[en] A field investigation was carried out to evaluate the effect of organic and inorganic sources of phosphorous on the growth and yield of mungbean (Vigna radiate L.). FYM, poultry manure and chemical fertilizer were accumulated at various concentrations to formulate different treatments. Analysis of data revealed significant differences with respect to plant height, number of plants m/sup -2/, leaf area (cm/sup 2/), root length (cm), number of pod bearing branches plant/sup -1/, number of pods plant/sup -1), number of seeds pod/sup -1/, pod size (cm), number of seeds plant /sup -1/, 1000 seed weight (g), biological yield (Kg ha/sup -1/), seed yield (Kg ha/sup -1/), harvest index (%) and grain protein contents (%) indicating primacy of integration of the two sources in having improved mungbean productivity. (author)

[en] Pulse crops, among the legumes form an important source of the dietary protein of the predominantly vegetarian population of India. The biotic and abiotic stresses are the major deterrents in improving the yield and productivity of pulses. Mutation breeding plays a significant role in the development of biotic and abiotic stresses resistant varieties leading to higher production and overall remuneration of the farming community. The biotic stress resistant varieties also play an important role in the ecological balance, by reducing the dependency on pesticides. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay has been instrumental in the development of 15 high yielding, disease resistant mutant varieties in 4 pulse crops. (author)

[en] Direct and indirect effects of six different morphological traits on grai n yield in mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) were studied using standardized regression coefficient (Path coefficient) analysis. Number of pods per plant and pod length exerted significant (P > or = .01) direct as well as total effects on grain yield. The present finding suggest that heavy bearing plants with longer pods should be selected for improved productivity in mungbean. (author)

[en] Endophytic and rhizospheric fluorescent Pseudomonas have widely been used as biological control agents against soilborne plant pathogens. In this study, fifteen epiphytic fluorescent Pseudomonas isolated from the surfaces of citrus (grapefruit, orange and lemon) melon and tomato fruits were characterized for their in vitro activity against root rotting fungi viz., Macrophomina phaseolina, Fusarium solani, F. oxysporum and Rhizoctonia solani and nematicidal activity against the second stage juveniles of Meloidogyne javanica. Out of fifteen Pseudomonas isolates HAB-16, HAB-1 and HAB-25 inhibited the growth of all the test fungi and showed maximum nematicidal activity against second stage juvenile of M. javanica. Based on their effective in vitro activity nine epiphytic fluorescent Pseudomonas were evaluated for their growth promoting ability and biocontrol activity in screen house on mungbean. Pseudomonas isolates (HAB-13, HAB-2, HAB-4, HAB-1, HAB-14, HAB-9, HAB-7 and HAB-25) used as soil drench greatly reduced the root rot-root knot infection and thereby enhanced plant growth, root nodulation and yield in mungbean. Besides, rhizospheric and endophytic, epiphytic fluorescent Pseudomonas associated with healthy fruits may be used as biocontrol agent against root rotting fungi, besides, using for the mangemnet of postharvest diseases. (author)

[en] Bio-economic efficiency of different cotton-based intercropping systems was determined at the Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, (Pakistan) during 1996-1997 and 1997-98. Cotton cultivar NIAB-78 was planted in 80-cm apart single rows and 120-cm spaced double row strips with the help of a single row hand drill. Intercropping systems were cotton alone and cotton + mungbean. Experiment was laid out in a RCBD with split arrangements in four replications. Planting patterns were kept in main plots and intercropping systems in sub-plots. Inter crop was sown in the space between 80-cm apart single rows as well as 120-cm spaced double row strips. Competition functions like relative crowding coefficient, competitive ratio, aggressivity, land equivalent ratio and area time equivalent ratio were calculated for the assessment of the benefits of the intercropping. Partial budget was prepared for determining net field benefits of the systems under study. Growing of cotton in 120-cm spaced double row strips proved superior to 80-cm spaced single rows. Intercropping decreased the seed cotton production significantly in both years, however, inter crop not only covered this loss but also increased overall productivity. Higher net field benefit (NFB) was obtained from cotton + mungbean than sole cropping of cotton. Farmers with small land holdings, seriously constrained by low crop income can adopt the practice of intercropping of mungbean in cotton. (author)

[en] In vitro, seeds of mungbean, sunflower, okra and mashbean were treated with homeopathic drugs namely Arnica montana and Thuja occidentalis (30C) were evaluated against root rot fungi. Different concentrations like 100, 75 and 50% v/v were tested to investigate seeds germination and inhibition of root rot fungi such as Fusarium oxysporum, Rhizoctonia solani and Macrophomina phaseolina. Results indicated that treated seeds of mungbean, sunflower, okra and mashbean with pure homeopathic drugs (100% v/v) by A. montana and T. occidentalis (30C) showed complete germination (100%), greater root length and excellent inhibition of root infecting pathogens. However, tested seeds treated with 75 and 50% v/v concentrations (prepared from 30C) by homeopathic drugs, respectively recorded significant increase in germination, root length and maximum zone of inhibition. (author)

[en] Influence of Bifenthrine (Talstar) at the rate 375 ml ha/sup -1/, Deltaphos 10+350 EC at the rate 500 ml ha/sup -1/, Lorsban 40 EC at the rate 850 ml ha/sup -1/, Triazofos (20/400 EC) at the rate 750 ml ha/sup -1/and Karate 5 EC at the rate 1250 ml ha/sup -1/ was studied on mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) yield under arid climate at Adaptive Research Farm, Karor during two kharif seasons of 2007 and 2008. Experiments were laid out in randomized complete block design with six a test variety. All the chemicals showed significant impact on mung crop as compared to that in control treatments. AZRI- 2006, a promising variety of mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) for arid climate was used as plots, but the treatment of Deltaphos 10+350 EC at the rate 350 ml ha/sup -1/consistently proved better than other treatments. (author)

[en] A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the soil capping problem under central pivot irrigation system using different soil amendments. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design, replicated thrice. Mungbean (Vigna radiata L) variety Dera Mung was used as test crop. Soil amendments were carried out through pure sand and farm yard manure (FYM) in equal proportions and in three different application rates viz., 60:60, 45:45 and 30:30 kg plot/sup -1/ and an un-amended soil plot was kept as control. The size of each plot was 4m x 3m. The results depicted that parameters such as number of branches per plant, number of pods per plant, pod length, number of grains per pod, 1000-grain weight and grain yield were significantly affected by different soil amendments at P>0.05, except for number of clusters per plant. Maximum of 6.2 branches plant/sup -1/, 62.6 pods plant/sup -1/, 8.3cm pod length, 8.9 grains pod/sup -1/ and 43.3 g of 1000-grain were recorded in treatment where sand and FYM was applied to Vigna radiate at the rate of 60:60 kg plot/sup -1/. Moreover maximum grain yield of 1253 kg ha/sup -1/ was also recorded in the same treatment; however, treatments with 45:45 and 30:30 (kg plot/sup -1/) ranked second and third with grain yield of 1195 kg ha/sup -1/ and 1153 kg ha/sup -1/, respectively. It was noticed that the bulk density value of the soil was decreased from 1.754 g cm/sup -3/ to 1.123 g cm/sup -3/ when pure sand and FYM was applied at the rate of 60:60 kg plot/sup -1/. (author)

[en] One of the peaceful applications of atomic energy is in the field of agriculture. It finds application in crop improvement, crop nutrition, crop protection and food preservation. Genetic improvement of crop plants is a continuous endeavor. Success of a crop improvement programme depends on the availability of large genetic variability, which a plant breeder can combine to generate new varieties. In nature, occurrence of natural variability in the form of spontaneous mutations is extremely low (roughly 10^-6), which can be enhanced to several fold (approximately 10^-3) by using ionizing radiations or chemical mutagens. Radiation induced genetic variability in crop plants is a valuable resource from which plant breeder can select and combine different desired characteristics to produce better crop varieties. Crop improvement programmes at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) envisage radiation based induced mutagenesis along with recombination breeding in country's important cereals (rice and wheat), oilseeds (groundnut, mustard, soybean and sunflower), grain legumes (blackgram, mungbean, pigeonpea and cowpea), banana and sugarcane

[en] Two mungbean (Vigna radiata [L.] Wilczek cultivars, NM-51 and NM-92, were compared for plant growth and root nodulation during development at different nitrogen regimes (0, 2, 5 and 10 mM) in sand cultures. Dry weight of plants, after 5,8 and 10 weeks of sowing, increased in both cultivars at all the nitrate levels. The maximum increase in dry weight, however, occurred at 5 mM nitrate for NM-51 and at 2 mM nitrate for NM-92. The two cultivars were comparative in reproductive growth since number of flowers per plant, number of pods per plant and fresh weight of pods per plant generally increased with increasing nitrogen levels. Nodule development in both the cultivars was stimulated in the presence of 2 mM nitrate but was increasingly depressed by the higher levels of nitrate. Nitrate levels of 5 and 10 mM decreased nodule number and nodule fresh weight. Cultivar NM-92 showed increased growth and nodulation at all nitrate levels compared to NM-51. Also, nodulation of Nm-92 was more tolerant to nitrate compared with NM-51. (author)