Exploring the potential of enhanced organic formulations for boosting crop productivity, nutrient utilization efficiency, and profitability in baby corn-Kabuli gram-vegetable cowpea cropping system

The preparation of enriched formulation by integrating of agricultural wastes such as paddy husk ash (PHA) and potato peel with organic fertilizer such as farmyard manure (FYM), compost can enrich the soil with essential plant nutrients, leading to higher yields in subsequent crops and potentially reducing the dependence on farmyard manure/compost alone. However, there is lack of adequate research findings regarding the impact of different formulations generated from agricultural waste on productivity, nutrient utilization efficiency and profitability of baby corn-kabuli gram-vegetable cowpea cropping system. Therefore, a two-year field experiment (2020–2022) was conducted ICAR-IARI, New Delhi with baby corn-kabuli gram-vegetable cowpea cropping system. Seven nutrient sources were tested in Randomized Block Design and replicate thrice.The results showed that treatment T4 (100% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) through PHA based formulation) had significant effect on crop yield grown in rotation, followed by treatment T6 (100% RDN through potato peel compost (PPC) based formulation) and T2 (100% RDN through FYM). The increase in yield was 75.0, 44.3 and 33.1% during first year and 72.6, 45.9 and 31.0% during second year, respectively, over control. Treatment T4 also significantly enhanced system uptake of N, P and K as well as system gross returns and net returns, resulting in 65.6, 84.9, 69.5, 50.7 and 55.2% higher returns during first year and 68.6, 80.5, 73.9, 50.0 and 54.2% higher returns during second year, respectively, over control. Furthermore, treatment T4 significantly improved agronomic nitrogen use efficiency and apparent recovery by 151.6 and 2.0% in baby corn, 74.2 and 1.5% in kabuli gram, 55.7 and 13.9% in veg cowpea over T7, respectively, averaged across two years of study. Based on these results, it is recommended to adopt (T4) 100% RDN through PHA based formulation, and (T6) 100% RDN through PPC based formulation in the area with a shortage of FYM but with the availability of rice husk ash or pototo peels for sustainable utilization of the agricultural wastes and improving the agricultural sustainability

A new spectrophotometric method for quantification of potassium solubilized by bacterial cultures

261-266A new spectrophotometric method was developed for the quantification of potassium in the culture broth supernatant of K-solubilizing bacteria. The standard curve of potassium with the new method, which is based on the measurement of cobalt, showed a regression coefficient (R2) of 0.998. The quantification values of potassium obtained with flame photometric method and the newly developed method showed a significant correlation (r) of 0.978. The new method depends on the precipitation of sodium cobaltinitrite with solubilized potassium in liquid medium as potassium sodium cobaltinitrite, which develops bluish green colour by the addition of conc. HCl. The intensity of developed colour can be recorded at 623 nm. This method involves less number of steps, is easy and time saving, and can be used for the reliable estimation of available potassium in culture broth supernatant of K-solubilizing bacteria </span

Not Available

Not AvailableIn the present investigation, five strains of Janthinobacterium obtained from Rohtang Pass, Himachal Pradesh, India along with one strain of Bacillus decolorationis (IARI-SL-13) were screened qualitatively and quantitatively for their ability to solubilize K at different temperatures ranging from 5 to 30 °C. All the selected strains do not produce violet colonies, instead produced pink or red coloured colonies. In a plate assay, among all the strains tested, Janthinobacterium sp. IARI-R-81 was most efficient in solubilization of K at lower temperatures of 5 and 10 °C and was closely followed by Janthinobacterium lividum (IARI-R-71). Janthinobacterium sp. IARI-R-70 did not produce any detectable halo zones at all temperatures except 10 and 25 °C. Quantitative analysis revealed that all the selected pigment-producing strains could solubilize potassium-bearing mineral at low temperature (5 °C). J. lividum IARI-R-50 strain was most efficient in solubilizing K (29.87 ± 1.22 μg K/mL) from its mineral at 5 °C. This strain was typical as it solubilized almost the same amount of K both at 5 and 30 °C indicating its capability to adapt to different temperatures. All other strains showed a significantly higher concentration of solubilized K at 30 °C as compared to other temperatures tested. The non-pigmented B. decolorationis showed solubilization only at 25 and 30 °C and the concentration of K solubilized at 30 °C was significantly higher than at 25 °C. There was no correlation between pigment production and solubilization of potassium. This is the first report depicting solubilization trait of members of genus Janthinobacterium and confirms its evolutionary relatedness to Collimonads.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableBackground and aim Most of the food grains show deficiency of zinc. The study was carried out to evaluate the role of endophytes in the fortification of Zn in wheat genotypes with different nutrient use efficiency and in soils deficient and sufficient for Zn. Methods Two zinc solubilizing endophytes (Bacillus subtilis DS-178 and Arthrobacter sp. DS-179) were used to inoculate low and high Zn accumulating genotypes in soils sufficient and deficient in Zn. Results The data on different root morphological parameters, yield and accumulation of Zn indicated distinct variations among genotypes; soil types and also among the endophytes inoculated, un-inoculated and chemical fertilizer treatments. In general, the amount of Zn in grains due to inoculation of endophytes was 2 folds higher as compared to un-inoculated control. The low and high Zn accumulating genotypes responded in an almost identical manner to endophyte inoculation, irrespective of the soil types. Conclusion Zn solubilizing endophytes can enhance the translocation and enrichment of Zn to grains in wheat genotypes, irrespective of their different nutrient use efficiency (Zn). This approach can be integrated into the modern strategies for biofortification.t AvailableNot Availabl

Prospecting catabolic diversity of microbial strains for developing microbial consortia and their synergistic effect on Lentil (Lens esculenta) growth, yield and iron biofortification

Not AvailableCarbon profiling of heterotrophic microbial inoculants is worthwhile strategy for formulating consortium-based biofertilizers. Consortium-based biofertilizers are better than single strain-based biofertilizers for sustaining agricultural productivity and enhancing micronutrient concentration in grains. Currently, we investigated catabolic diversity among microbes using different carbon sources and certain enzyme activities. A field experiment was also carried to evaluate the synergistic effect of selected lentil Rhizobia and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria strains on lentil growth, yield, nitrogen fixation, and Fe-content in seeds. On the basis of carbon profiling Bacillus sp. RB1 and Pseudomonas sp. RP1 were selected for synergistic study with lentil Rhizobium-Rhizobium leguminosarum subsp. viciae RR1. Co-inoculation of Rhizobium with Bacillus sp. RB1 and Pseudomonas sp. RP1 significantly enhanced the plant height, number of pods per plant, seed yield, number of nodules per plant, nitrogenase activity and Fe biofortification in seed over the single Rhizobium inoculation or dual combination of Rhizobium + RB1 or RP1. The response of single Rhizobium inoculation or co-inoculation of Rhizobium with RB1 and/or RP1 at 50% RDF was almost similar or higher than full dose of recommended N:P:K with respect to lentil yield and Fe biofortification in seed. This deciphered grouping of microbial strains for formulation of microbial consortia-based biofertilizers and revealed the promise of consortium of Rhizobium and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria in improving the biological yield and enhancing the Fe content of lentil seed.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableOne of the important limiting factors to realising the benefits of modern high- yielding crop varieties is the availability of iron (Fe) in the soil, which often leads to Fe deficiency in food grains. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the role of two siderophore-producing endophytes (Arthrobacter sulfonivorans DS-68 and Enterococcus hirae DS-163) in the biofortification of grains with Fe and enhance yield in four genotypes of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in soils with low and high available Fe content. Endophyte inoculation increased the surface area, volume, length of roots and number of root tips by 78.27, 75, 71 and 44%, respectively, relative to the uninoculated control (recommended dose of fertilizers; RDF), across genotypes and soil types. In the low available-Fe soil, inoculation with endophytes increased grain yield twofold relative to the control (RDF), whereas in the high available-Fe soil, the increase was only 1.2-fold across genotypes. In general, endophyte inoculation caused an increase of 1.5-fold and 2.2-fold in iron concentration in grains over the RDF + FeSO4 treatment and uninoculated control (RDF), respectively, across all the genotypes and both soil types. Such siderophore-producing endophytes can be recommended as bioinoculants to mitigate iron deficiencies in the soil and enhance crop productivity.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableIn the present study, we studied the distribution of silicate mineral weathering bacteria (SWB) in stressed environments that release potassium from insoluble source of mineral. Out of 972 isolates, 340 isolates were positive and mineral weathering potential ranged from 5.55 to 180.05%. Maximum abundance of SWB occurred 44.71% in saline environment followed by 23.53% in low temperature and 12.35% each in high temperature and moisture deficit. Among isolates, silicate mineral weathering efficiency ranged from 1.9 to 72.8 μg mL−1 available K in liquid medium. The phylogenetic tree of SWB discriminated in three clusters viz. Firmicutes, Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria. This is the first report on SWB in stressed environments and identified 27 genera and 67 species which is not reported earlier. Among them Bacillus was the predominant genera (58.60%) distantly followed by Pseudomonas (6.37%), Staphylococcus (5.10%) and Paenibacillus (4.46%). These bacterial strains could be developed as inoculants for biological replenishment of K in stressed soils.Not Availabl

Trichoderma: Advent of Versatile Biocontrol Agent, Its Secrets and Insights into Mechanism of Biocontrol Potential

Trichoderma is an important biocontrol agent for managing plant diseases. Trichoderma species are members of the fungal genus hyphomycetes, which is widely distributed in soil. It can function as a biocontrol agent as well as a growth promoter. Trichoderma species are now frequently used as biological control agents (BCAs) to combat a wide range of plant diseases. Major plant diseases have been successfully managed due to their application. Trichoderma spp. is being extensively researched in order to enhance its effectiveness as a top biocontrol agent. The activation of numerous regulatory mechanisms is the major factor in Trichoderma ability to manage plant diseases. Trichoderma-based biocontrol methods include nutrient competition, mycoparasitism, the synthesis of antibiotic and hydrolytic enzymes, and induced plant resistance. Trichoderma species may synthesize a variety of secondary metabolites that can successfully inhibit the activity of numerous plant diseases. GPCRs (G protein-coupled receptors) are membrane-bound receptors that sense and transmit environmental inputs that affect fungal secondary metabolism. Related intracellular signalling pathways also play a role in this process. Secondary metabolites produced by Trichoderma can activate disease-fighting mechanisms within plants and protect against pathogens. &beta;- Glucuronidase (GUS), green fluorescent protein (gfp), hygromycin B phosphotransferase (hygB), and producing genes are examples of exogenous markers that could be used to identify and track specific Trichoderma isolates in agro-ecosystems. More than sixty percent of the biofungicides now on the market are derived from Trichoderma species. These fungi protect plants from harmful plant diseases by developing resistance. Additionally, they can solubilize plant nutrients to boost plant growth and bioremediate environmental contaminants through mechanisms, including mycoparasitism and antibiosis. Enzymes produced by the genus Trichoderma are frequently used in industry. This review article intends to provide an overview update (from 1975 to 2022) of the Trichoderma biocontrol fungi, as well as information on key secondary metabolites, genes, and interactions with plant diseases

<i>Trichoderma</i>: Advent of Versatile Biocontrol Agent, Its Secrets and Insights into Mechanism of Biocontrol Potential

Trichoderma is an important biocontrol agent for managing plant diseases. Trichoderma species are members of the fungal genus hyphomycetes, which is widely distributed in soil. It can function as a biocontrol agent as well as a growth promoter. Trichoderma species are now frequently used as biological control agents (BCAs) to combat a wide range of plant diseases. Major plant diseases have been successfully managed due to their application. Trichoderma spp. is being extensively researched in order to enhance its effectiveness as a top biocontrol agent. The activation of numerous regulatory mechanisms is the major factor in Trichoderma ability to manage plant diseases. Trichoderma-based biocontrol methods include nutrient competition, mycoparasitism, the synthesis of antibiotic and hydrolytic enzymes, and induced plant resistance. Trichoderma species may synthesize a variety of secondary metabolites that can successfully inhibit the activity of numerous plant diseases. GPCRs (G protein-coupled receptors) are membrane-bound receptors that sense and transmit environmental inputs that affect fungal secondary metabolism. Related intracellular signalling pathways also play a role in this process. Secondary metabolites produced by Trichoderma can activate disease-fighting mechanisms within plants and protect against pathogens. β- Glucuronidase (GUS), green fluorescent protein (gfp), hygromycin B phosphotransferase (hygB), and producing genes are examples of exogenous markers that could be used to identify and track specific Trichoderma isolates in agro-ecosystems. More than sixty percent of the biofungicides now on the market are derived from Trichoderma species. These fungi protect plants from harmful plant diseases by developing resistance. Additionally, they can solubilize plant nutrients to boost plant growth and bioremediate environmental contaminants through mechanisms, including mycoparasitism and antibiosis. Enzymes produced by the genus Trichoderma are frequently used in industry. This review article intends to provide an overview update (from 1975 to 2022) of the Trichoderma biocontrol fungi, as well as information on key secondary metabolites, genes, and interactions with plant diseases

Not Available

Not AvailableSorghum anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum graminicola, is a destructive disease, and increasing dependency on chemical fungicides for its control has serious environmental concerns since sorghum is fed to cattle. Thus there is a need to develop effective bio-pesticide for biological control of C. graminicola. Since Trichoderma is a proven biocontrol agent against plant pathogens, exploring the greater diversity that exists in Trichoderma, could be of notable economic significance in terms of disease control. To harness the hidden potential of Trichoderma strains against C. graminicola, a study was undertaken with 20 Trichoderma spp. isolated from 40 rhizospheric soil samples. Dual plate antagonism assay indicated the potential of T3, T4, T6, T15, and T19 isolates of Trichoderma against C. graminicola, with T3 isolate showing maximum (76.47%) mycelial growth inhibition. Molecular characterization based on the sequence analysis of ITS-rRNA and tef-1α genes identified these isolates as Trichoderma asperellum and Trichoderma harzianum. Under the glasshouse condition, biopriming of seed with Trichoderma spp. had significantly decreased the percent disease index to 32.92% and helped improve plant growthpromoting attributes compared to untreated control. Seed biopriming with T3 isolate exhibited higher antioxidant enzyme activities in terms of superoxide dismutase (36.63%), peroxidase (43.59%), and polyphenol oxidaseNot Availabl