Soil pH conditions have important consequences for microbial community structure, their dynamics, ecosystem processes, and interactions with plants. Low soil pH affects the growth and functional activity of bacterial biocontrol agents which may experience a paradigm shift in their ability to act antagonistically against fungal phytopathogens. In this study, the antifungal activity of an acid tolerant soil bacterium Bacillus amyloliquefaciens MBNC was evaluated under low pH and compared to its activity in neutral pH conditions. Bacterial supernatant from three-day old culture grown in low pH conditions were more effective against fungal pathogens. B. amyloliquefaciens MBNC harboured genes involved in the synthesis of secondary metabolites of which surfactin homologues, with varying chain length (C11 -C15) were identi ed through High-Resolution Mass Spectroscopy. The pH of the medium in uenced the production of these metabolites.Surfactin C15 was exclusive to the extract of pH 4.5; production of iturinA and surfactin C11 was detected only in pH 7.0 while, surfactin C12, C13 and C14 were detected in extracts of both the pH conditions. The secretion of phytohormones viz. Indole Acetic Acid (IAA) and Gibberellic Acid (GA) by B. amyloliquefaciens MBNC were detected in higher amount in neutral condition compared to acidic condition. Although, secretion of metabolites and phytohormones in B. amyloliquefaciens MBNC was in uenced by the pH condition of the medium, the isolate retained its antagonistic e ciency against several fungal phyto-pathogens under acidic condition.

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This study aimed to investigate the correlation of IGFs, IGFBPs, and IGFBPRs of grower pigs with change in temperature humidity index (THI). THI was calculated to know the months of the year when pigs feel discomfort and samples of feed offered were analyzed to know the nutritional availability/deficit. The calculated average THI was above thermal comfort zone for seven months in a year. It was observed that crude protein (CP) and metabolizable energy (ME) availability to pigs were deficient. Gilts of two months age and similar body weight were randomly divided into two groups (n=6); viz. Con-fed animals (feed offered by the farmer) and For-fed animals (formulated feed supplement + Con-fed). The composition of formulated feed supplement was dried leaf of Moringa oleifera, soybean meal, rice mill waste, and mineral mixture. The plasma cortisol level increased in the experimental animals with accelerated THI as evidenced by the strong positive correlation of THI with HSP70 and HSP90. The level of leptin and ghrelin did not have significant relation with the expression level of HSPs in the present study, however, in the control animals, a low level of leptin was observed. The correlation between the growth factors and HSPs was not significant. During the season, where the THI was above the thermal comfort zone, the IGFBPR and IGFBP concentrations were non-significantly increased along with the increased THI.

Pigs are particularly susceptible to heat stress because of their more sub-cutaneous fat with little or non-functional sweat glands. Pigs depend on panting as primary mechanism of heat dissipation and/or wallowing. Therefore, a study was conducted to generate basic information on certain blood biochemicals of pigs reared in high humid climatic condition. For the purpose, blood samples were collected randomly from 400 female pigs (6–12 month of age) during summer and winter of the year. The analysis of THI has shown an increase in the study area since 2012 to 2018. The hematological study of the pigs revealed a variation in respect of Hb and TEC with the season. Estimation of different enzymes showed increase with the increase of THI. The activity of enzyme, hormones except leptin was accelerated. Expression of IGF 1, HSP 70 and HSP 90 was also affected with the change of THI. The level of Kisspeptin and FSH β receptor showed difference between two seasons of the year. However, the level of Kisspeptin and FSH β receptor in serum of the experimental animals was found to be insufficient to initiate puberty till 12 months of age. It can be concluded that the pigs reared in semi-intensive system under high humid climatic condition did not attain puberty up to one year of age.

Soil pH conditions have important consequences for microbial community structure, their dynamics, ecosystem processes, and interactions with plants. Low soil pH affects the growth and functional activity of bacterial biocontrol agents which may experience a paradigm shift in their ability to act antagonistically against fungal phytopathogens. In this study, the antifungal activity of an acid tolerant soil bacterium Bacillus amyloliquefaciens MBNC was evaluated under low pH and compared to its activity in neutral pH conditions. Bacterial supernatant from three-day old culture grown in low pH conditions were more effective against fungal pathogens. B. amyloliquefaciens MBNC harboured genes involved in the synthesis of secondary metabolites of which surfactin homologues, with varying chain length (C11 – C15) were identified through High-Resolution Mass Spectroscopy. The pH of the medium influenced the production of these metabolites. Surfactin C15 was exclusive to the extract of pH 4.5; production of iturinA and surfactin C11 was detected only in pH 7.0 while, surfactin C12, C13 and C14 were detected in extracts of both the pH conditions. The secretion of phytohormones viz. Indole Acetic Acid (IAA) and Gibberellic Acid (GA) by B. amyloliquefaciens MBNC were detected in higher amount in neutral condition compared to acidic condition. Although, secretion of metabolites and phytohormones in B. amyloliquefaciens MBNC was influenced by the pH condition of the medium, the isolate retained its antagonistic efficiency against several fungal phyto-pathogens under acidic condition.