Development and evaluation of Fusarium wilt-resistant and high-yielding chickpea advanced breeding line, KCD 11

Fusarium wilt (FW) is the most severe soil-borne disease of chickpea that causes yield losses up to 100%. To improve FW resistance in JG 11, a high-yielding variety that became susceptible to FW, we used WR 315 as the donor parent and followed the pedigree breeding method. Based on disease resistance and yield performance, four lines were evaluated in station trials during 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 at Kalaburagi, India. Further, two lines, namely, Kalaburagi chickpea desi 5 (KCD 5) and KCD 11, which possesses the resistance allele for a specific single-nucleotide polymorphism marker linked with FW resistance, were evaluated across six different locations (Bidar, Kalaburagi, Raichur, Siruguppa, Bhimarayanagudi and Hagari) over a span of 3 years (2020-2021, 2021-2022 and 2022-2023). KCD 11 exhibited notable performance, showcasing yield advantages of 8.67%, 11.26% and 23.88% over JG 11, and the regional checks Super Annigeri 1 (SA 1) and Annigeri 1, respectively, with enhanced FW resistance in wilt sick plot. Further, KCD 11 outperformed JG 11, SA 1 and Annigeri 1 in multi-location trials conducted across three seasons in the North Eastern Transition Zone, North Eastern Dry Zone, and North Dry Zones of Karnataka. KCD 11 was also tested in trials conducted by All India Coordinated Research Project on chickpea and was also nominated for state varietal trials for its release as a FW-resistant and high-yielding variety. The selected line is anticipated to cater the needs of chickpea growers with the dual advantage of yield increment and disease resistance.

Advance on the biology, behaviour ecology and management of the coffee white stem borer, Xylotrechus quadripes Chevrolat, 1863 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

The coffee white stem borer, Xylotrechus quadripes Chevrolat, 1863 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) - here removed from the synonymy with X. javanicus (Laporte & Gory, 1841) - is the most notorious pest in Arabica coffee plantations in many southeast Asian countries. It can cause damage up to 80% in various gardens. The borer is reported on 16 different host plants other than coffee. The severity of the pest was more commonly recorded on the Arabica coffee than on other species. More pest intensity on the coffee may be due to its innate evolutionary relation compared to other host plants. Studies revealed that the borer is more specific and attracted to the volatile of coffee plants but it is still needs a strong supporting data. Some of the behavioural and ecological-adaptations of borers leads to avoid predation and chemical-pesticides reaching them. Hence, no single method gives perfect control of this pest; therefore, harmonic use of different tools such as cultural, mechanical, physical, bio-control and chemical methods are the best way to combat this pest. Though the pest is economically important, the information on chemical and ecological behaviour, host plant resistance and recent advancements in the pest management are scanty. The present article is an endeavour to shed a light on biology, behaviour, host selection and management of X. quadripes with multiple instances, that will give a new avenue for the researchers to work on the least concerned fields to develop strong management practice and alert against future pest outbreak.

Design and metal-free synthesis and cytotoxicity evaluation of 5H-chromeno[4,3-b]pyridine derivatives as anti-proliferative agents

Background:

A novel metal-free approach is reported for the synthesis of 5H-chromeno[4,3-b]pyridine derivatives. Indeed, chromene derivatives are found to exhibit a broad spectrum of biological activities such as antibacterial, antirhinovirus, antioxidant, cytotoxic, anticancer, and antimicrobial properties.

Methods:

This method provides an easy access to a large number of 5H-chromeno[4,3-b]pyridine scaffolds by the condensation of 3-formylchromene with -enaminoesters under thermal conditions. All compounds are well characterized by NMR, IR and mass spectrometry. This is a safe and convenient protocol.

Results:

Thus newly synthesized compounds are evaluated for their cytotoxicity against four human cancer cell lines, such as B16 (Skin cancer), DU145 (Prostate cancer), Hela (Cervical cancer) and CHO (Chinese hamster ovary).

Conclusion:

Among them, compounds 3n and 3o shows an excellent anti-proliferation activity against CHO (IC50 12.33+1.13 μM), Hela (IC50 22.33+0.51 μM), and B16 (IC50 27.61+0.8 μM) cell lines, while compounds 3c, 3g and 3q exhibits promising anti-proliferation against above four human cancer cell lines with IC50 14.96+1.9, 15.59+0.9, 13.8+0.06 μM, respectively, compared with a standard drug Doxorubicin & Mitomycin.

Knowledge extraction of sonophotocatalytic treatment for acid blue 113 dye removal by artificial neural networks

Removing decolorizing acid blue 113 (AB113) dye from textile wastewater is challenging due to its high stability and resistance to removal. In this study, we used an artificial neural network (ANN) model to estimate the effect of five different variables on AB113 dye removal in the sonophotocatalytic process. The five variables considered were reaction time (5-25 min), pH (3-11), ZnO dosage (0.2-1.0 g/L), ultrasonic power (100-300 W/L), and persulphate dosage (0.2-3 mmol/L). The most effective model had a 5-7-1 architecture, with an average deviation of 0.44 and R² of 0.99. A sensitivity analysis was used to analyze the impact of different process variables on removal efficiency and to identify the most effective variable settings for maximum dye removal. Then, an imaginary sonophotocatalytic system was created to measure the quantitative impact of other process parameters on AB113 dye removal. The optimum process parameters for maximum AB 113 removal were identified as 6.2 pH, 25 min reaction time, 300 W/L ultrasonic power, 1.0 g/L ZnO dosage, and 2.54 mmol/L persulfate dosage. The model created was able to identify trends in dye removal and can contribute to future experiments.

Modeling and optimization of process parameters of biofilm reactor for wastewater treatment

The efficiency of heavy metal in biofilm reactors depends on absorption process parameters, and those relationships are complicated. This study explores artificial neural networks (ANNs) feasibility to correlate the biofilm reactor process parameters with absorption efficiency. The heavy metal removal and turbidity were modeled as a function of five process parameters, namely pH, temperature(°C), feed flux(ml/min), substrate flow(ml/min), and hydraulic retention time(h). We developed a standalone ANN software for predicting and analyzing the absorption process in handling industrial wastewater. The model was tested extensively to confirm that the predictions are reasonable in the context of the absorption kinetics principles. The model predictions showed that the temperature and pH values are the most influential parameters affecting absorption efficiency and turbidity.

Prediction of batch sorption of barium and strontium from saline water

Celestite and barite formation results in contamination of barium and strontium ions hinder oilfield water purification. Conversion of bio-waste sorbent products deals with a viable, sustainable and clean remediation approach for removing contaminants. Biochar sorbent produced from rice straw was used to remove barium and strontium ions of saline water from petroleum industries. The removal efficiency depends on biochar amount, pH, contact time, temperature, and Ba/Sr concentration ratio. The interactions and effects of these parameters with removal efficiency are multifaceted and nonlinear. We used an artificial neural network (ANN) model to explore the correlation between process variables and sorption responses. The ANN model is more accurate than that of existing kinetic and isotherm equations in assessing barium and strontium removal with adj. R² values of 0.994 and 0.991, respectively. We developed a standalone user interface to estimate the barium and strontium removal as a function of sorption process parameters. Sensitivity analysis and quantitative estimation were carried out to study individual process variables' impact on removal efficiency.

Microwave-Assisted Efficient synthesis of Dihydro Pyrimidines: Improved High Yielding Protocol for the Biginelli Reaction

Dihydropyrimidines were synthesised in high yields by one-pot cyclocondensation reaction of aldehydes, aceto-acetates and urea using various acid catalysts like Amberlyst-15, Nafion-H, KSF clay and dry acetic acid under microwave irradiation.

Microwave-assisted efficient one-pot synthesis of nitriles in dry media

A rapid and efficient procedure is reported for the synthesis of nitriles by condensation of aldehydes with hydroxylamine hydrochloride in the presence of dibutyltin oxide supported on Al2O3 under microwave irradiation

An Efficient and Selective conversion of Hydrazides into Esters and Acids

Hydrazides are selectively oxidised to esters/acids in high yields using Oxone® in the presence of an appropriate alcohol/water as a nucleophile at ambient temperature. A variety of functional groups including alkenes, alcohols, ethers, cyclopropyl groups and nitriles are unaffected.

Efficient and selective protection of aldehydes as geminal diacetates using LiBr

A variety of aldehydes react with acetic anhydride in presence of lithium bromide at room temperature to afford the corresponding 1,1-diacetates in quantitative yields within a few hours of reaction time.

Bioglycerol-derived carbon−SO3H as a recyclable catalyst for the synthesis of tetrahydro-β-carbolines

A variety of aldehydes undergo smooth coupling with N-tosyltryptamine in the presence of carbon−SO3H in ethanol at 80 °C to furnish the corresponding tetrahydro-β-carbolines in excellent yields with high selectivity. The coupling of tryptamine with isatins affords the respective spiro-tetrahydro-β-carbolines in good yields. The use of a recyclable solid acid catalyst makes this method simple, convenient, and cost-effective.