ID: 66160
Title: Assessment of vegetable crop diversity and its determinants in special agricultural zones for vegetables in Kerala
Author: Navitha Raj, Allan Thomas , Sreeram Vishnu and A. Muhsina
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (3) 290-296 10 Feb. (2025)
Subject: Assessment of vegetable crop diversity and its determinants in special agricultural zones for vegetables in Kerala
Keywords: ANOVA, crop biodiversity, Kendalls tau-b, risk propensity, step-wise multiple regression.
Abstract: The vegetable crop diversity index and its contributing
factors among vegetable growers in the special agricultural zones (SAZs) of Kerala are examined in the present study. A total of 270 farmers from five SAZ
blocks – Chitoor–Kollengode, Kanjikuzhy, Pazhayannur, Vattavada and Devikulam were surveyed. Vegetable crop diversity was measured using the Shannon–
Wiener diversity index, with the highest diversity recorded in Kollengode (H = 1.118) and Kanjikuzhy
(H = 1.108) panchayats, while the lowest diversity was
found in Chelakkara panchayats (H = 0.740). Results
revealed significant differences in crop diversity
among panchayats P < 0.05, with pairwise comparisons
showing that Kollengode, Kanjikuzhy, Devikulam and
Vattavada had similar diversity levels. Further, findings signalled that farmers with a high-risk propensity
are willing to diversify their vegetable cultivation (r =
0.362, P < 0.01). Key personal socio-economic factors
affecting crop diversity, irrigation potential, vegetable
farming experience and credit orientation, as indicated
by stepwise regression analysis, explained 19% of the
variance in crop diversity. The study highlights the
importance of understanding the socio-economic traits
and risk aversiveness of vegetable farmers in designing
strategies to promote vegetable crop diversity, which is
essential for improving agricultural resilience and
farmer livelihoods in Kerala’s SAZs
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Heal, G., Nature and the Marketplace: Capturing the Value of
Ecosystem Services, Island Press, Chicago, 2012, p. 224.
Thrupp, L., Linking agricultural biodiversity and food security: the
valuable role of agrobiodiversity for sustainable agriculture. Int.
Aff., 2000, 76, 283–297.
Literature cited 2: Elia, A. and Santamaria, P., Biodiversity in vegetable crops: a heritage to save. The case of the Puglia region. Ital. J. Agron., 2013,
8(1), 21–34.
Altieri, M. A., Nicholls, C. I., Henao, A. and Lana, M. A., Agroecology and the design of climate change-resilient farming systems.
Agron. Sustain. Dev., 2015, 35, 869–890
ID: 66159
Title: Predicting the impact of climate change on the potential distribution of South American tomato moth, Phthorimaea absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) using CLIMEX
Author: Anusha Nitta, Sridhar Vaddi, Balasubramani Venkatasamy , Murugan Marimuthu , Y. S. Johnson Thangaraj Edward , N. K. Satyamoorthy , M. Kavitha and P. D. Sreekanth
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (3) 283-289 10 Feb. (2025)
Subject: Predicting the impact of climate change on the potential distribution of South American tomato moth, Phthorimaea absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) using CLIMEX
Keywords: CLIMEX, global, Phthorimaea absoluta, potential distribution, validation
Abstract: The South American tomato moth, Phthorimaea absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is native to South
America, but is a major invasive and quarantine pest
and spread to other parts of the world due to global
trade in agricultural products. To evaluate the potential distribution of P. absoluta in the world, we used
CLIMEX ver. 4.0, a bioclimatic software for modelling
the pest distribution of P. absoluta under present and
future climate change scenarios. Here the results
showed that Southeast and Southwest of North America,
Central and South Americas, East, Central, Southern
and some Western Africa, North Europe, South and
Southeast Asia and a major portion of Australia were
highly suitable areas for P. absoluta in current and
future climates. Regions with high latitude areas will
be flatter and more ideal for the P. absoluta in future
due to a significant rise in temperatures (RCP 8.5 scenario). The predictions by our model suggest that the
total geographic distribution range of P. absoluta in the
world is to increase slightly with future climate changes.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Desneux, N., Wajnberg, E., Wyckhuys, K. A. G., Burgio, G.,
Arpaia, S. and Narváez-Vasquez, C. A., Biological invasion of
European tomato crops by Tuta absoluta: ecology, geographic
expansion and prospects for biological control. J. Pest Sci., 2010,
83, 197–215.
Miranda, M. M. M., Picanço, M., Zanuncio, J. C. and Guedes, R.
N. C., Ecological life table of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiid
Literature cited 2: Sridhar, V., Chakravarthy, A. K., Asokan, R., Vinesh, L. S., Rebijith,
K. B. and Vennila, S., New record of the invasive South American
tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in India. Pest Manage. Horti. Ecosyst., 2014, 20, 148–154.
Kanle Satishchandra, N., Chakravarthy, A. K, Özgökçe, M. S. and
Atlihan, R., Population growth potential of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick)
(Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) on tomato, potato and eggplant. J. Appl.
Ento., 2019, 143(5), 518–526.
ID: 66158
Title: Correlation analysis of offshore wind and wave power potential at Indian exclusive economic zone during 2014–23 using deep learning model
Author: S. Vasavi, M. Sobhana and Bittu Singha
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (3) 269-282 10 Feb. (2025)
Subject: Correlation analysis of offshore wind and wave power potential at Indian exclusive economic zone during 2014–23 using deep learning model
Keywords: Exclusive economic zone, Kalman filter, U-net model, wave energy potential, wave power density hotspots
Abstract: Climate change is increasingly influencing energy
resources across the globe, and its effects on renewable
energy sources like offshore wind and wave power are
becoming crucial topics of study. India, with its extensive coastline and vast exclusive economic zone (EEZ),
has significant potential for harnessing these oceans based renewable energies. By analysing the localised
nature of offshore winds and their sensitivity to climate variations, we can improve predictions of future
wind power output. Therefore, to sustain wind energy
development within India’s EEZ, it’s essential to evaluate the region’s wave energy potential and its vulnerability to climate change. This paper investigates the
potential for offshore wind energy within the Indian
EEZ and assesses its vulnerability to climate change.
Spatial and temporal wave data such as wave period
and wave height are collected from Copernicus Marine
Data Store to generate the wave power layer and validate the proposed U-Net model. For improvement
of data quality, assimilation techniques such as the
Kalman filter and Bilateral filter are used. For finding
the wave power density hotspot region, the semantic
segmentation is performed using an enhanced U-Net
model. The model archives an impressive IoU score of
82.66%, conforming its accuracy to identify the wave
power density hotspots. To analyse the impact of climate change on wave power potentials, the Pearson
correlation technique is used to correlate between
ocean surface salinity and ocean surface temperature.
The r value of correlation between ocean surface temperature and ocean surface salinity ranges from –0.59
to –0.0 and indicates a weak, moderate inverse relationship, the positive range varies from 0.01 to 0.62,
suggest that a weak to strong positive correlation,
where both temperature and salinity tend to increase
together. In the case of temperature and wave power
density, there is a negative correlation from June to
October, influenced by seasonal temperature variation
due to rainfall and it effects to correlate with wave
power density
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: MNRE, Offshore wind, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
Government of India (accessed on 27 September 2024).
Lefèvre, J.-M. and Aouf, L., Latest developments in wave data assimilation, ECM
Literature cited 2: BP Economics. BP energy outlook. BP plc, 2018.
Foster, E. et al., The unstudied barriers to widespread renewable
energy deployment: fossil fuel price responses. Energy Policy,
2017, 103, 258–264; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2016.12.050
ID: 66157
Title: Multi-source photographic evidence to assess corridor use, crop-raiding behaviour and body injuries in Asian elephants
Author: N. R. Anoop, P. K. Muneer , M. Madhavan , Anikethan Hathwar and T. Ganesh
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (3) 262-268 10 Feb. (2025)
Subject: Multi-source photographic evidence to assess corridor use, crop-raiding behaviour and body injuries in Asian elephants
Keywords: Asian elephant, corridor use, human-inflicted injuries, landscape connectivity, multi-source photos.
Abstract: The use of multi-sourced photographs, such as those
from social media, camera traps, and field surveys, for
individual identification of male Asian elephants to
study their corridor use, crop-raiding behaviour,
occurrence of musth, ranging and external body injuries in the Thirunelli-Kudrakote elephant corridor in
India’s Western Ghats is investigated in the present
study. A total of 330 images and videos were analysed
over 11 years (January 2014 to March 2024), leading to
the identification of 27 male elephants from the corridor. Eleven individuals were observed across multiple
years, demonstrating their fidelity to the area. Ten elephants were observed engaging in crop-raiding, with
four consistently raiding crops within the corridor.
The study also assessed the home range of six individuals in the corridor and adjacent landscapes based on
individual identification. Overall, the study shows that
identifying individual elephants across different locations and times provides valuable data and is a practical, cost-effective method for investigating a wide
range of questions concerning the ecology and behaviour of Asian elephants. The findings underscore the
potential of citizen science initiatives to enhance elephant research across elephant-range countries.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Menon, V., Tiwari, S. K., Ramkumar, K., Kyarong, S., Ganguly, U.
and Sukumar, R., Right of Passage: Elephant Corridors of India
(Conservation Reference Series No. 3), Wildlife Trust of India,
New Delhi, 2017, p. 826.
Kanagaraj, R., Araujo, M. B., Barman, R., Davidar, P., De, R.,
Digal, D. K. and Goyal, S. P., Predicting range shifts of Asian elephants under global change. Divers. Distrib., 2019, 25, 822–838;
https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.12898.
Literature cited 2: Jayadevan, A., Nayak, R., Karanth, K. K., Krishnaswamy, J., DeFries, R., Karanth, U. K. and Vaidyanathan, S., Navigating paved
paradise: evaluating landscape permeability to movement for large
mammals in two conservation priority landscapes in India. Biol.
Conserv., 2020, 247, 108613; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2020.
108613.
Rangarajan, M. et al., Gajah: Securing the Future for Elephants in
India. The Report of the Elephant Task Force. Ministry of Environment and Forests, Gov
ID: 66156
Title: Biodegradable vegetable oil as an alternative insulation for transformers
Author: R. Manikandan , S. Sumathi, and R. Rajesh
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (3) 255-261 10 Feb. (2025)
Subject: Biodegradable vegetable oil as an alternative insulation for transformers
Keywords: Breakdown voltage, chemical properties, nanofluid, physical properties, transformers, vegetable oil.
Abstract: In high-voltage transformers, liquid insulation serves
as both an insulator and a cooling agent. For many
decades, transformer oil has been the traditional
choice for this purpose. Despite its high quality insulating properties, mineral oil poses several environmental
drawbacks. Researchers are exploring alternative insulating fluids for high-voltage applications, considering
both environmental impact and insulating properties.
With the increasing demands for better electro, physical and chemical properties of vegetable insulating oils
used in high-voltage power transformers, enhancing
these oils with nanoparticles has become a prominent
area of research. The present study investigates groundnut oil (GO) and mustard oil (MO) as base fluids for
insulation oil by incorporating zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles. It analyses the effect of varying concentrations of ZnO nanoparticles on the electro-physical and
chemical properties of the oils. The analysis reveals
several significant enhancements in the properties of
the oils when incorporated with ZnO nanoparticles.
The result shows that the enhancement of the dielectric
strength of the oil can withstand electrical stress without breaking down. Further, the impulse breakdown
voltage, which evaluates the oil’s ability to withstand
high-voltage pulses, has significantly improved. The
study observed a decrease in dissipation factors, representing reduced energy losses as heat within the oil,
and a decrease in viscosities at high temperatures, implying improved fluidity and efficiency in high-temperature
conditions. The interfacial tension improves, indicating
better interfacial tension between the oil and water
molecules. The findings suggest that vegetable oil-based
nanofluids, with finer characteristics, have a high potential to replace traditional mineral oils.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Adekunle, A. and Oparanti, S., A review on physicochemical and
electrical performance of vegetable oil-based nanofluids for high
voltage equipment. Electr. Power Syst. Res., 2023, 214, 108873.
Raj, R. A., Samikannu, R., Yahya, A. and Mosalaosi, M., Enhancement of dielectric properties of baobab oil and mongongo oil using
cost-effective additive for power transformer insulating fluids. Environ. Technol. I
Literature cited 2: Raeisian, L., Niazmand, H., Ebrahimnia-Bajestan, E. and Werle, P.,
Feasibility study of waste vegetable oil as an alternative cooling
medium in transformers. Appl. Thermal Eng., 2019, 151, 308–317.
Rafiq, M., Shafique, M., Azam, A. and Ateeq, M., The impacts of
nanotechnology on the improvement of liquid insulation of transformers: emerging trends and challenges. J. Mol. Liq., 2020, 302,
112482
ID: 66155
Title: Monoterpenes of aromatic lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) and sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) repel the bruchid beetle Callosobruchus chinensis (L.), a serious pest of stored legumes
Author: Akki Suma , M. Rajadurai, P. D. Kamala Jayanthi and Saravan Kumar Parepely
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (3) 245 -254 (2025)
Subject: Monoterpenes of aromatic lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) and sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) repel the bruchid beetle Callosobruchus chinensis (L.), a serious pest of stored legumes
Keywords: Headspace volatiles, gas chromatographyelectroantennography detection, gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometry, olfactometer assays, repellents.
Abstract: Pulse beetle (Callosobruchus chinensis) is a significant
pest in tropical climates that affects stored legumes.
Our objective was to study the repellent effect of the
selected aromatic plant volatiles, namely Azadirachta
indica (neem), Mentha spicata (spear mint), Cymbopogon flexuosus (lemongrass), Ocimum basilicum (sweet
basil) and Manihot esculenta (tapioca) to pulse beetle,
C. chinensis. Both single-, dual- and multiple-choice olfactometer assays to investigate the way C. chinensis
reacts behaviourally to headspace volatiles revealed a
significant repellent response to lemongrass and sweet
basil headspace volatiles. Gas chromatography-mass
spectrometry analysis revealed the presence of 42 and
50 volatile organic compounds in lemongrass and
sweet basil respectively. Further, electrophysiological
studies involving gas chromatography-electroantennographic detection (EAD)-revealed eight EAD active
compounds each in lemongrass (4 nonanone, linalool,
citronellal, β-citral, citral, β-elemene, cis-muurola4(15), 5-diene and β-dihydroagarofuran) and sweet
basil (linalool, estragole, 2-methyl-1-decanol, α-guaiene,
allo aromadendrene, germacrene D, δ-guaiene and
taucadinol). Of these, when the behavioural studies
were performed on synthetic EAD active compounds,
C. chinensis showed significant repulsion behaviour to
monoterpenes, namely citronellal and linalool, indicating the potential of these compounds for the management of C. chinensis.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: . Tuda, M., Habitat-related mtDNA polymorphism in the stored-bean
pest Callosobruchus chinensis (Coleoptera: Bruchidae). Bull. Entomol. Res., 2004, 94, 75–80.
Khalequzzaman, M., Efficacy of edible oils in the control of pulse
beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis L. in stored pigeonpea. Univ. J.
Zool. Rajshahi Univ., 2007, 26, 89–92.
Literature cited 2: Southgate, B., Biology of the Bruchidae. Annu. Rev. Entomol.,
1979, 24, 449–473.
Talekar, N. S., Biology, damage and control of bruchid pests of
mungbean. In Mungbean: Proceedings of the Second International
Symposium, Bangkok, Thailand, 1987, pp. 329–342.
ID: 66154
Title: Nurturing nuclear power in India
Author: R. B. Grover
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (3) 240 -244 (2025)
Subject: Nurturing nuclear power in India
Keywords: Amendments, Atomic Energy Act, fuel cycle, small reactors, system costs.
Abstract: The nuclear industry made a beginning with critical facilities and research reactors, and then moved
on to power reactors. Initially, the reactor size was small but was gradually increased to 700–
1600 MW range to realise the economy of scale. Lessons learnt from various incidents in nuclear
reactors have been incorporated into the designs of operating third-generation reactors. The fourth
generation of reactors where the goal includes breeding, utilisation of thorium, achieving high temperature for hydrogen generation and improving cycle efficiency is going through a developmental
process that could take a long time to realise. Public perception of nuclear energy has fluctuated
over time. The present perception is quite positive because of concerns arising from climate change.
At COP-28 in December 2023, 25 nations declared their intent to triple nuclear-installed capacity
by mid-century. At COP-29, six more countries joined the group of 25. India plans to triple nuclear installed capacity much earlier than mid-century. The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India, has projected a target of 100 GW by 2050, which is more than ten times increase
compared to the present installed capacity.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: RFP No. NPCIL/BSR-220 MWe/2024/01; https://www.npcil.nic.in/
writereaddata/CMS/202412300511513510127RFP_Document_31-
122024_01.pdf (accessed on 2 January 2025).
Grover, R. B., Development-led transition to net zero. Curr. Sci.,
2024, 126(8), 867–868.
Literature cited 2: Bhattacharyya, R., Singh, K. K., Grover, R. B. and Bhanja, K.,
Estimating minimum energy requirement for transitioning to a
net-zero, developed India in 2070. Curr. Sci., 2022, 122(5), 517–
527.
INSAG-19, Maintaining the design integrity of nuclear installations
throughout their operating life, A report by the International Nuclear Safety Advisory Group, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria, 2003
ID: 66153
Title: Raj-Sheetal: India’s first horse foal born through vitrified embryo transfer
Author: Thirumala Rao Talluri, Sajjan Kumar, Ramesh Kumar Dedar, S. C. Mehta and Tarun Kumar Bhattacharya
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (3) 238 -239 (2025)
Subject: Raj-Sheetal: India’s first horse foal born through vitrified embryo transfer
Keywords: None
Abstract: India has a complex amalgamation of
varying terrains and climatic conditions in
which different species of the family Equidae play diverse roles. Our country is bestowed with a rich biodiversity of equids,
which is reflected in the form of eight distinct horse breeds, namely Marwari, Kathiawari, Kachhi-Sindhi, Zanskari, Spiti,
Bhutia, Manipuri and recently recognized
Bhimthadi horse
. These breeds of horses
are distinct not only because of their adaptation to different agroclimatic conditions
prevailing in the country but also because
they have unique performance traits. The
19th and 20th Livestock Census (2012–
2019) data reveals that the population of
horses, donkeys and mules in the country
is 0.34, 0.12 and 0.08 millions respectively, and they have gone down by 45.58%,
61.23% and 57.09% respectively. Collectively, the equines have reduced by 52.71%
during this period1
. The equine population
is dwindling continuously and swiftly,
which reflects its fast-reducing economic
and social importance due to rapid mechanization of agriculture and transport and
little effort in genetic improvement through
selection.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: GoI, Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics,
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry
and Dairying, 2022; http://dahd.nic.in
Talluri, T. R. et al., Curr. Sci., 2024, 126(3),
303.
Literature cited 2: Talluri, T. R. et al., Indian J. Anim. Sci.,
2016, 86(2), 163167; https://doi.org/10.56093/
ijans.v86i2.55797.
Talluri, T. R. et al., Indian J. Anim. Sci.,
2021, 90(10), 14141417; https://doi.org/10.
56093/ijans.v90i10.111418.
ID: 66152
Title: Water security in Himalaya: science of water resource management
Author: G. C. S. Negi, D. P. Uniyal, G. S. Rawat, Durgesh Pant, Bhawna Sharma and Samridhi Sharma
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (3) 232 -233 (2025)
Subject: Water security in Himalaya: science of water resource management
Keywords: None
Abstract: Western Himalayan states of India are endowed with abundant water resources that
have served as a lifeline for the local
communities for centuries1
. Rural communities in Uttarakhand traditionally depend
upon springs (locally called Dhara), stepwells (i.e. 1–2 m deep wells; Naula) and
streams for drinking and other purposes.
However, in recent decades, these water
sources have dried up or have become seasonal due to both anthropogenic (deforestation, grazing, forest fire, urbanisation,
road construction, mining, etc.) and natural
factors (climate change, drought and erratic
rainfall, soil erosion, seismic activities, etc.)
leading to scarcity of water during lean
months; forcing people (particularly women
and children) to travel longer distances to
fetch potable water, consume unhygienic
water, face water-borne diseases and
conflicts over water access, discontinue
agriculture and out-migrate2,3. Similar reports are coming from across the Indian
Himalayan region and suitable measures
are being devised to address the issue
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: NITI Aayog, Report of Working Group I:
Inventory and Revival of Springs in the
Himalayas for Water Security: Contributing
to Sustainable Development in Indian Himalayan Region, Govt of India, New Delhi,
2018, p. 70.
Tambe, S., Kharel, G., Arrawatia, M. L.,
Kulkarni, H., Mahamuni, K. and Ganeriwala,
A. K., Mount. Res. Dev., 2011, 32(1), 62–
72
Literature cited 2: Shrestha, R. B. et al., Protocol for Reviving
Springs in the Hindu Kush Himalayas: A
Practitioner’s Manual, International Centre
for Integrated Mountain Development
(ICIMOD) Manual 2018, ICIMOD, Kathmandu, Nepal, 2018, p. 86.
Valdiya, K. S. and Bartarya, S. K., Curr.
Sci., 1989, 58, 417–426.
ID: 66151
Title: Invasive surge: swift feast of bellicose alien mussel, Mytella strigata in Indian mangroves
Author: P.R.Divya and T.T.Ajith Kumar
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (3) 229 -229 (2025)
Subject: Invasive surge: swift feast of bellicose alien mussel, Mytella strigata in Indian mangroves
Keywords: None
Abstract: Mytella strigata, commonly referred to as
the Charru mussel, is a species native to
the Pacific coasts of Central and South
America. Over time, it has emerged as an
invasive species across various regions,
including the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and India. This species is officially
recognised as an invasive alien species in
the World Register of Introduced Marine
Species database. The initial documentation
of M. strigata in Indian waters occurred in
the Cochin backwaters, with subsequent
sightings along the coastal regions of
Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Odisha. In this context, its presence and invasiveness have
now been observed in the Vellar estuary
and the newly designated Ramsar site,
Pichavaram mangroves in Tamil Nadu.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Rawat, S. and Padua, S., Thalassas, 2024,
40, 411–422; https://doi.org/10.1007/s412-
08-023-00610-0.
Literature cited 2: Sandilyan, S., Sambandam, Babu, C. R., Chintala and Sudhakar Reddy, C., Invasive Alien Species of India, National Biodiversity Authority, Government of India, 2018.
ID: 66150
Title: Influence of some plant growth regulators on fruit set, yield and quality of sugar apple (Annona squamosa L.) var. Arka Neelachal Vikram
Author: D. Samant , K. Kishore, G.C. Acharya, S. Singh and S. Behera
Editor: Dr. Sumati Gaumat
Year: 2025
Publisher: Triveni Enterprises
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Journal of Environmental Biology Vol. 46 (1) Jan 144-151 (2025)
Subject: Influence of some plant growth regulators on fruit set, yield and quality of sugar apple (Annona squamosa L.) var. Arka Neelachal Vikram
Keywords: Fruit set, Fruit quality, Gibberellic acid, Plant growth regulators, Sugar apple
Abstract: Sugar apple (Annona squamosa L., 2n=2x=14), also
known as custard apple and sweetsop, is the most commercially
valued fruit crop of the Annonaceae family because of its
excellent organoleptic, nutritional, and medicinal properties. It is
indigenous to tropical South America and the West Indies,
however, it is widely distributed and spread throughout the tropics
and subtropics of the globe on account of its hardy nature and
excellent consumer acceptance. It was brought to India by the
th Portuguese and Spanish during the 16 century (Soni et al.,
2021). At present, it is found in wild, semi-wild, and cultivated
habitats on a wide range of Indian soils (sandy, rocky, gravelly,
heavy, and sandy loams) and environments (arid, semi-arid,
tropical, and sub-tropical). It is popularly known as sharifa in North
India and sitaphal in South India (Yadav et al., 2017). It is
commercially cultivated on a sizeable area of 46,000 ha with an
annual production of 4.01 lakh MT (NHB, 2018). Maharashtra,
Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh,
Telangana, Karnataka, Odisha, and Rajasthan are the major
sweetsop-growing states. Despite, its popularity and ability to
thrive in India’s diverse edaphoclimatic conditions, its full
horticultural potential in terms of area, production, productivity,
commercialization, and utilization remains unrealized.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Ahmed, W., F.M. Tahir, I.A. Rajwana, S.A. Raza and H.U. Asad:
Comparative evaluation of plant growth regulators for preventing
premature fruit drop and improving fruit quality parameters in
‘Dusehri” mango. Int. J. Fruit Sci., 12, 372-389 (2012).
Aly, M.A. Ezz, M. Thanaa, M.G.A. El-Gawad and K.H. Naghreesh: Effect
of some growth regulators on productivity, fruit quality and
storability of sugar apple Anona squamosa L. Nat. Volati. Essent.
Oils, 8, 12298-12316 (2021).
Literature cited 2: AOAC: Official Methods of Analysis. 17 Edn., Association of Official
Analytical Chemist, Washington DC, USA, 2200 pages (2000).
Baidya, B.K., K. Kishore, D. Samant, S.N. Dash, R.K. Panda, A. Sahu
and K.K. Shukla: Influence of some plant growth regulators on
quality attributes of pineapple (Ananas comosus L.). Int. J. Plant
Soil Sci., 34, 845-854 (2022).
ID: 66149
Title: Dormancy induction for advancement of flowering and harvest maturity in peaches under subtropical climate
Author: S.K. Banyal , H. Singh , U.R. Patial and K. Jarial
Editor: Dr. Sumati Gaumat
Year: 2025
Publisher: Triveni Enterprises
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Journal of Environmental Biology Vol. 46 (1) Jan 137-143 (2025)
Subject: Dormancy induction for advancement of flowering and harvest maturity in peaches under subtropical climate
Keywords: Dormancy, Flowering, Fruit maturity, Peach
Abstract: Peach (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch), is a significant stone
fruit that thrives in temperate zone with a relatively warmer
climate compared to other fruits of the same category. Peach
cultivation spans from 10° to 49° latitude, where long seasons
and warm temperatures are prevalent. Typically grown in low and
mid hills, peaches flourish at altitudes ranging from 1000 to 2000
m above mean sea level (Chauhan et al., 2021). This juicy fruit,
known for its exceptional appearance and quality, is native to
North-West China, specifically the region between the Tarim
Basin and Northern slopes of Kunlun Mountains, where it was
initially domesticated and cultivated many years ago (Li et al.,
2013). Belonging to the Rosaceae family, subfamily Prunoidae,
peaches are among the most important stone fruits cultivated in
different regions worldwide. The term "stone fruit" is attributed to
peaches due to their hard endocarp. Peaches hit the market early
in the season, especially those from low-chilling cultivars grown in
warmer regions of Himachal Pradesh. Fruit trees that require high
or medium chilling hours struggle to thrive in regions with warm
winters due to insufficient chilling accumulation during dormancy
(Salama et al., 2021). As a winter dormant plant, peaches need a
specific number of chilling hours to release buds from dormancy
and bloom in the subsequent spring.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Chandra, R. and K.K. Singh: Foliar application of zinc sulphate,
magnesium sulphate and copper sulphate on the yield and quality
of aonla (Emblica officinallis Gaerth L.) cv. “NA-7” under Garhwal
Himalaya. J. Med. Pla. Stu., 3, 42-45 (2015).
Chauhan, A., K. Kumar, D. Singh and R.K. Dogra: Characterization of
peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] Germplasm Using UPOV Test
gudielines. Ind. J. Pla. Gen. Res., 34, 475-482 (2021)
Literature cited 2: Costa, C., P.J.C. Stassen and J. Mudzunga: Chemical rest breaking
agents for the South African pome and stone fruit industry. In: XXVI
International Horticultural Congress: Key Processes in the Growth
and Cropping of Deciduous Fruit and Nut Trees, 636, 295-302
(2002).
El-Agamy, S.Z., A.M. El-Salhy and M.M. El-Wasfy: Effect of some rest
breaking agents, fruit thinning and girdling on fruiting of some
peach cultivars under Assiut environment. Fifth Arab. Hort. Conf.
Ismai. Egypt., 11, 133-145 (2001)
ID: 66148
Title: Securing the livelihood of Mishmi Hills tribes in Arunachal Pradesh, India: Pioneering sustainable approach
Author: W. Tayang, M. Nirmala Devi and C. Karthikeyan
Editor: Dr. Sumati Gaumat
Year: 2025
Publisher: Triveni Enterprises
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Journal of Environmental Biology Vol. 46 (1) Jan 128-136 (2025)
Subject: Securing the livelihood of Mishmi Hills tribes in Arunachal Pradesh, India: Pioneering sustainable approach
Keywords: Commercialization Model, Coptisteeta, Mishmi teeta, Smart PLS-Sem, Sustainable strategies
Abstract: Climate change stands out as a global concern trending
in the 21 century, demonstrating a significant impact on the
biodiversity, economies and communities worldwide. It is evident
that plant diversity with a narrow geographical distribution in the
Himalayan regions are most affected as the region is considered
the most delicate ecosystem in the world (Kattel, 2022; Manish,
2022). Considering that climate change is one of the major threats
to plant diversity worldwide (Sarma et al., 2023; Sarma et al.,
2024), scientific studies have revealed that in the Eastern
Himalayan region, numerous human-induced threats are also
associated with climate change. Human activities over 50 years
have mainly contributed the most to global warming (Solomon et
al., 2007), which has created greater disadvantages for the
marginal communities of less developed areas and extreme rural
regions (Kanwal and Lodhi, 2018). The state of Arunachal Pradesh
in India falls under the Eastern Himalayan region which includes the
great Mishmi Hills along with other Hills and has been recognised
as one of the regions experiencing a rise in the mean annual
temperature. Scientists have also predicted that these
regions will continue to experience increase of temperature,
confirming the significant impacts on the ecosystem, biodiversity
and communities of these regions (Kanwal and Lodhi, 2018).
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Abbott, R.: Documenting traditional medical knowledge. World
Intellectual Property Organization. 52 pages (March, 2014).
Andrade, G.S.M. and J.R. Rhodes: Protected areas and local
communities: an inevitable partnership toward successful
conservation strategies?. Ecol. Soci., 17, 16 pages (2012).
Literature cited 2: Bajpay, A., R.C. Nainwal and D. Singh: Coptisteeta: a potential endemic
and endangered medicinal plant of Eastern Himalayas. J.Pharmaco. Phytoche., 8, 245-248 (2019).
Bora, H., M. Kamle, S. Chopra and P. Kumar: Evaluation of
phytochemical components, antioxidant, and antibacterial
activities of Coptis teetaWalls. Int. J. Pharmac. Res. Allied Sci., 11,
140-150 (2022).
ID: 66147
Title: Kinetics of lead sorption by farm yard manure
Author: M. Ganesan and C. Thiyagarajan
Editor: Dr. Sumati Gaumat
Year: 2025
Publisher: Triveni Enterprises
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Journal of Environmental Biology Vol. 46 (1) Jan 114-123 (2025)
Subject: Kinetics of lead sorption by farm yard manure
Keywords: Adsorption, Farm yard manure, Kinetic models, Lead
Abstract: Urbanisation and industrialisation have led to increased
metal pollution in the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems (Huang
et al., 2017) resulting in environmental disequilibrium and health
hazards. Heavy metals are non-degradable pollutants that persist
in the environment for a longer period of time. It has no specific
biological role in human beings and is a potential neurotoxin that
accumulates in the kidney, brain, muscles and bones causing
hypertension, anaemia, hepatitis, kidney and brain damage
(Sumiahadi and Acar, 2018). It gets accumulated in the terrestrial
and aquatic ecosystems through industrial activities such as
production of batteries, gasoline additives, pigments, alloys,
sheets, steel, batteries and petrol (Meng et al., 2016). Hence,
developing a suitable management strategy is warranted for
effective remediation of lead polluted ecosystems. Developing a
low cost-efficient technology for removal and reclamation of heavy
metals has grown into a vital research theme around the globe
(Ojedokun and Bello, 2016). Several techniques like microbial
degradation, membrane separation, bioaccumulation, ion exchange, chemical precipitation, coagulation-flocculation,
reverse osmosis, and electrodeposition have been exercised to
sequester heavy metals from the aqueous environment (Mudhoo
et al., 2012). However, these techniques fail to completely
remove the trace-level of heavy metals, consume energy and
chemical reagents extensively, and generate toxic by-products
which require further supplementary treatment (Li et al., 2016
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Abu-Danso, E., S. Peräniemi, T. Leiviskä and A. Bhatnagar: Synthesis of
S-ligand tethered cellulose nanofibers for efficient removal of Pb
(II) and Cd (II) ions from synthetic and industrial wastewater.
Environ. Pollut., 242, 988-1997 (2018).
Aharoni, C., D.L. Sparks and S. Levinson and I. Ravina: Kinetics of soil chemical reactions: Relationships between empirical equations
and diffusion models. SSSA J., 55, 1307-1312 (1991)
Literature cited 2: Ahmad, I., M.J. Akhtar, I.B.K. Jadoon, M. Imran and S. Ali: Equilibrium
modelling of cadmium biosorption from aqueous solution by
compost. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res., 24, 5277-5284 (2017).
Baruah, N., N. Gogoi and M. Farooq: Influence of biochar and organic soil
amendments on bioavailability and immobilization of copper and
lead to common cocklebur in acidic sandy loam soil. J. Environ.
Chem. Eng., 8, 104480 (2020)
ID: 66146
Title: Spatial variability of soil organic carbon in Tamil Nadu: Integrating remote sensing and machine learning approaches
Author: B.K.R. Bobbiti , S. Maragatham , R. Santhi , D. Balachander , D. Vijayalakshmi , V. Davamani , V. Duraisamy and M. Gopalakshinan
Editor: Dr. Sumati Gaumat
Year: 2025
Publisher: Triveni Enterprises
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Journal of Environmental Biology Vol. 46 (1) Jan 103-113 (2025)
Subject: Spatial variability of soil organic carbon in Tamil Nadu: Integrating remote sensing and machine learning approaches
Keywords: Carbon sequestration, Digital soil mapping, Estimation models, Environmental covariates, Land management
Abstract: Soil organic carbon (SOC) is a fundamental component
of global carbon cycle, acting as the largest terrestrial carbon
reservoir. It is estimated that approximately 1500 petagrams of
carbon are stored within the upper meter of soil, making it a critical
element in the Earth's climate system. The management of SOC
is essential for mitigating climate change, as it can both sequester
atmospheric carbon and release it under certain conditions. The
sensitivity of SOC to human activities, such as land use changes
and agricultural practices, as well as to climate variations,
underscores its significance in global efforts to manage carbon
emissions and combat climate change. Consequently, accurate
estimation of SOC distribution is vital for understanding its role
in the global carbon cycle and for developing effective carbon
management strategies (Hengl et al., 2018; Ogle 2018;
Fahad et al., 2021). Traditional soil mapping methods heavily
rely on manual field surveys and expert knowledge. While these
methods have been invaluable in advancing our understanding
of soil properties, they are inherently limited by their labor-intensive nature, time-consuming procedures, and often
insufficient spatial resolution.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Adhikari,K, A.E.Hartemink, B. Minasny, R. BouKheir, M.B. Greve and
M.H. Greve: Digital mapping of soil organic carbon contents and
stocks in Denmark. PLOS ONE, 9, e105519 (2014).
Allaire, JJ. and F.Chollet: Keras: R interface to keras. R package (2018).
Literature cited 2: Bochet E,: the fate of seeds in the soil: A review of the influence of
overland flow on seed removal and its consequences for the
vegetation of arid and semiarid patchy ecosystems. Soil, 1, 131-146 (2015).
Bouasria, A., Y. Bouslihim, S. Gupta, R. Taghizadeh-Mehrjardi, and T.
Hengl: Predictive performance of machine learning model with
varying sampling designs, sample sizes, and spatial extents. Ecol.
Inform., 78, 102294 (2023)