Caffeic acid derivatives production by hairy root cultures of Echinacea purpurea

Inoculation of leaf explants of Echinacea purpurea (Moench) with Agrobacterium rhizogenes induced hairy roots with the capacity to produce biologically active caffeic acid derivatives (CADs), especially cichoric acid. The kinetics of growth, the uptake of macronutrients, and the accumulation of CADs were investigated in heterotrophically cultured hairy roots for a 50 day period. A maximum of 12.2 g L(-1) dry biomass was achieved in MS nutrients supplemented with 30 g L(-1) sucrose on day 40. The mathematical relationship between hairy root growth and conductivity was established during the exponential phase in Erlenmeyer flasks. HPLC analyses of methanolic (0.1% phosphoric acid; 70:30, v/v) extracts from hairy roots revealed the presence of important CADs: cichoric acid (19.21 mg g(-1) dry biomass), caftaric acid (3.56 mg g(-1) dry biomass), and chlorogenic acid (0.93 mg g(-1) dry biomass). These results demonstrate that biotechnological production of CADs in hairy roots of E. purpurea is possible. Furthermore, these hairy root cultures offer, for the very first time, an excellent biological model to study the biosynthetic pathway of medicinally important CADs.     

PCR-SSCP analysis of leptin gene and its association with milk production traits in river buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

Leptin gene has been found to be associated with various economic traits including milk production and fat quality in dairy animals. In the present study, we investigated genetic variations in intron 1 region of leptin gene in riverine buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) using polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and sequencing methods and associated them with milk traits. The study revealed three SSCP variants A, B and C among a total of 301 buffaloes from nine breeds. The frequency of variant C was found invariably high among all the breeds except in Marathwada buffalo. Variant A was found to be absent in Chilika, Nili-Ravi, Nagpuri and Pandharpuri breeds and also had the lowest frequencies in Mehsana, Jaffarabadi, Murrah and Toda breeds. Sequencing of SSCP variants revealed a total of five polymorphic sites, with three haplotypes. Statistical analysis revealed significantly high fat percentage at 150?days in SSCP variant B in Mehsana buffaloes. However, the associations of SSCP variants of leptin gene with total milk yield, 305?days milk yield and total fat yield were found to be non-significant. The present study is the first report on association analysis of leptin gene polymorphisms with milk production and milk quality traits in river buffalo.     

Bio-extraction of Potassium from Glauconite Nano-particle in an Alfisols of Southern India

ABSTRACT

Glauconite is a potassium (K) bearing mineral, which generally contains 6–10% K₂O and mostly available in various natural deposits in India. Glauconite mineral was converted to nano-particle form by grinding in a high-energy ball mill. The release of K from glauconite nano-particle in soil was studied in a pot culture experiment. Five different treatments viz., 0 mg K₂O kg^?1, 100 mg K₂O kg^?1, 150 mg K₂O kg^?1, 200 mg K₂O kg^?1 used glauconite nano-particle (GNP) as a K source and 100 mg K₂O kg^?1 from muriate of potash (MOP), were applied in soil to grow maize (Zea mays L.) plant. The highest K⁺ concentration was observed in shoot at the application of 200 mg K₂O kg^?1 through GNP and recorded 2 times more K⁺ concentration in shoots as compared to 0 mg K₂O kg^?1 treatment whereas 1.1 times more than the MOP treated soil at 5^th harvesting stage. Selected plant physiological parameters namely electrical conductivity of plant cell, height, leaf area and nitrate reductase activity were also recorded maximum at 200 mg K₂O kg^?1 GNP treated soil. Overall, glauconite nano-particle could supply K throughout the growth period and enhanced biomass yield of maize plant without showing any K deficiency symptom.     

A rapid method for assessment of plant residue quality

A simple, reproducible and new method (modified dehydrogenase activity measurement after 72 h; DHA 72) was developed to assess plant residue quality for decomposition. The method resulted in similar assessments of residue quality than measurements of the C:N ratio, lignin:N ratio, and lignin and polyphenol concentration (PRQI). Among 25 plant residues tested, there was a large variation of DHA 72 as found in other well‐established methods. Based on cluster analysis, plant residues were grouped in four different classes; highly decomposable, moderately decomposable, slowly decomposable, and least decomposable. It is concluded that DHA 72 can very well be used to screen plant residues for residue quality judgment. The proposed method is very simple and easy to handle.     

Performance of rice (Oryza sativa (L.)) under AWD irrigation practice—A brief review

Paddy and Water Environment - Alternate wetting and drying (AWD) is an irrigation technique where water is applied to the field a number of days after disappearance of ponded water. This is in...     

Effect of Sulfur and Iron on Enzymatic Activity and Chlorophyll Content of Mungbean

ABSTRACT

A field trial was conducted at Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner, India, in the summers of 2002 and 2003 to determine the effect of sulfur (S) in improving iron (Fe) nutrition of mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) grown on calcareous soils. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with three replications. Four levels of sulfur (0, 20, 40, and 60 kg S ha^?1) were applied in main plots. In sub-plots, eight levels of Fe were replicated. Three levels of Fe were applied as a basal application of FeSO₄ (0, 12.5, and 25.0 kg FeSO₄ ha^?1) and the remaining five were applied as a foliar application of 0.5% FeSO₄ at branching, flowering, and at both branching and flowering with or without 0.1% citric acid. The results of the experiment revealed that application of sulfur at the higher doses had a significant positive effect on activities of catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, guaiacol peroxidase, synthesis of chlorophyll, and active Fe content of green leaves compared with lower doses. Application of 0.5% FeSO₄ and 0.1% citric acid at both branching and flowering had no effect. The best results were recorded with basal application of 25.0 kg FeSO₄ in combination with 40 kg S ha^?1. The frequency of foliar application had an appreciable effect on chlorophyll synthesis, enzymatic activities, and active Fe content in green leaves. Plants that received foliar application of 0.5% FeSO₄ + 0.1% citric acid at both branching and flowering responded more than those that received treatment at either branching or flowering. For best results, it is suggested to use 25.0 kg FeSO₄ ha^?1 in a basal application along with 40 kg S ha^?1, as plants require most of their S and Fe at the early growth stages.     

Magnesium deficiency induced oxidative stress and antioxidant responses in mulberry plants

The aim of the study was to implicate induction of oxidative stress and antioxidative responses with the effects of Mg deficiency in mulberry plants. Mulberry (Morus alba L.) cv. Kanva-2 plants grown in hydroponics were subjected to deficiency of Mg. Mg-deficient plants developed visible symptoms—deep interveinal chlorotic mottling and necrosis in the older and middle leaves. The decreases in the dry matter yield of plants and concentrations of sugars and starch in the leaves of Mg-deficient plants are suggestive of decreased photosynthetic activity. Mg-deficiency decreased concentrations of photosynthetic pigments, and increased concentrations of H₂O₂ and ascorbate and activities of antioxidative enzymes—peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). The results suggest induction of oxidative stress by enhancing generation of ROS and inducing alterations in redox status, accompanied by activation of antioxidant machinery including induction of some new SOD isoforms in Mg-deficient mulberry plants. Despite significant increase in H₂O₂, lipid peroxidation was decreased in Mg-deficient plants.     

Plant regeneration of an endangered medicinal plant Hydrastis canadensis L.

Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis L.) is an endangered medicinal plant used to treat sore eyes and mouths, cold and flu and also as a dye. The objective of this study was to develop an efficient in vitro propagation protocol for goldenseal. Significantly more shoots (26 shoots per leaf explants) were induced on a medium containing 2.5 μM thidiazuron (TDZ) and 5.0 μM 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) than any other treatment. Sub-culturing regenerated shoots on a medium with 5.0 μM 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) induced the maximum rate of shoot multiplication. Growth of the regenerated shoots in a temporary immersion bioreactor resulted in significant increases in biomass, shoot height and shoot multiplication. The regenerated shoots from the temporary immersion bioreactor formed roots when transferred onto a medium with 1.0–2.0 μM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). Regenerated whole plantlets were acclimatized and maintained in standard greenhouse conditions for further growth. The regeneration protocol developed in this study provides a basis for germplasm conservation and for further investigation of this rare, medicinally important species.     

Effect of dietary saponin rich soapnut (Sapindus mukorossi) shell powder on growth performance,immunity, serum biochemistry and gut health of broiler chickens

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary soapnut (Sapindus mukorossi) shell powder (SSP), a cheap source of saponins, on growth performance, immunity, serum biochemistry and gut health of broiler chickens. The experimental design was 4×2, employing four saponin levels (0, 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg diet), each provided for two time durations (0–42 day and 21–42 day) resulting into eight dietary treatments. Results revealed no significant effect of dietary saponins on body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio of birds. The abdominal fat percentage, heterophil to lymphocyte ratio, serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels, faecal total plate count, coliform count and E. coli count decreased (p < .05) progressively with increasing saponin levels and lower values were observed at 150 mg and 200 mg saponin levels. Significant improvement of cell‐mediated and humoral immune response was observed in birds fed 150 mg and 200 mg saponin compared to control. The serum glucose concentration was significantly (p < .05) higher in control group compared to other groups. No significant effects of dietary saponin were observed on carcass characteristics, faecal Lactobacillus count, intestinal histomorphometry and cost economics of broiler chicken production. Thus, dietary saponins at 150 mg/kg diet as SSP for three weeks (21–42 days) was optimum for better immunity and welfare of birds without adverse effects on the growth performance.