Sucrose and application of Rhizobium on seed

Summary Studies on the effect of different levels of sucrose in the slurry of peat-based Rhizobium inoculant on germination, seedling growth, and rhizosphere fungi of peanut and soybean revealed that the limits of tolerance for good germination were 2.5 and 5 per cent of the sugar, respectively. Fusaria and aspergilli were invariably present at all levels of sucrose whereas species of Penicillium, Myrothecium, Cunninghamella and Curvularia were isolated only from the rhizosphere at higher levels of the sugar     

Effect of Growth Stage and Initial Inoculum Level on Leaf Rust Development and Yield Loss Caused by Puccinia recondita f. sp. tritici

The effects of the combinations of leaf rust inoculation at different growth stages and initial inoculum levels on leaf rust development and yield of winter wheat cultivars, McNair 1003 and Coker 762 were evaluated. Disease onset stage and initial inoculum level affected the rate of leaf rust development and shape of the disease progress curves in both cultivars. Epidemics with common onset stages and different initial inoculum levels differed in area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC). Leaf rust epidemics initiated at Feeke's growth stages 5, 7, and 10 reduced yield in both cultivars. Leaf rust epidemics initiated early with high inoculum levels had the greatest deleterious effect on yield. Maximum losses due to leaf rust were 30–40 %. Yield loss was directly related to AUDPC when the AUDPC varied from 500 to 1700 in McNair 1003 and from 250 to 1700 in Coker 762. Yield reduction was mainly due to reduction in grain weight.     

Comparative analysis of different whole cell immobilized aspergillus niger catalysts for gluconic acid fermentation using pretreated cane molasses

To compare the efficiency of various whole cell immobilization techniques for the production of gluconic acid by Aspergillus niger were investigated using potassium ferrocyanide-treated cane molasses as the substrate. The techniques followed were:

Effect of soil acidity and saturating cation on adsorption of urea in soil

Summary Elevating the pH of two extremely acid tropical soils from an initial pH of 4 to 5 with Ca(OH)₂ and NaOH solutions resulted in a sharp decrease in urea adsorption. Further increases in pH to 9 caused only slight further decrease in urea adsorption. Ca treatment resulted in slightly higher adsorption than Na treatment over the full range of pH values studied for a clay soil with high smectite content, and for a loam with kaolinite mineralogy below pH 7. Above pH 7 a kaolinitic loamy soil gave slightly higher adsorption with Na treatment than with Ca.     

Symbiotic efficiency of Hup+ and Hup− strains ofRhizobium japonicum

Summary Relative efficiency of Hup⁺ and Hup^– R. japonicum strains with Pusa 16 cultivar of soybean was studied. Inoculation with the Hup⁺ strain (A 1014) reduced the protein content in grain as compared to uninoculated control.     

Total nitrogen and phosphorus balance sheet in a typic ustochrept soil under intensive cropping and fertilizer use

Summary Balance sheets were computed for total nitrogen and phosphorus in plough layer (0–15 cm) of a Typic Ustochrept soil under continuous multiple cropping for seven years (1971–72 to 1977–78) with a fixed rotation of pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoideum L.) wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (Vigna sinensis Savi.) The treatments considered of soil test-based rates of N, P and K, applied both singly and in combinations together with farm yard manure, sulphur and zinc superimposed over optimum rates (100%) of NPK. Heavy, losses of N (762–899 kg ha⁻¹) occurred in the plots which received high rates of Nviz. 150% of recommended NPK and 100% NPK plus FYM. Application of N alone accelerated N losses whereas addition of P, PK, PKS to N minimised such losses. Enrichment of P (66 to 198 kg ha⁻¹) occurred in all phosphate-treated plots. A marginal net decrease (29–54 kg ha⁻¹) in P levels was observed in control and N alone treatments.     

The association of the sulphogalactosylglycerolipid of rat brain with myelination

The sulphogalactosylglycerolipid of rat brain is closely associated with the process of myelination, as demonstrated by the following observations. 1. The lipid is barely detectable in rat brain before 10 days of age, accumulates rapidly between age 10 and 25 days, and remains relatively constant in amount (between 0.3 and 0.4mumol per brain) thereafter into adult life. 2. The activity of adenosine 3'-phosphate 5'-sulphatophosphate-galactosyldiacylglycerol sulphotransferase is almost absent before 10 days of age, attains a maximum at age 20 days, and slowly decreases thereafter with increasing age. This developmental pattern correlates well with that of other myelin-specific metabolites. 3. Both the concentration of the sulphogalactosylglycerolipid and the activity of sulphotransferase are greatly decreased in the non-myelinating jimpy mouse. 4. The myelin fraction of rat brain contains most of the sulphogalactosylglycerolipid. The lipid occurs in a diacyl and an alkylacyl form. Determinations of the relative amount of each type in brain showed about a 1:1 mixture in both 21-day-old and adult rats. Rats injected with H(2) (35)SO(4) at 20 days of age lost (35)S from the diacyl form at a higher rate than from the alkylacyl compound over a 21-day period. These data suggest that the diacyl form has a higher turnover than the alkylacyl derivative. The percentage of the total sulpholipid content of brain contributed by the sulphogalactosylglycerolipid is 16% in 21-day-old rats and 8.4% in adult rats.