Correlation of Organic Carbon Content of Soil on Paddy Productivity: A Case Study

Soil fertility is one of the important factors controlling yield of the crops. Macronutrients (N, P, K and S) are important soil elements which control its fertility. Soil characterization in relation to evaluation of fertility status of the soils of an area or region is an important aspect in context of sustainable agriculture production. A high SOM (Soil Organic Matter) content provides nutrients to plants and improves water availability, both of which enhances soil fertility and ultimately improve food productivity. Since 2017 ARF with support of NABARD has been conducting trials on 300 acres of agriculture land of villages of district Sonipat, Haryana using hydroponically grown Paddy nursery. A study was carried out on randomly selected 50 acres of land to see the effect of SOC (Soil Organic Carbon) and N (Nitrogen) content on the yield in hydroponically grown paddy. View Article DOI: 10.47856/ijaast.2022.v09i03.00

Shifting the limits in wheat research and breeding using a fully annotated reference genome

Introduction: Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the most widely cultivated crop on Earth, contributing about a fifth of the total calories consumed by humans. Consequently, wheat yields and production affect the global economy, and failed harvests can lead to social unrest. Breeders continuously strive to develop improved varieties by fine-tuning genetically complex yield and end-use quality parameters while maintaining stable yields and adapting the crop to regionally specific biotic and abiotic stresses. Rationale: Breeding efforts are limited by insufficient knowledge and understanding of wheat biology and the molecular basis of central agronomic traits. To meet the demands of human population growth, there is an urgent need for wheat research and breeding to accelerate genetic gain as well as to increase and protect wheat yield and quality traits. In other plant and animal species, access to a fully annotated and ordered genome sequence, including regulatory sequences and genome-diversity information, has promoted the development of systematic and more time-efficient approaches for the selection and understanding of important traits. Wheat has lagged behind, primarily owing to the challenges of assembling a genome that is more than five times as large as the human genome, polyploid, and complex, containing more than 85% repetitive DNA. To provide a foundation for improvement through molecular breeding, in 2005, the International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium set out to deliver a high-quality annotated reference genome sequence of bread wheat. Results: An annotated reference sequence representing the hexaploid bread wheat genome in the form of 21 chromosome-like sequence assemblies has now been delivered, giving access to 107,891 high-confidence genes, including their genomic context of regulatory sequences. This assembly enabled the discovery of tissue- and developmental stage–related gene coexpression networks using a transcriptome atlas representing all stages of wheat development. The dynamics of change in complex gene families involved in environmental adaptation and end-use quality were revealed at subgenome resolution and contextualized to known agronomic single-gene or quantitative trait loci. Aspects of the future value of the annotated assembly for molecular breeding and research were exemplarily illustrated by resolving the genetic basis of a quantitative trait locus conferring resistance to abiotic stress and insect damage as well as by serving as the basis for genome editing of the flowering-time trait. Conclusion: This annotated reference sequence of wheat is a resource that can now drive disruptive innovation in wheat improvement, as this community resource establishes the foundation for accelerating wheat research and application through improved understanding of wheat biology and genomics-assisted breeding. Importantly, the bioinformatics capacity developed for model-organism genomes will facilitate a better understanding of the wheat genome as a result of the high-quality chromosome-based genome assembly. By necessity, breeders work with the genome at the whole chromosome level, as each new cross involves the modification of genome-wide gene networks that control the expression of complex traits such as yield. With the annotated and ordered reference genome sequence in place, researchers and breeders can now easily access sequence-level information to precisely define the necessary changes in the genomes for breeding programs. This will be realized through the implementation of new DNA marker platforms and targeted breeding technologies, including genome editing

Role of impression surface cytology in ocular surface disorders

Ocular surface impression cytology is useful, least invasive tool in the diagnosis of various ocular surface disorders like dry eye, xerophthalmia, ocular surface neoplasia etc. Its role in diagnosis of ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) is well established. This technique has also been shown to have good correlation with histopathological diagnosis. Conjunctival impression cytology involves the removal of superficial epithelial cells of the conjunctiva and their study to make out changes in the conjunctival epithelial cells. These changes can be studied with light microscopy, electron microscopy or using the immunological markers. This article is a retrospective review of English literature articles published on ocular surface impression cytology and its application in various disorders. To achieve this purpose, a detailed online Med line search was done for related publications. The relevant articles were studied and required information was obtained

Short-term pregnancy outcomes in patients chikungunya infection: An observational study

Background: Maternal to fetal transmission of chikungunya infection is reported in various studies. However, there is no study from India that looked at the pregnancy outcomes in patients infected with chikungunya. Thus, we planned an observational study that looked at the short-term outcomes of chikungunya infection on pregnancy outcomes. Materials and Methods: It was an observational study conducted at a private clinic in New Delhi from August 2016 to October 2016. We recruited 150 consecutive pregnant females from the outpatient that were suspected chikungunya infection and subsequently tested positive for the same. Those patients who fulfill the inclusion and exclusion criteria would be followed till 10 days including the time till fever subsided. Pregnancy outcomes would be noted in these subjects based on history, examination, and investigations. Results: Out of 150 patients, 141 (94%) recovered completely within 10 days of onset of symptoms. Only nine patients had persistent arthralgias. In our study, mean age (years) ± std was 24.52 ± 3.765, mean period of gestation (months) ± std was 25.62 ± 13.475, and mean period of gestation at delivery (months) ± std was 36.36 ± 3.225. Most of our patients, 75 (50%) were in 2nd trimester, 24 (16%) were in first trimester, and 51 (34%) in third trimester. Pregnancy complications were seen in 30 (20%) patients. Preterm delivery (<36 weeks) were seen in 11 (7.33%), premature rupture of membranes were seen in 5 (3.33%), decreased fetal movements in 4 (2.67%), intrauterine deaths in 4 (2.67%), oligohydromnios in 3 (2%), and preterm labor pains 3 (2%). There were six patients who underwent delivery at term. In our study cohort, 30 (20%) developed adverse pregnancy outcomes which were maximum during third trimester –24/30 (80%). Conclusion: Chikungunya infection in pregnancy is associated with increased pregnancy morbidity and fetal mortality

Cyclosporine in Dry Eye: A Review

Dry eye syndrome (DES) is a multifactorial diseases with varying prevalence affecting great chunk of population worldwide. Various environmental, nutritional, hormonal and external factors altering the functional integrity of the ocular surface components have been implicated. The imbalance results in changes in epithelium causing desiccation and setting up an inflammatory cascade which causes dysregulation of the ocular surface regeneration system. With increasing knowledge of the etiology and mechanisms involved in the development of dry eye, role of cyclosporine A has been well established with numerous clinical studies. This has led to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the drug for the treatment of dry eye. This article reviews the pathology of development of dry eye, pharmacology of cyclosporine, use of cyclosporine A in dry eye established via various animal and clinical studies

Ingenol mebutate: A novel topical drug for actinic keratosis

The global incidence of non-melanoma skin cancer is rising. Significant morbidity leading to unacceptable cosmetic outcomes and/or functional impairment is a major concern. Search for non-surgical, non-invasive and tissue-sparing treatment modalities has led to development of new therapeutic agents. Actinic keratoses (AK) are one part of a continuous spectrum of benign sun damage to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Although it is not possible to predict which AK might progress to SCC, the presence of AK is a biomarker of risk for patients and must be treated to avoid possible morbidity and mortality. Ingenol mebutate is a novel topical drug from the latex sap of a plant-Euphorbia peplus that acts by chemoablative and immunostimulatory properties. Clinical studies have proven it to be safe and efficacious, leading to FDA approval of this chemotherapeutic agent for field therapy of AK in 2012. Current topical agents for field therapy of AK must be applied for weeks, whereas ingenol needs to be applied for three days. Ingenol offers a new therapeutic option that is convenient, safe, effective, acceptable and well-tolerated

Recurrent first-trimester abortion in a young female: Rare presentation of Takayasu arteritis

Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a chronic, progressive, autoimmune, idiopathic, and large-vessel vasculitis that usually affects young adults, especially females. TA primarily affects the aorta and its major branches, the coronary arteries, and the pulmonary arteries. Recurrent pregnancy loss is usually defined as three or more consecutive losses occurring at <20 weeks′ gestation of a clinically recognized pregnancy. Common causes of recurrent fetal loss include anatomic, chromosomal, hormonal, infectious, or antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. However, to the best of our knowledge, TA causing recurrent fetal loss has not been described in the literature. We present such a rare case of a patient who presented with hemoptysis as her presenting complaint and also had a recurrent first-trimester abortion