In August 2015, twig blight disease of ban tulsi (Croton bonplandianus Bail.) caused by Choanephora cucurbitarum (Berk. & Ravenel) Thaxt. was observed for the first time, in the Gangetic alluvial region of West Bengal, India. A severe disease incidence (40–50%) showed twig blight symptoms starting with shoot apical meristem (SAM), leaf, and blossom blight symptoms. Typical symptoms were characterized by over-projecting black pin head like emerging sporangiola which formed mycelial cushion on the infected surface. The present report describes the identification of the causal pathogen as C. cucurbitarum based on its morphology and the internal transcribed spacer of its ribosomal DNA (rDNA – ITS) sequences with 100% identity of NCBI-GenBank published Choanephora database. Optimum temperatures, 28–30°C, coupled with high relative humidity (80–90%) during the monsoon season enhances the disease’s progress. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of twig blight of C. bonplandianus, caused by C. cucurbitarum, in India as well as globally.
Arsenic (As) is a metalloid that causes severe water pollution due to its extravagant toxicity. Ceriodaphnia dubia, a freshwater crustacean, was selected as a model system to evaluate the degree of time and dosage dependent acute toxicity caused by pentavalent As [As(V)]. C. dubia were collected from a natural pond and treated with different concentrations of As(V) for 24 hours and 48 hours. For both 24 hours and 48 hours treatment periods, the mortality rates were increased significantly ( P< 0.05) with increase in As(V) concentrations. Simultaneously, it was also observed that As(V) - induced mortality in C. dubia also depended on the time of exposure to the metalloid. We propose this model as a low-cost technique towards rapid screening of water quality in relation to As contamination.
West Bengal is one of the most populated states of India. The residents of the state are mostly dependent on agriculture and allied activities for their livelihood. Livestock also provide economic support and food security to them. A survey in veterinary hospitals and cattle farms of Murshidabad, Nadia, Malda and Birbhum district of West Bengal indicated the frequent occurrence of bacterial, fungal, viral and protozoan diseases in cattle. Some of these diseases like cryptosporidium diarrhoea, ringworm and salmonelliasis are zoonotic in nature and thus, are easily transmitted to human. The frequency of diseases increases during rainy season. Infection of alimentary canal and pneumonia are more common in calves whereas, arthritis is more common in male. Most of the common diseases of cattle like anthrax, rabies, foot and mouth disease, bovine tuberculosis, etc., can be prevented by proper vaccination. Some of these diseases can easily be diagnosed by modern techniques like ELISA, PCR, etc. But lack of veterinary hospitals, socio-economic backwardness and misconception have prevented easy diagnosis and treatment of these common diseases. Common antibiotic like kanamycin, antifungal drugs and antitoxins are generally applied to treat these diseases. Further, maintenance of proper hygiene, isolation of diseased animal, regular check-up and vaccination can prevent easy transmission of the diseases and thus, will put a check on livestock damage.
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