Disease status and combined effect of biological control and organic amendments in managing stem rot disease of carnation caused by Rhizoctonia solani

The present study was carried out to know the effect of different soil amendments and biological control on disease incidence, different plant growth and flower parameters. Incidence of stem rot was found serious in almost all the locations surveyed, maximum incidence being recorded at Berthin (33.7%) in district Bilaspur followed by Rajgarh (32.0%), Solan (27.3%) and Matnali (27.1%) in district Sirmour in contrast to lowest incidence (11.2%) of stem rot in Shimla. Integration of Melia azedarach seed (powder) along with Trichoderma viride as well as Neem cake with T. viride and T. harzianum gave maximum reduction (75.67%) in disease incidence of stem rot with minimum disease incidence (6%), in comparison to 24.67 per cent in control followed by Bacillus subtilis + Melia azedarach (8%). These treatment also improved the plant growth and flower quality parameters by giving the average plant height to 82.32 cm, 81.05 cm, stem length (76.64 cm, 75.91 cm), number of flowers per plant (3.79, 3.68), flower size (7.20 cm, 7.17 cm) and took less number of days to first flowering. Disease management practice alone is not sufficient until integrated with other components, as disease is a complex phenomenon governed by many factors. The integration of effective management practices such as plant oils, botanicals and antagonists would be important for the successful management of plant diseases, thus showing its practical applicability in field in mitigating the losses caused by disease in carnation

Renal Cell Carcinoma Presenting as Metastasis to Scrotum and Spermatic Cord

Unusual site metastasis as presenting complaint of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has been reported previously in literature. RCC is a notorious tumor with unpredictable behavior. We present a case of RCC who presented with scrotal mass and on subsequent investigation was found to have metastasis to scrotum and spermatic cord. Both testes were normal with no evidence of metastasis

Quantification of surface runoff in Patiala-Ki-Rao watersheds using modified NRCS model: a case study

Quantification of the surface runoff in a watershed is of vital importance for solution of many water resource problems. It can be quantified by employing large number of estimation approaches. Of these, SCS-CN approach is quite simple effective and requires less number of parameters. Thus, the objective of the study was to employ soil conservation service-curve number (SCS-CN) approach and their modifications to estimate surface runoff for Patiala-Ki-Rao watershed, district SAS, Nagar, Punjab and to choose the best model of the 8-different employed models. Soil moisture retention parameter was characterised and optimised by using the descriptive statistics and later used in the models. The mean and median valueof soil moisture retention parameter was 47.2 mm and 35.9 mm for June to September months and 35.4 to 30.8 mm for October to March months. The models were evaluated on the basis of Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Nash- Scutcliffe Efficiency (NSE), Coefficient of Determination (R2) and Per cent Bias (PB). Of the evaluated and tested models, NRCS model (M5) performed best with the highest score of 32 and 31 by employing mean andmedian values of soil moisture retention parameter in Patiala-Ki-Rao watersheds over the other models. Further, the results of the study suggested in evaluating the performance of NRCS model (M5) in other treated micro-watersheds at Patiala-Ki-Rao, Punjab, over the control

Genetic architecture of biparental progenies for yi eld in Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)

The type of gene action for yield and its components was determined using biparental progenies devel-oped from the F2 generation of an intervarietal cross Swarna Pratibha × Hisar Shyamal (SP × H-8) of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) using North Carolina Design - 1. The experiment was conducted during the Kharif (April- November) 2012 and 2013. The biparental and F3 progenies differed. Biparental progenies were superior in mean performance than were F3’s generated by selfing. Dominance variances were greater than additive variance for most characters. For fruit diameter, plant height, branches per plant and total soluble solid, the additive component of genetic variance was of higher magnitude. The average degree of dominance was in over-dominance range for most traits. Plant height, branches per plant, fruit diameter and total soluble solids was in the partial dominance range. Heritability estimates were generally low to medium. Fruit weight exhibited moderate to high heritability. The pre-ponderance of additive and non-additive genetic components of variance for most traits indicated role for addi-tive and non-additive gene action for inheritance of marketable fruit yield and its component traits. These could be utilized through reciprocal recurrent selection and heterosis breeding for the development of high yielding and quality cultivars in eggplant

Evaluation of effectiveness of intermittent inhalational entonox in comparison with opioid tramadol for labour analgesia

Background: Childbirth is an emotion-filled event and the mother needs to bond with her newborn baby as early as possible. Any intervention that leads to improvement in pain relief is worthy of investigation. Entonox, opioids as well as epidural analgesia are effective means for pain relief in labour, notwithstanding their shortcomings. The objectives of study are to compare the effectiveness of intermittent inhalational Entonox for labour analgesia with intramuscular opioid (Tramadol) and to compare the effects of Entonox and Tramadol as labour analgesia on the maternal and fetal outcome of labour.Methods: The study was a prospective randomized, comparative study of two established techniques of labour analgesia. The study was carried out in 100 subjects. These subjects are divided into two groups. Group A - Tramadol Group: 50 women in active labour who received 100 mg tramadol intramuscularly with repeat dose of 50mg tramadol 4 hourly. Group B - Entonox Group: 50 women in active labour who received entonox for labour analgesia.Results: The mean VAS (visual analogue score) i.e. the pain score in group I (Tramadol) was 4.58±1.54 and Group II (Entonox) was 4.02±1.99 which is significantly low when compared to Group I (Tramadol) p<0.001. Study also showed that both the analgesics Entonox as well as Tramadol does not cause any significant change when compared for duration of labor. The rate of instrumental assisted vaginal deliveries and normal vaginal deliveries were almost equal in both the groups. In our study, the mean overall satisfaction level of the parturients in group II (Entonox) at 1 hr post delivery was (5.06±1.42) and 24 hr post delivery was (6.64±1.66) which was more when compared with tramadol group. The difference was statistically significant (p value was <0.001). This indicates that overall satisfaction level of the parturients is more with the use of Entonox when compared with Tramadol.Conclusions: Therefore, it is concluded that intermittent inhalational Entonox provides better labour analgesia then intramuscular opioid Tramadol

Aphidicidal potential of Azadirachta indica, Adhatoda vasica, Vitex negundo, Parthenium hysterophorus and Lantana camara against mustard aphid, Lipaphis erysimi Kaltenbach (Hemiptera:Aphididae)

Use of eco-friendly naturally occurring plant products in the management of the mustard aphid, Lipaphis erysimi Kaltenbach (Hemiptera:Aphididae) under laboratory conditions was carried out. The results revealed that the nymphs and adults mortality of mustard aphid varied significantly with three different concentrations (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0%) of five plant products. The mortality was high with seed kernel extracts of neem, Azadirachta indica killed nymphs and adults of L. erysimi (70.82 %) followed by leaves extracts of lagundi, Vitex negundo Linn. (69.40 %), leaves extract of Parthenium hysterophorus Linn. (65.38 %), leaves extract of arusa, Adhatoda vasica Nees. (55.81%), aerial parts of aripple, Lantana camara Linn. (51.70%) and untreated control (1.5 %), respectively. The seed kernel extracts of A. indica differed significantly from the remaining ones except V. negundo from which it does not differ significantly to one another. The effects of carrot grass, P. hysterophorus was recorded moderate aphidicidal action while L. camara caused the lowest mortality of nymphs and adults of L. erysimi among all treated natural products. Of the five plant products tested A. indica performed better under all the experimental conditions where as untreated control gave only 01.5% aphid mortality. The concentrations 2.0% are superior to concentration 1.0% and 0.5% concentrations. Similarly maximum aphid mortality was observed after 24 hours of exposure and minimum after 6hours. The exposure periods of 24 hours was significantly superior to 12 hours and 6 hours in both control and plant products

Effect of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and IBA treatments on rooting in cuttings of apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) clonal rootstock Merton 793

The preliminary studies on the effect of different strains of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) alone and in combination with IBA at 1000 ppm on rooting in cuttings of apple clonal rootstock Merton 793 were carried out during 2012-13. The PGPR strains (RG (1)3 – Bacillus sp.), B6 – Bacillus licheniformis and R3 (3) – Sirretia sp. alone failed to induce rooting response in cuttings of apple clonal rootstock Merton 793. The results revealed that IBA 2500 ppm recorded the maximum rooting (65 %), number of primary roots (5.00), length (28.43 cm) and diameter (3.25 mm) of primary roots, fresh (3.67 g) and dry weight (2.59 g) of roots, length of main shoot (134.14cm), diameter of main shoot (8.18 mm), fresh (30.40 g) and dry weight (22.60 g) of shoots in cuttings of Merton 793. However, the PGPR strains RG (1)3 – Bacillus sp., B6 – Bacillus licheniformis and R3 (3) – Sirretia sp. in combination with IBA 1000 ppm showed improvement in rooting of cuttings to the extent of 10, 15 and 5 per cent rooting, respectively and growth of the rooted plants. IBA at 2500 ppm resulted better rooting and growth of rooted plants. Hence, this treatment is suggested for commercial propagation of apple clonal rootstock Merton 793 through cuttings

Effect of plant growth regulators on growth, yield and fruit quality of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) under protected conditions

A field trial was conducted during 2015 and 2016, to study the effect ofgrowth regulators on growth, flowering, yield and fruit quality of strawberry cv. Chandler. The experiment was laid out in completely randomized design with 16 treatments viz.CPPU at 1, 2 and 4 ppm, GA3 at 25, 50 and 75 ppm, Promalin at 2, 4 and 6 ppm, GA4+7 at 5, 10 and15 ppm, NAA at 10, 20 and 30 ppm and control (water spray) and each treatment was replicated thrice. The results revealed that the plants sprayed with 15 ppm GA4+7 two weeks before flowering significantly reported highest plant height (33.43 cm), leaf area (239.70 cm2), number of flowers (31.94), fruit set (87.45 %), number of fruits per plant (29.02), yield (540.01 g/plant), fruit length (53.63 mm) and fruit diameter (37.19 mm) and fruit weight (23.70 g) as compared to control. This treatment resulted in 196.36 % increase in yield and 56.22 %in fruit weight over control. Plants sprayed with 6 ppm promalin also showed significant improvement in vegetative growth, fruit size, yield and fruit quality, which resulted in 137.92 % increase in yield and 51.81 % increase in fruit weight over control. Hence, it is concluded that foliar spray of 15 ppm GA4+7 applied 2 weeks before flowering is beneficial in improving growth, yield and fruit quality of strawberry plants

Biological control potential of North West Himalayan strains of heterorhabditid nematodes against the turnip moth, Agrotis segetum (Denis & Schiffermuller) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Himachal Pradesh is a northern state of India and is situated to the southern of the mighty Himalaya. The agro-climatic conditions are conducive for the production of off-season vegetables. Biological control by entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) is one of the alternatives to manage the turnip moth, Agrotis segetum (Denis & Schiffermuller) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). The present study was, therefore, undertaken with the objective to assess the virulence of local EPN isolates from Himachal Pradesh, Heterorhabditis sp., against pests to minimize the use of insecticides during crop protection. Against L3–L5 of A. segetum, Heterorhabditis indica was found highly effective, resulting in 33.33–93.33% mortality at 40 infective juveniles (IJs)/larva after 96 h of treatment. Among local isolates, Heterorhabditis sp. (HSG) influenced maximum mortality of L3 and L4, whereas in L5, H. bacteriophora (HRJ) influenced maximum mortality. The sensitivity of L3 to different EPNs was (7.0–16.6%) higher than that of L4. In soil bioassay carried out against L4 of A. segetum, H. bacteriophora (HRJ) was found highly effective, followed by Heterorhabditis sp. (HKM) and Heterorhabditis sp. (HSG) at 10,000 IJs/kg of soil. The mortality varied from 78.33 to 81.67% with local isolates after 7 days of treatment. The results suggested that EPNs can be used as one of the components for managing A. segetum under field and greenhouse conditions to reduce over dependence on insecticides