Inheritance pattern of okra enation leaf curl disease among cultivated species and its relationship with biochemical parameters

Okra production in eastern India at present is severely threatened by whitefly-mediated okra enation leaf curl disease(OELCuD). Identification of resistant genotype and understanding the genetic control and biochemical relationship of OELCuD resistanceare prerequisite for developing an effective breeding strategy. This study was conducted employing six populations (P1, P2, F1, F2, BC1 andBC2) of two selected (resistant 9 susceptible (R9S)) crosses. Associationship between severity of OELCuD and biochemical parametersof parents and hybrids at preflowering and flowering stages was studied. Segregation pattern of the genotypes in F2 generation showingOELCuD reaction of two crosses suggested that two duplicate recessive genes was operative for resistance to OELCuD. Generation meananalysis revealed involvement of both additive and nonadditive effects in the inheritance of disease resistance. Hence, postponement ofselection in later generations or intermating among the selected segregates followed by one or two generations of selfing to break theundesirable linkage and allow the accumulation of favourable alleles could be suggested for the development of stable resistant genotypeagainst this disease. Higher peroxidase activity and total phenol content in leaf emerged as reliable biochemical markers for early selectionof genotype resistant to OELCuD.

Food Fortification in India: A Literature Review.

Objectives: The purpose of this review was to identify and analyze single or multiple micronutrient (MMN) food fortification studies for their efficacy and effectiveness in India. Methods: A comprehensive fortification search (n=10 databases) was completed, and retrieved citations were screened by two independent researchers. Data were abstracted from selected published documents to summarize intervention designs and results on human health indicators (biological markers, anthropometry, cognition, morbidity). Results: Forty-seven published studies conducted in 13 Indian states and comprised mainly of randomized controlled trials (n=26) were included for analysis. The food vehicles were cereals (e.g. wheat, rice, (n=6)), oils and salts (n=18), and other (e.g. beverages, school meals, (n=23)). Children ≤12 y were the main targeted population (n=36). Improvements in one or more biological markers were reported in 76.9% of all publications and in 91.3% reporting MMN fortification. Improvements in ≥1 iron biomarker were noted in all documents (n=9) using iron as the sole fortificant. Eight of 18 documents showed a positive impact of fortification on anthropometry, of which 7 fortified with MMNs. Improvements in cognitive domains were observed in 3 of 7 publications, all of which were MMNs. Morbidity symptoms improved in 1 of 9 publications. Conclusions: Food fortification research in India suggests it effectively improves biological markers of nutritional status, particularly when fortifying with MMNs or iron. MMN fortification consistently improved anthropometric but not cognitive outcomes. Fortification had limited impact on morbidity symptoms. Evidence of fortification effects on other functional outcomes is scarce.

Malignant melanoma of conjunctiva--a case report.

A 65-year-old male patient presented with a rapidly increasing mass in his left eye. It did not show any intra-ocular extension as examined by slit lamp, gonioscopy, indirect ophthalmoscopy and ultrasonography, nor there was any sign of systemic metastasis. The mass was excised completely. Buccal mucous membrane grafting was done to cover up the lower forniceal area and conjunctival autograft taken from right eye and placed over upper fornix and bulbar area. Postoperative radiotherapy was suggested. Histopathological examination of the mass revealed the diagnosis of malignant melanoma of conjunctiva.

Clinical pattern of ocular manifestations in vitiligo.

To study the ocular abnormalities in cases of vitiligo, 100 patients were examined who underwent a series of investigations e.g., complete haemogram, urine analysis, blood biochemistry and chest x-ray and 70 cases were taken as control. Patients with systemic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, thyroid and auto-immune disorders were excluded. Detailed ocular examinations including recording of vision, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, gonioscopy, ophthalmoscopy and examination of fundus by 90 D lens were done. Of 100 vitiligo patients, 23% showed hypopigmented sports on the iris, 18% pigmentation on anterior chamber, 9% retinal pigment epithelium hypopigmentation, 5% uveitis, 11% had chorioretinal degeneration and 34% had no ocular findings. There lies a strong association of ocular disorder in patients with vitiligo.

Association of diabetic maculopathy with diabetic nephropathy--a study.

A total number of 100 patients were examined over a period of one year to find out any correlation between diabetic maculopathy and diabetic nephropathy. Twenty-two belonged to insulin dependent diabetes mellitus group and 78 patients were in the non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus group who were suffering from diabetes over a period of 0-25 years and more. Another group comprising 6 patients were chosen from these 100 patients who were suffering from nephropathy diagnosed clinically and on pathological investigations. Background and proliferative--both types of diabetic retinopathy were found with increased incidence with the persistence of the disease in both types of diabetes mellitus. Nine patients had diabetic maculopathy, out of which 6 patients (66.66%) were suffering from diabetic nephropathy. Proliferative diabetic retinopathy is more common in insulin dependent diabetes mellitus than in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus of more than 25 years of duration. Maculopathy is more common in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and there is strong correlation between diabetic maculopathy and diabetic nephropathy.