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Cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill.) can survive extreme environmental condition and is known for its fodder potential in many parts of the world. The morphological diversity of 15 introduced accessions was evaluated at Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India. The plants were established in 2013. Survival and nutrient status were evaluated after two years. Above-ground plant height, biomass, primary and secondary cladode numbers, primary and secondary cladode lengths and below-ground root length, weight, and surface area measurements were done six years after cladode planting. Yellow San Cono, White Roccapalumba, and Seedless Roccapalumba survived 100%. The discriminant traits according to principal component analysis were: primary cladodes plant−1 (component loading, 0.87), primary cladodes biomass (0.95), secondary cladodes plant−1 (0.83), canopy width (0.84), and plant biomass (0.92). Hierarchical cluster analysis grouped 15 accessions into two main clusters based on 17 morphological traits. Cluster I showed favorable values for many above- and below-ground morphological traits while Cluster II showed higher performance for root system width, height, and biomass, and primary and secondary cladode numbers. The results indicate that cactus pear accessions have considerable morphological variability and genetic diversity suitable for promotion as alternative fodder resources in semi-arid regions of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Whiteflies not only damage plants directly, they also transmit phytopathogenic viruses. To facilitate whitefly studies, we made microcages from a microcentrifuge tube with a ring-shaped base of muslin and sealed the base to a leaf using wheat gum. Whitefly retention in the cages was high, leaf surfaces were not damaged during the experiment, no external support was required to hold the cages in place, and the cages worked on other crop plants. Acquisition and inoculation efficiency for begomoviruses, mungbean yellow mosaic India virus and tomato leaf curl Karnataka virus was higher in microcages than in macrocages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mungbean is one of the important food legumes in the Indian–sub-continent. Yellow mosaic disease, caused by Mungbean yellow mosaic virus and Mungbean yellow mosaic India virus (MYMIV) poses a severe threat to its production. Agroinoculation has been the most preferred way to test the function of genomic components of these viruses. However, the available inoculation methods are not as efficient as whitefly transmission, thereby limiting their usage for screening and biological studies. We hereby report an efficient and reproducible agroinoculation method for achieving maximum (100%) efficiency using tandem repeat infectious agro-constructs of DNA A and DNA B of MYMIV. The present study targeted wounding of various meristematic tissues of root, shoot, parts of germinating seeds and also non-meristematic tissue of stem to test the suitable tissue types for maximum infection. Among the various tissues selected for, the inoculation on the epicotyl region showed maximum infectivity. Further, to enhance the infectivity of MYMIV, different concentrations of acetosyringone, incubation time and Agrobacterium cell density were also standardized. The incubation of wounded sprouted seeds in 1.0 OD of agroculture containing repeat construct of MYMIV for 2–4 h without acetosyringone followed by sowing in soil showed maximum infection of MYMIV within 10–12 days on the first trifoliate leaf. This standardized method is reproducible and has potential to screen germplasm lines and will be useful in mungbean biological/virological studies and breeding programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mungbean is one of the important food legumes in the Indian–sub-continent. Yellow mosaic disease, caused by Mungbean yellow mosaic virus and Mungbean yellow mosaic India virus (MYMIV) poses a severe threat to its production. Agroinoculation has been the most preferred way to test the function of genomic components of these viruses. However, the available inoculation methods are not as efficient as whitefly transmission, thereby limiting their usage for screening and biological studies. We hereby report an efficient and reproducible agroinoculation method for achieving maximum (100%) efficiency using tandem repeat infectious agro-constructs of DNA A and DNA B of MYMIV. The present study targeted wounding of various meristematic tissues of root, shoot, parts of germinating seeds and also non-meristematic tissue of stem to test the suitable tissue types for maximum infection. Among the various tissues selected for, the inoculation on the epicotyl region showed maximum infectivity. Further, to enhance the infectivity of MYMIV, different concentrations of acetosyringone, incubation time and Agrobacterium cell density were also standardized. The incubation of wounded sprouted seeds in 1.0 OD of agroculture containing repeat construct of MYMIV for 2–4 h without acetosyringone followed by sowing in soil showed maximum infection of MYMIV within 10–12 days on the first trifoliate leaf. This standardized method is reproducible and has potential to screen germplasm lines and will be useful in mungbean biological/virological studies and breeding programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Degenerating soil properties, low diversification, and productivity are the major issues for keeping large areas as fallow after rainy season rice (Oryza sativa L.) in Southeast Asia. Long‐duration rice cultivars along with conventional till farming and lack of irrigation facilities limit the chances of growing succeeding crops like pulses in rice fallow areas. Therefore, a field study was conducted to test the hypothesis that cultivating short‐duration rice and lentil (Lens culinaris Medic.) cultivars along with residue retention through mulching or standing rice stubble under no‐till (NT) farming for lentil can enhance the productivity in rice fallow areas and improve economic returns from the cropping system by conserving soil moisture and improving soil properties and carbon stocks. Two rice cultivars (namely, Shahsarang‐1: high yielding and medium duration; and Mendri: local, low yielding, and long‐duration variety), two high biomass lentil varieties (DPL‐81: early duration and IPL‐406: medium duration), and three rice residue management practices (namely, residue removal, 20 cm standing stubble, and mulching at 5 Mg ha−1 in lentil) were tested in the rice–lentil system. After harvest of rainy season rice, lentil was sown under NT using a manually operated furrow opener. Results of a 3‐year study revealed that rice residue retention as mulch at 5 Mg ha−1 and 20 cm standing stubbles (~2 Mg ha−1) conserved residual soil moisture and recorded significantly lower bulk density (1.10 and 1.09 Mg m−3), increased water‐holding capacity (57.05% and 55.14%), and improved water infiltration rate (3.47 and 3.30 cm hr−1) compared to residue removal. Soil organic carbon (SOC), soil microbial biomass carbon, dehydrogenase enzyme activity, available nitrogen, and phosphorus contents at 0–15 cm soil depth were significantly higher by 7.2%–11.1%, 3.9%–6.8%, 4.1%–6.7%, 2.7%–6.4%, and 2.7%–8.0%, respectively, under standing rice stubbles/mulching than residue removal. The SOC stock (25.3 Mg ha‐1) under mulching was significantly higher than that recorded under residue removal at 0–15 cm (23.4 Mg ha−1) and remained non‐significant at 15–30 cm depth. A significantly higher mean seed yield of lentil was obtained under mulching (1.68 Mg ha−1) and standing stubbles (1.49 Mg ha−1) than that under removal (1.27 Mg ha−1). Average productivity of lentil (1.53 Mg ha−1) after medium‐duration rice variety Shahsarang‐1 was greater than that grown after local long‐duration rice variety Mendri (1.43 Mg ha−1). The mean seed yield of early lentil variety DPL‐81 grown after medium‐duration rice was significantly higher (1.60 Mg ha−1) than medium‐duration lentil variety IPL‐406 (1.36 Mg ha−1). Thus, cultivating medium‐duration rice (Shahsarang‐1) followed by early‐duration lentil variety (DPL‐81) and rice residue retention either through mulching or standing rice stubble is recommended for improving soil properties, carbon stock, and productivity of lentil in rice fallow areas of the Eastern Himalayan region of India and other similar agro‐ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is highly sensitive to land use change and helps in maintaining soil quality. Changes in soil fertility status, SOC dynamics, and carbon indices were studied in a four-year experiment with nine sets of food-fodder cropping systems (CS) and three resource conservation techniques like rainfed (RC1), life saving irrigation (RC2) and in-situ moisture conservation practices (RC3). Results showed that the CS5 [Tri-Specific Hybrid (TSH) + Desmanthus virgatus+ (Sorghum + Cowpea – Chickpea)] recorded the highest values 12.25 g kg−1, 41.5 mg kg−1, 3.5 g kg−1, 289.5 mg kg−1, 424.8 µg g−1 soil, 54.69% and 39.31% of total carbon (TC), hot water-soluble carbon (HWSC), particulate organic carbon (POC), labile carbon (LC), soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), humic acid carbon (HA-C) and fulvic acid carbon (FA-C), respectively. Among resources conservation practices, RC3 improved the SOC (56.16%) and other carbon fractions significantly as compared to RC1. Significant and positive correlations (P < 0.05) were found between carbon pools and available nutrients. The carbon management index (CMI) was also maximum (193) with CS5 and CS9 [TSH + Sesbania sesban+ (Sorghum + Cowpea – Barley)] and RC3 (232). Therefore, promoting cultivation of food-fodder system with in-situ moisture conservation practices is considered as sustainable management option for sequester more carbon, sustainability and soil quality in rainfed semi-arid ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low productivity and energy use efficiency (EUE) of rice farming are the major concerns for agricultural sustainability in the Eastern Himalayan region of India. A field experiment on rice (Oryza sativa L.)-pea (Pisum sativum L) system was conducted for three consecutive years during 2012–15 in lowland ecosystem to assess the direct and residual impact of tillage and residue management (RM) practises on productivity and sustainability. Significantly higher grain yield of rice was achieved under no-till (NT) than minimum tillage (MT) and conventional tillage (CT). Among RM practises, 50% NPK + green leaf manure, 50% NPK + weed biomass and 50% NPK + in-situ residue retention recorded significantly higher mean grain yields than application of 50% NPK and 100% NPK without residues. Residual effect of MT in preceding rice gave significantly higher green pod yield of succeeding pea than NT and CT. The system EUE was significantly higher under MT (rice)-NT (pea) compared to those of NT-NT and CT-NT systems. The sustainable yield index of rice and pea was maximum under MT-NT followed by NT-NT. Thus, NT/MT with suitable RM practises is a pertinent strategy for sustainable productivity of rice-pea system in the Eastern Himalayas and in similar adjoining regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hedgerow or alley cropping is being advocated for sustainable land productivity and improved soil health in the developing world. The suitable food-fodder species grown on bed and furrow system with soil moisture conservation practices need to be adopted for the success of alley cropping under rainfed semi-arid region. A field experiment was conducted during 2013–2016 to assess different food-fodder based alley cropping systems with resource conservation practices (RCP) for enhancing productivity, economic returns and energetics. The perennial Pennisetum tri-specific hybrid (TSH) grass and legume shrubs were planted on a raised bed of 1.5 m wide. One row of shrub was planted in the middle of the bed along with two rows of TSH grass on both side of the shrub row. The seasonal crops were grown in furrow (2.2 m) placed between two beds (1.5 m). In RCP, one supplement irrigation treatments to crops were given i.e. one pre-sowing irrigation (rabi) + other irrigation as per theoretical calculation i.e. 30% of total rainfall—ET losses. In-situ moisture conservation practices include residue retention (stubble height 15 cm + mulching (green weed biomass + litterfall) in furrows. The result indicates that among woody perennials, Sesbania sesban as a hedgerow was superior to Desmanthus virgatus but found at par with Leucaena leucocephala in terms of DM production. Furthermore, TSH grass grown on the side of woody legumes produced about 15–20 Mg DM ha−1 across the treatment per year. The grain yield of the annual crops was in the order of barley > chickpea > pigeonpea across the years and not significantly influenced by perennial components. The highest system productivity (112.2 Mg ha−1) was found under TSH + S. sesban + (sorghum + cowpea–barley) cropping systems leading to higher net monetary returns (US$ 1430 ha−1). While alley cropping with sorghum + pigeonpea was the lowest yielder. Among resource conservation practices, one supplement irrigation and in-situ soil moisture conservation treatments were comparable and produced about 12–14% higher yield than control. The TSH + S. sesban + (sorghum + cowpea–barley) cropping system accumulated highest bio-energy (497 GJ ha−1) but maximum value of energy use efficiency was computed in TSH + Sesbania + (sorghum + pigeonpea). The soil organic carbon was enhanced substantially under 4 years of hedgerow systems over antecedent level. Findings of this study suggest that TSH + S. sesban hedgerow system grown in bed with seasonal crops (sorghum + cowpea–chickpea) in furrow could improve food and fodder production, ensure green fodder availability during dry season and sustain natural resources in rainfed semi-arid agro-ecologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Majority areas remain fallow after rice harvest in Lower Himalayas of India. • Effect of tillage and rice residue management were assessed on lentil. • Conservation tillage improved some physical, chemical and biological soil properties. • Residue retention and 40 cm standing stubble improved soil moisture content. • Residue retention enhanced root length, surface area and root volume of lentil. Large areas in North Eastern Region (NER) of India remain fallow (approx. 2.50 million hectare) after the rainy season (June-October) rice (Oryza sativa L.) could be cultivated in succession with winter pulses like lentil (Lens esculentum L.) on residual soil moisture. Growing short-duration lentil cultivars under no-till (NT) and mulch rice may limit the pulse drought stress. A 2-year study (2011–2013) was conducted in terraced land of Meghalaya, India (950 m ASL), involving rice-lentil cropping system to evaluate on soil and legume parameters short-term impacts of three tillage management prior lentil crop i.e. no tillage (NT), minimum tillage (MT), conventional tillage (CT) and four residue management i.e. residue removal (RM), 20 cm standing rice stubble (20SS), 40 cm standing rice stubble (40SS) and mulch @ 5 Mg ha−1] and two lentil plant types [early and medium duration varieties: DPL 62 (Sheri) and DPL 15 (Priya), respectively]. Soil moisture content, water holding capacity and infiltration rate (IR) were higher in soil under mulch followed by 40 SS compared to 20SS and RM. The IR was significantly higher at lentil harvest for both in soil under NT in rice followed by NT in lentil (NT-NT) as compared to MT in rice followed by NT in lentil (MT-NT), and CT in rice followed by NT in lentil (CT-NT). The soil organic carbon (SOC) concentration, soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC) and dehydrogenase activities (DHA) were significantly higher in 0–15 cm soil depth under NT-NT and MT-NT as compared to CT-NT. On an average, significantly higher SOC (17.3 g kg−1), DHA (2.32 μg g−1 hr−1) and SMBC (79.5 μg g−1 dry soil) in 0–15 cm soil layer at harvest of lentil were obtained under mulch followed by 40 SS as compared to RM. Lentil leaves chlorophyll and relative water contents were significantly higher under mulch followed by that under 40SS than 20SS and RM. Total root length, surface area and root volume increased significantly under mulch compared with those under RM. Lentil grown with mulch and 40SS recorded significantly higher seeds per pod, pods per plant, 1000 seed weight and lentil seed yield than RM and 20SS. Lentil seed yield recorded under mulch was 66.6 and 36.5% higher than that under RM. We concluded that reduced tillage (MT/NT) and residue retention through mulch or 40SS could be adopted to reduce drought stress lentil constraints in rice successions while physical improving soil properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuberose flowers (Calcutta Single variety) valued as ornamentals globally, have short shelf-lives of 8 days at 4 ± 1 °C and are therefore discarded post senescence. Previous investigations from our laboratory have established that a combination treatment using GRAS preservatives [(sucrose (4%) and CaCl 2 (0.02%)]-cum-gamma-irradiation (0.02 kGy) could extend its shelf-life to 24 days, when stored at 4 ± 1 °C with concomitant enhancement in the content of its bioactive principle, viz. methyl eugenol. Supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO 2 ) extract of the tuberose flower wastes post combination treatment therefore had a higher methyl eugenol content (4.11 ± 0.05 µg/g), vis-à-vis its non-treated counterpart (2.03 ± 0.03 µg/g), and thus significantly higher antioxidant and antimicrobial potencies (MIC values of 1.83 ± 0.02 mg/ml and 1.98 ± 0.03 mg/ml against S. aureus ATCC 25923 strain and MDR strain, respectively). The microencapsulated powder of the extract (ME p ) obtained by spray drying was applied for healing of epidermal wounds created on New Zealand white rabbits, post skin irritancy test (wherein no clinical sign of toxicity, redness or swelling was observed). When ME p was applied, accelerated healing occurred which commenced on day 2 and was completed by day 6 vis-à-vis that of the control powder set (without extract) which showed no signs of wound healing. Therefore, the sensorially compromised-senesced tuberose flowers, a rich source of methyl eugenol, has been successfully valorized through utilization of the same in developing a novel topical antibiotic powder against potent skin pathogens., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)