Genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance estimates in maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines

Forty three genotypes of maize were evaluated for eleven traits at the College Farm, College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad to study the genetic divergence and various genetic parameters. There was a significant (P<0.01) difference between genotypes for all the characters, which revealed wide range of variability and high heritability for all the characters. The genetic advance as percent of mean was high for grain yield per plant (73.19%), ear height (51.05%), number of kernels per row (44.40%), plant height (43.46%), 100 grain weight (42.88%), ear length (30.79%), number of kernel rows per ear (25.23%), and ear girth (22.37%) indicating additive gene action for these traits. D2 analysis partitioned the forty three genotypes in to six clusters. The maximum inter cluster distance (39.38) was observed between cluster I and cluster V. Grain yield per plant (38.43%), plant height (14.29%), 100 grain weight (12.85%) and number of kernels per row (12.07%) contributed greatly towards diversity

The Principle of Proportionality in International Criminal law

The principle of proportionality indicated to, are that the criminal codes should contain specific maximums for crime or category of crimes. As to the applicable penalty, should be made distinctive not only between types of crimes but also between completed crimes and inchoate crimes.  Unfortunately, the principle of proportionality is not obvious in substantive international law.  Although the 1993 draft statute allowed for right of appeal against sentences where there was obvious disproportion between the crime and the sentence. The Tribunals’ Rules of Procedure and Evidence has been given additional directives on sentencing but The ICC Statute, does not provide precise penalties for specific crimes, despite the wide range of offenses and forms of participation that the court is called upon to judge

Compressive and Flexural Strength Property Enhancement for Fibre Reinforced M30, M50 and M80 Grade Concrete Using Foundry Sand (FS) and Crushed Concrete Waste (CCW)

Now days, many research works are carried for all grades of concrete to make the concrete most economical and durable there by adding the supplementary cementitious materials and alternative replacement aggregates. In this research work deals with the experimental investigation of mechanical properties of the M30, M50 and M80 grade concrete by replacing the fine and coarse aggregate by foundry sand and crushed concrete waste respectively. Mix design procedures were followed as per IRC44:2017 guidelines and recommendation. Proper dosage of super plasticizer (SP) was maintained in the concrete to make it better performed. In this present investigation, a Poly Propylene fibre (PPF) of 0.3% by weight of the cement is used. Mechanical properties such as Compressive strength and Flexural Strength were determined by preparing the respective mould sizes for specific test and are cured for 7, 14 and 28 days and result obtained for respective days were tabulated and discussed. 

Combining ability and heterosis analysis for fibre yield and quality parameters in roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.)

Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) is second important bast fibre crop after jute in India. With an aim to ex-ploit non-additive genetic variance present experiment was designed to identify good general combining parents and specific cross combination for fibre yield and fibre quality parameters (fibre fineness, fibre tenacity) in roselle. A total of 11 parents were crossed in complete diallel fashion which resulted 55 F1, 55 RF1 (reciprocal F1). Parents, F1s and RF1s were grown in randomized block design. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences (P< 0.01, P<0.05) among the parents and their hybrids. The parents AMV 1, AMV 5, GR 27 and AHS 160 were identified as good combiners since they recorded significant general combining ability (GCA) effects for fibre yield and quality parameters. Further, For fibre yield only three crosses (AMV 1 × AMV 4, AMV 1 × GR 27, HS 4288 × JRR 07) showed significant specific combining ability (SCA) effects from them hybrid AMV 1 × GR 27 (fibre yield=27.37g/ plant) exhibited positively significant best parent (Non bris 4, Mean fibre yield=21.16g/plant) heterosis (29.35%). Similarly, for fibre tenacity, hybrid GR 27 × JRR 07 (fibre tenacity=23.47g/tex) exhibited positively significant best parent (HS 4288; fibre tenacity=20.35g/tex) heterosis (15.30%)

Genetic diversity analysis in tossa jute (Corchorus olitorius L.) germplasm lines

An experiment was conducted to examine the magnitude of genetic diversity and characters contributing to genetic diversity among 81 tossa jute genotypes. Cluster analysis based on Euclidean squared distances and ward’s method, the genotypes were grouped into ten distinct clusters. Analysis reveals that stick weight contributes maximum to the phenotypic diversity (65.52%) followed by green weight (13.64%) and fibre yield (10.10%). Among the clusters Cluster IX recorded highest mean fibre yield (19.91g) followed by Cluster VII (18.94g) and these clusters also recorded high mean values for plant height, basal diameter, green weight and stick weight. The highest inter- cluster distance was 186.80 (between clusters II and X) followed by 161.26 (between clusters IV and X), indicating the wide genetic diversity among these clusters. The highest intra-cluster distance was observed in cluster II (20.34) and the lowest in cluster X (3.17). The average inter-cluster distances were higher than the average intra-cluster distances, which shows the presence of wide genetic diversity among the genotypes of different clusters than those of the same cluster. The first two principal components, whose Eigen values are greater than one, accounted for 74% of the total variation among the five characters. The information obtained from diversity analysis is useful in planning further breeding programme for tossa jute improvement

African ancestry of New World, Bemisia tabaci-whitefly species

Bemisia tabaci whitefly species are some of the world’s most devastating agricultural pests and plant-virus disease vectors. Elucidation of the phylogenetic relationships in the group is the basis for understanding their evolution, biogeography, gene-functions and development of novel control technologies. We report here the discovery of five new Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) B. tabaci putative species, using the partial mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 gene: SSA9, SSA10, SSA11, SSA12 and SSA13. Two of them, SSA10 and SSA11 clustered with the New World species and shared 84.8‒86.5% sequence identities. SSA10 and SSA11 provide new evidence for a close evolutionary link between the Old and New World species. Re-analysis of the evolutionary history of B. tabaci species group indicates that the new African species (SSA10 and SSA11) diverged from the New World clade c. 25 million years ago. The new putative species enable us to: (i) re-evaluate current models of B. tabaci evolution, (ii) recognise increased diversity within this cryptic species group and (iii) re-estimate divergence dates in evolutionary time

An integrative approach to discovering cryptic species within the Bemisia tabaci whitefly species complex

Bemisia tabaci is a cryptic whitefly-species complex that includes some of the most damaging pests and plant-virus vectors of a diverse range of food and fibre crops worldwide. We combine experimental evidence of: (i) differences in reproductive compatibility, (ii) hybrid verification using a specific nuclear DNA marker and hybrid fertility confirmation and (iii) high-throughput sequencing-derived mitogenomes, to show that the “Mediterranean” (MED) B. tabaci comprises at least two distinct biological species; the globally invasive MED from the Mediterranean Basin and the “African silver-leafing” (ASL) from sub-Saharan Africa, which has no associated invasion records. We demonstrate that, contrary to its common name, the “ASL” does not induce squash silver-leafing symptoms and show that species delimitation based on the widely applied 3.5% partial mtCOI gene sequence divergence threshold produces discordant results, depending on the mtCOI region selected. Of the 292 published mtCOI sequences from MED/ASL groups, 158 (54%) are low quality and/or potential pseudogenes. We demonstrate fundamental deficiencies in delimiting cryptic B. tabaci species, based solely on partial sequences of a mitochondrial barcoding gene. We advocate an integrative approach to reveal the true species richness within cryptic species complexes, which is integral to the deployment of effective pest and disease management strategies

Laws Pertaining to Women’s Legal Protection Under Both the Domestic and International Law

The status of women in India has undergone significant changes over millennia, with a rich cultural and religious heritage that reveres women. However, discrimination and mistreatment against women persist in society, rooted in historical norms and stereotypes. This paper aims to shed light on the fundamental rights guaranteed to women under the Indian constitution, the role of Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) in protecting them, and the fundamental duties towards women. By improving various facets such as the state, community, organizations, legislation, and judicial interpretations, women can be treated equally, provided freedom, dignified living, and access to justice. Women’s empowerment, a process that increases women’s options, choices, control, and power, plays a pivotal role in addressing major societal issues such as gender inequality and poverty. This paper emphasizes how the Indian constitution, with its emphasis on gender equality, empowers women. It also discusses the hindrances to women’s empowerment, the protection offered by international law, and presents a concise summary of the overall discussion