No abstract

No abstract

To curb the increasing demand for nitrogenous fertilizers, it is imperative to develop new cultivars with comparatively greater nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). Nonetheless, so far very meager information is available concerning the variances among barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) varieties for their response to nitrogen deprivation. The current study was carried out to explore the potential of barley genotypes for higher NUE. A hydroponic experiment was conducted at seedling stage to compare the performance of four barley genotypes, ZD9 and XZ149 (with higher NUE) and HXRL and XZ56 (with lower NUE) in response to low (0.1 mM) and normal nitrogen (2 mM) levels. Under low N, all the genotypes expressed less number of tillers, decreased soluble proteins, chlorophyll and N concentrations in both roots and shoots, in comparison with normal N supply. However, significant differences were found among the genotypes. The genotypes with high NUE (ZD9 and XZ149) showed higher N concentration, increased number of tillers, improved chlorophyll and soluble proteins in both roots and shoots as compared to the inefficient ones (HXRL and XZ56). Furthermore, nitrate transporter gene (NRT2.1) showed higher expression under low N, both in roots and leaves of N efficient genotypes, as compared to the N inefficient ones. However, N assimilatory genes (GS1 and GS2) showed higher expression under normal and low N level, in leaves and roots respectively. The outcome of the study revealed that genotypes with higher NUE (ZD9 and XZ149) performed better under reduced N supply, and may require relatively less N fertilizer for normal growth and development, as compared to those with lower NUE. The study also revealed a time-specific expression pattern of studied

No abstract

Plants require a balanced nutrition program formulated to provide specific needs for maintenance and for expected production performance. Hence this experiment was conducted to evaluate the optimum level of phosphorus and potassium for growth and productivity of young Kinnow (Citrus reticulata Blanco) plants. The experiment was designed under Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) comprised with seven treatments and replicated thrice. The treatments included, T1= 200 g P2O5 + 200 g K2O, T2= 150 g P2O5 + 200 g K2O, T3= 250 g P2O5 + 200 g K2O, T4= 300 g P2O5 + 200 g K2O, T5= 250 g P2O5 + 150 g K2O, T6= 200 g P2O5 + 250 g K2O and T7= 200 g P2O5 + 300 g K2O. Maximum plant height (3.12 m) and Juice (43.48%) was observed in T5= 250 g P2O5 + 150 g K2O. The highest number of flush (33.08), number of leaves (101.25 m2), length of flush (13.75 cm), Seed weight (1.33 g), Aborted seeds/fruit (8), mature seed fruit (5.48) were noted in T7. Leaf area index and peel thickness were significantly increased in T6= (200 g P2O5 + 250 g K2O) with values 1.91 cm3 and 4.30 mm respectively. So, it is concluded that T5= 250 g P2O5 + 150 g K2O and T7= 200 g P2O5 + 300 g K2O is the best treatments for the growth and better yield of young Kinnow plants.

Phytoremediation is a green technology; however, very few species of arid environments have been identified as hyperaccumulators and fast growers. Therefore, a greenhouse experiment was performed to evidence the phytoaccumulation potential of Conocarpus erectus, Syzygium cumini, Populus deltoides and Morus alba at the sapling stage. Six-month-old plant saplings were subjected to control (CK; 0 µM) and cadmium treatments (Cd; CdCl2; 200 µM). The results depicted that plant growth, dry biomass production (leaf and stem) and chl a, b and carotenoid contents decreased significantly in all four species under Cd treatment; however, the lowest decrease was evidenced in Conocarpus erectus. The concentration of hydrogen peroxide and superoxide radical increased significantly in all four species, with the highest increase observed in Morus alba. Osmolytes production, antioxidant enzymes activity (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase) and Cd accumulation in the leaves, stem and root increased significantly in all four species under Cd treatment, with the highest increase observed in Conocarpus erectus. The translocation factor was >1 in Conocarpus erectus, Syzyngoim cumini and Populus deltoides and was <1 in Morus alba. The study revealed a better Cd tolerance in Conocarpus erectus, which was driven by the effective osmolyte balance and antioxidant enzymes mechanism.

Various growth regulators have been used to improve the quality of different fruit crops. Foliar spray of macro and micronutrients play an important role in vegetative growth, yield and fruit quality. In the present study, the influence of foliar application of growth regulators and nutrients on fruit splitting and fruit quality was evaluated. For that purpose, Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), Potassium nitrate (KNO3) and Boric acid (H3BO3) at the rate of 40 ppm, 1% and 0.3% were used respectively. Spray of chemicals were applied in 2nd and 8th week from full bloom to yield in pomegranate cultivar ‘Golden pearl’. The experiment was designed under Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) comprised with seven treatments and replicated thrice. Fruit splitting was reduced (48.68%) significantly with application of KNO3 + Boric acid, while maximum fruit size (60.26 cm2), fruit weight (84gm), fruit grain weight (136.38gm), total soluble solid (TSS) 12.52% and yield (21.9kg/plant) were observed in KNO3 + Boric acid. Moreover, peel weight was increased in control (60.66 gm) and minimum was observed in 48.62 gm in KNO3 + Boric acid. Finally, it is concluded KNO3 %+ Boric acid reveled best results against fruit splitting % and other fruit quality parameters. These findings show that application of KNO3+ Boric acid significantly influences fruit quality of pomegranate when fruit are in the beginning stages of growth and development.

In recent decades, adverse effects of unexpected contaminants on the quality of crops have threatened both the food security and human health. Vegetable production in heavy metal contaminated soils is a serious concern regarding the quality of food. Glutamic acid has been extensively studied as a stress-responsive antioxidant molecule and its function is involved in triggering plant growth during abiotic stress. Therefore, in the present study, the alleviating role of exogenously applied glutamic acid was examined in soil grown cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L.) under four levels of cadmium (0, 5, 10, and 20 mg Cd/kg) and two levels of glutamic acid (0, 10 mM). The results showed that the Cd stress reduced the plant growth and chlorophyll contents in the cucumbers. Significant decreases were more pronounced in the photosynthetic parameters under the Cd stress alone in both cultivars. However, pronounced deleterious effects were observed in the Ashly cultivar as compared to SSC-228 in respect to the plant growth and photosynthetic attributes. However, the exogenous treatment of glutamic acid significantly improved the plant growth and chlorophyll contents of plants under the Cd stress. The glutamic acid also decreased the Cd contents in the cucumber roots and leaves, and further decreased the reactive oxygen species (ROS) which were elevated by the high Cd concentrations. Interestingly, the antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD and POD) increased under the different elevated Cd levels in the leaves of the cucumber plants. However, the CAT and APX activities were reduced with an increasing Cd concentration in the soil in both cultivars. Meanwhile, the exogenously applied glutamic acid exhibited synergic effects and further activated the antioxidant enzyme activities in the cucumber leaves under the Cd stress. In this study, the SSC-228 cultivar was found to be more tolerant to Cd stress as compared to the Ashly cultivar. Furthermore, the findings of this study highlight that a glutamic acid application can play a significant role in enhancing the plant growth and stimulating the biochemical activities in cucumbers under Cd stress.