Perception of Home Demands, Demography, and Mental Health amongst Married Women During COVID-19

This study aims to explore the relationship between the perception of home demands, demography and mental health of married women during the COVID-19 pandemic. The predictive role of perception of home demands, and demographics has also been assessed, in determining the mental health of married women during the pandemic. A sample of 250 married Pakistani women, between 20 to 55 years, with at least one child and minimum matric qualification, were included in the study. Participants were administered a self-constructed questionnaire. Regression analysis showed that quantitative home demands and husband’s employment status were significant negative predictors of anxiety and depression in women, whereas emotional home demands and mental home demands were significant positive predictors of depression, anxiety, and stress in married women. The results of this study help to highlight the work pressure women are facing during the pandemic and to support reform in balanced gender role expectations in society. This study also has implications for mental health practitioners, feminists, social workers, psychologists, and policymakers.

Morpho-Physiological, Chemical and Bio-Chemical Assessment of Chilli Genotypes in Different Saline Regimes

Salinity is a major abiotic stress affecting plant growth and productivity worldwide. The salinity-induced reduction in growth and development of plants is associated with ionic/osmotic effects, nutritional imbalance or oxidative stress. Chillies are sensitive to salinity and its growth reduction is reported in developing countries. Different germination and pot trials were conducted to identify morphological, chemical and bio-chemical attributes that can be used for characterization of salinity tolerance in chilli genotypes. In first experiment, 10 Chilli genotypes were screened out for salinity tolerance. One salt sensitive and one salt tolerant genotypes were selected on the basis of morphological and chemical attributes (germination percentage, shoot length, root length, plant fresh weight, plant dry weight and leaf sodium and potassium contents). Then, effects of different salinity levels were assessed on morpho-physiological, chemical, biochemical and enzymatic attributes of salt tolerant and salt sensitive chilli genotypes. With the increase in salt stress, the antioxidant enzymatic activity was increased in both genotypes but higher enzymatic activity was noted at 5.0 and 7.0 dS m-1 salt stress in salt tolerant genotype Plahi. In the third experiment, both genotypes were tested for phospholipid signaling under salt stress and both showed increasing pattern of PIP2 and PIP responses and again maximum signaling response was observed for the salt tolerant genotype Plahi. There was an optimization experiment to find out the best proline dose that could alleviate the salinity induced affects in chilli plants. With the application of different levels of foliar proline, all growth attributes increased but maximum increase was recorded at 0.8 mM proline level. Then foliar spray of the best proline dose 0.8 mM was applied to both genotypes under salt stress of 5 dS m-1. There was significant increase in compatible solutes (proline and glycinebetaine), enzymatic activity, photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance by proline application under salt stress. There was significant decrease in toxic ions (Na+ and Cl-) and increase in K+ concentration while maximum decrease in Na+ and Cl- contents was observed in salt tolerant genotype Plahi relative to the salt sensitive genotype A-120. Hence, this study implies that proline application is a useful tool to combat salinity stress in chilli genotypes