Genetic Gain in Yield and Associated Changes in Agronomic Traits in Wheat Cultivars Developed Between 1900 and 2016 for Irrigated Ecosystems of Northwestern Plain Zone of India.

Knowledge about the yield gain over the years due to associated changes in the yield component traits is essential for a critical understanding of yield-limiting factors. To estimate genetic gain in grain yield (GY) and component agronomic traits of wheat varieties released between 1900 and 2016 for northwestern plain zone (NWPZ) of India and to identify agronomic and/or genetic basis of the realized gains, two sets of wheat varieties comprising mega varieties and two recently developed varieties were evaluated under timely sown, tilled, and early sown conservation agriculture (CA) conditions for four consecutive years under irrigated conditions. The average annual genetic gain in GY since 1,905 under timely sown irrigated conditions was found to be 0.544% yr-1 over the average of all varieties and 0.822% yr-1 (24.27 kg ha-1 yr-1) over the first released variety, NP4. The realized mean yield increased from 2,950 kg ha-1 of the variety NP4 released in 1,905-5,649 kg ha-1 of HD3086 released in 2014. Regression analysis revealed a linear reduction in height and peduncle length (PL) over the years with a simultaneous and linear increase in biomass at the rate of 43.9 kg ha-1 yr-1 or relatively at 0.368% yr-1 mainly because of delayed heading and increased crop duration. Regression analysis showed no linear trend for tiller number and thousand-grain weight (TGW). Though harvest index (HI) was found to linearly increase relatively at the rate of 0.198% per annum, polynomial regression improved the fitness of data with the indication of no increase in HI since 1982. Interestingly, genetic gain evaluation under early sown CA conditions for 4 years showed similar relative gain (RG) [a relative improvement in varieties across breeding periods (BP)] (0.544% yr-1) but with a higher absolute value (29.28 kg ha-1 yr-1). Major mega varieties like Kalyan Sona, HD2009, PBW 343, HD2967, and HD3086, which occupied a comparatively larger area, were found highly plastic to the improvements in the production environment under timely sown conditions.

Urban rural differences in diet, physical activity and obesity in India: are we witnessing the great Indian equalisation? Results from a cross-sectional STEPS survey.

BACKGROUND: The rising morbidity and mortality due to non-communicable diseases can be partly attributed to the urbanized lifestyle leading to unhealthy dietary practices and increasing physical levels of inactivity. The demographic and nutrition transition in India has also contributed to the emerging epidemic of non-communicable diseases in this country. In this context, there is limited information in India on dietary patterns, levels of physical activity and obesity. The aim of the present study was thus to assess the urban rural differences in dietary habits, physical activity and obesity in India. METHODS: A household survey was done in the state of Punjab, India in a multistage stratified sample of 5127 individuals using the WHO STEPS questionnaire. RESULTS: No rural urban difference was found in dietary practices and prevalence of overweight and obesity except the fact that a significantly higher proportion of respondents belonging to rural area (15.6 %) always/often add salt before/when eating as compared to urban area (9.1 %). Overall 95.8 % (94.6-97.0) of participants took less than 5 servings of fruits and/or vegetables on average per day. No significant urban rural difference was noted in both sexes in all three domains of physical activity such as work, transport and recreation. However, rural females (19.1 %) were found to be engaged in vigorous activity more than the urban females (6.3 %). Males reported high levels of physical activity in both the settings. Absence of recreational activity was reported by more than 95 % of the subjects. Higher prevalence of obesity (asian cut offs used) was seen among urban females (34.3 %) as compared to their rural counterparts (23.2 %). Abdominal obesity was found to be significantly higher among females in both the settings compared to males (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Poor dietary practices and physical inactivity seems to fuel the non-communicable disease epidemic in India. Non communicable disease control strategy need to address these issues with a gender equity lens. Rapid urbanization of rural India might be responsible for the absence of a significant urban rural difference.

Profile of Risk Factors for Non-Communicable Diseases in Punjab, Northern India: Results of a State-Wide STEPS Survey.

BACKGROUND: Efforts to assess the burden of non-communicable diseases risk factors has improved in low and middle-income countries after political declaration of UN High Level Meeting on NCDs. However, lack of reliable estimates of risk factors distribution are leading to delay in implementation of evidence based interventions in states of India. METHODS: A STEPS Survey, comprising all the three steps for assessment of risk factors of NCDs, was conducted in Punjab state during 2014-15. A statewide multistage sample of 5,127 residents, aged 18-69 years, was taken. STEPS questionnaire version 3.1 was used to collect information on behavioral risk factors, followed by physical measurements and blood and urine sampling for biochemical profile. RESULTS: Tobacco and alcohol consumption were observed in 11.3% (20% men and 0.9% women) and 15% (27% men and 0.3% women) of the population, respectively. Low levels of physical activity were recorded among 31% (95% CI: 26.7-35.5) of the participants. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 28.6% (95% CI: 26.3-30.9) and 12.8% (95% CI: 11.2-14.4) respectively. Central obesity was higher among women (69.3%, 95% CI: 66.5-72.0) than men (49.5%, 95% CI: 45.3-53.7). Prevalence of hypertension in population was 40.1% (95% CI: 37.3-43.0). The mean sodium intake in grams per day for the population was 7.4 gms (95% CI: 7.2-7.7). The prevalence of diabetes (hyperglycemia), hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia was 14.3% (95% CI: 11.7-16.8), 21.6% (95% CI: 18.5-25.1) and 16.1% (95% CI: 13.1-19.2), respectively. In addition, 7% of the population aged 40-69 years had a cardiovascular risk of ≥ 30% over a period of next 10 years. CONCLUSION: We report high prevalence of risk factors of chronic non-communicable diseases among adults in Punjab. There is an urgent need to implement population, individual and programme wide prevention and control interventions to lower the serious consequences of NCDs.

p53 codon 72 polymorphism and its overexpression in patients with laryngeal carcinoma: Prognostic implications.

Abnormalities in the p53 gene are the most common genetic alterations seen in laryngeal carcinoma. No data exist regarding the association between laryngeal carcinoma and a distinct codon 72 variant and its expression. We conducted a prospective study (1) to analyze the p53 codon 72 polymorphic variants in patients with laryngeal carcinoma, (2) to analyze the expression of p53 mRNA in tissues of patients with laryngeal carcinoma using the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay, and (3) to detect p53 antibodies in the plasma of patients with laryngeal carcinoma before and after treatment. Tissue and blood samples were taken from 40 patients with laryngeal carcinoma-36 men and 4 women, aged 40 to 65 years (mean: 56)-and 20 age-matched controls with laryngeal conditions other than carcinoma. RT-PCR was used to measure p53 mRNA expression, and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism was used to determine p53 polymorphism. In addition, p53 antibodies were detected in plasma by Western blot testing. The 40 patients were treated with either surgery (total laryngectomy or conservation surgery) or radiotherapy. Tissue and blood samples were analyzed before treatment and 4 weeks after treatment. The findings were compared with those of the 20 controls. The results revealed that (1) homozygosity of the Pro72 variant of p53 was present in 26 laryngeal carcinoma patients (65%), (2) heterozygosity for the Pro/Arg genotype was present in 13 patients (32.5%), and (3) the Arg72 variant of the p53 allele was present in 1 patient (2.5%) before treatment. Overexpression of p53 mRNA was found in all patients with laryngeal carcinoma and in none of the controls before treatment; the difference was approximately 3.3 folds higher in the carcinoma group. However, p53 expression was not related to the biologic aggressiveness of these tumors. It is interesting that 4 weeks after definitive therapy, the expression levels of p53 mRNA in the 40 patients were comparable to those of the controls. The p53 antibodies were detected in the plasma of all patients with laryngeal carcinoma prior to definitive therapy and in none of them afterward, indicating that these antibodies represent a prognostic marker in laryngeal carcinoma. Our findings suggest that there is a correlation between p53 overexpression and the development of laryngeal carcinoma. Anti-p53 antibodies can be used as a prognostic marker in laryngeal carcinoma, and they can be exploited in the future to control the response to therapy and to monitor for certain early recurrences before they become clinically detectable.

Function and size of the residual kidney after treatment of Wilms tumor.

Long-term damage to the residual kidney is of concern in the survivors of Wilms tumor. Our objective was to evaluate the long-term glomerular function and size of the residual kidney in these patients. Twenty-nine survivors of Wilms tumor diagnosed between July 1999 and June 2004 were enrolled. The glomerular function was assessed by creatinine clearance, 99mTc DTPA radionuclide scintigraphy and 24-hour urinary protein. Renal size was evaluated by ultrasonography. Median age at diagnosis and at enrollment were 2.87 ± 1.8 (range: 0.5-7.5) and 7.9 ± 3.8 years (range: 2.5-18). Median duration of follow-up was 4.78 ± 2.6 years (range: 1-8.8). Evidence of renal dysfunction in the form of either function or size was identified in eight (27.6%) children. Six children had subnormal glomerular filtration rate and one had proteinuria. Subnormal size of the residual kidney was observed in one child. Age at diagnosis, stage, and duration elapsed after nephrectomy had no association with renal dysfunction (P >.05). Long-term follow up is crucial to identify clinical nephrotoxicity among survivors of Wilms tumor.

Influence of two insecticides, chlorpyrifos and quinalphos, on arginine ammonification and mineralizable nitrogen in two tropical soil types.

Effects of seed treatments with chlorpyrifos [5 g of active ingredient (ai) kg(-1) of seed] and quinalphos (6.25 g of ai kg(-1) of seed) and standing crop treatments with chlorpyrifos (800 g of ai ha(-1)) and quinalphos (1000 g of ai ha(-1)) on arginine deamination and mineralizable nitrogen were monitored, in the sandy loam and loamy sand soils of two tropical semiarid fields, for three consecutive crop seasons. The arginine ammonification activity of rhizospheric microbes was inhibited after seed treatment with chlorpyrifos and quinalphos and their principal metabolites, 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCP) and 3,5,6-trichloro-2-methoxypyridine (TMP) and 2-hydroxyquinoxaline and quinoxaline-2-thiol, respectively. Quinalphos produced transient inhibitions, whereas chlorpyrifos and its metabolites (TCP and TMP) exerted a greater inhibition in both loamy sand and sandy loam soils. Arginine ammonification by nonrhizospheric microbes was stimulated by standing crop treatments with both pesticides. In the loamy sand soil, the parent compounds stimulated rhizospheric N-mineralization, whereas the metabolites were inhibitory. However, nonrhizospheric N-mineralization was inhibited by both chlorpyrifos and quinalphos and stimulated by their metabolites. A higher magnitude of inhibition of arginine deamination in the loamy sand than in the sandy loam soil could be due to greater bioavailability of the pesticides in the former, resulting from lesser sorption of the pesticides due to alkalinity of the soil and its low content of clay and organic carbon. Although both pesticides affected mineralizable nitrogen, seed treatment with quinalphos and standing crop treatment with quinalphos and chlorpyrifos produced the most significant effects. The recommended doses of the pesticides not only efficiently controlled whitegrubs, which increased pod yields, but also left no residues in harvested kernels. They also caused no long-term inhibition of ammonification, which could have been of significant concern during the short crop period in semiarid areas where nitrogen determines plant productivity.

Dissipation of chlorpyrifos in two soil environments of semi-arid India.

The dissipation of chlorpyrifos (20 EC) at environment-friendly doses in the sandy loam and loamy sand soils of two semi-arid fields and the presence of pesticide residues in the harvested groundnut seeds, were monitored. The movement of chlorpyrifos through soil and its binding in the loamy sand soil was studied using 14C chlorpyrifos. Chlorpyrifos was moderately stable in both loamy sand and sandy loam soils, with half-life of 12.3 and 16.4 days, respectively. With 20 EC treatments the dissipation was slower for standing crop than seed treatment, indicative of the high degradation rates in the bioactive rhizosphere. In soil, 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCP) was the principal breakdown product. Presence of 3,5,6-trichloro-2-methoxypyridine (TMP), the secondary metabolite, detected in the rhizospheric samples during this study, has not been reported earlier in field soils. The rapid dissipation of the insecticide from the soil post-application might have resulted from low sorption due to the alkalinity of the soil and its low organic matter content, fast topsoil dissipation possibly by volatilization and photochemical degradation, aided by the low water solubility, limited vertical mobility due to confinement of residues to the upper 15 cm soil layers and microbial mineralization and nucleophilic hydrolysis. Contrary to the reports of relatively greater mobility of its metabolites in temperate soils, TMP and TCP remained confined to the top 15 cm soil. The formation of bound residues (half-life 13.4 days) in the loamy sand soil was little and not "irreversible." A decline in bound residues could be correlated to decreasing TCP concentration. Higher pod yields were obtained from pesticide treated soils in comparison to controls. Post-harvest no pesticide residues were detected in the soils and groundnut seeds.