Eggplant varieties rich in bioactive chlorogenic acid along with less browning are preferred by consumers. Therefore, genetics of fruit phenolics, fruit flesh colour, and browning related traits were ...studied in the genotypes of eggplant, comprising of nine cultivated varieties and one accession of eggplant's primary genepool wild relative
(INS2). These accessions were genotyped based on the 7335 polymorphic single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) markers. After that, genotypes were crossed in half diallel fashion to produce 45 hybrids. The INS2 displayed the highest values for the total phenolics and chlorogenic acid content (CGA). For all of the biochemical traits studied, significant values of general and specific combining ability (GCA and SCA) effects were determined. The baker ratio estimates were high (>0.75) for all of the traits. Highly significant and positive heterosis (%) was determined for the dry matter, total phenolics, CGA, and area (%) of CGA content. The phenolics content of the fruit (total phenolics and CGA) was not significantly correlated with flesh colour and browning related traits. However, when the path coefficient analysis was performed considering the CGA as a dependent variable, it was determined that the flesh colour related traits most considerably affected the CGA. The genetic distance showed a diminutive correlation with the hybrid means, heterosis, and SCA values. Overall, this study provides important information regarding the underlying genetics of important biochemical traits of eggplant fruit.
Wild relatives of eggplant are commonly exploited for eggplant improvement, but the genetic improvement relies on the information of the genetic basis of inheritance of traits. In this study, two ...eggplant lines, one with oriental and another with occidental cytoplasm, were crossed with four testers representing three wild species, namely, Solanum insanum, S.anguivi, and S. lichtensteinii. The Line × Tester cross produced a total of eight interspecific hybrids. Parents and their hybrids were evaluated for 3 biochemical, 12 morphological, and 8 Tomato Analyzer-based descriptors. A significant amount of variation was noticed for all 23 traits studied. The higher values for the specific combining ability (SCA) component were determined as compared to the general combining ability (GCA) component. The testers were more significant for most of the traits than the cultivated varieties. Positive heterosis was determined for the 12 characteristics and negative heterosis for the 11 attributes. Overall, S.anguivi, and S. lichtensteinii were better for the biochemical traits’ improvement, whereas S. insanum was a better tester for the morphological traits.
Though long in the offing, US withdrawal from Afghanistan became a reality with the signing of the Doha Agreement on 29 February 2020, ultimately leading to the establishment of Taliban 2.0 in Kabul. ...The unravelling of the two-decade-old US-led war and reconstruction effort in Afghanistan led to a long-predicted scramble among the regional powers to fill the vacuum created by US withdrawal and threw up a plethora of intriguing questions, particularly regarding China’s role and interests in the region. This article seeks to understand and analyze China’s ever-growing engagement in Afghanistan through the paradigm of Realism, arguing that China has long-term geo-strategic and geo-economic interests in the region which requires it to coordinate more closely with Pakistan and Iran and innovate diplomatically. This article is divided into two sections. The first section focuses on China’s interests in Afghanistan viz. BRI-CPEC extension in Afghanistan, rare earth, and the need to ensure peace and stability. The second section assesses China’s response to the emerging situation by focusing on China’s engagement with the Taliban 2.0 and co-opting of Pakistan and Iran for safeguarding its long-term interests. This article concludes while looking at the position of India in the gamut.
Eggplant is one of the most important vegetable crops known for its nutritive benefits due to the abundance of various bioactive compounds, which include proteins, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, ...phenolics, and dry matter content. In addition, eggplant has significant pharmaceutical properties that have been recently recognized. Eggplant produces secondary metabolites, including glycoalkaloids, antioxidant compounds, and vitamins, which appear to be the major source of its health benefits. It has been reported that there is a considerable correlation between the regular use of phytochemicals and the defense against diseases. Therefore, researchers must analyze the biochemical composition of eggplants to obtain more information about their nutritional quality and health benefits. In this review, an attempt is made to explain the qualitative and quantitative aspects of different biochemicals present in eggplant, in addition to their beneficial health effects.
Evaluation and prediction of the performance of hybrids is important in eggplant (Solanum melongena) breeding. A set of 10 morphologically highly diverse eggplant parents, including nine inbred S. ...melongena and one weedy S. insanum accessions, were intercrossed according to a half-diallel mating design without reciprocals to obtain 45 hybrids. Parents and hybrids were evaluated for 14 morphological and agronomic conventional descriptors and 14 fruit morphometric traits using Tomato Analyzer. Genetic distances among parents were estimated with 7,335 polymorphic SNP markers. Wide ranges of variation and significant differences were observed in the set of 55 genotypes for all traits, although the hybrids group had significantly higher vigour and yield than parents. General and specific combining abilities (GCA and SCA) were significant for most (GCA) or all (SCA) traits, although a wide variation was obtained for GCA/SCA ratios. Many relevant traits associated to vigour and yield had low GCA/SCA ratios and narrow-sense heritability (h2) values, while the reverse occurred for most fruit shape descriptors. Broad-sense heritability (H2) values were generally high, irrespective of GCA/SCA ratios. Significant correlations were found between traits related to size of leaf, flower and fruit, as well as among many fruit morphometric traits. Genetic distances (GD) among parents were coherent with their phylogenetic relationships, but few significant and generally low correlations were found between GD and hybrid means, heterosis or SCA. The results provide relevant information for developing appropriate strategies for parent selection and hybrid development in eggplant and suggest that GD among parents have limited value to predict hybrid performance in this crop.
Vegetables require an optimum supply of mineral elements like silicon (Si). Si is second to oxygen in its abundance in the earth crust, and its role is quite significant in tackling biotic and ...abiotic stresses of vegetables. Si application also improves several agronomic and quality traits of vegetables. Hence, Si application is recommended as a strategy for the improvement of vegetable crops production. Although the research about the role of Si in vegetable dicots still lags far behind than cereals. Recently, omics-based approaches were used to provide a deeper understanding of the role of Si in vegetable protection. Here, we have compiled the studies focusing on the role of Si for vegetables, thus, enabling all of the important information regarding the effect Si application to vegetables at one place.
This paper highlights China’s views regarding CPEC and argues that stakes are very high for China in CPEC, and it is a project that must succeed if BRI is to go down in history as a success. However, ...CPEC’s success cannot be ensured without responding to the security challenge present in Pakistan and Afghanistan, which has the potential to jeopardise the CPEC and as a result the entire BRI. Hence, China is required to engage with both Pakistan and Afghanistan to ensure the long-term security of the CPEC. Building of CPEC and its further extension leaves India with limited options but augmenting economic, political and security concerns.
Abiotic and biotic stresses negatively affect plant cellular and biological processes, limiting their growth and productivity. Plants respond to these environmental cues and biotrophic attackers by ...activating intricate metabolic-molecular signaling networks precisely and coordinately. One of the initial signaling networks activated is involved in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), reactive nitrogen species (RNS), and reactive sulfur species (RSS). Recent research has exemplified that ROS below the threshold level can stimulate plant survival by modulating redox homeostasis and regulating various genes of the stress defense pathway. In contrast, RNS regulates the stress tolerance potential of crop plants by modulating post-translation modification processes, such as
-nitrosation and tyrosine nitration, improving the stability of protein and DNA and activating the expression of downstream stress-responsive genes. RSS has recently emerged as a new warrior in combating plant stress-induced oxidative damage by modulating various physiological and stress-related processes. Several recent findings have corroborated the existence of intertwined signaling of ROS/RNS/RSS, playing a substantial role in crop stress management. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying their remarkable effect are still unknown. This review comprehensively describes recent ROS/RNS/RSS biology advancements and how they can modulate cell signaling and gene regulation for abiotic stress management in crop plants. Further, the review summarizes the latest information on how these ROS/RNS/RSS signaling interacts with other plant growth regulators and modulates essential plant functions, particularly photosynthesis, cell growth, and apoptosis.
Rheuminations Kaushik, Dr. Prashant; Kaushik, Aarya A.
J. Islamic Int. Med. Coll.,
12/2022, Letnik:
17, Številka:
4
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
I’ll be honest…it has been 35+ years since I started Medical School MBBS. And in the realm of Medicine at large, and Immunology/Rheumatology in specific, we are still struggling to find a ‘cure’ for ...chronic systemic inflammatory immune-mediated diseases also known as ‘autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARD)’. Rheumatology is still in its cradle having gotten the recognition as a subspecialty of Medicine only in 1972. I have seen the field evolve in terms of understanding the orchestrated ‘play’ of the immune cells along with cytokines etc. over the past 3 decades, all of which has led to the concept and birth of ‘biologic’ disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs b-DMARDs. The first b-DMARD to get approved by the Food and Drugs Administration FDA was etanercept, a TNF-alpha receptor fusion protein in 1998. Infliximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody against TNF soon followed in 1999. Ever since then, there has been a flurry of b-DMARDs including 3 more in the same family of TNF-antagonists, 2 in the Interleukin IL-6 antagonist class, 1 blocker of the second co-stimulatory T-cell signaling: CTLA-4Ig, 3 IL-1 antagonists, B-cell depleting chimeric monoclonal antibody directed against CD-20 etc. Also, 3 oral Janus-kinase inhibitors have joined the ‘gang’ and are called targeted synthetic DMARDs. I still remember the pre-b-DMARD era when rip roaring rheumatoid arthritis was still around, and with my Ustaad Saheb (Mentor), all what we had to offer pharmaceutically were the conventional synthetic cs DMARDs including methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine, sulfasalazine, leflunomide and the younger generation can hold their breath cyclosporine, d-penicillamine, chlorambucil…GOLD injections and even cyclophosphamide! Corticosteroids have been around since 1950! The 1st and “so far” …well, I/You might be next one! the only Nobel Prize winning revelation in the realm of Rheumatology...
PDF
