Effect of Mulching, Shading, Spacing and Cutting Thickness on Propagation of Seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) by Cuttings

The effect of plastic mulching, coloured shade netting, spacing and cutting thickness on rooting success and growth of Seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) through hard wood cuttings is addressed. Use of silver black plastic mulching film resulted in 10 per cent higher rooting success and significant plant growth. Suppression of weed emergence by the plastic mulch resulted in 75.8 per cent time saving in manual weeding by farm workers. No significant gender difference in rooting success was observed. Reduction in light intensity by 66 per cent using green shade net resulted in significant reduction in rooting and growth of nursery plants. Three different spacing between cuttings did not show significant difference in rooting and growth related parameters suggesting that cuttings can be planted denser (3"×3") under mulching to get higher number of nursery stock per unit area. Cutting thickness showed significant effect on rooting success. Highest rooting percentage was observed in pencil thickness cuttings (7.5 ± 1.6 mm dia) followed by cuttings with 2.9 ± 0.8 mm and 11.3 ± 1.7 mm basal diameter. The result of the present study could facilitate establishment of a vegetative propagation method wherein faster growth and larger number of cuttings can be propagated with higher rooting success rate

Character association studies in grape accessions selected from Leh district of Jammu and Kashmir

Characters association and path analysis was studied in fifty genotypically diverse grape (Vitis vinifera L.) accessions for 20 important quantitative characters. The genotypic and phenotypic association of yield was signifi-cantly positive with most of the studied characters except yield efficiency, berry weight and chemical characters. Yield was positively and significantly correlated (r) with bunch length (0.652), bunch breadth (0.584), bunch weight (0.946), number of bunches per vine (0.289), number of berries per bunch (0.672), berry length (0.337), berry breadth (0.363) and number of seeds per berry (0.612). Direct and positive effect was observed between yield and bunch and berry characters. Bunch breadth (1.538), number of bunches per vine (0.708), berry weight (1.112) ex-hibited a good amount of direct effect on yield and its correlation with yield was also positive. Hence it is clear from the present study that for selection of any accession in the crop due emphasis must be given on the yield and the associated characters which have direct and positive effect on the yield

Seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) in trans-Himalayan Ladakh, India

Seabuckthorn (SBT) is an ecologically and economically important plant species of trans-Himalayan Ladakh. Once considered a thorny menace, SBT is now looked upon as a means for sustainable development of the trans-Himalayan region. Several antioxidant rich SBT-based products are being developed and commercialized. SBT berry collection from natural habitat has become an important activity in the region since the year 2001. Currently, the demand for SBT exceeds the supply capacity of the region. Cultivation of SBT on 2500 ha would result in annual net income of Rs 491 crore. Anticipating the high demand for SBT, studies are underway to meet the long term goal to introduce plantation of SBT on vast barren land. Potential of the lesser-known shrub has been recognized by several R&D organizations. In recent years a number of research institutes in India are working on the lesser known shrub. This article summarizes the advancement of research on SBT of trans-Himalayan Ladakh origin

Phenological and Pomological Characteristics of Native Apple (Malus domestica Borkh) Cultivars of Trans Himalayan Ladakh India

Seven local apple cultivars of the trans-Himalayan Ladakh region were studied for phenological and pomological characteristics. Early and extended flowering was observed. Flowering began 12 days earlier as compared to Royal Delicious, a popular introduced cultivar. The cultivars attained fruit maturity between mid-August to early September, which is one month earlier than Royal Delicious. Apples of the Ladakh region are soft (6.1±1.1 kg cm-2) and small in size (60.1±29.1 g). The unique characteristics observed in apples of the Ladakh region, such as early flowering and early fruit maturity offer an opportunity for exploring the native cultivars for future breeding programs for the development of early maturing cultivars

All Year Round Vegetable Cultivation in Trenches in Cold Arid trans-Himalayan Ladakh

Trench greenhouse is a low cost underground rectangular structure (30’×10’×3’; L×W×D) in north-south orientation with stone wall on four sides. It is covered with polyethylene sheet at ground level during winter months. The air temperature inside the trench was found to be 20.7±2.8 °C warmer during day and 7.0±1.2 °C at night that support growing of leafy vegetables during winter (mid October to early March). Three cycles of crops were grown in a year in the greenhouses as against single crop in open field condition in cold trans-Himalayan Ladakh region. Spinach production was 64 kg -70 kg per trench during mid October to early March. Black plastic mulch significantly increased spinach production during winter months. Vegetable seedlings (13,000 to 39,000 numbers per trench) were raised during late March to early May, which is not possible in open field condition otherwise. A variety of warm-season vegetables were harvested (6 kg - 210 kg per trench) from the trenches during summer months

Effect of Altitude on the Phenology and Fruit Quality Attributes of Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) Fruits

Consumer concern about poor taste of fresh apricots is increasing and knowledge about the more suitable production requirement is essential. Genetic component influencing apricots quality is well known. However, there is limited information on environmental effect on fruit quality. This study aims to evaluate influence of altitude on phenological and fruit quality characters of apricot genotypes. Fruits from 162 genotype were collected from nine locations from 3006-3346 m asl in trans-Himalaya. The altitude had a marked influence on date of flowering, fruit weight, moisture and TSS content. For every 100 m increase in altitude, flowering and fruit ripening delayed by 3.3 and 7.1 day, respectively. Inverse relationship between altitude and fruit weight (R2=0.310) was observed. For every 100 m increase in altitude the fruit weight decrease by 0.5 g. Fruit moisture content decreased significantly with increase in elevation (R2=0.585). Decrease in moisture content was 1.9% for every 100 m increase in elevation. Altitude showed linear relationship with fruit TSS content (R2=0.726). For every 100 m increase in altitude, the fruit TSS increased by 1.2ºBrix. Knowledge from the present study on the impact of altitude on fruit quality characters provides a useful guide for selecting orchard location towards improving fruit qualit

Black Polyethylene Mulch Doubled Tomato Yield in a Low-input System in Arid Trans-Himalayan Ladakh Region

The influence of black polyethylene mulch (BPM) on growth and yield of tomato was investigated under a low-input cultivation system in arid high altitude (elevation 3344 m) in trans-Himalaya. The mean marketable yield varied from 27.8±2.5 t.ha-1 in open-pollinated varieties with no mulch treatment to 81.2±11.9 t.ha-1 in hybrid tomatoes with BPM. The yield of hybrid tomatoes with BPM is similar or greater than those reported in high-input systems. With BPM, total marketable yield in hybrid varieties increased by 102 per cent and 107 per cent in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Yield increase due to mulching in open-pollinated varieties was 86 per cent and 80 per cent in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Increase in early fruiting under BPM was observed in all the five varieties studied. Difference in soil temperature between mulch and unmulch was significantly higher at early growth stage than during later stages. BPM reduced 57 per cent weed and save 74 per cent time in manual weeding. Incidence of insect-pest and diseases was minimal, and rotten fruit was less than 2 per cent of marketable yield without staking and pesticide or fungicide application

Brochure on over-the-counter medication and pharmaceutical policies in Finland

During the last decades Finland has internationalised significantly. Most foreigners come to Finland ‎from Sweden, Estonia and Russia. However English is widely spoken, by mother tongue it is the ‎thirdly most spoken foreign language in Finland. Especially in the Helsinki metropolitan area the ‎amount of foreigner has increased.‎ Medications which can be bought from pharmacies without prescription are so called over-the-‎counter (OTC) medicines. The variation and availability of OTC medication vary from country to ‎country. Not even in the EU there are no harmonised pharmaceutical policies. In Finland ‎pharmaceutical are strictly controlled by Finnish Medicine Agency (FIMEA). Nowadays written and ‎oral patient guidance plays a significant role as people are more interested in their health. ‎Because of the internationalization it would be beneficial to have more written material in English ‎as well.‎ The purpose of this study was to increase foreigner’s knowledge on Finnish policies concerning ‎over-the-counter medication and pharmacies. The project was undertaken in collaboration with ‎Tapiola Pharmacy.‎ This thesis was implemented as a practice-based thesis. The material was collected by using a ‎literature review. The brochure was produced utilizing and following the quality criteria for health ‎material. Ethical considerations were highly undertaken while writing the thesis and making the ‎brochure. The purpose was to produce compact but comprehensive brochure. A pharmacist as an ‎expert directed and evaluated the brochure during the process.‎Esite itsehoitolääkkeistä ja farmaseuttisesta politiikasta Suomessa Viime vuosikymmeninä Suomi on kansainvälistynyt merkittävästi. Suurimmat ulkomaalaisryhmät ‎tulevat Venäjältä, Ruotsista sekä Virosta. Kuitenkin Englanti on hyvin yleisesti käytetty sillä se on ‎kolmanneksi yleisin äidinkieli vieraista kielistä. Erityisesti pääkaupunkiseudulla ulkomaalaisten ‎määrä on lisääntynyt.‎ Lääkkeitä, joita voi ostaa apteekeista ilman lääkärin määräystä kutsutaan itsehoitolääkkeiksi. ‎Itsehoitolääkkeiden vaihtelevuus ja saatavuus vaihtelee eri maiden välillä. Edes EU:ssa ei ole ‎yhtenäistä farmakologista politiikka. Suomessa lääkeala on tarkasti kontrolloitu Lääkealan ‎turvallisuus- ja kehittämiskeskuksen (FIMEA) toimesta. Nykypäivänä suullinen ja kirjallinen ‎potilasohjaus on hyvin tärkeää sillä ihmiset ovat entistä kiinnostuneempia terveydestään. ‎Kansainvälistymisen seurauksena olisi hyödyllistä että englanninkielistä materiaalia olisi enemmän ‎tarjolla. ‎Opinnäytetyön tarkoituksena oli lisätä ulkomaalaisten tietoa Suomen käytännöistä ‎itsehoitolääkkeiden sekä farmaseuttisen politiikan suhteen. Opinnäytetyö toteutettiin Tapiola ‎Apteekki – projektissa.‎ Opinnäytetyö toteutettiin toiminnallisena opinnäytetyönä. Materiaali kerättiin kirjallisuuskatsauksen ‎pohjalta. Esite tuotettiin hyödyntämällä ja seuraamalla terveysmateriaalin laatukriteerejä. Eettiset ‎näkökohdat huomioitiin tarkasti opinnäytetyötä kirjoittaessa ja esitettä tehdessä. Esitteen oli tarkoitus olla tiivis mutta kattava. Proviisori Tapiolan apteekista asiantuntijan roolissa ohjasi ja ‎arvioi esitettä prosessin aikana

Tomato Growth Promotion Induced by Stress Tolerant Phosphate Solubilizing Pseudomonas simiae in Arid trans-Himalaya

Pseudomonas simiae isolated from Seabuckthorn rhizosphere solubilized insoluble phosphate at 4-40ºC, pH 4-12 and in presence of 1-5% salt concentration. The optimum condition was observed at 28ºC, pH 6 and devoid of any salt stress. Ca3(PO4)2 was solubilized to a great extent than FePO4 and AlPO4. The isolate possess plant growth promoting attributes such as IAA (32 mg l-1), siderophore (78%) and HCN (0.1 OD at A625) production. Seed bacterization resulted in 30% and 51% enhanced shoot and root length, respectively in tomato seedling. Pot experiments revealed enhanced plant growth in P. simiae treated plants in both green shade net and open field conditions. Fruit yield was 9.8% and 19.8% higher over control in open and shade net condition, respectively.

Risk of developing active tuberculosis following tuberculosis screening and preventive therapy for Tibetan refugee children and adolescents in India: An impact assessment.

BackgroundTuberculosis (TB) rates among Tibetan refugee children and adolescents attending boarding schools in India are extremely high. We undertook a comprehensive case finding and TB preventive treatment (TPT) program in 7 schools in the Zero TB Kids project. We aimed to measure the TB infection and disease burden and investigate the risk of TB disease in children and adults who did and did not receive TPT in the schools.Methods and findingsA mobile team annually screened children and staff for TB at the 7 boarding schools in Himachal Pradesh, India, using symptom criteria, radiography, molecular diagnostics, and tuberculin skin tests. TB infection (TBI) was treated with short-course regimens of isoniazid and rifampin or rifampin. TB disease was treated according to Tibetan and Indian guidelines. Between April 2017 and December 2019, 6,582 schoolchildren (median age 14 [IQR 11-16] years) and 807 staff (median age 40 [IQR 33-48] years) were enrolled. Fifty-one percent of the students and 58% of the staff were females. Over 13,161 person-years of follow-up in schoolchildren (median follow-up 2.3 years) and 1,800 person-years of follow-up in staff (median follow-up 2.5 years), 69 TB episodes occurred in schoolchildren and 4 TB episodes occurred in staff, yielding annual incidence rates of 524/100,000 (95% CI 414-663/100,000) person-years and 256/100,000 (95% CI 96-683/100,000) person-years, respectively. Of 1,412 schoolchildren diagnosed with TBI, 1,192 received TPT. Schoolchildren who received TPT had 79% lower risk of TB disease (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.21; 95% CI 0.07-0.69; p = 0.010) compared to non-recipients, the primary study outcome. Protection was greater in recent contacts (aHR 0.07; 95% CI 0.01-0.42; p = 0.004), the secondary study outcome. The prevalence of recent contacts was 28% (1,843/6,582). Two different TPT regimens were used (3HR and 4R), and both were apparently effective. No staff receiving TPT developed TB. Overall, between 2017 and 2019, TB disease incidence decreased by 87%, from 837/100,000 (95% CI 604-1,129/100,000) person-years to 110/100,000 (95% CI 36-255/100,000) person-years (p ConclusionsIn this study, following implementation of a school-wide TB screening and preventive treatment program, we observed a significant reduction in the burden of TB disease and TBI in children and adolescents. The benefit of TPT was particularly marked for recent TB contacts. This initiative may serve as a model for TB detection and prevention in children and adolescents in other communities affected by TB