Genotype dependent response to Azospirillum treatment in yield and nitrogenase activity in Brassica juncea L.

Twelve advanced lines of mustard (Brassica juncea L.) were evaluated for response to treatment with Azospirillum brasilense in yield and a few components. Two lines gave yield increases with concomitant increases in nitrogenase activity and Azospirillum population. In general, there were desirable and significant correlations between plot yield, nitrogenase activity and log, (Azospirillum population). The results point to the possibility of utilizing genotype-dependent response to Azospirillum in breeding programmes and also for exploring new avenues of Azospirillum-based cultural practices in sustaining improved productivity

The Inhibition of Arginase by Proline in Cell-free Extracts of Mouse Mammary Tumour

Arginase activity was found to be increased in precancerous nodules and mammary tumour when compared with the mammary gland. Proline inhibited the mammary tumour arginase and up to 30 mmo1 concentration the inhibition follows first order kinetics. Hill analysis of the inhibition of arginase by proline showed that proline inhibits the arginase activity by competing directly at the active site without conformational change. The inhibition may be of regulatory importanec, involving a feedback mechenism in mammary tumours

Climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies for sustainable crop production

Climate change is the main environmental problem facing humanity. Evidences over the past few decades show that significant changes in climate are taking place all over the world as a result of enhanced human activities through deforestation emission of various greenhouse gases and indiscriminate use of fossil fuels. Carbon dioxide (CO2) Methane and Nitrous Oxide are the major greenhouse gases. CO2 enters the atmosphere mostly through burning fossil fuels. Methane emissions also result from livestock and other agricultural practices and Nitrous Oxide is emitted during agricultural and industrial activities. Global atmospheric concentration of CO2 has increased from pre-industrial level of 280 parts per million (ppm) to 408 ppm in Feb 2018. Global projections indicate higher temperature of 1.5 to 4.5°C by the year 2050 as a result of enhanced greenhouse gases. There is medium confidence in that the Indian summer monsoon circulation weakens but this is compensated by increased atmospheric moisture content leading to more rainfall. There is medium confidence in an increase of Indian summer monsoon rainfall and its extremes throughout the 21st century under all RCP (Representative Concentration Pathways) scenarios

Ideotype and relationship between morpho-physiological characters and yield in Indian mustard (Brassica juncea)

Twelve genotypes of Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czemj. & Cosson] were evaluated for various yield and morpho- physiological characters during 1990 and 1991. The genotypes were classified basal or non-basal branching type on the basis of the presence or absence of at least 1 productive primary branch within 30 cm height of the plant. A correlation analysis revealed that the traits related to basal branching were positively associated among themselves as well as with the seed yield. There were desirable and negative associations of basal branching characters with flowering time and plant height. Thus breeding for early maturing basal branching plant types with medium height and high yield is possible

Combating Drought through Integrated Watershed Management for Sustainable Dryland Agriculture

In a country like India, where 69% of arable land is rainfed, drought is a constant threat in one or another part of country. Drought is a recurring phenomenon and we need to manage drought effectively using the new knowledge and technology rather than dealing with as a disaster. Historical weather data helps in understanding the patterns of drought occurrence as well as establishing the length of the growing season and fItting the suitable cropping systems accordingly. The nexus between drought, land degradation and poverty could be broken by adopting integrated watershed development approach. The ICRISAT and partners developed an innovative farmer participatory consortium model for efficient and sustainable management of natural resources in the watersheds. The approach adopted is integrated genetic and natural resource management (lGNRM) and watersheds are used as entry points for improving the livelihoods. The results of a case study and scaling-up activities under the Andhra Pradesh Rural Livelihoods Program are discussed

Distribution of certain cations and anions in seaweeds and seawater of Saurashtra coast and their geochemical significance

37-42Na and Mg dominate over K and Ca respectively in seawater, but a reverse trend is observed in many seaweeds. This preferential accumulation of one element over another similar element is adjudged on the basis of differential percentage enrichment factor (DPEF). It is positive for K over Na (3986) and Ca over Mg (359). It reflects lower residence time () values of K and Ca which are preferentially accumulated than Na and Mg possessing higher (). Cl and I are more in brown seaweeds than in red and green seaweeds. Br is generally high in red seaweeds followed by brown and green seaweeds. The halogen content of investigated seaweeds is in the order Cl is greater than Br is greater than I is greater than F, whereas in seawater the trend is CI > Br > F > I [F values, Indian J Mar. Sci., 13 (1984) 47]. Their concentration factors, CF (median values), in seaweeds are in the order I > F > Br > CI. DPEF of I, F, Br and CI in seaweeds in relation to their other halogens of higher ralso show descending order:I over CI > I over Br > I over F > F over CI > Br over CI > F over CI. The trend of concentration of halogens in seaweeds compared to ambient medium (median values) suggests their relative uptake rates pattern. BnF ratio in seaweeds indicates that the accumulation of one halide is independent of the other. In general, shorter the (), more is die CF of cationic and anionic elements in seaweeds

Carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus ratios in seawater and seaweeds of Saurashtra, north west coast of India

117-121The concentrations of C, N and P in seaweeds vary from 19.72-41.01%, 1.19-3.60% and 0.0857-0.2482% (dry wt) respectively. The atomic ratio of N:P in seawater is 12.6:1. C:N:P ratio for seaweeds is 550:35:1. Lower ratios of C:N are observed in the green seaweeds (10.28 ± 1.29) especially of upper part of the intertidal zone than in brown (16.05 ± 1.07) and red seaweeds (13.42 ± 2.56) growing at lower part of the intertidal zone. Slightly higher N:P atomic ratios are observed in green (38.50 ± 5.20) and brown (35.84 ± 6.87) seaweeds than in red seaweeds (32.19 ± 9.82). Thus the nutrient turn over in benthic systems has C:P and relationships different from Redfield ratio

Elemental composition of certain green seaweeds of Porbandar Reef

197-199Variations of ash, C, N, P, Na, K, Ca and Mg contents were studied in Caulerpa scalpelliformis, Ulva lactuca and Codium dwarkense during December 1981 to February 1982, the period in which these algae complete their life cycle. Maximum ash, Na, K and Ca were observed during early growth, followed by N during middle and C and P during late growth periods. All the species proportionally accumulated more K and Ca, though the concentrations of Na and Mg in seawater were several folds more than K and Ca

Seasonal response of groundnut genotypes to arbuscular mycorrhiza - Bradyrhizobium inoculation

Nine cultivars of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) earlier shown to respond to arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) in a soil poor in available N or P were studied in the same soil over three subsequent seasons for their response to AM (M) and Bradyrhizobium (R) singly or in combination (M + R). The responses were measured for six traits, namely, the percentage of root length colonized by AM (AMC), Root P, Biomass (BM), carbon dioxide exchange rate (CER), leaf nitrogen and pod yield. Differences in four treatments, namely control, M alone, R alone and (M + R) were statistically evaluated for those traits across the cultivars and seasons. High improvements over control were consistently recorded under (M + R) in experimental plots of 75 m2, particularly for yield though responses were generally genotype and season-dependent. A basis for explaining improved yield sustenance by dual inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhiza and Bradyrhizobium was provided by the significant correlation between AMC and root P and of yield with them in addition to the desirable correlations between CER, BM and Root P. The results provide ample reason for integrating AM schedules into breeding and agronomic approaches in programmes on stabilizing groundnut yields