Crossbred (Bos taurus×Bos indicus) calves were used from birth till 14 weeks of age to evaluate three sources of protein that differed in ruminal degradability viz. groundnut cake alone (HD) or in combination with cottonseed meal (MD) and meat and bone meal (LD), when fed along with two sources of non-structural carbohydrates viz. raw (R) and thermally processed (P) maize. Twenty four new born calves were arranged in six groups in a 3×2 factorial design and fed on whole milk up to 56 d of age. All the different calves received calf startes along with green oats (Avena sativa) from 14 d of age onwards free-choice. A metabolism trial of 6 d starters duration, conducted after 90 d of experimental feeding, revealed greater (p<0.05) digestibility of DM, OM, total carbohydrates, NDF and ADF in calves fed on the P diets than on the R diets promoting greater (p<0.05) metabolizable energy intake. The digestibility of NDF was higher (p<0.01) on LD diets where as calves on MD diets exhibited significantly lower digestibility of ADF (p<0.01). The retention of nitrogen per unit metabolic body size was significantly (p<0.05) higher on the LD-P diet than on the diet HD-P which, in turn, was higher (p<0.05) than that of HD-R. Nitrogen retention as percentage of intake was significantly greater (p<0.05) on LD-P than on LD-R diets (52.2 vs. 36.4%). Also, P fed calves utilized nitrogen more efficiently than the R fed as shown by retention of significantly greater proportions of intake (47.4 vs. 40.9%) and absorbed (65.8 vs. 59.5%) nitrogen. Calorimetric evaluation of the diets through open-circuit respiration chamber revealed that the dietary treatments had no impact on methane production by calves. The intake of DE and ME was improved (p<0.01) because of maize processing resulting in greater (p<0.01) retention of energy. The protein degradability exerted no influence on the partitioning or retention of energy. A significant interaction between cereal and protein types was evident with respect to retention of both nitrogen (p<0.01) and energy (p<0.05). In conclusion, no discernible trend in the influence of cereal processing was apparent on the dietary protein degradability, but the positive effect of cereal processing on energy retention diminished with the increase in dietary undegradability.

Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Gennadius) is a plant sap-sucking insect and transmits begomovirus, tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus-potato (ToLCNDV-potato) causing potato apical leaf curl disease has been posing serious threat to potato production in Northern India. Therefore, a field survey was conducted in Northern India during 2013-14 and 2014-15 potato offseason to identify the host plants, activity of whitefly on these plants with confirmation of ToLCNDV-potato through PCR. The presence of whitefly and PCR results revealed that cultivable host plants Abelmoschus esculentus, Capsicum annum, Dahlia pinnata, Luffa cylindrica, Solanum melongena, Tagetes erecta, Vigna radiata and non-cultivable host plants Phyllanthus niruri, Trifolium repens, Acalypha indica and Commelina benghalensis acquired ToLCNDV-potato in due course of time, however some of the alternate host plants were found negative, while whitefly collected from these plant showed positive reaction or vice versa. The findings of this study would help in studying the movement of whitefly and survival of ToLCNDV-potato on alternate host plants for better management of this disease in potato. As a precaution, a care should be taken to remove these plants in the vicinity of potato breeder seed crop in whitefly endemic area for the effective management of apical leaf curl disease of potato.

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SummaryThe production rates of bacteria have been measured in the rumen of zebu calves and buffalo calves. The animals were fed green oat continuously at 2 h intervals. [35S]sodium sulphate was fed to the animals for 5 days at 2 h intervals by mixing in the feed. On the sixth day the radioactive feed was stopped and replaced by non-radioactive feed. The decline in the specific radioactivity of bacterial cells in the rumen as a function of time was taken for calculatingt/2. Simultaneously rumen volume was determined and pool size of bacterial cells was calculated in the rumen. A mathematical equation was applied to calculate the production rates of bacteria. The production rates of bacteria, on average, were 100·5 and 72·3 mg/min for buffalo calves and zebu calves, respectively.

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Whitefly transmissible Gemini virus, Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus-potato (ToLCNDV-potato) causing potato apical leaf curl disease has been posing serious threat to both seed and ware potato production in northern India. Two sets of field and laboratory experiments were conducted to assess the incidence of Bemisia tabaci and ToLNDV-potato under sprayed and unsprayed conditions of nine most commonly cultivated potato varieties during two consecutive years. Besides, that varietal response to B. tabaci and ToLCNDV-potato was also evaluated. The whitefly population significantly varied on potato cultivars sprayed and unsprayed conditions. Minimum incidence of B. tabaci was recorded in Kufri Bahar (5.0/5 plant) and Kufri Khyati (7.0/ 5 plant) when crop was sprayed by three insecticide sprays. The maximum incidence of whitefly (15.33/5 plant) was recorded in Kufri Pukhraj followed by Kufri Chipsona-1 (15.0/5 plant) when crop remain unsprayed. The higher population of whitefly was recorded in the year 2013-14 as compared to 2014-15. The maximum yield and highest cost: benefit ratio was found in the three sprays treatment of cv. Kufri Khyati followed by Kufri Garima. PCR results revealed that most common 22 potato cultivars grown in the country acquired ToLNDV-potato in due course of time, however some of potato cultivars like Kufri Anand, Kufri Chandramukhi, Kufri Chipsona 1, Kufri Chipsona 2, Kufri Chipsona 4, Kufri Gaurav, Kufri Himalini, Kufri Khyati, Kufri Pukhraj and Kufri Satlej acquired ToLNDV-potato very quickly and showed positive reaction in of October. The sample of whitefly drawn from the respective potato cultivars in of October also exhibited positive reaction as per retaining the virus with almost same trend of potato cultivars. Thus, it is concluded that potato cultivars must be well protected using Imidacloprid followed by Thiamethoxam and Imidacloprid insecticides, first spray on 20 days after planting followed by second and third sprays on 35 and 42 days after planting, respectively for suppression of whitefly population and effective management of apical leaf curl disease, especially crop grown for seed purpose.

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