Resource management for apple scab and sanjose scale control of apple in Kashmir Valley of J&K State

The study on resource management for apple scab and sanjose scale of apple in Kashmir Valley of J&K State was conducted purposively in Sopore and Patten tehsils of Baramulla district covering 4 villages with a sample size of 200 apple growers selected through random sampling method. The study revealed that all the apple growers (100%) from rainfed and irrigated areas were applying the resource management practices such as checking the expiry of chemical before purchase, undertake precautions while using chemicals and sprayers, purchaseeconomical and convenient packing’s of plant protection chemicals, check the working condition of the sprayers on regular basis, undertaking care and maintenance of sprayers regularly and were able to repair the minor defects of sprayers by self followed by (66%) apple growers who had decided to planed plant protection schedule in advance. The data further showed that hired labour for disease and pest management of apple were available easily and locally, and as per requirement (100%). As regards prevailing wage rates (88%) farmers from rainfed and (91%) from irrigated area reported that these were reasonable. Plant protection chemicals needed for control of disease and pest of apple were found adopted by cent per cent farmers. The plant protection chemicals were also available in suitable packings (97%) and before the expiry date (96%). The critical evaluation of the plant protection chemicals and equipments before their use with regard to their quality being taken care by all the apple growers would help in eradication of the disease from the region

Global, regional, and national burden of disorders affecting the nervous system, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Background: Disorders affecting the nervous system are diverse and include neurodevelopmental disorders, late-life neurodegeneration, and newly emergent conditions, such as cognitive impairment following COVID-19. Previous publications from the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factor Study estimated the burden of 15 neurological conditions in 2015 and 2016, but these analyses did not include neurodevelopmental disorders, as defined by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-11, or a subset of cases of congenital, neonatal, and infectious conditions that cause neurological damage. Here, we estimate nervous system health loss caused by 37 unique conditions and their associated risk factors globally, regionally, and nationally from 1990 to 2021. Methods: We estimated mortality, prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), years of life lost (YLLs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), with corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs), by age and sex in 204 countries and territories, from 1990 to 2021. We included morbidity and deaths due to neurological conditions, for which health loss is directly due to damage to the CNS or peripheral nervous system. We also isolated neurological health loss from conditions for which nervous system morbidity is a consequence, but not the primary feature, including a subset of congenital conditions (ie, chromosomal anomalies and congenital birth defects), neonatal conditions (ie, jaundice, preterm birth, and sepsis), infectious diseases (ie, COVID-19, cystic echinococcosis, malaria, syphilis, and Zika virus disease), and diabetic neuropathy. By conducting a sequela-level analysis of the health outcomes for these conditions, only cases where nervous system damage occurred were included, and YLDs were recalculated to isolate the non-fatal burden directly attributable to nervous system health loss. A comorbidity correction was used to calculate total prevalence of all conditions that affect the nervous system combined. Findings: Globally, the 37 conditions affecting the nervous system were collectively ranked as the leading group cause of DALYs in 2021 (443 million, 95% UI 378–521), affecting 3·40 billion (3·20–3·62) individuals (43·1%, 40·5–45·9 of the global population); global DALY counts attributed to these conditions increased by 18·2% (8·7–26·7) between 1990 and 2021. Age-standardised rates of deaths per 100 000 people attributed to these conditions decreased from 1990 to 2021 by 33·6% (27·6–38·8), and age-standardised rates of DALYs attributed to these conditions decreased by 27·0% (21·5–32·4). Age-standardised prevalence was almost stable, with a change of 1·5% (0·7–2·4). The ten conditions with the highest age-standardised DALYs in 2021 were stroke, neonatal encephalopathy, migraine, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, diabetic neuropathy, meningitis, epilepsy, neurological complications due to preterm birth, autism spectrum disorder, and nervous system cancer. Interpretation: As the leading cause of overall disease burden in the world, with increasing global DALY counts, effective prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation strategies for disorders affecting the nervous system are needed. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

A Comprehensive Physical, Chemical and Morphological Characterization of Novel Cellulosic Fiber Extracted from the Stem of Elettaria Cardamomum Plant

To overcome the environmental regulations adopted across the globe in polymer composites, a natural fiber extracted from the waste stem of Elettaria cardamomum plant (ECF) was investigated for its suitability in polymer composites. Fundamental properties such as chemical, physical, thermal and surface morphology of ECF were evaluated using chemical composition analysis, optical microscope test, X-ray diffraction, Thermo-gravimetric and scanning electron microscope analysis. The chemical analysis outcomes revealed that ECF has a comparatively higher amount of cellulose (63.12 wt. %), lignin (16.5 wt. %) and lower hemicelluloses (13.7 wt. %), wax (1.5 wt. %) which is expected property of a reinforcement. Thermal analysis results demonstrated that ECF has thermal stability (up to 230°C). Surface morphological analysis showed that non-cellulosic materials and impurities existed on the surface of the ECF. So, mild surface treatment was recommended. Higher tensile strength (294 ± 1.62 MPa) and lower density (1470 Kg/m3) of ECF defined this as an appropriate fiber for reinforced composites

COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE OF VARIOUS SUNFLOWER HYBRIDS FOR YIELD AND ITS RELATED ATTRIBUTES

An experiment to evaluate comparative performance of various sunflower hybrids for yield and its related attributes was conducted at the Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan, during autumn 2008. Twelve sunflower hybrids, i.e. G-101 (H1), DK-4040 (H2), SF-187 (H3), S-278 (H4), Hysun-33 (H5), FH-37 (H6), Ausigold-61 (H7), Ausigold-62 (H8), FSS-50 (H9), NX- 00989 (H10), NX-00997 (H11) and XIYU-12 (H12) were included in the trail. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD), having three replicates with plot size of 5m x 3m. Statistical analysis of the data showed significant differences for all the parameters. It was observed that Hysun-33 showed greater plant height (148.47 cm) and achene per head (682.70) than all other hybrids, however in case of yield (3891.0 kg ha-1) and other related traits such as number of plants m-2, leaf area index, head diameter and 1000-achene weight SF-187 displayed better performance by recording values (6.87), (4.33), (18.62) and (49.11g), respectively, following Hysun-33 for most of the traits. From the results of experiment it can be concluded that the hybrids SF-187 and Hysun-33 showed high productivity and are best adapted to the climatic conditions of Faisalabad

Effective citric acid and EDTA treatments in cadmium stress tolerance in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) seedlings by regulating specific gene expression

Soil contamination with toxic environmental pollutants [such as cadmium (Cd)] is becoming a serious global problem due to rapid development of social economy. To improve the growth and yield of a plant, various chelating agents, such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and citric acid (CA), can be applied to the soil; such application not only increases plant uptake of metals from the soil but also promotes plant absorption of micronutrient fertilizers from the medium. For this purpose, we have conducted a pot experiment using the exogenous application of CA (2.5 mM) and EDTA (2.5 mM) in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) seedlings grown under the varying levels of Cd (0, 50 and 100 µM) in the soil. M]. Our results depicted that Cd addition to the soil significantly (P \u3c 0.05) decreased plant growth and biomass, gas exchange attributes, and mineral uptake by C. annuum when compared to the plants grown without the addition of Cd. However, Cd toxicity boosted the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by increasing the content of malondialdehyde (MDA), which is the indication of oxidative stress in C. annuum, and was also manifested by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content and electrolyte leakage to the membrane-bound organelles. The results showed that the activities of various antioxidative enzymes, such as superoxidase dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and their specific gene expression and also the content of non-enzymatic antioxidants, such as phenolic, flavonoid, ascorbic acid, and anthocyanin, initially increased with an increase in the Cd concentration in the soil. The results also revealed that the levels of soluble sugar, reducing sugar, and non-reducing sugar were decreased in plants grown under elevating Cd levels, but the accumulation of the metal in the roots and shoots of C. annuum, was found to be increased. The negative impacts of Cd injury were reduced by the application of EDTA and CA, which increased plant growth and biomass, improved photosynthetic apparatus, antioxidant enzymes and their gene expression, and mineral uptake, as well as diminished the exudation of organic acids and oxidative stress indicators in C. annuum by decreasing Cd toxicity. Here, we conclude that the application of EDTA and CA under the exposure to Cd stress significantly improved plant growth and biomass, photosynthetic pigments, and gas exchange characteristics; regulated antioxidant defense system and essential nutrient uptake; and balanced organic acid exudation pattern in C. annuum