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The Indian summer monsoon trough (MT) is a dynamically active region of the quasi-stationary feature extending from north-western India towards the Bay of Bengal (BoB). The eastern rim of the MT (EMT) is modulated by the embedded synoptic-scale monsoon low-pressure systems (LPSs) in north BoB. We examine the spatiotemporal variability of the convective storm (CS) in the EMT region, which lies along the pathway of LPSs. A Lagrangian-based objective-tracking method, Thunderstorm Identification, Tracking, Analysis, and Nowcasting (TITAN), was injected into Kolkata S-band radar observations of nine wet seasons (June–September, 2009–2017). CSs frequently occur near the onshore areas and is linked to the formation and propagation of LPSs in the BoB. By examining the relationship of CS top heights with reflectivity lapse rate and fractional volume of 40 dBZ or more, three vertical categories of CS have been identified as shallow (SCS) below 5 km, medium depth (MDCS), and deep CS (DCS). The land–ocean contrast in the spatial distribution of MDCS and DCS and the contoured frequency by altitude diagram shows continental convective vigor. Although short-lived smaller CSs account for most storms in EMT, the bulk of the precipitation (75 % ) contributed from the infrequent largest storms. A weak (strong) linkage between the precipitation flux and CS top (area-time integral) gives a clue on the importance of CS voluminous organization rather than the linkage of heaviest rainfall to tallest CS. While most CSs propagate inland following the mass-weighted mean winds, the largest CS propagate offshore steered by the mid-level wind at 700 hPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the diurnal cycle, propagation, and progression of convective storms (CSs) on the eastern edge of India's monsoon trough (MT) using 9 years of S-band radar measurements with satellite and reanalysis datasets. CSs initiate over ocean during midnight–early morning hours and propagate onshore in succeeding hours. CSs exhibit two semidiurnal peaks, one during afternoon hours over inland areas and another during midnight–early morning hours in oceanic/coastal locations. The deep and intense afternoon peak over inland regions is attributed to land surface heating and associated destabilization. The weak and shallower but organized midnight–morning peak and propagation of CSs toward the coast are attributed to the nocturnal land breeze and its interaction with prevailing onshore flow. The observed lead–lag of a few hours in the diurnal cycle of different cumulus modes correspond to the transition of congestus into deep and then, often, into overshooting modes. Moisture budget analysis showed atmospheric regulation of this transition through thermodynamic (congestus moistening) and dynamic processes (vertical advection). Theoretical time scales were invoked to estimate the relative role of vertical advective versus congestus moistening for promoting the afternoon transition from congestus to deeper modes. Comparing the time scales for congestus moistening (18–46 h) and dynamics (3 h) with the actual transition time scales (2–4 h) reveal that congestus moistening is too slow to explain the observed lead–lag in CS modes. Though both thermodynamic and dynamic processes moisten the midlevel prior to deep/overshooting convection, vertical advection is the dominant dynamic process for the observed congestus–deep–overshooting transition. Significance Statement: Tropical rainfall is usually linked with convection in the morning and afternoon hours. We look at the basic physical processes that lead to those convective activities peaks. The afternoon peak is linked to maximum heating, resulting in an unstable environment, whereas the morning peak is linked to the interaction of large-scale monsoon flow with a land breeze. Furthermore, daily solar heating visually shows a shallow-to-deep progression of convection. The moist midlevel environment was shown to precede such convective development in a day. The large-scale monsoon flow is a dominant cause of this moistening. The monsoon dynamic flow takes roughly 2–3 h to sufficiently moist shallow storms into deep storms, whereas the local thermodynamic moistening process takes about 18–46 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several maize breeding programs in India have developed numerous inbred lines but the lines have not been characterized using high-density molecular markers. Here, we studied the molecular diversity, population structure, and linkage disequilibrium (LD) patterns in a panel of 314 tropical normal corn, two sweet corn, and six popcorn inbred lines developed by 17 research centers in India, and 62 normal corn from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). The 384 inbred lines were genotyped with 60,227 polymorphic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Most of the pair-wise relative kinship coefficients (58.5%) were equal or close to 0, which suggests the lack of redundancy in the genomic composition in the majority of inbred lines. Genetic distance among most pairs of lines (98.3%) varied from 0.20 to 0.34 as compared with just 1.7% of the pairs of lines that differed by <0.20, which suggests greater genetic variation even among sister lines. The overall average of 17% heterogeneity was observed in the panel indicated the need for further inbreeding in the high heterogeneous genotypes. The mean nucleotide diversity and frequency of polymorphic sites observed in the panel were 0.28 and 0.02, respectively. The model-based population structure, principal component analysis, and phylogenetic analysis revealed three to six groups with no clear patterns of clustering by centers-wise breeding lines, types of corn, kernel characteristics, maturity, plant height, and ear placement. However, genotypes were grouped partially based on their source germplasm from where they derived. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continuous progress of society in using online resources has given opportunity to many business executives to utilize social media for their brand promotion or recognition. Organizations utilize social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Flicker, Google Plus, and YouTube to promote their product, service, or brand worldwide. Increase of consumer engagement in online social activities has forced companies to integrate social media factors into their marketing strategy. The objective of this study is to find the important factors on which the online purchasing decision depends, based on the personality types of consumers and their attitude toward social media with brand perception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize is a global principal crop, after wheat and rice. Maydis leaf blight (MLB), also known as Southern Corn Leaf Blight (SCLB), caused by Cochliobolus heterostrophus is a massive foliar disease in maize of fungal origin and prevalent in warm (20–30 °C), humid (>80%) temperate to tropical regions of the world. It has noted signification in the agricultural history due to its epidemic propositions in 1970 in the United States. At present, the primary form of C. heterostrophus is Race ′ O ′, which can cause around 40% yield losses in maize. Symptoms appear as small lesions with a dark brown margin and straw to light brown coloured center to absolute foliage blight. In spite of much availability of management practices, the use of host-plant resistance together with other integrated disease management practices may contribute effectively to the sustainable management of diseases. Both, qualitative and quantitative resistances have been reported in the literature, but quantitative is preferable over qualitative one, as it is non-race specific and highly durable. The different quantitative trait loci (QTLs) identified for MLB resistance have been mapped on chromosomes 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 9. Considering MLB as an important disease in India, we recommend confirming these findings and identifying new genomic regions using Indian maize germplasm as well. The progress made in the area of genomics may revolutionize the understanding of interactions between host and pathogen, and the identification and deployment of MLB resistance genes in the breeding programme. • Maydis leaf blight (MLB) is a worldwide serious foliar disease of maize that can lead to around 40% yield losses. • It has noted signification in agricultural history due to its epidemic propositions in 1970 in the United States. • This article contains detail on disease development, its integrated management, genetics and worldwide sources of resistance. • The regions on chromosomes 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9 and genes viz., ZmAPX1 , ZmCCoAOMT2 and LHT1 conferred partial resistance to MLB. • The resistant cultivars as components of the IDM module can contribute to the sustainable management of MLB [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]