ABSTRACT
Global food shortages are caused mainly by drought, the primary driver of yield loss in agriculture worldwide. Drought stress negatively impacts the physiological and morphological characteristics of rice (Oryza sativa L.), limiting the plant productivity and hence the economy of global rice production. Physiological changes due to drought stress in rice include constrained cell division and elongation, stomatal closure, loss of turgor adjustment, reduced photosynthesis, and lower yields. Morphological changes include inhibition of seed germination, reduced tillers, early maturity, and reduced biomass. In addition, drought stress leads to a metabolic alteration by increasing the buildup of reactive oxygen species, reactive stress metabolites, antioxidative enzymes, and abscisic acid. Rice tends to combat drought through three major phenomena; tolerance, avoidance, and escape. Several mitigation techniques are introduced and adapted to combat drought stress which includes choosing drought-tolerant cultivars, planting early types, maintaining adequate moisture levels, conventional breeding, molecular maintenance, and creating variants with high-yielding characteristics. This review attempts to evaluate the various morpho-physiological responses of the rice plant to drought, along with drought stress reduction techniques.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is an entity of clinical attention prominent among schoolgoing students. The reported nature and extent of Internet gaming varies widely, as does the extent of its effects. AIM: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of IGD and factors associated with it. METHODS: After institution ethics approval, individual assent, and parental consent, a cross-sectional study was conducted among 142 students of a school in western Maharashtra. A specially designed sociodemographic pro forma and IGD Scale were administered to the students. Data thus generated were statistically analyzed and compared with published literature. RESULTS: The prevalence of IGD was 10.6% among 13-19-year-old students. It was significantly higher among male students (15.3%) than female students (3.5%). Multivariate logistic regression found IGD to be significantly associated with male gender and lower age at first gameplay. CONCLUSIONS: IGD affects a tenth of our schoolgoing population with a male preponderance. Lower age at first gameplay had an adverse association.
