The present study was conducted to analyze genetic diversity among biodiesel producing plant Jatropha curcas genotypes using six RAPD primers. The J. curcas samples were collected from ten agro climatic regions in Bangladesh. The six primers produced 31 DNA bands. All the DNA bands (31) showed 100% polymorphism. Overall gene frequency of 10 genotypes of J. curcas was ranged from 0.10 to 0.90. The average Nei’s gene diversity and Shannon’s Information Index for all loci were estimated 0.2994 and 0.4650, respectively. The gene diversity value was ranged from 0.18 to 0.50 and Shannon’s Information Index was ranged from 0.3251 to 0.6931. Inter-germplasm similarity indices (Si) ranged from 5.56 to 66.67% with an average of 33.906%. The similarity coefficient range varied from 0.00 to 0.971. The UPGMA dendogram constructed from Nei’s (1972) genetic distance group indicated segregation of the ten J. curcas germplasms into three main clusters. Cluster I, II and III possessed 8, 1 and 1 germplasms, respectively. This study revealed that at least three different J. curcas genotypes are available in Bangladesh. The RAPD technique is, however, found to be useful in studying genetic variation among J. curcas genotypes of different regions in Bangladesh. J Bangladesh Agril Univ 17(4): 437–445, 2019

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Fighting against global hunger in the adverse climatic condition is a major concern of the governments around the globe. The pace of population growth is overwhelmingly defeating the growth in crop production. In this context, introduction of GMO is emerging as a probable solution for sustainable crop production. However, such developments are not beyond criticism. This paper assesses and evaluates the prospects and challenges of introduction of GMO in a global perspective. Experiences of GM crop cultivation in different countries are also considered. This paper is a review of all accessible literature on GMO and sustainable crop production. This review will give a flavor of the on going debate and help take decision by the interested countries regarding GMO adoption. Furthermore, on the basis of the review this paper suggests some policy recommendations.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbau.v10i2.14921 J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 10(2): 291-296, 2012

The reproductive healthcare system is meagre in the ethnic communities of Bangladesh. Notwithstanding the availability of studies on the healthcare-seeking behaviour of ethnic groups in Bangladesh, studies explicitly focused on the social networks of ethnic women, and their likely influences on reproductive health in this context are rare. We analyse how social networks impact ethnic women’s reproductive healthcare-seeking behaviour in Bangladesh. A total of 205 married ethnic—Garo and Mandai—women were selected purposively from Madhupur Upazila in the Tangail district. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured interview schedule. Descriptive statistics show that the average score of reproductive healthcare-seeking behaviour of Garo and Mandai women is low (40 out of 70), and the average network size of that women is slightly small (2.58). Results from hierarchical multiple regression models show that, next to years of schooling, reproductive health-related training and membership status, network size is positively related, while reproductive health constraints are negatively related, and ethnicity is not statistically associated with reproductive healthcare-seeking behaviour of Garo and Mandai women. This study reveals that social networks of ethnic women may improve their reproductive healthcare-seeking behaviour in Bangladesh. Hence, the policy recommendation is that social network agents are more equipped with reproductive health-related knowledge and information.

Aloe vera [Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f.] is considered a valuable medicinal plant worldwide due to its remarkable beneficial effects on human health. However, challenges in A. vera propagation hinder meeting the increasing demand in the health and beauty sectors. As an alternative method, in vitro propagation is crucial for the mass production of Aloe plants, which is a rapid method as well. Therefore, the present study aimed to establish an efficient micropropagation protocol for A. vera by in vitro optimization of the effect of different plant growth regulators (PGRs).For shoot proliferation, sterilized explants were inoculated on the Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and thidiazuron (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 mg/l) in combination with 0.5 mg/l naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Subsequently, indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) (1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 mg/l) was used for root induction. It was found that the explants cultured on the MS medium supplemented with 4.0 mg/l BAP + 0.5 mg/l NAA showed the highest percentage of response (90 ± 1.29) for shoot induction within the minimum number of days (5 ± 0.33). The highest number of shoots (2.7 ± 0.36) and length of shoots (4.7 ± 0.42 cm) per explant were also observed with the same concentration of PGRs. However, the highest number of roots (3.2 ± 0.57), length of roots (5.67 ± 0.21 cm), and root induction (80 ± 1.97 %) were noticed within the minimum number of days (11 ± 0.79) on the MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/l IBA. Thus, the proposed method is a quick and effective approach for the mass propagation of A. vera with appropriate dosages of auxins and cytokinins, which may allow meeting the increasing commercial demand.