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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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2013 - 20154
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Subject: Plant Physiology × End date: 2015 × Start date: 2010 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Physiology of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes during germination against salinity stress
    (Rajendra Agriculrural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2015) Kumari, Pravina; kavita
    The present investigation was carried out to identify physiological parameters for screening tolerant and susceptible wheat genotypes against salinity stress and to study the physiology of salinity stress tolerance for improvement of wheat genotypes against salinity stress. The salt solution was prepared by using NaCl: CaCl2:Na2SO4 in the ratio of 7:2:1 (w/v) and electrical conductivity of different salinity levels were maintained by using direct reading conductivity meter. Wheat seeds were sterilized by soaking in 0.1% HgCl2 for two minutes followed by thorough washing with de-ionized water and germinating in Petri dishes lined with blotting paper. Screening of 20 genotypes was done on the basis of germination percent. Out of these, four wheat genotypes belonging to tolerant (Yangmat 6-Sonalika RIL-5, Yangmat 6-Sonalika RIL-20) and susceptible (Yangmat 6-Sonalika RIL-7, Yangmat 6-Sonalika RIL-13) groups were selected for present investigation to study the impact of salt stress on 8-day old seedling of wheat genotypes. The evaluation was based on assay of some physiological and biochemical parameters under laboratory conditions. Effect of salt stress on seed germination and seedling growth of four wheat genotypes (Yangmat 6-Sonalika RIL-5, Yangmat 6-Sonalika RIL-20, Yangmat 6- Sonalika RIL-7, Yangmat 6-Sonalika RIL-13) were evaluated. It was evident that the salt solution reduced seed germination and seedling growth of wheat. On the value of percent reduction in seed germination, germination relative index (GRI), mobilization efficiency (ME) and vigour index (VI), the inhibitory effect of different salt stress was found maximum in susceptible genotypes (Yangmat 6-Sonalika RIL-7 and Yangmat 6-Sonalika RIL-13) followed by tolerant genotypes (Yangmat 6-Sonalika RIL-5 and Yangmat 6- Sonalika RIL-20). On an average, the germination percentage, GRI, VI of the tolerant genotypes was significantly higher than that of susceptible genotypes. Salt stress on wheat seedlings exhibited inhibitory effect on reducing sugar, non-reducing sugar, total sugar, protein content and activity of enzyme amylase while it had stimulatory effect on parameters such as content of starch, total free amino acids, proline, and activity of protease and peroxidase enzymes.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Physiology of maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes under moisture stress condition
    (Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2014) Singh, Pankaj Kumar; Kavita
    The present investigation was planned and carried out during the period 2012-2013 during Rabi season at T.C.A, Dholi, Research farm, R.A.U., Pusa in Randomize block design with three replication. Altogether twelve genotypes of maize namely Shaktiman-3, Rajendra Hybrid Maize-1 ,Rajendra Hybrid Maize-2 Rajendra Hybrid Maize-3 Shaktiman-1, Lakshmi, Devki, Shaktiman-4 ,DHM-117, MHQPM- 09- 8, Rajendra hybrid Maize Deep Jwala, Shaktiman-2 were sown in stress and control conditions. Based on the anthesis silking interval and yield against moisture stress, tolerant/susceptible maize genotypes were screened. Devki and shaktiman-4 were identified as tolerant, whereas Lakshmi and Shaktiman-1 were found susceptible genotypes .The physiological parameters like root length, root volume, leaf area index (LAI), plant height, and yield parameters like no. of cobs/plot, No. of lines/cob, 1000-grain weight and yield (q/ha) decreased in moisture stress expect root length at both tasseling and silking stage. Tolerant genotypes were significantly superior to susceptible genotypes with regard to all physiological, biochemical, enzymatic and yield parameters at both stage. Among the biochemical parameters, sugar and proline content increased in moisture stress in all the genotypes at both stages. Correlation co-efficient values (r) between yield (q/ha) and all parameters in moisture stress were determined. All parameters studies in control condition were found negatively correlated but positively correlated in stress condition at both tasseling and silking stage. Among the positively correlated parameters, protein (0.913*), protease activity (0.923*) and peroxidase activity (0.900*) were found significant at silking stage. Also protease activity (0.938*) and peroxidase activity (0.940*) were significant at tasseling stage. Whereas proline correlation value (0.990**) at tasseling and (0.977**) at silking stage were highly significant. Some of these parameters might prove useful for screening tolerant genotypes for improving maize genotypes against moisture stress.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Physio-biochemical Response of Salt Stress in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Genotypes during Germination
    (Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2014) Kumari, Suman; Mandal, M. P.
    The present investigation was carried out to screen different genotypes of rice (Oryza sativa L.) during seedling growth stage and to identify some useful physiological parameters for selection of the tolerant and susceptible rice genotypes against salt stress. The salt solution was prepared by using NaCl:CaCl2:Na2SO4 in the ratio of 7:2:1(w/v) and its electrical conductivity of different salinity levels were maintained on direct reading conductivity meter. Paddy seeds were sterilized by soaking in 0.1% HgCl2for four minutes thoroughly washed with de-ionized water and germinated in petri-dishes with blotting paper at 25±2°C. Screening of 22 genotypes was done on the basis of Germination per cent, Germination Relative Iindex (GRI), Vigour index (VI) & Mobilization efficiency (ME). Out of these four rice genotypes belonging to two groups viz. tolerant and susceptible were subjected to different salt stress condition 0.0, 8.0, 12.0 dSm-1 .The impact of salt stress on 10-day-old seedling of rice genotypes was evaluated on the basis of certain physiological and biochemical parameters under laboratory condition. Salt stress of paddy was examined on seed germination and seedling growth of four (kishori, Rajshree, Marcha & Jeeravati) rice genotypes, the salt solution reduced seed germination and seedling growth of rice seeds. On the value of per cent reduction in seed germination, GRI, ME and VI the inhibitory effect of different salt stress was maximum in susceptible genotypes ( Marcha and Jeeravati ) followed by tolerant genotypes ( Kishori and Rajshree). On an average, the germination percentage, germination relative index, vigour index of tolerant genotypes was 86.22, 595.39, 918.09 and 43.41 significantly higher than that of susceptible genotypes 77.22, 512.33, 745.98 and 46.27, respectively. Salt stress of paddy showed inhibitory effect on reducing sugar, non-reducing sugar, total sugar, peroxidase, soluble protein content, catalase activity, potassium and phosphorus content and stimulatory effect on starch content, total free amino acids, protease activity, proline content, sodium content and sodium potassium ratio of rice seedlings.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Physiology of Germinating Aerobic Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Genotypes under Moisture Stress
    (Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2013) Kumar, Ghanshyam; Singh, A. K.
    Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is most important staple food crop in Asia. Rice is the life of more than half of the world population. Globally, rice is grown over an area of 164.80 million hectare with an annual production of 721 million tones having productivity of 4.4 tonnes/hecatres. Over 90% of world’s rice is produced and consumed in Asia, where it provides 35-60% of total calories intake (FAO, 2011-12). In India, rice is cultivated on an area of 45.20 million hectare with an annual production of 102 million tonnes having productivity of 2.26 tonnes/hectares. In Bihar, rice is cultivated an area of 3.33 million hectares with 6.75 million tonnes having average productivity of 2.02 tonnes/hectares (Anonymous, 2012). Aerobic rice is one of the best approaches which can address the problem of drought and limited water. As we know, rice requires approximately 3000-5000 liters of water to grow one kilogram of rice traditionally and the availability of water for agriculture is declining. There is need to save water for rice cultivation in future to overcome the problem of water scarcity. Keeping this in mind present study is undertaken to identify some parameters to screen tolerant genotypes and also to study tolerance mechanism against moisture stress. For this study, different concentration of moisture stress, viz., -5.0, -8.0 and -10.0 (atm.) were prepared using polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000). Seeds of twenty five aerobic rice genotypes were disinfected with 0.1% HgCl2 solution for two minutes and then thoroughly washed with distilled water. Twenty five seeds of each genotype were put in each sterilized Petri dish lined with blotting paper. Seeds were treated with three levels of moisture stress, viz,. -5.0, -8.0 and -10.0 (atm.). In control, seeds were treated distilled water. Germination counts were recorded after twenty-four hours and experiment was terminated on 8th day. Based on the germination percentage, vigour index and mobilization efficiency against maximum stress level, tolerant/susceptible aerobic rice genotypes were screened. During the screening of genotype IR 79913- B-176-B-4 and IR 55423- 01 were identified as tolerant, whereas IR 81429- B-31 and IR 80312- 6-B-3-2-B were found susceptible genotypes at -10.0 (atm.). The physiological parameters like germination percentage, germination relative index, vigour index, mobilization efficiency, seedling length, root length, shoot length and shoot/root ratio declined with increasing moisture stress. Tolerant genotypes were significantly superior to susceptible genotypes with regard to all physiological parameters. Among the biochemical parameters reducing, non-reducing and total sugars showed a decreasing trend in all the genotypes. Tolerant genotypes had minimum reduction percentage in comparison with susceptible genotypes. At -10.0 (atm.) stress level, starch content was higher in susceptible genotypes in comparison with tolerant genotypes. Total soluble proteins content showed decreasing trend in tolerant genotypes, whereas increasing in susceptible ones. The proline content showed an increasing trend with increasing moisture stress. However, the percentage increase in proline content was relatively more in tolerant genotypes than susceptible. With regard to total phenols content it increased in tolerant and decreased in susceptible genotypes. The amylase activity showed a decreasing trend with increase in moisture stress. Though, amylase activity was found higher in tolerant genotypes. The protease activity and peroxidase activity increased in tolerant genotypes and decreased in susceptible genotypes. As regard co-relation co-efficient of with germination percentage, these parameters starch and protein were found negatively co-related and the rest of the parameters are positively co-related. Amylase was found non-significant and total sugar was significant, whereas proline, phenol, protease and peroxidase were highly significant. Some of these parameters might be useful for screening/ devolving aerobic rice genotypes against moisture stress.