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Abstract: Sugarcane is a major commercial crop grown in India and across the world. Hence, several elite varieties have been developed now-a-days to overcome many obstacles including abiotic stresses and diseases. The present study was undertaken to screen genetic variation among twenty four sugarcane varieties that are commonly cultivated across Northern Karnataka, India with reference to physicochemical characters. Experiment was conducted in triplicate following randomized complete block design (RCBD) at S. Nijalingappa Sugar Institute, Belagavi, Karnataka, India during February 2016-17. Physiological parameters such as internode length, stalk height, plant height, stalk girth, number of internodes, single cane weight, single cane volume of juice, cane yield and recovery were investigated. Further, statistical techniques such as principal component analysis and agglomerative hierarchical clustering were performed to characterize the twenty four varieties. Among twenty four sugarcane varieties studied, Co 86032 and CoC 671 were found to be elite varieties with respect to sugar recovery and cane yield, whereas varieties such as Co 86032 and Com 0265 were found to be best with respect to cane yield only. Based on the results obtained, eight varieties, viz., Co SNK 09232, Com 0265, Co 86032, Co SNK 09293, Co SNK 07680, CoC 671, Co 13006 and Co 2001-15 were found to be good with respect to overall qualities. Further studies need to be involved with molecular marker that would help in identification of elite varieties which could substantially contribute to construction of genetic resources library that may in turn find maximum use in molecular breeding.

Abstract The objective of the present study was to produce wine from wild edible fruits of Flacourtia montana J. Graham. The various physicochemical attributes including total phenolic content and total flavonoid content were analyzed. Further, the prepared wine was evaluated for the antioxidant potential using four different assays, viz., 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), reducing power assay and total antioxidant activity. Finally, the wine was subjected for the sensory evaluation. Experimental results revealed that wine had an alcohol content of 7.20%, total phenolic content of 0.776±0.032 mg GAE/ml and total flavonoids of 0.121±0.012 mg QE/ml. High performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed the presence of four major phenolic acids, viz., gallic acid (0.009±0.0005 mg/ml), chlorogenic acid (0.623±0.091 mg/ml), catechin (0.063±0.011 µg/ml) and epicatechin (0.060±0.009 mg/ml). In vitro antioxidant analysis of wine was able to successfully scavenge the free radicals in a dose dependent manner. Sensory scores indicated wine to be good in overall acceptability. Thus, present study highlighted the therapeutic nature of wine prepared from this underutilized fruit which could provide possibilities for enhancing socio-economic benefits among rural communities.

The present investigation was carried out to study the response of different concentrations of treated petroleum sludge on seed germination, root and shoot length and tolerance of Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. The biologically treated petroleum sludge with bacterial consortium showed 54.8% reduction in total petroleum hydrocarbons. Treated sludge was utilized with agricultural soil in known concentration for the assessment of growth of V. unguiculata. A remarkable absence of seed germination was observed at higher sludge concentration. The different concentrations of treated petroleum sludge showed severe decline on the length, weight and vigour index of the tested seedlings with increasing sludge concentrations. The results showed that the difference in rate of seed germination was significant among various concentrations. Under environmental stress condition, germination is the most critical phase of life cycle in crop plants. In this present study, the high oil content found to alter the osmotic relation between seed and water and thus reduce the amount of water absorbed. It was concluded that the concentration of nutrients and oil present in the treated sludge were toxic to the plant.

A study on fifteen minor fruits belonging to eleven families was undertaken. The fruits were harvested from different geographic locations of Western Ghats, viz., Uttar Kannada, Dharwad and Ooty. Ethnobotanically, various parts of these plants are utilized for treatment of wide array of health disorders such as jaundice, diabetes and dysentery. Fruits were screened for their proximate composition and mineral content. Further the relationship and variation between different attributes analyzed was investigated using two different statistical approaches such as principal component analysis and agglomerative hierarchical clustering. Phenological characters among the studied fruits varied greatly indicating that the fruits occur at different seasons of a year. In the present study, proximate and mineral composition analysis of the fruits indicated that these minor fruits are rich source of nutrients and minerals. Study indicated that fruits such as Carissa spinarum, Opuntia dillenii, Flacourtia indica, Syzygium caryophyllatum, Ixora coccinea, Buchanania cochinchinensis and Phoenix sylvestris contained adequate quantity of nutrients. PCA analysis revealed variability of 53.97% as contributed by the first two components. Cluster analysis classified the fruits into four major groups. Therefore, these underutilized fruits act as potential source of essential nutrients and minerals to the rural communities and can find application in the nutraceutical and food industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruits play predominant role in the diet. Several health based statistical reports highlight the importance of consumption of fruits as they tend to contain broad-spectrum essential nutrients including phenolic antioxidants that impart protective role against several diseases. Western Ghats, one among eight "hottest hot-spots" of biodiversity in world harbor many wild, unexploited and minor fruits which are edible and unfamiliar to large proportion of the global population. Wild edible fruits are important source of food and income for rural communities. Wild fruits are therapeutic in nature and used to treat wide array of diseases including chronic diseases. In the last three decades, increased urbanization and deforestation for agricultural land use has led to destruction of valuable plant species including fruit yielding plants. As a result, substantial decrease in the consumption and utilization of wild edible fruits has been noticed. The present article describes 45 fruits that are edible and prominent in the Western Ghats region of Southern India. Detailed information on nutrient composition of these minor fruits is provided, as consumed by tribal and rural communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the very least understandings of ecological risk assessment is the impact of genetically modified crops on biotic and abiotic factors. Even though, farmers have adopted transgenic crops in large scale because of high yield and immediate financial gain. Key factor to be considered in the development of a genetically modified plant is the assessment of its safety. Transgenic crops may have the potential to influence the soil in which they are growing through the release of the Bt proteins in root exudates or from sloughed or decaying plant material. The present study aims to determine the impact of Bt cotton on soil physical and chemical properties of agricultural lands of three districts of Karnataka, India. About 21 parameters have been studied and determined that were significant differences in the soil nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium and other essential salts such as calcium and magnesium between transgenic and Non-transgenic cotton growing field. All results obtained in the present work suggested that there is no notable significant impact to specify any negative effects of transgenic cotton on the soil properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]