A strain of Rhizobium isolated from the root nodule of lentil was caused to produce mutants and screened on a medium of pH 4-5. Five mutant colonies of Rhizobium were isolated from lentil which differed in growth over a pH range 4-5-7-5. Strains differed in their growth in acidic and calcareous soils and also in their effectiveness of N fixation.

The present study provides the first report of heterologous expression of phytochelatin synthase from Anabaena PCC 7120 (anaPCS) into the hairy roots of Artemisia annua. Transformed hairy roots of A. annua expressing anaPCS gene showed better tolerance to heavy metals viz., arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) owing to 143 and 191 % more As and Cd accumulation respectively as compared to normal roots with a bioconcentration factor (BCF) of 9.7 and 21.1 for As and Cd respectively. Under As and Cd stresses, transformed hairy roots possessed significantly higher amounts of phytochelatins and thiols probably due to the presence of both AaPCS (Artemisia annua PCS) and anaPCS. In addition, artemisinin synthesis was also induced in transformed hairy roots under heavy metals stresses. In-silico analysis revealed the presence of conserved motifs in both AaPCS and anaPCS sequences as well as structural modelling of PCS functional domain was conducted. Interaction of AaPCS and anaPCS proteins with CdCl2 and sodium arsenate gene ontology analysis gave insights to anaPCS functioning in transformed hairy roots of A. annua. The study provides transformed hairy roots of A. annua as an efficient tool for effective phytoremediation with added advantages of artemisinin extraction from hairy roots used for phytoremediation.

An experiment was carried out using virus-resistant papaya variety Pune Selection-3 to study the effect of different cultivation methods for enhanced production and input use efficiency at Horticultural Research Farm, RAU, Pusa during the year 2016-2019. The outcomes of raised bed cultivation (a), drip irrigation (b), fertigation (c), polyethylene mulching (d) along with micronutrient spray (e) were analyzed using different combinations of these parameters as treatments for growth, yield-related parameters, and fruit quality. Nutrient use efficiency was also assessed by examining various interactive components such as soil nutrient content, nutrient acquisition with nutrient content in the leaves, the efficiency of nutrient utilization informs of the biomass produced, fruit yield, and fruit nutritional quality. The plant height was maximum in T1 (155 cm) which was significantly higher than the plant of control treatment. The flowering time was found to be reduced in all treatments. However, total soluble sugar was higher in T3. Overall, when the B:C ratio was compared, the treatment (T1) showed a higher value along with a 2.38-fold fruit yield/plant and 0.89-fold increase in fruit yield per hectare. The nutritional quality of fruits enhanced in T1 treated plants having a 1.78-fold increment in flavonoid content, and 1.2-fold more lycopene. The phenolic content was also 1.8-fold higher than the control (T5). The result obtained in the present study demonstrates that with the implementation of a suitable fertigation system in papaya cultivation we can obtain papaya growth, fruit yield per plant, and fruit quality by targeting enhancement in cost: benefit ratio. Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 10(2): 84-92.