Drastic Reduction In Yield Research Articles

Natural Defense: The Inhibitory Effects of Endophytic Bacillus and Xylaria sp. against Rice Pathogens

Aim: Endophytes living inside the plant tissues are known to play a crucial role in the physiology and developmental functioning of host plants. Rice is the major food crop that feeds half of the world population. But pest and diseases lead to drastic yield reduction in rice. Sustainable and eco-friendly disease management strategies are urgently needed to reduce the reliance on chemical pesticides and mitigate the environmental impact of intensive agriculture.The aim of the study was the selection of natural suppressors of the brown spot and sheath blight diseases in rice. In this study, three bacterial endophytes viz., Bacillus subtilis isolate PAL 11, B. altitudins isolate TSL-4 and B. altitudinis isolate KAM-11 and one endophytic fungal isolate Xylaria sp. isolate KTD-2 were tested for their potential to inhibit Bipolaris oryzae and Rhizoctonia solani under in vitro conditions. Methodology: In vitro evaluation of endophytes against two major rice pathogens viz., Rhizoctonia solani and Bipolaris oryzae causing sheath blight and brown leaf spot respectively were tested by dual culture technique. Results: All the tested bacterial and fungal endophytes significantly inhibited both the pathogens under in vitro conditions. Among the bacterial endophytes, B. subtilis isolate PAL-11 exhibited highest inhibition of both the pathogens. The mycelial inhibition of B. oryzae was 56.04 and 74.48 per cent respectively at 5 and 8 days after dual culturing whereas the inhibition of R. solani was 80.31 and 80.22 per cent respectively at 3 and 5 days after dual culturing. The fungal endophyte Xylaria sp. isolate KTD-2 exhibited 63.2 and 67.95 per cent inhibition of mycelial growth of B. oryzae at 5 and 8 days respectively after the pathogen inoculation. The mycelial growth of R. solani was also significantly inhibited (54.95 %) by the fungal endophyte at 5 days after pathogen inoculation. Conclusion: This research highlights the potential role of endophytes in sustainable agriculture and suggests that integrating beneficial microbes into rice disease management strategies could help enhance plant health, increase crop yields, and contribute to global food security.

Study on Effect of Bio Control Agent Trichoderma viride and Neem Cake on Rhizome Rot of Turmeric

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is one of the major spice crops in Andhra Pradesh, which is severely affected by rhizome rot (soil borne disease) and leaf spots (foliar diseases). There was drastic reduction in yield, which is majorly affected by soil borne fungus. So, the present study mainly intends to evaluate the performance of Trichoderma viride along with neem cake against rhizome rot disease. The experiment was conducted in three successive years at 10 villages and 30 locations of Krishna district as a Front-Line Demonstration of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ghantasala, Acarya N G Ranga Agricultural University. The treatment (TO1) consists of seed treatment, ridge sowing, excess water drainage and soil application of T viride culture 2 kg multiplied in 90 kg Farm Yard Manure and 10 kg neem cake at the last ploughing time and use of neem cake 300 kg/acre at 60 and 120 DAP at plant base. Whereas, the farmer’s practice (TO2) was drenching of copper oxy chloride @ 3g /l of water only to control rhizome rot. In comparing the average data of both the treatments for three consecutive years, TO1 recorded highest yield of 49.12 t/ha of fresh turmeric with a yield improvement of 32.43 % over control. In case of rhizome rot incidence, the average percent incidence for the three consecutive years was reported as 3.37 % in demo and 10.72% in control. In case of net returns, Rs. 2,08,743/- per ha was obtained with a B:C ratio of 1.99:1 in demo and Rs. 93,428.17/- of per ha with 1.43:1 B:C ratio in control. It can be concluded that apart from using only chemicals, integrated management practices fetch better yield and returns too.

Molecular study of Enterobacter associated with roots of maize (Zea mays L.) using 16S rDNA in Limpopo Province, South Africa

One of the most significant grain crops in South Africa, white maize, is grown all throughout the country in a wide variety of climates and soil types due to its high economic value. White maize cultivation is expanding at a staggering rate, for which accurate identification of root-associated bacteria is necessary. Among the various bacterium affecting maize, Enterobacter species a gram-negative, motile, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped, facultatively anaerobic bacteria are dangerous pathogenic bacteria causing drastic reduction in yield if not properly identified and managed. Therefore, this study was conducted to isolate and identify Enterobacter from maize fields in Limpopo Province, South Africa. The molecular study was done in 2022 at the Aquaculture Research Unit, University of Limpopo. To identify the bacterium associated with maize, for extraction DNA, the Chelex method was used then 16S rDNA marker was used. The bacterium was identified as Enterobacter. The Nblast analysis showed South African Enterobacter has 97% similarity with a population from Korea (KC355340). Phylogenetic analysis using maximum likelihood placed this species with those molecularly identified as Enterobacter in the same clade with highly supported (100) bootstrap values. In conclusion, this species is identified using 16S rDNA properly. However, other DNA markers are recommended to better understand Enterobacter phylogeny.

Enhancing Drought Tolerance of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) Through Potassium and Boron Application

Aims: Pakistan is facing a severe water shortage and the situation is further aggravated due to elevated temperature, leading to drastic yield reduction of quinoa. Hence, there is a dire need to maintain or increase agricultural production by utilizing sustainable methods of production to tackle changing climate. Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) is a crop, recognized by United Nations due to its nutritional and health benefits.
 Methodology: Therefore, a field study was carried out to evaluate the drought tolerance of quinoa through soil application of potassium (K) and boron (B) under Randomized Completely Block Design (RCBD) with a split-split plot arrangement and three replications. The crop was sown on November 06, 2021, using a seed rate of 8 kg ha-1 on 75 cm apart ridges with hand dibbling maintaining plant to plant distance of 120 cm. The experiment contained the following treatments; soil application of K at 0, 50, and 75 kg K2O ha-1 and B (H3BO3) at 0, 6 kg ha-1 in well-watered and drought-induced experimental units.
 Results: Data related to crop physiological response and yield attributes were recorded using standard procedures and protocols. Quinoa performance decreased under drought stress but it was improved by potassium (K) supplementation at 75 kg K2O ha-1. Supplementation of K improved the seed yield of quinoa in drought-stressed conditions up to 41% and was also found economically viable because the value of benefit cost ratio was 2.2 in drought conditions as compared to the respective control (1.65).
 Conclusion: Drought is an environmental factor that negatively interferes with crop growth and yield. So application of potassium and boron can enhance drought tolerance of quinoa through soil application.

Effect of Two Different Irrigation Strategies on the Yield Components of Five Rice Varieties in a Cold Mediterranean climate in the South-Central Zone of Chile

Rice is one of the agricultural species that consumes a lot of water. In countries with cold climates such as Chile, a 200 mm high sheet of water is used to cope with night temperatures below 10 °C. This practice consumes 18,000 m3 ha-1 of water per season. Climate change is currently a major problem, where the reduction in precipitation can exceed 40%. Under this context, the current rice production system is unsustainable. The objective of the research seeks to evaluate five rice varieties with different lengths of the productive cycle, under two water management strategies (intermittent vs. traditional irrigation), evaluating the yield components of rice varieties. The trial was conducted in the Mediterranean climate of South-Central Chile, zone is characterized by low temperatures. The traditional commercial variety used was Zafiro (Oryza sativa sp. japonica), which showed good yields under flood irrigation conditions with 8,100 and 7,300 kg/ha for both seasons, respectively. However, under intermittent irrigation conditions, it showed a drastic yield reduction of 94 and 42% for both seasons, respectively. While the short-cycle variety MA042, showed yields of 12,663 and 11,063 kg/ha under flood irrigation strategy for both seasons, while under AWD system it showed only 34 and 4% reduction, respectively. The use of short cycle varieties, which require less water and are more tolerant to low temperatures, represent a productive option for rice farmers in cold climates, where water resources are an increasingly scarce commodity.

Identification of Three Novel QTLs Associated with Yellow Rust Resistance in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Anong-179/Khaista-17 F2 Population

Wheat yellow rust (YR) caused by Puccinia striiformis is lethal for the leaf photosynthetic process, which substantially affects yield components and ultimately causes drastic yield reduction. The current study aimed to identify all-stage YR resistance linked QTLs in the best cross-combination. Experimental materials were phenotyped for disease severity in YR-hot spot area at Cereal Crops Research Institute, Pirsabak Pakistan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in 2019 and 2020 and 2020 and 2021 Rabi seasons. The AN179 × KS17 was found to be the best cross combination, which showed high resistance to YR, whereas crosses AN179 × PK15 and PR129 × PK15 demonstrated susceptibility to YR with high disease severity. The recombinant inbred lines (RIL) F2 wheat population Annong-179/Khaista-17 demonstrated highly desirable YR resistance and yield component traits. Simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were used to genotype the RIL population and their parents. Three novel QTLs linked to all-stage YR resistance were found on chromosomes 2BS, 3BS and 6BS, which explained 1.24, 0.54, and 0.75 phenotypic variance, respectively. Incorporation of the newly identified novel YR-resistance associated QTLs into hybridization wheat breeding program could be effective for marker-assisted selection of the improved and sustainable resistance.

Assessment of climate change on wheat (Triticum aestivum) production using crop simulation under Indo-Gangetic Plains

Climate change has very wide impact on different crops and cropping system. In north India crop like wheat also affected due to climate change. To assess the impact of climate change a study using CERES (Crop Environment Resource Synthesis) model was carried out at Kanpur, India. Three different levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) i.e. 450 ppm, 500 ppm and 550 ppm and two different levels of temperature (1̊C and 2̊C) and their interaction were used to study the impact of climate change on wheat production. The results revealed that different elevated levels of carbon dioxide concentration recorded higher production of wheat which ranges from 3–8%. Graded levels of temperatures caused drastic reduction in yield which ranges from 10–17%. Conjoint effect of temperature and carbon dioxide recorded yield losses from 1–16%.

Zero Budget Natural Farming in India: Aiming Back to the Basics

Crisis of Indian agriculture is very pertinent at this moment as green revolution is gradually losing its hope. Excessive, pointless exploitation of broods of green revolution has left bad footprints on country’s food security and environmental safety. With the motto to ensure food security by reviving Indian agriculture in environmentally safe way as well as to release farmers from debt cycle and suicides, zero budget natural farming (ZBNF) has come in the picture, which discards uses of all the chemical farming inputs and relies on natural way of farming i.e. rejuvenating soil and crop health through its own practices (Jivamrita, Bijamrita, mulching, soil aeration, intercropping, crop diversification, bunds, bio-pesticides etc.). ZBNF movement right now is the most popular agrarian movement which begun in 2002 in Karnataka and later successfully spread in many states (specially, of South India) of the nation through numbers of trainings, demonstrations and various promotional activities. Successful outcomes from farmers’ fields of south Indian states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka etc. are encouraging and grabbing attention of farmers, public and private organisations towards ZBNF in recent times. Yet, various controversies regarding its transparency, inadequate information, efficacy, practices, idealisms, even the term ‘zero budget’ etc. have agglutinated around ZBNF over the years since it debuted. Critics in fact have cited several references of drastic yield reductions with ZBNF practices in many places. Adequate scientific evaluation or monitoring of ZBNF’s successes or failures through multi-locational trials is now therefore the needful before allowing or restraining its run in Indian agriculture.

Auxin and Salicylic acid Nanoformulations for Mitigating Droughtstress in Tomato (Lycopersiconesculentum L.)

Tomato is adapted to a wide range of climatic conditions but most sensitiveto water stress, especially at the flowering stage, causing drastic yieldreduction. In the present study, a pot culture experiment was conductedto evaluate the efficacy of naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and salicylic acid(SA) nanoformulations against drought effects in tomato during floweringstage. The drought was imposed at 50% flowering by withholding irrigation,and foliar application of nanoformulations was given when the reductionin soil moisture reaches 20 percent. The treatments include NAA (20 & 40ppm), salicylic acid (50 & 100 ppm), and NAA (20 ppm) + salicylic acid (50ppm) as straight and nanoformulations along with a control. Observationsdone on first, second and third day after foliar application revealed asignificant increase in chlorophyll index, relative water content, membranestability index, and chlorophyll stability index due to the application ofnanoformulation of NAA + salicylic acid in the plants under drought. Theresults indicated the efficacy of nanoformulation of NAA + salicylic acid inameliorating the deteriorative effects of drought in tomato by improving thephysiological traits compared to the application of the NAA and salicylic acidas straight formulations.

Weed management in greengram: A review

Greengram [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek], also known as mungbean, is extensively cultivated in India and other Asian countries. Being rich in protein, its grains are an important daily dietary component. Weeds are a major limiting factor in production of greengram that lead to a drastic reduction in yield. The presence of hardy weeds and slow initial crop growth compound this problem. Different strategies incorporating non-chemical and chemical methods have been practiced for efficient weed control in greengram. Non-chemical control methods include straw mulch (12–63% reduction in weed biomass), narrow row spacing (60–92% reduction in weed biomass), method of sowing (1–20% reduction in weed biomass), tillage practices (58% reduction in weed biomass), the frequency and rate of irrigation and fertilizer application (13–23% reduction in weed biomass), timing of hand weeding and selection of cropping system. Chemical control methods include the many herbicides with different selectivity and efficiency available for use in greengram. For efficient weed control, herbicides should be applied at the recommended rate and time in order to avoid inhibiting growth, symbiotic properties (number of nodules, dry weight of nodules, leghaemoglobin content in nodules) and grain yield in greengram crop. In this review, different weed management strategies including nonchemical and chemical weed control methods have been reviewed for their ability to control weeds in greengram. Furthermore, their influence on growth, symbiosis, yield and nutrient uptake of greengram, soil microflora and residual effect on succeeding crops have also been reviewed.

Performance Evaluation of Subsurface Drainage System under Waterlogged Saline Vertisols for Sugarcane Crop in Ukai Kakrapar Canal Command, Gujarat

Crop productivity in canal command areas of India is declining due to waterlogging and soil salinization problems, and it is posing a big threat to livelihood security of small and marginal farmers. Subsurface drainage (SSD) technology, which restores favourable condition in the crop root zone by reclaiming waterlogged saline soils, can be one of the options to restore the crop productivity in such areas. The SSD system was installed at Mulad village in the Ukai Kakrapar canal command area, Gujarat, in the year 2012 to address the problem of drastic yield reduction of sugarcane due to twin problems of waterlogging and soil salinity in Vertisols. It was found that the SSD helped in desalination of soil profile as soil electrical conductivity was reduced to a range of 0.42 to 3.90 dS.m-1 from its initial range of 1.2 to 7.3 dS.m-1. Electrical conductivity of drained water was in the range of 1.3 to 4.4 dS.m-1. Further, there was reduction in waterlogging condition, both surface and sub-surface, as water table lowered below crop root zone depth (depth of 0.6 m) and surface water ponding duration reduced to 6-8 days from earlier 25-30 days during peak monsoon days. Overall performance of SSD system was satisfactory as average sugarcane yield in the study area increased significantly from 39.29 to 97.29 t.ha-1 as result of reduction in soil salinity and waterlogging in drainage area. Economic analysis also indicated 114% increase in benefit-cost ratio after SSD installation. Thus, large scale installation of SSD system for reclamation of waterlogged saline Vertisols is economically viable in the state of Gujarat.

Performance Evaluation of Subsurface Drainage System under Waterlogged Saline Vertisols for Sugarcane Crop in Ukai Kakrapar Canal Command, Gujarat

Crop productivity in canal command areas of India is declining due to waterlogging and soil salinization problems, and it is posing a big threat to livelihood security of small and marginal farmers. Subsurface drainage (SSD) technology, which restores favourable condition in the crop root zone by reclaiming waterlogged saline soils, can be one of the options to restore the crop productivity in such areas. The SSD system was installed at Mulad village in the Ukai Kakrapar canal command area, Gujarat, in the year 2012 to address the problem of drastic yield reduction of sugarcane due to twin problems of waterlogging and soil salinity in Vertisols. It was found that the SSD helped in desalination of soil profile as soil electrical conductivity was reduced to a range of 0.42 to 3.90 dS.m-1 from its initial range of 1.2 to 7.3 dS.m-1. Electrical conductivity of drained water was in the range of 1.3 to 4.4 dS.m-1. Further, there was reduction in waterlogging condition, both surface and sub-surface, as water table lowered below crop root zone depth (depth of 0.6 m) and surface water ponding duration reduced to 6-8 days from earlier 25-30 days during peak monsoon days. Overall performance of SSD system was satisfactory as average sugarcane yield in the study area increased significantly from 39.29 to 97.29 t.ha-1 as result of reduction in soil salinity and waterlogging in drainage area. Economic analysis also indicated 114% increase in benefit-cost ratio after SSD installation. Thus, large scale installation of SSD system for reclamation of waterlogged saline Vertisols is economically viable in the state of Gujarat.

Anticipate of Climate Change Impacts In Rainfed Lowland Rice Through Applying Appropriate Technology

Rainfed lowland covers about 2.1 million ha in Indonesia that are generally distributed in Java, Sumatera, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Nusa Tenggara. Rainfed lowland ecosystems have great potentially to be more productive agriculture to avert possible food shortage. However, productivity of rainfed lowland rice is low due to low soil fertility, lack of water resources and its infrastructure, high weeds infestation, drought stress, and susceptible to climate change. The higher rainfed lowland rice yields can be attained by implementing appropriate crop and soil management technique. Incorporating 5 ton cattle manure per ha into soil significantly increased grain yield of DSR, also improve soil tillage and supply nutrients required by rice plants. The application of composted organic matter, slow release materials, and direct seeded system could reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and water harvesting could be used as adaptation of climate change. During the TPR and the upland crops, the crops often suffer from severe drought, resulting in drastic yield reduction. One of the alternatives to solve drought stress is to collect excess water during the water surplus rainy season in on-farm reservoirs (OFR) and use the water for the dry season crops.

Enhancing productivity of farmer-saved seed yam in Ghana: Positive selection and neem leaf powder factors

Recycling of diseased and pests infested seed yam (Dioscorea spp.) has resulted in drastic yield reductions in yam production. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of positive selection on the quality of farmer-saved seed yam and also evaluate the effect of neem leaf powder in managing plant parasitic nematodes damage to yam. Two farming systems namely; Positive selection (PS) and Farmer practice (FP) and two soil amendment regimes; neem leaf powder at 20 g stand-1 (NA20) and no neem amendment (NA0) were tested on one variety of yam (Dente). A 2 x 2 x 1 factorial study, mounted on a randomised complete block design in a split plot arrangement was conducted in four replications. Positive selection occupied main plots; while Farmer practice occupied sub-plots. The study was conducted in eight communities located in two municipalities of Ghana, during 2015-2017. Parameters evaluated included Yam Mosaic Virus incidence and severity, incidence and severity of nematode cracks and galling on yam tubers, plant establishment and yield of yam. It was observed that Yam Mosaic Virus (YMV) disease incidence decreased from 38% in 2016 to 31% in 2017 in PS plots as a result of using virus-free planting materials. However, in FP plots, it increased from 67% in 2016 to 72% in 2017. Neem leaf powder amendment resulted in significantly (P< 0.05) low tuber galling (7%) compared with 40% in unamended plots. Similarly, PS plots yielded 7.7 t ha-1 compared to 5.9 t ha-1 in FP fields. In conclusion, Positive selection out-yielded FP by 30.5%; while PS-neem leaf powder interaction resulted in 38.5% over and above FP without neem amendment.Key words: Dioscorea spp., parasitic nematodes, yam mosaic

Multienvironment Testing for Trait Stability and G × E Interaction on N2 Fixation, Plant Development, and Water-Use Efficiency of 21 Elite Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Genotypes in the Guinea Savanna.

Groundnut production constitutes an integral part of the livelihoods of the people in the Guinea savanna of West Africa. This region accounts for over 70% of the total groundnut production in Ghana, 90% in Nigeria, and 100% in Mali and Burkina Faso. However, harsh environmental conditions often result in drastic yield reductions. In this study, we identified groundnut genotypes with superior symbiotic efficiency, greater pod yield, and plant water-use efficiency from 21 advanced groundnut breeding lines from ICRISAT after testing them at three locations in the Guinea savanna of Ghana over two consecutive years. Average N contribution by the groundnut genotypes ranged from 48 to 108 kg N ha−1, and mean pod yield from 580 to 2,100 kg ha−1. Genotype 17 (ICGV-IS 08837) produced about 2.5-fold more pods than genotype 1 (Chinese), which was the most widely cultivated variety by farmers. Of the 21 genotypes studied, genotype 16 (ICGV 99247) recorded the highest shoot δ13C value and was superior in water-use efficiency, which was consistent with stability estimates and mean performance. We also measured the effects of G × E on pod yield, N2 fixation, shoot δ13C, and mega-environments for testing groundnut in the Guinea savanna, and these were all significant, although the effect was minimal on shoot δ13C values. Of the locations studied, Nyankpala and Damongo were more discriminating, and each constituted a mega-environment for conducting future groundnut trials in the Guinea savanna. Genotype 3 (ICG 6222) emerged as the best cultivar for the Damongo mega-environment, while genotype 17 was the best genotype for the Nyankpala mega-environment. The genotypes exhibiting the highest sensitivity of N2 fixation in the environment included genotype 3 (ICG 6222), genotype 4 (ICGV 00068), and genotype 10 (ICGV 03315) (bi > 1.3), while Pi estimates ranked genotypes 3, 10, and 17 as the best groundnut cultivars in terms of symbiotic N contribution. Based on the results of this study, genotype 17 (ICGV-IS 08837), genotype 3 (ICG 6222), genotype 10 (ICGV 03315), and genotype 4 (ICGV 00068), which were the most outstanding in terms of the overall pod yield, shoot biomass production, and amount of N-fixed, were the most suitable candidates to recommend for use in developing new varieties for the Guinea savanna of Ghana. Genotype 17 (ICGV-IS 08837) has already been released as a commercial variety for the Guinea savanna of Ghana since October 2018.

Genetic variations for post emergence herbicide tolerance in field pea (Pisum sativum)

Weeds are highly competitive to the crops for nutrient and water from soil, sunlight, space and also harbour many insect-pest and diseases, consequently lead to drastic yield reduction. Pisum sativum is sensitive to the most of the potential post emergence herbicides and thus, effective weed management is a difficult assignment particularly the later flush of weed emergence. The identification of herbicide resistant genotypes is the potential way to develop herbicide tolerant varieties as well as to control weeds and minimise yield losses. So far no report is available for herbicide tolerant genotypes in field pea. Therefore, an attempt has been made to identify the genotypes as a source of resistance to the post-emergence herbicide metribuzin. Total 822 genotypes were examined for their sensitivity under preliminary screening against metribuzin at 0.5 kg ai/ha during the winter season of 2015-16. Of the tested genotypes, a set of 85 promising genotypes were re-evaluated with same dose during the winter season of 2016-17 with visual phyto-toxicity score. The results of experiment revealed that there was a huge amount of genetic variation for tolerance against metribuzin in field pea. The frequency distribution grouped the genotypes as tolerant (1), moderately tolerant (5), susceptible (18), and highly susceptible (61) categories. None of the genotypes showed highly tolerant reaction. Notably, accession P-637 witnessed tolerance and other five accessions, viz. P-729, P-647, P-1075, P-2016, and P-1448-2 registered moderately tolerance reaction against metribuzin. Hence, aforesaid promising genotypes may be utilized as donor to speed up breeding for development of herbicide tolerant varieties in field pea and in other genetical studies too.

PERFORMANCE OF MUSAMBI SWEET ORANGE ON ROUGH LEMON AND VOLKAMERIANA ROOTSTOCKS AT SARGODHA, PAKISTAN

Musambi (Citrussinensis) is the commercial variety of the sweet oranges group well flourishing inPakistan. Formany years Musambi has beenon the way of rapid decline with reduced life span besides drastic reduction in yield and fruit quality grafted on rough lemon rootstock. To overcome this problem, Volkameriana as an alternative rootstock to rough lemon was tested with the focus to find out more compatible rootstock to prevent mentioned issues. Observations on different plant growth parameters such as plant height, stock and scion circumference, canopy volume, plant fruit yield and important quality characteristics of fruit were made. The rough lemon depicted statistically significant result in plant height, spread and canopy volume in responses recorded for 10 years consecutively from 2008 to 2017. The degree of compatibility in both rootstocks in the year 2008 to 2009 were statistically non-significant. The yield was measured in terms of average No. of fruits per plant depicted that Rough Lemon and Volkameriana rootstock produced average 362.62 and 228.04 No. of fruits per plant respectively for the years 2012 to 2017. Moreover, results in different important quality characters i.e. fruit weight (g), Peel thickness (mm), Juice percentage, TSS and acidity were found better in the case of the plants grafted on Rough Lemon with the mean values of 176.23, 3.35, 46.56, 10.51 and 0.41respectively for the six years consecutive 2012-2017. Results of studied rootstocks with context to given parameters remained at par; so other promising rootstocks should be taken in account for further studies

Effects of planting time on growth, development and productivity of maize (Zea mays L.)

Planting date plays important role in the growth, development and yield of maize. Optimum planting date has becomes a prime importance for higher crop production. The plant establishment as well as pest and disease incidence are affected by planting dates. Crop varieties respond differently to planting dates. Early or late planting dates on maize causes an array of morpho-anatomical, physiological and biochemical changes in plants, which affect plant growth and development and such changes may lead to a drastic reduction in yield. Maize growth and development involves numerous biochemical reactions which are sensitive to variance in weather parameters as affected by planting dates. Delayed planting dates affect traits namely anthesis silking interval, photosynthesis, physiological maturity and dry matter production due to reduction in cumulative interception of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). Late planting dates cause higher non-structural carbohydrate concentration in stems at mid-grain filling stages due to low temperature exposure of crop limiting kernel growth and photosynthesis. The adverse effects of delayed planting dates can be mitigated by forecasting optimum planting dates through crop modeling experiments. This article summarizes various effects of planting dates on maize growth, development and yield parameters. This information may be useful for maize growers and researchers.

Physiological Studies on Effect of Drought during Flowering in Foxtail Millet (Setariaitalica L.)

One of the major impacts of climate change is increasing the occurrence of drought, leading to drastic reduction in yield in many crop plants. Foxtail millet is thought to be an excellent experimental model in studying abiotic stress tolerance due to its small genome, conserved genome structure, short life cycle and inbreeding nature. Present study was conducted with twenty foxtail millet genotypes with objective to identify tolerant genotypes to drought under pot culture. The drought imposed by withholding irrigation for fifteen days during flowering stage and various physiological parameters measures such as, chlorophyll fluorescence, chlorophyll meter reading, relative water content, chlorophyll stability index, excised leaf water loss were measured. Among the twenty genotypes of foxtail millet, the genotypes, ISe 27, PS 4, AP 4, ISe 138 and ISe 174 were showed better results. Based on drought tolerance associated traits, genotypes were grouped as drought tolerant genotypes which could be used for breeding programme to develop drought tolerant varieties or parents for developing mapping population to identify QTL associated with drought.

Discovery of Putative Herbicide Resistance Genes and Its Regulatory Network in Chickpea Using Transcriptome Sequencing.

Background: Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) contributes 75% of total pulse production. Being cheaper than animal protein, makes it important in dietary requirement of developing countries. Weed not only competes with chickpea resulting into drastic yield reduction but also creates problem of harboring fungi, bacterial diseases and insect pests. Chemical approach having new herbicide discovery has constraint of limited lead molecule options, statutory regulations and environmental clearance. Through genetic approach, transgenic herbicide tolerant crop has given successful result but led to serious concern over ecological safety thus non-transgenic approach like marker assisted selection is desirable. Since large variability in tolerance limit of herbicide already exists in chickpea varieties, thus the genes offering herbicide tolerance can be introgressed in variety improvement programme. Transcriptome studies can discover such associated key genes with herbicide tolerance in chickpea.Results: This is first transcriptomic studies of chickpea or even any legume crop using two herbicide susceptible and tolerant genotypes exposed to imidazoline (Imazethapyr). Approximately 90 million paired-end reads generated from four samples were processed and assembled into 30,803 contigs using reference based assembly. We report 6,310 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which 3,037 were regulated by 980 miRNAs, 1,528 transcription factors associated with 897 DEGs, 47 Hub proteins, 3,540 putative Simple Sequence Repeat-Functional Domain Marker (SSR-FDM), 13,778 genic Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) putative markers and 1,174 Indels. Randomly selected 20 DEGs were validated using qPCR. Pathway analysis suggested that xenobiotic degradation related gene, glutathione S-transferase (GST) were only up-regulated in presence of herbicide. Down-regulation of DNA replication genes and up-regulation of abscisic acid pathway genes were observed. Study further reveals the role of cytochrome P450, xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase, glutamate dehydrogenase, methyl crotonoyl carboxylase and of thaumatin-like genes in herbicide resistance.Conclusion: Reported DEGs can be used as genomic resource for future discovery of candidate genes associated with herbicide tolerance. Reported markers can be used for future association studies in order to develop marker assisted selection (MAS) for refinement. In endeavor of chickpea variety development programme, these findings can be of immense use in improving productivity of chickpea germplasm.