Empowering farmers through participatory plant breeding: An initiative of the green foundation

In the so-called difficult environments, institutional plant breeding appears to be a failure, mainly because breeding is directed at increasing yields in more favorable environments. Although the improved varieties have broad adaptability, under varied marginal environments, they do not express their yield potential or they do not satisfy other user requirements. In any environment, the potential of a plant is controlled by the interaction of its genetic composition with the environment. This involves adaptation of the plant lo both physical environments (climate, soil, abiotic and biotic stress) and the socioeconomic environment (user concerns, consumers' preferences, economic status, markets, etc.). After the introduction of high-yielding varieties and hybrids during the green Revolution in India, hundreds of landrace. And indigenous varieties have become extinct or on the verge of extinction, largely because they have not been considered economical to grow under the present market economy. Despite this, small-scale farmers in marginal environments continue to grow a mixture of crops and varieties as a buffer against temporal and spatial variation to cope with stress factors. It has been a lime-tested practice by farmers to continue to select their next generation of seed. Thereby modifying the genetic characteristics of the crops. Tapping into This practice .and empowering farmers to improve their crops has now come to be referred to as "participatory plant breeding." Conservation of plant genetic resources has been initiated by the green Foundation, working in the dry land regions of South India. As a means of empowering farmers, the Green Foundation has conserved several varieties of staple food crops', like finger millet and rice, on-farm. Using the gene pool available to Them, farmers have selected varieties, based on a set Of criteria, for varietal purification, as a first step towards participatory plant breeding. This paper describes the process of varietal selection for improvement of local cultivars and the upgrading of farmers' skills as independent seed produces

Development of organic indica rice cultivar (Oryza sativa L.) for the wetlands of Kerala, India through new concepts and strategies of crop improvement

Developing crop varieties that are less dependent on the heavy application of synthetic fertilizers is essential for the sustainability of agriculture. Here we report the development of a new rice cultivar, the first of its kind possessing the general criteria for an organic rice variety, at the same time suitable for chemical agriculture as well, and with favourable cooking and nutritive qualities. The method adopted for cultivar development was a combined strategy of pedigree breeding, organic plant breeding, and farmer participatory breeding approaches. Considering its high grain and straw yield potential even under organic management and unfavorable soil conditions, and its other favorable quality and organic varietal traits, farmers have started large scale cultivation of this cultivar even before its commercial release. The cultivar, namely culture MK 157, is at the pipe end of variety release in the Kerala state of India

Assessment of non-carious root surface defects in areas of gingival recession: a descriptive study

Background: The purpose of this descriptive study was to observe the distribution of four different classes of noncarious cervical root surface discrepancies in teeth with gingival recession. Additionally to explore the different treatment modalities in the literature for each of these defects. Material and Methods: A total of 150 subjects with at least one labial gingival recession were included in the study. 1400 teeth were evaluated using 2.5 X magnification loupes and UNC -15 probe for the presence of the cementoenamel junction and step like defects according to Pini-Pratoâ s classification: A-, identifiable CEJ without defect; A+, identifiable CEJ with defect; B-, unidentifiable CEJ without defect, B+, unidentifiable CEJ with defect. Further a comprehensive electronic and hand search of pubmed indexed journals was performed to identify appropriate treatment modalities for these defects and their predictability following restorative/surgical or combination of both. Results: A total of 1400 teeth with exposed root surfaces were examined (793 Maxillary; 607 mandibular). 499 teeth were A-, 405 were A+, 322 were B+ and 174 were B-. The distribution of these defects in different teeth was: 36% premolars, 32% molars, 21% incisors and 11% canines, collectively 68% in the aesthetic zone. Conclusions: Majority of these lesions are in the maxillary aesthetic zone. Hence the presence of the CEJ and the defect must be taken into account while managing these defects surgically

Impact of elevated Carbon Dioxide on two groundnut genotypes (Arachis hypogaea L.) under Open Top Chamber facility

The impact of enhanced atmospheric CO2 concentration (550ppm) was assessed in Open Top Chambers (OTCs) facility to identify the growth and yield parameters at different growth stages of two popular groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) genotypes- Dharani, K-9. The results showed significant differences between genotypes, CO2 levels and time intervals for all the characters studied. The experiments revealed that the genotype Dharani recorded higher response for seed weight, harvest index at eCO2 while K-9 recorded higher response for total biomass.This study is necessary if we are to realize the potential genotype for maximum yield in the future climate change scenario

FLC based adjustable speed drives for power quality enhancement

This study describes a new approach based on fuzzy algorithm to suppress the current harmonic contents in the output of an inverter. Inverter system using fuzzy controllers provide ride-through capability during voltage sags, reduces harmonics, improves power factor and high reliability, less electromagnetic interference noise, low common mode noise and extends output voltage range. A feasible test is implemented by building a model of three-phase impedance source inverter, which is designed and controlled on the basis of proposed considerations. It is verified from the practical point of view that these new approaches are more effective and acceptable to minimize the harmonic distortion and improves the quality of power. Due to the complex algorithm, their realization often calls for a compromise between cost and performance. The proposed optimizing strategies may be applied in variable-frequency dc-ac inverters, UPSs, and ac drives

Hazards of setting targets to eliminate disease: lessons from the leprosy elimination campaign.

Gerson Oliveira Penna - Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Fiocruz Brasília. Brasília, DF, Brasil. Documento produzido em parceria ou por autor vinculado à Fiocruz, mas não consta à informação no documento.Elimination of a disease sounds attractive, but as the recent re-emergence of polio has shown, it is difficult to accomplish. As part of its roadmap for reducing the burden of neglected tropical diseases, the World Health Organization has identified five diseases for elimination by 2015 and a further eight by 2020.1 Although setting these ambitious targets has the potential to focus money and resources, unless the targets are realistic they can have unforeseen consequences. We use the experience of the 1991 campaign to eliminate leprosy to show how targets can end up causing harm to patients.2030-12-3

Mycobacteriocin typing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from patients in south India, Hong Kong & Britain

A total of 148 strains of M. tuberculosis (south India, 118; Hong Kong, 24; Britain, 6) were screened for mycobacteriocin production by cross-streak method using 9 rapid growers (group IV mycobacteria) as indicator strains adapting the scheme suggested by Takeya and Tokiwa. Eighty six per cent (127 of 148) of the cultures were found typable into two types–type 11 (84%); and type 9 (2%). The remaining 14 per cent (21) cultures were untypable and exhibited different inhibition patterns not reported earlier. Since 98 per cent (125 of 127) of the typable cultures belonged to type 11, the limitation of the present indicator system for typing M. tuberculosis from south India is discussed

Cerebrospinal fluid adenosine deaminase and lysozyme levels in the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis

Adenosine Deaminase Activity (ADA) and Lysozyme Activity (LYSA) were measured in the CSF of tuberculous meningitis (TBM) cases : 26 bacteriologically positive TBM (Group 1), 61 bacteriologically negative TBM (Group 2), 10 non-tuberculous meningitis (Group 3) and 17 control subjects (Group 4). The mean ADA levels in different groups in that order were found to be 11.6, 4.5, 4.4 and 0.8 U/l respectively. The mean LYSA levels in the same groups were 6.3, 2.1, 2.2 and 0.5 mcg/ml respectively. In bacteriologically positive TBM, the mean ADA and LYSA levels were significantly higher than the other three groups (p < 0.0001). An ADA level of 4U/l and LYSA tests were 96%, 82% and 85%, 95% respectively. When both the criteria were considered, the sensitivity and specificity were 91% and 93% respectively. Combination of both test definitions could give additional support to the diagnosis in 49% of 61 clinically suspected but bacteriologically negative TBM cases. Correlation of ADA and LYSA levels in CSF was found to be statistically significant (r = 0.59; p < 0.01)