Vol 43, No 2 (2017)

The present study was conducted to investigate the physiological responses of Vigna radiata L. to UV-B radiation and salicylic acid (SA) alone and in combination. The exposure of the seedlings to UV-B radiation significantly reduced biophysical parameters. The pigments viz., chlorophylls and carotenoids and protein decreased while sugar content increased in the seedlings on UV-B exposure. UV-B stress increased the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase. SA appears to mitigate the adverse effect of UV-B radiation on the growth and metabolism of Vigna seedlings.

From 1972 to 2015, stocks of productive moisture were determined in the 1-m-deep soil layer during different periods of plant growth and development at Prikumsk Experimental and Selection Station in a six-course rotation: bare fallow–winter wheat–winter wheat–corn to green fodder–winter wheat–spring barley. Analysis of moisture supply for crops in the arid area showed that bare fallows provide the emergence of seedlings in 62% of years, while repeated winter wheat plantings yield seedlings in 22.8% of years. As the amount of autumn precipitation increased, the relative productivity advantage of winter wheat after bare fallow decreased from 99.4 to 43.2%. By spring, the stocks of productive moisture were 37.7% higher and the productivity was 73.5%, or 1.75 t/ha, higher after bare fallow than after bastard fallow.

Canola cultivars positively responded to sulphur fertilization in term of seed yield and oil quality. Oscar cultivar increased seed yield 53% as compared to control plots. Sulphur @ 45 kg ha^–1 increased seed yield, biological yield, and quality of rapeseed. Number of days to flowering (76), number of pods plant–1 (372), number of seeds pod–1 (24), plant height (173 cm), biological yield (15547 kg ha^–1), seed yield (2209 kg ha^–1), harvest index (19%), glucosinolate (μmol g–1) content (31.03 μmol g–1) and oil content (45.81%) was enhanced significantly with sulphur treated @ 45 kg ha^–1 applied plots as compared to delayed flowering (78 days), shortest plant (151 cm), pods formation (298 pods), seed pod–1 (21), biological yield (11090 kg ha^–1), seed yield (1436 kg ha^–1), and oil content (42.62%) in control plots. Among cultivars “Oscar” ranked first in different growth stages and attain more plant height (164 cm), and examined substantial number of pods plant–1 (359), seeds pod–1 (24), seed yield (2005 kg ha^–1), biological yield (14298 kg ha^–1), harvest index 17%, and oil content (46.29%) as compared to other sowed cultivars. On the basis of the result it is recommended that cultivar “Oscar” treated with sulphur @ 45 kg ha^–1 should be applied for higher yield and quality of rapeseed under the agro-climatic condition of swat valley.

This paper considers the method of control over apple maturation in an orchard based on the photosynthetic activity measured by the variation of induction of chlorophyll fluorescence in the apple skin. It is shown that the highest information value is inherent to the shadow side of the apple fruit, where the variation of induction of chlorophyll shows the rate of apple maturity, whereas the photosynthetic activity on the sun side is minimal due to the almost complete absence of chlorophyll. During maturation in the orchard, there are seven-day periods related to endogenous physiological processes that take place in the fruit independently of external factors. The revealed mechanism will make it possible to develop the method for determination of optimum harvest date in the orchard as well as to control fruit ripening during storage at low temperatures.

In the present agricultural system, the discriminate use of synthetic chemical fertilizers has predominantly increased throughout the world. Moreover, using excessive use of fertilizers to increase production deteriorates the various soil qualities and pollute water body environment. So using VAM fungi as a biocontrol agent in modern sustainable agriculture, in terms of various parameters like reduction of damage caused by various pathogens, cost effectiveness, energy saving and also as an environment friendly, is a promising perspective in modern agriculture. Also control of plant pathogens in modern agriculture is presently accepted as a key practice in sustainable agriculture because it is based on the management of certain rhizosphere organisms, common components of ecosystems, known to develop antagonistic activities against harmful organisms. Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi interact with other microorganisms in the rhizosphere and various other soil constituents. Upon root colonization by VAMF, there occurs profound physiological changes in the host plant. Present agriculture system increasing demand for low-input agriculture and creates greater interest in soil microorganisms which are able to accelerate plant nutrition, health and improve soil quality. The importance of VAM in incresaing food production is far and wide; therefore these can be used in modern sustainable agriculture particulary as biocontrol agent. This review highlights the different interactions of Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (VAMF) and the rule of these interactions in the biological control of plant pathogens. But the commercial use of Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (VAMF) as biocontrol agents is still in its infancy. The main reason is the poor understanding of the mechanisms of the modes of action of VAM fungi in association with the host plants.

The present study was conducted to screen four okra varieties (Sabz Pari, Sada Bahar, Pusa Sawani, Arka Anamika) against bollworm, whitefly and jassid under field conditions during 2011. It was concluded that none of the tested variety had resistance against okra fruit borer. However, these varieties showed some degree of resistance against sucking insect pests. Okra variety Sada Bahar was less infested with jassid (1.30/leaf) and whitefly (5.36/leaf) compared to other tested varieties and resulted in maximum yield (1529.62 kgha^–1). The plants of Sabz Peri variety attained maximum height (113.7 cm), which was statistically at par with 110.9 cm height attained by the plants of Arka Anamika. Number of fruits pods plant^–1 was found non significantly different on all the tested okra varieties. On the basis of present findings, it was concluded that Sada Bahar variety is suitable for cultivation in Dera Ismail Khan and other parts of the country with similar environmental conditions.

The moisture permeability of sandy soils in the unsaturated moisture content regime has been studied. The intensity of moisture conductivity was measured at certain values of the current moisture. It is shown that the expansion of the range of unsaturated soil moisture makes it possible to determine the point of break in the monotony of the curve of simulation of moisture permeability due to the rupture of the capillary connection. The mathematical model of moisture permeability that takes into account the soil porosity is presented.

This article presents a stationary field test on light clay loam conducted to study the influence of organic and mineral fertilizers and their combinations on the fertility and productivity of this soil. The efficiency of using organic (PMC of 80 t/ha) and mineral (NPK) fertilizers in combination is shown for a sixfield crop rotation. The average crop yield of potato, annual grass, and perennial grass for two crop rotation phases was 3.9, 4.4, and 6.6 t/ha of dry matter, respectively. The fertilizers, especially organic-mineral ones, contributed to the increase in starch content in potato to 13–13.6% (11.6% in the reference sample) as well as the increase in crude protein content in annual and perennial grass to 14.4 and 15.2%, respectively (10.3 and 11.6% in the control sample). It has been noted that organic and organic-mineral fertilizer systems produce a positive effect on the organic matter content in soil.

State and reclamation efficiency of forest shelterbelts on an area of 122800 ha in Krasnodar krai were studied. Dense ripe and overmature shelterbelts of Robinia, ash, and three-throned acacia that protect 30–46% of the interstrip field area are predominant. District division of the region on protective forestation of seedbed, whose average magnitude is 2.9%, is proposed. Creation of 105000 ha of shelterbelts is needed to enhance their efficiency. Protective seedbed shelterbeds of 5.4% size is proven.

The response of the pancreas to the use of the poorly hydrolysable ingredients (wheat bran and sunflower meal) in the mixed feed diet was shown under the conditions of the chronic experiments on chickens. The proteolytic enzyme activity decreases by 22–36% as compared to the control because of a 10% decrease in the dietary crude protein level. The lipase activity increases by 17–26% due to an increase in the dietary crude fat content, while the amylase activity remains significantly unchanged with an increase in the dietary amount of nonstarch polysaccharides. The process of the pancreatic adaptation to the new dietary feed generally occurs through a change in the activity of pancreatic enzymes rather than the volume of pancreatic juice. This can indicate the fine adjustment of the digestive system to any change in feed quality.

The results of the preclinical studies of the experimental samples of the prototype immune-biological preparation (Rabies DNA Vaccine) based on the rabies virus glycoprotein genome fragment modified with the signal sequences have been reported. The LD₅₀ values were planned to have been estimated using the results of the observations 24 h, 7 days, and 14 days after the drug administration; however, it appeared impossible to make any calculations because of the low toxicity of the preparation; thus, the vaccine was delivered at the maximum dose comprising 2 g/kg. The intensive growth rates in mice and rabbits confirmed the absence of the toxic effects of the tested preparations on the animal organisms. The live weight at the end of the experiment did not decrease as compared to the initial live weight. The complete blood count and biochemical tests in mice and rabbits did not reveal any deviations from the norm. The internal organs were flexible and have an elastic consistence; no significant statistical difference in the weights of the mouse internal organs (liver and brain) was ascertained. In the histological material, no pathomorphological changes of the organ cells were revealed.

The ionic composition of the of the intracellular content of the alcohol yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae R. 1039 biomass was studied for confirmation of their use perspectiveness as a mediator to enable the management the mineral content of food in the manufacture of food and feed additives. The ionic composition of the obtained extracts were identified using the method of capillary electrophoresis. It is found that the quantitative ion content in the cell extracts depends on the concentration of the nutrient medium. When the yeast S. cerevisiae R. 1039 was cultivated on the medium with the soluble solids concentration of 30%, the intracellular ion content in the extracts was 1.3 times higher than when the yeast was cultivated on 12% wort by increasing the concentration of chlorides, sulfates, formates, potassium ions, and calcium. The yield of the yeast S. cerevisiae R. 1039 biomass increased 1.6 times per unit of volume of the medium with increase of the soluble solids concentrations from 12% to 30%.

High-efficient volatile inhibitors are offered for protection against corrosion of steel agricultural equipment located on livestock premises in the atmosphere with the relative humidity of approximating 100% and containing the maximum allowable concentration of the corrosion stimulants—CO₂, NH₃, H₂S—for these conditions. It is shown using the method of the weight corrosion tests and electrochemical potentiodynamic measurements that, in the presence of up to 25 mg/m³ of CO₂, the IFKhAN-8, IFKhAN-112, and IFKhAN-118 volatile inhibitors of new generation permitted the almost complete suppression of the corrosion of the carbon steel St3. In the presence of these inhibitors in the atmosphere containing up to 20 mg/m³ of H₂S and 100% relative humidity, the rate of the general corrosion of this steel is reduced 30 times and more. Only in the presence of up to 30 mg/m³ of ammonia in the maximum humid atmosphere is the corrosion suppressed two times. In the latter case, it is most reasonable to use the IFKhAN-112 volatile inhibitor with the pressure of the saturated vapor of 0.133 Pa.