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Mycosphaerella musicola, M. fijiensis and M. eumusae are known to cause banana yellow Sigatoka, black Sigatoka and Eumusae leaf spot diseases respectively. However, differentiating the causative species has been challenging and the responses of banana landraces to this pathogen were little known. Purposive sampling surveys were conducted in different agro-climatic zones of Kerala state, India, to collect the leaf samples with Sigatoka leaf spot-like symptoms, to document the symptom expression on different landraces and to confirm the identity of the pathogen at species level. Fields surveyed during the post-monsoon period had 100% disease incidence with highest per cent disease severity of 43.90% in nine-month old cv. Palayankodan, while lowest PDS of 3.33% was observed in three-month old cv. Njalipoovan, during a pre-monsoon survey. Initial symptoms were small brown streaks, later developing into oval or elliptical brown spots with greyish centre and subsequently coalescing for leaf necrosis. Symptoms in different landraces varied across the zones. Sequencing and analysis of the ITS region from 50 isolates collected during the survey showed 99–100% homology with M. eumusae. Phylogenetic analyses further proved the species identity of the local isolates. Comparing the ITS barcodes of the three species of Mycosphaerella along with the local isolates confirmed that the pathogen inciting Sigatoka leaf spot in Kerala state, India, is Mycosphaerella eumusae.

The fungal diseases in banana cause major yield losses for millions of farmers around the globe. Early detection of these diseases helps the farmers to devise successful management strategies. The characteristic leaf blade discoloration pattern at the earlier stages of infection could be used to understand the onset of each disease. This paper demonstrates a methodology for classification of three important foliar diseases in banana, using local texture features. The disease affected regions are identified using image enhancement and color segmentation. Segmented images are converted to transform domain using three image transforms (DWT, DTCWT and Ranklet transform). Feature vector is extracted from transform domain images using LBP and its variants (ELBP, MeanELBP and MedianELBP). These texture based features are applied to five popular image classifiers and comparative performance analysis is done using ten-fold cross validation procedure. Experimental results showed best classification performance for ELBP features extracted from DTCWT domain (accuracy 95.4%, precision 93.2%, sensitivity 93.0%, Fscore 93.0% and specificity 96.4%). Compared with traditional methods of feature extraction, this novel method of fusing DTCWT with ELBP features has attained high degree of accuracy in precisely detecting and classifying fungal diseases in banana at an early stage.

Banana bract mosaic disease caused by Banana bract mosaic potyvirus (BBrMV) is reported to instigate heavy loss in banana and plantain across Asia. Almost all the cultivars of banana succumb to the disease resulting in malformed bunches weighing less than half of normal ones. In the current study the coat protein (CP) gene segment present at the 3’ terminal region of the viral genome amplified by RT-PCR was cloned into expression vectors, pRSET-C and pGEX-4T-2 to use it for raising polyclonal antiserum which in turn will aid in developing assays to detect the virus. Recombinant BBrMV CP (rCP) in pRSET-C when expressed was insoluble whereas, it was in the soluble fraction when expressed from pGEX-4T-2. The GST-fusion protein was purified by GSH sepharose affinity column chromatography and western blot analysis was performed using anti GST antibodies. 360 µg/ml of protein was purified from 1 l of culture. The GST tag was cleaved from the purified protein by incubation with thrombin at 25°C overnight. The rCP was characterized using ultracentrifugation, fluorescence spectroscopy and electron microscopy. The tagless monomer failed to assemble to virus like particles (VLPs) in vitro which was substantiated by fluorescence spectroscopy. This study will be first step towards deciphering structure and functions of Banana bract mosaic virus coat protein.

Fusarium wilt disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) is one of the most important diseases that affects the banana production which leads to huge economic loss. Thus, to avoid yield loss and manage the disease on time, morphological and cultural characterization of the pathogen is essential as a preliminary identification step. Thirty isolates were collected from different banana growing regions of Kerala. The isolates were grown on half strength PDA medium. The isolates showed extreme variations in their cultural and morphological characters. Most of the isolates produced white coloured aerial mycelium and few of them were greyish white with white to pink pigmentation. Colony diameter ranged from 59.6 to 90.0 mm at seven days after incubation at 25ºC. The mycelial growth rate varied from 0.83 cm/day to 2.40 cm/day. Length and breadth of macroconidia ranged from 15.01 to 20.20 μm and 2.14 to 5.07 μm whereas, it ranged from 4.49 to 7.42 μm and 1.35 to 3.13 μm for microconidia. The diameter of chlamydospores varied from 5.68 to 9.58 μm. Whereas, the inter septal length and breadth of hyphae varied from 16.14 μm to 22.94 μm and 4.22 μm to 6.57 μm. The cluster analysis based on the quantitative parameters classified the isolates based on variety and genome of the host plants. All the isolates from Rasthali/Poovan (AAB) and Njalipoovan (AB) belonged to the cluster A1 whereas the isolates from Kadali and Chenkadali varieties of banana formed the cluster A2. While, the clustering based on qualitative parameters was irrespective of the variety or genome of the host plant.

The efficacy of bioagents/organic preparations viz., cow dung extract + Pseudomonas fluorescens (1%), PGPR mix II (2%), P. fluorescens (2%), turmeric powder + baking soda mixture (5:1 per litre of water), salicylic acid (25ppm), KAU micronutrient multimix (Sampoorna) (1%), petroleum based mineral oil (0.1%) along with chemical check Bordeaux mixture (1%) and control were tested for the management of Eumusae leaf spot disease of French plantain cultivar Nendran ( Musa AAB). A field experiment was laid in the hotspot area of this disease at Banana Research Station, Kannara, Kerala during May 2016-2017 in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with nine treatments replicated thrice with nine plants per replication. The observations like Per cent Disease Severity (PDS), Youngest Leaf Spotted (YLS), Disease Development Time (DDT), vegetative and yield parameters were recorded. The results of the field experiments revealed that all the bioagents/organic preparations were equally effective in suppressing the disease when compared to the chemical check (Bordeaux mixture, 1%). Among the bioagents/organic preparations evaluated, the lowest per cent disease severity (PDS) of 20.93 per cent was recorded in plants sprayed with PGPR mix II (2%). While the maximum Disease Development Time (DDT) of 43 days and the highest (6.69) youngest leaf spotted were recorded in plants treated with turmeric powder + baking soda mixture (5:1) and Pseudomonas fluorescens (2%) respectively. The yield in terms of bunch weight was recorded highest (8.47 kg) in plants applied with P. fluorescens (2%) which was closely followed by PGPR mix II having a bunch weight of (7.93 kg). The study revealed that foliar spraying of PGPR mix II (20g/l) and P. fluorescens (20g/l) four times starting from the initial appearance of the disease on the lowest leaves of 75 per cent plants was safe and effective for the management of Eumusae leaf spot disease of banana

Freshly harvested seeds of chilli variety Anugraha were treated with halogens namely Calcium oxy chloride (CaOCl2) and Iodine crystal (I2) indirectly through a carrier Calcium carbonate (CaCO3). The treatments included Control (Untreated), CaOCl2 + CaCO3 (2g each/kg seed), CaOCl2 + CaCO3 (4g each/kg seed), Iodine crystal + CaCO3 (50mg each/kg seed) and Iodine crystal + CaCO3 (100mg each/kg seed). Seed treatment with CaOCl2 + CaCO3 @2g each/kg seed registered significantly higher values for fruits per plant, fruit weight, seed yield per plant and hundred seed weight followed by CaOCl2 + CaCO3 @4g each/kg seed. The treatments, CaOCl2 + CaCO3 @2 g each/kg seed and Iodine crystal + CaCO3 @100mg each/kg seed performed superior in seed quality with higher seedling vigour and lower electrical conductivity of seed leachates over other treatments, while untreated control recorded least seedling vigour indices and highest electrical conductivity.

Background: Management of bacterial wilt of tomato in Ralstonia solanacearum affected soils is a major issue in tomato cultivation in different agro-ecological regions in Kerala state which affects the production and productivity of the crop. To develop a suitable management protocol for this disease, the field experiments were conducted during 2019 and 2020 in a bacterial wilt-sick field at Kerala agricultural university, Thrissur, Kerala, India. Methods: Twelve different treatments viz. soil application of bleaching powder, soil test based lime application, streptocycline root dip, drenching of copper hydroxide and copper oxychloride at different doses, seed treatment and seedling dip with Pseudomonas fluorescens, drenching of Pseudomonas fluorescens, planting grafted seedlings and different integrations and combinations of the above treatments were assessed for the management of bacterial wilt. Result: The majority of integrations were superior over individual treatments. The higher yield with less disease incidence was obtained from the integration of soil treatment of bleaching powder (15 kg/ha) + soil test based lime application + streptocycline (@ 2 g/10 L) root dip + drenching of copper oxychloride (@ 0.3%) and therefore, this integration protocol is recommended for management of bacterial wilt of tomato in wilt affected soils in Kerala state.

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of seed invigoration with inorganic nanoparticles on plant growth and seed yield of chilli. Seed invigoration with nano particles of ZnO and TiO2 was found to be beneficial in improving yield and yield attributes. Seed treatment with nano ZnO @ 1300 mg kg-1 of seed and nano TiO2 @ 900 mg kg-1 exhibited increased plant height, fruits per plant, fruit length, fruit yield, number of seeds per fruit and seed yield.

Oral administration of tender leaf extract of Glycosmis pentaphylla is traditionally known to prevent the chikungunya virus infection. Even with wide usage, the antiviral components in this plant are neither identified nor characterized. This study was carried out with the objectives of profiling the phytocompounds in this plant through LC-MS/MS and to identify the active antiviral constituents and their drug-likeliness through molecular docking.Phytocompounds were extracted hydro-alcoholically from powdered plant parts and analyzed using LC-MS/MS. Based on mass-to-charge ratio from LC-MS/MS, compounds were identified and used as ligands for molecular docking against chikungunya target proteins. The active principles were subjected to ADME/T analysis to verify their drug-likeliness.The docking results and ADME/T evaluation showed that the compounds, isovaleric acid and avicequinone- C have good interaction with the protein targets and hence could be the antiviral principles of the selected plant. These compounds presented acceptable drug properties and hence could be carried forward to in vivo studies for drug development.The antiviral properties of G. pentaphylla are known since time-immemorial. This study revealed the probable interactions after the oral administration of tender leaves of Glycosmis in preventing the chikungunya virus infection and paves the path for designing future plant-based drugs.

Background: Pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy specific, multisystem, hypertensive disorder characterized by new onset hypertension and proteinuria after 20 weeks of gestation and remission of signs after delivery, which is the leading cause of maternal, fetal and neonatal mortality and morbidity. Despite extensive research, the etiology and pathogenesis of Pre-eclampsia remain obscure and poorly understood. ABO blood groups are known to be associated with many disorders. In this study we have tried to know the relationship between maternal blood group and preeclampsia. Methods: It is a cross-sectional study. 100 pregnant women with preeclampsia and 100 women with normal pregnancy were selected. Rh negative females or women with any other medical and surgical complication were excluded from the study. Using blood group O as the reference group, the relation between maternal blood group and preeclampsia was estimated using odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals from logistic regression models. Results: When compared with blood group O, women of blood group AB have an increased risk of preeclampsia. Conclusions: The present study indicates that AB blood group have the highest risk of developing preeclampsia. AB blood group is associated with an increased risk of thrombotic events this may be the cause of increased incidence of PIH in this group. Thus attention should be given to the AB blood group pregnant women in order to prevent the PIH.

Background & objectives: Oral administration of tender leaf extract of Glycosmis pentaphylla is traditionally known to prevent the chikungunya virus infection. Even with wide usage, the antiviral components in this plant are neither identified nor characterized. This study was carried out with the objectives of profiling the phytocompounds in this plant through LC-MS/MS and to identify the active antiviral constituents and their drug-likeliness through molecular docking. Methods: Phytocompounds were extracted hydro-alcoholically from powdered plant parts and analyzed using LC-MS/MS. Based on mass-to-charge ratio from LC-MS/MS, compounds were identified and used as ligands for molecular docking against chikungunya target proteins. The active principles were subjected to ADME/T analysis to verify their drug-likeliness. Results: The docking results and ADME/T evaluation showed that the compounds, isovaleric acid and avicequinone- C have good interaction with the protein targets and hence could be the antiviral principles of the selected plant. These compounds presented acceptable drug properties and hence could be carried forward to in vivo studies for drug development. Interpretation & conclusion: The antiviral properties of G. pentaphylla are known since time-immemorial. This study revealed the probable interactions after the oral administration of tender leaves of Glycosmis in preventing the chikungunya virus infection and paves the path for designing future plant-based drugs.

Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship studies has been performed on some anilinoquinolines . A variety of parameters including 2D- autocorelation, RDF, 3D- MoRSE, WHIM and GETAWAY parameters have been chosen for modeling the antitumor activity of these compounds. The multiple regression analysis reveals that the seven -parametric model is the best for modeling the activity of the compounds under present study. This model has been tested by using cross validated parameters. The results are also discussed on the basis of ridge regression.

The present Study deals with QSAR modeling of anticancer activities of some bisphosphonate compounds using Distance-based topological indices and Kier Hall Valance Connectivity indices. The multiple regression analysis (MLR) indicates that a tri-parametric model having an R 2 value of 0.9052 is the best model for predicting the log1/IC50 activity of bisphosphonate compounds. The predictive power of the models was tested using Leave- One-Out Cross validation method.

ON the high mountainous plain of southern Peru west of Lake Titicaca live three species of the little known family Tinamidae. The three species represent three different genera and grade in size from the small, quail-sized Nothura darwini found in the farm land and grassy hills about Lake Titicaca between 12,500 and 13,300 feet to the large, pheasant-sized Tinamotis pentlandi in the bleak country between 14,000 and 16,000 feet. Nothoprocta ornata, the third species in this area and the one to be discussed in the present report, is intermediate in size and generally occurs at intermediate elevations. In Peru we have encountered Nothoprocta between 13,000 and 14,300 feet. It often lives in the same grassy areas as Nothura; indeed, the two species may be flushed simultaneously from the same spot. This is not true of Nothoprocta and the larger tinamou, Tinamotis, for although at places they occur within a few hundred yards of each other, Nothoprocta is usually found in the bunch grass known locally as ichu (mostly Stipa ichu) or in a mixture of ichu and tola shrubs, whereas Tinamotis usually occurs in the range of a different bunch grass, Festuca orthophylla. The three species of tinamous are distinguished by the inhabitants, some of whom refer to Nothura as "codorniz" and to Nothoprocta as "perdiz." Tinamotis is always called "quivia," "quello," "keu," or some similar derivative of its distinctive call. The hilly, almost treeless countryside in which Nothoprocta lives in southern Peru is used primarily for grazing sheep, alpacas, llamas, and cattle. The shepherds caring for these animals are the most important predators on Nothoprocta, for they hunt and eat both the eggs and the birds. Other common predators are the Andean fox (Dusicyon culpaeus), a large Buteo, and dogs belonging to the natives.