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ThesisItem Restricted Effect of planting methods and moisture conservation practices on growth, yield and quality of rainfed maize (Zea mays L.) in Shivalik region of Punjab(Punjab Agricultural University, 2023) Mandeep Kaur; Khokhar, Anil KumarThe present study entitled *Effect of planting methods and moisture conservation practices on growth, yield and quality of rainfed maize (Zea mays L.) in Shivalik region of Punjab'' was conducted at Punjab Agricultural University-Regional Research Station Ballowal Saunkhri and AICRPDA-NICRA project on farm experiment site at Village Achalpur, Block Garhshanker, District Hoshiarpur, during kharif 2020. The field experiment was conducted in split plot design with four planting methods viz. flat planting, ridge planting, bed planting and conservation furrow planting) as main plot and three moisture conservation practices viz. no interculture, locally available vegetative material (munja, nara, vetiver, babbar grass and sugarcane) straw mulch @6t ha' and earthing up as sub plot treatments using PMH- 1 variety of maize. The 12 treatment combinations were replicated thrice resulting in total 36 experimental plots. Among various planting methods, bed planting and ridge planting gave significantly higher grain yield at Ballowal Saunkhri (33.8 qha and 30.7 qha', respectively) and at Achalpur (40.3 qha' and 37.5, respectively) which a respective increase of 20.7 per cent and 12.7 per cent at Ballowal Saunkhri and31.3 per cent and 26.1 per cent at Achalpur over flat sowing. Moisture conservation practices also influenced maize grain yield significantly, with earthing up resulting in significantly higher grain yield of 33.5 qha' at Ballowal Saunkhri and 37.8 q ha' Achalpur with respective increase of 27.5 per cent and 24.1 per cent over no interculture. Among quality parameters, planting methods as well as moisture conservation practices have no significant effect on protein content in maize grain. Sugar and starch content were significantly affected under earthing up and straw mulch @6t ha' and with bed planting. Bed planting gave highest net returns of Rs. 31657 ha' at Ballowal Saunkhri and Rs. 44670 ha at Achalpur with respective B: C ratio of 1.84 and 2.16 followed by ridge planting system which gave net returns of Rs 27094 and Rs 41137 at Ballowal Saunkhri and Achalpur with respective B: C ratio of 1.75 and 2.11. Among moisture conservation practices, earthing up gave Rs 10475 and Rs 10101 per hectare higher net returns than no interculture at Ballowal Saunkhri and Achalpur, respectively. In conclusion, bed planting or ridge planting and earthing up at knee high stage proved beneficial in the increasing productivity and improving the quality of rainfed maize in Shivalik region of Punjab.ThesisItem Unknown Biochemical characterization and gene expression analysis of pulp pigmentation specific genes in pummelo(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2023) Mandeep Kaur; Rattanpal, H.S.The present study aimed at morphological and biochemical characterization of pummelo genotypes grown under the subtropical condition of North India along with gene expression analysis for pulp colour developmental genes involved in carotenoid biosynthesis. Morphological characters of pummelo genotypes were studied as per International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Italy descriptors for citrus. A wide range of genetic diversity was observed for fruit length (102.1-158.6 mm), fruit diameter (98.8-146.7 mm), peel thickness (10.9-21.8 mm), fruit weight (427.2-1150.0 g), peel weight (179.7-526.2 g), juice content (76.6-221.3 ml) and seed number per fruit (51.0-132.0) whereas, a relatively narrow range of genetic diversity was observed for flower length (30.0-41.4 mm), number of petals (4-5) and the number of segments (15.0-20.0). The highest fruit size was recorded in NRCC Pummelo5 and PTF-1. Basic fruit quality attributes and components of the antioxidant defense mechanism were estimated colorimetrically. Among biochemical attributes (total soluble sugars, titratable acidity, total sugars, sucrose and reducing sugars), NRCC Pummelo-3 and PTF-4 had the best quality fruits on account of the maximum sugar-acid ratio. Relatively higher content of vitamin C, total phenols, total flavonoids, o-dihydroxy phenols and total antioxidant capacity (DPPH and activity of antioxidant enzymes - superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and peroxidase) was recorded in PTF-4 and NRCC Pummelo3. With respect to the volatile composition of pummelo genotypes as determined by GC-MS analysis, a total of thirty and sixty one volatile compounds were identified in pummelo peel oil and juice, respectively. Limonene was observed as the most predominant compound in pummelo peel oil as well as juice. Additionally, the expression of pulp pigmentation-specific genes in pummelo genotypes including pink-fleshed (NRCC Pummelo-3 and PTF-4) and white-fleshed (Local) was studied. The genes upstream of the lycopene biosynthesis (HDS, HDR, DXS, DXR, PDS, PSY, ZDS, ZISO, CRTISO and PLIS) were up-regulated whereas the genes downstream of the lycopene biosynthesis (ε-LCY, ε-CHX, β-CHX, CCD1, CCD4, AAO3, A1CYP707, A3CYP707 and A4CYP707) were down-regulated. Relative expression of carotenoid biosynthesis genes was the highest in NRCC Pummelo-3 than PTF-4 with respect to Local genotype. The information generated may assist fruit breeders to shortlist the genotypes in hybridization programs for the development of nutritionally-enriched cultivars.ThesisItem Embargo Bioprocessing of corn stover for bioethanol production(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2022) Mandeep Kaur; Kocher, Gurvinder SinghThe present study was conducted with the objective of standardization and evaluation of an efficient and ecofriendly, method for the pretreatment of corn stover and its subsequent conversion to bioethanol. The proximate analysis of corn stover (500 µ) revealed a composition of cellulose (57.4%), hemicellulose (17.5%), lignin (14.4) and ash (2.2%) in the raw corn stover. Among the different chemical pretreatment methods, acid (1.0% H2SO4) –autoclave (15 psi for 90 min) followed by alkali (2.0% NaOH) pretreatment resulted in 86.8 % and 79.4% decrease in lignin and hemicellulose, respectively and 66.0% increase in relative proportion of cellulose. Among the green solvent methods of pretreatment, organosolv pretreatment methods, acetic acid (40:60, 40%) resulted in 84.6 % and 53.6% decrease in lignin and hemicellulose, respectively and 53.7% increase in relative proportion of cellulose whereas deep eutectic solvent pretreatment, choline chloride-lactic acid (1:8 molar, ratio) resulted in 82.5 % and 33.0% decrease in lignin and hemicellulose, respectively and 69.3% increase in relative proportion of cellulose. For biological pretreatment of corn stover, a two fungal consortium of strains viz. Pleurotus ostreatus PAU03 and Phanerochaete chrysosporium MTCC787 was screened for ligninolytic enzyme production by plate assay on lignin modifying enzyme (LME)- basal medium (LBM), supplemented with 0.01 % (w/v) Azure B and 0.02 % (w/v) Remazole brilliant blue dye and inoculated with agar discs ( 10 mm) of active mycelia. Decolourization of the respective dyes was observed with ligninolytic index of 1.5 and 1.22 for Azure B and Remazole brilliant blue dyes, respectively. The consortium culture of two fungal strains viz. P. ostreatus and P. chrysosporium was used for ligninolytic enzyme production, by using corn stover as substrate. Maximum enzyme activity (U/ml) was recorded on 10th day as 48.33, 61.85 and 40.8 for LiP, MnP, laccase, respectively. The enzyme production was scaled upto 4000ml and the crude extract was concentrated (6.7 times) using acetone and 600 ml concentrated enzyme was produced having enzyme activities (U/ml) 68.89, 41.13 and 110.08 for Lacc, LiP and MnP enzymes, respectively. The latter was partially purified by Fast Performing Liquid Chromatograpgy (FPLC) technique. The enzyme activity (U/ml) of 131.96, 130.38 and 94.21 was recorded for Lacc, LiP and MnP enzymes, respectively in the partially purified enzyme, which was further concentrated (1.5 times) and the enzyme activities (U/ml) of 140.9, 168.53 and 98.05 for Lacc, LiP and MnP enzymes, respectively. This partially purified ligninozyme was used for nanoligninozyme synthesis. In the nanologninozyme (enzyme: sodium:silicate nanohydrate, 1:1) showed the enzyme activities (U/ml) of 128.93, 187.09 and 116.94 for for Lacc, LiP and MnP enzymes respectively. The pretreatment of corn stover with nanoligninolzyme under shake flask conditions (50 ml reaction volume) using optimized physico-chemical parameters viz. corn stover concentration, 2.5 g; enzyme volume, 8.0 ml; Mn2+ ions (0.5 mM) and incubation temperature, 45°C in 72 h of enzymatic action resulted in 87.2% and 67.4% decrease in lignin and hemicellulose, respectively and 80.3% increase in relative proportion of cellulose. The saccharification of pretreated corn stover at different concentrations of corn stover (1.0-10mg) with Arrowzyme (commercial cellulase) at enzyme loading of 30 FPU, resulted in maximum release of reducing sugars (0.396 g/gds) at 2.5g concentration of corn stover. Under these optimized conditions, saccharification of organosolv (acetic acid, 40:60) and biological (nanoligninozyme) pretreated corn stover resulted in release of 0.395 and 0.439 g/g, reducing sugars, respectively. The fermentation of organosolv as well as biological pretreated, and Arrowzyme saccharified corn stover hydrolysate resulted in 0.112 and 0.132 g/gds ethanol, respectively. The fermentation efficiency of 66.54 % [33.9 % yield (yps)] and 70.91 % [36.1 % yield (yps)] was recorded for organosolv and biological pretreatment, respectively.ThesisItem Restricted Effects of rice straw incorporation on phosphorus and zinc availability in rice-wheat sequence(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2019) Mandeep Kaur; Saini, Sat PalThe present study was conducted to investigate the effects of rice straw (RS) incorporation on P and Zn availability in surface (0-15 cm) soil under rice-wheat cropping sequence. The treatments were N application (0, 90, 120 and 150 kg ha-1, main plot) and RS incorporation (0, 5, 7.5 and 10 t ha-1, sub plot).Inorganic-P was dominating fraction (92% of total-P), while organic-P constituted only 8%. Relative preponderance of inorganic P fractions followed an order: calcium bound P (Ca-P) > aluminium-P (Al-P) > iron-P (Fe-P) > reductant soluble-P (Red-P) > saloid-P. Nitrogen and RS incorporation significantly (p<0.05) increased the concentration of inorganic P fractions, with highest concentration in RS10 and N150 treatments. The sequential extraction procedure for Zn fractionation showed the dominance of residual fraction (Res-Zn), and their relative abundance in the surface soil followed an order: water soluble and exchangeable Zn (WS+EX-Zn) < specifically adsorbed Zn (SpAd-Zn) < manganese oxide bound Zn (MnOx-Zn) < organic matter bound Zn (OM-Zn) < amorphous iron bound Zn (AFeOx-Zn) < crystalline iron oxide Zn (CFeOx-Zn) < Res-Zn. These Zn fractions were significantly increased with graded levels of RS incorporation. Increase in P fractions showed a linear positive relationship with SOC and available-P in soil. Zinc fractions were positively and linearly correlated to SOC and DTPA-Zn concentration. Maximum wheat grain yield was observed with N120 and RS7.5 treatments. Highest P and Zn uptakes were observed under RS10 treatment. These results showed that N application and RS incorporation significantly increased the P and Zn concentration in soil under rice-wheat cropping system.ThesisItem Open Access Physiological and biochemical changes associated with moisture stress tolerance in maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2019) Mandeep Kaur; Ghai, NavitaThe present investigation was conducted to study “Physiological and biochemical changes associated with moisture stress tolerance in maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes”. Twenty genotypes (CML 32, CM 139, CM 140, CM 143, SE 503, SE 544, SE 547, SE 552, I 122, I 132, I 162, I 164, LM 5, LM 11, LM 13, LM 15, LM 16, LM 20, LM 23, LM 24) were screened on the basis of percent survival rate of seedlings under different levels of moisture stress created by withholding 40%, 50% and 60% irrigation. Percent survival of seedlings was noted at 10, 15, 20 and 25 days after sowing at 40%, 50% and 60% moisture stress level and four genotypes: CM 140, LM 16 as tolerant and LM 13, LM 20 as sensitive genotypes were selected out of twenty genotypes. Effects of moisture stress on morpho-physiological and biochemical parameters in tolerant and sensitive maize genotypes along with a check PMH 2 were studied at seedling stage. Morpho-physiological parameters viz. root length, shoot length, root fresh weight, shoot fresh weight, root density, root dry weight, shoot dry weight, root volume, root:shoot ratio, membrane stability, relative leaf water content, chlorophyll content, vigour index I and vigour index II decreased with the moisture stress. However, carotenoid content was found to increase with increasing stress level. The various biochemical parameters viz. proline content, activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase were recorded higher in check PMH 2 and in tolerant genotypes as compared to sensitive genotypes. Also, accumulation of hydrogen peroxide content was lower in CM 140 and LM 16 than LM 13 and LM 20. Under moisture stress, root anatomy showed variations in all the maize genotypes. Density of metaxylem elements increased in all the genotypes as well as in check PMH 2 and more number of root hairs were also in LM 16 and PMH 2. In tolerant genotype CM 140, the diameter of metaxylem also decreased with the drought stress which helped in retention of water in roots under stress conditions. Higher levels of antioxidant enzymes, proline, carotenoid content and decreased hydrogen peroxide might have helped in imparting moisture stress tolerance to CM 140 and LM 16 genotypes. These genotypes can be used by the breeders in further breeding programs.ThesisItem Open Access Effect of tillage, green manuring, rice establishment methods and crop residue management practices on micronutrient uptake and transformation under rice-wheat cropping system(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2018) Mandeep Kaur; Dhaliwal, S.S.The present study was carried out under two on-going field experiments at research farm, Department of Soil Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana in split plot design with three replications. The soil of both experimental fields was loamy sand in texture, taxonomically classified as Typic Ustrochrept. The first experiment comprised of twelve treatment combinations among which the main plots consisted of four rice establishment methods viz. direct seeded rice under zero tillage (DSR-ZT), conventional tillage (DSR-CT), reduced tillage (DSR-RT) and puddled transplanted rice (PTR) and three subplots in wheat viz. conventional tillage (CTW-R), zero tillage without rice straw (ZTW-R) and zero till with rice straw (ZTW+R). In this study, soil samples were analyzed for basic chemical indices of soil quality. The DTPA-extractable micronutrient cations (Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu) and their different chemical fractions were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Varion AAS-FS Model). The ZTW+R showed marked increase in concentration of DTPA-extractable Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu and their transformation from occluded fractions towards bio-available forms. Residual fraction of all the micronutrient cations was found to be the most dominant fraction and water soluble + exchangeable fraction was found to be least dominant in soil. Organically bound fraction of all the micronutrient cations studied was found to be most important fraction contributing towards micronutrient uptake by both rice and wheat crops. The ZTW+R produced significantly higher wheat grain yield than ZTW-R. Moreover, rice grain yield under PTR and DSR-RT was comparable but significantly higher than DSR-CT and DSR-ZT. The second experiment consisted of twelve treatment combinations among which the four main plots comprised of puddled transplanted rice with no wheat straw retained (PTRW0), puddled transplanted rice with 25% anchored wheat straw retained (PTRW25), PTRW0 + GM and PTRW25 + GM. Similarly, three subplot treatments included conventional tillage wheat without rice residue (CTWR0) zero tillage wheat without rice residue (ZTWR0) and ZTW with 100% rice residue retained as mulch (ZTWR100) in subsequent wheat crop. The results of the study revealed that soil pH decreased however, SOC and availability of DTPA-extractable micronutrients increased with crop residue retention and GM incorporation in soil. The DTPA-extractable Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn showed sharp decrease from 0-7.5 cm to 7.5-15 cm soil depth and afterwards the decrease was gradual with further increase in soil depth. The transformation of Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn was found higher under PTRW25 + GM treatment from occluded (AFeOx and CFeOx) fractions to mobile (WSEX) ones. Highest productivity and Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn uptake by grain and straw of rice and wheat were also recorded under PTRW25 + GM treatment. In nutshell, green manure incorporation and crop residue retention over the soil surface substantially increased the crop productivity and availability of Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu in soil.ThesisItem Open Access Study on microstructure and pozzolonic properties of fly ash-based geopolymer mortar containing nanometakaolin(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2018) Mandeep Kaur; Jaspal SinghGeopolymerization is a process that can transform alumina-silica rich waste materials into valuable binding materials through alkali activation. Geopolymer binding materials are mainly composed of two components: a source material and alkaline activator liquid. The source material for geopolymer mortar and concrete should be rich in silica and alumina. In this study, fly ash-based geopolymer mortar was prepared by utilizing fly ash as a source material and the mixture of sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate as alkaline activator solution. The present experimental study shed a light on the fluctuations in compressive strength of fly ash-based geopolymer mortar by varying the molarity (M) of sodium hydroxide as 12M, 14M, 16M along with different proportions of nano-metakaolin (NMK) (0% to 10% @ 2% increment by weight of fly ash). The compressive strength was checked subsequently at curing ages of 3, 7, 14 and 28 days. X- ray diffraction test was performed on powder samples of fly ash, S1, S7, S13 and S15. The powder samples of S1, S7, S13 and S15 mix were collected from the remnants of geopolymer mortar specimens after 28 days compressive strength test. It has been observed that the increase in sodium hydroxide molarity and NMK proportion showed considerable improvement in compressive strength of geopolymer mortar at all curing ages. Further, it has been observed that optimum gain in compressive strength is at the 16M molarity of sodium hydroxide containing 4% proportion of NMK. XRD results are in conformity with compressive strength test results.ThesisItem Restricted Fractionation of bay leaf oil and its bioefficacy against root knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2017) Mandeep Kaur; Chahal, K.K.The present investigation deals with Fractionation of bay leaf oil and its bioefficacy against root knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita. The bay leaf essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation using Clevenger apparatus. GC-MS analysis showed the presence of twenty one compounds. Eugenol, α-Pinene, isoeugenol, caryophyllene and 1,8-Cineole were the major compounds present in bay leaf essential oil. The essential oil was fractionated into its non-polar and polar fractions by column chromatography. α-Pinene, 1,8-Cineole and eugenol were isolated from bay leaf oil. Campholenic aldehyde was prepared from α-pinene and eugenol epoxide was prepared from eugenol using different reagents. The compounds isolated and derivatized were identified using FT-IR, 1HNMR and 13CNMR spectroscopy. The nematicidal activity of bay leaf oil, its fractions, compounds isolated and derivatized was evaluated against Meloidogyne incognita at different concentrations viz.0.20, 0.40, 0.60, 0.80, 1.00, 1.25 and 1.50 mg ml-1 for egg hatch inhibition and juvenile mortality studies. Bay leaf oil, polar fraction and eugenol were found to be very active against. M. incognita whereas αPinene and non-polar fraction showed less activityThesisItem Open Access Alteration of plant architecture and reproductive efficiency of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) genotypes through growth retardants(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2017) Mandeep Kaur; Jagmeet KaurField experiment was conducted at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana during kharif season in the year 2016-17 with an objective to investigate the effect of ethrel (@ 200 ppm), stance (@ 200 ml/ac) and mepiquat chloride (@ 200 ml/ac) on the growth, flower retention and yield of pigeonpea genotypes PAU 881 and AL 201. The biochemical changes associated with the use of growth substances were also studied. Foliar spray of growth substances were done at 60, 68 and 75 days after sowing. Various morpho-physiological, biochemical and yield characteristics were analyzed at different developmental stages. The plant height reduced effectively with the foliar applications of growth substances. The leaves of treated plants exhibited increased level of chlorophyll, which provided better conditions for higher production of photosynthates to be utilized for grain yield. The parameters determining reproductive efficiency and yield were significantly improved due to reduction in flower abscission, improved flower retention, pod formation, and seed weight. The treatments also affected the various biochemical constituents viz. total soluble sugars, total starch content (leaves and stem), total soluble proteins and amino acids (pod wall and developing seed). The activity of enzymes viz., invertase (stem, leaves, pod wall and developing seed) and sucrose synthase (leaves and stem) also increased in response to growth substances. Ethrel (@ 200 ppm) 60+75 DAS showed the best result among all the treatments.
