Phyto-saponins as a natural adjuvant for delivery of agromaterials through plant cuticle membranes

With growing use of synthetic adjuvants in modern agriculture, their impacts on the environment are being questioned. In a search for an environmentally safe phyto-adjuvant, we have investigated natural glycosidic saponin for delivery of agromaterials through plant cuticle membranes. Four saponin preparations from Quillaja saponaria bark (QE), obtained from Sigma-Aldrich, and Balanites aegyptiaca fruit mesocarp (ME), kernel (KE), and root (RE), isolated and characterized in our laboratory, were used for testing the delivery of [14C]-2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) across isolated intact astomatous adaxial Citrus grandis leaf cuticle membranes (CMs). The results showed that both Q. saponaria and B. aegyptiaca saponin preparations enhanced delivery of 2,4-D through CMs. Among the saponin preparations, ME exhibited a significantly higher level of delivery of 2,4-D with a concentration effect (2% being the highest). Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) characterization of these saponin preparations in aqueous solution clearly demonstrated the formation of nanoscale vesicles. Various possibilities for a natural amphiphatic phyto-saponin as a delivery adjuvant through CMs are discussed.     

Simulation modeling to evaluate the persistence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) on commercial dairy farms in the United States

We developed a series of deterministic mathematical models of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) transmission on commercial US dairies. Our models build upon and modify models and assumptions in previous work to better reflect the pathobiology of the disease. Parameter values were obtained from literature for animal turnover in US dairy herds and rates of transition between disease states.

The models developed were used to test three hypotheses. (1) Infectious transmission following intervention is relatively insensitive to the presence of high-shedding animals. (2) Vertical and pseudo-vertical transmission increases prevalence of disease but is insufficient to explain persistence following intervention. (3) Transiently shedding young animals might aid persistence.

Our simulations indicated that multiple levels of contagiousness among infected adult animals in combination with vertical transmission and MAP shedding in infected young animals explained the maintenance of low-prevalence infections in herds. High relative contagiousness of high-shedding adult animals resulted in these animals serving as the predominant contributor to transmission. This caused elimination of infection in herds using the test-and-cull intervention tested in these simulations. Addition of vertical transmission caused persistence of infection in a moderately complicated model. In the most complex model that allowed age-based contacts, calf-to-calf transmission was required for persistence.     

Effect of feeding of calcium hydroxide-treated or vitamin E-supplemented cottonseed meal on plasma gossypol levels, blood parameters, and performance of Bikaneri lambs

To study the effect of feeding calcium hydroxide-treated or vitamin E-supplemented cottonseed meal (CSM) incorporated diets on plasma gossypol, blood parameters and animal performance, 24 male Bikaneri lambs of 6–7 months of age and of uniform body weight were divided into four groups of six animals each in a completely randomized design and respectively fed isonitrogenous and isocaloric concentrate mixtures containing 20 % soybean meal (CON) or 40 % raw CSM (RCSM), 40 % raw CSM supplemented with 500 IU of vitamin E per head per day (ERCSM), and 40 %, 1.5 % calcium hydroxide-treated CSM (CaCSM) along with ad libitum wheat straw throughout 510 days of experimental feeding. The lambs on all the diets grew linearly throughout the experimental period. The total weight gain, in turn the average daily gain (ADG), was not affected by dietary variations. The daily intake of dry matter, crude protein (CP), digestible crude protein (DCP) and total digestible nutrients (TDN) were found comparable among lambs of all the groups. Though total gossypol intake was similar in RCSM, ECSM and CaCSM groups, however, free gossypol intake was significantly higher (P?<?0.01) in RCSM, ECSM groups as compared to CaCSM group. Serum iron and blood hemoglobin levels were significantly (P?<?0.05) lower in RCSM group as compared to CaCSM and CON groups, and ALT activity was significantly (P?<?0.05) higher on RCSM group as compared to other groups. Plasma gossypol and osmotic fragility of erythrocytes were significantly (P?<?0.05) increased in RCSM group as compared to CaCSM and ERCSM groups. However, there was no significant difference in the concentration of other blood/serum biochemical constituents among the lambs on different groups. Based on the results, it may be concluded that feeding of 40 % CSM in the concentrate mixture of the diet in Bikaneri lambs did not have any major adverse effect in blood parameters and animal performance. Either calcium hydroxide treatment or vitamin E supplementation did not produce any major additional benefits.     

Development of a user friendly water balance model for paddy

A water balance model for paddy is developed primarily based on the principle of conservation of mass of soil–water within the root zone. The water balance for paddy is different from that of field crops because paddy requires standing water in the field during most of its growth period. This model requires soil, crop and meteorological data as inputs. This user friendly model was developed using computer programmes C and Visual Basic (VB) 6.0. It simulates various water balance components such as evapotranspiration, deep percolation, surface runoff and depth of irrigation water and ponding depth in the field on a daily basis. For estimation of deep percolation loss, physically based saturated and unsaturated flow processes are incorporated into the model to consider ponding (if there is standing water in the field), saturation (if moisture content of soil is in between field capacity and saturation) and depletion (if moisture content of soil is below field capacity) phases of paddy field. This article presents development of a user friendly water balance model for paddy and also its validation using published data.     

Functional diversity of RING E3 ligases of major cereal crops in response to abiotic stresses

Abiotic stresses significantly reduce the grain yield and productivity of cereal crops, especially rice, and this may affect food security in the future. Different abiotic stress adaptation pathways have been investigated and depicted in plants. Among these, the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) has been studied as a key mechanism to understand the protein regulation pathways that enhance the adaptation and survival of plants under various environmental stresses such as drought, salinity, cold, and toxic metalloid exposure. RING E3 ligases constitute a highly diverse and important enzyme group that acts within the 26S UPS, and it also plays a crucial role as a central regulator of plant physiological and cellular processes. This review aimed to highlight recent findings and discoveries regarding the different stress-induced RING E3 ligase genes of major cereal crops and their functions via ubiquitination pathways under different environmental stress conditions. Such genes regulate different physiological responses including protein stabilization, cell membrane integrity, regulation of stomatal opening, and the maintenance of meristematic cells, and they also regulate reactive oxygen species and heavy metal levels via ubiquitination in plants. Hence, the ubiquitination process is considered a potential target for the development of abiotic stress-tolerant crops, and it might be used as an excellent mechanism for stress-tolerant crop improvement programs.     

Solid phase extraction of Cd, Cu, and Ni from leafy vegetables and plant leaves using amberlite XAD-2 functionalized with 2-hydroxy-acetophenone-thiosemicarbazone (HAPTSC) and determination by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy

A method for solid phase extraction of trace metals, namely, Cd, Cu, and Ni, using Amberlite XAD-2 functionalized with a new chelating ligand, 2-hydroxy-acetophenone-3-thiosemicarbazone (Amberlite XAD-2-HAPTSC), has been developed. The optimum experimental conditions for the quantitative sorption of three metals, pH, effect of flow rate, concentration of eluent, sorption capacity, kinetics of sorption, and the effect of diverse ions on the sorption of analytes have been investigated. The chelating resin could be reused for more than 20 cycles of sorption-desorption without any significant change (<1.5%). The accuracy of the proposed procedure was evaluated by standard reference materials. The proposed method was applied for the determination of trace metal ions in leafy vegetable samples collected from different sources and medicinal plant leaves.     

Factors Governing Pasting Properties of Waxy Wheat Flours

Waxy wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) contains endosperm starch lacking in amylose. To realize the full potential of waxy wheat, the pasting properties of hard waxy wheat flours as well as factors governing the pasting properties were investigated and compared with normal and partial waxy wheat flours. Starches isolated from six hard waxy wheat flours had similar pasting properties, yet their corresponding flours had very different pasting properties. The differences in pasting properties were narrowed after endogenous α‐amylase activity in waxy wheat flours was inhibited by silver nitrate. Upon treatment with protease, the extent of protein digestibility influenced the viscosity profile in waxy wheat flours. Waxy wheat starch granules swelled extensively when heated in water and exhibited a high peak viscosity, but they fragmented at high temperatures, resulting in more rapid breakdown in viscosity. The extensively swelled and fragmented waxy wheat starch granules were more susceptible to α‐amylase degradation than normal wheat starch. A combination of endogenous α‐amylase activity and protein matrix contributed to a large variation in pasting properties of waxy wheat flours.     

Reproduction of pigs in the hills of eastern Nepal

Summary A survey of 101 farmers with sows was conducted in the Koshi Hills of Nepal. Estimates of those reproductive traits which did not differ significantly between local and Pakhribas crossbred sows, are farrowing interval 7·4 months, litter size at birth 8·3, age of piglets at weaning 2·2 months and total number of farrowings 13·2. Local pigs reach sexual maturity sooner than Pakhribas crossbreds; age at first farrowing for the two genotypes is 10·7 and 12·0 months (P<0·05), and age at first mating of boars is 6·5 and 7·4 months (P<0·05). Sows farrow throughout the year and there is no clearly defined best season for farrowing. Pre-weaning mortality rates are estimated to be 22% for local piglets and 15% for Pakhribas crossbreds. Almost all farmers practise controlled mating in which either the sow is taken to the boar or the boar is brought to the sow. The proportion of farmers (with sows) who own a boar is only about 5 per cent.

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Resumen Se llevó a cabo un estudio de 101 porquerizas en las alturas Koshi de nepal. Los índices zooténicos reproductivos, que no difirieron significativamente entre hembras locales y cruzadas Pakhribas fueron, intervalo entre partos 7·4 meses, tama?o de la camada al nacimiento 8·3, edad de los cerdos al destete 2·2 meses y número total de partos 13·2. Los cerdos locales alcanzaron la madurez sexual más rápido que los cruzados. La edad al primer parto de los dos genotipos fue de 10·7 y 12·0 meses (P<0·05), y la edad a la primera monta de los machos fue de 6·5 y 7·4 meses (P<0·05). No hubo una estación del a?o definida para la parición. La mortalidad antes del destete se estimó en 22% para los cerdos locales y en 15% para los cruces. Casi todos los cerdos practican monta controlada, en donde la hembra es llevada al macho, o el macho a la hembra. La proporción de finqueros que tienen reproductor es de apenas cinco por ciento.

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Résumé Une enquête portant sur 101 fermiers possédant des truies a été conduite dans les collines de Koshi au Népal. Les caractéristiques estimées de ces reproductions, qui ne diffèrent pas significantivement entre les truies de race locale et les croisements Pakhribas, sont pour l’intervalle de mise bas de 7,4 mois, 8,3 porcelets par portée, 2,2 mois pour l’age au sevrage et un nombre total de mise bas de 13,2. Les porcs de race locale atteignent la maturité sexuelle plus t?t que les croisements Pakhribas. L’age à la première mise bas pour les deux génotypes est de 10,7 et 12,0 mois (P<0,05), l’age au premier accouplement pour les verrats est de 6,5 et 7,4 mois pourP<0,05, respectivement. Les truies mettent bas toute l’année et il n’existe pas, à cet égard, de saison optimale clairement individualisée. Les taux de mortalité avant sevrage sont estimés à 22 p. 100 pour la race locale et à 15 p. 100 pour les croisements Pakhribas. Presque tous les fermiers pratiquent le contr?le des saillies pendant lequel la truie est conduite au verrat ou inversement. La proportion des fermiers ayant des truies et possédant aussi des verrats n’est que de 5 p. 100.

     

In vitro methyl farnesoate secretion by mandibular organs isolated from different molt and reproductive stages of the crab Oziotelphusa senex senex

ABSTRACT:   Considerable evidences indicate that mandibular organ (MO) of crustaceans secrete terpenoid hormone (methyl farnesoate [MF]), which regulates molting and reproduction. In the freshwater south Indian rice field crab Oziotelphusa senex senex , MO isolated during premolt and vitellogenesis, secreted greater amounts of MF, which indicates that the regulation of the crustacean molt and reproduction is complex and also involves MF, besides steroid (ecdysteroid) and peptide (sinus gland peptide) hormones.     

The contribution of international vegetable breeding to private seed companies in India

Crop breeding research by international agricultural research centers usually serves public sector crop breeding, but does it still have a role when research and development have shifted to the private sector? This paper explores this question for vegetables in India using data from 27 private companies and 9 public organizations. We focus on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and chili pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)—two of India’s most important vegetables, and the role of international germplasm received from the World Vegetable Center. Results show that as the role of the private sector in vegetable breeding increased, and with it the share of hybrids in the market, the role of international agricultural research shifted from the provision of ready-made varieties to the provision of specific resistance traits. Still, international germplasm continued to be used in varietal development with 11.6 t (14 % of the total market) of hybrid tomato seed and 15.0 t (13 %) of hybrid chili pepper seed sold in 2014 containing international germplasm in its pedigree. We estimate that over half a million farmers use such seed. We conclude that for tomato and chili pepper, international breeding needs to focus on pre-breeding research, capacity strengthening of smaller seed companies, and the delivery of open-pollinated varieties for marginal environments.