Sorghum downy mildew (SDM) caused by Peronosclerospora sorghi is a major constraint, which drastically affects maize production and productivity. Conventional breeding approaches to resolve the problem through evolving resistant varieties has resulted in limited success due to the longer breeding cycle. In order to exploit marker assisted selection (MAS) approach for developing resistant varieties, there is a paucity of information on markers linked with the trait. We report here the strategy for identification of markers linked to SDM resistance by selective genotyping, a first crucial step towards selection of resistant lines through MAS. The mapping population of maize Recombinant Inbred lines (158) of UMI 79 and UMI 936 (w) was developed and screened for their resistance levels, both in the field and glasshouse conditions, by spreader row technique and seedling spray inoculation technique, respectively. A total of 35 SSRs, 6 reported to be linked to SDM disease resistance QTL earlier with 29 other SSRs located on chromosome 3 was surveyed for parental polymorphism. Interestingly, of the six markers reported earlier, four were found polymorphic for the parents used in the present study also along with nine other markers. Through phenotypic screening, extreme phenotypes comprising of seven each of resistant and susceptible RILs, were selected and used for selective genotyping employing the polymorphic markers. Among the 13 markers surveyed, an SSR marker bnlg420 showed co-segregation with SDM resistant lines which proves to be a potential tag for introgression of the SDM resistant trait in UMI79 background.

The adoption rate of commercially available Solar Water Heating System (SWHS) is low due to high initial investment. The use of copper in commercial SWHS increases the cost of the system. In place of copper the use of stainless steel and aluminum foil in the fabrication of solar water heater offers a reduction of material and fabrication costs. Based on the hypothesis, a Low Cost Solar Water Heating System (LCSWHS) of 100 lit/day capacity was designed and developed at the College of Renewable Energy and Environmental Engineering, SDAU, Sardarkrushinagar. Black color coated SS-202 pipes had been used for header and riser and black color coated aluminum foil has been used for the absorption of solar radiation. The average thermal efficiency of developed system was obtained 50% , which was directly proportional to the insolation intensity. The total fabrication cost of LCSWHS was Rs. 9900/- which was cheaper in comparison to commercial flat plate type system. The cost of heating one liter of water with LCSWHS was Rs. 0.09577/- while it was Rs. 0.16050/- for commercial flat plate type system. The use of LCSWHS can save Rs. 1551 /- per year over the traditional system of SWHS.

In this study, we evaluated a mega rice variety, Swarna-Sub1 improved for drought tolerance under submergence and drought stress condition. In submergence evaluation, rice lines having DTY2.1 and DTY3.1 locus showed intolerance response alone or in the presence of Sub1 locus. But, Swarna-Sub1 showed 100% survival rate in the absence of DTY QTLs to submergence stress. In drought evaluation, we found that rice lines with DTY loci showed enhanced drought tolerance in the presence of Sub1 locus like delayed leaf rolling and the highest rate of seed setting as compared to rice lines having only Sub1 or DTY locus. Furthermore, in gene expression analysis, expression of drought-inducible genes (DREB1A, SalT, LIP9, LEA3, Rab16A) was found strongly in rice lines having both Sub1 and DTY combination rather than single locus. In protein profile, we found rice lines having both Sub1 and DTY locus showed an increased amount of protein level as compared to lines having only DTY locus. The or These results support that thus improved Swarna-Sub1 variety for drought tolerance can be used in rain-fed lowland and upland areas where incidence of submergence and drought stress occurs subsequently.

To obtain the irrigation water threshold salinity levels of different vegetables crops, i.e. Okra, Tomato and Brinjal for achieving 90, 75 and 50 % normal yield levels as well as to study the changes in soil salinity levels an experiment was conducted in an area of 35X27.5 sq.m through drip irrigation in the saline water scheme, Bapatla. Data on different parameters of the experiments related to the root growth, plant height, salinity levels and yield response under different salinity levels of irrigation water are collected. Among the various irrigation treatments followed, the yields of Okra were significantly different and maximum yield was observed in fresh water treatment (0.5 dSm-1) and corresponding reduction of 7.6 %, 45 % and 68 % in yield under 2 dSm-1, 4 dSm-1and 6 dSm-1treatments respectively. In case of Tomato the corresponding reduction in yield was 3.94 %, 28 % and 48 %, respectively, whereas for Brinjal the corresponding values were 9.1 %, 31 % and 76 % respectively.

A plethora of literature exist regarding the health benefits of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) to man. Human evolution passed through a stage where ω-3: A plethora of literature exists regarding the health benefits of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) to man. Human evolution passed through a stage where ω-3: ω-6 PUFA ratio was 1 but with modernization this ratio has decreased in favour of ω-6 PUFA with attendant increases in inflammatory diseases. This review therefore focused on the importance of tilapia as a food fish in human diets and a cursory look at the metabolism of PUFA as well as existing protocols for incorporation in the flesh of tilapia and other food animals with a view to understanding protocols for increased incorporation in tilapia flesh as well as expected benefits. Dietary supplementation ω-3 PUFA: docosahexaenoic acid and eicosa pentaenoic acid (DHA and EPA), as found in fish oil, have been shown to decrease plasma triacylglycerols in humans, which helps to prevent atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. Vegetable lipid sources in the diets of fish hold promise for sparing fish oil, which is currently a subject of debate between aqua culturists, scientists and conservationists. Linseed oil shows greater promise as a lipid feed constituent with ability to provide required ω-3 PUFA in muscle and plasma of fish with the possibility of transfer to man in the diets of fish.

The mechanization of direct sowing pre germinated paddy via drum seeders has been introduced by various institutes those have 20 cm row spacing which covers 8 rows at a time. In many forums farmers are requesting for drum seeder with either 25 or 30 cm for ease of inter cultivation. The present experiment was carried out for fabrication and evaluation of 4 row drum seeder with 25 and 30 cm spacing in the same implement during kharif 2013. The calibration of drum seeder was carried out in the laboratory and the seed rate of 37.99 and 33.33 kg/ha was achieved with the 25 and 30 cm row spacing’s respectively. From the field evaluation the field capacity of 25 cm row spacing was observed that 0.07 kg/ha with the field efficiency of 77.41 per cent at the seed rate of 38 kg/ha whereas the field capacity of 30 cm row spacing was 0.08 ha/h with the field efficiency of 76.16 per cent at the seed rate of 33.85 kg/ha was observed. Maximum tillers of 561/ m2 and panicles of 509 / m2 were recorded with 30 cm spacing whereas the tillers of 491/ m2 and panicles of 440/ m2 were recorded for 25 cm row spacing. Rice sown with 30 cm drum seeder recorded grain yield of 5820 kg/ha, and 5588 kg/ha for 25 cm row spacing. The operating cost for 25 cm and 30 cm row spacing is Rs. 1820.79 per ha and 1598.26 per ha respectively. From the results 30 cm row spacing has got more yield and less operating cost which is more economical and suitable for farmers.

The northeast region of India is blessed with rich aquatic resources. More than 95% of the population are fish eaters and there is huge demand for fish. In order to fill the gap between supply and demand, efforts for aquaculture expansion both in horizontal and vertical direction is indispensable. Diversification of aquaculture with proper consideration of socio-cultural aspect in addition to environmental and economical will be beneficial. Policy makers should accord traditional knowledge on fish and fisheries while structuring framework for sustainable development in aquaculture.

Total factor productivity is the multifactor productivity it is a true measure of economic efficiency. It is computed as the ratio of an index of aggregate output to an index of aggregate inputs. Growth in TFP is therefore the growth in total output less than the total increase in inputs. The present study measures trends in production and total factor Productivity growth of sugarcane crop in sub-sector of Maharashtra State. The compound growth rates and Cuddy Della instability index were used for studying trends, the Tornquist-Theil chained Divisia index approach was applied for the measurement of total factor productivity using output and input data of sugarcane crop. Farm-level data on yield, level of inputs use and their prices for the period 1989-90 to 2008-09 were collected from the state funded cost of cultivation scheme. The multi-variable model was estimated to know the determinants of total factor productivity growth by assuming total factor productivity as the dependent variable. Beside the double sown area, other explanatory variables include the total amount of the loan, net cropped area, area under irrigation, area under high yielding variety, annual rainfall, villages electrified, the number of tractors, number of pump sets, road density were also considered. The results indicated that though an area and production of sugarcane crop increased productivity growth was very less in Marathwada as well as in the Maharashtra region. There was no substantial growth recorded in sugarcane output in the region. Use of chemical fertilizers viz nitrogen 1.53 %, phosphorous 2.92 %, potash 11.33 % and the number of irrigations 10.96 % in sugarcane cultivation, increased in the region. Use of other inputs fluctuated around some constant mean value over the period. There is a growth in total factor productivity of sugarcane crop of sub sector in Maharashtra state. Area under irrigation, area under high yielding varieties, a number of tractors and road density had a positive and significant impact on total factor productivity of sugarcane crop in Maharashtra

Along with agricultural practices, fish farming is one of the main occupations of the north eastern state of India. In the present study, Cachar district of Assam has been selected for studying an optimal pattern of fish farming. Cachar district is one of the poorer areas of Assam. Tea plantation along with fish farming is a source of livelihood of the people of this region. A comprehensive survey for the fish farm size and the respective production has been done in the present study. The collected data is then studied using cluster analysis. Cluster analysis has been done using Fuzzy C-mean Clustering. During this analysis, the data have been studied for single fuzzy c-mean cluster centre, double fuzzy, c-mean cluster centre and triple fuzzy, c-mean cluster centre. The results suggest that single fuzzy, c-mean cluster centre analysis is the best analysis as far as cluster analysis is concerned. Thus, the annual production of the study area can be clustered in a single group and the cluster centre is located at annual production of 900 kilograms per hectare for farm size of 0.54 hectare.

The aim of this study was an attempt to identify the polymorphic product, which is characteristic of haploid maize lines, produced by inductor fertilisation. The plant material used for the research consisted of 6 haploid lines of maize produced by pollination with an inductor, which had an anthocyanin marker on the seeds, and it also consisted of 3 diploid forms. The ploidy level of the lines of suspected haploids under analysis was verified by means of a flow cytometer and cytological investigations. 280 oligonucleotide primers were tested in the research. On the basis of RAPD-PCR reactions one characteristic PCR product differentiating haploid from diploid plants was identified.. Probably this product is related with the R1–nj gene expression. The gene is responsible for generation of the anthocyanin pigment in the embryo and endosperm of haploid maize forms and it may be the genetic marker of the trait under analysis.