Extraction of high-quality DNA from brown-midrib (BMR) pearl millet (Cenchrus americanus (L.) Morrone) is challenging due to high levels of phenolics, lignin derivatives, and polysaccharides that interfere with cell lysis and downstream molecular analyses. In this study, four SDS-based lysis buffers (SLB-1 to SLB-4) and a standard CTAB method were evaluated for DNA isolation from BMR leaf tissues. Among these, SLB-3 (2% SDS, 3% PVP-40, 900 mM NaCl, 100 mM Tris-HCl, 25 mM EDTA, and 0.5% β-mercaptoethanol) produced significantly higher DNA yield (649.1 ± 123.2 ng/μL), improved purity (A260/280 = 1.87 ± 0.03; A260/230 = 2.13 ± 0.10), and intact high-molecular-weight DNA. Successful amplification of the extracted DNA with the SSR marker confirmed the integrity and amplifiability of the DNA, indicating its suitability for downstream molecular analyses. The SLB-3 protocol demonstrated advantages over CTAB and other SDS buffers in terms of simplicity, cost efficiency, and reproducibility. This optimized method may be suitable for routine molecular breeding and genetic studies in phenolic-rich and recalcitrant pearl millet tissues.
This study evaluates the water requirements and biomass yield of five forage crops employed in sheep production systems under arid environmental conditions. For this, two forage crops, i.e., pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), were assessed with three perennial forage grasses, i.e., napier hybrid bajra (P. purpureum), sewan (Lasiurus sindicus), and Dhaman (Cenchrus ciliaris). These crops were evaluated in a randomized block design (RBD) with four replications during kharif 2022. The results demonstrated significant variation in growth performance and resource-use efficiency. Cowpea yielded the highest fresh biomass with the lowest water productivity. Conversely, sewan grass recorded the highest dry matter yield along with superior water productivity, highlighting its adaptability to arid conditions and efficiency of utilization of available moisture. Napier hybrid bajra and pearl millet recorded the highest plant height, measuring 200.35 and 167.20 cm, respectively, with corresponding water productivity values of 1.72 and 1.57 kg m-³. To tested their effects on livestock performance, dry fodder of napier, lasiurus and cenchrus were fed with cowpea in a 50:50 ratio in the evening hours and bajra dry fodder along with concentrate in morning hours, respectively, to lambs of G1, G2, and G3 groups (a total 21 lambs of 3 months age, average weight 14.4 kg) using a randomized block design. The feeding schedule continued over a five-week period. Significant differences (p <0.05) were observed in dry matter intake and water consumption per kilogram of feed. Lambs on a cenchrus-based diet (G3) had the lowest water intake among the tested groups. The highest body weight gain (p <0.01) was recorded in this group with the least virtual water requirement per kilogram of body weight gain (4,966.94 ± 268.50 L) and was followed by diet Lasiurus (G2) at 5,188.06 ± 190.44 L. The water requirement of the napier-based diet (G1) at 6,724.98 ± 394.20 L was found the highest. Overall, these findings highlight that C. ciliaris, in particular, demonstrated high water-use efficiency and strong potential for supporting sustainable livestock farming under water-limited conditions.
This study examined the long-term (1901-2021) spatio-temporal rainfall trends across 13 districts in the Bundelkhand region of central India. Gridded rainfall data of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) were analyzed using both parametric (Mann-Kendall, Spearman’s Rho) and non-parametric (Simple Linear Regression) approaches, to detect monthly, seasonal and annual rainfall trends. Statistical tests showed a significant decreasing trend of rainfall in the region. The months of April to June have significantly increasing trends, while in the rest of the months, only decreasing trends were significant. Also, only decreasing trends were significant in seasonal rainfall and annual rainfall. The study area as a whole had a significant decrease in monsoon and annual rainfall. The Sen’s slope indicated declining monsoon and annual rainfall at the rate of -1.064 and -1.316 mm/year (p <0.001), whereas the slope of linear regression depicted a declining monsoon and annual rainfall of the region at the rate of -0.894 mm/year (p <0.1) and -1.031 mm/year (p <0.05), respectively. The results reveal the growing vulnerability of agriculture and the need for climate-resilient adaptation strategies in the semi-arid region of Bundelkhand. The decline in rainfall observed highlights significant practical and policy implications for water and agricultural management and planning in this region.
Antibiotic resistance is a pressing global crisis fueled by overuse in medicine, farming, and agriculture, producing superbugs like MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and extended-spectrum-lactamase (ESBL) E. coli, causing prolonged and untreatable infections. Essential oils (EO) provide a natural alternative, offering broad-spectrum antibacterial potency with reduced risk of rapid resistance. Present study assessed the antimicrobial efficacy of 71 essential oils against 144 clinical bacterial isolates by determining their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) as compared with 14 standard antibiotics. Twelve EOs such as thyme, holy basil, lemon grass, cinnamon, oregano, rosewood, cassia, rose, clove, palmrosa, carom seeds and betel leaf showed remarkable potency. Out of 12 Eos, thyme, cinnamon, cassia, oregano and carom seeds were found to be most effective and categorized as strong while holy basil, lemongrass, rosewood, palmrosa, rose, clove and betel leaf were considered as moderate effective EOs. Notably, oregano achieved the lowest MIC (0.039 μL) against E. coli and the lowest MBC (0.156 μL) against Klebsiella pneumoniae. EOs demonstrates powerful antibacterial effects against multidrug-resistant pathogens, frequently surpassing conventional antibiotics in efficacy. Judicious use of these natural oils as feed additives can effectively contribute to the livestock health.
Fodder production and utilization play a crucial role in sustaining livestock productivity and enhancing dairy income. The present study assessed the level of awareness, utilization patterns, and constraints faced by livestock farmers regarding fodder cultivation and management practices. The findings revealed that a majority of respondents (82.50%) had a medium level of awareness and an overall awareness index of 45.95. While respondents were highly aware that fodder seeds and planting materials are not commonly sold by seed companies (96.66%) and that fodder cultivation is cheaper than food crops (77.50%), awareness was considerably low regarding leguminous fodder benefits, soil fertility improvement, and milk yield enhancement. Traditional practices such as manual chaffing and direct feeding were moderately adopted, whereas improved technologies like urea treatment, silage making, hay making, and fodder enrichment practices were never used by the respondents. The major constraints identified included the non-availability of quality fodder seeds and planting materials in local markets, a lack of extension services and inadequate information about improved varieties and cultivation practices. The study highlights the urgent need for strengthened extension interventions, improved input supply systems, and capacity-building programs to enhance fodder production and scientific utilization practices.
