Optimising cutting method and timing for the control of Abutilon theophrasti seed production

Abutilon theophrasti (velvetleaf) is a widespread and problematic annual weed. Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of different cutting methods on the viability of A. theophrasti seeds. Three cutting methods were assessed: (1) Entire plant cut and dried (EPD)—plants were cut at soil level and dried with capsules attached on the greenhouse bench or soil surface for 4 weeks; (2) capsules detached and dried (CD)—capsules were removed from plants and dried for 4 weeks; and (3) capsules detached and tested while fresh (CF)—a control treatment. Before drying, the developmental stage (stage one, dark green; stage two, light green; stage three, yellowish-green; or stage four, black with the slightly open capsule) and age (days after flowering, DAF) of each capsule was recorded. Seed viability was measured immediately in the CF treatment and after the 4-week drying period in the EPD and CD treatments. No seeds in the EPD and CD treatments were viable when harvested at the first developmental stage (1–8 DAF) in either experiment, but 100% of seeds in the CF treatment in the field were viable when harvested at 8 DAF. In both greenhouse and field experiments, seeds attained full viability at earlier harvest ages in CF than in EPD or CD treatments, suggesting that seeds might become viable relatively early in development but lose viability if allowed to dry. These findings could be applied to optimise late-season mechanical control of A. theophrasti.     

Effects of Peptone Supplementation in Different Culture Media on Growth,Metabolic Pathway and Productivity of CHO DG44 Cells; a New Insight into Amino Acid Profiles

Background:

The optimization of bioprocess conditions towards improved growth profile and productivity yield is considered of great importance in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Peptones as efficient sources of nutrients have been studied for their effect on media development; however, their role on metabolic pathway is not well understood.

Methods:

In the present study, the effect of different concentration of peptones on a recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line grown in three serum-free suspension cultures was determined. Six peptones of different origins and available amino acid profiles were investigated regarding their impact on cell growth, productivity, and metabolic pathways changes.

Results:

In optimized feeding strategies, increases of 136% and 159% in volumetric productivity (for a low-nutrient culture media) and 55% (for a high-nutrient culture media) were achieved. Furthermore, particular sources of peptones with specific amino acid profile developed preferential results for each different culture medium. Two peptones, SoyA2SC and SoyE-110, were the only hydrolysates that showed production improvement in all three media. Casein Peptone plus Tryptone N1 and SoyA3SC showed different improved results based on their implemented concentration for each individual basal medium.

Conclusion:

The amino acid profile of peptones may provide clues to identify the most effective feeding strategies for recombinant CHO cells.Key Words: CHO cells, Culture media, Peptones, Recombinant proteins     

Suppression of telomerase activity by pyrimethamine: implication to cancer

BACKGROUND: Although pyrimethamine (Tindurin) appears to be effective in the prevention and treatment of some infectious diseases, very little information exists on its unpredictable properties. We design this study to evaluate its anti-tumoral effect on a model of cell line. METHODS: The cytotoxic influence of Pyrimethamine on prostate cell line was investigated using an in vitro colometric assay. The potential modulatory effects on metastasis, apoptosis, and immortality characteristics of cells were assessed with gelatin zymography, terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay and telomeric repeat amplification protocol, respectively. RESULTS: Cytotoxicity analysis of pyrimethamine revealed a dose-dependent fashion. An apoptotic influence of pyrimethamine was also confirmed by data obtained from TUNEL assay. Dose-dependent inhibitory effect on matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) was seen in pyrimethamine. A potent inhibitory effect of pyrimethamine was also established by data achieved from TRAPeze telomerase detection kit. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, as induction of apoptosis together with MMP and telomerase inhibition could be indicative of cancer treatment, pyrimethamine might be considered as a chemopreventative agent in cancer.     

A Greenhouse Study of Concrete Grinding Residue Influences on Seedling Emergence and Early Growth of Selected Prairie Species

Water, Air, & Soil Pollution - Trichloroethene (TCE) and 1,1,1-trichloroethane (1,1,1-TCA) are notorious pollutants in groundwater. The biodegradation of them yields more toxic vinyl chloride...     

Grain Yield and Qualitative of Rapeseed Genotypes Change in Response to Exogenous Application of Salicylic Acid and Planting Density

Gesunde Pflanzen - A factorial split-plot experiment (2015–17) was carried out in a randomized complete block design with three replications at Karaj, Iran, to investigate...     

Analysis of genetic and virulence variability of Stemphylium lycopersici associated with leaf spot of vegetable crops

Stemphylium lycopersici (Enjoji) W. Yamam was initially described from tomato and has been reported to infect different hosts worldwide. Sequence analyses of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions 1 and 2, including 5.8S rDNA (ITS-5.8S rDNA) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gpd) gene, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR), as well as virulence studies were conducted to analyze 46?S. lycopersici isolates. Stemphylium lycopersici isolates used in this study were obtained from diseased tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) from major vegetable growing regions of Malaysia, including the three states of Pahang, Johor and Selangor between 2011 and 2012. Phylogenetic analysis of a combined dataset of the ITS-5.8S rDNA and gpd regions indicated that all isolates were clustered in the sub-cluster that comprised S. lycopersici, and were distinguished from other Stemphylium species. Cluster analyses using the UPGMA method for both RAPD and ISSR markers grouped S. lycopersici isolates into three main clusters with similarity index values of 67 and 68 %. The genetic diversity data confirmed that isolates of S. lycopersici are in concordance to host plants, and not geographical origin of the isolates. All S. lycopersici isolates were pathogenic on their original host plants and showed leaf spot symptoms; however, virulence variability was observed among the isolates. In cross-inoculation assays, the representative isolates were able to cause leaf spot symptoms on eggplant, pepper, lettuce and tomato, but not on cabbage.     

Influence of dietary garlic (Allium sativum) on the antioxidative status of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Oxidative damage by free radicals has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several diseases. In this study, the antioxidative effect of dietary garlic on rainbow trout was examined. Trout fingerlings were fed on diets containing 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 g garlic powder kg^?1 diet. Serum lipid peroxides and activities of antioxidant enzymes were measured. Serum thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assay showed that garlic consumption that resulted in a significant decrease in lipid peroxidation. The lowest levels of TBARS were observed in fish fed diet supplemented with 30 g kg^?1 garlic. However, higher doses of garlic (40 and 50 g kg^?1 diet) caused no further reduction in serum TBARS. The results showed a significant increase in superoxide dismutase in all of the garlic‐treated groups compared with the control. Ingestion of 10, 20 and 30 g kg^?1 dietary garlic resulted in a significant reduction in the catalase activity compared with all but the 10 g kg^?1 group. There was no significant difference in glutathione peroxidase activity among the different groups. Serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels increased significantly in trout‐fed diets containing 40 and 50 g kg^?1 garlic powder. These results suggest that dietary garlic may improve the antioxidant status of rainbow trout. However, undesirable effects of higher doses of garlic should be considered.