Plant growth stimulation of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) by inoculation of salinity tolerant Azotobacter strains.

Five salinity tolerant Azotobacter strains i.e., ST3, ST6, ST9, ST17 and ST24 were obtained from saline soils. These Azotobacter strains were used as inoculant for wheat variety WH157 in earthen pots containing saline soil under pot house conditions, using three fertilizer treatment doses i.e., control (no fertilizer, no inoculation), 90 Kg N ha(-1) and 120 Kg N ha(-1). Inoculation with salinity tolerant Azotobacter strains caused significant increase in total nitrogen, biomass and grain yield of wheat. Maximum increase in plant growth parameters were obtained after inoculation with Azotobacter strain ST24 at fertilization dose of 120 kg N ha(-1) and its inoculation resulted in attaining 89.9 cms plant height, 6.1 g seed yield, 12.0 g shoot dry weight and 0.7 % total nitrogen. The survival of Azotobacter strain ST24 in the soil was also highest in all the treatments at 30, 60 and 90 days after sowing (DAS). However, the population of Azotobacter decreased on 90 DAS as compared to counts observed at 60 DAS at all the fertilization treatments.

Prevalence of bronchial asthma in school children of 6-13 years of age in Shimla city.

BACKGROUND: Asthma is a major public health problem worldwide. However, there is limited data on asthma prevalence among school children in Shimla. The present study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of asthma in Shimla city and also to examine the different factors influencing its occurrence. METHODS: This was a questionnaire-based study (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood [ISAAC] protocol) carried out in four randomly selected schools in the city of Shimla. The questionnaire was pre-tested in 50 school children. The age group included in the study was 6-13 years. The questionnaire was distributed to all the children (n = 1136). A response rate of 89.5% was achieved. The socio-economic status was determined on the basis of monthly income (cumulative square root value method). The ISAAC questionnaire was given standard scores. Various factors influencing the prevalence of asthma, such as socio-economic status, history of asthma and other allergic disorders in the family, type of cooking fuel used, history of active and passive smoking were elucidated from the history. RESULTS: Overall prevalence of asthma in our study was found to be 2.3 percent. Boys had a higher prevalence (3.1%) than girls (1.4%). We found a significant association between asthma prevalence and family history of asthma and other atopic manifestations. There was no significant association of socio-economic factors and exposure to smoking with prevalence of asthma. CONCLUSION: In the present study, the prevalence of bronchial asthma in school children in the age group of 6-13 years is 2.3 percent.

Symmetrical peripheral gangrene due to viral gastroenteritis.

A case of multifactorial symmetrical peripheral gangrene due to viral gastroenteritis, shock, dopamine infusion, exposure to low temperature and nonlactose fermenters septicaemia is presented for its rarity and devastating consequences.

Establishment of phosphate-solubilizing strains of Azotobacter chroococcum in the rhizosphere and their effect on wheat cultivars under green house conditions.

A pot experiment was conducted in the green house to investigate the establishment of phosphate solubilizing strains of Azotobacter chroococcum, including soil isolates and their mutants, in the rhizosphere and their effect on growth parameters and root biomass of three genetically divergent wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L.). Five fertilizer treatments were performed: Control, 90 kg N ha(-1), 90 kg N + 60 kg P2O5 ha(-1), 120 kg N ha(-1) and 120 kg N + 60 kg P2O5 ha(-1). Phosphate solubilizing and phytohormone producing parent soil isolates and mutant strains of A. chroococcum were isolated and selected by an enrichment method. In vitro phosphate solubilization and growth hormone production by mutant strains was increased compared with soil isolates. Seed inoculation of wheat varieties with P solubilizing and phytohormone producing A. chroococcum showed better response compared with controls. Mutant strains of A. chroococcum showed higher increase in grain (12.6%) and straw (11.4%) yield over control and their survival (12-14%) in the rhizosphere as compared to their parent soil isolate (P4). Mutant strain M37 performed better in all three varieties in terms of increase in grain yield (14.0%) and root biomass (11.4%) over control.