Whooping crane recruitment enhanced by egg removal

To facilitate recovery through captive breeding and foster-parenting programs of the endangered whooping crane, one of two eggs was removed from 62% of nests in Wood Buffalo National Park during 1967-1996. Egg removals were justified because cranes usually rear a single chick; the other dies to siblicide or predation. Concerns exist that the wild population might have recovered even faster if nests had not been disturbed. Here we show, contrary to expectation, that removing one of two eggs from a whooping crane nest actually increases the probability of nest success, and this effect is highly correlated with the dynamics of predators in the nesting area. These results beg the question: why do whooping cranes lay two eggs? We attribute two-egg clutches to occasional “good years” in which both chicks survive, compensating for higher mortality in two-egg broods. Egg removal has benefited conservation allowing establishment of several captive flocks, supporting reintroduction of two new populations, and reducing the variance in reproductive success of the wild flock thereby minimizing extinction risk.     

Provenance variations in seed-related characters and oil content of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Calophyllum inophyllum</Emphasis> L. in northern Australia and Sri Lanka

Seed morphometric characters and oil content were studied in multiple-use plant, Calophyllum inophyllum L. of two countries, Australia (southern hemisphere) and Sri Lanka (northern hemisphere). Seven provenances were selected which included three from northern Australia and four from Sri Lanka. Twelve Candidate plus trees (CPTs) each were selected from 2 to 3 different locations within each provenance based on the morphometric and qualitative traits (GBH > 100 cm). Seed collection in both hemispheres was carried out from May to August 2008. Calophyllum inophyllum L. provenances showed a distinct hemisphere variation in their seed-related characters and oil content. All provenances differed significantly (P < 0.05) with one another in seed length. Seeds from Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka and seeds from Cardwell Australia recorded the highest (≈57%) and the lowest oil (≈31%) content respectively. Strong correlations were found between seed morphometric characters. Relatively weaker correlations were found between seed morphometric characters and oil content. Variations in seed-related characters were largely attributed by the provenance contribution which shows the significance of the effect of genetic variability on above mentioned seed related characters.     

Genetic diversity analysis of severely infesting invasive thrips,Thrips parvispinus (Karny) in chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) in India

Phytoparasitica - Thrips are economically important pests of crops and vectors of viral diseases worldwide. Invasion and outbreak of thrips have recently caused havoc in agricultural and...     

Assessing the risk of mango quarantine pest Deanolis sublimbalis Snellen under different climate change scenarios

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Considering the quarantine importance of the red-banded mango caterpillar, Deanolis sublimbalis (Crambidae: Lepidoptera), studies were carried out to...     

Hepatorenal repercussions of alcoholic exposure in a rat model: a dose-dependent study of metformin intervention

Background: Diabetes mellitus is an alarming life style disease in the modern world. Exploitation of the anti-diabetic drugs for the amelioration of diabetes and associated life style diseases has become an imperative concern. In this milieu, this study was designed to explore the plausible effects of metformin intervention on hepatic and renal functions in a rat model of alcoholic liver disease. Methods: Thirty rats were divided into five groups (n = 6): ethanol control, ethanol water and also low, moderate and high doses of metformin. Ethanol 20% v/v (1 ml/100 g) was administered by oral gavage to all five groups for 21 days. Blood and tissue samples were collected for the assessment of lipid profile, hepatic and renal functions. Results: After 21 days, the levels of hepatic function and lipid parameters were maintained at normalcy, especially in the high-dose metformin treated alcoholic rats as compared to the levels at day 1. Despite this, the renal biomarkers did not display any significant variation due to ethanolic exposure in any group. The histopathological score portrayed that the noxious effect of ethanol is prevented in the liver of moderate- and high-dose metformin, whereas the renal histological scores were unchanged in all the groups including ethanol control. Conclusion: These results suggest that the dose of ethanol required to induce hepatic dysfunction does not influence renal functions. In addition, high-dose metformin offers maximal hepatoprotection and spares kidney from per se toxicity, thereby advocating the beneficial intervention of the anti-diabetic drug, metformin, in alcoholic liver dysfunction. Key Words: Ethanol, Metformin, Kidney     

基于远红外热成像的叶温变化与玉米苗期耐旱性的研究

 【目的】植物可以通过降低叶片气孔蒸腾来达到控制失水和增强抗旱的目的。蒸腾强度的变化会引起植物叶片温度的变化,利用远红外热成像仪研究遭受干旱胁迫时玉米自交系苗期叶温的变化与生物量耐旱系数间的关系,为筛选鉴定玉米耐旱自交系提供依据。【方法】以83个优良玉米自交系为材料,利用远红外热成像仪检测干旱胁迫条件下苗期叶片温度的变化,叶片的气孔导度、蒸腾强度采用气孔计Li-1600测定,同时测定植株的生物量。【结果】遭受干旱胁迫时,玉米苗期叶片的相对生物量变异幅度为0.271～0.997（生物鲜重）、0.338～0.969（生物干重）,叶温变异幅度为 -0.1～+0.5℃,均存在显著变异。耐旱玉米自交系的叶片温度显著上升,而敏感玉米自交系的叶片温度变化不明显。干旱胁迫与正常灌水条件下叶温的差值即叶温差与相对生物鲜重（0.283*,0.288**,n=83）及相对生物干重（0.239*,0.273**,n=83）间存在极显著的相关性。此外,叶温差与叶片气孔导度、蒸腾强度间也存在着显著的相关性。【结论】遭受干旱胁迫时,玉米苗期叶片温度变化可以显著反映玉米苗期的耐旱性,叶温差可以作为玉米苗期耐旱性初步筛选的一个指标,将远红外热成像技术运用于玉米耐旱育种存在可行性。     

Characterization of brown planthopper damage on rice crops through hyperspectral remote sensing under field conditions

Field experiments were conducted to characterize the brown planthopper (BPH) (Nilaparvata lugens (Stål.) damage stress on rice crops through hyperspectral remote sensing. The BPH-damaged rice crop had higher reflectance in visible (VIS) and lower reflectance in near-infrared regions (NIR) of the electromagnetic spectrum compared with uninfested plants. Mean reflectance of the rice crop varied among different BPH damage levels in various wavebands, with the greatest variation in NIR (740–925 nm). Correlations between plant reflectance and BPH damage depicted four sensitive wavelengths, at 764, 961, 1201 and 1664 nm in relation to BPH stress on the rice crop. Three new brown planthopper spectral indices (BPHI) were formulated by combining two or more of these sensitive wavelengths. Some of the hyperspectral indices reported in the literature were also tested for their suitability to detect BPH stress on rice crops. Based on crop reflectance corresponding to the sensitive wavelengths, a multiple-linear regression model was developed (R²=0.71, RMSE=1.74, P<0.0001) and validated (R²=0.73, RMSE?=?0.71, P<0.0001) that would help to monitor BPH stress on a rice crop and to issue forewarnings to growers.     

Swietenine: A potential oral hypoglycemic from Swietenia macrophylla seed

Swietenine, a tetranortriterpenoid, was isolated from the Swietenia macrophylla seeds. The in vivo hypoglycemic activity was evaluated against neonatal-streptozotocin induced type 2 diabetic rats. Oral administration of swietenine at 25 and 50 mg/kg body weight per day to diabetic rats was found to possess significant dose dependant hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activity in type 2 diabetic rats.     

Genetic diversity assessment of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gymnema sylvestre</Emphasis> (Retz.) R. Br. ex Sm. populations from Western Ghats of Maharashtra,India

Gymnema sylvestre (Retz.) R. Br. ex Sm., a rich source with gymnemic acid, has been used to treat diabetes since past 2000 years. In the current investigation, nomenclature, geographical distribution as well as morphological and genetic diversity of 22 G. sylvestre populations spread across of Western Ghats of Maharashtra has been reported. The genetic variability has been assessed using RAPD and ISSR molecular markers. The populations recorded high level of gene differentiation (G_ST = 0.41 based on ISSR) and gene flow (Nm = 0.92 based on RAPD). The high level of gene differentiation among the populations attributed to entomophilous pollination, wind seed dispersal, out crossing and anthropogenic activities.