Comprehensive genome-wide identification and transferability of chromosome-specific highly variable microsatellite markers from citrus species.

Citrus species among the most important and widely consumed fruit in the world due to Vitamin C, essential oil glands, and flavonoids. Highly variable simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers are one of the most informative and versatile molecular markers used in perennial tree genetic research. SSR survey of Citrus sinensis and Citrus maxima were identified perfect SSRs spanning nine chromosomes. Furthermore, we categorized all SSR motifs into three major classes based on their tract lengths. We designed and validated a class I SSRs in the C. sinensis and C. maxima genome through electronic polymerase chain reaction (ePCR) and found 83.89% in C. sinensis and 78.52% in C. maxima SSRs producing a single amplicon. Then, we selected extremely variable SSRs (> 40 nt) from the ePCR-verified class I SSRs and in silico validated across seven draft genomes of citrus, which provided us a subset of 84.74% in C. sinensis and 77.53% in C. maxima highly polymorphic SSRs. Out of these, 129 primers were validated on 24 citrus genotypes through wet-lab experiment. We found 127 (98.45%) polymorphic HvSSRs on 24 genotypes. The utility of the developed HvSSRs was demonstrated by analysing genetic diversity of 181 citrus genotypes using 17 HvSSRs spanning nine citrus chromosomes and were divided into 11 main groups through 17 HvSSRs. These chromosome-specific SSRs will serve as a powerful genomic tool used for future QTL mapping, molecular breeding, investigation of population genetic diversity, comparative mapping, and evolutionary studies among citrus and other relative genera/species.

Analysis of Psychosocial Impact on Health Care Workers and General population of India during COVID 19 Pandemic using HAM-A scale.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The frequency of outbreaks, pandemics is increasing across the globe which can be probably due to increased medical tourism, expansion of international exchange, travel and global warming. COVID-19 outbreak spread across the world within a few months of initiation from Wuhan City of China and affected all the countries across the globe except Antarctica. From the psychopathological view, this current COVID -19 is a stressor, trauma or stigma for health care workers as well as general population. Mental health and psychosocial consequences of COVID 19 has a serious impact on various categories of people : a) those directly involved with viral overload b) health care workers c) general population who are following social media d) quarantined individuals and their family members. The aim of our study was to determine the unforeseen psychosocial impact of COVID 19 pandemic on mental status of health care workers and general population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross sectional online survey using an anonymous questionnaire using snowball sampling strategy was done. The study included 480 respondents, out of which 197 were health care workers and 283 were general population. The participation was totally voluntary. Data collection took place over fifteen days .We included additional questions which were related to COVID-19 outbreak. The structured questionnaire used, consisted of questions that covered several areas. Anxiety level was assessed based on Hamilton Anxiety Rating scale ranging from 0-4 , consisted of 14 items. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: According to Hamilton anxiety rating scale it was seen that out of 197 health care workers, 27% had mild anxiety (<17), 18.7% had mild to moderate (18-24), 17.7% had moderate to severe (25-30), and 35.5% had very severe(>31). Out of 283 respondents representing general population, 26.14% had mild anxiety (<17), 17.31% had mild to moderate (18-24), 19.08% had moderate to severe (25-30), 37.45% had very severe(>31). The two groups were analyzed statistically, Z test applied between the two groups and it was found that the difference between the mean was found to be statistically significant with p value < 0.0001. The confidence interval was kept at 95%. Concerns about one's own health and that of their beloved ones (particularly elderly or suffering from any physical illness), as well as uncertainty about the future, can generate or exacerbate fear, depression, and anxiety.