<div style="text-align:justify">Background:&nbsp;Chronic exposure to stress results in immuno-suppression. The present study was carried out to explore the therapeutic benefits of vestibular stimulation on the immune system of stress-induced Wistar rats.&nbsp; 
 
Methods:&nbsp;Stress was intervened in the Wistar rats by cold water swimming method for a period of 14 days. Following stress, caloric vestibular stimulation was induced in the rats by irrigating external auditory meatus bilaterally with hot water (temperature 41oC) for 2 minutes for a period of 15 days and 30 days in respective groups. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were obtained and serum corticosterone, Interleukin 2 (IL2), Immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels were analyzed using ELISA method and histopathology of brain was assessed. Brain CD4 and CD8 cells were analyzed by Immunohistochemistry. 
 
Result:&nbsp;Stress significantly increased serum corticosterone, IL2 levels and reduced IgM levels. Stress group showed increased dendritic arborization in prefrontal cortex, neuronal atrophy, nuclear pyknosis with congested blood vessels in hippocampus and mononuclear cell inflammatory infiltrate in hypothalamus. Brain extravascular CD4 and CD8 showed positive in stress group. Caloric vestibular stimulation effectively reduced serum corticosterone levels, histopathological changes, brain extravascular CD4 and CD8 cells and improved IgM in the present study.</div>

Vestibular Stimulation as An Interventional Approach for Cold Water Stress Induced Immunological and Histopathological Changes in Rats

In rice, several cultivated and upland varieties need to be assessed and analyzed for drought tolerance traits which could be used in screening and breeding programs for drought tolerance. Hence, the objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of water deficits in two rice cultivars and thereby analyze the role of several physiological traits useful in rice breeding programs for drought tolerance. The rice varieties Tellahamsa (TH) and N22 were screened for tolerance to drought. A comparative study was done subjecting them to PEG mediated water stress. Accumulation of solutes, i.e., proline, total free aminoacids and sugars; biomass production, Relative Water Content (RWC) and the levels of &nbsp;antioxidant enzymes, viz., Catalase (CAT), Ascorbate Peroxidase (APX), Glutathione Reductase(GR), and Superoxide Dismutase(SOD) were analyzed in response to water stress. Maximum proline accumulation was seen within 24hrs of stress, after 10 days TH decreased its proline to one-third, whereas in N22 doubled. Although amino acids doubled within 24hrs, gradually they depleted in N22. This may be due to conversion of aminoacids into proline which could be the most compatible solute. Sugars increased within 24hrs, but were depleted in 10days in both. In TH, the shoot and root biomass decreased, whereas in N22 there was a significant increase in root biomass. Shoot and root RWC of N22 was higher than TH under stress. GR increased in both TH and N22, APX and SOD increased only in N22. Proline accumulation, increase of root biomass and &nbsp;antioxidant enzymes such as APX or SOD during water stress are contributing to drought tolerance and could be used in screening for drought tolerance.

Effect of PEG mediated water stress on solute accumulation, relative water content, biomass and antioxidant enzymes in rice

Background: Broiler production is crucial for global food security as a high-quality protein source. However, climate change causes extreme temperature fluctuations, including severe cold stress. Sudden ambient temperature drops impair broiler growth and health. This study investigates how continuously decreasing ambient temperature affects oxidative stress and mitochondrial activity in broiler blood cells. 
 
Methods: Blood cells pooled from two broiler chickens were diluted and subjected to a gradual temperature reduction from 42oC to 0oC, with 3oC decrements at each step. Mitochondrial activity, malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase activity and nitric oxide (NO) levels were subsequently measured. 
 
Result: Mitochondrial activity and NO levels showed significant quadratic trends (P&lt;0.05), increasing at moderate cold before declining at lower temperatures. From 42oC to 21oC, mitochondrial activity rose significantly at 39-33oC and 21oC (P&lt;0.05), while MDA levels increased at 39-27oC and 21oC (P&lt;0.05). TAC declined significantly from 42oC to colder points (P&lt;0.05). Between 18oC and 0oC, mitochondrial activity and NO fluctuated, suggesting an adaptive response. Conversely, H2O2, GSH and catalase levels remained stable across all temperatures (P&gt;0.05). These findings highlight a complex cellular response to cold stress, emphasizing the need for proper cold stress management in broiler production.

Evaluating Oxidative Stress, Nitric Oxide Production and Mitochondrial Activity Trend in Broiler Blood Cells under Progressive Cold Stress

<div>Background: Chickpea is a pivotal grain legume crop and is grown in rain-fed conditions where its production has been challenged by drought.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: To understand precisely the root-based responses to well-watered (WW) and water-stressed (WS) treatments, 14 chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes differing in drought tolerance and biomass were studied in 100-cm cylinders under glasshouse conditions.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The genotypes exhibited significant variations in rooting depths ranging from 84.5 to 100.3 cm and 78.7 to 121 cm in WW and WS treatments, respectively and root biomasses varied from 0.23 to 1.01 g and 0.38 to 0.91 g. The average root biomass of drought-tolerant genotypes was 61.3% in WS treatment and 64.4% in WW treatment higher than that of drought-sensitive genotypes. Moreover, genotype with high biomass revealed greater root biomass and deeper rooting than the genotype with low biomass in both treatments. The root biomass in the deeper soil profile differed between drought-tolerant and drought-sensitive genotypes and was generally greater in WS compared to WW treatment. Overall, screening the variability in root features of chickpea genotypes with varying levels of drought tolerance and biomass contributes to new insights for understanding drought adaptation mechanisms and the improvement of new cultivars with superior root traits in breeding programs.&nbsp;</div>

<div>Root-based Responses of Well-watered and Water-stressed Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Genotypes Varying for Drought Tolerance and Biomass&nbsp;</div>

<div>Background: Lentil mainly grows on residual soil moisture under rainfed conditions leading to abrupt soil moisture depletion causing mid or terminal drought stress to plants. Application of supplemental irrigation and adopting high yielding cultivars could alleviate drought stress and secure higher yield. Our present study aimed to study the growth of some promising varieties of lentil under four moisture regimes.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: To study the physiological responses of some promising lentil varieties under water stress, a pot experiment was performed at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Nadia, West Bengal during 2018-2019. Four lentil varieties i.e. Asha, PL 6, Subrata and Ranjan were grown under four moisture stress treatments through supplying water maintaining irrigation water (IW): cumulative pan evaporation (CPE) at its 100, 75, 50 and 25%. 
 
Result: Without stress condition Asha maintained the highest RLWC of 82.6 &nbsp;and 66.1% during flowering and pod formation stages, respectively; while Subrata got the maximum chlorophyll content (2.82 g l-1) during flowering stage. Under no stress root length density, root surface area and root volume were experienced the maximum values in all varieties, while, average root diameter was the highest under severe stress treatment for Ranjan. Our study concluded that Asha had potential to withstand water stress but Subrata was proved to be the best variety under no stress condition.</div>

<div>Effect of Water Stress on Growth and Root Characteristics of Lentil</div>

<div>Water deficit stress is one of the chief abiotic stresses adversely affecting plant endurance leading serious effects on plant metabolism. Depending upon strength and duration of water deficit conditions, plants adjust a series of physiological, cellular and molecular mechanisms aiming a correct stress response. Some of the responses of plants to water stress include decreased growth and development and hence decrease in fresh biomass, decreased content of chlorophyll and hence the decreased rate of photosynthesis, decrease in leaf relative water content (RWC) and increased accumulation of osmolytes like proline, sucrose, soluble carbohydrates, etc. Several enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism seem to play a role in the multi-layered response of plants to water deficiency. Glycolysis is a central metabolic pathway that provide elasticity when production of energy for existence is confronted and is modulated to establish a novel homeostasis under stress conditions in plants. Evidence for the participation of glycolytic genes, proteins and enzymes in response to stress is established by the fact that their expression is deeply affected by exposure of plant tissues to environmental stresses such as drought. Keeping in mind the importance of glycolytic pathway during stress conditions in plants, the impact of the drought stress on plant glycolysis is the subject of current review. In addition, plant physiology and carbohydrate metabolism under drought stress are also discussed.</div>

Plant Metabolism during Water Deficit Stress: A Review

<div>Background: Green gram is one of the important pulse crops of chief protein source, with ability to fix nitrogen. Erratic rainfall, while it&rsquo;s grown as rainfed crop, leads to the yield loss due to water stress. Plant root system architecture is plastic and is important sink of photosynthates. In general, the ability of plants to change its root distribution for exploiting water deeper in soil profiles can be an important mechanism to avoid soil water stress. Identification of genotypes based on root traits under water stress conditions will aid in development of drought tolerant varieties for yield exploitation.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The experiment was conducted during Rabi, 2018-19 with five green gram varieties as main treatment and irrigation intervals as sub treatments in three replications in factorial RBD in root structures. Observations were recorded on root parameters at flowering stage. The root structures were dismantled during flowering stage and all the plants removed from the soil without damaging the roots by using water with jet pump. Five representative samples were collected under different stress level. Root studies were performed with Delta T automatic root scanner. The SPAD chlorophyll meter was used to measure canopy leaves and average of the three readings was taken as SCMR value.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The present study results on root studies revealed that genotype, MGG-295 recorded highest mean plant height under three stress conditions and same genotype also produced longer root length under mild water stress conditions, higher SCMR values under non-stress and mild stress. Genotype, MGG-347 recorded highest root diameter under non- stress and mild stress. MGG-385 produced highest root length under control and severe stresses, highest SCMR values under severe stress, root dry weight under mild and severe water stresses and total plant dry weight under control and mild stress. MGG-360 recorded higher shoot fresh weight under severe stress and same genotype also recorded significant superior values for total root area under mild and severe water stress and root tip count under non-stress, mild stress and severe stress. MGG-351 recorded shoot fresh weight under non stress and mild stress situations and the same genotype recorded highest values for root diameter and total plant dry weight under severe stress. The identified genotypes can be used as water stress resistant genotypes in future drought proof breeding programmes.</div>

Studies on the Effect of Water Stress on Root Traits in Green Gram Cultivars

<div>Background: Drought is one of the most important abiotic factors that limit the growth and development of plants all over the world. In Ethiopia, wheat is the second most important crop and occupies third in total production in the African countries. Low productivity as compared to the national production scale is due to water stress. The present work aimed to study the effect of water stress on the growth and yield performance of wheat. 
 
Methods: The experiment was conducted in an exceeding greenhouse at East Gojjam Zone, Debre Markos University in 2017-2018 to assess the effects of wheat to water stress applied at different growth stages. The experiment comprised of two water stress treatments, maintained by withholding water at tillering, anthesis and at each stage. Different growth and yield performance data were collected and analyzed by SAS software. 
 
Result: Water stress caused a reduction in leaf relative water contents, water potential, osmotic potential, turgor potential, growth and yield components of the wheat. The results indicated that successive stress at growth stages caused a severe reduction in vegetative growth parameters of wheat. Therefore, the results indicated that the high value of relative water content was related to exaggerated yield and its components of crops. The water-stressed treatment has reduced the growth and yield performance of wheat than unstressed treatments. This was due to a reduction in the osmotic activities of plants.</div>

<div>Growth and Yield Performance of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to under Water Stress Conditions</div>

<div>Background: In north India, pigeon pea experiences low temperature stress during winter months (December-January). Information&rsquo;s regarding cold stress and its impact on morphological characters, physio-biochemical processes and yield attributes in pigeon pea crop is very limited. Keeping the above facts in to consideration, the experiment was formulated to screen suitable genotypes of pigeon pea tolerant to cold stress based on morpho-physiological traits and ability to set flower and pods and yield performance.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Field experiments with 98 genotypes of pigeon pea were conducted in augmented design including checks with all recommended cultural practices in 2018-19 and 2019-20 at New Research Farm, ICAR-IIPR, Kanpur. Morphological, biochemical and yield parameters were recoded periodically.&nbsp; 
 
Result:&nbsp;Based on the reaction of pigeon pea genotypes against the exposer of cold stress in terms of flower/pod drop and flower/pod retention, cold injury at the apical meristems and post regeneration of apical portion, the genotypes like IPA 15F, Dhule-D, JBT46/27, IPACT-6, IPACT-14, IPAC-1-17, IPACT-68, IPACT-22 showed &gt;90% flower/pod drop and retained only 0-10% flowers/pods, &gt;90% apical damage and &lt;10% recovery of apical portion and were considered highly sensitive to cold stress. Genotypes namely MA-3, IPA 9F, ICP 15-9-1, VKG 27/161, H-26, ICPL 7035, LRG-30, PBT/SSL 2/73, KPL 1034-31, IPA 15-15, KPL 34, ICP 2073, IPACT-5, IPAB 10-66, IPACT-10, IPACT-11, IPAHT-26, IPACT-15, IPAD 2-8, IPACT-16, IPAD-8, IPACT-17, IPAHT-43, IPACT-21 showed &gt;80% flower/pod drop and retained 10-20% flower/pods, &gt;80%apical damage and &lt;20% recovery of apical portion and considered moderately susceptible to cold stress. Genotypes NDA-2, MAL-13, ICP-2275, IPACT-2 showed around 20-40% flower/pod drop and have retained 60-80% flowers/pods, &lt;20% apical damage and&gt;80% recovery of apical portion were considered as the highly tolerant to cold stress. The nitrogen balance index, chlorophyll and flavonols showed higher values in tolerant group whereas lower in susceptible group. The average yield/plant of pigeon pea genotypes tolerant to cold stress is considerably higher than the susceptible group of pigeon pea genotypes.</div>

​Performance of Pigeon Pea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp] Genotypes under Cold Stress

<div style="text-align:justify">
<div style="text-align: left;">Background: Water stress is one of the most crucial limiting factors in maize production on Ultisols. One solution that could be adopted to solve this problem is applying organic soil amendment.</div>

<div style="text-align: left;"> 
Methods: This study evaluated three varieties of corn: NK-Jumbo, Srikandi Kuning and Lamuru. The water stress treatment consists of 75% field capacity (without water stress) and 37.5% field capacity (water stress treatment). The organic amendment consists of without soil amendment, rice-straw 10 tons ha-1, biochar 10 tons ha-1 and rice straw 5 tons ha-1 + biochar 5 tons ha-1. A factorial, completely randomized design was used in this research.</div>

<div style="text-align: left;"> 
Result: Water stress and organic amendments affect total stomata, leaf curl, leaf area, proline content, shoot and root dry weight, shoot-root ratio and biomass production of corn. Applying organic amendments increases corn&rsquo;s resistance to water stress, indicated by decreased plant proline content and increased biomass. The proline content of corn by application of organic amendment with rice straw 5 tons ha-1 + biochar 5 tons ha-1 (70.41 &micro; mol/g) was lower than the proline content of treatment without amendments (93.69 &micro; mol/g). NK-Jumbo was the most resistant variety to water stress conditions.</div>
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