Search

Global warming is predicted to have negative effect on plant growth due to the damaging effect of high temperature on plant development. The field experiment was conducted during 2014-15 to study effect of elevated CO2 and temperature on growth parameters of pea (Pisum sativum L.) crop in order to check the effect of climate change on vegetable crops. Effect was studied under four conditions i.e. Open Top Chambers, T1: OTC - elevated CO2 550±10 ppm; T2: OTC-elevated CO2 550±10 ppm and temperature 1°C; T3: OTC - ambient CO2 and temperature (reference) and T4: natural condition. Maximum plant height at 50 % flowering was recorded in T1 (84.29cm) at elevated CO2 which differed significantly with T2 (79.47cm) at elevated CO2 and temperature, T3 (73.60cm) at ambient CO2 and temperature and natural condition (70.73cm). Minimum days to 50 per cent flowering were recorded in plants growing under T2 (68.56 days). Maximum pollen viability was recorded in T1 (77.42%) followed by T3 (76.36%), T4 (74.65%) and T2 (69.97%). Internode length of plants grown under T1 was maximum (7.01cm) followed by T2 (6.68cm), T3 (6.00cm) and T4 (5.05cm). Elevated temperature and CO2 had significant effects on growth and development in vegetables. Overall, growth parameters of pea crop were affected positively by elevated CO2 whereas under interaction effect of elevated CO2 and temperature these positive effects of CO2 were offset by elevated temperature effect and hampered the growth of pea crop which interns can affect the yield and quality of crop under changing climate scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors present insights on seed exports. They discuss historical events in the evolution of seed export, including the establishment of the International Seed Trade Federation. They reveal that the U.S. tops the domestic seed market with a value of 12,000 dollars followed by China with 9,950 million dollars. They also discuss the constraints being faced by the seed industry.

The authors discuss issues related to organic farming in India. They mentioned the negative impacts of the present commercial farming systems on human health and ecology due to synthetic chemical inputs. They noted that despite the benefits of organic farming, the penalty in yield in the initial stages should be compensated by governments to promote the system on a large scale. They also cited the need to promote successful organic modules in the farming community.