Okra cultivated during summer season is highly susceptible to mite infestation. These mites thrive in hot and dry conditions, leading to severe damage to the crop. Therefore, proper monitoring and timely management practices are essential to control mite infestation in summer-grown okra. A field experiment was conducted at College Farm, NAU, Navsari (India) from February to May 2021 in a randomized block design with eight treatments including a control so as to evaluate the efficacy of various acaricides against the spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae infesting okra in field condition. The results revealed that all the test acaricides were significantly superior over untreated control in checking the spider mite population. Among the acaricides, fenazaquin 10 EC @ 2.5 mL L-1 was most effective and gave 78.4% control of spider mite, which was at par with spiromesifen 240 SC @ 0.8 mL L-1 (76.73%) and propargite 57 EC @ 2 mL L-1 (76.62%), which were best, with higher mite mortality in okra. Fenpyroximate 5 EC @ 1 mL L-1 (62.22%) and diafenthiuron 50 WP @ 1 mL L-1 (51.24%) were positioned in the next order, while the lowest mite mortality was observed in hexythiazox 5.45 EC @ 1 mL L-1 (39.72%) and Hirsutella thompsonii @ 4 g mL-1 (25.69%).

Pleurotus eous (pink oyster mushroom) is an important edible mushroom known for its high nutritional value and ability to grow on lignocellulosic agro residues. However, successful cultivation largely depends on the selection of suitable spawn substrates. The present study was aimed to evaluate different grain substrates for spawn production, standardize spawn dose, and identify suitable locally available substrates for cultivation of P. eous. The experiment was conducted during 2020-2022 at the Mushroom Research Laboratory, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Neri, Hamirpur (India), using six grain substrates viz., wheat (Triticum aestivum), paddy (Oryza sativa), maize (Zea mays), kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum), bajra (Pennisetum glaucum), and jowar (Sorghum bicolor), and several lignocellulosic substrates. Among the spawn grains, bajra recorded maximum linear mycelial growth (91.58 mm), highest growth rate (9.62 mm day⁻¹), and minimum spawn run period (9.33 days). Maize grain gave the highest mushroom yield (2134 g kg⁻¹ dry substrate) with biological efficiency of 213.40%. Standardization of spawn dose revealed that 3% spawn rate resulted in shortest spawn run, earliest primordia formation, and highest yield (1850 g kg⁻¹). Among locally available substrates, paddy straw gave highest yield (2803 g kg⁻¹ dry substrate) with biological efficiency of 280.3%). The study concludes that maize grain spawn with 3% spawn dose and paddy straw substrate provides an efficient and cost-effective cultivation strategy for P. eous.

Powdery mildew disease adversely affects almost all the major temperate fruit crops leading to huge economic losses. An assessment of powdery mildew disease in important temperate fruit crops of the North-Western Himalayan region of India was conducted during 2021 and 2022. Surveys were conducted in three major districts of Kashmir valley - Srinagar, Pulwama, and Ganderbal - during peak periods conducive to disease development. The disease incidence and intensity recorded in these districts across the key crops revealed moderate to severe infection in apple, pear, quince, grape, and plum, while peach, apricot, walnut, and almond exhibited comparatively lower levels. Quince showed the highest average disease incidence (29.68%) and intensity (24.52%), followed by pear (14.40% and 11.05%), plum (16.39% and 10.76%), grape (12.75% and 8.55%), apricot (9.49 and 7.36%) and apple (8.71% and 5.84%, respectively). In contrast, walnut (3.73% and 2.26%), almond (3.52% and 2.38%) and peach (4.38% and 3.83%) recorded the lowest values. These findings highlight the crop-specific susceptibility pattern and underscore the need for targeted disease management strategies to mitigate the disease pressure, safeguard yield, and ensure sound crop health and sustainable fruit production.

The melon fruit fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett) (Diptera: Tephritidae), a major pest of cucurbits, is responsible for severe yield losses as well as trade restrictions due to its quarantine importance. The present study examined the biology, morphometry, and reproductive potential of Z. cucurbitae on bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) during two consecutive Kharif seasons (2023 and 2024) at OUAT, Bhubaneswar, Odisha (East & South Eastern Coastal Plain Zone) and ICAR-IIVR, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh (Middle Gangetic Plains), respectively. Laboratory-reared populations were assessed for developmental duration across the life stages, their morphometric traits, adult longevity, female fecundity, and male: female ratio. Minor spatial variations in the developmental dynamics of Z. cucurbitae was attributable to differences in populations established from maggots collected from infested fruits in Bhubaneswar and Varanasi. At Bhubaneswar, the fruit fly had a total life span of 37.45 ± 3.05 days in males and 41.30 ± 2.32 days in females, whereas at Varanasi the life span lasted for 40.90 ± 1.84 days in males and 45.55 ± 3.06 days in females. The durations of embryonic, maggot, and pupal stages also showed minor locational variation between the two populations. Morphometric parameters, including egg, maggot, pupal dimensions and adult measurements (length and width) exhibited minor variation between locations, with females consistently larger than males. High fecundity (78-81 eggs female-1) and a slightly male-biased sex ratio (1.15-1.24:1) were observed at both the locations. The study demonstrated population-level developmental variability and phenotypic plasticity in Z. cucurbitae even under uniform laboratory conditions.

Late spring frost is major abiotic stress factor causing significant yield losses in vegetable and fruit crops. Low temperatures induce intracellular ice formation, leading to the membrane damage, increased electrolyte leakage, and reduced tissue viability. Therefore, developing ecofriendly strategies to mitigate frost injury are essential. In this study, a natural antifreeze spray was developed using glycerol and sorbitol as osmoprotectants, safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) flower-extract as a natural antioxidant source, and sodium alginate as a film-forming biopolymer. The protective effect of the formulation was evaluated in buds, flowers, and young fruit tissues of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) under three temperature conditions (22-24°C, -4°C, and -10°C). Results revealed that the antifreeze treatment significantly improved tissue viability and reduced freezing-induced damage. At -10°C, cellular damage in seed tissues decreased from 82.8% to 30.0%, representing approximately 52% reduction in cell damage. Electrolyte leakage was also reduced from 97.3% to 75.0%, indicating enhanced membrane stability. Overall, the developed formulation effectively mitigated freezing damage and unveiled potential to protect cold-sensitive crops.

The phytopharmaceutical industry increasingly employs advanced medicinal chemistry tools, including molecular docking, to facilitate the rational design and development of effective therapeutics against complex diseases such as cancer. In the present study, the anticancer potential of phytoconstituents from Memecylon randerianum was evaluated against Dalton’s lymphoma ascites (DLA) and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) tumour cell lines. The cytotoxic activity of the plant extract was further assessed using HeLa cervical cancer cells, MCF-7 breast cancer cells, and L929 fibroblast cell lines through the MTT assay. High-resolution liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (HR LCMS) analysis was performed to identify the chemical constituents present in the leaf extract. An in silico approach was subsequently employed to validate the pharmacological relevance and bioactivity of the identified compounds. Cosmosiin emerged as the predominant phytoconstituent in M. randerianum leaves. The ADMET characteristics of cosmosiin were predicted and analysed using the pkCSM and SwissADME tools. Protein-ligand interactions were visualised through two-dimensional diagrams generated using LigPlot+. The findings suggest that the cytotoxic effects exhibited by M. randerianum against cancer cell lines may be attributed to the presence of bioactive flavonoid, cosmosiin, highlighting its potential as a promising source for the development of novel anticancer drug leads.

Dehydration of green chillies is a highly effective preservation technique that reduces moisture content, enhances storability, and ensures year-round availability, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. This study evaluated the influence of three cultivars namely ‘Beldanga’, ‘Bidhan Chilli-4’, and ‘Bullet’ on the physicochemical and functional properties of green chilli powder (GCP) produced using different drying methods under ambient storage conditions (21-39°C and 42–93% relative humidity). The drying treatments included: sun drying for 8 ± 1 days; hot air drying at 60°C for 48 ± 1 h; osmotic treatment in 30% salt solution for 120 min followed by hot air drying at 60°C for 30 ± 1 h; and osmotic treatments in 30% salt: sugar (3:1) and 30% salt: vinegar (3:1) solutions, each followed by hot air drying at 60°C for 30 ± 1 h. The results showed GCP had low moisture content (9.50%), low bulk density (470 kg m⁻³), relatively high tapped density (690 kg m⁻³), and poor flowability (Carr index: 28.78%), depicting a compact and highly compressible powder structure. These properties remained stable even after 180 days of ambient storage. Among the cultivars, ‘Bidhan Chilli-4’ demonstrated superior quality attributes. Hot air drying proved most effective processing method, followed by osmotic pre-treatment combined with hot air drying using salt + sugar (3:1) and salt + vinegar (3:1) solutions. Overall, the findings emphasize that careful cultivar selection and optimized drying techniques are critical for preserving the quality and nutritional value of GCP during extended storage.

Many people both male and female use hair dye to change their hair colour, but theses dyes induce several deteriorating effects like DNA damage, apoptosis and cancers. This study investigated the association of hair dye use and hematological alterations, oxidative damage, and cell death by measuring blood indices and genes expression involved in DNA damage and repair, and apoptotic pathways (XRCC1, p53, cytochrome C, and caspase-9) in women. A total of 50 women, comprising of 25 regular hair dye users and 25 age-matched controls, were enrolled in this case-control study and venous blood samples were collected to evaluate hematological indices and oxidative stress biomarkers (TAC and MDA). Gene expression levels of DNA damage and repair markers (XRCC1 and p53) and apoptosis-related markers (Caspase-9 and Cytochrome C) were quantified in peripheral blood lymphocytes using reverse transcription quantitative PCR. Our findings showed that both Hb levels and RBC count were significantly reduced in hair-dyed group, along with significant elevation in WBC count suggesting the inflammatory response against the chemicals used in hair dyes. In terms of oxidative damage, total antioxidant capacity was significantly depleted along with significant rise in malondialdehyde (MDA) and Caspase-3 levels in women using hair-dyes suggesting the oxidative stress and cell apoptosis mediated by hair dyes. The increased expression of XRCC1, p53, Caspase-9, and cytochrome C further substantiated the opinion that hair dye chemicals induce DNA damage and apoptosis. The findings emphasise on the need for more long-term monitoring of the impacts of exposure to hair colour and raise alarms on the risk of prolonged use of hair dyes.

Phytsyhthesized nanoparticles from different medicinal plants are currently exploited for large scale biomedical applications. The biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was carried out by using the aqueous extract of Vitex leucoxylon bark and its properties evaluated by UV-vis spectroscopy, FTIR, and XRD analysis. Also, the antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and antioxidant properties of biosynthesized AgNPs were assessed using standard methods. A characteristic surface plasmon resonance peak at 435 nm, observed in UV visible spectrum, confirmed the formation of V. leucoxylon bark aqueous extract-based AgNPs (Vl-AgNP). The peaks in FTIR analysis showed the presence of several organic constituents that acted as capping and reducing substances. XRD measurements confirmed that Vl-AgNPs were crystalline face-centred cubic structures. DLS analysis of synthesized AgNPs showed a mean hydrodynamic diameter of 177.6 nm with low polydispersity (0.090) and high colloidal stability (−82.8 mV). SEM-EDX analysis showed it to be uniformly distributed Vl-AgNP, while TEM analysis revealed spherical nanoparticles of 50 to 64 nm size. The Vl-AgNPs demonstrated substantial anti-bacterial activity towards human pathogenic bacteria and strong antioxidant activity in dose-dependent manner with maximum inhibition against Escherichia coli. Antioxidant activity showed dose-dependent radical scavenging activity, reaching 77.42 ± 1.25% in DPPH assay at 100 µg mL-1, while FRAP analysis demonstrated moderate reducing power. In vitro cyto toxicity studies using the MTT assay revealed dose-dependent inhibition of HeLa cells line with an IC₅₀ value of 74.38 µg mL-1. These findings confirm the notable bioactivity of Vl-AgNPs, highlighting their potential biomedical applications.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease of synovial joints. Hip is the most often afflicted joint in dogs, which makes them reluctant to walk and engage in daily activities. The present study was aimed to assess the morphological changes in osteoarthritic hip joint using radiography and computed tomography. The study was conducted on 30 dogs divided into 3 groups. Group I and II comprised of 6 young (3-5 months) and 6 adult (> 12 months age) indigenous non-lame dogs, respectively, as control. The group III comprised of 18 clinical cases of dog with hip osteoarthritis. Highest distribution of hip osteoarthritis was recorded in Labrador breed of dogs with male dogs being more frequently affected (83.33%) than females. Group II exhibited a significantly reduced joint space (0.09 ± 0.01) as compared to group I (0.19 ± 0.02). Radiographic observation of group III showed coxofemoral luxation and alterations in normal architecture of femoral head, trochanter and acetabulum due to osteophytes formation. Radiographic scoring and categorization of hip osteoarthritis revealed maximum cases (12) of severe osteoarthritis. Computed tomography scan revealed specific lesions of bony changes including presence of minor osteophytes and variation in bone density (Hounsfield unit) in osteoarthritic hip joints compared to normal joints.

Balanced general anaesthesia is pre-requisite for surgical interventions in dogs. The present study was aimed to compare dexmedetomidine and acepromazine premedication in combination with butorphanol and glycopyrrolate in propofol-anesthetised and isoflurane-maintained ASA III dogs. A randomised clinical study was done on 21 dogs. Group 1 included 9 dogs pre-anesthetised with butorphanol (0.2 mg kg-1) + dexmedetomidine (10 µg kg-1) + glycopyrrolate (0.01 mg kg-1) combination, while group 2 included 12 dogs pre anesthetised with butorphanol (0.2 mg kg-1) + acepromazine (0.05 mg kg-1) + glycopyrrolate (0.01 mg kg-1) combination, intramuscularly. Anaesthesia was induced with propofol 2-4 mg kg-1, intravenous, and was maintained with isoflurane mixed in 100% oxygen. Heart rate, respiration rate, temperature, blood pressure, oxygen supplementation, isoflurane requirement and end tidal CO2 were noted every 10 min. Post-induction apnoea was common in group 1. The oxygen flow rate and isoflurane requirements were high in group 2 throughout the surgery. Significant bradycardia was recorded after premedication in both the groups, which was more profound in group 1. Group 2 showed tachycardia after induction with propofol. The blood pressure increased significantly post-induction in group 1, while group 2 showed sustained hypotension. The recovery was faster in group 1, although the quality of recovery was similar in both the groups. In conclusions, dexmedetomidine (10 µg kg-1) produced profound sedation and faster recovery than acepromazine in ASA III dogs. Both the combinations were safe for ASA III dogs however, with prominent cardiovascular effect of drugs recorded in ASA III dogs, a reduction in dose or change in protocol (induction agent) is recommended.

The increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria has necessitated to formulate alternative antimicrobial strategies. This study evaluated the antibacterial efficacy of lemongrass oil (LGO) nanoencapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles against MDR Staphylococcus aureus (MDRSA) and Escherichia coli (MDREC). Ionic gelation technique was used to synthesise lemongrass oil loaded chitosan nanoparticles which were further characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), UV-Visible spectrophotometry, and FTIR analysis. A significant increase in particle size from 168.7 nm for plain chitosan nanoparticles to 318.7 nm following LGO encapsulation, with acceptable polydispersity was observed through DLS, while FESEM confirmed spherical nanoparticles with smooth surfaces and sizes ranging from 50 to 150 nm. Encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity range was 41.7-91.17 and 21.36-74.36%, respectively, with maximum values observed at a 1:1 chitosan-to-LGO ratio. Nanoencapsulation significantly enhanced the antibacterial activity, with LGO-loaded nanoparticles exhibiting lower MIC values as compared to the free LGO against MDRSA (0.052% vs 0.125%) and MDREC (0.0104% vs 0.25%). Similarly, reduced MBC values were observed for the nanoformulation. These findings demonstrate that chitosan-based nanoencapsulation significantly improves the antibacterial efficacy of lemongrass oil against MDR pathogens.

Light intensity is a key factor affecting the growth and yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.). This study evaluated 200 F2 progenies from a ‘GAR-2 × Danteshwari’ cross under 30% shading at ICAR-NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya (India) to assess low light tolerance. The experiment was conducted in an augmented design with six standard checks (Swarnaprabha, IR8, Shah Sarang, Swarna, GAR-2, and Danteshwari), and the data was recorded for 10 agronomic traits related to growth and yield parameters. Phenotypic variability, heritability, and genetic advance were estimated, followed by marker polymorphism and marker-trait association analysis using known SSR markers and newly developed InDel markers. Significant variations were observed in seed yield plant-1 (SYPP) (p ≤ 0.05) and traits such as plant height (PH), days to flowering (DTF), days to maturity (DTM), days to harvest (DTH), number of tillers (NOT), number of effective tillers (NOET), spikelet fertility (SF), biomass (BIO), and 100-seed weight (HSW) (p ≤ 0.01). High heritability and genetic advance for DTH, DTM, HSW, NOT, PH, and SF indicated additive gene action. Marker analysis revealed polymorphisms in four markers: ‘LLG4-1’, ‘LLG4 2’, ‘HvSSR02-44’, and ‘HvSSR09-45’. Marker-trait association identified ‘HvSSR09-45’ to be significantly associated with seven traits (NOT, PH, DTF, DTM, DTH, BIO, & HSW), HvSSR02-44 with 2 traits (PH & HSW), and ‘LLG4-1’ with single trait (SYPP). These markers can be effectively utilized in marker-assisted selection in developing low light-tolerant rice varieties.

Post-transfusion iron toxicity in β-thalassemia major can lead to organ damage, which may include injury to the liver and kidneys. Monitoring the iron levels through hepcidin is crucial for patients due to thalassemia. This study was aimed to assess correlation between serum ferritin and hepcidin, and evaluate their role in tracking iron availability following frequent transfusions in these patients. Thirty subjects (19 males and 11 females) suffering β-thalassemia were chosen at Brainware Diagnostic & Research Center, Kolkata, West Bengal (India) against 15 normal individuals. The medical records of patients were examined by using standard criteria. Hematological parameters were recorded, and biochemical assessment was done for serum ferritin, hepcidin, TIBC, LFT, and RFT. The results showed lower RBC indices and notably higher serum ferritin and hepcidin levels in thalassemic patients than in controls. ALP, AST, and ALT levels in patients were 79.03 ± 10.82, 67.12 ± 11.13, and 253.18 ± 22.01 IU L-1, respectively. Significantly (p<0.001) higher levels of creatinine were found in β thalassemia patients than in control. The study revealed a positive correlation between ferritin and hepcidin as well as LFT parameters. Hepcidin was found to be positively correlated with creatinine. Hence, assessing hepcidin and ferritin concentrations is an important marker for identifying a heightened risk for renal and hepatic toxicity in patients diagnosed with β-thalassemia major.