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The sarcoglycanopathies are autosomal recessive limb-girdle muscular dystrophies (LGMDs) caused by the mutations in genes encoding the α, β, γ, and δ proteins which stabilizes the sarcolemma of muscle cells. The clinical phenotype is characterized by progressive proximal muscle weakness with childhood onset. Muscle biopsy findings are diagnostic in confirming dystrophic changes and deficiency of one or more sarcoglycan proteins. In this study, we summarized 1,046 LGMD patients for which a precise diagnosis was identified using targeted sequencing. The most frequent phenotypes identified in the patients are LGMDR1 (19.7%), LGMDR4 (19.0%), LGMDR2 (17.5%), and MMD1 (14.5%). Among the reported genes, each of CAPN3, SGCB, and DYSF variants was reported in more than 10% of our study cohort. The most common variant SGCB p.Thr182Pro was identified in 146 (12.5%) of the LGMD patients, and in 97.9% of these patients, the variant was found to be homozygous. To understand the genetic structure of the patients carrying SGCB p.Thr182Pro, we genotyped 68 LGMD patients using a whole genome microarray. Analysis of the array data identified a large ~1 Mb region of homozygosity (ROH) (chr4:51817441-528499552) suggestive of a shared genomic region overlapping the recurrent missense variant and shared across all 68 patients. Haplotype analysis identified 133 marker haplotypes that were present in ~85.3% of the probands as a double allele and absent in all random controls. We also identified 5 markers (rs1910739, rs6852236, rs13122418, rs13353646, and rs6554360) which were present in a significantly higher proportion in the patients compared to random control set ( n = 128 ) and the population database. Of note, admixture analysis was suggestive of greater proportion of West Eurasian/European ancestry as compared to random controls. Haplotype analysis and frequency in the population database indicate a probable event of founder effect. Further systematic study is needed to identify the communities and regions where the SGCB p.Thr182Pro variant is observed in higher proportions. After identifying these communities and//or region, a screening program is needed to identify carriers and provide them counselling.

Moringa (Moringa oleifera L.) grown mostly for pod production but now a days moringa is gaining popularity for leaf production purpose due to its immense medicinal properties of leaves which can be incorporated in our daily diet in different forms. So, identification and selection of leafy type genotype is imperative. Analysis of variance related to growth, leaf and leaf yield traits indicated considerable variability among fifty-two genotypes. Magnitude of phenotypic coefficient of variation was higher than genotypic coefficient of variation for all the traits under study, indicated influence of environment on their expression. All the leaf yield traits recorded high genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation, indicating higher range of variability for these traits and simple selection would be effective.  The heritability was recorded high for all growth and leaf yield related traits ranged from 60.74 to 99.89% except no. of primary rachis/leaf (moderate heritability-35.66%), suggested that selection based on phenotypic expression effective for improvement of all high heritable traits. The estimates of genetic advance as per cent mean value was high for all growth and leaf yield related traits except edible per cent of leaf and no. of primary rachis/leaf, revealed additive gene action and selection approach will be helpful for improvement of these characters. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance were reported for stem length, whole leaf weight/shoot and edible leaf weight/shoot which revealed that these characters are under additive gene action and higher responses of these trait towards selection.

Gamma ray is an effective mutagen which creates useful variability for crop like cluster bean where the natural variation is very meagre and creation of variability by conventional methods is cumbersome. In the present study, cluster bean cv. Pusa Navbahar was treated with different level of gamma rays from 50 Gy to 600 Gy with 50Gy interval and obtained M2 population was subjected to variability estimation for yield and its attributing traits in augmented block design. The variance between the control and the mutants was found to be significant for plant height, number of pods per cluster, number of pods per plant, pod length, pod width, pulp to seed ratio. For these traits, PCV ranged from 14.28 per cent (pod width) to 31.99 per cent (pulp to seed ratio) whereas, GCV ranged from 10.10 per cent (pod width) to 24.16 per cent (pulp to seed ratio). The heritability in broad sense ranged from 50 per cent (pod width) to 79.99 per cent (Plant height). Genetic advance expressed as percentage over mean ranged from 2.06 per cent (pod width) to 222.44 per cent (plant height). The traits like plant height, pod length, pod width, pulp to seed ratio showed sufficient variability due to induced mutation. All these traits showed medium to high heritability and high genetic advance hence selection for these traits will be effective.

The grafting success of commercial brinjal F1 hybrids on disease-resistant varieties and wild Solanum species has enumerated the effect of rootstock combinations with scions on the fruit yield of brinjal. The Galine F1 (4.25, 35.75) hybrid took significantly lesser days, and it was at par with Mahy-11 F1 hybrid (4.75, 37.50), whereas varieties and wild species recorded maximum number of days for germination and reaching to the grafting stage, thus synchronization of grafting stage of scions and rootstocks could be achieved by staggered sowing. The significantly highest graft success noted Galine F1 (96.67%) and Mahy-11 (94.44%) grafting on Solanum torvum rootstock, thus these combinations were highly suitable for grafting. The highest number of branches (15.29), fruits per plant (30.18), yield per plant (4.40 kg) and yield per hectare (61.11 t) were found by scion Mahy-11 grafting on Solanum torvum rootstock and differed significantly from the other scion and rootstock graft combinations. For the grafting characteristics, growth and yield traits were found to be superior and were influenced by the grafts i.e. Mahy-11 and Galine F1 scion grafted on rootstock Solanum torvum. Thus, Solanum torvum rootstock is highly suitable for brinjal grafting compared to other rootstocks.

The onion (Allium cepa L.) bulb productivity is influenced by genotypes and seasonal environmental conditions. The selection of diverse genotypes with high variability is highly desirable, along with the extent of heritability and genetic advance of genotypes for wide adoption and cultivation. The present investigation was carried out by collecting genotypes from the onion growers. The results revealed that the variance of onion genotypes characters ranged from 2.87 to 43.56% for the genotypic coefficient of variation, 3.65 to 46.24% for the phenotypic coefficient of variation. Traits with higher genotypic coefficients of variation and phenotypic coefficients of variation indicated the existence of variation of traits among genotypes and lines. Heritability ranged from 24.72 to 96.85% and genetic advance mean ranged from 2.94 to 84.55%. Higher heritability and genetic advance mean to indicate the presence of additive gene action, thereby indicating that simple mass selection would be more reliable to improve traits in onion. The degree of association, the genotypic correlation was greater than the phenotypic correlation among onion genotypes. The yield was highly significant and was, correlated with growth and yield attributing traits among genotypes. Plot yield was influenced by direct and indirect positive, and negative, effects of growth, quality and yield attributing traits. Direct mass selection of desirable traits would be effective for bulb yield improvement in onion.

Onion (Allium cepa L.) is the most diversified crop of the family Alliaceae; it is in cultivation since from ancient era for its edible bulbs and verdant foliage due to the immense nutritional and medicinal properties. The increased social acceptance of bulb onion in daily diet could lead to an increase in cultivable area with a similar bulb production. However, the output per unit area had limited due to the lack of exploitation of heterosis for bulb yield. The only possibility to increase the onion productivity is to increase the volume of the individual bulb, and it can achieve by exploiting heterosis for earliness, biotic and abiotic stress resistance, bulb weight, and size by the development of hybrid with the use of male sterility mechanisms like cytoplasmic-genic male sterility or cytoplasmic male sterility system in onion. The male sterility trait is precious in heterosis breeding due to its potential advantages in the development of onion hybrids. In these perspectives, the present review reveals the origin, evolution, maintenance, and prevalence of male sterility systems of onion and the technique of identification of the male sterility systems. The polymorphisms between male-sterile and male-fertile phenotypes difference with morphological-molecular markers with the marker-phenotype linkage of onion.

A field Investigation was carried out to study the effect of fertigation on yield, fertilizer use efficiency and economics of hybrid ridge gourd [Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb] Arka Vikram during 2018-2019 at Vegetable Research Block of ICAR- Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru, Karnataka. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design having eight treatments and three replications. The results of the experiment revealed that the treatment T3 i.e application of water soluble fertilizers @ 150:90:150 kg NPK ha-1 through fertigation recorded maximum number of female flower per vine (29.73), number of fruits per vine (19.68), fruit length (49.76 cm), fruit girth (18.40 cm), average fruit weight (454.03 g), fruit yield per vine (4.03 kg) and fruit yield per hectare (53.73 t). Application of water soluble fertilizers @ 150:90:150 kg NPK ha-1 through fertigation (T3) recorded significantly higher fruit yield per hectare (53.73 t ha-1), which was higher to the tune of 23.8 to 70.4 per cent than other treatments tested in hybrid ridge gourd. The second highest fruit yield was obtained with T2 (43.40 t ha-1) followed by T1 (42.10 t ha-1). However, T5 i.e application of water soluble fertilizers @ 50:30:50 kg NPK ha-1 resulted in highest fertilizer use efficiency (245.38 kg yield kg-NPK-1) compared to other treatments. Fertigation at 100% NPK dose along with mulching with silver-black plastic mulch gave the highest net income (Rs.555435.0 ha-1) and B: C ratio of 2.22.

With rising concern about current fertilizer NPK management, the present study was conducted during 2018-2019 at Vegetable Research Block of ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessarghatta, Bengaluru, Karnataka to study the effect of NPK fertigation with water soluble fertilizers (WSF) and conventional fertilizers and soil application of straight fertilizers on post-harvest soil nutrients status, nutrient uptake and yield of hybrid ridge gourd [Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb.] Arka Vikram. The vine/plant received fertigation with WSF @ 150:90:150 kg NPK ha-1 recorded better growth and highest yield (53.73 t ha-1). The soil pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon and available macro and micronutrients status in soil after the harvest were significantly influenced by different treatments and treatment T3 i.e. fertigation with water soluble fertilizers @ 150:90:150 kg NPK ha-1 found to maintain/improve the soil fertility status compared to other treatments. Drip fertigation with higher levels of WSF improved the plant available nutrients in the soil and found to be statistically on par with traditional soil application of straight fertilizers. Further data indicated that uptake/accumulation of macro and micro nutrients by the vine and fruit was significantly differed with various fertigation treatments and these parameters found highest when it was fertigated with WSF @ 150:90:150 kg NPK ha-1. From this investigation it may be concluded that fertigation with WSF@ 150:90:150 kg NPK ha-1 is found to be best for getting better growth, yield and nutrient uptake by hybrid ridge gourd Arka Vikram and also for buildup of plant available nutrients in the soil.

Epithelial cells in the normal breast are organized hierarchically into stem, luminal progenitor (LP) and mature luminal cells (LC) with distinct gene expression patterns. However, whether these gene expression differences are cell-intrinsic, driven through LP-LC cell interactions or due to stromal-luminal cell interactions in the breasts of healthy women is incompletely understood. Furthermore, prior studies on these cell populations did not take genetic ancestry into consideration despite widely reported genetic ancestry-dependent differences in the normal breast biology and breast cancer susceptibility/outcome. We isolated LP and LC breast epithelial cells from core breast biopsies of healthy women representing European, African American and Latino ancestry (five each). After a brief propagation (five passages) under epithelial reprogramming assay conditions, transcriptomes and DNA methylomes were examined using RNA- and Methylcapture-sequencing. Differences in gene expression (FDR2) in LC cells compared to LP cells were observed, with 1581 and 609 genes up- and down-regulated, respectively. These data were enriched for signaling networks associated with cell cycle control of chromosomal replication, mitotic roles of polo-like kinase (down-regulated genes), granulocyte adhesion and diapedesis and LXR/RXR signaling (up-regulated genes). Despite marked gene expression differences between LC and LP cells, only 14 upregulated genes and four down-regulated genes showed DNA hypo- and hyper-methylation, respectively, in LC cells compared to LP cells, suggesting a minimal role for DNA methylation in differential gene expression between the two cell types. Furthermore, of the 2190 differentially expressed genes, 7% (158 genes) were regulated by estrogen, suggesting that differences in hormone responsiveness contribute to differential gene expression in LP and LC cells. To determine relationships between genes differentially methylated and expressed in LC and LP cells and breast cancer, we used publicly available databases, including TCGA. Interestingly, all genes hypermethylated and expressed at lower levels in LC cells were similarly hypermethylated and expressed at lower levels in breast cancers compared to normal breast, suggesting that these genes are minimally altered in breast cancer. Furthermore, in LC compared to LP cells, of thegenes hypomethylated and expressed at higher levels, only four genes (AIM1L, PRSS27, PTK6 and UNC13D) showed a similar pattern in breast tumors compared to normal breast. Of these, PTK6 is significantly overexpressed in luminal and HER2+ breast cancers compared to basal-like breast cancers, suggesting that PTK6+ cells are the preferred cell-of origin of luminal breast cancers. Taken together, this is the first study to demonstrate that transcriptomic data of normal breast cells from healthy women can be used to further define cell-of-origin of tumors and identify cancer-specific gene expression changes in breast cancer. Citation Format: Fang Fang, Poornima Bhat-Nakshatri, Manjushree Anjanappa, Dough Rusch, Aaron Buechlein, Dave Miller, Kenneth P Nephew, Harikrishna Nakshatri. Intrinsic transcriptomic differences of luminal progenitors and mature luminal cells of the normal breast [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2019 Dec 10-14; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-06-01.

The performance of different onion genotypes was assessed for bolting traits because of identification and isolation of male sterile lines, significant results were revealed for number of bolts per plant, bolt length, umbel height, umbel diameter, number of flowers per umbel and number of flowers per plant. The male-sterile plants were spotted among the genotypes, which was phenotypically male sterile, in which flowers had the longer style with the narrow stigmatic knob, does produce functionally non-viable pollens, perianths of the male-sterile flower was not open fully. The anthers were light green to slightly yellowish translucent, shrivelled, seldom empty anther without pollen grains and were fused with anther sacs. The male-sterile plants were confirmed by acetocarmine assay and orf725 molecular marker. The identified male sterile lines will be used as parental material in future heterosis breeding to increase the onion bulb productivity.

Genetic variability has been greatly valued in yard-long bean, due to their narrow genetic base. To diversify the genetic base, yard long bean genotypes were evaluated to quantify the variation, to assess the extent of association between the yield complaint traits, diversity and for their utilization in crop improvement programmes. High phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variations, heritability coupled with genetic advance over mean were observed most of the traits except internodal length, days to first and 50 per cent flowering, days to first and last picking, seeds per pod. Correlation and path analysis of variables namely pod length, pod width and pods per plant contributes high positive significant association with pod yield per plant, and maximum direct and indirect effect recorded for pods per plant, green pod length and green pod width. The genotypes were grouped into 12 clusters, the maximum divergence recorded between genotypes of Cluster XI and Cluster XII for traits pod yield per plant, vine length and yield per plot and pod length contributed high towards total divergence, the genetically diverse genotype of these clusters aids in the creation of larger recombinants, and would be an aid in the genetic improvement of yard-long bean genotypes.

Nine parental lines and 18 hybrids derived by crossing them in Line × Tester fashion were screened against the early blight pathogen Alternaria solani along with a resistant, susceptible and a commercial check in the form of Arka Rakshak, IIHR2202 and Abhinava respectively. Parental lines and the resistant and susceptible checks were screened over two seasons and results obtained were almost similar with the line IIHR1816 exhibiting resistance with the disease severity of 25 % in both the trials, while the line IIHR977 was found to be resistant in the first season with PDI of 25 % and moderately resistant in the second season with the slightest increase in the disease severity up to 25.6 %. None of the hybrids were found to be resistant except, whereas about eight hybrids were found to be moderately resistant. IIHR2892 x IIHR2853 was found to be highly susceptible with severity of 68.75 %, which is on par with the susceptible check IIHR2202 (70.50 %). The results obtained from the detached leaf method of screening should be confirmed by the field or greenhouse screening methods before using them in further breeding programmes.

Breast cancer progression is associated with systemic effects such as functional limitation, sarcopenia and cachexia. These effects are manifested as muscle weakness, body pain or depletion of skeletal muscle mass. Over a quarter of 2.8 million breast cancer patients in the United States experience a precachexia to cachexia syndrome. It has been reported that cancer-induced cytokines activate NF-κB, which promotes cancer progression, metastasis, and chemoresistance. These cytokines could potentially induce NF-kB in skeletal muscle, impair skeletal muscle function, and cause functional limitations. Therefore, NF-κB inhibitors could serve dual purpose of inhibiting cancer progression and reducing functional limitations. In present study, we usedMMTV-PyMT transgenic mammary tumor model to test therapeutic effects of the NF-κB inhibitor, Diaminomethylparthenolide (DMAPT), an orally bioavailable NF-kB inhibitor. We observed deteriorating physical and functional conditions in PyMT+ mice with the progression of mammary tumor.Compared to wildtype mice, PyMT+ mice with mammary tumors showed decreased fat mass and grip strength, both are markers of functional limitations. Treatment with DMAPT (100mg/kg, 5 times/week, orally), starting at 8 week-old prior to mammary tumor occurrence, delayed mammary tumor onset and slowed tumor growth rates compared to vehicle treatment. Consequently, DMAPT-treated mice showed lower systemic effects of mammary tumors on grip strength and alterations of body compositions (i.e. body fat, lean mass). Moreover, systemic treatment with DMAPT significantly increased survival trends in PyMT+ mice. These results suggest that NF-κB is a critical signaling relay engaged by paracrine effects of breast cancer on skeletal muscle function. Mechanistic studies in vitro suggested that cancer-induced cytokines specifically target microRNAs in skeletal muscle.miR486 is a muscle-enriched microRNA that controls differentiation of myoblasts. In particularly, conditioned media from a number of mammary tumor cell lines, including PO1058 (poorly invasive tumor cells from PyMT-WapCre-mGFP+ mice in C57BL6 background) and PO1059 (highly invasive cells from PyMT-WapCre-mGFP+ mice) reduced the levels of miR486 in the myoblast cells C2C12. Literature demonstrated that reduced miR486 in muscle is linked to musculoskeletal defects in muscular dystrophy patients. These data are consistent with previous studies in which lower circulating miR486 occurred in plasma of breast cancer patients with metastasis compared with healthy women, and as well in skeletal muscle of mammary tumor bearing animals. Further studies are essential to establish a cancer-induced cytokine, NF-kB activation in muscle, deregulated expression and release of miR486 from muscle and cancer-associated systemic effects circuitry. In summary, mammary tumors result in changes in body composition with decreased grip strength, which may be associated with altered NF-κB signaling pathways, and NF-κB inhibitor DMAPT can be used as a potential candidate for the treatment of breast cancer and associated functional limitations to improve the quality of life. Additionally, circulating miR486 may serve as a useful clinical indicator of progression and systemic effects of breast cancer. Citation Format: Wang R, Nakshatri P, Padua MB, Anjanappa M, Penthala N, Crook PA, Liu J, Zimmers T, Nakshatri H. Dual targeting of mammary tumors and tumor-associated functional limitations through inhibition of NF-kB [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-15-03.

Luminal subtype of breast cancers that express the estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) represents approximately two-thirds of all breast cancer cases. ER+ tumors tend to have the most favorable prognoses when treated with endocrine therapy. However, a relapse or endocrine therapy resistance is often seen in ER+ breast tumors. UNC5A belongs to the dependence receptor family which can mediate two different intracellular signals: cell survival, differentiation or migration when engaged with its ligand (such as Netrin-1; NTN1) or cell death/apoptosis in the absence of the ligand. Here we demonstrate that, depending upon the cell type, UNC5A and NTN1 are estradiol (E2)-inducible genes. Using shRNA or CRISPR knockdown strategies, we show that the disruption of the NTN1-UNC5A signaling axis in ER+ (MCF7 and T-47D) cells generates a mixed basal-like/luminal phenotype with stem cell-like characteristics. RNA-seq of UNC5A knockdown cells showed deregulated expression of several E2-target genes in both cell lines. Moreover, knockdown of UNC5A resulted in increased cell proliferation, and elevated expression of the E2-inducible anti-apoptotic, BCL2. Furthermore, the expression of ΔNp63 was enhanced in UNC5A knockdown cells. ΔNp63 is a TP53 family transcription factor that promotes breast epithelial stem cell maintenance and basal-like breast cancer. Accordingly, UNC5A knockdown cells displayed cancer stem cell phenotype as evident from ~3-fold increase in the number of CD44+/CD24+, CD44+/EPCAM+ and ITGA6+/EPCAM+ subpopulation compared with control cells. In addition, the expression of NTN4, a pro-angiogenic and lymphangiogenic factor, was increased upon UNC5A knockdown. In vivo, UNC5A knockdown cells implanted in nude mice were able to form tumors in the mammary fat pad independent of E2 supplementation and were able to colonize and develop into overt metastasis in multiple organs such as lungs, ovaries and adrenal glands. Consequently, analysis of mammary fat pad tumors from animals that received UNC5A knockdown cells revealed an increased expression of PECAM1 (CD31), a marker for endothelial cells used to evaluate tumor angiogenesis. In contrast to UNC5A, knocking down NTN1, decreased the expression of BCL2 and TP63 in both cell lines. Thus, knockdown of UNC5A resulted in deregulated expression of E2-regulated genes, E2-independent and anti-estrogen-resistant growth in vitro, and E2-independent tumor formation in xenograft models. Consistent with results of in vitro studies, analysis of tissue samples from breast cancer patients (n=196) revealed that lower expression of UNC5A is associated with lower overall survival (P < 0.05). Thus, loss or mutational inactivation of UNC5A could lead to unrestricted E2:ERα signaling and anti-estrogen resistant growth while simultaneously enabling ERα-positive luminal breast cancer cells to acquire basal-like and cancer stem cell-like features. Citation Format: Padua MB, Bhat-Nakshatri P, Anjanappa M, Hao Y, Liu Y, McElyea K, Sandusky G, Althouse S, Perkins S, Nakshatri H. Disruption of the estradiol-regulated NTN1-UNC5A dependence receptor signaling axis causes a hybrid basal/luminal molecular phenotype in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-08-02.

Cluster bean is a highly self- pollinated vegetable with a very narrow genetic base. Hence, mutation breedingis a viable option for generating variation. In the present study, effect of mutagen was studied in Pusa Navbaharvariety of cluster bean using gamma rays from 50 Gy to 600 Gy. Preliminary evaluation at M1 generationfor germination and seedling growth parameters revealed at lower doses of 100 to 200 Gy germination andgrowth parameters showed improvement over control. Further pollens showed steady increase in sterility withincreasing dose and mutated lines showed less survivability compared to control. Thus, 100-200 Gy gammairradiation was found useful to improve the seed germination and seedling growth parameters in cluster bean.While evaluating M2 generation, total 9 types of mutants (dark green, branched, dwarf, white flower, sterile, longpod, short pod, curve pod, small leaf) were observed and the mutation frequency was high at higher doses,whereas both mutagenic effectiveness and efficiency showed decreasing trend with increasing dose. Highestmutation effectiveness was observed at 50-100 Gy. Mutation efficiency based on pollen sterility was maximumat 50 Gy and based on lethality, it was maximum at 150 Gy.

The investigation was carried out to find out the efficacy of 1-MCP, an ethylene inhibitor on the shelf life and quality of freshly harvested tomato fruits at Department of Horticulture, UAS, GKVK, Bangalore during Feb-March 2008. The study on the effect of 1-MCP (Cel fresh) at the rate of 1 tablet (0.18%)/1 m 3 and 1 tablet/2 m 3 on the storage life of tomato fruits stored up to 12 days under room condition revealed the delayed red color development and ripening, retained higher fruit firmness, reduced the acidity loss of tomato (US-516 hybrid) fruits harvested at breaker stage of maturity and extended the storage life up to 12 days at room temperature (24-27°C and 30-43% RH) compared to untreated control fruits. The sensory evaluation of tomato fruits revealed better appearance, texture, taste and overall acceptability of Cel fresh treated fruits than untreated control fruits. The treatment of fruits at higher concentration of 1-MCP (1 tablet/1 m 3 ) exposure for 12 h was more efficient and better in delaying the ripening and retaining higher fruit firmness resulting in better quality and higher overall acceptability as revealed by sensory evaluation of room temperature stored tomato fruits. Cultivar, developmental stage, time from harvest to treatment and multiple application are main factors to be concerned prior to use of 1-MCP. Its reaction is predictable and reliable to farmers to extend shelf life and to extend storage period to maintain quality of the fresh produce. Currently it is used in developed countries and it is necessary to produce simple, cost effective and simple device to transfer this tool to developing countries.

This article presents the development of an automated novel secure long-term storage and precision microdispensing (LSPMD) system especially for precious biologic solutions such as DNA and RNA. The Mechatronics LSPMD system is a table top stand-alone unit that can grab an LSPMD consumable from a storage rack, remove the cap, self calibrate using an optical meniscus sensor, and dispense precise microlevel volume of the solution with the help of impact if necessary. The LSPMD system was successfully tested for its accuracy; it was able to dispense 50 μl volume sample with a covariance (CV) of 0.84 and 5 μl volume sample with a CV of 2.7.

AIM: This study aims to identify clinical features, treatment outcomes, and prognostic factors for relapse and survival in patients with testicular seminoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of all patients with pure seminoma treated at our center during over a decade (January 2005–December 2014) was carried out. Patient demographics, tumor characteristics, and treatment details and pattern of recurrence were recorded in a structured format, and disease-free survival and overall survival were calculated. RESULTS: Sixty-three patients' case records were included in the analysis. Ten patients developed disease in the undescended testis. All patients underwent orchiectomy as the initial treatment procedure. Majority of the patients were Stage I (57.14%) followed by Stage II (39.6%). Among the patients with Stage I, 55.5% received adjuvant chemotherapy while 22.2% received adjuvant radiation and the rest opted for surveillance. The compliance for active surveillance was very poor. Among patients with Stage II disease, majority (80%) were treated with adjuvant chemotherapy and the rest with radiation. At a median follow-up of 49 months, there were four recurrences of which three were salvaged successfully, and one patient remained alive with disease. There were no disease-related deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Testicular seminoma remains to be relatively low and majority of them presented with Stage I disease and single agent carboplatin appeared to be the preferred adjuvant treatment. Advanced disease patients were treated with etoposide and cisplatin/bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin chemotherapy and the clinical outcome is comparable with the Western literature.

Forty one genotypes of ridge gourd were evaluated in augmented design with three checks. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among genotypes for all the traits. High PCV, GCV, heritability, genetic advance were observed for number of branches at 45 and 90 DAS, nodes up to first pistillate flower appearance, number of fruits per vine, average fruit weight, fruit length, fruit yield per vine, Per cent Disease Index (PDI) for downy mildew at 45, 60 and 75 DAS and fruit fly incidence. Positive and significant association was observed for fruit yield per vine with vine length at 45 and 90 DAS, number of branches at 45 and 90 DAS number of fruits per vine, fruit length. Fruit yield per vine was negative and significantly associated with days to first male flowering, nodes up to first female flowering, days to first harvest, flesh thickness, days to first appearance of downy mildew symptoms and per cent disease index for downy mildew. In open field screening for downy mildew has led to identification of two resistant genotypes (COHRG-9 and COHB-32), two moderately resistant lines (COHB-10 and COHB-40) and one was highly susceptible (COHB-8) whereas remaining genotypes were exhibited moderately susceptible and susceptible reaction to downy mildew in ridge gourd.