eChapters

Bovine babesiosis is a significant febrile disease, primarily affecting cattle and buffalo, transmitted by ticks. The disease is marked by the rapid proliferation of parasites within the bloodstream, leading to the extensive destruction of red blood cells. This results in a cascade of clinical symptoms, including anemia, jaundice, hemoglobinuria, and splenomegaly, with the potential for severe cases to culminate in death. The acute form of bovine babesiosis is particularly severe, often characterized by these pronounced symptoms, which can lead to rapid deterioration in the affected animals. Babesiosis is not merely an acute illness but can also persist as a chronic infection. Chronic bovine babesiosis is typified by ongoing anemia and varying degrees of weight loss, reflecting the enduring impact of the parasite within the host. Economically, this disease poses a formidable challenge, especially in regions where cattle are most susceptible. Since the first description of Babesia bovis by Victor Babes in Romania in 1888, numerous distinct species have been identified, each contributing to the global burden of this disease (Hunfeld et al., 2008). The impact of bovine babesiosis on livestock improvement efforts in endemic regions is profound. The introduction of susceptible, naive animals into these areas often leads to significant losses, as these animals are highly vulnerable to the disease.

Introduction

The need for water for human consumption and the industry keeps spiraling up in the cities in the wake of rural diaspora and urban sprawl. Groundwater is exploited at an unsustainable rate leading to depletion of aquifers. Worse still is the intrusion of salt water from adjoining coast into the aquifers leading to total wastage of remaining water.

Introduction

The innermost layer of the pericarp is the endocarp. The segments are also called “liths”, and the space inside each lith is a locule filled with juice vesicles, or “pulp”. From the endocarp, stringlike “hairs” extend into the locules, which provide nourishment to the fruit as it develops. Citrus fruits are notable for their fragrance, partly due to flavonoids and limonoids (which in turn are terpenes) contained in the rind, and most are juice-laden. The juice contains a high quantity of citric acid giving them their characteristic sharp flavour. The genus is commercially important as many species are cultivated for their fruit which is eaten fresh, pressed for juiceor preserved in marmalades and pickles.

Student engagement and creativity are essential components of meaningful learning, particularly when education moves beyond passive knowledge transmission toward active participation and experiential learning. Generative AI is enabling educators to create interactive games, dynamic stories, role-playing environments, virtual laboratories, and realistic simulations that respond to individual learners. This chapter explores the potential of AI-generated creative learning environments to increase motivation, participation, imagination, problem-solving, and higher-order thinking. AI-generated educational games can dynamically adjust difficulty, generate new tasks, track student progress, and provide personalized feedback. AI-supported storytelling allows learners to modify narratives, develop characters, create alternative endings, and become active co-creators of educational content. Simulations provide opportunities to experiment with realistic situations without the cost or risk associated with physical environments. Applications include science laboratories, healthcare training, business decision-making, historical role-play, emergency management, environmental planning, and engineering design. The chapter also examines challenges including bias, privacy, infrastructure limitations, overdependence on technology, and changing teacher roles. Overall, AI-generated creative environments can connect theoretical knowledge with authentic practice while supporting deeper engagement and creativity.

Introduction
India possesses wide range of climatic and physio-geographical conditions, which are favourable for the production of various kinds of horticultural crops such as fruits, vegetables, flowers, nuts, spices, plantation crops (coco nut, cashew nut and cocoa) etc. The production of fruits and vegetables (F&Vs) in India is 81.2 million tonnes and 162.2 million tonnes from an area of 6.9 million hectares and 9.2 million hectares respectively during 2012-13 (NHB, 2013).  India is the second largest producer of F&Vs in the world after China. India’s share in the world production of F&Vs is 11.84 per cent and 13.36 per cent respectively (Lagzi, 2013). The importance of horticultural sector can be gauged from the fact that the contribution of horticulture sector in agricultural gross domestic product (agri-GDP) stands at around 30 per cent (Economic Survey, 2013-14).

Abstract

Maintaining grain in good condition in storage requires careful, routine inspection and good storage practices. An integrated approach of several management tools and practice factors are necessary to manage stored grain to prevent deterioration and wastage: This includes:1) harvesting, handling, and storage equipment; 2) initial condition of the grain; 3) grain moisture content; 4) grain temperature; 5) aeration system management ; 6) insect and mold control; and 7) monitoring grain condition. An effective management program greatly enhances the likelihood of maintaining top quality grain. A well- designed and properly operated storage system with adequate aeration capacity, storing only clean grain at the proper moisture content and temperature, sanitizing the bin before loading, checking the grain condition regularly and correcting problems before they get out of hand are critical management strategies that must be implemented to prevent grain damage and possible serious economic loss.

Introduction

Fresh water, a renewable but not an infinite resource, is becoming increasingly scarce. The amount available for use to the world today is almost the same as it was 4500 years ago but global demand has been increasing exponentially. Since 1950, the renewable supply per person has fallen 58 percent as world population has swelled from 2.5 billion to 6 billion. Moreover, unlike oil and most other strategic resources, fresh water has no substitute in most of its uses. It is essential for growing food, manufacturing goods, and safeguarding human health.

According to a World Policy Forum report, the largest and most combustible imbalance between population and available water supplies will be in Asia, where crop production depends heavily on irrigation. Asia today has roughly 60 percent of the world’s people but only 36 percent of the world’s renewable fresh water. China, India, Iran, and Pakistan are among the countries where a significant share of the irrigated land is now jeopardized by groundwater depletion, scarce river water, a fertility-sapping buildup of salts in the soil, or some combination of these factors. Groundwater depletion alone places 10 to 20 percent of grain production in both China and India at risk.

The relevance and need for an eco-friendly alternative farming system arose from the ill effects of the chemical farming practicesadopted worldwide during the second half of the last century. The methods of farming evolved and adopted by our forefathers for centuries were less injurious to the environment. People began to think of various alternative farmingsystemsbased on the protection of environment which in turn would increase the welfare of the humankind in various ways like clean and healthy foods, an ecology which is conducive to the survival of all the living and non-living things, low use of the non-renewable energy sources, etc. Many systems of farming evolved as an outcome of the efforts of many experts and laymen. However, organic farming is considered to be the best amongall of them because of its scientific approach and wider acceptance all over the world.

Organic farming means farming in the spirit of organic relationship. In nature, organic relationship is a pervasive phenomenon. Everythingis connectedwith everything else. Hence, organic farmingis not mere non-chemicalism in agriculture. Since, organic farmingmeans placingfarmingonintegral relationship, wehave to know therelationship between soil-water and plant; betweensoilandsoil microbes andwasteproducts;between the plant and animal kingdom of which the apex animal is the human being; between agriculture and forestry; between soil, water and atmosphere etc.It is the totality of the relationship that is the bedrock of organic farming. However, the understanding of this totality of relationship is not sufficient for success in organic farming. Understanding the local specificity in respect of each of these aspects of these multiple relationship is also important (Pal, 2006).

The growing adoption of Generative AI in education offers substantial benefits in personalization, content creation, assessment, tutoring, and administrative efficiency, but it also introduces significant ethical, legal, and pedagogical challenges. This chapter examines the principles and practices required for responsible application of GenAI across educational environments. It focuses on algorithmic bias, fairness, data privacy, academic integrity, intellectual property, transparency, accountability, and the digital divide. AI models trained on large datasets may reproduce historical stereotypes or generate inaccurate and discriminatory content, potentially affecting marginalized learners. The extensive collection and processing of student information also raises concerns about informed consent, data storage, security, and appropriate use. Generative AI challenges traditional concepts of authorship and academic integrity because students may use AI to produce essays, assignments, and other academic work. The chapter discusses institutional policies, ethical audits, transparent content moderation, teacher and student AI literacy, human oversight, and multi-stakeholder governance. International principles such as UNESCO and IEEE guidance are considered as foundations for responsible implementation. The chapter emphasizes that trustworthy educational AI must remain human-centered, transparent, inclusive, accountable, and continuously evaluated.

Abstract

Microorganisms are potential tool for the production of large amount of potent and effective health care, food products and biofertilising agents. Recently, the marine microorganisms are considered as good sources of such products which may possess novel properties. There is a high scope for the exploration of marine microbes in order to search new product of economic importance from marine resources. Mangrove habitat is also part of marine habitat with the plant community having unique adaptation in their morpho- physiological and reproductive behavior. The high level of organic content in mangrove rhizosphre also leads to the colonization of degradative microorganisms and make them responsible for the creation of diverse and potential microbial community. Hence, mangroves are also considered as untapped resources of microbial metabolites and products. Several microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, algae, cyanobacteria, lichens are documented from mangrove habitats. These inhabitant microbes are the good source of secondary metabolites, therapeutic enzymes, food protective agents and mineral solubilisers. However, information on these aspects is very meager and thus the present review is an attempt to compile informations on the sources, properties and application of important microbes from mangrove ecosystems.

Abstract

Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field which plays a major role in various disciplines including drug discovery, pharmacogenomics, proteomics, comparative genomics, microbial genome applications in biotechnology. Food plays a vital role in various processes in body and also helps in controlling various chronic diseases. Food safety and food processing are very crucial factor for human lives. Bioinformatics has been successfully applied in food industry for improving various factors of food such as flavor, taste, allergenicity, probiotics, optimizing the quantitative and compositional parameters for food processing and assessing the food safety. In this chapter, we have given an overview about the role of bioinformatics in food industry.

5.1 Introduction

Sprouting broccoli is believed to be the first to be originated from wild cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. sylvestris) or wild cliff cabbage which is found growing wild in southern Europe and along the eastern Mediterranean Sea. It is also known by several other names such as Calabrese or Italian Green because it was cultivated first in Italy by the ancient Romans and spread to other countries only from sixteenth century onwards. In India, it was introduced during the second half of the 20th century. The word broccoli is derived from the Latin word Brachium meaning an arm or branch. Broccoli contains higher amount of protein, vitamin A and C and appreciable quantities of thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, calcium and iron. 

Introduction

The influence of government policies on agricultural practices is a topic of paramount importance in the realm of global food security, environmental sustainability and economic development. Governments around the world play a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of agricultural systems through a myriad of interventions, regulations, and support mechanisms. The intricate interplay between governmental policies and agricultural practices underscores the complex dynamics that govern food production, land use, and rural livelihoods. Agriculture stands as a cornerstone of human civilization, providing sustenance, employment, and economic prosperity to billions of people worldwide.

Seed dormancy

Plants evolve many mechanisms that ensure their survival. For instance, some species produce prodigious number of seeds so that even if only a small proportion germinate and grow, some seedlings will survive. Alternately, dormancy can be defined as: a seed characteristic, the degree of which defines what conditions should be met to make the seed germinate. This definition may be more useful in understanding dormancy because it suggests that dormancy is variable, rather than constant, which is the situation that we generally encounter in the native populations of many species. The staggering of germination (dormancy) is an advantage for seeds that mature in late summer to early fall, since immediate germination would leave vulnerable seedlings exposed to harsh winter conditions.

Abstract

Many airborne fungal spores are important as allergens, human and plant pathogens, in the bio-deterioration of stored materials like paper, leather, textile, paintings, historical monuments and spoilage of food stuffs. Surveys have been conducted to elucidate the magnitude of the problem. Indoor environment also plays an important role in the precipitation of allergic symptoms caused by fungal spores. The present review briefly highlights some of the qualitative investigations carried out on indoor environments like bakery, building, cold storage, cow shed, dormitory, educational institutions, garbage disposal plant, ware house, hospital, library, food grain godown, leather godown, house dust, poultry house, chick hatcheries, plastic industries and textile industries.

Introduction

Agriculture has been the joint venture of both men and women since the time immemorial. Women play a significant role in agriculture and are responsible for half of the world’s food production in most of the developing countries. According to International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), women play a central role as producer of food, managers of natural resources, income earners and care takers of household food and nutrition security. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) studies also confirm that women are the mainstay of small scale agriculture, the farm labour force and day to day family subsistence. About 70 per cent of agricultural workers, 80 per cent of food producers and 10 per cent of those who process basic foodstuffs are women and thus making up more than two-third of the workforce in agriculture production. They currently account for 60-70 % of all food production in all the developing countries. Other than agriculture and allied sectors like dairy, poultry, fishery, goatery and sericulture, women are also skilled in handicrafts, wooden works and various other types of small enterprises which boost the rural economy. They are also involved in small scale enterprises like rope making, broom making, bamboo works. All women in rural areas, irrespective to their age, size of their family, size of land holding, caste and community, perform major agricultural tasks. The rural women form the most important productive work force in the economy of majority of the developing nations like India. Agriculture sector employs 4/5^th of all economically active women in the country and 48 per cent of India’s self employed farmers are women (Kumar, 2013). In present scenario, nearly 84 per cent of economically active women in India are engaged in agriculture and allied activities. In a study undertaken by DRWA (Directorate of Research on Women in Agriculture) in low land and rainfed rice in Odisha revealed that under low lying situation, women spent nearly 20 days in uprooting and transplanting, 10 days in intercultural operations and 20 days in harvesting and transportation. In up land rainfed rice women were involved for 40 days mainly in gap filling, weeding, harvesting threshing etc. (Arya, 2008). The rural women of low-income category and lower caste perform more work in farm related field activities while the women of higher income groups perform more work in post harvest processing like storing of food grains, parboiling, winnowing, preparing puffed rice etc. In tribal areas, women participate in all agricultural operations except ploughing. They are seen to do more hard work in the fields than men. Depending upon the socio-cultural variations among different tribal communities, Non Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) are collected by tribal women. They collect food, fodder, fuel, medicinal plants, building materials and other household materials. Every day during off seasons, they go to forest for collecting NTFPs and sell it in the local hats (market) for day to day expenditure of their family. Sal and kendu leaves are also collected by them for their livelihood support. Ladies are the decision makers in farming sector as well as on other domestic affairs because of their greater contribution of household income. Marketing of their produce and also other materials collected from forest by them are exclusively done by the women group. Tribes mostly depend on forest and forest products during the dry period of the year. Now-a-days non-availability of NTFPs has shifted women from self employed to wage employment.

INTRODUCTION

Agricultural biodiversity is the basis ofglobal food security. Wide variety of crops, soil and cropping systems are nurtured by human culturaldiversity since times immemorial. Potatois a majorfood crop which is widely acknowledged now. It is consumed by the world’s largest population than any othervegetable, produces more calories and protein per unit of land and time than any other food crop.Potatohas much potentialfor sustainable, non-chemical farming, fits well with many crop rotations,and does very wellwith naturalfertilizers. Over the years chemical based farming has started experiencing reduced production and increased costs, orboth (Singh et al.,2011 and Sreenivasa et al., 2010). Monoculture of crops such as rice, wheat and cotton etc., depletes topsoil of nutrients and reduces diversity of beneficial microbes leading to reduced soil productivity. It is finally making the crop plants vulnerable to parasites and pathogens. Environmental pollution caused bychemical fertilizers and pesticides is posinga serious threat worldwide (Doranet al., 1996). Healthy soil is the foundation upon which sustainable agriculture is built. Farming practices differ mainly based on soil inputs and crop protection measures (Devarinti,2016).Thusthere is growinginterestinorganicallyproducedproducts and farmers are shifting from conventional to organic farming. In India, Sikkim is the firststate where completelyorganic farmingis adopted. Farming practices differ mainly based on soil inputs and crop protection measures (Devarinti, 2016) in different regions. Different types of farming based on use of natural products are described in the chapter.

• General considerations

 • Ethics for veterinary diagnostic laboratory personnel

 • Safety measures in the laboratory

 • Accidents

 • First aid

 • Acid burns

 • Alkali burns

 • Poisoning

 • Burns caused by heat

 • Injuries caused by broken glass

 • Contamination by infectious materials

 • Bodily damage by electric shock

 • Precautionary measures

1. Damping off
Diagnostic Symptoms
• Disease occurs in two stages, i.e. the pre-emergence and the postemergence phase.
• In the pre-emergence phase, the seedlings are killed just before they reach the soil surface.
• The young radical and the plumule are killed and there is complete rotting of the seedlings.
• The post-emergence phase is characterized by the infection of the young, juvenile tissues of the collar at the ground level.
• The infected tissues become soft and water soaked. The seedlings topple over or collapse (Fig.1)
Etiology
• Pathogen; Pythium aphanidermatum.
• The fungus has a characteristic mycelium, which coenocytic, hyaline, freely branching and thick hyphae.
• It reproduces both asexually and sexually.