eChapters

ABSTRACT

In cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) there are successful reports on the production of shoots from nodal segments under in vitro,the rooting was always inconsistent and mortality during hardening stage was very high. In the present study 20-30 per cent rooting was obtained in half strength MS supplemented with activated charcoal. Maximum rooting was obtained when the shoots were pretreated with IBA 5000 mg l^-1 for three seconds followed by culturing in the media.

ABSTRACT

Aquilaria agallocha Roxb. (Thymelaeceae), otherwise known as ‘Eagle wood’ is a large evergreen tree restricted to the eastern parts of India and Bhutan. The tree is valuable for its fragrant wood - ‘Agar wood’ which is tremendously used in the perfumery and incense stick industries. Lack of rapid natural regeneration and over exploitation has reduced its population drastically. Micropropagation offers a rapid means for clonal multiplication and conservation of this endangered species and attempts were made to standardize available protocol for in vitro multiplication. Media and conditions were standardized for culture establishment and propagule multiplication. Multiple shoots were induced in vitro from nodal segments of 10 yr old trees having enhanced axillary branching. Culture establishmnet was strongly influenced by the nature of the explant and the season of collecting the explants. Nodal segments collected during the period March- April from current season shoots showed a better response (90 %) in half strength Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 1.0 mg l^-1benzyl adenine and 0.1 mg l^-1kinetin. The rudimentary multiple shoots induced, proliferated in the basal media supplemented with benzyl adenine (0.1 mg l^-1), naphthalene acetic acid (0.5 mg l^-1) and coconut water (10%). This media also supported further multiplication in serial subculturing with a multiplication rate of 1:6. There exists no earlier report on in vitro multiplication of this tree species valued in perfumery.

ABSTRACT

Ipomoea mauritiana (L.) belonging to the Family Convolvulaceae is an important medicinal plant. The roots, leaves and flowers possess medicinal properties. It is used in indigenous medicine as a tonic, aphrodisiac, galactogogue, diuretic, carminative, expectorant and appetizer. It is useful in syphilis, inflammation, leprosy, diseases of blood and in the improvement of voice and complexion. Tender nodal portions from one year old disease free plants grown in pots were used as the source of explants. The explants were inoculated on half strength MS medium containing 3.0 per cent sucrose and 0.6 per cent agar supplemented with 2,4-D 0.5 mg l^-1. All the explants showed callus initiation after three weeks. The contamination free, one week old callus cultures were used for testing the effect of the different treatments. The treatments comprised of different combinations of BA (0, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 and 8.0 mg l^-1) and NAA (0 and 0.1 mg l^-1) added to half strength MS medium. The highest rate of shoot regeneration was obtained on half strength MS medium supplemented with BA 4.0 mg l^-1. Rooting of the proliferated shoots could be induced on the same basal medium supplemented with IBA 1.0 mg l^-1 and NAA 1.0 mg l^-1. The regenerated plants were hardened in a humidity chamber and successfully transferred to pots, with 90 per cent survival.

ABSTRACT

Centella asiatica (Linn.) previously Hydrocotyle asiatica belongs to the family Apiaceae.It is commonly called gotu kola and is rich in triterpene glycosides such as asiaticoside and madecassoside. Health claims range from enhanced memory and longevity, to the treatment of leprosy. It is also used in the treatment of various skin diseases, ulceration, chronic rheumatism, malaria, fever, epilepsy and enlargement of glands. Inspite of its wide range of uses,it is still collected from the wild and commercial cultivation is lacking. A good tissue culture protocol therefore would be useful for commercial propagation and thereby saving the plant from extinction. Of the various explants, nodal segment gave the best response. For direct shoot regeneration from nodal segments, BAP 2.0 mgl^-1, and BAP 1.0 mgl^-1 with Kinetin 1.0 mgl^-1 was found optimum. Callusing was observed in nodal segments and leaf bits when 3.0 mgl^-1 NAA along with 0.3 mgl^-1 BAP was used. ½ MS medium supplemented with IBA 0.5 mgl^-1 and NAA 0.2 mgl^-1 induced rhizogenesis of the regenerated shoots. Rooted plantlets survived well in a combination of pot mixture (1 sand: 1 soil: 1 FYM) and Vermiculite in the ratio of 1: 1.

7.1 What is Soil Moisture Conservation Technique?

In situ soil moisture conservation means capturing rain water and retaining it in soil for utilization by plants for better growth and increase in biomass and grain yield. This is achieved through rain water harvesting on farm or field where crops are planted to get benefit from the conserved rainwater. It reduces rainwater loss through runoff and increases rain water infiltration time, thereby increasing the amount of rain water in the soil that will be useful for crop production.

Plant tissue culture is the process in which mass multiplication is possible from the somatic cells of the plant by utilizing the principle of totipotency. Each plant cell can grow into a plant by converting the somatic nature of the cells to embryogenic ones. In tissue culture, plantlets can be produced either directly through organogenesis or indirectly by somatic embryogenesis. Organogenesis is the process in which shoots develop from the explants directly and then rooting is induced. In indirect somatic embryogenesis, the explant cells pass through a callusing stage where the cells get multiplied. These cells then obtain embryogenic potential and develop somatic embryos. These somatic embryos later germinate and develop into plantlets

Introduction

With global population expansion, there is an increase in demand for high quality protein, especially from aquatic sources which have been achieved to some extent through enhanced management, nutrition, genetic improvement of production traits, disease diagnostics and therapeutics. The increasing role of aquaculture during the past decade has forced fishery managers to begin to address many problems associated with the intensive management of small populations. Any fishery operation which uses the limited number of broodstock fish for the production of next-generation can lead to a constriction in the gene pool of that population (Kincaid,1983).

Inbreeding

Inbreeding means the mating together of individuals that are related to each other by ancestry. This may be defined as any system of mating that will lead to an increase in homozygosity. Selfing is the most intense form of inbreeding which provides the most rapid approach to homozygosity. When selfing is not possible, full-sib and half-sib mating are used to do inbreeding. The progeny of selfed plant is symbolized by Sj and the selfed progeny of the Sj by S₂ and so on. Occasionally symbol  is used to designate selfed seed. The effects of inbreeding are as follows:

Incentives are a powerful stimulus to transfer of technology. They can encourage researchers to get their results to market, a new career path for many of them. They can create a culture that attracts and retains entrepreneurial staff, scientists, students and technology transfer professionals (TTPs) that view the university as a career path and a vehicle for making a contribution to society. Working in a pro-entrepreneurship team of colleagues can also lead to getting people to think in terms of making a connection between their work and its application. Incentives can be short-term or long-term in nature, and can be tailored to individual or collective requirements. As it is likely to be challenging for universities to design incentives that cater to every researcher’s or TTP’s desire, they can design incentive programs to cater to various aspects of human. Nature.
12.1 Why incentives matter in this ecosystem
Incentives can be either financial and non-financial. These are needed to ensure that researchers and TTPs remain motivated, aligned with institutional goals, and committed to the long-term process of technology transfer and commercialization. Incentive programs serve several important purposes:
• Motivation: Incentives energize individuals to pursue innovation and commercialization, often over long- and uncertain-time horizons.
• Retention: By offering recognition, rewards, and career advancement opportunities, institutions can retain high-performing researchers and skilled TTPs.
• Alignment: Well-designed incentives ensure that the personal goals of stakeholders align with institutional and societal objectives.

Abstract

Apple plantations in Himachal Pradesh have been ravaged by a unique hitherto unknown problem of premature leaf fall for the last one decade. In this study, the disease survey revealed 21.3 per cent disease incidence of premature leaf fall in July, 2001 which increased to 63.6 per cent by the month of September. Whereas in 2002, this disease appeared in August and the disease severity was 30 per cent in the September month. The pathogenic fungus Marssonina coronaria was isolated in pure culture and its pathogenicity was proved. Considerable number of conidia were formed in over wintered apple leaf litter with 22.7 per cent germinability. Ascosporic stage Diplocarpon mali was also encountered in the infected over-wintered leaves collected from Charna locality in Sirmour district. The sour tasting pollinizer cultivars Rus Pippin, Granny Smith, Tydeman’s Early Worcestor and King Pippin were rated tolerant in the field. Protective sprays of mancozeb, propineb, carbendazim, thiophanate methyl etc. were effective in controlling the disease. An integrated spray schedule was recommended to the growers.

INTRODUCTION

Prediction of helminthic infections is impractical. The aim of any control programme must therefore, ensure that parasite populations do not exceed levels compatible with economic production. The parasitological monitoring (e. g. faecal egg counts or pasture sampling) at intervals, forecasting on the basis of meteorological data and computer simulation may provide an alternate approach to control parasitic infection (Brunsdon, R. V. , 1980) in a given geographical area. The most common gastrointestinal parasite prevalent throughout the year in Meghalaya, India is Strongyle infection. This is because of the high rainfall and humidity prevalent in the North-Eastern region.

As the prevalence of this infection is mainly dependent on rainfall and humidity, study was being initiated to identify the relationship between rainfall/temperature and strongyle infection. The study would be also helpful in predicting/ forecasting the disease occurrence based on the prevailing pattern of rainfall in a particular location.

The incidence of mammary tumor accounts for 25% of all the recorded tumors in dogs worldwide. Overall, about 198 cases of CMT are recorded per one lakh female dogs annually throughout the world which is quite an alarming percentage (Gray et al., 2020). Malignancy has also been recorded up to 45% which increases the fatality among morbid cases. Epidemiology of CMT is poorly documented particularly in India. In an epidemiological study conducted on canine tumors in Jammu in 2018, the overall prevalence was only 2% over a period of one year. The malignant tumors accounted 41.66% of the mammary tumors (Sharma et al., 2018). The rate of benign and malignant tumors incidence was reported as 46% and 54%, respectively. In another study conducted on the incidence of CMT in Ludhiana (Punjab) in 2020, it was found that 33.96% tumors were benign and 66.03% were malignant (Dash et al., 2020).

Introduction Feed is a major source of nutrition in semi-intensive and intensive culture systems. Fish fed with formulated feed is used for their growth, maintenance, and reproduction. Feed Energy utilized for maintenance is mainly for health and survivability. In intensive aquaculture, animals almost exclusively depend on an external supply of high protein feed (generally >20%), usually based on fishmeal (Beveridge and Little, 2002) because of its high protein content, better bioavailability of amino acids, palatability, and unknown growth factors. Hence fish fed with a fish meal-based diet exhibits better growth performance, feed conversion, and fish health than fish fed with other animal and plant-based protein sources (Hardy and Tacon, 2002; Pike and Barlow, 2002; Tacon, 2003; Cook et al., 1996). Still, Global fish meal production is annually decreasing since 1994 due to increased human utilization and increased use of fish residues and by-products, increasingly replacing whole fish for fish meal (FAO, 2020). Hence many scientists were passionate about replacing the fish meal with an alternative feed ingredient without compromising growth.

IBH is an adenovirus infection of young chickens characterized by sudden onset and sharply increased mortality, short course, anaemia, and hepatitis often accompanied by intranuclear inclusion bodies. It is described in Canada, USA and many other countries.

Introduction

The cultivation of flowering and attractive plants is referred to as floriculture, sometimes known as flower farming. Even though flowers have long been planted in India for a variety of purposes, including aesthetic, social, and religious purposes, the commercial floriculture sector is a relatively recent development.

The industry of floriculture has a great deal of untapped potential and has quickly become an essential part of modern life. The floriculture industry has developed into a business that is run for profit, has achieved significant market value, and is poised to realise favourable prospects. In India, the cultivation of blooming plants, including garden plants, cut flowers, foliage plants, potted flowering plants, and other types of blooming plants, is referred to as f loriculture. In today's world, flowering or ornamental plants are frequently used as part of several celebrations' decorations or as presents due to their versatility. They are also used as vital raw materials in the sectors of perfume, pharmaceuticals, and oil extraction. So, to start a floriculture firm in India, it is necessary to comprehend how agribusiness is used in its marketing and production.

Introduction

Secondary agriculture is described as an enterprise-level productive activity that uses as raw material the primary product and byproducts of agriculture, as well as other biological resources available locally in its rural agrarian neighbourhood. The Government of India's Committee on Doubling Farmers' Income (DFI, Vol. IX, 2018) raised the issue of food waste and loss and proposed secondary agriculture. The committee classified secondary agriculture into three types: A, B, and C. Type 'A' avenues focus on adding value to primary agriculture production systems, either as input or output; Type B avenues focus on alternative firms that do not compete for resources; and Type C avenues focus on primary agriculture crop residues and wastes (Singh et al., 2022).

Sustainable development goals want to link primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors by using idle factors of production like land and labour. Promoting secondary agriculture can help reach these goals by increasing production in primary agriculture, capturing "value" in primary agricultural activities, and making businesses more money (Financial Express, 2019).

In this chapter, four opportunities for income augmentation in secondary agriculture, viz. plant nursery enterprise, herbal gulal farming, mushroom farming and beekeeping, have been explained.

ABSTRACT

Income generating activities are considered as those initiatives that affect the economic aspects of rural youth’s lives through the use of economic tools such as credit and subsidy. If the youth in farming is not economically free and self-earning, he has to depend on others or migrate to the urban cities in search of jobs. Agriculture, self-employment and wage employment are the basic tools to fulfill the desire of economic independence. In the past, agriculture was placed on the top position as an income generation option and self-employment and wage employment to rural youth was the 2^nd and 3^rd priority respectively. Income generating activities such as dairy activities, goat and sheep rearing, poultry unit, bamboo products making, pickle making, leaf plate making, keeping powertiller, husking mill cum wheat grinding machine, tractor etc. Further, there are various self employment and wage employment opportunities through rural development programmes like Prime Minister Rojgar Yojana (PMRY), Swarnajayanthi Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY), Pradhan Manthri Gram SadakYojana(PMGSY), Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP), Training of Rural Youth for Self -Employment (TRYSEM) etc. These are the best programmes especially for the upliftment of the rural youth to enhancing their income level. Some of these programmes are now helping rural youths to become more and more independent and free from economic dependence.

Abstract

Major occupation of women in Bijapur area is agriculture with an average land holding of 1-2 ha. Most of them are unaware of advantages of vermicompost. In recent times, dependence on agriculture is becoming very difficult for them. Majority of the women population in these areas are below poverty line (BPL), because of increased cost of production, and fluctuations in market prices of major crops grown by them. Erratic and ill distributed rain fall pattern makes life hard for them. The ill effects of chemical fertilizers have lead to interest in organic farming through vermiculturing using farm and urban wastes in order to produce risk free crop at reduced cost of cultivation.

India’s rural economy plays a vital role in the overall development of the country, with a significant portion of the population dependent on agriculture and allied sectors for their livelihood. Despite the structural changes in
the Indian economy over the past decades, agriculture continues to be the primary source of income for a majority of rural households. However, the income levels of farmers and rural people vary widely due to factors such as landholding size, access to resources, market linkages, climatic conditions, education, and government support systems.
The average monthly income of agricultural households in India has been a matter of concern and active policy intervention. According to reports from the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) and other government bodies, many small and marginal farmers earn less than what is required for a sustainable  livelihood. This income typically comes from multiple sources, including crop production, livestock rearing, wages, and non-farm activities. Yet, the increasing input costs, fluctuating market prices, and the vulnerability to climatic shocks make farming a risky and often unremunerative occupation. To address these challenges, various initiatives have been undertaken by the Government of India, such as the Doubling Farmers’ Income (DFI) strategy, minimum support prices (MSP), crop insurance schemes like PMFBY (Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana), rural employment guarantee schemes like MGNREGS, and efforts to promote farmer producer organizations (FPOs).

Complete block designs become less efficient as the number of treatments increases,primarily because block size increases proportionally with the number of treatments,and the homogeneity of experimental plots within a large block is difficult to maintain.That is , the experimental error of a complete block design is generally expected to increase with the number of treatments.

An alternative set of designs for single –factor experiments having a large number of treatments is the incomplete block design.As the name implies, each block in an incomplete block design does not contain all treatments and a reasonably small block size can be maintained even if the number of treatments is large.With smaller blocks,the homogeneity of experimental units in the same block is easier to maintain and a higher degree of precision can generally be expected.