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Leaf spot disease in mulberry significantly affects silk production by reducing the nutritive quality of the leaves. This disease caused by various pathogens, regardless of the localities under the same climatic region. In the present investigation, an approximate incidence rate of 84 % was recorded in Karnataka based on surveys conducted in both farmer fields and germplasm locations. The causative agents have shown diversification, including new candidates such as Bipolaris sorokiniana, Curvularia lunata, Cladosporium sphaerospermum, and Epicoccum sorghinum. These findings mark the first report of these pathogens in Indian mulberry production. The investigation involved detailed pathogenicity assessments on the predominant mulberry silk production cultivar under controlled and field environments. Pathogens were identified using morpho-cultural, microscopic and phylogenetic analyses, including the internal transcribed spacer (ITS). Various concentrations of fungicides, both individually and in combinations, were evaluated to identify effective measures for mitigating yield losses. Among the fungicides tested against the new pathogens, Hexaconazole 5 % SC and Hexaconazole 5 % + Captan 70 % WP demonstrated high promise and cost-effectiveness. Consequently, these fungicides could serve as immediate solutions to prevent further yield reduction. However, it is essential to conduct comprehensive field investigations before recommending them as standard practices. Future research endeavors should focus on assessing the extent of crop loss caused by these newly identified pathogens in mulberry cultivation.

Key message: Superior F1 mulberry genotypes with high leaf yield, quality, and moderate to high stability were identified for optimal and sub-optimal input conditions. Mulberry (Morus spp.) is a highly heterozygous, perennial tree widely grown for its foliage to feed monophagous silkworms (Bombyx mori L.) and fruits for human consumption across the globe. The present study evaluated twenty-one F1 mulberry genotypes for the selection of superior ones based on leaf yield, yield attributes, leaf quality, and stability over two years under optimal and sub-optimal input (irrigation and fertilizer) conditions. Based on pooled data analysis over four crop seasons, it was found that six mulberry genotypes, D16, D21, D22, D23, D28, and D67, had leaf yields (663–840 g/plant) statistically similar to or better than the Vishala check (663 g/plant) under optimal conditions. Similarly, under sub-optimal conditions, seven genotypes, D16, D21, D22, D23, D24, D28 and D34, showed significantly higher leaf yields (418–596 g/plant) than Vishala (415 g/plant). The δ13C (a surrogate trait of water-use efficiency) of five mulberry genotypes, D16, D21, D24, D28, and D34, varied from – 28.21 to – 28.98 and was similar to the AGB8 check (– 28.87). Total soluble sugar, protein, chlorophyll content, and the silkworm moulting percentage and single larval weight for the seven genotypes D16, D21, D22, D23, D24, D28, and D34 were statistically similar to or better than Vishala under both optimal and sub-optimal conditions. The additive main effects and the multiplicative interaction-based simultaneous selection index showed that these seven genotypes had moderate to high stability and high leaf-yielding ability over the seasons under both optimal and sub-optimal conditions. DNA fingerprint profiles of these selected genotypes have been developed for their molecular identification. Under this context, these seven genotypes might be further tested under advanced evaluation trials to identify the best one regarding leaf yield and quality under optimal and sub-optimal conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We previously reported the analysis of genome-wide expression profiles and various diabetes-related traits in a segregating cross between inbred mouse strains C57BL/6J (B6) and DBA/2J (DBA). By considering transcript levels as quantitative traits, we identified several thousand expression quantitative trait loci [eQTL] with LOD score > 4.3. We now experimentally address the problem of multiple comparisons by estimating the fraction of false-positive eQTL that are Under cis-acting regulation. For this, we have Utilized a classic cis-trans test with (B6 x DBA)F-1 rilice to determine the relative levels of transcripts from the B6 and DBA alleles. The results suggest that at least 64% of cis-acting eQTL with LOD > 4.3 are true Positives, while the remaining, 36% could not be confirmed as truly cis-acting. Moreover, we find that > 96% of apparent cis-acting eQTL occur ill regions that do not share SNP haplotypes. Cis-acting eQTL serve as ail important new resource for the identification of positional candidates ill QTL studies ill mice. Also, we Use the analysis of the correlation structures between genotypes, gene expression traits, and phenotypic traits to further characterize genes expressed ill liver that are Under cis-acting control, and highlight the advantages and disadvantages of integrating genetics and gene expression data in segregating populations.

The focus of this article is to explore how employee performance and productivity are affected by training and development. To investigate the effect of training and development on employees' performance and productivity, a questionnaire was created and given to a sample of 300 employees in BPO industry. The investigation's findings indicated that staff performance and productivity are positively impacted by training and development. This study's broader point of view will help in comprehending the problem and identifying workable solutions. This study discovered that training and development are crucial for an individual to increase their knowledge, abilities, and communication in order to make a beneficial influence on the telecommunications business. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In tasar host plants, estimation of leaf area is essential to evaluate and characterize the gene bank accessions for selecting suitable parental plants for crop improvement programme as well as to estimate the probable foliage area available at a given point of time prior to start silkworm rearing and also for studying plant canopy structure after pruning. Leaf area measurements usually done by sophisticated instruments or by manual method (graph sheet tracing) in which cost and laboriousness are limiting factors. To overcome these difficulties, an attempt was made to measure leaf area of Arjun, Asan and Jarul by utilizing a mobile app -"Petiole" with least expenditure coupled with high precision and to develop a model for leaf area estimation by regression equation. Fully expanded matured leaves from 6-12th, 8-12th and 6-8th position from shoot tip in Ajun, Asan and Jarul, respectively, were collected from the randomly selected branches of field grown plants in 10' x 6' spacing of the Farm section of CTRTI, Ranchi. Keeping 30 leaves per replication a total of 90 leaves in each species were considered for this study. Leaf morpho-metric parameters viz., maximum lamina length (L), width (W) and their squares L2, B2, leaf area and lamina length x width (L x B) were recorded from each sampled leaves. Correlation and regression analysis has been done and species specific regression equation has been developed, which is useful to estimate leaf area of these tasar host plants in a non-destructive manner with low input cost and high precision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tasar silk is produced by wild silkworm belonging to genus Antheraea mylitta D. Tasar silkworm rearing is a traditional activity of tribals inhabiting the central - southern plateau region including the dense humid forest area of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal extending to the fringes of Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. Tasar silkworm is extremely polyphagous and differs in its adaption to different food plants. The genus Terminalia belongs to family Combretaceae and consists of trees, shrubs and woody climbers, some species (Lagerstroemia) belongs to family Lythraceae. Importance of T. arjuna and T. tomentosa has been well recognized in tropical Tasar industry as these are important primary food plants. Keeping in view the importance of the genus, Central Tasar Research and Training Institute, Ranchi (Jharkhand) is maintaining a Gene Bank of Terminalia where 300 accessions of seven species collected from different parts of the country are being maintained. In recent time, the improved production practices along with the climate change (delayed monsoon and prolonged dry spells) have drastically escalated the insect-pests problem on host plants of tasar-silkworm in a subtle and oblivious fashion. A large number of pests are reported to attack the tasar food plants causing loss to the tune of 15-90%. The major pests are gall insect (Trioza fletcheri minor), Vapourer tussock moths, May-June beetle (Anomala blanchardi), ash weevils (Myllocerus viridanus, M. Undecim-pustulatus, M. transmarinus) and Red beetles (Tricliona picea, T. variables), stem borers (Psiloptera fatuosa, Sphenoptera koenbierensi, Aeolesthes holosercea) and Bark eating caterpillars, Indarbella sp. Besides these insect pests like thrips, Rhiphiphorothrips cruentatus Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), spittlebug, Clovia sp. (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae) and leaf hoppers (LH), Hishimonus indicus (Sohi) and H. viraktamathi Knight (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) are also observed infested tasar host plants. To assess the susceptibility of tasar food plant gene bank to major insect pests (stem borer, bark eater, gall fly and termites) at Ranchi, an assessment of the tasar food plants in the Gene Bank of CTR&TI, Ranchi was done. From the observations, it was found that highest infestation of gall fly was seen in Terminalia arjuna; stem borer in L. parviflora; bark eater in Terminalia arjuna and termites in L. parviflora accessions and showed that there is variability in infestation of different insect pests of tasar host plants. This variability of infestation of insect pests may be exploited to develop tolerant hybrids (host plants) against major insect pests under the plant breeding programes of the institute. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of new age technological solutions along with major shift in the customer expectations, increasing volume of data, higher computing power, memory capacity, cloud computing, big data technologies, global connectivity and Internet of Things, etc., have stressed the need for adopting the various innovative technological applications in the insurance business. Insurers are investing heavily in technology startups and working to develop innovative product solutions and platforms internally. This article discusses the applications of these new age technologies like Block Chain Technology, Big data & Internet of things, Telematics, and Artificial Intelligence including Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Computer Vision, RPA, and Virtual Reality, etc., in insurance business. Further it also discusses how these technologies enable insurers to develop innovative products and solutions and what challenges that insurers would encounter while implementing these applications and what regulatory changes are required in view of this digital disruption in insurance industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]