In vitro Cultivation of Newly Reported Wild Edible Mushroom Volvariella bomybycina from Nepal

Wild edible mushrooms are becoming endangered all over the world. Very few wild edible mushrooms are found in natural habitat. Volvariella bombycina is an edible and medicinal mushroom. The mushroom was collected in natural habitat growing on Populus tree. Mycelium of the mushroom was developed in PDA slant tubes by tissue culture method, incubated at 25°C for 1-2 weeks. Spawn was developed in wheat grains after incubation at 25°C for 2-3 weeks. Substrates were formulated for the development of fruiting bodies by combination of paddy straw, saw dust and rice husk. Fruiting bodies of V. bombycina was cultivated in these substrates after incubation at 28 ± 2°C for 2-4 weeks. The work describes the optimized process for in vitro culture of wild edible mushroom Volvariella bomybycina.Nepal Journal of Biotechnology. Dec. 2017 Vol. 5, No. 1: 27-3

Detection of genetically modified maize (Zea mays L.) in seed samples from Nepal

Maize is the second major cereal in Nepal; its food biosafety and ecological conservation is an important concern. To address this issue, it is necessary to detect genetically modified (GM) maize and establish a monitoring and regulatory system in Nepal. Currently, Nepal does not have legal regulations or labeling directives for GM maize. Therefore, the authors aimed to survey the current status of GM maize seeds in Nepal. First, they performed multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) to detect 8 GM maize lines in 46 maize seed samples from different locations in Nepal. Suspected samples were then verified by real-time PCR (RT-PCR) and screen-specific PCR. Based on current evidence, they can not identify any GM maize in the seed samples. This first report may formulate and implement a baseline for quality regulation and biodiversity conservation of maize seeds in Nepal.Keywords: Genetically modified crops, maize, seeds, Nepal, multiplex polymerase chain reaction, real-time PCRAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 9(34), pp. 5581-5589, 23 August, 201

A Short Note on Linkage of Climatic Records between Terai and Mid-mountain of Central Nepal

The steep North to South (N-S) gradient and complex topography markssignificant variations in the spatial and temporal patterns of climatic variation surrounding within a few distances in the Nepal Himalayas. Hence,to validate climatic linkages between the stations under two distinct topographic conditions, the study examines the observational climatic data from 106m a.s.l. and 1801m a.s.l., as a representative station from a plain and hilly area. Different statistical tools including Pearson correlation analysis and a best-fit regression model were applied to analyze climate data. The analysis of 13129 daily average temperature records and 13147 daily total precipitation records showed that the variation in their sum and average of daily, five days, ten days, and monthly values between the stations in the different elevations marked significantly.Despite these variations, temperature records are measured to be consistent in different altitudes and strongly correlated. The precipitation data showed a comparatively weaker correlation. The coefficients (0.85-1.6) with R2 >0.50 in the regression models for the lower elevation and higher elevation station in the mid-mountain region except for the monsoon season. It indicated a similar fluctuation of temperature between these two stations in the respective area. The strong degree of association and the change of climatic parameters in different range and elevations indicate the possibilities of using climatic data from Terai to represent the Mid-mountain region of central Nepal

Comparison of Obstetric Outcome among Teenage and Adult Pregnancies in Tertiary Level Hospital

Background: Teenage pregnancies are a global problem but occur most often in poorer and marginalized communities. It is a high-risk situation for both mother and child because of their vulnerability to many health challenges. This study aimed to compare the obstetric outcome of teenage pregnant mothers (13-19 years) with that of adult pregnant mothers (20–29 years). Methods: Hospital-based cross-sectional descriptive comparative study design was adopted. The study was carried out in Nepal medical college and teaching hospital, Kathmandu and Mahakali hospital, Kanchanpur, using a non-probability purposive sampling technique. The data were collected from 94 teenage mothers (13-19 years) and 94 adult mothers (20-29 years) comprising of 2 health facilities. Face to face interview technique was used for the collection of socio-demographic information and obstetric-outcomes related information was collected by observations and hospital/delivery records through pre-designed proforma. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 16 was used for data analysis. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for statistical analysis. Results: The findings of this study showed higher proportion of anemia (28.7% vs. 5.3%, p < 0.001), Pereineal tear (42.3% vs. 16.1%, p = 0.001), pre-term birth (19.1% vs. 5.3%, p = 0.004) and low birth weight infants (30.9% vs. 8.5%, p < 0.001) occurred among teenagers compared to adult mothers (20-29 years). However, caesarean section was found to be lower and vaginal deliveries in higher proportion among teenagers. Conclusions: Teenage pregnant mothers had significantly higher rates of anemia, perineal tear, pre-term birth, and low birth weight. Focusing on girl-child education, strict law to prohibit teenage marriage, proper antenatal care in case if teenage pregnancy occurs can reduce teenage pregnancy and its related complications

Is conservation agriculture a potential option for cereal-based sustainable farming system in the Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains of Nepal?

A decline in land and water productivity, increase in the cost of cultivation, and labor-intensive practices are affecting the cereal-based farming system in Nepal, particularly in the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP). Conservation agriculture (CA) practices have been found to be the climate-, energy-, and labor-smart and sustainable agricultural production technologies. Sustainable and Resilient Farming System Intensification (SRFSI) has been working since 2014 in response to the sustainability of the cereal-based (rice–wheat and rice–maize) farming in Sunsari and Dhanusha districts of Nepal. This study was conducted to assess the adoption and scaling up of CA in addition to input usage, production, net profit, benefit to cost (B:C) ratio, and labor use of CA practice on average scale land holdings in Sunsari district. The study employed structured questionnaires and key informant surveys as the main data collection tools and project reports were used as secondary data. Results revealed that farmers had several tangible advantages: lower labor utilization per area (71 people day−1 ha−1 as compared to 106 for conventional), lower input cost (NRs. 78,395 ha−1 as compared to 102,727 ha−1), less irrigation with regards to ponding time (50%) as compared to conventional practice, and higher crop productivity (8.11 t ha−1 as compared to 8.08 t ha−1 in rice–wheat and 13.1 t ha−1 as compared to 11.75 t ha−1in conventional rice–maize) farming system through the adoption of CA practices. This study assessed the potential of CA-based practices in a cereal-based cropping system to improve the yields and net profit for sustainability

Is conservation agriculture a potential option for cereal-based sustainable farming system in the Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains of Nepal?

A decline in land and water productivity, increase in the cost of cultivation, and labor-intensive practices are affecting the cereal-based farming system in Nepal, particularly in the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP). Conservation agriculture (CA) practices have been found to be the climate-, energy-, and labor-smart and sustainable agricultural production technologies. Sustainable and Resilient Farming System Intensification (SRFSI) has been working since 2014 in response to the sustainability of the cereal-based (rice–wheat and rice–maize) farming in Sunsari and Dhanusha districts of Nepal. This study was conducted to assess the adoption and scaling up of CA in addition to input usage, production, net profit, benefit to cost (B:C) ratio, and labor use of CA practice on average scale land holdings in Sunsari district. The study employed structured questionnaires and key informant surveys as the main data collection tools and project reports were used as secondary data. Results revealed that farmers had several tangible advantages: lower labor utilization per area (71 people day−1 ha−1 as compared to 106 for conventional), lower input cost (NRs. 78,395 ha−1 as compared to 102,727 ha−1), less irrigation with regards to ponding time (50%) as compared to conventional practice, and higher crop productivity (8.11 t ha−1 as compared to 8.08 t ha−1 in rice–wheat and 13.1 t ha−1 as compared to 11.75 t ha−1in conventional rice–maize) farming system through the adoption of CA practices. This study assessed the potential of CA-based practices in a cereal-based cropping system to improve the yields and net profit for sustainability

Evaluation of pro-vitamin A enriched maize hybrids for fighting hidden hunger in Nepal

Prevailing vitamin A deficiency is a malnutrition repercussing retarded growth, weak immune system and night-blindness in human beings. Pro-vitamin A enriched maize hybrids could be a strategy for combating vitamin A deficiency, mostly prevailing in children and women of Nepal. With the objective to investigate superior pro-vitamin A enriched ‘bio-fortified’ maize cultivars, twice replicated experiments were laid out in α-lattice design over two consecutive growing seasons of 2019 and 2019/20 at the National Maize Research Program (NMRP), Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal. The results revealed that the difference among tested hybrids was glaring for all agro-morphological, yield, and yield components traits. Among the evaluated traits, days to 50% anthesis and silking, plant and ear height, numbers of kernel rows per cob, grains per row, and grain yield varied significantly among the tested maize hybrids. Effect of planting season was significant for grain yield where winter maize produced 32% higher grain yield than spring maize. HPO16-2, HPO49-3, HPO49-5, and HPO49-2 were the 38-61% high yielding ‘bio-fortified’ maize genotypes than normal hybrid check. Therefore, these hybrids might be the potential higher-yielding future pro-vitamin A enriched maize hybrids to resolve food insecurity, malnutrition, trade deficit on maize grains and specially to combat vitamin A deficiency in Nepal

Phenotypic Characterization of Multidrug-resistant Escherichia Coli with Special Reference to Extended-spectrum-beta-lactamases and Metallo-beta-lactamases in a Tertiary Care Center

Introduction: The increasing reports on extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase and metallo-betalactamase producing Escherichia coli have addressed a potential threat to global health since it is found to be highly resistance to most of the currently available antibiotics including carbapenems. The present study was aimed to determine the antibiogram of extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase and metallo-beta-lactamase producing MDR E. coli isolates from various clinical samples. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted over a period of seven months (December 2013 to July 2014) at bacteriology laboratory of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital. A total of 250 clinical specimens (urine, pus, sputum, blood, body fluid, bile, tissue and central venous pressure line tip) were processed from inpatients, with multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli infections. Standard microbiological techniques were used for isolation and identification of the isolates. The presence of extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase was detected by phenotypic confirmatory test recommended by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute and imipenem (IMP) /EDTA combined disc method was performed to detect metallo-beta-lactamase mediated resistance mechanism. Results: We found high level of beta lactamase mediated resistance mechanism as part of multidrug resistance. Among 250 MDR isolates, 60% isolates were extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase producers and 17.2% isolates were metallo-beta-lactamase producers. Co-existence of extended-spectrum-betalactamase and metallo-beta-lactamase identified in 6.8% isolates. Conclusions: Beta-lactamase mediated resistance mechanisms are accounting very high in the multidrug resistant isolates of E. coli. Therefore, early detection of beta lactamase mediated resistant strains and their current antibiotic susceptibility pattern is necessary to avoid treatment failure and prevent the spread of MDR.  Keywords: e. coli; extended-spectrum-β-lactamase; metallo-β-lactamase; multidrug-resistance

Zinc and provitamin A biofortified maize genotypes exhibited potent to reduce hidden-hunger in Nepal

Zinc deficiency affects one third of the population worldwide, and vitamin A deficiency is a prevalent public health issue in Sub-Saharan Africa and South-Asia, including Nepal. Crop biofortification is the sustainable solution to these health—related problems, thus we conducted two different field trials in an alpha lattice design to identify zinc and provitamin A biofortified maize genotypes consistent and competitive in performance over the contrasting seasons (Season 1: 18 February to 6 July 2020 and Season 2: 31 August to 1 February, 2020/21). In our study, the performance of introduced maize genotypes (zinc—15 and provitamin A biofortified—24) were compared with that of the local check, focusing on the overall agro-morphology, yield attributes, yield, and kernel zinc and total carotenoid content. Zinc and total carotenoid in the tested genotypes were found in the range between 14.2 and 24.8 mg kg−1 and between 1.8 and 3.6 mg 100 g−1. Genotypes A1831-8 from zinc and EEPVAH-46 from provitamin A biofortified maize trial recorded kernel zinc and total carotenoid as high as 52.3, and 79.5%, respectively, compared to the local check (DMH849). The provitamin A genotypes EEPVAH-46 and EEPVAH-51 (total carotenoid: 3.6 and 3.3 mg 100 g−1), and zinc biofortified genotypes A1847-10 and A1803-42 (20.4 and 22.4 mg kg−1 zinc) were identified as superior genotypes based on their yield consistency over the environments and higher provitamin A and zinc content compared to the check. In addition, farmers can explore August sowing to harvest green cobs during December-January to boost up the emerging green cob business

THE FIRST REPORT OF A POSSIBLE SARS-CoV-2 REINFECTION IN NEPAL

oai:ojs2.jebas.org:article/1Since August 2020, a growing number of confirmed SARS-CoV-2 cases, after approximately three months, in most of them, again presented a new infection episode, which has been defined as reinfection. So far, no cases have been reported in Nepal, and still there is limited the number of them, especially of those fully confirmed. Here, we report a case and discuss its multiple implications in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic