Nanotechnology a Potential Tool to Mitigate Abiotic Stress in Crop Plants

The response of plants to abiotic stress is complex and involves changes in their morphology, physiology and metabolism. A number of strategies are being followed to enhance the tolerance of abiotic stress conditions, including the development of genetically-engineered varieties containing various gene constructs believed to enhance the performance under stress conditions. Nanotechnology is a versatile field and has found application in almost all the existing fields of science. The application of nanoparticles increased germination and seedling growth, physiological activities including photosynthesis and nitrogen metabolism, leaf activities of CAT, POX and APX, chlorophyll contents, protein, carbohydrate contents and yield, and also positive changes in gene expression indicating their potential use in crop improvement. Nanoparticles enhances the water stress tolerance via enhancing root hydraulic conductance and water uptake in plants and showing differential abundance of proteins involved in oxidation-reduction, ROS detoxification, stress signaling, and hormonal pathways. The mobility of the nanoparticles is very high, which leads to rapid transport of the nutrient to all parts of the plant. In particular, the most actual is to find ways to increase the adaptation potential of cultivated plants with the use of nanopreparations in stressful conditions

A CLASSICAL AYURVEDA REVIEW ON HARIDRA

Curcuma longa Linn. is one of the important medicinal plants of the family Zingiberaceae. Being one among the constituent of Chandraprabha vati, Mahatikta ghrita, Haridra khand, Dashamulaarista etc, Haridra is very widely used in Ayurveda for the treatment of various disorders through its Rasapanchak. The name Haridra signifies its colour. In the Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Haridra is being used in various formulations. It is used as major ingredient in many formulations. It is highly valued from time immemorial because of its vast medicinal properties, traditional usage and cosmetic value. It is extensively used as Anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antidiabetic, anthelminthic, hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic, antihistaminic, antifungal agent. Information from Ayurvedic texts shows its wide use in the diseases like Prameha, Krimi, Aruchi, Apachi, Pandu, Visa etc. The present article provides all necessary information regarding its classical references to have an overall view of Haridra in Ayurveda

Utilization of Agro Waste for Beneficial Product Formulation

In the past few years, we have been very familiar with the waste hierarchy concept of the 3 R’s, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. This review article aims to suggest a possible way to reuse the agro-waste sector. It will focus on the zero waste food industry. While consuming our day-to-day food unknowingly we throw away some of the important portions of fruits and vegetables which can help us fight diseases and stay healthy. Therefore, we need proper management to utilize these beneficial components present in those fruit scrapes. An abundant amount of food waste is been produced during the processing of food from the different food industries. In addition to this, agro wastes like peels, seeds, etc. are also generated from fruit and vegetable agriculture. This paper mainly focuses on the agro-waste of the food industry, which can be consumed when the bioactive compound is extracted and is available as a functional food. The bioactive compounds have the potential to control blood pressure, diabetes, inflammation, etc. Thus, by incorporating these bioactive compounds we can enhance the quality of food. Recently functional food is consumed by a large population for its beneficial effect on our body

Decentralisation and Political Business Cycle: Fund Utilization of the MP-LADS in India

The Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MP-LADS) came in effect in 1993, closely followed by the 73rd Amendment to the Constitution, along with the wave of democratic decentralisation process in India. The MP-LADS allows for a fixed amount, non-lapsable Rs. 2 crores per year for each Member of the Parliament (MP), at the discretion of the MPs to carry out developmental works of capital nature in their respective constituencies. In last 14 years, more than 8 times of the annual expenditure on higher education by the central government has been spent on the MP-LADS. This paper examines whether there is any political business cycle in spending funds under the MP-LADS, its extent, and determinants. We find that there are political business cycles in spending by the MPs, and its extent varies across Lok Sabha constituencies. The extent of political business cycle is lower in case of leftist MPs compared to that in case of centrist and rightist MPs. Higher degree of competition faced in the last election by an MP induces him/her to misuse the scheme more severely, and younger MPs seems to be less inclined to generate political business cycle in spending. We also find that higher level of awareness of general citizens and better law and order conditions in states restricts MPs from misusing funds to gain political mileage

Decentralisation and Political Business Cycle: Fund Utilization of the MP-LADS in India

The Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MP-LADS) came in effect in 1993, closely followed by the 73rd Amendment to the Constitution, along with the wave of democratic decentralisation process in India. The MP-LADS allows for a fixed amount, non-lapsable Rs. 2 crores per year for each Member of the Parliament (MP), at the discretion of the MPs to carry out developmental works of capital nature in their respective constituencies. In last 14 years, more than 8 times of the annual expenditure on higher education by the central government has been spent on the MP-LADS. This paper examines whether there is any political business cycle in spending funds under the MP-LADS, its extent, and determinants. We find that there are political business cycles in spending by the MPs, and its extent varies across Lok Sabha constituencies. The extent of political business cycle is lower in case of leftist MPs compared to that in case of centrist and rightist MPs. Higher degree of competition faced in the last election by an MP induces him/her to misuse the scheme more severely, and younger MPs seems to be less inclined to generate political business cycle in spending. We also find that higher level of awareness of general citizens and better law and order conditions in states restricts MPs from misusing funds to gain political mileage

Floral biology and phenological studies of Datura metel L. in Tripura, Northeast India, with special reference to floral morphotypes

Datura metel L. is an important medicinal plants of Tripura. There are four floral morpho-types found throughout India. The floral biology of four morpho-types of D. metel L. collected from different places of Tripura state have been investigated based on their morphological and palynological study. Initiation of the floral bud, anthesis, pollen viability, pollen germination, and pollen production are the topics covered in the present study. The present study includes photographic representations and UPGMA dendrogram for quick identification, as well as a detailed explanation of four morpho-types of the species. 

Domestic Violence and its Determinants: A cross-sectional study among women in a slum of Kolkata

Background: Violence against women is one of the major public health and human rights issue in the world today which is prevalent in all human societies irrespective of religion, socioeconomic status, and culture. Therefore, recognized as a significant barrier to women empowerment and their health. Aims & Objectives: The aim of this study was to find out the extent of different type of domestic violence and to identify various risk factors for domestic violence against married women. Material & Methods: The present study is a community based cross-sectional study carried out in a slum of Kolkata. Simple random sampling technique was used for the selection of the samples. The study participants were interviewed using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire. Result: 97 married women participated in the study. 32.9% of the study population reported some form of domestic violence. In a logistic regression analysis, significant association was found between domestic violence and alcohol abuse by the spouse, level of education of the spouse, per capita income and occupation of the women. Conclusion: This study confirms, high prevalence of all forms of violence against women, which underscores the need for policy makers to increase their recognition of domestic violence as a critical target in public health concern

Arbuscular mycorrhiza and dark septate endophyte fungal associations of Oryza sativa L. under field condition: colonization features and their occurrence

The present study was aimed to study monthly colonization of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and dark septate endophyte (DSE) fungal associations in rice. The presence of mycorrhizal structures in the roots confirms the colonization by AM fungi. The pattern of hyphae and arbuscules denotes Arum type of AM fungal morphology. The presence of dark coloured septate hyphae running frequently on the epidermal layer and in root cortex and the occurrence of microsclerotia marks the colonization by DSE fungi. The co-occurrence of both AM and DSE fungi ensure dual colonization by two distinct fungal groups. There was significant increase in arbuscules, vesicles and hyphal percentages from first to third month in both the samples collected from two sites. In the third month, AM colonization significantly higher in both the sites. DSE colonization percentages do not differ significantly in first to third month. A total of nine AM fungal species were recovered from two sites. This study is an effort to make aware the local farmers about the usefulness of these native AM mycobiota which can be a preferable choice over chemical fertilizers leading to ecofriendly organic farming

AN ETHNOBOTANICAL SURVEY OF PLANTS USED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE HMAR TRIBE OF DIMA HASAO DISTRICT, ASSAM, NORTH EAST INDIA

The present ethnobotanical study was undertaken to assess the uses of the local plants of Dima Hasao district, diversity, and conservation concerns of medicinal plants used in the traditional herbal care system of Hmar tribes in Dima Hasao district of Assam in northeastern India. Since ancient times, Hmar tribes have used local plants as medicines to treat many human diseases. Such information has a lot of potential for developing new medications and managing future healthcare