Biology of Fruit Borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) on Tomato under Laboratory Conditions

The experiment on biology of fruit borer Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) was carried out in the Bio-control Laboratory, Department of Entomology, S.V.P.U.A.&T., Meerut. Results showed that the mean pre-oviposition, oviposition and post-oviposition period of fruit borer on tomato lasted for 2.46 ± 0.29, 6.33 ± 0.14 and 1.67 ± 0.14 days, respectively. A female laid on an average 329.40 ± 68.17 eggs. The incubation period was observed to be 3.08 ± 0.32 days on tomato. The first instar larva was very active with body length of 1.54 ± 0.81 mm and body breadth of 0.46 ± 0.05 mm. The larval development completed within 22.45 ± 0.44 days. The duration of each instar on tomato was found to be 2.58 ± 0.26, 3.50 ± 0.14, 3.42 ± 0.26, 3.71 ± 0.28, 4.38 ± 0.16 and 4.83 ± 0.14 days, respectively. The mean pre-pupal period lasted for 2.00 ± 0.24 days on tomato. The mean pupal period lasted for 12.33 ± 0.62 days. Longevity of adult ranged from 8 to 11 days with an average of 9.30 ± 1.25 days in males, while the longevity of female moths ranged from 10 to 14 days with an average of 11.30 ± 1.34 days. The male moth measured 17.79 ± 0.41 mm in length, 35.55 ± 0.92 mm in breadth and the female moth measured 19.76 ± 0.58 mm in length, 40.08 ± 0.99 mm in breadth on tomato. The sex ratio for male and female was 1: 0.76 on tomato. The generation from egg to death of male and female i.e., total life cycle was found to be completed within 39 to 60 days with an average of 50.3 ± 7.51 days and 41 to 63 days with an average of 53.5 ± 7.93 days, respectively.

Influence of light intensity, temperature and CO2 concentration on growth and lipids in green algae and cyanobacteria.

Effects of the environmental variables such as light intensity (µmol photons m-2s-1), temperature (°C) and CO2 concentration (ppm) on chlorophyll, total soluble proteins and lipids were studied in selected microalgal strains from Chlorophyceae (Chlamydomonas sp., Scenedesmus sp., Chlorella sp., Kirchneriella sp.) and cyanobacteria (Nostoc sp.1, Anabaena sp., Nostoc sp. 2, Cylindrospermum sp.). Cultures were grown under controlled conditions at the National Phytotron Facility, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi. Our results showed that chlorophyll concentration enhanced with increased CO2. Chlorella exhibited the highest chlorophyll at 850 ppm CO2 and 28°C; for Chlamydomonas it was at 78 µmol photons m-2s-1 light intensity. In Cylindrospermum, total soluble proteins decreased with enhanced CO2, and were highest at 18°C. In Anabaena, a light intensity of 65 µmol photons m-2s-1 was best for maximum total soluble proteins. In Chlorella, CO2 @ 850 ppm was most suited for maximum lipid accumulation. In Kirchneriella, increase in temperature, from 18°C up to 37°C, increased total lipids; the highest was at 28°C. In Chlamydomonas, the light intensity of 78 µmol photons m-2s-1 was optimum for lipid accumulation and the maximum total lipids was 30.8 (% dry wt.).

Unusual cause of hypoxemia after automatic implantable cardioverter‑defibrillatorleads extraction.

The indication of pacemaker/AICD removal are numerous. Serious complication can occur during their removal, severe tricuspid regurgitation is one of the complication. The occurrence of PFO is not uncommon among adult population. Shunting across PFO in most circumstance is negligible, but in some necessitates closure due to hypoxemia. We report a case of 62 year old man, while undergoing AICD removal, had an emergency sternotomy for cardiac tamponade. Postoperatively, he experienced profound hypoxemia refractory to oxygen therapy. Transthoracic Echocardiogram was performed to rule out intracardiac shunts at an early stage, but it was difficult to obtain an good imaging windows poststernotomy. A small pulmonary emboli was noted on CTPA, but was not sufficient to account for the level of hypoxemia and did not resolve with anticoagulation. Transesophageal echocardiogram showed flail septal tricuspid valve with severe TR and bidirectional shunt through large PFO. Patient was posted for surgery, tricuspid valve was replaced and PFO surgically closed. Subsequently, patient recovered well ad was discharged to home. Cause of hypoxemia might be due to respiratory or cardiac dysfunction. But for hypoxemia refractory to oxygen therapy, transoesophageal echocardiogram should be always considered and performed early as an diagnostic tool in post cardiac surgical patients.

Right-sided aortic arch with Kommerell's aneurysm.

We present a case report of a 55‑year‑old lady who presented with progressive dysphagia and was diagnosed with a Kommerell’s aneurysm and a right‑sided aortic arch. This case report outlines our management strategy and the challenges encountered during the perioperative period in a patient with this rare anomaly.

Characterization of differentially expressed stress-associated proteins in starch granule development under heat stress in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

Abiotic stress causes abrupt increase in the expression of stress-associated proteins, which provide tolerance by modulating the defense mechanism of plants. Small heat shock proteins (sHSPs) and anti-oxidant enzymes are important for environmental stress tolerance of the plants. In this study, two full-length cDNAs encoding small heat shock protein (sHSP) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), designated as TasHSP and SODI were identified and characterized from C-306 (thermotolerant) and PBW343 (thermosusceptible) cultivars of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). An alpha crystalline domain was observed in TasHSP and manganese/iron binding domain in case of SODI. Quantitative real-time PCR showed very high transcript level of TasHSP and SOD in C-306 compared to PBW343 at different stages of growth and against differential heat stress (HS). Under differential HS at milky-dough stage, the fold change in transcript of both TasHSP and SOD was observed maximum in C-306, compared to PBW343. Protein profiling and isoenzymes analysis showed the expression of several heat-stable proteins and prominent isoenzymes of SOD in C-306, compared to PBW343. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of starch granules showed globular, well-shaped and more numbers of endospermic cells in C-306, compared to defragmented, irregular shaped and shrunken granules in case of PBW343 under HS treatment (42°C for 2 h). Diurnal change in soluble starch synthase (SSS) activity showed an increase in the activity during afternoon (35°C), compared to morning (29°C) and evening (32°C) in both the cultivars. Under heat stress (42°C for 2 h), a drastic decrease in the SSS activity was observed, due to the thermal denaturation of the enzyme. Thermotolerance capacity analyzed using cell membrane stability (CMS) showed significantly higher CMS in case of C-306, compared to PBW343 at different stages of growth. Findings suggest that abundance of TasHSP and SODI during milky-dough stage plays a very important role in starch granule biosynthesis. The mechanism may be further exploited to develop tolerant wheat cultivar with high quality seeds.