The study was conducted to assess the effect of animal-fat supplementation on energy utilization in Large White Yorkshire (LWY) pigs fed with corn soya-based ration as per the requirements of NRC (2012). Twenty weaned piglets were randomly divided into two groups and allotted to one of the two dietary treatments i.e. control ration (as per NRC, 1998) and ration supplemented with animal fat @ 5%. A digestibility trial was conducted following total collection method and gross energy was estimated using bomb calorimeter. The results revealed that gross energy of feed and faeces were 4144, 4410 and 4102, 4090 kcal kg-1, respectively, for control and animal feed supplemented treatments. The gross energy converted as digestible energy was 85.8 and 87.3% and the calculated digestible energy of feed was 3558.1 and 3848.8 kcal kg-1 for the respective groups. The result showed that the animal-fat supplementation (5%) increased the efficiency of energy utilization in growing LWY pigs.

Tendu (Diospyros melanoxylon) leaf is used to wrap ‘Bidi’ or Indian cigarette due to its texture, flavour and workability. Experiments were conducted in tendu during 2015-2017 to assess the impact of pruning and application on chemical-and bio-fertilizers on leaf quality of this plant in Korba, Korea and Raipur districts of Chhattisgarh (India). Various levels of nitrogen (25-100 kg N ha−1) and phosphorus (250-1000g plot−1), neem granules, vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) and foliar spray of N and P (0.5-2.0%) were tested in a factorial randomized block design experiment. Every year pruning of tendu bushes of 2-4 cm girth at ground level increased the leaf surface area. The application of 100 kg N ha−1 and 25 kg P ha−1 to rhizosphere soil after rainy season improved tendu leaf quality in terms of specific leaf area. Foliar spray of 2% N and 1% P on tendu bushes enhanced leaf size and were more effective than chemical fertilizer application to soil. Similarly, application of biofertilizers in the form of 500 g neem granules and 1000 g VAM plot−1enhanced the leaf quality of tendu.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant, oxidative DNA damage and hepatoprotective effects of olive (Olea europaea L.) leaf extract (OLE) on experimental diabetic rats. These effects of OLE were studied using streptozocin-induced diabetic rats. Antioxidant enzyme activities, oxidative DNA damage analysis and protein oxidation were evaluated spectrophotometrically methods. In addition, histological examination of the liver and pancreas was performed routinely with paraffin embedding and staining method. Protein carbonyl level and 8-hydroxy- 2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) concentration decreased in OLE administrated group compared to diabetic group. Further, OLE treatment significantly increased superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities. It was observed that OLE remarkably attenuated degenerative and necrotic changes in liver and pancreatic tissues. Consequently, it appears that OLE strengthens the antioxidant defense system, protects against oxidative DNA damage, and has a hepatoprotective effect on diabetic rats.

The present study was aimed to analyze molecular diversity of submergence tolerant genotypes of rice. Thirty four SSR primers were used to generate allelic variants (4 alleles in RM 23843 and 27 in RM 23662). Altogether 410 allelic variants were detected at 42 SSR loci with a mean of 9.76 alleles per locus. Analysis of divergence pattern based on SSR markers allowed differentiation and classification of rice varieties into 8 clusters. A large range of similarity coefficient revealed by SSR markers provided greater confidence for the assessment of genetic divergence and interrelationship among the submergence tolerant rice genotypes. A perusal of similarity coefficients reflected a very high degree of similarity between rice genotypes ‘Anh Hsung Seln’ (C 11) and ‘Hsung Teing’, whereas ‘FR 13A’ and ‘Swarna Sub-1’ were more diverse for breeding programme to generate more recombinants. Use of SSR markers appeared more efficient in achieving unique and unambiguous characterization and differentiation of varieties used in the present study. The SSR analysis also revealed unique or variety-specific allele which could be useful as DNA fingerprints in the identification and preservation of different genotype and to develop highly submergence tolerance varieties.

Anthocyanins, the flavonoid group of polyphenols, is in great demand as an important food constituent, mainly due to its health promoting attributes. The present study was undertaken with 11 newly developed coloured grape hybrids at ICAR-IARI, New Delhi (India). Efforts were made to identify and quantify different anthocyanin fractions. HPLC chromatogram revealed ten different peaks belonging to anthocyanins, which varied significantly from 37.68 to 247.68 pg g−1 in terms of C3G equivalent. The maximum peak height was at peak-5, which represents malvidin-3-glucoside. Maximum anthocyanin content was in grape hybrid ‘Hy.16/2A-Ri P18’. The anti-oxidant activities of hybrids were measured by FRAP assay. The hybrid ‘Hy.16/2A-RrP19’ was found the most potent antioxidant rich genotype in terms of FRAP. The potential genotypes identified in terms of high bioactive contents can be helpful in protection against various chronic diseases.

Obesity-related kidney diseases require an effective approach to avert high fat-diet induced renal damage through oxidative stress. The aim of present study was to evaluate antioxidative strength and protective effects of drumstick (Moringa oleifera) leaf-water extract (DLWE) on kidney in Wistar rats. In this study rats were either fed with control diet or control diet with DLWE or high-fat diet or high-fat diet with DLWE for 16 weeks. The body and kidney weight, oxidative status (lipid peroxidation, ferric reducing antioxidant power, non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants) and gene expression of superoxide dismutase and catalase were assessed. High fat-diet fed rats showed changes in body and kidney weights, increase in lipid peroxidation and decrease in ferric reducing antioxidant power, vitamin C, glutathione, superoxide dismutase and catalase indicating a higher oxidative stress index. At molecular level, high fat-diet caused a significant reduction in gene expression of superoxide dismutase and catalase which was overcome by DLWE supplementation. The oral supplementation of DLWE restored oxidative stress in high fat-diet fed rats. The diet restored lipid peroxidation and kidney antioxidants to control group level. It seems that DLWE has therapeutic potential, so be developed as a supplement to prevent obesity and related oxidative stress.

A field experiment was conducted at research farm of PAU, Ludhiana, Punjab (India) for consecutive three years (2015–2017) to study the effect of foliar application of different nutrients at early reproductive stage (R3 stage) on growth, productivity and profitability of soybean. The experiment comprised of eight treatments of foliar nutrient application at pod initiation stage along with the recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF). The treatments were: water spray, urea 2% spray, diammonium phosphate (DAP) 2% spray, muriate of potash (MOP) 0.5% spray, NPK 19:19:19 (N:P2O5:K2O) 2% spray, molybdenum 0.1% spray, zinc chelated 0.5% spray and no spray (control). Results revealed that different treatments of foliar nutrients did not significantly influence the growth attributes; however, foliar application of 2% urea yielded significantly higher number of pods plant−1 than other treatments and was at par with RDF + 0.5% MOP. Foliar application of 2% urea also gave the highest seed yield, gross returns and net returns and was statistically at par with spray of 0.5% MOP, 2% DAP, 0.5% chelated zinc and 0.1% molybdenum (except net returns). It may be concluded that foliar application of 2% urea at pod initiation stage provides highest seed yield, gross returns, net returns and B:C ratio.

A pot experiment was conducted to study antioxidant enzyme and biochemical behaviour of two cultivars of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) viz., BG-256 (salt sensitive) and CSG-8962 (salt tolerant)] under salt-stress conditions. Salt stress was imposed by applying 50, 100 and 150 mM NaCl to plants as per treatment. Untreated plants were maintained as control. Plant samples were analyzed from 20 DAS upto 60 DAS at 10-days interval. Plant height and fresh weight decreased with increasing NaCl treatment. The antioxidant enzymatic activities (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and catalase) and reducing sugar content were stimulated by salt stress. Enhancement was more in tolerant than sensitive cultivar. All the fractions of photosynthetic pigments and carotenoid content in test plant decreased gradually with increase in salt level. Decrease was more pronounced in sensitive cultivar.

A field experiment was conducted in a split-plot design at MRCFC, SKUAST-K, Khudwani (Kashmir) in kharif 2012 and 2013 to assess the effect of water regimes and weed management practices on water productivity. photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) interception, leaf SPAD values and rice yield under system of rice intensification. The treatments comprised of 3 irrigation regimes [alternate wetting and drying (AWD), saturation conditions and continuous flooding, and 7 weed management practices, pyrazosulfuron ethyl @ 20 g a.i. ha−1 at 3 days after transplantation (DAT); cyhalofop butyl @ 80 g a.i, ha−1 (15 DAT); pyrazosulfuron ethyl 20 g a.i. fb cyhalofop butyl 80 g a.i. ha−1 (3 and 15 DAT); butachlor @ 1.5 kg a.i., ha−1 (3 DAT); cono weeding, control and weed free condition. High PAR interception was noticed in flooding water regime at 30 DAT followed by saturation water regime. All test water regimes were at par in SPAD values. Water expense due to weed management practices was non-significant. Higher water expense efficiency, PAR and SPAD values were observed in sequential application of pyrazosulfuron-ethyl @ 20 g a.i., ha−1 fb cyhalofop-butyl @ 80 g a.i., ha−1. Significantly higher grain yield was found in saturated water regime. A yield superiority of 3.6 and 5.9% was found by saturated water regime over AWD and continuous flooding. Amongst the herbicides, pyrazosulfuron-ethyl @ 20 g ha−1 (3 DAT) fb cyhalofop-butyl @ 80 g ha−1 (15 DAT) gave significantly higher grain yield over weedy check. The mean yield advantage by the use of pyrazosulfuron-ethyl fb cyhalofop-butyl was 19.3, 14.0 and 10.3% over cyhalofop-butyl, cono-weeding and butachlor, respectively, during both the years.

The present study was aimed to assess the effects of various adiposity indicators i.e. body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) on the causation of blood pressure among Bhil tribal population of India. In this population based-cross sectional study, a total of 406 individuals aged between >25 to <65 years, both males and females, from Bhil tribal population tracing their origin to Rajasthan (India), were recruited. Blood pressure was measured using digital BP machine; whereas BMI, WHR and WHtR were calculated using the somatometric measurements (height, weight, waist circumference and hip circumference). SPSS vs. 20 was used for the statistical analysis. Male sex, higher age and alcohol consumption was found significantly higher in hypertensive group as compared to that of non-hypertensive group. Underweight was found to pose significantly reduced risk with hypertension. Estimate change analysis revealed that with a unit increase in WHtR there was a significant increase in SBP by +28.95 mm Hg (p = 0.00) and DBP by +16.41 mm Hg (p = 0.04), respectively. In Bhil tribal population WHtR seems to be the best predictor for hypertension.