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The present study was carried out at Crop Research Centre of SVPUAT Meerut, U.P during three cropping seasons i.e. 2018, 2019 and 2020 using basmati rice as test cultivar. The study was primarily focused upon the combined effect of weather parameters and crop growth stages of rice crop on the progression of brown spot disease. It was noticed that disease was first observed at late vegetative stage in every cropping season viz. 2018, 2019 and 2020 and reached its maximum towards maturity phase of the crop by obtaining total AUDPC’S of 1049.3, 1170.74 and 852.6 respectively. A significant negative correlation between weekly percent disease index (PDI) and T-max & T-min was obtained recording correlation coefficients (r) of (- 0.71 & - 0.98), (- 0.88 & - 0.98) and (- 0.63 & - 0.98) during 2018, 2019 and 2020 respectively indicating decline in maximum and minimum temperatures at the terminal stages of the crop can greatly favor disease progression. A non-significant positive correlation was obtained between weekly m-RH and PDI to the end of every crop season. During the year 2020, a highly significant negative correlation was obtained between weekly a-RH and PDI (r = - 0.803) in contrast with the years 2018 (r = - 0.55) and 2019 (r = -0.477) exhibiting non-significant negative correlation which might be the reason for low PDI during the year 2020 due to greater decline in relative humidity to the end of the crop season. Although, a non-significant negative correlation between weekly PDI and RF (rainfall) and partial positive correlation with weekly bright sunshine hours (BSS) was obtained during all three crop seasons, high intermittent rainfall from late vegetative to reproductive stage during 2018 and 2019 might be responsible for large amount of spore dispersal (high inoculum pressure) leading to greater disease progression. The regression model developed using 2018, 2019 and 2020 meteorological data, which was validated with disease severity data of 2019 yielded significant R2 value of 0.98 using observed and predicted values.

Medicinal mushrooms have bioactive compounds with therapeutic properties. Lion’s Mane Mushroom is found throughout the northern hemisphere in Europe, Asia, and North America. The present investigation was conducted with the aim to determine the effect of organic and inorganic additiveon mycelium growth (spawn) of Lion’s mane mushroom (Hericium Spp.). In the present study organic additive viz. pulses flour (Pigeon pea) and cereal flour (Rice flour) @2% and inorganic additive (MgSo4) were mixed @1% as a supplement with wheat grains for spawn production of six different strains of Hericium. The results obtained during the present investigation, in the spawn production maximum mycelial growth (90.00 mm) was found in strain He-02 in the organic additive Pigeon pea flour and also in cereal flour (Rice flour) on 20th days, while maximum mycelial growth (90.00 mm) was also found in strain He-02 when Mgso4 was mix in wheat grains for spawn production of six strains of Hericium as inorganic supplements. Based on the results obtained, for spawn production of Lion’s mane mushroom (Hericium Spp.) strains He-02, by organic and inorganic supplementation, Pigeon pea flour and rice flour while in case of inorganic additive Mgso4 would be recommended most effective supplement in wheat grains for strain He-02.

The genus Pleurotus is most exploitable xylotrophic fungi, with valuable biotechnological, medical, and nutritional properties. The relevant features of the representatives of this genus to provide attractive low-cost industrial tools have been reported in numerous studies to resolve the pressure of ecological issues. Additionally, a number of Pleurotus species are highly adaptive, do not require any special conditions for growth, and possess specific resistance to contaminating diseases and pests.Even then species of this edible mushroom can often be affected by some bacterial, mold and virus diseases that rather frequently cause dramatic production loss.In the present experiment we evaluated the efficacy of different chemicals and antibiotics against green mold and bacterial rot of Pleurotus florida and Pleurotus djamor. From this experiment it was concluded that the maximum number of fruiting body in both Pleurotus spp. are taking in the spray of Streptomycin 400 ppm + Carbandazim 0.0025% (21.67 and 22.33), respectively.

Various low-cost agricultural waste products were screened for mass multiplication of T. harzianum and Pseudomonas fluorescens under normal storage condition and most effective formulated product of T. harzianum and Pseudomonas fluorescens was evaluated in vitro. Among different substrate including some of farm wastes and residues viz. wheat straw, wheat straw + rice husk, rice straw, sugarcane bagasse, sugarcane pressmud, bajra grains + wheat straw, sorghum grains + rice husk, chick pea flour + wheat straw, rotten cow dung + unrotten cow dung. The sorghum grains + rice husk was best growth substrate for T. harzianum and chickpea flour + wheat straw was best substrate for P. flourescens. 70 per cent moisture was appropriate for the growth and mass multiplication of both the antagonist.

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of foliar application of nutrients on growth, yield and fruit quality of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cv. Bhagwa in the experimental farm of the Horticultural Research and Training Station and Krishi Vigyan Kendra Kandaghat, Solan, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh (India), during the year 2016 - 2017. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with four foliar applications of potassium nitrate, KNO3 (0.5%, 1% and 1.5%); calcium chloride, CaCl2 (0.5%, 1% and 1.5%); boric acid, H3BO3 (0.2%, 0.4% and 0.6%) and their combinations. The first spray was applied one month after fruit set, and the remaining three ones were applied at one month interval. Among the various treatments, significant increase in plant height, plant spread, plant volume, fruit size, fruit weight, fruit yield, total soluble solids, total sugars, reduction in fruit drop and fruit cracking were recorded with the application of KNO3 (1%) + CaCl2 (1%) + H3BO3 (0.4%). Leaf N, P, K, Ca and Mg were also significantly affected by the foliar application of KNO3 (1%) + CaCl2 (1%) + H3BO3 (0.4%). Therefore, the combined foliar application of KNO3 (1%), CaCl2 (1%) and H3BO3 (0.4%) was found the best treatment for the improvement of growth, yield and fruit quality of pomegranate.

Murraya koenigii is a leafy medicinal as well as a green leafy aromatic shrub that belong to the family Rutaceae of angiosperms. The various pharmacological activities of the plant have been seen such as activity on Antidiabetic, cholesterol-reducing property, antimicrobial activity antiulcer activity, Antioxidative property, anti-diarrhea activity, anti-cancer activity with mucother phagocytic activity.

Sugarcane has always witnessed a lower multiplication rate following conventional method of adoption for newly released variety on large scale by farmers. Tissue culture derived techniques proved as effective, reliable and alternative strategy for rapid production of quality planting materials. In vitro morphogenetic responses varies at genotype basis. Thus, an in vitro investigation was conducted to intensify the differential morphogenetic response through plant growth regulators and antibiotic supplementation in two sugarcane genotypes viz. Co 05011 and Co 0118. The cultures were initiated by explant inoculation on basal MS media and further transferred on different media formulations modified with BAP, Kn, TDZ and GA3. The best morphogenetic response was observed in media M21 [1.5 mg/L (BAP and Kn), 0.25 mg/L (TDZ and GA3)] in genotype Co 05011 whereas, genotype Co 0118 showed the best in media M22 [1.5 mg/L (BAP and Kn), 0.25 mg/L TDZ and 0.5 mg/L GA3]. The higher culture survival percent with sterile shoots was observed in 0.05% Cefotaxime fortified media. Findings of study suggests TDZ as an effective PGR for rapid and high frequency shoot regeneration and the supplementation of 0.05% Cefotaxime in media might enhance sterile culture percent.

Stevia rebaudiana Bert. is getting global attention because of its ability to synthesize commercially important low/no calorie natural sweeteners (LNCSs) steviol glycosides (SGs). Considering, higher accumulation of SGs in vegetative phase followed by decrement during reproductive phase necessitate the understanding of different molecular components of floral transition to develop superior varieties/cultivars with prolonged vegetative phase in Stevia. Current comparative transcriptional analysis of low dose (5 kR) gamma-irradiated mutant genotype (SMG) with prolonged vegetative phase vis-a-vis background genotype (SBG) identified DGEs of major floral transition pathways, and expressed according to their physiological fate irrespective to SMG & SBG. Contrarily, reduced expression of floral integrator genes (FT and LEAFY) in mutant genotype suggests their involvement in prolonged vegetative phase phenotype. Likewise, GO and KEGG enrichment of photosynthesis and carbon assimilation efficiency might be associated with prolonged vegetative phase and higher accumulation of Stevioside content in mutant genotype. Furthermore, deviation of flowering related transcription factors (higher expressions except MIKS-type MADS-box SMG_PV compared to SBG_F) may possibly be correlated with low expression of floral integrator genes. Findings of current studies will facilitate the genetic manipulations and crop improvement efforts in Stevia through conventional breeding and genome editing approaches for increased SGs biosynthesis.

Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus sapidus and Pleurotus flabellatus) was observed for production with application of nutritional amendments to the substrates. In present study cereals additives are evaluated for the impact on yield and quality of oyster mushroom. Maximum number (57.75) of sporophore was observed with maximum yield (723.75g/kg of dry substrate with 72.37% B.E.) sporophore in wheat straw + Rice flour @2.5%. The minimum yield was found in control (without additive) (540.00g/kg of dry substrate with 54% B.E.) in Pleurotus sapidus whole. In case of Pleurotus flabellatus maximum number of sporophore (76.25) and maximum yield (866.25g/kg of dry substrate with 72.37% B.E.) was found in wheat straw + Rice flour @2.5%. The minimum yield was found in control (without additive) (579.00g/kg of dry substrate) which was found significantly lower than all treatments.

Mycobacterium fortuitum has emerged as a nosocomial infectious agent and biofilm formation attributed for the presence of this bacterium in hospital environment. Transposon random mutagenesis was used to identify membrane-proteins for biofilm formation in M. fortuitum. Ten mutants were shortlisted from a library of 450 mutants for examine their biofilm forming ability. Comparative biofilm ability with respect to wild type M. fortuitum ATCC 6841 showed an altered and delayed biofilm formation in one mutant namely, MT721. Sequence analysis revealed mutation in anthranilate phosphoribosyl transferase (MftrpD), which is associated with tryptophan operon. Functional interaction study of TrpD protein through STRING showed its interaction with chorismate utilizing proteins, majorly involved in synthesis of aromatic amino acid and folic acid, suggesting that biofilm establishment and maintenance requires components of central metabolism. Our study indicates important role of MftrpD in establishment and maintenance of biofilm by M. fortuitum, which may further be explored for drug discovery studies against mycobacterial infections.

The population buildup of yellow stem borer, Scirpophaga incertulas was experimented during Kharif, 2018 and 2019 at thr CRC farm of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut, U.P. The infestation of stem borer was recorded on variety Pusa Basmati-1 at weekly intervals from 32nd standard week and continued till the 43rd standard week and 33rd standard week and continued till the 43rd standard week during Kharif 2018 and 2019, respectively. The infestation of stem borer recorded as dead hearts /white ear heads and increased from third week of August and reached its peak (13.40%) in 41st standard week (Second week of October) and reached its peak (12.35%) in 36th standard week (second week of September) during Kharif 2018 and 2019, respectively.

The present investigation was carried out to study the “Eco friendly management of yellow stem borer, Scirpophaga incertulas (Walker) on paddy in western plain zone of Uttar Pradesh” in randomized block design with three replications and seven treatments at Crop Research Center, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut. The yellow stem borer, S. incertulas (Walker) was recorded as major pest. The incidence of S. incertulas (Walker) was recorded on the incidence of yellow stem borer Scirpophaga incertulas (Walker) showed that it was recorded on 26th standard week for the first time and continued till second week of November i.e. 46th standard week. The infestation of stem borer recorded as dead heart/ white ear head ranged from 0.85 to 15.25 per cent during the crop season i.e. Kharif 2017 and positive correlated with all the other weather parameters.

Acinetobacter baumannii is one of the clinically important nosocomial pathogen that has become resistant to most of the conventional antimicrobials. Biofilms formed by A. baumannii are difficult to eradicate, thereby highlighting the need for new therapeutic options to treat biofilm associated infections. Antimicrobial peptides have recently emerged as new alternatives to conventional antibiotics, but peptides often suffer with drawbacks such as poor proteolytic stability and high cost of production. To tackle these limitations, mimetics based on antimicrobial peptides are usually designed and synthesized. In this study we have designed and synthesized a peptoid based on a minimum amphipathic template of a twelve residue cationic peptide. Antimicrobial evaluation of peptide and peptoid was carried out against biofilm producing A. baumannii strains. Further, proteolytic stability study of these compounds was carried out in human serum and morphological alterations caused by them on A. baumannii were visualized by SEM analysis. In addition, these compounds were found to be non toxic to human erythrocytes at their minimum inhibitory concentrations against A. baumannii strains. Overall results obtained in this study suggest that these compounds might be potential antimicrobial agents against biofilm forming A. baumannii and it may be postulated that their mode of action on A. baumannii is disruption of bacterial cell membrane.

The pervasive use of therapeutic antibodies targeting programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) to boost anti-tumor immunity has positioned this approach to become the standard-of-care for some solid tumor malignancies. However, little is known as to how blockade of PD-1 may alter the function or phenotype of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL). We used our ongoing Phase II clinical trial of pembrolizumab for patients with rare solid tumors from various types (NCT02721732) with matched core biopsies taken at baseline and after initial dose of anti-PD-1 (15-21 days post-dose) to elucidate this question. One fresh core needle biopsy was used to propagate TIL ex vivo to analyze phenotype and function using flow cytometry in both CD8+ and CD4+ TIL populations. An enriched CTLA-4 expression in the CD4+ TIL population was observed in TIL expanded from the on-treatment samples compared to TIL expanded from the matched baseline (n = 22, p = 0.0007) but was not observed in patients who experienced tumor regression. Impact on functionality was evaluated by measuring secretion of 65 soluble factors by expanded TIL from 26 patients at baseline and on-treatment. The CD8+ TIL population demonstrated a diminished cytokine secretion profile post-pembrolizumab. Overall, our study assesses the ramifications of one dose of anti-PD-1 on TIL in rare solid tumor types.

Tea is popular health beverage consumed by millions of people worldwide. Drought is among the acute abiotic stress severely affecting tea cultivation, globally. In current study, transcriptome sequencing of four diverse tea genotypes with inherent contrasting genetic response to drought (tolerant & sensitive) generated more than 140 million reads. De novo and reference-based assembly and functional annotation of 67,093 transcripts with multifarious public protein databases yielded 54,484 (78.2%) transcripts with significant enrichment of GO and KEGG drought responsive pathways in tolerant genotypes. Comparative DGE and qRT analysis revealed key role of ABA dependent & independent pathways, potassium & ABC membrane transporters (AtABCG22, AtABCG11, AtABCC5 & AtABCC4) and antioxidant defence system against oxidative stress in tolerant genotypes, while seems to be failed in sensitive genotypes. Additionally, highly expressed UPL3HECT E3 ligases and RING E3 ligases possibly enhance drought tolerance by actively regulating functional modification of stress related genes. Further, ascertainment of, 80803 high quality putative SNPs with functional validation of key non-synonymous SNPs suggested their implications for developing high-throughput genotyping platform in tea. Futuristically, functionally relevant genomic resources can be potentially utilized for gene discovery, genetic engineering and marker-assisted genetic improvement for better yield and quality in tea under drought conditions.

Tuberculosis has become a cause of worldwide concern; emergence of resistance in various mycobacterial strains has led to an urgent demand for new therapeutic molecules. Antimicrobial peptides have emerged as potential candidates in antimicrobial drug development. We have tested a lead antibacterial peptide LP-23 and its cost-effective mimetic DP-23 for their antimicrobial effects in a non-pathogenic model of Mycobacterium. Their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values against M. smegmatis were calculated by resazurin reduction assay. MIC of both peptidomimetics against M. smegmatis was found to be 6.25 μg/mL. In addition, hemolytic toxicity study of peptidomimetics suggested that the synthesized compounds were selective against bacteria. To better understand stability and mechanism of action of peptidomimetics, serum stability study and SEM analysis were carried out. Peptoid DP-23 was found to be more stable in serum then peptide LP-23, while SEM analysis indicated that these compounds target the cell membrane, impairing the membrane integrity of M. smegmatis. The activity and properties of LP-23 and DP-23 may make them new potential antibacterial agents against tuberculosis.

Tea [Camellia sinensis (L) O. Kuntze], worldwide known source of popular non-alcoholic beverage, is severely affected by various biotic and abiotic stresses. Among these, blister blight (BB) disease caused by the obligate biotrophic fungus Exobasidium vexan is responsible for significant depletion of its yield and quality. Our comparative NGS transcriptomic analysis although elucidated global gene expression pattern of BB defense transitions, yet left with 12,022 transcripts categorized as ‘hypothetical proteins (HPs)’. In this study, efforts were made for assigning functions to HPs derived from RNA-Seq data and successfully identified novel putative candidates involved in BB defense in tea. Domain and family-based characterization identified 9390 HPs representing 2867 protein families and 953 super families. Of these, 213 HPs were assigned with novel putative defense related functional categories (LRR, WRKY, NAC, chitinases and peroxidases). Further, sub-cellular localization (cytosolic,133 HPs; transmembranic, 80 HPs) with abundance of HPs exhibiting of acidic (133) and basic (80) nature suggests their wider functional range. 36 HPs upregulated in tolerant genotype having significant interactions with defense responsive candidates in Protein–Protein Interaction Network analysis, possibly suggests their key regulatory role in BB defense. Interestingly, 12 stereo-dynamically stable structures [LRR (5), NAC (4), WRKY, Chitinase & Peroxidase (1 each)] of HP’s were successfully modelled based on their conserved signature sequences and empirically validated using qRT-PCR analysis, therefore, can be potential novel candidates possibly involved in signal transduction and pathogen recognition during BB defense in tea. Futuristically, novel genes identified in this study can be potentially utilized to expedite genetic improvement efforts in tea. The approach successfully employed in tea can also be adopted for assigning molecular function to the HPs in other plant species.

Light is crucial environmental factor for primary resource and signalling in plants and provide optimum fitness under fluctuating environments from millions of year. However, due to urbanization, and human development activities lot of excess light generated in environment during night time and responsible for anthropogenic generated pollution (ALAN; artificial night light pollution). This pollution has cause for serious problem in plants as it affects their processes and functions which are under the control of light or diurnal cycle. Plant biorhythms mostly diurnal rhythms such as stomatal movements, photosynthetic activity, and many more metabolic processes are under the control of period of light and dark, which are crucially affected by artificial light at night. Similarly, the crucial plant processes such as pollination, flowering, and yield determining processes are controlled by the diurnal cycle and ALAN affects these processes and ultimately hampers the plant fitness and development. To keep in mind the effect of artificial light at night on plant biorhythm and eco-physiological processes, this chapter will focus on the status of global artificial night light pollution and the responsible factors. Further, we will explore the details mechanisms of plant biorhythm and eco-physiological processes under artificial light at night and how this mechanism can be a global threat. Then at the end we will focus on the ANLP reducing strategies such as new light policy, advanced lightening technology such as remote sensing and lightening utilisation optimisation.

Background Alcohol abuse is a major problem worldwide and it affects people’s health and economy. There is a relapse in alcohol intake due to alcohol withdrawal. Alcohol withdrawal anxiety-like behavior is a symptom that appears 6–24 h after the last alcohol ingestion. Methods The present study was designed to explore the protective effect of a standardized polyherbal preparation POL-6 in ethanol withdrawal anxiety in Wistar rats. POL-6 was prepared by mixing the dried extracts of six plants Bacopa monnieri, Hypericum perforatum, Centella asiatica, Withania somnifera, Camellia sinesis, and Ocimum sanctum in the proportion 2:1:2:2:1:2 respectively. POL-6 was subjected to phytochemical profiling through LC-MS, HPLC, and HPTLC. The effect of POL-6 on alcohol withdrawal anxiety was tested using a two-bottle choice drinking paradigm model giving animals’ free choice between alcohol and water for 15 days. Alcohol was withdrawn on the 16th day and POL-6 (20, 50, and 100 mg/kg, oral), diazepam (2 mg/kg) treatment was given on the withdrawal days. Behavioral parameters were tested using EPM and LDT. On the 18th day blood was collected from the retro-orbital sinus of the rats and alcohol markers ALT, AST, ALP, and GGT were studied. At end of the study, animals were sacrificed and the brain was isolated for exploring the influences of POL-6 on the mRNA expression of GABAA receptor subunits in the amygdala and hippocampus. Results Phytochemical profiling showed that POL-6 contains major phytoconstituents like withaferin A, quercetin, catechin, rutin, caeffic acid, and β-sitosterol. In-vivo studies showed that POL-6 possesses an antianxiety effect in alcohol withdrawal. Gene expression studies on the isolated brain tissues showed that POL-6 normalizes the GABAergic transmission in the amygdala and hippocampus of the rats. Conclusion The study concludes that POL-6 may have therapeutic potential for treating ethanol-type dependence.

Fritillaria roylei Hook. is a critically endangered high altitude Himalayan medicinal plant species with rich source of pharmaceutically active structurally diverse steroidal alkaloids. Nevertheless, except few marker compounds, the chemistry of the plant remains unexplored. Therefore, in the current study, transcriptome sequencing efforts were made to elucidate isosteroidal alkaloids biosynthesis by creating first organ-specific genomic resource using bulb, stem, and leaf tissues derived from natural populations of Indian Himalayan region. Overall, 349.9 million high quality paired-end reads obtained using NovaSeq 6000 platform were assembled (de novo) into 82,848 unigenes and 31,061 isoforms. Functional annotation and organ specific differential expression (DE) analysis identified 2488 significant DE transcripts, grouped into three potential sub-clusters (sub-cluster I: 728 transcripts; sub-cluster II: 446 transcripts and Sub-cluster III: 1314 transcripts). Subsequently, pathway enrichment (GO, KEGG) and protein-protein network analysis revealed significantly higher enrichment of phenyl-propanoid and steroid backbone including terpenoid, sesquiterpenoid and triterpenoid biosynthesis in bulb. Additionally, upregulated expression of cytochrome P450, UDP-dependent Glucuronosyltransferase families and key transcription factor families (FAR1, bHLH, GRAS, C2H2, TCP and MYB) suggests ‘bulb’ as a primary site of MVA mediated isosteroidal alkaloids biosynthesis. The comprehensive elucidation of molecular insights in this study is a first step towards the understanding of isosteroidal alkaloid biosynthesis pathway in F. roylei. Furthermore, key genes and regulators identified here can facilitate metabolic engineering of potential bioactive compounds at industrial scale.

Anthocyanins, the color compounds of plants, are known for their wide applications in food, nutraceuticals and cosmetic industry. The biosynthetic pathway of anthocyanins is well established with the identification of potential key regulatory genes, which makes it possible to modulate its production by biotechnological means. Various biotechnological systems, including use of in vitro plant cell or tissue cultures as well as microorganisms have been used for the production of anthocyanins under controlled conditions, however, a wide range of factors affects their production. In addition, metabolic engineering technologies have also used the heterologous production of anthocyanins in recombinant plants and microorganisms. However, these approaches have mostly been tested at the lab- and pilot-scales, while very few up-scaling studies have been undertaken. Various challenges and ways of investigation are proposed here to improve anthocyanin production by using the in vitro plant cell or tissue culture and metabolic engineering of plants and microbial culture systems. All these methods are capable of modulating the production of anthocyanins , which can be further utilized for pharmaceutical, cosmetics and food applications.

Design of therapeutically viable antimicrobial peptides with cell selectivity against microorganisms is an important step towards the development of new antimicrobial agents. Here, we report four de novo designed, short amphipathic sequences based on a α-helical template comprising of Lys, Trp and Leu or their corresponding D-and/or β-amino acids. Sequence A-12 was protease susceptible whereas its α/β-diastereomeric analogue UNA-12 was resistant to trypsin and proteinase K up to 24 h. A-12 and UNA-12 exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial activity (MIC: 2–32 µg/mL) against pathogens including methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-resistant S. epidermidis (MRSE). Interestingly, A-12 was found to be most toxic (>50% haemolytic at 250 µg/mL) whereas UNA-12 was found to be non cytotoxic among the all analogues against hRBCs and human keratinocytes. Interaction studies with artificial membranes by tryptophan fluorescence and acrylamide quenching assay demonstrated A-12 interacted equally in bacterial as well as mammalian mimic membrane whereas UNA-12 was found to be more selective towards bacterial mimic membrane. Further microscopic tool has revealed membrane damaging ability of A-12 and UNA-12 with bactericidal mode of action against MRSA. Encouragingly, peptidomimetics analogue UNA-12 showed remarkable safety and efficacy against MRSA in in-vivo neutropenic mice thigh infection model. In summary, simultaneous replacement of the natural amino acids with D-/β-congeners is a promising strategy for designing of potent, cell selective and protease stable peptide based antibiotics.

Fodder, a type of animal feed, is any agricultural food stuff used specifically to feed domesticated livestock. In the present study 37 plant species belonging to 22 families and 26 genera as fodder plants were recorded form different parts of Rupandehi and its surrounding area.

Background Mutation screening of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) cases imply the major involvement of PKD1 mutations in 85% of patients while rest of the cases harbor mutation in PKD2, DNAJB11 and GANAB. This essentially indicates that individual’s genotype holds the key for disease susceptibility and its severity. Methods For finding genetic variability underlying the disease pathophysiology, 84 Indian ADPKD cases, 31 family members (12 susceptible) and 122 age matched control were screened for PKD1 and PKD2 using Sanger sequencing, PCR-RFLP and ARMS-PCR. Results Genetic screening of Indian ADPKD cases revealed total 67 variants in PKD1 and 28 variants in PKD2. Among the identified variants in PKD1 and PKD2 genes, 35.79% were novel variants and 64.2% recurrent. Further, subcategorization of PKD1 variants showed 14 truncation/frameshift, 21 nonsynonymous, 25 synonymous and 7 intronic variants. Moreover, we observed 40 families with PKD1 pathogenic variants, 7 families with PKD2 pathogenic variants, 9 families with PKD1 & PKD2 pathogenic variants, and 26 families with PKD1/PKD2/PKD1-PKD2 non-pathogenic genetic variants. Conclusion Present study represented genetic background of Indian ADPKD cases which will be helpful in disease management as well as finding the genetically matched donor for kidney transplant.

Agronomic practices play a major role in enhancing the productivity of agricultural crops. However, such agronomic practices under changing climatic condition is not adequate to enhance crop production as the changing climatic conditions are reported to negatively affect crop growth, yield, soil quality and thereby the nutritional quality of agricultural produce. Furthermore, maintaining critical resources including water is a challenging task under changing climatic conditions. Therefore, the wise adoption of various adaptive, specifically resource-conserving agricultural practices such as intercropping, crop rotation, agroforestry, mixed crop-livestock farming, mulching, and the push–pull system of crop pest and disease management etc. are imperative to cope-up with such adverse situations. The present chapter describes such agronomic practices and their benefits in detail.

Mycobacterium fortuitum is an important human pathogenic NTM, which resists stress conditions inside macrophages by exploitation of specific genes. TnphoA-based transposon mutagenesis was employed to identify membrane genes responsible for survival of M. fortuitum under such stress conditions. A library of about 450 mutants was constructed after electroporation of vector pRT291 into wild-type M. fortuitum. On the basis of blue color development and alkaline phosphatase assay, 20 mutants were shortlisted to screen for growth and survival under acidic stress at pH 6.5, 5.5, 4.5, and 3.5. Mutant MT727 showed reduced growth and survival under acidic stress. The acid susceptible mutant MT727 was subjected to other in vitro stress conditions prevalent inside macrophages including oxidative, nutrient starvation and nitrosative stress. However, the mutant showed no appreciable difference in growth behavior under oxidative, nutrient starvation and nitrosative stress conditions in comparison to the wild type. Genomic and bioinformatics analysis of MT727 led to identification of putative ribosomal maturation factor RimP of M. fortuitum to be affected by mutagenesis, showing closest homology to M. abscessus RimP. In silico functional interaction of RimP protein using STRING database showed its interaction with proteins of ribosomal assembly and maturation. Results indicate role of rimP gene in survival of M. fortuitum under acidic stress conditions which may be further explored for use as a potential drug target against M. fortuitum and other mycobacterial infections. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1007/s13205-019-1659-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Trichoderma spp. is considered as a plant growth promoter and biocontrol fungal agents. They colonize on the surface of root in most of the agriculture crops. They secrete different secondary metabolites and enzymes which promote different physiological processes as well as protect plants from various environmental stresses. This is part of their vital functions. They are widely exploited as a biocontrol agent and plant growth promoter in agricultural fields. Colonization of Trichoderma with roots can enhance nutrient acquisition from surrounding soil to root and can substantially increase nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in crops and linked with activation of plant signaling cascade. Among Trichoderma species, only some Trichoderma species were well characterized which help in the uptake of nitrogen-containing compound (especially nitrate form) and induced nitric oxide (NO) in plants. Both nitrate and NO are known as a signaling agent, involved in plant growth and development and disease resistance. Activation of these signaling molecules may crosstalk with other signaling molecule (Ca(2+)) and phytohormone (auxin, gibberellins, cytokinin and ethylene). This ability of Trichoderma is important to agriculture not only for increased plant growth but also to control plant diseases. Recently, Trichoderma strains have been shown to encompass the ability to regulate transcripts level of high-affinity nitrate transporters and probably it was positively regulated by NO. This review aims to focus the usage of Trichoderma strains on crops by their abilities to regulate transcript levels, probably through activation of plant N signaling transduction that improve plant health.

Economic development is associated with increased consumption of saturated fat, refined starchy foods with excess of salt and sugar, manufactured by the food industry, in conjunction with physical inactivity that are responsible for obesity and related noncommunicable (NCDs). However, functional foods characterized with traditional whole grains; wheat, grams, beans with fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, olive oil, mustard oil/canola oil have been found to be protective against NCDs. Obesity is one of the biggest risk factors of NCDs; cardiovascular diseases; hypertension, coronary artery disease, strokes, heart failure, and other types of chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, bone and joint diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases. There is a prospect to develop an international unanimity on how to forestall undernutrition, via increased food availability, through Functional Foods and Functional Farming (4 F), so that there is no rise in human vulnerability to obesity and NCDs. Previous attempts with food security via energy-rich products such as manufactured foods as well as food produced via farming (more energy, less nutrients) have resulted into increased burden of obesity. It has been demonstrated that an Indo-Mediterranean dietary pattern characterized with functional foods; whole grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and fish in conjunction with olive oil plus mustard or canola oil can help the prevention of various diseases. Further attempts must be made to provide nutrient rich feedstock to animals and birds and soil for growth of foods to develop new functional foods, such as Sim’s egg, to increase food availability.

The maximum callus formation (20.3%) was observed in treatment BAP 8 mgl -1 while the minimum (4.6%) was noted under control. With the combination of BAP and BA, the maximum callus formation ( 27.0%) was recorded under BAP 8 mgl -1 + BA 4 mgl -1 ; however, it was at par with BAP 8 mgl -1 + BA 3 mgl -1 at 75 days after inoculation.At 90 days after inoculation, maximum callus percentage (29.3) was found under BAP 8 mgl -1 + BA 4 mgl -1 . At 105 days after inoculation, callus percentage was maximum callus (33.0%) was noted under the treatment combination of BAP 8 mgl -1 + BA 4 mgl -1 , however, it was significantly at par with BAP 8 mgl -1 + BA 3 mgl -1 , while the minimum (9.3%) was recorded under control again. The earliest shoot initiation (21.0, 22.0 days, respectively) was noted under BAP 8 mgl -1 and BA 5 mgl -1 , separately; while it was statistically earliest i.e. 20.66 days in combination with BAP 2 mgl -1 + BA 5 mgl -1 . Maximum shoot length (0.76 cm) was recorded in the treatment of BAP 8 mgl -1 . at 20 days after shoot initiation.Maximum shoot length (3.06 cm) was noted under BAP 8 mgl -1 alone which statistically superior to other under BAP alone treatments while it recorded minimum under control at 40 days after shoot initiation. Under BA treatments, the maximum shoot length (2.26 cm) was noted with BA 4 mgl -1 and 5 mgl -1 both; however, it was at par with BA 2 mgl -1 and 3 mgl -1 at 40 days after shoot initiation. With the effect of BAP and BA combinations, the maximum shoot length (3.23cm) was recorded under BAP 8 mgl -1 + BA 5 mgl -1 at 40 days after shoot initiation. The minimum duration of root initiation (14.66 days) was noted under the treatment of Indole Butyric acid 4 mgl -1 ; however, it was significantly at par with indole butyric acid 2 mgl -1 and 3 mgl -1 . The maximum duration (34.33 days) was observed under control. Minimum number of roots (4.0 roots) were recorded under the treatment applied 1 mgl -1 IBA in culture medium. Further, number of roots was found maximum 10.33 roots under the treatment of 5 mgl -1 IBA followed by 4 mgl -1 IBA concentrations. Culture medium with IBA 5 mgl -1 showed maximum root length (1.66 cm) followed by IBA 4 mgl -1 , 3 mgl -1 and 2 mgl -1 with 1.56 cm, 1.40 cm and 1.06 cm, respectively. It was concluded that BAP 8 mgl -1 and BA 5 mgl -1 separately performed better results on account of callus formation, shoot initiation and multiplication of shoots whereas with their combination viz., BAP 8 mgl -1 +BA 4 mgl -1 showed best result on the above parameters. For root initiation and its development IBA 5 mgl -1 was found to be the best among all the treatments.

Podophyllum hexandrum is the major source of podophyllotoxin (PTOX), a highly bioactive lignan of great pharmacological importance with anti-cancerous activities. The industrial demand of PTOX relies on the highly endangered natural resources only. It is therefore, desirable to elucidate global molecular processes and identify key genes for enhancing PTOX biosynthesis by overexpressing the targeted candidates. Transcriptome of leaf, rhizome, and stalk was generated to analyse the spatial regulation of PTOX biosynthesis in genetically diverse genotypes. Overall, 198 million high-quality paired-end reads were assembled into 85,531 transcripts. In addition, 32,341 transcripts were assigned gene ontologies with 6570 hits in distinct pathways and 15,886 transcription factors representing 70 families. Interestingly, comparative expression analyses revealed that 12 of 31 genes of PTOX biosynthesis were upregulated in rhizome. However, shikimate and phenylalanine pathways that generate PTOX precursors were abundantly upregulated in leaves. Thus, a further insight on the inducers of these genes can be extended to enrich the aerial tissues for downstream pathway through genetic manipulations. Additionally, higher expression of transcription factors WRKY, MYB, bZIP, bHLH, and AP2, transporters ABCB and ABCC, UGTs, CYP450s, and jasmonate pathway in rhizome supported the secondary metabolism. The comprehensive genomic resource created during this study will provide deeper understanding of lignan biosynthesis and its regulation. This will further enable selection of the elite genotypes and potential genes that can be directed to enhance PTOX production and yield at an industrial scale.

The current trend of increment in the frequency of antifungal resistance has brought research into an era where new antifungal compounds with novel mechanisms of action are required. Natural antimicrobial peptides, which are ubiquitous components of innate immunity, represent their candidature for novel antifungal peptides. Various antifungal peptides have been isolated from different species ranging from small marine organisms to insects and from various other living species. Based on these peptides, various mimetics of antifungal peptides have also been synthesized using non-natural amino acids. Utilization of these antifungal peptides is somehow limited due to their toxic and unstable nature. This review discusses recent updates and future directions of antifungal peptides, for taking them to the shelf from the bench.