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Throughout the globe morphological, biochemical and genetic variability exists in chilli and is harnessed to achieve specific breeding objectives. In this study, chilli germplasm was characterized based on horticultural traits, biochemical quantification and simple sequence repeat (SSR) polymorphism for diversity estimation. A total of 36 SSR primers were utilised to study the genetic divergence among 48 genotypes of chilli collected from nine states of India. Among the 36 primers, sixteen amplified null alleles. A total of 41 alleles were detected with average 2.05 alleles per locus. The largest number of alleles (5) were obtained with marker CAMS-234. The polymorphic information content ranged from 0.06 to 0.72 with an average of 0.50. On the basis of SSR analysis, the UPGMA cluster classified 48 genotypes into three groups. There was significant variability in germplasm for all morpho-biochemical traits. Kashi Anmol (100.50 q/ha) expressed the highest yield. Highest vitamin C content at green stage was recorded in IC-561635 (187 mg/100 g) and the greatest capsaicin content (9547.90 µg/g) equivalent to pungency of 171,862.2 Scoville heat units (SHU) was recorded in Bhut Jolokia. Principal component analysis indicates that the first five principal components explain 74.63% per cent of the total variation. Additionally, analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed that 1% of the total genetic variation occurred among the population and 99% genetic variation within the populations, whereas the pairwise Fst specified the moderate genetic variation ranging from 0.002 to 0.020. The present investigation has strengthened the knowledge of genetic worth of this germplasm for application in various genetic improvement programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expansion of the earth's population has led to the overuse of land and water resources, which has ultimately resulted in their scarcity. Changing climatic conditions and erratic weather behavior over the years has fueled the existing problems of land and water scarcity and continued to exact a toll on agriculture. Utilization of the latest technologies coupled with advanced methods of crop production will no doubt increase our capacity to deal with these modern challenges of the shortages of resources. Soilless or liquid culture may serve as an alternative to conventional soil-based cultivation systems. The present study was conducted to determine the suitability and viability of hydroponic cultivation as an alternative planting system to greenhouse soil-based lettuce cultivation in temperate regions of northern India. In the present study, two hydroponic techniques viz. deep water culture, and nutrient film technique were evaluated and compared to the conventional soil-based cultivation method under protected conditions. Crop performance, water consumption, and economy were the criteria chosen to assess the efficacy of planting techniques using Tukey's multiple range test at a significance level of 0.05. Deep water culture system was found to be the most desirable concerning the duration of the crop, causing a reduction in the plant growth period by 15 days. Also, higher values of most of the photosynthetic parameters were observed in the deep water culture system, which translated into higher yield/plant for the system. The crop quality also improved under the deep water culture system, which was reflected by the higher values of quality parameters like chlorophyll, total soluble solids, protein, and crude fiber content. Both the hydroponic systems produced significantly higher yield, and nutritionally superior produce in lesser time than the soil-based system (P < 0.05). However, there was a significant reduction in the dry matter content under hydroponic conditions. Nutrient film technique resulted in significant water savings of 64% than the other two techniques. According to economic analysis indicators, both hydroponic techniques performed better than the soil-based systems, having benefit-cost ratios greater than 2. Out of the two techniques tested, deep water culture proved to be the most promising system for adoption under protected agriculture owing to its simplicity, ease of operation, higher yield, economic feasibility, and nutritionally superior produce. The results of the study established hydroponic lettuce production as an appropriate and sustainable alternative to conventional soil-based lettuce production. • The suitability of hydroponic cultivation as an alternative planting system to protected soil-based cultivation was assessed. • The evaluation was based on the performance of hydroponic techniques viz., deep water culture, and nutrient film technique. • Deep water culture was most desirable concerning the performance of the crop resulting in higher yields of superior quality. • Nutrient film technique resulted in about 64% water savings and was the most water-efficient cultivation technique. • Both hydroponic systems performed better than the soil-based systems economically, having benefit-cost ratios greater than 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apple scab caused by Venturia inaequalis Cooke (Wint.) is one the important diseases of trade and industrial significance in apple. In present study variability studies in pathogen isolates were studied, which is one of the most important factors for devising management studies of scab disease in apple. Genetic diversity of 30 Venturia inaequalis isolates from 12 districts of two geographical distinct regions of Jammu and Kashmir was calculated based on the allele frequencies of 28 SSR markers and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the ribosomal DNA. The ITS based characterized sequences were submitted to NCBI GenBank and accession numbers were sanctioned. Dendrogram showed that all the accessions formed 2 main clusters with various degree of sub clustering within the clusters. Analysis based on SSR study reveals that the heterozygosity ranged from 0.0 and 0.5, with an average value of 0.39. The expected heterozygosis or gene diversity (He) ranged from 0.0 to 0.50 with an average of 0.40. The Fst value ranges from 0 to 0.6 with an average of 0.194. Diversity within each population (HS) values ranging from 0.26 to 0.33. Average differentiation among populations (GST) was 0.11 and populations were isolated by significant distance (r 2 = 0.50, P < 0.01). From the AMOVA analysis, 25% of variation was observed among population, 9% among individuals and 66% within individuals observed in the population. Structure analysis grouped isolates into two populations. Principle coordinate analysis explained variation of 36.6% in population 1, 14.30% in population 2 and 13.10% in population 3(Admixture) with 64.07% as overall cumulative percentage of variation. This indicates that extensive short-distance gene flow occurs in Kashmir region that dispersal over longer distances also appears to occur frequently enough to prevent differentiation due to genetic drift. Also it is evident that Jammu and Kashmir most likely has V. inaequalis subpopulations linked to diverse climatic conditions of the Jammu region compared to the mountainous inland Kashmir region. The results of present study would help to understand the genetic diversity of V. inaequalis from Jammu and Kashmir that would lead in the development of more effective management strategies and development of new resistant cultivars through marker-assisted selection., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Background: Stroke leads to transient immunedepression, which leads to increased incidence of poststroke infections. Because infection is one of the most common causes of increased mortality in patients with stroke, this study was undertaken to document immunedepression after stroke in our population., Methods: A case-controlled study wherein 39 patients with acute ischemic stroke in the age group of 18 and 60 years without any evidence of previous immunedepression were included. Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin 10 (IL-10) levels were checked in plasma in both the groups on day 3 and day 45. Also Cortisol and epinephrine levels were checked in the urine samples collected on day 3 and day 8., Results: No significant difference was seen between the IL-6 and the IL-10 levels in samples collected on day 3 between the controls and cases, whereas Cortisol and norepinephrine were significantly raised in samples collected on day 3 in cases who developed infection as compared with controls., Conclusions: The higher levels of urinary cortisol and norepinephrine were observed in patients with stroke who developed infections, which indirectly reflected increased amount of stroke related stress. Furthermore, the levels of plasma IL-6 and IL-10 were also elevated in the same group of patients, which means transformation of immunecompetence to immunedepression, which is responsible for higher mortality. Subsequently on recovery from infection the plasma levels of interleukins and urinary cortisol and norepinephrine did not show any difference, which indirectly means recovery of the immune system on recovery from acute stage of stroke. Mortality in the patients with infection was increased than controls., (Copyright © 2014 National Stroke Association. All rights reserved.)