The investigations concerned the influences of simulated drought conditions on germination and early nonphotosynthetic stages of seedling growth of two lots of dent corn differing in energy. Carbowax polyethylene glycol 6000, (C6M), mannitol, and NaCl were used osmotic substrates to prepare aqueous solutions having 0 to 10 atmospheres of osmotic pressure (O.P.), corresponding to different drought conditions. The tetrazolium test was used to evaluate seed energy. Water absorbed by seeds decreased with increasing O.P. levels. Increased O.P. levels progressively delayed and reduced germination. Linear regression coefficients were ‐3.45, ‐1.09, and ‐0.49% germination per 1 atm O.P. for the above three substrates, respectively. The rapidity of gernfination and the seedling vigor in growth tests of the two lots tended to parallel the vigor ratings obtained from tetrazolium tests. Trends were noted indicating more adverse effects of increasing O.P. levels on the low than on the high energy lot, and on the shoot than on primary root elongation. Correlation steadies indicated that shoot growth alone was an acceptable measure of evaluation for the simulated influence of drought conditions.

Drought conditions were simulated in the laboratory by using aqueous solutions having osmotic pressures from 1 to 10 atmospheres. “Carbowax” polyethylene glycol 6000 was used as the solute. Germination percentages and subsequent seedling growth of two lots of corn, differing in embryo soundness, progressively decreased with increased osmotic pressures. The effects of the high osmotic pressures were more adverse in the low than in the high quality seed lot. Soundness of embryos as revealed by tetrazolium tests was closely related to growth performance. The germination of seed under simulated drought conditions offers possibilities for revealing seed weaknesses and predicting relative differences among seed lots in field emergence.

BackgroundThere is overwhelming evidence that periodontal disease and dental caries affect the majority of populations and that western culture and lifestyle may have a profound influence on oral health, especially in adults. The present study was performed to determine the effect of westernization on the oral health of college students of Udaipur City, Rajasthan.MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among students attending various professional and non-professional bachelor’s degree colleges of Udaipur City, Rajasthan, India, from March 2013 to May 2013. Eight hundred students were selected based on a two-stage random sampling procedure. Westernization was assessed by a self-administered structured questionnaire. Periodontal status, dental caries status and malocclusion were assessed according to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria (1997). Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square and Multivariate logistic regression. The confidence level and level of significance were set at 95 and 5 %, respectively.ResultsThe present study suggested that adverse habits, listening to English music and preferring English food had a significant association with dental caries and periodontal diseases. Malocclusion also showed a significant relationship with consuming English food for snacks and desserts. Multivariate analysis revealed a significantly greater odds ratio (OR) for periodontal disease and dental caries among those who preferred English food for lunch.ConclusionBased on the results of the present study, there is an association between westernization and oral health.

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