Ever since its inception, acrodermatitis continua of Hallopeau, has been recognized as an uncommon clinical entity which has been sparingly reported from across the globe. The attempt to have cumulative information on prevalent nomenclature, definition, reminiscences, and clinical overtures has brought differential diagnosis and diagnosis in sharp focus, the highlights of which are outlined. Hence, it was considered important to review the evolution of treatment options available thus far including use of biologics.

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Melasma, a hypermelanosis of the face, is a common skin problem of middle-aged women of all racial groups, especially with dark complexion. Its precise etio-pathogenesis is evasive, genetic influences, exposure to sunlight, pregnancy, oral contraceptives, estrogen-progesterone therapies, thyroid dysfunction, cosmetics, and drugs have been proposed. Centro-facial, malar, and mandibular are well-recognized. Epidermal pigmentation appears brown/black, while dermal is blue in color, and can be distinguished by Wood's lamp illumination. The difference may be inapparent with mixed type of melasma in skin types V and VI. An increase in melanin in epidermis: basal and suprabasal layers and/or dermis is the prime defect. There is an increased expression of tyrosinase related protein-1 involved in eumelanin synthesis. The use of broad-spectrum sunscreen is important, lightening agents like retinoic acid (tretinoin), azelaic acid, and combination therapies containing hydroquinone, tretinoin, and corticosteroids, have been used in the treatment of melasma, and are thought to have increased efficacy as compared with monotherapy. Quasi-drugs, placental extracts, ellagic acid, chamomilla extract, butylresorcinol, tranexamic acid, methoxy potassium salicylate, adenosine monophosphate disodium salt, dipropyl-biphenyl-2,2'-diol, (4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanol, and tranexamic acid cetyl ester hydrochloride, in addition to kojic and ascorbic acid have been used. Chemical peeling is a good adjunct. Laser treatment is worthwhile.

It was possible to classify 80% of the AGA, with II (28%) and III (15%) being the most common types of AGA. Twenty-seven patients (18%) could not be classified as a significant finding. There was considerable overlap in types IV, V and VI in the Norwood classification with the 'a' variants further confusing the picture.

The effect of two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi [G. mosseae (G) and A. laevis (A)] with P. fluorescence (Pf) in the presence of super phosphate (P) fertilization on growth and yield of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum var. California Wonder) was evaluated in pots under greenhouse conditions, in a completely randomized design with four levels of phosphorus fertilizer [F0-without P, F1-0.200g pot -1 (half of the recommended dose), F3-0.400g pot -1 (recommended dose) and F4-0.800g pot -1 (double the recommended dose)] having six different combinations of bioinoculants. Inoculation of bioinoclulants with F1 increased plant growth and nutrition to an acceptable level with AM fungi in combination with P. fluorescens. Application of higher dose of P fertilizer markedly decreased all the growth parameters. The prevalence of AM colonization was highest in G+A+Pf with F1. Similarly highest yield was recorded for the treatment involving multi inoculation of G+A+Pf in the treatment of F1 followed by dual inoculation of G+Pf in F0 plants. Thus this finding suggests the application of efficient bioinoculants (G+A+Pf) along with right dose of P fertilizer (half of the recommended P) during seedling transplantation to increase overall growth and yield performance of bell pepper and could be considered as a sustainable substitute to higher phosphorus fertilizer for bell pepper cultivation.

Several environmental factors adversely affect plant growth and development and final yield performance of a crop. Drought, salinity, nutrient imbalances (including mineral toxicities and deficiencies) and extremes of temperature are among the major environmental constraints to crop productivity worldwide. Development of crop plants with stress tolerance, however, requires, among others, knowledge of the physiological mechanisms and genetic controls of the contributing traits at different plant developmental stages. In the past two decades, biotechnology research has provided considerable insights into the mechanism of biotic stress tolerance in plants at the molecular level. Furthermore, different abiotic stress factors may provoke osmotic stress, oxidative stress and protein denaturation in plants, which lead to similar cellular adaptive responses such as accumulation of compatible solutes, induction of stress proteins, and acceleration of reactive oxygen species scavenging systems. Recently, various methods are adapted to improve plant tolerance to salinity injury through either chemical treatments (plant hormones, minerals, amino acids, quaternary ammonium compounds, polyamines and vitamins) or biofertilizers treatments (Asymbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria, symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria) or enhanced a process used naturally by plants (mycorrhiza) to minimise the movement of Na+ to the shoot. Proper management of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) has the potential to improve the profitability and sustainability of salt tolerance. In this review article, the discussion is restricted to the mycorrhizal symbiosis and alleviation of salinity stress.

Mycorrhizal symbiosis is a highly evolved mutually beneficial relationship that exists between Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and most of the vascular plants. The majority of the terrestrial plants form association with Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (VAM) or Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). This symbiosis confers benefits directly to the host plant’s growth and development through the acquisition of Phosphorus (P) and other mineral nutrients from the soil by the AMF. In addition, their function ranges from stress alleviation to bioremediation in soils polluted with heavy metals. They may also enhance the protection of plants against pathogens and increases the plant diversity. This is achieved by the growth of AMF mycelium within the host root (intra radical) and out into the soil (extra radical) beyond. Proper management of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungi has the potential to improve the profitability and sustainability of agricultural systems. In this review article, the discussion is restricted to the mycorrhizal benefits and their role in sustainable development.

In the present analysis, we evaluated the effect of different microbial inoculants on growth and floral responses of Gazania rigens (L.) Gaertn. Two prevailing arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) i.e., Funelliformis mosseae and Acaulospora laevis, along with Trichoderma viride and Pseudomonas fluorescens, were examined in a pot experiment. Independent roles of these four microbes and their different combinations were used in sixteen treatments of G. rigens. The experiment was conducted in a polyhouse with five replicates per treatment in a randomized complete block design. The results of microbial inoculants were very effective for growth yield and flowering response over the control. Early flowering was noted in the combination of F. mosseae, A. laevis and P. fluorescens, which also showed the best results for flower head size, flower fresh and dry weight, total chlorophyll, carotene and phosphorus content. Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) root colonization (%) and AM spore number were also the highest for the same treatment, whereas the number of leaves, number of buds and root length were maximum in the combined treatment (F. mosseae + A. laevis + T. viride + P. fluorescens). Overall, this study proposes that growers should consider microbial inoculants for the better yield and flower quality of G. rigens.