eChapters

25.1 Introduction

The method of selection in which a gene/QTL (Quantitative Trait Locus) is selected on the basis of the genotype of the molecular marker (also called DNA marker) linked to this gene/QTL is known as marker-assisted selection (also called marker-aided selection). The idea of marker-assisted selection (MAS) was first advocated by Tanksley (1983). MAS can be used in combination with the conventional breeding methods or novel breeding schemes could be devised to take full advantage of the marker data. MAS has been widely used for introgression of the desired genes and QTLs using backcross programmes.

25.2 Marker-Assisted Backcrossing (MABC)

The backcross programme based on molecular marker is usually called marker-assisted backcrossing (MABC). MABC has three activities: (a) foreground selection, (b) background selection and (c) recombinant selection.

25.2.1 Foreground Selection

The use of molecular marker to select the gene/QTL being introgressed is known as foreground selection. The objective of foreground selection is to select the target gene, i.e., the gene being introgressed, without phenotypic evaluation for the trait governed by the target gene. Foreground selection for a gene/QTL will be highly desirable in a variety of situation, some of which are listed below:

Purple blotch

Alternaria porri

Diagnostic Symptoms

• Disease symptoms occurs on leaf and flower stalks.

A transplanting machine is a vital agricultural tool used to move seedlings from a nursery to a field, a process known as transplanting. These machines are specifically designed to plant seedlings or young plants at the desired depth, spacing, and arrangement in the soil, improving the efficiency and precision of transplanting. By replacing manual labor, transplanting machines save time, increase consistency, and ensure higher productivity. These machines are especially useful for crops such as rice, vegetables, and flowers, as they enable faster and more accurate planting compared to traditional methods.
VARIOUS TYPES OF TRANSPLANTING EQUIPMENT
Transplanters are versatile machines used for planting a wide range of crops, including:
• Tomatoes
• Cabbages
• Strawberries
• Tobacco
• Rice
• Vegetables like leeks, onions, and salads
These machines are designed to efficiently plant seedlings in rows at precise intervals, ensuring uniform growth. The construction of transplanting equipment varies depending on the type of crop being planted and the specific requirements of the field.

The credibility of academic publishing hinges significantly on the integrity of journal rating systems. These systems, designed to evaluate and rank academic journals based on various metrics, play a pivotal role in shaping research priorities, funding allocations, and academic career trajectories. However, despite their importance, many journal rating systems are criticized for lacking transparency and ethical rigor (Fig. 10.1).
This chapter explores these shortcomings, focusing on potential biases embedded in current systems and proposing solutions to enhance their transparency and fairness.
10.1. Role of Journal Rating Systems in Academic Publishing
Journal rating systems serve as gatekeepers in the academic publishing ecosystem. They influence where researchers choose to publish their work, how institutions evaluate scholarly output, and how funding agencies allocate resources. Metrics such as impact factor, h-index, and SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) are commonly used to rank journals. These metrics, while useful, often reduce the multifaceted nature of scholarly impact into single numerical values, potentially oversimplifying and distorting the evaluation process. The reliance on these metrics creates a feedback loop wherein highly ranked journals attract more submissions, increasing their citation counts and reinforcing their dominance. This system can marginalize smaller or niche journals that publish

Indicator bacteria are types of bacteria that are used to provide an indication of poor hygiene, inadequate processing and or post - process contamination in seafood, water, feed, ice, equipments, workers, etc. Absence of indicator bacteria in seafood and aquaculture products provides a degree of quality assurance that the fishery products are hygienically good and have employed proper processing methods whereas their presence clearly indicates either severe problem or failure occurred during the processing, under-processing or post-process contamination. The indicator bacteria in fish and fishery products are mainly from enterobacteriaceae and coliforms group of bacteria. Traditionally, indicator micro-organisms have been used to suggest the presence of pathogens (Berg, 1978) and it includes the general microbial Process indicators, Faecal indicators, and Index and Model indicator organisms. The Process indicator is a group of organisms that indicates the efficacy of a processing and tested by Total Plate count (TPC)/ Total heterophilic count or total coliforms (MPN method). Fecal indicator is a group of organisms that indicates the presence of fecal contamination and could be tested for fecal coliforms, thermotolerant coliforms (MPN method) and E.coli (EMB and IMViC test). Index and model organisms are a group of organisms that indicates the presence of pathogens such as E.coli are an index for Salmonella and coliphages as model of human enteric viruses. The pathogenic indicator bacteria viz., Coliforms, Fecal coliforms, E.coli, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Citrobacter, Fecal Streptococci, Sulphite reducing clostridia, Clostridium perfringens, Bifidobacteria, Bacteriophages, coliphages and Bacteroides fragilis etc., are associated with food poisoning. In addition, pathogenic viruses, protozoa and parasites are also present in fecal matter. Fecal contamination is mainly from sewage of human source, livestock, poultry manure, pets and wildlife. Infection caused by these pathogens mainly depend on the level of microbial load.

Beverage is a drinkable product which includes all drinks fermented or unfermented, sweetened or unsweetened. It may be fruit based or non-fruit beverage. Fruit based beverage is the fruit juice that has been considerably altered in its composition before consumption e.g. drink, squash, nectar etc. In this chapter, preparation of RTS drink and squash has been discussed.

1. PREPARATION OF READY-TO-SERVE (RTS) DRINK FROM FRUITS

Theory: RTS is a type of fruit beverage which contains at least 10% of fruit juice and 10 degree Brix as Total Soluble Solids (TSS) with 0.3% acidity. It is not diluted before serving, hence it is known as ready-to-serve beverage. It can be prepared from fresh/preserved pulp/juice of various fruits like mango, litchi, apricot, guava, lemon etc.

26.1 Introduction

We have already discussed the basics of tissue culture techniques in Chapter 2. Plant tissue culture techniques in combination with recombinant-DNA technology are essential requirements for development of transgenic plants (will be discussed in next chapter). However, tissue culture techniques like anther, pollen, ovule and meristem culture can themselves be used for improvement of different traits or as an aid to conventional breeding methods. In recent years, isolated microspore culture has been preferred as a breeding tool and an experiment system for various genetic manipulations. Besides, using protoplast fusion and hybrid embryo rescue, distant hybridization has been successfully achieved in many crops. Protoplast fusion technique can be used for the transfer of cytoplasmic male sterility from one species to another in very short duration. Somaclonal variation generated during tissue culture can also be utilized for recovery of variants showing disease resistance or other desirable characters.

Mouthparts of insects vary among insects of different groups depending upon their feeding habits. They are mainly of two types viz., Mandibulate (feeding mainly on solid food) and haustellate (feeding mainly on liquid food). Insect mouthparts have become modified in various groups to perform the ingestion of different types of food and by different methods. Indeed the modifications in the mouthparts to ingest almost all kinds of the food material, are one of the factors for the success of the group.

1. Biting and chewing type: e.g. Cockroach & grasshopper.

U value: U value is a measure of the heat transmission through a building part (wall or window) or through a given thickness of a material (insulation). U values with lower numbers indicate better insulating properties.

Ubiquinone: It is one of the groups of lipid soluble quinones that are found especially in mitochondria and have a long isoprenoid side chain, and function in oxidative phosphorylation as electron carrying coenzymes in electron transport.

UHT milk: This milk is homogenized, heated to atleast 135oC for about 2-3 second, cooled rapidly and then packed in sterilized containers aseptically. The milk in packs can be stored for several months with out refrigeration. The nutrient loss is negligible. Used for making yogurt commercially as it does not need to be boiled again.

UHT pasteurization: The milk is heated to ~150oC for a fraction of seconds practically no holding period. It is also called ultra pasteurization.

UHT sterilization: It is method in which food is sterilized, cooled and then aseptically placed in previously sterilized containers which are subsequently sealed in an aseptic environment.

Ulcer: A break in skin or mucous membrane with loss of surface tissue, disintegration and necrosis of epithelial tissue (often with pus). It is something that festers and corrupts like an open sore.

Ulcerate: A tissue or skin thatbecomes affected with an ulcer is called ulcerate.

Ulceration: The process of becoming a tissue or skin ulcerated is called ulceration.

Introduction
Patchouli is known as patcholi in Hindi, patche tene in annada, patchapan or patcha in Marathi, patchilla in Malayalam, pacchilai in Tamil. It is a hardy perennial herb well-adjusted against the hot and humid climatic situations. Patchouli is an aromatic herb of immense importance due to presence of essential oil extracted from shade dried leaves. It possessed a powerful sweetness and spicy fragrance. Patchouli has tremendous business potential owning to its unique fragrance properties in the global market. Its oil easily blends with other essential oils giving strong base as fixative properties in preventing evaporation and promoting tenacity. Worldwide, Indonesia is considered as the chief patchouli oil producer.
Origin
Pogostemon cablin Benth. is natural to Philippines but also found growing wild in many countries of South Asian region. The word ‘cablin’ is derived from ‘cabalam’, a local name in the Philippines. Presently, it is not only cultivated on commercial scale in India but also in Indonesia, Singapore, China, Malaysia, Brazil, West Africa, Seychelles, Vietnam and West Indies.

The heart, composed primarily of specialized muscle tissue known as cardiac muscle, is responsible for maintaining the circulatory system’s function by pumping blood throughout the body. The unique characteristics of heart muscle allow it to respond dynamically to various physiological demands. Among these adaptive responses, hypertrophy, atrophy, and the process of pacemaking are fundamental to heart function and health. Understanding these processes is crucial for comprehending how the heart responds to different stressors, such as physical activity, disease, or aging, and how its electrical and mechanical functions are integrated.
Nature of cardiac muscle
Cardiac muscle is a specialized type of muscle tissue found only in the heart. It is unique because it combines features of both skeletal and smooth muscle, providing both strength and rhythm in its contractions. Cardiac muscle fibres are striated and connected by intercalated discs, which allow rapid transmission of electrical impulses between cells, ensuring synchronized contraction. Unlike skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle has a relatively high density of mitochondria, providing the energy necessary for continuous activity.

Predatory journals undermine the integrity of academic publishing by charging exorbitant fees without providing rigorous peer review. These deceptive entities exploit the academic community, especially targeting early-career researchers, those from underfunded institutions, and scholars in developing countries. By prioritizing profit over quality, predatory journals erode trust in the research ecosystem, dilute scientific knowledge, and tarnish the reputation of genuine academic endeavors (Fig. 11.1).
This chapter delves into the multifaceted challenges posed by predatory journals and outlines comprehensive strategies for researchers, institutions, and policymakers to combat their pernicious effects.
11.1. Understanding Predatory Journals
Predatory journals are characterized by their lack of transparency, absence of editorial rigor, and aggressive solicitation of authors. They often masquerade as legitimate open-access journals but fail to adhere to the ethical standards of scholarly publishing. Unlike reputable journals, which uphold rigorous peer-review processes to ensure the validity and originality of research, predatory journals accept articles with minimal or no scrutiny. This results in the dissemination of low-quality or even fraudulent research, undermining the credibility of academic literature.
Several red flags can help researchers identify predatory journals. These include:

Bio-Inputs introduces the concept, scope, and functional diversity of biological inputs used in sustainable agriculture and natural farming. The chapter classifies bio-inputs by core components, including microorganisms, biological extracts, and biomolecules, and then by functions such as bio-fertilizers, bio-stimulants, biomejorators, and biological control agents. It also presents microbial and biological inputs within Integrated Pest Management, emphasizing biopesticides, biofungicides, and plant-defense elicitors. Examples such as Rhizobium, Trichoderma, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, seaweed extracts, vermiwash, neem extracts, and oligosaccharins illustrate how biological resources can improve nutrient availability, plant growth, crop protection, stress tolerance, and ecological sustainability. in contemporary agricultural practice. for sustainable crop production.

Apparatus and Reagents

    1.    Soxhlet extraction asembly. This consists of 3 parts (a) condenser at the top, (b) the soxhlet or extractor in the middle, and (c) the receiver flask at the bottom. The 3 parts are assembled by means of their grounds glass interchangeable joints (Fig. 1).

    2.    Extraction thimble.

    3.    Petroleum ether (B.P. 40ºC to 60ºC)

    4.    Constant temperatue bath or six heater hot plate with temperature controlling device.

Introduction

Road traffic in cold snowy regions during winter season faces problems, like icing of road, snow compaction and snow storms that obstruct visibility. In snowy region there is also danger of damage due to snow avalanches. Avalanches often severely damage road service facilities or road structures. Quick response and corrective actions are required to cope with the damages, if any avalanche occurs.

Fisheries sector plays an important role in food security and fish is now traded internationally. Shift in the trading policies (import and export) of seafood/aquatic products are happening at a rapid pace and consumption of seafood increased globally in substantial quantum. It is estimated that aquatic products export from Asian countries outcompetes earlier contributions to their importing partners year after year. Aquatic products include chordates, mollusc and arthropods from freshwater, brackish and marine system. They are nutrient rich diet and perishable too in nature and this prompted the industry to process the seafood in to different forms such as frozen, canned, cured and dried to extend its shelf life and recently value addition step being followed to improve the customer satisfaction. Nevertheless, the risk associated with the transboundary exchange of pathogens of seafood importance and its antibiotic resistance cannot be disregarded. Majority of the pathogens are not a native flora of fish. Each step in the aquatic products production chain either in the captured or cultured fisheries involves the contact of the seafood to the environment where they are grown, various implements used, contact surfaces, handlers, water etc. This post harvest handling makes the seafood contaminated with the pathogens of seafood importance such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp, Clostridium botulinum, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Shigella sp, Aeromonas hydrophila, Plesiomonas shigelloides and viral pathogens such as hepatitis A virus etc. Among these pathogens, Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp, Staphylococcus aureus and Shigella spp are non-indigenous to the aquatic environment and others are indigenous to the aquatic environment. Depending on the nature of the environment (contaminated water source), feeding habits (filter feeders), season of harvest (summer season) are very crucial factors which cause seafood inherently contaminated in nature.

Leaf spot

Colletotrichum capsici

Diagnostic Symptoms

• Initially oblong brown spots having about 4-5 cm in length and 2-3 cm in width with grey centres surrounded with yellow hallo are found on the leaves .

Introduction

Though the potential benefits generated by the drip irrigation method are apparent, the adoption of drip irrigation is yet to be widely promoted across different regions and states in India. Several factors such as huge initial investment, small size of holding, lack of technical support, nature of cropping pattern, access to water and socio-economic conditions of farmers etc. (Namara et al, 2005, Suresh Kumar, 2012) are constraining adoption of drip irrigation. In some cases, even after the adoption of drip irrigation, the farmers, particularly, the small farmers have often discontinued use of drip irrigation for several reasons such as due to lack of maintenance, irrelevant cultural background, and unreliable water supply (Kulecho and Weatherhead, 2005).

The typical thoracic leg consists of six parts, basal coxa that articulates with the thorax in the pleural region, small trochanter, femur, tibia, segmented tarsus, and pre-tarsus. The coxa is often divided into two parts, the posterior and the anterior (usually the larger part) being called the meron. The trochanter articulates with the coxa but usually forms an immovable attachment with the femur. The femur and tibia are typically the longest leg segments. The tarsus, which is derived from a single segment, - is usually subdivided into individual tarsomeres. The pretarsus may consist of a single claw, but it is usually composed of a pair of moveable claws and one or more pads or bristles. Legs are usually looked upon as the principal organs of terrestrial locomotion.