Tariq Ahmad Dar

Use of N and P biofertilizers reduces inorganic phosphorus application and increases nutrient uptake, yield, and seed quality of chickpea

Leguminous crops suffer severely in soils poor in phosphorus. A 2-factor factorial experiment was conducted in a net-house to explore the effect of graded levels of P fertilizer (0, 30, and 60 kg P ha-1 or P0, P30, and P60, respectively) together with rhizobium (biological nitrogen fertilizer (BNF)) and/or phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (biological phosphorus fertilizer (BPF)) in terms of nutrient uptake, yield, and quality of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Phosphorus was applied as basal dose, while seeds were treated with respective biofertilizer(s) before sowing according to the treatments [BF0 (control), BNF, BPF, and BNF+BPF]. Concerning the main effects, P60 proved superior or equivalent to P30, while among the biofertilizer treatments, BNF+BPF gave the greatest values for nutrient uptake as well as for yield and quality parameters. The interaction between P levels and biofertilizer treatments was generally significant. 30 kg P ha-1 applied with N and P biofertilizers (P30 × BNF+BPF) was the most profitable interaction for N uptake as well as for yield and quality characteristics. Compared to P60 applied alone (P60 × BF0), P30 × BNF+BPF resulted in greater N uptake (27.3%), seed yield (21.1%), and the content of seed protein (2.9%) and carbohydrate (5.6%). Furthermore, P30 × BNF+BPF was statistically equal to P60 × BNF+BPF with regard to N uptake, seed yield, and protein content as well as for most yield components. Thus, P30 × BNF+BPF saved 30 kg P ha-1 of the costly inorganic P fertilizer to achieve the greatest crop yield and quality.

Radiolytically depolymerized sodium alginate improves physiological activities, yield attributes and composition of essential oil of Eucalyptus citriodora Hook

Eucalyptus citriodora Hook. is highly valued for its citronellal-rich essential oil (EO) extracted from its leaves. Hence, escalated EO production of eucalyptus is the need of hour. Marine polysaccharides (sodium alginate) are processed through gamma radiation of particular intensity, to obtain the irradiated sodium alginate (ISA). A pot experiment was conducted to study the effect of foliar application of ISA on growth, biochemical, physiological, EO yield and composition of E. citriodora. The treatments were applied as: foliar spray of deionized water only (control), seed soaked with ISA (90 mg L(-1)) and foliar spray of ISA with 30, 60, 120 and 240 mg L(-1). The treatment 6 (spray of ISA at 120 mg L(-1)) showed the highest value for most of the parameters studied. It also enhanced the EO content (33.3%), EO yield (86.7%), citronellal content (63.4%) and citronellal yield (205.5%) as compared to the control.

Effect of Co-60 gamma irradiated chitosan and phosphorus fertilizer on growth, yield and trigonelline content of Trigonella foenum-graecum L.

Abstract Natural marine polysaccharides such as chitosan, sodium alginate and carrageenan; after depolymerization by different techniques, have shown promising plant growth promoting and other biological activities. Chitosan after irradiation with Co-60 gamma-rays have proven to be a miraculous plant growth promoter in different plants. Trigonelline; an anti-diabetic compound is obtained mainly from the seeds of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.). Trigonelline counteracts diabetes mellitus (DM) through the operation of the mechanisms of insulin secretion, modulation of β-cell regeneration and stimulation of activity of glucose metabolism related enzymes. Considering the medicinal importance a pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of foliar application of Co-60 gamma irradiated chitosan (IC) with soil applied phosphorus supplement on growth, biochemical and quality attributes of fenugreek. Four concentrations of irradiated chitosan were used (0, 40, 80 and 120mgL−1) individually as well as in combination with single dose of phosphorus 40kgha−1. Un-irradiated chitosan (UN) 40mgL−1 and de-ionized water were used as control. IC significantly affected almost all the parameters including seed yield, trigonelline content and trigonelline yield. There were 10 treatments and among all, P40+IC 40mgL−1 proved to be the best, which increased total alkaloid content by 34.9%, seed yield by 125.4%, and trigonelline content by 17.8%. Contents of photosynthetic pigments and activity of nitrate reductase, carbonic anhydrase enzymes were also significantly enhanced.

Cumulative effect of gibberellic acid and phosphorus on crop productivity, biochemical activities and trigonelline production in Trigonella foenum-graecum L.

Abstract Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) is an antidiabetic plant. Its bioactive compound, trigonelline, is known to counter diabetes through insulin secretion, modulation of β cell regeneration and quick activity of glucose metabolism related enzymes. A pot experiment was conducted in the natural conditions of net house of the Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh (UP), India, to evaluate the effect of four concentrations of GA3 (0, 10−7 M, 10−6 M and 10−5 M), alone and in combination with phosphorus (40 kg P ha−1), on growth, biochemical and yield attributes of fenugreek. Compared to control, the combination of GA3 and phosphorus (P40 + 10−6 M GA3) significantly increased the activities of nitrate reductase (30.8%) and carbonic anhydrase (30.7%) enzymes; it also enhanced the seed yield (140.6%) and the content of total chlorophyll (28.5%) and carotenoids (26%). There was also significant increase (19.51%) in the content of seed trigonelline.

Recent Trends in Jasmonate Signaling Pathway

Jasmonates (JA) are a new class of plant hormones that has recently been worked out regulating the interweaving plant responses against invading microbes, herbivores, mechanical damage, and other environmental stresses. Their interactions are extensive working at the forefront of root or shoot tissues through volatile regulators, or they are regulated interdependently through the cross talk of other established growth regulators. Jasmonates, the product of octadecanoid pathway, have recently emerged as a versatile regulator of plant physiological and defense responses after salicylates. Most of the components of their signaling pathway have been identified through mutant studies. A progress towards the interaction of JA with other phytohormones is underway. Present review sheds the light on the recent progress made in identification and working mechanism of jasmonate receptor complex, its downstream signaling pathway, and the molecular interaction of its components with the signaling pathways of some other plant hormones.

Changes in growth, yield, photosynthetic characteristics, enzyme activities and essential oil production of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) under growth regulator treatments

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) belongs to the Apiaceae family. It is a high value medicinal and essential oil bearing crop used in pharmaceutical, food and cosmetic industries. Keeping the medicinal as well as economic importance of this herb in mind, a pot experiment was carried out under the net house conditions of the Botanical Garden, Fort, AMU, Aligarh. The experiment was conducted using a randomized block design with four replications. This study was conducted to assess the effects of triacontanol (TRIA) alone and in combination with gibberellic acid (GA3) on growth characteristics, photosynthetic parameters, some other physiological and biochemical attributes, composition and yield of essential oil of fennel. At 30 days after sowing, the plants were sprayed with either TRIA or with different combination of TRIA and GA3. Among the treatments, foliar spray of 10−6 TRIA + 10−6 GA3 significantly promoted the values for most of the growth, physiological and biochemical attributes as well as for essential oil composition and yield attributes. It was concluded that a combined spray of TRIA and GA3 (10−6 TRIA + 10−6 GA3) might be highly effective for increased productivity and essential oil composition of fennel.