Assessing high-yielding cowpea varieties for bacterial blight resistance in Bangladesh: A step towards an environment-friendly and sustainable solution.

Cowpea is well-known worldwide for its high protein content, versatile use, and adaptability. However, it is devastatingly affected by bacterial blight disease caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. vignicola (Xav). The present study was designed to assess ten high-yielding cowpea varieties for bacterial blight resistance in two contrasting cropping seasons in Bangladesh. The varieties were evaluated using seed and stem inoculation with Xav bacteria, followed by phenotypic and molecular characterisation. The varieties were morphologically assessed using nine disease-related qualitative and quantitative traits, and genetic variations were investigated through nine SSR markers. Disease development varied significantly (P = 0.05) among the varieties. Substantially higher disease incidence was observed in the Kharif season compared to the Rabi season. Felon local, Dark Green-28, and Dark Green-1028 varieties were resistant in both seasons. On the other hand, BARI Felon-1 was highly susceptible to susceptible in both seasons as infections were over 50%. Moreover, plant height, leaf area, branch number, and leaf number significantly differed among the varieties. Besides, in the molecular study, polymorphism information content and Nei's gene diversity were detected as 0.3658 and 0.4089, respectively. Kegornatki showed the highest genetic variation vs Dark Green-1028. The UPGMA dendrogram segregated the ten cowpea varieties into two main clusters. This study revealed that three high-yielding varieties, viz., Dark Green-28, Dark green 1028, and Felon local, were resistant to bacterial blight and showed better performance in morpho-molecular characterisation. Therefore, these varieties can be integrated into future cowpea breeding programmes to develop cultivars that can control the high pressures of Xav.

Nitrogen use efficiency and critical leaf N concentration of Aloe vera in urea and diammonium phosphate amended soil.

Aloe vera L. is widely cultivated in many countries due to its importance as an all-purpose herbal or medicinal plant. The growth and yield of this plant can be enhanced by application of fertilizer. It is expected that a higher and balanced nutrient supply will result in higher crop production maintaining soil health, which is possible when the applied fertilizers are done in way that is efficient. So, there is a need to understand the amount of applied and type of fertilizer that will give the best output for farmers and to formulate economical market products. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of N fertilizer on leaf yield, its uptake and requirement, critical concentration, use efficiency and economics of Aloe vera L. Plants were grown at six levels of N: 0, 40, 80, 100, 150 and 200 kg ha-1 from urea and diammonium phosphate (DAP) following completely randomized design with three replicates under field condition. The highest values of yield and yield attributes and profit based on benefit cost ratio (3.81 for urea and 2.91 for DAP) were obtained with 150 kg N ha-1 (urea) and 100 kg N ha-1 (DAP). Leaf biomass yield increased by 18-128 % in urea-N and 30-139 % in DAP-N fertilized plant over control while DAP > urea by 7.59 %. Sucker production (mean number) was urea-N (4.95 Plant-1) > DAP-N (2.28 Plant-1). Both gel and leaf N concentration and uptake was highest at 200 kg ha-1 for both sources. For 80 % leaf biomass yield, minimum requirement of N was ca 74.90 (urea) and 89.60 kg ha-1 (DAP). Growth and yield parameters to N application exhibited significant and positive correlations. Critical leaf N concentration was ca 0.88% (DAP) and 0.90% (urea) while mean and maximum NUE was 34% and 64 % (urea) and 43% and 69% (DAP), respectively. Farmers can be advised to apply N at the rate of 150 kg ha-1 from urea for producing economically higher yield and better-quality A. vera leaves.

Sulphur fertilization enhanced yield, its uptake, use efficiency and economic returns of Aloe vera L.

Sulphur plays a vital role in the formation and biosynthesis of protein, chlorophyll, and few amino acids. To investigate the effect of sulphur fertilizer on leaf biomass yield, critical sulphur concentration, sulphur requirement and uptake by Aloe vera L., a pot experiment was carried out following completely randomized design with six levels of sulphur viz., 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 and 80 kg ha-1 with three replications. The results of the study revealed that the growth attributes, leaf and gel yield, and sulphur uptake significantly improved with sulphur application and the best results were obtained from the application of 45 kg sulphur ha-1. On average, addition of sulphur enhanced the leaf biomass yield by 47.5% and sulphur use efficiency by 38% compared to control. The effect of sulphur on the growth parameters and their significant and positive correlations with yield signifies the importance of sulphur on the yield and quality of A. vera. The calculated minimum amount of sulphur for 80% leaf biomass production was 21.1 kg sulphur ha-1 with a critical leaf sulphur concentration of 0.23% in A. vera. Moreover, sulphur addition to soil substantially enhanced the economic returns of A. vera. Therefore, addition of 45 kg sulphur ha-1 could be a better option for obtaining higher yield and economic return of A. vera.

Public perception and health implication of loom-dye effluent irrigation on growth of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and red amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor L.) seedlings.

Loom-dye effluent discharge has constituted a major environmental threat to the people of Belkuchi Upazila of Sirajganj District. The present study was conducted to characterize loom-dye effluents and investigate their health implications by the growth analysis of rice and red amaranth seedlings along with a survey study among the individuals associated with loom-dyeing, weaving, and crop farming activities. A total of twenty-eight loom-dye effluent samples were collected for physicochemical characterization; among them, only three loom-dye effluents, i.e. pink, violet, and black dyes, at concentrations of 0, 10, 25, 50, 75, and 100% were applied as irrigation water to rice and red amaranth. The plant growth experiment was laid out following a completely randomized design with three replicas. Chemical analyses of loom-dye effluents showed the presence of a significant amount of plant nutrients and heavy metals. The mean concentrations of Pb, Cd, Cr, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu were 0.938, 0.046, 0.212, 7.109, 0.609, 0.351, and 0.191 mg L-1, respectively. Among the metals, the concentrations of Pb, Cr, Fe, and Mn were above the recommended limit proposed by the irrigation water guideline value. Application of ≤ 25% pink and violet dye effluent and ≤ 10% black dye effluent had significant (p < 0.05) and positive impacts on growth and yield parameters. Heavy metal content in seedlings increased with increasing effluent application rate and crossed the utmost permissible limit at higher concentration. Survey data discovered a moderate knowledge level among the respondents, which might account for the indiscriminate discharge of loom-dye effluent into the surrounding environment. Attitudes, practices, and protective behaviours of the respondents also reflect the caused for long-term pollution through loom-dye effluents. To reduce its negative effects on the health and crop environment, the loom-dye effluents should not be discharged indiscriminately and used for crop irrigation without proper treatment. Furthermore, training programs ought to be introduced to educate the individuals involved in the discharge and subsequent use of loom-dye effluents.

Therapeutic implications of granulocyte colony stimulating factor in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure: increased survival and containment of liver damage.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Mobilization of bone marrow-derived stem cells by granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) supports hepatic regeneration and may augment clinical improvement in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). The aim of this study is to assess the impact of G-CSF on complications and transplant-free survival in patients with ACLF. METHODS: Thirty-two patients with ACLF defined by Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL) criteria were openly randomized to control (group A) or intervention (group B) receiving G-CSF (5 µg/kg/day, for 6 consecutive days) in addition to standard medical therapy with antiviral drugs. The patients were followed for 90 days. RESULTS: Simultaneous use of G-CSF and antiviral drugs in hepatitis B virus (HBV) ACLF significantly improved survival over antiviral drugs alone. Incidence of hepatorenal syndrome and hyponatremia were reduced due to use of G-CSF. Baseline parameters of the two groups of patients were comparable. Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD), disease severity scores improved in patients treated with G-CSF, with significant difference only for the CTP score at 90 days follow-up. In addition, mean white blood cell (WBC) count at day 15 was significantly higher in G-CSF group in absence of infection compared with control group. CONCLUSIONS: G-CSF therapy improved survival and clinical recovery in HBV-ACLF. G-CSF therapy also prevented renal failure and hyponatremia. We strongly recommend use of G-CSF therapy in addition to standard medical therapy.