Conformational and intramolecular hydrogen bonding effects on post-emergence and pre-emergence selectivities of herbicidal pyrrole dicarboxylates

Dimethyl 2-methyl-5-(chloropyridin-2-yl)pyrrole-3,4-dicarboxylates in which the chlorine atom is substituted at different positions of the pyridine ring have widely varying biological properties. The 3-chloro analog (I) is a post-emergence and pre-emergence herbicide, the 4- and 5-chloro analogs (II, III) are post-emergence herbicides but not pre-emergence, and the 6-chloro analog (IV) is inactive. Computer graphic and molecular mechanics analyses of their molecular conformations showed that the 4- and 5-chloro analogs adopt a coplanar, intramolecularly hydrogen bonded conformation whereas the 3-chloro analog does not. High-level quantum mechanical calculations of the conformational preferences of related model systems were in agreement with these results. Based on this, II and III were predicted to have higher octanol/water partition coefficients relative to I, leading to higher soil binding and weaker xylem transport, hence their observed weaker pre-emergence activities. Experimental measurements of octanol/water partition coefficients, soil binding, and infrared hydrogen bonding studies verified these predictions. Molecular modeling techniques are usually used for designing compounds to fit enzyme active sites and designing putative receptor models. This study demonstrates the usefulness of these techniques for dealing with transport problems.     

Epidemiology, disease and control of infections in ruminants by herpesviruses--an overview

There are at least 16 recognised herpesviruses that naturally infect cattle, sheep, goats and various species of deer and antelopes. Six of the viruses are recognised as distinct alphaherpesviruses and 9 as gammaherpesviruses. Buffalo herpesvirus (BflHV) and ovine herpesvirus-1 (OvHV-1) remain officially unclassified. The prevalence of ruminant herpesviruses varies from worldwide to geographically restricted in distribution. Viruses in both subfamilies Alphaherpesvirinae and Gammaherpesvirinae cause mild to moderate and severe disease in respective natural or secondary ruminant hosts. Accordingly, the economic and ecological impact of the viruses is also variable. The molecular characteristics of some members have been investigated in detail. This has led to the identification of virulence-associated genes and construction of deletion mutants and recombinant viruses. Some of the latter have been developed as commercial vaccines. This paper aims to give an overview of the epidemiology and pathogenesis of infection by these viruses, immuno-prophylaxis and mechanisms of recovery from infection. Since there are 128 ruminant species in the family Bovidae, it is likely that some herpesviruses remain undiscovered. We conclude that currently known ruminant alphaherpesviruses occur only in their natural hosts and do not cross stably into other ruminant species. By contrast, gammaherpesviruses have a much broader host range as evidenced by the fact that antibodies reactive to alcelaphine herpesvirus type 1 have been detected in 4 subfamilies in the family Bovidae, namely Alcelaphinae, Hippotraginae, Ovibovinae and Caprinae. New gammaherpesviruses within these subfamilies are likely to be discovered in the future.     

Appraisal of RAPD and ISSR markers for genetic diversity analysis among cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) genotypes

The genetic variability and relationships among 11 cowpea genotypes representing two cultivars and nine elite genotypes were analyzed using 22 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and nine inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. ISSR markers were more efficient than RAPD assay with regards to polymorphism detection. But the average numbers of polymorphic loci per primer and resolution power were found to be higher for RAPD than for ISSR. Also, the total number of genotype specific marker loci, Nei’s genetic diversity, Shannon’s information index, total heterozygosity, and average heterozygosity were prominent in RAPD as compared to ISSR markers. The regression test between the two Nei’s genetic diversity indices showed low regression (0.3733) between ISSR and RAPD + ISSR-based similarities but maximum (0.9823) for RAPD and RAPD + ISSR-based similarities. The RAPD- and ISSR-generated cultivar- or genotype-specific unique DNA fingerprints able to identify the most diverse genotypes. A dendrogram constructed based on RAPD and ISSR combined data indicated a very clear pattern of clustering according to the groups (cultivars and elite genotypes). The results of principal coordinate analysis were comparable to the cluster analysis. Cluster analysis showed that most diverse genotypes (GP-125 — small size with good seed quality; GP-129, GP-90L — big size with poor seed quality) were separated from moderately diverse cultivars and genotypes. The genetic closeness among GP-129 and GP-90L, JCPL-42, and JCPL-107 could be explained by the high degree of commonness in these genotypes.     

Dynamics and modeling of soil water under subsurface drip irrigated onion

Subsurface drip irrigation provides water to the plants around the root zone while maintaining a dry soil surface. A problem associated with the subsurface drip irrigation is the formation of cavity at the soil surface above the water emission points. This can be resolved through matching dripper flow rates to the soil hydraulic properties. Such a matching can be obtained either by the field experiments supplemented by modeling. Simulation model (Hydrus-2D) was used and tested in onion crop (Allium cepa L.) irrigated through subsurface drip system during 2002-2003, 2003-2004 and 2004-2005. Onion was transplanted at a plant to plant and row to row spacing of 10 cm × 15 cm with 3 irrigation levels and 6 depths of placement of drip lateral. The specific objective of this study was to assess the effect of depth of placement of drip laterals on crop yield and application of Hydrus-2D model for the simulation of soil water. In sandy loam soils, it was observed that operating pressures of up to 1.0 kg cm⁻² did not lead to the formation of cavity above the subsurface dripper having drippers of 2.0 l h⁻¹ discharge at depths up to 30 cm. Wetted soil area of 60 cm wide and up to a depth of 30 cm had more than 18% soil water content, which was conducive for good growth of crop resulting in higher onion yields when drip laterals were placed either on soil surface or placed up to depths of 15 cm. In deeper placement of drip lateral (20 and 30 cm below surface), adequate soil water was found at 30, 45 and 60 cm soil depth. Maximum drainage occurred when drip lateral was placed at 30 cm depth. Maximum onion yield was recorded at 10 cm depth of drip lateral (25.7 t ha⁻¹). The application of Hydrus-2D confirmed the movement of soil water at 20 and 30 cm depth of placement of drip laterals. The model performance in simulating soil water was evaluated by comparing the measured and predicted values using three parameters namely, AE, RMSE and model efficiency. Distribution of soil water under field experiment and by model simulation at different growth stages agreed closely and the differences were statistically insignificant. The use of Hydrus-2D enabled corroborating the conclusions derived from the field experimentation made on soil water distribution at different depths of placement of drip laterals. This model helped in designing the subsurface drip system for efficient use of water with minimum drainage.     

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria: strategies to improve abiotic stresses under sustainable agriculture

The abiotic stresses like drought, heavy metal and salts directly or indirectly influence the global environmental pollution and decrease the agricultural productivity. The stress tolerant plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) play an important role against the abiotic stresses in terms of enhancing the efficacy of soil, plant growth promotion (PGP). Stress tolerance PGPRs have certain specific PGP properties such as hormones synthesis, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase, Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production, Abscisic acid (ABA) synthesis, enzymes production, nitrogen fixation, phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) solubilization, as results which protect various crops during such stress conditions and consequently enhance crop sustainability. Efficient PGPRs isolated from various stress conditions have certainly, more useful against that particular stress. This article highlighted the isolation of various stresses tolerant PGPRs from varieties of crops under different stress conditions and their effect on varieties of crops to enhance their plant growth promotion.     

Proanthocyanidin-rich extracts from cranberry fruit (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) selectively inhibit the growth of human pathogenic fungi Candida spp. and Cryptococcus neoformans

Cranberry ( Vaccinium macrocarpon ) has been shown in clinical studies to reduce infections caused by Escherichia coli and other bacteria, and proanthocyanidins are believed to play a role. The ability of cranberry to inhibit the growth of opportunistic human fungal pathogens that cause oral, skin, respiratory, and systemic infections has not been well-studied. Fractions from whole cranberry fruit were screened for inhibition of five Candida species and Cryptococcus neoformans , a causative agent of fungal meningitis. Candida glabrata , Candida lusitaniae , Candida krusei , and Cryptococcus neoformans showed significant susceptibility to treatment with cranberry proanthocyanidin fractions in a broth microdilution assay, with minimum inhibitory concentrations as low as 1 μg/mL. MALDI-TOF MS analysis of subfractions detected epicatechin oligomers of up to 12 degrees of polymerization. Those containing larger oligomers caused the strongest inhibition. This study suggests that cranberry has potential as an antifungal agent.     

Latent heat flux estimation in clear sky days over Indian agroecosystems using noontime satellite remote sensing data

A simplified evaporative fraction (Λ) based single-source energy balance scheme was tested with moderate resolution (1 km) noontime satellite observations to evaluate clear sky latent heat flux (λE) estimates over diverse agricultural landscapes. This approach uses two-dimensional (2D) scatter between land surface temperature (LST) and albedo to determine Λ. The operational utility of this scheme was demonstrated for estimating regional evapotranspiration and consumptive water use during rabi (November to April) crop growing season to predict pre-harvest wheat yield (error within 15.9% of reported mean) using time series data. The existence of triangular relations between Λ and LAI (leaf area index) or NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index) was found with basal line (hypotenuse) linearly coupled with LAI or NDVI at low level of surface soil wetness. The analysis of diurnal course of in situ Λ proved the validity of constant-Λ hypothesis over pure, uniform, homogeneous crop canopies but showed irregular and wave-like patterns over heterogeneous, mixed crop canopies. The root mean square error (RMSE) of noontime and daytime average λE estimates with respect to in situ λE measurements were also smaller over homogeneous agricultural canopies (41 and 23 W m⁻²) with correlation coefficients (r) 0.94 and 0.96, respectively, from 135 clear sky datasets as compared to RMSE over heterogeneous ones (59 and 28 W m⁻² with r = 0.66 and 0.82, respectively from 22 datasets). The intercomparison with another Λ based approach (LST–NDVI 2D scatter) showed the supremacy of Λ determined from LST–albedo 2D scatter. The efficiency of LST–NDVI scatter was better during the dry down or water limited phases of crop growth only. The uncertainties of λE estimates were attributed to errors in core radiation budget inputs, relative loss of conservativeness of Λ due to canopy heterogeneity, and the inherent limitations of the single-source approach. There is further scope to reduce present λE uncertainties by combining the new findings on Λ (LST–albedo scatter)–NDVI triangular relations, diurnal Λ and two-source radiation budget.     

Modelling regional level spatial distribution of aphid (Lipaphis erysimi) growth in Indian mustard using satellite-based remote sensing data

Abstract

We developed a procedure for preparing a model for mapping spatially distributed zones of aphid pest (Lipaphis erysimi) outbreaks at a regional level. This study employed near-surface meteorological parameters derived from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Television and Infra-Red Operational Satellites (TIROS) Operational Vertical Sounder (TOVS) data and field observations of disease infestation. The study area comprised three sites representing semi-arid and sub-humid regions of dominant Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.)-growing regions of India. A model based on TOVS-derived cumulative surface air temperature and minimum specific humidity (SpH) was developed to estimate the date of ‘aphid onset’ (first appearance), date of peak infestation and location of severity with respect to aphid population density. Aphid population growth rate during the linear growth phase between aphid onset to peak was computed using SpH-weighted temperature and dates of sowing of the crop (crop age). Sowing dates of mustard crop, of northwest India, were obtained from spectral growth profiles derived from time series remote sensing (RS) products of the SPOT-4 VEGETATION sensor. Estimated dates of peak aphid infestation and peak population showed a strong match with the observed data. The location of peak aphid population density was depicted in each spatial grid of 25×25 km² for parts of northwest India. The simulated aphid population build-up and date of peak population density was validated with observed data for an unknown site in the Sriganganager district, Rajasthan state, India. Comparison of predicted dates of attaining peak aphid population with observations showed a deviation of ±7 days. After validation, the regional level model was applied over a large area of a mustard-growing region for varying dates of sowing, surface air temperature and specific humidity, to show the spatial distribution of aphid growing severity zones (population density) and to predict dates of severe aphid infestation (peak population) at each grid level in the region.     

A novel medium devoid of ruminant peptone for high yield growth of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae

Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae is considered an emerging veterinary pathogen causing pneumonia in sheep and goats worldwide. Currently it has not been possible to define a growth medium that yields the maximum growth of M. ovipneumoniae within a short incubation period. Growth yields of M. ovipneumoniae in Eaton's medium are variable and not as consistently high as those seen with other Mycoplasma spp. This study investigated the ability of different M. ovipneumoniae field strains to grow in various media formulations, where PPLO broth was replaced by a vegetable protein source, and comparisons were made in terms of strain viability in Eaton's medium. Studies were also conducted to determine the optimal carbohydrate source for use in the M. ovipneumoniae medium. Generally, it was found that different strains showed good growth in all media tested, with growth yields at 24h in TSB-1 medium higher than those observed with Eaton's medium. Growth yields reached 10(8) to 10(9)cfu ml(-1) within 24h for particular field strains, with all strains achieving this growth level within 48-72h.