Phenotypic, Physiological and Biochemical Delineation of Wheat Genotypes Under Different Stress Conditions.

Wheat is a vital crop, providing calories, nutrients and versatility in the food industry. However, the combination of heat and drought stress, exacerbated by climate change, poses a significant threat to wheat production, leading to potential yield losses. To ensure the sustainability of wheat production it is crucial to prioritize research on developing stress-tolerant wheat genotypes. The current study focused on identifying the traits that are important for developing stress-tolerant wheat varieties under timely sown irrigated, drought stress, heat stress, and combined stress conditions. It addresses the knowledge gap regarding the combined effects of heat and drought stress on wheat physiology and yield, aiming to shed light on the intricate interactions between these stresses. The experiment was conducted at CCS HAU, Hisar, during the Rabi seasons of 2019-2020 and 2020-2021. By evaluating variability parameters, conducting correlation analysis, and path coefficient analysis among 80 diverse wheat genotypes, this research identifies genetic factors contributing to stress tolerance and helps select plants with desirable characteristics. The results showed that traits i.e., malendialdehyde, wax covering on blade, wax covering on sheath and wax covering on spike had high potential for improvement through selection among genotypes for grain yield and its component traits. The study also highlighted the importance of selecting wheat varieties with early maturity to mitigate the risk of yield loss under combined stress conditions. Moreover, the interaction between drought and heat stress can increase oxidative stress, leading to elevated malondialdehyde levels. Selecting varieties with lower malondialdehyde and optimal canopy temperature is important. Understanding the complex response of wheat to heat, drought, and their combined stress is essential for improving crop quality and production potential. Overall, this research contributes to the field of plant breeding by facilitating the development of wheat varieties with high and stable yields in challenging environments.

Combustion Synthesis and Study of Double Charge Transfer in Highly Efficient Cool White-emitting Dy3+ Activated Vanadate-based Nanophosphor for Advanced Solid-state Lighting.

A series of Ca9Gd(VO4)7: Dy3+ (x = 0.01-0.20) nanophosphor crystals emitting a cool white light were synthesized by solution combustion methodology. The X-ray diffraction patterns were analyzed and processed using Rietveld refinement. The fabricated nanophosphor was found to crystallize in a trigonal crystal lattice with space group R3c(161). The morphological behavior of the prepared nanophosphor was investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The photoluminescence properties of the nanophosphor correspond to cool white emission upon near-ultraviolet (NUV) excitation at 327 nm due to 4F9/2 → 6H15/2 (bluish) and 4F9/2 → 6H13/2 (yellowish) radiative relaxations at 487 nm and 576 nm respectively. Also, there is a strong occurrence of double charge transfer from O2- ions to Dy3+ and V5+ ions with the latter being stronger due to the high positive charge of V5+ ions. Color coordinates (x = 0.2878, y = 0.3259) are consistent with white emission. Auzel's model was implemented to examine the non-radiative relaxation (113.5 ms-1), radiative lifetime (1.4856 ms), and quantum efficiency (83.13%) values. The crystalline and optical behavior of the synthesized cool white emitting nanophosphor facilitates its use in near-UV-based WLEDs and other advanced solid-state lighting.

Correction: Electro-organic synthesis: an environmentally benign alternative for heterocycle synthesis.

Correction for 'Electro-organic synthesis: an environmentally benign alternative for heterocycle synthesis' by Suman Devi, et al., Org. Biomol. Chem., 2022, 20, 5163-5229.

Electro-organic synthesis: an environmentally benign alternative for heterocycle synthesis.

Heterocyclic compounds are considered to be one of the most established structural classes due to their extensive application in agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals and organic materials. Over the past few years, the development of heterocyclic compounds has gone through a considerable renaissance from conventional traditional methodologies to non-conventional electro-organic synthesis. Replacing metal catalysts, strong oxidants and multi-step methodologies with metal and strong oxidant-free single-step protocols has revolutionized the field of sustainable organic synthesis. Electro-organic synthesis has evolved as a scalable and sustainable approach in different synthetic protocols in an environment-benign manner. The current review outlines the recent developments in C-C, C-N, C-S and C-O/Se bond formation for heterocycle synthesis using electrochemical methods. Different synthetic strategies and their detailed mechanistic description are presented to enlighten the future applications of electrochemistry in heterocycle synthesis.

Deciphering the role of temperature in Li+ co-dopant occupancy in BaYF5:Yb3+,Er3+ up-converting nanocrystals and its structure-property relationship.

Precision engineering of defects in luminescent nanoscale crystalline materials with lesser controls to design is an area of interest in engineering materials with desired properties. Li+ co-doped BaYF5 nanocrystals were engineered, and temperature as controls for determining the co-dopant occupancies in the host lattice is studied. An observed enhancement in the up-conversion photoluminescence results from the co-dopant occupancy at Ba2+ sites via substitution through the hot injection method, whereas for samples prepared using co-precipitation, photoluminescence quenching was observed, which can be correlated with the Li+ occupancy at the interstitial site near Er3+ and also due to the incorporation of OH-. The crystal lattice deformation as a result of doping and the mechanism for the observed enhancement/quenching of luminescence are studied using x-ray diffraction, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and energy transfer mechanism. Cytotoxicity assay and photoluminescence studies of the synthesized nanocrystals confirm that the material is biocompatible.

Efficacy of diurnal BG-Sentinel traps to capture nocturnal adult Armigeres subalbatus mosquitoes and impact of altitudinal variations in forests

Objective: To establish an efficacious and efficient surveillance method of Armigeres (Ar.) subalbatus, a known filarial vector, surviving in forest habitats to estimate realistic population density and assess the impact of altitudinal variations on the efficacy of the trap. Methods: In the study, 12 locations in areas with an altitudinal range from 82 m to 920 m were selected in three reserve forests for night sampling of adult Ar. subalbatus mosquito using standard chemical lure based BG-Sentinel traps and CDC-light traps in pairs. Effects of locations and time were estimated on the efficacy of traps as mosquito density using multifactor analysis of variance for significant differences. Impact of altitudinal variations on the efficacy of traps was assessed using multiple regression with slope comparison. Results: BG-Sentinel trap collected significantly more adult Ar. subalbatus, 4.43 folds in Gorumara NP, 5.19 folds in Neora Valley NP and 12.10 folds in Mahananda WLS than the CDC-light trap irrespective to locations. BG-Sentinel traps were tolerant of altitudinal variations (80 m-170 m) and showed no significant relationship between density and altitudes in contrast to CDC-light traps which showed a significant negative impact on capturing efficacy with increase in altitudes (P<0.001). Conclusions: The study suggests that BG-Sentinel traps can be used effectively and efficiently to collect more Ar. subalbatus mosquitoes during night time in comparison to CDC-light trap under complex climatic conditions of forest and variable altitudes.

Efficacy of diurnal BG-Sentinel traps to capture nocturnal adult Armigeres subalbatus mosquitoes and impact of altitudinal variations in forests

Objective: To establish an efficacious and efficient surveillance method of Armigeres (Ar.) subalbatus, a known filarial vector, surviving in forest habitats to estimate realistic population density and assess the impact of altitudinal variations on the efficacy of the trap. Methods: In the study, 12 locations in areas with an altitudinal range from 82 m to 920 m were selected in three reserve forests for night sampling of adult Ar. subalbatus mosquito using standard chemical lure based BG-Sentinel traps and CDC-light traps in pairs. Effects of locations and time were estimated on the efficacy of traps as mosquito density using multifactor analysis of variance for significant differences. Impact of altitudinal variations on the efficacy of traps was assessed using multiple regression with slope comparison. Results: BG-Sentinel trap collected significantly more adult Ar. subalbatus, 4.43 folds in Gorumara NP, 5.19 folds in Neora Valley NP and 12.10 folds in Mahananda WLS than the CDC-light trap irrespective to locations. BG-Sentinel traps were tolerant of altitudinal variations (80 m-170 m) and showed no significant relationship between density and altitudes in contrast to CDC-light traps which showed a significant negative impact on capturing efficacy with increase in altitudes (P<0.001). Conclusions: The study suggests that BG-Sentinel traps can be used effectively and efficiently to collect more Ar. subalbatus mosquitoes during night time in comparison to CDC-light trap under complex climatic conditions of forest and variable altitudes.