Two cyanobacterial species (Nostoc entophytum and Oscillatoria angustissima) were tested as biofertilizers, substituting the normally used chemical fertilizer, for pea plant. Inoculation of soil with a suspension of each species or a combination of the two species significantly increased the germination percentage and stimulated the other measured growth parameters and photosynthetic pigment fractions of pea. However, the soil inoculation with one cyanobacterial species and the addition of the recommended dose or half the recommended dose of chemical fertilizer were usually more effective and also increased carbohydrate and protein contents of produced pea seeds. However, biofertilization combined with half the recommended dose of the chemical fertilizer was usually more effective than the addition of the full rate of the chemical fertilizer, and this may allow saving 50% of the used chemical fertilizer. The protein profile of the produced seeds showed appearance and disappearance of some protein bands in response to fertilization treatments compared to the control. Blue green algae analyses show that N. entophytum fixed more N, produced more exopolysaccharide, and contained more auxin and cytokinin than O. angustissima, the latter contained more gibberellins. These data may explain their different influences on growth and yield of pea.

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Effect of two species of cyanobacteria as biofertilizers on some metabolic activities, growth, and yield of pea plant

Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) is a fruit crop with a clear niche for expansion in countries with subtropical climates. One of the main limitations for breeding purposes and optimum germplasm management in this species is the confusion in cultivar denomination among different producing countries and germplasm collections worldwide. Litchi cultivar identification is still mainly based on morphological characters, and homonymies and synonymies are very frequent. To address this gap, a molecular study was conducted to characterize litchi accessions from two of the main litchi-producing regions for the export market, Mauritius and Reunion, and to compare them to those obtained from litchi cultivars from different origins conserved in a germplasm collection in Spain. Eleven simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci were used to characterize molecular polymorphisms among 88 litchi accessions conserved in Mauritius, Reunion, and Spain. A total of 67 amplification fragments were detected with those 11 SSRs, with an average of 6.1 bands/SSR. Three primer pairs seemed to amplify more than one locus. The mean expected and observed heterozygosities over the eight single locus SSRs averaged 0.53 and 0.61, respectively. The total value for the probability of identity was 9.78 × 10−4. Molecular characterization revealed the existence of 42 different genetic profiles. Several synonymies and homonymies in litchi cultivar nomenclature both within and across geographical regions were found. This comparative study provides the basis for the standardization of litchi cultivar nomenclature over the studied regions and in other litchi-producing countries.

Fingerprinting and analysis of genetic diversity of litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) accessions from different germplasm collections using microsatellite markers

A reproducible protocol for clonal propagation of Spilanthes acmella has been established. Routinely, the cultures were established in spring (January–April) season because of the highest aseptic culture establishment and high frequency shoot proliferation. Incorporation of 5 μM N6-benzyladenine (BA) to Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium showed 100% bud-break and promoted multiple shoot proliferation in cultures. Interestingly, a higher concentration of BA (7–15 μM) promoted stunted shoots with pale leaves while a lower concentration (1–3 μM) resulted in shoots with long internodes and excessive adventitious root proliferation from all over their surface. For recurrent shoot multiplication, single node segments from in vitro-developed shoots were excised and cultured on MS + BA (5 μM) medium where 20.3-fold shoot multiplication was achieved every 5 weeks. Finally, these shoots were successfully rooted on half-strength MS medium (major salts reduced to half-strength) with 50 g l−1 sucrose, with a frequency of 100%. Transplantation survival of micropropagated plants was 88.9%. Additionally, accumulation of scopoletin, a phytoalexin, was revealed for the first time in the uninfected leaves of Spilanthes. Further, the quantitative estimation by HPLC with a fluorescence detector showed that the amounts of scopoletin content (0.10 μg g−1 DW) in the leaves of micropropagated plants are comparable to those of field-grown mother plants. The study thus signifies the effectiveness of in vitro methodology for true-to-type plant regeneration of Spilanthes and their later utility for biosynthesis and constant production of scopoletin throughout the year.

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Improved clonal propagation of Spilanthes acmella Murr. for production of scopoletin

The genetic improvement of tropical fruit trees is limited when compared to progress achieved in temperate fruit trees and annual crops. Tropical fruit tree breeding programs require significant resources to develop new cultivars that are adapted to modern shipping and storage requirements. The use of molecular markers in tropical fruit tree breeding is greatly assisting in solving a number of difficult challenges for breeders such as the development of complex family structures for recombination mapping and for recurrent selection. A review of the literature on molecular markers development and new techniques for increasing single-nucleotide polymorphic markers is discussed. The development of marker-assisted breeding for these tropical tree crops is also discussed.

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Genomics of Tropical Fruit Tree Crops

Two pseudomonad strains facilitate AMF mycorrhization of litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) and improving phosphorus uptake

Genetic relatedness among Indian litchi accessions (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) by RAPD markers.

Litchi chinensis Sonn. ranks (high) among the most important horticultural crops, belongs to the family Sapindaceae and widely grown in tropical and subtropical regions (Menzel 1985). The tree produces delicious top quality fruits that are in great demand for their wholesome taste, sweet aroma and attractive colour. They are mainly consumed as a fresh table fruit worldwide but in China, dried litchis, called litchi nuts with the taste of the raisin are quite popular. They are also preserved and canned in syrup or used as squash. In Florida, frozen fruits are consumed on a limited scale. China, India and Taiwan are the major producers of litchi whereas in the last 40 years substantial increase in production in South Africa, Australia, Thailand, Vietnam, USA and Israel has led litchis to become a significant commodity in the international trade, (Underhill et al. 1997). Major thrust of litchi research has been on prevention of physiological browning and retention of bright red colouration of litchi fruits in several countries. Exotic litchi fruits have received worldwide attention. Increase in popularity has necessitated litchi cultivation in a wide range of environmental conditions. In fact litchi is generally adapted to various soil types via alluvial sands, loams, heavy clay, organic soil and calcareous soil with 30% lime and rock files (Chapman 1984a). In China, the best litchi trees are prevalent in Gwanagdong province close to the rivers on alluvial sands with good drainage and access to the water table (Chapman 1984b). They are also grown in gravelly sandy loam to loam soils as well as in swampy areas. However, soil in Fijian province is very high in clay, poorly drained and acidic in reaction (Winks et al. 1983). In South Africa, trees are more vigorous in growth on acid soils rather than on neutral or alkaline soils (Marloth 1947). Under Indian conditions, litchi cultivation in Bihar state is common on calcareous soils containing more than 40% free calcium carbonate and trees flourish well in a moist subtropical climate and in deep loamy soil with high moisture content. However,

Litchi Breeding for Genetic Improvement

A novel approach of regeneration from nodal explants of field-grown' litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) fruit trees.

With addition of new captive power plant and increased power transfer, transient stability is much more important for reliable operation. Transient stability evaluation of large scale power systems is an extremely intricate and highly non-linear problem. An important function of transi’ent evaluation is to appraise the capability of the power system to withstand serious contingency in time, so that some emergencies or preventive control can be carried out to prevent system breakdown. In practical operations correct assessment of transient stability for given operating states is necessary and valuable for power system operation. . The damping of power system oscillations after a three phase fault is also analyzed with the introduction of SVC and UPFC on transient stability performance of a power system. A general program for transient stability studies to incorporate FACTS devices is developed using modified partitioned solution approach. The modeling of SVC and UPFC for transient stability evaluation is studied and tested on a 10-Generator, 39 - Bus, New Test System.

Employing facts devices (upfc) for transient stability improvement

The mean difference between the effect ofcontrol and that ofthe domestii wastes is sighilicant (P>0.01) with respect to germination ofmaize and cowpea seeds. Whey, papaya peel, orange residue and cowdung proved to be the best for germination of maize followed by cowpea. The rate of germination was also higher due to the treatment ofwastes. Amylase activity in cowpea seed was highest due to cowdung, that ofstarch phosphorylase due to whey and protease due to papaya peel. ln maize amylase and starch phosphorylase were highest due to whey. Starch and protein content in the endosperm ofmaize and cotyledons ofcowpea gradually decreased with more rapid speed due to the treatment ofwaste than the untreated control after germination.

U.S. Prasad .

Papers

Genetic relatedness among Indian litchi accessions (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) by RAPD markers.

Litchi Breeding for Genetic Improvement

A novel approach of regeneration from nodal explants of field-grown' litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) fruit trees.

Employing facts devices (upfc) for transient stability improvement

Effect of domestic wastes on the germination of maize and cowpea seeds.