ABSTRACT
Crops are facing heat stress because of rapid climate change caused by global warming. We examined these issues in sunflower by exposing the plants growing with mean maximum temperature of 32.2oC (sowing to flowering) and 36.1oC (flowering to harvest) at normal temperature (S1) and 35.3oC (sowing to flowering) and 38.3 oC (flowering to harvest) at high temperatures (S2) by staggered sowings. Antioxidative responses of sunflower were also explored by studying the Superoxide dismutase, Catalase, Peroxidises and Ascorbate peroxidise activities. A significant increase was observed in antioxidant enzyme activities under high temperature stress. The final oil composition proved to be sensitive to the timing of heat stress and reduced (13%) by high temperatures. Some innovative steps should be taken on an emergency basis to prepare plants for such stressful conditions.
ABSTRACT
The present study was conducted to assess the incidence of defoliator pests of groundnut in three different staggered sowings. The experiment was laid with three treatments and seven replications which was carried out at RARS (Regional Agricultural Research Station), Palem, Nagarkurnool district, Telangana state which is having hot and dry climate. The data has been correlated with various weather parameters, including Maximum temperature, Maximum temperature, RH-I and RH-II. The variety K-6 was grown in three staggered sowings (D1: 1st Oct; D2: 15th Oct; D3: 1st Nov). There was a less population of leaf miner during D1 the correlation studies revealed that tobacco caterpillar showed a non-significant negative correlation with the Tmax ºC (r= -0.233) and a significant positive correlation with Tmin ºC (r= 0.370) and RH-? (r=0.640). whereas gram caterpillar showed a positive significant correlation to Tmax (r= 0.256) and Tmin (r= 0.097) and a negative significant correlation towards RH-? (r= -0.186) and RH-? (r= -0.501).