FRUIT ORIENTATION ALTERS THE QUALITY OF LITCHI (LITCHI CHINENSIS SONN.) UNDER THE AGRO-CLIMATIC CONDITIONS OF EASTERN INDIA

Objective: The experiment was conducted on ten litchi cultivars, namely; Purbi, Bedana, Lal Bombay, Mandaraji, Calcuttia, Late Bedana, Trikolia, Dehradoon, Dehrarose, and Seedless No. 2 to assess the physical and chemical composition of fruit as affected by fruit orientation on the tree. Methods: Fruits were picked both from the lower and upper half portion of the tree at fully ripened stage and physio-chemical attributes were analyzed. Results: The result indicated that fruits at lower half portion were not only heavy in weight but also had more percentage of total acidity. However, stone weight, ascorbic acid content, and total sugars were found to be more in fruits collected from the upper half portion of the tree. Conclusion: It can be suggested that picking should be started from those fruits which are positioned at the lower half portion of the tree to collect fruits of superior quality

Correlation between CT phenotypic patterns with clinical, nutritional and pulmonary function parameters among COPD patients

Background: COPD is a multi-dimensional disorder with multiple phenotypes. The commonly used GOLD guidelines and Spirometry do not fully reflect the heterogeneous nature of the disease, structural abnormalities, and phenotypes. This necessitates CT phenotyping because of difference in treatment strategies, disease progression and response to treatment.Methods: We conducted our study on 40 male COPD subjects aged more than 45 years, divided them into 4 groups based on CT phenotype as normal, Airway Dominant (AD), Emphysema Dominant (ED) and mixed types.  We compared the clinical parameters, spirometry indices, markers of nutrition (including BMI) across these phenotypes. CT phenotypes were determined by Low Attenuation Area (LAA) and Wall area.Results: In our study, 16 (40%) had airway dominant (AD), 15 (37.5%) had emphysema dominant (ED), 4 (10%) had mixed, and 5 (12.5%) had normal CT phenotype.  The various nutrition indicators like height, weight, BMI, fat-free mass index was not statistically significant. The difference in the median FEV1/FVC across CT phenotypes was statistically significant (P Value 0.002). The difference in Haemoglobin, Total protein, Albumin, Triglycerides and Total Cholesterol was not statistically significant across CT Phenotypes.Conclusions: The GOLD guidelines do not fully reflect the heterogeneous nature of the disease which necessitates CT phenotyping. In our study, there was a significant association between BMI, FEV1/FVC ratio with CT phenotypes. Identifying the different phenotypes of COPD will allow us to implement a more personalized treatment and choose the best treatment option

Effect of in situ Rainwater Harvesting and Mulching on Growth, Yield and Fruit Quality in Mango Var. Arka Neelachal Kesri in Eastern India

A field study was conducted at Central Horticultural Experiment Station (ICAR-IIHR), Bhubaneswar, India, during 2007-2013 in a new mango orchard of the variety 'Arka Neelachal Kesri' at 5m x 5m spacing, to conserve rain-water and to enhance soil moisture availability during dry periods for augmenting plant growth and fruit production. Among the four in situ rain-water harvesting techniques (cup-and-plate, half-moon, full-moon, and trench) evaluated in combination with three types of mulch (no mulch, inorganic mulch, and organic mulch), the cup-and-plate system resulted in maximum annual increment in vegetative growth and fruit yield (4.67kg/plant), while, organic (paddy straw) and inorganic (black polythene, 100μ thickness) mulches improved vegetative growth, fruit yield and TSS in fruit significantly over no mulch

Narrow genetic base of Indian litchi (Litchi chinensis) cultivars based on molecular markers

Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) is an introduced crop in India and has limited genetic variability characterized by differences in flushing pattern, leaf, panicle and fruit traits. Molecular markers were employed to expose the genetic diversity of 20 litchi cultivars from the Indian peninsula and facilitate documentation of the native germplasm diversity. Efficiency of individual primers was evaluated on the basis of average band informativeness and resolving power, where random oligonucleotide markers OPA-5 and OPA-3 scored best. Among tested microsatellite markers, ISSR 01 and 13 had high values for primer efficiency and these were found to supplement simple sequence repeats for generation of cultivar barcode and clustering analyses. Efficiency of microsatellites (Simple Sequence Repeats and Inter Simple Sequence Repeats) was established by high values for polymorphism (0.691), diversity index (0.264), effective multiplex ratio (48.8470) and marker index (12.896), thus reiterating its potential as for developing barcodes for cultivar identification and conservation. Phylogenetic analysis based on RAPD and microsatellites revealed clustering of the cultivars into four major groups, although within a very narrow range (0.63 - 0.90) of similarity, viz. Seedless (i.e. Bedana), Mandarji, Shahi and China groups. The clustering followed grouping based on fruit morphology, leaf and panicle attributes disagreeing with earlier views regarding incongruity of clustering pattern with morphological, ecological and climatic adaptations. Discrimination of cultivars like Dehrarose and Dehradun, being often labeled as synonyms, was also done. Interestingly high polymorphism and low gene diversity have been exposed by molecular markers, commenting on narrow genetic background of litchi cultivars from India

Evaluation of different methods of crop regulation in guava grown under rainfed plateau conditions of eastern India

Guava is an important fru it crop which is successfully grown over a wide range of climatic conditions due to its wide adaptability. The Chotanagpur region of eastern plateau and hills agroclimatic zone has been a traditional guava growing region where the crop is mostly grown under rainfed conditions. Being a drought hardy, precocious bearing crop with medium size canopy, it provides a suitable option to be grown as a filler crop under the fruit based multitier cropping system recommended for the rainfed uplands of Eastern plateau and hill agro-ecological zone for improving the land use efficiency. However, poor soil fertility coupled with low water holding capacity of soil of guava orchards of the region results in smaller sized guava fruits obtained from the region, which fetches lower market price than that obtained from other traditionally guava growing areas like Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Different methods of crop regulation have been successfully demonstrated for improving the yield and fruit quality of guava. Reduction of crop load of rainy season crop through foli ar application of different crop regulating chemicals like urea (Rajput et al., 6; Singh et al., 9, 1 O; Sahay and Kumar, 7), 2,4-D (Kumar and Hoda, 3), potassium iodide (Narayana et al., 4), NAA (Choudhury et al., 1) to increase the yield and quality of winter season crop have been successfully standardized for different agro-climatic zone. However, no such work has been reported under the rainfed conditions of sub-humid subtropical plateau conditions of eastern India. Manual deblossoming of flowers for rainy season crop for enhancement of winter season guava which does not involve any external input other than human labour, has also been found effective by different workers (Kumar and Hoda, 3; Singh et al., 11 ). Singh et al. (8) reported economic feasibility of crop regulation in guava through foliar application of urea under Lucknow conditions. Keeping this in view, the investigations were carried out to evaluate the efficacy of chemical and manual m.ethods of crop regulation of guava grown under rainfed plateau conditions of eastern India in terms of yield and profitability.In Allahabad Safeda guava, foliar application of NAA (200 ppm) resulted in maximum yield of winter season crop. With respect to the profitability of crop regulation through chemical spray the net profit was the maximum in case of 2,4-0 (40 ppm) followed by 2,4-0 (60 ppm), NAA (200 ppm) and NAA (100 ppm). In case of Lucknow-49, the maximum increase in yield of winter season crop was observed in case of foliar application of NAA (200 ppm). With respect to profitability of crop regulation, the maximum net profit per plant due to crop regulation, it was the ·maximum in case of NAA (200 ppm). With respect to crop regulation through hand deblossoming in guava cv.Allahabad Safeda, removal of 50% rainy season crop was at par with that in case of 100% crop removal with respect to yield of winter season crop during both the years. Profitability of crop regulation through manual removal of rainy season crop indicated maximum net profit in case of 50% removal of rainy season crop during both the years. In case of Lucknow-49, the maximum total yield was observed in case of 50% crop removal. With respect to profitability of crop regulation, the maximum net profit with sufficient yield was obtained in case of 50% crop removal

Evaluation of Guava (Psidium guajava L.) Germplasm Under Eastern Plateau and Hill Region

Not AvailableGuava is one of the most important fruit crops of eastern plateau and hill region. 21 genotypes of guava were evaluated/or fruit quality and yield of ra111y and winter season crop under this region. During rainy season, the maximum fruit weight was recorded i11 Chittidarr (174.33g) followed by Sardar (146.00g). The fruits of Kairnla Seedling recorded the maximum TSS (1 I. 0°8) whe reas lite maximum titratable acidihJ was observed in case of Chittidar (0.41 %). Tire rnltivar Sardar accounted for the maximum ascorbic acid content of 23S-mg/100gm pulp. The maximum yield (19.2 kg/plant) d11ring rainy season was recorded in case of Sardar. During winter season, the maxi111llm fruit weight was recorded in case of Allalwb11d Safeda (242. lg). The TSS ranged from 9.01113 (1-larijha) to 14.0 °13 (Barbadose Superior). The minimum htratable acidity (0.24 %) was recorded in case of I iarij!ta, Allahnlmd Safeda, Kairala Seedling and Sind/L The maximllm ascorbic acid content of 270111g/100 gm pulp was found m cnse of mil mars Sardar and Portugal (262 .0mg/lOOgm pulp). The rnltivar Spear Acid had the maximum total sugar of 6.17% du ring winter season . The maximum yield of winter season crop (14.6 kg/plant) was recorded in case of Barbndose Superior. Bnsed_on frn it quality and yield, the cultivars Allahabad Safeda, Sardar, Mild Fleshed, Chiltidar, Mustafap11r, T-lnrijha, Behat Cocon11l and Bar.mdose Superior were fou nd suitable for rnltivation in the plateau region of /Jharkhand

FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS OF LITCHI GENOTYPES UNDER CHOTANAGPUR CONDITIONS

The litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) is an important evergreen sub-tropical fruit tree specific to climatic requirement for 'its production. Litchi possesses a narrow genetic base for various agrom ophol ogical traits. Continuous vegetative propagation of commercial cultivars has further narrowed down the genetic base resulting in the .restricted period of availability of fruits in the market. Cultivars have been classified on the basis of economic traits in China and on the basis of growth and flowering pattern in India (Arora et al. 1996; Singh, 1998). Rai and Vishal Nath (2001) reported a total of 51 genotypes being augmented from different litchi growing regions and maintained at HARP, Ranchi. Xuequin (1995) reported 20-25 main litchi types possessing characters of larger fruit size, small stone, thick and free aril of good quality with good flavor having canning quality from south China. However, cultivar synonymy does exit due to the insufficient information on i:;haracterization for different fruit morphological traits and delineation of the characters in its original name. Only few cultivars and be distinguished based on their fruits characters and maturity period. which creates confusion in identifying the suitable cultivar for any specific region. Keeping this in view, a study was carried out to characterize the different litchi genotypes on the basis of physico-chemical characteristics of fruit under the Chotanagpur plateau region of eastern IndiaUtchi has narrow genetic base owing to greater use of asexual propagation. Cultivar synonymy on the basis of local nomenclature causes confusion in identifying a genotype for any specific purpose. There fore, 17 genotypes under study have been characterized on the basis of fruit shape index (FSI), specific gravity, seed shape index (SS/), flatness of seed, number of protuberances/cm' and other physico-chemica/ characters of fruit. The cultivars China, Purbi and Bombaiya-11 found to have elongated fruit shape whereas Bedana, Swarna Roopa, Trikolia and Shahi posses roundish fruit shape. Regarding pulp %, the cultivars Bedana, D. Rose, Late Bedana, Green and Rose Scented has the high values. The cultivars Purbi, China, Swarna Roopa and Dehradun has thick peel. Widely spread protuberances was noticed in cultivars Swarna Roopa, Dehradun and Bedana. Bedana, Late Bed;ma and Swarna Roopa had smaller seeds. The cul/ivars Bombaiya-1, Bombaiya-11, Late Bedana, CHES-II, China and Purbi had slender seeds while Deshi, Bombaiya-1 and Late Bedana has flat seeds.Not Availabl

Disruptive Autoencoders: Leveraging Low-level features for 3D Medical Image Pre-training

Harnessing the power of pre-training on large-scale datasets like ImageNet forms a fundamental building block for the progress of representation learning-driven solutions in computer vision. Medical images are inherently different from natural images as they are acquired in the form of many modalities (CT, MR, PET, Ultrasound etc.) and contain granulated information like tissue, lesion, organs etc. These characteristics of medical images require special attention towards learning features representative of local context. In this work, we focus on designing an effective pre-training framework for 3D radiology images. First, we propose a new masking strategy called local masking where the masking is performed across channel embeddings instead of tokens to improve the learning of local feature representations. We combine this with classical low-level perturbations like adding noise and downsampling to further enable low-level representation learning. To this end, we introduce Disruptive Autoencoders, a pre-training framework that attempts to reconstruct the original image from disruptions created by a combination of local masking and low-level perturbations. Additionally, we also devise a cross-modal contrastive loss (CMCL) to accommodate the pre-training of multiple modalities in a single framework. We curate a large-scale dataset to enable pre-training of 3D medical radiology images (MRI and CT). The proposed pre-training framework is tested across multiple downstream tasks and achieves state-of-the-art performance. Notably, our proposed method tops the public test leaderboard of BTCV multi-organ segmentation challenge.Comment: Preprin