Seasonal dynamics of wheat aphid complex and predator Coccinella septempunctata in relation to abiotic and biotic factors.

Seasonal dynamics studies on wheat aphid complex, comprising of four major species and its predator Coccinella septempunctata were conducted in context to abiotic and biotic factors. The alate form of aphids appeared on the crop during the Ist week of December. The colony build up of aphid complex started during the 2nd week of January and peak was observed after the Ist week of March. Wheat aphid complex started declining in the last week of March and disappeared by mid April. The abiotic factors like maximum temperature and evaporation were most important for the buildup of aphids. The grubs and adults of C. septempunctata appeared on the crop during mid February and their population increased with the increase in aphid population. The grubs and adult population showed a strong positive correlation with aphid complex. The population of predators had significant positive correlation with maximum, minimum, mean temperature, sunshine and vapour pressure. The population of aphids declined after the 2nd week of March due to the rise in temperature, crop maturity and this in turn resulted in the lowering of the predator population. The studies evaluate in detail the abiotic and biotic factors regulating the wheat aphid complex and C. septempunctata populations under wheat agro-ecosystem.

Maternal Anemia and its Effect on Cord Hemoglobin.

Background: Maternal anemia is a common problem during pregnancy and it can lead to adverse consequences in both the mother and the fetus. Aim of study: To determine the effect of maternal anemia on fetal cord blood hemoglobin. Materials and Methods : The study was conducted over a period of one year in Gian Sagar Medical College and Hospital, a rural medical college near Chandigarh. A total of 248 pregnant women in labour were included in the study. 108 of the women were anemic with hemoglobin of less than 11g/dl. 138 women had hemoglobin more than 11gm/dl and they formed the control group. After delivery of the baby, the cord was clamped and divided. Blood for hemoglobin assessment was taken from the cord and sent for analysis. The results of cord hemoglobin were compared between the two groups. Results: Cord blood hemoglobin was lower in neonates born to anemic mothers as compared to non anemic mothers.

Yield and fibre quality associated with cotton leaf curl disease of Bt-cotton in Punjab.

Cotton leaf curl disease (CLCuD), caused by Gemini virus and transmitted through whitefly (Bemisia tabaci ) is a serious problem in Northern India, affecting the productivity to a great extent. Depending upon the severity of infection in susceptible varieties, the disease can cause upto 90.0 % yield losses besides this, it also causes deterioration in fibre quality. The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of cotton leaf curl disease on seed cotton yield and fibre characters of two popular Bt-cotton hybrids in Punjab. The disease caused 52.7 % reduction in number of bolls and 54.2 % in boll weight in Bt cotton hybrid RCH 134. Similarly, it reduced the fibre length from 29.1 to 26.2 mm (9.9%); fibre uniformity from 68.9 to 68.1 % (1.1%); fibre strength from 29.1 to 26.9 g per texture (7.5%) and miconaire value from 5.2 to 5.0 g inch-1 (3.8%). Similar results were reported in Bt cotton hybrid MRC 6304, where the disease reduced the boll number and boll weight by 46.1 and 43.4 %, respectively. However, to the fibre quality was not much affected by varying level of disease severity. The studies clearly reflect the adverse impact of CLCuD on yield and fibre quality especially 2.5% span length. Thus suggesting the management of disease using integrated disease management strategies to avoid quantitative and qualitative losses.

Molecular typing of mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis populations from different hosts and locations in Punjab, India.

True identity and existence of genetic variability in mealy bug from different regions holds immense significance for adopting appropriate control measures along with predicting the development of any biotypes. Mealy bug, Phenacoccus solenopsis adults were collected from four host plants i.e., Gossypium hirsutum – cotton (C), Abelmoschus esculentus – okra (O), Pennisetum glaucum – Napier Bajra (B) and a weed – Parthenium hysterophorus (P) in five cotton growing districts i.e., Abohar, Bathinda, Mansa, Muktsar and Faridkot of Punjab state. Variability among different populations was investigated through comparative analysis of four different RAPD markers. The genetic similarity dendrogram established that irrespective of the host plant and the collection site, 20 mealybug populations were distinguishable into two major clades that were related to each other by 68 %. Clade 1 included populations from Abohar district; it also included a single population each from Muktsar and Bathinda districts. The populations from all the other districts were grouped under Clade 2 with genetic similarity of 78 % Even under Clade 2, individual populations appeared to exist in location specific sub-clades. Thus, there is great possibility of development of biotypes which may differ in resistance to insecticides and host plant specificity.

Influence of drying of biosludge on organochlorine compounds from pulp and paper industry.

Pulp and paper industry is one of the major sources of man-made generation of organochlorine compounds. During biological treatment of wastewater, part of organochlorine compounds is discharged with treated effluent and part is retained on biomass and disposed of as waste activated sludge. Due to presence of these compounds, the disposal of biosludge from pulp and paper industry has become an issue. The estimation of adsorbable organic halogen (AOX) compounds after drying and grinding resulted in 49% lower concentration of AOX due to stripping of purgeable compounds. These purgeable compounds are not released at 60oC in aqueous medium during estimation of purgeable organic halogen (POX) compounds. Dispersion of sludge by sonication overcomes the loss of POX compounds and results in higher concentration of AOX compounds. The drying of biosludge samples at 45, 100 oC and in presence of sun light resulted in 20.1, 49.0 and 29.6% removal of purgeable AOX compounds, respectively. The lab scale sorption study using dichloromethane (as volatile organochlorine compound) reveal that biosludge from pulp and paper industry is a good adsorbent of volatile organochlorine compounds and results in poor release of these compounds during estimation of POX compounds.

Bacteriuria in patients with gallbladder and biliary tract diseases.

Urinary tract infections (UTI) are important hospital acquired entities, resulting in bacteriuria indicated by the presence of significant numbers of bacteria in the urine. This study examined the prevalence of bacteriuria in our patients with gallbladder diseases. Three hundred and forty eight patients with various gallbladder (GB) diseases were enrolled in our study. Routine bacteriological cultures of midstream urine specimens were done. Significant bacteriuria was defined as the growth of 105 or more organisms in pure culture per milliliter of urine. Forty four (12.6%) of the patients (18 symptomatic; 26 asymptomatic) showed bacteriuria. Escherichia coli was the predominant isolate followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococci and several others. Thus UTI is also a frequent concomitant of gall bladder diseases and is a sign of the fact that kidneys are in a condition endangered by pyelonephritis.

C-reactive protein in patients with gallbladder and biliary tract diseases.

C-reactive protein (CRP) assay is widely used as a clinical tool for the evaluation of bacterial infections. No study has been undertaken to evaluate the presence of CRP and/or the estimation of this protein in the bile of patients with diseases of the gallbladder (GB). In the present study, we estimated the quantity of CRP in bile (n=358) as well as serum samples (n=186) obtained from patients with GB and biliary tract diseases, using the semiquantitative Avitex CRP kit. Bacteriological study was also done on the bile samples. CRP was positive in the bile of 56 patients, (15.6%) many of who had bacteriobilia. CRP was also present in 49 of the serum samples studied (26.3%). Control serum samples did not show any CRP within detectable limits. Hitherto, this is the first report that investigated the level of CRP in the bile of patients with GB and biliary tract diseases, along with biliary bacterial profile.