Enhancing Growth of Common Carp, Rohu and Mozambique Tilapia through Plant Substrate: The Role of Bacterial Biofilm

Experiments were conducted to enhance the growth of common carp (Cyprinus carpio), rohu (Labeo rohita) and Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) through use of sugarcane bagasse as substrate. Bagasse was suspended in water with or without supplementation with fertilizers. Bagasse supplemented with cattle dung and urea favoured higher zooplankton production and significantly (p < 0.05) increased fish growth by over 50% compared to bagasse or fertilizers on their own. This higher production of fish is attributed to bacterial biofilm promoted on the substrate which, apart from forming food for zooplankton and fish, contributed to improved water quality by lowering ammonia.     

Hybrid Variability and Effect of Growth Location on Corn Fiber Yields and Corn Fiber Oil Composition

The variability in commercial corn hybrids for corn fiber yields, amounts of extractable oil, and levels of individual and total phytosterol components in corn fiber oil was determined. Also, the effect of growth location on fiber yields, fiber oil content, and the levels of individual and total phytosterol compounds was determined. Significant variation was observed in the commercial hybrids for fiber yield (13.2–16.6%) and fiber oil yield (0.9–2.4%). No significant correlation was observed between fiber and oil yields. Significant variations in the commercial corn hybrids were also observed in the individual phytosterol compounds in corn fiber oil: 2.9–9.2% for ferulate phytosterol esters (FPE); 1.9–4.3% for free phytosterols (St); and 6.5–9.5% for phytosterol fatty acyl esters (St:E). Positive correlations were observed among the three phytosterol compounds in the corn fiber oil (R = 0.75 for FPE and St:E; 0.48 for St:E and St; and 0.68 for FPE and St). The effect of location on dependent variables was also significant. The same hybrids grown at different locations showed a variation (range) of 4.0–17.5% for FPE, 4.9–12.2% for St:E, and 1.95–4.45% for St. Relative ranking of hybrids with respect to phytosterol composition was consistent for almost all of the growth locations.     

Effect of Mill Plate Setting and Number of Dynamic Steeping Stages for an Intermittent Milling and Dynamic Steeping (IMDS) Process for Corn

Effect of corn degermination mill parameters (clearance between mill plates and rpm) were assessed on the broken germ and number of whole kernels in mash so as to optimize the cracking procedure for the intermittent milling and dynamic steeping (IMDS) process. The dynamic steep time and number of intermittent milling stages for the IMDS process were also optimized for maximum starch recovery. A comparison was made between the IMDS and the conventional steeping process for fraction yields. A clearance of 0.45–0.48 cm between the plates gave the most optimum processing conditions (minimum broken germ and least amount of whole kernels in mash after cracking). Effect of rpm on germ damage and kernel cracking was not significant when optimum clearance between the degermination plates was maintained. Two stages of intermittent milling with a dynamic steep time of 30 min or higher was recommended because it produced the highest yield of starch and germ. Comparison of the IMDS process with the conventional wet‐milling process showed that starch and gluten yield increased by 1.6 and 4.26%, respectively, in the IMDS process. Germ recovered from the IMDS process was 0.54% lower than that from the conventional steeping process.     

Precision phenotyping of contrasting potato(Solanum tuberosum L.) varieties in a novel aeroponics system for improving nitrogen use efficiency: In search of key traits and genes

With increasing population, degrading soil health, limited arable land area, and high cost of nitrogen(N) fertilizers, improving nitrogen use efficiency(NUE) of potato is an inevitable approach to save the environment and achieve sufficient tuber yields with less N fertilizer supply. Recently, we have developed an aeroponics system to study NUE in potato using genomics, physiology, and breeding approaches. This study aims on precision phenotyping of plants of two distinct potato varieties(Kufri Gaurav, N efficient; Kufri Jyoti, N inefficient) in the novel aeroponics system. Plants were grown in aeroponics under controlled conditions with low N(0.75 mmol L~(-1) NO_3~-) and high N(7.5 mmol L~(–1) NO_3~-) levels. Plant biomass, root traits, total chlorophyll content, and plant N were increased with increasing N supply, whereas higher NUE parameters namely NUE, agronomic NUE(Ag NUE), N uptake efficiency(NUp E), harvest index(HI), and N harvest index(NHI) were observed at low N. An NUE efficient cv. Kufri Gaurav showed higher tuber dry weight, fresh tuber yield, tuber number per plant, early start of tuber harvesting, root traits, stolon traits, NUE parameters, and higher amino acid(aspartic acid and asparagine) content at low N supply. Higher expression of nitrate reductase(NR), nitrite reductase(NIR), and asparagine synthetase(AS) genes was observed in the leaf tissues of Kufri Gaurav at high N. Thus, aeroponics-based precision phenotyping enables identification of NUE efficient genotypes based on key traits and genes involved in improving NUE in potato. Further, this study suggests that the potential of aeroponics can be utilized to investigate N biology in potato under different N regimes.     

Premature seed germination induced by very-long-chain fatty acids causes jelly seed disorder in the mango (Mangifera indica L.) cultivar ‘Amrapali’ in India

Jelly seed (JS) in ‘Amrapali’ mango (Mangifera indica L.) is a physiological disorder, the cause of which has long remained obscure. The disorder is distinguished by the appearance of jelly-like tissue in the pulp adjoining the stone, although the fruit show no external symptoms. The objective of this study was to determine the causative factor inducing the JS disorder in ‘Amrapali’ mango. Studies showed, for the first time, that JS in ‘Amrapali’ mango arose at the start of germination-associated events in the seed of developing fruit. The trigger for premature seed germination originated from reduced synthesis of very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) in the seed of developing fruit. This then promoted the production of cytokinins, leading to the onset of premature germination-associated events in the seed. Consequently, a large increase in the activities of pectinolytic enzymes in JS pulp occurred that led to the rapid degradation of pectin and excessive softening of the pulp, to the consistency of jelly. The application of plant growth regulators to developing fruit showed that gibberellic acid (GA₃) increased the incidence of JS, while paclobutrazol reduced the incidence of JS, confirming that the onset of early germination during fruit maturation and ripening played a primary role in the incidence of the JS disorder.     

Immunostimulating influence of herbal biomedicines on nonspecific immunity in Grouper Epinephelus tauvina juvenile against Vibrio harveyi infection

Herbals such as Cynodon dactylon, Piper longum, Phyllanthus niruri, Tridax procumbens, and Zingiber officinalis were extracted with acetone, benzene, butanol, and petroleum ether and screened against the pathogen Vibrio harveyi isolated from the infected Grouper Epinephalus tauvina. Among the different solvent extractions screening to V. harveyi, petroleum ether extracts were suppressed significantly (P < 0.05). Equal proportions of the all-plant extracts were mixed with the artificial feeds at concentrations of 100, 200, 400, and 800 mg kg⁻¹ of diet and fed to grouper juveniles of 20 ± 2 g average weight for a period of 60 days. Every 20 days, fish juveniles were challenged with V. harveyi and the immune response was studied. The herbal diets significantly (P < 0.05) increased the survival, growth, and immune responses compared to the control group. The herbal diets were significantly improved (P < 0.01) in immune parameters such as phagocytic activity and albumin–globulin (A–G) ratio. Among the different concentrations of the herbals in the diet, the 400 mg kg⁻¹ diet was the most effective in the experiment.     

Genome mapping and molecular markers identification for yield,yield component and fibre quality traits in tetraploid cotton

The identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) across different environments is a prerequisite for marker‐assisted selection (MAS) in crop improvement programmes. CottonSNP63k Illumina infinium array was used for genotyping 178 inter‐specific recombinant inbred lines and the parents, and identified 1,667 homozygous polymorphic markers between the parents. Of these, 1,430 markers were used for the construction of linkage map after removing 237 redundant markers. The genetic map spans a total genetic length of 3,149.8 cM with an average marker interval size of 2.2 cM. The phenotypic data from five environments were analysed separately using inclusive composite interval mapping which identified a total of 56 QTL explaining phenotypic variances (PVE) in the range of 8.18%–28.91%. There were 11 and 24 major QTL found for fibre quality and yield components, respectively. A total of 64 QTL were identified through Multi‐Environment Trials analysis, of which 34 recorded QTL × Environment interactions.     

Carnein, a serine protease from noxious plant weed Ipomoea carnea (morning glory)

A new serine protease from the latex of Ipomoea carnea spp. fistulosa (Morning glory), belonging to the Convolvulaceae family, was purified to homogeneity by ammonium sulfate fractionation followed by cation exchange chromatography. The enzyme, named carnein, has a molecular mass of 80.24 kDa (matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight) and an isoelectric point of pH 5.6. The pH and temperature optima for proteolytic activity were 6.5 and 65 degrees C, respectively. The extinction coefficient (epsilon2801%) of the enzyme was estimated as 37.12, and the protein molecule consists of 35 tryptophan, 76 tyrosine, and seven cysteine residues. The effect of several inhibitors such as iodoacetic acid, diisopropylfluorophosphate, phenyl-methanesulfonyl fluoride, chymostatin, soybean trypsin inhibitor, HgCl2, 3S-3-(N-{(S)-1-[N-(4-guanidinobutyl)carbamoyl]3-ethylbutyl}carbamoyl)oxirane-2-carboxylic acid, N-ethyl maleimide, ethylene glycol-bis(alpha-amino ethyl ether)tetraacetic acid, ethylenediamminetetraacetic acid, and o-phenonthroline indicates that carnein belongs to the family of serine proteases. The enzyme is not prone to autolysis even at very low concentrations. The N-terminal sequence of carnein (T-T-H-S-P-E-F-L-G-L-A-E-S-S-G-L-X-P-N-S) exhibited considerable similarity to those of other plant serine proteases; the highest similarity was with alnus AG12, one of the subtilase family endopepetidases.     

Breast-feeding initiation and determinants of exclusive breast-feeding - a questionnaire survey in an urban population of western Nepal

OBJECTIVE: To assess rates of initiation of breast-feeding and exclusive breast-feeding within 2 months after delivery and to determine the factors influencing exclusive breast-feeding. DESIGN: A health worker-administered questionnaire survey was carried out during the time period 1 August-30 September 2005. SETTING: Immunisation clinics of Pokhara, a submetropolitan city in western Nepal. SUBJECTS: Three hundred and eighty-five mothers who had delivered a child within the previous 2 months. RESULTS: The rates of initiation within 1 h and within 24 h of delivery were 72.7 and 84.4%, respectively. Within 2 months after delivery, exclusive breast-feeding was practised by 82.3% of the mothers. Breast milk/colostrum was given as the first feed to 332 (86.2%) babies but 17.2% of them were either given expressed breast milk or were put to the breast of another lactating mother. Pre-lacteal feeds were given to 14% of the babies. The common pre-lacteal feeds given were formula feeds (6.2%), sugar water (5.9%) and cow's milk (2.8%). Complementary feeds were introduced by 12.7% of the mothers. By logistic regression analysis, friends' feeding practices, type of delivery and baby's first feed were the factors influencing exclusive breast-feeding practice of the mothers. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the higher rates of initiation and exclusive breast-feeding, practices such as pre-lacteal feeds and premature introduction of complementary feeds are of great concern in this urban population. There is a need for promotion of good breast-feeding practices among expectant mothers and also the community, especially the families, taking into account the local traditions and customs.     

Persistence of serum antibodies to Sarcocystis neurona in horses moved from North America to India

BACKGROUND: The study reported here was undertaken to assess the presence of antibodies to Sarcocystis neurona in the serum of horses of North American origin that had been relocated for 1 year or more to India (ie, outside of the known endemic areas for S. neurona). HYPOTHESIS: The presence or absence of such antibodies should provide information concerning the persistence of such antibodies, or support the presence of chronic infection, or both. ANIMALS: A total of 228 Thoroughbred horses were sampled in India, of which 86 were of North American origin that had been in India between 1 and 13 years, 124 were Indian-born horses that had never been out of India, 8 were of Irish origin, 8 were of English origin, and 2 were originally from France. METHODS: Sera were tested using established western blot analysis. RESULTS: Of the Indian-born horses, 0.8% were test positive, and of the North American horses, 42% were test positive. All of the English and Irish horses were test negative, and the 2 French horses were test positive. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: These data indicate that antibodies against S. neurona can be detected for many years after horses have been removed from an endemic area and that this may be attributable to long half-life of the antibodies or to chronic infection and ongoing antibody production, or both.