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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 - 201723
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End date: 2017 × Start date: 2013 × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Biotechnological development of Panama wilt resistance in local cultivars of banana
    (RAJENDRA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY, BIHAR PUSA (SAMASTIPUR), 2017) 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
    Genetic studies of high temperature tolerance in early sown Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern & Coss.]
    (Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2017) Anushree; Pandey, Anil
    The present investigation entitled “Genetic studies of high temperature tolerance in early sown Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern & Coss.]” was carried out with 35 Indian mustard genotypes including two checks (Pusa Mahak and Pusa Mustard-25) from AICRP-RM centres located around India. These genotypes, under laboratory condition, were evaluated for seven physiological characters under three temperature stresses (25, 30 & 35oC) at germination for selection of three thermotolerant sources to be used as testers (Line x Tester Design). Same 35 genotypes, under field trial, were evaluated in RCBD with three replications at Research Farm of TCA, Dholi, Muzaffarpur, Bihar for 21 morpho-physiological-quality attributes (including 4 traits at two phenological stages; pre-flowering (30 DAS), and post flowering (60 DAS) for variability and diversity studies under early sown (06.10.2014) conditions at 32.20C temperature during Rabi 2014-15. Three thermo tolerant testers crossed with seven lines to get 21 crosses and these 31 genotypes (21 crosses i.e F1s + 7 lines + 3 testers) were evaluated in RCBD with three replications for same set of traits during Rabi 2015-16 for line x tester analysis under early sown (05.10.2015 at 35.10C temperature) conditions for combining ability and heterosis studies. Best thermo-tolerant genotypes reflecting superiority in physiological traits at germination upto 35oC in Lab. Experiment were RAURD-78 (EL, RL, SL, SDW and VI); NDRE-7 (EL, RL, RSR and VI) and TPM-1 (EL, RL & RSR). High GCV, PCV, heritability in broad sense coupled with high genetic advance under selection at 25, 30 & 35 0C was reflected by RSR, SDW and EL whereas, in field experiment by LAI & SDW (30 & 60 DAS), CGR, SB/pl and HI thus indicating preponderance of additive gene action which could be effectively utilized by Brassica breeders. NRC-DR-2, RAURD-78 and Pusa Mahak (Oligogenotypic clusters) alongwith TPM-1 and NDRE-7, based on physiological traits at germination; whereas DRMR-150-35, TPM-1 (Oligogenotypic clusters) along with Rajendra Sufalam, RAURD-78, KMR-10-2 and Pusa Mahak (morpho-physio-quality traits field evaluation trial) were promising divergent genotypes, reflected overall usefulness of Pusa Mahak, RAURD-78 and TPM-1 with superior per se performance for EL, HI , DPM-Early and DME (TPM-1; VI, SDW at 30 DAS, RL and LAI ( RAURD-78 and EL, SDW at 30 DAS and OC (NDRE-7) further validated their performance as thermotolerant parents utilized in hybridization. High yielding, divergent genotypes with superiority in many component traits were DRMR-150-35, Rajendra Sufalm, PM-28, NDRE-4 and Pusa Mahak, out of which DRMR-150-35, Rajendra Sufalam and Pusa Mahak were most suitable from divergence studies further proved their genetic worth. SDW, EL and RSR (25, 30, 35oC) at germination stage and HI followed by SS, DPM & LPMA (field trial) reflected maximum contribution towards total divergence. There was no parallelism between genetic diversity and their geographical distribution and sizeable number of morpho-physiological-quality traits at different phenological stages (germination, pre-flowering at 30 DAS & post flowering 60 DAS) highly influenced the group constellation of 35 Indian mustard genotypes. The cross between genotypes of cluster II x VI, IV x V, V x VI and III x IV (lab. evaluation) whereas, V x VII, VI x VII (Field Evaluation) were expectedly more divergent based on their inter-cluster distance. Interestingly crosses attempted in L x T design, namely RH-30/TPM-1 (cross no. 4), Varuna/TPM-1 (cross no. 16) and PM-25/TPM-1 (cross no. 19) were also among divergent combinations (both Lab & Field D2 set basis) further validated their importance. Positive, significant association coupled with high positive direct effect of DPM, HI & SB/pl revealed the importance of these traits while selecting for high temperature tolerance under early sown Indian mustard. Most reliable and yield predictor characters were SB/pl and HI as they also reflected high heritability coupled with high genetic advance under selection. The best general combiners, on the basis of GCA and per se performance were NRC-DR-2 (SLW at 30 DAS, CC at 60 DAS and LAI at 30 DAS), RH-30 (SLW at 60 DAS and PB/pl), Rajendra Sufalam (SLW at 60 DAS and 1000 SW), NDRE-7 (Early DFFO & DPM), TPM-1 (SS) and RAURD-78 (PB/Pl). The crosses based on SCA, standard heterosis (SH) and per se performance, namely RH-30/RAURD-78, Rajendra Sufalam/NDRE-7, PM-25/RAURD-78 and RH-8814/TPM-1 were ranked as top yielders. The crosses RH-30/RAURD-78, involving both good (HxH) general combiners might be useful in heterosis breeding. The crosses involving HxL or LxH general combiners, namely Rajendra Sufalm/NDRE-7, and PM-25/RAURD-78 may throw desirable segregants and effectively utilized in transgressive breeding programme. Thus, the present study reflects the usefulness of RAURD-78, NDRE-7 and TPM-1 as good source of thermotolerance for early sown mustard as well as divergent genotypes and good general combiners for 1000 SW, Early DFFO & DPM and SS (both high GCA and per se basis) respectively. Four best economic crosses for SY/pl were RH-30/RAURD-78, Rajendra Sufalam/NDRE-7, PM-25/RAURD-78 and RH-8814/TPM-1 also reflected superior economic heterosis for SLW (60 DAS), CGR, PH (60 DAS) tall, PB/Pl & SB/Pl in all these crosses alongwith individually superior economic heterosis for PH (30 DAS), DFFO (late), DPM (late), DME & SOMS (RH-30/RAURD-78), 1000 SW & OC (Rajendra Sufalam/NDRE-7); DPM late (PM-25/RAURD-78 and RH-8814/TPM-1). These superior economic heterotic F1s significantly out yielding in yield alongwtih above mentioned morpho-physiological and quality attributes may subsequently be utilized in future breeding endeavours. Amongst all the morpho-physio-quality characters (lab. & field trails) harvest index proven its merit as most important character which contributed maximum towards total divergence, significant positive association and high positive direct effect toward yield alongwith high h2 (bs) and high GAM was most important determinant and yield predictor for the thermo-tolerant mustard genetic enhancement under early sown conditions.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Hetoric grouping for photo-thermal response in relation to yield and yield attributes in green gram (vigna radiata L. Wilczek)”
    (Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2017) Kumar, Chandan; Mishra, S. B.
    The present investigation in green gram (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) was undertaken with a view to examine the extent of heterosis and to elucidate the combining ability effects of parents and their hybrids using half diallel (excluding reciprocal) mating design. The initial experimental materials consisted of forty genotypes selected from different sources. Based on morpho-physiological traits and agro-meteorological indices, six diverse parents exhibiting differential response to heat stress were selected and their fifteen crosses were evaluated in randomised block design for terminal heat stress during summer, 2016 at Research Farm, Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Tirhut College of Agriculture, Dholi, Muzaffarpur. Analysis of variance of forty genotypes for the first season clearly indicated that, there were highly significant difference among the genotypes for all the traits studied. The range of difference in mean value was comparatively wide for almost all the morpho-physiological traits and agro-meteorological indices showed greater extent of variability among the genotypes for these traits. Heat use efficiency (HUE) showed significant and positive association with seed yield (SY) and indicated that their effective utilization for screening of heat tolerant lines in green gram. Most of the characters were mutually and significantly correlated with each other and these characters must be considered to enhance their yield potential and selection for terminal heat tolerant genotypes in green gram. Regression analysis revealed that the traits like, photo thermal index (PTI) and heat use efficiency (HUE) recorded maximum values of R2. The step-down regression analysis showed 93.30 per cent adjusted R2 indicating the sufficient variation possessed by these traits/indices. Based on index score two tolerant genotypes from index IV (Pusa Baisakhi and SML-668), two moderately tolerant genotypes from index XV (NDM-12-308 and Pusa Vishal) and two susceptible genotypes from index X (IPM-99-01-10 and Pusa-1231) were selected as diverse parents with Samrat as heat tolerant check and were used in crossing programme. Analysis of variance for parents and hybrids showed highly significant mean sum of square due to genotypes for all the characters. It indicated existence of significant difference among the genotypes for the characters studied. An examination of per se performance of parents and crosses revealed that parents viz., Pusa Baisakhi, SML-668, NDM-12-308 and Pusa Vishal had exhibited high mean performance for seed yield and other yield attributes. The analysis of variance for combining ability showed that gca and sca variances were highly significant for most of the characters. The ratio of σ 2g/σ 2s revealed that all the characters manifested less than unity which indicated preponderance of non-additive genetic effect for inheritance of these characters. The estimates of general combining ability suggested that parents Pusa Baisakhi and SML-668 were good general combiner for seed yield and yield attributes. As regards to specific crosses combinations Pusa Baisakhi X IPM-99-01-10, Pusa Vishal X IPM-99-01-10, Pusa Baisakhi X SML-668 and Pusa Baisakhi X Pusa Vishal recorded high per se performance along with significant sca effects. These crosses also exhibited highly significant standard heterosis for seed yield and its component traits which may be utilized for further breeding programme. Based on parental diversity and heterotic response the parents separated by high genetic distance (D2) showed high heterobeltiosis in their hybrid combinations. However, the parents separated by medium to low genetic distance exhibited medium to low heterobeltiosis for seed yield. So for planning future breeding programme for higher seed yield under terminal heat stress in green gram, diverse parents should be taken into consideration.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Heterosis and combining ability study in rice genotypes under drought condition
    (Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2017) Kumar, Santosh; Singh, N. K.
    Realizing the potential of hybrid rice to increase productivity, the present study entitled “Heterosis and Combining Ability study in rice genotypes under drought condition” was carried to generate information regarding combining ability, gene action, heterosis for yield and yield attributing traits. The experimental material comprised of a half diallel cross, excluding reciprocals. 45 single crosses were generated in Kharif 2015 by intermating the ten parents in all possible combinations excluding reciprocals. All the crosses and parents including check (Sahbhagi dhan) were evaluated for various agronomic traits at the Experimental Farm of DRPCAU, PUSA during Kharif, 2016. The experimental design used was randomized complete block design with three replications. The observations were recorded on 15 morpho-agronomical traits viz. days to 50 per cent flowering, plant height, chlorophyll content, tillers per plant, leaf rolling at vegetative stage, leaf drying at vegetative stage, relative water content, panicle length, recovery per cent after stress, root length, root volume, grains per panicle, 1000- grain weight, harvest index and grain yield per plant. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the genotypes for all the characters studied. The variance due to GCA and SCA was found significant for all the traits revealing that both additive and non-additive gene effects were important in the inheritance of these traits. The estimate of dominance variance (σˆ2D) was higher than their corresponding additive genetic variance (σˆ2A ) for most of the traits, However, both additive and non-additive genetic components were found equally important. None of the parents showed significant GCA effects in the desired direction simultaneously for all the traits studied. However, based on significant positive GCA effects for grain yield and components traits analysis RAU1421-12-1-7-3, IR87707-182-B-B-B and Sahbhagi dhan were found most promising. For grain yield per plant, fifteen hybrid combinations had positive significant SCA effects. All these cross combinations were observed to have significant SCA effects for most of yield component traits. For grain yield per plant five promising crosses namely Vandana X Richharia, RAU-1415-35-76-9-5-3-4 X Dhanlaxmi, RAU 1451-66-1-1-5-1 X Vandana, IR87707-182-B-B-B X Dhanlaxmi and RAU-1415-35-76-9-5-3-4 X IR87707-182-B-B-B under drought condition involved predominantly poor x average, poor x poor, good x poor and good average combiners. Correspondence between SCA effects and per se performance was recorded for most of the traits. Average degree of dominance was in over dominance range for most of the characters. The estimate of heritability (narrow sense) was recorded low in this experiment. Significant and desirable heterotic effects were observed for most of the characters studied. Maximum standard heterosis for grain yield Per Plant was registered by IR87707-182-B-B-B X Sahbhagi dhan fallowed by RAU-1415-35-76-9-5-3-4 X IR87707-182-B-B-B, IR 64 X Sahbhagi dhan and RAU 1421-12-1-7-3 X Sahbhagi dhan. Frequency of heterotic crosses and magnitude of heterosis for yield and its components were found to be higher in crosses between the parent with intermediate genetic distance than the extreme ones. The reason for this could have been linkage of alleles for biomass and yield. On the basis of mean performance, SCA effect and heterosis estimates, the cross combination namely, RAU 1451-66-1-1-5-1 X RAU-1415-35-76-9-5-3-4, RAU 1451-66-1-1-5-1 X Vandana, RAU-1415-35-76-9-5-3-4 X IR87707-182-B-B-B, RAU-1415-35-76-9-5-3-4 X Dhanlaxmi, RAU 1421-12-1-7-3 X Sahbhagi dhan, IR87707-182-B-B-B X Richharia and IR87707-182-B-B-B X Sahbhagi dhan were found suitable for higher grain yield.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Study on Effectiveness of different Extension Teaching methods under KVK System of Bihar
    (Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2017) Ojha, Pankaj Kumar; Singh, Madan
    Extension education is an informal out of school education designed to help rural people to satisfy their needs, interest and desires. All the extension activities carried out through various extension teaching methods. In another words, we can say that extension teaching methods are the wheels of extension education. This study was mainly focused to explore the effectiveness of various extension teaching methods used by extension functionaries, viz. SMS from KVKs and Agricultural coordinators from state agricultural department of Bihar to train the farmers according to their needs. In general, effectiveness is a measure of the match between stated goals and their achievement. Erlendsson (2002) says that effectiveness as the extent to which objectives are met (‘doing the right things). The Extension Teaching methods are broadly classified into two groups: (1). According to use and (2). According to form. Further use based teaching methods classified into 3 groups like (1). Individual methods, (2). Group methods and (3). Mass methods. Each group has different sub-methods. In this study, we have three groups of extension teaching methods like individual, group and mass contact methods, each group having 7, 10 and 15 methods respectively. We measured the effectiveness of these methods by providing rank order, the ranks were provided by respondents as per their perception. The rank order has been provided through ‘Garrett Ranking Technique’. Beside the effectiveness, we also measured job involvement, job satisfaction and knowledge level of respondents about extension teaching methods. The descriptive type of research design has applied to this study. The three districts of Bihar like Samastipur, Sitamarhi and East Champaran were purposefully selected as locale under the study. Extension professionals like SMS from KVKs and Agricultural Coordinators from department of Agriculture, government of Bihar and farmers equally from selected locale were the respondents of the study. The data were collected through the well structures interview schedule and through face to face interview. Mainly correlation, chi-square tests were used for statistical analysis of the collected data. There were eight independent variables like age, education, service experience, job involvement, job satisfaction, sources of information, sources of income and knowledge level of extension professionals about different extension teaching methods and there was single dependent variable as effectiveness of different extension teaching methods. The analysis revealed that most of the respondents belonged to middle age group. Mostly (60 % and 51.7 %) they were belonged to backward caste. Majority of respondents were male under the study. All the extension personnel are married while 68.3 per cent farmers were married. Majority of respondents were belonged to joint family type. Majority (46.7 %) of extension professionals have small landholdings while majority of farmers have medium sized landholdings. Majority (46.7 %) of extension professionals was found to have M.Sc. (Ag.) or equivalent degree and 26.7 % have Ph.D. degree. Majority (53.3%) of farmers were found to have intermediate level of education. Majority of extension professionals were found to have long (> 10 years) service experience, 90 per cent were found to have salary as a main source of income, most of them frequently used the sources of information like through training (80 %), by farmers’ field visit (93 %), internet (83 %), mobile (77 %) and books (60 %). In case of farmers they were mostly used the sources of information like mobile (91.7 %), TV (76.6 %), radio (71.7 %), and through scientists (90 %). The professionals were found to have good knowledge level of extension teaching aids, extension teaching methods, handling of different teaching methods. Most (62.5 %) of the SMS were found to have medium level of job involvement while 50 % Agricultural Coordinators have high level of job involvement. Majority of SMS were found to have high level of job satisfaction while most (57.7 %) of the Agricultural Coordinators were less satisfied with their job. Farm and home visit, telephonic calls, farmers’ call, adaptive and mini kit trial and farm clinic were found to have frequently used individual contact methods, with respect to group contact method demonstration, leader training meetings, lecture methods, result demonstration and group discussion were frequently used and in context of mass contact bulletins, leaflets, literature, digital training were found to have frequently used by KVKs of selected locale. Farm and home visit, farmers call, method demonstration, internet, agricultural shows, etc. were found effective in acquiring knowledge, skill development and formatting attitude. The extension professionals were stated some constraints during handling of extension teaching methods. The constraints were related to extension teaching aids, extension teaching methods and some personal and psychological traits.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Microsatellite markers based assessment of genetic diversity and construction of heterotic groups in maize
    (Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2016) Punya; Sharma, V. K.
    A study was undertaken to elucidate the nature and extent of differentiation and divergence among eighteen inbred lines of maize and to separate them into heterotic groups based on the analysis of targeted microsatellite sites. Experimental materials of the present study comprised fifteen inbred lines, three testers and forty five single cross experimental hybrids, which were evaluated in randomized block design with three replications under rabi and kharif seasons. Statistical analyses to derive inferences regarding divergence pattern of parental lines and heterosis manifestation in experimental hybrids were carried out using the data recorded on days to tasseling, days to silking, days to brown husk, plant height, ear height, ear length, number of kernels per ear and grain yield per plant. Numerical taxonomic approach of classification using these eight quantitative characters of agronomic importance based average taxonomic distance was done to discriminate the inbred lines into different clusters. Inbred lines were also raised in pots for extraction of genomic DNA from the young seedlings. Amplification of the genomic DNA was carried out using a panel of twenty eight microsatellite sites specific primer pairs covering all the chromosomes existing in the genome. Microsatellites based allelic diversity data were utilized for classification and formation of heterotic groups of the inbred lines. Analysis of variance revealed the existence of significant differences among the inbred lines and hybrids for all the characters recorded under both the seasons. Mean performance of parents and hybrids significantly varied for the eight quantitative characters under study. Among the inbred lines, CML467 recorded significantly higher grain yield per plant followed by tester CML165, which was statistically at par to inbred lines LM13, HKI586, CML465, HKI162 and HKI323B over the environments. Sixteen crosses recorded significantly higher mean performance and significantly positive heterosis for grain yield per plant. Among these sixteen crosses, the highest yielding cross HKI162 × CML161 was statistically at par to five crosses, namely, CML468 × CML161, CML471 ×CML161, HKI323B × CML161, CML469 × CML165 and CML471 × CML165 for grain yield per plant. Taxonomic distance based cluster analysis revealed ample genetic diversity among inbred lines, which occupied different clusters during rabi and kharif season and across the seasons. The results indicated a close correspondence with respect to clustering pattern of inbred lines during rabi and kharif seasons. A perusal of dendrogram generated on the basis of eight quantitative traits indicated that the inbred lines CML467, CML470 and DH2012 were relatively more diverse from the remaining inbred lines under evaluation. Altogether 296 allelic variants were detected amongst amplified products generated with 28 primer pairs. A total of 49 loci were assigned to 28 primer pairs with an average of 6.04 alleles per locus The number of alleles ranged from 6 in the cases of umc1136, phi072 and umc1179 to 16 in case of phi053 with a range between 56 to 352 bp. Considering the number of alleles generated by different primer pairs in conjunction with the level of polymorphism, the primers umc1297, phi053, umc1266, phi093, bnlg118, phi034, phi115, phi065 and phi084 appeared to be more informative primers. Among the inbred lines under molecular characterization, CML163 and CML467 appeared as the most diverse genotypes. A remarkably higher level of genetic polymorphism was revealed by the use of 28 microsatellite markers. Both quantitative and molecular data based cluster analyses revealed that inbred lines CML 468 and CML469 are closely related to each other. Remarkably greater extent of similarity was also noticed between inbred lines HKI323B and HKI586. All the three testers, namely, CML161, CML165 and CML163, were included in same cluster in both the cases and seemed to be closely related. However cluster analysis using quantitative characters and microsatellite markers based data did not exhibit a complete correspondence. Parental genetic distance based on quantitative data or genetic similarity based on molecular data did not exhibit significant association with grain yield heterosis in hybrids. Results clearly indicated that a high grain yield is not always obtained from hybrids that have high parental genetic distance value, but generally from those with moderate to high genetic distance. A comparative assessment of heterotic groups formed by using microsatellite markers based genetic similarity, hybrid index value and hybrid mean value, indicated that CML471 and CML115 or HKI323B and HKI586 or DH2012 and LM13 belonged to same heterotic group in all the cases. The distribution pattern of the entries into different heterotic groups formed on the basis of hybrid index value and hybrid mean value corresponded with the microsatellite markers based heterotic groups to the extent of 75% and 67% in the first heterotic group, 40% and 29% in the second heterotic group and 33% and 40% in the third heterotic group, respectively. Overall coincidences of inbred lines in heterotic groups formed on the basis of microsatellite markers with the hybrid index value and hybrid mean value based heterotic groups were considerably higher. Results, therefore, indicated that microsatellite markers may be effectively and efficiently utilized to assign the inbred lines to heterotic groups for grain yield and to establish heterotic groups of maize inbred lines.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Influence of Mulching on Productivity and Water-use Efficiency of Maize - Maize Cropping System
    (DR. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2016) Amandu, Lomoro Phillip Modi; Kumar, Vinod
    A field experiment was conducted at Irrigation Water Management Research field, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar during rabi and kharif seasons of 2013-14 and 2014-15 to find out the “Influence of mulching on crop productivity and water-use efficiency of maize-maize cropping system”. The soil of experimental site was Entisol, sandy loam with pH 8.2, low in organic carbon (0.44%), available N (218.22 kg/ha), available P2O5 (18.18 kg/ha), and medium in available K2O (158.27 kg/ha). The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with 20 treatment combinations in three replications. Four moisture regimes in main plots, viz. 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 IW/CPE ratios and five mulches in sub-plots, viz. 5 and 10 t/ha each of sugarcane trash and maize stover and no mulch were used. The results revealed that growth parameters like plant height, dry weight production, yield attributes like number of rows per cob, number of grains per cob and 100- grain weight, yields of grain, stover and stone, soil organic carbon, total N, P & K uptake by the corps, gross and net returns were found to be maximum with moisture regime 1.0 IW/CPE ratio and were significantly superior over 0.4 IW/CPE ratio but were at par with 0.8 IW/CPE ratio. Leaf area index, number of cobs per plant, harvest index, weed population, weed dry weight, pH, EC and available N, P & K in soil were not influenced by moisture regime in rabi maize. Moisture regime did not influence all the parameters in kharif maize. Water-use efficiency and water productivity were influenced significantly due to moisture regime. The maximum water-use efficiency and water productivity were observed with 0.4 IW/CPE ratio in rabi maize while there was non-significant difference in Water-use efficiency and water productivity due to moisture regime in kharif maize. Moisture regime of 0.8 IW/CPE ratio recorded the maximum B: C ratio in rabi maize but was at par with 1.0 and 0.6 IW/CPE ratios while there was non-significant difference in B: C ratio due to moisture regime in kharif maize. Growth parameters like plant height, dry weight production, leaf area index, yield attributes like number of rows per cob, number of grains per cob and 100- grain weight, yields of grain, stover and stone, water-use efficiency, water productivity, soil organic carbon, available N, P & K, total N, P & K uptake, gross and net returns, and B: C ratio were found to be the maximum with maize stover @ 10 t/ha but were significantly superior over no mulch in rabi and kharif maize. Number of cobs per plant, harvest index, pH and EC were not influenced significantly due to mulching in rabi and kharif maize. Weed population and weed dry weight recorded the minimum with maize stover @ 10 t/ha while the maximum with no mulch in rabi and kharif maize. Grain yield was found to be highly significant and positively correlated with all yield attributes and was non-significant and negatively correlated with weed population and weed dry weight in rabi and kharif maize.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Socio-economic upliftment through Dairy Enterprise: A study of WDCS members of Barauni Dairy in Bihar
    (DR. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2016) Shweta; Singh, Ashok Kumar
    People of rural India face lot of hardship to have a day’s square meal. Majority of them are occupied in agriculture, animal husbandry, and other ancillary activities. Income of agriculture activity has been as erratic as monsoon. Hence, rural people were forced to think of generating additional source of revenue. Since people are less literate and possess limited skills, the hunt for alternate income is constrained to few occupations. Therefore, majority of them chose rearing of milking cattle and selling its milk as a source for second income. Keeping cattle is like a diversification from the existing agriculture in which rural women are largely involved. These rural women besides doing hard household chores also undertake taxing effort to keep the cattle. They supply the produced milk to the well-established cooperative dairies working successfully on the “Anand” pattern. Operation Flood accorded the highest priority to ensuring a year-round and dependable market at remunerative prices for rural producers of milk. Indeed, Operation flood was originally conceived as a marketing project. The producer price of milk in most of Operation Flood areas is determined by the state government concerned and is set at a level that is considered remunerative to the milk producers. The Anand pattern emphasized keeping cattle in the hinterland and transporting cattle as well as fodder to the cities. Thus, the system had strong comparative advantage. The country produces only five percent of the total quantity of milk and this amount is too inadequate to meet the demand. As a result, many dairy cooperatives have been formed to meet local demand and to develop dairy industry. It has been noticed that for small farmers, livestock population is a family operation and most of the livestock management is carried out by women. Operation flood has played an important role in generating employment for women. With 3.5 million milk suppliers, it is reasonable to assume that 5 per cent represented by women who were able to stay at home rather than go out for work. This withdrawal of women from the labour force will have created an additional 1, 75000 labouring jobs, predominantly for the very poor as per the assessment report of the World Bank in 1998. Since, agriculture is considered as the backbone of India’s economy with animal husbandry as the subsidiary occupation hence dairy sector provides primary source of livelihood for more than 70 per cent of Indian rural households. The livestock contributes 4.7 percent to national GDP and 27 per cent to agricultural GDP of India (GoI, 2006). India currently has about 15.1 million farmers under the ambit of 1,55,634 village level dairy cooperative societies which are federated into about 160 milk unions and 22 state dairy cooperatives, dairy federations (GoI, 2014a). Dairy sector has been instrumental in bringing about socio-economic transformation, while the agriculture by products gives feed and fodder whereas cattle provides manure, draught power for various agricultural operations. India rank first among the world’s milk producing nations, achieving an annual output of 132.43 million tonnes of milk during the years 2012-13 as compared to 127.9 million tonnes in 2011-12 recording a growth of 3.5 per cent. The per capita availability of milk has reached a level 296.5 g/day during the year 2012-13, which is more than the world average of 296 g/day. Women’s participation in dairy farming is considered as an important tool in reducing the poverty and enhancing quality of life , because they accounts for 93 per cent of the total employment in dairy production in India (Belurkar et al., 2003). The Bihar State Co-operative Milk Producers’ federation Ltd. (COMFED) was established in 1983 as the implementing agency of operational flood programme of dairy development on “Anand” pattern in Bihar. Dr. Rajendra Prasad Dugdhv Utpadak Sahkari Sangh Limited (DMRU) popularly known as Barauni Dairy is the largest milk union in the Eastern part of India. Sixth May, 1992 was the day when Barauni Dairy was handed over by Bihar State Cooperative Milk producers’ Federation Limited to the management of Milk Union. At present COMFED has approx. 7.5 lakh members through 13,681 Dairy Cooperative Societies (DCS) and out that 1196 are Women Dairy Cooperative Societies (WDCS). Barauni dairy has outreach in all 18 blocks of Begusarai district through its DCS but out of that WDCS is only available in 13 blocks of the district with 12,396 women members. This study of WDCS members of Barauni dairy in Bihar was designed and planned with following objectives. • To assess the socio-economic and personal characteristics of members of WDCS of Barauni Dairy • To ascertain the extent of knowledge and their satisfaction in dairy related activities • To examine the extent of socio-economic upliftment among the members of WDCS on account of dairy enterprise • To ascertain the impact on quality of life through dairy enterprise • To explore the constraints as perceived by the members of WDCS about their dairy enterprise and also suggest the strategies for their greater involvement in dairy enterprise In this study Bachhawara and Bhagwanpur blocks of Begusarai district have been selected on the basis of having maximum number of WDCS. Further, total six WDCS, three from each block, were selected with the help of random sampling procedure. Finally, 35 members from each WDCS comprising a total of 210 members of WDCS of Barauni dairy were taken as the sample of study. During the study independent variables were age, education, type of family, type of house, social participation, caste, occupation, total annual income, land holding, enterprise satisfaction, herd size, fodder availability, method used for judging milk quality, milk production, consumption and sale, length of association with dairy co-operatives, average monthly income from milk, reason for choosing dairy enterprise, and technical training availed for dairying. The socio-economic upliftment and impact on quality of life served as the dependent variables in the course of study. The results demonstrate that the maximum respondents belonged in the group which includes; 45.2 per cent from middle age group, 53.0 per cent were found to be illiterate, 56.2 per cent belonged to extended/joint family, 48.6 per cent had their pucca house, 63.3 per cent belonged to backward castes, 81.0 percent of women members were found to have the popular combination of agriculture operation and livestock while 47.1 per cent of selected respondents belonged to medium group of annual income. In addition approx. 86.0 per cent respondents had less than 1 ha land, 59.0 per cent women members were found to be highly satisfied with dairy enterprise, 74.7 per cent of respondents had up to 2 milch animals in their possession, and farm and cooperative society was the major source of feed and fodder among WDCS members. In the sense of enterprise satisfaction about 59.0 per cent members of different WDCS were found to be highly satisfied with their dairy enterprise and 4.0 per cent were moderately satisfied and 37.0 per cent were somewhat satisfied. The results indicated that dairy enterprise has helped the rural women in reducing the domestic violence and poverty while it brought improvement in their social, recreational, educational and economic well-being and consequently enhanced their quality of life. During the study, social upliftment index was considered as dependent variable where as age, education, type of family, type of house, caste, occupation, income and land under farming possession were taken as independent variable; linear regression between independent variable and social upliftment index of WDCS members revealed that the co-efficient of determinants (R2) is 0.4489, indicating that the adopted model is quite fit for analysis and explains 45 per cent of variations in socio-economic status of members WDCS. The co-efficient of age is negative (-0.0042) but significant at 1 per cent level of probability. Hence, it may be said that younger members of the WDCS command higher level of social order and got more social mobility than older one. Income level and income from dairy were emerged as significant determinants for social upliftment. The co-efficient of income level and income from dairy were found positive and statistically significant at 1 per cent level of probability, indicating that these two variables are affecting significantly to social upliftment of members of WDCS. During the regression analysis co-efficient of caste was fond negative (-0.0604) but it is significant at 5 per cent level of probability, indicating the higher caste in social hierarchy command higher social upliftment among members of WDCS. Co-efficient of occupation is positive (0.0549) and significant at 10 per cent level of probability, indicating that women members with agriculture as main occupation command higher social status than members with occupation as labour, artisan etc. The variables such as; education level, type of house, land possession and type of family were failed to exert any significant influence on social upliftment parameters of women members of WDCS. For economic upliftment among WDCS members; a linear regression model was adopted for identifying important socio-economic variable which affect the upliftment of income among women members. For this purpose, economic index was taken as dependent variable and age, education, type of family, type of house, caste, occupation and income level and land ownership was again considered as independent variables. Co-efficient of determinants had the value of R2= 0.4355, indicating that 45 per cent of variation in income index was explained by variable included in the study. It was expected also because in qualitative variable, the R2does not cross more than .50 hence the model is quite fit to our study. The co-efficient of age is negative (-0.0033) but significant at 1 per cent level of probability which clearly indicated that the income level of women was inversely related to age of women. The younger women were likely to command higher economic status than aged women. Dairying women earning higher income than non-dairy source. Impact on quality of life have independent variables like age, education, type of family occupation, land ownership status and number of dairy animals owned. The findings through ordered logistic regression suggested that variable like education, type of family and occupation were emerged as significant and positive variables affecting the quality of life among the members of WDCS. Highly educated women of joint family with agriculture and dairy as main occupation were likely to had better quality of life as compared to low educated and nuclear family members of WDCS. However, the co-efficient of ownership of number of dairy animals and land possession status were found negative and non-significant. From the study, it can be concluded that farm women have understood the importance of dairy farming as means of socio-economic upliftment with regards to knowledge level it clearly indicated that there is need to motivate dairy farm women to have better acquaintance with dairy farming practices in their own interest. Thus, proper functioning of micro enterprises develops capacity as well as empowered women to improve their socio-economic status.
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    Genetic Diversity Assessment In Relation To Submergence Tolerance In Rice Using Microsatellite Markers
    (DR. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2016) Prakash, Nilmani; Kumar, Mithilesh
    A study was undertaken to initially characterize and evaluate 184 submergence tolerance related varieties of rice, but 38 were taken for further analysis in the present study for five submergence related characters. To investigate the SSR marker based polymorphism for characterization and differentiation, nineteen rice varieties were selected on the basis of maximum plant percent survival to estimate the extent of genetic diversity among these rice varieties using morphological characters and SSR markers. The experimental materials were evaluated in randomized complete block design with four replications at the research farm of Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa during Kharif, 2014-15. Using standard formula for calculation of different submergence related traits in rice observations were recorded. The materials were also grown in pots for extraction of genomic DNA from the young seedlings and then targeted amplification of the genomic DNA using a panel of thirty four SSR primer pairs covering especially the chromosome 9 of rice. All molecular studies were conducted in the Rice Molecular Breeding Laboratory, Deptt. of PBG at Pusa. The statistical methods and parameters used for deriving inference were analysis of variance, range, mean values, coefficient of variation, taxonomic distance and similarity coefficient based dendrogram and numerical taxonomic analysis of divergence. High heritability values were observed for all the five submergence related characters percent plant survival, tolerance score, leaf senescence, total shoot elongation and relative shoot elongation. Considerable extent of variability existed for the values of genetic advance expressed as per cent of mean was observed to be high for all five characters relative shoot elongation, per cent plant survival, total shoot elongation, leaf senescence and tolerance score. By considering mean performance in conjunction with clustering pattern of entries based on quantitative attributes, hybridization involving CR 1009 with AnhHsungSeln (CI 1), Karnal Local and Suraha with Swarna, Jadhan and HsungTeing with Moroberekan, FR 13B and S-150 with Paiam, Zobgui and Rom Runtik with IR-36, Kala Bunde with AI Chih AI K Who 2, Swarna Sub-1 with Lunishreeappeared as superior combinations for their further utilization in genetic enhancement programme. A panel of thirty four primers generated 410 allelic variants ranging from four in the cases of RM 23843 to twenty seven in the cases of RM 23662. Altogether 410 allelic variants were detected at 42 SSR loci with an average of 9.76 alleles per locus. Out of 410 alleles, 177 were shared and 233 were unique alleles. The primer pairs RM 8300, RM 23901, RM 23958, RM 215, RM 257, RM 316 and RM 23662 generated amplified products due to amplification of more than one locus. In general, the SSR loci with di-nucleotide repeat motifs tended to detect greater number of alleles than the locus with tri-nucleotide, tetra-nucleotide or penta-nucleotide repeat sequence. The marker with a GA or AG repeat motif showed greater variability than marker with a CT or TG or TA repeat motif among the loci with perfect di-nucleotide repeat motifs. The number of unique allelic variants per primer ranged from 0 out of 5 amplified products in the case of SC 3 to 13 out of 15 amplified products in the case of RM 23901. The primer pairs RM 23901, RM 910, RM 23770, RM 23928, RM 23958, RM 24103 RM 23662, RM 23915 and RM 24005 generated considerably greater percentage of unique alleles. Considering the number of alleles in conjunction with the level of polymorphism detected, the primers RM 23662, RM 23958, RM 257, RM 23901, RM 8300, RM 215, RM 23928, RM 23915, RM 24005, RM 23902, RM 23679, RM 8303, RM 23770 and RM 23788 appeared to be more informative primers. Occurrence of null alleles for a particular repeat locus was noticed with primer pairs RM 23843, RM 23902, RM 23922, RM 24103, and RM 23865 in some of the varieties. The total repeat count of the di-nucleotide SSR loci seemed to be associated with the number of alleles, revealing that the larger the repeat number involved in the SSR locus, the larger was the number of identified alleles. Presence of stutter bands was detected generally for di-nucleotide SSR motif amplified by primer pairs RM 8303, RM 23770, RM 23805, RM 23831, RM 8300, RM 23901, RM 23915, RM 23917, RM 23922, RM 23928, RM 23958, RM 23996, RM 24103, RM 105, RM 215, RM 316, RM 23662, RM 24013, RM 910, RM 7175, ART 5, SC3, Sub 1BC2 and RM 23865 with generation of minor products. Among the rice varieties evaluated in the present study, AnhHsung Seln (CI 1) and HsungTeing exhibited maximum similarity in the divergence analysis using quantitative characters as well as SSR markers. Analysis of divergence pattern based on SSR markers allowed differentiation and classification of rice varieties into eight clusters. Use of SSR markers appeared more efficient in achieving unique and unambiguous characterization and differentiation of varieties used in the present study.The SSR analysis also revealed unique or variety specific allele, which could be useful as DNA fingerprints in the identification and preservation of rice varieties.