In the present scenario of huge demand for energy and econo- my necessitates development of various energy resources either, conventional or nonconventional. Despite the rapid depletion of fossil fuel across the world, billions of people are yet devoid of the comfort offered by electricity. If the consumption of fossil fuel con-tinues at the current rate, the future generation is bound to suffer from the acute shortage

Freshly harvested seeds of three genotype of Brinjal were collected from the Meerut District (U.P.) to determine relationship be-tween the viability of seeds and the electrical conductivity of seeds. Seeds were divided into 3 genotypes of Brinjal seeds. Viability of Brinjal seed was found to be critically influenced by Electrical Conductivity of freshly harvested seeds at different level of Electri-cal Conductivity. The present result there by confirms the recalcitrant nature of Brinjal seeds step in the retention of Brinjal seed viability. As such, if the initial seed Electrical Conductivity is high, germination may take place during storage itself, and if too low, the final seed Electrical Conductivity in a particular treatment may fall below the desirable Electrical Conductivity range resulting in the higher viability. Result shows that Bio-Black Beauty genotypes having highest viability of Brinjal seeds and moderate value of viability is shown by Utkarsha and lowest shown by Bhima Brinjal seeds

The unprecedented climate change has become a major issue around the globe. Abiotic stress which includes salt, drought, nutri-ent deficiency, pesticide contamination, light intensity as well as extreme low or high temperature inhibits or slow down many plant processes and ultimately cause the decreased or abnormal growth of the plant. These stresses reduce performance of four complex present in thylakoid membrane photosystem, cytochrome b6-f complex and ATP synthase. In chloroplasts, chilling stress may change the lipid membrane state and enzyme activity. The efficiency of photosynthesis then decreases, resulting in an overabundance of re-active oxygen species (ROS). There is a decline in antioxidant enzyme production, coupled with increased ROS accumulation in plants under environmental stress. A major negative effect has been observed on the activity of RuBisCo with increasing intensity of a range of environmental factors. The reduction in RuBisCo activity is due to the enzyme’s activation state being downregulated in response to low temperature (e.g., by de-carbamylation and/or binding of inhibitory sugar phosphates). Chilling stress inhibits RuBisCo activa-tion via a rapid and direct effect on RuBisCo activase. The present review tells how chilling stress can create serious effects on cellular membrane, biosynthesis of photosynthesis pigments, electron transport chain as well as RuBisCo activity

Field experiment was carried out at instructional Dairy Farm, G B Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar (Ut- tarakhand) during winter season 2020-21 to study the effect of nitrogen management on forage productivity and quality of multicutoat varieties. The experiment comprised of four oat genotypes i.e. HF-707, RO-19, OL-1882 and UPO-212 in main plot and 3 nitrogen level i.e. 70,105 and 140 N kg/ha respectively in sub plots, was planted in split plot design and replicated thrice. The green and dry fodder yield was recorded significantly higher in UPO-212 with 4.5, 9.5 and 29.3% higher green fodder yield than OL-1882, RO-19 and HF-707 entries, respectively. The crude protein yield was 16.7, 17.8 and 45.8% greater in UPO-212 than OL-1882, RO-19 and HF-707, respectively. The green and dry fodder yield, crude protein and crude protein yield increased with increasing N levels and significantly highest values were recorded at application of 140 kg N/ha. Therefore, it is concluded that multi cut oat genotype UPO-212 may be grown with application of 140 kg N/ha for higher green and dry fodder production as well as crude protein production in Tarai region of Uttarakhand and other areas having similar agro-ecologies and soil types.

Using conservation agriculture strategies is time demanding as intensive crop cultivation has already been started to feed the ever-growing population. Rice requires extensive resources for production. To preserve agroecosystem and sustain rice production it is imperative to consider soil and environmental health. Direct seeded rice (DSR) is a promising technology for rice cultivation which needs less input and resources. Aus season of Bangladesh is highly favorable for DSR cultivation. Being a new technology, farmers’ lack enough information and knowledge on production technology of direct seeded aus rice. Taking into account, the present investi-gation was implemented to assess the response of some modern aus varieties, fertilizer doses and seed soaking methods on the yield attributes under DSR. The experiment was laid in factorial RCBD. Three factors considered in the experiment were- variety, fertilizer dose and seed soaking. Rice varieties chosen were- Binadhan-19 (V1), Binadhan-21 (V 2), BRRI dhan82 (V3) and BRRI dhan85 (V4). Fertilizer doses (% of recommended) were- 80% NPKSZn (T1), 100% NPKSZn (T2) and 120% NPKSZn (T3). Seed soaking methods were dry seeds directly sown without any soaking (S0) and seeds sown after hydro soaking for 24 hrs (S24). Data on yield and morpho physical attributes were collected randomly from five hills at final harvest. Outcomes revealed, longest panicle in V3 × T1 × S24 (27.14cm), treatment V4 × T 1 × S 0 had most filled grains (236.96) and V4 × T 2 × S 0 had least amount of filled grains (101.24) per panicle. Highest grain sterility was observed with V2 × T3 × S0 (48.17%) and the lowest with treatment V4 × T1 × S0 (27.40%). Lightest thou-sand grain weight (TGW) was found in V2 × T2 × S24 (19.59g); whereas, it was 17.45% more in treatment V1 × T2 × S24 (23.73g). Grain yield was maximum with treatment combination V4 × T1 × S0 (4.78 t/ha) followed by a 7.17% reduction in V2 × T3 × S0 (4.46 t/ha) and 64% decrease with V4 × T3 × S24 (1.72 t/ha). Late harvesting was seen in V4 × T3 × S24 (112.67 days); while V1 × T2 × S0 was the earliest (95.00 days). Above findings imply that, BRRI dhan85 and Binadhan-21 might be better with yields in dry-DSR without soaking; but balanced use of fertilizers should be ensured in order to avoid higher grain sterility and yield reduction

A collection of 32 redgram genotypes were evaluated for nine morphological and phenological characters by principal component analysis for determining pattern of genetic diversity and relationship among individuals. The largest variation was observed for seed yield per plant with coefficient of variation of 74.01% followed by number of pods per plant (69.63), plant height (53.47) and num-ber of branches (42.16). The least variation was observed in pod length with coefficient of variation of 10.60%. Principal component analysis was used to assess the variation and relative contribution of various traits towards total variability. In this study, principal component 1 had the contribution from the traits such as days to maturity, days to 50% flowering, plant height and 100 seed weight, number of branches, number of pods per plant and seed yield per plant which accounted to 34.54% of the total variability. The prin-cipal component 2 explained 26.82% of total variability from days to 50% flowering and days to maturity. Number of branches and plant height had contributed 16.03% of total variability in principal component 3. The principal component 4 explained 11.40% of total variability from the number of branches, number of seeds per pod, pod length, 100 seed weight and plant height. The cumulative variance of 88.80% of total variation among ten characters was explained by first four axes. Thus, the results of principal component analysis used in the study had revealed the high level of genetic variation and the traits controlling for the variation were identified. Hence, these entries can be utilized for trait improvement in breeding programs for the traits contributing for major variation. Cor-relation analysis revealed that number of pods per plant and plant height had significant and positive association with seed yield per plant and also exhibited significant positive inter correlation among them. Cluster analysis depicted two clusters and identified the groups of cultivars those were more closely related

In any given society, the extract culture and cultural practices influence their food security directly as well as indirectly. This study evaluated the influence food culture and practices have on household food security of Urhobo, Ukwuani and Igbo ethnic groups in Delta State, Nigerian 2018-2019. A study sample population comprising of 136 Urhobo, 106 Ukwuani and 104 Igbos was inter-viewed, while structured questionnaire and focus group discussion were employed. The data were treated to statistical analysis with the use of descriptive statistics and logistic regression model. It was found that all the households consumed more of carbohydrate-based foods; men mostly made agricultural decisions and were responsible for land clearing preparation and ridging, while women do weed, processing and marketing. All the households were into subsistence farming, 93.75% were involved in the practice of mixed cropping 91.57% acquired land for farming through inheritance, 69.68% had family members as their labour force. The husbands had the control of household income (89.84%) and the preference for food sharing is in the favour of the men. The food culture and practices that had significant influence on food security of household included land acquisition methods (1.183; P = 0.05); control of family income (1.071; P = 0.05) and preference of household food distribution (0.944; P = 0.05). It was concluded that culture was a factor that dominate with regards to the number of times meals are consumed daily, choices of food in the household, decision mak-ing in agriculture, cropping system, division of labour, land acquisition, control of household income, preference in household distri-bution of food and, therefore, food security of household. It is recommended that both sexes be encouraged to diversify their income generation sources and released more money for purchases of food. Both genders should be given access to productive resources to increase agricultural production for food securities. Farmers need to be given encouragement to produce and consumed enhance quality foods, among others.

Alternaria blight, incited by A. brassicae is one of the most common and destructive fungal pathogens in Indian mustard which accounts for 46% of yield loss. Efforts are being made in order to have sufficient knowledge about the genes induced during infec-tion and their regulation measures. We hear report two novel defensins, BjDef and CsDef which confers antifungal activity against A. brassicae. During the search of defensins, cloning and sequencing resulted in two open reading frames of 234 bp with characteristic a-helix, triple strand antiparallel ß-sheets, highly conserved eight cysteines and an identical backbone structure stabilized by four intra-molecular disulphide bridges in their peptide chains. Amplified fragments were cloned into pET29a vector system and were expressed in Escherichia coli. Recombinant defensin proteins were optimally expressed in isopropyl thio-galactoside concentration of 1.0 mM/ml and 6 h of incubation. Purified proteins with hexa-histidine tag by Ni-NTA column exhibited a 16 kDa single fragment. The purified proteins showed an inhibitory effect on hyphal growth indicating disrupted mycelial cells while percentage mycelial growth inhibition calculations indicate inhibition effect of proteins in a concentration dependent manner. Even though at lower con-centration inhibition was high by BjDef, at higher concentrations CsDef conferred comparatively more effective inhibition. Relative expression of CsDef revealed a high level of expression at 48 h in response to Alternaria infection. Comparatively low level of expres-sion was reported by BjDef. Our results confirmed the ability of above defensins to be used in construction of transgenic brassica to confirm resistance to A. brassicae