Showing papers by "Central Agricultural University published in 2006"

Molecular diversity and its relationship with hybrid performance and heterosis in ash gourd [Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn.]

Abstract: SummaryAsh gourd or wax gourd [Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn.], belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae, is an underexploited vegetable in spite of having considerable economic and medicinal importance. Very little information is available on the genetic diversity and exploitation of heterosis in this crop. In the present study, nine inbred lines of ash gourd were crossed to produce all (72) possible F1 hybrids, including reciprocals, which were evaluated along with the nine parents for 13 growth- and yield-related traits and 14 quality traits, in a replicated field trial. A high level of heterosis was observed among the hybrids for most of the traits examined, including iron and zinc content. Significant reciprocal differences in heterosis were observed. The inbred lines were analysed using 130 RAPD primers, of which 26 were informative and amplified 163 DNA marker bands. A total of 47 polymorphic bands were obtained with a mean of 1.8 per primer which, in combination, discriminated all the inbreds from ...

Developing Market-Driven Extension System in India

Abstract: India’s agricultural extension system is at a pivotal point in its development. During the past 50 years, the Indian extension system has evolved to reflect national priorities. At the outset, extension worked to bring about broad-based rural development. However, the food crises starting in the late 1950s refocused the efforts of extension on food security and increasing food production. The combination of Green Revolution technology in the late 1960s and Training and Visit (TV the second part describes the steps followed in creating a market-driven extension system. Finally, the paper summarizes the impact of this approach on the cropping systems, farm income and getting farmers organized in 28 pilot districts. Based on these results, the Government of India is expanding the coverage of the ATMA model and effectively transforming the extension system into one that is both decentralized and market-driven.

Community knowledge and sustainable natural resources management: learning from the Monpa of Arunachal Pradesh

Abstract: Community knowledge and local institutions play a significant role in sustainable comanagement, use and conservation of natural resources. Looking to the importance of these resources, a project, funded by the National Innovation Foundation (NIF), Ahmedabad, India was implemented to document the community knowledge associated with agriculture and natural resources in few selected Monpa tribe dominating villages of West Kameng and Tawang Districts of Arunachal Pradesh, India. Dynamics of various indigenous practices, gender role, culture and informal rural social institutions, cultural edges significantly contribute in managing and using the natural resources sustainably. Experiential learning and location specific knowledge play a pivotal role in ecosystem sustainability. Study also indicates the synergistic relation existing between local knowledge and ecological edges, thereby helping in sustaining livelihood in high altitude. Indigenous resource management systems are not mere traditions but adaptive responses that have evolved over time.

Cereal crops response to azotobacter - A review

Abstract: Among biofertilisers, Azotobacter is generally used in any non-legume crop. It could give good response to many cereal crops in their growth and development. Azotobacter inoculation enhanced seed germination of rice, maize, wheat, jowar, etc. The nitrogen requirement of cereal crops could be reduced by Azotobacter inoculation.

Mustard and rapeseed response to Azotobacter - A review

Abstract: Large number of field trials and various experiments carried throughout India and whole world have convincingly established the importance of Azotobacter as microbial inoculant. Mustard and rapeseeds gave good response to Azotobacter growth and development, seed yield and oil yield. Incidence of some diseases of mustard and rapeseeds could be reduced by inoculating with Azotobacter. Better results were given when seeds were treated in combination with Azotobacter and N.

Integrated nutrient management in rice (Oryza sativa) - RAPESEED (Brassica comprestris var. Toria) cropping sequence under rainfed condition

Abstract: Field experiments were conducted during 1997–98 and 1998–99 to find out suitable integrated application of nitrogen and biofertilizer for increased grain yield in rice and to study its residual impact on rapeseed. Among the treatments, 80 kg N ha−1 in integration with BGA and Azolla recorded the highest grain yield of rice crop. With regards to the subsequent crop of rapeseed, the same treatment was found to be better in registering higher yield. When rice-rapeseed sequence was considered as a whole, application of 80 kg N ha−1 + Azolla + BGA was remunerative which gave the highest return per rupee investment of 2.33.

Haematological studies on crossbred heifers with anoestrus

Abstract: An experiment was conducted in order to investigate the status of haemato-biochemical constituents in cross-bred (Jersey x non-descript) heifers during anoestrus or oestrus condition. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of 9 selected animals showing anoestrus about 3 -4 years of age and from equal number of crossbred heifers during the overt of heat sign (within 14 hours from the onset of heat) having similar age group for comparison. Haemoglobin, packed cell volume and red blood cell count were significantly (P <0.05) lower and total leukocyte count was significantly (P<0.05) higher in an anoestrus group. Of differential leukocyte count, the neutrophil was higher (P <0.01) in anoestrus group than that in oestrus group (41.67% vs. 32.33). These findings indicate that anoestrus characters of haematological constituents.

Role of nutrition in relation to immune system - a review

Abstract: Most nutritional research on various nutrient requirements for animals is carried out under strict sanitation and pathogen free state that can not be applicable in real field conditions. For this reason, the minimum nutrient requirements prescribed by various feeding standards (NRC, ARC, BIS) may not be relevant to on-farm conditions. The immune system must compete with production for nutrients. When the immune system is engaged in defense against a particular pathogen, its actual nutrients demand might be increased manifolds because of anabolic components of the immune system i.e. clonal proliferation of lymphocytes, production of immunoglobins, recruitment of new myloid cells, synthesis of mineral content enzymes and metallo-proteins, chaperones, hepatic secretion of acute phase proteins including complement components, thousands types of receptor proteins, transcription factors etc. Many effector mechanisms used by the immune system generate large amount of reactive oxygen intermediates. Nutrient antioxidants can successfully protect bio-molecules against damage from these reactive oxygen intermediates. For instance, vitamin E exerts its action on the immune system by lowering of the prostaglandin synthesis and by preventing the oxidation of PUFA in the cell membrane. Nutritional manipulation might affect not only the development of immune system but also the immune defense to pathogen.