Suitable Environmental Conditions Research Articles

Farming of Indigenous Crayfish in Russia: A Mini-Review of Recent Studies.

Natural populations of crayfish in Europe have experienced significant declines due to the spread of crayfish plague, overfishing, competition with invasive crayfish species, and habitat degradation. Consequently, crayfish farming has gained importance in meeting the increasing demand for crayfish products. Although Russia boasts abundant water resources, the development of crayfish aquaculture remains nascent. In this review, we consolidate recent studies by Russian researchers that focus on various aspects of crayfish cultivation. Extensive cultivation in open ponds is the most suitable method, owing to its accessibility and lower costs; however, it necessitates suitable environmental conditions within the water bodies. The production cycle encompasses pond preparation, stocking, exploration, restoration, and monitoring. Controlled cultivation of egg-bearing females is essential for producing high-quality seedstock for subsequent rearing. Experimental evidence suggests that crayfish exhibit high adaptability to artificial conditions, with formulated diets comprising artificial feeds for sturgeon and powdered dried beef by-products demonstrating promising results in terms of growth performance. Plastic tangled threads and mink shelters are recommended to reduce cannibalism. Short-term grow-out of juvenile crayfish can yield a profit margin of 17%, while a complete two-year production cycle is projected to achieve financial break-even over three years. The primary challenges confronting the industry include disease management, cannibalism, the need for skilled technical personnel, and insufficient financial and policy support.

Environmental Suitability Predictions for the Distribution and Potential Cultivation of Artemisia afra in South Africa

Cultivation is advocated as a solution for the sustainable exploitation of medicinal plants. Understanding environmental factors influencing plant species distribution will eliminate the indiscriminate introduction of medicinal plants to inappropriate cultivation regions. This study investigated environmental conditions for the distribution of Artemisia afra and mapped out potential areas for its cultivation in South Africa. Soil samples were collected for analysis in the Free State Province in South Africa. To identify suitable environmental conditions for the natural distribution of A. afra, the South African National Botanical Institute database and physically collected Global Positioning System points were used in a maximum entropy model. Monthly long-term average interpolated weather surfaces were used to estimate the effect of climate change on future climate suitability for A. afra distribution. Sixty-one percent of soil samples from different A. afra populations were clay loam soils with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. The carbon source utilization, Shannon Weaver Index, and species richness were positively correlated with one group of fourteen soil samples, and species evenness was positively correlated with the second group, consisting of four samples. Climate change will only affect the distribution of A. afra in the very long term. The current study provides critical information for identifying suitable cultivation areas for A. afra while supporting conservation efforts from an ecological point of view.

AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT HEALTH OF EARTHEN PONDS AND CONDITION INDEX OF WHITELEG SHRIMP (Litopenaeus vannamei Boon, 1931)

The study on the Aquatic Environment Health of Ponds and Condition Index are important factors for evaluating the physiological status of the shrimp. The morphometric measurements studied were the total length and weight of 1200 randomly selected shrimp specimens from four different earthen ponds located at Palsana, Valsad (Gujarat) during the culture period. Based on the findings of this research, it is concluded that the water quality parameters such as temperature, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen, alkalinity, and hardness were optimum which indicated the suitable environmental conditions for shrimp growth. The observed length, weight, and condition factor (K) of shrimp in all the studied ponds (A, B, C and D) were significantly different. The Correlation coefficient (r) between the variables Condition factor and AEHP showed salinity as an important regulatory factor. The findings showed that the farm operation would be helpful for the farmers to proceed with the economic shrimp production. The findings suggest that the ecological indices (AEHP and Condition Index) in cultured shrimps provide useful information about cultural conditions to the farmers and aquaculture experts. The farm operators could use these indices to assess individual health and habitat conditions through the application of appropriate farming operations. KEYWORDS: Length, weight, condition, culture, earthen pond

A qPCR Assay for the Quantification of the Overwintering Chasmothecia of Erysiphe necator in Grapevine Bark.

Powdery mildew (PM) disease causes serious losses in Mediterranean vineyards, where suitable environmental conditions promote conidial infections. The frequency and intensity of these infections are directly linked to the amount of primary Erysiphe necator inoculum, i.e., the chasmothecia embedded in the trunk. In this study, we set up a protocol to extract and quantify E. necator chasmothecia in grapevine bark samples based on a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay. Moreover, we observed PM severity and ascocarp production on leaves in the first season and primary infection in the following season in different grapevine cvs. with known PM susceptibility levels. The qPCR analysis showed a significant relationship between E. necator DNA concentration in bark samples and primary infection (R2 = 0.970) and disease severity development (R2 = 0.776), as well as chasmothecia development on leaves (R2 = 0.455). The results demonstrate that this methodology can be used for quantifying chasmothecia, improving current methods based on visual counting, proving the interrelationships between PM epidemics and chasmothecia, as well as refining PM disease prediction models and subsequent fungicide application. Rapid and easy quantification of ascosporic inoculum will greatly facilitate the reconciliation of control actions to the risks posed by greatly differing levels of ascosporic inoculum.

Environmental Factors Influencing Anthrax Distribution in an East African Protected Area

ABSTRACTAnthrax outbreaks caused by the soil‐borne bacterium Bacillus anthracis have been known to occur often in Africa, impacting both wildlife and livestock and occasionally infecting humans. Modelling the current distribution and predicting suitable habitats for this bacteria species is therefore critical for supporting effective planning and control measures for anthrax outbreaks. Despite its impact, the knowledge on the ecology of this pathogen is still limited. This can be due to intricate interactions between anthropogenic and environmental factors and the variety of species it affects. Therefore, detailed, site‐specific analyses are essential for contributing to the understanding of the ecology of anthrax. This study used the maximum entropy modelling algorithm (MaxEnt) method to predict suitable habitat and environmental conditions that may support anthrax distribution and spore survival in Tarangire National Park, in Tanzania. Model inputs included 14 predictors from World Climatic, Landsat satellite, and World Soil Information datasets, as well as 636 presence‐only occurrence data from park records from 2013 to 2023. The predicted suitable area favouring anthrax spores encompassed most of the savannah and open grassland in the northern part of the park, as well as narrow patches in the park's central region. The mean test AUC score was 0.91, and the predicted probability was 0.98 for anthrax presence. On average, the predicted probability of suitable conditions substantially improved with increasing levels of extractable phosphorus, exchangeable potassium, mean annual temperature, and soil pH. Furthermore, the probability of suitable habitat was highest at lower levels of fire frequency, exchangeable sodium, and extractable aluminium. The extensive track record of anthrax outbreaks in the area may be explained by the presence of these favourable soil characteristics and climate, which point to the long‐term occurrence of anthrax spores in the park. However, the existence of suitable habitat in the northern part of the park presents opportunities for mobilising resources to mitigate the situation through activities such as targeted disease surveillance and the use of controlled fire.

The design of bidirectional selective hydrolases for lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose through in silico methods

The production of methane from straw lignocellulose is limited by its structure. It is necessary to break the complex structure and prevent the loss of cellulose/hemicellulose by lignin-removing pretreatment. This paper designed bidirectional selective hydrolases based on laccase of Pleurotus ostreatus (Q6RYA4) and Bacillus subtilis (E7EDN4), established Scenario 1 (6 % H2SO4 and E7EDN4–2) and Scenario 2 (5 % NaOH and E7EDN4–12), significantly enhancing lignin hydrolysis while minimizing cellulose/hemicellulose hydrolysis using homology modeling, molecular docking and molecular dynamics. The suitable environmental conditions for the scenarios were determined through L9 Taguchi orthogonal. Resveratrol was found to enhance enzyme activity in an acidic environment, while rhamnolipid in an alkaline environment. The enhanced mechanism of lignin hydrolysis was elucidated through the hotspots amino acids, root mean square fluctuation, and enzyme adsorption-desorption process. Subsequently, the deep learning algorithm was employed to conduct the enzyme turnover numbers of new hydrolases, quantifying lignin hydrolysis rate and theoretical methane yield. Compared with E7EDN4, the lignin hydrolysis rate in Scenario 1 and 2 increased by 208.16 % and 272.49 %, while the theoretical methane yields were increased by 98.23 % and 97.96 % under suitable environmental condition of appropriate concentration of exogenous substances (rhamnolipid or resveratrol). This study constituted an advanced technology for the high-efficiency utilization of cellulose/hemicellulose, which offered novel insights and approaches for the biological enhancement of the pretreatment of lignocellulose.

Moisture electricity generation based self-powered humidity sensor for smart agriculture

With the rapid development of smart agriculture, it is of great significance to monitor soil moisture through humidity sensors to maintain suitable soil environmental conditions and improve crop yield and quality. This study reports a self-powered humidity sensor (SPHS) based on moisture electricity generation, which was designed by using a humidity-sensitive composite film composed of polystyrene sulfonic acid: polyvinyl alcohol doped LiCl as the electrolyte layer and combined with copper and aluminum electrodes. The SPHS easily adsorbs and diffuses water molecules in humid environment, and relies on the principles of ion diffusion and electrochemical reaction to realize the sensing of soil moisture, without the external power source, and with good reliability and durability. The SPHS can spontaneously generate current response over a relative humidity (RH) range of 33 %–91 %, with a current response of 2.6 μA at 33 % RH and up to 76.1 μA at 91 % RH, which provides excellent RH-current linear response characteristics (R2 = 0.988). SPHS can be successfully applied in the field of human wearable devices, such as integration into masks for human breathing monitoring, as well as having excellent application potential in contactless human-computer interfaces. By integrating smart sensing technology and IoT communication technology, a smart agricultural environment sensing system was built in conjunction with SPHS for in-situ monitoring of soil moisture, ambient temperature, and light intensity to achieve real-time monitoring of the farmland environment, which promotes the development of agricultural production in the direction of intelligence, efficiency, and sustainability.

Optimization of the Culture Medium of Beauveria bassiana and Spore Yield Using Response Surface Methodology

Beauveria bassiana has distinct nutrient requirements depending on the growth stage, with the mycelial growth stage being particularly nutrient-intense. When nutrients are exhausted, B. bassiana produces numerous spores that re-germinate and release visible hyphae under suitable environmental conditions. This study aimed to use low-cost agricultural by-products for developing an optimized sporulation medium. Single-factor experiments revealed that potato, wheat bran, and wheat had the greatest influence on sporulation after 14 d of culture. Wheat, wheat bran, and corncob had the strongest effect on spore production. Using a mathematical model and Box–Behnken design, the maximum predicted sporulation using the stock medium was 5.55 × 106/mL. The optimized formula comprised 54.82 g potato, 77.74 g wheat bran, and 101.48 g wheat. The actual stock medium produced a spore yield of 5.52 × 106/mL. Similarly, the maximum predicted sporulation was 15.66 × 106/mL for the culture medium. The optimized formula comprised 50.81 g wheat, 99.6 g wheat bran, and 112.59 g corncob, with a spore yield of 15.69 × 106/mL. The high consistency between predicted and experimental values indicated that our model can accurately determine the effect of medium on sporulation.

Fire-associated microbial shifts in soils of western conifer forests with Armillaria root disease.

With its influence on ecosystem processes and functions, the soil microbiome can interact with soilborne pathogens to facilitate or suppress plant disease development. These forest ecosystems are experiencing increased wildfire frequency and burn severity that could influence the fungal root pathogen, Armillaria solidipes, and interactions with the soil microbiome. We examined changes to the soil microbiome following three levels of burn severity, and examined how these changes correspond with A. solidipes, and a putatively beneficial species, A. altimontana. Following severe burn, there was a decreased relative abundance of ectomycorrhizal fungi associated A. altimontana. A. solidipes and associated microbial taxa dominated following high-severity burns, suggesting that severe fires provide suitable environmental conditions for these species. Our results suggest that shifts in the soil microbiome and an associated increase in the activity of A. solidipes following high-severity burns in conifer forests may result in priority areas for monitoring and proactive management of Armillaria root disease.

Study of Different Aged Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus L.) Rootstocks on Softwood Grafting Success under Different Environmental Conditions

An investigation was conducted to find out the optimum Jackfruit rootstock age for softwood grafting and to find out the suitable environmental condition for the success of Jackfruit grafts was conducted at Department of Biotechnology and Crop Improvement, College of Horticulture, Kolar, Karnataka during the year 2023. Six different aged Jackfruit rootstocks (15, 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 days old) were softwood grafted and evaluated under three environmental conditions (Shadenet, Polytunnel and Polyhouse) in a factorial completely randomised design with four replications. The morpho-physiological results revealed that, 15 days old rootstock grown under shadenet took highest number of days for sprout initiation (24.02 days) compared to others. Significantly highest graft success (50.20 %) was recorded in 90 days old rootstock grafts grown under polyhouse condition 30 days after grafting. Maximum number of leaves per graft (4.95, 6.95 and 9.15) and maximum RWC % (83.63, 86.98, and 90.61 %) was recorded in 90 days old rootstock grown under polyhouse at 30, 60 & 90 days after grafting respectively. Similarly, significantly highest chlorophyll (4.70 mg/g FW), root length (18.52 cm), root fresh weight (9.43 g/plant), root dry weight (1.35 g/plant) and root biomass (3.64 g/plant) found in 90 days old rootstock grafts grown under polyhouse conditions. The maximum root-to-shoot ratio was recorded on fresh weight (0.73 g) and dry weight (0.56 g) in 90 days old rootstock grown under polyhouse condition. Significant maximum graft survival (44.71 %) recorded in 90 days old rootstock grafts grown under polyhouse. Significantly highest graft dry matter (3.95 g/plant) was recorded in 90 days old rootstocks grafts grown under polyhouse whereas least in shadenet (2.99 g/plant). In conclusion, it is found that grafting of 90 days old Jackfruit rootstocks performed better under polyhouse conditions for most of the traits.

A GIS-MCDA approach to map environmental suitability of Posidonia oceanica meadows as blue nature-based solutions in the Mediterranean eco-region

The growing environmental risks induced by interacting climate and human-induced pressures threaten the survival and growth of marine coastal ecosystems (MCEs) and the ecosystem services they provide. Nature-based solutions (NBS), consisting of ecosystem-based approaches, have emerged as vital tools for climate adaptation and mitigation facing biodiversity loss and societal challenges. Identifying suitable environmental conditions for implementing Blue-NBS in marine coastal areas is a key priority to drive robust and cost-effective nature-based adaptation pathways. This study developed a suitability model for Blue-NBS, with a specific focus on Posidonia oceanica meadows in the Mediterranean Sea under a baseline scenario. GIS-based Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) was applied for data integration and prioritization of different environmental variables in geomorphological (e.g., depth), water quality (WQ) (e.g., salinity), and climatic (e.g., thermal stress) sub-groups. Suitability classes and scores for each variable were determined using statistical distributions, ensuring a data-driven approach to defining environmental suitability. Variables' weights were derived from the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) based on expert judgment and then combined with scores to generate suitability maps for managing Blue-NBS on seagrasses. Depth was found to be the most dominant environmental variable, with shallow areas (e.g., Northern Adriatic, Gulf of Gabés) showing higher suitability. The southern part of the Mediterranean (e.g., Egypt) reported relatively low scores for both climate and WQ, while the Northern Adriatic had the lowest WQ scores. This study represents the first attempt to evaluate Blue-NBS suitability for seagrass meadows at the eco-regional scale with geomorphologic, WQ, and climatic variables, providing decision support for the selection and allocation of Blue-NBS in different environmental settings. The resulting environmental suitability maps represent a basis for the integration of socio-economic and governance-related indicators into a more complex, multi-tier approach to support NBS mainstreaming.

Spatial distribution projections of suitable environmental conditions for key Baltic Sea zooplankton species

AbstractEnvironmental changes reshape biological communities, inducing cascading effects throughout the food webs. These changes pressure species either to adapt or to track favorable habitats. Estuaries represent an interesting case study to investigate such responses as species will rapidly reach physical boundaries if they cannot adapt fast enough and need to track suitable conditions. One such estuary is the Baltic Sea, characterized by a salinity and temperature gradient that shapes species distribution and imposes physiological stress on organisms. The Baltic Sea is projected to be affected by substantial modifications in environmental conditions by the end of the 21st century, which could have major consequences for species distribution and community composition. However, despite the impending changes and their potential impact, there is a gap in understanding the potential consequences on pelagic species of the Baltic Sea. This study employs long‐term observations of primary zooplankton species in the pelagic food web to model changes in their distribution under future climate projections. We found that the parameters having the largest influence on habitat suitability varied across species, although maximal temperature was the most important for six out of seven species. In addition, there was a shrinkage of suitable area for several key species driven by a decrease in salinity and a rise in water temperature. We discuss the complex interplay between environmental changes and the spatial distribution of pelagic species in the Baltic Sea, highlighting the need for proactive management strategies to mitigate potential ecological impacts in the face of future climate scenarios.

Efficiency of paclobutrazol and gibberellic acid in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under different doses of nitrogen fertilization

Application of growth regulators like paclobutrazol and gibberellic acid is a suitable way to prevent excessive nitrogen consumption. Therefore, this 2-year research was conducted in Karaj, Iran. This research was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications in a split-plot arrangement in 2019–2021. Treatments included nitrogen at three levels: (60, 105 and 150 kg ha−1) which were placed in the main plots. The second factor was the foliar application of growth regulators at three levels: [gibberellic acid (100 ppm), paclobutrazol (200 ppm) and control]. The results showed that application of paclobutrazol and gibberellic acid raised super wheat yield and quality compared to control. The highest biological yield (27.67 ton ha−1), was observed in the interaction of nitrogen 150 kg ha−1 + gibberellic acid in the second year, which was the same with nitrogen 150 kg ha−1 + gibberellic acid in the first year and also interaction of nitrogen 150 kg ha−1 + paclobutrazol in the second year. The highest grain protein (14.69%) was seen in nitrogen 150 kg ha−1 + gibberellic acid in the second year and nitrogen 150 kg ha−1 + gibberellic acid in the first year. Growth regulators usage and increasing the nitrogen content (150 kg ha−1), improved the yield and grain quality of wheat. Therefore, the interaction of nitrogen 150 kg ha−1 + gibberellic acid and nitrogen 150 kg ha−1 +paclobutrazol, were the best treatments of this study, due to the creation of suitable environmental conditions for wheat, and these treatments can be suggested to the farmers.

A preliminary recording of insects on the island of Farwa Northwest of Libya

The study aimed to present the first record of insect families in Farwa Island. Farwa Island is the largest and most important island in Libya; located in Northern west part of Libya in the Mediterranean, its insect fauna is poorly studied. Short time intensive collection of insect samples was conducted in four areas (mouth of the valley, bay of containers, center of the Island, and Ras-Attalgha) in February, March and April 2021. Different methods were used for insect collection, sorting, preservation and later identification to the lowest taxonomic level and verification. 9 orders, 31 families, 40 genera and 58 insect species were collected in the study; the center of the Island had the highest numerical density and diversity of insect fauna due to its diverse vegetation compared to other areas. Diverse suitable habitats and absent insect control measures provided suitable environmental conditions for insects breeding, feeding and hiding from enemies. This study constitutes the first comprehensive survey of insect fauna on Farwa Island and adds significant value to the ongoing assessment of insect diversity in Libya. A long-term study has to be conducted to investigate detailed information about the abundance and diversity of insects and other arthropods on Farwa Island.

Assessment and Characterization of Colletotrichum species causing Bitter Rot Disease of Apple in Quetta (Pakistan)

Colletotrichum species present a significant threat and posing a serious threat to the economy of Pakistan. This fact is due to suitable environmental conditions for pathogen dispersal. The research was conducted for the accurate identification of Colletotrichum species and studying its pathogenic behaviour responsible for pre-harvest bitter rot disease of apple fruits in Quetta, Pakistan. For this purpose, a survey was conducted in 2016 2017 across ten locations in Quetta to evaluate the disease assessment and sample collection. The findings revealed disease incidence of 39.22% in 2016 and 32.56% in 2017. Symptoms observed sunken brown lesions, measuring 1-4 cm in diameter, on the fruit surface, containing small, pinhead-sized black fruiting structures. A total of 130 fungal isolates were obtained from infected samples and categorized primarily into three groups (A, B, C) based on distinct cultural and morphological characteristics. Pathogenicity test, conducted in triplicate through spore suspension application on healthy apple fruit, confirmed Colletotrichum as the causative pathogen. Furthermore, ten isolates from each group were subjected to molecular analysis to identify the Colletotrichum species using internal transcribed spacer (ITS), beta-tubulin (TUB), and glyceraldehyde-3 phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) gene regions. From sequence analysis, the fungal isolates were identified as three Colletotrichum species mainly Group (A) C. acutatum (B) C. gloeosporioides and (C) C. siamense. Morphological features act as a primary way of identifying Colletotrichum spp. although it is not feasible due to some Colletotrichum genera being morphologically related, consequently molecular method of identification was sufficient for accurate identification and species confirmation. At our knowledge, tion this is the first comprehensive study of Colletotrichum spp. causing bitter rot disease of apple in Pakistan. The findings of our resesearch will pave the way for future disease management experiments, aiming to prevent this disease becoming a serious threat in the region.

Investigation of the Relationship between Environmental Conditions and Public Health in Developing Countries from a Psychological Perspective

The surrounding landscapes and environmental conditions significantly influence humans psychologically, physically, and in quality of life. By examining both environmental conditions and overall human health, it is possible to enhance health support and implement more effective policies. Landscape affects human beings significantly in various aspects, including political, aesthetic, health, and well-being. Although the previous studies focus on developed countries, fewer studies have been conducted in third-world countries. This paper aims to investigate the impact of everyday environmental conditions on health in third-world countries, specifically through the lens of environmental psychology. Data were collected through field research in Guatemala. Generally, suburban and rural areas with suitable environmental conditions have a positive health effect compared to urban areas with poor environmental conditions. Our results suggested that these effects include mental health improvements, physical illness recovery, and overall well-being. Our study advocates for stronger governmental support and increased public awareness regarding the influence of environmental conditions on overall health to reduce emissions and improve both environmental quality and health outcomes.

Natural iron-containing minerals catalyze the degradation of polypropylene microplastics: a route to self-remediation learnt from the environment

Virgin and environmentally aged polypropylene (PP) micropowders (V-PP and E-PP, respectively) were used as reference microplastics (MPs) in comparative photo- and thermo-oxidative ageing experiments performed on their mixtures with a natural ferrous sand (NS) and with a metal-free silica sand (QS). The ferrous NS was found to catalyze the photo-oxidative degradation of V-PP after both UV and simulated solar light irradiation. The catalytic activity in the V-PP/NS mixture was highlighted by the comparatively higher fraction of photo-oxidized PP extracted in dichloromethane, and the higher carbonyl index of the bulk polymer extracted with boiling xylene, when compared with the V-PP/QS mixture. Similarly, NS showed a catalytic effect on the thermal degradation (at T = 60 °C) of E-PP. The results obtained indicate that, under suitable environmental conditions (in this case, an iron-containing sediment or soil matrix, combined with simulated solar irradiation), the degradation of some types of MPs could be much faster than anticipated. Given the widespread presence of iron minerals (including the magnetite and iron-rich serpentine found in NS) in both coastal and mainland soils and sediments, a higher than expected resilience of the environment to the contamination by this class of pollutants is anticipated, and possible routes to remediation of polluted natural environments by eco-compatible iron-based minerals are envisaged.Graphical abstract

An intelligent Health Monitoring System for Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease based on Internet of Things

Abstract: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is an important cause of global mortality. These patients are in dire need of treatments to maintain lung function and reduce consecutive visits and hospital stays. IoT acts as a specialized assistant in healthcare, providing a wide range of potential applications such as remote monitoring. Therefore, this study has been compiled with the aim of designing a care system based on the Internet of Things for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In this project, we designed a system for monitoring chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients using an Arduino board and embedding three air quality sensors, heart rate and pulse oximetry, temperature sensor and Bluetooth module, and then implemented it on a patient with obstructive pulmonary disease. . The information obtained from the sensors is sent via Bluetooth to the mobile application that has the ability to share and store information and informs the doctor and the person about the changes. By using the pulse oximetry sensor, the patient increases the monitoring and part of his pulmonary rehabilitation, and by using the temperature and air quality sensor, he identifies the undesirable and harmful air and by informing the doctor and the person, he prevents the exacerbation of the symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This system increases the rehabilitation and self-care of patients, and by providing suitable environmental conditions, prevents unnecessary medical interventions and consecutive visits, and increases the quality of life of patients and reduces costs.

Seagrasses in the Eastern Tropical Pacific: species, distribution ecology, blue carbon, and threats

Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP) seagrasses are composed of three genera and four species: Halophila baillonii, Halodule beaudettei, Halodule wrightii, and Ruppia maritima. These are colonizing seagrass species and meadows in the ETP can be ephemeral. Current seagrass distribution in this region remains unknown, with verified extant presence at a limited number of locations and mapping heavily reliant on historical reports. Suitable environmental conditions for seagrasses in the ETP consist of sheltered bays <10 m depth with fine sediment, 19-35 salinity, 26-32°C temperature, and water transparency of up to 10 m Secchi depth. In this region, seagrass organic carbon (OC) biomass pools (<0.2 Mg ha-1) have been reported from three locations, while sediment bulk density (<1.4 g mL-1) and OC (<24 Mg ha-1) have been reported from eight locations, all found on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Recent blue carbon reports from the ETP have not been included in global assessments to date. OC sequestration and sediment accumulation rates are currently unknown. Seagrasses provide key ecosystem services yet they are also threatened by anthropogenic and natural stressors. Seagrasses have already disappeared from two locations within the ETP, with restoration efforts currently underway on the northern Pacific coast of Costa Rica. This overview of our current understanding of seagrasses in the ETP and their services highlights the need for further research in this understudied region.

Effect of transplanting dates on growth, yield and quality of broad leaf mustard (Brassica juncea L. var. rugosa) varieties at Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal

Broad Leaf Mustard, one of the most popular, highly commercialized, and widely grown green vegetables due to its richness in vitamin and minerals with peculiar taste. The precise knowledge of ideal planting time with right selection of variety provides suitable environmental conditions at all growth stages that increase the yield. The field experiment was carried at Horticulture Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan to evaluate the effect of transplanting dates on growth, yield and quality of Broad Leaf Mustard (Brassica juncea L. var. rugosa) varieties in Terai condition of Nepal during October 2021 to March 2022. The experiment was laid out in two factorial randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. There were sixteen treatment combination comprising four varieties (Khumal Broad Leaf, Marpha Broad Leaf, Manakamana and Mike Giant) with four transplanting dates (October 25, November 9, November 24 and December 9). The results revealed that transplanting dates and varieties along with interaction significantly influenced the growth, yield and quality of Broad Leaf Mustard. Among the varieties, Khumal Broad Leaf was significantly superior on growth parameters like plant height, leaf length and breadth, plant canopy but on yield attributes the superior variety was Mike Giant based on number of leaves harvested per plot (226.08) and leaf yield (26.43 mt ha-1). However, the organoleptic test result revealed that the Mike Giant had excellent taste (74%) along with highest recovery percentage of Gundruk (27.62 %). Among the date of transplanting, mid transplanting on November 9 was better in terms of growth and leaf yield of 28.92 mt ha-1. While poorest performance was recorded on last transplanting on December 9 in all growth, yield and quality parameters with leaf yield of 17.36 mt ha-1. The interaction effect of different varieties and transplanting dates resulted better growth and quality in Khumal Broad Leaf and Manakamana varieties when transplanted on November 9. So based on the results of the experiment, Mike Giant transplanted on November 9 produced better growth and yield than others for the optimum yield production in Chitwan, Nepal.