World View: A Philosophical and Theological Perspective

The world of today has emerged as a global village with diversity of culture, faith, religion, ideology and belief. The difference of point of view and intolerance are still left to be taken into account by the intellectuals of the world seriously with other multiple universal problems. In the present scenario, there is a need to rationalize the human existence on the face of Earth in terms of the sole objectives of human life. This study is an attempt to present a world view to the humanity through a philosophical and theological approach. Multiple questions have been raised and then answered with reference to Islamic religious philosophy of human life. It is an attempt to strengthen harmony among the world citizens.

Inter-Accession Variation for Salt Tolerance in Proso Millet Panicum Miliaceum L.

Exploration of genetic variation in natural population with subsequent selection for improved salt tolerance is an excellent strategy to utilize salt affected soils. In order to assess inter-accesional variation for salt tolerance in Panicum miliaceum L., 18 local accessions were screened at germination, seedling (0, 60, 120 and 180 mM NaCl)and adult stage by growing at varying levels of NaCl. In a set of 18 accessions of Panicum miliaceum accessions 008208, 008210 and 008215 were tolerant and accession 008216 salt sensitive at both these initial growth stages, while accession 008230 was tolerant at germination stage but intermediate at the seedling stage. Although the degree of salt tolerance in some accessions of P. miliaceum maintained at two early growth stages, it varied in most of the accessions at both initial growth stages. Moreover, none out of 18 available accessions of P. miliaceum was able to maintain the degree of salt tolerance consistently at all growth stages, i.e. germination, seedling and adult vegetative growth stages. Net CO 2 assimilation rate (A) was positively correlated with salt tolerance in terms of growth and yield. From the data for gas exchange attributes, photosynthetic pigments, ion accumulation it is suggested that lower transpiration rate (E) and higher water use efficiency (WUE measured as A/E) in salt tolerant P. miliaceum accessions seems to be responsible for lower rates of uptake and accumulation of Na + in photosynthetic tissues that resulted in higher photosynthetic efficiency and hence salt tolerance. Moreover, from the data for correlations among each of A, g s , C i and E in P. miliaceum accessions it is suggested that salt-induced decline in photosynthetic efficiencywas found to be associated partially with stomatal factors. Generally, P. miliaceum accessions having better plant water status and lower Na + accumulation had lower oxidative damage and higher photosynthetic capacity. It was suggested that extent of Na + accumulation in the leaves determine the activities of antioxidant enzymes and photosynthetic capacity, indicating that ROS detoxification is only one of the important components salt-stress tolerance. Taken overall, considerable intra-specific variation for salt tolerance was observed in P. miliaceum accessions. Reduction in growth and grain yield of all accessions were due to high accumulation of Na + and Cl - , low RWC, and low photosynthetic rate. Of these physiological attributes, photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll ‘a’, Na + exclusion and K + /Na + ratio were considered as potential physiological indicators for salt tolerance in P. miliaceum can be used in breeding programs meant for improving salt tolerance