This study examined the effects of dietary turmeric rhizome powder (TRP) supplementation on the external egg quality traits obtained from laying hens. The experiment was conducted at the Poultry Unit of the Teaching and Research Farm, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria. A total of 192 laying hens (16 weeks old) were randomly allocated to three dietary treatments, each comprising 64 birds. The treatments were further sub-divided into four replicates, with each containing 16 birds. The treatments included a control diet without turmeric (T1), a diet supplemented with 5 g/kg TRP (T2), and a diet supplemented with 10 g/kg TRP (T3). Key parameters assessed included egg weight, shell thickness, shell weight, egg width, egg height, and total egg production. Results indicated a significant difference (p<0.05) in total egg production among treatments, with the highest production observed in T2 (1704 eggs), followed by T1 (1660 eggs), and the lowest in T3 (1584 eggs). This suggests that moderate TRP supplementation enhances laying performance, whereas excessive inclusion may induce metabolic constraints. Eggshell thickness was significantly higher (p<0.05) in T3 (0.68 mm) compared to T2 (0.57 mm) and T1 (0.53 mm), indicating improved calcium deposition and enhanced shell integrity at higher TRP levels. Eggshell weight also varied significantly (p<0.05), with both T1 and T3 exhibiting the highest values (5.8 g), while T2 had the lowest (5.4 g). Egg weight remained statistically unaffected across treatments (p>0.05), with mean values of 56.93 g (T1), 53.70 g (T2), and 57.70 g (T3), suggesting that TRP supplementation did not significantly influence overall egg mass. Regarding storage stability, weight depreciation was significantly lower (p<0.05) in T3 (54.10 g to 53.68 g) compared to T1 (56.96 g to 54.96 g) and T2 (54.91 g to 52.99 g), reinforcing the role of TRP in maintaining egg mass and reducing moisture loss during storage. The findings suggest that dietary supplementation with 5 g/kg TRP optimizes egg production, whereas 10 g/kg enhances eggshell integrity and storage stability. However, the observed decline in egg production at the higher supplementation level indicates a possible threshold beyond which TRP may negatively impact laying performance. Further research is required to elucidate the physiological mechanisms underlying these effects and to determine the optimal TRP inclusion level for maximizing both egg production and external egg quality traits.

The tobacco whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, is a major global pest, and its complex nature poses significant challenges to agriculture, particularly in its role as a vector for severe plant viruses like Brinjal yellow mosaic virus (BYMV). In Kerala, India, this pest severely impacts brinjal (Solanum melongena) cultivation, an economically vital crop. Recognizing the pest's reported high morphological plasticity and the existence of cryptic species, this study aimed to characterize the intraspecific morphological variability of Bemisia tabaci pupae collected from brinjal plants across seven diverse agro-ecological units (AEUs) in Kerala. Using standard clearing, staining, and mounting techniques, fifteen key puparial morphometric traits were measured and analyzed across fourteen districts of Kerala. While initial observations showed subtle differences in overall dimensions, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) effectively revealed significant population segregation. The first two principal components (PC1 and PC2) collectively explained 75.3% of the total variance. PC1 was strongly driven by pupal width (PW), operculum length (OL), and lingula length (LL), clearly separating populations of Wayanad and Ernakulam as having distinct, larger pupal size-related features. PC2, on the other hand, was influenced by wax margin dimensions (LRWM, LLWM) and vasiform orifice length (VOL), highlighting populations Kottayam, Idukki and Palakkad. These results confirm the existence of distinct morphotypes within Bemisia tabaci infesting brinjal in Kerala, suggesting that local environmental conditions, host plant factors, and micro-climatic variation are driving phenotypic differentiation. This structural diversity emphasizes the pest's high adaptability, underscoring the necessity for location-specific and integrated pest management strategies.

Hordeum vulgare L. (barley) is one of the earliest domesticated cereal crops and has long been revered in India as a sacred and health-promoting grain. Despite its historical and cultural importance, barley cultivation declined during the Green Revolution era due to the expansion of high-yielding wheat varieties and changing dietary preferences. In recent decades, production has stabilized largely because of demand from the malt industry; however, renewed scientific evidence highlighting its nutritional and therapeutic benefits has repositioned barley as a promising functional food crop. This review compiles the present status of barley research in India with special emphasis on its potential in the food sector and outlines future prospects for its promotion as a health cereal. Barley is particularly valued for its high content of soluble dietary fibre, especially mixed-linkage β-glucans, which have been clinically associated with reduced serum cholesterol, improved glycemic response, and enhanced colon health. In addition to β-glucans, barley contains significant levels of amylose, arabinoxylans, essential minerals (Zn, Fe, Se), and diverse phytochemicals including phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and vitamin E compounds, contributing to strong antioxidant activity. Comparative analyses indicate that barley exhibits higher total phenolic content and antioxidant potential than several commonly consumed cereals, supporting its role in prevention of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. The review also highlights key physical and biochemical traits important for food barley improvement, including hulless grain types for enhanced processing efficiency, high β-glucan and amylose content for lower glycemic index, improved mineral biofortification, and enhanced disease resistance. Market analysis suggests a rapidly growing breakfast cereal sector in India, dominated by oats largely imported despite barley being an indigenous, climate-resilient crop with comparable health benefits. The limited development of palatable barley-based products and insufficient consumer awareness have constrained its market penetration. Potential value-added products such as multigrain atta, biscuits, bread, flakes, and ready-to-drink sattu offer significant opportunities for industry engagement. Strategic interventions including breeding high-yielding hulless varieties, product standardization, nutritional branding, awareness campaigns, and supportive pricing policies could revitalize food barley cultivation. With coordinated efforts among researchers, policymakers, and the food industry, barley has strong potential to enhance farmer income, strengthen nutritional security, and re-establish its position as a sustainable health cereal in India.