EVALUATION OF FUNGICIDES AGAINST PHYTOPHTHORA AND FUSARIUM (root rot spp.) OF CITRUS ROOTSTOCKS SEEDLINGS

Citrus is one of the most important fruit crop in the world and is usually grown through grafting technique. Rootstock is one of the significant part in grafted plants and has crutial effect on production, including yield, fruit quality, tree size, tolerance to salts and diseases, and scion compatibility. Citrus is susceptible to several fungal pathogens causing incalculable losses to the crop. Among all soil-borne fungal pathogens, Phytophthora and Fusarium cause the most severe damage to the nursery or orchards plants. This research was planned to evaluate the effectiveness of fungicides as soil drenching and root dipping to control Phytophthora and Fusarium attacking citrus rootstock seedlings at the nursery stage. Different physiological and morphological parameters were studied in the infected plants and data were compared with that of control. The data were recorded and compared concerning rootstock seed and seeding response using standard measures and statistical analysis. The results showed that plants inoculated with Phytophthora and Fusarium root rot spp.when treated with Aliette and Ridomil Gold showed maximum root shoot ratio, fresh dry weight ratio, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, water potential and transpiration rate as compared to untreated plants. The results also depicted that plants treated with Aliette and Ridomil Gold through soil drenching have maximum root shoot ratio, fresh dry weight ratio, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate as compared to root dipped plants. Keywords: Fungal diseases, pathogens, root rot, nursery plants.

Assessing Vehicle Profiling Accuracy of Handheld LiDAR Compared to Terrestrial Laser Scanning for Crash Scene Reconstruction

Forensic crash investigation often requires developing detailed profiles showing the location and extent of vehicle damage to identify impact areas, impact direction, deformation, and estimated vehicle speeds at impact. Traditional damage profiling techniques require extended and comprehensive setups for mapping and measurement that are quite labor- and time-intensive. Due to the time involved, this damage profiling is usually done in a remote holding area after the crash scene is cleared. Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) scanning technology in consumer handheld electronic devices, such as smartphones and tablets, holds significant potential for conducting this damage profile mapping in just a few minutes, allowing the mapping to be conducted at the scene before the vehicle(s) are moved. However, there is limited research and even scarcer published literature on field procedures and/or accuracy for these emerging smartphones and tablets with LiDAR. This paper proposes a methodology and subsequent measurement accuracy comparisons for survey-grade terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) and handheld alternatives. The maximum root mean square error (RMSE) obtained for profile distance between handheld (iPad) and survey-grade TLS LiDAR scans for a damaged vehicle was observed to be 3 cm, a level of accuracy that is likely sufficient and acceptable for most forensic studies.

Cough Sounds Recorded via Smart Devices as Useful Non-Invasive Digital Biomarkers of Aspiration Risk: A Case Report

Spirometer measurements can reflect cough strength but might not be routinely available for patients with severe neurological or medical conditions. A digital device that can record and help track abnormal cough sound changes serially in a noninvasive but reliable manner would be beneficial for monitoring such individuals. This report includes two cases of respiratory distress whose cough changes were monitored via assessments performed using recordings made with a digital device. The cough sounds were recorded using an iPad (Apple, Cupertino, CA, USA) through an embedded microphone. Cough sounds were recorded at the bedside, with no additional special equipment. The two patients were able to complete the recordings with no complications. The maximum root mean square values obtained from the cough sounds were significantly reduced when both cases were diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia. In contrast, higher values became apparent when the patients demonstrated a less severe status. Based on an analysis of our two cases, the patients’ cough sounds recorded with a commercial digital device show promise as potential digital biomarkers that may reflect aspiration risk related to attenuated cough force. Serial monitoring aided the decision making to resume oral feeding. Future studies should further explore the clinical utility of this technique.

Sorghum Drought Tolerance is Associated with Deeper Root System and Decreased Transpiration Rate

Drought decreases grain yield of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench], and understanding the mechanism(s) related to drought tolerance is critical for sustaining sorghum production. Variation in root and shoot traits associated with drought tolerance were analyzed to provide an integrated view of factors that underlie the drought tolerance of sorghum. The plants were grown in the root column up to the five-leaf stage, then exposed to either 0.9 fraction of transpirable soil water (FTSW) or 0.4 FTSW for five days. In another experiment, at the five-leaf stage, stress was imposed for 14 days. Various root and shoot traits associated with drought tolerance were recorded. The seminal root angle of IS13540 was lower (24.4) than IS23143 (42.6). Drought stress increased the maximum root length (40%) and total root length (58%) of IS13540 than its irrigated control. In contrast, the maximum root length and total root length were decreased in IS23143. Similarly, across the lines, drought stress decreased stomatal conductance (37%), transpiration rate (42%), photosynthetic rate (40%), photosystem II quantum yield (20%), photochemical quenching (44%), and total dry matter production (34%) than irrigated control. An increased transpiration rate was observed in IS23143 than IS13540 under irrigated and drought stress. In IS23143, the reduction in photosynthetic rate under drought may be a combination of stomatal and non-stomatal factors. However, in IS13540, the reduction is especially by the stomatal factors. It is evident that IS13540 is a drought-tolerant line, and tolerance is related to a deep prolific root system and reduced tran-spiration rate.

A New Curve of Critical Leaf Potassium Concentration Based on the Maximum Root Dry Matter for Diagnosing Potassium Nutritional Status of Sweet Potato

Critical leaf nutrient concentrations have often been used to diagnose the nutritional status of crops. Determining critical leaf potassium (K) concentrations for the maximum root dry matter (RDM) will provide a reliable means of linking leaf K nutrient concentrations to the yield of sweet potato. Three field experiments, using varying K application rates (0–300 kg K ha−1) and two sweet potato cultivars, were performed in the Zhejiang Province of China. A new critical leaf K curve (Kleaf) based on the maximum RDM was determined to assess K nutrition in sweet potato and described by the equation Kleaf=4.55×RDMmax-0.075. A critical root K curve (Kroot) based on the maximum RDM was also determined to assess K nutrition and described by the equation Kroot=2.36×RDMmax-0.087. The K nutrition index (KNI) was constructed to identify the situations of K-limiting and non-K-limiting treatments. The leaf KNI (KNIleaf) ranged from 0.56 to 1.17, and the root K KNI (KNIroot) ranged from 0.52 to 1.35 during the growth period of sweet potato. The results showed that the critical leaf K concentration curve can be used as an accurate leaf K status diagnostic tool at critical growth stages that connected leaf nutrient concentration and sweet potato tuber yield. This K curve will contribute to K management of sweet potato during its growth period in China.

Effect of different doses of vermicompost on growth, yield and quality of radish (Raphanus sativus L. cv. Mino Early)

A field experiment was conducted at Horticulture farm of Nepal Polytechnic Institute (NPI) Bharatpur-11, Chitwan to study the effects of different doses of vermicompost on growth, yield and quality of radish (Raphanus sativus L. cv. Mino Early) from January 2020 to March 2020. Five different doses (0 ton, 5 ton, 10 ton, 15 ton, and 20 ton per hectare) of vermicompost were taken as treatments and the experiment was replicated four times. The experiment was set up in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The result of the study showed that there was a significant effect of different doses of vermicompost on plant height, the number of leaves per plant, spreading of the plant, root length, root weight per plant, root diameter, and root yield at harvesting. The maximum plant height, the maximum number of leaves per plant and maximum plant spreading in radish plant on vermicompost application was recorded every 30, 45 and 60 days after sowing (DAS). The maximum root length (29.60 cm), maximum root diameter (36.27 mm), maximum root weight (191.8 g), maximum biomass weight (241.6 g/plant), maximum root yield (47.9 ton/ha), were recorded on applying 15 ton/ha vermicompost at 60 DAS. The control treatment showed the minimum vegetative growth and yield. Among the different doses of vermicompost, the overall performance of radish was found better in 15 ton/ha of vermicompost. Statistical analysis showed no differences among (5 ton, 10 ton, 15 ton, 20 ton per hectare of vermicompost) applications. Hence, 5 ton per hectare of vermicompost application will be best for radish production in Chitwan.

Trait variations and expression profiling of OsPHT1 gene family at the early growth-stages under phosphorus-limited conditions

To better understand the early response of genotypes to limited-phosphorus (P) conditions and the role of the phosphate transporter OsPHT1 gene family in the presence of PSTOL1, it is essential to characterize the level of tolerance in rice under limited-P conditions. In the present experiment, six rice genotypes were studied in three-way interactions [genotype (G) × phosphorus (P) × duration (D)] by comparing them at two instances (14 d and 28 d) under seven different concentrations of P (0.5‒10.0 ppm) in a hydroponic system. Trait differences and interactions of these traits were clearly distinguished among the various P rates. However, aboveground trait expression registered increased growth from 6.0 to 10.0 ppm of P. The major root-attributed traits in 0.5 ppm of P are significantly increased vis-à-vis 10 ppm of P. Analysis of variance displayed a significant difference between the genotypes for PSTOL1 and PHT1 expression. In low P, maximum root length with a shoot and root dry weight was observed in a new indigenous accession, IC459373, with higher expression of PSTOL1 than in Dular and IR64-Pup1 in 0.5 ppm of P at 14 d. Among the 13 PHT1 genes, OsPT1, OsPT2, OsPT6, and OsPT13 showed significant upregulation in IC459373, Dular, and IR64-Pup1. These results indicated that studying the expression levels of the PSTOL1 and PHT1 gene family at the early growth stages would be helpful in identifying superior donors to improve low-P tolerance and P-use efficiency in rice breeding programs.

Modelling and implementation of soft bio-mimetic turtle using echo state network and soft pneumatic actuators

Advances of soft robotics enabled better mimicking of biological creatures and closer realization of animals’ motion in the robotics field. The biological creature’s movement has morphology and flexibility that is problematic deportation to a bio-inspired robot. This paper aims to study the ability to mimic turtle motion using a soft pneumatic actuator (SPA) as a turtle flipper limb. SPA’s behavior is simulated using finite element analysis to design turtle flipper at 22 different geometrical configurations, and the simulations are conducted on a large pressure range (0.11–0.4 Mpa). The simulation results are validated using vision feedback with respect to varying the air pillow orientation angle. Consequently, four SPAs with different inclination angles are selected to build a bio-mimetic turtle, which is tested at two different driving configurations. The nonlinear dynamics of soft actuators, which is challenging to model the motion using traditional modeling techniques affect the turtle’s motion. Conclusively, according to kinematics behavior, the turtle motion path is modeled using the Echo State Network (ESN) method, one of the reservoir computing techniques. The ESN models the turtle path with respect to the actuators’ rotation motion angle with maximum root-mean-square error of $$1.04 \times 10^{-11}$$ 1.04 × 10 - 11 . The turtle is designed to enhance the robot interaction with living creatures by mimicking their limbs’ flexibility and the way of their motion.

Management of Early Loss of first Permanent Molar in Adolescent

The first molar is the largest tooth in the oral cavity and bears the maximum occlusal load, and they influence the vertical distance of the maxilla and mandible, the occlusal height, and aesthetic proportions. Since they have the maximum root surface area, they are also considered the best source of anchorage for moving the teeth (Mostafa Rezaie el al 2018). The timing of first molar eruption makes these teeth vulnerable to dental caries. The loss of a permanent first molar in adolescent patient creates a need for early space maintenance and restorative of function. This paper describes a conservative, functional and cost-effective bridge as an interim restoration after the loss of permanent first molar in an early adolescent dentition (Rajashekhara el al 2012).

INFLUENCE OF CONVENTIONAL AND NON-CONVENTIONAL ORGANIC SOURCES AND INDUSTRIAL REFUSE FOR YIELD AND QUALITY ATTRIBUTES OF RADISH

Radish is a unique root vegetable cultivated in India for its tender roots, consumed as a salad or cooked vegetable. The soil was collected from Vallampadugai, Chidambaram taluk farmer’s field having sandy loam soil texture, pH 7.0, EC 1.37 dSm-1, (textural class: Typic ustifluvents). A pot experiment was executed out in the pot culture yard of Annamalai University. Organic sources viz., FYM (12.5 and 25 t ha-1), non-conventional organic sources viz., household solid waste compost (12.5 and 25 t ha-1) and industrial refuse viz., rice hull ash (5 and 10 t ha -1) and bagasse ash (5 and 10 t ha-1) with 100% RDF and 75% RDF. There were 9 treatment combinations replicated thrice in CRD. The results showed that maximum root yield (845.9g pot-1) and shoot yield (501.9 g pot -1) were recorded in treatment, receiving 75% RDF + FYM @ 25 t ha-1 (T5). The highest chlorophyll content (1.38 mg g-1), total carbohydrates (4.76%), ascorbic acid (15.9 mg kg-1), and crude protein (0.85%) were registered in T5 (75% RDF+FYM @ 25 t ha-1)