Origin and evolution of the bread wheat D genome

Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) is a globally dominant crop and major source of calories and proteins for the human diet. Compared with its wild ancestors, modern bread wheat shows lower genetic diversity, caused by polyploidisation, domestication and breeding bottlenecks. Wild wheat relatives represent genetic reservoirs, and harbour diversity and beneficial alleles that have not been incorporated into bread wheat. Here we establish and analyse extensive genome resources for Tausch’s goatgrass (Aegilops tauschii), the donor of the bread wheat D genome. Our analysis of 46 Ae. tauschii genomes enabled us to clone a disease resistance gene and perform haplotype analysis across a complex disease resistance locus, allowing us to discern alleles from paralogous gene copies. We also reveal the complex genetic composition and history of the bread wheat D genome, which involves contributions from genetically and geographically discrete Ae. tauschii subpopulations. Together, our results reveal the complex history of the bread wheat D genome and demonstrate the potential of wild relatives in crop improvement

Effect of Tillage and Nitrogen Levels on Yield and Water Productivity of Brassica napus in North West India

In North West India ground water is depleting because of adoption of rice-wheat system. Therefore for saving precious water resources there is need to diversify some area under low water requiring crops and adopt water saving techniques. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate individual and interactive effects of deep tillage, irrigation and nitrogen rates on yield and water productivity of canola (Brassica napus). Experimental treatments in main plots were combination of two tillage systems (deep tillage (DT) and conventional tillage (CT)) and three irrigation regimes (no (I0), one (I1) and two irrigations (I2)) and in subplots four nitrogen rates ( 0 (N0), 50 (N50), 75 (N75) and 100 (N100) kg ha-1 with three replications. Maximum rooting depth was observed with irrigation and 100 kg N ha-1. Root mass density in upper 60 cm soil depth was higher under irrigated plots whereas below 60 cm, it was higher under I0. Higher root density was recorded under DT and N100 plots. Dry matter accumulation significantly increased with irrigation, tillage and N application. Seed yield significantly increased under DT (10%) and I2 (26.2% over I0) treatment. Water productivity improved with DT and N100. Oil yield and N uptake increased under DTI2N100.  Higher nitrogen rates at low irrigation frequency resulted in yield similar to low nitrogen rates at higher irrigation frequency. While yield produced under DT with one post sowing irrigation was equivalent to that produced under CT with two irrigations. The results suggest the saving of irrigation water and yield optimisation with high N rate and deep tillage in canola

Pentacam Tomograms: A Novel Method for Quantification of Posterior Capsule Opacification

PURPOSE. To develop and validate a method to quantify posterior capsule opacification (PCO) in eyes after cataract surgery and intraocular lens implantation using Scheimpflug Pentacam tomograms and compare its validity with slit lamp retroillumination image analysis. METHODS. One hundred twenty-four pseudophakic eyes of 124 patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 consisted of 40 eyes with visually significant PCO, and group 2 consisted of 84 eyes without visually significant PCO. Pentacam Imaging was performed after full mydriasis using the 50-scan acquisition protocol, and high-resolution tomograms were reconstructed and analyzed using ImageJ freeware. Retroillumination photographs were captured for group 1 eyes using the Topcon digital slit lamp, and these were analyzed using POCOman software to calculate an aggregate severity grade and percentage PCO value. Correlation coefficients were calculated for PCO values obtained using POCOman and ImageJ. RESULTS. Mean PCO percentage value obtained using POCOman software was 23.34 Ϯ 6.25 U, mean aggregate PCO severity grade was 0.46 Ϯ 0.28 U, and mean pixel-intensity value using ImageJ was 31.071 Ϯ 8.26 U. There was a significant positive correlation between the percentage PCO (P ϭ 0.000; r ϭ 0.864) and PCO severity grade (P ϭ 0.001; r ϭ 0.490) obtained for group 1 eyes using slit lamp retroillumination images and PCO pixel intensity obtained using Pentacam tomograms. CONCLUSIONS. Retroillumination photographs are the standard for quantifying PCO. Pentacam tomograms are easier to obtain and are free of flash reflections, and they allow for a more objective analysis. The correlation between the two methods demonstrates that ImageJ analysis of Pentacam tomograms is a viable tool for PCO analysis. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2008

Impact of Tillage, Irrigation Regimes and Nitrogen Levels on Soil Moisture Dynamics, Growth and Productivity of Canola (Brassica napus)

A field experiment was conducted at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, during rabi 2018-19 to examine the effects of tillage, irrigation and nitrogen rates on the productivity of canola (Brassica napus). Combinations of two tillage systems (Deep tillage- DT, and conventional tillage- CT), with three irrigation regimes viz; no irrigation (I0), one irrigation (I1) and two irrigations (I2) in main plots and four nitrogen (N) rates viz; 0 (N0), 50 (N50), 75 (N75) and 100 (N100) kg ha-1 in sub-plots with three replications. Lower soil moisture content was recorded under deep tillage. Root density in upper 60 cm soil depth was higher in I2 followed by I1 and I0 irrigation regimes whereas below 60 cm, it was higher under I0. Higher root density was recorded under DT and N100 plots. Irrigation and N application significantly improved plant height, relative leaf water content and SPAD value at different stages. Yield attributes and yield were highest under I2, deep tillage and N100 treatment. Oil content also improved with successive increments of N rate. It may be concluded that, for higher productivity, canola can be grown under deep tillage with sufficient irrigation (I2) and N fertilization (N100)

Roles of Process Parameters on the Ricinoleic Acid Production from Castor Oil by <i>Aspergillus flavus</i> BU22S

Ricinoleic acid is a biobased green chemical industrially produced from castor oil. Microbial conversion is a cleaner and greener approach to ricinoleic acid production from castor oil. These processes should be further optimized for a better yield of the product. Aspergillus flavus BU22S was used to convert castor oil into ricinoleic acid. The strain was isolated and identified by molecular biological techniques. It was found to be effective in the biotransformation of castor oil. The ricinoleic acid production and dry cell weight of the fungus were studied as functions of time. In this study, to increase the yield of ricinoleic acid and decrease the oil loss, which microorganisms utilizes in biomass production, response surface methodology (RSM) has been used for process optimization. The central composite design was used to optimize the predictor variables such as oil concentration (% w/v), glucose concentration (% w/v), and calcium chloride concentration (% w/v) to increase the overall yield of ricinoleic acid. A quadratic model was found to be the best fit to predict the responses of the experimental results. The model suggested that the concentrations of oil, glucose, and calcium chloride should be lower in order to increase the ricinoleic acid yield and minimize the oil loss. The bench scale studies of optimized conditions from RSM were also conducted. The yield of ricinoleic acid in batch and fed-batch culture studies was also compared. The yield of the ricinoleic acid in batch culture was 21.67 g/kg of total oil. The yield of ricinoleic acid in fed-batch culture in the absence of an external air supply was 46.77 g/kg of total oil. In this case, the oil loss was also reduced to only 12%

Impact of COVID-19-related lockdown on retinal disorders treated with intravitreal injections

PURPOSE: To study functional changes in vision and morphological changes on optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans in patients where intravitreal therapy (IVT) with injections has been delayed due to COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. METHODS: Retrospective cross-sectional study included 77 eyes with the diagnosis of exudative age-related macular degeneration (eAMD), diabetic macular edema (DME), and retinal vein occlusion (RVO), regularly receiving IVT with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (Anti-VEGF) injections or dexamethasone implant and were not able to receive the injections as intended due to lockdown. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central foveal thickness (CFT), and qualitative morphological features on OCT were analyzed pre- and post-therapy break off. RESULTS: The mean duration of IVT break-off was 57 days. Mean BCVA logarithm of minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) worsened from 0.33 (20/42) to 0.35 (40/44) (P = 0.02) and mean CFT increased from 297.90 μm to 402.16 μm (P < 0.01), from pretherapy break-off to return visit. Worsening of the visual acuity was seen across all the three disease cohorts, significantly more in the eyes with eAMD. CONCLUSION: Marginal decline in the visual acuity and worsening of the OCT features were observed as a result of delay in the IVT injections of DME, eAMD and RVO patients

Rapid regression of idiopathic multifocal choroiditis with intravitreal methotrexate-wide-field optical coherence tomography angiography-based study

Wide-field optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) results in a patient of idiopathic multifocal choroiditis successfully treated with intravitreal methotrexate injections

Triclosan: Current Status, Occurrence, Environmental Risks and Bioaccumulation Potential

Triclosan (TCS) is a multi-purpose antimicrobial agent used as a common ingredient in everyday household personal care and consumer products. The expanded use of TCS provides a number of pathways for the compound to enter the environment and it has been detected in sewage treatment plant effluents; surface; ground and drinking water. The physico-chemical properties indicate the bioaccumulation and persistence potential of TCS in the environment. Hence, there is an increasing concern about the presence of TCS in the environment and its potential negative effects on human and animal health. Nevertheless, scarce monitoring data could be one reason for not prioritizing TCS as emerging contaminant. Conventional water and wastewater treatment processes are unable to completely remove the TCS and even form toxic intermediates. Considering the worldwide application of personal care products containing TCS and inefficient removal and its toxic effects on aquatic organisms, the compound should be considered on the priority list of emerging contaminants and its utilization in all products should be regulated