Length Weight Research Articles

Comparative Three Years Field Study of Planting Material Generated Through Tissue Culture and Conventional Fasciculated Root of Safed Musli

Aims: The present study was aimed to investigate comparison between conventional and tissue culture raised plantlets of safed musli at field condition. Study Design: The experiment was laid out in completely randomized block design with 8 repetitions. Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was conducted during the kharif season for three consecutive years (2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21) at Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Station, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat. Methodology: Uniform sizes of single sprouted fasciculated root and 30-35 days old secondary hardened plantlets were used as conventional planting materials and tissue culture raised plantlets respectively. Morpho-physiological parameters at 30, 60 and 90 days after transplanting and yield and quality attributing parameters were recorded after harvesting. Results: The analysis of variance exhibited that significant difference among the planting materials during the individual years in most of the parameters. Conventional planting materials produced more vigorous growth behaviour in terms of leaves per plant, chlorophyll content and leaf area than tissue culture raised. Maximum number of fasciculated root per plant (13.72), length (9.43 cm), girth (2.70 cm), fresh (21.31 g) and dry (3.03 g) weight with greater dry recovery rate (14.99 %) and saponin content (2.16 %) was exhibited in conventional planting materials. The same planting materials were also registered higher survival rate (80.59 %) at field condition than tissue culture raised (59.38 %) planting material. Conclusion: Therefore, it is suggested that conventional plating materials to be choose for safed musli cultivation in kharif season for greater survival and higher yield. There is a need to be strengthening the present in vitro protocol and acclimatization process of safed musli.

Morphological diversity variation of seed traits among 587 germplasm resources of Medicago Genus and 32 germplasm resources of Trigonella Genus

Germplasm resources within the Medicago genus are highly regarded for their value as forage crops and their critical roles in nitrogen cycling, ecosystem restoration, and soil structure improvement. Therefore, understanding the diversity of seed morphology in this genus is essential for advancing its development and utilization. This study analyzed seed samples from 587 germplasm accessions representing 77 species within Medicago genus, as well as 32 accessions from 21 species within the closely related genus Trigonella. A statistical analysis was conducted on twelve traits, including seven quantitative traits-straight length (SL), straight width (SW), width-to-length ratio (WL), perimeter (PE), radicle length (RL), hilum length (HL), and 100-seed weight (SY)-and five qualitative traits, including seed coat condition, radicle characteristics, seed size, shape, and color. The results revealed that: (1) there was significant diversity (P < 0.05) in SL, SW, WL, PE, RL, HL, and SY across Medicago species; (2) principal component analysis of the 587 Medicago accessions identified SL, SW, PE, HL, RL, and SY as the primary contributors to morphological diversity; and (3) high-resolution images of seeds from various accessions were captured for future research. This study provides a solid foundation for the establishment of seed banks and the enhancement of germplasm resources through the systematic analysis of these morphological traits.

Evaluation of Salt Tolerance in Four Self-Rooted Almond Genotypes for Super-High-Density Orchards Under Varying Salinity Levels

Increasing soil salinity threatens almond production globally, driving the need for the development of salt-tolerant cultivars. This study investigated the salt tolerance mechanisms of four self-rooted almond genotypes (Vialfas, Guara, Penta, and Avijor) under controlled conditions. Young plants were exposed to four salinity levels (0, 25, 50, and 75 mM NaCl) for 5 months. Growth parameters (trunk diameter, shoot length, fresh and dry weights), physiological responses (chlorophyll fluorescence, gas exchange, Soil–Plant Analysis Development (SPAD)), and mineral content were analyzed. Results show significant genotype-specific responses at the critical salinity threshold of 50 mM NaCl. Under these conditions, Guara and Vialfas maintained higher stem fresh weights (31.4 g and 37 g, respectively), while Avijor showed significant declines. Trunk diameter measurements revealed Vialfas’ superior performance (7 mm) compared to Guara and Penta (both around 6 mm), while Avijor exhibited the most significant reduction (5 mm). Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters indicated stress impact, with Fv/Fm values decreasing to 0.84 compared to control values of 0.87. Guara maintained higher K+/Na+ ratios in leaves (3.05) compared to Avijor (1.95), while Penta showed better Na+ exclusion ability with the lowest leaf Na+ content (0.57%). Cl− accumulation patterns also differed among genotypes, with Avijor and Vialfas showing higher leaf Cl− concentrations (0.74% and 0.73%, respectively) compared to Penta (0.44%). Genotype responses across all salinity levels revealed distinct tolerance patterns: Guara maintained growth and physiological functions across treatments, while Penta showed remarkable stability under high salinity. Vialfas exhibited vigor at low salinity but declined sharply at 75 mM NaCl. Avijor demonstrated the highest salt sensitivity. These findings highlight the genetic variability in salt tolerance among almond cultivars and identify potential sources of salt-tolerant traits for breeding programs. The study also provides insights for optimizing genotype selection and management strategies in salt-affected orchards, contributing to more sustainable almond production in challenging environments.

Comparison of Cocoon and Filament Quality of Bombyx mori L. Chinese Egg Seeds and Perum Perhutani Egg Seeds

The sustainability of natural silk in South Sulawesi, especially in Soppeng Regency, has experienced a decline in production related to the quality of silkworms. The Indonesian government tried to import silkworm eggs from the Chinese to restore the silk business. It is necessary to know how the quality of silkworm eggs from the Chinese compares with local silkworm eggs produced by the State Forestry Public Company (Perum Perhutani). Therefore, this research aims to compare the quality of cocoons and filaments between Chinese egg seeds and Perum Perhutani egg seeds so that we can find out which egg seeds produce the best quality and production. The two egg seeds were tested in Pising Village, Donri-Donri District, Soppeng Regency. The parameters observed were fresh cocoon weight, cocoon shell weight, percentage, filament length, reelability and filament weight. The results of the research showed that there was a significant difference between egg seeds from Chinese and Perum Perhutani egg seeds in the reelability variable. Reelability of egg seeds from Chinese shows that the average cocoon weight is 74.06% higher compared to 69.31% for Perum Perhutani egg seeds. Apart from that, those produced from egg seeds from Chinese were also greater with differences in fresh cocoon weight of 1.56 g, cocoon shell weight of 0,29 g, cocoon shell percentage of 19.65%, filament weight of 0.25 g, while filament length was higher in seeds. Perum Perhutani eggs with a difference of 1118.39 m. The quality of cocoons and silkworm filaments from Chinese seeds and Perum Perhutani is classified into class C based on SNI: 2011. These results indicate that egg seeds from the Chinese have a higher potential to produce quality silk. This research emphasizes the importance of choosing the right egg seed to increase the quality and quantity of silk production. With the results obtained, it is hoped that the silk industry can choose more sources of egg seeds, especially to increase the competitiveness of silk products in the global market.

Sex dimorphic associations of Prader-Willi imprinted gene expressions in umbilical cord with prenatal and postnatal growth in healthy infants.

The impact of Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) domain gene expression on the growth of healthy children is not well understood. This study investigated associations between PWS domain gene expression in umbilical cord tissue and prenatal and postnatal growth, considering potential sex differences. Relative gene expression of paternally expressed MAGEL2, NDN, and SNURF-SNRPN, and the small nucleolar RNAs SNORD116 and SNORD115 were determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction in umbilical cord tissue from 122 healthy newborns (59 girls and 63 boys). Gene expression levels were correlated with auxological measures at birth, infancy, and childhood (ages 2, 4, and 6years). MAGEL2, NDN, SNORD116, and SNORD115 expression in the umbilical cord was negatively associated with birth weight, length, and placental weight (P < 0.001). Postnatally, these genes were positively associated with weight and length at 3months (P < 0.001) and weight gain from birth to ages 1, 2, and 4years (P < 0.01). Negative associations at birth were stronger in girls (P < 0.001), while positive associations during infancy and childhood were stronger in boys (P < 0.001). MAGEL2, SNORD116, and SNORD115 expression predicted early-postnatal growth, explaining the higher growth rate in boys compared to girls and accounting for sex differences up to 1.5kg in weight and 3cm in height during infancy. Paternally expressed PWS domain gene expression in the umbilical cord was negatively associated with prenatal growth and positively with early-postnatal growth in healthy infants. This gene expression may predict early human postnatal growth and promote the well-known sex dimorphism in growth. These results can also help in understanding the etiology of PWS, which remains unclear.

The Isolation of Lead-Tolerant PGPR from Red Clover Soil and Its Role in Promoting the Growth of Alfalfa.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is an outstanding species used for the remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soil, and our previous research has shown that PGPR can promote plant growth under high-concentration lead stress. This discovery has forced scientists to search for PGPR strains compatible with alfalfa to develop an innovative bioremediation strategy for the remediation of lead-contaminated soil. This study used lead-tolerant rhizosphere soil of red clover as experimental material; cultured, isolated, and screened 52 excellent lead-tolerant bacteria that promote rhizosphere growth; and then inoculated them into alfalfa. Marked differences existed in the secretion of auxin, protease, and ACC deaminase among these strains. The results indicated that Pseudomonas spp. (strain Y2), Pseudomonas spp. (strain Y22), and Bacillus spp. (strain Y23) exhibited a strong growth-promoting ability in alfalfa, and there was no antagonistic reaction among the three strains, enabling their coexistence. The pot experiment manifested that strains Y2, Y22, Y23, and YH (a mixture of Y2, Y22, and Y23) could increase the plant height, root length, fresh and dry weight above ground, and fresh and dry weight below ground of alfalfa. They could all significantly raise the chlorophyll content and antioxidant enzyme activity in alfalfa (p < 0.05) and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in alfalfa. Furthermore, the concurrent inoculation of three distinct types of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) significantly diminished lead (Pb) concentrations in rhizosphere soil, enhanced the levels of available potassium (AK) and available phosphorus (AP), and augmented the capacity of plants to absorb Pb. The results imply that PGPR can be employed to facilitate plant growth and microbial-assisted remediation of lead and other heavy metal-contaminated soil and establish a basis for further research on the growth-promoting mechanism of PGPR in plants.

Determination of Germination and Emergence Performance of Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) Seeds at Different Maturity Stages

Seed maturation in hemp is not homogeneous, and the harvest is done when the seeds are 70-80% mature. This study was carried out to determine the germination and emergence performance of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) seeds at different maturation stages. Mature, semi-mature and immature seeds were used as material in the study. The study was carried out as two separate experiments, germination and emergence. The germination test was carried out in petri dishes and the emergence test in viols. Both experiments were carried out according to the randomized complete block design with 3 replications. Germination rate (%), shoot and root length (mm), shoot and root fresh weight (mg plant-1) and shoot and root dry weight (mg plant-1) parameters were investigated in the germination study. In the emergence study, the emergence rate (%), seedling and root length (mm), seedling and root fresh weight (mg plant-1), and seedling and root dry weight (mg plant-1) values were examined. In the germination study, semi-mature seeds germinated but did not develop. Therefore, no data could be obtained from other parameters except germination rate. In germination study, germination rate varied between 6.67 and 84.67%, shoot length 27.2-38 mm, root length 39.4-50.8 mm, shoot fresh weight 30.66-49.89 mg plant-1, root fresh weight 4.32-7.69 mg plant-1, shoot dry weight 3.25-7.99 mg plant-1, root dry weight 0.68-2.03 mg plant-1. In the emergence study, emergence rate ranged between 5.18-82.69%, shoot length 68-136.4 mm, root length 37.4-69.6 mm, shoot fresh weight 60.33-154.80 mg plant-1, root fresh weight 27.30-46.73 mg plant-1, shoot dry weight 3.97-10.24 mg plant-1, root dry weight 2.61-5.43 mg plant-1. In both experiments, the highest values obtained from all the examined traits were obtained from mature seeds. In both studies, the highest values were obtained from mature seeds for all traits examined. Semi-mature and immature seeds gave similar results in terms of the traits examined.

Comparative Performance of Zinc Sources on Productivity of Rice (Oryza sativa) in Zinc Stressed Soils of Cauvery Delta Zone

Rice (Oryza sativa) cultivation is a cornerstone of India's economy and food security, with the nation ranking second only to China in annual production. Despite considerable advancements in recent years, rice yields remain below their maximum potential. Enhancing rice productivity through precise and advanced mineral nutrition techniques offers a promising solution for overcoming nutrient deficiencies in soils and improving crop yields. Zinc, an essential micronutrient, plays a crucial role in enzyme activation, protein synthesis, and overall plant metabolism. However, zinc deficiency is a widespread issue in many agricultural soils, particularly affecting rice crops, leading to reduced growth and yield. Addressing this deficiency through the application of appropriate zinc formulations is vital for improving rice productivity in zinc-deficient soils. A pot experiment was carried out in department of soil science and agricultural chemistry, Annamalai University, Chidambaram, Tamilnadu during kharif of 2023 and included four sources of zinc and four levels of zinc levels to study their comparative performances and improve the yield of rice. Growth characters viz., plant height, number of tillers hill-1, leaf area index, chlorophyll content, dry matter production, yield characters viz., no of panicles pot-1, no. of grains panicle-1, panicle length and test weight and grain and straw yield were recorded. The results indicated that the application of zinc lysinate at 5 kg ha-1, either individually or in combination, produced the highest growth and yield parameters, with grain (43.01 g pot-1) and straw (58.87 g pot-1) yields surpassing those of other treatments, demonstrating its potential to improve rice productivity in zinc-deficient soils.

Phytotoxic Effects of Polystyrene Microplastics on Growth Morphology, Photosynthesis, Gaseous Exchange and Oxidative Stress of Wheat Vary with Concentration and Shape.

Microplastics pose a serious ecological threat to agricultural soils, as they are very persistent in nature. Microplastics can enter the soil system in different ways and present different shapes and concentrations. However, little is known about how plants react to microplastics with different concentrations and shapes. To this end, we conducted a factorial pot experiment with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in which we mixed polystyrene (PS) in different shapes (bead, fiber and powder) with soil at concentrations of 0, 1, 3 and 5%. Although all shapes of PS significantly reduced morphological growth traits, PS in powder shape was the microplastic that reduced plant height (by 58-60%), fresh biomass (by 54-55%) and dry biomass (by 61-62%) the most, especially at the 3% and 5% concentrations compared with 0% PS. Similar negative effects were also observed for root length and fresh root weight at the 3% and 5% concentrations, regardless of shape. A concentration-dependent reduction in the leaf area index (LAI) was also observed. Interestingly, increasing the PS concentration tended to up-regulate the activity of antioxidant enzymes for all shapes, indicating potential complexity and a highly time-dependent response related to various reactive oxygen species (ROS). Importantly, PS at the 5% concentration caused a significant reduction in chlorophyll pigmentation and photosynthetic rate. For the transpiration rate, stomatal conductance and intercellular CO2 concentration, the negative effects of PS on wheat plants increased with the increase in microplastic concentration for all shapes of PS. Overall, we concluded that PS microplastics at higher concentrations are potentially more devastating to the physiological growth and biochemical attributes of wheat, as evidenced by the negative effects on photosynthetic pigments and gas exchange parameters for all shapes. We recommend further research experiments not only on translocation but also on tissue-specific retention of different sizes in crops to fully understand their impact on food safety.

Enhancement of Maize (Zea mays var: GS-2) Plant Growth and Yield: Seed Treatment with Non-thermal Plasma using Different Gases

Impact of pre-sowing treatment of maize (Zea mays Var: GS-2) seeds with non-thermal glow discharge plasma on the growth and yield of field grown plants has been investigated. Maize seeds were treated with non-thermal glow discharge plasma produced from five different gases Nitrogen (N2), Helium (He), Argon (Ar), Hydrogen (H2) and Oxygen (O2) before sowing the seeds in the field. Seeds were exposed to 30 W for 240 seconds to glow discharge plasma produced in a cylindrical stainless steel vacuum chamber utilizing an automatic matching network and a 13.56 MHz with the capacity up to 600W RF power source are used. Plasma treated seeds were grown in the field and growth measurements were made at 30, 60 and 90 days after sowing. Pre- sowing treatment with glow discharge plasma enhanced plant height, leaf length and plant fresh weight at all the stages of growth. O2 and N2 plasma treated seeds were more effective than He, H2 and Ar in enhancing the growth and biomass of the plants. The yield parameters are cob length 21% in O2 and 19% in N2, cob weight 36% in O2 and 34% in N2, and 100 seeds weight 39% in O2 and 36% in N2 plasma were significantly enhanced. It is concluded that O2 and N2 plasma Pre-sowing treatment can significantly enhance the biomass and yield of maize plants with O2 slightly higher. Analyzing the characterization with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and optical emission spectroscopy (OES) of maize seeds. SEM revealed considerable alterations for O2, N2, Ar, and He but no change for H2 plasma treatment. The findings demonstrate that the surface of the starch caryopsis has been altered, exposing an oxygen and nitrogen plasma that has resulted in huge channels and water holes. The OES identified the presence of OH, NO, O, and N2 radicals generated during oxygen and nitrogen plasma treatment, which is contributing to the best result.

Trophy fish heads are a source of body size information for historical and contemporary ecology

Abstract This study investigated whether trophy taxidermy specimens of Australia’s largest freshwater fish, Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii), can provide accurate records of historical body size. Taxidermy mounts came mostly from informal collections in hotels from across the Murray–Darling Basin, south-eastern Australia, comprising 20% whole-body and 80% head forms. We compared the morphology of mounts to live Murray cod, collected from the mid–Murray River in 2018, and identified the head morphometrics that most accurately described length and weight of whole mounts and live fish. Eight morphological characters were analysed for 60 whole mounts, 172 head mounts and 51 live fish. We found that inter-orbital distance, inter-nare width and upper jaw length were relatively robust to taxidermy processes and were reliable features for predicting fish total length and total weight. Shrinkage in head morphometrics due to taxidermy was evident, however, and we recommend that this be considered when reconstructing length and weight measures. We discuss how estimated body length and weight from head morphometrics of trophy fish, coupled with analysis of the accompanying remaining tissue and hard parts, opens up opportunities to explore patterns in genetics, life history, movement and trophic ecology of historical fish populations and of past environments.

Length-weight relationship, relative condition factor and reproductive parameters of Mystus cavasius (Hamilton, 1822) in the river Ganga

Aim: In this study, length-weight relationship, relative condition factor, sex ratio, gonadosomatic index, and size at first maturity of Mystus cavasius were determined in the tropical river Ganga, India. Methodology: Fish sampling was carried out monthly, and 562 specimens were collected from three landing sites of River Ganga. Total length and body weight were measured using a digital Vernier caliper (Insize-0/150) and digital weighing balance (Wensar MAB-220). Results: In the length-weight relationship, the exponent values for male, female, and combined sexes are 2.8547, 2.8166, and 2.8569, respectively. The mean relative condition factor of male and female were 1.00±0.08 and 1.02±0.11, respectively. The overall sex ratio of the species is 1: 1.50, indicating predominance of female (Chi. Square value = 21.53, p&lt;0.05). The species have a prolonged spawning season from June to October, peaking in August. Male reach maturity at 90.42 mm, while female reach at 100.21 mm. Interpretation: In stock assessment studies, length-weight relationships provide useful information for estimating growth parameters, assessing population structure, developing yield equations, and comparing populations over time and space. Size at first maturity will be useful for setup of minimum legal mesh size of fishing gears to protect juvenile and recruitment overfishing for conservation of spawners and spawning biomass. Key words: Catfish, Gonadosomatic index, Growth pattern, Mystus cavasius, River Ganga, Spawning season

Investigation of the Effects of Rooting Medium and IBA Concentration on Rooting and Shoot Development of Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spp.) Cuttings

In this study, the effect of different rooting mediums (peat moss, peat + sand, peat + loam) and IBA (indole-3-butyric acid) concentration was investigated on hardwood cuttings taken from Bougainvillea glabra, Bougainvillea spectabilis, and Bougainvillea x buttiana species. The cuttings were treated with 0, 1000, 2000 and 3000 mg/l IBA. Statistical evaluation was performed according to a randomized block experimental design with three factors and three repetitions. The results showed that Bougainvillea x buttiana cuttings had the highest number of roots, root fresh weight, longest shoot length, and shoot fresh weight. Cuttings grown in 100% peat medium had the highest rooting percentage, root number, root dry weight, leaf number, and shoot fresh weight. Regarding IBA concentrations, the cuttings treated with 3000 ppm IBA had the highest number of roots, root length, and root fresh weight. Furthermore, in all of the Bougainvillea species, the highest rooting percentage and leaf number were observed in cuttings treated with 2000 ppm IBA. Notably, Bougainvillea x buttiana cuttings treated with 1000 ppm IBA dose and planted in peat medium provided the longest shoot length, highest shoot fresh weight, and shoot dry weight. In conclusion, the findings show that the growing medium has a statistically significant effect on the rooting and root quality of cuttings and that it would be useful to investigate various rooting hormones, dasages and rooting media to increase rooting and shoot development. Considering growing medium plays a crucial role in plant growth, it can be stated that further improvements in rooting and growth can be realized via utilizing the enhanced physical and chemical properties of peat-based mixtures.

Genetic Diversity and Genome-Wide Association Study for Shoot and Root Traits in Rice Grown Under Water Deficit at Early Vegetative Stage

Water deficit affects rice growth, development, and yield. Knowledge of genetic diversity for water deficit tolerance, as well as the genetic architecture that is responsible for this trait, can accelerate rice cultivars’ improvement. In this study, different tools were applied to assess genetic diversity and identify genome regions associated with shoot and root traits in rice germplasm grown under water deficit at an early vegetative stage. A panel of 177 rice genotypes grown under water deficit was evaluated for root length (RL), root dry weight (RDW), shoot length (SL), and shoot dry weight (SDW). Genetic diversity was investigated using means grouping and principal component analysis. For the genome-wide association study, a general linear model was applied, using RL, RDW, SL, and SDW phenotypic data converted into Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (BLUPs); genotypic data (1185 single nucleotide polymorphism—SNPs-loci); and population structure. Overall, little genetic diversity was observed, but genotypes with a higher water deficit tolerance were identified. Several significant SNPs were mapped, 81, 5, 53, and 41 for RL, RDW, SL, and SDW, respectively. Among the identified genes, there are those encoding kinases, proteins involved in phytohormone and cell wall metabolism, and Cytochrome P450. The obtained results provide insight into genetic diversity and the genetic architecture of water deficit tolerance, which will be useful in improving this trait in rice grown in Brazil.

Machine Learning-Assisted High-Throughput Screening of Nanozymes for Ulcerative Colitis.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic gastrointestinal inflammatory disorder with rising prevalence. Due to the recurrent and difficult-to-treat nature of UC symptoms, current pharmacological treatments fail to meet patients' expectations. This study presents a machine learning-assisted high-throughput screening strategy to expedite the discovery of efficient nanozymes for UC treatment. Therapeutic requirements, including antioxidant property, acid stability, and zeta potential, are quantified and predicted by using a machine learning model. Non-quantifiable attributes, including intestinal barrier repair efficacy and biosafety, are assessed via high-throughput screening. Feature significance analysis, sure independence screening, and sparsifying operator symbolic regression reveal the high-dimensional structure-activity relationships between material features and therapeutic needs. SrDy2O4 with high stability, low toxicity, targeting ability, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging capability is identified, which reduces ROS production, lowers cytochrome C levels in cytoplasm, and inhibits apoptosis in intestinal epithelial cells by stabilizing the mitochondrial membrane potential. Mice treated with SrDy2O4 show improvements in colon length and body weight compared with dextran sodium sulfate salt-treated model group. Transcriptomic and 16S rRNA sequencing analyses show that SrDy2O4 boosts beneficial gut bacteria, and decreases pathogenic bacteria, thereby effectively restoring gut microbiota balance. Moreover, SrDy2O4 offers the advantage of X-ray imaging without side effects.

Standardization of size of cutting and IBA concentrations on the multiplication of underutilized leafy vegetables of Assam

An experiment unfolded at the Experimental Farm in the Department of Horticulture, AAU, Jorhat during 2021-22 to analyse the effect of different concentrations of IBA viz., H1: distilled water, H2: 25 ppm, H3: 50 ppm and H4: 75 ppm on three different cutting sizes (N1: 1 node, N2: 3 nodes, N3: 5 nodes) across three underutilized leafy vegetables (Brahmi, Matikanduri, Madhusoleng). In nursery, the experiment (I) was put out in Factorial Randomised Block Design (FRBD) from which the best and the poorest treatment of each crop were planted in the main field for further studies on their growth. In the main field, the experiment (II) was laid out in Randomized Block Design with four replications. The interaction between cutting size and IBA concentration spotlighted N3H4 as the pinnacle treatment in Brahmi displaying superior rooting percentage, longest root length, root diameter, highest root fresh and dry weights, highest root number, and hastening new leaf appearance. In Matikanduri, N3H4 excelled in rooting percentage, root length, root diameter, fresh weight, and root number, whereas N3H3 caused the maximum root dry weight and quickest new leaf emergence. Madhusoleng exhibited optimal results with N3H4, showcasing the highest rooting percentage, longest root length, root diameter, root fresh and dry weights, root number, and minimum time to new leaf appearance. In the main field, Brahmi-survival percentage (99.50%), plant height (21 cm), plant spread (29.25 cm), number of branches (3.75), leaf number (21.25), Matikanduri- survival percentage (98.75%), plant height (40.45 cm), plant spread (68.95 cm), number of branches (38.25), leaf number (330.50), Madhusoleng- survival percentage (98.50%), plant height (82.00 cm), plant spread (102.25 cm), number of branches (31.00), leaf number (378.75) were found to be best in the same treatment combination of N3H4 with maximum BC ratio of 3.31, 4.46, and 5.80, respectively.

Plant Growth-promoting Bacteria Alleviate the Toxic Effects of Soil Microplastics and Heavy Metal Complex Pollution in Hybrid pennisetum

The coexistence of microplastics and heavy metals in soil can lead to more intricate environmental effects. While plant growth-promoting bacteria have been widely recognized for enhancing the remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soils, little research has been conducted to investigate whether they can alleviate the stress of microplastic-heavy metal composite contamination on plants. We investigated the effects of isolated and screened plant growth-promoting bacteria on the growth and cadmium （Cd） accumulation of Hybrid pennisetum under the composite pollution of Cd and polypropylene （PP） with different particle sizes （6.5 and 830 μm） in pot experiments and analyzed their effects on the composition of rhizosphere bacterial communities using high-throughput sequencing. Seven strains of bacteria were isolated and screened from soil contaminated with heavy metal-microplastic composites, identified as Enterobacter and Bacillus spp. All exhibited plant growth-promoting characteristics, including IAA production, siderophores, phosphorus solubilization, and potassium solubilization. Inoculation of plant growth-promoting bacteria increased the length and dry weight of H. pennisetum, effectively alleviating the stress caused by PP+Cd compound pollution. Plant growth-promoting bacteria increased soil available potassium and available phosphorus content, mitigating the decrease in soil mineral nutrients caused by PP+Cd composite pollution. PP+Cd compound pollution and plant growth-promoting bacterial inoculation affected the composition of the rhizosphere bacterial community of H. pennisetum, influencing dominant populations such as Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria. This study observed that the isolated and screened plant growth-promoting bacteria can effectively alleviate the plastic-heavy metal complex pollution caused by H. pennisetum. This provides a theoretical basis and data support for the remediation of microplastic heavy metal complex-contaminated soil biological pollution.

The Role of Aquaculture in Shaping the Morphology of Babylonia areolata: A Comparative Study of Cultured and Wild Populations.

With the rapid expansion of aquaculture, the impact of rearing environments on the morphological characteristics of marine species has become a critical research focus. This study investigates the morphological differences between wild and cultured populations of B. areolata, a commercially valuable marine mollusk, to understand how aquaculture environments influence morphological traits. The study aims to evaluate the morphological variance between wild and cultured populations using multivariate statistical techniques and to analyze the ecological implications of these differences. A total of 120 specimens (56 cultured, 64 wild) were collected from 2 habitats in Hainan, China, and analyzed for 9 morphological traits. Statistical methods, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), were used to assess morphological differences. The study revealed significant morphological differences between wild and cultured populations of B. areolata. Cultured populations exhibited greater morphological uniformity, particularly in traits such as shell height, shell length, and total weight. In contrast, wild populations showed higher variability in traits like shell thickness and shell aperture width, driven by resource heterogeneity and natural selection pressures in their environment. The findings suggest that aquaculture environments significantly influence the development of morphological traits, potentially affecting mollusk adaptability and survival in natural habitats. These results provide valuable insights into aquaculture management and strategies for conserving wild populations.

Anthropometric Trajectories in Children Prior to Development of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Poor nutrition and growth in childhood have short-term and long-term consequences, so understanding the timing of the onset of an impaired nutritional status is crucial for diagnosing and treating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) at its earliest stage. To assess anthropometric trajectories before a pediatric diagnosis of IBD and growth recovery after diagnosis. This population-based cohort study included children born in Denmark from January 1, 1997, through December 31, 2015, with weight and length or height measurements at birth and at least 1 length or height and weight measurement at school age based on the Danish Medical Birth Register and the Danish National Child Health Register. Within this population, all individuals diagnosed with IBD at ages 5 to 17 years, according to the Danish National Patient Register, were identified. Data were analyzed from October 13, 2023, to April 17, 2024. A pediatric diagnosis of IBD compared with the corresponding population without the disease. The outcome measures were z scores for length or height, weight, and body mass index (BMI [calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared]) before and after pediatric IBD diagnosis compared with reference and sibling populations. The final study population included 916 133 individuals (51.2% male) with a median of 3 pairs of length or height and weight measurements collected (IQR, 2-6 pairs). Of those, 1522 (median age, 14.3 years [IQR, 11.8-16.3 years]; 763 female [50.1%]) were diagnosed with IBD (851 [55.9%] with Crohn disease [CD] and 671 [44.1%] with ulcerative colitis [UC]). Compared with children without IBD, individuals with a later diagnosis of CD had declining anthropometric measures 3 years (weight: mean, -0.12 g [95% CI, -0.20 to -0.03 g]; BMI: mean, -0.13 [95% CI, -0.21 to -0.04]) and 1 year (length or height: mean, -0.20 cm [95% CI, -0.29 to -0.10 cm]) prior to diagnosis, whereas this was observed 1 year prior to a diagnosis of UC for weight (mean, -0.12 g [95% CI, -0.22 to -0.02 g]) and BMI (mean, -0.13 [95% CI, -0.23 to -0.03]). Deviating anthropometric patterns persisted after diagnosis, with the slowest recovery observed in children with CD. The findings of this large-scale population-based cohort study of anthropometrics in children suggest impaired nutritional status as assessed by weight up to 3 years and by length or height 1 year before a diagnosis of CD and by weight up to 1 year before a diagnosis of UC. These findings emphasize that the onset of pediatric IBD may occur years prior to diagnosis, that growth recovery may first occur after diagnosis and treatment, and that frequent nutritional screenings may help ensure a healthy transition to adulthood.

Drivers of stunting and wasting across serial cross-sectional household surveys of children under 2 years of age in Pakistan: potential contribution of ecological factors.

The impact of direct and indirect drivers on linear growth and wasting in young children is of public health interest. While the contributions of poverty, maternal education, empowerment and birth weight to early childhood growth are well recognized, the contribution of environmental factors like heat, precipitation, agriculture outputs and food security in comparable datasets is less well established. To investigate the association of length-for-age z-score (LAZ) and weight-for-length z-score (WLZ) with various indicators among children under 2 years of age in Pakistan using representative household level nutrition surveys and ecological datasets. Using geo-tagged metadata from Pakistan's 2011 and 2018 National Nutrition Surveys (NNS), anthropometric data from 29,887 children (9,231 from 2011 and 20,656 from 2018) were analyzed. Dietary intake and food security data for 140 districts were linked to gridded data on temperature, precipitation and soil moisture, and district measures of agriculture production of edible crops. Multiple linear regressions assessed factors associated with length for age Z score (LAZ) and weight for length z scores (WLZ) in index children. LAZ was positively associated with improved socio-economic conditions (β=0.06), food security (β=0.10), birth size (β=0.26), maternal age (β=0.02), BMI (β=0.02), height (β=0.02) and dietary score (β=0.03). Negative associations with LAZ were found for increased temperature, precipitation, diarrhea, household crowding and parity. Similar patterns were observed with WLZ for higher surface temperatures and precipitation were associated with declines in linear growth, alongside increased diarrhea prevalence and higher maternal parity. Apart from recognized multifactorial drivers of stunting and wasting among children such as poverty, food insecurity and maternal undernutrition, our analysis suggest the potential independent association with climatic factors such as heat and excess precipitation over time. These findings underscore the need for further research and potential integration of climatic mitigation and adaptation with nutrition response strategies.