Laboratory evaluation of pesticides on oviposition, egg mortality and feeding deterrence on cashew stem and root borer, Plocaederus ferrugenius L. (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

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Estimation of Soil Moisture for Different Crops Using SAR Polarimetric Data

Soil moisture is an essential factor that influences agricultural productivity and hydrological processes. Soil moisture estimation using field detection methods takes time and is challenging. However, using Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) technology, soil moisture parameters become easier to detect. In microwave remote sensing, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data helps to retrieve soil moisture from more considerable depths because of its high penetration capability and the illumination power of its light source. This study aims to process the SAR Sentinel-1A data and estimate soil moisture using the Water Cloud Model (WCM). Many physical and empirical models have been developed to determine soil moisture from microwave remote sensing platforms. However, the Water Cloud Model gives more accurate results. In this study, the WCM model is used for mixed crop types. The experimental soil moisture was determined from in-situ soil samples collected from various agricultural areas. The soil backscattering values corresponding to the different soil sampling locations were derived from Sentinel SAR data. Using linear regression analysis, the laboratory's soil moisture results and soil backscattering values were correlated to arrive at a model. The model was validated using a secondary set of in-situ moisture content values taken during the same period. The R2 and RMSE of the model were observed to be 0.825 and 0.0274, respectively, proving a strong correlation between the experimental soil moisture and satellite-derived soil moisture for mixed crop field types. This paper explains the methodology for arriving at a model for soil moisture estimation. This model helps to recommend suitable crop types in large, complex areas based on predicted moisture content. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2023-09-06-08 Full Text: PD

Bilateral ovarian teratoma complicated with carcinosarcoma in a 68 year old woman: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Composing of less than 1% of all ovarian cancers, immature teratoma is a malignancy that mainly affects the young, and they present with advanced disease. The treatment of immature teratoma is conservative primary surgery usually involving unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy followed by combination chemotherapy.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>Here we present a case of a 68 year old woman with bilateral ovarian teratoma complicated with carcinosarcoma. The patient was diagnosed as FIGO stage IIIC. She underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy and interval cytoreduction followed by optimal cytoreduction. The post operative management strategies and gynaecological follow up studies revealed no evidence of regional or distant metastasis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Thus the choice of initial treatment should be decided in a selective fashion depending on various prognostic factors in order to increase the survival of the patients.</p

Protective responses of antioxidant enzymes against bisphenol-A induced oxidative stress in Asian Seabass Lates calcarifer

1458-1463Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disruptor used as plastic monomer and plasticizer widely present in the aquatic environment. In the present study, the effect of BPA on the antioxidant system in Lates calcarifer was documented. Three different concentrations such as 1, 10, 100 &micro;g/l were selected and exposed to fishes for 30 days. After BPA exposure, antioxidant parameters were estimated against control. The levels of marker enzymes were assessed in the gill, muscle, liver and brain tissues. The results showed that the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and lipid peroxidation (LPx) were increased in treated groups than control. On the other hand, reduced glutathione (GSH) level was decreased in BPA exposed groups compared to control. Based on the results, imbalance in the antioxidant defence system clearly indicated that the BPA toxicity could lead to susceptible oxidative stress in various tissues of the fish L. calcarifer

Fatty acid desaturase-2 (ahFAD2) mutant alleles in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) pre-breeding lines: an insight into the source, features, discourse, and selection of novel pre-breeding lines

High oleic peanuts and derived food products offer longer shelf life benefits to the food processing industry in addition to multiple health benefits to the consumers. The two mutant alleles, ahFAD2A and ahFAD2B control composition of oleic, linoleic and palmitic acid content in peanut. A total of 563 peanut pre-breeding lines were tested for the presence ahFAD2A and ahFAD2B mutant alleles using allele specific markers. The ahFAD2A mutant allele was present in 82 lines, while none of these lines had ahFAD2B mutant allele. Among botanical types, ahFAD2A mutant allele was more frequent in lines with Virginia growth habit than Spanish bunch although no correlation of ahFAD2A mutant allele with high oleic acid content and growth habit could be established. Oleic and linoleic acid content in 82 prebreeding lines ranged from 39.70 to 62.70% and 17.76 to 31.95%, respectively, with maximum oleic to linoleic acid ratio of 4. Oleic acid was found to be negatively correlated with linoleic and palmitic acid. Further, pre-breeding lines with ahFAD2A mutant allele, high oleic content and high oleic to linoleic ratio were investigated and novel lines were identified for resistance to late leaf spot, short duration, higher pod yield and other yield related traits. These novel pre-breeding lines can be used as a potential donor in peanut improvement programme and to diversify the primary gene pool including initiating further research on induction of fresh ahFAD2B mutant allele

Impact of blockchain technology adoption in farms of FPO members

BCT adoption remains to be a promising way to achieve food security and safety in many developing countries. This paper explores the impact of blockchain technology adoption on household farm income. Based on a simple random sampling method, a cross sectional survey was conducted in the year 2023 to collect data from 240 sample farmers including 120 BCT adopters and 120 non-adopters in Erode district of Tamil Nadu. The information regarding socio-economic profiles like age, gender, educational status, farming experience, farm size, extension agency contact, training programmes attended, access to technological information were collected from sample farmers through personal interviews. The present research used a treatment effect analysis with propensity score matching approach to assess the impact of blockchain technology adoption on household’s farm income. Results showed a significant increase in farm income as a result of blockchain technology adoption among sample farmers. PSM approach estimated that the blockchain technology adopters earned higher farm income of ₹25829.16 as compared to non-adopters. Hence the findings provide empirical evidence that blockchain technology adoption in agriculture can contribute to improve quality food production and enhance farm income

Advances in Crop Improvement and Delivery Research for Nutritional Quality and Health Benefits of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Groundnut is an important global food and oil crop that underpins agriculture-dependent livelihood strategies meeting food, nutrition, and income security. Aflatoxins, pose a major challenge to increased competitiveness of groundnut limiting access to lucrative markets and affecting populations that consume it. Other drivers of low competitiveness include allergens and limited shelf life occasioned by low oleic acid profile in the oil. Thus grain off-takers such as consumers, domestic, and export markets as well as processors need solutions to increase profitability of the grain. There are some technological solutions to these challenges and this review paper highlights advances in crop improvement to enhance groundnut grain quality and nutrient profile for food, nutrition, and economic benefits. Significant advances have been made in setting the stage for marker-assisted allele pyramiding for different aflatoxin resistance mechanisms—in vitro seed colonization, pre-harvest aflatoxin contamination, and aflatoxin production—which, together with pre- and post-harvest management practices, will go a long way in mitigating the aflatoxin menace. A breakthrough in aflatoxin control is in sight with overexpression of antifungal plant defensins, and through host-induced gene silencing in the aflatoxin biosynthetic pathway. Similarly, genomic and biochemical approaches to allergen control are in good progress, with the identification of homologs of the allergen encoding genes and development of monoclonal antibody based ELISA protocol to screen for and quantify major allergens. Double mutation of the allotetraploid homeologous genes, FAD2A and FAD2B, has shown potential for achieving >75% oleic acid as demonstrated among introgression lines. Significant advances have been made in seed systems research to bridge the gap between trait discovery, deployment, and delivery through innovative partnerships and action learning

High oleic peanuts for Asia and Africa to meet the needs of the food processing industries

High oleic peanuts offer longer shelf-life benefits to food processing industry, health benefits to consumers and increases profitability to farmers through premium price compared to normal peanuts. International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in collaboration with national partners of India has developed high oleic peanuts in Spanish and Virginia Bunch growth habit suitable for cultivation in Asia and Africa. The oleic acid concentration in high oleic peanuts is 80+2% as against 45-50% in normal peanuts. The high oleic lines were developed using SunOleic 95R as donor parent from the USA employing marker-assisted selection (MAS) and marker-assisted backcrossing (MABC) approaches. Process innovation in breeding and testing pipeline that include, high through phenotyping using Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS), genotyping, rapid generation advancement under controlled conditions, target site testing to fix the best allele combinations and multi-location testing resulted in enhanced rate of genetic gain for high oleic trait. ICRISAT has shared high oleic peanut lines with national partners in India, Uganda, Tanzania, Mali, Malawi, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Australia. High oleic lines are in national trials under All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Peanut (AICRP-G) during rainy 2017 and 2018 and this is the first such speciality trial being conducted in India and it is expected that India will release its first high oleic peanut variety in 2019. Fast-track development and commercialization of high oleic varieties in India was enabled through partnerships

High oleic peanuts for Asia and Africa to meet the needs of the food processing industries

High oleic peanuts offer longer shelf-life benefits to food processing industry, health benefits to consumers and increases profitability to farmers through premium price compared to normal peanuts. International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in collaboration with national partners of India has developed high oleic peanuts in Spanish and Virginia Bunch growth habit suitable for cultivation in Asia and Africa. The oleic acid concentration in high oleic peanuts is 80+2% as against 45-50% in normal peanuts. The high oleic lines were developed using SunOleic 95R as donor parent from the USA employing marker-assisted selection (MAS) and marker-assisted backcrossing (MABC) approaches. Process innovation in breeding and testing pipeline that include, high through phenotyping using Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS), genotyping, rapid generation advancement under controlled conditions, target site testing to fix the best allele combinations and multi-location testing resulted in enhanced rate of genetic gain for high oleic trait. ICRISAT has shared high oleic peanut lines with national partners in India, Uganda, Tanzania, Mali, Malawi, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Australia. High oleic lines are in national trials under All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Peanut (AICRP-G) during rainy 2017 and 2018 and this is the first such speciality trial being conducted in India and it is expected that India will release its first high oleic peanut variety in 2019. Fast-track development and commercialization of high oleic varieties in India was enabled through partnerships