Effect of micronutrient supplementation around calving on the plasma cortisol levels of Murrah buffaloes and Sahiwal and Karan Fries cows

Micronutrients when fed around peripartum may reduce the stress induced by cortisol. With this objective, 24 Sahiwal (SW) and 24 Karan Fries (KF) cows and 24 Murrah (Mu) buffaloes were taken and divided into four groups of six each. Vitamin E (VE), zinc (Zn) and copper were supplemented from 30 days pre- to 30 days postcalving in groups 1, 2 and 3. Animals without supplementation served as control. Blood sampling was done on days 30, 15, 7 and 3 precalving; at calving; and on days 3, 7, 15 and 30 postcalving. Plasma cortisol levels were measured by ELISA. Supplementation of VE and Zn significantly (P?<?0.05) reduced plasma cortisol levels at calving and at 30 days postcalving. KF cows exhibited best results with VE, whereas SW cows and Mu buffaloes responded best to Zn. Copper increased the peripartum cortisol levels. Reduction in cortisol levels may help in keeping the animal healthy and stronger to fight immuno-suppression generally observed around the period of peripartum.     

Effect of supplementation of vitamin E,copper and zinc on the in vitro phagocytic activity and lymphocyte proliferation index of peripartum Sahiwal (Bos indicus) cows

To study the effect of vitamin E (VE), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) supplementation on the in vitro phagocytic activity (PA) and lymphocyte proliferation response (LPR) of blood neutrophils and lymphocytes, thirty Sahiwal pregnant cows (six in each group) in their late gestation at 30 days before the expected date of calving were selected from the NDRI experimental herd and supplemented with various micronutrients from 30 days before calving to 45 days after calving. Cows were supplemented individually with VE (1000 IU/cow/day), Cu (20 ppm/cow/day) and Zn (80 ppm/cow/day) and also with a combination of VE, Cu and Zn to study cumulative effect of all micronutrients. One group without any supplementation acted as a control. Blood neutrophils and lymphocytes were isolated and studied for their PA and LPR. Supplementation of micronutrients like VE, Cu, Zn and a combination of all these nutrients significantly (p < 0.01) increased the PA of experimental cows as compared to control (unsupplemented) cows during the pre‐partum period. During post‐partum, all the micronutrients (VE, Cu, Zn and their combination) showed a significant (p < 0.01) increase in the PA of experimental cows as compared to control cows. Of all the groups, significant (p < 0.01) and maximum PA was observed in the combination group followed by Zn‐supplemented group during both the pre‐ and post‐partum period. A significant (p < 0.01) increase in LPR of B lymphocytes was observed in combination‐supplemented group during the pre‐partum period and during both the pre‐ and post‐partum period in the Cu‐supplemented group.     

Optimising parameters for biolistic gun-mediated genetic transformation of tea [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze]

Summary

Genetic improvement of tea through breeding is difficult. Therefore, transgenic tea plants expressing the osmotin gene from Nicotiana tabacum were produced using parameters optimised for biolistic-gun mediated transformation. During optimisation, a total of 4,500 somatic embryos were bombarded using nine combinations of variable target distances and burst pressures, while keeping the gap distance (0.6 cm) and macrocarrier flight distance (16 mm) constant.A total of 90 independent, PCR-positive lines were generated. Southern hybridisation confirmed integration of the osmotin gene in 26 out of 27 PCR-positive lines (three independent lines from each of the nine parameter combinations were selected at random). Statistical analysis revealed that the efficiency of transgene integration was significantly affected by target distance. Only those lines derived from somatic embryos bombarded with 1.0 µg plasmid DNA using a 7.58 MPa burst pressure and 9-cm target distance showed osmotin expression. This was evident from strong northern hybridisation and RT-PCR signals. Leaves of 4-year-old transgenic plants growing in a contained polythene tunnel showed improved osmotic adjustment in response to osmotic stress imposed by NaCl. The osmotic potentials of transgenic leaves immersed in 100 mM or 200 mM NaCl solutions were more negative than those of non-transformed control leaves.     

Flocculation and Haze Removal from Crude Beer Using In-House Produced Laccase from Trametes versicolor Cultured on Brewer's Spent Grain

The potential of brewer's spent grain (BSG), a common waste from the brewing industry, as a support-substrate for laccase production by the well-known laccase producer Trametes versicolor ATCC 20869 under solid-state fermentation conditions was assessed. An attempt was made to improve the laccase production by T. versicolor through supplementing the cultures with inducers, such as 2,2-azino bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), copper sulfate, ethanol, gallic acid, veratryl alcohol, and phenol. A higher laccase activity of 13506.2 ± 138.2 IU/gds (gram dry substrate) was obtained with a phenol concentration of 10 mg/kg substrate in a tray bioreactor after 12 days of incubation time. The flocculation properties of the laccase treated crude beer samples have been studied by using various parameters, such as viscosity, turbidity, ζ potential, total polyphenols, and total protein content. The present results indicated that laccase (25 IU/L) showed promising results as a good flocculating agent. The laccase treatment showed better flocculation capacity compared to the industrial flocculation process using stabifix as a flocculant. The laccase treatments (25 IU/L) at 4 ± 1 °C and room temperature have shown almost similar flocculation properties without much variability. The study demonstrated the potential of in-house produced laccase using brewer's spent grain for the clarification and flocculation of crude beer as a sustainable alternative to traditional flocculants, such as stabifix and bentonite.     

Deployment of wild relatives for genetic improvement in rice (Oryza sativa)

Rice is one of the most important crops in the world. The wild species of rice are expected to have novel beneficial alleles that have been lost from cultivated rice during the process of domestication. Therefore, wild species could be the potential source to induce lost genetic diversity in cultivated rice. Serving as an important reservoir of novel genes/QTLs, wild species, in general, are better adapted to different ecologies and can tolerate many biotic and abiotic stresses. Despite that, only a few wild species are studied and extensive characterization both at the molecular and morphological level is yet to be achieved. Several agronomically important genes/QTLs for improving biotic and abiotic stresses, resistance, productivity and grain quality traits were identified from AA genome donor wild species and were tagged with breeder friendly molecular markers for their transfer to elite genetic backgrounds. The present review provides information on the important wild rice species harbouring genes/QTLs for agriculturally important traits and their successful utilization in rice breeding programmes.     

Shrimp Oil Extracted from Shrimp Processing By-Product Is a Rich Source of Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Astaxanthin-Esters,and Reveals Potential Anti-Adipogenic Effects in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes

The province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, generates tons of shrimp processing by-product every year. Shrimp contains omega (n)-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and astaxanthin (Astx), a potent antioxidant that exists in either free or esterified form (Astx-E). In this study, shrimp oil (SO) was extracted from the shrimp processing by-product using the Soxhlet method (hexane:acetone 2:3). The extracted SO was rich in phospholipids, n-3 PUFA, and Astx-E. The 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were differentiated to mature adipocytes in the presence or absence of various treatments for 8 days. The effects of SO were then investigated on fat accumulation, and the mRNA expression of genes involved in adipogenesis and lipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells. The effects of fish oil (FO), in combination with Astx-E, on fat accumulation, and the mRNA expression of genes involved in adipogenesis and lipogenesis were also investigated. The SO decreased fat accumulation, compared to untreated cells, which coincided with lower mRNA expression of adipogenic and lipogenic genes. However, FO and FO + Astx-E increased fat accumulation, along with increased mRNA expression of adipogenic and lipogenic genes, and glucose transporter type 4 (Glut-4), compared to untreated cells. These findings have demonstrated that the SO is a rich source of n-3 PUFA and Astx-E, and has the potential to elicit anti-adipogenic effects. Moreover, the SO and FO appear to regulate adipogenesis and lipogenesis via independent pathways in 3T3-L1 cells.     

Hepatorenal repercussions of alcoholic exposure in a rat model: a dose-dependent study of metformin intervention

Background: Diabetes mellitus is an alarming life style disease in the modern world. Exploitation of the anti-diabetic drugs for the amelioration of diabetes and associated life style diseases has become an imperative concern. In this milieu, this study was designed to explore the plausible effects of metformin intervention on hepatic and renal functions in a rat model of alcoholic liver disease. Methods: Thirty rats were divided into five groups (n = 6): ethanol control, ethanol water and also low, moderate and high doses of metformin. Ethanol 20% v/v (1 ml/100 g) was administered by oral gavage to all five groups for 21 days. Blood and tissue samples were collected for the assessment of lipid profile, hepatic and renal functions. Results: After 21 days, the levels of hepatic function and lipid parameters were maintained at normalcy, especially in the high-dose metformin treated alcoholic rats as compared to the levels at day 1. Despite this, the renal biomarkers did not display any significant variation due to ethanolic exposure in any group. The histopathological score portrayed that the noxious effect of ethanol is prevented in the liver of moderate- and high-dose metformin, whereas the renal histological scores were unchanged in all the groups including ethanol control. Conclusion: These results suggest that the dose of ethanol required to induce hepatic dysfunction does not influence renal functions. In addition, high-dose metformin offers maximal hepatoprotection and spares kidney from per se toxicity, thereby advocating the beneficial intervention of the anti-diabetic drug, metformin, in alcoholic liver dysfunction. Key Words: Ethanol, Metformin, Kidney     

Crop performance in permanent raised bed rice–wheat cropping system in Punjab,India

Raised beds are widely used in agriculture in developed countries and have proven to be an excellent option for wheat. Permanent raised beds may also offer benefits for rice–wheat (RW) systems in South Asia, in terms of both production and the possibility that furrow-irrigation may be more efficient than flood irrigation. The performance of a RW system on permanent raised beds (37 cm wide, 15 cm high, furrow width 30 cm) was compared with conventional cultivation on the flat on sandy loam and loam soils in replicated experiments in central Punjab, India. The experiments commenced with wheat sown in November 2002, and were continued for 8 crops.