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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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2014 - 20159
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End date: 2015 × Start date: 2014 × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of conservation agriculture on soil properties of Calciorthent under rice-wheat system
    (Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2015) Kumar, Vijay; Kumar, Mukesh
    Calcareous soils of Bihar are prone to physical, chemical and biological degradation due to their low organic matter content, and presence of carbonates, gypsum or other soluble salts. Water energy and labour scarcity, increasing cost of production, diminishing farm profits and uncertain weather-events are major challenges faced by the farmers under intensive tillage based conventional rice-wheat production system of Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) in Bihar. To address these challenges, conservation agriculture (CA) based crop management practices are being developed. The adoption of CA based on minimum mechanical disturbances of soil, rational retention of crop residues on the soil surface and sensible crop rotation is need of the hour. Our objective was to study how CA practices affected soil physical, chemical and biological indicators and, yield & yield attributes as well as benefit cost ratio of various combination of tillage, crop establishment and residue management under rice-wheat cropping system. The long term experiment was initiated in association with CIMMYT, India, since kharif, 2006 having 8 combinations of tillage, crop establishment and residue management under rice-wheat cropping system. The present investigation was carried out during 6th June 2013 to 7th October 2013 and 17th November 2013 to 27th March 2014 (two seasons). The experimental site has hot and humid summers and too cold winters and soils belong to order Entisol. The treatment combinations consisted of puddle transplanted rice-conventional tillage wheat (T1); system of rice intensification-system of wheat intensification (T2); zero tillage rice-zero tillage wheat on beds with residues (T3); zero tillage rice-conventional tillage wheat without residues (T4); zero tillage rice-zero tillage wheat without residues (T5); zero tillage rice-zero tillage wheat with residues (T6); unpuddled transplanted rice-zero tillage wheat with rice residues only (T7); zero tillage rice with brown manuring-zero tillage wheat without residues (T8). All these treatments were completely randomized and replicated thrice within a block. Most of the observations were recorded at three stages i.e. before rice sowing/transplanting, after rice harvest and after wheat harvest. The results obtained from the present investigation revealed that CA practices, T6, T7 and T8 conserved significantly higher moisture content (before & after irrigation) in rice (6.28-6.34 & 4.31-9.85%) and wheat (4.78-6.41 & 5.84-9.02%) as compared to T1 in 0-105 cm soil depth. CA practices (T3, T4, T5, T6, T7 and T8) favourably moderated soil temperature which means raised the winter temperature and lowered the summer temperature in 0-15 cm soil depth. After completion of one cycle of rice-wheat cropping CA practices lowered the bulk density & soil strength with corresponding increment in soil porosity in 0-7.5 and 7.5-15 cm soil depths as compared to conventional tillage due to higher organic carbon. Likewise, soil aggregation, water holding capacity, infiltration rate and hydraulic conductivity were also improved under CA practices in 0-15 cm soil layer. Soil chemical properties viz. pH, EC, and CaCO3 were reduced over time whereas, after completion of one cycle of rice-wheat cropping, the organic carbon increased by 20.11-50.25% over OC content recorded before rice sowing/harvesting in 0-15 cm soil depth in CA practices. Similarly, after wheat harvest, increment in available macro nutrients (N, P, K and S) varied from 1.06-2.96, 5.78-23.80, 0.04-0.49 and 4.64-18.65%, respectively and micro nutrients (Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn varies from 2.46-16.94, 1.68-20.07, 36.78-55.84 and 1.14-4.35%, respectively over their initial values of these nutrients recorded before rice sowing/transplanting in 0-15 cm soil depth. The available macro- and micro- nutrient contents were higher in surface layer and decreased progressively with soil depth in all the treatments. The biological property of soil like, soil microbial biomass carbon was increased after wheat harvest by 0.60- 5.43% over initial values (recorded before rice) in CA practices. pH, EC and free CaCO3 content were reduced in CA practices as compared to initial values of these parameters recorded before start of the experiment (2006). However, available nutrients like, N, P, K, S, Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn were improved with the adaption of CA practices as compared to their initial values recorded before start of the experiment (2006). Growth attributes like, number of productive tillers & grains per panicle, and 1000 grain weight of rice were the maximum in treatment T3 whereas, the maximum growth attributes of wheat was attained in treatment T2. Root growth was significantly influenced with CA practices as compared to conventional tillage. Adoption of CA practices increased the grain yield of rice by 0.66-12.05% while, the highest increment (by 12.05%) was noticed in treatment T8 over conventional practices in T1. Whereas, in wheat, CA practices increased the grain yield by 8.52-22.13% over T1 and the highest increment (by 24.49%) was obtained with T2. Increment in system yield was recorded in treatments, T6, T7, T8, T3, T5, T2 and T4 to the tune of 13.74, 13.69, 13.39, 11.69, 4.26, 4.44 and 0.20%, respectively over conventional practices. Uptake of nutrients followed the yield trend of rice and wheat. Adoption of CA practices in T3, T4, T5, T6, T7 and T8 showed increased system uptake of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S to the tune of 3.41-12.41, 1.24-12.79, 4.22-19.14, 3.53-11.67, 4.33-12.12 and 0.41-9.56%, respectively over conventional practices (T1). Similarly, system uptake of micro nutrients, Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn was enhanced with the introduction of CA practices to the tune of 3.84-12.06, 2.13-12.02, 2.24-11.17 and 2.42-11.84%, respectively. Treatments, T3, T5, T6, T7 and T8 improved the yield of rice protein (by 0.68-9.13%) and wheat protein (by 13.03-18.21%) over conventional practices. Data on system benefit-cost (B: C) ratio revealed that treatment T3 (3.04) was highly beneficial and very close to the treatment T6 (2.94). Results from this study concluded that zero tillage with residues retention was better compared to conventional tillage due to better soil-crop environment.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Studies on etiology and management of root rot of papaya
    (Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2015) Kumar, Rahul; Singh, S. K.
    In the present investigation papaya root rot was found to cause 60-95 per cent disease incidence resulting in failure of crop in the state. Fusarium solani was established as a causal organism of root rot of papaya in Bihar. Disease incidence was found to decrease with increasing plant spacing. June – July planted crop was found to favour the disease development while March-April planted crop recorded low disease incidence and higher fruit yield. Potato dextrose agar was found appropriate media for proper growth of pathogen whereas sporulation (macro conidia) was favoured in Carnation leaf media. Among native and commercial bioagent tested against the pathogen, Trichoderma viride (native) was found most effective in suppression of the pathogen. Among botanicals, Adenocalymma alliaceum (wild garlic) was found highly effective in checking the development of disease under sick pot condition. Among fungicides, carbendazim and thiophanate methyl showed good efficacy in checking the growth of pathogen in vitro. Again, among fungicides, thiophanate methyl showed best compatibility with Trichoderma viride in vitro. All the oil cake- mustard cake, neem cake, castor cake were found compatible with Trichoderma viride, but mustard cake was also found to be the efficient inhibitor of the pathogen. The most effective treatment for the management of disease was integration of disease free seedling + mustard cake (10%)+wild garlic (10%)+dipping of seedlings in thiophanate methyl (0.1%) for 30 min. + soil drenching with thiophanate methyl (0.1%) solution three times, 1st at time of transplanting, second at 3rd month after transplanting (MAT) and third at 5th MAT+ soil application of Trichoderma viride @50g/plant three times 1st at time of transplanting, second at 3rd MAT and third at 5th MAT+ soil application of Pseudomonas florescence @ 50g/plant three times 1st at time of transplanting ,second at 3rd MAT and third at 5th MAT.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Genetic and Molecular analysis with respect to Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus Resistance in Mungbean (Vigna radiata)
    (Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2015) Suman, Sugandh; Shahi, V. K.
    Mungbean, [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek], is one of the most important legume crop of Asiatic region. The production of mungbean is severely hampered by mungbean yellow mosaic virus (MYMV) caused by begmoviruses transmitted by white fly, Bemesia tabaci. Use of disease resistant crop varieties is regarded as an economical and durable method of controlling viral diseases. The advancements in the field of biotechnology and molecular biology such as marker assisted selection can be utilized in developing MYMV resistance mungbean genotypes. Taking into consideration the above aspects, the present study was aimed to evaluate mungbean genotypes for resistance to MYMV disease, to characterize mungbean genotypes based on molecular markers and to identify useful molecular markers in relation to MYMV resistance. A total of 35 genotypes of mungbean were screened for resistance against MYMV disease under field conditions and forced inoculation methods. The genotypes were scored on the basis of the degree of incidence of MYMV disease by using 1-9 rating scale and percent disease incidence for their classification into different infection categories. Based on overall response across the seasons, the genotypes IPM 02-14 and PDM 139 were rated as resistant. Highly susceptible response was observed in only one entry, LGG 450. Rest of the genotypes showed moderately resistant to highly susceptible reactions against MYMV. In general, the disease was found to be more severe during kharif season in comparison to summer season. The reaction pattern of the mungbean genotypes based on forced inoculation method was similar to that deduced on the basis of screening of the genotypes against MYMV disease incidence under natural conditions.   Eighteen genotypes, namely, IPM 02-14, PDM 139, Pant Mung 4, HUM 12, HUM 1, TMB 37, Pusa 9531, Meha, HUM 16, IPM 99-1-6, Pusa 105, AKM 8803, AKM 9910, Pusa 031, TARM 2, LGG 407, T 44 and LGG 450, were included in the SSR markers based assessment of genetic differentiation and divergence as they showed extremities for MYMV reactions under natural field conditions. Seeds were grown and young seedlings were used for genomic DNA amplification. A panel of 24 microsatellite based primer pairs covering 12 chromosomes in the genome of mungbean were used for genomic DNA amplification. The statistical methods and parameters used for deriving inference were polymorphism information content, similarity coefficient and numerical taxonomic analysis of divergence. Altogether, 183 allelic variants including 112 shared and 71unique allelic variants were generated at 37 loci among the 18 mungbean entries with an average of 4.95 alleles per locus. The primer pairs CEDG 008, CEDG 068 and CEDG 154 among the total primer pairs used in the present study were found to be highly informative. The microsatellite loci with di-nucleotide repeat motifs, in general, tended to detect relatively greater number of alleles than the repeat loci with tri- nucleotide repeat motifs and complex repeat motifs. Appearance of more than one band in the same genotype was noticed revealing the existence of the duplicated region in the genome of mungbean. Presence of stutter bands in the primer pairs, namely, CEDGAG 001, CEDG 037, CEDG 066, CEDG 091, CEDG 092, CEDG 127, CEDG 154 and CEDG 172 indicated the presence of minor amplified products that had lower intensity than the main allele and normally lacked or had extra repeat units. The magnitude of similarity coefficient between LGG 407 and T 44 was found to be the maximum amongst pair-wise combinations of entries. The SSR primer based analysis revealed unique or genotype specific allele which could be useful as DNA fingerprints in the identification and preservation of mungbean genotypes. The use of 24 microsatellite markers in the analysis exhibited a remarkably higher level of genetic polymorphism, which allowed unique and unambiguous genotyping of 18 entries included in the analysis. Cross combinations involving the highly susceptible genotype LGG 450 in combinations with the resistant genotypes IPM 02-14 and PDM 139 were made for the development of F2’s (IPM 02-14 x LGG 450 and PDM 139 x LGG 450) and BC1’s (IPM 02-14 x LGG 450 x IPM 02-14 and PDM 139 x LGG 450 x PDM 139) as the mapping populations. Amongst these three genotypes, LGG 450 was agronomically superior and high yielding but highly susceptible to MYMV, while IPM 02-14 and PDM 139 were low yielders but resistant to MYMV. Out of the seven disease response associated SSR primers used, only the primer pair CEDG 008 was validated and found to be suitable for discrimination of resistant and susceptible types. The present study led to identification and validation of MYMV response related marker, CEDG 008, which may be further utilized for generating superior genotypes with durable MYMV-resistance and hopefully aid in the development of resistant cultivars in relatively shorter time span, in addition to selection of MYMV resistant lines, genetic diagnostics of MYMV and isolation of the gene responsible for resistance to MYMV.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Microsatellite markers assisted characterization of rice genotypes in relation to salt-tolerance.
    (Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2015) Rani, Bibha; Sharma, V. K.
    A study was done for the screening and molecular characterization of 18 rice genotypes with diverse genetic background for their different adaptation to salt tolerance. Separate experiments were conducted for the screening of genotypes at seedling stage (petriplate experiment in CRD with two replication) with different salinity level (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 dSm-1), screening at vegetative, reproductive and maturity stage (pot experiment in CRD with two replications) with two set ups- normal and salinized. Salinization was done at different growth stages with different salinity levels (4, 8 and 12 dSm-1 at vegetative, reproductive and maturity stage respectively) and screening under field condition (field experiment in RBD at two sites in kharif season of 2013: South pangabdi for normal condition with pH 7.74, EC 0.41 dSm-1, SAR 11.32 and ESP 14.32 and Harpur jhilli for salt stress condition with pH 9.62, EC 0.37 dSm-1, SAR 9.86 and ESP 12.70). For screening at molecular level, four primers (RM140, RM10665, RM10772 and RM 10864) were selected out of 44 SSR primers used for molecular characterization study. At seedling stage screening, genotypes were evaluated on the basis of modified SES (1-9 scale of salt tolerance), germination percent, shoot length, root length, shoot fresh weight, root fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root dry weight and K/Na ratio. On the basis of SES at 8 dSm-1 the genotypes were categorized into highly tolerant with score 1 (CSR36, CSR27-192, CST7-1, CSR2K-242, PNL4-35-20-4-1-4, NDRK11-1 and CSR2K-262), tolerant with score 3 (NDRK11-3 and CR2814-2-4-3-1-1-1), moderately tolerant with score 5 (CR2218-64-1-327-4-1, NDRK11-7, CSR2K-219, KALANAMAK, NDRK11-5, NDRK11-6, NDRK11-4 and RAU1-1648) and susceptible one with score 9 (IR64). Increasing level of salt (NaCl) adversely affected all the morpho-physiological characters over control at seedling stage. IR64 was found to be least tolerant while the genotype CSR2K-262 showed superior performance than tolerant check CSR36. Screening at vegetative, reproductive and maturity stage confirmed the differential response of genotypes at different growth stages and different salt concentrations. The characters studied under pot experiment were chlorophyll content, relative water content, flag leaf area, K/Na ratio, panicle length, tiller number per plant, root length, root volume, root dry weight, grain yield, biological yield, spikelet number per panicle, number of filled and unfilled grain. The agro-morphological and physiological parameters measured at all the growth stages the most tolerant genotypes were CSR36, CSR2K-262, CST7-1 and PNL4-35-20-4-1-4, while the most susceptible genotype was IR64. Under field condition, all the genotypes observed reduction over control for all the morphological characters due to salt stress (sodic soil condition). The characters studied under field experiment were chlorophyll content, days to 50% flowering, plant height, flag leaf area, tiller number per plant, panicle length, biological yield, number of panicle per plant, number of spikelet per panicle, number of filled and unfilled grain per panicle, 100 seed weight, grain yield per plant, root length, root biomass and root volume. Five tolerance indices were studied in the present investigation under pot and field experiment for grain yield per plant viz. TOL, SSI, MP, GMP and STI. According to these tolerance indices the genotypes CSR36 and CSR2K-262 showed best yield performance under stress condition and least for IR64. The characters MP, GMP, STI, tiller/plant, root biomass, 100 seed weight, root volume, plant height were significantly correlated with grain yield/plant under stress. For molecular characterization study, a total of 44 SSR primers were taken covering 8 chromosomes ( chromosome number 1,6,7,8,9,10,11,12) out of 12 chromosomes in rice. The average number of alleles per locus was 9.3 indicating greater magnitude of diversity among plant materials. The average PIC value 0.767 confirmed that the markers used were highly informative. The cluster analysis grouped the 18 genotypes into three major clusters. Cluster I was the largest with 9 genotypes (CSR36, CSR27-192, CST7-1, CSR2K-242, PNL4-35-20-4-1-4, NDRK11-1, NDRK11-3, CR2814-2-4-3-1-1-1, CSR2K-262) with all highly tolerant and tolerant genotypes, Cluster II comprised 8 genotypes (CR2218-64-1-327-4-1, NDRK11-7, CSR2K-219, KALANAMAK, NDRK11-5, NDRK11-6, NDRK11-4, RAU1-1648) with all tolerant and moderately tolerant and Cluster III comprised of 1 genotype (IR64) identified as susceptible one. The maximum similarity value of 0.85 was observed between the genotypes i.e. genotype CSR2K-242 and genotype PNL4-35-20-4-1-4 indicating that these were more closely related. The minimum similarity value of 0.75 was observed between genotypes IR64 and NDRK11-1, IR64 and CR2218-64-1-327-4-1 and IR64 and NDRK11-7 indicating that these two genotypes were most diverse. Further, four SSR markers were selected on the basis of polymorphic nature and clear-cut differentiation to screen the genotypes for salt tolerance. The number of alleles per locus was 4.75. The PIC values for the four SSR markers varied from 0.593 to 0.741 with an average PIC of 0.676. All the genotypes had similar banding pattern with CSR36 (tolerant check) considered as tolerant, while IR64 identified as susceptible.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Biotechnological development of Panama wilt resistance in local cultivars of banana
    (Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2015) Kumari, Anita; Kumar, Harsh
    Biotechnological development of resistance to Panama wilt, the most important disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense, was explored in four important local cultivars of banana namely Robusta, Alpan, Malbhog and Kothia employing tissue culture studies and genetic transformation. Using tissue culture, efficient micropropagation protocol and disease resistance utilizing somaclonal variation were developed. Biological control and management of the disease was done utilizing endophytic association of nonpathogenic strain of Fusarium oxysporum. The culture of shoot apices and male flower buds resulted in their establishment and swelling, and callogenesis, caulogenesis, differentiation of shoots and roots from them. Elongation of existing shoots was observed from shoot apices and somatic embryogenesis from floral buds only. The best medium for caulogenesis was BM19 (MS+1.14 μM IAA+19.97 μM BAP) for cultured shoot apices and medium BM8 (MS+22.19 μM BAP) for cultured male flower buds. The best medium for somatic embryogenesis was BM20 (MS+18.10 μM 2,4-D+5.37 μM NAA+ 5.71 μM IAA+ 1mg Biotin). The cultivar Robusta was the best for all tissue culture responses except somatic embryogenesis followed by either cultivar Alpan or cultivar Malbhog. The cultivar Kothia showed the least tissue culture responses. However, the best response for somatic embryogenesis was observed in cultivar Kothia followed by cultivars Malbhog, Alpan and Robusta respectively. The subculture of in vitro developed multiple shoots on medium BM19 resulted in cent percent shoot multiplication with a high multiplication rate. An efficient micropropagation protocol was developed for banana cultivars. The Panama wilt resistance was developed in two susceptible cultivars Alpan and Malbhog exploiting somaclonal variation. Endophytic nonpathogenic Fusarium oxysporum strains were found effective in biocontrol of wilt disease in banana. Genetic transformation of callus and regenerating shoots was done using GUS and eGFP marker gene constructs and it was confirmed using histochemical GUS assay and fluorescence microscopy respectively, and by molecular validation using specific SSR primer pairs. Thus, the work established a suitable protocol of the genetic transformation, which can be used for the development of Panama wilt resistance in local cultivars of bananas.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Genetics of agro-morphological yield determinants in mungbean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek)
    (RAU, Pusa (Samastipur), 2014) Singh, Chandra Mohan; Mishra, S. B.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Generation Mean Study for Yield Components in Rice (Oryza sativa L).
    (RAU, Pusa (Samastipur), 2014) Kumar, Alok; Singh, N. K.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Impact of Training under Rastriya Sam Vikas Yojana in Samastipur District on Adoption behavior of Kisan Mitra
    (RAU, Pusa (Samastipur), 2014) Singh, Vinod Kumar; Singh, Madan