In Vitro Shoot Culture of Sesuvium portulacastrum: An Important Plant for Phytoremediation

Sesuvium portulacastrum L., a member of the family Aizoaceae, is an important coastal halophyte. Due to its adaptability to salinity and heavy metals, S. portulacastrum has now been widely used for the phytoremediation of saline soils and wastewater and the protection of the coast from erosion. The increasing use of this plant requires a large number of propagules. Stem cutting propagation and seed germination cannot meet this demand, and such propagations can initiate and spread diseases. A recent occurrence of Bipolaris sesuvii J.Z. Zhang and Gibbago trianthemae E.G. Simmons in S. portulacastrum resulted in the substantial loss of the plants during the remediation of aquaculture wastewater. Thus, there is an urgent need for establishing efficient methods of propagating disease-free starting materials. In the present study, we evaluated different growth regulators in the induction of axillary shoots from nodal explants cultured on Murashige and Skoog medium and identified that zeatin (ZT) and α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) was an appropriate combination for inducing high numbers of axillary shoots. The nodal explants were then cultured on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of ZT and NAA, and the combination of ZT at 1.0 mg L−1 and NAA at 0.3 mg L−1 induced more than 12 axillary shoots per explant. The axillary shoots were excised to produce microcuttings or microshoots, which were rooted on half-strength MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) or indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). The results showed that IBA at 0.6 mg L−1 induced 91.7% of the microcuttings to root with root numbers of over 36 per cutting. The rooted plantlets were healthy and true-to-type and grew vigorously in plug trays or plastic containers with a 100% survey rate in a greenhouse. Thus, this established protocol could be used for the rapid propagation of genetically identical and disease-free plants of S. portulacastrum for phytoremediation and the protection of shoreline soils from erosion.

Arrival and proliferation of the invasive seaweed Rugulopteryx okamurae in NE Atlantic islands

The present study reports the recent occurrence and expansion of Rugulopteryx okamurae in the Azores archipelago (NE Atlantic). Morphological and molecular characters confirmed the species identification. Quick surveys around the island of São Miguel showed that it has successfully colonized the island and is quickly expanding. In some locations, R. okamurae is currently the dominant organism smothering all other benthic biota and posing a serious threat to the benthic ecosystems across the region. The species first record dates from 2019 near the main harbour of the island, suggesting that its introduction was driven by human-assisted transport, via boat ballast waters or adhered to ship hulls and likely originating from the Mediterranean populations that have been proliferating in recent years across the Strait of Gibraltar.

Ayurvedic Management of Parikarthika (Acute Fissure in Ano) – A Case Study

Among anorectal diseases, Parikarthika (Fissure in ano) is considered one of the most painful diseases. Now a days the incidence rate of this disease became more due to the irregular food habits as well as unproper modern life style changes. Due to this its recent occurrence in all types of age groups irrespective of gender. This case study described the effective management of acute fissure in ano which was managed with ayurvedic treatment modalities. A 23-year male patient came with symptoms of pain and burning during and after defecation and also having the presence of blood streak while passing of stool. The patient was diagnosed as acute fissure due to the presence of a cut longitudinal ulcer in lower part of anal canal at the 6 o’clock position. Ayurvedic treatment approach both internally and externally were followed. Jatyadi Ghritham Pichu application followed by a lukewarm water sitz bath was advised as external treatment. The complete improvement was found in this within 12 days of treatment. No reoccurrence was noted even after 3rd month of follow up.

Arrival and proliferation of the invasive seaweed Rugulopteryx okamurae in NE Atlantic islands

The present study reports the recent occurrence and expansion of Rugulopteryx okamurae in the Azores archipelago (NE Atlantic). Morphological and molecular characters confirmed the species identification. Quick surveys around the island of Sao Miguel showed that it has successfully colonized the island and is quickly expanding. In some locations, R. okamurae is currently the dominant organism smothering all other benthic biota and posing a serious threat to the benthic ecosystems across the region. The species first record dates from 2019 near the main harbour of the island, suggesting that its introduction was driven by human-assisted transport, via boat ballast waters or adhered to ship hulls and likely originating from the Mediterranean populations that have been proliferating in recent years across the Strait of Gibraltar.

Simulation of Groundwater Flow in an Aquiclude for Designing a Drainage System during Urban Construction: A Case Study in Madrid, Spain

A detailed hydrogeological study was carried out due to the recent occurrence of unexpected problems associated with the flooding of the water table during excavations in the area of a major urbanization work in Madrid. The numerous exploratory drilling excavations carried out allowed for the development of a conceptual model of the complex hydrogeological functioning in clay formations in an urban area. The clays have very little natural recharge, and the underground flow is highly conditioned by the topography and a fold-fault. Modelling with MODDFLOW confirmed and quantified this conceptual model and also allowed for the design of an efficient network of 1.5 km-long drainage trenches. The design of this drainage network was influenced by the difficult balance that must be respected in order not to contaminate the water with sulphates from the nearby gypsum substrate. This is to guarantee the quantitative and qualitative sustainability of the groundwater. The follow-up and monitoring of the water tables and the quality of the groundwater for more than a year after the excavation of the drainage trenches guaranteed the results of the research.

Ranunculus polyphyllus Willd. still grows in Slovakia

Ranunculus polyphyllus is a Eurosiberian species of the Eurasian forest-steppe zone, extremely rare in the western part of its distribution range, in Central Europe. In Slovakia, this lowland semiaquatic plant has its westernmost border, where only a few historic locations are known, and which have not been confirmed since 1965: one on the Podunajská nížina Lowland and three on the Východoslovenská nížina Lowland. These records, however, do not include any vegetation data. The species has been recently rediscovered in Slovakia on the Východoslovenská nížina Lowland: one historical site was confirmed in 2020 in the periodically inundated pasture near Strážne settlement, and a second site was found in 2021 near Zemplínske Hradište in a flooded depression in intensively used agricultural land which was formerly used as rice fields. In its European range, this species has been observed only in natural wetlands, and its ability to occupy secondary habitats has not yet been reported. Here we provide new data on the recent occurrence of Ranunculus polyphyllus in Slovakia with regard to its vegetation and habitat conditions.

Revision of occurrence and phytosociology of Ranunculus pedatus Waldst. et Kit. in Slovakia

Ranunculus pedatus is a Eurasian species with a northern distribution edge in southern Slovakia. In the nineties of the 20th century, it was assumed that the species probably occurs only near Štúrovo. Occurrence in the Hron and Ipeľ basins and several localities in the Podunajská nížina lowland between Komárno and Štúrovo was considered historical. Our research was conducted in the field and herbarium collections of 15 herbaria in Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia. Except for the well-known occurrence on salt habitats north of Štúrovo, we confirmed the recent occurrence of R. pedatus in Štúrovo town, around Chľaba village and in Ipeľ Basin (Pastovce, Tupá). The new, easternmost Slovak locality was found near the village of Koláre. Recently, 30% of all known sites were confirmed, so we propose reclassifying the species in Slovak Red List from the category critically endangered (CR) to the category endangered (EN). It occurs in salty meadows of the alliance Festucion pseudovinae (class Festuco-Puccinellietea) and in mesic meadows of alliance Arrhenatherion elatioris and Deschampsion cespitosae (class Molinio-Arrhenatheretea).

Sublingual dermoid: an uncommon presentation and review of literature

<p>Dermoid cysts are generally seen in the areas of embryonic fusion, in the midline, either following sequestration of ectodermal tissue, or due to failure of separation of the ectoderm from the mesoderm during third to fifth weeks of gestation. Patient information: An eighteen year old female patient presented to department of otorhinolaryngology with a painless swelling in the floor of mouth on right side. Physical examination: the swelling was cystic in consistency, bluish in color, translucent, globular shaped, nontender with a right soft submental swelling. Diagnostic assessment: both ultrasound and computed tomography of the swelling was done which reported as ranula. Interventions; under aseptic precautions and general anesthesia, elective excision of the cyst was done by intraoral approach and specimen was sent for histopathological examination. Postoperative period was uneventful. Follow up and outcome: on follow up the patient was stable and the histopathological report revealed dermoid cyst. A lateral to midline presentation of sublingual dermoid cyst in the floor of mouth with recent occurrence of symptoms and no history of any trauma is rare, hence should be considered as one of the differential diagnosis for floor of the mouth cystic swellings. Ranula and dermoid cysts have similar clinical presentation with similar ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings. The only distinguishable investigation is histopathological examination and all the specimens have to be sent for histopathological examination irrespective of the preoperative investigation reports.</p>