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Drumstick (Moringa oleifera L.) is a tropical plant with wider adaptability to drought and different agro-climatic conditions. The different plant parts including leaves, fruits, flowers and immature pods are used throughout the world for various purposes due to their high nutritive value. The 34 genetic resources of drumstick along with Thar Harsha variety were investigated in this study during 2019–2021 on quality parameters at ICAR-Central Horticultural Experiment Station, Panchmahals, Vadodara, Gujarat. Results showed that the percentage of dry matter and moisture content ranged from 10.86 to 17.98 and 83.08 to 89.14 (pod), 8.16 to 14.80 and 83.40 to 93.38 (pulp), 16.00 to 22.80 and 72.20 to 84.00 (skin) and 24.62 to 30.54 and 69.46 to 75.38 (leaves), respectively. The total phenolic (TP) content (mg GAE/100 g) in pod (26.36– 39.90), pulp (151.54–232.70), rind (73.37–169.06) and leaves (448.21–970.16) were recorded. The pod, pulp and leaf of CHES D-40 accession recorded the highest TP content. While, the rind of CHES D-42 accession recorded the maximum TP content. Similarly, leaves and pods of CHES D-40 showed the highest vitamin C. In 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) assay, the antioxidant activity of M. oleifera accessions leaves varied from 14.83 to 31.29 µmol TE/g. In all nutrient contents of the M. oleifera accession dry leaf powder was quantified with wide variation. The accession CHES D-40 recorded the highest N, K, Ca, S, and Fe in leaves, whereas, P and Cu in CHES D-42, Mg and Zn in CHES D-34 leaves. The protein varied from 21.58 to 29.87 g/100 g in leaves, while in pod, 13.00 to 18.00 g/100 g. These results revealed that the potentiality of M. oleifera leaves in context to antioxidants and nutrients can be included in diets to supplement our daily nutrient needs.

High green pod yield, dual purpose type, earliness and photo-thermo insensitivity are the major breeding objectives of cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]. Photo-thermo sensitivity makes this crop vulnerable to photoperiod and temperature fluctuations particularly in hot arid regions, thereby affecting its yield potential drastically. Therefore, the present study was aimed to identify such elite genotypes with photo-thermo insensitivity, which can fit well across all seasons under hot arid environment. The experiments were conducted at ICAR-Central Institute for Arid Horticulture, Bikaner during rainy and summer seasons of 2019–20 and 2020–21. A wide range of variability among genotypes was observed with respect to various phenological and yield traits over the environments. Among the evaluated genotypes, AHCP-1-4-1 and AHCP-2-3 were found photo-thermo insensitive as these were able to flower and set pods at temperatures as low as 10oC and as high as 46°C. Pollen viability studies indicated that AHCP-1-4-1 had 83.72 and 88.24% pollen viability and AHCP-2-3 had 81.58 and 85.71% viable pollen at 11°C and 46°C, respectively and normal pollen tube growth at both the extremes of temperature. The identified genetic resources will contribute for developing photo-thermo insensitive cultivars and will improve the productivity and extend the availability of cowpea with quality pod yield across all seasons and locations of hot arid regions.

India imports the most edible oils because domestic demand exceeds production. Horizontally expanding groundnut production in non-traditional areas especially in the potato-paddy rice-fallow system is possible for increasing production and it requires trait-specific cultivars. Only 1% of oilseeds are grown in non-traditional regions. Nine interspecific groundnut derivatives were tested in potato-fallow system at Deesa, Gujarat, and Mohanpura, West Bengal, and non-potato fallow areas in Junagadh during Kharif 2020 to examine their performance and adaptability. Genotype-by-environment (G×E) interaction significantly affected pod yield and its components in the combined ANOVA. "Mean vs. stability" showed that the interspecific derivative NRCGCS 446 and variety TAG 24 were the most stable and valuable genotypes. GG 7 yielded more pods in Junagadh, whereas NRCGCS 254 yielded more in Mohanpur. Low heritability estimates and strong G×E interaction for flowering days showed complicated inheritance and environmental effects. The shelling percentage was significantly correlated with days to 50% blooming, days to maturity, SCMR, HPW, and KLWR, demonstrating negative connections between maturity, component characteristics, and seed size realisation.

An experiment was undertaken to estimate GCA for 8 parents and SCA for 15 hybrids in brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) through line × tester analysis. The combining ability analysis revealed highly significant differences among the treatments for all the characters. The gca reveals that, parental lines L2 (IC- 433678), L5 (Raidurg Local) and T3 (Pusa Purple Cluster) were identified as good general combiners for fruit yield per plant. These lines and testers were also best combiner for yield component characters like number of primary branches per plant, days to first flower, medium and long styled flowers, fruits per plant and fruit length. The estimates of specific combining ability effects indicated that cross combinations, viz. IC-433678 × IC-89986, Tiptur Local × Vellayani Local, Jagaluru Local × Vellayani Local, IC-345271 × Pusa Purple Cluster and Raidurg Local × Pusa Purple Cluster were most promising for fruit yield per plant and its component attributes. Gene action analysis revealed preponderance of both additive and nonadditive gene actions for yield and its contributing characters.

Introduction: Persistent otorrhoea and granulation tissue in the mastoid cavity are common post-operative complications of Canal Wall Down Mastoidectomy. In order to avoid the same and to achieve a dry cavity instillation of acetic acid into the mastoid cavity during the post operative period is common practice. Materials and Methods In this study we assessed the results of 4% acetic acid instillation in varying quantity and frequency, in the ears after modified radical mastoidectomy. 40 Patients of chronic suppurative otitis media (atticoantral) / cholesteatoma, who underwent modified radical mastoidectomy during one and a half year period, were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups; Group A with 30 patients and Group B with 10 patients, by simple randomization method. Group A patients were asked to instill 4% acetic acid approximately 10 to 12 drops (generously) into the mastoid cavity thrice a day for 8 weeks and were followed up every week. 10 patients of Group B were asked to instill the same preparation only once weekly and followed up for the next 12 weeks. Results: In Group A, dry mastoid cavity was achieved remarkably faster within six to eight weeks and in all the 30 patients. In Group B the results were delayed by up to 4 to 6 weeks in comparison to the Group A patients. Conclusion: Though acetic acid instillation is known to help in achieving a dry cavity but a slightly higher concentration (4% acetic acid) used more frequently is highly effective in rendering dry cavity much earlier without proliferation of granulation tissue.

Introduction: The incidence of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is quite notable in live births worldwide. Among the etiologies, the primary aetiology is thought to be genetic, followed by non heritable, and unknown. Aim: To study the effect of consanguinity on audiological profile in children presented with non syndromic sensorineural hearing loss. Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Ear Nose Throat, McGANN Teaching District Hospital (Shimoga Institute of Medical Sciences), Shivamogga, Karnataka, India, from January 2019 to December 2020, among 95 children with non syndromic sensorineural hearing loss. A Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA) test was done for each patient both air conduction and bone conduction thresholds were tested using different transducers. An audiogram was collected and the degree of hearing loss of each patient was analysed. Statistical tests were performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 34.0, Kruskal-Wallis test, one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used for comparing the difference in PTA followed by the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: The mean age of the study population was 9.7 years; 39 subjects were female, and 56 were male. The PTA among the study population showed asymmetric audiograms in 17 (17.9%) children. A majority (60, 63%) of the participants were born out of consanguineous marriage. Total 80 (84.2%) children had bilateral hearing loss, among which 58 (72.5%) were cases of bilateral profound. One-way ANOVA showed that there was an overall significant difference between the consanguinity and non consanguinity groups and post-hoc analysis with the Mann-Whitney U test revealed a significant difference between the different degrees of consanguineous marriage. Conclusion: Consanguinity affects the audio profile (PTA) among the non syndromic hearing-impaired children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]