Replacement of live feed by formulated feed: effect on the growth and spawning performance of Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens,Regan, 1910)

Partial replacement of live feed (LF) with formulated feed (FF) was performed in Betta splendens to evaluate their growth, survival and reproductive performance. Three hundred B. splendens fry of uniform size (mean weight 0.19 g±0.01) were equally distributed in five treatment groups with each of three replicates in glass aquaria of 35 L capacity. Fish were offered diets of different ratio of LF and FF like T1 (control) – 100% LF; T2 – 75% LF, 25% FF; T3 – 50% LF, 50% FF; T4 – 25% LF, 75% FF and T5 – 100% FF. Highest (P<0.05) body weight gain (% BWG) (67.1±1.03) and specific growth rate (2.34±0.02) were observed in the T2 group. Best feed conversion ratio was also found in T2 (2.40±0.11), which was similar to T1 and T3. The highest survival rate (%) was recorded in T1, T2 and T3 groups (97±1.7), which was similar to T4 and the lowest in T5 (49±2.0). The highest gonadal weight (0.12 g±0.01) and gonadosomatic index (15.17±0.50) was observed in the T3 group during the first sampling after 63 days. No significant changes in spawning performance were observed in the second sampling after 21 days after first sampling. However, T4 group registered the highest fecundity and fertilized eggs at the end of 105 days of experiment. From the present study, it concludes that LF can be successfully replaced to the extent of 25% by FF without any detrimental effect on the growth, survival and spawning performance of B. splendens.     

Problems, progress and future prospects of improvement of Commiphora wightii (Arn.) Bhandari, an endangered herbal magic, through modern biotechnological tools: a review

Commiphora wightii (Arn.) Bhandari syn. C. mukul Engl. (Burseraceae) is an economically and pharmacologically important slow growing, dioecious, balsamiferous woody, multipurpose shrub heading towards extinction. Commonly known as “Guggul” due to the presence of steroidal compound guggulsterone in the oleo-gum resin, it has been used in treating various ailments and disorders since ancient times (2000 B.C.). Evaluation and confirmation of hypolipidemic effects of guggul based on Ayurvedic text in 1960s provided a new insight into its pharmacological applications. Two bioactive isomers of guggulsterone, E and Z, are responsible for lipid- and cholesterol-lowering activities. Recently, it has been shown to have anti-cancerous activity also. It is found in the dry regions of Indian subcontinent, namely India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Ruthless and unscientific harvesting of oleo-gum resin from the wild, by local populations, for economic benefits with negligible conservation efforts has made this species endangered and has led to its inclusion in Red Data Book of IUCN. Although this plant has many excellent traits, adequate attention has not been focused on its conservation and improvement. Conventional propagation methods i.e., seeds, cuttings and air layering are in place but have many limitations. Therefore, application of modern biotechnological tools needs to be standardized for harnessing maximum benefits from this pharmaceutically important plant. An efficient regeneration system needs to be in place for improvement of this genus through genetic transformation and production of useful metabolites in cell cultures. Studies are in progress for micropropagation through shoot multiplication and somatic embryogenesis, as well as for secondary metabolite (guggulsterone) production in callus cultures and bioreactors. No selected germplasm is available for C. wightii since it is a wild plant. Breeding programs have not yet been started due to lack of systematic cultivation and conservation programs. Moreover, little information has been gathered regarding the genetic variability in this species using RAPD and ISSR markers. No details are available about genetic makeup and QTL linkage maps. Investigations are in progress to search sex linked markers in this dioecious species. Research is also in progress to decipher the molecular mechanisms underlying various pharmacological actions of guggul. Since the approval of use of guggul as a food supplement by United States Food and Drug Administration in 1994, an exponential increase in research publications on various aspects of research on guggul have been published. Present communication summarizes the problems, progress made and suggests some future directions of research for this important endangered medicinal plant.     

Population structure and regeneration patterns of tree species in climate-sensitive subalpine forests of Indian western Himalaya

The population structure of tree species has been explored in order to elucidate regeneration potential of the subalpine forests of Indian western Himalaya. For this study, the subalpine forest area was divided into three strata, i.e., lower altitude （〈3000 m）; mid-altitude （3000-3200 m）; and high altitude （〉3200m）. Considering the major compositional attributes, an increase in altitude came with a significant decline in tree density and the total basal area for all the sites. However, no such clear trends were observed for recruits （i.e., seedlings and saplings）. Seedling density did not exhibit uniform patterns for sites and altitude strata. In general, overall seedling density was greater at the Pindari site compared to the Lata and Tungnath sites. By comparison, significant variation in seedling density along the altitude strata was recorded for the Tungnath and Pindari sites only. Likewise, sapling density patterns varied across the sites and altitude strata, and significant variation in sapling density along the altitude strata was recorded only for the Lata site. At the Pin- daft site, the continuous increase in sapling density along with increasing altitude was revealing. The Pindari forests of exhibited expanding population structure. In contrast, greater accumulation of individuals in the sapling class and sharp decline toward both higher tree classes and lower seedling classes was generally apparent for the Lata and Tungnath sites. This indicates that the replacement in tree size classes from sapling stage is not proportional and the population may decline in the long-term. Considerable variation in patterns of forest and dominant species popula- tion structure were evident across altitude strata. But in all cases irrespective of sites, we found growth at the high-altitude stratum, in the form of entire forests or dominant species. This trend deserves further investigation to explore its relevance under changing climate scenarios.     

Multiple diagnostic tests to identify cattle with Bovine viral diarrhea virus and duration of positive test results in persistently infected cattle

Several tests for Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) were applied to samples collected monthly from December 20, 2005, through November 27, 2006 (day 0 to day 342) from 12 persistently infected (PI) cattle with BVDV subtypes found in US cattle: BVDV-1a, BVDV-1b, and BVDV-2a. The samples included clotted blood for serum, nasal swabs, and fresh and formalin-fixed ear notches. The tests were as follows: titration of infectious virus in serum and nasal swabs; antigen-capture (AC) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), or ACE, on serum, nasal swabs, and fresh ear notches; gel-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing of serum, nasal swabs, and fresh ear notches; immunohistochemical (IHC) testing of formalin-fixed ear notches; and serologic testing for BVDV antibodies in serum. Of the 12 animals starting the study, 3 died with mucosal disease. The ACE and IHC tests on ear notches had positive results throughout the study, as did the ACE and PCR tests on serum. There was detectable virus in nasal swabs from all the cattle throughout the study except for a few samples that were toxic to cell cultures. The serum had a virus titer ≥ log₁₀ 1.60 in all samples from all the cattle except for 3 collections from 1 animal. Although there were several equivocal results, the PCR test most often had positive results. The BVDV antibodies were due to vaccination or exposure to heterologous strains and did not appear to interfere with any BVDV test. These findings illustrate that PI cattle may be identified by several tests, but differentiation of PI cattle from cattle with acute BVDV infection requires additional testing, especially of blood samples and nasal swabs positive on initial testing. Also, calves PI with BVDV are continual shedders of infectious virus, as shown by the infectivity of nasal swabs over the 11-mo study.     

Morphology and general characteristics of phages specific to Lens culinaris rhizobia

Four lytic phages, namely LRP-1, LRP-4, LRP-13, and LRP-15, active against indigenous rhizobial strains of Lens culinaris were isolated and characterized for their individual morphology, host range, plaque characteristics, lytic behavior, and restriction endonuclease profiling of phage DNA. All phages had a typical polyhedral head and long non-contractile tail, representing the bacteriophage family close to Siphoviridae. Phages produced distinct types of plaques on their indicator bacterial strains. The host range of the phage isolates was restricted to Rhizobium leguminosarum biovars and no cross infectivity among susceptible strains was observed. A study on the lytic cycle of the phages under identical conditions exhibited distinct latent period and burst size. Inactivation pattern of phages with temperature and UV light was quite distinct. Phage LRP-1 showed higher thermal resistance, though greater sensitivity to UV light, as compared to other phages. Genome sizes of the phages were estimated to vary between 50–72 kbp. The 16S rRNA sequence analysis of the phage indicator rhizobial strains revealed 81% to 100% similarity with R. leguminosarum bv. viciae. The phages could thus prove to be considerably useful in typing and investigating into the genetic variability which might exist amongst the soil rhizobia nodulating Lens culinaris.     

Non-exchangeable potassium release and its removal in foot-hill soils of North-west Himalayas

In the present investigation, soils representing ten locations and three agro-climatic zones of foot-hills of north-west Himalayas were studied to assess Non-exchangeable Potassium (NEK) reserves, its release and influence of K-fixing capacity and clay minerals on NEK release. Maximum release of non-exchangeable K was obtained in temperate zone soils (295 mg kg^− 1) followed by intermediate zone (227 mg kg^− 1) and sub-tropical zone soils (106 mg kg^− 1), having relative soil quality index (RSQI) values of 85, 80 and 65, respectively. The quantitative analysis of clay minerals, through XRD technique, revealed that the temperate soils have more illite (averaging 62%) which holds well as a reason for high NEK reserves of 1556 mg kg^− 1 in these soils in comparison to intermediate (having illite averaging 53%) and sub-tropical (having illite averaging to 49%) soils having NEK amounting to 1022 and 918 mg kg^− 1, respectively. In order to study the NEK removal from the soils under investigation, maize was grown as a test crop and potassium was applied through four treatments having four levels of K (0, 15, 30 and 60 mg kg^− 1) applied as KCl. The crop demonstrated significant response in terms of dry matter yield up to 30 mg kg^− 1 in sub-tropical and intermediate soils while no such response was obtained in temperate soils. The percent NEK removed by maize crop from NEK reserves was 14, 25 and 20% in sub-tropical, intermediate and temperate soils, respectively. The information about NEK release, its removal as well as its relationship with K fixing capacity, clay minerals and RSQI can be used for understanding the K buffering potential of soils especially under adverse soil and climatic conditions that prevail in southwest India. Besides, the regression equations developed can be used for predicting NEK release on the basis of K fixing capacity and clay mineralogical composition.     

Antidiabetic potential of Butea monosperma in rats

The antihyperglycemic activity of the ethanolic extract of Butea monosperma (BMEE) was studied in glucose-loaded and alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Single dose treatment of BMEE (200 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly improved glucose tolerance and caused reduction in blood glucose level in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Repeated oral treatment with BMEE (200 mg/kg/day) for 2 weeks significantly reduced blood glucose, serum cholesterol and improved HDL-cholesterol and albumin as compared to diabetic control group.