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Rice (Oryza sativa), the prince among cereals is the premier food crop not only in India but world too (Chhabra, 2002). Long term fertilizer experiments revealed that neither chemical fertilizer nor organics alone can achieve sustainability in crop production. Modulin is a proprietary product of T. Stanes and Company Ltd. a foliar bio-stimulant for plants, with organic mineral activators, and presented in a soluble, easily absorbable and available form, is obtained through a fermentation process, from marine calcites. It is a suitable nutrient management system that is economic and eco-friendly for sustained productivity. The present field experiment was carried out at the Therkumangudi, Cuddalore district, to study the influence of Modulin as a foliar treatment on growth, yield and gene expression of calmodulin in rice along with lower NPK levels. The treatments comprised of T1 -Control (100% recommended dose of NPK (RDF) without Modulin); T2- 75% RDF + foliar applications of Modulin @ 1kg ha-1 at vegetative stage, panicle initiation and 5% heads/spikes formation stages, T3 - 75% RDF + foliar applications of Modulin @ 2 kg ha-1 at vegetative stage, panicle initiation and 5% heads/ spikes formation stages, T4- 100% RDF + foliar applications of Modulin @ 1kg ha-1 at vegetative stage, panicle initiation and 5% heads/ spikes formation stages and T5- 100% RDF + foliar applications of Modulin @ 2 kg ha-1 at vegetative stage, panicle initiation and, 5% heads/spikes formation stages. The study revealed that the 100 per cent RDF + foliar applications of Modulin @ 2 kg ha- 1 at vegetative stage, panicle initiation and 5% heads/ spikes formation stages (T5) significantly registered the highest values in growth and yield attributes. This treatment (T5) recorded highest BCR of Rs.3.25 followed by other treatments. In addition, Modulin increased the genetic expression of calmodulin genes, which regulates the plant growth and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implications of the dietary habit of Helicoverpa armigera on the virulence and infectivity of its nuclear polyhedrosis virus were examined in the laboratory by conducting three bioassays involving six different food regimes. Irrespective of the combination of food rations a significantly lower percentage mortality and higher time taken to kill the larvae were observed in cotton-fed and dosed larval groups over the others. Correlation and regression analysis was also found to be significant between biochemical factors and percentage mortality. A negative correlation between percentage mortality and biochemical factors like foliar pH, phenols, tannins and protein binding capacity and positive correlations between percentage mortality and gut passage time were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]