A Comparative Study of Particulate Matter Between New Delhi, India and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia During the COVID-19 Lockdown Period

Novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), after being identified in late December 2019 in Wuhan city of China, spread very fast and has affected all the countries in the world. The impact of lockdowns on particulate matter during the lockdown period needs attention to explore the correlation between anthropogenic and natural emissions. The current study has demonstrated the changes in fine particulate matter PM2.5, PM10 and their effect on air quality during the lockdown. The air quality before the lockdown was low in New Delhi (India) and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), among major cities worldwide. The air quality of India is influenced by dust and sand from the desert and surrounding areas. Thus, the current study becomes important to analyse changes in the air quality of the Indian sub-continent as impacted by dust storms from long distances. The result indicated a significant reduction of PM2.5 and PM10 from 93.24 to 37.89 μg/m3 and from 176.55 to 98.87 μg/m3 during the lockdown period as compared to pre lockdown period, respectively. The study shows that average concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 have declined by -44% and -59% during the lockdown period in Delhi. The average value of median PM10 was calculated at 33.71 μg/m3 for Riyadh, which was lower than that value for New Delhi during the same period. The values of PM10 were different for pre and during the lockdown periods in Riyadh, indicating the considerable influence on air quality, especially the concentration of PM10, from both the natural (sand and dust storms) and the anthropogenic sources during the lockdown periods. However, relatively smaller gains in the improvement of air quality in Riyadh were correlated to the imposition of milder lockdown and the predominance of natural factors over the anthropogenic factors there. The Air Quality Index (AQI) data for Delhi showed the air quality to be ‘satisfactory’ and in the green category during the lockdown period. This study attempts to better understand the impact of particulate matter on the short- and long-term air quality in Delhi during the lockdown. This study has the scope of being scaled up nationwide, and this might be helpful in formulation air pollution reduction and sustainable management policies in the future.

Investigating the effect of an open window vs. a closed window on the concentrations of suspended particulate matter in the indoors with respect to the outdoors

A study was conducted to see the effect of an opened window vs. a closed window in New Delhi in peak winters. This is the time when the PM 2.5 and PM 10 concentrations are the highest in the ambient air due to various external factors. A PM 2.5 and PM 10 air quality meter was used at a singular location near the window for 10 days with 9 readings taken during the daily working hours. Contrary to the possible conjectural belief, it was found that the window opened or closed did not have a substantial effect on the concentrations of the indoor levels of PM 2.5 and PM 10. The results showed that opening of the windows does not substantially affect the levels of the indoors with respect to the levels of PM 2.5 and PM 10 in the outdoors. Outdoors may provide the source of the particulate matter in the indoor, but due to diffusive effect, open windows play a key role in the reducing the indoor levels. This study was reconfirmed with options where the windows were opened and then closed and vice-versa. In all cases, the effect of the outdoor was not visible. To curb indoor particulate matter levels, isolation is not the solution. (200 words)

Identification of Parental Lines and Hybrid using Molecular Techniques in CGMS based Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) Hybrid UARChH42 (JCH42)

Background: Molecular markers are the landmarks on DNA that identifies a particular sequence of base pairs coding for a character. SCAR (Sequenced Characterized Amplified Region) markers are proving to be more effective in identification of genotypes as they are PCR based co-dominant markers. In view of plant variety registration under PPV and FRA, 2001 molecular characterization/ identification of the variety is essential to ascertain the trueness of the variety, hence present studies have been planned and executed. Methods: In present investigation CGMS based chilli hybrid UARChH42 and its parental lines were identified using molecular techniques. A line, B line, R line and hybrid seedlings were used for DNA extraction and characterized on the basis of polymorphism with respect to sterility or fertility by using SCAR markers. Result: P1 and P2 and coxII-SCAR which are sterility specific markers could amplify A line and hybrid showing a definite band. CRF-SCAR 870 is a fertility specific marker amplified R line and hybrid. Also CMS-SCAR 130 and CMS-SCAR 130/140 were able to identified A line, B line, R line and hybrid. Two of the markers viz. orf-456-SCAR atp6-SCAR and were not able to specify any case of parental lines or hybrid identification. Hybridity of UARChH42 (JCH42) chilli hybrid was determined by any similarity in the banding pattern with any of its parent. This study would help in the fulfillment of the requirements of protection of plant varieties and farmers’ rights authority (PPVFRA), New Delhi for registration purpose.

Influence of weather and nutrients (FYM, N and P) on RGR, LAD, NAR and CGR to determine the productivity of maize, wheat and green gram in a cropping system

In a field experiment, conducted during 2018-19 and 2019-20 at the Research Farm, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, factorial combinations of two levels of FYM (0, 10 Mg ha−1) applied to maize; four levels of nitrogen (0, 60, 120, 180 kg N ha-1) and three levels of phosphorus (0, 30, 60 kg P2O5 ha−1) applied to both maize and wheat and subsequent residual effects on green gram were compared. The RGR was at peak in maize at 29oC and in wheat at 12-13 oC. Integral of LAD and incidental solar radiation has significantly improved CGR. The LAD and CGR also shown significant relationship with grain/ seed yield in all three crops. Slightly higher NAR in combination with LAD and SRD can significantly contribute to overall performance of crops. Results indicated that variation in yield across years due to weather fluctuations, irrespective of treatments, was about 16.7 per cent in maize (kharif), 7.93 per cent in wheat (rabi) and 16.8 per cent in green gram (summer).

Epidemiological models based on meteorological variables to forewarn Alternaria blight of rapeseed-mustard

Alternaria blight [Alternaria brassicae (Berk.) Sacc.] is one of the most widespread and harmful maladies of rapeseed-mustard, causing yield loss up to 47 per cent. Meteorological parameters especially temperature, relative humidity and bright sunshine hours play major role in the development of Alternaria blight disease. Infection by the pathogen is highly influenced by meteorological conditions. A well-tested model based on meteorological variables is an efficient tool for forewarning this disease. Epidemiology of Alternaria blight of brassicas was investigated based on long term data during 2003-2018 crop seasons on the disease severity and meteorological variables, which was validated with data for two subsequent years. During this study, meteorological variable-based regression model of forewarning was developed for maximum severity (%) of Alternaria blight on leaves and pods for three locations viz., New Delhi, Hisar (Haryana) and Mohanpur (West Bengal)] in India. Validation of the forewarning models for maximum severity (%) of Alternaria blight proved the efficiency of the targeted forecasts.

Role of Sw5 gene cluster in the fight against plant viruses

The Sw5 gene cluster furnishes robust resistance to Tomato spotted wilt virus in tomato, which has led to its widespread applicability in agriculture. Among the five orthologs, Sw5b functions as a resistance gene against a broad-spectrum Tospovirus and is linked with Tospovirus resistance. However, its paralog, Sw5a, has been recently implicated in providing resistance against Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus , broadening the relevance of the Sw5 gene cluster in promoting defense against plant viruses. We propose that plants have established modifications within the homologs of R genes that permit identification of different effector proteins and provide broad and robust resistance against different pathogens through activation of hypersensitive response and cell death.

Occurrence of NDM-1, VIM-1, and OXA-10 Co-Producing Providencia rettgeri Clinical Isolate in China

Providencia rettgeri is a nosocomial pathogen associated with urinary tract infections related to hospital-acquired Infections. In recent years, P. rettgeri clinical strains producing New Delhi Metallo-β-lactamase (NDM) and other β-lactamase which reduce the efficiency of antimicrobial therapy have been reported. However, there are few reports of P. rettgeri co-producing two metallo-β-lactamases in one isolate. Here, we first reported a P. rettgeri strain (P138) co-harboring blaNDM-1, blaVIM-1, and blaOXA-10. The specie were identified using MALDI-TOF MS. The results of antimicrobial susceptibility testing by broth microdilution method indicated that P. rettgeri P138 was resistant to meropenem (MIC = 64μg/ml), imipenem (MIC = 64μg/ml), and aztreonam (MIC = 32μg/ml). Conjugation experiments revealed that the blaNDM-1-carrying plasmid was transferrable. The carbapenemase genes were detected using PCR and confirmed by PCR-based sequencing. The complete genomic sequence of the P. rettgeri was identified using Illumina (Illumina, San Diego, CA, USA) short-read sequencing (150bp paired-end reads), and many common resistance genes had been identified, including blaNDM-1, blaVIM-1, blaOXA-10, aac(6’)-Il, aadA5, ant(2’’)-Ia, aadA1, aac(6’)-Ib3, aadA1, aph(3’)-Ia, aac(6’)-Ib-cr, qnrD1, qnrA1, and catA2. The blaNDM-1 gene was characterized by the following structure: IS110–TnpA–IntI1–aadB–IS91–GroEL–GroES–DsbD–PAI–ble–blaNDM-1–IS91–QnrS1–IS110. Blast comparison revealed that the blaNDM-1 gene structure shared >99% similarity with plasmid p5_SCLZS62 (99% nucleotide identity and query coverage). In summary, we isolated a P. rettgeri strain coproducing blaNDM-1, blaVIM-1, and blaOXA-10. To the best of our acknowledge, this was first reported in the world. The occurrence of the strain needs to be closely monitored.