Agro-climatic Zones Of India Research Articles

Impact of Weather Parameters on the Population Fluctuation of Major Sucking Pest in Summer Mung Bean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek

Background: Mungbean may be grown in an extensive range of agro climatic zones in India and across the world. It is a crucial component of our diet. Because of its capacity to fix nitrogen, it also plays a vital role in managing soil fertility. Mung beans are one of the most significant crops for farmers as a cash crop. In order to implement control measures effectively and on schedule, it is crucial to monitor the population dynamics of major sucking pests, such as aphids, jassids and whiteflies in relation of weather parameters. Methods: PDM-139 (Samrat) variety seeds were manually planted 5-7cm deep in the ground. Weekly observations were made from 10 randomly chosen plants Split cage methods were used to record the observations of jassids and whiteflies and aphids from the top and bottom surfaces of the first three trifoliate plants were tallied. Averages population were computed. Result: The incidence of pest population start on the 14-15th standard meteorological weeks which attain their peak population in 19th SMW. The insect-pest population was established positive correlation with the max and min temperature whereas population was negatively correlated with R.H. and Rainfall.

Unraveling the abundance of vip3-type genes in Indian Bacillus thuringiensis across the agroclimatic landscape and impact of amino acid substitutions for safer agriculture

Vegetative insecticidal protein (vip) genes of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are candidates for gene pyramiding in the resistance management of pests. The prevalence of vip genes in Bt isolates is relatively under-explored. Bt isolates recovered from 29 diverse sources in nine agro-climatic zones of India were screened for the presence of vip3-type genes by PCR with 4 sets of oligonucleotide primers. Out of 155 Bt isolates, 70.32 % (109) and 44.52 % (69) isolates were positive for amplification of partial vip3-type genes with primer sets 1 and 4, respectively. The primer set-2 was found to be more efficient for amplifying full-length genes (29.03 % /45 isolates) as compared with primer set-3 (3.23 %/ 5 isolates), also corroborated in the amplification of full-length vip3 genes in ten Bt BGSC strains used as reference. Frequency analysis revealed presence of vip3 genes in Bt isolates across all agro-climatic zones. Thus, Indian Bt isolates from diverse sources have a rich repertoire of vip3-type genes. Our study reports the highest number (45) of full-length vip3-type genes detected in a native Bt isolates collection, demonstrating enrichment of Indian Bt isolates for vip3 genes. Twelve of these genes have been cloned, sequenced, and out of these, six were found to be effective against Helicoverpa armigera in our laboratory previously. Comparison of substitutions in deduced amino acids sequence of these genes and expression of Vip3 proteins in SDS-PAGE analysis of selected native Bt isolates positive for full-length vip3-type genes indicated their biopesticidal potential.

Exploring distribution and genomic diversity of begomoviruses associated with yellow mosaic disease of legume crops from India, highlighting the dominance of mungbean yellow mosaic India virus.

Yellow mosaic disease (YMD) caused by several begomoviruses is one of the major constraints of over a dozen leguminous crops worldwide, particularly in Asian and Southeast Asian countries. The present study aimed to investigate the distribution, diversity and prevalence of begomoviruses associated with YMD in leguminous hosts in five agro-climatic zones of India, to assess the extent of their geographical presence and develop location and crop-specific distribution maps. One hundred and seventy-four leguminous plant samples were tested from 32 locations in India to detect YMD-causing viruses. Additionally, publicly available data were incorporated into this study to provide a comprehensive overview of their distribution in India. This resulted in 581 reports on the DNA-A component representing 119 locations, which were also utilized to depict the distribution of YMD-causing viruses on a map of India. In this study, 117 full-length DNA-A and 103 DNA-B components were successfully characterized, representing the detected mungbean yellow mosaic India virus (MYMIV), mungbean yellow mosaic virus (MYMV), and horsegram yellow mosaic virus in the collected samples. Phylogenetic analysis of isolates of these species showed no differentiation based on location in India. Diversity indices revealed the abundance (55.9%) and dominance (0.56) of MYMIV across 119 locations. These findings hold significant implications for legume researchers, offering insights into disease prevalence and geographic distribution. Furthermore, the distribution of YMD-causing viruses in different agro-climatic zones will help researchers in developing zone-specific YMD-resistant cultivars of the legume crops and would facilitate effective disease management options.

Genetic analysis of popping quality traits and development of superior quality popcorn hybrids for a sustainable popcorn breeding program in India.

Popcorn is the most popular specialty maize and it makes a significant contribution to the Indian and global economies. Despite perfect exploration of heterosis in field corn, progress in popcorn breeding remains constrained due to its narrow genetic base, leading to a significant dependence on imports. In this study, 15 landrace- and population-derived inbreds from temperate and tropical germplasm were crossed with five testers, which are the parents of superior popcorn hybrids, in a line × tester mating design. Significant variation was observed in popping quality and agronomic traits among crosses evaluated across three locations representing diverse maize-based agro-climatic zones in India. Additive genetic variance governed the traits related to popping quality, whereas dominance variance was responsible for the agronomic traits. In addition to significant heterosis specific to certain traits, we identified promising crosses that exhibited superior performance in both popping quality and grain yield (GY). The genotype + genotype × environment (GGE) biplot methodology identified PMI-PC-104 and PMI-PC-101 as the best discriminating testers for popping quality traits and Dpcl-15-90 for GY. Lines PMI-PC-205, PMI-PC-207, and PMI-PC-209 were the best general combiners for popping quality traits and GY. The heterotic groups identified based on GGE-biplots and the magnitude, direction and stability of combining ability effects would serve in the development of competitive popcorn hybrids for a sustainable popcorn market. Using the additive nature of popping quality traits and the dominant nature of GY, recurrent intrapopulation selection can be employed to derive desirable popping quality inbreds with high GY for genetic enhancement. Desirable popping quality alleles from novel germplasm can thus be combined with high-yielding domestic elite inbreds to establish a sustainable popcorn breeding program. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Prevalence and Phylogenetic Analysis of E. coli in Diarrhoeic Goats in Eastern Plain Zone of Uttar Pradesh

Background: The pathogens associated with diarrhoea in small ruminants include Escherichia coli, Rotavirus, PPR virus and Salmonella spp. either singly or in combination. Many researchers have worked on E. coli strains of goats almost in all agro-climatic zones of India but most of the studies were limited to only small study areas and no study has been conducted on E. coli prevalence in goats in Eastern Plain Zone of Uttar Pradesh. Methods: The study was conducted in eight district of Eastern Plain zone of Uttar Pradesh including goat farm of ANDUAT, Kumarganj, Ayodhya which comes under Agro-climatic zone IV (Middle Gangetic Plain region). Faecal samples were collected for one year (September, 2021 to August, 2022) from dead goats having history of diarrhoea. Result: The overall prevalence of E. coli isolates on PCR analysis was 52.27%. The prevalence was highest in Varanasi district as 63.63% (7/11) while lowest was reported in Ghazipur district as 36.36% (4/11). The occurrence of E. coli isolates was higher in Age Group I (79.31%) followed by Age Group II (41.17%) and Age Group III (36.00%). The E. coli isolates revealed higher positivity in female (57.69%) than male (44.44%). The occurrence of E. coli isolates was highest in summer (75.86%) followed by rainy (42.42%) and lowest in winter (38.46%) season. The obtained PCR amplicons on sequencing was identified as Escherichia coli strain U 5/41 16S ribosomal RNA as it showed highest similarity of 98.96 % with accession no. NR_024570.1

Agroforestry Site Suitability for Wasteland Greening - A case study of selected districts of various agroclimatic zones

Agroforestry Site Suitability for Wasteland Greening - A case study of selected districts of various agroclimatic zones

Applicability of seasonal forecasts from dynamical models for reservoir management practices

Despite the availability of reliable seasonal forecasts of Indian Summer Monsoon Rainfall (ISMR), the use of dynamical models driven by these forecasts for reservoir level management is limited. Reservoir water management can specially be useful if it can be done several months in advance, in view of an impending drought/flood scenario. The applicability of seasonal forecasts from the Monsoon Mission (MM) seasonal forecast model for seasonal and monthly inflow forecasts for tropical Indian reservoirs (Mula and Kangsabati) is studied using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) hydrological model, at a lead time of 3 months. Long-term observed inflow datasets are used for calibration and validation of SWAT-Calibration and Uncertainty Procedure (CUP) with Sequential Uncertainty Fitting (SUFI)-2 algorithm using insitumeteorological data. Observed inflows and inflow simulations are compared with simulated inflow using SWAT with same calibrated parameters, but with forcing derived from reforecasts from the MM model. The SWAT-CUP calibrated well with reasonable Nash Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) (Mula = 0.75, Kangsabati = 0.79) and Percentage Bias (PBIAS) (Mula = -28%, Kangsabati = 17%) for both reservoirs. The skill scores for streamflow predictions vary from 0.6-0.70 during the monsoon season, indicating reasonable accuracy for these predictions. The SWAT-MM model has a reasonable skill with 0.52-0.53 NSE and 26%-40% PBIAS. Therefore, SWAT-MM-based model has a good potential to forecast monthly and seasonal reservoir inflow for various agro-climatic zones of India. These forecasts when used in real-time, can serve as a guideline for managing the reservoir storage and release, and hence proving to be of great socio-economic importance.

Land degradation and development in India: Status quo, challenges and opportunities

AbstractThis article reviews and synthesizes the articles published in a virtual special issue (VSI) “Land Degradation and Development in India: Status quo, challenges, and opportunities.” A total of 31 studies (28 research papers and three reviews) are published in this VSI covering various agroclimatic zones of India. These articles provide insights on how different natural and anthropogenic disturbances affect the diversity, and functioning of forests, grasslands, agriculture, agroforestry, and physicochemical and biological composition of the soil. Twelve of these articles also investigate the effectiveness of different restoration methods to restore various degraded ecosystems through agroforestry, afforestation and reforestation, organic amendments, and agroecological interventions. The historical journey of forest restoration, behavioral pattern of local communities for conservation and restoration, and policy framework for restoration in India are discussed in three independent articles. Overall, there is convergence in learnings from these papers for structural and non‐structural land degradation, soil salinization, and agroforestry but results from papers on plantations and organic inputs into farming highlight the need for more research.

Application of ESACCI SM product-assimilated to a statistical model to assess the drought propagation for different Agro-Climatic zones of India using copula

Meteorological drought precedes the agricultural drought and studying the propagation time from meteorological to agricultural drought can substantially reduce agricultural losses. To find this propagation time between the meteorological and agricultural drought, this study analyzed the copula-based conditional probability between the Standardized Precipitation Index at 12 timescales (SPI-1 to12, meteorological drought) and Standardized Soil Moisture Index at 1 month timescale (SSI-1, agricultural drought), over the fifteen Agro-Climatic Zones (ACZs) of India. SSI is computed using a total column Soil Moisture (SM) derived from ESACCI SM using the Statistical Soil Moisture Profile (SSMP) model. The SSMP-based ESACCI SM is positively correlated (Correlation Coefficient of 0.871) with ERA5 Land SM. To compute the conditional probability, three copulas namely Frank, Clayton, and Gumbel copulas are fitted between SPI-1 to 12 and SSI-1. The Goodness of Fit analysis showed the dominance of the Gumbel copula among the Clayton, Frank, and Gumbel copulas. Gumbel copula completely dominated the SPI timescales of 1–3 and 11–12 whereas Clayton copula was relatively favored for SPI timescales of 4–10. The propagation time results revealed that the monsoon season (JAS) consistently exhibits the highest propagation time, averaging around 10 months followed by summer (AMJ, 7 months), spring (JFM, 4 months), and winter (OND, 2–3 months) seasons. The Mann-Kendall trend test revealed that the same season can have different trends in different ACZs and vice versa, underlining the localized and season-specific strategies for drought management, considering each ACZ's unique environmental, agricultural, and socio-economic conditions in each zone. Overall, this study showcases the capability of remote sensing and copula-based statistical models, in understanding meteorological to agricultural drought propagation. It also highlights the efficiency of statistical models in deriving total column SM from surface SM.

Unravelling the aetiology of Dickeya zeae using polyphasic approaches for bacterial stalk rot in maize

AbstractBacterial stalk rot (BSR), caused by Dickeya zeae (syn. Erwinia chrysanthemi pv. zeae), has emerged as a significant disease affecting maize crops worldwide. In this study, symptomatic maize plants were collected from diverse agroclimatic zones in India over the period of kharif 2019–2021. Various approaches, including pathogenicity tests, cultural characteristics, biochemical profiling and molecular analysis, were employed to accurately identify the collected bacterial isolates as Dickeya. Pathogenicity assessments were conducted on 40‐day‐old maize plants, following Koch's postulates, as well as through potato maceration assays. Furthermore, cross‐infectivity studies were conducted on rice, potato, tomato and banana plants. Phenotypic and biochemical characterization confirmed that all the isolates belonged to the Dickeya genus. Additionally, PCR amplification of a pel gene fragment, specific to the genus Dickeya, further verified the pathogenic isolates as Dickeya. Molecular characterization studies were performed on four isolates (UKMDZ‐3, PBMDZ‐7, TSMDZ‐11 and HPMDZ‐16), selected to represent distinct maize agroclimatic zones and four states of India, and which caused severe infections on susceptible maize cv. Early Composite. Amplification of six characteristic genome regions (16S rRNA, recN, gyrB, dnaX, recA and dnaJ) from these isolates facilitated individual and concatenated gene phylogenetic analyses, confirming their resemblance to Dickeya zeae. This study represents the first comprehensive molecular analysis of D. zeae isolates from India, providing valuable insights for future crop improvement strategies. The findings contribute to our understanding of the genetic basis of BSR in maize and offer potential avenues for genetic enhancement to mitigate the disease's impact on maize cultivation.

Identification of bacterial endosymbionts in rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae Linnaeus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) populations of North India

Aim: The present study was undertaken to screen the most commonly occurring endosymbionts in S. oryzae populations from varied geographical regions of North India. Methodology: The six most common endosymbionts (Wolbachia, Arsenophonus, Spiroplasma, Rickettsia, Cardinium and Hamiltonella) were screened in 15 different populations of S. oryzae, representing five different agro-climatic zones of India. For this, the samples of S. oryzae were collected and identified using taxonomic keys and through PCR amplification of the COI gene followed by Sanger sequencing and comparison of obtained sequences with the NCBI database. Thereafter, the screening of endosymbionts was performed using 16S rRNA gene-specific primers for the respective endosymbionts. Results: The results showed the presence of Wolbachia and Spiroplasma in all 15 populations with infection rates of 100 and 85 per cent, respectively. Arsenophonus was detected in only 12 populations with 60 per cent infection rate. Concurrent infections of Wolbachia, Arsenophonus and Spiroplasma within the same individuals of S. oryzae were also detected. However, no infections of Cardinium, Rickettsia and Hamiltonella were found. Interpretation: Thus, it can be inferred that Wolbachia, Spiroplasma and Arsenophonus are the most common endosymbionts which can be exploited for the development of better management strategies against S. oryzae. Key words: 16S rRNA, Co-infection, Endosymbionts, Rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae

Studies on Performance of Bt Cotton Hybrids against Jassids (Amrasca bigutulla bigutulla Ishida) During Summer Season

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum. L) is indeed a significant cash crop grown in three agro-climatic zones of India. The Indian subcontinent is considered the birthplace of cotton, and it has been a crucial part of human civilization for centuries. It is renowned as the most important natural fibre or vegetable wool and has been cultivated for both domestic consumption and export purpose for proximately 111 countries worldwide. Cotton is a vital crop that plays a significant role in the global economy. It provides livelihoods for over 250 million people worldwide and accounts for nearly 7% of the labour force in developing countries. The field experiment was carried out at Agricultural Research Station (ARS), Adilabad, Telangana during summer 2022-23. A Total of 8 Bt cotton hybrids were evaluated against jassids of cotton under unprotected conditions. Lowest population of jassids were recorded in hybrid NCS-2778 (3.76 jassids per 3 leaves), followed by RCH-659 (5.41 jassids), PRADEEP (6.27 jassids), MOKSHA (6.45jassids per 3 leaves). The highest population of jassids were recorded in JADHU (9.91 jassids) and MONEY MAKER (7.70 jassids).

Weed management strategies in elephant foot yam (<i>Amorphophallus paeoniifolius</i>) under different agro environments in India

In elephant foot yam [Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson], weeds are the major constraints cause yield reduction up to 100% due to its very slow initial sprouting, establishment and plant growth. Information on proper weed management in elephant foot yam in India is limited as its commercial cultivation started very recently. For arriving at suitable and better weed control, field experiments were conducted for 3 growing seasons (2019 to 2021) at ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala with 8 treatments in 6 different agro-climatic zones of India. The treatments included a combination of pre emergence (PE) and post emergence (POE) herbicides, PE followed by hand weeding (HW), intercropping followed by POE, HW with POE, POE alone, and weed control ground cover cloth mulch (WCGCC), three HW, and a weedy check were included for comparison. Weed flora was dominated by broad-leaf weeds, Digera arvensis (L.), Commelina benghalensis (L.); grasses, Pennisetum pedicellatum Trin., Cynodon dactylon (L.) pers.; and the sedge, Cyperus rotundus (L.), in most of the locations. Pooled analysis of data collected over different locations indicated that the lower mean weed biomass (21.24 g/m) and higher mean corm yield (35.13 t/ha), higher mean net income (`0.326 million/ha) were recorded with weed control ground cover mulch and higher mean B:C ratio (2.39) by application of post emergence herbicide at 30, 60 and 90 days after planting (DAP).

Role of Agrometeorological Advisory Services in Enhancing Food Security and Reducing Vulnerability to Climate Change

Abstract Providing knowledge inputs to farmers is critical to reduce their vulnerability and enhance resilience against climate change. In developing countries such as India, where small holdings and rain-fed agriculture are predominant, knowledge inputs become even more critical. The India Meteorological Department has provided integrated agrometeorological advisory services (AAS) to farmers since 2008. In this paper, we estimate the scale of access to AAS and its impact on crop yields in 1000 households across 10 villages in two agroclimatic zones in India. We find evidence suggesting that access to AAS can have a significant impact on crop yields in the kharif (June–September) season, whereas other inputs are more important in the case of rabi (winter) crops. Specifically, the yields of pigeon pea, soybean, and pearl millet are higher by 233, 98, and 318 kg ha−1, respectively, for AAS beneficiaries. For the entire study area, this translates to a value addition of $9.66 million for these three crops in one season. Our results show that AAS can be an important contributor to meeting the developmental goals of enhancing food security in dry-land agriculture and building resilience against climate change. Significance Statement In the era of climate change, with rapidly increasing weather and climatic variability, protecting the incomes of small farmers and ensuring they have the capacity to adapt and build resilience to the growing impacts of climate change is an urgent necessity. We have studied the impact of knowledge services such as the agrometeorological advisory services of the India Meteorological Department on crop yields for major crops in dry agroclimatic zones in India. The study shows that large public programs like the agrometeorological advisory services that bring science to people in meaningful ways can contribute significantly to meeting developmental goals and building resilience against climate change.

Wheat Genotype Evaluation for Spot Blotch Disease Resistance: Unveiling Resilient Varieties

Spot blotch, caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana (Sacc.) Shoemaker is a major disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), in all the six agro climatic zones of India. Estimation of losses due to this disease vary from location to location, due to diverse environmental conditions. The use of resistant cultivars is the most effective, long-lasting, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly technique for sustainable disease control. The experiment was conducted at Crop Research Centre, Chirodi farm of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut (U.P.). Among the tested varieties, disease index and AUDPC values varied significantly for both years’ data viz. 2021-22 and 2022-23. In this experiment 32 wheat varieties were screened against B. sorokiniana under artificial epiphytotic conditions in the field. Each variety were sown in two row of three-meter length with three replications, two line of susceptible check RAJ 4015 was sown at every ten genotypes of interval. Among 32 wheat varieties, two varieties were found to be resistant, eleven varieties were found moderately resistant, fourteen varieties were found moderately susceptible and five varieties were found susceptible, none of the variety was found immune and highly susceptible against spot blotch disease. Area Under Disease Progress Curve (AUDPC) calculated for the thirty- two wheat varieties on the basis of disease index. AUDPC varies from 212.90 to 1143.9 and 198.80 to 1144.90 during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 years’ data. The pooled mean, Area Under Disease Progress Curve varied from 205.85 to 1144.40, showing the fast progress of disease in all genotypes. It was observed that different wheat varieties expressed varied type of disease response against B. sorokiniana.

Exploration of rhizosphere-dwelling nematophagous Trichoderma spp. using novel ‘bait technique’ with root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita

Throughout the world Trichoderma spp. are majorly used as biocontrol agents for managing the economically important plant-parasitic nematodes. We employed a novel strategy to investigate the variety of rhizosphere dwelling Trichoderma species using the nematode Meloidogyne incognita as prey bait. Nine nematophagous Trichoderma spp., validated morphologically and molecularly, were discovered during the expedition in several agroclimatic zones of India. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of these species along with the reported Trichoderma spp. from ‘Harzianum clade’ from India indicated the true identity of Indian T. harzianum sensu stricto to be disputed. Nematophagous nature of the isolated species was confirmed through the presence of extracellular lytic enzymes, secondary metabolites, volatile organic compounds, Huperzine A, and tri-gene cluster variability. Besides, the most promising T. yunnanense isolate, shortlisted based on its in vitro potential against M. incognita, showed the highest levels of nematode parasitism, egg hatching inhibition and juvenile mortality compared to all other isolates and species. Expression of green fluorescent protein in T. yunnanense helped tracking its infection in the juveniles and further validated the nematode parasitizing capacity. The chosen isolate decreased the multiplication factor of M. incognita in pot culture assays and in organically produced capsicum in nematode-infected sick soil. It is interesting that the isolate also markedly increased the plant growth and yield, which was a bonus. Therefore, the performance of T. yunnanense demonstrated through various strategies instills high confidence to propose it as a prospective species for developing as commercially potent nematode biocontrol agent.

The Effect of Production and Post-Harvest Processing Practices on Quality Attributes in Centella asiatica (L.) Urban—A Review

Centella asiatica is well known for its miraculous therapeutic properties in various systems of traditional medicine across the world. However, significant variation in its pharmacological activities has been reported due to the unavailability of quality raw material and non-standardized formulations. A number of research papers have been published on the collection of C. asiatica plants from different regions for the identification of a suitable agroclimate with elite germplasms. Efforts have been made to standardize production and post-harvest practices for the availability of quality raw material with a high centelloside content. The ecological niche modeling approach revealed that the Indian subcontinent has high climatic suitability for the production of C. asiatica, and genotypes with a high content of centelloside were predominantly found in the Western Ghats, North East, Eastern Himalaya and Western Himalaya in India. Open cultivation of C. asiatica is more suitable in these agroclimatic zones in India. Cultivation under shade is also suitable in the plains of Central India. Hydroponic and tissue culture of C. asiatica has also been successfully established for the enhanced production of centelloside using supplements and elicitors such as sucrose, auxins, cytokinins, kinetin, methyl jasmonate, etc. Freeze drying has been identified as the most efficient post-harvest method for the high pharmacological activities of C. asiatica extracts.

Intra-specific pharmacognostic biochemical screening of various populations of Clitoria ternatea L. using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry product ion scanning (LC-MS2 PIS)

Purpose of the researchWhile many inferences have been made about the low degree of genetic variation among intra specific populations of Clitoria ternatea L. (CT), pharmacognostic biochemical investigations using tandem mass spectrometry have never been conducted. Methanol leaf extract of Clitoria ternatea L., populations collected from 13 different agro-climatic zones of India was assessed for identification and characterization of targeted nootropic metabolites, using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry product ion scanning (LC-MS2 PIS). Based on the RI values derived from LC-MS2 (PIS) superior population(s), in terms of the presence of the presence of nootropic metabolites, were identified. The intra-specific correlation among different populations, was analyzed through PCA (principal component analysis), scree plot, correlation matrix and hierarchical cluster analysis. Principal resultsThe targeted mass spectrum obtained by tandem mass spectrometric analysis revealed the presence of acetylcholine, choline, caffeic acid, gallic acid, ferulic acid, kaempferol and D-L valine mass fragments in the leaf of CT. These mass groups are belonging to four classes viz., phenols, flavonoids, neurotransmitters and amino acids. Based on the high degree of relative intensities of targeted nootropic metabolites, the Odisha population, collected from Cuttack, outperformed the rest of twelve populations. Correlation matrix data also revealed that populations habituated in similar climatic conditions show significant correlation with each other. Hierarchical cluster analysis classified the 13 populations in two groups. The first group contained 11 populations and the second group is restrained into two populations; one from Cuttack, Odisha and second one from Udaipur, Rajasthan. Major conclusionThis is the first report to identify the superior population of Clitoria ternatea L. across India, through multivariate statistical analysis of LC-MS2(PIS) for gallic acid, ferulic acid, caffeic acid, kaempferol, D-L-valine, acetylcholine, and choline. Even though earlier studies reported an enhancement of acetylcholine content in the central nervous system. The present work may explain that the plant is a producer of acetylcholine and choline itself so it can directly affect the memory and cognition of the brain. Simultaneously, the study confirms the presence of abovementioned seven nootropic metabolites in the leaf of CT. The Odisha population (collected from Cuttack) transcends over all other 12 populations, with highest RI values of seven nootropic metabolites. According to hierarchical cluster analysis, two populations, viz., the one collected from Cuttack, Odisha and the other collected from Udaipur, Rajasthan were distantly clustered from other eleven populations. Hence, both these populations should be given priority for pharmaceutical supply and value chain management systems.

Multi-criteria evaluation of satellite-based precipitation estimates over agro-climatic zones of India

Satellite-based precipitation estimates (SPEs) available at a high spatio-temporal resolution with near-global coverage are substitutes for ground-based datasets. In this study, the quality of popular SPEs was evaluated at daily time scale over agro-climatic (ACL) zones of India. The SPEs were analyzed in two different groups, i.e., (i) satellite-only precipitation estimates (SOPEs) including 5 products namely, CMORPH, PERSIANN, SM2RAIN-ASCAT, SM2RAIN-CCI, and SM2RAIN-GPM, and (ii) gauge-corrected satellite precipitation estimates (GCSPEs) including 4 products namely, CHIRPS, GSMaP, IMERG and MSWEP. The analysis was carried out by quantifying the qualitative and quantitative performance metrics as well as by decomposing the errors into random and systematic components. In general, SPEs underestimated the high rainfall events and overestimated the low rainfall events. The performance of SPEs was observed to be poor over the western Himalayan region. The efficiency and agreement of Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) based products (including SM2RAIN-GPM, GSMaP and IMERG) with observed precipitation were better. The superiority of SM2RAIN-GPM, GSMap and IMERG products has also been supported by the lower magnitude of errors and biases. The error decomposition reveals high random errors in most of the SPEs; however, SM2RAIN-based products have low random error. It was also observed that the total bias is highly underestimated due to opposite-natured bias components. Further, the association of vegetation and topographic complexity with the performance of precipitation products was investigated, and a negative/positive association of performance metrics of SPEs with topographic/vegetation characteristics was observed. A multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach was then employed to rank the datasets based on multiple performance indicators. MCDM approach reveals the superiority of SM2RAIN-GPM product amongst SOPEs and GSMaP (followed by IMERG) amongst GCSPEs over a majority of the regions of India.

Diversity in morphological characters of Khirni (Manilkara hexandra)

The preponderance of Khirni seedlings are seen growing naturally in scattered/isolated areas of various agro-climatic zones of India, and a chance for the selection of superior genotypes is very high due to the huge genetic diversity in the existing populations. To reveal the genetic variability in khirni, as leaves, fruit sample from diverse areas genotypes were collected and analysed for various morphological attributes. Results of the study revealed a wide range of variability found with respect to tree, leaf, and fruit characteristics among the studied genotypes. This variability can be exploited for the selection of superior genotype for conservation, evaluation, utilization, and a source for future breeding programme in crop improvement.