Plant Bio Technology

To study the effect of graded levels of nitrogrn and VAM inoculation on growth and yield of calendula, a field experiment was conducted with four levels of nitrogen (0, 50, 75 and 100 kg/ha) and three levels of VAM (0, 3 and 5 g/plant) in a factorial RBD. Results revealed that the higher level of nitrogen (100kg/ha) or VAM (5g/plant) caused significant influence in increasing most of the growth, flowering and yield parameters studied. Interaction of higher levels of nitrogen and VAM (100kg N + 5gVAM/plant) increased width of leaf, flower diameter and number of branches and flowers/plant.

The present investigation was conducted in the litchi orchard of the Farm Area of R.M.D., College of Ambikapur in the year 2007 to 2009 to assess the effect of micro nutrients and growth regulators on fruiting in Litchi cv. Ambika Li tchi -1. The application of borax 0.4 per cent resulted in maximum fruit set (41.20%), fruit retention (22.60%), size of fruit (4.10 cm × 3.10 cm), number of fruits per tree (4625), weight of individual fruit (21.05 g) and fruit yield (92.85 kg/tree). GA3 10 ppm also was found effective treatment to increase fruit set, fruit retention and size of fruit. GA3 20 ppm produce maximum number of fruit/tree and yield. Interaction between borax 0.4 per cent and GA3 20 ppm exhibited in maximum retention of fruit and fruit yield. Maximum
fruit cracking of 13 per cent was ob served in borax 0.4 per cent..

One of the major issues facing humankind is global food security. A changing climate, coupled with a heightened consumer awareness of how food is produced and legislative changes governing the usage of agrichemicals for improving plant health and yield, means that alternative, more integrated and sustainable approaches are needed for crop management practices. To this end, there is increasing recognition of the value of the role of microbial inoculants in agriculture. The focus of this review is to understand how plant-growth-promoting bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can play a part in improving crop yield by promoting the health status of the plant through the sequestration of various nutrients and in the control of plant diseases.

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Editor – in- Chief , Trends in Biosciences Journal
Editor-in-Chief, Advances in Life Sciences Journal
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Global food security is vulnerable due to massive growth of the human population, changes in global climate, the emergence of novel/more virulent pathogens, and demands from increasingly discerning consumers for chemical-free, sustainably produced food products. Bacterium- based biological control agents (BCAs), if used as part of an integrated management system, may satisfy the above demands. We focus on the advantages, limitations, problems, and challenges involved in such strategies.

The horticulture sector pondered as the most dynamic and sustainable segment of agriculture, which covers wide spectrum of crops (fruits, vegetables, flowers, spices, condiments, plantations etc.). Inclusion of some important and fast upcoming groups like medicinal and aromatic plants, mushroom, bamboo, and bee keeping has further reinforced sustainability to this sector. Shifting food pattern in wake of increasing income and health awareness of the populace has transformed Indian Horticulture as a vibrant commercial venture with 5-6 percent annual growth rate during last decade. This significant growth undoubtedly attributed to the organized and planned horticultural policies under aegis of “Golden Revolution.” However, this revolution is still seeking a backbone support in the form of efficient post-harvest management system. In this article, the authors go over the pros and cons of horticulture sector in India highlighting the worldwide importance of post-harvest technology and its role for sustainable food safety and security.

Primary processing of vegetables like fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum L.) enables the removal of the 45–50 percent inedible parts from the marketable bunch. Removal of inedible parts, necessary pretreatments and packaging are ecofriendly processes to eliminate problems like garbage disposal and subsequent pollution. Primary processed fenugreek resulted in 100% edible, ready to use, fresh produce that can be prepared and cooked in less time. Overwrapping of plastic baskets containing fenugreek leaves with cling film reduced the respiration rate compared to the other bunches. The technology of primary processing and packaging was found to result in better retention of vitamin C, Β-carotene and chlorophyll, in addition to convenience.

Bacterial blight (BB) of rice caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), is one of the most devastating disease of rice causing
significant  yield  reduction under serious  infestations in  many rice growing countries.  BB  interferes  with  leaf  CO2  exchange
processes, enhances  leaf senescence and reduces CO2 assimilation.  In the present study, 14  rice genotypes were initially studied to
understand genotypic variability  for  resistance against  infection by  Xoo  . Further,  to  assess  the effect of  BB  on  photosynthetic
functions,  three  rice genotypes  [O. longistaminata; O. sativa  cv.  IRBB21 and Pusa Basmati 1 (PB1)] possessing varied levels of
resistance/susceptibility to BB were selected.    IRBB21 and PB1 were also analyzed to study  the effect of bacterial blight on grain
yield.  Exposure  of plants to BB  led to  significant reductions in  net  photosynthetic  rate  (PN), stomatal conductance  to CO2
(gs),
instantaneous water use efficiency  (WUEi), and  leaf  transpiration rate  (E)  in susceptible genotype PB1 when compared to  resistant
IRBB21 and highly  resistant O. longistaminata. Under BB infection, O.  longistaminata showed highest PN  (7.18 µmol CO2
m-2
s
-1
)
compared to IRBB21 (4.35 µmol CO2
m-2
s
-1
) and PB1 (0.74 µmol CO2
m-2
s
-1
), on 216 h of post infection. Due to infection, gs was
strongly reduced to 0.046  mmol m-2
s
-1
on 216 h
in PB1 followed by IRBB21 (0.16  mmol m-2
  s
-1
  on 216 h), whereas  O.
longistaminata maintained highest gs of 0.22 mmol m-2
s
-1
on 216 h, indicating better CO2 exchange capacity and resistance against
bacterial blight.  Regression  plots showed significantly positive relationships between  PN  vs  gs  and  PN  vs  Ci  for all the tested
genotypes. Down-regulation in leaf CO2 assimilation physiology as well as loss in photosynthetically active leaf tissue was observed
with increment  in disease  severity, which  resulted  in  substantial yield loss (61.75%)  in susceptible genotype PB1. Yield loss was
mostly attributed to reduced productive tillers, less number of seeds per panicle, decreased panicle weight and less number of filled
grains. Relatively less variation in yield traits was recorded in resistant IRBB21.

Background, aim, and scope Trace elements (heavy metals and metalloids) are important environmental pollutants, and many of them are toxic even at very low concentrations. Pollution of the biosphere with trace elements has accelerated dramatically since the Industrial Revolution. Primary sources are the burning of fossil fuels, mining and smelting of metalliferous ores, municipal wastes, agrochemicals, and sewage. In addition, natural mineral deposits containing particularly large quantities of heavy metals are found in many regions. These areas often support characteristic plant species thriving in metal-enriched environments. Whereas many species avoid the uptake of heavy metals from these soils, some of them can accumulate significantly high concentrations of toxic metals, to levels which by far exceed the soil levels. The natural phenomenon of heavy metal tolerance has enhanced the interest of plant ecologists, plant physiologists, and plant biologists to investigate the physiology and genetics of metal tolerance in specialized hyperaccumulator plants such as Arabidopsis halleri and Thlaspi caerulescens. In this review, we describe recent advances in understanding the genetic and molecular basis of metal tolerance in plants with special reference to transcriptomics of heavy metal accumulator plants and the identification of functional genes implied in tolerance and detoxification. Results Plants are susceptible to heavy metal toxicity and respond to avoid detrimental effects in a variety of different ways. The toxic dose depends on the type of ion, ion concentration, plant species, and stage of plant growth. Tolerance to metals is based on multiple mechanisms such as cell wall binding, active transport of ions into the vacuole, and formation of complexes with organic acids or peptides. One of the most important mechanisms for metal detoxification in plants appears to be chelation of metals by low-molecular-weight proteins such as metallothioneins and peptide ligands, the phytochelatins. For example, glutathione (GSH), a precursor of phytochelatin synthesis, plays a key role not only in metal detoxification but also in protecting plant cells from other environmental stresses including intrinsic oxidative stress reactions. In the last decade, tremendous developments in molecular biology and success of genomics have highly encouraged studies in molecular genetics, mainly transcriptomics, to identify functional genes implied in metal tolerance in plants, largely belonging to the metal homeostasis network. Discussion Analyzing the genetics of metal accumulation in these accumulator plants has been greatly enhanced through the wealth of tools and the resources developed for the study of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana such as transcript profiling platforms, protein and metabolite profiling, tools depending on RNA interference (RNAi), and collections of insertion line mutants. To understand the genetics of metal accumulation and adaptation, the vast arsenal of resources developed in A. thaliana could be extended to one of its closest relatives that display the highest level of adaptation to high metal environments such as A. halleri and T. caerulescens. Conclusions This review paper deals with the mechanisms of heavy metal accumulation and tolerance in plants. Detailed information has been provided for metal transporters, metal chelation, and oxidative stress in metal-tolerant plants. Advances in phytoremediation technologies and the importance of metal accumulator plants and strategies for exploring these immense and valuable genetic and biological resources for phytoremediation are discussed. Recommendations and perspectives A number of species within the Brassicaceae family have been identified as metal accumulators. To understand fully the genetics of metal accumulation, the vast genetic resources developed in A. thaliana must be extended to other metal accumulator species that display traits absent in this model species. A. thaliana microarray chips could be used to identify differentially expressed genes in metal accumulator plants in Brassicaceae. The integration of resources obtained from model and wild species of the Brassicaceae family will be of utmost importance, bringing most of the diverse fields of plant biology together such as functional genomics, population genetics, phylogenetics, and ecology. Further development of phytoremediation requires an integrated multidisciplinary research effort that combines plant biology, genetic engineering, soil chemistry, soil microbiology, as well as agricultural and environmental engineering.

The first two issues of the journal will be published free of cost. The first issue of the journal is scheduled to be published in October 2013. The deadline for paper submission for the October 2013 issue is 15th September 2013. Papers received after the deadline will be considered for the next issue.

The experiment was carried out in simple randomized block design. .The different length stem cuttings of Cestrum nocturnum were treated with IBA and NAA solutions at 100, 200 and 300 mg L-1 by soaking method. Among all the treatments, number of sprouted cuttings and rooting per cent (76.53), length of the roots/cutting (23.76 cm), fresh weight (6.06 g) and dry
weight (1.33 g) of roots were higher in IBA 100 mg L-1. While the maximum length of sprout/cutting (190.00 cm) was in IBA 300 mg L-1 and highest number of roots/cutting (91.00) was recorded in NAA 300 mg L-1 treatment.

Aims: To assess the phenological variability that can help farmers identify Jackfruits and create awareness on the nutritional values of the underutilized tropical Jackfruit Artocarpus heterophyllus Original Research Article Ubi et al.; JABB, 6(1): 20-37, 2016; Article no.JABB.23189 2 in Nigeria. Study Design: The study was a survey and assessment of Jackfruits growing in situ in forest and home gardens where jackfruits ecotypes were identified growing wild under farmers' field conditions. Place and Duration of study: The study was carried out in Cross River State, Nigeria for two seasons of 2013-2014. Collected fruit samples were analysed for mineral and nutritional compositions in the National Root Crop Research Institute laboratory Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria. Methodology: Mature Jackfruit from Yala ecotype was carefully harvested from farmers field and taken to the National Root Crops Research Institute laboratory, Umudike Abia State for proximate (mineral and nutrient) composition analysis adopting the modified A.O.A.C methods of 2006. Data for phenological variability was obtained through measurements of leaf area (cm²), leaf length (cm), seed length (cm), 100 seed weight (kg), seed chamber length (cm), seed chamber width (cm), number of seeds per pod, stem diameter (cm), fruit width (cm), fruit weight (kg) and fruit chamber length (cm). Ecotypes location coordinates were read using GPS Etrex model. Qualitative data were taken through observations, photographs, interview of local farmers. Qualitative attributes, like unripe fruit colour, mature fruit colour, seed shape, seed colour, seed size, pulp colour, fruit shape and fruit skin texture were compared with the Royal horticultural colour chart. Generated data were collated and analysed using appropriate statistical tools. Results: The bread of the tropics fruit was found to be rich in B-complex vitamins and contains very good amounts of vitamin B – 6 (pyridoxine), niacin, riboflavin and folic acid. The result also shows that the fruit contains high starch, protein, minerals and nutrients especially, vitamins: C, E, K, potassium and sodium. Jackfruit is a good source of antioxidants vitamin C, provides about 13.7mg vitamin C which helps the body to develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful free radicals. Results of phenological variability obtained from analysis of quantitative attributes revealed some significance (p<0.05) differences among the ecotypes studied for traits such as Fruit chamber length, Fruit weight, Fruit diameter, Seed per fruit and leaf length, while phenotypic traits such as 100 seed weight, seed length, seed diameter, Leaf area and Seed chamber length did not differ (p>0.05) among the ecotypes. The fruit pod weighs between 3 – 40kg, fruits may be oblong or globular in shape, reaching 25 – 75cm in diameter, containing between 50 – 500 edible seeds measuring 2 – 4cm in length and 1 – 3cm in diameter. Conclusion: The fruit can be used for the supplementation of food nutrients in human nutrition. In this agro-ecology, the fruit lacks market value because of ignorance and its unpopularity. Hence, this paper provides an insight into the phenological variations among the local ecotypes for which it can be easily identified, revealed the ecological relevance of Jackfruit trees and creates awareness on the nutritional values of this underutilized Jackfruit.