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Image based high throughput plant phenotyping is a powerful tool to capture and quantify diverse plant traits. The available commercial platforms are often cost-prohibitive. This study describes the development of a low cost, automated plant phenotyping platform, which can acquire images, transfer data, segment the images, extract the traits and perform data analysis using low-cost microcomputers, cameras and IoT irrigation system. Quantifiable plant traits (e.g., shape, area, height, color) were extracted from the plant images using an in-house pipeline developed in R language. An experiment of water stress (waterlogging and drought) on Mentha arvensis (Menthol mint) crop (cv. CIM-Kosi) was conducted to demonstrate image traits being used as a proxy for plant response to water stress. It was found that the effect of drought stress on plant height and number of secondary branches could be correlated to color traits of plant canopy images. Also, the effect of waterlogging stress on chlorophyll and flavonoid content could be related to the shape traits of plant canopy images and effect on waterlogging on plant height and canopy width could be associated with color and texture traits. The imaging platforms could successfully demonstrate a viable low-cost solution for incorporating high-throughput plant phenotyping in various plant stress related research applications.

Chamomile (Chamomila recutita) is a native species of Europe and Asia which globally cultivated with 8000 tons annual production. It has antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, and has a huge demand in cosmetic, food, pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. Such a high demand can be met through effective nutrient management during crop cultivation monitored for assessment of its effect on the crop health and vigor. Traditional methods of nutrient monitoring during the crop growth phase are invasive and time consuming, hence the use of advanced sensors like Hyperspectral can be an effective tool for non-invasive crop health monitoring. In the present study, the effect of different nutrient treatments including microbial culture and micronutrients on chamomile crop were investigated using portable hyperspectral camera (4001000 nm). Various Hyperspectral Vegetation Indices (VIs) based on normalized differences (NDVI, RDVI, MSR), soil contrast adjustment (SAVI, MSAVI, OSAVI), simple ratio of two discrete bands (SR, GRVI, Red-edge) and three discrete bands (MCARI, TCARI, TVI, SIPI) over multiple nutrient treatments were calculated and were compared to characterize the crop growth status, biophysical variability, vigour, Leaf Area Index (LAI) and pigments like chlorophyll & carotenoids. Results show that Renormalized difference vegetation index (RDVI) and Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) are best for discriminating amongst different nutrient management practices. The study illustrates the usage of portable Hyperspectral sensor as an effective non-invasive instrument for nutrient management and crop health assessment.

Acacetin, a bioflavanoid, contains anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities as shown in different experimental models. However, its anticancer potential and mechanism of action against colorectal cancer cells is largely unknown. Here, we have investigated the efficacy of acacetin using two colorectal adenocarcinoma SW480 and HCT-116 cell lines. Cell survival was examined by Trypan-blue exclusion and MTT assays, cell cycle analysis by FACS, apoptosis was assessed using Annexin V FITC assay and nuclear condensation by Hoechst staining, ROS level by DCFDA and Mitosox, and protein expression level by Western blotting. Acacetin reduced the cell survival and proliferation of both types of cells, and induced S- and G2-M phase arrest and also reduced the levels of β-catenin and its downstream target c-myc. Further, acacetin induced apoptosis as examined by Annexin-V FITC and nuclear condensation. It increased intracellular ROS production, especially mitochondrial ROS. Acacetin increased mitochondrial membrane potential depolarization and Bax:Bcl-2 ratio. Although significant changes in caspases -8 and -9 and PARP level was not observed, acacetin could induce the truncation and subsequent translocation of activated AIF from mitochondria to cytosol, which could further induce chromosomal breakage leading to apoptosis. In conclusion, Acacetin induces mitochondrial ROS-mediated cell death in a caspase-independent manner in SW480 and HCT-116 colon carcinoma cells by inducing apoptosis inducing factor (AIF), which may potentiate its anticancer and chemotherapeutic prospects against colorectal carcinoma.

Cervical cancer is fourth most common fatal cancer in women worldwide. Lupeol is a dietary triterpenoid and has shown its anticancer efficacy against various cancer types with selectivity in targeting cancer cells. In the present study, anticancer efficacy and mechanism of action of a phytochemical, lupeol, in human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cells has been examined. The anticancer efficacy of lupeol was assessed by trypan blue cell counting, annexin Vassay, cell cycle analysis, expression of apoptotic proteins by RT-PCR and Western blotting and assessment of mitochondrial ROS generation by mitosox and mitotracker assays. Our results demonstrated that lupeol decreased cell proliferation and viability of HeLa cells significantly (p less than 0.001). Lupeol induced S-phase cell cycle arrest and also decreased the expression of S-phase Cyclins and CDKs and increased the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, p21 at transcriptional and translational level. Further, lupeol induced apoptosis and increased the expression of apoptosis markers such as cleaved PARP and Bax:Bcl-2 ratio. Furthermore, mitosox and mitotracker dye incubation followed by FACS analysis showed an increase in mitochondrial superoxide generation and reduction in healthy mitochondrial mass. These results suggest that lupeol could be an effective chemotherapeutic agent against cervical carcinoma due to its growth inhibitory activity through induction of S-phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.

The cellular systems of living organisms are orchestrated with crucial events of constant production and removal of reactive oxygen species under physiological conditions. This plays an important biological role of maintenance of redox homeostasis and provides protection against oxidative stress-induced chronic and degenerative diseases. This chapter includes a detailed discussion on oxidative stress-induced inflammatory diseases such as asthma, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Also, the modern approaches to studying oxidative stress-induced pathologies and key molecules that could act as therapeutic targets have been highlighted. The identification of oxidative stress as a common denominator to these diseases and the respective molecular targets that trigger these pathologies can potentially lead to novel approaches in disease prevention and health maintenance, especially via the use of nutraceuticals and/or phytochemicals. The paradoxical role of these nutraceuticals narrates the difficulties in using them clinically. Therefore, enhanced understanding of biochemical activities of nutraceuticals will enable them as better therapeutic options in oxidative stress-induced diseases.

International audience; A seamless vegetation type map of India (scale 1: 50,000) prepared using medium-resolution IRS LISS-III images is presented. The map was created using an on-screen visual interpretation technique and has an accuracy of 90%, as assessed using 15,565 ground control points. India has hitherto been using potential vegetation/forest type map prepared by Champion and Seth in 1968. We characterized and mapped further the vegetation type distribution in the country in terms of occurrence and distribution, area occupancy, percentage of protected area (PA) covered by each vegetation type, range of elevation, mean annual temperature and precipitation over the past 100 years. A remote sensing-amenable hierarchical classification scheme that accommodates natural and semi-natural systems was conceptualized, and the natural vegetation was classified into forests, scrub/shrub lands and grasslands on the basis of extent of vegetation cover. We discuss the distribution and potential utility of the vegetation type map in a broad range of ecological, climatic and conservation applications from global, national and local perspectives. We used 15,565 ground control points to assess the accuracy of products available globally (i.e., GlobCover, Holdridge’s life zone map and potential natural vegetation (PNV) maps). Hence we recommend that the map prepared herein be used widely. This vegetation type map is the most comprehensive one developed for India so far. It was prepared using 23.5 m seasonal satellite remote sensing data, field samples and information relating to the biogeography, climate and soil. The digital map is now available through a web portal (http://bis.iirs.gov.in).

This chapter focuses on the application of space-borne remote sensing and GIS for biodiversity conservation in the context of the state-of-the-art technology which has enhanced the classical approach. It reviews currently available instruments, i.e. space-borne or satellite sensors providing data which can be used without analysis or interpretation for studying individual organisms, species assemblages or ecological communities on ground. Subsequently, the image processing and GIS techniques developed to derive information from the captured satellite data are reviewed, and finally, this chapter concludes by reviewing the use of remote sensing and GIS techniques for mapping, monitoring and modelling lichens and their habitats.

Interaction between the environment and genes and resultant phenotype determine the onset as well as severity of many complex diseases such as cardiovascular, respiratory, age-related diseases and cancers. However, the relative contributions of either environmental or genetic component in these diseases are difficult to assess. Addition of oxidative stress dimension to this equation further complicates the scenario. The role of oxidative stress in the initiation and propagation of various diseases has been extensively investigated which has enhanced our understanding of how interaction between environment and genetic components leads to manifestation of these pathologies. The genetic predisposition to a disease may or may not be evident depending upon exposure to a particular environment. Similarly, exposure to a particular environment may determine the genetic background of an individual. These possible determinants and their constant interactions shape the molecular machinery that regulates human health and diseases. It is therefore required to consider the genes, environment, as well as their interaction in order to understand the etiology of various complex diseases. The better understanding of gene–environment interactions will enhance our knowledge about the emergence of various complex diseases and pave way to design novel preventive and therapeutic strategies.