Measuring the Influence of Seedling Age and Nutrient Sources on the Performance of Sweet Corn (Zea mays L.) under Temperate Climatic Conditions.

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of the age of a seedling and sources of nutrients on the growth and yield of sweet corn at SKUAST-K during Kharif-2020. The experiment was performed under a factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Factor A was the age of the seedling with three levels, viz., 12-day-old seedlings, 22-day-old seedlings, and 32-day-old seedlings. Factor B was the source of nutrients with five levels, viz., control, recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), 1/2 RDF + 12 t ha-1 farmyard manure, 1/2 RDF + 4 t ha-1 vermicompost, and 1/2 RDF + 2 t ha-1 poultry manure. The experiment was tested using variety Sugar-75 with a spacing of 75 × 20 cm2. The findings of this study indicated that the age of the seedling and sources of nutrients extended a significant influence on growth parameters, yield attributes, and yield of sweet corn. Significantly highest values for various growth parameters of sweet corn, viz., plant height, number of functional leaves, leaf area index (LAI), and dry matter accumulation from 30 days after transplanting up to the harvest, were noted by transplanting A2 seedlings (22 day old). A similar trend was observed for yield attributes and yield with higher values with transplanting A2 seedlings (22 day old). Plots fertilized with 1/2 RDF + 2 t ha-1 poultry manure registered a significantly higher plant height, leaf area index (LAI), dry matter accumulation, and number of functional leaves, which eventually resulted in a higher green cob yield and green fodder yield under the same treatment. Overall, this study indicated that among different ages of seedlings, transplanting A2 seedlings (22 day old) outperformed other seedling ages, and plots treated with 1/2 RDF + 2 t ha-1 poultry manure outperformed other treatments; a combination of both proved superior in realizing a higher yield and profitability with a benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of 6.57 under temperate climatic conditions.

Genetic evaluation of the variants using MassARRAY in non-small cell lung cancer among North Indians.

Lung cancer is genetically diverse and a major health burden. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 80% of total lung cancer cases and 20% cases are Small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The present case-control association study focused on the cost effective high throughput genotyping using Agena MassARRAY matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight, mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) platform to analyze the genetic association of candidate genetic variants. We performed multiplex PCR and genotyped twelve single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 723 samples (162 NSCLC cases and 592 healthy controls). These genetic variants were selected from literature for their association with various cancers worldwide and this is the first study from the region to examine these critically important genetic variants. With prospective case-control association study design, twelve variants from ten genes were evaluated. Amongst these six variants, TCF21 (rs12190287), ERCC1 (rs2298881, 11615), ERCC5 (rs751402), ARNTL (rs4757151), BRIP1 (rs4986764) showed significant association with NSCLC risk (p ≤ 0.003) in Jammu and Kashmir population. In-silico findings of these genetic variants showed remarkable functional roles that needs in-vitro validations. It is further anticipated that such case control studies will help us in understanding the missing heritability of non-small cell lung cancer.

Genetic variant rs2494938 of LRFN2 gene is associated with non-small cell lung cancer risk in North-Indian population.

Various Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have reported the association of variant rs2494938 with lung cancer. However, genetic association of LRFN2 genetic variation with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in North Indian population remained unexplored. We conducted a case-control association study using TaqMan-based chemistry in which a total of 619 individuals, 189 NSCLC cases and 430 controls, were genotyped to explore the association of rs2494938 genetic variant of the LRFN2 gene with NSCLC patients from North India. The allele 'G' (risk allele) of the genetic variant rs2494938 was significantly associated with the NSCLC [OR = 1.51 (1.18-1.93 at 95% CI); p value = 0.0009]. Genetic association was also explored by applying different genetic models (Dominant, Additive). These results suggest that rs2494938 polymorphism of the LRFN2 gene is a risk factor in the North Indian populations to develop NSCLC. The LD (Linkage Disequilibrium) plot demonstrates the variant and its LD SNPs (r 2 > 0.8) and the variant has direct regulatory effect, which could affect the overall physiology of the gene. These findings could be used as diagnostic and prognostic markers in clinical studies of lung cancer patients in North Indian population groups. The present study also provides an important evidence on the genetic etiology of NSCLC in North Indian populations and further expounds GWAS findings on the role of LRFN2 in lung cancer risk. This study provides the holistic view about the non-small cell lung cancer in Jammu and Kashmir, North Indian population and it can be a hallmark of cancer if verified on a very large sample size (cohort).

Association of newly identified genetic variant rs2853677 of TERT with non-small cell lung cancer and leukemia in population of Jammu and Kashmir, India.

BACKGROUND: Telomere genetics has recently been emerged as an important field in molecular oncology. Various genome-wide association studies in different population groups have revealed that polymorphisms in Telomere maintenance gene (TERT) gene located on 5p15.33 is associated with susceptibility to leukemia and lung cancer risk. However, association of TERT with leukemia and lung cancer risk in north Indian population groups is still unknown. This study observed the association between genetic variant rs2853677 of TERT and leukemia and lung cancer in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, India. METHODS: A total of 781 subjects, out of which 381 cases (203 leukemic patients and 178 non-small cell lung cancer patients NSCLC) and 400 healthy controls were recruited for the study. Genetic variant rs2853677of TERT was detected using the real-time and Taqman Chemistry. Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium was assessed using the chi square test. The allele and genotype- specific risks were estimated as odds ratio with 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: We observed that variant rs2853677 was strongly associated with lung cancer and leukemia risk with an odds ratio (OR) =1.8 (1.03-3.2 at 95% CI); p value (adjusted) = 0.03; odds ratio (OR) =2.9 (1.4-5.5.at 95% CI); p value (adjusted) = 0.002, respectively. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggested that rs2853677 of TERT signifies association in multiple cancers and suggests that it can become potential marker for diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer and leukemia. The study will provide an insight in understanding the genetic etiology and highlights the role of telomere-associated pathways in non-small cell lung cancer and leukemia. However, it would be quite interesting to explore the contribution of this variant in other cancers as well.