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Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa

In the imperial Gazetteer of India 1878, Pusa was recorded as a government estate of about 1350 acres in Darbhanba. It was acquired by East India Company for running a stud farm to supply better breed of horses mainly for the army. Frequent incidence of glanders disease (swelling of glands), mostly affecting the valuable imported bloodstock made the civil veterinary department to shift the entire stock out of Pusa. A British tobacco concern Beg Sutherland & co. got the estate on lease but it also left in 1897 abandoning the government estate of Pusa. Lord Mayo, The Viceroy and Governor General, had been repeatedly trying to get through his proposal for setting up a directorate general of Agriculture that would take care of the soil and its productivity, formulate newer techniques of cultivation, improve the quality of seeds and livestock and also arrange for imparting agricultural education. The government of India had invited a British expert. Dr. J. A. Voelcker who had submitted as report on the development of Indian agriculture. As a follow-up action, three experts in different fields were appointed for the first time during 1885 to 1895 namely, agricultural chemist (Dr. J. W. Leafer), cryptogamic botanist (Dr. R. A. Butler) and entomologist (Dr. H. Maxwell Lefroy) with headquarters at Dehradun (U.P.) in the forest Research Institute complex. Surprisingly, until now Pusa, which was destined to become the centre of agricultural revolution in the country, was lying as before an abandoned government estate. In 1898. Lord Curzon took over as the viceroy. A widely traveled person and an administrator, he salvaged out the earlier proposal and got London’s approval for the appointment of the inspector General of Agriculture to which the first incumbent Mr. J. Mollison (Dy. Director of Agriculture, Bombay) joined in 1901 with headquarters at Nagpur The then government of Bengal had mooted in 1902 a proposal to the centre for setting up a model cattle farm for improving the dilapidated condition of the livestock at Pusa estate where plenty of land, water and feed would be available, and with Mr. Mollison’s support this was accepted in principle. Around Pusa, there were many British planters and also an indigo research centre Dalsing Sarai (near Pusa). Mr. Mollison’s visits to this mini British kingdom and his strong recommendations. In favour of Pusa as the most ideal place for the Bengal government project obviously caught the attention for the viceroy.

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Subject: Plant Physiology × Author: SHAILENDRA, BUTE PARESH × End date: 2022 × Start date: 2022 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of zinc nano particle on physiology of finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L.)] under saline condition
    (DRPCAU, PUSA, 2022) SHAILENDRA, BUTE PARESH; Kumar, Shailesh
    Numerous abiotic stressors have significantly impacted crop development and productivity, Salinity is one of them which affect around 50% of irrigated area as well as 20-33% of cultivated areas all around the world. Therefore, creating fresh methods for crop improvement against several stresses has now taken precedence. However, the majority of crop development efforts are focused on major cereals like rice, wheat, maize, and others, while attention to minor cereals like finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L.).] lags significantly. It is a vital staple with good nutraceutical characteristics in many semi-arid and tropical regions of the world, ensuring food security even in hard environments.Nanotechnology has been shown to be an emerging trend to alleviate salinity stress. Zinc nanoparticles due to its unique properties acts as fertiliser releasing Zn, a potential micronutrient through which negative effects of salinity could be mitigated, potentially increasing crop productivity and fostering growth and development. The present research is termed, “Effect of zinc nano particle on physiology of finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L.)] under saline condition”, was performed with aim to determine how salt affects the development and growth of finger millet seedlings and to recognise ZnO nanoparticle’s ameliorative effects on morpho-physiological characteristics of finger millet seedling. 7 In first objective, thirty genotypes of finger millet viz., RAUF-1, RAUF-2, RAUF-3, RAUF-4, RAUF-5, RAUF-6, RAUF-7, RAUF-8, RAUF-9, RAUF-10, RAUF-11, RAUF-12, RAUF-13, RAUF-15, STF-1, STF- 2, STF-3, STF-4, STF-5, STF-6, STF-7, STF-8, STF-9, STF-10, STF- 11, STF- 12, RAU-8, RAU-3, BR-407 and Rajendra Mandua-1 were tested at salinity level at 4.30 dSm-1 EC. Based on emergence percentage, seedling length and seedling dry weight in 12-day-old plants, genotype screening was carried out, and contrasting genotypes were chosen. Salinity has significantly decreased the aforementioned parameters, with BR-407 experiencing the lowest percentage reductions and higher in RAU 8.In the second goal, seeds of a chosen set of genotypes were primed using ZnO nanoparticles at various concentrations (50, 100, 250, 500 and 1000 ppm). The genotypes were grown in both normal and saline soil conditions, and 14-day-old seedlings of both genotypes were evaluated for morpho-physiological parameters as emergence percentage, shoot and root length, shoot and root dry weight, and SPAD value. The findings showed that in both normal and saline soil conditions, ZnO nanoparticles at 250 ppm concentration have an enhancing effect on those previously mentioned parameters. Additionally, there was a promoting impact at doses of 50 and 100 ppm; however it was not quite as effective as at the higher dosage. High quantities of nanoparticles have shown harmful effects that point to phytotoxicity. Thus, the consequences of salinity stress were mitigated to their greatest extent at 250 ppm concentration.In the third goal, ZnO nanoparticles' effects on morphological (plant height, dry matter accumulation, root study), physiological (RWC, MSI, photosynthetic pigments, SPAD value, chlorophyll stability index, lipid peroxidation) and biochemical parameters (antioxidant enzymes like Super oxide dismutase, Ascrobate peroxidase, catalase and proline content) of 21-day-old finger millet seedlings of both genotypes are characterized. All of the aforementioned characteristics were negatively impacted by salinity stress, which ZnO nanoparticles could help to reduce or lessen. ZnO has better relieving potential at a concentration of 250 ppm. According to the current research, salt had negative impacts on the development and growth of finger millet seedlings, which might be mitigated by seed priming with ZnO nanoparticles. When applied to finger millet, ZnO nanoparticles at a concentration of 250 ppm had a positive influence on the plant's morpho-physiological and biochemical parameters. As a result, nanoparticles may soon be used more effectively as fertilizers or stress relievers.