<div>Background: Soil physical properties have not been widely discussed as the main factor of evapotranspiration. This study aimed to see the relationship between land and soil physical factors on the evapotranspiration rate that occured at each slope position.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Sampling and measurements were carried out on three slope zones in a landscape, i.e. the upper slope (erosion zone), the middle slope (transition zone) and the lower slope (deposition zone). The soil sampling was carried out to analyze the soil physical properties. The evapotranspiration rate was measured using a modified chamber in two measurement periods. It was carried out throughout the day since the sun started shining the land until sunset or until the sunlight were blocked by rain clouds.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The average daily evapotranspiration rate was 0.17 mm hr-1 with the lowest value was 0.02 mm hr-1 and the highest 0.62 mm hr-1. Slope position and slope arrangement were the key factors influencing other controlling factors for the rate of evapotranspiration, including vegetation and soil physical properties.</div>

Actual Evapotranspiration in Clay Soil on Three Slope Zones in Volcanic Slope of Mt. Sumbing, Central Java-Indonesia

<div>Background: Farm animals may serve as bio-indicators of environmental pollution. Environmental heavy metals may disrupt the normal physiological and biochemical profile of the animals. The present study was planned to reduce the stress caused by heavy metal pollution by oral feeding of vitamin E and Selenium in heavy metals exposed buffaloes. 
 
Methods: Twenty buffaloes were selected on the basis of blood levels of heavy metals and divided into exposed and non-exposed groups. Exposed animals (n=10) were orally supplemented with 20 ml/day of Cargill E care Se&reg; containing vitamin E, 100mg/ml and Se 0.5mg/ml for 30 days. Antioxidants, biochemical parameters and the expression of metallothionein-2 were analyzed after supplementation on 0, 15 and 30 days. 
 
Result: The levels of heavy metal were found to be elevated even after 30 days of supplementation. No significant alterations were observed in activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) after 30 days of supplementation. There was significantly (p&lt;0.05) higher activity of blood glutathione and plasma Vitamin E. In supplemented group, plasma glucose, total cholesterol, aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK) and total Immunoglobulin were found to be significantly reduced in supplemented group. Expression of metal binding protein, metallothionein-2 was found to be elevated in exposed animals despite supplementation with Vitamin E and Se for 30 days.</div>

Effect of Vitamin E and Selenium (Se) Supplementation on Biochemical Parameters and Expression of Metallothionein (MT-2) in Heavy Metals Exposed Buffaloes

<div>Background: Catfish is a freshwater and saltwater fish type with a wide distribution throughout the Indonesian archipelago. This study was conducted to analyze Indonesian catfish&rsquo;s genetic diversity and evolutionary relationships based on the mitochondrial ND6 gene. 
 
Methods: Twenty-eight catfish samples were collected from nine rivers and one ocean in seven provinces of Indonesia. The MT-ND6 gene was amplified by using a set of primers (BaungND6F and BaungND6R). The MEGA X software was used to examine the MT-ND6 sequences for genetic variation and phylogenetic relation between Indonesian catfish populations.&nbsp; 
 
Result: There were 167 nucleotide site variations and thirty-two amino acid variations in the MT-ND6 gene. The genetic difference among populations ranges from 0.9 to 25% and the average evolutionary divergence in the overall populations was 14%, with catfish BB and PM having the closest genetic distance, while the farthest is BF to MP and BF to MS. In conclusion, the phylogenetic tree indicated that there were four distinct catfish clades in this study: MP, MS, KR, PM, BB and KS had been grouped with Hemibagrus nemurus (Bagridae family), EM had been grouped with Mystus vittatus (Bagridae family), BSBJ had been grouped with Pangasius pangasius (Pangasiidae family) and PD and BF had been grouped with Netuma thalassina (Ariidae family).</div>

The Analysis of Genetic Variation in the Mitochondrial ND6 Gene and its Application for the Identification of Indonesian Catfish Species

<div>Background: A new species Heterobothrium indicus n. sp. was isolated from the gills of Upeneus moluccensis (Bleeker, 1855) from the Western Coast of India in Arabian Sea region. The monogenean parasite differs from other congeners by morphological features like the presence of asymmetrical haptoral region, 4th pair of clamp smallest than other three pairs of clamps, genital atrium with 8 hooks, number of testes 29-37 and absence of isthmus. 
 
Methods: During the survey of marine fishes at Arabian Sea region, new species of monogenean parasite was isolated from the gills of marine fish Upeneus moluccensis. The parasites were morphologically characterized with the help of light and phase contrast microscopy. 18S rDNA, 28S rDNA, mt COI, ITS1+5.8S and ITS2+5.8S gene regions of parasites were amplified, sequenced and compared with other diclidophorid taxa using different bioinformatics tools. 
 
Result: Phylogenetic tree analyses (NJ, ME and MP methods) of 18S rDNA, 28S rDNA and mt COI gene regions are complementing the morphological studies and clearly suggested the placement of this new species under subfamily Choricotylinae, family Diclidophoridae.</div>

Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Heterobothrium indicus n. sp. (Monogenea: Diclidophoridae) and Its Phylogenetic Status

<div>Background: Paspalum scorbiculatum is an annual crop and has superior nutritional properties including high micronutrients, dietary fiber content and gluten free. It has low glycemic index (GI) carbohydrate diets help in prevention of Obesity, Diabeties and Cardiovascular diseases, etc. The current study was aimed to find out the suitable pre- sowing seed treatments for Kodo millet. 
 
Methods: During the Kharif season 2019- 2020 total of 12 pre- sowing seed treatments were subjected with Botanicals, Magnetic and Electric fields, Thermal (Hot water) treatments and to fix the best treatment based on Seed Quality and Morphological traits of treated seeds. Morphological traits play an major role in crop growth and development where as, the present investigation was carried out with farmer&rsquo;s variety in field (RBD) design in 3 replications and laboratory (CRD) design in 4 replications in order to &ldquo;Standardization of different pre- sowing seed treatments on growth, yield and yield attributing traits of Kodo millet (Paspalum scorbiculatum). Seeds were subjected to various pre- sowing seed treatments viz.&nbsp;(T0) control, exposure to Magnetic field at 100 mT, 200 mT, 400 mT for 15,30 and 45 min; exposure to Electric field at 50 mA, 100 mA, 150 mA for 5,10, 15 min. Treatment with botanicals cow dung (5 gm) and Datura leaf extract (2.5 ml) for 12 hrs; Thermal hot water treatment at 46&deg;C and 50&deg;C for 10 min. 
 
Result: Among all the treatments, T4-Magnetic field (200 mT) gave the best results in field and lab conditions of field emergence (98.610) and germination% (98.5), Magnetic field (400 mT) shown the good results and significantly higher values of all other yield (45.867, 78.833, 660.480, 165.120) and morphological traits as well as seed quality parameters like shoot length (86.925), root length (44.55), seedling length (13.131), vigour index- I and II (1267.138 and 5.058), fresh (0.343) and dry (0.0524) weight of seedlings and comparatively control (T0) was observed lowest to other treatments. As such, Magnetic treatment is quite effective for seedling establishment to overcome low germination and yield which helps in Qualitative and Quantiative seed production of Millets in sustainable agriculture.</div>

Standardization of Different Pre-sowing Seed Treatments on Growth, Yield and Yield Attributing Traits of Kodo Millet (Paspalum scorbiculatum)

Background: The per capita net availability of pulses in India has been increased from 15.5 kg per year in 2018-19 to 19.6 kg in 2021-22. Efforts made to bridge the gap between demand and supply of pulses in the country has resulted in reducing the gap to some extent in recent years and still country is depended on import to meet the growing demand of the pulses such as pigeon pea, lentils and peas. Few studies predicted the demand and supply of pulses as a whole in the country and no studies analyzed the pulse wise demand supply gap in India. Hence, the present study was proposed to predict the demand and supply of major pulses such as chickpea (Gram/Chana), pigeon pea (Tur/Arhar), black gram (urd bean), mung bean (Green gram) and lentil (Masur) in India for a period, 2024-2030. 
 
Methods: The present study has been used the crop data on area, production and yield of major pulses including chickpea (Gram/Chana), pigeon pea (Tur/Arhar), black gram (urd bean), mung bean (Green gram) and lentil (Masur) for a period of 29 years (1985-2024) collected from the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Government of India, New Delhi. Household consumption expenditure data was collected from the National Sample Survey office for 2011-12 from the Government of India. The supply projection was estimated by using linear regression model and demand projections were done by using behaviouristic approach. 
 
Result: Decadal trend in area, production and yield of pulses from 1970-2010 showed mixed trends of increase and decrease, whereas in 2010-2020, chickpea, pigeon pea, mung bean and black gram showed positive trend in area, production and yield but lentil alone showed negative trend in production. Import dependency of the pulses in the total availability has reduced to 8.92 per cent in 2021-22 from 19.42 per cent in 2009-10. Import dependency of the pulses in the total availability has reduced to 8.92 per cent in 2021-22 from 19.42 per cent in 2009-10. The availability of pulses has grown at a rate of 3.73 per cent from 2009 to 2021. Chick Pea, Tur, Mung bean, Urd bean and Lentils together contributed on an average 88.7 per cent to the total pulses production and 83.73 per cent of pulses availability from 2013 to 2021. Production of these five pulses has increased to 23.04 million tonnes in 2020-21 from 17.3 million tonnes from 2013-14. Gram is the single pulse contributed more than 40 per cent of the pulse production of the country in the above period. Demand supply projection showed a net surplus of 0.81-3.89 mt in the case of pulses and 5.64 -7.63 mt in the case of gram and 0.89 to 1.91 mt in Urd and 0.68 to 1.57 mt in Mung bean during 2024-2030. But in the case of pigeon pea and lentil there may be a net deficit in the range of 3-2.42 and 1.13-1.04 mt, respectively, during 2024-2030. Efforts should be made to bridge the gap in demand and supply of pigeon pea and lentil by the way of bringing new areas under pulses and developing the technologies suitable for the clusters.

Demand and Supply Projections for Pulses in India

Rhizome rot caused by Pythium spp and Fusarium spp is one of the most devastating diseases of ginger in most of the ginger growing areas of the Nepal. Realizing the context for development of alternative control strategies to reduce dependency on synthetic fungicides, a field experiment on management of rhizome rot disease of ginger using eco-friendly natural products was conducted at GRP, Kapurkot, Salyan during 2012/2013. Fresh and fermented extract of Artemesia vulgaris Linn (Titepati), Urtica dioica (Sisnoo), Zanthoxylum&nbsp;armatum DC. (Timbur), Allium cepa L., (Onion), Allium sativum L. (Garlic), Capsicum annuum L. (Chili), Nicotiana tabacum (Tobacoo) along with Jeevatu (a mixed product of beneficial microbes) and biofit were tested in the experiment. Experiment was conducted in the naturally inoculated sick plot in RCB design with eight treatments replicated thrice. Each experimental plot area was 3m x1.5m (4.5m2). Observation on plant number, tiller clump-1, plant height, disease incidence, fresh rhizome yield, disease rhizome yield and&nbsp;mother rhizome yield were recorded and evaluated using statistical analysis tool MSTAT-C. Fresh rhizome yield for all the treatments were found lower than national average. Jeevatu (5%) treated plot had highest fresh rhizome yield (7.70 m t ha 1) followed by (onion+garlic+chili) + urine (1:3) fermented extract (4.88 mt ha 1). Similarly, rhizome rot scale (1.66), disease incidence (41.96%) and the diseased rhizome yield (0.74 mt ha 1) was shown least on jeevatu treated plot. Highest disease rhizome yield (2.37 mt ha 1) was obtained in the treatment titepati + urine (1:2) fermented extract followed by control&nbsp;(2.07 mt ha 1). 
&nbsp;

Management of rhizome rot disease of ginger using eco-friendly natural products 
&nbsp;

<div>Background: The present study explored the possibility of using live feed, as vector for supplementing the androgenic hormone in aquaculture seed production.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The study consisted of five treatment doses of 17&alpha;-methyl testosterone namely; control (without hormone), T1 (20 mg L-1), T2 (40 mg L-1), T3 (60 mg L-1) and T4 (80 mg L-1) and each were triplicated. The doses were tested in the live feed of Artemia nauplii and rotifer by following completely randomized design. The Artemia nauplii (Artemia salina), collected by hatching the Artemia&nbsp;cyst and 5-8 days old rotifers, collected from mass culture unit of rotifer, were released in their respective treatment doses at 100 and 800 individuals/ml, respectively.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The study found significant difference in accumulation of hormone in the tissues of live feed at different time intervals. In Artemia, significantly higher amount of 17&alpha;-MT (15.33&plusmn;0.09 mg L-1) was observed in 80 mg L-1 group at 24 h. In rotifer, significantly higher value of 17&alpha;-MT (17.42&plusmn;0.06 mg L-1) was recorded in 60 mg L-1 group at 6 h. The level of 17&alpha;-MT in Artemia nauplii and rotifer started showing a decreasing trend in 24 h and 6 h, respectively. Overall the findings of the present study support that supplementation of hormone through live feed is possible as live feed accumulated 17&alpha;-MT in its tissue after enrichment which can be further explored for producing all-male population in a more sustainable way.&nbsp;</div>

Optimization of 17&alpha;-Methyl Testosterone Dose in Artemia Nauplii and Rotifer using Enrichment Technique

<div>Present study describes species level identification of Trichinella spiralis of leopard origin from India using multiplex PCR and molecular characterization of the parasite based on sequencing of multiple genetic markers viz. 5S ribosomal DNA intergenic spacer region (5S ISR), partial mitochondrial large ribosomal subunit (Mt-lsr) and partial mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) genes. A single amplicons of 173 bp, indicative of T. spiralis was obtained in multiplex PCR. Further, specific PCR amplifications viz. 750 bp (5S ISR), 445 bp (Mt-lsr) and 850 bp (COI) were obtained for selected genetic markers. Homology search analysis of 5S-ISR, Mt-lsr gene and COI gene showed highest 99.6% identity with sequences originating from China (KT894074, T. spiralis), 98.6% similarity with T. spiralis China isolates (GU339127, GU339147) and 99.8% sequence homology with T. spiralis sequences originating from Belarus (MH119334), respectively. In the phylogenetic analysis, sequences of each selected genetic marker clustered together with published T. spiralis isolates only, which further confirmed species level identification of detected larvae as T. spiralis, although very few differences were noted with reference to relative positions. This is the first study from India, which provide molecular evidence on circulation of T. spiralis in wild animals.</div>

<div>Molecular identification and characterization of Trichinella spiralis from a leopard in India</div>

Background: Salt stress is a major limiting factor for alfalfa yield due to its relatively low salt tolerance. High soil salinity adversely impacts alfalfa growth and development, leading to reduced yield. Melatonin (MT) is known to play a significant role in enhancing plant resistance to abiotic stresses. However, the mechanisms underlying melatonin-mediated abiotic stress responses, particularly salt stress, are not well understood. To address this gap, we conducted a study focusing on germinating alfalfa seeds under salt stress. 
&nbsp; 
Methods: Physiological indexes and transcriptomics analyses were carried out on the germinated seeds to investigate the effects of melatonin on alfalfa seedlings under salt stress conditions. 
&nbsp; 
Result: Our results revealed that the application of melatonin led to an increase in shoot length and fresh weight of alfalfa seedlings under salt stress. Moreover, key physiological indexes such as peroxidase (POD) activity and glutathione (GSH) content were increased, while content of malondialdehyde and superoxide anions decreased. Transcriptomic analysis identified a total of 2,131 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the salt-treated group, with 726 up-regulated and 1,405 down-regulated genes, while the MT-treated group showed 2,896 DEGs, of which 1,097 were up-regulated and 1,799 were down-regulated. Further, KEGG enrichment analysis highlighted the enrichment of DEGs in pathways including flavonoid biosynthesis, ABC transporter, glutathione metabolism and the MAPK signaling pathway, with these pathways more significantly enriched in the MT-treated group. These findings collectively indicate that melatonin plays a crucial role in the response of alfalfa to salt stress and provide new insights into melatonin mediated gene expression of alfalfa salt tolerance.

Actual Evapotranspiration in Clay Soil on Three Slope Zones in Volcanic Slope of Mt. Sumbing, Central Java-Indonesia

Effect of Vitamin E and Selenium (Se) Supplementation on Biochemical Parameters and Expression of Metallothionein (MT-2) in Heavy Metals Exposed Buffaloes

The Analysis of Genetic Variation in the Mitochondrial ND6 Gene and its Application for the Identification of Indonesian Catfish Species

Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Heterobothrium indicus n. sp. (Monogenea: Diclidophoridae) and Its Phylogenetic Status

Standardization of Different Pre-sowing Seed Treatments on Growth, Yield and Yield Attributing Traits of Kodo Millet (Paspalum scorbiculatum)

Demand and Supply Projections for Pulses in India

Management of rhizome rot disease of ginger using eco-friendly natural products

Optimization of 17α-Methyl Testosterone Dose in Artemia Nauplii and Rotifer using Enrichment Technique

Molecular identification and characterization of Trichinella spiralis from a leopard in India

Identification of Salt-responsive Genes in Melatonin Regulated Alfalfa Salt Tolerance by Transcriptome Analysis