Acceptability of traditional healers as directly observed treatment providers in tuberculosis control in a tribal area of Andhra Pradesh, India.

Setting: Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh, India, where 9% of the population is tribal.

Objective: To 1) examine traditional healers' (THs) diagnostic and treatment practices for tuberculosis (TB); 2) understand health-seeking behaviour for TB amongst tribal groups; 3) evaluate the acceptability of THs to public health workers; and 4) assess how THs can collaborate with the TB Programme.

Methods: In-depth interviews with 120 THs, 37 exit interviews and four focus group discussions with TB patients; interviews with eight non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and 38 public health staff.

In vitro hybridization in an incompatible cross Nicotiana glutinosa X Nicotiana megalosiphon.

Using conventional techniques interspecific hybridization between N. glutinosa (2n=24) and N. megalosiphon (2n=40) results in failure while the reciprocal is successful.

Genotypes and their response to in vitro production of haploids in F1 lines of Nicotiana tabacum.

The present article reports on pollen embryogenesis resulting in haploid plants in 14 different F1 lines of Nicotiana tabacum. The response for pollen embryogenesis was high in cultures where the F1 lines were derived from mutants. Present observations are in agreement with previous reports on Secale cereale where one of the parents is from a mutant MII.