<div>Background: Phytophthora cajani causing the Phytophthora blight (PB) disease of pigeonpea. The disease will rampant during excessive rainfall coupled with hot and humid weather during the cropping season. The present study on micro and macro morphological characteristics can contribute to the identification and specification of biology of Phytophthora spp. There are no detailed studies concerning the characterization of the P. cajani are available with this backdrop the present investigation was taken.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Phytophthora cajani was isolated on V-8 PARP medium, whereas stimulation of zoospores and sporangia was done using the diluted tomato juice broth. Micro and macro morphological characteristics of P. cajani were studied using micrometry and Olympus CX41 phase-contrast microscope. &nbsp; 
 
Result: The pathogen was homothallic with amphigynous antheridium and oogonium and able to produce oospore in vitro. Sporangium was nonpapillate, noncaducous, oviod-obpyriform shape. Further, the macro morphological characteristics like mycelial radial growth and colony type were studied. The colony characteristics were dull white, flat and rosette pattern. Other culture characteristics like optimum temperature and RH were mostly consistent with those reported former.</div>

<div>Illustration of Key Morphological Characteristics of Phytophthora cajani-Pathogen of Phytophthora Blight of Pigeonpea</div>

<div>Background: Centella [Centella asiatica (L.) Urban], as a herb, is well known for its nutritional and pharmaceutical value. Nitrogen fertilizer plays a significant role in yield and quality of the herb. The present study was aimed to evaluate the effect of mineral nitrogen on the centella plant yield, total chlorophyll, total flavonoid content, antioxidant activities and C/N ratio.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions. Mineral nitrogen fertilizer ammonium nitrate (33% N) was applied with 30, 60, 90 and 120 kg N ha-1, with no N (0 kg ha-1) as the control. The dosage was split into three times application at 7, 14 and 21 days after transplanting. All plants were watered 10-days intervals with the nutrient solution.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The results showed that the increasing doses of nitrogen improved growth rate and overall biomass of centella. Among nitrogen treatments, the 60 kg N ha-1 were found to yield maximum growth and the maximum values of leaf number, leaf area, rosette diameter and petiole length. The application of nitrogen (30-60 kg N ha-1) increased the total chlorophyll and reduced total flavonoid content, antioxidant activity and the C:N ratio. The application of 60 kg N ha-1 of nitrogen should be considered as the optimal amount for reconciling limited yield loss and maintaining the quality of centella.</div>

Ammonium-nitrogen Supply Induces Growth, Physiological and Secondary Metabolites Changes in Centella asiatica L. Urban

<div style="text-align: justify;">Paramphistomosis is a chronic, debilitating parasitic disease of livestock prevalent in the tropical and sub-tropical countries. Globally there is a heavy reliance on anthelmintics but concerns over drug resistance encourage the search for new leads. Metalloproteinases play a significant role in the biology and life cycle of parasitic helminths. The efficacy of metalloproteinase inhibitor, 1,10-Phenanthroline (1,10-phe) which is commonly used as a specific enzyme inhibitor in biochemical assays, was tested in vitro on Gigantocotyle explanatum tegument as a marker of anthelmintic action. The scanning electron microscopy revealed that the tegumental surface exhibited considerable changes in the worms treated with the metalloenzyme inhibitor, 1,10-phe. The untreated control worms appeared normal showing smooth tegumental surface with abundant dome shaped papillae in the anterior to mid region, while their density was less around the acetabulum which serves as a hold-fast organ helping the worms to remain attached in biliary passage. The 1,10-phe produced significant tegumental damage when the liver amphistomes were in vitro exposed to this compound at 12.5 &micro;M concentration. The surface changes appeared in the form of edematous ridges with prominent furrows and erosion of the dome shaped papillae with rosette shaped deep lesions as a result of which deep parenchymatous tissues were exposed. The collapse of sensory bulbs as well as sloughing of tegument, particularly in the anterior-mid region was observed. The nature of damage could be comparable to various anthelmintics used in previous studies. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of direct exposure of amphistome worms to zinc metallo-enzyme inhibitor, however, further in vivo studies are required to ascertain the anthelmintic efficacy of 1,10-phe.</div>

Illustration of Key Morphological Characteristics of Phytophthora cajani-Pathogen of Phytophthora Blight of Pigeonpea

Ammonium-nitrogen Supply Induces Growth, Physiological and Secondary Metabolites Changes in Centella asiatica L. Urban

The anthelmintic activity of 1,10-phenanthroline, a metalloenzyme inhibitor