<div style="text-align:justify">Background: Blackgram (Vigna mungo L.), commonly known as urdbean, mash, black mapte and other names, is a popular short-season pulse crop farmed throughout India. This crop is extensively sown in conjunction with various cropping systems under residual moisture conditions after wheat harvest as summer crops under irrigated conditions and due to its high protein and carbohydrate content, as well as its short duration crop, it is suitable in summer crop grown between wheat and rice. 
 
Methods: Field experiments was carried out during two consecutive summer seasons of 2018-19 and 2019-20 to study residual effect of biofertilizer and foliar nutrition on plant height and yield attributes of summer blackgram (Vigna mungo) under different fertility levels at the Research Farm, Division of Agronomy, SKUAST- J, Chatha. The experiment was laid out in split-split plot design with three factors replicated thrice.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Maximize residual effect of nutrients on blackgram after raised wheat as a major crop among the fertility levels including biofertilizer and foliar application, recommended dose fertilizer achieved, growth parameters viz, yield attributing characters, number of pods/plants, number of grains /plants, 1000-grains weight, seed yield, stover yield and harvest index as compared to 75% of RDF. However, control recorded lowest values of all growth, yield attributing parameter and yield of blackgram crop. Whereas, soil application of biofertilizer consortium recorded higher plant height and yield attributing characters of blackgram in comparison to seed treatment with biofertilizer consortium applied in wheat as main crop. Among the foliar application of 2% of NPK (19:19:19) higher values of growth character, yield and yield attributing parameters of blackgram were recorded in foliar application of 2% NPK (19:19:19) at flowering stage as compared to tillering and tillering + flowering stages of wheat crop during both the years. Economics of blackgram in terms of net return and B:C ratio was influenced by residual effect of various applied in wheat crop and recorded higher in RDF fertility, soil application of biofertilizer consortium and foliar application of 2% NPK at flowering stage.</div>

Residual Effect of Fertility Levels, Biofertilizer and Foliar Nutrition on Yield and Yield Attributes of Summer Blackgram (Vigna mungo L.) in Wheat-blackgram Cropping System under Subtropical Conditions in Jammu

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: Yellow mosaic disease (YMD) caused by Yellow mosaic virus is one of the major constraints in the pulse production in Andhra Pradesh (A.P.) due to fast evolution of strains, like Mungbean yellow mosaic India virus (MYMIV). Keeping this in view, a survey was undertaken in the major blackgram growing districts of A.P. to know the YMD incidence in blackgram and weed hosts and were characterized based on genetic features by comparing with other YMV isolates from different hosts and locations across the world. 
 
Methods: Roving survey was conducted during rabi 2019-20 in major blackgram growing districts of A.P. viz., Krishna, Guntur, West Godavari and Prakasam districts for YMD incidence. Blackgram plants showing characteristic symptoms were collected as representative samples from each mandal along with the suspected weed plants and were subjected to amplification using coat protein (CP) specific primers followed by molecular characterization. Phylogenetic tree for coat protein (CP) gene was constructed using aligned sequences with 1000 bootstrap replicates following neighbor-joining phylogeny. 
 
Result: Out of the four districts surveyed, the highest disease incidence was recorded at Machavaram village of Prakasam district (43.22%), whereas least disease incidence was recorded at Chinaganjam village of Praksam district (2.4%). Six weeds viz., Ageratum conyzoides, Amaranthus viridis, Parthenium hysterophporus, Vigna trilobata, Abelmoscus moschatus, Desmodium laxiflorum have showed positive result in PCR amplification with MYMIV specific coat protein primers. Four isolates from blackgram samples and two from weed plants shared 94.85 to 99.58% nucleotide identity among themselves.&nbsp;</div>

Survey for Yellow Mosaic Disease Occurring on Blackgram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper] and Weed Hosts in Four Major Blackgram Growing Districts of Andhra Pradesh and Characterization of Associated Viruses using Coat Protein Gene

<div>Background: Maize is the third most important food crop in India. Conventionally it is a furrow irrigated crop and hence, it calls for an effective on-farm management of water in field through micro irrigation. Intensive agriculture practice like continuous monocropping without following the principles of crop rotation and sequence have resulted in several ecological complications. Hence, blackgram was introduced as a succeeding crop after drip irrigated maize. The aim of the study was to examine the residual effect of drip irrigation levels and maize genotypes and their interaction on succeeding crop i.e. blackgram.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: During summer 2018 and 2019, maize experiment was conducted with four irrigation levels (drip irrigation at 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 ETc and furrow irrigation at 0.8 IW/CPE ratio) and four maize genotypes (NK-6240, Pinnacle, CP-818 and RCRMH-2). After maize, succeeding blackgram was taken up under rainfed condition of Dharwad during kharif 2018 and 2019.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Performance of blackgram was superior under residual effect of drip irrigation treatments over furrow irrigation method. Among the interactions, significantly higher yield, RWUE and net returns were recorded with residual effect of I1G4 treatment combination. However, it was on par with I1G2, I1G3, I1G1, I2G1, I2G2, I2G4, I3G2 and I3G3 treatment combinations.</div>

Residual Effect of Irrigation Levels and Maize Genotypes on Performance of Succeeding Blackgram (Vigna mungo L.) in Maize-blackgram Sequence Cropping

<div style="text-align: justify;">Background: Pig farming is the integral component of farming system in the tribal dominated North Eastern region of India since pork is the most preferred meat among tribal population. However, pork still remains deficit and a high supply-demand gap exists due to low productivity of nondescript local pigs. In this context, popularization of crossbred pigs is the suitable option to enhance productivity. Thus, the study was carried out to evaluate the performance of crossbred pigs viz., Tamworth X Desi (T&amp;D), Hampshire X Niang Megha (H&amp;NM) in order to improve the pig productivity in the region. Methods: Data was collected from crossbred pigs viz., Tamworth X desi (T&amp;D), Hampshire X Niang Megha (H&amp;NM) and Niang Megha (NM) pigs which is maintained in the Pig breeding farm of the institute. This data included the study of productive (n=778 piglets), reproductive (n =107 sows) and carcass traits (n =45 slaughters) over a period of about eight years (2005-2013) from the farm record books cum-pedigree sheet of the pig farm. The date was analyzed suitable statistical tools. &nbsp; Result: The study recorded no significant differences (P&lt;0.01) in pre weaning body weight, growth rate and mortality rate between T&amp;D and H&amp;NM crossbred pigs however, both the crossbred pigs revealed significantly (P&lt; 0.05) higher pre weaning body weight and growth rate than that of NM pig. Post weaning body weight were significantly (P&lt;0.05) highest in T&amp;D crossbred pigs followed by H&amp;NM crossbred pig as compared to NM pigs at all age groups. Farrowing rate were significantly (P&lt;0.05) highest in NM pigs and lowest in T&amp;D crossbred pigs. However, farrowing interval were significantly (P&lt;0.05) highest in NM pig and lowest in H&amp;NM crossbred pigs. Regarding litter size at birth and weaning, there was no significant (P&lt;0.01) difference between T&amp;D and H&amp;NM pig but both these pigs revealed significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher litter performance than NM pig. Back fat thickness and loin eye area were significantly highest in T&amp;D pigs and lowest in NM pig. However, NM pig has significantly highest lean meat content than T&amp;D and H&amp;NM crossbred pig. There was no significant difference (P&lt;0.01) observed of dressing percentage between T&amp;D and H&amp;NM crossbred pig but, both the genetic group yield significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher dressing percentage than Niang Megha pigs. Based on the productive, reproductive and carcass traits, the study concluded that T&amp;D pigs more suitable for fattener pig production due to their higher growth performance and carcass yield, whereas H&amp;M pigs can be utilized for breeding purpose in subtropical hill ecosystem of Northeast India.</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">A Comparative Evaluation on Productive and Reproductive Traits of Tamworth X Desi and Hampshire X Niang Megha Pigs under Subtropical Hill Ecosystem in Eastern Himalayas Region of India</div>

Background: Cultivation of cereal followed by legume on the same land not only provide essential dietary carbohydrate, protein and vitamin to household but also enhances soil fertility through the symbiotic process of nitrogen fixation by legume. Moreover, legume contribute quality crop residues suitable for livestock feed. Beyond these nutritional and soil health benefits, adopting such farming practices has the potential to boost the income and livelihoods of smallholder farmers. The concurrent use of organic manure and inorganic fertilizer not only mitigates soil hazards but also significantly enhances crop productivity. 
 
Methods: A field experiment was conducted at wetland farms, Department of Agronomy, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India during summer-kharif seasons of the year 2022 and navarai - summer seasons of the year 2022-23 on aerobic rice-blackgram cropping system. 
 
Result: The positive influence of legumes on soil quality is considered a crucial factor in enhancing the production of non-legume crops grown in a rotation system. The success of a cropping system relies on the judicious management of resources, with a particular emphasis on the balanced utilization of organic manures, inorganic fertilizers and biofertilizer. The present study concluded that residual effect of 50% RDN through inorganic fertilizer + 25% of RDN through enriched FYM + 25% RDN through vermicompost + AM fungi + foliar application of nutrients (0.5% Urea + 1% FeSO4 + 0.5% ZnSO4 at 25 and 45 DAS) (S6) recorded significantly higher growth parameters, yield parameters and yield of succeeding blackgram compared to other sources of nutrients.

Assessment of Correlation between Growth and Yield of Blackgram with Residual Effect of Organic and Inorganic Sources of Nutrients and AM Fungi Applied to Rice in Aerobic Rice-blackgram Cropping System

<div style="text-align: justify;">Carcass composition and meat quality were evaluated for Asha, a triple cross pig (Ghungroo x Hampshire x Duroc, G25H25D50), which was developed and released by ICAR-National Research Centre on Pig as a fattener pig variety. A total of 14 gilts and 20 barrows from triple cross pigs were slaughtered at the age of 10 months for evaluating the different parameters. Instrumental colour measurement indicated that the coordinates were in the following range: lightness (L*), 38.91 &ndash; 53.75; redness (a*, red &plusmn; green), 6.83 &ndash; 11.96; and yellowness (b*, yellow &plusmn; blue), 11.38 &ndash; 18.49. The mineral contents in the M. longissimus thoracis et lumborum were in the following range: potassium, 268 - 334 mg/100g; zinc, 0.59 - 0.83 mg/100g; copper, 0.04 &ndash; 0.1 mg/100g; manganese, 0.01 - 0.06 mg/100g and magnesium, 4.53 - 7.74 mg/100g. Significant (P&gt;0.05) differences were not observed in the concentration of any of the estimated amino acids between the sexes. Fatty acid profiling of M. longissimus thoracis et lumborum indicated that saturated and unsaturated fatty acids were in the range of 31.14% - 38.65% and 60.27% - 69.49%, respectively. Results further indicated a concentration of 0.91% &ndash; 1.70% omega-3 fatty acids; 15.87% - 22.13% omega-6 fatty acids and 15.66% - 24.17% essential fatty acids in the muscle tissues.</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Profiles of colour, minerals, amino acids and fatty acids in Asha, the triple cross (Ghungroo x Hampshire x Duroc) fattener pig variety</div>

<div>Background: The productivity of greengram (Vigna radiata L.) is not adequate to meet the growing global population since mostly all the leguminous crop grown under rainfed condition. In this regard, a research experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of bio fermented products with drip fertigation under aerobic rice (Oryza sativa L.) - greengram (Vigna radiata L.) cropping system. 
 
Methods: A field experiment was conducted at Wetland farms of Department of Agronomy, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore during 2019-21. For greengram Thirteen treatments&nbsp; with Randomized complete block design were imposed in which fermented fish waste and fermented egg product were applied through drip at vegetative stage and peak flowering stage. Surface irrigation was scheduled based on IW/CPE ratio of 0.5 with conventional application of fertilizers. 
 
Result: The experiment results revealed that application of drip fertigation @ 125% RDF+100% PE with FFW registered higher growth parameters (plant height, drymatter production, 50% flowering, LAI), physiological parameters (Crop growth rate, Relative growth rate, SPAD values), yield attributes, yield and cropping system analysis. The results of correlation analysis also showed that the grain yield was positively impacted by the yield parameters.</div>

Correlation Between Growth and Yield of Greengram in Drip Fertigation, Fermented Fish Waste, Fermented Egg Product Application under Aerobic Rice (Oryza sativa L.)-Greengram (Vigna radiata L.) Cropping System in Western Zone of Tamil Nadu

Background: The cropping systems in any agro-ecological zone in the globe are driven by a number of critical issues, including rising food demands, the depletion of land and the degradation of land resources. The goal of traditional cropping methods has been to maximise crop yields. Cropping systems that take into account the new social, economic and ecological or environmental considerations are urgently needed nowadays. Due to their adaptability to diverse cropping patterns and capacity to fix nitrogen, legumes can offer prospects for continuous increases in productivity. Legume-based crop rotations help to maintain of organic matter, increase of soil nitrogen, nutrient balance, maintenance of soil physical qualities and disruption of soil-borne disease cycles. Conservation tillage is centered on minimum tillage, permanent raised beds, zero tillage with low soil disturbance and the preservation of protective plant cover or plant residues on the soil surface to prevent soil losses, stimulate microbial population and retain moisture and nutrients.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Field experiment were conducted during 2019-20 and 2020-21 at the Main Research Station (MRS), GKVK, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore On sandy loam soil&nbsp; to study the performance of Weed management in maize-based cropping system in conservation agriculture. The experiment was laid out under split plot design with five main plots on different tillage treatments i.e., Conventional tillage, Zero Tillage, Minimum Tillage, Minimum Tillage and Permanent raised bed and three sub plots of different weed management practices i.e., Chemical weed management practices, Integrated weed management practices and Unweeded Control replicated thrice. 
 
Result: Among tillage practices, permanent raised bed recorded the least total weed density and weed dry weight at harvest when compared to other tillage practices and also high seed yield, haulm yield and B: C ratio due to less weed&nbsp; infestation, good root growth, adequate aeration and nutrient availability compared to other tillage practices. Permanent raised beds had significantly higher nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium uptake than zero tillage. Among weed, management practices, Integrated weed management (Pendimethalin-750 g/ha (PE) + Hand weeding at 30 DAS) recorded the least total weed density and weed dry weight at harvest compared to unweeded treatment and also high seed yield, haulm yield and B: C ratio due to less weed infestation, compared to unweeded treatment. Integrated weed management resulted in significantly higher nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium uptake compared to unweeded (control).

Tillage and Weed Management on Yield and Nutrient Uptake of Greengram under Maize-greengram Cropping System in Conservation Agriculture

<div>Background: Greengram or mungbean is a diploid (2n=22) autogamous leguminous crop. The average global yield is low and stagnant over years in the entire tropical and subtropical Asia. Any improvement in the yield is hard, predominantly because of pest infestation and diseases. Viral diseases result in significant financial losses due to drop in seed yield and quality in many important crops including greengram. Mungbean yellow mosaic disease (MYMD) can lead to yield loss up to 85% in greengram in epidemic conditions. 
 
Methods: The present study was conducted at Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University during the period August-October 2020 in three crosses of greengram viz., PLM 506 x IC 76417, PLM 506 x IC 76381 and IC 398746 x IC 76417. The mean data of five basic generations viz., P1, P2, F1, F2 and F3 of three crosses were evaluated. Populations were screened for MYMV disease resistance by employing infector row method. Scaling test was done using the mean values of various generations for the characters. Significance of scale C suggested dominance x dominance (l) type of gene interaction, whereas the significance of scale D showed additive x additive (i) type of gene interaction. The significance of any of the scaling tests proposes inefficacy of simple additive-dominance model. Five genetic effects viz., mean effect (m), additive (d), dominance (h), additive x additive (i) and dominance x dominance (l) was estimated. 
 
Result: Hundred-seed weight showed additive-dominance model in the cross PLM 506 x IC 76417. The additive as well as additive x additive type of gene action were in control of number(s) of clusters per plant, percentage of disease infection and most of yield components in the cross PLM 506 x IC 76417. Hence, selection at a later generation is effective to improve these traits. Pod length was controlled by additive gene action in the cross PLM 506 x IC 76381, whereas percentage of disease infection showed additive-dominance model. The additive as well as additive x additive type of gene action were in control of plant height and most of yield components in the cross PLM 506 x IC 76381. In the case of other traits, epistatic model was evidenced. Hence, selection needs to be postponed to a later generation. Based on gene action, these crosses may be employed to evolve high yielding plants with MYMV disease resistance.</div>

Generation Mean Analysis for Yield, its Components and MYMV Disease Resistance in Greengram [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek]

<div>Background: Mungbean yellow mosaic virus (MYMV) disease is the most destructive disease in blackgram. Development of MYMV resistant varieties is one of the best possible solutions to avoid the yield reduction in blackgram. There are conflicting reports on the genetics of resistance to MYMV disease claiming that it is controlled by both dominant and recessive genes. Hence the present study was aimed to understand the inheritance pattern of the MYMV disease resistance in eight crosses of blackgram. 
 
Methods: Parents, F1 and F2 generation of eight cross combinations were raised during July - Sep, 2018 at National Pulses Research Centre, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Vamban, Tamil Nadu. An infector row of CO 5 was raised to intensify the MYMV disease pressure after every eight rows.&nbsp;Based on disease incidence on 60th day after sowing, two phenotypic classes were formed among F2 plants with the scales of (1 to 3) as resistant phenotype and (4 to 9) as susceptible phenotype. The goodness of fit to Mendelian segregation ratio for MYMV disease resistance in the segregating population was tested by Chi square test (Stansfield, 1991). 
 
Result: The MYMV disease incidence was tri-genically controlled with inhibitory gene action in four crosses viz., MDU 1 x Mash 114, CO5 x Mash 114, MDU 1 x VBN 6 and CO 5 x VBN 6. Complementary gene action with two genes was observed in four crosses viz., MDU 1 x Mash 1008, CO 5 x Mash 1008, MDU 1 x VBN 8 and CO 5 x VBN 8. Differences in number of genes were observed due to the presence of recessive inhibitory gene in both male and female parents of the crosses which had complementary gene action for MYMV disease. The putative gene symbols assigned for the six genotypes viz., S1S1S2S2ii (MDU 1 and CO 5), s1s1s2s2II (Mash 114 and VBN 6) and s1s1s2s2ii (Mash 1008 and VBN 8), respectively.&nbsp;</div>