Abstract We report undoped and Ni-doped TiO2 (x Ni =0.00, 0.50, 1.00, 1.50, 2.00 and 2.50 wt.%) thin films fabricated on glass substrates by using a combination of solid-state reaction and dip coating techniques. The structural properties are observed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), which have depicted that annealing at 650 °C results in rutile Ni-doped TiO2 as a major phase along with a minor anatase phase. The surface morphology of the deposited thin films, as measured by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), indicates granular spherical shaped nanostructures. Room-temperature ferromagnetism (RTFM) has been illustrated by all the grown thin films, as elucidated by vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). Although Ni content has no pronounced effect on the crystallinity that indicates a substitutional replacement of Ni in TiO2 lattice, however, Ni content is observed to influence the ferromagnetic behavior. Therefore, the present study signifies the potential spintronic applications of Ni-doped TiO2 diluted magnetic semiconductors, fabricated by a low-cost method, as it exhibits RTFM with nanograins at the surface.

Abstract Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) is an important legume and oilseed crop, native to South America and grown in all tropical and temperate regions of the world. A simplified and rapid direct gene delivery system in peanut was developed by vortexing silicon carbide whiskers with callus and with plasmid harboring chitinase and hygromcin genes. The effects of callus age and whisker quantity on transformation efficiency were evaluated. Transformation efficiency (6.88%) was highest when 200 mg of whiskers were used with 5 µg plasmid for 2 g of 20-day-old callus. Hygromcin-resistant calli were regenerated to complete plants which produced seeds normally. Transgene insertion and number of transgene copieswere confirmed by PCR and southern blot analyses, respectively. Transgene expression was evaluated by a pathogenecity test and RT-PCR analysis. In transgenic events, the resistance level to leaf spot disease was far higher than in control plants.