C. Immanuel Selvaraj

Bio: C. Immanuel Selvaraj is an academic researcher from VIT University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Biology & Sericulture. The author has an hindex of 2, co-authored 5 publications receiving 44 citations.

Rice breeding for salt tolerance

Abstract: Human exploitation of earth’s resources is leading to new problems day by day and hence newer methods are devised to overcome the same. One such case is breeding for abiotic stress, utilizing even non arable land, to feed the ever increasing population. A major stress leading to yield loss can be due to inland and coastal salinity. Rice is the most important cereal crop which feeds humans on earth. This review tries to analyse the efforts of breeders in minimising the effects of salt stress on the yield of rice crop.

Progress of Biorefinery in India

Abstract: India is one among the world’s largest economies and its energy demand accounts for 3.5% of world’s commercial energy consumption. According to the International Energy Agency oil demand in India is expected to grow by a factor 2.2 by 2030, increasing the oil import dependency from 69% now to 91%. Rising energy prices and climate change are increasing the demand for biofuel production. The Planning Commission of India recommends replacing 20% of India’s diesel consumption mainly by non-edible Jatropha oil and Pongamia. Biorefinery could be one of the best solutions to overcome the problem. A review on the progress of biorefinery in India is attempted.

Anti-Diabetic Effect of Fruits on Different Animal Model System

Abstract: Fruits have important bioactive and dietary components ingredients of our everyday life that plays a major role to cure diseases. Inadequate intake of antioxidant and improved reactive oxygen species is associated with diabetes mellitus. Many of the components were proved to be succeeding to treat several chronic diseases like cancer, cardiovascular, obesity, and diabetes. Fruits which have listed here have dietary fiber which reduces diabetes and cardiac and other diseases also. Fruits like Momordica cymbalaria, Pongamia pinnata, Diospyros peregrina, Xylopia aethiopica, Ficus deltoidea, Prunus avium, Trapa natans, Terminalia pallida and Punica granatum. The fruit aqueous extract of Momordica cymbalaria exposed significant antihyperlipidemic as well as antihyperglycemic administered orally at 0.5 g/kg for six weeks by alloxan-induced diabetic rats. In Pongamia pinnata fruits, compounds called pongamal and karanjin was administered using streptozotocin diabetic rats which decreases the blood glucose level at the dosage of 50 mg/kg for 11.7 and 12.8%, 20.7% at 100 mg/kg individually post oral administration of six hours. An edible fruit of Diospyros peregrina streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced type 2 diabetes was achieved in aqueous extract decreases the blood glucose level at the dosage of 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight for twenty-eight days. Xylopia aethiopica acetone fraction of ethanol extract was investigated for type 2 diabetes. Streptozotocin was induced by single intraperitoneal injection and animals were treated orally at the dosage of 150 or 300 mg/kg body weight for 4 weeks reduces blood glucose level. Ficus deltoidea fruit was carried out with crude aqueous extract and fractions were estimated for sugars, phenol, protein and flavonoid content. Antidiabetic activity was carried out in water fraction using alpha-glucosidase assay reveals the highest amount of protein 73.33 ± 4.99 μg/mg. Ethanol extract (200 mg/kg) of Prunus avium fruit was administered orally by single intraperitoneal injection using alloxan induced (120 mg/kg) rats which decrease blood glucose level. Trapa natans fruit peel of methanol extract was evaluated for antidiabetic activity by streptozotocin (100 and 200 mg/ kg body weight) induced a diabetic rat which decreases blood glucose level. Terminalia pallida ethanol fruit extract was given intraperitoneal injection using alloxan (150 mg/kg body weight) monohydrate induced for diabetic rats model. Blood glucose levels were significant to at the dosage of 0.5 g/kg body weight. The aqueous ethanol extract of Punica granatum juice sugar for diabetic rats for ten days. Significantly reduces the blood sugar level, total peroxide level, and peritoneal macrophages. The aim of this book chapter reveals that fruit is considered as one of the important dietary ingredients. It has a vital significant role to control and to treat type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Henceforth, encouraging adherence of mentioned fruits was considerable significance to public health.

First record of natural enemy, Trechnites aligharhensis on Trioza fletcheri minor Crawford, a major pest on Terminalia arjuna and Terminalia tomentosa

Abstract:

Studies have been carried out on exploration of natural enemies of the Psyllid bug, Trioza flecheri minor on Terminalia spp., the primary host plantations of tasar silkworm during April to November, 2020. The results of the studies indicated that among the natural enemies recorded on T. flecheri minor, the Trechnites aligarhensis Hayat, Alam and Agarwal was the major encyrtid parasitoid. The incidence of T. f. minor was significantly more on T. arjuna (22.98% galls) compared to T. tomentosa (12.59% galls) and peak incidence was observed during the August and September months. The parasitization of T. aligarhensis on T. f. minor was significantly more on T. arjuna (33.13%) as compared to T. tomentosa (24.92%).

Improving Salinity Tolerance in Cereals

Abstract: Cereals are grown in almost every region of the world and are exposed to a variety of environmental stresses that severely affect their growth and grain yield. Of various abiotic stresses, salinity is one of the more significant threats to cereal crops. To ensure food security, there is a need to adopt strategies to overcome this specific threat. Undoubtedly, plant scientists have been exploiting a variety of approaches to achieve enhanced crop productivity on salt affected soils. Of the various biotic approaches, conventional breeding, marker-assisted selection and genetic engineering to develop salt-tolerant lines/cultivars of cereals all seem plausible. Some success stories have been reported for improvement in salt tolerance of wheat and rice, but are scarce for other cereals. A number of barriers to the development of salt-tolerant cultivars/lines have been identified and include a lack of knowledge about the genetics of crops, their physiological and biochemical behavior, wide variation in environme...

Rice in Southeast Asia: facing risks and vulnerabilities to respond to climate change.

Abstract: Rice is one of the most important staple foods for more than half of the world’s population (IRRI, 2006) and influences the livelihoods and economies of several billion people. In 2010, approximately 154 million ha were harvested worldwide, of which 137 million ha (88% of the global rice harvested) were in Asia – of which 48 million ha (31% of the global rice harvested) were harvested in Southeast Asia alone (FAOSTAT, 2012) (Figure 1). The greatest levels of productivity are found for irrigated rice, which is the most intensified production system, where more than one crop is grown per year and yields are high – 12.5 tonnes/ ha/year compared with 2.5 tonnes/ha/year for rainfed rice. Approximately 45% of the rice area in Southeast Asia is irrigated, with the largest areas being found in Indonesia, Viet Nam. Philippines and Thailand (Table 1) (Mutert and Fairhurst, 2002). In Southeast Asia, where agriculture is a major source of livelihood, approximately 115 million ha of land are devoted to the production of rice, maize, oil palm, natural rubber and coconut (ADB, 2009). Rice has been feeding the region’s population for well over 4 000 years and is the staple food of about 557 million people (Manzanilla et al., 2011). In 2007, the average annual consumption per capita was about 197 kg (FAOSTAT, 2012) and provided 49% of the calories and 39% of the protein in the diet (FAOSTAT, 2012). Rice-growing methods have evolved through programmes such as farmer field schools [FFS], pioneered in Southeast Asia, that were successful in addressing pest management issues. They have advanced along with the accumulation of knowledge and technology that the people of the region have acquired in the quest for progress. Such has been the role of rice in that quest that, throughout Southeast Asia today, rice is more than just food: it is the central subject of economic policy, a determinant of national objectives, and an important anchor in the maintenance of political stability.