Dietotherapeutic potency of ornamental lentil dumpling, a traditional food preparation from South West Bengal, India

Gahana bori (in Bengali) or ornamental lentil dumpling is a state-of-art preparation designed in the form of paisleys, ornaments or flowers, used as a decorative adjunct with the main dish.. Here, we have made an attempt to evaluate the dirtotherapeutic potency of this traditional preparation. The principal ingredient is the Vigna mungo (blackgram/ urad bean). In its preparation, the soaked bean is pasted and placed on a cloth piece having a central small pore. The fermented paste is squeezed onto the poppy seeds containing plate in such a way that it looks like an ornament. The sundried preparation is generally fried in oil and served along with the meal. For the first time, we have scientifically explored Gahana bori. The number of total aerobes, total anaerobes, yeast, mould, and LAB were increased during soaking. The contents of free phenolics and flavonoids were increased in the fermented paste and that also reflected by the higher in vitro DPPH antioxidant activity. The levels of B-group of vitamins particularly the quantity of riboflavin, thiamin, folic acid, vitamin B12, and vitamin C were also enriched in the products. The water extract of this product exhibited a notable antibacterial activity against enteropathogens. Thus, the lentil-based Gahana bori is not only improved the appearance or presentation of food product but also the same have a good health beneficial potentiality

Effect of waterlogging on physiological traits and yield in black gram (Vigna mungo L.) in field condition

Waterlogging is an important abiotic factor affecting crop productivity worldwide. Black gram (Vigna mungo L.) is very sensitive to waterlogged conditions. A field experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design to evaluate three black gram genotypes for waterlogging tolerance. Stress was imposed by maintaining the water level above the soil surface for 10 days after 30 days of sowing. Different physiological parameters including chlorophyll (Chl), chlorophyll fluorescence, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), sugars, along with the yield per plant and thousand grain weight (TW) were recorded in control and stressed plants. Results showed that NDVI, Chl, chlorophyll fluorescence, sugars, seed yield and TW reduced significantly during stress. Stress susceptibility index (SSI) for grain yield varied from 0.32 to 2.38. Linear correlation study showed that SSI was negatively correlated with NDVI (0.43),Chl (0.68) and TW (0.42) and grain yield (0.96). NDVI and sugars were correlated to TW under stress. IC530491 and IC559933 (SSI < 0.5) were waterlogging tolerant under field conditions. The study concluded that identified black gram lines may be utilized as trait donors in breeding program.

Influence of Biofertilizers, Vermicompost and Chemical Fertilizrs on Growth, Nodulation, Nutrient Uptake, Seed Yield and Economics of Black Gram.

The experiment was conducted during rabi season in medium black soil at College Farm, College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, ANGRAU, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh to study the influence of biofertilizers, vermicompost and chemical fertilizers on growth, nodulation, nutrient uptake, seed yield and economics of Black gram. From the data, it was observed that 50%RDF + Vermicompost + Rhizobium + Pseudomonas significantly increased the plant height, root length, leaf area index and leaf chlorophyll content at 25 and 50 DAS over the other treatments including control. The same treatment recorded highest seed yield (707 kg ha-1) and haulm yield (7067 kg ha-1) as compared to the control. Nutrient uptake recorded significantly highest in the treatment supplied with biofertilizers along with Vermicompost and 50%RDF. Treatment supplied with 50%RDF + Vermicompost + Rhizobium + Pseudomonas recorded highest net return (17784 Rs ha-1) but highest B: C ratio (2.11) was recorded in the treatment supplied with 50%RDF + Rhizobium + Pseudomonas.

Effect of Foliar Nutrition on Water Potential, Photosynthetic Rate, Dry Matter Production and Yield of Mung Bean Under Receding Soil Moisture Condition.

A field experiment was conducted during Rabi season of 2012-13 at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Lam, Guntur, with an aim to find out the effect of foliar nutrition on water potential, photosynthetic rate, dry matter production and yield of mung bean under receding soil moisture conditions in split plot design with irrigation and no irrigation as main treatments and foliar sprays as sub treatments. Under receding soil moisture condition (moisture stress) KNO3 @ 1% proved superior over other foliar sprays by recording more plant height, leaf area, shoot dry weight, and photosynthetic rate by maintaining high chlorophyll content, high proline and high leaf water potential. KNO3 @ 1% gave higher yields under receding soil moisture condition compared to other foliar sprays. Under irrigated conditions urea @ 2% recorded higher yield. Among all treatments controlled (no spray) under unirrigated conditions recorded lower yields due to moisture stress and nutrient deficiency.

Control of Seed Borne Fungi in Green Gram and Black Gram Through Bioagents.

Test the efficacy of fungal and bacterial antagonistic formulations were controlling the seed borne fungi in seed samples of green gram and black gram collected from Pulse Research Unit, Akola were used for laboratory test. Seed treatment with talc based formulation of Trichoderma viride at 4 g/kg, Pseudomonas fluorescens at 10 g/kg and Bacillus subtilis at 10g/kg bio agents were tested for their efficacy against seed-borne mycoflora to improve seed germination and also recorded significantly incidence of seed borne fungi. Among this three bio agents T. viride was found superior in controlling the seed borne mycoflora (86.90%, 88.00%) and also maximum seed germination was observed in T. viride (67.60%, 71.00%), shoot length (8.91cm, 11.5cm), root length (7.10cm,9.15cm) and seedling vigour index (1119,1466) in green gram and black gram respectively.

Impact of CO2 Enhancement on Photosynthesis and Protein Profile - Response Studies with a CO2 Responsive Black Gram Genotype.

Black gram (Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper) var. IC-282009 - a highly CO2 responsive genotype for biomass and seed yield was grown in Open top chambers (OTCs) under three levels of CO2 i.e. ambient (390 ppm) and two elevated levels 550ppm and 700ppm to assess photosynthetic acclimation to elevated CO2. Net photosynthetic rate (PN), change in leaf soluble protein profile and leaf carbohydrate constituents such as total soluble sugars, reducing sugars and starch content in leaves was quantified at all three CO2 concentrations. Photosynthetic rate was enhanced by 78% and 30% at flowering stage with 550ppm and 700ppm CO2 as compared with ambient control. It was also observed a higher accumulation of starch, total soluble sugars and reducing sugars in leaves at elevated CO2 levels. However, the leaf protein content recorded a decrease and altered the profile of ploy peptides with enhanced CO2 levels. At elevated CO2 concentrations significant differences were observed in ploy peptide profile at vegetative and flowering stages, the intensity of 260 kDa poly peptide increased at vegetative stage, whereas 72 kDa polypeptide increased at flowering stage, while 52 kDa poly peptide decreased at both stages. Enhanced CO2 concentrations improved the PN though certain polypeptides of leaf protein are down regulated and necessitate further experimentation to confirm their involvement in responsiveness of the selected black gram genotype.

Efficacy of Bioagents Against Seed Borne Fungi of Black Gram.

The effect of different antagonists’ viz. Trichoderma viride, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus subtilis were evaluated against different seed borne fungi of black gram by dual culture technique. Among three bioagents, Bacillus subtilis exhibited maximum mycelial growth inhibition of Phoma medicaginis (73.70%), Fusarium solani (57.60%), Curvularia lunata (44.53%) followed by Pseudomonas fluorescens with Macrophomina phaseolina (62.41%) and Fusarium oxysporum (59.97%) respectively.

Foliar application of Zn at flowering stage improves plant’s performance, yield and yield attributes of black gram.

Black gram plants subjected to varying levels of Zn supply (0.01 to 10 µM Zn) showed optimum growth and dry matter yield in plants receiving 1 µM Zn. The dry matter yield of plants decreased in plants receiving 0.01 and 0.1 µM Zn (deficient) and excess levels of Zn (2 and 10 µM Zn). The plants grown with Zn deficient supply showed delayed flowering, premature bud abscission, reduced size of anthers, pollen producing capacity, pollen viability and stigma receptivity resulting in poor pod formation and seed yield. Providing Zn as a foliar spray at pre-flowering stage minimized the severity of Zn deficiency on reproductive structure development and enhanced the seed nutritional status by enhancing seed Zn density, seed carbohydrate (sugar and starch content) and storage proteins (albumins, globulins, glutenins, and prolamines).