Ancestry Specific variation in neuropsychological disorders among the South Asian population

The enormous genetic diversity in South Asia resulting from a long and complex admixture history resulted in the emergence of variation in various traits and variations in disease susceptibility. Neuropsychological disorders are one such example that shows variation at the population level. In this study, we aimed at understanding the variation in neuropsychological disorders at the population level among South Asian populations by curating, comparing and contrasting single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), known to be associated with the same. Whole-genome data comprising of 1662 South Asians, belonging to 241 distinct populations were obtained from the database of Dr. David Reich, Harvard Medical School, USA. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed that the Ancestral Tibeto Burman (ATB) genomes form a distinct and distinguishable cluster for the SNPs known to be associated with neuropsychological disorders. Identical By Descent (IBD) analysis showed that out of the top seven populations in terms of IBD sharing, six are from Southern India indicating that these populations may have undergone a recent selective sweep for these SNPs. Further, out of the top ten genomes, according to the number of genomes fixed for the minor alleles, seven were from Southern India. Furthermore, several indigenous populations from South India depicted high F values (>0.25) for SNPs associated with neuropsychological disorders, indicating higher susceptibility for neuropsychological disorders among these South Indian populations. Interestingly, we found that most of the SNPs, fixed for the alternative alleles, were also found to be fixed among the ancient genomes from Indus Valley Civilization (IVC), indicating that these SNPs likely got transmitted to various modern-day South Indian populations from IVC

Biochar: A Comprehensive Review on a Natural Approach to Plant Disease Management

Since time immemorial organic amendments have been an important strategy for improving soil fertility and suppressing a wide range of soil-borne pathogens. Biochar, a charcoal-like amendment has true potential in managing phytopathogens with an eco-friendly approach. It is produced by subjecting plant materials and agricultural waste to high temperatures of around 900°C in limited oxygen conditions. Biochar is considered to be an excellent carbon sequester and has an undeniably imperative role in improving soil properties. Biochar has innumerable applications in the remediation of environmental pollutants by immobilizing heavy metals such as Cadmium and Arsenic and degradation of dyes and pesticides. One of the most significant advantages of biochar in addition to mitigating environmental pollution is effectively managing plant pathogens by altering soil physical and chemical properties and promoting antagonistic microorganisms. Biochar directly suppresses plant pathogens by priming plant defense mechanisms. For instance, sugarcane bagasse biochar remediates Cd from contaminated soil, and citrus wood biochar induces systemic resistance against Botrytis cinerea in host-Lycopersicon esculentum, Capsicum annuum L. cv. Maccabi and Fragaria ananassa. Nevertheless, it is essential to acknowledge its limitations, such as the potential to absorb and enhance the residual activity of harmful chemicals. Further research is needed to develop a deeper understanding of biochar’s properties and mechanisms for more effective results. Advanced techniques like meta-transcriptomics and metaproteomics hold the potential to provide invaluable insights into this field. The review provides a comprehensive overview of current information regarding biochar, covering its production techniques and highlighting its agricultural benefits, with a particular focus on its role in plant disease management. Furthermore, the associated risks and concerns are also discussed