Simulating impacts,potential adaptation and vulnerability of maize to climate change in India

Climate change associated global warming, rise in carbon dioxide concentration and uncertainties in precipitation has profound implications on Indian agriculture. Maize (Zea mays L.), the third most important cereal crop in India, has a major role to play in country’s food security. Thus, it is important to analyze the consequence of climate change on maize productivity in major maize producing regions in India and elucidate potential adaptive strategy to minimize the adverse effects. Calibrated and validated InfoCrop-MAIZE model was used for analyzing the impacts of increase in temperature, carbon dioxide (CO₂) and change in rainfall apart from HadCM3 A2a scenario for 2020, 2050 and 2080. The main insights from the analysis are threefold. First, maize yields in monsoon are projected to be adversely affected due to rise in atmospheric temperature; but increased rainfall can partly offset those loses. During winter, maize grain yield is projected to reduced with increase in temperature in two of the regions (Mid Indo-Gangetic Plains or MIGP, and Southern Plateau or SP), but in the Upper Indo-Gangetic Plain (UIGP), where relatively low temperatures prevail during winter, yield increased up to a 2.7°C rise in temperature. Variation in rainfall may not have a major impact on winter yields, as the crop is already well irrigated. Secondly, the spatio-temporal variations in projected changes in temperature and rainfall are likely to lead to differential impacts in the different regions. In particular, monsoon yield is reduced most in SP (up to 35%), winter yield is reduced most in MIGP (up to 55%), while UIGP yields are relatively unaffected. Third, developing new cultivars with growth pattern in changed climate scenarios similar to that of current varieties in present conditions could be an advantageous adaptation strategy for minimizing the vulnerability of maize production in India.     

Indian dye yielding plants: Efforts and opportunities

The present review article deals with the information on the dye‐yielding plants of India. Dyes are intensively coloured compounds that are applied to a substrate such as fibre, paper, cosmetics, hair, etc. to give colours and can be extracted from the roots, fruits/berries, bark, leaves, flowers, and stem/wood, fungi, and lichens by various processes of extractions. In addition to their dye‐yielding characteristics, many of these plants possess medicinal values and can be used for multiple other purposes. Plant derived‐colours have an important role in human life because of their safe and eco‐friendly nature. But due to the availability of economically cheaper synthetic dyes, the indigenous knowledge of extraction, processing, and proper utilisation has been diminished. Nowadays, the demand for natural dyes has been increased worldwide due to awareness about their beneficial properties. It has been essential that proper documentation and measure of conservation should be undertaken to preserve these natural dye‐yielding plants. This review article is an aid to a collective inquiry into Indian dye plants.     

Next-generation sequencing in the biodiversity conservation of endangered medicinal plants

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Medicinal plants have been used as traditional herbal medicines in the treatment of various types of diseases. However, the increased demand for these...     

Synthesis of 2-furyl-4-arylidene-5(4H)-oxazolones as new potent antibacterial agents against phyto-pathogenic and nitrifying bacteria

Crop losses due to bacterial pathogens are a major global concern. Most of the available pesticides for these pathogens suffer from various drawbacks such as complicated synthesis, high cost, high toxicity, pesticide resistance and environmental hazards. To overcome these drawbacks, the present study was undertaken to find a potent bactericide. Therefore, a series of compounds comprising bioactive furyl and oxazolone rings was synthesized under microwave irradiation and screened for in vitro antibacterial activity. The reactions were completed in fewer than 2 minutes with minimal use of solvents and resulted in high yields. These compounds were screened for antibacterial activity against plant pathogens, Xanthomonas oryzae, Ralstonia solanacearum and nitrifying bacteria, Nitrosomonas species under laboratory conditions. Five compounds were active as antibacterial agents against Xanthomonas oryzae and Ralstonia solanacearum. However, all compounds were effective against the Nitrosomonas species and the best one was 2-furyl-4-(3-methoxy-4-hydroxybenzylidene)-5(4H)-oxazolone. The study revealed the fast and environmentally friendly synthesis of bioactive title compounds, which also hold promise to be used as prototypes for the discovery of potent analogues.     

A review of the Texas,USA San Jacinto Superfund site and the deposition of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in the San Jacinto River and Houston Ship Channel

The San Jacinto River (SJR) waste pits that lie just under the 1–10 overpass in eastern Harris County east of Houston, Texas, USA, were created in the 1960s as dumping grounds for paper mill waste. The deposition of this waste led to accumulation of highly toxic polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCCDDs/PCDFs) over the course of several decades. After abandonment, the waste material eventually became submerged under the waters of the SJR, resulting in widespread environmental contamination that currently constitutes a significant health concern for eastern Harris County communities. The original waste pits were rediscovered in 2005, and the San Jacinto waste site is now a designated EPA superfund site. The objective of this review then is to discuss the history and current state of containment around the San Jacinto waste pits and analyze spatial and temporal trends in the PCDD/PCDF deposition through the SJR system from the data available. We will discuss the current exposure and health risks represented by the Superfund site and the SJR system itself, as well as the discovery of liver, kidney, brain (glioma), and retinoblastoma cancer clusters in eastern Harris County across multiple census tracts that border the Superfund site. We will also cover the two primary management options, containment versus removal of the waste from the Superfund and provide recommendations for increased monitoring of existing concentrations of polychlorinated waste in the SJR and its nearby associated communities.     

Vertical ozone variation in the lower troposphere of Delhi

Measurements of ozone in the urban environment of Delhi were carried out at ground level and heights of 23m, 51m, 117m and 153m at four different sites synoptically during 1989–90. A considerable ozone build up was observed all over Delhi and a significant vertical variation in its concentration was observed at all sites. At any given time O₃ levels were lowest at ground level and invariably increased with increasing distance from the ground.     

Simultaneous sampling of gas- and aerosol-phase TDI with a triple filter system

A new triple filter system sampler/model is proposed for the precise and accurate simultaneous sampling and determination of gas- and aerosol-phase 2,4-toluene diisocyanate (TDI). The system consists of two front Teflon filters for sampling aerosol-phase TDI and a final coated glass fiber filter to collect gas-phase TDI. The aerosol-phase TDI is collected on the first Teflon filter, while the second Teflon filter is used to estimate gaseous TDI adsorbed by the first. According to the gas adsorption test of two Teflon filters in series, the TDI gas adsorption fraction of the two filters is almost the same. Results of the evaporation test using pure TDI aerosols collected on the Teflon filter show that significant evaporation of the compound does not occur during sampling. These two findings allow the use of a model to estimate accurate gas- and aerosol-phase TDI concentrations. The comparison test with an annular denuder shows that the triple filter system can minimize the TDI sampling bias between the dual filter and the annular denuder systems.