saudan singh

Menthol mint (Mentha arvensis L.) is an aromatic and medicinal plant worldwide cultivated for high-value essential oil.  It comes under angiospermic plant and belongs to family Lamiaceae commonly known as Japanese mint. The high-value essential oil is obtained from the stem and leaf of plant by the process of hydro-distillation through which major ingredient L-menthol is obtained that is used in aroma and pharmaceutical industries. This investigation aimed to reduce water requirements which can enhance its productivity for sustaining menthol mint cultivation in India. The present investigation has been undertaken as treatment combination which includes two varieties viz. i) Kosi and CIM-Kranti; three depths of soil moisture viz. i) 3 cm, ii) 6 cm and iii) 9 cm along with three moisture regimes, i.e., i) 20±5%, ii) 40±5%, and 60±5% available soil moisture (ASM) were tested in split-split plot design during 2018 and 2019 (from February to June). Results from the present study revealed that the maximum oil yield was recorded 116.78 kg ha-1in cv. Kosi and 107.23 kg ha-1 in cv. for CIM-Kranti, whereas menthol yield was recorded 89.23 kg ha-1in cv. Kosi and 85.13 kg ha-1in cv. CIM-Kranti under 6 cm depth of irrigation when applied irrigation at 40±5% available soil moisture (ASM) in menthol mint. However, the lowest water requirement was recorded 118 mm in cv. Kosi and 148 mm in cv. CIM-Kranti. The highest water use efficiency was recorded 0.61 in cv. Kosi and 0.51 kg oil ha-1 mm-1 in cv. CIM- Kranti under 3 cm depth of irrigation and when irrigations were applied at 20±5 % ASM. The highest net returns of $ 1140.91 ha-1 and $ 989.70 ha-1 have been recorded in Kosi and CIM-Kranti, respectively were computed at 6 cm depth of irrigation and when irrigations were applied at 40±5% available soil moisture as compared with other treatments. The irrigation depth (6 cm) applied at 40±5% ASM was found to be a perfect combination for obtaining maximum oil yield, water use efficiency, net returns, and benefit-cost ratio.

Perennial aromatic crops' production, yield, and quality are significantly impacted by seasonal variations. Cymbopogon martinii (Roxb.) (Poaceae) is a perennial aromatic grass that produces valuable essential oil from the leaves and inflorescence containing high concentrations of geraniol and geranyl acetate. The current study intends to determine how seasonal changes (autumn, winter, and summer) affect the production of geraniol, geraniol acetate, and essential oils from various plant components, (leaves and inflorescence). The field study was conducted at the experimental farm of India's CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants for two years (May 2018 to May 2020). Four varieties viz. cv. Tripta, Trishna, PRC1, and CIMAP Harsh were grown, and harvesting was done in three entirely different seasons, i.e., autumn, winter, and summer, for two consecutive years; thus, a total of six harvests (two in each season) were obtained. The research findings revealed that under the sub-tropical climatic conditions, cv. CIMAP Harsh performs better in yield and productivity with maximum essential oil yield obtained in the summer, followed by autumn. Maximum geraniol (89.9% and 51.26 kg ha-1) and geraniol acetate (3.0% and 1.73 kg ha-1) yields in leaves were reported during the summer season. In contrast, in inflorescence, geraniol (76.8% and 12.77 kg ha-1) yields were recorded maximum during the autumn season, irrespective of variety. In terms of essential oil yield and quality of oil, harvesting during the winter months did not make any significant difference. Nevertheless, it is intriguing to notice that the CIMAP Harsh variety placed top for the traits N2, N3, N5, N6, N7, N8, N13, N15, N21, and N22 and second for N1. In the traits N2 to N8, N13, and N14, Trishna was the variety that placed second. Therefore, it is advised that these two palmarosa cultivars be grown commercially on a wide basis.

Coronavirus disease (COVID‑19) is a respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus which can spread from person to person. Health‑care workers of any medical college and hospital are at more risk to the coronavirus disease (COVID‑19) than the general population. The aim of this study was to assess the epidemiological profile of confirmed COVID‑19 cases among health‑care workers of Municipal Corporation of Delhi.

A cross‑sectional study was planned among 422 health‑care workers of Municipal Corporation of Delhi. The questionnaire consisted of questions about sociodemographic data, personal history, and clinical profile such as signs and symptoms and their duration. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 21.0, and, Chi‑square test and logistic regression were used.

Mean age of study subjects was 41.1 ± 9.8 years, and males (57.6%) were more as compared to (42.4%) females. Out of total participants, about one‑third (36.4%) of study participants were asymptomatic. Study participants with higher education status adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 2.43 (1.25–4.70), living in overcrowding AOR 3.74 (1.86–7.54), and having some comorbidity AOR 2.78 (1.57–4.92) were at higher risk of being symptomatic.

This study concludes that about one‑third of study participants were asymptomatic. Factors such as higher education status, living in overcrowding, presence of some comorbidity, and smokeless tobacco consumption were significantly associated with symptomatic COVID‑19 cases. Hence, there is a need to identify these risk factors at an early stage in order to design prevention strategies for better control of such pandemics in future.