Association of COVID-19 with obesity Association of COVID-19 with obesity

COVID-19 is a disease that cause respiratory illness due to novel corona virus. It was reported to WHO on December 31,2019 for the first time. The outbreak of this disease started from Wuhan city, China. Now COVID-19 pandemic is spreading worldwide mostly in Europe and North America, these regions have high prevalence of obesity. In the pathogenesis of COVID-19 disease, obesity assumes a significant job. Theinsusceptible framework, which is official in the pathogenesis of COVID19, assumes asignificant job in weight instigated fat tissue aggravation. In the fat tissue the irritationbrings about metabolic brokenness conceivably prompting dyslipidemia, type 2diabetes mellitus, insulin obstruction, hypertension and cardiovascular sickness. Obesity has been expanded the vulnerability to contaminations. In this pandemic, a large number of obese individual with Covid-19 are reported. Infection rate in obese is greater due to poor immunity, comorbidity and inadequate nutritional needs. Statistical analysis showed that about 41.7% patients reported in New York city were obese. Whereas 40% obese have been reported in United State of America with Covid-19. A report from UK indicated that 38% obese were admitted in ICU with Covid-19. According to Chinese researchers, obese individuals are 3-timesmore prone toward the development of Covid-19. So recent analysis indicated that obesity is the major risk factor of Covid-19. In COVID-19, overweight and obese patients have high danger of metabolic difficultiesand eternal infections that stoutness works. More nutrition care is required for such patients. As nutrition is a key factor for keeping up human wellbeing, for example, denseimpervious framework and satisfactory admission of supplements and dietaryenhancements. Tolerant with COVID-19 create contamination from slight to seriousindications bound to the dietary status. Consequently, assessing wholesome status ofindividuals with contamination turns out to be increasingly significant. Through dietaryhelp, we can bring down the danger of oxidative pressure, infection contamination andexpands invulnerability framework among obese people especially.

Quality Enhancement of Gladiolus Cut Flowers by the Application of Zinc, Boron and Growth Regulators

Gladiolus, an excellent cut flower is highly responsive to fertilizers, especially micronutrients. Dire need is there to explore the best pre and postharvest management practices for quality production and vase life of plant to cope with market demand. Keeping the aim in mind, a study was conducted to enhance the quality production and elongated vase life of gladiolus cut flowers by applying preharvest zinc (Zn) and boron (B), and postharvest salicylic acid (SA) and gibberellic acid (GA3) during two consecutive years 2010 and 2011. Zinc was applied in the soil media @ 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 mg kg-1 and B @ 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 mg kg-1 in pots under greenhouse conditions. Data on preharvest parameters were recorded for the number of leaves per plant, leaf area, spike length, spike thickness, days to flowering, number of florets per spike, flower size, fresh weight and dry weight of flowers, number of cormels, corm size chlorophyll contents, ascorbic acid contents, zinc contents, boron contents and protein contents. The flower spikes were harvested and placed in glass jars containing distilled water. The postharvest application of salicylic acid at 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg l-1 and gibberellic acid at 0, 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg l-1 in vase solution were evaluated. Data were recorded on postharvest parameters; days taken to open floret, percent florets opened, vase life, percent change in fresh weight, electrolyte leakage, superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and free radicals scavenging (FRS) activity. No significant effect of zinc was observed on number of leaves plant-1 and spike thickness. Zinc @ 6 mg kg-1 rendered the highest leaf area, spike length, spike thickness, flower size, fresh weight, dry weight, corm size, chlorophyll contents, days taken to open floret, percent fresh weight change, SOD, POD, CAT xxiii and FRS activity. Whereas, Zn @ 8 mg kg-1 induced the highest number of cormels, number of florets per spike, protein contents, percent florets opened and vase life. The lowest electrolyte leakage and earliest flowering was noted with Zn @ 8 mg kg-1. Zinc concentration was recorded significantly higher with Zn @10 mg kg-1 as compared to all other treatments. Boron had no significant effect on number of leaves per plant and spike thickness. The highest leaf area, spike length, spike thickness, number of florets per spike, flower size, fresh weight, dry weight, number of corms and cormels, corm size, chlorophyll contents, protein contents, days taken to open floret, vase life, percent florets opened and vase life, percent fresh weight change, CAT and FRS activity were observed with B @ 2 mg kg-1 with respect to control treatment. While B @ 3 mg kg-1 induced the largest flower size, the highest fresh weight and SOD activity of cut flowers. Earliest flowering and lowest electrolyte leakage was noted with B @ 2 mg kg-1 and 3 mg kg-1 respectively over all other treatments. Boron and Zn concentrations were observed significantly high with B @ 5 mg kg-1 as compared to all other treatments. Salicylic acid @ 150 mg L-1 significantly increased the days taken to open florets, percent florets opened, retained higher fresh weight, SOD, CAT and FRS activity over control treatment. The lowest electrolyte and the highest POD activity were observed in SA @ 200 and 150 mg L-1, respectively among all other treatments. Gibberellic acid @ 25 mg L-1 induced the highest days taken to open floret, vase life, percent florets opened, vase life, fresh weight, POD, and FRSA over other treatments. The highest SOD, CAT activity and the lowest electrolyte leakage were noted in GA3 @ 50 mg L-1 over control. This study concludes that application of Zn at 6-8 mg kg-1, B at 2 mg kg-1 imparts greater beneficial effects on growth, production, vase quality and antioxidative activities in gladiolus. Salicylic acid at 150 mg L-1 and GA3 at 25 mg L-1 augmented the longest vase life and antioxidants activity of cut gladiolus and further higher application rate renders non significant improvement.