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ID: 59692
Title: Forests of western Himalaya.
Author: Rajesh Thadani, Vishal Singh, Ghazala Shahabuddin
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (8) 1225-1226 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Western Himalaya.
Abstract: The forests of the Western Himalaya are important both for their biodiversity and the ecosystem services they provide to the north Indian plains. Despite their apparent similarity to temperate forests in terms of tree species (often oak and pine-dominated systems) and cool average temperatures, these forests have distinct ecological traits. High nutrient turnover rates and productivity, and a phenology adapted to the summer drought, make these forests more similar to tropical forests in several respects. These are also forests that provide an excellent opportunity to understand the impacts of large scale, low intensity disturbance caused by human activities such as lopping or branch pruning and removal of leaf litter.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None

ID: 59691
Title: New host races of Aphis gossypii (Insecta: Hemiptera: Aphididae) from northeast India.
Author: Basant K. Agarwala and Parichita Ray Choudhuri.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (7) 1172-1177 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Aphid, Aphis gossypii, host plant interaction, host races.
Abstract: Insect hervivores show dynamic interaction with their food plants in space and time. Intra-species variations in response to new environments, both biotic and abiotic, though well-known in allopatric and sympatric populations, were very little documented on closely related hosts. Two new host races of Aphis gossypii, a polyphagous aphid species of agriculture and horticulture importance, are reported from Tripura, north-east India. Natural populations of this aphid from two congeneric hosts, wild taro (Colocasia esculenta esculenta) and cultivated taro (Colocasia esculenta antiquorum), showed significant differences in life history traits. Aphids from wild taro clones were bigger in size, showed higher mean relative growth rate and intrinsic rate of increase, and produced more offspring per generation than those from cultivated taro clones which were smaller in size and took longer development and generation time. Reciprocal transfer of aphids between the two host plant subspecies significantly dwindled their colonization success rate in successive three generations on the transferred hosts. Results suggest that asexual lineages of aphids show adaptation to human-imposed selection pressure in the host environment.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Grubber, K. and Dixon, A.F.G., The effect of nutrient stress on development and reproduction in an aphid. Entomol. Exp. Appl., 1988, 47, 23-30. Bhadra, P. and Agarwala, B.K., A comparison of fitness characters of two host plant based congeneric species of the banana aphid, Pentalonia nigronervosa and P. caladii. J. Ins. Sci., 2010, 10, 152; insectscience.org/ 10.140.
Literature cited 2: Bregovoy, V.H., Starks, K.J. and Janardan, K.G., Fecundity characteristics of the greenbug biotypes C and E cultured on different host plants. Environ. Entomol., 1988, 17, 59-62. Guldemond, J.A., Tiggers, W.T. and Vrijer, P.W.F., Host races of A. gossypii Glover on cucumber and chrysanthemum. Environ. Entomol., 1994, 23, 1235-2340.

ID: 59690
Title: Distribution of major and trace elements of a sediment core from the eastern Arabian Sea and its environmental significance.
Author: K.V. Sruthi, P.J. Kurian and P.R. Rajani.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (7) 1161-1167 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Fluvial input, Holocene, major and trace element chemistry, upwelling.
Abstract: A sediment core recovered from the southeastern Arabian Sea off the Indian subcontinent was analysed to understand the distribution of major (Fe, K, Mg, Al, Ca and Sr) and trace elements (Mn, Ni, Cu and Co) as well as their environmental significance. According to the results, variation of Fe, K, Mg and Al during early Holocene period is reflective of the strengthened southwest monsoon and resulting fluvial input of terrigenous materials to the study region. The concentration profile of Ca, Sr and total organic carbon during late Holocene reveals increased productivity and coastal upwelling during recent periods. The profile of redox -sensitive metals indicates the role of terrigenous sources in the variation of these elements apart from the scavenging -releasing effects of Fe-Mn-oxides/hydroxides as well as decrease in oxygen level in sediment -water interface from early Holocene to late Holocene period. The study suggests that two factors are predominantly responsible for observed geochemical variations -terrigenous and biological contribution.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Schnetger, B., Brumsack, H.J., Schale, H., Henrichs, J. and Dittert, L., Geochemical characteristics of deep-sea sediments from the Arabian Sea: a high resolution study. Deep-Sea Res. Part II, 2000, 47, 2735-2768. Boyle, E.A., Manganese carbonate overgrowths on foraminifera tests. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 1983, 47, 1815-1819.
Literature cited 2: Lao, Y., Anderson, R.F. and Broecker, W.S., Boundary scavenging and deep- sea sediment dating: constraints from excess 230Th and 231Pa. Paleoceanography, 1992, 7, 783-798. Kyte, F.T., Leinen, M., Health, G.R. and Zhou, L., Cenozoic sedimentation history of the central North Pacific: inferences from the elemental geochemistry of core LL44-GPC3. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 1993, 57, 1719-1740.

ID: 59689
Title: None
Author: U. Raval and K. Veeraswamy.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (7) 1154-1161 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Cratons, hydrocarbon deposits, mid-continental earthquakes, mantle plume and trace, mobile belts.
Abstract: In the context of the Indian lithosphere, it is observed that locations of midplate earthquakes and hydrocarbon energy resources have striking correlation with the zones of influence (or corridors) of mantle plumes and their traces. The two mantle plumes (Kerguelen and Reunion) of the Ceno-Mesozoic period have given rise to the large igneous provinces, viz. the Rajmahal Traps on the eastern and Deccan traps on the western sides of the Indian sub-continent; two more mantle plumes (Marion and Crozet) are also believed to have affected India ' s continental margin. These plumes rise from different mantle depths, strike the base of the lithosphere and transfer the thermo-magmatic flux upwards, which in turn cause tectonic deformation/ movement, and also affect changes in the geophysical /geological characteristics of the overlying lithosphere due to magmatic underplating, metasomatism and metamorphism, and thermal cooking and also enhancement of productivity of the basins due to heat and nutrient inputs from the mantle plumes coming up from the mantle. In this context, location of the stable continental region/mid-continental earthquakes and hydrocarbon/energy resources of India falling over the zone of influence of mantle plumes is significant and can be gainfully utilized in zeroing on their occurrence.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Gupta, H.K., The deadly Latur earthquake. Science, 1993, 262, 1666-1667. Bastia, R. and Radhakrishna, M., Basin Evolution and Petroleum Prospectivity of the Continental Margins of India, Elsevier Publishers, 2012, p. 417.
Literature cited 2: Directorate General of Hydrocarbons. Activity report for the year 2011-12 on ' Hydocarbon exploration and production in India ' , 2012, p. 152. Raval, U. and Veeraswamy, K., The radial and linear modes of interaction between mantle plume and continental lithosphere: a case study from western India. J. Geol. Soc. India, 2000, 56, 525-536.

ID: 59688
Title: Greenhouse gas emission and soil properties as influenced by wheat biomass burning in Vertisols of central India.
Author: Sangeeta Lenka, N.K Lenka, R.C. Singh, A. Subba Rao, S. Kundu, Jyothi Raghuwansi.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (7) 1150-1154 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Biomass burning, greenhouse gas emission, soil properties, wheat.
Abstract: Biomass burning is a major contributor to the atmospheric carbon budget and increases the concentration of many trace gases apart from the adverse effects on soil properties. However, in many parts of India, crop residue burning is a recurrent and widespread practice for disposal of the residues after harvest of the previous crop to facilitate sowing of the succeeding crop. The residue burning on a larger scale also leads to severe atmospheric pollution. Against this back-drop, the present work was conducted to study the effect of wheat (Triticum aestivium) residue burning on soil properties and assess the potential greenhouse gas emission from burning of such residues on a regional scale. The study was taken up on farmers ' field in Bhopal district, Madhya Pradesh, with two residue disposal methods, viz. residue burning and residue removal, for comparison with respect to their effect on soil properties and the greenhouse gas emission potential. No significant difference was observed between both methods in terms of soil organic carbon, inorganic carbon and available P content at 0-15 and 15-30 cm soil depths. Though residue burning showed favourable effect on available K content, there was reduction in the available N content in the 15-30 cm soil depth. Residue burning did not show significant effect on soil biological activity as estimated from fluorescence diacetate test. On the other hand, there was a significant adverse effect on soil structure and labile carbon content. Residue burning was estimated to result in the emission of 379 Gg C equivalent for India and 14 Gg C equivalent for MP.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Lenka, S., Lenka, N.K. and Subba Rao, A., Greenhouse effect and contribution of Indian agriculture. In Climate Change and Natural Resource Management (eds Lenka, S. et al), New India Publishing Agency, New Delhi, 2013, pp. 1-18. Andreae, M. O. and Merlet, P., Emission of trace gases and aerosols from biomass burning. Global Biogeochem. Cycles, 2001, 15, 955-966.
Literature cited 2: Guyon, P. et al., Airborne measurements of trace gas and aerosol particle emissions from biomass burning in Amazonia. Atmos. Chem. Phys., 2005, 5, 2989-3002. Noble, A.D., Moody, P. and Berthelsen, S., Influence of changed management of sugarcane on some soil chemical properties in the humid wet tropics of north Queensland. Aust. J. Soil Res., 2003, 41, 1133-1144.

ID: 59687
Title: Evaluation of heterogeneous aquifers in hard rocks from resistivity sounding data in parts of Kalmeshwar taluk of Nagpur district, India.
Author: Dewashish Kumar, S.N. Rai, S. Thiagarajan and Y. Ratna Kumari.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (7) 1137-1145 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Anisotropy, hard rock aquifers, fracture, porosity, vertical electrical sounding.
Abstract: Interpretation of vertical electrical sounding (VES) data coupled with the estimation of coefficient of anisotropy (?) in parts of Kalmeshwar taluk, Nagpur district, Maharashtra, India has yielded vital information on the characteristics of subsurface basaltic aquifers. The coefficient of anisotropy estimated at 22 sites from VES data has shown variation between 1 and 1.87, which in turn reveals the anisotropic character of the basaltic aquifers. The estimated fracture porosity from the interpreted parameters and specific conductance of groundwater within the region varies from 0.007% to ~2%, indicating different degrees of water saturation within the basaltic flows. The interpreted true resistivity ~10-35?.m corroborates well with the zones of high porosity and ? further substantiates the presence of exploitable groundwater resources within the region.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Slater, L.D. Wishart, D.N. and Gates, E.A., Self potential improves characterization by hydraulically active fracture from azimuthal geoelectrical measurements. Geophys. Res. Lett., 2006, 33, L17314. Skyernaa, L and Jorgensen, N.O., Detection of local fracture systems of azimuthal resistivity surveys: example from south Norway. In Memoirs of the 24th Congress of International Association of Hydrogeologists, 1993, pp. 662-671.
Literature cited 2: Keller, G.V. and Fischknechst, F.C., Electrical Methods in Geophysical Prospecting, Pergamon Press, London, 1966, p. 517. Bhattacharya, P.K. and Patra, H.P., Direct Current Geoelectric Sounding, Principles and Interpretation, Methods in Geochemistry and Geophysics, Series-9, Elsevier, The Netherlands, 1968, p. 135.

ID: 59686
Title: A sustainable solution for safe drinking water through bank filtration technology in Uttarakhand, India.
Author: Bhavtosh Sharma, D.P. Uniyal, Rajendra Dobhal, P.C. Kimothi and T. Grischek.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (7) 1118-1124 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Bank filtration, drinking water, rural community, sustainable solution, Uttarakhand.
Abstract: Bank filtration (BF) has emerged as an economical and sustainable water pre-treatment technology for drinking water supply. In this method, subsurface water of a water body moves in to the well by seepage. BF wells adjacent to a river or lake pump the stored groundwater abstracted from the surface through aquifers. Chemical and biological contaminants such as turbidity, microbes, dissolved chemicals and natural organics are removed by the channel of aquifers present in the area. The whole process follows a series of physical, chemical and biological processes with some redox reactions. This study highlights the role of BF method in regulating water quality and quantity improvement. Besides, attempts have been made to discuss the mechanism, significance and the development of BF technology in the hilly state of Uttarakhand. Water quality status of Srinagar and Satpuli river BF sites of Uttarakhand are also described and compared with the Bureau of Indian Standards guidelines.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Doussan, C., Ledoux, E. and Detay, M., River-groundwater exchanges, bank filtration, and groundwater quality: ammonium behavior. J. Environ. Qual., 1998, 27, 1418-1427. Hiscock, K. M. and Grischek, T., Attenuation of groundwater pollution by bank filtration. J. Hydrol., 2002, 266, 139-144.
Literature cited 2: Kuen, W. and Mueller, U., Riverbank filtration: an overview. J. Am. Water Works Assoc., 2002, 92, 60-69. Tufenkji, N., Ryan, J.N. and Elimelech, M., The promise of bank filtration. Environ.Sci. Technol., 2002, 36, 422A-428A.

ID: 59685
Title: Consortium for e-resources in agriculture: qualitative and quantitative perspectives.
Author: Nirmal Singh.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (7) 1112-1117 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: CeRA, consortium, e-journals, impact factor, National Agricultural Research System.
Abstract: Consortium for e-Resources in Agriculture (CeRA) is the palpable effort of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research to facilitate access to select scientific literature to the academic and research society in the National Agricultural Research System. The consortium provides access to articles from nearly 3000 journals in the broad spectrum of agricultural sciences, including 194 journals in the subjects of animal husbandary, livestock management and poultry sciences; animal nutrition, feed, feed additives and manufacture; dairy technology; fisheries and aquaculture and veterinary science. This article is an attempt to assess the journal collection of CeRA in the above-mentioned subjects. The review status of journals, impact factor, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences rating of scientific journals 2012 (effective from 1 January 2013) and access to archives, are the parameters used for assessment of the journal collection of the consortium.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Chand, P., Nishy, P. and Sen, I., Access to knowledge by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India: a case study. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Digital Libraries (ICDL), 5-8 December 2006, New Delhi. Cited by Varaprasad, S.J.D. and Madhusudhan, S., E-journal consortium: is it a success story always? DESIDOC J. LIBr. Inform. Technol., 2010, 30 (2), 92-96. Panitich, J.M. and Michalak, S., The serial crises: a white paper for the UNC-Chapel Hill Scholarly Communications Convocation, 2005; http:// www.unc.edu/scholcomdig/whitepapers/panitch-michalak.html (accessed on 6 January 2014).
Literature cited 2: Singh, N. and Kumar, D., Utilization of consortium for e-Resources in Agriculture (ceRA) by faculty of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU). J. Interlib. Loan Doc. Deliv. Electr. Reser., 2012, 22 (5), 205-221; http:// www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/1072303x.2012.737761 (accessed on 2 December 2013.) International Coalition of Library Consortia, Forum for Resource Sharing in Astronomy, 2005; http:// legacy.icolc.net /FORSA.html (accessed on 21 January 2014)

ID: 59684
Title: Nutritional properties of minor millets: neglected cereals with potentials to combat malnutrition.
Author: GIRISH CHANDEL, RAKESH KUMAR MEENA, MAHIMA DUBEY, MAMTA KUMAR.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (7) 1109-1111 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Nutritional properties of minor millets, neglected cereals, potential to combat malnutrition.
Abstract: Millet is a general term for a wide range of cereals. Minor millets are a group of grassy plants with short slender culm and small grains possessing remarkable ability to survive under adverse conditions like limited rainfall, poor soil fertility and land terrain. Minor millets categorized as coarse cereals are staple food for the tribal people where cultivation of major cereals like rice, wheat and maize is either not popular or fail to produce substantial yield. Millets differ from one another by their appearances, and morphological features, maturity grain type etc.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Adekunle, A. I., Gounga, M.E. and Le, G.W., Emir. J. Food Agric., 2013, 25 (7), 501-508. FAO, http: //faostat.fao.org/site/339/default.aspx.
Literature cited 2: Chopra, K. and Neelam, M., Health and Population-Perspectives and Issues, 2004, 27 (1), 40-48. Pradhan, A., Nag, S.K. and Patil, S.K., Curr. Sci., 2010, 98 (6), 763-765.

ID: 59683
Title: Some observations on a report on scientometric analysis on Botanical Survey of India.
Author: P.Venu and M. Sanjappa.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (7) 1103-1104 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Scientometric analysis, Botanical survey, India
Abstract: We happened to go through the article titled ' Botanical Survey of India (1971-2010): a scienctometric analysis by M. Pathak and A.K. Bharati. The organization under reference (Botanical Survey of India, hereafter, BSI) is one of the oldest institutions engaged in taxonomic /revisionary/monographic research and its core job revolves around exploration, inventorying and documentation of phytodiversity of the country. Having worked for almost three decades in this institution, we pertinently felt that the Survey ' s performance analysis which has been the prime objective of the cited article should have been based essentially on accomplishing targets envisaged in the core mandate and to a slighter and proportional extent on secondary mandates.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Pathak, M. and Bharti, A.K., Curr. Sci., 2014, 106 (7), 964-971. Venu, P. and Sanjappa, M., Curr. Sci., 2011, 101 (11), 1397.
Literature cited 2: Sanjappa, M., Venu, P. and Prasanna, P.V., Curr. Sci., 2010, 99 (4), 418-419.

ID: 59682
Title: Use of sugarcane bagasse ash as brick material.
Author: Mangesh V. Madurwar, Sachin A. Mandavgane and Rahul V. Ralegaonkar.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (6) 1044-1051 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Bricks, Quarry dust, lime, sugarcane bagasse ash.
Abstract: Application of bio-fuel by-product sugarcane bagasse ash (SBA) as a principal raw material for the manufacturing of bricks was studied. The bricks were developed using the quarry dust ( QD) as a replacement to natural river sand and lime (L) as a binder. SBA as a principal raw material was characterized using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) confirms SBA as a cementious material. TGA confirms thermal stability till 650 ? C, whereas SEM monograph shows individual ash with a rough surface and numerous fine pores. Elemental analysis of quarry dust and lime was also carried out using XRF and classic wet test. The physical properties of quarry dust and lime were determined using the laboratory test methods. SBA-QD-L combination bricks were designed and developed in different mix proportions. Physico-mechanical properties of commercially available burnt clay-and-fly-ash bricks. It was observed that SBA-QD-L bricks are lighter in weight, energy efficient and meet compressive strength requirements of IS 1077:1992. The bricks also serve the purpose of solid waste management and innovative sustainable construction material. The bricks can be used in local construction especially for non-load-bearing walls.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Madurwar, M.V., Ralegaonkar, R.V. and Mandavgane, S.A., Application of agro-waste for sustainable construction materials: a review. Constr. Build. Mater, 2013, 38, 872-878. Limam, S.A., Varum, H., Sales, A. and Neto, V.F., Analysis of the mechanical properties of compresed earth block masonry using the sugarcane bagasse ash. Constr. Build. Mater, 2012, 35, 829-837.
Literature cited 2: Faria, K. C.P. Gurgel, R.F. and Holanda, J.N.F., Recycling of sugarcane bagasse ash waste in the production of clay bricks. J. Environ. Manage. 2012, 101, 7-12. Raut, S.P., Sedmake, R., Dhunde, S., Ralegaonkar, R.V. and Mandavgane, S.A., Reuse of recycle paper mill waste in energy absorbing light weight bricks. Constr. Build. Mater, 2012, 27, 247-251.

ID: 59681
Title: Natural base isolation system for earthquake protection.
Author: Srijit Bandopadhya, Aniruddha Sengupta and G.R. Reddy.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (6) 1037-1043 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Base isolation, earthquake protection, shake table test, shredded rubber tyre.
Abstract: The performance of a well-designed layer of sand, geo-grid, geo-textiles and composites like layer of sand mixed with shredded tyre (rubber) as low-cost base isolators is studied in shake table tests in the laboratory. The building foundation is modeled by a 200 mm x 200 mm and 40 mm thick, rigid plexi-glass block. The block is placed in the middle of a 1 m x 1 m tank filled with sand. The selected base isolator is placed between the block and the sand foundation. Accelerometers are placed on top of the footing and foundation sand layer. The displacement of the footing is also measured by transducers. The whole set-up is mounted on the shake table and subjected to sinusoidal motion with varying amplitude and frequency. Sand is found to be effective only at very high amplitude (>0.65 g) of motion. Among all the different materials tested, the performance of a composite consisting of sand and 50 % shredded rubber tyre placed under the footing is found to be the most promising as a low-cost, effective base isolator.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Soong, T.T.., State-of-the-art review, active structural control in civil engineering.Eng.Struct, 1988, 10, 74-84. Jangid, R.S. and Datta, T.K., Seismic behavior of base-isolated buildings: a state-of-the-art review.Proc. ICE: Struct. Build. 1995, 110, 186-203.
Literature cited 2: Nagarajaih, S., Semi-active control of structures. In proceedings of structural Congress XV, ASCE, Portland, Oregon, USA, 1997, pp. 1574-1578. Ehrgott, R.C. and Masri, S.F., Structural control applications of an electro-rheological device. In proceedings of International Workshop on Structure Control, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA, 1994, pp. 115-129.

ID: 59680
Title: A weather-based forecast model for capsule rot of small cardamom.
Author: Prashant Goswami, Renu Goyal, E.V.S. Prakasa Rao, K.V.Ramesh, M.R.Sudarshan and D.Ajay.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (6) 1013-1018 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Capsule rot disease, forecasting, meteorological variables, small cardamom.
Abstract: Small cardamom is an economically important spice crop. However, cardamom is susceptible to several diseases that significantly reduce yield. Proactive prevention of these diseases based on advance warning can enhance the efficiency of disease control and reduce environmental load of pesticides. Many of these diseases are governed by weather variables (for example, through control of fungal growth). This work presents a disease (capsule rot of cardamom) forecast model based on a set of meteorological variables. While no single weather variable provides successful simulation, an optimal combination of weather variables provides sufficient skill for advance warning of the disease.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Menon, M.R., Sarjoo, B.V., Ramakrishnan, C.K. and Remadevi, L.A., New Phytophthora disease of cardamom.Agric.Res.J.Kerala, 1972, 11, 93-94. Suseela Bhai, R. and Sarma, Y.R., Characterization of Phytophthora de Bary inciting capsule rot/Azhukal and leaf blight disease of cardamom (Elettaria cardamom L. Maton). J. Plantation Crops, 2005, 33, 193-203.
Literature cited 2: Thomas, J., Suseela Bhai, R. and Naidu, R., Comparative efficacy of fungicides against Phytophthora rot of small cardamom. Pesticides (Fungicide Special), 1989, 23 (9), 40-42. Nair, R.R, Investigations of fungal diseases of cardamom. PhD thesis, Kerala Agricultural University, Trissur, p.161.

ID: 59679
Title: Inhibition of fungal endophytes by camptothecine produced by their host plant, Nothapodytes nimmoniana (Grahm) Mabb. (Icacinaceae).
Author: S.Shweta, M.B.Shivanna, B.R. Gurumurthy, R.Uma Shaanker, T.R. Santhosh Kumar and G.Ravikanth.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (6) 994-999 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Camptothecine, endophytic fungi, Nothapodytes nimmoniana, sensitivity and inhibition.
Abstract: Camptothecine (CPT), a monotarpene indole alkaloid, is a potent inhibitor of eukaryotic topoisomerase I. It is produced by a number of plants, including Nothapodytes nimmoniana (Grahm) Mabb. (Icacinaceae), occurring naturally in the Western Ghats, India. The plant is inhabited by a number of endophytic fungi, many of which have been isolated and shown to produce CPT, in culture, independent of the host. In this article, we examine the sensitivity if endophytic fungi isolated from N.nimmoniana to CPT. Contrary to our hypothesis that these fungi should be resistant to CPT (as they exposed to the host CPT as well as that produced by themselves), we report that these fungi are sensitive and thus inhibited by CPT. We discuss these results in the context of the role of CPT. We discuss these results in the context of the role of CPT in limiting endophytic fungal growth.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Hsiang, C.Y., Ho, T.Y., Lin, C.H., Wu, K. and Chang, T.J., Analysis of upregulated cellular genes in psedorabies virus infection: use of mRNA differential display.J.Virol.Methods, 1996, 62, 11-19. Pommier, Y., Topoisomerase I inhibitors: campothecines and beyond. Nature Rev.Cancer., 2006, 6, 789-802.
Literature cited 2: Uma shaanker, R., Ramesha, B.T., Ravikanth, G., Guanga, R., Vasudeva, R. and Ganeshaiah, K.N., Chemical profiling of Nothapodytes nimmoniana for camptothecin, an important anticancer alkaloid: toward the development of a sustainable production system. In Bioactive Molecules and Medicinal Plants (eds Ramawat, K.G. and Merillon, J.M.), Springer, UK, 2008, pp. 197-213 Ramesha, B.T. et al., New plant sources of the anti-cancer alkaloid, camptothecin from the Icacinaceae taxa, India. Phytomedicine, 2013, 20, 521-527.

ID: 59678
Title: Estimation of past atmospheric carbon dioxide levels using tree-ring cellulose ?13C
Author: Trina Bose, Supriyo Chakraborty, Hemant Borgaonkar, Saikat Sengupta and R.Ramesh.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (6) 971-982 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Atmospheric carbon dioxide, carbon isotope, cellulose, climate change, tree ring.
Abstract: We study the applicability of the Farquhar model for carbon isotopic discrimination (change in carbon isotopic composition from air CO2 to tree-ring cellulose) in C3 plants to trees growing in the field. Two new carbon isotope datasets from Himalayan conifers with published data from another eight sites across the world show disparate trends in the plot of carbon isotope discrimination versus atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration, in contrast to the model prediction of absence of any trend. This is because the model assumes that the tree adjusts its stomatal conductance for water-use efficiency to maintain a constant ratio of carbon dioxide concentrations inside and outside the leaf and treats the diffusive and biochemical fractationation factors as constants. By introducing a simple linear dependence of these fractationation factors with ambient temperature and humidity, we have enhanced the applicability of the model to naturally growing trees. Further, despite the disparate trends exhibited by the 10 trees, we show using the inverse modeling that it is possible to derive a unique record of past atmospheric co2 concentrations using tree cellulose ?13 C data. The reconstructions also replicate the summer pCO2 gradient from tropics to mid-latitudes. We also discuss the merits and demerits of the model, and compare the model-derived pCO2 with that of the ice core-based records from Law Dome.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
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