May 2013
RNA interference: A novel tool for plant disease management
Plant diseases pose a huge threat to crop production globally. Variations in their genomes cause selection to favor those who can survive pesticides and Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) crops. Though plant breeding has been the classical means of manipulating the plant genome to develop resistant cultivar for controlling plant diseases, the advent of genetic engineering provides an entirely new approach being...
May 2013
Genetic diversity of pheasants from natural habitat and farm breeding in Eastern Poland
The present model of wildlife management in relationship to pheasants is based on closed breeding and insertion of grown birds into the hunting grounds. The survival rate of pheasants from farm breeding does not exceed 10%. One can pose a hypothesis about the genetic determination of survivability of pheasants originating from farm breeding. A study of the DNA polymorphism of two groups of pheasants was performed. The...
May 2013
Proteomic analysis of chromate response in Staphylococcus saprophyticus isolated from a fly ash dumping site
Staphylococci species resistant to chromate were previously isolated from a fly ash dumping site. To further understand the mechanisms developed by these bacteria to tolerate chromate, a proteomic analysis was performed to identify proteins involved in chromate stress response of Staphylococcus saprophyticus isolated from a fly ash dumping site. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis...
May 2013
DNA marker characterization for allele mining of blast and bacterial leaf blight resistant genes and evaluation for grain yield
Landraces of rice were evaluated for blast and bacterial leaf blight (BLB) resistance, via tightly linked SSR markers and by phenotyping for flowering time, maturity and grain yield. Correlation between flowering maturity and grain yield was carried out using 162 local landraces and traditional rice cultivars. Days for 50% flowering ranged from 59 to 157 days, maturity from 93 to 192 days and seed yield per plant ranged...
May 2013
cDNA cloning and mRNA expression of heat shock protein 70 gene in blood clam Tegillarca granosa against heavy metals challenge
In this study, the full-length heat shock protein 70 of Tegillarca granosa was cloned from cDNA library by rapid amplification of cDNA end (RACE). The open reading frame (ORF) of heat shock protein 70 was 1968 bp, and it encoded a protein of 655 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 71.48 kDa and an isoelectric point of 5.25. Basic local alignment search tool (BLAST) analysis...
May 2013
Characterization of stem rust resistance gene Sr2 in Indian wheat varieties using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based molecular markers
Stem rust or black rust is one of the most important diseases of wheat worldwide. In India, central, peninsular and southern hill zones are particularly prone to stem rust where favourable environmental conditions exist. The recent emergence of wheat stem rust race Ug99 (TTKSK) and related strains threatens global wheat production as Ug99 overcome resistance gene Sr31 effective for many years. Resistance geneSr2,...
May 2013
Gas exchange and morpho-physiological response of soybean to straw mulching under drought conditions
A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the morphological, physiological and biochemical straw mulch-induced response of soybean under water-deficit conditions. Soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) variety “Xidou 7” was treated with varying quantity of wheat straw mulch viz: (control (no straw mulch), 3750, 7500, 11000 and 14750 kg/ha) under water-deficit conditions. The experimental results indicate...
May 2013
The effect of salinity on growth and anatomical attributes of barley seedling (Hordeum vulgare L.)
The objective of the present work was to identify the tolerance of barley varieties to salinity and determine specific anatomical features of barley plants under saline conditions. Plants were grown in hydroponic conditions in three variants: control, 50 mM NaCl and 100 mM NaCl. The tolerant and sensitive varieties of barley to salinity were identified. The results show that salinity reduced the growth and biomass...
May 2013
Protective and therapeutic effects of Chamomilla Recutita extract on subacute ethanol intoxication in white albino rats
Medicinal plants may provide an effective remedy for the enormous health burden posed by alcohol abuse. The aim of this study was to investigate putative protective and therapeutic effects of an aqueous extract of Chamomilla recutita (CHR) on alcohol-induced hepato-nephrotoxicity and pancytopenia in rats. Rats fed only alcohol developed hepato-nephrotoxicity as indicated by significant increases in the...
May 2013
Somatic embryogenesis from leaf explants of hermaphrodite Carica papaya: A new approach for clonal propagation
Carica papaya L. is an economically relevant fruit crop in some tropical and subtropical countries. Though this species shows three polygamous sexual types, commercial production of the fresh fruit is mainly established from hermaphrodite lines. As a result of the cross-pollinating reproductive mechanism of hermaphrodite C. papaya, cultivation areas also show unwanted female plants. Comparatively,...
May 2013
Use, conservation and present availability status of ethnomedicinal plants of Matebele-Village in the Limpopo Province, South Africa
Ethnobotanical surveys were carried out between January 2011 and April 2012 to compile an inventory of plants used medicinally by people of the Matebele village. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data on the species used by the villagers. The results show that 65 species (86.1% indigenous and 13.8% exotics) from 36 families, mostly the Asteraceae (13.8%) and Fabaceae (10.7%), are being used to treat 28...
May 2013
Effect of 6-benzyl aminopurine (BAP) on meristem culture for virus free seed production of some popular potato varieties in Bangladesh
The present study was undertaken to fix the suitable concentration of 6-benzyl aminopurine on shoot development from meristem for producing virus free potato plantlet. The experiment consisted of five potato cultivars namely Diamant, Heera, Dheera, Granula and Cardinal for meristem culture and four 6-benzyl aminopurine levels namely 0, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 mg/l. As a whole, twenty treatments were allotted in complete...
May 2013
Comparative evaluation of organic and inorganic fertilizers on total phenolic, total flavonoid, antioxidant activity and cyanogenic glycosides in cassava (Manihot esculenta)
The study evaluated the effects of fertilizer sources and varieties on total phenolic, total flavonoid, antioxidant activities and cyanogenic glycosides of cassava leaves and tuber. The main factor was fertilizer sources (vermicompost, empty fruit bunch compost, NPK 15:15:15) and sub-factor was based on cassava varieties (Medan and Sri Pontian). Treatments were arranged in a split plot design with three replications....
May 2013
Comparison of artificial inoculation methods for studying pathogenesis of Alternaria brassicae (Berk.) Sacc on Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. (Indian mustard)
Establishment of disease by artificial inoculation is essential for studies of various aspects of plant pathology. Keeping this in mind, five inoculation methods were compared namely spraying, infiltration, wounding, spore suspension drop and spore suspension drop along with agarose method. The findings of the present study suggest that out of five inoculation methods used, spore suspension drop along with agarose...
May 2013
Identification of a β-galactosidase fruit pulp-specific promoter and its use in silencing constructs to reduce fruit softening in papaya
β-Galactosidases have been proposed as key hydrolytic enzymes involved in cell wall degradation and rapid softening during postharvest processing and storage of papaya. To genetically improve the shelf life of papaya, we identified a softening-related β-Galgene in fruit pulp at the 50% pericarp yellowing stage and isolated a novel β-Galpromoter region. An online database search predicted that...
May 2013
Studies on mutagenic effectiveness and efficiency in Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.)
A comparative study on effect of different dose/concentration of gamma rays, ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) and sodium azide (SA) on various biological parameters (seed germination, seedling height, plant survival, pollen fertility and chromosomal aberrations) in M1 generation and spectrum and frequency of macro-mutations (chlorophyll and other morphological mutations) induced in the M2 generation was carried...
May 2013
Plant regeneration from leaf-derived callus in Plectranthus barbatus Andr. [Syn.: Coleus forskohlii (Wild.) Briq.]
A protocol was developed for Plectranthus barbatus for high frequency shoot organogenesis from leaf derived callus of aseptically grown plantlets derived from mature plant explants of high yielding clones (yield of forskolin 1.5 to 1.9%) on Gamborg medium (B5) medium supplemented with 2 mg/l 2,4- dichloro phenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D). Shoots were regenerated from the callus on MS medium supplemented with...
May 2013
Microbial contamination associated with the processing of tchachanga, a roasted meat product
This study aimed to assess the microbiological contamination and quality oftchachanga, a roasted meat braised product processed at traditional scale in Benin, West Africa. A survey was performed to collect samples of tchachanga and data related to hygienic conditions of the roasted meat processing environment. A total of 60 samples of tchachanga including skewers, roasted meat and...
May 2013
Influence of sanitation on the physico-chemical and microbiological quality of organic and conventional broccoli
The present study was carried out in order to evaluate the effect of chlorinated and ozonized water on the physico-chemical characteristics of broccoli, produced under organic and conventional cultivation procedures. Organic and conventional broccolis were subjected to two sanitation treatments, using chlorine and ozone, and were kept under cold storage for seven days. Analyses of pH, titrable acidity, soluble solids...
May 2013
Use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Zymomonas mobilis for bioethanol production from sugar beet pulp and raw juice
Biofuels have received great attention as an alternative energy source mainly due to limited oil reserves. Bioethanol can be produced from wide range of raw materials like starch, sucrose and cellulosic based sources. Sugar beet and raw juice, as its intermediate product, constitute very profitable substrates for bioethanol production, considering content of easy available fermentable sugars. In this study,...
May 2013
Chemical and antimicrobial analysis of husk fiber aqueous extract from Cocos nucifera L.
Cocos nucifera L. (Arecaceae) is a widely distributed species around the tropical areas. Popular uses have been reported in the treatment of arthritis and diarrhea. This study evaluates the antimicrobial activity of husk fiber aqueous extract from C. nucifera and performed the identification of some biological active substances. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) against human pathogen...
May 2013
Effect of quadratic residue diffuser (QRD) microwave energy on root-lesion nematode, Prathlenchus penetrans
In this study, quadratic residue diffuser (QRD) microwave energy was used to control nematode Pratylenchus penetrans in soil. Microwave energy is a physical method that has been used to manage nematodes. This approach provides rapid heat transfer to soil with no lingering residual effects. QRD microwave radiation at a frequency of 2450 MHz was used to irradiate sandy clay loam soil containing a...
May 2013
Effect of thermal stress of short duration on the red blood cell parameters of Barbus balcanicus Kotlik, Tsigenopulos, Rab, Berrebi, 2002
In this study, red blood cell parameters of Barbus balcanicus Kotlik, Tsigenopulos, Rab, Berrebi, 2002 subjected to acute thermal stress were investigated. Fish were caught by electro fishing in the Suturlija river, a small tributary of the river Vrbas (N latitude 44Ëš44' 38Ë, E longitude 17Ëš 09' 10Ë) in summer (July) and transported to the laboratory. Fish were randomly distributed in four aquaria...
May 2013
Effects of an inorganic insecticide (boric acid) against Blattella germanica: Morphometric measurements and biochemical composition of ovaries
Pestiferous cockroach species are closely associated with humans and are important for economic and public health points of view. In Algeria, Blattella germanica L. (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae) is a serious pest in the urban environment. Conventional insecticides, such as the organophosphates, carbamates, and pyrethroids, have been used widely to control cockroach which have developed resistance to...
May 2013
In vitro and in vivo preliminary results on Spirulina platensis for treatment of impetigo: Topical cream application
Impetigo is a highly infectious superficial bacterial disease, most common among pre-school children. Applying 11 antimicrobial agents to the Staphylococcus aureus, the most causative organism for impetigo, S. aureus isolates are resistant to all agents except of vancomycin and fusidic acid. Nevertheless, treatment of impetigo usingantimicrobial agents may cause serious medical problems, such as...
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