ABSTRACT
Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) with multiple beneficial traits serve as potentially, ecofriendly,and cost-effective alternatives to chemical fertilizers and pesticides. They have both direct and indirectaffirmative impacts on overall plant growth and health. PGPRs are well known to directly improve the plantgrowth by phytohormone production and availability of minerals in soil. A total of nine soil samples were takenfrom near the rhizospheric zone of different crops and 56 rhizobacterial strains were isolated. Only 16 out of56 rhizobacterial strains were found positive for more than one beneficial trait that included solubilization ofphosphate, indole acetic acid (IAA), siderophore, ammonia and H2S production. Among all PGPR strains,RKM15 was observed having the highest phosphate solubilizing index (3.4), solubilized phosphorus (339mg L−1) and also siderophore unit (70.54 %). The maximum IAA production was observed by RKM25 strain(35.56 µg ml−1). The most promising RKM15 isolate was identified as Pantoea dispersa (MN629239) through16S rRNA gene sequencing technique. This characterized PGPR strain may be used for the development ofbiofertilizers to enhance crop productivity and improvement in soil fertility
ABSTRACT
The present study was conducted to assess the immediate effect of high-frequency yoga breathing on muscle strength and motor speed. Bilateral handgrip strength, leg and back strength, finger tapping and arm tapping speed were assessed in fifty male participants (group mean age±SD, 26.9±6.2 years) before and after (a) high frequency yoga breathing for 15 minutes and (b) breath awareness for the same duration. Sessions (a) and (b) were on two different days but at the same time of the day. The schedule was alternated for different participants. There was a significant increase (P<0.05) in right hand grip strength after high frequency yoga breathing. Both finger and arm tapping improved after both practices. The results suggest a role for high frequency yoga breathing in improving the hand grip strength as an immediate effect.
ABSTRACT
State anxiety, somatization of stress, quality of life, self-rated quality of sleep, and discomfort due to over-breathing which occurs when stressed were studied. Out of a total of 140 participants, seventy participants self-selected to be in a yoga group for stress relief (group mean age±SD, 33.0±6.5 years; 37 males). Seventy age and gender matched participants were in a control group. State anxiety, somatization of stress, quality of life, discomfort and self-rated quality of sleep were assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Symptom Checklist-90-R, SF-12, Nijmegen Discomfort Evaluation Scale and a Sleep Rating Questionnaire respectively. Assessments were made at the beginning and end of the week. Repeated measures ANOVAs with Bonferroni adjusted post-hoc analyses showed a significant decrease in state anxiety (P<0.001), somatization of stress (P<0.01), improved health-related quality of life (P<0.01), self-rated quality of sleep (P<0.01), and decrease in discomfort due to over-breathing (P<0.001). No changes (except decreased discomfort due to over-breathing; P<0.01) occurred in the control group. This study suggests that a brief yoga program may be beneficial in decreasing anxiety, somatization of stress and discomfort, improving health-related quality of life and self-rated sleep quality.