Identification of quantitative trait loci associated with iron deficiency chlorosis resistance in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea)

Iron deficiency chlorosis is an important abiotic stress affecting groundnut production worldwide in calcareous and alkaline soils with a pH of 7.5–8.5. To identify genomic regions controlling iron deficiency chlorosis resistance in groundnut, the recombinant inbred line population from the cross TAG 24 × ICGV 86031 was evaluated for associated traits like visual chlorosis rating and SPAD chlorophyll meter reading across three crop growth stages for two consecutive years. Thirty-two QTLs were identified for visual chlorosis rating (3.9%–31.8% phenotypic variance explained [PVE]) and SPAD chlorophyll meter reading [3.8%–11% PVE] across three stages over 2 years. This is the first report of identification of QTLs for iron deficiency chlorosis resistance-associated traits in groundnut. Three major QTLs (>10% PVE) were identified at severe stage, while majority of other QTLs were having small effects. Interestingly, two major QTLs for visual chlorosis rating at 60 days (2013) and 90 days (2014) were located at same position on LG AhXIII. The identified QTLs/markers after validation across diverse genetic material could be used in genomics-assisted breeding.     

Remote sensing and machine learning for crop water stress determination in various crops: a critical review

Precision Agriculture - The remote sensing (RS) technique is less cost- and labour- intensive than ground-based surveys for diverse applications in agriculture. Machine learning (ML), a branch of...     

Influence of Pre-Drying Treatments on Physico-Chemical and Phytochemical Potential of Dried mahua Flowers

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - Mahua (Madhuca longifolia) flowers are boon for the local tribes of India and have been successfully utilized traditionally for the value addition, and are very...     

Potential Inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2 and Functional Food Components as Nutritional Supplement for COVID-19: A Review

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - The severe acute respiratory syndrome is a viral respiratory infection and commonly called as COVID-19, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2...     

Fusarial wilt suppression and crop improvement through two rhizobacterial strains in chick pea growing in soils infested with Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceris

 Bacterization of chick pea seeds with a siderophore-producing fluorescent Pseudomonas strain RBT13 and an antibiotic-producing Bacillus subtilis strain AF1, isolated from tomato rhizoplane and pigeon pea rhizosphere repectively, increased the shoot height, root length, fresh weight, dry weight and yield in soils infected with Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceris. Seed bacterization also resulted in a significant reduction in chick pea wilt caused by the same pathogen. Addition of iron to the soil completely eliminated disease suppression by RBT13 but not by AF1. Dual drug-resistant mutant strains derived from the rhizobacteria were used to monitor and confirm root colonization. The results indicate the potential for development of both strains for the biological control of chick pea wilt. Received: 29 April 1998     

Evaluation of dietary protein requirement for the growth performance of minor carp,Cirrhinus reba (Hamilton, 1822) fingerlings

An experiment was designed to evaluate the requirement of dietary protein for Reba carp, Cirrhinus reba fingerlings using semi‐purified diet. Five isocaloric diets were prepared containing 20%, 25%, 30%, 35% and 40% level of protein using casein, gelatin as a major protein source. The experiment was conducted for 105 days in triplicates to evaluate the growth, survival, feed utilization, carcass composition of C. reba. Mean weight gain was highest (p < .05) in T3. Specific growth rate was highest in T3 and lowest in T1. Similarly, significantly (p < .05) highest net fish yield were recorded in T3. No significant difference was recorded in survivability. Feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, feed conversion efficiency and protein conversion efficiency were significantly (p < .05) higher for T3 compared with other treatments. Highest carcass protein and lipid values were recorded in T3. So, conclusion can be drawn that 30% crude protein is optimum for overall performance. Furthermore, broken‐line analysis for specific growth rate, final biomass and net fish yield indicated that dietary protein level of 28.148 to 28.253% is optimum for the best growth performance of fingerling C. reba.     

Sustainability at a cost: An inceptive analysis of “extended” fishing ban on the livelihoods of fishers of Tamil Nadu

An emphasis on sustainable marine fish production has paved the way for the enactment of Marine Fisheries Regulation Acts and subsequent regulations in India. A closed season ban on fishing has been one of the very few successful regulatory measures since its introduction in 2001 in Tamil Nadu. Since 2017, the fishing ban period has been extended from 45 to 60 days for the east coast of India, for ecosystem‐based marine fisheries management. This study analyses the socioeconomic impacts of change in the fishing ban (closed season) across the four coastal zones of Tamil Nadu. For the past 10 years, CPUE has been stable or increased marginally. Among the four coasts, the relative change in employment and labour income loss was highest for Palk Bay (36.84%). Transaction costs of implementation of the ban caused an additional expense of Rs 496.5 million to the Government in 2017 and the overall total labour income loss has leaped from Rs 1,638.2 to 2,100.2 million due to the extension of the ban. The fishing ban has aided in the recovery of habitat and regeneration of stock through recruitment. Training and capacity building on alternative livelihood options are highly recommended to enable the workers to cope with the ban period.     

Integrated rearing system approach in the farming of mud crab,shrimp, fish,oyster and periphyton in bracksihwater pond

Diversification of production systems has been identified as one of the major strategies for the long‐term sustainability of brackishwater aquaculture. On the context of diversification, a 180‐day culture experiment was carried out where four farming systems were tested: monoculture of mud crab, Scylla serrata (T1), polyculture of mud crab, with mullet Mugil cephalus and shrimp Penaeus indicus (T2), polyculture of mud crab with mullet, shrimp and oyster Crassostrea cuttackensis (T3), polyculture of mud crab with mullet, shrimp, oyster along with periphyton net (T4) covering 10% of the water spread area. There was no significant difference in the growth performances of mud crab, shrimp and oyster among the treatment but a significantly higher (p < .05) final average body weight (ABW) of M.cephalus was recorded in T4 (121.19 ± 2.09 g). Production considering only the fed animals (excluding oyster) was significantly (p < .05) higher in T4 (2,115 kg/ha) compared to other treatments. The overall water quality parameters do not vary significantly (p > .05) among the treatment ponds. Although there was no significant difference in total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) and nitrite‐N, highest value was recorded in T2 (56.23 ± 39.47 µg/L and 185.53 ± 110.71 µg/L) and T1 (55.78 ± 32.26 µg/L and 180.83 ± 103.65 µg/L). The results from the current experiment based on water quality and growth of animals showed that there is no negative interaction between the mud crab and other animals stocked in the polyculture pond which indicated that polyculture provides an efficient and sustainable utilization of resources.     

Efficacy of single and multiple doses of fenbendazole against gill parasites (Dactylogyrus sp.) of Labeo rohita (Hamilton, 1822) and its physio‐metabolic effects on the fish

The study was conducted to investigate the efficacy and physio‐metabolic responses of single and multiple doses of fenbendazole (FBZ) in Labeo rohita against gill parasite (Dacylogyrus sp.). Two Isoenergetic (395 Kcal DE/100 g) and isonitrogenous (35% CP) purified diets viz. control (without FBZ) and treatment (0.2% FBZ) were prepared. The efficacy of FBZ was measured after administration of single dose (20 mg/kg b. wt.) on 0th day and multiple doses of FBZ, that is, 20 mg/kg b. wt. on 0th, 3rd and 7th day through diet. Although oral administration of FBZ at single dose could significantly reduce the parasite in fish in comparison with the control group, 100% efficacy of the drug was not achieved up to 15th day of treatment. On the other hand, multiple doses of FBZ could show almost 100% efficacy on 15th day in terms of elimination of parasites from gill. The drug induced oxidative stress in examined fish. There was no significant change in activities of hepatic and muscle aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase of L. rohita up to 15th day after oral administration of FBZ at single dose. But both single and multiple doses of FBZ could significantly enhance the hepatic superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione‐S‐transferase activities in fish up to 7th day of drug administration and significantly decreased thereafter up to 15th and/or 30th day. It is concluded that oral administration of FBZ at multiple doses (20 mg/kg b. wt.) on 1st, 3rd and 7th day could be effective against Dactylogyrus sp. infection in L. rohita.     

Polyclonal antibody‐based farmer‐friendly flow‐through test for the detection of acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease in shrimp

Early mortality syndrome (EMS) or acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) is currently the most significant disease of shrimp in farms of Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, China and Mexico, and there is a great risk that it may spread to other shrimp farming countries. Although, an array of sophisticated detection tools for AHPND available, there is a need for a sensitive, simple and rapid detection method. In this study, a simple, sensitive, rapid and polyclonal antibody‐based farmer‐friendly flow‐through assay (FTA) test has been developed for the detection of AHPND pathogen. The recombinant Photorhabdus insect‐related (Pir) A toxin‐like protein of AHPND pathogen was used to immunize rabbits at 21‐day interval observed for highest antibody titre after third booster by ELISA. The raised rabbit antiserum was purified by affinity chromatography and characterized by Western blot. The antiserum showed no cross‐reactivity with AHPND‐free Vibrio parahaemolyticus, V. anguillarum, White Spot Virus (WSV), Aeromonashydrophila and Aphanomycesinvadans. This polyclonal rabbit antiserum was used to develop a farmer‐friendly FTA test for the detection of AHPND pathogen. This simple FTA testis is more sensitive and could detect PirA^VP toxin up to 0.121 µg/ml, compared with 0.242 µg/ml by immunodot assay. Furthermore, FTA test requires only 8–10 min for completion, compared with 3 hr by immunodot thus found to be more sensitive, specific and cost‐effective. Collectively, sensitive FTA test would help shrimp farmers to take real‐time management decisions, especially emergency harvest and finally be a better hope for the prevention of AHPND.