Detection,isolation and characterization of cowpea mosaic virus in Egypt

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Cowpea mosaic virus is among the most economically important viruses infecting cowpea. Incidence of infection was assessed in two governorates in Egypt,...     

Association of TALS developmental disorder with defect in minor splicing component U4atac snRNA

The spliceosome, a ribonucleoprotein complex that includes proteins and small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs), catalyzes RNA splicing through intron excision and exon ligation to produce mature messenger RNAs, which, in turn serve as templates for protein translation. We identified four point mutations in the U4atac snRNA component of the minor spliceosome in patients with brain and bone malformations and unexplained postnatal death [microcephalic osteodysplastic primordial dwarfism type 1 (MOPD 1) or Taybi-Linder syndrome (TALS); Mendelian Inheritance in Man ID no. 210710]. Expression of a subgroup of genes, possibly linked to the disease phenotype, and minor intron splicing were affected in cell lines derived from TALS patients. Our findings demonstrate a crucial role of the minor spliceosome component U4atac snRNA in early human development and postnatal survival.     

Kinetic and Equilibrium Modeling for Cr(III) and Cr(VI) Removal from Aqueous Solutions by Citrus reticulata Waste Biomass

The pulp left after the extraction of juice from Citrus reticulate (kinnow), is a waste material, which was used as a potential sorbent for Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in the present study. The effect of experimental parameters such as pH, biosorbent dosage, biosorbent particle size, initial metal concentrations, temperature, shaking speed and sorption time on the Cr removal is apparent from the obtained results. The Freundlich isotherm and pseudo second order kinetic models fitted well to the data of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) biosorption by Citrus reticulata waste biomass. Effect of several pretreatments such as gases, natural coagulant and many other chemicals on Cr(III) and Cr(VI) sorption capacity of Citrus reticulata waste biomass was first time analyzed in the present study. The metal sorption capacity of Citrus reticulata waste biomass after a specific pretreatment was not only related to the nature of chemical but also strongly dependent on the oxidation state of the metal.     

Bioefficacy of compounds from Dittrichia viscosa (Asteraceae) as protectant of chickpea seeds against the cowpea seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - The efficacy of four bi- and tri-cyclic sesquiterpenes, namely inuloxins A, B and C and α-costic acid, extracted from aerial parts of Dittrichia...     

Impregnation of zinc oxide mediated chitosan nano-composites on polyester fabric for performance characteristics

Present study dealt with the fabrication of chitosan/zinc oxide nano-composites (CZNCs) using a facile preparation method. The structural features of nano-composites were investigated by using advanced analytical techniques. The developed nano-composites exhibited hexagonal structural pattern with an average particle size of about 51 nm. The developed CZNCs were dispersed in 2-propanol and applied on polyester by using the pad-dry-cure method. The treated fabric specimens were characterized for surface, functional and textile properties including antibacterial activity and (ultra violet) UV- blocking. The nano-composite treated polyester fabric exhibited durable antibacterial, UV- blocking and textile properties with fair whiteness index.     

Effect of salinity on tissue nutrient contents of the four dryland tree species of Indus flood plains

Salinity is a common issue of semi-arid and arid lands rendering them unfit for agriculture. Saline wastelands can be converted into productive ecosystems by rehabilitating them with salt tolerant native tree species. The objective of this work was to study the effect of NaCl salinity on tissue nutrient contents of the four dryland tree species. Saplings were grown in pots under nonsaline and high salinity conditions. After eighteen weeks the plants were harvested and their tissue nutrient contents were analyzed. Results revealed that all species accumulated high amounts of Na⁺ under saline conditions, while concentrations of N, P and Mg²⁺ decreased in their tissues. Concentrations of K⁺ and Ca²⁺ showed more variable trend in various tissues in response to increase in soil salinity. Na⁺: K⁺ ratios of roots (1.57), stems (1.27), and leaves (1.66) of salinized Salvadora oleoides plants were lowest among all the four species. Root Na⁺: K⁺ ratio of salinized plants was significantly higher for Prosopis cineraria (7.10), while these ratios for stem (1.85) and leaf (3.42) were highest for Tamarix aphylla. Plants of P. cineraria showed lowest Stem-Na⁺/root-Na⁺ ratio (0.30) when subjected to salinity. Results showed that salinity induces nutrient deficiency in all species. Salinity tolerance of these species can be attributed to their ability to (i) restrict translocation of Na⁺ from roots to stem; (ii) keeping low tissue Na⁺: K⁺ ratios; and (iii) selectivity of K⁺ and Ca²⁺ over Na⁺, and can be used for the screening of salt-tolerant ecotypes for the rehabilitation of saline wastelands.     

Salinity tolerance of earthworms and effects of salinity and vermi amendments on growth of Sorghum bicolor

Salinity is a major factor limiting irrigated agriculture in arid regions. Vermi amendments can be used for improving the fertility of salt-affected soils. Current study was aimed to find out the response of different earthworm species to soil salinity and to check the effects of salinity and different vermi amendments on growth of Sorghum bicolor under salt stress. Eight earthworm species were subjected to different salinity levels for 4 weeks. Various vermi amendments and salinity treatments were provided in a factorial combination to S. bicolor plants to see their effect on growth and biomass parameters. L. mauritii, E. incommodus and P. posthuma were found to be the most salt-tolerant species showing good survival and growth till soil EC_e value of 10.48 mS cm^?1. Results showed that salinity significantly decreased plant growth that was enhanced by the application of different vermi amendments. Maximum growth of S. bicolor was recorded when vermicompost and vermiwash were used together under both saline and non-saline conditions. The results showed that the application of vermi amendments improved nutritional balance of the soil, delayed salt-induced damage to the plants and supported their growth so can be helpful in increasing crop production on saline soils.     

Effects of petroleum spray oils on oviposition behaviour and larval survival of Helicoverpa armigera Hubner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Ostrinia nubilalis Hubner (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

We determined the effects of petroleum spray oil (PSO) (Caltex Canopy®) on oviposition responses of Helicoverpa armigera Hubner and Ostrinia nubilalis Hubner adults, and larval survival of the pest moths on cotton and maize plants in the laboratory. Application of 2% (v/v) of the PSO deterred H. armigera oviposition. Increasing the rate from 2 to 5% (v/v) did not significantly reduce the number of eggs laid by H. armigera on the treated plants. In contrast, the minimum rate at which the oil could deter oviposition of O. nubilalis on maize plants was 5% (v/v). Increasing the rate from 5 to 10% (v/v) did not significantly reduce the number of eggs laid per plant. However, a reduction in the rate of the PSO from 5 to 3% (v/v) resulted in a 73.9% increase in oviposition activity on the maize plants. In wind tunnel bioassay tests, all mated H. armigera females tested could detect and settle on plants treated with water but with plants treated with PSO at various times, only 50% of tested females settled on the plants 4?–?5 days after treatment (DAT) and none on the plants 0?–?2 DAT. A solid phase micro-extraction (SPME) test to determine the effect of the PSO on volatiles released by the cotton plants showed that the quantity of volatiles released by the cotton plants treated with PSO was lower than for water treated plants. This indicates that the PSO sprays may be suppressing or masking the leaf surface volatiles of the cotton plants, thereby deterring oviposition of H. armigera. Larval survival data show that PSO sprays can cause direct mortality of first, second and third instar O. nubilalis larvae. PSOs may have the potential to be integrated into pest management programme targeting H. armigera and O. nubilalis on cotton and maize crops, respectively.     

Dietary Chitosan Nanoparticles: Potential Role in Modulation of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Antibacterial Defense and Intestinal Immunity against Enteric Redmouth Disease

Bio-nanotechnology employing bio-sourced nanomaterial is an emerging avenue serving the field of fish medicine. Marine-sourced chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) is a well-known antimicrobial and immunomodulatory reagent with low or no harm side effects on fish or their human consumers. In this study, in vitro skin mucus and serum antibacterial activity assays along with intestinal histology, histochemical, and gene expression analyses were performed to evaluate the impact of dietary CSNPs (5 g kg⁻¹ dry feed) on rainbow trout resistance against ‘enteric redmouth’ disease. Two treatment conditions were included; short-term prophylactic-regimen for 21 days before the bacterial challenge, and long-term therapeutic-regimen for 21 days before the challenge and extended for 28 days after the challenge. Our results revealed higher antibacterial defense ability and positive intestinal histochemical and molecular traits of rainbow trout after dietary CSNPs. The prophylactic-regimen improved trout health while the therapeutic regimen improved their disease resistance and lowered their morbidity. Therefore, it is anticipated that CSNPs is an effective antibacterial and immunomodulatory fish feed supplement against the infectious threats. However, the CSNPs seem to be more effective in the therapeutic application rather than being used for short-term prophylactic applications.     

Wheat Gluten Polymer Structures: The Impact of Genotype,Environment, and Processing on Their Functionality in Various Applications

For a number of applications, gluten protein polymer structures are of the highest importance in determining end‐use properties. The present article focuses on gluten protein structures in the wheat grain, genotype‐ and environment‐related changes, protein structures in various applications, and their impact on quality. Protein structures in mature wheat grain or flour are strongly related to end‐use properties, although influenced by genetic and environment interactions. Nitrogen availability during wheat development and genetically determined plant development rhythm are the most important parameters determining the gluten protein polymer structure, although temperature during plant development interacts with the impact of the mentioned parameters. Glutenin subunits are the main proteins incorporated in the gluten protein polymer in extracted wheat flour. During dough mixing, gliadins are also incorporated through disulfide‐sulfhydryl exchange reactions. Gluten protein polymer size and complexity in the mature grain and changes during dough formation are important for breadmaking quality. When using the gluten proteins to produce plastics, additional proteins are incorporated in the polymer through disulfide‐sulfhydryl exchange, sulfhydryl oxidation, β‐eliminations with lanthionine formation, and isopeptide formation. In promising materials, the protein polymer structure is changed toward β‐sheet structures of both intermolecular and extended type and a hexagonal close‐packed structure is found. Increased understanding of gluten protein polymer structures is extremely important to improve functionality and end‐use quality of wheat‐ and gluten‐based products.