A study of the factors influencing the development and the yield of the potato

The investigation embodies the results of two comprehensive multi- factor experiments, coupled with observation plots ?carried out at the Bo &hall Experimental Farm during the years 1946 and 1947 to study the optimal levels of the diverse factors and their optimal relations in the potato (var. Gladstone). Detailed periodic growth observations were taken on the selected treatments.The sprouts from small seed emerged later, were fewer in number, had smaller reserves as well as the assimilable sugars per sprout, and had slower early development.The percentage rate of depletion of food material from the mother tuber was not much affected by seed size. About 10 -150 of the total food store was enough to bring the sprouts near ground level with good root ramification.uch higher demands on the mother tuber were made during expansion of leaf primordia, when the assimilation rate of the young leaves was surprisingly low or negative. LoncurrentlyIthe sugar content of the mother tubers increased.More than 50% of the original dry matter was present in the old tubers after sprout establishment and this continued to be used by the sprouts apparently for laying down stolons and tuber initials till it fell down to 20 -25%. A larger absolute surplus in the large seed made for an earlier and greater tuber set at points assured by more sprouts.fewer sprouts and tuber initials in case of small seed, usurped smaller proportion of the assimilates giving the plants a chance to recoup in vegetative vigour. The leaf- weight -ratio as well as net assimilation rate was consistently higher in the plants from small seed. Axillary development below and the expansion of leaves above constituted the compensatory echanism in growth, in case of the small seed. The size of new potatoes or the proportion of ware in the produce rose as the seed size decreased, due to higher shoot/tuber number ratio.In the wet year, the plants from small seed outgrew those from large seed but the compensation (through improvement in tuber size) was inadequate to offset in yield the depression through tuber number.In the dry year, the potential crop set by large seed was not all carried into sizeable potatoes for want of water so that the small seed produced about as much yield as the large.The effects of spacing on the early growth, later development, tuber size, tuber number and the gross yields in the dry and the wet year were analogous to those of seed size. A unit change in the level of spacing, however, produced larger effect on the crop characters than that of seed size.Closer spacing then 16" was risky if adopted with large seed but was normally a profitable proposition if used with the small, medium or the cut large seed in seed -producing areas.Closer spacing then 16" was risky if adopted with large seed but was normally a profitable proposition if used with the small, medium or the cut large seed in seed -producing areas.A delay in planting caused a delay in emergence by 1/3 - 1/2 the interval between plantings, and raised the sprout number slightly.Late plantings had longer internodes, higher leaf weight. ratio, greater succulence and higher relative growth rate,so that they excelled finally the early planting in vegetative growth and flowering but were inferior in tuber yields in either of the two years.The superiority of early planting was enhanced by close spacing, wet summer or nitrogen application.Nitrogen stimulated all phases of plant activity, viz.,meristematic activity, extension growth, ifferentiation, and storage. It increased leaf-weight ratio sufficiently to maintain higher relative growth rate despite lower net assimilation rate consequent upon shading.Nitrogen did not influence sprout establishment, tended to increase the potential tuber set and raised the tuber size or the ware proportion.Nitrogen was the most potent factor for yield despite a basal dressing of organic manure and the dry keather in 1947. The double dressing was much less effective per unit N, and proved a luxury dose.The response to nitrogen declined with advancing planting date, increasing seed size or rising basal yield. It was not influenced by variation in soil texture (within limits) and was definitely enhanced by muriate of potash.The muriate of potash did not influence meristematic activity, increased extension growth and the water content of the plants and the tubers. she effect on growth and yield was masked in the absence of nitrogen, but improved with successive increments of nitrogen.The results are discussed agrophysiologically and the statistical aspects of the designs employed are (Asserted

Electrochemical & Thermodynamic Behaviour of Palladium-Palladium Sulphide Electrode in Presence of Sulphide Ions

177-178The Pd-PdS electrode is reversible in respect of S2- in aqueous, aquo-alcoholic and alkaline media. The plot of Epd-PdS versus log[S2-] is linear showing that the electrode can be successfully used in the quantitative determination of S2- in aqueous, aquo-alcoholic and alkaline media. The values of Eᵒ, (∂Eᵒ/∂T)P and thermodynamic functions; viz. Gᵒ, Hᵒ and Sᵒ for the electrode reaction: Pd(s)+ S2- (aq.) PdS(s) + 2e, and the solubility product have been determined

Studies on the inheritance pattern of joints, pod and flower pigmentation in cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L) walp.]

Genetic studies were carried out to elucidate the inheritance pattern of plant, flower and pod-tip pigmentation in cowpea. The parental varieties were selected based on their contrasting plant and flower pigmentation. These varieties were grown in the screen house between May, 2002 and October, 2003, and sufficient number of parental F1, F2, backcross and F3 seeds were obtained. The F1, F2, and backcross along with parent seed were planted in the field during the cropping season covering July-October, 2003. Observations were taken on joint pigmentation, flower colour and pod traits on individual plant basis in each population. The results were analyzed for genetic segregation, to determine the number of genes controlling these traits and interactions between them. The joint pigmentation was controlled by one dominant gene. The coloured margins on the standard and wings of flower were controlled by one dominant gene; the purple standard and wings was also controlled bya single dominant gene and it was allelic to the gene controlling the coloured margins. The purple wing with white standard was controlled by another dominant gene which was  different from the ones controlling pigments on the standard petal. The pigmented (purple) calyx was controlled by two genes and it was pleiotropic (tightly linked) to pod-tip as well as purple backline on standard petal. Of the two genes controlling the calyx colour, one controls joint pigmentation such that in the absence of joint pigmentation is prerequisite for calyx, pod-tip and backline pigmentation

Influence of priming duration on the performance of Amaranths (Amaranthus cruentus L.) in Sokoto semiarid zone of Nigeria

Two field trials were conducted during the 2012 cropping season at the Fruits and Vegetable Teaching and Research Farm of the Department of Crop Science, Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (located on latitude N-N and longitude -), to evaluate the effect of priming duration on the growth and yield of amaranth. Treatments consisted of four priming durations (2, 4, 6, and 8 hours) and control (where no priming was applied). The treatments were laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) replicated three times for the germination test and randomized complete block design (RCBD) for the field trial. Data were collected on days to 50% germination, percentage germination, days to 50% emergence, and percentage emergence. Results revealed significant effect of priming duration on days to 50% germination, percentage germination, and days to 50% emergence. Soaking seeds for 2 hours reduced the number of days to 50% germination and emergence and also recorded higher germination. Thus, from the findings of this study, it could be concluded that priming amaranth seeds for 2 hours could be applied to enhance amaranth production

Detection of various virulence factors in high level aminoglycoside resistance and vancomycin resistant enterococci isolates of uropathogenic Enterococci

Background: Enterococci are common commensal organism of enteric tract and act as opportunistic pathogen and may cause infection in community as well as in hospitalised individuals. In present study association of several types of virulence factors like haemolysin, gelatinase and biofilm formation have been studied among HLAR and Vancomycin resistant Enterococci (VRE) isolates of enterococci among UTI patients.Methods: The samples were collected from all hospitalized and OPD patients of MBS Hospital, JK Lone Hospital and NMC Hospital. Government Medical College, Kota, Rajasthan, India. A total of 360 isolates of enterococcus were collected during the period of 2 years from April 2016 to April 2018 in microbiology laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Government Medical College, Kota, Rajasthan, India. All virulence factors were detected by phenotypic methods and MIC values were detected for high level gentamicin and vancomycin.Results: Among all enterococcal isolates most common factor was biofilm production 191 (53.05%) followed by haemolysin 131 (36.38%) and gelatinase production 72 (20%). Total resistant (MIC> 500 µg/ml) isolates for gentamicin was 194 (89.4%). In agar dilution 14 (11.2%) isolates were found sensitive, 61 (48.8%) isolates were found intermediate and 50 (40%) isolates were found to be resistant for vancomycin. HLAR and VRE was maximum associated with haemolysin + bio-film followed by gelatinase+biofilm, haemolysin+gelatinase+bio- film and least with haemolysin + gelatinase.Conclusions: In present study enterococcus show significant production of biofilm and other virulence factors. With production of biofilm they become more resistant to routinely used concentration of antibiotics posing threat for treatment failure. A continuous monitoring is needed particularly for resistance to aminoglycoside and vancomycin to stop their institutional spread. Judicial use of antibiotics should be encouraged both in community as well as in institutions

Influence of Concentration & Nature of Supporting Electrolytes on the Kinetics of Reduction of Zn(II) at Dropping Mercury Electrode

923-92

Effect of Triton X-100 on the Kinetics of Irreversible Electrode Processes: Polarographic Behaviour of Ni(II), Co(II), Zn(II) & Mn(II)

742-74

Rupture of Human Skin Membrane under Impact of Parabolodial Projectile: Bullet wound Ballistics

This paper attempts to study the effect of the impact of a paraboloidal projectile on human shin membrane. The tip of the projectile (i.e., the bullet tip) has been considered to be paraboloidal and is made of lead or steel. The threshold velocity i.e., the velocity when the skin membrane is about to rupture has been calculated for human beings of various age groups. The threshold velocity for a paraboloidal projectile of certain dimensions has been found, for all age groups, to be less than that of a spherical projectile under similar conditions

Role of Ionic & Non-ionic Surfactants in the Suppression of Polarographic Maxima of Ni(II)

148-14