System of wheat intensification (SWI): Effects on lodging resistance, photosynthetic efficiency, soil biomes, and water productivity.

Intense cultivation with narrow row spacing in wheat, a common practice in the Indo-Gangetic plains of South Asia, renders the crop more susceptible to lodging during physiological maturity. This susceptibility, compounded by the use of traditional crop cultivars, has led to a substantial decline in overall crop productivity. In response to these challenges, a two-year field study on the system of wheat intensification (SWI) was conducted. The study involved three different cultivation methods in horizontal plots and four wheat genotypes in vertical plots, organized in a strip plot design. Our results exhibited that adoption of SWI at 20 cm × 20 cm resulted in significantly higher intercellular CO2 concentration (5.9-6.3%), transpiration rate (13.2-15.8%), stomatal conductance (55-59%), net photosynthetic rate (126-160%), and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) interception (1.6-25.2%) over the existing conventional method (plant geometry 22.5 cm × continuous plant to plant spacing) of wheat cultivation. The lodging resistance capacity of both the lower and upper 3rd nodes was significantly higher in the SWI compared to other cultivation methods. Among different genotypes, HD 2967 demonstrated the highest recorded value for lodging resistance capacity, followed by HD 2851, HD 3086, and HD 2894. In addition, adoption of the SWI at 20 cm × 20 cm enhanced crop grain yield by 36.9-41.6%, and biological yield by 27.5-29.8%. Significantly higher soil dehydrogenase activity (12.06 µg TPF g-1 soil hr-1), arylsulfatase activity (82.8 µg p-nitro phenol g-1 soil hr-1), alkaline phosphatase activity (3.11 n moles ethylene g-1 soil hr-1), total polysaccharides, soil microbial biomass carbon, and soil chlorophyll content were also noted under SWI over conventional method of the production. Further, increased root volumes, surface root density and higher NPK uptake were recorded under SWI at 20×20 cm in comparison to rest of the treatments. Among the tested wheat genotypes, HD-2967 and HD-3086 had demonstrated notable increases in grain and biological yields, as well as improvements in the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and chlorophyll content. Therefore, adoption of SWI at 20 cm ×20 cm (square planting) with cultivars HD 2967 might be the best strategy for enhancing crop productivity and resource-use efficiency under the similar wheat growing conditions of India and similar agro-ecotypes of the globe.

Volatile Compounds Governed by Single Recessive Gene Impart Aroma in Sponge Gourd (Luffa cylindrica L. Roem).

As a vegetable crop, sponge gourd is widely consumed worldwide due to its health promoting and nutraceutical value. This study describes genetics of an aromatic genotype VRSG-7-17 and deciphers the genetic control and volatile compound composition of sponge gourd. To study the inheritance of this trait, a cross was made between aromatic light-green-fruited VRSG-7-17 and non-aromatic dark-green-fruited VRSG-194 genotypes. The F1s were found to be non-aromatic and have a green fruit colour. Chi-square (χ2) analysis of backcross and F2 population segregating for aroma suggested that the inheritance of aroma in VRSG-7-17 is governed by a single recessive gene in a simple Mendelian fashion. The SPME-GC/MS analysis of the volatile compounds suggested that the compounds responsible for Basmati rice-like aroma were mainly hexanal, 1-octen-3-ol, 3-octanone and limonene. The aroma persists in the cooked VRSG-7-17 fruits, that did not lose fragrance traits at high temperatures. The inheritance of fruit colour was found to be controlled by a single gene with incomplete dominance. The segregation analysis showed that the aroma and fruit colour were not linked, and they segregated independently. The findings will lead to understanding the inheritance of the aromatic compounds in the sponge gourd and may be utilised in the breeding programmes for developing improved aromatic varieties.

Mitochondrial sequence based characterization and morphometric assessment of Diara buffalo population.

OBJECTIVE: The present study is aimed at phenotypic characterization and mitochondrial d-loop analysis of indigenous "Diara" buffalo population, which are mostly confined to the villages on the South and North Gangetic marshy plains in the Bihar state of India. These buffaloes are well adapted and are best suited for ploughing and puddling the wet fields meant for paddy cultivation. METHODS: Biometric data on 172 buffaloes were collected using a standard flexible tape measure. Animals are medium in size; the typical morphometric features are long head with a broad forehead and moderately long and erect ears. Genomic DNA was isolated from unrelated animals. The mtDNA d-loop 358-bp sequence data was generated and compared with 338 sequences belonging to riverine and swamp buffaloes. RESULTS: Based on the mitochondrial d-loop analysis the Diara buffaloes were grouped along with the haplotypes reported for riverine buffalo. Sequence analysis revealed the presence of 7 mitochondrial D loop haplotypes with haplotype diversity of 0.9643. Five of the haplotypes were shared with established swamp breeds and with Buffalo population of Orissa in India. CONCLUSION: Morphometric analyses clearly shows distinguishing features like long and broad forehead which may be useful in identification. The germplasm of Diara buffalo is much adapted to the marshy banks of river Ganga and its tributaries. It constitutes a valuable genetic resource which needs to be conserved on priority basis.

Airflow-Assisted Impact of Drops of Various Viscosities: The Role of Viscous Dissipation, Normal Imposed Pressure, and Shear Flow of Air.

The role of liquid viscosity on the spreading for an airflow-assisted impact of drops on a surface is investigated. The spreading diameter is found to increase with the Reynolds number of the airflow (Reair) for a given viscosity and impact Weber number (We) compared to the still air. The increment is higher at a low We for viscous drops, whereas the effect of Reair dominates at the intermediate We as the viscosity decreases. Two extra forces, the normal imposed pressure and shear force of air, act on the drop and influence the spreading along with the viscous dissipation. The drop's curvature decreases depending on the viscosity and impact velocity while spreading. Large-scale eddies near the drop-surface region are observed due to the separation of the incident airflow. The formation of eddies signifies low-pressure zones, which extract the trapped air, causing the spreading diameter of the viscous drop to increase at a low We. With the increase in the We, the lamella thickness of low-viscosity drops decreases and is pushed out by the air shear causing the spreading factor to increase. The boundary layer thickness is estimated using the energy balance method to predict the maximum spreading factor. The prediction compares well with the experimental one for higher viscosities. The accuracy improves when the effect of low pressure is incorporated. To confirm, the experimental spreading is compared with that obtained from three existing models, and one, which considers the influence, is observed to provide a better prediction.

Metal nanoparticles entrapped in metal matrices.

We developed synthetic methods for the doping of metals (M) with metallic nanoparticles (NPs). To the best of our knowledge - unlike oxides, polymers and carbon-based supports - metals were not used so far as supporting matrices for metallic NPs. The composites (denoted M1-NPs@M2) comprise two separate phases: the metallic NPs (the dopant) and the entrapping 3D porous metallic matrix, within which the NPs are intimately held and well dispersed. Two different general synthetic strategies were developed, each resulting in a group of materials with characteristic structure and properties. The first strategy uses pre-prepared NPs and these are entrapped during reductive formation of the metallic matrix from its cation. The second strategy is in situ growth of the doped metallic NPs within the pre-prepared entrapping metallic matrix. These two methods were developed for two types of entrapping metallic matrices with different morphologies: porous aggregated metallic matrices and metallic foams. The leading case in this study was the use of Pt as the NP dopant and Ag as the entrapping matrix, using all of the four combinations - entrapment or growth within aggregated Ag or Ag foam matrices. Full physical and chemical properties analysis of these novel types of materials was carried out, using a wide variety of analytical methods. The generality of the methods developed for these bi-metallic composites was investigated and demonstrated on additional metallic pairs: Au NPs within Ag matrices, Pd NPs within Ni matrices and Ir-NPs within a Rh matrix. As the main application of metallic NPs is in catalysis, the catalytic activity of M1-NPs@M2 is demonstrated successfully for entrapped Pt within Ag for reductive catalytic reactions, and for Pd within Ni for the electrocatalytic hydrogen oxidation reaction.

Methods and variables in Electrical discharge machining of titanium alloy - A review.

Titanium alloys are difficult to machine using conventional methods, therefore, nonconventional processes are often chosen in many applications. Electrical discharge machining (EDM) is one of those nonconventional processes that is used frequently for shaping titanium alloys with their respective pros and cons. However, a good understanding of this process is very difficult to achieve as research results are not properly connected and presented. Therefore, this study investigates different types of EDM processes such as, wire EDM, die-sink EDM, EDM drill and hybrid EDM used to machine titanium alloys. Machining mechanism, tool electrode, dielectric, materials removal rate (MRR), and surface integrity of all these processes are critically analysed and correlated based on the evidence accessible in literature. Machining process suffer from lower material removal rate and high tool wear while applied on titanium alloys. Formation of recast layer, heat affected zone and tool wear is common in all types of EDM processes. Additional challenge in wire EDM of titanium alloys is wire breakage under severe machining conditions. The formation of TiC and TiO2 are noticed in recast layer depending on the type of dielectrics. Removal of debris from small holes during EDM drilling is a challenge. All these restricts the applications EDMed titanium alloys in high-tech applications such as, aerospace and biomedical areas. Most of these challenges come up due to extraordinary properties such as, low thermal conductivity, high melting point and high hardness, of titanium alloys. Though hybrid EDM has been introduced and there is some work on simulation of EDM process, further developments in EDM of this alloy is required for widening the application of this methods.

Reconstruction and dissolution of shape-controlled Pt nanoparticles in acidic electrolytes.

Shape-controlled nanoparticles are of utmost scientific and technological importance because of their facet-dependent physical and chemical properties. Under long-term electrochemical conditions, little is known about the stability and fate of these nanoparticles with selected exposed crystallographic orientations (facets) of high surface energy, while it is generally accepted that the surface area decreases. Therefore, the reconstruction and dissolution of platinum nanocubes (Pt-NCs), platinum cuboctahedral (Pt-CO) and platinum polycrystalline (Pt-PC) nanoparticles are investigated using voltammetry and in situ irreversible adsorption of Bi and Ge; the cleanliness of the Pt nanoparticles and the purity of the electrolyte solution are established with systematic voltammetric analysis in a H2SO4 electrolyte of different concentrations (0.01, 0.05, 0.5 and 1 M). The voltammetric results suggest that the {100} terrace sites undergo reconstruction/dissolution at a much higher rate relative to that of the {111} ordered bi-dimensional terrace sites and the reconstruction leads to the formation of {110}/{100} step sites. Therefore, the stability of the Pt-NCs is lower than that of the Pt-CO nanoparticles. The gradual decrease in the Hupd area on prolonged cycling in the lower potential range (0.06-0.6 and 0.06-0.8 V) is attributed to the accumulation of oxy-anions from the electrolyte on the Pt surface. Moreover, dissolution of highly energetic Pt sites also contributes to the reduction in the Hupd area, unlike that observed with low index Pt single crystal surfaces. On cycling to higher potential limits (1.0 and 1.2 V), the adsorbed anions are replaced with the oxygenated species or oxide; the protective oxide layer helps to stabilize the electrochemical surface area (ESA) of the Pt nanoparticles. With cycling, both Pt-NCs and Pt-CO eventually get converted to Pt-PC. These results are supported with cyclic voltammograms, irreversible adsorption of Bi and Ge, and HR-TEM.

Oxygen reduction reaction and peroxide generation on shape-controlled and polycrystalline platinum nanoparticles in acidic and alkaline electrolytes.

Shape-controlled Pt nanoparticles (cubic, tetrahedral, and cuboctahedral) are synthesized using stabilizers and capping agents. The nanoparticles are cleaned thoroughly and electrochemically characterized in acidic (0.5 M H2SO4 and 0.1 M HClO4) and alkaline (0.1 M NaOH) electrolytes, and their features are compared to that of polycrystalline Pt. Even with less than 100% shape-selectivity and with the truncation at the edges and corners as shown by the ex-situ TEM analysis, the voltammetric features of the shape-controlled nanoparticles correlate very well with that of the respective single-crystal surfaces, particularly the voltammograms of shape-controlled nanoparticles of relatively larger size. Shape-controlled nanoparticles of smaller size show somewhat higher contributions from the other orientations as well because of the unavoidable contribution from the truncation at the edges and corners. The Cu stripping voltammograms qualitatively correlate with the TEM analysis and the voltammograms. The fractions of low-index crystallographic orientations are estimated through the irreversible adsorption of Ge and Bi. Pt-nanocubes with dominant {100} facets are the most active toward oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in strongly adsorbing H2SO4 electrolytes, while Pt-tetrahedral with dominant {111} facets is the most active in 0.1 M HClO4 and 0.1 M NaOH electrolytes. The difference in ORR activity is attributed to both the structure-sensitivity of the catalyst and the inhibiting effect of the anions present in the electrolytes. Moreover, the percentage of peroxide generation is 1.5-5% in weakly adsorbing (0.1 M HClO4) electrolytes and 5-12% in strongly adsorbing (0.5 M H2SO4 and 0.1 M NaOH) electrolytes.

Studies on endophytic colonization ability of two upland rice endophytes, Rhizobium sp. and Burkholderia sp., using green fluorescent protein reporter.

Colonization ability of the two endophytic bacteria, isolated from surface sterilized roots of upland cultivated rice viz., Rhizobium sp. and Burkholderia sp., was compared after genetically tagging them with a constitutively expressing green fluorescent protein gene (gfp/gusA). Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) of gnotobiotically grown seedlings of Narendradhan 97, inoculated with gfp/gusA-tagged endophytes, revealed that both Rhizobium sp. and Burkholderia sp. colonized the intercellular spaces in the root cortex when inoculated separately. Colonization by gfp/gusA-tagged Rhizobium sp. was severely inhibited when co-inoculated with an equal number (10(6) cfu ml(-1)) of wild type Burkholderia sp. Burkholderia sp. was a more aggressive endophytic colonizer of rice than Rhizobium sp. The potential of using gfp/gusA reporter and CLSM as tools in evaluating competitive ability of colonization among endophytes is demonstrated in this study.