Recent global increase in multiple rapid intensification of tropical cyclones

Abstract The rapid intensification (RI ≥ 30 knots/24-h) of tropical cyclones (TCs) makes TC forecasting difficult, resulting in severe damage to property and life. Forecasting can get even worse if TCs have experienced RI more than once (referred to as "multiple-RI TCs") in their lifetime. On a global scale, the relation between long-term trends of multiple-RI TC frequency and maximum potential intensity (MPI) changes is investigated in this study. During 1981–2020, the frequency of multiple-RI TCs significantly increased at a rate of 1.2 TCs/decade, which was primarily due to the upper phases of TC becoming conducive to RI as MPI increased. Our analysis shows that the frequency of multiple-RI TCs has increased by 82.43% in 2000–2020 compared to that in 1981–2000, whereas the frequency of single RI TCs has increased by only 1.63%. The rise in MPI elevates the initial intensity at which a TC undergoes maximum intensification rate, making post-Tropical Storm stages of TCs conducive to RI. As a result, TCs can undergo RI multiple times even following a weakening before the intensity approaches MPI

The Influence of Plant Growth Modulators on Physiological Yield and Quality Traits of Sesame (Sesamum indicum) Cultivars Under Rainfed Conditions

Sesame is an important oilseed crop, and the crop yields frequently fluctuate as the crop is largely grown in rainfed and low-fertile lands. Limited water availability negatively affects many physiological processes and the final productivity of sesame. Limited work has been carried out in the past to understand the role of plant growth regulators (PGRs) in modulating sesame growth and development for optimum productivity. A field study was conducted under rainfed conditions to evaluate the response of foliar application of different PGRs such as hormonal-based gibberellic acid (20 ppm); chemical-based thiourea (500 ppm); chemical-constituting structural component-based ortho-silicic acid (380 ppm); and control (water-sprayed) on sesame cultivars: Swetha til, GT-10, TKG-22, and JCSDT-26. The PGRs foliar application was done at the vegetative (25–30 days after sowing), 50% flowering (40–45 days after sowing), and seed development (70–75 days after sowing) stages of the crop. The results revealed that application of different PGRs positively influenced the plant’s growth, physiological, yield and quality traits; however, most effective results were obtained with gibberellic acid (20 ppm), followed by ortho-silicic acid (380 ppm), and thiourea (500 ppm) improved the morphological, yield, and yield-attributing traits. The interaction between PGRs and varieties was found significant and among the sesame cultivars, swetha til followed by JCSDT-29 was found most promising. The application of PGRs has significantly improved the plant height, leaf area, number of branches, capsules, seeds/capsules, seed yield oil content, and fatty acid content compared to the control by gibberellic acid, followed by ortho-silicic acid and thiourea. The interaction between PGRs and varieties was found to be significant, and cultivar Swetha til, a white-colored cultivar performed most superiorly among the different tested cultivars in terms of growth, physiology, yield as well and quality traits when treated with GA3 at 20 ppm. The seed yield was enhanced by 25–26%, 11–12%, and 6–7% with the application of gibberellic acid, ortho-silicic acid, and thiourea, respectively, over control. Considering the findings, it can be concluded that the application of PGRs (thiourea, ortho-silicic acid, and gibberellic acid) significantly enhanced the growth, physiology, yield, and quality of sesame under rainfed conditions; however, GA3 at 20 ppm was found most effective and may not only enhance the optimum productivity but also effective in improving the quality traits of sesame

Abstracts of National Conference on Biological, Biochemical, Biomedical, Bioenergy, and Environmental Biotechnology

This book contains the abstracts of the papers presented at the National Conference on Biological, Biochemical, Biomedical, Bioenergy, and Environmental Biotechnology (NCB4EBT-2021) Organized by the Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology Warangal, India held on 29–30 January 2021. This conference is the first of its kind organized by NIT-W which covered an array of interesting topics in biotechnology. This makes it a bit special as it brings together researchers from different disciplines of biotechnology, which in turn will also open new research and cooperation fields for them. Conference Title: National Conference on Biological, Biochemical, Biomedical, Bioenergy, and Environmental BiotechnologyConference Acronym: NCB4EBT-2021Conference Date: 29–30 January 2021Conference Location: Online (Virtual Mode)Conference Organizer: Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology Warangal, Indi