Effect of Modified Deficit Irrigation Strategies on Fruit Quality of Tomato under Greenhouse

Deficit irrigation strategies need to be devised to save irrigation water and optimize yield while maintaining fruit quality. The present study was undertaken to assess fruit quality of tomato (cv. GS-600) under different irrigation treatments in greenhouse environment. Different irrigation treatments were namely (1) Full irrigation, where the required amount of irrigation water estimated from pan evaporation data was applied to all sides of the plant root zone through drip irrigation; (2) RDI30, (3) RDI50, (4) PRD30 and (5) PRD50, where 30% and 50% less amount of water was applied compared to full irrigation. In RDI, water was applied to all sides of the root zone but in case of PRD, left and right side of root zone were irrigated alternately during every irrigation. Significantly higher fruit diameter (6.45- 8.9 cm) in PRD30 irrigation treatment was observed compared to other deficit irrigation treatments though it was at par with full irrigation treatment (7-9 cm). Among the deficit irrigation treatments, total soluble solids (TSS) (6.7 °Brix) and titratable acidity (0.44%) were higher in the PRD30, whereas full irrigation led to significantly lower TSS (4.5 °Brix) and titratable acidity (0.35%), respectively. Compared to full irrigation treatment, partial root zone drying with 30% deficit irrigation can enhance fruit quality while saving water

Effect of Ultra-Small Chitosan Nanoparticles Doped with Brimonidine on the Ultra-Structure of the Trabecular Meshwork of Glaucoma Patients

AbstractBrimonidine, an anti-glaucoma medicine, acts as an adrenergic agonist which decreases the synthesis of aqueous humour and increases the amount of drainage through Schlemm's canal and trabecular meshwork, but shows dose-dependent (0.2% solution thrice daily) toxicity. To reduce the side effects and improve the efficacy, brimonidine was nanoencapsulated on ultra-small-sized chitosan nanoparticles (nanobrimonidine) (28 ± 4 nm) with 39% encapsulation efficiency, monodispersity, freeze–thawing capability, storage stability, and 2% drug loading capacity. This nanocomplex showed burst, half, and complete release at 0.5, 45, and 100 h, respectively. Nanobrimonidine did not show any in vitro toxicity and was taken up by caveolae-mediated endocytosis. The nanobrimonidine-treated trabeculectomy tissue of glaucoma patients showed better dilation of the trabecular meshwork under the electron microscope. This is direct evidence for better bioavailability of nanobrimonidine after topical administration. Thus, the developed nanobrimonidine has the potential to improve the efficacy, reduce dosage and frequency, and improve delivery to the anterior chamber of the eye.</jats:p

The role of Ayurveda management in preventing surgical site infections instead of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis

It is probably for the first time in the history of modern surgery that Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) surgery which belongs to ‘clean contaminated’ class and requires at least 3 doses of prophylactic antibiotic as per recommendations by American Urology Association, was done without the use of any as the patient had a history of severe intolerance to them. The case was an 83 year old male patient presenting with acute urinary retention. He was a known case of BPH being managed continuously on Ayurvedic therapy for many years. It was a challenge to conduct the inevitable surgery without any antibiotic prophylaxis. Holmium laser enucleation of prostate (HOLEP) was done with Ayurvedic medicine support only without the use of any antibiotic. The post-operative recovery was uneventful. The long term recovery was unusually faster and remarkable. In view of rising antibiotic resistance and World Health Organisation (WHO) declaration of arrival of post-antibiotic era, the successful outcome of this case could open new channels of research into Ayurveda, to find out the solution to the worst ever antibiotic crisis of the present time

Accelerated ageing test reveals quantitative nature of inheritance of seed viability in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr]

Abstract Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] (2n=40), an important source of the premium quality protein (40%) and oil (18-20%), suffers from poor viability of the seeds during ambient storage. The current study aimed to understand the genetic control of seed viability in soybean and its association with other traits through accelerated ageing test. A set of 119 F2:3 seeds from a cross between good storing genotype EC1023 (91.87% germination after 1 year of ambient storage) and poor-storing genotype VLS61 (60.87% after 1 year of ambient storage) were tested for viability and vigour through accelerated ageing (AA) test. The parameters of the AA testing, which were initially standardized from six different combinations, were-temperature: 41± 1 0 C, duration: 72 hours and relative humidity (RH): ~100%. The tested seeds differed significantly for viability and vigour index I and II, which ranged from 4.16 to 71.42%. The continuous distribution of the viability percent of the F2:3 seeds indicated an involvement of more than one gene in controlling the viability of the seeds. The percent seed germination found to be positively and significantly correlated with the average seedling length (r=0.78) and seedling dry weight (r=0.83). Similarly, seedling length was found to be positively and significantly associated with seedling dry weight (r=0.92). The information on genetic control of viability of soybean seeds along with its vigour indices would pave the way for mapping and deploying the genes for improvement of viability in soybean.</jats:p

Modulation of azole sensitivity and filamentation by GPI15, encoding a subunit of the first GPI biosynthetic enzyme, in Candida albicans

AbstractGlycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins are important for virulence of many pathogenic organisms including the human fungal pathogen, Candida albicans. GPI biosynthesis is initiated by a multi-subunit enzyme, GPI-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (GPI-GnT). We showed previously that two GPI-GnT subunits, encoded by CaGPI2 and CaGPI19, are mutually repressive. CaGPI19 also co-regulates CaERG11, the target of azoles while CaGPI2 controls Ras signaling and hyphal morphogenesis. Here, we investigated the role of a third subunit. We show that CaGpi15 is functionally homologous to Saccharomyces cerevisiae Gpi15. CaGPI15 is a master activator of CaGPI2 and CaGPI19. Hence, CaGPI15 mutants are azole-sensitive and hypofilamentous. Altering CaGPI19 or CaGPI2 expression in CaGPI15 mutant can elicit alterations in azole sensitivity via CaERG11 expression or hyphal morphogenesis, respectively. Thus, CaGPI2 and CaGPI19 function downstream of CaGPI15. One mode of regulation is via H3 acetylation of the respective GPI-GnT gene promoters by Rtt109. Azole sensitivity of GPI-GnT mutants is also due to decreased H3 acetylation at the CaERG11 promoter by Rtt109. Using double heterozygous mutants, we also show that CaGPI2 and CaGPI19 can independently activate CaGPI15. CaGPI15 mutant is more susceptible to killing by macrophages and epithelial cells and has reduced ability to damage either of these cell lines relative to the wild type strain, suggesting that it is attenuated in virulence.</jats:p

Effect of artificial insemination in comparison to natural mating on the reproductive performance and profitability of smallholder pig production system in Indian Himalaya

In fragile ecosystems, smallholder pig production systems provide food and nutritional security to resource-poor communities. Pigs are the main livestock raised by indigenous communities in the Himalayan region of India, but their productivity is low for several reasons. The present study aimed to study the pig herd size and to evaluate the impact of artificial insemination (AI) on profitability and sustainability in the small-holder pig production system. A total of 612 AIs were carried out in 483 sows in the farmer's field along with 114 sows that underwent natural breeding. A comparison was made between the reproductive performance of sows following AI and natural breeding. The profitability and economics of AI and natural breeding were also compared. The mean pig population varied from 4.75 to 6.42 in the study region. The farrowing rate, total born piglets (TBPs), and live born piglets (LBPs) were significantly higher (P &lt; 0.001) in artificially inseminated sows compared to naturally bred sows (9.37 vs. 6.28; 8.93 vs. 5.45). Farrowing rate (P = 0.005), TBP, and LBP were significantly (P &lt; 0.001) higher in sows inseminated by female inseminator as compared to male inseminator (81.26 vs. 71.42%; 9.65 vs. 8.80; 9.21 vs. 8.38). The insemination by uneducated farmers resulted in significantly (P = 0.002) lower farrowing rate, TBP (P &lt; 0.001), LBP (P &lt; 0.001), and AI per farrowing (P = 0.042). The farmers who did AI for the third time and more than three times recorded significantly (P &lt; 0.001) higher farrowing rates, TBP, and LBP. The farrowing rate was significantly (P &lt; 0.001) less in sows that were located more than 30 km away from the semen center (66.66 vs. 82.90%). The net return per sow was significantly higher (P &lt; 0.001) in artificially inseminated sows (US$464.8 vs. US$248.11). AI resulted in an 87.33% increase in net returns per farrowing as compared to natural breeding. In conclusion, AI in smallholder pig production systems has the potential to sustainably improve the profitability as well as the food and nutritional security of resource-poor farmers