Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology

Maize (Zea mays L.) growth and productivity are strongly influenced by temperature and seasonal climatic conditions that regulate crop phenology and thermal energy utilization. However, limited information is available on seasonal variability of thermal indices and heat use efficiency of maize under different varieties and nutrient management practices in the Tarai region of Uttarakhand. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted at the N.E. Borlaug Crop Research Centre, Pantnagar during the winter (November 2024-April 2025) and spring (February-June 2025) seasons to evaluate seasonal effects on thermal indices, phenology and heat use efficiency of maize. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with three maize varieties (PCM-04, DKC-9081 and DKC-9188) as main plot treatments and four nutrient management levels as subplots: T1-control (no fertilizer), T2-vermicompost (80:20), T3-poultry manure (80:20) and T4-recommended dose of inorganic fertilizers (RDF). Temperature-based indices including Growing Degree Days (GDD), Heliothermal Units (HTU), Photothermal Units (PTU) and Heat Use Efficiency (HUE) were computed. Spring maize accumulated higher thermal units (GDD 1691.45 °C Day, HTU 14327.25 and PTU 21830.23) and recorded higher grain yield (9373.04 kg ha⁻¹) than winter maize (GDD 1303.38 °C Day, HTU 9824.29, PTU 14733.81; yield 7305.00 kg ha⁻¹). Spring maize also matured earlier (92-110 days) compared to winter maize (132-151 days). The treatment V₃F₄ (DKC-9188 with RDF) recorded the highest grain yield and heat use efficiency in both seasons. The results indicate that improved varieties combined with optimum nutrient management enhance thermal resource utilization and maize productivity under different seasonal environments.

Predaceous coccinellids (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) are potential predators of various phytophagous insect pests and could be used as biological control agents. They use a wide range of chemical cues to locate their prey or to oviposit. Several surface hydrocarbons and endogenous cues likely help the aggressive coccinellids to discriminate related from unrelated victims before cannibalising them. To investigate the influence of surface chemicals on the kin-discrimination ability in a coccinellid, Propylea dissecta (Mulsant), we bred wildcaught coccinellids in the laboratory and measured relationships between surface chemicals and kin-discrimination. We found that both cannibalistic larvae and adults possess the potential of kin-discrimination based on the egg surface chemical profile of the victims. Further, when egg surface chemicals were swapped, there was a bias preference towards eggs containing related-chemical profiles and were less likely to be consumed by the cannibalistic larvae and adults.

The green revolution enhanced global food production, ensuring food security for a rapidly growing population. However, overreliance on traditional fertilizers has led to environmental degradation and poor nutrient use efficiency. This necessitates a paradigm shift toward sustainable agriculture. Nanofertilizers are a frontier technology having the potential to overcome such challenges by optimizing nutrient delivery and reducing environmental footprint. This review critically assesses the mechanistic basis of nanofertilizers, beginning with synthesis methods and formulation techniques which enable their controlled and targeted nutrient release. It further discusses, the fate and transformation of nanofertilizers in soil and atmospheric matrices. Also, interaction with microbial populations, along with mechanisms of uptake, translocation, and cellular internalization in plants. The review also explores pivotal areas of nanotoxicology, detailing phytotoxicity mechanisms, defining dose-limiting toxicity thresholds, and deliberation on mitigation options. A brief overview of the developing regulatory schemes is also presented, coupled with the present landscape of innovation and future prospects. Such an integration emphasizes the significance of multidisciplinary approach, linking strong regulatory controls with technological development to safely and efficiently harness nanofertilizers for a sustainable and climate-resilient food future.

ABSTRACT This study provides the systematic evaluation of methyl jasmonate (MeJA), yeast extract (YE) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as elicitors for essential oil biosynthesis in Zanthoxylum armatum callus cultures. Thirteen elicitation treatments revealed pronounced quantitative and qualitative metabolic plasticity. Across treatments, total identified compounds ranged from 91.3% to 97.5%, confirming high analytical coverage. Monoterpene hydrocarbons represented 17.4%–61.4% of the oils, while oxygenated monoterpenes ranged from 14.1% to 69.1%, demonstrating strong elicitor‐ and concentration‐dependent shifts, indicating differential activation of terpenoid biosynthetic pathways. Linalool, a key bioactive constituent, varied substantially (10.4%–45.5%), aligning with previously reported natural oils. Limonene also showed high abundance (10.3%–21.3%), and β‐phellandrene peaked at 37.6% in one treatment. Notably, treatment T4 generated the most oxygenated monoterpene–rich profile (69.1%), whereas T6, T11, and T12 produced hydrocarbon‐dominant profiles (59%–61%), demonstrating elicitor‐driven chemotype‐like modulation in vitro. These findings highlight the metabolic flexibility of Z. armatum callus tissues and establish elicitation as a controllable biotechnological strategy for tailoring terpenoid profiles and producing high‐value aroma compounds independent of environmental variability. This study is the first to demonstrate elicitor‐induced chemotype‐like modulation of essential oil composition in Zanthoxylum armatum callus cultures. By integrating biotic and abiotic elicitors (MeJA, yeast extract and AgNPs), we reveal pronounced metabolic plasticity and controllable shifts between monoterpene hydrocarbon and oxygenated monoterpene dominant profiles. The findings establish callus elicitation as a precision biotechnological platform for tailoring terpenoid biosynthesis and producing high‐value aroma compounds independent of environmental constraints. These findings reinforce callus culture as a valuable system for controlled production of essential oil constituents and for advancing biotechnological strategies targeting specific chemotypes.

Beyond the confines of clinical environments, the developing threat to public health due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), is also being affected by the presence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in agricultural soils. These genes are carried by bacteria found in the soil which receive a nutrient boost from large amounts of nitrogen fertilizer used in global agricultural production. However, there is still considerable uncertainty about the role of nitrogen fertilizer in altering the soil's genetic makeup and its ability to support resistant bacterial populations. Therefore, this systematic review examined the relationships between nitrogen (N) fertilization practices and the amount and type of antibiotic resistance genes present in agricultural soils using data from 47 relevant scientific publications that include field experiments, mechanistic studies, and metagenomics analysis. Using meta-analyses to compare the effects of various types of nitrogen fertilizers, differing application rates, and varying methods of fertilization on the characteristics of soil bacterial communities and their genetic resistance capacity, the results show that the use of either ammonium or nitrate forms of nitrogen affect the composition of the resistome in soil, promote the accumulation of multi-drug resistance genes, and increase the horizontal gene transfer capacity. Further, changes in the composition of soil microbial communities driven by nitrogen fertilizers provide an environment conducive to the accumulation and spread of resistance genes through mobile genetic elements. This review emphasizes that sustainable agricultural intensification will require an understanding of nitrogen's role as an environmental selective pressure that increases antibiotic resistance beyond clinical usage. The data provided here suggest that current fertilization practices are potentially generating an optimal environment for the proliferation of resistance genes with important implications for food security, environmental health, and human medicine.

Amla, or Indian gooseberry, (Phyllanthus emblica Linn.) fruit primarily contains antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties and leaves contain phenolic compound and alkaloids such as phyllantine and phyllantidine. A feeding trial was conducted to discern the influence of dietary inclusion of amla (Phyllanthus emblica) leaf powder on growth performance, nutrient utilization and economical production of Japanese quail. A total number of 180- day-old Japanese quail chicks were randomly distributed into five treatments of 36 Japanese quails per treatment with three replicates in each in a completely randomized design. Five treatments included control (T1) in which standard diet without any supplementation was fed, while in T2, 0.5% Amla fruit powder (AFP) with standard diet was fed and in T3, T4 and T5 with 0.5%, 1.0% and 2.0% Amla leaf powder (ALP) incorporation respectively with standard diet. Results showed that 1.0% dietary inclusion (T4 group) emerged as the most economical treatment, as it recorded the lowest cost per kilogram body weight gain (116.76 ± 0.42) along with significantly higher net profit (42.28 ± 0.06). It can be concluded that 1.0% dietary inclusion of amla leaf powder (ALP) being the most effective in improving growth rates, feed efficiency, nutrient digestibility and desired economical production of the Japanese quail.

The “Queen of fruits,” Litchi chinensis Sonn. is esteemed for its delicious fruits developed from apetalous flowers that bloom on terminal portions of the current season's growth. However, its ability to transition between vegetative and reproductive phases is increasingly challenged by climate change. Litchi's sensitivity to climatic variations—including temperature, rainfall, and nutrient availability—profoundly impacts its flowering and fruiting. Deviations from optimal conditions often reduce yield. Climate change also exacerbates the cyclic vegetative flushes litchi undergoes. Typically, three flushes are required to support fruiting, with staggered emergence at 2–3‐week intervals. Altered climatic patterns disrupt this timing, compromising yield. Maintaining an appropriate C:N ratio is also difficult under shifting conditions. At the molecular level, climate change interferes with genes regulating flowering. Key genes like LFY/LEAFY and APETALA are impacted, potentially leading to dis‐regulated flowering. Hormones such as auxins, gibberellins, and ABA, essential for flowering and fruit retention, are also affected. Understanding and mitigating these effects are imperative for sustaining litchi production under evolving conditions.