Central Agricultural University

About: Central Agricultural University is a education organization based out in Imphal, Manipur, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Agriculture. The organization has 1116 authors who have published 1157 publications receiving 9217 citations.

Isolation, Characterization and Practical Significance of Cellulose Degrading Bacteria from the Gut Wall of Two Ecologically Distinct Earthworms

Abstract: This study has determined the relationship of cultur-able community of cellulose degrading bacteria (CDB) within the gut walls of two habitat-specific earthworm species, epigeic (compost heap inhabitant) earthworm, Perionyx excavatus (PE) and an endogeic (submerged rice field inhabitant), Glyphidrilus spelaeotes (GS) and their functional significance. The 16Sr RNA analysis for the isolated CDB from two ecologically distinct earthworms clearly showed the presence of distinct communities of CDB in their gut ecosystem. Enzymatic assay of cellulase for the isolated CDB showed sig-nificantly higher cellulase activity compared to the reference strain M-23, Cellulomonas cellulans (P < 0.01, one-way ANOVA). The functional signifi-cance of such high cellulase activity was also demon-strated by the enhancement of decomposition of rice straw and fresh vegetation biomass in the presence of native microbiota community. The growth rate of CDB of epigeic PE was approximately twice slower than that of CDBs of endogeic GS. The CDB of PE exhibited 12 polymorphs of esterase isozyme as against 4 polymorphs for CDB of GS. The present study emphasizes the functionally significant relation-ship of gut wall CDB and host earthworm for sustaining efficient C-cycling in agroecosystems.

Evidence for the association of mastrevirus, cucumovirus and phytoplasma with chickpea stunt disease and their putative insect vectors in India

Abstract: Symptoms of severe stunting, little leaf, yellowing and axillary shoot proliferation were recorded on chickpea plants in three northern states of India (New Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan) during January–March, 2017–2018 with disease incidences of 6–56% Nested PCR assays with phytoplasma-specific universal primer pairs (P1/P7 and 3Far/3Rev) and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis confirmed the association of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma trifolii’ in the symptomatic chickpea variety Pusa Bheema at New Delhi The in silico RFLP and phylogeny analyses of 16S rRNA sequence of the chickpea stunt (CpS) affected samples confirmed the association of 16SrVI-D subgroup phytoplasma Similar phytoplasma strain (16SrVI-D subgroup) was detected in the leafhopper species, Hishimonus phycitis collected from symptomatic chickpea fields at New Delhi Association of icosahedral virus particles of ~25–30 nm diameters were seen under electron microscope in CpS affected samples as well as in the aphids, Myzus persicae (Sulzer) collected from the symptomatic CpS samples at New Delhi Both the plant and aphid samples were tested positive with the polyclonal antibodies (pAbs) of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) in DAS-ELISA and ISEM tests PCR assays using coat protein (CP) gene specific primers for CMV and the resultant sequence comparison also confirmed the association of CMV with the CpS affected symptomatic chickpea plants and M persicae The CpS affected samples collected from all the three states were further tested positive with chickpea chlorotic dwarf virus (chickpea chlorotic dwarf virus, CpCDV) CP gene specific primers in PCR assays The 27 kb DNA sequence resulted from the rolling circle amplification (RCA) from the CpS affected chickpea samples of New Delhi revealed a highest sequence similarity of 99% with the CpCDV isolate from Pakistan These results suggested a wider occurrence of CpCDV in chickpea crops in all the three states and a mixed infection of phytoplasma [‘Ca P trifolii’ (16SrVI-D subgroup)] and two plant viruses (CMV and CpCDV) associated with CpS disease at New Delhi

Changing behaviour of self help group members: Pathway for sustainable rural livelihoods in Eastern India

Abstract: The study evaluates the behaviour construct of self help group (SHG) members. Data were solicited from randomly selected 100 SHG members of Patna district, Bihar, India at two point of time (in before and after situation), i.e., during 2008 and 2013. The behaviour construct developed, consisted of 30 items, for which Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of reliability was observed as 0.82. Data were solicited on three-point continuum, viz. No Change=1, Slightly Changed=2 and Highly Changed=3. The mean values of two situations (before and after situation) were compared (z-statistics) to observe the behavioural change among the SHG members. An improvement of 34.91% between pre (46.09%) and post evaluation (81%) and a significant improvement in behaviour of SHG members was observed, which exemplifies the impact of SHG approach in instilling a positive behavioural orientation. Positive behaviour could play a great role in tackling the issues of rural poverty for improving sustainable livelihood security in eastern India. To achieve this rural livelihoods must assimilate the vital facets like (i) formation and stabilization of SHGs, (ii) pro-poor financial and credit support system, (iii) market-driven and decentralized extension system, (iv) diversification towards high-value enterprises,(v) technological intervention and impact assessment, (vi) media-mix for technology transfer, (vii) frequent educational tour/visits and interaction with other SHGs and research institutes, (viii) developing leadership skills, and (ix) strong political will. Nevertheless, extension system needs to be re-oriented and revitalized with new agricultural knowledge base in emerging technologies and methodologies.

Diversity and structure of plant assemblages in open scrub vegetation patches of Dachigam National Park at Kashmir Himalayas

Abstract: Plant diversity and floristic composition of open scrub vegetation patches of Dachigam National Park, Kashmir in the Western Himalayas were assessed with an objective to develop a baseline data foundation for natural resource management plans and proper conservation strategies for the floristically rich ecosystem. The vegetation study was carried out by using standard sampling protocol of stratified random nested quadrats. The richness was observed with 190 species, representing 128 genera within 53 families. The species diversity index and concentration of dominance index of the area was 3.09 and 0.1207, respectively. Shannon-Wiener index and evenness indices were 5.42 and 1.034, respectively and the values of IVI ranged from 0.84 to 42.33. The diversity indices indicate the heterogeneity of the scrub area in its structure, composition, function and vegetation dynamics. The present study though preliminary in nature but the generated baseline information will be helpful to design conservation planning for the wildlife especially the Kashmir stag (Cervus elaphus hanglu) as these open scrubs vegetation patches are connective corridors of this endangered species of the Dachigam National Park.