Consecutive Winter Seasons Research Articles

Effect of elevated temperature on phenology, growth, yield components and seed yield of Brassica juncea grown in temperature gradient tunnels (TGT)

Elevated temperature is one of the major production constraints of Indian mustard. The present study was aimed to estimate variations in phenology, yield attributes and seed yield under elevated temperature (ET) in temperature gradient tunnels (TGT) and open field for heat tolerance. Fourteen genotypes consisting of introgression lines and the mustard varieties were sown in TGT and open field for two consecutive winter seasons (2017-2019).The phenophases were shortened due to elevated temperature in TGT as compared to control except physiological maturity which was trailed by 17-18 days during both the years. Temperature affect was most severe on siliqua formation and seed filling. Among growth parameters only length of main shoot suffered reduction whereas yield contributing parameters like siliqua on main shoot, siliquae plant-1, seeds siliqua-1 and 1000 seed weight along with biomass, seed yield and harvest index suffered significant decline in TGT. Average temperature had positive correlation with all phenological parameters except flowering completion, growth parameters except number of primary and secondary branches while yield attributes only with 1000 seed weight, biomass and seed yield under TGT. Interestingly, number of primary branches had significant negative correlation with average temperature under both control (r=-0.59*) and TGT (-0.61*). Phenological traits had strong relationship with seed yield under TGT. However, seed yield had strong relationship with growth parameters, yield attributes under control except for number of primary branches. Biomass had strong relationship with seed yield under both TGT (R2= 0.51) and control (R2= 0.43). Two years testing revealed introgression lines (JA24 and JA53) and varieties (JD6 and Giriraj) tolerant to heat stress.

Effect of Sowing Date and Plant Spacing on Yield and Yield Components of Dry Field Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Under Normal Irrigation at Dry lands. South Omdurman Region, Sudan

A field experiment was conducted for two consecutive winter seasons (2015/2016 and 2016/2017) at the Demonstration Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture – Omdurman Islamic University (Fetahab), to study effect of sowing date and plant spacing on yield and yield components of Dry Field Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) at South Omdurman Region. Three sowing dates were investigated (3rd wk of October, 1st and 14th November). Also three plant spacing were used (10, 15 and 20cm) between plants. The treatments of two factors arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. Yield and yield components studied were days to start and to 50% flowering, number of pods/ plant, number of seeds per pod, 100-seed weight, seed yield per plant and seed yield per unit area. Results showed that, days to start and to 50% flowering were significantly reduced for November sowing date (beginning and mid-November) compared with October sowing date for both seasons. Also these sowing dates reported a significantly higher mean of number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod and seed yield per plant in the first season. On the other hand, plant spacing did not significantly affect for any yield components attribute; however, the wide space (20 and 15cm) achieved the higher values for these parameters than the narrow one. Also, it was observed that, the interaction between sowing date and plant spacing did not significantly affect neither growth attribute nor yield and yield components for both seasons. However, number of branches per plant during 12th wk of the 2nd season was affected by this interaction.

Effect of Time of Nitrogen Application on Growth and Yield Components of Safflower

One of the main problems of safflower cultivation in Sudan is the lack of information dealing with its production, mainly cultural practices. The present work was carried out, to investigate the effect of time of nitrogen application (TNA) on growth and yield of safflower under irrigation conditions of South Omdurman region, Sudan. The study was conducted in two consecutive winter seasons (2009/2010 and 2010/2011) at the Demonstration Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture – Omdurman Islamic University, Alfitaihab, Sudan. Four TNA were used, namely, at sowing (T1), and then after 15, 30 and 45 days from sowing (denoted as T2, T3 and T4, respectively). The time of nitrogen application was randomly assigned in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. The growth parameters studied include: plant height, number of leaves/plant, plant fresh and dry weight. The first three parameters were taken 8 weeks after sowing. Yield and yield components studied were: days to start and to 50% flowering, disc weight/plant, number of seeds/plant, 100-seed weight, seed weight /disc, seed weight /plant and seed yield/unit area. The findings of the study indicated that, TNA significantly affected number of leaves/plant and plant fresh weight during 2010, whereas plant height, plant dry weight and days to start and to 50% flowering were not significantly affected by time of N application. Application of N 45 days from sowing (T4) resulted in a significantly lower number of leaves/plant as compared to T1, T2 and T3 treatments. On the other hand, both T1 and T4 during the 1st season gave significantly higher plant fresh weight than T2 and T3.

Effectiveness of plant extracts for repressing stem rust disease severity of wheat caused by Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici Pers under field conditions

BackgroundStem rust caused by Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici Pers is one of the most devastating fungal foliar diseases, and causes substantial yield losses to wheat crops cultivated under field conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of plant extract-based foliar sprays for wheat with carnation, ginger and cinnamon on the severity of stem rust infection of three wheat cultivars cultivated under field conditions for two consecutive winter seasons of (2020/21 and 2021/22).ResultsIn both seasons our data showed that all treatments were associated with some degree of disease suppression recorded as a range of 2.3–8.6% compared to 15.3–24.5% in untreated control treatment. The plant extract treatment was more effective than Amistar, a commercial fungicide. They recorded disease severity as: scores ranged between 2.3 and 3.2%; 3.0–4.5%, and 3.0–6% for wheat cvs. Giza 1, Misr 2, and Sids 14, in respective order. Meanwhile, scores of 4.1, 7.5, and 8.6% were recorded at fungicidal treatment. Spaying wheat plants with carnation extract showed the lowest disease prevalence followed by ginger and cinnamon extract, respectively. Increased in grain yield was associated with reduced disease severity.ConclusionsThe present investigation demonstrated the efficacy using plant extracts against foliar diseases caused by Puccinia and it was suggested that they may be an alternative to traditional chemical treatment.

Germination, physio-anatomical behavior, and productivity of wheat plants irrigated with magnetically treated seawater.

Salinity is an abiotic stress that reduces the seed germination and productivity of wheat. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of irrigation with magnetically treated seawater on the germination, growth, certain physiological and anatomical parameters, and production attributes of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cv. Sakha 93 plants. Experiments were conducted in the Experimental Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Menoufia University, Egypt, during two consecutive winter seasons. Pot experiments involved ten treatments with non-magnetized and magnetized water with various degrees of salinity. Plant samples were taken 95 days after sowing. Irrigation with magnetically treated seawater was found to have beneficial effects on plant growth, water relations, biochemical characteristics, and yield components compared with untreated plants. The germination of wheat seeds increased 13% when treated with magnetic seawater. On the yield scale, the spike length was increased by 40% in season one, and 82% in season two when compared to the control, while the weight of 100 grains increased by 148% and 171%, in each season, respectively, when treated with magnetic water. The anatomical leaf and stem parameters of the plants were markedly improved by watering with magnetically treated seawater at 10 dS m−1 compared to the control. However, the leaf water deficit, transpiration rate, and abscisic acid content in the plant shoots decreased significantly (p < 0.05). The use of magnetically treated seawater of up to 7.5 dS m−1, instead of tap water, is recommended due to benefits to germination and seedling parameters, growth, yield, and physiological, chemical, and anatomical characteristics. In conclusion, magnetic treatment of seawater improved germination performance, growth, and yield of wheat under saline conditions.

Efficacy of air filtration and education interventions on fine particulate matter among rural Native American homes heated with wood stoves: Results from the EldersAIR randomized trial

BackgroundNative Americans living in rural areas often rely upon wood stoves for home heating that can lead to elevated indoor concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Wood stove use is associated with adverse health outcomes, which can be a particular risk in vulnerable populations including older adults. ObjectivesWe assessed the impact of portable air filtration units and educational approaches that incorporated elements of traditional knowledge on indoor and personal PM2.5 concentrations among rural, Native American elder households with wood stoves. MethodsEldersAIR was a three-arm, pre-post randomized trial among rural households from the Navajo Nation and Nez Perce Tribe in the United States. We measured personal and indoor PM2.5 concentrations over 2-day sampling periods on up to four occasions across two consecutive winter seasons in elder participant homes. We assessed education and air filtration intervention efficacy using linear mixed models. ResultsGeometric mean indoor PM2.5 concentrations were 50.5 % lower (95 % confidence interval: −66.1, −27.8) in the air filtration arm versus placebo, with similar results for personal PM2.5. Indoor PM2.5 concentrations among education arm households were similar to placebo, although personal PM2.5 concentrations were 33.3 % lower for the education arm versus placebo (95 % confidence interval: −63.2, 21.1). SignificanceThe strong partnership between academic and community partners helped facilitate a culturally acceptable approach to a clinical trial intervention within the study communities. Portable air filtration units can reduce indoor PM2.5 that originates from indoor wood stoves, and this finding was supported in this study. The educational intervention component was meaningful to the communities, but did not substantially impact indoor PM2.5 relative to placebo. However, there is evidence that the educational interventions reduced indoor PM2.5 in some subsets of the study households. More study is required to determine ways to optimize educational interventions within Native American communities.

Outbreak of Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses in Hospitalized Patients Alongside the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic.

Influenza A and other respiratory viruses, circulate each winter and cause respiratory illness that can lead to severe complications in hospitalized patients. During the COVID-19 pandemic, only a few cases of respiratory viruses were detected in Israel. Our study applied RT-PCR to examine 13,674 samples collected from patients hospitalized with respiratory symptoms in 2019, 2020, and 2021 and the first half of the 2022 winter. A sharp increase in influenza A(H3N2) cases was observed in winter 2021-2022 as compared to 2020, followed by a sudden decrease in influenza cases after the detection of the SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant in Israel. Comparison of the area under the curve (AUC) of influenza infection rates during 7 consecutive winter seasons found that the minimal AUC between 2015 and 2020 was 281.1, while in 2021-2022, it was significantly lower (162.6 AUC; p = 0.0017), although the percentage of positive influenza cases was similar to those of previous years. The presented findings show how the dominance of influenza A(H3N2) abruptly ended upon circulation of the SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant. However, a post-COVID-19 influenza outbreak is possible, hence the planning of the next influenza vaccine is critical to ensure lower influenza-related hospitalization rates.

Impact of ski geometry data and standing height ratio on the ACL injury risk and its use for prevention in recreational skiers

ObjectivesTo evaluate the impact of ski geometry data and standing height ratio on anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury risk of male and female recreational skiers.MethodsA retrospective questionnaire-based, case–control study of...

Effect of Organic Manures and Chemical Fertilizers on Maize Productivity and Soil Properties in the Winter Season

Field experiments were conducted at the National Maize Research Program Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal, during the two consecutive winter seasons of 2018/19 and 2019/20. The objective was to identify the impacts of different sources of nutrients on the growth and yield parameters of winter maize and soil properties. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications and twelve treatments. Combinations of different organic and inorganic sources, including the recommended dose of chemical fertilizer, use of farmyard manure, poultry manure, vermicompost, mustard oil cake, green manure, and bone meal, were made. Different nutrient levels significantly influenced the maize grain yield. The maximum grain yields of 7102 kg/ha (2018/19) and 6985 kg/ha (2019/20) were obtained with the combined application of 50% recommended dose (RD) of chemical fertilizer along with mustard oilcake at the rate of 5 t/ha, which was at par (6970 kg/ha and 6535 kg/ha) with the sole application of mustard oilcake at 5 t/ha. It can be concluded that maize performed best when 50% of the recommended dose of N, P2O5, and K2O fertilizers were combined with a 5 t mustard oilcake/ha application, followed by a sole application of 5 t mustard oilcake/ha. Soil properties, namely soil organic matter, were found to be significantly improved due to the application of a combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizer. Thus, in subtropical conditions, integrated organic manures and chemical fertilizers can enhance soil properties and increase maize productivity during the winter season.

Efficacy of Air Filtration and Education Interventions on Indoor Fine Particulate Matter and Child Lower Respiratory Tract Infections among Rural U.S. Homes Heated with Wood Stoves: Results from the KidsAIR Randomized Trial.

Background:Millions of rural U.S. households are heated with wood stoves. Wood stove use can lead to high indoor concentrations of fine particulate matter [airborne particles in aerodynamic diameter ()] and is associated with lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in children.Objectives:We assessed the impact of low-cost educational and air filtration interventions on childhood LRTI and indoor in rural U.S. homes with wood stoves.Methods:The Kids Air Quality Interventions for Reducing Respiratory Infections (KidsAIR) study was a parallel three-arm (education, portable air filtration unit, control), post-only randomized trial in households from Alaska, Montana, and Navajo Nation (Arizona and New Mexico) with a wood stove and one or more children of age. We tracked LRTI cases for two consecutive winter seasons and measured indoor over a 6-d period during the first winter. We assessed results using two analytical frameworks: a) intervention efficacy on LRTI and (intent-to-treat), and b) association between and LRTI (exposure–response).Results:There were 61 LRTI cases from 14,636 child-weeks of follow-up among 461 children. In the intent-to-treat analysis, children in the education arm [; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.35, 2.72] and the filtration arm (; 95% CI: 0.46, 3.32) had similar odds of LRTI vs. control. Geometric mean concentrations were similar to control in the education arm (11.77% higher; 95% CI: , 49.72) and air filtration arm (6.96% lower; 95% CI: , 24.55). In the exposure–response analysis, odds of LRTI were 1.45 times higher (95% CI: 1.02, 2.05) per interquartile range () increase in mean indoor .Discussion:We did not observe meaningful differences in LRTI or indoor in the air filtration or education arms compared with the control arm. Results from the exposure–response analysis provide further evidence that biomass air pollution adversely impacts childhood LRTI. Our results highlight the need for novel, effective intervention strategies in households heated with wood stoves. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP9932

Economic Burden and Health-Related Quality of Life of Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Influenza Infection in European Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza virus infections result in a considerable mortality and morbidity among the aging population globally. Influenza vaccination for older adults before the seasonal influenza epidemic has been evaluated to be cost-effective in many countries. Interventions against RSV in older adults are in the pipeline, and evaluating their cost-effectiveness is crucial for decision making. To inform such evaluations, our aim was to estimate average costs and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in older adults with RSV and influenza infection. The European RESCEU observational cohort study followed 1040 relatively healthy community-dwelling older adults aged 60 years and older during 2 consecutive winter seasons. Health care resource use and HRQoL were collected and analyzed during RSV episodes, and also during influenza episodes. Country-specific unit cost data were mainly obtained from national databases. Direct costs were estimated from a patient, health care provider, and health care payers' perspective, whereas indirect costs were estimated from a societal perspective. Due to small sample size, no formal statistical comparisons were made. Thirty-six RSV and 60 influenza episodes were reported, including 1 hospitalization. Means (median; first-third quartile) of €26.4 (€5.5; 0-47.3) direct and €4.4 (€0; 0-0) indirect costs were reported per nonhospitalized RSV episode, and €42.5 (€36; 3.3-66.7) direct and €32.1 (€0; 0-0) indirect costs per nonhospitalized influenza episode. For RSV episodes, the utility value decreased from 0.896 (0.928; 0.854-0.953) to 0.801 (0.854; 0.712-0.937) from preseason to 1 week after symptom onset; for influenza, the change was from 0.872 (0.895; 0.828-0.953) to 0.664 (0.686; 0.574-0.797). The average costs and HRQoL estimates of older adults treated outside the hospital can be used to inform the design of future studies and the decision making regarding interventions to prevent RSV infection in older adults. Larger studies are needed to provide better country-specific and complementary cost estimates and to allow for formal statistical comparison of costs between RSV and influenza. NCT03621930.

CO Fluxes in Western Europe during 2017–2020 Winter Seasons Inverted by WRF-Chem/Data Assimilation Research Testbed with MOPITT Observations

The study of anthropogenic carbon monoxide (CO) emissions is crucial to investigate anthropogenic activities. Assuming the anthropogenic CO emissions accounted for the super majority of the winter CO fluxes in western Europe, they could be roughly estimated by the inversion approach. The CO fluxes and concentrations of four consecutive winter seasons (i.e., December–February) in western Europe since 2017 were estimated by a regional CO flux inversion system based on the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) and the Data Assimilation Research Testbed (DART). The CO retrievals from the Measurements Of Pollution In The Troposphere instrument (MOPITT) version 8 level 2 multi-spectral Thermal InfraRed (TIR)/Near-InfraRed (NIR) CO retrieval data products were assimilated by the inversion system. The analyses of the MOPITT data used by the inversion system indicated that the mean averaging kernel row sums of the surface level was about 0.25, and the difference percentage of the surface-level retrievals relative to a priori CO-mixing ratios was 14.79%, which was similar to that of the other levels. These results suggested the MOPITT’s surface-level observations contained roughly the same amount of information as the other levels. The inverted CO fluxes of the four winter seasons were 6198.15 kilotons, 4939.72 kilotons, 4697.80 kilotons, and 5456.19 kilotons, respectively. Based on the assumption, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) inventories were used to evaluate the accuracy of the inverted CO fluxes. The evaluation results indicated that the differences between the inverted CO fluxes and UNFCCC inventories of the three winter seasons of 2017–2019 were 13.36%, −4.59%, and −4.76%, respectively. Detailed surface-CO concentrations and XCO comparative analyses between the experimental results and the external Community Atmosphere Model with Chemistry (CAM-Chem) results and the MOPITT data were conducted. The comparative analysis results indicated that the experimental results of the winter season of 2017 were obviously affected by high boundary conditions. The CO concentrations results of the experiments were also evaluated by the CO observation data from Integrated Carbon Observation System (ICOS), the average Mean Bias Error (MBE), and the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) between the CO concentrations results of the inversion system, and the ICOS observations were −22.43 ppb and 57.59 ppb, respectively. The MBE and RMSE of the inversion system were 17.53-ppb and 4.17-ppb better than those of the simulation-only parallel experiments, respectively.

Productivity of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa L.) under new reclaimed soil conditions at north-western coast of Egypt

BackgroundIntroducing new crops to reduce the nutritional gap in Egypt is an important target. One of these crops is Quinoa which is characterized by high nutritional value with multiple food uses. However, it will compete with other winter crops, so it is candidate to grow in marginal lands like calcareous soils. Meanwhile, planting density and N requirements are not known under such conditions; therefore, this work was undertaken in calcareous soil Caco3 > 50%.MethodsThe experiments included three nitrogen fertilization treatments (0, 50 and 100 kg/fed.) and two plant densities (20,000 plants/fed. and 36,000 plants/fed.) on Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) cv. Shibaya Field over two consecutive winter seasons of 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 in calcareous soil. Quinoa seed yield, biological yield, straw yield, weight of 1000-seed, harvest index, total nitrogen percentage in seeds, crude protein content in seeds, phosphorus content in seeds and potassium percentage in seeds were determined. The experimental design was a split plot design with three replications.ResultsThe results showed that applying nitrogen fertilization at a rate of 100 kg/fed. had significantly greater seed yield, biological yield, seed yield, straw yield and weight of 1000-seed. All seed chemical contents except K percentage were significantly affected due to nitrogen fertilization. Increasing plant density from 20,000 to 36,000 plants per feddan significantly increased the biological yield, seed yield, straw yield, weight of 1000-seed and harvest index. The interaction between the two studied factors was significant on all characters of this investigation except, K percentage in seeds.ConclusionIt can be concluded from this study that the quinoa crop responds to the increase in nitrogen fertilization and increases productivity and quality when fertilized with a rate of 100 kg nitrogen per fed.

Source identification and risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in air and dust samples of Lahore City

During two consecutive summer and winter seasons in Lahore, the health risk of air and dust-borne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was evaluated. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GS/MS) was used to determine air and dust samples from various functional areas across the city. The mean ∑16PAHs were higher in air 1035.8 ± 310.7 (pg m−3) and dust 963.4 ± 289.0 (ng g−1 d.w.) during winter seasons as compared to summer seasons in air 1010.9 ± 303.3 (pg m−3) and dust matrices 945.2 ± 283.6 (ng g−1 d.w.), respectively. PAHs ring profile recognized 3 and 4 rings PAHs as most dominant in air and dust samples. Estimated results of incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) highlighted high carcinogenic risk among the residents of Lahore via ingestion and dermal contact on exposure to atmospheric PAHs. The total ILCR values in air among children (summer: 9.61E − 02, winter: 2.09E − 02) and adults (summer: 1.45E − 01, winter: 3.14E − 02) and in dust, children (summer: 9.16E − 03, winter: 8.80E − 03) and adults (summer: 1.38E − 02, winter: 1.33E − 02) during the study period. The isomeric ratios in the study area revealed mixed PAH sources, including vehicular emission, petroleum, diesel and biomass combustion. As a result, it is advised that atmospheric PAHs should be monitored throughout the year and the ecologically friendly fuels be used to prevent PAHs pollution and health concerns in the city. The findings of this study are beneficial to the local regulating bodies in terms of controlling the exposure and promoting steps to reduce PAHs pollution and manage health in Lahore.

Production potential, quality and soil health of newly introduced baby corn as influenced by best management practices in eastern Himalayas

Management of the newly introduced short duration and high economic value crops like baby corn in acidic soil is poorly understood and related information is scarce in particular to eastern India. Keeping these things in view, a field study was conducted during the two consecutive winter seasons (2013–2014 and 2014–2015) to assess the effect of best management practices (application of straw mulch, doses of lime and integrated nutrition) on production potential, quality and soil health in baby corn under the acidic soil of eastern Himalaya. Yields, economics and quality of baby corn were increased significantly with application of straw mulch @ 5 t ha−1 as compared to without mulch. Yield of baby corn increases with increasing levels of liming up to 1.0 t ha−1. Also, higher quality parameters were noted in same treatment. Application of 1.0 t lime ha−1 also improved the soil fertility status after crop harvest. Baby cob, baby corn, green fodder and dry fodder yields was significantly higher with 100% RDF + 25% RDF (through farm yard manures as organic nitrogen ON). This treatment also improved nitrogen content, their uptake and protein content in baby corn, cob husk and green fodder compared to control. Economic parameters were significantly higher with applications of 100% RDF + 25% RDF (ON). Higher doses of integrated nutrition [100% RDF + 25% RDF (ON)] also enhanced the soil health. Thus, it may be concluded that baby corn should be grown with straw mulching and integrated nutrition of 100% RDF + 25% RDF (ON) along with liming of 1.0 t ha−1 to achieve the higher productivity, quality and soil health under acidic soil of eastern Himalaya.

Effect of irrigation level and weed management practices on wheat growth, yield and economics

An experiment was conducted at Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University (SDAU), Sardarkrushinagar, Gujarat during two consecutive winter (Rabi) seasons of the years 2014-15 and 2015-16. The experiment consisted of twenty-one treatments with three levels of irrigation (0.6, 0.8, 1.0 IW:CPE ratio) as main plot treatments and seven weed management practices as sub-plot treatments. A split-plot design with three replications was used. The crop irrigated at 1.0 IW: CPE recorded significantly higher growth parameters, yield attributes, grain and straw yield. Among weed management practices, hand weeding twice and metsulfuron-methyl 4 g/ha at 28 DAS recorded significantly higher yield attributes, grain and straw yield. Interaction between irrigation levels and weed control practices revealed that wheat irrigated at 1.0 IW: CPE in combinations with two hands weeding or metsulfuron-methyl 4 g/ha and clodinafop + metsulfuron-methyl (ready-mix) 60 g/ha produced significantly higher grain yield than other treatments. The economic analysis revealed that irrigation at 1.0 IW:CPE ratio recorded significantly higher net returns of ₹ 66188/ha and B:C 2.11. Among weed management treatment, metsulfuron-methyl 4 g/ha) PoE attained maximum net income of ₹ 34036/ha with B: C 2.16 and next best was clodinafop + metsulfuron-methyl (ready-mix) 60 g/ha which fetched next highest net income (₹ 30843/ha) and B:C (2.01).

IMPACT OF FOLIAR SPRAY WITH SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE EXTRACT IN DIFFERENT FORMS AND CONCENTRATIONS ON GROWTH, PRODUCTIVITY AND QUALITY OF LETTUCE PLANTS

This investigation was adopted during the two consecutive winter seasons of 2019/2020 and 2020/2021, to examine the impact of foliar spray with bread yeast in different forms and concentrations on the development, production yield and quality of lettuce cv. Dark Green (Lactuca sativa L.). This experiment was consisted of twelve treatments which were the combinations between four yeast forms (untreated yeast cells, yeast extract, yeast cells treated with nitric acid 50% and yeast cells treated with urea at three concentrations (1, 2 and 3, w/v).The results showed that, foliar spraying with yeast cells treated with urea at the highest concentration 3% recorded the largest values of the height of plant, leaf area per plant, total fresh and dry weights/plant, total chlorophyll, yield and its components, N, K and dry matter percentages in lettuce leaves in both seasons, with no significant differences between foliar spray with yeast cells treated with urea or with nitric acid treatments regarding number of leaves/plant, P (%) and nitrate content. In general, foliar spraying with yeast cells treated with urea at 3% increased yield and its component but at the same time increased nitrate content in leaves and decreased the quality of lettuce plants. Accordingly, it may be prudent to avoid using a high concentration of yeast cells treated with urea, in order to preserve the quality of lettuce plants, and instead of that it can be used a medium concentration to get the best quality and reasonable yield.

Respiratory syncytial virus in pediatric influenza-like illness cases in Lombardy, Northern Italy, during seven consecutive winter seasons (from 2014-2015 to 2020-2021).

IntroductionRespiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the major cause of lower respiratory tract illness in young children and can also cause influenza‐like illness (ILI). Here we investigated the epidemiological features of RSV infection in pediatric ILI cases in Lombardy (a region in Northern Italy accounting nearly 10 million inhabitants) from 2014–2015 to 2020–2021 winter seasons.Material and MethodsData for this study were retrieved and statistically analyzed from the database of virological influenza surveillance of the regional reference laboratory for Lombardy within the Italian influenza surveillance network (InfluNet).ResultsRSV accounted for nearly 19% of pediatric ILI with a risk of infection nearly two‐fold greater than that of individuals ≥15 years. RSV positivity rate increased to 28% considering 0–5 years old children. Although in children ≤5 years the risk of infection from influenza viruses resulted nearly two‐fold higher than the risk of RSV infection, the age group 4–6 months and 7–12 months showed a five‐fold greater risk of infection from RSV than from influenza. Children ≤5 years of age with pre‐existing underlying health conditions had a nearly five‐fold greater risk of getting RSV infection than otherwise healthy 0–5 years old children. RSV was identified in ILI cases <15 years of age in all considered winter seasons except in the 2020–2021 season.DiscussionSentinel surveillance of ILI allowed us to identify groups at higher risk of RSV and influenza infection and to define the start, duration, timing, and intensity of the RSV and influenza community circulation. This surveillance approach can be implemented to assess the RSV circulation and impact in a real‐time manner.

Population genetics as a tool to elucidate pathogen reservoirs: Lessons from Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the causative agent of White-Nose disease in bats.

Emerging infectious diseases pose a major threat to human, animal, and plant health. The risk of species-extinctions increases when pathogens can survive in the absence of the host. Environmental reservoirs can facilitate this. However, identifying such reservoirs and modes of infection is often highly challenging. In this study, we investigated the presence and nature of an environmental reservoir for the ascomycete fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the causative agent of White-Nose disease. Using 18microsatellite markers, we determined the genotypic differentiation between 1497 P. destructans isolates collected from nine closely situated underground sites where bats hibernate (i.e., hibernacula) in Northeastern Germany. This approach was unique in that it ensured that every isolate and resulting multilocus genotype was not only present, but also viable and therefore theoretically capable of infecting a bat. The distinct distribution of multilocus genotypes across hibernacula demonstrates that each hibernaculum has an essentially unique fungal population. This would be expected if bats become infected in their hibernaculum (i.e., the site they spend winter in to hibernate) rather than in other sites visited before they start hibernating. In one hibernaculum, both the walls and the hibernating bats were sampled at regular intervals over five consecutive winter seasons (1062 isolates), revealing higher genotypic richness on walls compared to bats and a stable frequency of multilocus genotypes over multiple winters. This clearly implicates hibernacula walls as the main environmental reservoir of the pathogen, from which bats become reinfected annually during the autumn.

Association of Characters for Higher Tuber Yield of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Genotypes Grown in Eastern Plains of Nepal

An experiment was conducted to study characters associated with higher yield potential of potato genotypes at the Directorate of Agricultural Research, Tarahara, Nepal during two consecutive winter seasons of 2018 and 2019. A total of eleven potato genotypes (CIP 394600.52, CIP 396012.266, CIP 393371.159, PRP 266265.15, CIP 395443.103, CIP 393371.164, PRP 336769.1, PRP 136368.9, PRP 25861.11, CIP 377957.5 and PRP 225861.5) were evaluated in a Randomized Complete Block Design with four replications. Each treatment received a 7.2 m2 plot area with 60 cm row to row and 25 cm plant to plant spacing, accommodating 48 plants per plot. Cultural practices were done as per the recommendations and fungicide was not applied for late blight of potato (Phytophthora infestans) control. The observed data were subjected to variance, correlation and cluster analysis. Analysis of variance showed significant differences for some plant and tuber characteristics. From the pooled analysis of two years’ data, the genotype 'PRP 266265.15' was found to be a suitable genotype in plains due to its higher yield (21.91 t/ha) and other yield characteristics. The higher quantity of over seed-size and under seed-size tuber contributed to the highest tuber yield of PRP 266265.15. The weight (r = 0.928**) and number (r = 0.483**) of the over seed-size tuber had a positive significant correlation with tuber yield per hectare. Further research is needed to study yield stability of the genotype 'PRP 266265.15' in various locations with similar production environments.