Chronological association of foliage insects among specific olericulture crops i.e. mustard, beet root and kale

Olericulture crops are none woody leafy vegetables that contain high nutrients, vitamins, and iron. Foliage insects show chronological association with their specific host vegetable such as Mustard leaves beat root and kale were the main olericulture crops that were selected to estimate the prevalence and variety of foliage insects. Samples were collected by aerial nets, direct handpicking, and sweep nets and with the help of forceps. Larvae of the many insects were voracious eaters. Hymenoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera, and Coleoptera were the major foliage insects order that directly or indirectly affect these vegetables. The result indicates that foliage insects show sequential association with their host vegetable. Maximum dominance and variety of insects were found in kale and the least abundance was recorded in Mustard leaves because mustard leaves secretes some toxins that repels the insects. Common insects among 3 of them were flea beetles.

Beetroot juice: effects on blood pressure, intraocular pressure, and ocular vessel density in healthy adults

Background: The blood pressure (BP)-lowering effect of beetroot is attributed to its high nitrate concentration, which converts to the vasodilator nitric oxide. Nitric oxide may also mediate ocular aqueous outflow to regulate intraocular pressure (IOP). Aims: We investigated the effect of beetroot juice on IOP and ocular vessel density. Subjects and Methods: With a single-blind, crossover design, 19 healthy young adults participated on 2 days 1 week apart. On Visit 1, baseline IOP, BP, and ocular vessel density (optical coherence tomography angiography, disc, and macula) were measured. Three hours after consumption of 16 ounces of beetroot juice or water (randomly assigned), all measurements were repeated. On Visit 2, baseline and 3-hour post-consumption measurements were assessed, with each subject consuming the drink not ingested on Visit 1. Results: Paired-samples t-test showed 1) no difference in IOP change post-water vs post-beet root juice (P = 0.27), and 2) mean systolic and diastolic BPs were lower only post-beet root juice (systolic: -4.8 (SEM ± 2.1) mm Hg, P = 0.032, 95% CI (0.47, 9.11); diastolic: -6.2 (SEM± 1.4) mm Hg, P <0.001, 95% CI (3.27, 9.15)). Superficial vessel density was significantly lower in several macular regions post-beet root juice, but not post-water (Wilcoxon signed ranks test, immediately superior, inferior, and temporal to center; respective P values of 0.016, 0.035, and 0.046). Conclusions: Beetroot juice lowers BP and macular vessel density, but does not lower IOP in young, healthy adults. Further investigation into its effect on IOP and vessel density in glaucomatous eyes is warranted. Keywords: beetroot, blood pressure, intraocular pressure, vessel density.

Field Detection of Rhizoctonia Root Rot in Sugar Beet by Near Infrared Spectrometry

Rhizoctonia root and crown rot (RRCR) is an important disease in sugar beet production areas, whose assessment and control are still challenging. Therefore, breeding for resistance is the most practical way to manage it. Although the use of spectroscopy methods has proven to be a useful tool to detect soil-borne pathogens through leaves reflectance, no study has been carried out so far applying near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) directly in the beets. We aimed to use NIRS on sugar beet root pulp to detect and quantify RRCR in the field, in parallel to the harvest process. For the construction of the calibration model, mainly beets from the field with natural RRCR infestation were used. To enrich the model, artificially inoculated beets were added. The model was developed based on Partial Least Squares Regression. The optimized model reached a Pearson correlation coefficient (R) of 0.972 and a Ratio of Prediction to Deviation (RPD) of 4.131. The prediction of the independent validation set showed a high correlation coefficient (R = 0.963) and a root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of 0.494. These results indicate that NIRS could be a helpful tool in the assessment of Rhizoctonia disease in the field.

Protection Effectiveness Of Bit (Beta vulgaris) Fruit Extract In Maintaining Spermatogenesis Ability In White Rats (Rattus novergicus) Induced Carbon Tetracloride (CCl4)

The aim of this research was to know whether beetroot (Beta Vulgaris) extract could protect spermatogenesis by maintaining spermatogenic and sertoli cell count in rats (Rattus novergicus) induced with CCl4. Rats were given beetroot extract daily, for 14 days and 3ml/kg BW CCl4 intraperitoneally one hour after last treatment. This study used twenty rats which were devided equally into 5 groups. K(-), the negative control group was not induced with CCL4 and only given 1% CMC-Na suspension. K(+), the positive control group was induced with CCl­4 and given 1% CMC-Na suspension. P1, P2 and P3 were given beet root extract with doses of 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg BW daily before feeding. All of the beetroot treatment were given orally (2 ml). After 24 hours CCl4 induction, rats were sacrificed and testis were collected to make histology slides. The observations showed significantly different (p<0,05) in all of variables. Result showed significant differences in spermatogenic and sertoli cells between K(-) and K(+) groups, K(+) with P2 and P3 group, and showed insignificant difference between P2 and P3 group in spermatogenic and sertoli cells. The result of this research showed that beetroot extract could protect the spermatogenic and sertoli cells in male rats induced with CCl4.

Naturally coloured roots as a tool for studying root interactions in mixed cropping

The objective of this study was to evaluate the usage of species with coloured roots to study root growth patterns during intercropping. Red beet (Beta vulgaris L. cv. Detroit), having clear red roots, was used in a semi-field and field experiment to allow identification and quantification of roots of the individual species in the mixture. In the field experiment, red beet was strip intercropped with lucerne (Medicago sativa L. cv. Creno) and kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. Sabellica), respectively while the red beet-lucerne intercropping was conducted in large rhizoboxes where root growth distribution and ¹⁵N isotope uptake was determined. The study confirmed that the direct visual measurement of root growth using species with coloured roots and indirect tracer uptake measurements contributed to the success of studying root growth dynamics in intercropping systems. Red beet root intensity was not considerably affected by the strip intercropping when the crops were established at the same time, but when established between existing lucerne strips, a reduction in roots at the border row was shown. Lucerne and kale were both observed to be able to exploit the deep soil layers beneath the red beet border row.

Effectiveness of Beet Root Juice on Reduction of Blood Pressure among People with Hypertension at Sothupakkam, Kanchipuram District

Aim: Effectiveness of beet root juice on reduction of blood pressure among people with hypertension at Sothupakkam, Kanchipuram district Objectives: (i) to assess the level of blood pressure among people with hypertension residing at Sothupakkam. (ii) to evaluate the effectiveness of beetroot juice on reduction of blood pressure among people with hypertension (iii) to find out the association between effectiveness of beetroot juice on reduction of blood pressure with the selected demographic variables. Methodology: Researcher adopted the quantitative research approach, one group pre test and post test design, study samples with the age group 25-65 years old for 60 samples at Sothupakkam Kanchipuram district using purposive sampling technique Results: The findings of the study was pre and post systolic mean difference 30.66 with the standard deviation 10.39 and applying paired ‘t’ test value 22.8 and pre and post diastolic mean difference 17.33 with standard deviation 10.22 and applying the paired ‘t’ test value 13.1 since the calculated value was greater than the table value at 0.05 level of significance. Hence it was significant improvement in reduction of blood pressure among people with hypertension. It has shown that the consumption of beet root juice was effective Conclusion: The present study was conducted in sothupakkam village with the sample size 60 people with hypertension and they had been administered with the beet root juice on reduction of blood pressure which showed the remarkable changes in the health status of the susceptible of people with hypertension and they had give the feedback regarding the effectiveness of the natural home remedy. Keywords: Beet root juice, hypertension, high blood pressure.

Assessing the Agronomical and Environmental Impacts of the Application of Green Waste-derived Compost on Sugar Beet Under Deficit Irrigation Conditions

In the light of global warming and climate changes, as well as the rapid expansion in sugar beet production in the arid and semi-arid regions, improving sugar beet productivity under deficit irrigation is of great importance. Green waste-derived compost (GWC) is a valuable soil amendment for improving soil organic matter, decreasing waste products and potential pollutants. The application of 14 ton ha-1 of GWC resulted in the highest root and recoverable sugar yields especially under the well-irrigated conditions under drip irrigation. Although, the impurities% in the beet root juice was increased under deficit irrigation conditions, sugar beet root biofortification and juice quality were significantly improved under drip irrigation in response to the application of 14 ton ha-1 of GWC by increasing sucrose content, QZ% and RS%. The application of GWC under drip irrigation enhanced water use efficiency for root yield (WUERY) and recoverable sugar yield (WUERSY), in particular under drip irrigation. The soil chemical and physical properties were significantly improved in response to the application of GWC. The results indicate that the application of GWC is essential for the sustainable sugar beet production and efficient irrigation water use in sandy soils.

Changes in the content of chlorophyll in leaves when using pesticides and microfertilizers

One of the ways to reduce the phytotoxicity of herbicides on cultivated plants is the use of trace element fertilizers. The article presents the results of research on the influence of liquid trace element fertilizers on the content of chlorophyll in leaves and the productivity of sugar beet. It was found that three days after the treatment of crops with herbicides together with microfertilizers, the amount of chlorophyll a and b pigments was 4% higher than when applying herbicides without microfertilizers. In the control version, where pesticides and microfertilizers were not applied, the content of chlorophyll in the leaves was 0.350% by weight. As the observations showed, the photosynthetic activity of sugar beet plants was restored 4-5 days after the treatment by herbicides. Herbicides, with the simultaneous introduction of micro-fertilizers, had a less negative effect on the photosynthesis of sugar beet than herbicides alone. The biological yield of root crops in the variant with the combined use of pesticides and microfertilizers was 56.36 t/ha. The polarization of sugar beet root crops with the combined use of pesticides and microfertilizers was 0.64% higher than in the variant without microfertilizers.