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Not AvailableWe aimed towards investigating the effects of water deficit stress (WDS) on phenotypic traits, leaf gas exchange, water relations, secondary metabolite profile and fibre properties of six tossa jute (Corchorus olitorius) genotypes grown under control or water withholding conditions. Root length, root weight, stem weight and whole biomass were reduced significantly (p < 0.05) in susceptible genotypes but remain unaltered in tolerant genotypes following WDS. The tolerant genotypes showed significantly higher (p < 0.05) photosynthetic carbon assimilation (PCA) and water use efficiency (WUE) along with significant reduction (p < 0.05) in stomatal conductance (SC), transpiration rate (TR) and vapour pressure deficit (VPD) as compared to susceptible genotypes after WDS. Tolerant genotypes exhibited significantly higher (p < 0.05) % RWC as compared to susceptible plants following WDS. Polyphenol and flavonoid content were significantly increased (p < 0.05) in tolerant and susceptible genotypes respectively following WDS. Susceptible plants exhibited significantly reduced (p < 0.05) proline content as compared to tolerant genotypes. Number of phytochemotypes identified by GC–MS showed 46% and 81% increase in tolerant and susceptible groups respectively, after prolonged WDS. Major phytochemical groups in tolerant genotypes under WDS were ketone, acyclic diterpene alcohol, steroid/sterol, heterocyclic compound, alicyclic hydrocarbon, thiophenol and fatty acid ester. Whereas, the susceptible genotypes exhibited steroid/sterol, acyclic diterpene alcohol, alcohol and heterocyclic compound as the major phytochemical groups under WDS. Tolerant genotypes showed significantly higher (p < 0.05) fibre strength as compared to susceptible plants under stress. Our results show identifiable traits manifested by the tolerant and susceptible tossa jute genotypes under WDS which could therefore be utilized successfully for future selection and breeding programs, crop improvement initiatives and production of new varieties having optimum potential toward water deficit stress adaptation.Not Availabl

Prevalence of dental caries and treatment needs in children in coastal areas of West Bengal

Objective: This study was carried out to measure the caries prevalence and treatment needs in school children of 6-14 year old residing in coastal areas of West Bengal. Materials and Methods: A total of 1764 children of 6-14 years age group, studying in different primary and high schools of the coastal areas were examined using World Health Organization criteria (1997) to record the prevalence of dental caries. The treatment needs were also calculated according to that given criteria. Statistical Analysis: The results were subjected to statistical analysis using the Chi-square test and unpaired ′t′ test. Results: Dental caries were founded low in the studied population. The overall all caries prevalence in the permanent dentition was 28.06%, in boys it was 25.39% and in girls it was 30.86%. Therefore caries prevalence in female was higher and which was statistically highly significant (P < 0.05). The most frequently required treatment was one surface filling followed by other treatments irrespective of sex and age group. Discussion: The presence of sea foods containing high fluoride and least availability of refined carbohydrate in the diet may be the reason of lower prevalence. Conclusion: child oral health is always a matter of concern for a developing country so further research is required to explore actual causes

Correlation of total salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) and mutans specific SIgA in children having different caries status

Background: Relation between secretory immunoglobulin A (SigA) and dental caries still imprecise. Studies have been conducted either for total SIgA or mutans specific SIgA with bizarre results. Aim: The aim of this study is to find out the relationship between mutans antigen specific SIgA and total salivary SIgA and its influence in caries status in children. Materials and Methods: A total of 45 children aged between 6-14 years were divided based on their caries index (decayed, missing, filled, extracted tooth) score in high moderate and no caries group and their saliva were analyzed with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for total SIgA and mutans specific SIgA. Results: High caries group showed high mutans specific SIgA, but less total SIgA, whereas low caries group showed the reverse. Conclusion: The mutans specific SIgA and total SIgA has a weak, but negative correlation in children potentiating caries inhibitory action of SIgA

Evaluation and comparison of white mineral trioxide aggregate and formocresol medicaments in primary tooth pulpotomy: Clinical and radiographic study

Aim: The primary aim of the following study is to evaluate and secondary aim is to compare clinically and radiographically the success of using white mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) versus formocresol (FC) medicament for primary tooth pulpotomy. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 teeth were selected for pulpotomy; of which 50 teeth underwent FC pulpotomy and 50 teeth underwent pulpotomy with white MTA. Out of 100 treated teeth, 82 teeth (42 FC and 40 MTA teeth) were available at the end of 24 months for evaluation. 4 failures were found in FC group at 1 st month evaluation and no failures were found in white MTA group. A statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the overall success rate of study and individual success rates of medicaments. Overall success rate of the study was 95%, success rate of FC group was 90.48% and success rate of MTA group was 100%. Results: MTA produced better results as pulpotomy medicament in comparison to FC. The superior success obtained in the present study was matching other studies mentioned in the literature. Conclusion: MTA seems to be a promising pulpotomy medicament for future use

Genetic diversity assessment in jute (<em>Corchorus </em>species) utilizing inter simple sequence repeat and simple sequence repeat markers

316-326Fifteen inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) and five simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were amplified in ninety eight accessions of both the cultivated species of jute Corchorus olitorius and Corchorus capsularis with the objective to study the genetic diversity of both the species at molecular level. Allelic variability, total number of alleles, and higher polymorphic information content (PIC) suggested ISSR as efficient marker system utilized for the study. Jaccard’s similarity coefficients based on ISSR and combined ISSR-SSR analysis gave useful information for appropriate parent selection for future hybridization programme. Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) supported UPGMA based cluster analysis and species speciation occurred at molecular level

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Not AvailableHibiscus sabdariffa L. is a bast fibre crop bearing edible calyx. In the present study we characterized geographically diverse accessions (124) of H. sabdariffa var. altissima (HSA) and H. sabdariffa var. sabdariffa (HSS) using 23 morpho-metric (10 qualitative, 13 quantitative) traits and 19 microsatellite based markers (11 ISSRs; 8 SSRs). Wide spectrum diversity for agro-morphological traits recorded. Principal component analysis using 13 quantitative traits explained 99.30% of the total variation in the data by first four axes. A total of 91 polymorphic bands were yielded by microsatellite based markers (60 by ISSRs and 31 by SSRs) from them SSRs revealed more polymorphism (PIC = 0.32, polymorphism = 96.87%). The ISSR marker namely U818 exhibited highest primer index (ISPI = 2.275) whereas, SSR marker HA-8 reported highest PIC value (0.495). However, the highest genetic diversity at species level exhibited by ISSR markers (Shannon’s index = 0.519, heterozygosity = 0.353). Different diversity parameters, structure and cluster analysis employed in the present study demonstrated more genetic diversity of fibre type roselle accessions (HSA) than calyx type (HSS). Moreover, employed agro-morphological traits and molecular markers complemented each other and imparted greater resolution to understand genetic diversity of roselle plant genetic resources in toto.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableIn search of causal factors underlying perceived allogamy in sunnhemp (Crotalaria juncea L.), we investigated the breeding system and pollen–pistil interaction. Floral biology study in the species established Fabaceae type hermaphrodite zygomorphic flower with dimorphic anthers. Study of the breeding system revealed preferential success of allogamy despite delayed autonomous selfing mechanism characteristically prevailing in the species. Pollen–pistil interaction study in selfed and crossed pistils revealed significant differences in pollen tube growth rates inside the pistil. Further, in self-pollinated pistils callose formation observed at and around nucellus cells suggesting the late-acting type of selfincompatibility mechanism in the species. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first scientific communication underscoring the prevalence of self-incompatibility mechanism in sunnhemp.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableA total of 130 flax accessions of diverse morphotypes and worldwide origin were assessed for genetic diversity and population structure using 11 morphological traits and microsatellite markers (15 gSSRs and 7 EST–SSRs). Analysis performed after classifying these accessions on the basis of plant height, branching pattern, seed size, Indian/foreign origin into six categories called sub-populations viz. fibre type exotic, fibre type indigenous, intermediate type exotic, intermediate type indigenous, linseed type exotic and linseed type indigenous. The study assessed different diversity indices, AMOVA, population structure and included a principal coordinate analysis based on different marker systems. The highest diversity was exhibited by gSSR markers (SI = 0.46; He = 0.31; P = 85.11). AMOVA based on all markers explained significant difference among fibre type, intermediate type and linseed type populations of flax. In terms of variation explained by different markers, EST-SSR markers (12%) better differentiated flax populations compared to morphological (9%) and gSSR (6%) markers at P = 0.01. The maximum Nei’s unbiased genetic distance (D = 0.11) was observed between fibre type and linseed type exotic subpopulations based on EST-SSR markers. The combined structure analysis by using all markers grouped Indian fibre type accessions (63.4%) in a separate cluster along with the Indian intermediate type (48.7%), whereas Indian accessions (82.16%) of linseed type constituted an independent cluster. These findings were supported by the results of the principal coordinate analysis. Morphological markers employed in the study found complementary with microsatellite based markers in deciphering genetic diversity and population structure of the flax germplasmNot Availabl