesis and properties of mullite-zirconia composites

Mullite-zirconia composite powders were prepared by the combustion of an aqueous heterogeneous redox mixture consisting of $AI(NO_3)_3, Zr(NO_3)_4/ZrO(NO_3)_2$, silica fume and urea/diformyl hydrazine at $500^o C$. X-ray diffraction data showed that a large amount of tetragonal zirconia existed in the composite powders in spite of high temperature calcination. Milled composite powders showed enhanced densification compared to the unmilled powders and the microstructure of the sintered $(1600^o)$ compacts showed the presence of spherical zirconia grains in intergranular positions along with elongated mullite grains

Sintering and dilatometric studies of combustion derived cordierite

Two grades of cordierite powders have been prepared by the combustion of magnesium nitrate/magnesia, aluminum nitrate, silica fume, ammonium nitrate and urea at $525^o$C and their sintering characteristics have been studied using a high temp. dilatometer cordierite prepared using magnesium nitrate showed a shrinkage of 15% at $900^o$C while it was only 3% for cordierite derived from magnesia up to $1365^o$C. Magnesia-derived cordierite achieved appropriate 97% theoretical d. at $1450^o$C while cordierite prepared using magnesium nitrate was only 99% dense. The higher d. of magnesia cordierite has been explained on the basis of melting of low temperature eutectic under whose influence a sharp shrinkage (10%) was seen beyond $1365^o$C, the eutectic temperature. The total shrinkage of magnesia- and magnesium nitrate-derived cordierite was 10% and 21% respectively at $1425^o$C

Combustion synthesis, characterization, sintering and microstructure of mullite-cordierite composites

Mullite and cordierite are promising materials for electronic packaging due to their dielectric constant and coefficient of thermal expansion being lower than that alumina [1-5]. Recent advances in very large scale integrated circuits (VLSI) have led to materials with low dielectric constant and thermal expansion tailored over a wide range. Cordierite- dispersed-mullite composites allow a selection of materials with a wide range of values of dielectric constant and thermal expansion [6]. Mullite/ cordierite composites have been prepared by the sol-gel method using metal alkoxides [7] or by the use of composite sols [8, 9]. Such composites have aslo been prepared by solid state mixing of mullite and cordierite in the desired ratio [10]

Mullite-zirconia composites

Mullite-zirconia composite powders were prepared by the combustion of an aqueous heterogeneous redox mixture consisting of Al(NO3)(3), Zr(NO3)(4)/ZrO(NO3)(2), silica fume and urea/diformyl hydrazine at 500 degrees C. X-ray diffraction data showed that a large amount of tetragonal zirconia existed in the composite powders in spite of high temperature calcination. Milled composite powders showed enhanced densification compared to the unmilled powders and the microstructure of the sintered (1600 degrees C) compacts showed the presence of spherical zirconia grains in intergranular positions along with elongated mullite grains

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Not AvailableThe islanded and managed sugarcane agro-ecosystem (11°52' N, 75°25' E, 11m MSL) exists in the heartland of the Kannur District, Kerala state, India as an integral part of the ICARSugarcane Breeding Institute Research Centre (encompasses approximately 20 acres), since 1962. The center hosts the world sugarcane germplasm collection which includes ISSCT (International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists), Indian collection consists of approximately 3500 Saccharum and related species. The center is located approximately 200 km from the commercial sugarcane belt to manage the field gene-bank free of pests and diseases. The collection is replanted every year during the January-February planting season and the previous year crop being retained until the current year crop gets established in the field. Thus, the center provides a unique agro-ecosystem with the availability of crops throughout the year in the field which is islanded from the main sugarcane growing area and managed following recommended agricultural practices. The landscape has previously been subjected to paddy cultivation as a wetland before the center came up. The center comes under a humid tropical monsoon climate with precipitation is heavily seasonal where June to September is known as the wettest months with south-west monsoon and the occasional occurrence of localized flooding during the time.Not Availabl