Pumpkin (Cucurbita spp.), belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae and locally known as Pharsi in Sikkim, has gained attention due to the nutritional and health-promoting properties of its seeds. Utilization of locally available and nutritionally rich crops is important for improving dietary quality, particularly in developing regions. Although pumpkin seeds are consumed in Sikkim in dried form or as chutney, their nutritional potential has not been widely explored for agro-industrial applications. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the nutritional composition and oil content of pumpkin seeds collected from different locations of Sikkim. Seed samples were collected from six regions: Singtam, Sajong, Khamdong, Kamery, Simik-Lingzey, and Raigaon. Proximate composition, bioactive compounds, mineral content, and oil content were analyzed using standard methods. Results indicated variations among samples from different locations. Seeds from Singtam (T1) and Kamery (T4) showed higher protein (32.64
Grain yield and nutritional quality in rice are complex traits governed by genotype, environment, and genotype × environment (G × E) interactions. Therefore, multi-environment evaluation is essential to identify genotypes that combine high productivity, desirable quality, and stable performance across the environments. This study evaluated 11 rice genotypes at two sites in northern Vietnam, Dien Bien and Son La, over three consecutive years. Biomass, grain yield, yield components, protein, lipid, and γ-oryzanol content were assessed. The results revealed that genotype was the primary determinant of phenotypic variation across all evaluated traits, whereas site effects and genotype × site interactions were more consistently statistically significant than year-related effects and genotype × year interactions. Dien Bien generally exhibited higher biomass, grain yield, protein, and lipid content than Son La, whereas γ-oryzanol differed less consistently between sites. Grain yield was more strongly influenced by G × E than grain quality traits. Ja35 exhibited superior grain yield together with high lipid and γ-oryzanol contents but lower yield stability, whereas Nep Tan SL showed outstanding protein content. MGIDI-based multi-trait ranking further identified Ja35, Nep Tan SL, Ja12, and Nep Lao as the best overall-performing genotypes across environments. Regression analysis indicated that minimum temperature was the climatic variable most consistently associated with the tested traits. These findings highlight the importance of G × E interactions and thermal conditions in shaping rice productivity and nutritional quality, and provide useful information for genotype selection and breeding strategies in heterogeneous agro-ecological environments.
Temperate mulberry (Morus alba L. var. Ichinose) is an important plant species for sericulture, but its large-scale propagation is limited by the lack of an efficient and reproducible in-vitro regeneration protocol through the callus phase. The objective of this study was to develop an efficient in-vitro regeneration protocol for temperate mulberry through the callus phase. Callus cultures were raised from explants of Morus alba L. var. Ichinose on Murashige and Skoogs medium supplemented with different plant growth regulators. Full sterilization of nodal explants was obtained on 0.1
A study was carried out to evaluate influence of land use systems on Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) fractions and carbon management indices across three dominant soil orders: Inceptisols, Alfisols, and Entisols in Bihar, India. Soil samples were collected from six major land use systems: fallow, mango orchard, guava orchard, rice–wheat, rice-maize, and vegetable-vegetable, at three depths (0–20, 20–40, and 40–60 cm) using a stratified observational sampling design. The examined SOC fractions, Stocks and CMI were analysed and computed following the standard procedures. The findings indicated that both land use type and soil order had a significant effect on SOC content and stock. The SOC content ranged from 1.90 to 6.18 g kg−1 in Inceptisols, 2.28–5.20 g kg−1 in Alfisols, and 1.62–5.94 g kg−1 in Entisols, with significantly higher values observed in mango orchards and the lower values under fallow lands. SOC and its stock declined with depth, reflecting decreased biological activity. Labile and non-labile C contents followed a similar trend, being highest in Inceptisols and lowest in Alfisols. Mango orchards showed a 30
Anaphalis subumbellata C.B. Clarke is a lesser-known species represented by very few collections. The species was recollected from Gnathang, Pakyong District, Sikkim after 114 years in India. Its last documented collection from India was made from the same locality in 1910. Detailed taxonomic study revealed that the leaf texture, indumentum, glandular surface, venation, shape and margin provide important diagnostic characters for distinguishing the species from closely allied taxa. An updated description, notes on distribution, a detailed photoplate and scanning electron micrographs of the cypselae are provided here for the first time. The name A. subumbellata is lectotypified to ensure nomenclatural stability. Based on available distributional records and field observations conducted during 2023 and 2024, the species is provisionally assessed as Endangered in India. The recollection confirms the continued occurrence of this rarely collected species in India after more than a century while highlighting its restricted distribution, small population size and need for conservation attention.
