Arid region in characterized by sparse and highly variable rainfall, extreme variation of diurnal and annual temperature and high evaporation. Shortage of rainfall results partially or completely failure of the crop production, thereby the region experience frequently drought, which directly affects the livelihood of the habitants of the region. Therefore, crop production alone is inadequate to sustain the livelihood in the region. Integration of arable crop production with perennial components like fruit cropscan play pivotal role not only to provide assured production and income during adverse condition, but also it largely attributes in the improvement of soil fertility, microclimate modernization and moisture availability to the inter spaced grown crops. Keeping this in view a study was under taken to find out the effect of legume crop based Agri-horti system on the productivity and profitability in the condition of arid region.
The field study was carried out during 2011 to 2013 at CAZRI, Krishi Vigyan Kendra farm, Jodhpur. Thee legume crops(green gram, mothbean and clusterbean) were tested as sole crop as well as inter crops with ten years old orchard of pomegranate and aonla. All the recommended package and practices were followed to grow all legume crops and fruit crops.
There was no significant effect on the yield attributing parameters of the crops grown either as sole or inter crop. However, the seed yield obtained in inter cropping system was lower than that of sole cropping. The highest clusterbean equivalent seed yield (4550 Kg/ha) was recorded with the inter cropping of green gram + pomegranate, which was 71.56% higher over sole green gram. Inter cropping of moth bean with pomegranate was observed next best combination for increasing clusterbean equivalent seed yield. Intercropping of green gram + pomegranate also fetched highest net returns (Rs 2,22, 950) and benefit cost ratio (4.86). This was because of higher production of seed yield of green gram and higher market value of pomegranate fruit. Mothbean + pomegranate was the next best combination for realizing higher monetary benefit and benefit cost ratio. Among the intercropping combinations mothbean + aonla provided lowest net return (Rs. 89,305) and benefit cost ratio (1.73), while among the sole crops,mothbean resulted in lowest net returns(Rs. 20750 / ha) and benefit cost ratio (0.99).

Root knot nematode- Meloidogyne javanica egg masses and larvae were separately exposed to different concentrations of leaf extract of Lantana camara and Calotropis procera in the laboratory. Leaf extract was prepared by soaking 50 g of the powder in 200 ml distilled water for 24 hrs. The extract was filtered with Whatman no. 42 filter paper. The crude extract obtained was assumed to be 100 % concentration. Serial dilution of the crude extract was done with 10, 20 and 30 ml distilled water. 100 nematode eggs and larvae contained in petri dish were exposed to these concentrations. Egg hatch inhibition and larval mortality were observed over a period of 96 hrs. Distilled water served as the control. Also a study of the various extracts was carried out in the screen house potted experiment. Perforated pots were filled with 4 kg sterilised sandy loam soil. Tomato seedling EX- Garkida was transplanted in each pot and inoculated with 1000 second stage juveniles of M. javanica a week later. 10, 20 and 30 ml of the crude extracts was applied weekly to each pot. Distilled water served as the control. Phytochemical analysis of each botanical was studied. The results of the study showed that the extracts inhibited egg hatch and caused juvenile mortality in the laboratory. Field and screen house trials are recommended to determine the best level of control.
Keywords: Meloidogyne javanica, botanicals, extract, Phytochemical, Screen house.

Water shortage is the most important constraint in agricultural production especially in arid and semi-arid areas of the world. Irrigation is necessary to ensure stable yields of high quality. Meanwhile, climate change and expanding land use in horticulture have increased the pressure on water resources. For sustainable water use in horticulture, crop-septic and water-saving irrigation techniques that do not negatively affect crop productivity need to be adopted. Successful attempts have been documented regarding the use of deficit irrigation methods, namely regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) and partial root zone drying (PRD) to improve water use efficiency (WUE) in various fruit crop species. The PRD irrigation is a novel improvement of deficit irrigation in which half of the root zone is irrigated alternatively in scheduled irrigation events. In the last decade, scientists across the world, especially from arid to semi-arid countries, have extensively evaluated this irrigation as a water-saving irrigation strategy on agricultural and horticultural plants. Overall, under limited water resources where water is precious, PRD is a successfully alternative irrigation compared to full irrigation (FI) that can save irrigation water up to approximately 50% without significant yield loss; it may also improve the yield quality.
Keywords: Regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) and Partial root zone drying (PRD).

Sesame (Sesame indicum L.) is one of the most ancient oil seed crops cultivated in tropical and subtropical countries. Irrespective of the agro climatic conditions, sesame is infected by various pathogenic fungi. Among the fungal diseases, charcoal rot of sesame caused by Macrophomina phaseolina (Tasi) Goid is the most devastating, causing up to 55% or more disease incidence in field resulting in heavy yield losses. The pathogens survive as Sclerotia in the soil and in host tissue for varying periods. The pathogen attacks plant at all growth stages and causes pre emergence rotting in seeds, soft rot in emerging seedlings and charcoal rot in mature plants. Due to soil borne nature, practically no effective field control and no resistance variety is available so far. Thus, management of charcoal rot by fungicides is expensive and not eco-friendly. Biological control of plant disease is cost effective and environmentally safe. A field experiment was conducted on sesame during Kharif 2013 to find out the effect of Trichoderma viridae on incidence of charcoal rot disease in sesame. On the basis of the observation recorded viz., no of capsule/plant, yield/plot/ha and 1000 seed weight it was concluded that the, seed treatment with Trichoderma viridae (5g/kg seed) and before sowing mix in soil (2.5 kg/ha) were found effective and economical for the management this disease.

High soil salinity severely affects agricultural productivity. It has been estimated that 20 % of cultivated land worldwide is impaired by salinity. In India about 6.73 million hectare land area is salt affected out of which 3.77 and 2.96 million hectare are afflicted by sodicity and salinity. The large number of genes implicated in salinity tolerance may not be surprising, because many of the traits underlying adaptation to abiotic stress are quantitative and controlled by perhaps hundreds of genes and dozens of genetic pathways. While several studies have investigated the molecular basis of salinity tolerance in sugarcane little attention has been paid to measuring naturally occurring quantitative variation in salinity tolerance and other abiotic stresses in sugarcane. Cultivated sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrid) is a complex poly-aneuploid hybrid with a long breeding cycle. Association mapping followed by marker aided selection (MAS) is an innovative and efficient technique which can help in the fine tuning and speeding up the breeding and selection process for the development of superior sugarcane varieties. Association mapping is a method for detecting associated markers on the basis of linkage disequilibrium. In the present study developed EST-SSRs and genomic SSRs were used for deciphering their linkage disequilibrium based association with salinity resistance. Salinity is one of the most important abiotic stress of sugarcane in India and several other south Asian countries. Association panel was analyzed for population structure using model-based approach, seven genetically distinct groups or admixtures thereof were observed. Further, marker-trait association by mixed linear model (MLM) using TASSEL identified four putative SSR markers associated with red rot resistance in sugarcane. These associated markers after validation can be used in MAS for developing red rot resistant sugarcane varieties.

Kamal Sharma has completed his PhD from the Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Trivandrum, India. At present he is doing his postdoctoral at Genetics and Breeding Department, Czech University of Life Science, Prague. He is studying sequential polymorphisms of self-incompatibility locus (S-locus) in cultivated and wild cherries (Prunusavium L.). He has published 24 research papers and abstracts at different conferences.

Sweet cherry, Prunusavium L., is one of the most important fruit species in Czech Republic mainly grown for fresh consumption and processing. Sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) is used frequently for studying genetic diversity withinplant species and has several advantages such as simple, reproducible and easy to obtaining of fragments for sequencing. Our study was mainly focused on standardization ofcherry DNA extraction method,obtaining an efficient protocol of SRAP-PCR analysisand selectionof the best primer combinations.To determine the genetic diversity, DNA was isolated from buds and leaves and optimization of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay of SRAP were investigated. Due to presence of high amount of polysaccharide we optimized miniprep version of the CTAB DNA extraction method. We optimized SRAP-PCR condition and screened 30 primer combinations with the goal to obtain sufficient polymorphism and good reproducibility in all tested samples. We presume next utilization of SRAP in the processes of sweet cherry varieties breeding and evaluation of variability in Czech natural populations of wild cherries.
Keywords: Prunusavium, DNA, SRAP-PCR.

Nine varieties of vegetable Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) were evaluated for correlation study. Pod yield per plant was found significantly and positively correlated with Plant height, Number of primary branches, number of leaves, crop duration, pod length, pod girth, mean pod weight, pods per plant, seeds per pod and test weight and negatively correlated with days to first picking at both phenotypic and genotypic level.
Keywords: Cowpea, genotypic correlation, pod yield.

Mainak Bhattacharyya has completed his MSc in Agricultural Entomology at the age of 26 years from Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia, West Bengal and now he is working as a Full time Teacher in a School of West Bengal. He has a number of publications published in reputed journals and a leading Agricultural magazine of India.

Cultivated and wild plants are recognised to be inhabited by endophytes which produces metabolites like guanidine, pyrrolizidine alkaloids, indole derivatives, sesquiterpenes, isocoumarine derivatives. These endophytes provide protection and relief to the crop plants against the pests and diseases invasion. High frequency infection by fungal specimens is observed in ryegrass, correlated with the decrease in the attack of frequency of the Argentine stem weevil. Insect toxins, isolated from an unidentified endophytic fungus from wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) shows toxicity to both adult and larvae of Spruce budworm. Naphthalene which is widely used insect repellent is obtained from endophytic fungus Muscodor vitigenus. While, Nodulisporic acid, a novel indolediterpenes exhibit potent insecticidal properties against the larvae of blow fly. Moreover entomo pathogens like Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae are the natural range of enemies for insects and arachnids. These grow endophytically within tissues of maize and rhizosphere of Picea abies and cabbage plant roots respectively. Besides fungus Verticillium lecanii is found out to be antagonistic to insects, fungi and nematodes. However some bio controlling airborne fungal spores like Lecanicillium lecanii usually used in glasshouse to control aphids, which are originally their vectors. Bioactive fungal endophytes Hirsutella thompsonii is an asexually reproducing fungi which can be actively used to control insects, mites and nematodes.
Keywords: Endophytic fungus, Blow fly, Naphthalene, Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisoplae, vector.

Nairita Bhattacharyya is doing her MSc in Botanical Science from The University of Burdwan, Burdwan, West Bengal. She has done her BSc in Botanical Science and she is working with the special course of Mycopathology.

Endophytic fungus are used for therapeutic purpose by synthesizing useful drugs. One such drug is Taxol which is an important anticancer drug used successfully in the medical field. It can destroy the tumour cells by assembly of the microtubules and thus inhibiting their polymerisation. Taxol is a highly functionalised diterpenoid metabolite of a fungal endophyte under the generic name Paclitaxel which is used to treat a number of human tissue proliferation diseases. The main Paclitaxel producing endophytic fungus Taxomyces andreanae was discovered from Pacific yew tree Taxus brevicola. Taxol has been well described, established and approved by Food and Drug Administration; as a very important chemotherapeutic agents against human tumours. Taxol producing microorganism may be the alternative source of producing Taxol by fermentation process. Yet the problem of using fungi fermentation to produce Taxol is its very poor yield and instability in production. However the natural plant resource for Taxol is being threatened day by day due to continuous destruction of Taxus bark for Taxol.
Keywords: Endophytic fungus, Taxol, diterpenoids, Paclitaxel.

The tobacco cutworm, Spodoptera litura (Fab.), is one of the most destructive pests of vegetables and field crops that may cause 26-100% yield loss depending upon severity of the attack. This pest has wide host range with more than 120 host plants. Resistance to insecticides is a major problem associated with the chemical control of the insect pests. The problem of development of resistance to insecticides is more acute in this pest because of its polyphagous nature and rapid multiplication. High resistance in this pest to various insecticides groups. Some new insecticides are now used for successful control of this pest. Keeping this view the abstract shows that all the evaluated insecticides proved that toxic for S.litura under laboratory conditions, but chloropyrifos, emamectine benzoate, spinosad, novaluron and indoxacarb proved highly toxic as the exposure time was extended. After 2 days 100% mortality was observed in emamectine benzoate at recommended dosage (0.20g/l) and Chloropyrifos (2.50ml/l), spinosad (0.12ml/l), novaluron (0.75ml/l), indoxacarb and flubendiamide (0.07ml/l) also proved to be the effective insecticides after emamectine benzoate and some insecticides shows resistance like cypermethrin (0.50ml/l), Quinalphos (2.00ml/l) and Thiodicarb (0.12ml/l) as compared to the control. The overall results of this study suggest emamectine benzoate as the best insecticide along with the other new chemistry insecticides long- lasting control tactic for farming community against S.litura. Indoxacarb, novaluron, spinosad, chloropyrifos and flubendiamide proved to be the effective insecticides after emamectine benzoate, respectively.

Amit Kumar Patel has completed his MSc (Agronomy) degree at the age of 23 years in 2012-2013 from Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur, Chhattisgarh. He has published more than 5 papers in reputed journals and some technical articles.

Biopesticides are certain types of pesticides that are derived from natural materials like plants (Botanical origin), bacteria, fungi and virus (Microbial origin) and certain minerals when used as a component of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs these biopesticides can greatly decrease the use of conventional pesticides, while crop yields remain high. The BioPesticides control pests / diseases either selectively or with broad spectrum approach. Biopesticides are usually inherently less toxic than conventional pesticides. They are generally target specific and affect only the target pest and closely related organisms vis-à-vis broad spectrum, conventional pesticides that may also affect organisms such as birds, insects and mammals. Biopesticides often are effective in very small quantities and decompose quickly resulting in lower exposures, no residues and environment friendly. Reduce use of chemicals, Extend useful life of chemicals, Resistance management, Safer to use for plants and animals.
Agriculture is the back-bone of Indian economy. Upto 70% of the population is engaged in farm sector directly or indirectly. Growing Indian population needs sufficient farm produce to feed millions. Farming and the agriculture crops are susceptible to attacks by various kinds of pests in form of insects, fungus, bacteria or virus or weeds and control of these has become necessary to reduce losses to a minimum sustain the environment too. After twenty years it was found that the level of synthetic pesticides were building and were not biodegradable and their harmful effects started coming out. So we have to protect our environment from the harmful chemicals.
Keywords: biopesticides, environmental pollution, sustainable agriculture.

Chilli (Capsicum annum L.) is one of the major remunerative cash crops which are grown throughout the year in tropic and warm temperate regions of the world, more than 25-30 species of pests have been reported to inflict damage to chilli in India. Chilli mainly suffers from malady called ‘murda’ which is characterized by upward and downward curling of leaves. Which is caused by sucking pest of chilli such as mite (Polyphagotarsonemus latus), thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis). To overcome from this pest, a field experiment was conducted to develop the effective biocontrol agent against sucking pests of chilli. The experiment was laid out with 9 treatments and 3 replications, the Fusarium isolate which was already proved their best in in vitro condition was selected and used in the field experiment among all the treatments oil-emulsion formulations of Fusarium isolate with monocrotophos 0.05 % showed effective control against mites and mean number of active stages of P. latus/cm2 was 0.0 and mean number of active stages of Scirtothrips drosalis / 5 leaves was 0.8. from this field evaluation, it was finally concluded that isolate was promising.

Salinity is one of the major environmental factors limiting crop productivity, including rice. Salt accumulation in the soil has deleterious effects thus; Use of salt tolerant variety considered the most economical and most effective way of increasing crop production on saline soils. Therefore, development of salt tolerant varieties considered as one of the strategies to increase rice production in saline prone coastal areas. Salt tolerance in Ten rice genotypes were studied under salinized (EC=8.5 dSm-1) soil conditions after 90 days of transplanting. The aim of the present investigation is to provide information on the effect of salinity on yield and yield components of rice genotypes to elucidate the effect of salinity on these factors. The harmful effects induced by salinity were computed in percent reduction over control (% ROC). The outcome showed that the yield per plant (which ranged from 26.955 to 50.59 %), number of primary braches per panicle, and number of productive tillers, panicle length, and fertility percentage and of all the genotypes were affected by salinity. However the results also showed that, genotypes Pokkali Nonabokra CSR 30 & CSR 13 showed better salinity tolerance than others.
Keywords: Rice, germplasm, salinity, yield, abiotic stress.

Bibhu Santosh Behera is presently acting as PhD Research Scholar, Department of Extension Education, Odisha University of Agriculture & Technology, Bhubaneswar of State Odisha in India. Behera worked in various capacities in the Agriculture and Development Sector handled various Projects under Govt. of Odisha & Leading Non-profit Organization. Being a Member (Associate Fellow) of Indian Social Science Academy (ISSA), he has attended many seminars/symposiums of National level being organized by ICAR, UGC, OUAT & others line Dept. He has published abstracts/articles at national level seminars & journals in India. His future plan is to complete Doctorate & Post doctoral Fellow Programme from International /National Institution in India & Abroad. Being an optimistic & social activist to make reformation in Agriculture, rural And Developmental sector, he is nominated for getting PhD (Honoris Causa) in Social Work from LADC Institute, USA. Currently he is nominated for 11th “Asia Pacific Round table conference-2014, Bangkok”.

Between now and 2050, the world’s population will increase by one-third. Most of these additional 2 billion People will live in developing countries. At the same time, more people will be living in cities. If current income and consumption growth trends continue, FAO estimates that agricultural production will have to increase by 60 percent by 2050 to satisfy the expected demands for food and feed. Agriculture must therefore transform itself if it is to feed a growing global population and provide the basis for economic growth and poverty reduction. Climate change will make this task more difficult under a business-as-usual scenario, due to adverse impacts on agriculture, requiring spiraling adaptation and related costs. To achieve food security and agricultural development goals, adaptation to climate change and lower emission intensities per output will be necessary. This transformation must be accomplished without depletion of the natural resource base. Climate change is already having an impact on agriculture and food security as a result of increased prevalence of extreme events and increased unpredictability of weather patterns. This can lead to reductions in production and lower incomes in vulnerable areas. These changes can also affect global food prices. Developing countries and smallholder farmers and pastoralists in particular are being especially hard hit by these changes. Many of these small-scale producers are already coping with a degraded natural resource base. They often lack knowledge about potential options for adapting their production systems and have limited assets and risk-taking capacity to access and use technologies and financial services. Enhancing food security while contributing to mitigate climate change and preserving the natural resource base and vital ecosystem services requires the transition to agricultural production systems that are more productive, use inputs more efficiently, have less variability and greater stability in their outputs, and are more resilient to risks, shocks and long-term climate variability. More productive and more resilient agriculture requires a major shift in the way land, water, soil nutrients and genetic resources are managed to ensure that these resources are used more efficiently. Making this shift requires considerable changes in national and local governance, legislation, policies and financial mechanisms. This transformation will also involve improving producers’ access to markets. By reducing greenhouse gas emissions per unit of land and/or agricultural product and increasing carbon sinks, these changes will contribute significantly to the mitigation of climate change. The research and study will be conducted in global basis, where there may be possibility of Climate Relicense and Impact of Extension Education play major role for development of Biodynamic Livelihood for Holistic and Sustainable Development. The Sample size taken From Each country and continent was 30 and total sample size would be 600.This will be done by Ex-post Facto design via Randomized block Analysis. The Empirical models, conceptual frame work, concept road map and policy will be formulated for achieving MDG, SDG and Vision 2050 in the final part of this Study. Documentation and Data interpretation would be done accordingly for Future Research and Technological Advancement Refinement (TAR).
Keywords: Biodynamic Livelihood, Climate Smart Extension Education, Climate Smart Agriculture, Climate Resilescence, MDG, SDG, TAR, FAO, Holistic Development.

Whey is a by-product during preparation of paneer and cheese. Almost all the quantity of whey is being wasted creating pollution to the water sources. The mango flavoured sweetened whey drink was prepared by using whey, sugar, and mango pulp. The treatments were divided into control, T1 using 4 per cent, T2 using 5 per cent and T3 using 6 per cent mango pulp. The total solids content and the total sugar content of the control and treatments showed no significant difference. Sensory analysis of the treatments showed a significant difference (P>0.01) among the treatments for colour, taste, flavour, texture and overall acceptability. Mango pulp added treatments scored a high by the sensory panel. Mango flavoured sweetened whey drink can be prepared by using 4, 5 and 6 per cent of mango pulp with highest consumer acceptability as compared to the control. Whey contains about half of the milk solids and addition of mango pulp in the preparation of whey drink increased the deliciousness and nutritional value.
Keywords: Mango pulp, channa whey, flavoured whey drink, sensory properties.

System of Rice Intensification is a set of practice which includes early transplanting, wider spacing, single seedling hill-1 and no standing water. This system of cultivation protects soil, saves water as well as environment, reduces disease and pest incidence ultimately increases the production and productivity for providing food to the growing population. Pests have been associated with crops since times immemorial. It is well known that SRI has low insect pest and disease incidence resulting in low chemical pesticide application. Integrated pest and disease management in SRI method is practiced to avoid higher input cost, reduces environmental pollution and protects crop health. Synthetic pesticides are used only when the incidence of pest or disease is very severe. In SRI; organic pesticides, pest resistant varieties, transplanting at appropriate stage after removal of terminal part of seedlings to reduce the chances of carrying and migration of immature stages of insects, adoption of mechanical practices like rope running to pests etc are used as preventive measures, before going to chemical interventions. However under changing environmental condition and indiscriminate chemical application to the rice crop in general, the pests have also developed resistance. Therefore, in order to avoid the disease pest attacks and ensure a healthy crop, it is need to be acquainted with the rice pest, damage symptom caused by them and management options. The farmers are advised to practice the non-chemical managements unless and until the damage does not crossed the threshold limit. These practices help in increasing yield, improve grain and crop quality, maintain seed viability, decrease cost of pest and disease management, and reduce the negative impact of pest management on the environment and health by reducing reliance on pesticides.
Keywords: SRI, crop health, crop yield, crop quality, integrated disease and pest management, input cost.

Darshan Panda is a PhD Student at Department of Biotechnology, Ravenshaw University, Cuttack, Odisha. He is working on the roles performed by Phytochrome A in controlling rice development and productivity.

Phytochromes are photoreceptors that sense red and far-red light to regulate a range of developmental processes throughout the life cycle of plants. In rice three species of Phytochromes(PHY), namely PHYA , PHYB and PHYC ,are present. It has been reported that individual phytochromes perform both unique and overlapping roles in rice photomorphogenesis by characterization of all rice phytochrome mutants including single mutants, all combinations of double mutants as well as triple mutants. Significant functions performed by Phytochromes in rice are regulation of seedling de-etiolation, regulation of angle between leaf blade and sheath, regulation of root gravitrophic response, inhibition of seminal root elongation, suppression of internode elongation, regulation of stomatal number and regulation of fertility. Phytochromes are also involved in the regulation of genes encoding the smaller subunit of ribulose-1,5 bisphosphate carboxylase and chlorophyll a/b binding (CAB) protein of the light harvesting chlorophyll-protein complex. Rice grown in Kharif season (June to December) received reduced light due to overcast of sky. Studies related to phytochrome shall be helpful for improvement of rice breeding program specially grown in the monsoon season and low light conditions.

A field experiment was conducted during Kharif 2012 at Zonal Agricultural Research Station, VC Farm, Mandya in maize and field bean intercropping system with different row proportion and nutrient management practices. The results revealed that, application on nutrients based on SSNM produced significantly higher growth, yield components and kernel yield (82.96 q ha-1) of maize as compared to LCC (75.23 q ha-1) and RDF (71.23 q ha-1). Among the row ratios, significantly superior growth, yield components and kernel yield (78.09 q ha-1) of maize were recorded in sole maize followed by maize + field bean in 4:1 row proportion (77.68 q ha-1). Among the interaction, sole maize with SSNM recorded significantly superior growth, yield components and kernel yield (84.33 q ha-1) and it was on par with maize + field bean in 4:1 row proportion with SSNM (84.13 q ha-1). The net returns (Rs. 133606 ha-1), was superior in maize + field bean in 4:1 row proportion with SSNM while, the B:C ratio (5.26) in 4:1 proportion with LCC. Higher MEY was recorded in maize + field bean in 4:1 row proportion with SSNM (8972.6 kg ha-1). Further, Maize + field bean in 4:1 row proportion with SSNM accounted for maximum LER (1.27), ATER (1.16), and minimum aggressivity (0.024).
Keywords: Maize, field bean, intercropping, productivity, SSNM, LCC, LER, ATER, MEY.

In-silico structural identification is a new breakthrough through which we can unearth the structural and functional parameters of the plant protein. Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L., 2n=2x=16) is an important leguminous spices and well known aromatic and medicinal herb. Fenugreek is used as both seed and leaf. Fenugreek seed contains carbohydrate (48%), protein (25.5%), mucilaginous matter (20%), fat (7.9%), and saponin (4.8%). In the present study, FENUGREEK (Trigonella foenum-graecum) protein models were designed and generated using in-silico tools. The identified protein of fenugreek showed homology with the protein domain of humans and E-coli illustrating that the database available on Apiaceae family is sparsely populated with sequences. The estimated molecular weight of identified fenugreek AM-1 protein was 11372.8 and was predicted as a basic protein with computed pI 10.38. Aliphatic index determined for the protein sequence was 68.82 portraying it to be thermally stable and globular. We have first time identified this channel in fenugreek transmembrane protein, through which a ligand (an ion or a small molecule) might pass. The results revealed that random coil (69.61%) dominated among secondary structure elements and alpha helices (4.90%) and extended strand (25.49%) were also present. Further validation can be performed using wet lab experiments. But, the present finding may be very much valuable in addition to the proteomic information available on fenugreek and it can be used in ensuing breeding programs for development of improved varieties.
Keywords: Fenugreek, Apiaceae, Aliphatic index, random coil and alpha helices.

Boron is an essential micronutrient required for normal growth of plants as known since centuries. There is a narrow margin between the deficiency and toxicity of boron. Similar to boron deficiency, boron toxicity also has very critical effect on the morphology, physiology and metabolism of rice plant. In the present study we have evaluated the morphological, biochemical and proteomic alterations occured in rice plants which were treated with different concentration of boron, starting from moderate (0.5mM) to high (1.5mM). As a result we found that on increasing the concentration of boron, up to 0.5mM it promotes the growth rate, whereas on increasing the concentration to 1.5mM, it adversely affects the metabolome of rice plants. Loss of chlorophyll content, relative water content and altered behavior of antioxidative enzymes shows how adversely it affects the physiology of plants. Whereas increase in the production of several reactive oxygen species like peroxide radicals and superoxide anions indicates its effect on the biochemistry of plants. Proteins isolation was done from the whole leaf tissue crude extract and the alteration was studied by two dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by MALDI-MS. Number proteins were found to be up-regulated ,down-regulated and few new proteins were also expressed.

Dairy Enterprise, next to agriculture, not only provides continuous income and improves dietary standards of family, but also supplements the income and reduces unemployment to a large number of the rural people. This study was conducted to study the various constraints faced by these dairy farmers while managing their enterprise. The study was conducted in Latur district of Maharashtra state. Two tahsils and four villages from each tahsil were selected randomly. Fifteen dairy farmers from eight villages were selected to comprise a sample of 120 respondents. The multistage random sampling was used to select district, tahsil, village and dairy farmers. The respondents were personally interviewed and the data collected were processed and statistically analyzed by using statistical techniques like frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, coefficient of correlation and multiple regression. During research it was found that, lack of storage facilities for milk, high cost of concentrates and distant location of Artificial Insemination Centers are three major constraints to the dairy farmers in management of their dairy enterprise.

D Durgadevi is doing II year PhD (Plant Pathology)in Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, doing research on Molecular profiling of defense related proteins in PGPR and Endophytic bacteria treated rice plants against Rhizoctonia solani. She got Ms. RohnePaulene Agrochemicals award for securing highest credit point in the Major subject of Plant Pathology during her PG studies. She has also report a Newdisease, peduncle blight incited by Lasidiplodia theobromae and published in New disease reports international (BSPP) journal. She has also submitted more than 10 nucleotide sequences in NCBI database. She has also participated in national and international symposiums and presented her findings.

Peduncle blight, hitherto an unknown disease was found to be a major limiting factor to the cultivation of tuberose. Though Lasiodiplodia theobromae is a ubiquitous pathogen, its occurrence on tuberose is a new record in India. An experiment was conducted on tuberose plants to study the induction of various defense enzymes and phenols by the biocontrol agents viz., Pseudomonas fluorescens, Trichoderma viride and Bacillus subtilis under glasshouse condition. As a response of ISR, the activities of defense related enzymes viz., phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), peroxidase (PO) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) were enhanced and the accumulation of phenols was also noticed in the tuberose upon challenge inoculation with Lasiodiplodia theobromae, the causal agent for peduncle blight in tuberose. The accumulation of phenol from the third day increased and attained a peak on six DAI. Treatment with consortial formulation of Trichoderma viridae (Tv1) + Bacillus subtilis (Bs10) challenged with the pathogen recorded maximum total phenol content on 6 DAI (428 µg/ g tissue). Native PAGE results showed the presence of the two isoforms of peroxidase (PO 1 and PO2) in plants treated with Pf1 + Bs10 upon challenge inoculation with the pathogen and in case of poly phenol oxidase the presence of two isoforms (PPO 1 and PPO2) in treated plants upon challenge inoculation with biocontrol agents except Bs10 which showed PPO2 only.

The field experiment was conducted during kharif 2012 at experimental farm, Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani sowing was done by dibbling method on 09th July 2012. From the result of experiment, it can be concluded that, the spacing of 45 cm and 60 cm (row to row) were found highly productive and profitable as compared to 75 cm (row to row) and among different seed rates of soybean the seed rate of 75 kg ha-1and 65 kg ha-1 were found highly productive and profitable as compared to 55 kg ha-1.
Keywords: soybean, yield, spacing, seed rate, economics.

Lad Anuradha Subhashrao has completed her MSc (Agri.) at the age of 24 years from Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani, Maharashtra. She is PhD scholar of Department of Extension Education, VNMKV, Parbhani. She has published 11 research articles and 2 popular articles. She also awarded with ASPEE foundation Junior and Senior research fellowship at MSc and PhD level. She has presented papers in 6 national conferences and 2 international conferences.

The present age has been rightly termed as an “Information Age” people want adequate and authentic information as early as possible. Farmers as human beings are also anxious and become more desirous with the advancement in science and technology to know what is happening in the field of agriculture. In India, it is difficult to contact each and every farmer in limited time in an effective manner to transfer agricultural technology. The use of mass media is certainly most effective avenue to convey information to the people. Mass media play a significant role, in brining awareness to people and motivating them to be active part in the nation building endeavour.
The present investigation was conducted in Parbhani, Hingoli and Nanded districts in Marathwada region of Maharashtra State. A structured interview schedule was used to collect data from 150 respondents who were viewing agricultural programmes on TV, as well as listening agricultural programmes on radio and also reading agricultural articles in the newspaper. The qualitative data were quantified using suitable statistical tools. The objective of constraints faced by the farm women in the use of mass media was studied by frequency and percentage method. Majority of respondents expressed the constraint regarding viewing of farm telecast like, lack of leisure time (88.67 per cent). Regarding the constraints faced in listening farm broadcast, majority of respondents reported the constraints like, lack of leisure time (89.00 per cent) and use of technical words (56.67 per cent). Respondents also expressed the constraints regarding the reading of newspaper like, difficult words (93.33 per cent) and newspaper reading is not allowed to women (58.00 per cent).

Finger millet halwa is the traditional dish that is familiar in various cuisines but the research on the dish was started to fulfill three demands for three different needs to provide a food that creates satiety and health benefit for the lactose intolerant patients, persons who suffer from both type1 and type2 diabetics and the persons who suffer from iron deficiency. Finger millet (Eleusine coracana) with the protein content of 7.6g, carbohydrate 88g, calcium 370mg, vitamins A:0.48mg, thiamine(B1):0.33mg, riboflavin(B2):0.11mg, niacin(B3:1.2mg) and fiber 3g added with lactose free whole milk powder. Milk was obtained from germinated finger millet and then it was dried with the evaporation technique at temperature 60°C to 70°C and then pine jaggery is mixed as it helps to cool the body and reduce the iron deficiency along with the dried black berry seed powder to control diabetics and cardamom powder which improves digestion, beats bad breath, relieves acidity, helps alleviate respiratory illnesses, fights anaemia and regularizes our heart rate. All put together serves the purpose for all three and even shelf life was found to be more than 6 months under modified atmospheric packaging by freeze drying the product. The nutritional analysis of product gave a result of very high amount of dietary fiber(6%), low in saturated fat(1%), zero cholesterol(0%), and no sugar, high in calcium(2%), iron(5%), manganese(2%), zinc(2%), potassium(1%) and vitaminC,A(2%) was present. The total calories found in 6g servings was calculated as 18 calories and would assure to serve the purpose of the deficiencies and control the sugar level to a great extent if consumed at the serving size of 6gon the daily basis.

Padmanabh Dwivedi, Professor of Plant Physiology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221 005, India did his PG from Banaras Hindu University and PhD from University of Cambridge (UK). He specializes in stress physiology, plant tissue culture, plant pathogen interaction and biodiversity conservation. He is a Fellow of Cambridge Commonwealth Society (UK), Cambridge Philosophical Society (UK), Indian Botanical Society and Indian Society for Plant Physiology. He has around 150 publications to his credit, authored six books and one manual. He is a recipient of 13 National and 06 International awards/scholarships. He served as Vice President of ISPP.

Nitric oxide (NO) and H2O2 molecules are regulatory molecules in various developmental processes and stress responses. Tobacco (Kanchan variety) leaves infiltrated with bacterial pathogen dramatically potentiated NO and H2O2-mediated hypersensitive response, a localized programmed cell death (PCD) which confines the pathogen to the site of attempted infection. With this experimental model system, tobacco leaves were infiltrated with NO donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), and NO scavenger, cPTIO with bacterial suspension culture in hydroponically grown plants in two different nutrient media (nitrate and ammonium). NO emission and production of ROS molecules (H2O2, CAT, SOD) were detected through H2O2 staining during HR development. With NO donor, both NO emission and H2O2 production were enhanced demonstrating that both were cooperatively activated during the non phyto-pathogenic interaction. While decrease in NO emission and H2O2 production by cPTIO also provided evidence for role of NO in HR. Catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) both were enhanced during plant–pathogen interaction that involved ROS signal transduction. Our experiments suggested that NO enhanced the resistance against non phyto-pathogenic bacterial pathogen and this was furthermore activated in the nitrate, but lesser in ammonium growing tobacco plants. The role of nitrate and ammonium as nitrogenous source and how these are involved in NO and H2O2 signal transduction during plant pathogen interaction, is not much known. The results highlighting the role of these two nutrients in triggering NO mediated HR will be presented and discussed.
Keywords: cPTIO, Nitric oxide, ROS molecules, SNP, Tobacco, Xanthomonas oryzae.

Pawar Savita Gangadharrao has completed her MTech at the age of 24 years from Vasantrao Naik Marahwada Agricultural University. She served as Assistant Professor in College of Food Technology, Naigaon (Bz), Nanded (MS) during 2010 to 2012. She is now PhD scholar in the Department of Agricultural Process Engineering, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidhyapith, Akola.

India has produced 255.36 million tonnes of food grains during 2012-13. Post-harvest losses of food grains are about 12 to 16 million metric tons each year. Around Rs. 50,000 crores every year are lost due to improper storage of food grains. Insects are a major problem in stored-grain ecosystems some of these insect pests are carried from the fields into stores. Both internal feeders and external feeders are very destructive to grain. The only way to eliminate pests completely from a food grain without leaving pesticide residues is fumigation. Loss of fumigants, resistance to remaining fumigants and a trend by consumers to move away from residual chemicals, necessitates the development of mitigates related environmental and safety issue.
Using ozone gas as a fumigant has shown promise in controlling stored-grain insect pests. In addition to being toxic to insects, ozone gas is unstable and decays naturally into diatomic oxygen and must be continually replenished to maintain entomologically lethal concentrations in the grain mass. The effectiveness of ozone sterilization of empty storage and transportation containers used for food products and bulk grains depend on the ability to maintain high concentrations over a sufficiently long period of time.

Prasann Kumar is the PhD student in the Department of Plant Physiology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, doing his research work on heavy metals toxicity. He has completed International Agricultural Rural Development Programme from Cornell University, USA. Mr. Kumar is the recipient of TWAS-BIOVISION. NXT. 2014 (FRANCE) and YOUNG SCIENTIST AWARD 2014 (BIOVED RESEARCH SOCIETY, ALLAHABAD). He has qualified GATE, ICAR-NET, UGC-JRF-RGNFD, besides being a UGC-Research Fellowship of BHU. He already has 56 publications including research paper, review articles, book chapters, popular articles and books of International and National Repute.

The contamination of agricultural lands caused by heavy metals in and around peri-urban areas is a serious problem for today and for future concern. Most of the soil contaminants can be removed by many other physical methods but the heavy metal pollution of vast cultivated land areas are a serious threat to absorb the heavy metals of the soil, behaving as natural phytoremediates. Riccinus communis L. is a tropical plant that grows under various habitats and has multiple economic uses. It is a fast growing plant and adapts easily to various conditions, dominate quickly a community and produce monotypic stand. The present study was conducted to evaluate the scavenging efficiency of in-vivo gown Riccinus communis L. for the uptake of Cd, Pb, Cr and Ni. Excessive heavy metal accumulation can be toxic to most plants leading to reduction in seed germination, root elongation and biomass production; inhibition of chlorophyll biosynthesis as well as disturbance in cellular metabolism and chromosome distortion. For studying the heavy metals load of sewage sludge and their effect on crop quality in relation to non-applied sites, solid sludge and oil plant Riccinus communis L. was collected from seven STPs viz. Howrah, Garulia, Bhatpara, Nabadwip, Srirampur, Kona, Chandannager and from the Peri-urban areas viz. Nadia/Chakdaha/Ektapur(N/C/E), Nadia/Chakdaha/Pumlia, Nadia/Chakdaha/Sikarpur(N/C/S), Nadia/Chakdaha/Tatla (N/C/T). The results suggest that oil plant like Riccinus communis L. has more scavenging capacity for Pb and Cr and if this plant is cultivated in sites abundant with above heavy metals, this would scavenge the heavy metal toxicity from the soil.
Keywords: Accumulation, Extraction, Heavy metal, Metabolism, Phytoremediation, Srirampur.

R Gandhi Gracy has completed her MSc (Agri. Entomology) from TNAU, Coimbatore and at present doing PhD in Agricultural Entomology at UAS-GKVK, Bangalore. She has done 3 months training course on “Application of Bioinformatics in Entomological Research” at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. She is working as Research Scientist (Entomology) at Division of Molecular Entomology, NBAII, Bangalore.

Helicoverpa armigera(Hub.), is an serious lepidopteran pests contributing to the enormous amount of crop loss throughout the world. In India an estimated loss of 500 million USA $ , annually. The major reason for the loss is, this pest is highly resistance to insecticides. Failure of insecticides to control the pest, accounts to the huge investment on insecticides spray and also economic crop losses. The major mechanism for developing insecticide resistance is by means of metabolic, genetic and behavioral modification. But recent investigation showed that major contribution of insect’s symbiotic bacteria in the fitness attributes of their host insects. The present study on culturable bacteria and non-culturable bacteria from the larvae of resistance and susceptible populations of H. armigera differ from each other. The resistant population shows more diversity.

A field experiment was conducted during rabi seasons 2010 on clayey soil of Junagadh (Gujarat) to study the response of sweet corn to plant geometry (60 cm x 15 cm, 45 cm x 20 cm and 30 cm x 30 cm) and fertilizer (control, 90-45, 120-60 and 150-75 kg N-P2O5/ha). The results revealed that plant geometry of 45 cm x 20 cm enhanced growth and yield attributes and thereby green cob and fodder yield along with higher net returns and B:C ratio over 60 cm x 15 cm spacing. Application of 120-60 kg N-P2O5/ha improved growth and yield attributes and ultimately higher green cob and fodder yields with higher net returns and B:C ratio over control and 90-45 kg N-P2O5/ha. Therefore, spacing of 45 cm x 20 cm and fertilizer dose of 120-60 kg N-P2O5/ha could be adopted for higher yield and economical realization from rabi sweet corn under south Saurashtra agro-climatic conditions of Gujarat.
Keywords: Sweet corn, Zea mays L. var. saccharata Sturt, plant geometry, spacing, nitrogen, phosphorus, fertilizer.

Uptake of CO2 from atmosphere and utilization for production of photosynthates at mostly for production of biomass is key principle in CO2 sequestration by plants. The conversion of CO2 to plant carbon differs in plants species mainly due to its genetic nature, photosynthetic rate, energy conversion, age minorly its environment, edaphic factors. The CO2 sequestration rate with the tree differs in different plant parts (bole, stem, foliage) based on its activity. With dwindling forest area agroforesty become alternating source to compensate the forest losses, cultivable land to maintain carbon dioxide balance at optimum level in atmosphere. The present study is on some major six multipurpose trees which include legume and non-legume, timber species were selected within university campus. Among the tree species a comparison is done for estimation of total carbon biomass. Dalbergia sissoo indicated highest total biomass carbon (254.72 kg t-1) and Acacia nilotica (228.42 kg t-1), Albizia lebbeck (219.84 kg t-1) has the lowest values of biomass carbon. The CO2 sequestration rate of above ground parts highest value recorded in Dalbergia sissoo (916.98kg t-1) and lowest in Albizia lebbeck (791.43 kg t-1). Rate of CO2 sequestration is highest in 48% in Dalbergia sissoo and lowest in Albizia lebbeck 43%.
Keywords: agroforestry, biomass, carbon sequestration.

Grey mildew is one of the major foliar diseases causing 5-20% yield loss in cotton. The field experiment was conducted during kharif 2011 at Agricultural Research Station, Dharwad Farm under rainfed conditions to know the efficacy of fungicides and bioagents in control of the of grey mildew (Ramularia areola) of cotton. The lower grey mildew (15.56 PDI) and maximum yield of 1880.02 kg/ha was recorded in Difenoconazole treatment followed by Hexaconazole (16.86 PDI and yield of 1809.58 kg/ha) and Carbendazim (17.40 PDI and yield of 1758.11 kg/ha). Results showed that Difenoconazole, Hexaconazole and Carbendazim showed better control of grey mildew over the tridemifon and propineb. Based on B:C ratio, finally it was shown that Hexaconazole (0.1%) controlled the grey mildew disease effectively with maximum returns and better cost benefits.

The women productive role in agriculture production and trade has been widely ignored by development planner. Agricultural extension services still do not attach much importance to reaching women on the farm. Hence there is need to improve the farm women access to agricultural extension service.
The way that agricultural services are designed is one of the constraints affecting women farmers’ access to agricultural extension services. Hence there is hope to improve women farmers’ access to agricultural extension through group concept.
In many cultural setting group extension will significantly increases women farmers’ access because the group contexts calms the fears of male extension agent ,husbands and women about transgressing norms of approved social contact. Women dominated and managed agro industries notably in poultry and silk, based on individual efforts can be mobilized through group mechanism. Where group already exist, capacity building of extension group can be more successful than forming new group to which members are less likely to be committed.
The group concept can be deepened and expanded in number of ways, as agro industries development opens for developing functional linkages between women groups and centralized processing facilities. Also the local informal work exchange or saving group can be strengthened through short training session on different agricultural aspect. But care is needed to sort out situation where collective effort by group is effective and where individual activity structured or accessed through group membership is more effective and efficient.

Powdery mildew (PM) is considered as one of the major diseases of crops, and breeding for PM resistance is one of the important objectives to minimize yield losses. The powdery mildew locus O (Mlo) function is necessary for infection by the PM pathogen, and the recessive allele, mlo, confers broad range resistance to the PM disease. The Mlo gene family is one of the largest known seven transmembrane domain protein encoding gene families in plants. The Mlo proteins are known to be associated with the plasma membrane, and seem to be involved in a variety of developmental and stress response functions. The identification of members of Mlo gene family may facilitate their molecular characterization leading to their use in breeding programs.
Chickpea is one of the important grain legumes, and Medicago truncatula is a model legume species. In this study, we have computationally identified genome-wide 13 CaMlo (C. arietinum Mlo) and 14 MtMlo (M. truncatula Mlo) members. The CaMlo and MtMlo genes exhibit homology in terms of their gene structure, protein sequence, topology and distinguishingly, their chromosomal distribution patterns. Most of the transmembrane domains in the Mlo proteins showed similar invariant/conserved amino acid residues. The CaMlo and MtMlo proteins form four major clusters, with most of the orthologous members exhibiting one-to-one pair of closely related homologs. Further, the analysis of cis-acting elements in the promoter region of each CaMlo and PvMlo members using PlantCARE tool revealed the presence of pathogenesis as well as various hormonal and heat-stress response elements. The study also suggests that M. truncatula has undergone extensive chromosomal rearrangements following separation from its close relative C. arietinum. However, in both the species, Mlo gene family has been subjected to strong negative selection pressure, indicating their non-redundant and essential roles in plant function.
We have also attempted to investigate the comparative phylogeny of the Mlo gene families from C. arietinum, M. truncatula and Glycine max in order to propose a relative model for Mlo gene family lineage. The G. max genome encodes 39 GmMlo members, which is more than twice the number of members present in C. arietinum or M. truncatula. The Mlo proteins from these species also form four major clusters. As expected, the GmMlos are more divergent from the CaMlos and MtMlos, which are much closely related. In addition, one CaMlo, one MtMlo and two GmMlo members were clustered together. It appears that the number of Mlo gene family member in diploid dicot species ranges between 15 and 20.

The present investigation was conducted in the department of Fruit Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana during the year 2013 to study the “Effect of chemical treatments on storage life and fruit quality of plum (Prunus salicina lindl.) cv. Satluj Purple ”. Physiologically mature, uniform and healthy fruits of plum cv. Satluj Purple were harvested and treated for 5-minutes in aqueous solutions of gibberallic acid (20, 40 and 60 ppm), ascorbic acid (1, 2 and 3%) and salicylic acid (1,2 and 3 mmolL-1). Treated fruits were packed in corrugated fibre board (CFB) boxes with paper lining before storage at 0-1C and 90-95% RH. Fruit samples were analysed after 10, 20, 30 and 40 days of cold storage for various physic-chemical characteristics. Result revealed that physiological loss in weight (PLW), juice pH and spoilage of fruits increased with storage period, whereas fruit firmness, pulp:stone ratio and titratable acidity (TA) showed a declining trend with advancement of storage period. Other parameters like palatability rating, total soluble solids, TSS:acid ratio, total sugars, reducing sugars, non-reducing sugars and pectin methyl esterase activity (PME) showed an increase up to 20 days of storage, but after 30 days of storage a decline was observed in these parameters except T2,T3 and T9 treatments. In these three treatments, all those parameters increased up to 30 days of storage before showing a declining trend. Post-harvest treatments of salicylic acid and gibberallic acid proved to be effective in displaying ripening and extending the post-harvest life of plum fruits under cold storage conditions. Post-harvest treatment of salicylic acid @ 3mmolL-1 was recorded most effective in reducing physiological loss in weight (PLW), spoilage and maintaining fruits firmness, palatability, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), total sugars, reducing sugars, non-reducing sugars and pectin methyl esterase activity (PME) during the entire storage period as compared to other treatments.
Keywords: Plum, Satluj Purple, salicylic acid, ascorbic acid, gibberallic acid, pectin methyl esterase, fruit quality, storage life.

Safiuddin Ansari has completed his MPhil at the age of 24 years from Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh and likely to submit his PhD within very short period at the same University. He has published more than 8 papers in journals of national and international reputes. He attended several national and international conferences and presented research paper of his interest.

A field experiment was conducted during 2010-2012 at University Agricultural Research Station to determine the nutritional status of organic matter like groundnut cake and bio-organics such as Azotobacter chroococcum and Azospirillum brasilense singly and in various combinations along with different recommended doses of inorganic nitrogen on the growth, yield and productivity parameters of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.). The growth as well as yield attributes such as height of plants, fresh as well as dry weights, number of branches, per cent pollen fertility, green fruits/plant, green fruit yield/plant and chlorophyll content increased significantly in all the treatments as compared to the untreated control which seems to be due to their potentiality of nutrients. The highest improvement in growth and yield attributes was observed when these bio-organics A. chroococcum and A. brasilense were added concomitantly in various combinations. Azotobacter was found to be less effective than Azospirillum. The soil application of groundnut cake, bio-organics and 100% recommended dose of nitrogenous fertilizers results an improvement in plant nitrogen, phosphate and potash, and residual available soil nitrogen, phosphate and potash. All these nutrients greatly influenced the soil fertility and increased the metabolic activities of plants, and hence the biomass of plants. This type of study is to increase the growth, yield attributes and productivity to develop organically based farm produce. This sustains the biomass production without harming our natural bio-resources. Such organics and bio- organics as components of ecosystem can be used as economical and eco-friendly alternative to synthetic pesticides and hazardous chemical fertilizers.
Keywords: Groundnut cake, Azotobacter chroococcum, Azospirillum brasilense, inorganic fertilizers, Abelmoschus esculentus.

Samaptika Kar has completed her MSc (Horticulture) degree at the age of 23 years in 2012-2013 from Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur, Chhattisgarh. She has published more than 5 papers in reputed journals and some technical articles.

Garlic (Allium sativum) is a root herb plant belongs to the family of Alliaceae. It is best known as a flavoring for food. But over the years, scientific studies on the therapeutic benefits of garlic proved it has been used as a medicine to prevent or treat a wide range of diseases and conditions. The fresh clove or supplements made from the clove are used for medicine. It has been used by humans for thousands of years and was used in Ancient Egypt for both culinary purposes and its therapeutic benefits. . It provides a brief history of garlic being used in food and medicine and also highlights its potential therapeutic properties. Raw garlic contains allicin, a powerful antibiotic and antifungal compound. Garlic contains about 62.8% water, 6.3% protein. 0.1% fat, 29%CHO, vitamins and other essential oils. Garlic besides its culinary purpose used as a solution of digestive disorder, asthma, High cholesterol and high blood pressure, blood sugars,, skin disorder, cancer risk, common cold etc. Hippocrates (circa. 460-370 BC), known today as "the father of Western medicine", prescribed garlic for a wide range of conditions and illnesses. Hippocrates promoted the use of garlic for treating respiratory problems, parasites, poor digestion and fatigue. Keywords: Garlic, Nutritional, Therapeutic values.

Initial interest in the use of drip irrigation for row crops like wheat was motivated by its very low water productivity with traditional method of border irrigation. Maximizing water productivity is one of the most important police in developing countries like India. Therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate the wheat yield response to drip irrigation systems and the attributed water productivity and saving water indices under clay loam soil conditions of semi tropical regions. A field experiments was conducted at the field no. 50, demonstration unit of the College of Agricultural Engineering, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India, during the rabi seasons of 2011-12 to study the effect of drip irrigation on water productivity and yield attributes of wheat crop. Results revealed that water saving of about 28.42% higher in case of drip irrigation compared with the border irrigation system. Data also revealed that water productivity of drip irrigated wheat was 24.24% more than the border irrigated wheat. However there was a slightly decrease of 10.8% in the grain yield. This may be due to the wheat plants had exposed to higher water-stress during the growing stages. Finally, It can be concluded that good management of irrigation water under drip irrigation is promising for higher water productivity and can be adopt as alternative irrigation system for irrigating intensive field crop like wheat, but more studies have to be conducted under similar field conditions.

The cotton bollworm, Heilothis armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a major pest in tomato and one of the most polyphagous and cosmopolitant pest species. Nowadays, to reduce damage and control of pests use different sorts of chemical pesticides which is caused variety effects on human and ecosystem. On the other hand, using of microbial pesticides had no shows these effects. The bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is the most successful microbial pesticide to control insect larvae especially Lepidoptera order. The Bacterial spores, after entrance to digestive system cause holes in the intestinal wall of insect and finally kill them. The main purpose of this study was comparison between the efficacy of microbial toxin products BT (Biolep) with three common chemical pesticides (Avant, Sevin and Diazinon) against H. armigera. Initially, the larvae were collected from the nature. Then, they were reared in transparent plastic containers which were the cylindrical with 10 cm diameter and 12 cm height. Pesticides tested in a randomized complete block design with 5 treatments and 4 replications. Treatments were Biolep, Avant 15% SC, Sevin 75% WP, Diazinon 60% EC and the control sample (distilled water). In the experiments, the effects of pesticides on first and third instar larvae after 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours were recorded. Then All statistical analysis were performed using statistics software SPSS. All data were subjected to analysis of variance (One Way ANOVA), followed by comparison of means using Duncan’s test. Results of the analysis of variance showed that the mortality rate for first instar larvae in treatments Biolep, Avant, Sevin and diazinon after 96 hours were respectively, 87.50%, 92.50%, 92.50%, 95% and for third instar larvae were 85%, 92.5 %, 90% and 92.5% respectively.
Keywords: Efficiency, Heilothis armigera, Biolep, Avant, Sevin, Diazinon, Iran.

Genetic variability for twenty one morpho-physiological traits was studied in thirty rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes. The genotypes namely Boro 1, Kala Boro and Tepi Boro were found tolerant to low temperature at seedling stage. Highly significant variation was observed among the genotypes for all the characters. The mean yield performance of the genotypes revealed that Dinanath (36.07 g/plant) exhibited significant superiority over all other genotypes followed by Joymoti (29.97 g), IR-62266-42-6-2 (29.13 g) and Jhum Kamrung (28.53 g). The highest estimates of PCV and GCV were recorded for grain yield per plant (46.59%, 41.34%) followed by grains per panicle (44.59%, 40.72 %), booting to heading duration (40.97%, 35.81%), effective tillers (38.65%, 32.27%) and biological yield (34.96%, 28.14%). High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was observed for seedling emergence (97.29%, 71.22%), seedling establishment (96.38%, 67.65%), seedling vigour index (91.84%, 70.68%) and grains per panicle (83.40%, 76.61%) indicating the preponderance of additive gene action for these characters. The results of the present investigation provide evidence for the presence of exploitable level of genetic variability for important adaptive traits like seedling emergence, seedling vigour index, grains per panicle and grain yield in the boro season.

Shaon Kumar Das has completed his MSc from IARI, New Delhi, India in 2010 and got gold medal for his outstanding contribution in MSc in 2011. He joined Agricultural Research Service as Scientist in 2011. He has published more than 10 International papers in reputed journals and serving as an editorial board member of many international journals. Recently he is working as Co-PI in National Initiatives on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project under Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India.

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is a nutritious tuber that is rich in beta-carotene and anti oxidants that belongs to the family convolvulaceae. A field experiment was conducted in 2012 to evaluate the performance of three cultivars of sweet potato under acidic soil with different levels of dolomite. The results indicated that application of dolomite at 20% of its requirement was sufficient to enhance the productivity of sweet potato under acidic soil. Tuber yield across the three levels of dolomite (LR0, LR20 and LR40) was recorded to be highest for cv. Sree nandini which was about 10 and 15% higher than that of cv. Kiran and cv. Varsha, respectively. Average plant biomass yield increased by about 6% over no dolomite and enhancing the dolomite level beyond LR20 did not significantly increase biomass yield. Nitrogen uptake linearly increased over control, and was about 16 and 30% higher over control with LR20 and LR40, respectively. Uptake of P (three varieties) increased by 9 and 15% over control (LR0) with application of dolomite at LR20 and LR40, respectively. Average K uptake was about 15 and 22% higher over control (LR0) with LR20 and LR40, respectively. Likewise, cv. Varsha and cv. Sree nandini had about 9 and 17% higher K uptake as compared to cv. Kiran. Calcium uptake by sweet potato with LR20 was not significantly different from that LR0. Application of dolomite at LR40 resulted in a significantly lower calcium uptake than that with LR0 (control) and LR20.

The field investigation experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2012 on PG research farm, department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, VNMKV, Parbhani it was observed from present investigation that the plant spacing 30 x 10 cm with variety BDU-1 was found be significantly superior over rest of the plant spacings and varieties in respect to plant height (cm), number of leaves , leaf area (cm), mean dry matter production ,number of braches per plant, leaf area index, biological yield (kg/ha), seed yield (kg/ha).
Keywords: spacing, black gram, varieties, yield.

Among under-exploited legume vegetables, cluster bean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.], also known as guar, is one of most important and potential vegetables cum industrial crops grown for its tender vegetable pods and seed endospermic gum. The guar gum has many industrial uses such as petroleum industry, textile and jute industry, varnish industry and paper industry etc. In pharmaceutical industry, gum is used as insulinogenic, blood glucose, blood lipid and cholesterol lowering agent. It is also used for slow release of drug. In telephone and electricity industry, it is used as lubricant for installation of electric and telephone cables. Therefore, there is need for identification or development of cluster bean genotypes suited for gum production.
Seed endosperm gum content was evaluated in sixty seven cluster bean genotypes, in two replication, at College of Horticulture, Bagalkot, during summer season of 2011-2012.
Gum content in the endosperm of seed was estimated by adopting the methodology suggested by Association of Official Agricultural Chemist (Anon., 1958). Analysis of variance for this trait revealed highly significant (at P=0.01). The seed endosperm gum content in cluster bean varied from lowest 7.45 per cent in the genotype AVT-I GR-7 to highest about 28.88 per cent in the genotypes AVT-II GR-4 with an overall mean of 17.86 per cent. The trait had very high estimates of heritability (83.44%) and moderate genetic advance as per cent of mean (31.68%). This indicated that low variability in the present germplasm stock for this character. This necessitates the need for generation of new variability for this character. There is less scope for improvement based on direct selection. Hence, selection of specific combinations followed by interse mating of lines would be a better option.

Shehzadi has completed her “Master of philosophy in Applied Economics” from ‘The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Pakistan. Currently she is working as “Research Fellow” at Social Sciences Research Institute, National Agricultural Research Center Islamabad, Pakistan.

This study aimed at determining the technical efficiency of cold water fish farming in Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan, through application of Data Envelopment Analysis. Cross sectional data were collected through well structured questionnaire from the whole population of fish farms in Gilgit Baltistan province. These farms included both government fish farms and private sector fish farms. Input-oriented variable return to scale data envelopment analysis model was employed to estimate the technical efficiency scores. Technical efficiency measures the ability of a farm to maximize its output within the given amount of inputs and technologies. DEA estimated for 21 fish farms showed that mean technical efficiency value was 97 percent. Majority of the farms (90 percent) were operating above 90 percent efficiency level and 10 percent were found to be between the efficiency levels of 71-90 percent based on input usage. One farm was operating at a decreasing return to scale while 57 percent farms were on increasing return to scale with an average scale efficiency of 75 percent. Feed was used optimally while labour, fingerlings and area were found to be over utilized. By changing the input combinations, efficiency can be increased. The farmers of the study area need to utilize the available resources rationally to produce optimum level of output and be technically efficient.
Keywords: Technical Efficiency, Data Envelopment Analysis, Fish Farming, Input-Oriented Variable Return to Scale DEA, Pakistan.

Shibstanding Diengngan completed his MSc (Hort.) Fruit Science from University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, Karnataka and currently pursuing his PhD at the Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia, West Bengal, India. He is a recipient of ICAR-JRF for MSc.

The spaceflight-induced mutation technique, or “space breeding,” is a technique that utilizes the produced genetic variations in plant seeds or other plant parts by the space environment, carried by recoverable spacecraft (recoverable satellites and space shuttles) and high altitude balloons from the ground wherein new crop varieties can be fostered. Aerospace imparts a special environment with strong cosmic radiation, weak geomagnetic fields, microgravity, superclean and supervacuum. Shijian-8, the world first satellite specially fabricated for the space breeding approach, was launched on September 9, 2006. It has carried over 2,000 plant accessions from 133 species. So far, 66 new mutant varieties of crops, including rice, wheat, cotton, tomato rapeseed, sesame, pepper, and alfalfa have been developed by the space breeding programme and released officially in China. The promotion and exploitation of these mutant varieties has made an important contribution to China’s food production and social and economic development. Initiative of the programme has also been undertaken recently in India. Being a developing country, India also has the potential to develop such actively upgraded mutagenic approach and hike efficiency in crop breeding. Thus space-induced mutation is an effective new approach not only to develop new crop varieties, but also in obtaining rare mutants that may formulate great breakthroughs in crucial economic characters of crops, such as yield and quality, which are arduous to obtain using conventional breeding methods on the ground and can serve as a novel and effective way to enhance genetic diversity from which breeding of new crop varieties can also be carried out.

Investigations on monitoring of insect pest of stored cocoa beans in various storage facilities of cocoa was done during 2010-2011 in Tamil Nadu, India. The monitoring studies revealed the presence of 10 insect species revealed namely Lasioderma serricorne (F.), Tribolium castaneum (Herbst.), Araecerus fasciculatus (De Geer), Prostephanus. Truncates (Horn), Carphophilus spp.(Erichson) Ephestia spp.(Walker), Hypothenemus spp. (Ferrari)., Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens) Liposcelis spp and Plodia interpunctella (Hubner). The probe trap detected the T. castneum, L. serricorne and C. ferrugineus in stored cocoa beans, more effectively. The detection ratio was higher in probe trap compared to sieve sampling irrespective of source of beans. UV light trap with 4 Watts germicidal light source set 1.5m above ground level in warehouse corners proved very effective in trapping C. ferrugineus, P. interpuntella, E. ellutella, L. serricorne, T. castaneum, P. truncatus, Carpophilus spp, A. fasiculatus, Hypothenemus spp, Bracon spp, Xylocoris spp. and Liposcelis spp. Among them trapping was more in C. ferrugineus and T. castaneum. Stack probe was found effective as a monitoring tool in the detection of stored product insects mainly, T. castaneum and C. ferrugineus and Carpophilus spp. in bag storage of cocoa beans. Pheromone trap were found to be the ideal tools for detection of P. interpunctella and E. ellutella stored product insects in stack storage of cocoa beans. The egg removal device proved to be effective in the crushing the eggs of T. castaneum in cocoa beans. Highest efficacy (76%) was found when the treatment was made for 5 days (15 min/day). A biodiversity index revealed that, insect species richness was maximum in UV light trap method and minimum in stack probe method. Insect species diversity in stored cocoa beans was rich in UV light trap method followed by normal sieve method. Species richness, species diversity and evenness were higher in the order Coleoptera and lower in Hemiptera.
Keywords: Cocoa, Stored pest, Biodiversity, Pheromone trap, species.

Evaluation of 23 genotypes of onion during kharif season revealed that the BKHO-1002 was found best for total bulb yield (39.34 t/ha), Average bulb weight (195.63 g), polar and equatorial diameter of bulb (7.78 cm and 8.18 cm). Whereas, BKHO- 1007 recorded highest total soluble solids (13.62 %), maximum plant emergence per cent (66.33 %). Maximum plant height (72.43 cm) and neck thickness (1.98 cm) recorded in BKHO- 1004, number of leaves per plant found maximum (10.53) in BKHO-1005. Analysis of variance revealed that the mean sum of square for all the characters are significant. BKHO- 1002 and BKHO-1003 with larger polar and equatorial diameter of bulb, bulb weight, marketable and total bulb yield and BKHO-1007 indicated that maximum TSS are advocated for commercial cultivation in kharif season.
Keywords: Onion, Evaluation, Genotypes, Kharif onion, Yield.

Soumya K is currently working as a research fellow in Indian Institute of Horticultural Research; Bangalore. She is presently engaged in research on biological control of horticultural crop pests.

Catheranthus roseus
has historically been used to treat a wide variety of diseases. The present study aimed to demonstrate a dose dependant effect of C. roseus ethanol extract to Drosophila melanogaster and develop an ideal tool for evaluating genotoxicity assessment of several medicinal plant compounds of therapeutic use. The evaluation was made using stress protein profile analysis and wing contour bioassay. The treatments for the battery toxicity assays were 3mg/ml, 1.5 mg/ml and 0.1875 mg/ml ethanol extractable fraction from Catheranthus roseus dry powder. A control and ethanol control was also included in treatments. Three sets of experiments were run simultaneously, first and second for wing contour study and the third set for protein profile analysis. The battery toxicity bio assays helped to demonstrate the chemotaxic behavioral response of intoxicated larvae. The papal color was, brown with dark spots, dark brown, and dark brown respectively in 3, 1.5 and 0.1875 mg/ml doses. Whereas it was light brown and brown in control and ethanol control.
Stress protein studies helped to exemplify the sub cellular action of chemicals in test organism. The elicitation of different proteins with apparent molecular weights 109,45,36,28 and 11 KDa expressed during exposure and organism showed a dose depended effect. Wing contour bioassay results showed both dose and exposure time, governs the toxicity and genotoxicity effects in Drosophila larvae. Most of the vein intersection points showed slight tendency of dextral rotation. The present study results indicates higher dose of ethnopharmasueticals cause very strong impact on organisms and it is similar to that of any xenobiotics.

A field experiment was conducted during the Kharif season of 2012-13 at Agro-Ecology and Environment Centre, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola to study runoff, soil and nutrient loss, growth and yield of crop and to estimate the insitu soil and moisture conservation. There was total seven treatments viz. along the slope cultivation (T1), along the slope cultivation with opening of tide furrow (T2), across the slope cultivation with sub surface tillage (T3), across the slope cultivation with opening of alternate furrow with sub surface tillage. (T4), Across the slope cultivation with opening of ridges and furrow (T5), Contour cultivation with opening of alternate furrows (T6) and Contour cultivation with opening of ridges and furrows (T7). Biometric observations such as plant height (cm) and cob length (cm) were favorably influenced in treatment T7 followed by treatment T6, T5, T4, T3, T2 and T1.Highest plant height 191.07 cm and cob length 33.0 cm was found in treatment T7. Productivity of Jowar was favorably influenced by treatment T7. Highest grain yield 29.50 q ha-1 was recorded in treatment T7 followed by treatment T6,T5,T4,T3,T2 and T1.Water use efficiency was more dominant in treatment T7 i.e.4.49 Kg ha-1 mm-1 followed by 4.06 (T6), 3.65 (T5), 3.58 (T4), 3.42(T3) and 3.28(T2),and 3.23 in treatment T1.Data regarding soil moisture content at various depth viz.,15 cm,30 cm,45 cm, and 60 cm shows that highest moisture content at all depth was found in treatment T7.
Keywords: Jowar crop, cultivation, in-situ, rainfed, water use efficiency.

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of enriched bio-digester liquid manure (BDLM) on Nutrient status of soil after the harvest of finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn] during kharif season of 2011 at Research Institute on Organic Farming (RIOF) Unit, Agricultural Research Station, Balajigapade, UAS Bangalore. It was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with eleven treatment combinations and three replications. Significantly highest available soil nitrogen (297 kg ha-1), Phosphorus (39.5 kg ha-1) and potassium (195.6 kg ha-1) were found to in treatment T1 (FYM 10t + BDLME to 50 kg N ha-1) than treatment receiving FYM 7.5 t + 50:40:25 kg NPK ha-1 (286, 18 and 172.3 kg ha-1, respectively) and lowest available soil nitrogen, Phosphorus and potassium were observed in treatment receiving FYM 10 t + BDLM enriched with poultry manure & rock phosphate equivalent to 60 kg N ha-1 (260.3,15.3 and 165 kg ha-1, respectively).

Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) is emerging as one of the commercial vegetable crops at the global level, and is probably most important vegetable after Tomato (Grubben, 1977). Chilli finds its place in spice as well as condiments. Particularly in India, there is no home which does not consume chilli. It is used both at green and dry stage and is used and marketed as whole as well as ground form. It finds a place in pharmaceuticals also. Southern states of India contribute maximum to India’s area and production. The crop is attacked by large number of insect and mite pests causing considerable loss in yield. The green peach aphid (Myzys persicae Sulzer, Aphis gossypi Glover), thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood) and yellow mite (Polyphagotarsonemus latus Banks) are major sucking pests contributing for reduction in yield potentiality (Berke and Sheih, 2000). The damage due to mite and thrips have been estimated to the tune of 40-50 per cent (Kandasamy et al., 1960) and aphids alone to the extent of 50 per cent. In addition recently, the fruit borer, Helicoverpa armigera Hubner has also taken an upper hand and known to cause considerable damage to the crop by boring into the fruit leading to fruit whitening and fruit drop. Exorbitant use of pesticides not only leaves harmful residues in the food chain but also causes effects on non-target organisms and environment, pest resurgence and development of resistance in insects to insecticides. With this background experiments were conducted to assess the influence of an eco-friendly method i.e trap cropping technology against chilli pests. Field experiments were carried out at the Main Agricultural Research Station, UAS, Dharwad, Karnataka, India. Pooled data of both years revealed that, population of sucking pests and leaf curl index was least in tomato and brinjal trap cropping systems respectively. Whereas, significantly least larval population and fruit borer damage was recorded in chilli trap cropped with marigold. Significantly highest sucking pest population, leaf curl index, larval population of H. armigera and fruit damage was registered in sole chilli crop during both the years. Maximum dry chilli yield of 3.60 q/ha was obtained in chilli trap cropped with marigold with highest net return (Rs 17,729/-) followed by chilli trap cropped with tomato (3.29 q/ha), whereas minimum dry chilli yield was registered in sole chilli crop (1.69 q/ha) with net return of Rs. 2,511/- (C:B ratio of 1:1.22). The pooled data on the activity of natural enemies, suggested that coccinellid and chrysopids were found in large numbers in plots having trap crops. Chilli trap cropped with tomato, marigold and cotton supported good activity of the natural enemy population, while, lowest population was recorded in chilli trap cropped with groundnut and cowpea. By considering different parameters, the treatments viz., marigold, tomato and cotton were found to be promising trap crops against chilli pests.
Keywords: Fruit borer, leaf curl index, natural enemies, sucking pests, trap crops.

During past few years, several floods have adversely affected the areas along lower Indus River.Besides other climate related anomalies, rapidly increasing urbanization and blockage of natural drains due to siltation or encroachments are two other critical causesthat may be responsible for these disasters. Due to flat topography of river Indus plains and blockage of natural waterways, drainage of storm water takes time adversely affecting the crop health and soil properties of the area. Government of Sindh is taking a keen interest in revival of natural drainage network in the province and has initiated this work under Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority. In this paper, geospatial techniquesare used to analyze landuse/land-cover changes of Larkana district over the past three decades (1980-present) and their impact on natural drainage system.Satellite derived Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and topographic sheets (recent and 1950) are used to delineate natural drainage pattern of the district. The urban landuse map developed in this study is further overlaid on drainage line layer to identify the critical areas where the natural floodwater flows are being inhibited by urbanization. Rainfall and flow data areutilizedto identify areas of heavy flow, whereas, satellite data including Landsat 7 and Google Earth are usedto map previous floods extent and landuse/cover of the study area. Alternatives to natural drainage systems are also suggested wherever possible. The output maps of natural drainage pattern can be used to develop a decision support system for urban planners, Sindh development authorities and flood mitigation and management agencies.
Keywords: Geospatial techniques, Satellite data, natural drainage, flood, urbanization.

The agriculture sector of India is one of the largest occupations and the largest contribution to India’s economy. A lot of issues come along when the Farmers are harvesting their crops. One such is the problem of watering the crops on a timely basis with the exact quantity. In this project we have mainly come up with an idea on how to water the specified portions of the land with the sufficient water whenever needed. We have designed a Robot which has the capacity to Store Water in itself and also move around in the land in the stipulated path without spoiling the crops, to reach the crop area using Artificial Intelligence which checks the whole land for any Water level reduction in the land and by priority basis covers the entire land and waters the crop, all this is done with the help of IP Camera as its Vision Sensors, Wi-Fi and Controller. The Robot has a Water Sprinkler attached to its 3-Axis Robots end effector. The water level in the land and the amount of water needed is attained using soil /moisture sensors and the temperature and humidity of the soil is sensed using Temperature and Humidity Sensors which are connected to the Microcontroller and the power supply unit. The microcontroller sends the signal to the Robot using Wireless transmission and hence the Robot moves to the location and waters the plant, which is sensed using Flow Sensor. This Robot is an autonomous Robot which has the capability to function on its own without any external human Guidance.

The field experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2013-14 at the Main Agricultural Research Station, UAS, Raichur, India to evaluate the influence of soil test crop response (STCR) approach on the yield and quality of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). The experiment was laid out by RCBD design with a concept of three replications. The analysis of variance revealed that the application of fertilizers on STCR (Soil Test Crop Response) along with foliar application of micro-nutrients significantly recorded higher head diameter, 100-seed weight, seed filling per cent, Seed yield/ha, Oil content and oil yield/ha of the crop. Further a higher Gross Returns, Net Returns and Benefit-Cost ratio (BCR) were observed when compared to the other treatment combinations carried out during the experiment viz., recommended dose fertilizer (RDF) of NPK (Control). Hence, it can be concluded that the input of STCR approach leads to precise use of fertilizer dose as compared to RDF method; ultimately it can serve as to improve farming community by reducing the cost of cultivation, increasing yield and a basic tool for sustainable agriculture production.

Up-rooting of turmeric rhizomes from the soil is very crucial operation. Traditionally it requires more labour and time. The cost of harvesting of turmeric by traditional operation is very high. The soil working harvester was developed to up-root the turmeric rhizomes. The total work load of soil and the mass of turmeric was determined and found to be 0.5984 N/cm2. The draft requirement for the speed (2 km/h) selected was worked out to be 4583 N at which the power (PTO) estimated to work the machine properly was 7.16 hp. The effective field capacity of tuber crop harvester was found to be 0.129 ha/h. The average depth of operation during the operation was found to be 20.2 cm. The digging efficiency of the machine was found to be 98.82 % and percentage of damage rhizome was found to be 1.32 %. The field efficiency of the machine was found to be 80.57%. The cost of operation was workout and found to be 1913/ha, with 33.21% saving over traditional method of harvesting.
Keywords: Soil load, turmeric rhizome, design of blade, development, field evaluation.

Vaibhav Chaudhary has completed his MSc (Agriculture) at the age of 26 years from Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, Gujarat, India and is currently a PhD Scholar at Assam Agricultural University in the department of Plant Breeding and Genetics. Research crop for the PhD programme is Maize (Zea mays L.) and has published five papers in reputed journals till date.

Induced mutation often produces abnormalities which cause morphological alterations in external form of plants including colour, shape, size, etc. In the present study evaluation was performed during summer and kharif season for the year 2010-11 on Abelmoschus esculentusat Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, Gujarat, India.Seeds of two elite varieties (GO-2 and GJO-3) were subjected to physical (gama rays) and chemical (ethyl methane sulphonate; EMS) mutagenesis to find out the frequency and spectrum of induced desirable morphological mutations. In M2 generation, 12 different morphological mutations were induced in both the varieties. It was found that the spectrum of these mutations and their frequency varied with the type and dose of mutagens and the genotype used. Gamma radiations induced more number of morphological mutants as compared to EMS treatments in both the varieties. The highest mutation rate (11.19%) was detected in 40 kR gamma rays treatment followed by 0.25% EMS treatment in GO-2. In general, gamma irradiation treatments seemed to be superior in producing greater frequencies over all doses for both the varieties GO-2 (19.17%) and GJO-3 (16.33%).
Keywords: Abelmoschus esculentus, induced mutations, gamma rays, EMS.

An investigation was taken to decipher the magnitude of heterosis in sorghum with respect to grain yield and its components. The material was sought through a line x testers. A total of 83 genotypes (9 lines, 7 testers, 63 hybrid and 4 checks) were sown in randomized block design with two replications. The hybrid and their parents were evaluated to assess the heterosis governing the quantitative traits. An analysis of variance for yield and yield components showed significant differences among the genotypes which indicated the substantial variability in the materials under study. Among the hybrid PMS 37A x RS 29 recorded maximum grain yield with heterosis over the mid parent, better parent and standard check respectively. This cross found to be superior in terms of days to maturity, plant height and grain yield. It was followed by PMS 29 x KR 200, PMS 9A x KR 191, PMS 6A x KR 199 and PMS 28A x KR 192.
Keywords: Sorghum, relative heterosis, line x tester analysis.

Aravind K Jukanti has obtained his PhD in wheat genetics from Montana State University, Bozeman, USA. Postdoctoral research work was carried out on functional genomics of barley (at Montana State University, USA) and protein-protein interaction studies in castor (at Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, USA). Presently he is working as a Senior Scientist (Plant Breeding) at Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. In total he has about 40 publications to his credit in cereal (wheat, barley, maize) and pulse (chickpea, cluster bean) crops. He is also manuscript reviewer for several international journals including Crop Science, Euphytica and Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology.

The inheritance pattern of grain protein content in chickpea and it’s relation with few qualitative traits especially seed quality traits and some quantitative traits was evaluated. An F2 population derived from a cross between a high protein (29.15%) line ICC 5912 and extra large seeded, low protein (20.5%) line ICC 17109 was used for this study. Protein content exhibited a continuous variation in indicating that this trait is inherited quantitatively. F2 population with blue flower individuals produced higher mean protein content (21.81%) probably due to their reduced seed size. Variation in seed coat colour has profound effect on protein content. Grey seed coat colour group had highest mean protein content (21.8%) compared to other colour groups. Seed shape and seed coat mosaic doesn’t show any significant influence on protein content. A significant negative correlation of protein content with seed size (-0.40), harvest index (-0.58) and seed yield (-0.18) were found. Protein content exhibited a significant positive correlation with days to maturity (0.14), plant height (0.30), secondary branch number (0.14), biomass (0.15) had a positive correlation with protein content. Results indicate that increment in protein content has negative effect on seed size and seed yield. However, observations indicated that careful selection for high protein content along with desirable seed size and seed quality traits in segregating generations may be useful for chickpea breeding.

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is an important edible oilseed crop in the country next to groundnut and soybean. One of the major factors for reduction in area of the crop is being attributed to the occurrence of sunflower necrosis disease (SND) resulting in yield loss up to 90 per cent in most of the sunflower growing regions of Southern India. In Andhra Pradesh, SND has been reported to occur in almost all the popular sunflower hybrids grown during kharif, rabi and summer seasons with varied intensity. Cultivation of resistant varieties is the most economical way of managing virus diseases of plants as the control of vector borne virus diseases is very difficult to contemplate. Twenty R lines, 12 CMS A & B lines, 100 germplasm lines and 12 cultivars of sunflower were evaluated against sunflower necrosis disease under artificial inoculated conditions using a six point scale. All R lines and CMS lines showed highly susceptible reaction. Of the hundred germplasm lines screened, 8 were moderately susceptible, 23 were susceptible and 69 were highly susceptible. Of the 12 sunflower cultivars screened, 5 and 7 cultivars exhibited highly susceptible and susceptible reaction, respectively. Based on the type of symptoms produced by the sunflower lines on artificial inoculation, they were classified into seven groups viz., mosaic (twenty eight lines), local lesions (nine lines), necrosis (50 lines), chlorosis (12 lines), mottling or narrow leaves (14 lines), mosaic and local lesions (seven lines), while 36 lines exhibited mixed symptoms.

Invasive Alien Species (IAS) is not native to particular ecosystem, which is likely to cause an economic loss/ biodiversity harmful. Rapidly accelerating trade in forest-associated products, tourism, transport, and extensive travel over the past century have dramatically enhanced the spread of invasive species like Lantana, Prosopis, Black Wattle (Reduces Shola Forest), Euphorbia and so on. Habitat destruction, biodiversity loss, threat of cross hybridization of indigenous elements with invasive elements and growing faster than native plant species are the serious challenges to sustainable management of forest along with agricultural ecosystem and conservation of biodiversity. Under the progress made by Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) 1992 and other conservation policies lead to prevent IAS by pre-activity invasive plant survey, reduction in soil contamination, immediate re-vegetation of disturbed sites, using a certified seeds for establishment of plantation early pricking out (Quarantine), and eradication, environment education and accountability for sectors that is responsible for introducing invasive species in to the forest ecosystem. This study helps to provide protective information to policy makers, planners and developmental agencies for preserving the forest ecosystem from Invasive species.
Keywords: Invasive alien species, ecosystem, biodiversity, CBD.

Dipti Nareal is pursuing her PhD from Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agriculture University, Hisar, Haryana, India.

Anther culture provides an excellent system for the study of microspore induction. Gametic embryogenesis allows a single-step development of complete homozygous lines from heterozygous parents, shortening the time required to produce homozygous plants in comparison with the conventional breeding methods that employ several generations of selfing had a significant impact on agricultural systems. Various techniques for microspore/anther culture have been developed for Brassica species (Palmer et al., 1996b). Somatic embryos and plantlets were produced in B. napus as early as 1977 (Keller and Armstrong, 1977) and this technology has been exploited for various purposes since that time. Although anther culture techniques have been successful, yet all material does not respond in the same way or to same degree. Significant variations can be seen from plant to plant or even within the same plant. Analysis of the parameters that underline these differences is needed to obtain a uniform and predictable response. The factors that are known to influence the success of anther culture, viz. donor plant genotype, donor plant physiology, stage of microspore development, pretreatment, culture conditions and culture environment. The experimental parameters like the effect of basal media (B5, NLN and MS), growth regulators (BAP, IAA, IBA, GA3 and NAA) with different concentrations, bud length and heat shock for anther derived plantlet regeneration also considerable. Appropriate stress conditions such as chilling, partial desiccation, cotyledon excision, and successive subculture of microspore derived embryos could promote plant development in brassica.

Green gram [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] is an important pulse crop of West Bengal. It is a short duration legume and can be raised as a catch crop, and by raising the crop the cropping intensity can be increased, at the same time the natural resources can be utilised in an efficient manner. Unfortunately the crop often faces a tight competition with weeds causing tremendous yield losses. The loss of yield due to weeds is quite high, ranges from 40- 68%.
A field experiment was carried out at the Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidylaya (Nadia, West Bengal) during 2012 and 2013 to investigate the effect of herbicide application on growth and yield of summer green gram (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) crop (raised during March-May) in upland situation to judge the efficacy of the herbicides against weed flora in green gram field and also to find out effect of herbicides on crop yield. The soil of experimental site was sandy loam in texture having neutral in soil reaction. The experiment was conducted with 14 treatments and laid out in RBD with 3 replications. The green gram variety used was IPM-2-3.
It was observed that hand weeding resulted in significantly lower weed density and dry weight and gave better seed yield of green gram. Most of the herbicides were found effective in controlling weeds and maximizing seed yield of green gram. These treatments were at par with hand weeding twice at 20 and 40 DAS. Total weed free treatment showed the best performance in respect of yield and yield attributes of green gram crop and weeds management. The herbicidal treatments Fenoxaprop-p-ethyle @ 50 g a.i. / ha and @ 100 g a.i. / ha were found less effective for controlling weeds. Maximum net returns and benefit: cost ratio were obtained from Vellore 32 (Pendimethalin 30 EC + Imazethapyr 2 EC) @1.00 kg a.i. / ha. Hand-weeding treatments, though significantly reduced weed biomass and improved the grain yield, gave less benefit: cost ratio owing to higher cost of farm labour.
Keywords: Herbicides, Hand weeding, Green gram, Weed, Yield.

A Study on the effect of precision water and nutrient management on growth and yield of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) was conducted during kharif 2012 at Zonal Agricultural Research Station, GKVK, Bengaluru. There were eight treatments including surface-irrigated and drip-irrigated controls, which were replicated three times. The results revealed that drip fertigation of 100 per cent water soluble fertilizers (WSF) recorded higher growth parameters viz., plant height (42 cm), number of branches (8.1) and total dry matter (29.48 g plant-1) and yield attributes viz., number of pods plant-1 (41.3), pod weight plant-1 (35.6 g) and 100 kernel weight (38.7 g) led to its significantly higher pod and haulm yield (2798 and 3329 kg ha-1, respectively) compared to other treatments. However significantly lower growth, yield attributes and yield (1514 kg ha 1) was obtained in surface irrigation with soil application of 100 per cent RDF. Thus, the study also suggests that the performance of under drip fertigation of 100 per cent RDF through WSF was on par with drip fertigation of 75 per cent RDF through WSF and therefore, groundnut production could also be taken up even under drip fertigation 75 per cent RDF through WSF which is cost effective and also we can save fertilizers upto 25 per cent. However due to high cost of WSF, higher net returns ha-1 (Rs. 67,970 ha-1) and B:C of 2.54 was recorded in drip fertigation 100% RDF through NF.
Keywords: WSF, Drip fertigation, Groundnut.

Rahul Priyadarshi is pursuing his PhD in Genetics from Osmania University, Hyderabad and MSc Biotechnology from Assam University, Silchar. He has published four research papers and seven abstracts.

Stigma exsertion (SE) is one of the most important floral traits and helps improve the outcrossing potential in rice, as exserted stigma remains viable upto 6 days. Quantitative in nature, the SE trait is highly heritable, with large additive effect. The present study is focused on the transfer of SE trait from BF-16B (90% total SE) into IR58025B (35% total SE). IR58025B is a popular wild-abortive elite maintainer line of rice and is extensively used in hybrid rice breeding. We carried out parental polymorphism with 463 markers covering the entire rice genome, of which 113 (24.40%) were found to be polymorphic. Further, 63 polymorphic markers distributed across the 12 chromosomes were used for background selection. The reported SE markers didn’t validate in our backcross population, and so we visually selected plants with total SE in the range of 65-80% in BC1F1 and 68-81% in BC2F1. Following this, plants having genome recovery in the range of 74-84% in BC1F1 and 75-90% in BC2F1 population were selected to be taken further. A total of fourteen BC2F1 plants with desired phenotypic and genetic characteristics were forwarded to BC3F1 generation. Development of a maternal parent with high SE is expected to not only increase the opportunity for pollination, but to also overcome the pollination barrier caused by differences in the flowering time or date between the parents. Thus, the improved IR58025B line would be utilized for developing a line with SE trait which would prove to be significantly useful in hybrid rice breeding programs.

Dipali Kamble has completed MSc Agronomy from Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidhypeeth, Akola, India. Now she is pursuing PhD Agronomy at Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani, Maharashtra, India.

A field experiment was conducted at Agriculture College Farm, Department of Agronomy, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidhypeeth, Akola during summer (Feb-May) 2011-12 to examine the influence of morphological adaptation through terminal clipping on yield and nutrient uptake in sesame. The trial was conducted in Factorial Randomized Block Design (FRBD) with three replications employing two factors viz., N1 (RDF), N2 (RDF + ZnSo4), N3 (RDF + FeSo4) and four clippings viz. Co (no clipping), C1 (clipping at 25 DAS), C2 (clipping at 35 DAS), C3 (clipping at 45 DAS). The outcome of the study point out that application of recommended dose of fertilizer (25:25:0 kg/ha) in combination with zinc sulphate and clipping at 35 days after sowing favourably improved the yield trait, oil content (%) and higher benefit : cost ratio of the sesame.
Keywords: Sesame, Nutrients, Clipping, Growth, Yield.