ABSTRACT
Drought stress significantly hampers crop growth and yield by negatively impacting various biochemical and physiological plant processes. This study aimed to assess drought tolerance in traditional rice varieties using Poly Ethylene Glycol 6000 (PEG 6000) and focused on the effectiveness of melatonin applied through both seed treatment and foliar spray in mitigating the effects of drought stress. The optimal drought screening conditions were determined at a PEG concentration of -4 bars. As the PEG concentration increased, key factors such as germination percentage, vigor index, root length, and shoot length decreased. This indicates that PEG can be a useful tool for early selection of drought tolerant rice varieties. Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine), known for alleviating abiotic stress, showed positive effects on seed germination at 200 ppm concentration. The study observed that stomatal closure is a natural response to drought stress, but melatonin application induced partial stomatal opening. Notably, a foliar spray of 100 ppm melatonin demonstrated better recovery from drought stress compared to the 200 ppm concentration. In conclusion, the research suggests that seed treatment with 200 ppm melatonin and foliar spraying with 100 ppm melatonin are the most effective approaches for reducing the adverse effects of drought stress in rice plants.
ABSTRACT
The cotton processing industry holds a significant position in the Indian economy as the second-largest labor-intensive activity after agriculture, providing direct and indirect employment to the Indian population. Given the commercial importance of cotton at the national and State levels, there is a recognized need to thoroughly examine the cotton value chain, which includes producers and various stakeholders. Hence this study was proposed and conducted in 2022 covering 90 rainfed cotton growers, seven ginners, six spinners and twenty-seven weavers in Virudhunagar district. The findings of the study revealed that the cotton producers receive a share of (Rs.7006.1 per quintal) 48.37 per cent of the consumer rupee per quintal. The cost and returns analysis showed that, the stakeholders at different level i.e ginners, spinners and weavers incurred Rs.7591.11, Rs.18089.64 and Rs.31251.22 to process per quintal of product i.e kapas, lint, yarn and fabrics production and received as returns of Rs.10587, Rs. 27354.16 and Rs.48934.00 by them. The weavers had the highest financial profitability (1.52) in cotton value chain, followed by spinners (1.47), ginners (1.35) and farmers (1.11).
ABSTRACT
Background: The ultrasound guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block which provides effective analgesia after lower abdominal surgeries including caesarean section. It is a simple and reliable technique. In this prospective, randomized double-blind study, we determined the efficacy of TAP block using 0.25% Bupivacaine and 0.9N Saline with respect to VAS for pain, postoperative Tramadol consumption and post-operative ondansetron usage.Methods: This study was conducted on 100 adult patients of ASA physical status I and II in the age group of 18 to 40 years undergoing elective lower segment cesarean section under spinal anaesthesia. Study group received TAP block with 0.25% Bupivacaine and control group received 10 ml of 0.9N saline on each side. Patients were analyzed for postoperative pain by pain score (at rest, on movement, on cough) using VAS was recorded at 0, ½, 1, 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 hours postoperatively. Need for rescue analgesia was assessed by time to first dose of Tramadol requirement and total dose of Tramadol over 24 hours of postoperative period. Ondansetron (4 mg i.v.) was administered whenever nausea score was more than 2 or the patient vomited. All the data was noted using uniform performs.Results: Patients received TAP block with 0.25% Bupivacaine had better pain scores at first hour of postoperative period during rest, cough and movement which was statistically significant (p<0.0010) in comparison to group B. There was a statistically significant difference (p <0.001) in the requirement of total dose of Tramadol as a rescue analgesia in patients who received transversus abdominis block with 0.25% Bupivacaine (138.77 mg) in comparison with other group(240 mg).The mean time to first request for Tramadol was significantly longer in group A (5.8 hrs) in comparison to group B (1.93 hrs) with p value <0.001. Patients received TAP block with 0.9N saline needed more dose of Ondansetron, however, the difference was not statistically significant (p >0.001).Conclusions: TAP block using ultrasound provides substantial reduction in Tramadol consumption, time to first dose of rescue tramadol when compared with control group. This study reinforces the recommendation for TAP as a part of multimodal post-operative analgesic regimen.