Biofertilizers and Inorganic Fertilizers Application Impact on Available Nutrients in Soil of Kharif Maize

A field experiment entitled “Biofertilizers and inorganic fertilizers application impact on available nutrients in soil of kharif maize” was conducted at Agriculture College Farm, Bapatla, during kharif of 2020-21. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design (RBD) with seven treatments and replicated thrice. The treatments consisted of T1- Control; T2- 100% RDF; T3- 125% RDF; T4 – 100% RDF +Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizae (VAM); T5- 100% RDF +VAM + Azospirillum + Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria (PSB); T6- 75 % RDF + VAM; T7- 75 % RDF + VAM + Azospirillum + PSB. We recorded the available macro nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) and micronutrients (zinc, iron, manganese and copper) of maize during the study. The results revealed that available nitrogen during kharif of 2020-21 was significantly (P < 0.05) higher with 125 % RDF (T3) that was on par with T5 (100% RDF + VAM + Azospirillum + PSB) and T4 (100% RDF + VAM). Higher available phosphorus and potassium were recorded in the treatment T5 and it was on par with T7, T3 and T4 at knee high, tasseling and harvest stage of maize. However, micronutrient status was higher with application of 100% RDF +VAM + Azospirillum + PSB but non-significant at all the growth stages of maize during both the years of study. The biofertilizers have to be applied side-by-side with inorganic fertilizers to improve nutrient availability and increased the fertility status of soil and productivity.

Phytochemical Analysis, Antioxidant And Hepatoprotective Activity Of Actiniopteris Radiata

Objective: The medicinal plants have been using to treat ailments since ancient times. The recent advances in science and technology impel humans to evaluate medicinal plants therapeutic efficiency and isolation of bioactive compounds in pure forms before their use in development of new drugs and their derivatives. But even now, abundant medicinal plants unevaluated scientifically. The current study was aimed to explore phytochemical constituents, antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of Actiniopteris radiata root parts. Methods: Standard procedures have been used to perform phytochemical analysis. Antioxidant activity was carried using In vitro methods on superoxide, hydroxyl, and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals. Hepatoprotective activity was studied by paracetamol-induced liver toxicity on WISTAR albino rats. The parameters assessed were Aspartate aminotransferase (SGOT/AST), Alanine aminotransferase (SGPT/ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total bilirubin levels. Results: The tested extracts (hexane, ethyl acetate, and hydro-alcoholic) possess biologically active compounds such as sterols, terpenoids, glycosides, phenolics, alkaloids, flavonoids. The hydro-alcoholic extract has more phenolic contents (24.28±0.3) and flavonoid contents (22.68±0.6). The extracts showed dose dependent activity on tested free radicals and extracts showed more percentage inhibition at 320µg. The hydro-alcoholic extract showed more percentage inhibition i.e. 71.00±2.08 on DPPH free radical, 79.67±1.20 on hydroxyl free radical and 80.33±1.20 on superoxide free radical. As antioxidant activity of hexane and ethyl acetate extracts was less and they also showed less percentage protection on liver toxicity, hydro-alcoholic extract showed more percentage protection on biomedical enzyme levels of liver toxicity at high concentration i.e., 400 mg/kg b.w. The percentage protection on the enhancement of AST (SGOT), ALT (SGPT), ALP, and total bilirubin levels were 82.24%, 82.14%, 84.18%, and 82.85% are significant (P<0.01) as Liv52 shown percentage protection on the enhancement of Aspartate aminotransferase (SGOT), alanine aminotransferase (SGPT), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total bilirubin levels were 93.58%, 92.83%, 94.67% and 93.57%. Conclusion: The current study was aimed to explore phytochemical constituents, antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of Actiniopteris radiata root parts extracts. The outcome of the current research results provides scientific evidence of the traditional usage of Actiniopteris radiata.

Micropropagation of Paulownia fortuneii through in vitro axillary shoot proliferation.

Primary cultures were established with nodal segments from juvenile shoots of two- year-old Paulownia fortuneii trees from a clonal plantation in Andhra Pradesh. A medium containing half-strength MS salts + RAP (1 mg/L) + sucrose (2%) produced optimum bud break in nodal explants. The same basal medium with reduced hormone level (0.5 mg/L) supported maximum multiplication of secondary cultures of P. fortuneii (1:6 in 6 weeks). Specific treatments were tested to enhance this rate of multiplication. In one approach, five to six week old in vitro grown shoots were ratooned (cutting the main shoot at the bottom leaving one node). The stumps (ratooned basal node) produced 2 to 3 axillary shoots, which grew into 4 to 5 nodes by 3 weeks; thus, providing additional shoots from the same explant. This provided 30% additional shoots in 4 cycles. Secondly, reducing the light intensity to 1200 lux resulted in higher shoot elongation, i.e, formation of 8 nodes in 5 weeks with healthier shoots than the normal intensity of 3000 lux under which only 6 nodes were produced in 6 weeks. In vitro-grown shoots could be successfully rooted ex vitro in vermiculite + cocopeat mixture (1:1 v/v) under 90% humidity, transferred to soil in polybags for hardening in the green house for 2 weeks and shifted to shade net for further hardening. After one month, the plants could be successfully transplanted to field with 95% survival. Micropropagated plants showed an excellent growth in the field attaining a height of 1.5 m and a collar diameter of 2.8 cm in 3 months.