Antioxidant Effect of Dietary Supplement Withania somnifera L. Reduce Blood Glucose Levels in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats

The phenolic compounds and flavonoids were determined from the extracts of Withania somnifera root (WSREt) and leaf (WSLEt). The WSREt has 28.26 mg/g total phenolic compounds and 17.32 mg/g flavonoids, whereas WSLEt has 5.4 mg/g total phenolic compounds and 5.1 mg/g flavonoids. The WSREt, WSLEt and glibenclamide were orally administered daily to diabetic rats for 8 weeks. After the treatment, the levels of urine sugar, blood glucose, liver glycogen, and antioxidants like vitamin C and E in plasma and superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and reduced glutathione (GSH) in liver, kidney and heart were determined. Diabetic rats showed a significant (p < 0.05) elevation in glucose and TBARS and a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in glycogen, vitamin C and E, SOD, CAT, GPx, GST, and GSH levels when compared to normal control rats. Administration of WSREt, WSLEt and glibenclamide to diabetic rats restored the levels to normal. In the light of aforesaid facts, it is suggested that the presence of phenolic compounds including flavonoids in W. somnifera root and leaf extracts and their antioxidant activity may play a vital role in reduction of blood glucose level in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.     

Legume-based intercropping for the management of fall armyworm,Spodoptera frugiperda L. in maize

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera), is an economically important invasive pest infesting maize. Habitat manipulation as a...     

Responses of Lowland,Upland and Aerobic Rice Genotypes to Water Limitation During Different Phases

Rice yield reduction due to water limitation depends on its severity and duration and on the phenological stage of its occurrence. We exposed three contrasting rice genotypes, IR64, UPLRi7 and Apo (adapted to lowland, upland and aerobic conditions, respectively), to three water regimes (puddle, 100% and 60% field capacity) in pots during the vegetative (GSI), flowering (GSII) and grain filling (GSIII) stages. Stress at all the three stages significantly reduced yield especially in lowland genotype IR64. Effect of water limitation was more severe at GSII than at the other two stages. Stress at GSI stage reduced both source activity (leaf area and photosynthetic rate) and sink capacity (tiller number or panicle number per pot). When stress was imposed at GSII, spikelet fertility was most affected in all the three genotypes. In both GSII and GSIII, although leaf area was constant in all the three water regimes, estimated relative whole-plant photosynthesis was strongly associated with yield reduction. Reduced photosynthesis due to stress at any given stage was found to have direct impact on yield. Compared to the other genotypes, Apo had deeper roots and maintained a better water relation, thus, higher carbon gain and spikelet viability, and ultimately, higher biomass and productivity under water-limited conditions. Therefore, screening for these stage-dependent adaptive mechanisms is crucial in breeding for sustained rice production under water limitation.     

Management of Broomrape (Orobanche spp.) – A review

Broomrapes ( Orobanche spp.) are phanerogamic holoparasites that subsist upon the roots of many important crops thus causing considerable yield losses, especially in the drier and warmer areas of Europe, Africa and Asia.
The major principles of reducing the seed bank and controlling the weed in the germination and parasitic/ reproductive phases are critically reviewed. Practices to control broomrape include physical methods (weeding, soil tillage, flooding, irrigation, solarization, flaming), chemical methods (soil fumigation, herbicide application, use of germination stimulants) and biological methods (use of resistant or tolerant varieties, cropping systems with trap and catch crops, intercropping, biological control with insects or fungi). Cultural practices which help to avoid germination, infection or strong reproduction of the weed or improve the crop's tolerance should be optimized.
However, no single cheap method can control the weed, so integrated management practices are required. Integrated control strategies are site- and cropping-system specific but have in common that measures are taken to kill part of the seed bank, induce the conditioned seeds to germinate in the absence of the commercial crop, kill emerging Orobanche shoots before seed set during growth of the commercial crop and further reduce or avoid damage to the commercial crop.     

Towards crop improvement in bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.): Transgenics (uid A::hpt II) by a tissue-culture-independent Agrobacterium-mediated in planta approach

Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation has been one of the methods used to generate transgenic plants in bell pepper. An alternate transformation method that avoids/minimizes tissue culture would be beneficial for the improvement of bell pepper due to its recalcitrant nature. In this report, transgenic bell pepper plants have been developed by a tissue-culture-independent A. tumefaciens-mediated in planta transformation procedure. In the present study, two open pollinated varieties viz., Arka Gaurav and Arka Mohini were used for transformation. Agrobacterium strain EHA105 harboring the binary vector pCAMBIA1301 that carries the genes for β-glucuronidase (uid A) and hygromycin phosphotransferase II (hpt II) was used for transformation. GUS histochemical analysis of T₀ and T₁ plants at various stages of growth followed by molecular analysis using PCR, Southern analysis and RT-PCR allowed selection of transgenics. The method resulted in 17.8% and 11.4% of the T₀ plants in Arka Gaurav and Arka Mohini being selected as chimeric and 35.0% and 29.7%, respectively, were identified as stable transformants in the T₁ generation based on PCR analysis.     

Effect of Zn application on its uptake,distribution and concentration of Fe and Cu in finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.]

Zinc (Zn) malnutrition can be alleviated by increasing the dietary Zn intake through Zn biofortification of edible crops. Agronomic and genetic biofortification has been suggested as better option to increase the dietary Zn. In this study, we show considerable genetic variability for seed Zn concentration in six leading finger millet genotypes. External application of Zn resulted in improved Zn concentration in different plant parts; in particular there was significant increase in seed Zn concentration in all genotypes. Though genotypes GPU28 and INDAF5 showed differences in root and shoot Zn at vegetative stage but at reproductive stage there was no significant difference. Apart from that, Zn application increased the seed iron (Fe) concentration with no or minimal effect on copper (Cu) concentration.     

Amenability of castor to an <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium</Emphasis>-mediated <Emphasis Type="Italic">in planta</Emphasis> transformation strategy using a <Emphasis Type="Italic">cry1AcF</Emphasis> gene for insect tolerance

Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated in planta transformation protocol was developed for castor, Ricinus communis. Two-day-old seedlings were infected with Agrobacterium strain EHA105/pBinBt8 harboring cry1AcF and established in the greenhouse. Screening the T₁ generation seedlings on 300 mg L⁻¹ kanamycin identified the putative transformants. Molecular and expression analysis confirmed the transgenic nature and identified high-expressing plants. Western blot analysis confirmed the co-integration of the nptII gene in the selected transgenic plants. Bioassay against Spodoptera litura corroborated with high expression and identified five promising effective lines. Analysis of the T₂ generation plants proved the stability of the transgene indicating the feasibility of the method.     

Combined Drought and Heat Stress in Rice: Responses,Phenotyping and Strategies to Improve Tolerance

Simultaneous occurrence of drought and heat stress will have significant negative impact on rice yield, especially under upland conditions. The projected increase in global temperatures and reduced precipitation will increase the frequency of occurrence and intensity of these stresses, threatening rice production. Despite recognizing the importance of combined stress in rice, the knowledge generated in this area is very limited. Though complex, understanding combined stress tolerance of rice under water saving cultivation is more critical towards development of climate resilient rice cultivars. Here, we summarized the effects of combined stress on rice physiology with more emphasis on reproductive stage. Omics responses, phenotyping and physiology challenges and potential strategies for improving combined stress tolerance in rice are also discussed.     

Density,diversity and richness of woody plants in urban green spaces: A case study in Chennai metropolitan city

A tree diversity inventory was carried out in urban green spaces (UGSs) of Chennai metropolitan city, India. This inventory aims to study the diversity, density and richness of trees in UGSs of Chennai. A total of one hundred 10 m × 10 m (total 1 ha) plots were laid to reveal tree diversity and richness of UGSs. Trees with ≥10 cm girths at breast height (gbh) were inventoried. We recorded 45 species in 42 genera and 21 families. Caesalpiniaceae and Fabaceae each with 6 species dominated the study area followed by Arecaceae (3). Density and stand basal area of the present study were 500 stems ha^?1 and 64.16 m², respectively. Most of the inventoried trees were native (31 species) and deciduous (28 species). Fabaceae and Caesalpiniaceae dominated the present study area in terms of stand basal area and density. The Shannon diversity index and evenness of study area were 2.79 and 0.73, respectively. The most important species and families based on species important value index (IVI) and family important value index were Albizia saman, Polyalthia longifolia and Azadirachta indica; Fabaceae, Caesalpiniaceae and Annonaceae respectively. We find Chennai's urban forest is relatively superior to many urban forests of the world in terms of stand basal area and species richness. Results emphasize the importance of enhancement of urban green spaces in Chennai metropolitan city.