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The topic of structural colour is crucial in the current world as it affects our day-today lives, both in the form of household items and appliances, as well as in industrial settings. The present work delves into the significance of microstructures in determining the visual appearance of three distinct colours of paperflower ( Bougainvillea ) petals: pink, yellow, and white. With the aid of a field emission scanning electron microscope, we study the surface morphology of the specimen. We affirm that micro-papillae and nanostructures present on the surface dictate the colour of the aforementioned specimen types along with the pigments. A sophisticated micro-spectrophotometry technique has been employed to acquire reflectance and polarization-sensitive reflectance features. The reflectance characteristics pertaining to their microstructures has been studied. Additionally, we anticipate that the random arrangements of the epidermal cells provide sensitivity to the specimen towards polarized light. Alcoholic media with various refractive indices have been used to demonstrate the contribution and manifestation of structural colour. Furthermore, angle-resolved UV-vis spectral features have been examined to ensure their viewing angle dependency. Moreover, an attempt has been made to use polyvinyl alcohol polymer negative replica to bio-mimic the petal microstructure. Our study is expected to unfold new insights that may hold value in the fields of nano-photonics, nano-coatings, textile design, etc.

The Litchi stink bug, Tessaratoma javanica (Thunberg) (Hemiptera: Tessaratomidae), is a major insect pest of litchi in India. Insect-associated bacteria play significant roles in their growth and development. We studied the bacterial communities linked to T. javanica using 16 S rRNA amplicon sequencing and predicted the functions of associated bacterial communities. The findings revealed that bacterial communities significantly differ across the developmental stages of T. javanica . The primary bacterial phyla across all developmental stages linked to T. javanica were Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidota, Actinobacteria, Patescibacteria, and Nitrospirota. Class Gammaproteobacteria predominated in first and 4th nymphal instars, and adult females, whereas Bacilli dominated the gut of the 3rd, and 5th nymphal instars of T. javanica . Ligilactobacillus apodemi , Staphylococcus xylosus , and Pseudomonas furukawaii were identified as the predominant bacterial species associated with T. javanica . The peak bacterial diversity was observed in the 5th nymphal instar and the lowest in the 1st nymphal instar. The observed changes between growth and developmental stages indicate that bacterial communities are dynamic and perpetually developing to meet the metabolic functions of T. javanica . Comprehending these interactions will improve our understanding of the ecological relationship with this pest and assists in developing and implementing efficient biological control plans for its management.

The underutilized fruit crop Sugar apple ( Annona squamosa L.) holds significant potential for genetic improvement owing to its diverse agro-morphological and biochemical traits. In the present study, 70 wild and semi-wild genotypes from the Eastern Plateau region of India were evaluated and characterized in situ to assess their trait diversity, phenotypic variability, and selection potential. A comprehensive evaluation revealed wide variation in plant and fruit characteristics. Green fruit exocarp colour with cordate fruit shape, impressed fruit surface and creamy white pulp colour were recorded as dominant fruit traits. The Fruit weight, pulp per cent, and seed number ranged from 70.67 to 216.00 g, 41.14 to 77.48% and 5.52 to 36.28 seeds/fruit, respectively, with several genotypes outperforming the commercial cultivar, Arka Sahan. Biochemical profiling showed considerable diversity in SSC (12.60- 29.37 o Brix), sugars (10.82–27.77%), titratable acidity (0.26–0.67%), ascorbic acid content (12.60–39.84 mg/100 g) and total phenols content (86–139.97 mg GAE/100 g), with antioxidant activity ranging from 72.53 to 164.36 mg AEAC/100 g among the sugar apple diversity in the region. The fraction of phenolics was studied using UHPLC, and the results showed that gallic acid was the dominant phenolic compound, followed by p-coumaric acid, vanillic acid, chlorogenic acid, protocatechuic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, ferulic acid and syringic acid. Principal component analysis (PCA) explained over 81% of the cumulative variation, and hierarchical clustering grouped the genotypes into five major clusters, indicating distinct phenotypic diversity. The Multi-Trait Genotype–Ideotype Distance Index (MGIDI) effectively identified 12 elite genotypes with superior trait combinations, reinforcing its utility in perennial crop selection. These findings underscore the diversity of wild sugar apple populations and provide a valuable foundation for targeted breeding, conservation, and cultivar development strategies.

Bioconvection phenomena play a pivotal role in diverse applications, including the synthesis of biological polymers and advancements in renewable energy technologies. This study develops a comprehensive mathematical model to examine the effects of key parameters, such as the Lewis number (Lb), Peclet number (Pe), volume fraction (φ), and angle of inclination (α), on the flow and heat transfer characteristics of a nanofluid over an inclined cylinder embedded in a non-Darcy porous medium. The investigated nanofluid comprises nano-encapsulated phase-change materials (NEPCMs) dispersed in water, offering enhanced thermal performance. The governing non-linear partial differential equations are transformed into dimensionless ordinary differential equations using similarity transformations and solved numerically via the Network Simulation Method (NSM) and an implicit Runge–Kutta method implemented through the bvp4c routine in MATLAB R2021a. Validation against the existing literature confirms the accuracy and reliability of the numerical approach, with strong convergence observed. Quantitative analysis reveals that an increase in the Peclet number reduces the shear stress at the cylinder wall by up to 18% while simultaneously enhancing heat transfer by approximately 12%. Similarly, the angle of inclination (α) significantly boosts heat transmission rates. Additionally, higher Peclet and Lewis numbers, along with greater nanoparticle volume fractions, amplify the density gradient of microorganisms, intensifying the bioconvection process by nearly 15%. These findings underscore the critical interplay between bioconvection and transport phenomena, providing a framework for optimizing bioconvection-driven heat and mass transfer systems. The insights from this investigation hold substantial implications for industrial processes and renewable energy technologies, paving the way for improved efficiency in applications such as thermal energy storage and advanced cooling systems.

The next generation sequencing (NGS) approach has facilitated the investigations of gut microbiota with high throughput and resolution. The present study was focused on the taxonomic and functional characterization of bacterial community associated with different developmental stages of melon fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae using 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene amplicons metagenomics. Z. cucurbitae is considered an invasive and most staid polyphagous pest of cucurbitaceous and other related crops. The taxonomic analysis of highly variable V3–V4 region of bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing indicated that the bacterial community associated with Z. cucurbitae consists of a total of 23 bacterial phyla (including unclassified and unassigned bacteria), comprising 32 classes, 69 orders, 99 families and 130 genera. Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria and Tenericutes were dominant phyla of which family, Enterobacteriaceae was the most abundant in the larval and adult female stages, whereas Mycoplasmataceae was the dominant in the pupal stage. In larval stages of Z. cucurbitae, genus Providencia and Comamonas were the most abundant. However, genus Candidatus-Bacilloplasma and Klebsiella were the most dominant in pupae and adult females of Z. cucurbitae, respectively. PICRUSt analysis conducted for prediction of metabolic activities revealed that associated microbiota were involved in membrane transport, carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, energy metabolism, replication and repair processes as well as cellular processes and signalling. The higher number of OTUs was annotated for phosphoglycerate mutase and transketolase in adult females followed by larval stages, which may support the digestive function of the microbiota in larvae and adult females. Our findings provide insights about the high variation in microbiota across developmental stages and basis for microbiota-based management strategies of fruit flies.

Leguminous crop Tephrosia candida has high biomass production and contains a substantial quantity of nutrients within its biomass. Starting in 2019, a long-term study was done to find the best Tephrosia candida dose for mulching in guava orchards. The study had four treatments: T 1  = 3.0 kg dry biomass m −2 of the plant basin, T 2  = 2.0 kg, T 3  = 1.0 kg, and T 4  = control (no mulch). Every year, the treatments imposed in the month of August. The third year (2021–2022) results indicated that mulching with 3 kg of biomass m −2 increased trunk diameter, fruit yield, fruit weight, specific leaf area, total leaf chlorophyll, and leaf macro- and micro-nutrients. At 3.0 kg m −2 , mulching improved soil properties such as EC, available nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable potassium, DTPA extractable micronutrients (Fe, Zn, Cu, and Mn), total organic carbon (C toc ), soil organic carbon (C soc ), organic carbon fractions, and microbial biomass carbon between 0–0.15 m and 0.15–0.30 m. There was an increasing trend in dehydrogenase activity (DHA) and fluorescein diacetate (FDA). The Tephrosia leaf litter exhibited decay constants of 1.27 year −1 , and the carbon content was 40.11%. Therefore, applying Tephrosia biomass mulching at a rate of 3.0 kg m −2 is a viable long-term solution for enhancing soil fertility and sequestering carbon.

Mutation breeding has emerged as a powerful tool for expanding genetic variability and accelerating crop improvement, particularly in perennial fruit crops where conventional breeding is constrained by long juvenility and narrow genetic bases. The present study was conducted at the ICAR–National Research Centre on Litchi, Muzaffarpur, Bihar, India, from 2022 to 2025 to determine the median lethal dose (LD50) of γ-irradiation in litchi cv. Shahi and to assess induced morphological and physiological responses. Fresh seeds were irradiated in two phases using a Co60 γ-source: in 2022, with doses ranging from 5 to 50 Gy, which resulted in higher survival percentages and limited phenotypic variation; and in 2023, with higher doses ranging from 55 to 100 Gy to increase the mutation frequency. Survival percentage was recorded two months after sowing, and LD50 was calculated at 46 Gy. Morphological and physiological evaluations were subsequently conducted on mutant populations generated from irradiation doses above the estimated LD50 (46 Gy) to maximize mutation recovery and phenotypic variation. Analyses revealed that increasing irradiation doses reduced plant survival, height, canopy volume, and chlorophyll content, while inducing significant morpho-physiological alterations. Several novel phenotypes were identified, including a climbing-type growth habit, dwarfism, compact canopies, and altered leaf morphology. This study demonstrates the potential of gamma irradiation as an effective tool for creating selectable genetic variability and broadening the genetic base of litchi.

Pre-harvest fruit bagging is recognized as an eco-safe strategy to improve fruit quality and reduce biotic and abiotic stresses in high-value horticultural crops. However, its effectiveness in litchi ( Sonn.) across diverse agro-climatic regions remains insufficiently documented. This study evaluated the impact of bagging materials and application timing on fruit damage, yield, and quality in litchi under multi-location conditions in India. Field experiments were conducted across nine major litchi-growing regions over four consecutive seasons (2020-2023). Seven treatments were tested in a factorial randomized block design, including white and pink non-woven polypropylene bags applied at 15, 25, and 30 days after fruit set (DAFS), along with an unbagged control. Data on fruit cracking, sunburn, borer infestation, yield, fruit weight, total soluble solids (TSS), anthocyanin content, and acidity were recorded. Statistical analyses included ANOVA, hierarchical clustering, and principal component analysis (PCA). Bagging significantly reduced fruit cracking, sunburn, and borer infestation, with significant location × treatment interactions (P ≤ 0.05). Compared with the control, cracking and sunburn were reduced to ≤4-6% and ≤5-8%, respectively, while borer infestation remained below 3% in most locations. Yield increased by 10-35%, particularly when bagging was applied at 25-30 DAFS. Bagged fruits showed higher fruit weight, TSS, and anthocyanin content while maintaining desirable acidity. Pre-harvest bagging is a robust and location-resilient practice that enhances litchi yield and marketable quality across diverse environments, supporting its adoption as a sustainable production strategy.

Light is fundamental to human perception and understanding of the world. Modern technology now harnesses it as a versatile tool for controlling a wide range of natural processes. Generally, light fields carry both energy and momentum: their linear momentum creates radiation pressure, while their intrinsic spin angular momentum is linked to polarization. Light fields embedded with orbital angular momentum (OAM)- also known as optical vortices (OVs)- have truly revolutionized optics and deepened our understanding of light-matter interaction across scales. OVs—characterized by twisted phase fronts and a central intensity null—have found applications in microparticle manipulation, microscopy, optical communication, and quantum information science, among others. In this review, we revisit some of the fundamental concepts on OVs and discuss extensively on how this new dimension of light has been exploited in both linear and nonlinear optical regimes. We briefly discuss the different types of vortex beams, the techniques used to generate them and detect their OAM, and their propagation in various media. Particularly, we put a special emphasis on the utilization of vortex beams in nonlinear perturbative and non-perturbative regimes to explain different optical phenomena such as the second harmonic generation, sum frequency generation, parametric down-conversion, and high-order harmonic generation.