Agricultural research 

About: Agricultural research is an academic journal. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Agriculture & Irrigation. Over the lifetime, 654 publications have been published receiving 5135 citations.

ZnO Nanoparticle Biosynthesis and Its Effect on Phosphorous-Mobilizing Enzyme Secretion and Gum Contents in Clusterbean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.)

Abstract: Biological synthesis of ZnO nanoparticle is a new approach for environmentally benign protocol in context to green nanotechnology. In present investigation, ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized from ZnNO3 using extracellular secretions of Aspergillus fumigatus TFR-8 (NCBI GenBank Accession No. JQ675291) and effect of these biologically transformed ZnO nanoparticles was studied on clusterbean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.) to enhance native phosphorous-mobilizing enzymes and nanoinduced gum production. Valid characterization techniques were employed for confirmation of size, shape, surface structure, crystalline nature, and elemental proportion. Results indicate that synthesized nanoparticle size ranging between 1.2 and 6.8 nm at least in one dimension with oblate spherical and hexagonal in structure. The samples contained 98 % atom of Zn element. The characterized ZnO nanoparticles were foliar sprayed at 10 ppm concentration on leaf of 14-day-old clusterbean plants. A significant improvement in plant biomass (27.1 %), shoot length (31.5 %), root length (66.3 %), root area (73.5 %), chlorophyll content (276.2 %), total soluble leaf protein (27.1 %), rhizospheric microbial population (11–14 %), acid phosphatase (73.5 %), alkaline phosphatase (48.7 %), and phytase (72.4 %) activity in clusterbean rhizosphere was observed over control in 6-week-old plants due to application of nanoZnO. The gum content in clusterbean seeds improved by 7.5 % after maturity which indicates ZnO in nano form may contribute more in industrial and medical applications besides agricultural sector. A possible hypothesis of mechanism for ZnO nanoparticle biosynthesis has also been made.

Development of Zinc Nanofertilizer to Enhance Crop Production in Pearl Millet (Pennisetum americanum)

Abstract: In context to environmentally benign technology, present study was made for biosynthesis of zinc nanoparticles which were used as nanofertilizer to enhance crop production in pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum L.) cv. HHB 67. Synthesized zinc nanoparticles were characterized for confirmation of size, shape, surface structure, crystalline nature, and study of elemental proportion. Results indicate that synthesized nanoparticle size ranged between 15 and 25 nm. A significant improvement in shoot length (15.1 %), root length (4.2 %), root area (24.2 %), chlorophyll content (24.4 %), total soluble leaf protein (38.7 %), plant dry biomass (12.5 %), and enzyme activities of acid phosphatase (76.9 %), alkaline phosphatase (61.7 %), phytase (322.2 %), and dehydrogenase (21 %) were observed over control in 6 weeks old plants. The grain yield at crop maturity was improved by 37.7 % due to application of zinc nanofertilizer.

Rice Blast Management Through Host-Plant Resistance: Retrospect and Prospects

Abstract: Rice (Oryza sativa) plays a significant role in achieving global food security. However, it suffers from several biotic and abiotic stresses that seriously affect its production. Rice blast caused by hemibiotropic fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae is one of the most widespread and devastating diseases of rice. The crop rice is vulnerable to this pathogen from seedlings to adult plant stages affecting leaves, nodes, collar, panicles and roots. This disease can be effectively managed through host resistance. Of the 100 blast resistance genes, identified and mapped in different genotypes of rice, 19 genes have been cloned and characterized at the molecular level. Most of these genes belong to nucleotide binding sites and leucine rich repeats. Besides more than 350 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) have also been identified in the rice genome. These blast resistance genes and QTLs have been successfully mobilized in the commercial cultivars by using standard plant breeding techniques and also by marker assisted backcross breeding. With the advent of latest molecular biology techniques and our understanding of the basic mechanisms of Magnaporthe-rice pathosystem, the strategies for broad-spectrum resistance to M. oryzae can be designed in future.

Piriformospora indica: A Novel Plant Growth-Promoting Mycorrhizal Fungus

Abstract: Piriformospora indica, a member of the newly created order Sebacinales, is extremely versatile in its mycorrhizal associations and its ability to promote plant growth. P. indica is widely distributed as a symptomless root endophyte, and it colonizes members of bryophytes, pteridophytes, gymnosperms and angiosperms. P. indica and allied members of Sebacinales have been reported to occur in four continents. The existing literature suggests that the multitude of mycorrhizal interactions in Sebacinales may have arisen from an ancestral endophytic habitat by specialization. Considering their proven beneficial influence on plant growth and their ubiquity, endophytic P. indica may have been a previously unrecognized universal hidden force in plant ecosystems. Root colonization by P. indica results in an increase in plant growth, early flowering, higher seed yield, alteration in the secondary metabolites, and adaptation to abiotic and biotic stresses. The colonization of roots begins with a biotrophic growth phase, in which living cells are colonized, and continues with a cell death-dependent phase, in which root cells are actively killed by the fungus. The complexity of sebacinalean symbiosis is further enhanced by the presence of endocellular bacteria which may represent significant determinants for a successful outcome of the symbioses. P. indica is shown to have enormous bioprotective potential against plant pathogens and insect pests of agricultural and horticultural crops. Recently, decoding of P. indica’s genome has revealed its potential for application as a plant growth-promoting mycorrhizal fungus for realizing the targeted improvement in the production of crop plants.

Soybean: Introduction, Improvement, and Utilization in India—Problems and Prospects

Abstract: The start of commercial exploitation of soybean in India is nearly four decades old. In this period, the crop has shown unparallel growth in area and production. Soybean has established itself as a major rainy season crop in the rainfed agro-ecosystem of central and peninsular India. Introduction of soybean has resulted in an enhancement in the cropping intensity and resultant increase in the profitability per unit land area. In India, soybean will continue to remain a major rainfed oilseed crop. A number of varieties that have been bred have resulted in this unprecedented growth. The simulation studies and on-farm demonstrations indicate that with current varieties, the rainfed potential of soybean in India is about 2.1 t/ha against the national average productivity of just 1.2 t/ha. Hence, large yield gaps exist between the potential and the actual yields harvested by the farmers. Narrowing of this yield gap may lead to doubling of soybean production. National Agricultural Research System has so far been successful in meeting the research demands of agrarian and industrial community. Further improvements in the yield of soybean grain and quality of soybean oil are possible by use of new research methodologies and by exploitation of recent advances in biology.