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Plagiochila javanica, a widespread Asiatic member of the liverwort family Plagiochilaceae, is rediscovered from Western Ghats of Kerala, India after about 180 years of its first record from the country. The present discovery is a new record for Kerala state. A detailed description along with illustrations and images of the species are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The good quality of groundwater is important for future planning and management. The present study has been undertaken to provide an overview on the status of groundwater quality through physico-chemical parameters namely pH, alkalinity, total hardness, total dissolved solids, chloride, fluoride, nitrate, phosphate and iron through laboratory analysis. Samples have been collected from seven wells located in Chennai coastal region of state Tamilnadu, India. The laboratory-based results shows that the mean value of pH is 7.29, alkalinity (308.57 mg/l), total hardness (285.71 mg/l), chloride (175.71 mg/l), iron (0.71 mg/l), nitrate (13.57 mg/l), phosphorus (2.71 mg/l) and total dissolved solids (924 mg/l), respectively. The geo-database water quality parameters were created in Geographical Information System. Further, the kriging a geo-statistical method of interpolation is applied to know the health of groundwater in non-sampled area. This interpolation method has been used to predict spatial distribution physico-chemical parameters in the form of contour. Local planners and policymakers may utilize these results for efficient management of groundwater resources in this area.parameters in the form of contour. Local planners and policy makers may utilize these results for efficient management of groundwater resources in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interesting sac-bearing species P. bantamensis is added here to the liverwort flora of the Indian mainland from Assam, a part of the Indo-Burmese biodiversity hotspot. It was earlier recorded in the Nicobar Islands for India. Incidentally, the subgenus Metaplagiochila, under which the species falls, is a new record for the Indian mainland as well. The species is described in detail, illustrated and its distribution is mapped. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron-refractory iron deficiency anaemia (IRIDA) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder, distinguished by hypochromic microcytic anaemia, low transferrin levels and inappropriately elevated hepcidin (HEPC) levels. It is caused by mutations in TMPRSS6 gene. Systematic screening of 500 pregnant women with iron deficiency anaemia having moderate to severe microcytosis with no other causes of anaemia were enrolled to rule out oral iron refractoriness. It identified a final cohort of 10 (2.15% prevalence) individuals with IRIDA phenotype. Haematological and biochemical analysis revealed significant differences between iron responders and iron non-responders, with iron non-responders showing lower haemoglobin, red blood cell count, serum iron and serum ferritin levels, along with elevated HEPC (9.47 ± 2.75 ng/mL, p = 0.0009) and erythropoietin (4.58 ± 4.07 µ/mL, p = 0.0196) levels. Genetic sequencing of the TMPRSS6 gene in this final cohort identified 10 novel variants, including seven missense and three frame-shift mutations, with four missense variants showing high functional impact defining the IRIDA phenotype. Structural analysis revealed significant damage caused by two variants (p.L83R and p.S235R). This study provides valuable insights into IRIDA among pregnant women in the Indian subcontinent, unveiling its underlying causes of unresponsiveness, genetic mechanisms and prevalence. Furthermore, research collaboration is essential to validate these findings and develop effective treatments., (© 2024 British Society for Haematology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Bakanae disease is an emerging problem for the Basmati rice cultivation in India. Forty-seven endophytes isolated earlier along with three Talaromyces flavus isolates evaluated against Fusaium fujikuroi [Nirenberg] bakanae pathogen [isolate F250] through dual culture and enzymatic assays. Out of 50 isolates, 6 isolates namely, Tf 1 , Tf 2 , Tf 3 , Fusarium equiseti, Fusarium sp. and Trichoderma sp. produced good inhibitory results under in vitro conditions and were proceeded with in planta studies and conducted microscopic studies and real-time PCR assays. Microscopic studies revealed that the defense response system of plants was activated to a longer extent in bioagent treatments, since the number of live nuclei (DAPI staining) and green stained live plant cells (FDA staining) were higher as seen in treated plants when compared to pathogen-inoculated and uninoculated control when observed under confocal laser scanning microscopy. The analysis of cell cycle-related genes expressed during the ROS activity showed increased expression of the cell cycle-related genes involved. The selected isolates were also tested under glasshouse for disease inhibition studies. F. equiseti, Fusarium sp. and Trichoderma sp. gave a disease inhibition of, 87%, 66% and 94%, respectively. Tf 2 and Tf 1 isolate dominantly inhibited the disease with 95% whereas Tf 3 also inhibited successfully with 70%. Through the results of our study, we can deduce that the T. flavus (Tf 1, Tf 2 , Tf 3 ) isolates and the endophytes F. equiseti, Fusarium sp. and Trichoderma sp. may represent an important biocontrol agent to control the bakanae disease of rice and also implicated that could further be befitting to capitalize them for field evaluations., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)