Galactogogues elicit pharmacological effects, resulting in increased prolactin concentration through interactions with dopamine receptors and thereby augmenting milk supply. Commercially available synthetic drugs induce adverse effect on the neuro-endocrine axis of lactation physiology. Their prolonged uses have caused toxicity which opens a detrimental platform to normal health status of both human and animals. So the researchers have developed a keen interest in traditional herbs, because these are easily available, cheap and with a hope that they may not leave any toxic residues in milk. Phytopharmacological research on natural products can contribute for the discovery of new active compounds with novel structures which may serve as a lead for the development of new galactogogues. Although majority of these herbal preparations have not been evaluated their traditional use suggests that they are safe and effective. The purpose of this review paper was to succinctly review recent progress made in the field of commercially available and tranditional galactogogues. phytonutrients, prolactin.

Heterosis is a solitary means of exploiting hybrid vigor in crop plants. Given its yield advantage and economic importance, several hybrids in rice have been commercialized in more than 40 countries, which has created a huge seed industry worldwide. India has made commendable progress and commercialized 117 three-line indica hybrids for different ecology and duration (115–150 days), which accounted for 6.8% of total rice area in the country. Besides, several indigenous CMS lines developed in diversified genetic and cytoplasmic backgrounds are being utilized in hybrid rice breeding. NRRI, which has been pioneering to start with the technology, has developed three popular rice hybrids, viz., Ajay, Rajalaxmi, and CR Dhan 701 for irrigated-shallow lowland ecosystem. Biotechnological intervention has supplemented immensely in excavating desirable genomic regions and their deployment for further genetic enhancement and sustainability in rice hybrids. Besides, hybrid seed production creates additional job opportunity (100–105 more-man days) and comparatively more net income (70% more than production cost) than HYVs. Hence, this technology has great scope for further enhancement in per se rice productivity and livelihood of the nation.

Flash flooding (FF) along with bacterial blight (BB) outbreak are very destructive for rice production in the rainfed shallow-lowland (RSL) ecosystem. The presence of dynamic Xoo races with varying levels of genetic diversity and virulence renders their management extremely challenging under RSL. In this context, the marker-assisted improvement of plant resistance/tolerance has been proven as one of the most promising strategies towards the development of sustainable cultivars. The present study demonstrates the marker-assisted introgression of the submergence tolerant (Sub1) and three bacterial blight resistant genes (Xa21 + xa13 + xa5) into the genetic background of Hasanta, a long duration popular rice variety in the eastern coastal region of India. The rice genotypes, Swarna Sub1 (carrying Sub1) and IRBB66 (carrying Xa21 + xa13 + Xa7 + xa5 + Xa4) had maximum genetic similarity (0.84 and 0.73, respectively) with Hasanta; recurrent parent (RP) was used as donor. The forward analysis of target genes in F1s, IC1F1s and backcross (BC) generations was performed by linked/genic markers (Sub1bc2; pTA248, xa13prom and RM122), whereas background recovery of RP in each BC and segregating generations was performed utilizing 108 hypervariable SSR markers. Intervened speed breeding (SB) strategy and intensive phenotyping could lead the development of near isogenic lines (NILs) as to the RP in all basic traits. The performance of the near isogenic lines (NILs, BC2F3 and BC2F4), HS 232-411-391-756-37, HS 232-411-391-809-8, HS 232-411-391-756-18, HS 110-224-197-10-36, HS 232-411-391-809-81, HS 110-224-197-10-41 and HS 232-411-391-809-63 establishes the utility of marker-assisted backcross-breeding (MAB) and SB in accelerated trait introgression. The introgressed lines carrying Sub1 + Xa21 + xa13 + xa5 showed 76% to 91% survival under 14 days of submergence and durable BB resistance (percent disease index-PDI of 2.68 ± 0.26 to 6.22 ± 1.08 and lesion length, LL of 1.29 ± 0.12 to 4.2 ± 0.64 cm). Physiological analysis revealed that improved NILs, carrying Sub1 gene conquered adaptive physiological modulations, had reduced the consumption of soluble sugar and the degradation of total chlorophyll contents (TCC), and an enhanced level of Alcohol Dehydrogenase activity (ADH) and proline accumulation in all submergence regimes. The pyramided lines attained complete product profile of RP, that will contribute to sustainable rice production under RSL, particularly in the coastal region that has substantial acreage under the variety Hasanta.

Prior information on genetics of bacterial blight (BB) resistance (R) genes is imperative for its successful utilization in trait development and breeding for new resistant varietiesin rice. This experiment was aimed to assess the genetics of BB resistance in susceptible but popular rice variety HUR-917 and IRBB 66 (isogenic lines of IR 24) which harbors five R genes. Bioassay results in the parental lines and crosses were revealed resistance and susceptible disease response in R gene(s) positive and negative lines, respectively with varying range of Xoo (Xanthomonas oryzae pv oryzae) pathotype specificity. Phenomics of F2 and Back Cross (BC) generations showed existence of non-allelic interaction (13:3) between R genes with substantial variability in disease severity. The plants carrying mono hetero-allelic R gene has exsertedModerately susceptible (MS) disease reaction with 6.42 to 8.86 disease severities, however, lines carrying 2 R gene(s) could be able to disease severity Moderate susceptible MS to Moderate Resistant MR against all pathotypes existing in the region make it valid that the doses complementarity and presence of interaction in R genes are major determinant in R expression. It was recorded that presence of two or more R genes (Xa21+xa13; Xa21+ xa13+xa5) exerted broad spectrum BB resistance, hence found more suitable to combat this disease in HUR-917.

Background: Odisha started a programme to revive millets in 2017. Keeping this in the background, this paper examines growth of production, area and yield and decomposition of production of millets in Odisha in the last six decades by using triennium ending data, TE1962-63 to TE2019-20. Methods: Boyce’s kinked exponential method has been used to estimate growth for production, area and yield. Production was decomposed to area, yield and interaction effects. Millets as a crop group is compared with other foodgrain groups and then analysis was carried out for four specific millet crops - ragi, jowar, bajra and small millets. Result: In Odisha, the 1960s and 1970s indicate an increasing trend in production of and area under millets. There is a reversal of these trends since 1980s. The decline started first for small millets in the 1980s and subsequently since the 1990s for the three major millets - bajra, jowar and ragi. Decomposition of millets production indicates that the decline since 1980s is largely on account of area effect, but also because of yield effect in the 1990s and 2010s.