Marine Bacillus as a potent biocontrol agent against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceris

The most severe chickpea diseases in the world is Fusarium wilt, which is brought on by the soil-borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum ciceris (FOC). FOC can reduce a chickpea crop's output by up to 100 %. Various management strategies have been employed out of which biological method is most suitable and effective. In the current study, the effectiveness of marine Bacillus licheniformis as a biocontrol agent against Fusarium infection in chickpea crops is investigated. Marine organisms are known to produce many antibiotics and controlling human pathogens. The current study aims at evaluating the effect of marine B. licheniformis against the chickpea pathogen (FOC). In vitro evaluations of glucanase and chitinase production as well as antifungal activity were done. B. licheniformis prevented development of fungal mycelia. Marine B. licheniformis was able to reduce disease index to 0 in chickpea. Three different conditions were used for the pot trial: control (T1), FOC treated (T2), and both Bacillus and FOC treated (T3). In pot experiment, T3 demonstrated 6.29 % increase in plant weight and 13.25 % increase in plant height. Despite the presence of FOC in T3, B. licheniformis was able to boost the growth of the plant while preventing FOC infection. The results showed that B. licheniformis has bio-control capabilities defending chickpea against disease and also improves its growth indicating that marine microbes are potent biocontrol agents. This study can open new avenues of using marine microbes in controlling plant disease

Effect of Organic Sources on Soil and Leaf Nutrient Status of Sapota [Manilkara achras (Mill.) Fosberg] cv. Kalipatti

The soil and leaf nutrients play a key role in the flowering and fruiting parameters of a plant thus contributing to yield. Thus, a study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of organic sources on the soil and leaf nutrient status of sapota [Manilkara achras (Mill.) Fosberg] cv.  Kalipatti during the years 2019-20 and 2020-21. The organic sources include the combination of green manure, vermicompost, Anubhav Bio NPK consortium and microbial consortium with inorganic fertilizers as a control. It has been found that available Nitrogen content (272 kg/ha) and Potassium content (298 kg/ha) in the soil, as well as Nitrogen (2.353 %) and Potassium (1.805 %) content in leaf, were recorded maximum with the application of 50% RDN from vermicompost + 50% RDN from green manure of sun hemp + microbial consortium (AMBC I) 100 ml per tree (T8) in both the years of pooled analysis data. Whereas, treatment i.e 50% RDN from vermicompost + 50% RDN from green manure of cowpea + microbial consortium (AMBC I) 105 ml per tree (T9) was found to be maximum for the available phosphorus content (61.73 kg/ha) in soil and phosphorus (0.191 %) the content in leaf in both the years in pooled analysis data

EFFECT OF METFORMIN ON HEART RATE VARIABILITY IN NEWLY DIAGNOSED TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS PATIENTS AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

OBJECTIVES – There is a worldwide epidemic of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It is associated with cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy. Heart rate variability (HRV) is the gold standard for its measurement. Thus, effect of metformin therapy on HRV was evaluated in newly diagnosed T2DM patients. METHODS – This was a prospective, observational study carried out from January 2020 to September 2021 in the medicine outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital in Gujarat, India. The study included newly diagnosed T2DM patients of both genders aged 18-70 years. Baseline HRV parameters were recorded by performing electrocardiogram for a fixed duration of 5 minutes. Follow up was done after 6 months of metformin 500 mg monotherapy. Time domain analysis was done using square root of mean square of successive R-R interval difference (RMSSD) and frequency domain analysis was done using low frequency/high frequency (LF/HF) ratio. Paired t-test was used for analysis. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS – A total of 30 patients were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 43.5 ± 4.5 years. The highest number of patients were from age group between 41-50 years (33.3%). There were more number of females (56.7%) compared to males (43.3%). There was an increase in the RMSSD value after metformin treatment, but it was not statistically significant (P= 0.308). In frequency domain analysis, there was no significant improvement in LF, HF as well as LF/HF ratio (P = 0.655).   CONCLUSION – There was a minor improvement in HRV parameters after six months of metformin therapy, but it was not statistically significant. Further studies with larger sample size should be planned with one or more oral hypoglycaemics

VITAMIN C AS AN ADD ON SUPPLEMENTATION TO STANDARD ANTITUBERCULAR TREATMENT IMPROVES SPUTUM SMEAR CONVERSION IN NEWLY DIAGNOSED DRUG SENSITIVE PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS PATIENTS

Objective: This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of oral supplementation of Vitamin C along with standard anti-tubercular (anti TB) drugs on the sputum smear conversion in the newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients. Methods: This was a prospective, observational study in which 49 newly diagnosed pulmonary TB patients were given oral vitamin C supplementation along with standard anti TB treatment during intensive phase (2 months)  of the treatment. Examination of sputum smear at the end of intensive phase of anti-tubercular treatment was done. At the end of intensive phase, comparison was done between results of sputum smear examination of study population with the TB patients of general population from the same locality who were receiving only standard anti TB treatment and not add on Vitamin C supplementation. Results: The comparison between the results of study population (Sputum conversion – 100%) with that of general population (Sputum conversion – 92.47%) shows significant difference between both the population with p value < 0.05 (p-value = 0.041). Conclusion: This study showed that Vitamin C supplementation as add on therapy to the existing standard anti TB treatment improves the sputum smear conversion and decreases the disease activity to a greater extent than routine standard anti TB treatment alone