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'Yield maximization' is the last word of modern agriculture for food security of ever-increasing population of the world. Maximizing world's agricultural efficiency depends largely on controlling pests and diseases. Although, demand for insecticides and fungicides by successful breeding for resistant cultivars has reduced, use of herbicides is still increasing globally. Application of heavy doses of herbicides is directly/indirectly causing negative impact on quality of produce, human health and environment. Allelopathic weeds and their allelochemicals have wide application prospects in increasing crop production, plant protection and biological control. This study was aimed at evaluating allelopathic activity of methanol extracts of Rhazya stricta (Harmal), Pinus roxburghii (Chir-Pine), Carica papaya (Papaw) and Lantana camara (Wild-sage) against selected weeds viz. Phalaris minor (Canary grass), Avena fatua (Wild oat), Chenopodium album (Goosefoot), Euphorbia helioscopia (Sun-spurge) and Rumex dentatus (Knotweed) on filter paper, soil and agar at 100%, 75%, 50% and 0% concentration. Germination percentage (%), radicle length (cm) and plumule length (cm) were parameters to assess allelopathic potential. The STATISTIX 9 software was used to analyse data. Based on results, it was concluded that methanolic extract of R. stricta, P. roxburghii, C. papaya and L. camara possess potential inhibitory effects amongst which L. camara showed most prominent inhibitory effects towards selected weeds. The germination and growth inhibition effects were found in order L. camara>P. roxburghii>C. papaya>R. stricta. Detailed field study is recommended to establish allelopathic potential of these species to be utilized as phytoherbicide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuberculosis is a communicable disease with high morbidity and mortality rates in developing countries. The study's primary objective is to compare conventional methods such as acid-fast bacillus (AFB) culture and microscopy with rapid diagnostic methods. The secondary objective is to compare histopathological and microbiological findings in suspected patients with tubercular lymphadenitis. A total of 111 samples (August 2018 to September 2019) of lymph nodes were processed for AFB microscopy, AFB cultures, drug-susceptibility testing (DST), histopathology, and Xpert Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (MTB)/resistance to Rifampin (RIF) assays. Out of 111 lymph node samples, 6 (5.4%) were positive for AFB smear microscopy, 84 (75.6%) were positive for AFB culture, 80 (70.7%) were positive on Gene Xpert, and 102 (91.8%) were indicative of tuberculosis for histopathology studies. Mycobacteria growth indicator tube (MGIT) culture positivity was 84 (75.6%) higher than solid Lowenstein-Jensen (LJ) culture 74 (66.6%). Positive cultures underwent phenotypic DST. Two cases were Multidrug-resistant (MDR) on DST, while three cases were Rifampicin resistant on Gene Xpert. The sensitivity of Genexpert was (62%) against the conventional AFB culture method. The poor performance of conventional lymphadenitis diagnostic methods requires early and accurate diagnostic methodology. Xpert MTB/RIF test can help in the treatment of multidrug-resistant TB cases. Nonetheless, rapid and conventional methods should be used for complete isolation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.