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Background: Annona spp. are one of the underutilized fruit crop having great commercial and medicinal value and large diversity present in Maharashtra which is untapped. The present study conducted to characterize the Annona genotypes by ISSR and SSR markers for future germplasm conservation and crop improvement programme. Methods: Ninety genotypes were collected from various regions of Maharashtra. These ninety genotypes and eleven varieties from All India Coordinated Research Project on Arid Zone Fruits, MPKV, Rahuri were screened for morphological and biochemical characters. After morphological and biochemical characterization twenty-two superior genotypes were characterized using ISSR and SSR markers. Result: Among the 29 ISSR primers used, 20 were found polymorphic which produced a total of 171 reproducible amplicons, in which 109 amplicons (75.43%) were polymorphic. In 20 SSR primers used, 14 primers were found polymorphic which produced a total of 43 reproducible amplicons, in which 36 amplicons (83.72%) were polymorphic. Twenty unique amplicons produced by ISSR primer and eight unique amplicons produced by SSR in studied genotypes is useful in genotype/variety identification in future crop improvement. The dendogram generated based on UPGMA method of cluster analysis using ISSR and SSR marker data revealed little different but similar grouping of genotypes into two major clusters viz., cluster A and cluster B. The UPGMA based cluster analysis using dice similarity coefficient grouped Annona genotypes into two major clusters which differentiate squamosa and atemoya species. The distribution of the genotypes in the dendogram was mostly consistent with the known pedigree information, geographical locations and the morphological attributes. Genotypes collected from Purandar, Sawargaon, Pemgiri and Ajanta districts of Maharashtra formed cluster as per geographic collection. The close relationship across genotypes might be explained by either historical relationship to sharing common ancestor or more likely geographical proximity and large population size which favour genetic interchange. This low genetic difference among genotypes suggests that there was more gene flow through random mating without barrier within agroecological zones. ISSR and SSR markers gives direction in characterization of Annona genotypes but more areas need to be survey and explore for tapping genetic diversity to widen the gene pool. The screened material found superior need to be prioritized in terms of in-situ and ex-situ conservation for further evaluation and crop improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents study on effect of meteorological variables on powdery mildew disease intensity of ber at Rahuri, Maharashtra, India. It reports how Horticultural crop production in India has been threatened due to various fungal, bacterial and viral diseases which cause considerable quantitative and qualitative losses to the horticultural crops.

The article discusses the development of forewarning model for fig stem borer in Maharashtra state. Topics include low productivity of fig being the prevalence of number of destructive pest at different stages of its growth and development; role of environment in the development of a pest and disease being complex; and environmental factors like temperature, relative humidity, rainfall, rainy days, and bright sunshine hours greatly influence the insect pest population.

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to determine the optimum dietary protein and lipid levels for growth, feed utilization and body composition of goldfish, Carassius auratus juveniles (1.66 ± 0.018 g). Six diets containing two protein levels (300 and 400 g/kg) and three lipid levels (40, 80 and 120 g/kg) were formulated. Fifteen fish were randomly allotted to 18 aquaria (0.6 × 0.3 × 0.45 m) and fed to apparent satiation. The results showed that weight gain and specific growth rate (SGR) increased in response to higher dietary proteins with highest weight gain and SGR recorded in diet containing 400 g/kg protein with 80 g/kg lipid. Both feed intake (FI) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) were dependent on dietary protein and lipid level (P<0.05). Lipid retention (LR) was negatively correlated while hepatosomatic index (HSI) and viscerosomatic index (VSI) was positively correlated with dietary lipid levels. Whole body protein content decreased (P<0.05) while, lipid content increased with increasing dietary lipid at each protein level. Second-order polynomial regression also revealed diet containing 400 g/kg protein level and 80 g/kg lipid level optimal for the growth and feed utilization of juvenile goldfish, C. auratus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work gives in detail about the changes occurring in vacuum packed eel fish meat (Mastacembalus armatus) during chilled storage. Eel steaks were vacuum packed in rectangular size polyethylene bag with and without treatment with potassium sorbate at 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5% & 2.0% levels. Samples were subjected to biochemical (pH, TVB-N, AAN, SSN, FFA, & PV), microbiological (TPC, E. coli ) and sensory evaluation at regular interval.The biochemical parameters such as, pH increased from 6.0 to 8.0; TVB-N content 4.2 to 34.44 mg%; PV 2.29 to 6.76 meq of O2/Kg; FFA 12.15 to 16.11 mg% of Oleic acid;AAN content 10.25 to 16.11 mg% and SSN content decreased from 56.07 to 47.57 mg% during chilled storage of eel steaks. The microbiological parameter such as TPC content increased from 1.18 x 102 to 3.56 x 105cfu/g during chilled stored eel steaks. The air packed samples without treatment had shelf life of 12 days, while samples with vacuum pack without treatment had shelf life of 16 days, while samples with four levels of treatment i. e. 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5% & 2.0% potassium sorbate under air and vacuum packaging had shelf life of 18 and 22 days respectively. Based on the results, it was concluded that a combination of vacuum packaging and treatment with potassium sorbate (2%) significantly increases the storage life of eel fish in ice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents several letters on studies and discoveries in infectious diseases. Treatment options for drug-resistant Salmonella typhi, the agent that causes enteric fever; Schizophrenia and serological methods for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis; Diagnosis of rotavirus cerebellitis.