Screening and Biochemical Characterization of Wheat Cultivars Resistance to Magnaporthe oryzae pv Triticum (MoT)

Global food security is seriously threatened due to increased frequency and occurrence of fungal diseases. One example is wheat blast caused by Magnaporthe oryzae is a fungal diseases of rice, wheat, and other grasses, that can destroy the whole food production to sustain millions of people. Wheat blast was first detected in february 2016 with a serious outbreak in Asia. Assessment of the available germplasms to stress tolerant/resistant is one of the best options for developing stress tolerant crop varieties. In this study, a total of sixteen wheat cultivars were collected and test their disease severity to blast pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae pv. Triticum (MoT). Among the varieties, BARI Gom 33 exhibited partially resistance against blast pathogen, whereas all other genotypes become susceptible to MoT. Different yield and yield contributing characters of both resistant and susceptible cultivars were also evaluated and found no significant differences among them. To understand the underlying mechanism of resistance in BARI Gom 33, antioxidant enzyme activity, concentration of reactive oxygen species and cellular damage after fungal infection were also evaluated and found that activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) were higher in BARI Gom 33 than BARI Gom 25 and BARI Gom 31. The hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondealdehyde (MDA) content in BARI Gom 33 was low compare to BARI Gom 25 and BARI Gom 31, which may due to greater increase of the APX, CAT and POD in resistant genotypes. Thus, it may suggest that a more efficient antioxidative defense system in BARI Gom 33 during the infection process of M. oryzae restricts the cell damage caused by the fungus. The identified genotypes can either be used directly in the blast prone area or as a source of resistance to further development of blast resistance high yielding wheat variety

Growth Performance and Economic Analysis of Indian Major Carps and Tilapia in Rainwater Ponds

Enhancing water resources is crucially important for improving food production in rainfed regions. The income of rural people in these regions is mainly tied with water availability. One option is disseminating rainwater harvesting for conserving rainwater and utilizing it for food production. Here we propose a rainwater harvesting method, which helps to conserve rainwater in the rainy season, provide water storage for rearing fish and facilitate supplemental irrigation to crops in the dry season. To verify the suitability of rainwater harvesting approach for improving food production and rural income, here we conducted a field study, which involved designing rainwater harvesting ponds (lined and unlined), storing rainwater and water recycling for irrigating crops. The growth of Catla catla, Labeo rohita, Cirrhinus mrigala, and tilapia in lined and unlined rainwater harvesting ponds was assessed and the resulting benefits were calculated under various scenarios. Water quality measurements showed the suitability of water stored in both rainwater harvesting ponds for fish culture. The Specific Growth Rates (SGR) of all the species in the lined ponds were greater than the unlined ponds except SGR of C. mrigala. Results show that the fish culture in the ponds improved the annual net benefit of rainwater harvesting systems. Forestimating Internal Rate of Return (IRR) and Net Present Value (NPV), the cost and benefits of the rice-fish integration was inflated using Consumer Price Index (CPI) data of 2001-2002 and 2011-2012. Unlined and lined ponds with fish culture produced annual net benefits of 118 and 188% of that without fish culture. The IRR in unlined and lined pond rainwater harvesting systems without fish rearing were 9.5 and 9.0%, while with fish culture these values increased to 13 and 26%, respectively. We anticipate that the research presented here demonstrates the potential benefits of the rainwater harvesting system and will enhance water resources in rainfed regions

Contamination of water resources by pathogenic bacteria

Water-borne pathogen contamination in water resources and related diseases are a major water quality concern throughout the world. Increasing interest in controlling water-borne pathogens in water resources evidenced by a large number of recent publications clearly attests to the need for studies that synthesize knowledge from multiple fields covering comparative aspects of pathogen contamination, and unify them in a single place in order to present and address the problem as a whole. Providing a broader perceptive of pathogen contamination in freshwater (rivers, lakes, reservoirs, groundwater) and saline water (estuaries and coastal waters) resources, this review paper attempts to develop the first comprehensive single source of existing information on pathogen contamination in multiple types of water resources. In addition, a comprehensive discussion describes the challenges associated with using indicator organisms. Potential impacts of water resources development on pathogen contamination as well as challenges that lie ahead for addressing pathogen contamination are also discussed

Effect of rainfall timing and tillage on the transport of steroidhormones in runoff from manure amended row crop fields

Runoff generated from livestock manure amended row crop fields is one of the major pathways of hormone transport to the aquatic environment. The study determined the effects of manure handling, tillage methods, and rainfall timing on the occurrence and transport of steroid hormones in runoff from the row crop field. Stockpiled and composted manure from hormone treated and untreated animals were applied to test plots and subjected to two rainfall simulation events 30 days apart. During the two rainfall simulation events, detection of any steroid hormone or metabolites was identified in 8–86% of runoff samples from any tillage and manure treatment. The most commonly detected hormones were 17 _estradiol, estrone, estriol, testosterone, and _zearalenol at concentrations ranging up to 100–200 ng L−1. Considering the maximum detected concentrations in runoff, no more than 10% of the applied hormone can be transported through the dissolved phase of runoff. Results from the study indicate that hormones can persist in soils receiving livestock manure over an extended period of time and the dissolved phase of hormone in runoff is not the preferred pathway of transport from the manure applied fields irrespective of tillage treatments and timing of rainfall

Fate and transport of steroid hormones in the environment as affected by manure management and application strategies

The goal of the research was to determine the effects of rainfall timing, manure handling (composting and stockpiling), and tillage (disk, plow and no-till) on the fate and transport of steroid hormones from manure amended agricultural fields through overland runoff and leachate. Manure, runoff, soil, and leachate samples were analyzed for 17 steroids and metabolites. Two rainfall simulations were conducted one day (1 DAT) and one month (30 DAT) after manure application in 2008 to evaluate the effects of rainfall timing, manure handling and application strategies on the movement of steroids through runoff. Analyses of manure samples suggested that composting may be an effective way to reduce steroid levels. When all the steroids or metabolites were grouped together, runoff analysis found 47% frequency of detection from 30 DAT sampling compared to 30% frequency of detection from 1 DAT sampling event. However, none of the steroids were detected in more than 9% samples from any sampling event. There were slightly more frequency of detection in runoff from 1 DAT in the stockpiled treatment compared to composted treatment. A greater frequency of detection from untreated manure during 30 DAT suggested that desorption and microbial biodegradation may play a role in mobilizing specific compounds. Among the tillage treatments, there were greater detections from the no-till during 1 DAT, while detections were more from disk during 30 DAT. None of the results were supported statistically due to lack of frequency of detection. Due to lack of detections in 2008, an additional rainfall simulation study was conducted during 2009 using the synthetic estrogen 17&agr;-ethynylestradiol as surrogate to evaluate the effects of tillage practices and manure application on the movement of steroids in overland runoff. Results from the study suggested that incorporation of manure after land application can be an effective way to reduce the movement of steroids in environment. A leaching study was conducted with 2.4 m deep percolation lysimeters following a single manure application in 2008. Soil and leachate samples were collected to investigate the vertical movement of steroids using composted and stockpiled manure from treated cattle. Steroids were observed in the leachate and soil samples with only 5% and 10% detection frequency, respectively. A higher frequency of steroids in detected soil samples were likely related to the higher sorption affinity with soil particles

Sustainable energy transition in Bangladesh: Challenges and pathways for the future

Abstract The industrial development of a country plays a vital role in its overall progress and is closely tied to its capacity of electricity generation. However, the scarcity of natural resources and increasing costs of fuel in global markets pose significant challenges for developing countries like Bangladesh in managing the rising expenses of electricity generation. Consequently, the government of Bangladesh is exploring alternative energy resources such as solar, wind, hydroelectricity, biomass, and biogas to supplement fossil fuels and optimize electricity generation cost. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current status of natural resources, including gas, coal, and oil, which are conventionally used for electricity generation in Bangladesh. It highlights concerns about dwindling resource availability and their impact on the country's energy landscape. Through numerical analysis, it demonstrates the detrimental effects of relying heavily on gas‐based power plants, leading to electricity supply instability. To address the ongoing energy crisis, the paper proposes the adoption of renewable energy sources as a viable solution. Additionally, it also acknowledges the challenges associated with implementing large‐scale renewable projects in distinct areas of the country, such as limited infrastructure, technical constraints, and the need for significant investment. Overcoming these barriers is crucial for achieving widespread utilization of renewable resources. This paper concludes by offering recommendations to overcome these challenges and maximize the contributions of renewable energy in meeting future energy demands. The suggestions include developing robust infrastructure, implementing policy reforms to attract investment, emphasizing research and development, and promoting community engagement in renewable energy initiatives. It also highlights the potential of renewable energy resources in shaping a more secure and sustainable energy future for Bangladesh, emphasizing the importance of electricity generation for socio‐economic development

Contamination of water resources by pathogenic bacteria

Water-borne pathogen contamination in water resources and related diseases are a major water quality concern throughout the world. Increasing interest in controlling water-borne pathogens in water resources evidenced by a large number of recent publications clearly attests to the need for studies that synthesize knowledge from multiple fields covering comparative aspects of pathogen contamination, and unify them in a single place in order to present and address the problem as a whole. Providing a broader perceptive of pathogen contamination in freshwater (rivers, lakes, reservoirs, groundwater) and saline water (estuaries and coastal waters) resources, this review paper attempts to develop the first comprehensive single source of existing information on pathogen contamination in multiple types of water resources. In addition, a comprehensive discussion describes the challenges associated with using indicator organisms. Potential impacts of water resources development on pathogen contamination as well as challenges that lie ahead for addressing pathogen contamination are also discussed.This article is from AMB Express 4 (2014): 51, doi:10.1186/s13568-014-0051-x. Posted with permission.</p

Growth Performance and Economic Analysis of Indian Major Carps and Tilapia in Rainwater Ponds

Enhancing water resources is crucially important for improving food production in rainfed regions. The income of rural people in these regions is mainly tied with water availability. One option is disseminating rainwater harvesting for conserving rainwater and utilizing it for food production. Here we propose a rainwater harvesting method, which helps to conserve rainwater in the rainy season, provide water storage for rearing fish and facilitate supplemental irrigation to crops in the dry season. To verify the suitability of rainwater harvesting approach for improving food production and rural income, here we conducted a field study, which involved designing rainwater harvesting ponds (lined and unlined), storing rainwater and water recycling for irrigating crops. The growth of Catla catla, Labeo rohita, Cirrhinus mrigala, and tilapia in lined and unlined rainwater harvesting ponds was assessed and the resulting benefits were calculated under various scenarios. Water quality measurements showed the suitability of water stored in both rainwater harvesting ponds for fish culture. The Specific Growth Rates (SGR) of all the species in the lined ponds were greater than the unlined ponds except SGR of C. mrigala. Results show that the fish culture in the ponds improved the annual net benefit of rainwater harvesting systems. Forestimating Internal Rate of Return (IRR) and Net Present Value (NPV), the cost and benefits of the rice-fish integration was inflated using Consumer Price Index (CPI) data of 2001-2002 and 2011-2012. Unlined and lined ponds with fish culture produced annual net benefits of 118 and 188% of that without fish culture. The IRR in unlined and lined pond rainwater harvesting systems without fish rearing were 9.5 and 9.0%, while with fish culture these values increased to 13 and 26%, respectively. We anticipate that the research presented here demonstrates the potential benefits of the rainwater harvesting system and will enhance water resources in rainfed regions.This is an article published as Pandey, P.K., Sethi, L.N., Pholane, L.P., Panda, S. N., Pandey, V.K., Biswas, S., and Soupir, M.L., "Growth Performance and Economic Analysis of Indian Major Carps and Tilapia in Rainwater Ponds." Fishery Technology 51, no. 2 (2014): 71. Posted with permission.</p

Feedlot Manure Handling and Application Strategies on Surface Runoff of Artificial Hormones Applied to Rowcrop Fields

Hormones are essential to the function and propagation of almost all organisms, yet the environmental fate of hormones is not well understood. Because these substances are so common in nature, the question is not whether they will be found, but rather at what concentrations and in what form (biologically active or inactive) will they be found. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of manure handling and application strategies on artificial hormone losses in runoff through the use of simulated rainfall. In 2008, rainfall simulations were conducted at the Haskell Agricultural Laboratory near Concord, NE (Latitude: 42o 23’ 33.6” N; Longitude: 96o 57’ 18.0” W). The soil at the site is of the Nora silty clay loam family. Field slope was approximately 8% and no-till practices and a corn-soybean rotation had been employed for the previous 7 years. The field study consisted of 3 replications of a check (no manure, no tillage); 2 animal treatments (w/hormones, w/o hormones); 2 manure handling practices (stockpile and compost); and two incorporation methods (moldboard plow+disk and disk). Simulated rainfall was applied within 24- hours of manure application and runoff samples were collected at five minute intervals beginning at runoff initiation. Analyses of runoff samples were conducted using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Results of the study showed sporadic infrequent detection of very low concentrations artificial hormones among treatments with no distinct pattern. More samples were detected with treated composted manure plots compared to stockpile manure; on the other hand, moldboard plow with disk incorporation detected more samples compared to the other two methods. The mass transport and flow weighted concentrations varied within the range of 1635 μg/ha and 9.75 ng/L for melengestrol acetate to 10.73 μg/ha and 0.14 µg/L for 17α-trenbolone respectively among the treatments. It can be concluded that low levels of artificial hormones and some metabolites were detected in runoff samples after land application and, may be transported to nearby surface water sources