Super Gold Research Articles

The Impact of Split Nitrogen Fertilizer Applications on the Productivity and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Rice

The application of nitrogenous fertilizer in reduced (“split”) doses of its total is suggested as a means to increase nitrogen use efficiency and rice productivity whilst reducing its environmental impact. Field trials conducted in 2022 and 2023 aimed to assess the impact of split nitrogen fertilizer applications on the productivity and nitrogen use efficiency of rice. This experiment included three nitrogen treatments (N1: control (no nitrogen); N2: 50% basal + 25% at tillering stage + 25% at panicle initiation stage (conventional method); N3: 33.33% basal + 33.33% at tillering stage + 33.33% at panicle initiation stage (equal split of nitrogen)) and four high-yielding rice varieties (V1: Super Gold 2019; V2: Super Basmati 2019; V3: Noor Basmati 2017; V4: Kissan Basmati 2016). The results indicated that the N3 treatment, with an equal split of nitrogen, combined with the V4 variety (Kissan Basmati 2016) produced the most favorable outcomes. The results indicated that the N3 treatment, particularly when applied to Kissan Basmati (V4), produced, statistically, the highest leaf area index (32.98%, 29.59%), 1000-grain weight (32.84%, 46.97%), grain yield (30.02%, 38.09%), agronomic nitrogen use efficiency (9.21%, 11.63%), and partial factor productivity (29.98%, 38.11%) compared to the control for the study periods of 2022 and 2023, respectively. Moreover, the grain yield demonstrated a strong positive correlation with growth traits and other yield components, except for plant height. The results showed that the application of three equal nitrogen doses significantly increases rice production, and therefore, in this yield context, improves nitrogen use efficiency.

Antioxidant mechanisms in salt-stressed Maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings: comparative analysis of tolerant and susceptible genotypes

Recent anthropogenic activities have spurred unparalleled environmental changes, among which elevated salinity levels emerge as a substantial threat to plant growth and development. This threat is characterized by oxidative stress, marked by the excessive generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), proline accumulation, and lipid peroxidation. This study investigated the response of four maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes - two tolerant (9120 and Super Gold) and two susceptible (Pacific 984 and PS999) - to salinity-induced oxidative stress. Seedlings aged seven days were exposed to 12 dSm− 1 salinity stress for five days, with various parameters including relative water content (RWC), ROS accumulation, proline levels, lipid peroxidation, lipoxigenase (LOX) activity, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, and glyoxalases evaluated in fully expanded leaves. Susceptible genotypes exhibited higher RWC loss compared to tolerant genotypes, while proline accumulation was elevated in the latter. Enhanced ROS production (hydrogen peroxide and superoxide), melondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and LOX activity were observed in susceptible genotypes under salinity stress, along with increased oxidation of glutathione (GSH) and ascorbate (ASA) compared to tolerant genotypes. Enzymatic antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR) displayed higher activity in tolerant genotypes, while catalase (CAT) activity was significantly different between tolerant and susceptible genotypes under salinity stress in maize. Conversely, elevated activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR), and dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) were observed in both genotypes, indicating their crucial role in cellular protection against ROS and metabolites during salt stress. In short, plants have devised tactics to scavenge surplus Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and uphold cellular redox balance amidst oxidative stress. This study aims to offer basic knowledge regarding both enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants, and the defense mechanisms they constitute against ROS detoxification upon salt stress conditions; furthermore, it also explores their interactions with cellular components.

Influence of Processing Stages in Cultivated Rice Varieties on the Feeding Preference of the Lesser Grain Borer, Rhyzopertha dominica F. (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae)

Rhyzopertha dominica (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae), a prevalent post-harvest pest in rice storage, significantly impacts global financial losses, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of its feeding habitats and processing phases. This study aimed to compare feeding preferences of R. dominica among four rice cultivars (Basmati 515, Super Basmati, Super Gold, and Super Basmati 2019) and three processing stages (paddy, brown rice, and polished rice). Rhyzopertha dominica exhibits distinct feeding preferences for rice cultivars and processing stages, with paddy of Super Basmati 2019 having the highest mortality rate (50.89%) and Basmati 515 polished rice having the highest survival rate (84.89%). The maximum growth rate (67.00 nos.), grain damage (80.67%), and grain weight loss (1.5806%) were seen on polished rice of Basmati 515. The study reveals that the processing stages of rice cultivars significantly influence R. dominica infestation and feeding preferences, with polished rice being the preferred stage. The study emphasizes the need for site-specific integrated pest management strategies to control R. dominica infestation in rice, highlighting the need for further research on its feeding preferences. To mitigate insect losses, improved management strategies should be implemented, including improved storage conditions, post-harvest handling practices, and a combination of physical and chemical control techniques.

Mitigate the reverse effects of frost by cultivate tomato plants under different types of mesh cover for low tunnels

Tomato plants are highly sensitive to chilling stress so this experiment was conducted during successive winter seasons of 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 to investigate the possibility of sustaining production and quality of tomato yield under cold conditions by using different types of mesh cover for low tunnels. Two commercial cultivars, i.e., Super gold F1 and Super streen F1 were used. Seedlings were transplanted under different types of mesh cover for low tunnels. Three types of mesh cover (63%, 65%, 73%) had done to cover the plants of all tested seasons compared to open field condition (control "Without cover"). Results show that significant differences were observed among the two hybrid varieties of tomato studied, in terms of their vegetative growth characteristics (plant height, number of branches, number of leaves, fresh weight, dry weight and leaves area) as well as yield and fruit quality characteristics (Fruit set, total yield, firmness, T.S.S and Vit. C. ‘Super gold’ exhibited significantly higher values for these characteristics, compared to ‘Super strain B’. Chilling reduced the growth parameters (plant height, number of leaves, number of branches, plant fresh weight, plant dry weight) for control plants (without cover) compared to the coverage treatments (63%, 65%, 73%). Significant highest results in the growth, chemical composition of tomato leaves as well as yield and fruit quality parameters were obtained with covering tomato plants by white mesh cover 63% flowed by 65% of treatments which were best than the chilled plants. Concerning the interaction between hybrid varieties and covering treatments, it can be noticed that Cv. Super gold F1 which grown under white mesh cover 63% recorded a highly significant increases in plant height, number of branches, number of leaves, fresh weight, dry weight, leaves area, N, P, K, total chlorophyll, total proline, total sugers contents, fruit set, total yield, firmness, T.S.S and Vit. C. when compared to Cv. Super streen B F1 which grown in open field (without coverage).

Effect of Different Sowing Dates and Varieties on Mustard Growth and Yield in Prayagraj Conditions

A field experiment was conducted during the winter seasons of 2021-22 at the Research farm of the college of forestry Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Science Prayagraj (U. P) to investigate the effect of different sowing dates and varieties on Mustard growth and yield in Prayagraj conditions Keeping in this view experiment was conducted in Factorial RBD with three replications having two factors. First factor comprised of three dates of sowing 15Oct. 30Oct. and 15Nov. whereas the second factor consists of three Indian mustard varieties viz; Maharaja Mustard, Md Rani Supergold, Kala Sona, Crop sown on 15th November was recorded statistically significant higher seed yield, stover yield, test weight, harvest index and at maturity best consumption of heat units like gdd, htu and ptu as compared to 30th October and 15th October sowing. In the case of plant growth parameters of mustard, maximum was recorded under 15th November as compared to 30th October and 15th October and in case of varieties maximum plant growth like plant height, no of leaves no of branches, no of silique, and optimum use of heat units was recorded with md rani super gold as compared to kala sona and maharaja. The treatment with the date of sowing 15th November and md rani super gold variety proved the most remunerative and economically feasible for the cultivation of Indian mustard under the agro-climatic conditions of Prayagraj U.P.

Comparative susceptibility of commercial cultivars of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum var Grossum Sendt) to major insect pests in West Bengal

A field experiment was conducted at Barasat II Block, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal in two consecutive rabi seasons of 2017 and 2018 to study the relative susceptibility of different commercial cultivars of bell pepper to major insect pests infesting it. Ten recommended commercial cultivars of bell pepper viz Indra, Asha, Biotara, KSP 1070, Fiza, Lakshmi, Arya, Super Gold, Ayesha and Mahabharath were planted on 15 November each year to know their relative susceptibility to the major insect pests namely thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood), aphid (Aphis gossypii Glover, Myzus persicae Sulzer), whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Gennadius), fruit borer (Helicoverpa armigera Hubner) and chilli mite (Polyphagotarsonemus latus Banks). Pest population studies revealed that the varieties Indra, Asha, Biotara and Fiza were relatively less susceptible to all the major pests of bell pepper, whereas, Super Gold, Mahabharath, Ayesha and Arya were relatively more susceptible. The variety Indra resulted in less damage score (0.82) after 120 days of planting which resulted in enhancement of yield (15.97 tonnes/ha) and benefit-cost ratio (0.60). Coloured varieties of bell pepper were more vulnerable to pest infestation.

Influence of Morphological Homogeneity of Superspherical Gold Nanoparticles on Plasmonic Photothermal Heat Generation

AbstractThe plasmonic photothermal (PPT) characteristics of gold nanostructures have been extensively investigated theoretically and experimentally due to their potential for use materials science and industry. The management of the size and shape of gold nanoparticles has been a key issue in the development of better solutions for PPT heat generation because their size and shape determine their resultant photothermal properties. However, the light absorption of gold nanostructures is mainly dependent on the wavelength and orientation of the incident light; hence, maintaining uniform size and shape is critical for achieving maximum photothermal energy. Morphologically homogeneous spherical gold nanoparticles, or super gold nanospheres prepared by slowly etching uniform octahedral gold nanoparticles, demonstrate better PPT heat generation compared with commercially available nonsmooth gold nanoparticles (GNSs). The PPT heating experiments show a maximum temperature difference of 5.7 °C between the super and ordinary GNSs with the same average maximum Feret's diameters, which result from the more efficient PPT heat power generation (20.6%) of the super GNSs. In an electromagnetic‐wave simulation, the super GNSs show lower polarization dependence and a 24.6% higher absorption cross‐section than ordinary GNSs.

Exogenous ascorbic acid improved tolerance in maize (Zea mays L.) by increasing antioxidant activity under salinity stress

Salinity causes additional manufacture of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plants, and ascorbate plays important role in maintaining of ROS scavenging antioxidant enzymes. In this study, the role of exogenous ascorbic acid (AsA) was examined on growth, chlorophyll and oxidative stress related enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants in three maize hybrids under NaCl mediated salt stress. In hydroponic culture, AsA was applied at 0.5 and 1.0 mM with and without 12 dSm-1 NaCl, each treatment comprised two independent experiments with three replications. After four weeks, plants were harvested for recording growth and biochemical parameters. Root length, shoot length, dry matter accumulation, chlorophyll (Chl a and Chl b), AsA, reduced glutathione (GSH) and activity of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were markedly reduced by salt stress, while H2O2 and Malondialdehyde (MDA) content were increased significantly. Exogenous application of AsA in saline treatment significantly improved root length, shoot length, dry matter accumulation, chlorophyll, AsA, GSH and APX activity while it decreased the contents of oxidized glutathione (GSSG) significantly in all the hybrids. However, content of dehydroascorbate (DHA) was reduced only in 900M Gold and PS-999. On the other hand, activity of monodehydroascorbatereductase (MDHAR) was increased only in Super gold and 900M gold (by 0.5 mM AsA) while dehydroascorbatereductase (DHAR) activity increased in Super gold only. The results of the present study evidently concluded that exogenous AsA application responded differentially in maize genotypes under salt stress and mitigated the negative effects of salinity. Key words: Maize, salinity, reactive oxygen species, antioxidant, ascorbic acid.

English

Salinity causes additional manufacture of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plants, and ascorbate plays important role in maintaining of ROS scavenging antioxidant enzymes. In this study, the role of exogenous ascorbic acid (AsA) was examined on growth, chlorophyll and oxidative stress related enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants in three maize hybrids under NaCl mediated salt stress. In hydroponic culture, AsA was applied at 0.5 and 1.0 mM with and without 12 dSm-1 NaCl, each treatment comprised two independent experiments with three replications. After four weeks, plants were harvested for recording growth and biochemical parameters. Root length, shoot length, dry matter accumulation, chlorophyll (Chl a and Chl b), AsA, reduced glutathione (GSH) and activity of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were markedly reduced by salt stress, while H2O2 and Malondialdehyde (MDA) content were increased significantly. Exogenous application of AsA in saline treatment significantly improved root length, shoot length, dry matter accumulation, chlorophyll, AsA, GSH and APX activity while it decreased the contents of oxidized glutathione (GSSG) significantly in all the hybrids. However, content of dehydroascorbate (DHA) was reduced only in 900M Gold and PS-999. On the other hand, activity of monodehydroascorbatereductase (MDHAR) was increased only in Super gold and 900M gold (by 0.5 mM AsA) while dehydroascorbatereductase (DHAR) activity increased in Super gold only. The results of the present study evidently concluded that exogenous AsA application responded differentially in maize genotypes under salt stress and mitigated the negative effects of salinity.   Key words: Maize, salinity, reactive oxygen species, antioxidant, ascorbic acid.

Size of In Vitro Plantlets Affects Subsequent Tuber Production of Acclimated Calla Lily

Tuber production of calla lily (Zantedeschia elliottiana Spreng cv. Super Gold) was investigated using three size ranges (7-10, 4-7, and <4 mm shoot diameter) of in vitro plantlets acclimated in either pots or soil beds in a protected house. The shoots and tubers of large plantlets exhibited higher rates of dry-matter accumulation than did those of small plantlets. The diameter of tubers harvested from pots ranged from 0.67 to 4.1 cm with median values of 2.7, 2.1, and 1.9 cm for the plants derived from large, medium, and small plantlets, respectively. Plants grown in soil beds, regardless of size, produced larger tubers than did those grown in pots. Tubers >3 cm in diameter developed on 25% and 52% of plants grown in pots and soil beds, respectively. Our results suggest that improved calla lily production could be realized by using larger in vitro plantlets as the source material and growing them in soil beds in a protected house.

Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis of Trace Element Impurities in Graphite Soot, Gold Grade C60 and C70 and in Super Gold Grade C60

Actually the purity of fullerenes is in general characterized as the percentage of the main component (e.g. C60) versus the higher fullerenes (e.g. C70, etc.) and/or in a few cases of some other polycyclic organic components. We are reporting here for the first time detailed data on trace element impurities in fullerene precursors and in the main fullerenes. For studying the element impurities instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was used. Our measurements have shown that all these materials contain trace elements at ppb (ng/g) ami ppm (μg/g) levels. From the results it comes (Hit that in the future investigations of the elemental purity of the C60 and C70, and even of the higher fullerenes would have to be also considered when their electrical, magnetic, etc. properties are studied.