MORTALITY OF TROPICAL FOREST TREE SEEDLINGS UNDER WATER AND SALT STRESS CONDITIONS

Mortality of selected tropical forest tree species seedlings viz. Tectona grandis, Pongamia pinnata, Dalbergia latifolia and Gmelina arborea were tested under water and salt stress conditions for 4 months under nursery stage. Water stress included moderate and severe waterlogging & moderate and severe drought conditions. The salt stress in the soil was maintained to 4, 8 and 12 ds/m. Pot culture experiments with twenty treatment combinations following RBD factorial design were conducted in TFRI Jabalpur nursery. The water equivalent to the field capacity of the soil was provided to the seedlings to maintain waterlogging. The drought condition in polybags was maintained according to Permanent Wilting point (PWP), which was calculated on the basis of Cumulative Pan Evaporation (CPE) values measured through Open Pan Evaporimeter. Mortality of seedlings of the species under study increased with the increase in salt concentration from 4 to 12 ds/m. Gmelina arborea shown 100% mortality in 4ds/m, 8ds/m and 12ds/m concentration of salt. Cumulative effect of salt and waterlogging & salt and drought was found to be more prominent in Gmelina arborea as compare to other three species. Tectona grandis was found to be more tolerable to waterlogged followed by drought conditions.  Waterlogging conditions observed to be excellent for Pongamia pinnata seedlings plantation shown 0% mortality. As a whole, the mortality of seedlings due to water and salt stress was found in the order Dalbergia latifolia (90.95%) > Gmelina arborea (82.50%) > Tectona grandis (74%) > Pongamia pinnata (35.56%).Â

The TWEAK–Fn14 system is a critical regulator of denervation-induced skeletal muscle atrophy in mice

The TNF-related cytokine TWEAK promotes skeletal muscle atrophy that is associated with classical disuse syndromes

Susac′s syndrome: First from India and youngest in the world

A two and half year old female was admitted at the emergency room suffering from gradually worsening headache followed by nausea. The child presented with reduced level of consciousness and bilateral hypoacusis. The patient was lethargic. Ophthalmic examination showed branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO). This finding was crucial to the diagnosis of Susac′s syndrome (SS), a rare autoimmune disease characterized by, endotheliopathy of retina, encephalic tissues and cochlea. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain also showed typical features. Thorough blood investigations did not reveal any other abnormality. Patient was treated with immunosuppressive to prevent her from developing severe sequelae of this disease. The child showed dramatic improvement in her systemic condition within 48 h of starting the treatment. This is the youngest ever and first case report from India