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Yield improvement in wheat through grain number and grain weight has become increasingly difficult in many production environments. Can the non-grain yield parameters of yield like height, flowering and maturity be explored as an alternate for further yield enhancement? This study comprehends such possibilities by analysing performance of the released and pre-released varieties evaluated in ten diverse production environments of India during the period 2000-2021. Regression analysis has highlighted relevance of these three crop expressions in wheat yield and based upon their contribution, selection criteria has been suggested for different production environments of India. Magnitude of impact varied under each environment and their collective contribution was highest in a production environment where growth condition was most favourable for wheat growth i.e., north-western plains. Increase in height and maturity duration coupled with early heading was found useful in this region for both wheat category, i.e., timely-sown and late-sown. These three yield determinants were found highly effective in timely-sown of the adjoining north-eastern plains also but under late-sown condition, prolonged heading was the chief yield predictor. Height for timely-sown and maturity for late-sown condition was most crucial for central India. Delayed heading in timely-sown and late flowering with extra height in late-sown wheat had been tipped for yield improvement in peninsular India. Delayed maturity for timely-sown and height for late-sown wheat had been suggested for productivity enhancement in the northern hills. Besides grain yield, this selection strategy based upon height and crop phenology also enhanced grain weight in certain environments. At a time when selection for grain attributes is not providing further push in productivity enhancement; it would be worth trying to explore these non-grain field indicators as selection strategy for further advancement in productivity of bread wheat.

A very high incidence of hypotension associated with spinal anesthesia (SA) is a matter of concern in obstetric anesthesia and a stable hemodynamic status is required to reduce morbidity furthermore to improve maternal safety. In this study we aim to evaluate the efficacy of sequential compression device for prevention of spinal anesthesia induced hypotension as compared to the standard crystalloid preloading.In this prospective randomized study, total 80 patients with ASA grade I/II divided were enrolled after ethical approval. The patients were randomly allocated into two groups (40 patients in each group) using the computer generated random table. Mechanical Pump (Group M): Sequential compression device was applied and discontinuous compression was started at 60 mmHg and Crystalloid group (Group C) - Patients were preloaded with Ringer’s lactate (RL) at dose of 10 ml/kg for not more than 10 minutes. Spinal block was given and RL was started at rate of 10-15 drops/min to keep venous line patent. The Chi Square test and Unpaired Student’s‘t’ tests were used. Statistically significant differences were observed in heart rate, systolic BP, diastolic BP, mean arterial pressure. The percentage drop in systolic BP from baseline was significantly more in crystalloid group (p=0.043). The sequential compression device is useful for prevention of hypotension in pregnant females undergoing elective caesarean section under spinal anesthesia.

Conversion of olefin to epoxide: Surface acidic sites of the catalysts allow the electron rich olefin to get adsorb on the catalyst and facilitate the bond cleavage to form epoxides.

In this paper, we investigate the late-time accelerated universe evolution in a flat, homogeneous and isotropic model in the context of [Formula: see text] gravity, where [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are non-metricity scalar and trace of energy–momentum tensor, respectively. The scale factor, by construction, yields ekpyrotic contraction era followed by a non-singular bounce. The expanding era of the universe yields late-time dark energy era preceded by matter-dominating decelerating era. The model unifies an ekpyrotic, non-singular bounce with the present dark energy-dominated epoch. The model parameters in the functional form of [Formula: see text] gravity affect the dynamical evolution of the equation of state (EoS) parameter. The theoretical value of EoS parameter is found to be [Formula: see text] for [Formula: see text], respectively, and it lies in range of the estimated value of EoS parameter from the Planck+SNe+BAO observational data. Different aspects of this bouncing model including behavior of geometrical and physical quantities along with energy conditions have been discussed in detail.

To analyze the disposal pattern of vegetables in district Varanasi, a purposive cum random sampling technique was used for the selection of district, blocks, villages and the respondents. From the study it is concluded that total disposal of cauliflower was 38.85 quintals, of tomato was 140.22 quintals, brinjal was 38.85 quintals and pea was 11.84 quintals. Maximum disposal of all the selected vegetables was found maximum through the channel III in case of both marginal and small farms. It shows the efficient involvement of the intermediaries in the marketing procedure.

Rice–wheat cropping system, intensively followed in Indo-Gangetic plains (IGP), played a prominent role in fulfilling the food grains demand of the increasing population of South Asia. In northern Indian plains, some practices such as intensive rice cultivation with traditional method for long-term have been associated with severe deterioration of natural resources, declining factor productivity, multiple nutrients deficiencies, depleting groundwater, labour scarcity and higher cost of cultivation, putting the agricultural sustainability in question. Varietal development, soil and water management, and adoption of resource conservation technologies in rice cultivation are the key interventions areas to address these challenges. The cultivation of lesser water requiring crops, replacing rice in light-textured soil and rainfed condition, should be encouraged through policy interventions. Direct seeding of short duration, high-yielding and stress tolerant rice varieties with water conservation technologies can be a successful approach to improve the input use efficiency in rice cultivation under medium–heavy-textured soils. Moreover, integrated approach of suitable cultivars for conservation agriculture, mechanized transplanting on zero-tilled/unpuddled field and need-based application of water, fertilizer and chemicals might be a successful approach for sustainable rice production system in the current scenario. In this review study, various challenges in productivity and sustainability of rice cultivation system and possible alternatives and solutions to overcome such challenges are discussed in details. Graphic abstract

The effective utilization of natural variation has become essential in addressing the challenges that climate change and population growth pose to global food security. Currently adopted protracted approaches to introgress exotic alleles into elite cultivars need substantial transformation. Here, through a strategic three-way crossing scheme among diverse exotics and the best historical elites (exotic/elite1//elite2), 2,867 pre-breeding lines were developed, genotyped and screened for multiple agronomic traits in four mega-environments. A meta-genome-wide association study, selective sweeps and haplotype-block-based analyses unveiled selection footprints in the genomes of pre-breeding lines as well as exotic-specific associations with agronomic traits. A simulation with a neutrality assumption demonstrated that many pre-breeding lines had significant exotic contributions despite substantial selection bias towards elite genomes. National breeding programmes worldwide have adopted 95 lines for germplasm enhancement, and 7 additional lines are being advanced in varietal release trials. This study presents a great leap forwards in the mobilization of GenBank variation to the breeding pipelines. Ancestral wheat relatives can enrich the genetic diversity of modern cultivars and contribute to stress adaptation. A meta-genome-wide association study identifies the exotic genome footprints in a wheat pre-breeding population, as well as some exotic-specific agronomic traits.

There is a significant yield reduction in the wheat crop as a result of different biotic and abiotic stresses, and changing climate, among them moisture deficit stress and leaf rust are the major ones affecting wheat worldwide. HD3086 is a high-yielding wheat variety that has been released for commercial cultivation under timely sown irrigated conditions in the Indo-Gangetic plains of India. Variety HD3086 provides a good, stable yield, and it is the choice of millions of farmers in India. It becomes susceptible to the most prevalent pathotypes 77-5 and 77-9 of Puccinia triticina (causing leaf rust) in the production environment and its potential yield cannot be realized under moisture deficit stress. The present study demonstrates the use of a marker-assisted back cross breeding approach to the successful transfer of leaf rust resistance gene Lr24 and QTLs linked to moisture deficit stress tolerance in the background of HD3086. The genotype HI1500 was used as a donor parent that possesses leaf rust-resistant gene Lr24, which confers resistance against the major pathotypes found in the production environment. It possesses inbuilt tolerance under abiotic stresses with superior quality traits. Foreground selection for gene Lr24 and moisture deficit stress tolerance QTLs linked to Canopy temperature (CT), Normal Differential Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Thousand Kernel Weight (TKW) in different generations of the backcrossing and selection. In BC2F2, foreground selection was carried out to identify homozygous lines based on the linked markers and were advanced following pedigree based phenotypic selection. The selected lines were evaluated against P. triticina pathotypes 77-5 and 77-9 under controlled conditions. Recurrent parent recovery of the selected lines ranged from 78-94%. The identified lines were evaluated for their tolerance to moisture stress under field conditions and their resistance to rust under artificial epiphytotic conditions for two years. In BC2F5 generation, eight positive lines for marker alleles were selected which showed resistance to leaf rust and recorded an improvement in component traits of moisture deficit stress tolerance such as CT, NDVI, TKW and yield compared to the recurrent parent HD3086. The derived line is named HD3471 and is nominated for national trials for testing and further release for commercial cultivation.

Wheat is the second most cultivated cereal crop in the world and is an important crop in India. Leaf (brown) rust, caused by Puccinia triticina, was the most prevalent among the three rusts found in all the wheat-growing areas of India, Bhutan, and Nepal during 2016 to 2019. Leaf rust samples from wheat crops in these countries were pathotyped using the wheat differential genotypes and binomial Indian system of nomenclature. To facilitate international communication, each pathotype identified was also tested using the North American differentials. A total of 33 pathotypes were identified from 1,086 samples, including three new pathotypes: 61R47 (162-5 = KHTPM) and 93R49 (49 = NHKTN) from India and 93R57 (20-1 = NHKTN) from Nepal. Two pathotypes, 121R60-1 (77-9/52 = MHTKL) and 121R63-1 (77-5 = THTTM), accounted for 79.46% of the population. Virulence on Lr19 was identified in 0.27% of the samples from Nepal only. The proportion of pathotype 121R60-1 (77-9 = MHTKL) increased to 57.55% during these years. Virulence was not observed on Lr9, Lr24, Lr25, Lr28, Lr32, Lr39, Lr45, and Lr47 in the population of the Indian subcontinent. Eighteen polymorphic simple sequence repeat (SSR) primer pairs tested on the isolates amplified 48 alleles with an average of 2.66 alleles per primer pair. Based on SSR genotyping, these pathotypes could be grouped into two clades with another two subclades each. Many of the Lr genes present in Indian wheat germplasm (Lr1, Lr3a, Lr10, Lr11, Lr14a, Lr15, Lr16, Lr17, Lr20, Lr23, and Lr26) were ineffective for a majority of pathotypes. Most of these varieties possessed a high degree of leaf rust resistance. The field resistance of wheat varieties could be attributed to the interaction of genes, unknown resistance, or adult plant resistance.

Looking at the increasing prevalence and inadequate treatments for diabetes mellitus, this study was carried to trace out hypoglycemic potentials of Typha elephantina leaves using in vitro and in vivo studies. α -amylase and α-glucosidase in vitro enzyme inhibition assay were incorporated to determine percent inhibition of Typha elephantina extracts. Typha elephantina methanol extract (TEME) at 125µg/ml in both α-amylase and α-glucosidase exhibited 57.48±1.42 and 53.64±0.92 percent inhibition in contrast to 66.7±0.94 and 70.31±1.25 of standard Acarbose, respectively. However, results obtained in Typha elephantina petroleum ether and chloroform extracts were insignificant. Further TEME antidiabetic properties were investigated by in vivo study, using Streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Selected 250mg/kg and 500mg/kg doses of TEME were administered orally, which significantly (𝑃 < 0.001) reduces blood glucose of treated animals in contrast to diabetic control. 500mg/kg dose of TEME reduces blood glucose more efficiently. A significant linear rise of body weight and HDL were observed, while there was also remarkable reduction in cholesterol, TG, LDL, VLDL. Reduction in Liver function SGOT, SGPT along with creatinine and urea levels were observed in contrast to diabetic control group. In addition, antioxidant study of Typha elephantina extracts reflected significant results in comparison to that of ascorbic acid in DPPH and H2O2 assay. The whole study signified that Typha elephantina has hypoglycemic potentials.

AMMI analysis of feed barley genotypes evaluated for North Eastern Plains Zone of the country observed highly significant effects of environments (E), GxE interaction and genotypes (G). GxE Interaction effects accounted for 45.9% and 29.2% and environment effects explained 27.5% and 37.1%, during cropping seasons of 2018-19 and 2019-20, respectively. ASTAB measure achieved the desirable lower values for HUB113, DWRB137. Ranks of MASV1 and MASV measures considered HUB113, K508 genotypes would be of choice this zone. Superiority index assigned 0.65 and 0.35 weights for average yield and stability found HUB113, DWRB137 as of stable performance with high yield. Biplot graphical analysis as per 84.7 % of variation of the measures exhibited largest cluster comprised of MASV1 with ASTAB, EV, SIPC, Za, W2, WAASB and MASV measures. For the second-year Desirable lower values of ASTAB measure achieved by HUB69, Lakhan, RD3020. Ranks of composite measure MASV1 and MASV found Lakhan, HUB69, KB1830 genotypes would be of choice for these locations. Superiority index with assigned weights for yield and stability found Lakhan, DWRB213, KB1830 as of stable performance with high yield. About 79.3 % of variation of the measures under biplot analysis observed AMMI based measures were grouped together and mean yield joined hands with superiority measures of genotypes. The reliability of multi-locations trials would be increased with superiority Indexes as major features of AMMI and BLUP had been confounded. Option of assigning variable weights to the yield and stable performance help the researches to set their crop improvement targets.

AMMI analysis explained the highly significant effects of the environment, GxE interaction, and genotypes for wheat genotypes evaluated under restricted irriation timely sown multi-location trials in the Central zone of the country during 2018-19 and 2019-20. About 77.1%, 12.2% & 2.3% had been contributed by environments, interactions and genotypes of the total sum of squares due to treatments respectively in the first year.

Stability analysis of wheat genotypes under rainfed timely sown trials in Northern Hills Zone of India by Additive main & multiplicative interactions (AMMI) analysis observed highly significant effects of the environment, GxE interaction and genotypes during 2018-19 and 2019-20. The ranking of genotypes had altered with utilization of more number of IPCA’s in AMMI and WAASB measures. Environments contributed about 53%, GxE interaction accounted for 30.5% and Genotypes explained only 5.4% of the total sum of squares due to treatments in the first year. Wheat genotypes HS668, VL2035, VL2036 , HS562 had been selected by Analytic measures of adaptability and Superiority indexes. Different quadrants comprised of a cluster of arithmetic, geometric, harmonic means along with corresponding adaptability measures. Superiority Indexes considering averages grouped separately. This group maintained the right angles with a group of MASV & MASV1 measures. Clustering of Adaptability measures as per arithmetic, geometric and harmonic means placed in a quadrant. Second-year reflected VL2041, HS675, HS676 & HS562, HPW471 genotypes selected by adaptability and superiority indexes. About 68% of the total variation with 38.4% and 30.2% contributions by PC1 & PC2. Adaptability measures maintained the right angle with other stability measures, with the exception of Superiority indexes. There is an additional advantage with these measures to assign variable weights to the yield and stability as per the goal of breeding trials. These indexes have the potential to provide reliable estimates of genotypes in future studies as they are considered more number of significant IPCA’s in biplots.

Highly significant effects of environment (E), GxE interaction and genotypes (G) were observed by AMMI analysis during 2018-19 and 2019-20 study years for wheat genotypes evaluated at major locations of mega zone of the country. WAASB measure observed suitability of HD3237, WH1080 and PBW644 genotypes. Superiority index while weighting 0.65 and 0.35 for yield and stability found HI1620, HD3237 and HI1628 as of stable performance with high yield. PRVG measure observed suitability of HI1620, HI1628 and BRW3806 while MHPRVG measure identified HI1620, HI1628 and HD3237 wheat genotypes. More over the average yield of genotypes ranked HI1620, HI1628 and NIAW3170 as of order of choice. SI had expressed all direct relations of moderate to high degree of correlations except with WAASB and weak relations with yield, PRVG and MHPRVG values. Only negative correlations had expressed by WAASB measure while positively correlated with yield, PRVG and MHPRVG. Second year of study observed suitability of NIAW3170, DBW296 and PBW644 genotypes as far as WAASB values were concerned. Superiority index found DBW296, HUW838 and NIAW3170 as of stable performance with high yield. More over the average yield of genotypes ranked DBW296, HUW838 and JAUW672 as of order of choice. Mean yield showed a highly significant positive correlation with SI, MHPRVG, PRVG and negative values of correlation with AMMI based measures. SI had expressed all inverse relations with measures WAASB, EV, ASV, MASV as only negative values were seen. Positive correlations were maintained by WAASB measure with Za, SIPC, ASTAB, ASV1.

Bael [Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa ex Roxb.], belongs to family Rutaceae, is one of the oldest known indigenous fruit. Its wide distribution reflecting its adaptation to wide range of edaphoclimatic conditions. Bael has ability to withstand harsh climate and tolerate heat, drought and moisture deficit situations.The efforts have been made to present the current status of bael growing in India, and discuss recent technologies adopted for bael fruit production i.e. improved varieties, propagation techniques, planting systems, canopy management, water and nutrient management, quality management, pest and disease management, physiological disorders, marketing and export scenario.

Highly significant effects of environment (E), GxE interaction and genotypes (G) observed by AMMI analysis during 2018-19 and 2019-20 study years. WAASB measure ranked suitability of UP 3039, VL 2035 and VL 2036 genotypes. Superiority index while weighting 0.65 and 0.35 for yield and stability found VL 2036, HS 668 and UP 3039 as of stable performance with high yield. PRVG and MHPRVG measures observed suitability of HS 668, HS 562 and HS 669 wheat genotypes. More over the average yield of genotypes ranked HS 668, VL 2036 and HS 669 as of order of choice. Mostly indirect relations of SI measure were observed with stability measures along with positive values for MHPRVG, PRVG and yield. WAASB measure exhibited significant indirect relationships with other measures except of moderate positive with SI, yield, MHPRVG and PRVG measures. For the second year of study WAASB measure ranked suitability of HS676, UP3064 and HS677 genotypes. Superiority index while weighting 0.65 and 0.35 for yield and stability found VL2041, HS675 and HS562 as of stable performance with high yield. PRVG and MHPRVG measures observed suitability of VL2041, HS675 and HPW470 wheat genotypes. More over the average yield of genotypes ranked VL2041, HS675 and HS507 as of order of choice. Mostly negative values were exhibited by SI measure with stability measures apart of direct with MHPRVG, PRVG and yield. WAASB measure exhibited direct relationships with other stability measures except of indirect relations with SI, yield, MHPRVG and PRVG.

Highly significant effects of the environment (E), GxE interaction and genotypes (G) observed by AMMI analysis during 2018-19 and 2019-20 study years. First year of the study observed suitability of WH1124&HD3059 wheat genotypes by WAASB measure. Superiority index while weighting 0.65 and 0.35 for yield & stability found WH1124 &PBW771 as of stable performance with high yield. Moreover the average yield of genotypes ranked PBW771 & WH 1124 as of the order of choice. PRVG and MHPRVG measures observed the suitability of PBW 771 & PBW752 wheat genotypes. The first two PCAs explained 82.3% of the variation of the original variables. SI clubbed with EV & SPIC. Values of SI for wheat genotypes expressed high direct relation with yield, MHPRVG&PRVG measures only, and negative correlation with remaining measures. WAASB measure exhibited direct relationships with most of the AMMI based stability measures and negative values of correlation with SI, PRVG, MHPRVG and yield. Second year of study wheat genotypes DBW291, WH1264 & HD3334 were selected by WAASB measure. Superiority index found PBW812, HD3334& WH1264 as of stable performance along with high yield. MHPRVG measures observed suitability of PBW812, PBW771 & DBW173 while PRVG favoured PBW812, PBW771& JKW261 while consensus observed regarding WH1021 & WH1124 as unstable wheat genotypes. Moreover the average yield of genotypes ranked PBW812, JKW261 & PBW771 as of the order of choice. Values of SI measure had expressed positive correlation of high magnitude with yield, PRVG and MHPRVG whereas indirect relations of high degree with AMMI based stability measures. Values of WAASB measure had positive relations with AMMI based stability measures along with negative values of correlation with SI, yield, PRVG, and MHPRVG.

Increasing temperature especially the High night temperature (HNT) is a major constriction for sustaining global food production under changing climate scenario. Recent climate change has resulted into events of abrupt night temperature rise either throughout the crop period or at specific growth stage. Historical temperature observations and model projections have predicted a more pronounced increase in night temperature [minimum temperature (Tmin.)] compared to that of day temperatures [maximum temperature (Tmax.)]. Hence, the present study was carried out to identify the most critical growth stage affected by HNT and their effects on physiological, growth and yield traits of wheat. A unique field-based movable temperature controlling system was designed to enhance the night temperature by 5 °C than ambient temperature. The three critical phenological stages of wheat i.e. at GS 15 (before tillering initiation), GS 45 (booting) and GS 75 (grain filling) of Zadok’s scale were separately subjected to HNT treatment. The results reveals that GS 75 (grain filling) was the most sensitive stage affected by HNT, which has recorded remarkable reduction in grain yield (GY), Harvest Index (HI), Thousand grain weight (TGW) and grain weight per spike (GWPS) compared to control treatment. Pearson correlation analysis showed that breeders can choose lines with higher TGW, GWPS and grain number per spike (GNPS) for obtaining better GY under HNT conditions and vegetative/booting stage HNT in field condition may not attribute for any significant yield loss.

Reports on biased interpretation for the stability of the genotypes under AMMI analysis, considering only the first two interaction principal components, has been observed in recent past. Simultaneous use of yield and stability of genotypes in a single measure had been advocated for identification of highly productive and broadly adapted genotypes. The performance of superiority index, allowed variable weighting mechanism for yield and stability, has been compared with AMMI based measures. For the first year (2018-19) Superiority index, weighting 0.65 and 0.35 for yield and stability, found UAS3002, MP3336 and HI1633 as of stable performance with high yield. Recent analytic measures the relative proportion of genotypic value (PRVG) and Harmonic mean of the relative proportion of genotypic value (MHPRVG) selected CG1029, HI1634 and HD2932 wheat genotypes. Indirect relations were expressed by Superiority Index (SI) with other stability measures. Superiority index saw stable performance along with high yield of HD2864 and HI1634 for the second year 2019-20. PRVG as well as MHPRVG measures observed suitability of CG1029 and HD2864 while MP3336 as unstable wheat genotypes. Values of SI measure had expressed only indirect relations of high degree with stability measures except with yield, PRVG and MHPRVG values. Stability measures by the simultaneous use of AMMI and yield would be more meaning full and useful as compared to measures consider either the AMMI or yield of genotypes only.