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ThesisItem Restricted Effect of chlorpyrifos on the reproductive system of Metaphire posthuma (Vaillant, 1868) and Eisenia fetida (Savigny, 1826)(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2018) Avneet Kaur; Hundal, S.S.The present study was field-laboratory integrated approach to evaluate effects of pesticide on earthworms. The agricultural fields of South West (S-W) Punjab (Malout, Bathinda and Muktsar regions) and Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana were surveyed to monitor chlorpyrifos residues and check species and population density of earthworms. The residue level ranged from 0.014-0.044 mg/kg in Malout region, 0.018-0.116 mg/kg in Bathinda region and 0.010-0.056 mg/kg in Muktsar region of Punjab. The Metaphire posthuma was the predominant species found in S-W Punjab and PAU, Ludhiana and Lampito mauritii was also inhabiting these regions. The biochemical, histological, cytological and genotoxicity studies were also performed on former abundant species. The investigation revealed that the biological alterations were more pronounced in Kharif season than Rabi. Higher AchE activity during Rabi season and elevated GST activity during Kharif season was recorded in earthworms .The histological alterations were only observed in earthworms of S-W Punjab. Low differential, total coelomocyte count and higher DNA damage was reported in Kharif. The comparative study showed that PAU, Ludhiana is a zone with good agricultural practices. In laboratory two ecologically different earthworms i.e Metaphire Posthuma (endogeic) and Eisenia fetida (epigeic) were exposed to different doses of chlorpyrifos (2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0 ml/l) in an artificial soil test following OECD guidelines. The significant decrease was observed in body weight, cocoon and hatchling number of both earthworms, at higher doses of chlorpyrifos (7.5 and 10.0 ml/l). The mortality as a result of morphological alterations was observed at higher doses of chlorpyrifos in earthworms. Further, these higher doses led to inhibition of activity of AchE and GST, decrease in total, differential count of coelomocytes and high DNA damage. Histological alterations were also observed in gonads of M. posthuma and E. fetida on exposure to higher doses. The field and laboratory studies revealed that earthworms are excellent bioindicators for assessing soil contamination caused by pesticides. The species specific response was observed, M. posthuma was found to be more sensitive as compared to E. fetida so, can used as standard test species to evaluate pesticidal toxicity.ThesisItem Restricted Partitioning of zinc and its associated metabolites in diverse rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2018) Avneet Kaur; Nirmaljit KaurThe present investigation entitled “Partitioning of zinc and its associated metabolites in diverse rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes” was undertaken in the Department of Botany, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana during 2016-17. Seeds of sixteen genotypes with diverse zinc content were procured from the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. The studies were conducted in two experiments, in the first experiment sixteen rice genotypes were raised in the nursery and; physiological and biochemical parameters of rice genotypes were quantified from 35-days old seedlings. The chlorophyll pigments, hill activity, total soluble sugars, total soluble proteins, free amino acids, starch and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were recorded higher in PR113 and PR121, whereas these were lower in RYT Biofort1 and RYT 3403 as compared to the rest of the genotypes. Grain weight, grain yield and grain zinc uptake also followed similar trend. Hence, PR113 and PR121 were characterized as zinc efficient, whereas, RYT Biofort1 and RYT 3403 as zinc inefficient. These zinc efficient and zinc inefficient genotypes were put to further experimentation. The zinc content and zinc associated traits were quantified during three stages of development: maximum tillering, anthesis (50% flowering) and maturity. The chlorophyll content, hill activity and SOD activity increased significantly from maximum tillering to anthesis stage and these parameters were also higher in zinc efficient genotypes as compared to zinc inefficient genotypes. The total soluble sugars, total soluble proteins, free amino acids and starch increased significantly from maximum tillering to anthesis stage, whereas decreased from anthesis to maturity. These metabolic reserves were higher in zinc efficient genotypes as compared to the zinc inefficient genotypes. The plant height, leaf area, flag leaf area, leaf weight, number of tillers and internodal length was also higher in zinc efficient genotypes as compared to the zinc inefficient genotypes. The leaf, tiller, spike and grain were separated at each representative stage of growth for quantifying weight, zinc content and zinc uptake. A higher dry matter accumulation as well as zinc remobilization from the vegetative to reproductive parts of the plant was observed in the zinc efficient genotypes as compared to the inefficient ones.Panicle characteristics, viz., panicle length, panicle number per m2, filled spikelet percentage and percent grain filling were high in zinc efficient genotypes, whereas low in zinc inefficient genotypes. On the contrary, panicle sterility was high in the zinc inefficient genotypes. Yield and yield contributing traits, viz., test weight, grain weight per plant, grain yield and harvest index were high in the zinc efficient genotypes as compared to the zinc inefficient genotypes. Based on the present investigation, PR113 and PR121 have been characterized as zinc efficient and RYT Biofort1 and RYT 3403 as zinc inefficient genotypes.ThesisItem Open Access Evaluation Of Option Strategies In Different Scenarios And Identification Of Fundamental Determinants Of Exchange Rate Movement: A Study Of Indian Currency Market(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2018) Avneet Kaur; Kapur, SandeepEmpirical literature lacks in quantum of studies on option payoffs especially in context of Indian foreign exchange contracts. The present study was undertaken to study the option payoffs especially in context of Indian foreign exchange contracts. The study has tried to assess the bullish, bearish and neutral option payoffs with underlying USD-INR contract. The study was done for a period of 68 months from October 2010 to June 2016. Three bullish option strategies namely long call, short put and covered call were applied and their pay offs were assessed for different moneyness. Payoffs of three bearish option strategies namely long put, short call and bear call spread was also assessed. In addition, four neutral strategies namely long and short straddle; and long and short strangle were employed. Various combinations of options using ATM, ITM and OTM calls and puts were formed and analysed. The findings of the study show that under bullish option strategies 2%OTM covered call strategy performed better with least coefficient of variance. 2%OTM short call and ATMC ATMP long straddle performed better with least coefficient of variance in bearish and neutral option strategies respectively. No statistical significant differences were recorded when compared for different moneyness in the any respective strategy. The study also attempted to find various macroeconomic variables which affect the movement in USD-INR exchange rate. Monthly data related to 11 variables was taken for the time period starting from 1st May, 1998 to 30th June, 2015. It was found that the predictor variables such as ratio of export to import for India, foreign exchange reserve, 10-year bond yield of India has a positive impact on the USD-INR, whereas other predictors i.e. index of industrial production, foreign institutional investor flow, brent crude oil, S&P500 has a negative impact on the USD-INR.