Removal of Dyes Using Graphene-Based Composites: a Review

Water contamination has reached an alarming state due to industrialization and urbanization and has become a worldwide issue. Dyes contaminate water and are addressed extensively by researchers. Various technologies and materials have been developed for the treatment of contaminated water. Among them, adsorption has attracted great attention due to its ease and cost-effective nature. In recent years, graphene-based composites have shown great potential for the removal of contaminants from water. The literature reveals the usefulness of composites of graphene with metal oxides, carbon derivatives, metal hybrids and polymers for the removal of organic dyes from contaminated water. In this review, efforts have been made to compile the studies on the removal of cationic and anionic dyes from water using graphene-based composites.     

An overview of male-sterility systems in pigeonpea [<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cajanus cajan</Emphasis> (L.) Millsp.]

For commercial development of hybrids the four pre-requisites are; availability of perfect male-sterility system, efficient mass pollen transfer mechanism, hybrid vigor, and the large scale seed production of hybrids for commercialization. The type of male-sterility governs the acceptance of hybrids by farmers. Genetic male-sterility (GMS) system was not accepted by farmers due to the economics of large scale seed production. The major drawback was rouging of fertile counterpart from the female plot, which was time consuming and labor intensive. Cytoplasmic-genic male-sterility (CMS) system usually was a better option for large scale seed production. Hybrid vigor has been utilized in some cereal and vegetable crops. Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) displays considerable natural out-crossing and now CMS lines are available with different cytoplasmic backgrounds. This mini-review reports the research on development of CMS lines and CMS-based hybrids in pigeonpea.     

酶可促进家禽生长、改善饲料利用率

酶在动物饲料中的应用已有多年的历史,并已证明能帮助家禽取得良好的生产性能。本文作者将讨论酶在家禽营养中的相关事实和数值,以及其被添加入玉米的哪些替代饲料中是有效的。     

木豆胞质雄性不育系柱头活力研究

在中国南部地区南宁市(位于北纬22°49′、东经107°45′)大田生产条件下对2个木豆胞质雄性不育系ICPA 2039和ICPA 2043花期柱头活力进行研究,发现柱头活力始于开花前2d并维持至开花后4d,活力峰值出现在开花当日;人工授粉成荚率ICPA 2039和ICPA 2043分别为84.0 %和82.0 %;柱头活力期可通过花冠/花萼长度比来判定,ICPA 2039和ICPA 2043分别为2.75±0.075和2.60±0.283.柱头活力周期越长,获得虫媒授粉的异交机会越多,因此柱头活力周期是杂交育种成功率的一个重要技术参数,长的活力周期也是种子生产获得高产的保证.     

Suppression of Reproduction in Poekilocerus pictus (F.) using Penfluron and Diflubenzuron

Abstract

Penfluron and diflubenzuron, both chitin synthesis inhibitors known to be highly effective against nymphs of Poekilocerus pictus (F.), were tested against the adult for their possible effects upon reproduction. These compounds were found to have the maximum effect, when no eggs were laid, if both sexes were treated. The eggs of treated males × untreated females did not hatch and those of treated females × untreated males gave rise to nymphs which died before reaching maturity.     

A PCR-based assessment of genetic diversity,and parentage analysis among commercial mango cultivars and hybrids

Summary

Three different PCR methods [Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD), Inter-Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSR), and Directed Amplification of Minisatellite DNA (DAMD)] were used to analyse genetic diversity and parentage among 20 mango cultivars, including 18 landraces and two hybrids (‘Amrapali’ and ‘Mallika’). These hybrids together with a third hybrid (‘Ratna’), and an out-group species (Mangifera sylvatica) were also analysed for parentage. Fifteen, seven and four primers were used to amplify a total of 158, 69 and 59 distinct DNA fragments by RAPD, ISSR and DAMD, respectively. Of these, approx. 85%, 64% and 90% were polymorphic, respectively. Genetic distances between pairs of mango cultivars were measured separately by each method and depicted graphically as a Neighbor Joining (NJ) tree. The three methods revealed different groupings of cultivars and hybrids. A NJ tree based on the cumulative data from all methods correlated well with the parentage of the mango hybrids, and the grouping of cultivars on a regional basis. Genetic markers likely to be associated with important agronomic traits were identified by further analysing the hybrids, with their respective parents, using all three methods. On the basis of the highest number of polymorphic bands observed (90%), DAMD was judged to be the best method with which to analyse mango germplasm.     

The alternative breeding approaches for improving yield gains and stress response in pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan)

Pigeonpea is an important food legume crop of semi‐arid tropical regions. Plateauing of pigeonpea yield has been worrying breeders for the past 6–7 decades. Serious breeding efforts made during this period resulted in various high‐yielding and disease resistant cultivars. However, the gains in pigeonpea productivity have been modest. The authors, while reviewing this situation, conclude that long generation turnover, complexity of biological traits, low selection response and overreliance upon pedigree breeding present the key bottlenecks for this situation. In this paper, some alternative breeding approaches and technologies are suggested for the genetic enhancement of yield stability and stress response of pigeonpea.     

Oxidative Stress and Antioxidants in Wheat Genotypes: Possible Mechanism of Water Stress Tolerance

The role of plant antioxidant systems in water stress tolerance was studied in three contrasting wheat genotypes. Water stress imposed at different stages after anthesis resulted in an increase in lipid peroxidation and a decrease in membrane stability and chlorophyll and carotenoid contents. The antioxidant enzymes ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase and non-specific peroxidase also increased significantly under water stress. Genotype PBW 175, which had highest ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase and peroxidase activity, had the lowest lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde content) and highest membrane stability and contents of chlorophyll and carotenoids under water stress, while the susceptible genotype WH 542 exhibited the lowest antioxidant enzyme activity, membrane stability and contents of chlorophyll and carotenoids and the highest lipid peroxidation. Genotype HD 2402 showed intermediate behaviour. It seems that drought tolerance of PBW 175, as represented by higher membrane stability and chlorophyll and carotenoid contents and lower lipid peroxidation, is related to its higher antioxidant enzyme activity.     

Ultrastructural changes in isolated spinach chloroplasts and in Chlorella pyrenoidosa chick (Emerson strain) treated with dichlone

Isolated spinach chloroplasts and Chlorella cells treated with dichlone (2,3-dichloro-1,4-naphthoquinone) exhibited morphological changes which appeared to be consistent with an alteration of protein elements in the cell. The stroma of dichlone-treated chloroplasts appeared less structured and more homogeneous than that of the control. The cell membrane in dichlone-treated Chlorella cells shrank from the cell wall and exhibited much invagination while the outer membrane of Chlorella chloroplasts appeared wavy. The changes in the cytoplasm of treated Chlorella cells closely reflected those noted in the chloroplast stroma.     

Genomics,genetics and breeding of tropical legumes for better livelihoods of smallholder farmers

Legumes are important components of sustainable agricultural production, food, nutrition and income systems of developing countries. In spite of their importance, legume crop production is challenged by a number of biotic (diseases and pests) and abiotic stresses (heat, frost, drought and salinity), edaphic factors (associated with soil nutrient deficits) and policy issues (where less emphasis is put on legumes compared to priority starchy staples). Significant research and development work have been done in the past decade on important grain legumes through collaborative bilateral and multilateral projects as well as the CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes (CRP‐GL). Through these initiatives, genomic resources and genomic tools such as draft genome sequence, resequencing data, large‐scale genomewide markers, dense genetic maps, quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and diagnostic markers have been developed for further use in multiple genetic and breeding applications. Also, these mega‐initiatives facilitated release of a number of new varieties and also dissemination of on‐the‐shelf varieties to the farmers. More efforts are needed to enhance genetic gains by reducing the time required in cultivar development through integration of genomics‐assisted breeding approaches and rapid generation advancement.