Influence of cyclonic disturbances from sea on rainfall over Eastern Ghats in Andhra Pradesh

Using data of 84 Years, the influence of depressions and cyclonic storms on the rainfall over Eastern Ghats in Andhra Pradesh is studied. The portions of the Ghats, which receive heavy rains due to a depression or cyclonic storm are identified and the rainfall distribution in corresponding months is studied. The results show that the depressions/cyclonic storms crossing not only the coastal parts of AndhraPradesh but also those of south Orissa north and TamilNadu can cause heavy rain over the Ghats in Andhra Pradesh.

De Novo Transcriptome Assembly and Development of EST-SSR Markers for Pterocarpus Santalinus L. f. (Red sanders) , a Threatened and Endemic Timber Tree of India

The endemic and precious timber Pterocarpus santalinus L. f. (Red sanders) is a drought hardy tree species for conservation in peninsular India due to its high risk of illegal timber harvest. It is only found in Eastern Ghats of India, and has become threatened owing to overexploitation of its valuable timber. The development of genomic resources, particularly simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, is essential for strict implementation of in situ conservation measures and application of DNA information based red sanders genetic resource management. However, a lack of genomic data and efficient molecular markers limit the study of its spatial and temporal population genetic structure, identification of diversity hotspots and tree improvement. The current study aims at comprehensive molecular characterization of red sanders and the somatic chromosome counts, flow cytometry and EST-SSR analyses. The results revealed that red sanders is diploid with 2n=20 and the 2C genome size was 0.7872 ± 0.0561pg for the first time in this species. A total of 3128 EST-SSRs were detected based on 25,854 de novo assembled unigenes from transcriptome data and primer sets designed for 1953 SSRs. Fifty-nine EST-SSR markers were evaluated for polymorphism in the natural populations of red sanders and 13 were found to be suitable for genetic analysis. Two major transcription factor families bHLH and ERF, responsible for abiotic stress and secondary metabolite synthesis were analysed which would provide the foundation for further research on production of medicinally important biocompounds.

Socio-cultural Importance of Newborn Healthcare Practices of Parengi Porja Tribe Living in Hilly Forested Areas of Andhra Pradesh, India: An Anthropological Analysis

The study aims to understand the traditional healthcare management of the newborns of the Parengi Porja tribe. The Parengi Porja tribe is a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) that inhabits the Eastern Ghats, which is a continuous high hilly region of Visakhapatnam district, Andhra Pradesh, India. The members of this tribe strongly believe that the earliest weeks of a newborn’s life is the time for the greatest probability of death and disability. To avoid these misfortunes, they strictly follow the traditional healthcare regimen for newborns, which has significant socio-cultural importance. For this study, 105 neonates were purposively selected, and their mothers were interviewed for data collection. The research data were analysed by qualitative methods that included participant observation, in-depth interviews and focus group discussion. The collected data were repeatedly cross-checked with other elderly female members like grandmothers, and sutranimaizi (traditional birth attendant [TBA]) through interviews to strengthen the efficiency and authenticity of the data. The findings of the study show that this tribal population has its understanding of the management of neonatal health, which is socio-culturally ingrained, sanctioned and transmitted through generations.

Development of Crustal-Scale Shear Zones at the Singhbhum Craton–Eastern Ghats Belt Boundary Region: A Critical Review of the Mesoarchean–Neoproterozoic Odyssey

A number of crustal-scale shear zones have developed along the southern margin of the Singhbhum Craton, in the boundary with the Neoarchean Rengali Province and the Meso-Neoproterozoic Eastern Ghats Belt. The cratonic part, evolved in a suprasubduction zone setting, bears imprints of late Mesoarchean orogenic episode (D1C) at ca. 3.1 Ga with folding and thrust imbrication of the cratonic rocks. The succeeding orogenic imprint is etched in the Neoarchean (~2.8 Ga) with development of the Sukinda thrust along the craton margin and thrust-related deformation of the rocks of the Rengali Province (D2C-D1R). The latter event remobilized cratonic fringe with development of a spectacular E-W trending transpressional belt in the Southern Iron Ore Group rocks cored by the Sukinda ultramafics. In the Eastern Ghats Belt, the major ultrahigh-temperature orogeny took place during the Grenvillian-age (~1.0-0.9 Ga) assembly of the supercontinent Rodinia. This belt eventually got juxtaposed against the expanded Singhbhum Craton in the end-Neoproterozoic time (~0.5 Ga) along the Kerajang Fault Zone. This latter event remobilized a large part of the Rengali Province (D2R) with development of an intraterrane transpressional belt bounded by the Barkot Shear Zone in the north. The northern fringe of the intruding Eastern Ghats Belt developed a complex network of strike-slip fault system under this impact, probably an outcome of tectonic activity along the Kuunga suture, which signifies the joining of greater India with East Antarctica. The present synthesis visualizes early development in the craton through formation of a typical orogenic sequence, imbricated in thrust piles, resulting from a ca. 3.1 Ga orogeny. Further cratonic expansion was achieved via repetitive accretion and remobilization, development of crustal-scale faults and transpressional belts at ca. 2.8 Ga and ca. 0.5 Ga, much in a similar fashion as documented along oblique convergent margins of all ages.

Exploration, Collection and Characterization of Horsegram [Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam.) Verd.] Germplasm

Background: Horsegram [Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam.) verd.] is an underutilized arid food legume known to grow well in diverse environmental conditions like poor soils, low rainfall etc. Horsegram is a drought resistant crop used for fodder, feed, seed, green manuring and in ayurvedic medicine. It is grown as Rabi crop in Andhra Pradesh. Compared to other pulse crops, efforts in conservation horsegram germplasm is poor which is essential for the future breeding purpose. There will be a danger of loss of germplasm if they are not collected and conserved. The Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh i.e., Araku region is a rich source of diversified germplasm of legumes, medicinal plants, millets and ancient crops. Among which, horsegram is one of the crop with wide diversified germplasm. Hence the present effort is done in collection and characterization of the germplasm for further use in the breeding process. Broadening the genetic base in horsegram through interspecific hybridization employing diverse germplasm will be useful in improving pest and disease resistance, grain quality, protein percentage and nutritional factors. Methods: Expedition was conducted during Rabi 2018 and 25 horse gram seed samples were collected from the local regions of tribal tracts of Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh along with passport data using the GPS machine. The germplasm lines were evaluated and morphologically characterized during Rabi 2019 at Agricultural Research Station, Yellamanchili, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India, for fifteen characters. Principal component analysis was carried out to identify the diverse germplasm lines and to know the contribution of the variables. Result: The investigation showed that all the horse germplasm lines are inherited to the farmers from their ancestors. Study revealed that, the seed yield per plant showed a range of 2.40 to 6.40 g and the days maturity recorded a range of 87 to 106 days. Principal component analysis showed that all the variables except 100 seed weight (g) showed positive loading. Among the variables plant height (cm), dry haulm weight (g) and seed yield per plant recorded maximum percentage of contribution. The genotypes HG-24, HG-7, HG-19, HG-15, HG-22 recorded highest positive scores. The genotypes HG-5, HG-10, HG-3, HG-16, HG-8, HG-4, HG-10, HG-24 and HG-7 has shown wide divergence which may be further adopted in the breeding programme for horsegram improvement.

A NEW COMBINATION IN THE GENUS LYCIANTHES (SOLANACEAE: SOLANOIDEAE: CAPSICEAE)

During the verification of nomenclature in connection with the preparation for ‘Studies of Solanaceae in Eastern Ghats’ the authors came across a species Solanum uncinellum Lindl. that need to be updated in accordance with the changing generic characters for the genus Lycianthes. Accordingly the required new name and new combination is proposed here.

In-silico ADMET predicated Pharmacoinformatics of Quercetin-3-Galactoside, polyphenolic compound from Azadirachta indica, a sacred tree from Hill Temple in Alagarkovil Reserve Forest, Eastern Ghats, INDIA

Quercetin (3,3′,4′,5,7-Pentahydroxyflavone) is the one among the bioactive secondary metabolite (BASM) in neem seed of Azadirachta indica A. Juss. Quercetin (Que) and its derivatives hold promising pharmacological effects. Antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-Alzheimer’s, antiarthritic, cardiovascular, and wound-healing effects of Que have been extensively investigated, recently lot of work has been carried out on its anticancer activity against different cancer cell lines. Recently, in silico/ in vitro studies have demonstrated that Que interferes with different stages of coronavirus entry and replication cycle (PLpro, 3CLpro, and NTPase/helicase). Due to its pleiotropic effects in human health and disease and lack of systemic toxicity, Que and its derivatives could be tested for their efficacy on human target system in future clinical trials. In the present study, an attempt has been made to evaluate the physicochemical, druggable properties of Que from A. indica to prospect its ADMET properties. Keywords: NEEM; Azadirachta indica; Quercetin; Pharmacoinformatics; ADMET; Drug-Likeness; Toxicology