Papaya yellow leaf curl virus: A newly identified begomovirus infecting Carica papaya L. from the Indian Subcontinent

India is one of the world’s largest producers of papaya. Viruses, mainly begomoviruses and potyviruses, cause a significant loss in papaya production. The study described here has identified a new species of begomovirus and a new species of betasatellite infecting Carica papaya in India. The sequences of the begomovirus and betasatellite show 90.03% nucleotide sequence identity to an isolate of Radish leaf curl virus and 92.25% identity to an isolate of Tomato leaf curl betasatellite, respectively. Maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree of begomovirus sequence of isolate DP2 (KX353622) showed distant relationships with previously characterised begomoviruses. Recombination analysis proposed six recombination breakpoints in begomovirus genome with other geographical begomovirus isolates.     

Client donation program for acquiring dogs and cats to teach veterinary gross anatomy

A donor program for procuring dogs and cats to meet the needs of anatomical instruction was initiated six years ago at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine. The program was initiated in order to comply with state regulations that preclude the use of shelter animals and to satisfy ethical objections of students and faculty. The donor program has successfully met the animal needs for teaching gross anatomy and, in addition, provides opportunities to integrate clinical perspectives and ethics beginning from the first year of veterinary education.     

Biosorption of Zn (II) onto the Surface of Non-living Biomasses: A Comparative Study of Adsorbent Particle Size and Removal Capacity of Three Different Biomasses

Present research has delineated the biosorption potential of three different nonliving biomasses namely eucalyptus bark saw dust, mango bark saw dust, and pineapple fruit peel with respect to Zn (II) ion removal from liquid phase through batch experiments. The efficacy of Zn (II) ion biosorption onto surface of biosorbents was judged and correlated with biosorbent particle size, surface chemistry, and surface texture. Maximum metal ion uptake capacity, percentage removal, and minimum equilibrium concentration as 1.688 mg/g, 84.4%, and 1.56 mg/l, respectively, was obtained using eucalyptus bark saw dust mediated biosorption followed by mango bark saw dust as 1.028 mg/g, 51.4%, and 4.867 mg/l and pineapple fruit peel as 0.45 mg/g, 22.9%, and 7.71 mg/l, respectively, at a particle size of 0.5 mm. Additionally, present investigation also proved that biosorption efficiency and metal ion interaction with adsorbent surface also depends upon presence of functional groups involved in metal ion adsorption and surface porosity.     

Total Carbon Storage in Himalaya Rangeland of Milke-Jaljale Area,Eastern Nepal

Rangelands occupy 51% of the terrestrial land surface, 23% total land of Nepal. It contains about 36% of the world＇s total carbon in above and belowground biomass. Rangelands can aid in the mitigation of rising atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations via carbon storage in biomass and soil organic matter. A study on carbon stock on soil and vegetation at various altitudinal gradients in Milke-Jaljale rangeland area of Eastern Nepal was made. The study was carried out at three altitudinal gradients （above sea levels） Milke （3,000 m）, Gorujure （3,500 m） and Jaljale （4,000 m）. This method required establishing a transect line. Sample points were located by pacing the appropriate distances from the point of origin at a transect line. To determine distribution and quantity of plant carbon and soil organic carbon （SOC）, 45 sample points were established and 15 points were sampled from each study site. Total soil carbon was estimated as follows： 17.65 t/ha at Milke, 17.27 t/ha at Gorujure and 28.33 t/ha at Jaljale. Similarly, total vegetation carbon was estimated 22.68 t/ha at Milke, 29.79 t/ha at Gorujure and 42.54 t/ha at Jaljale. Highest elevation study site with least external disturbance （Jaljale area） had high storage of carbon in both cases vegetation and soil.     

Histological alterations in gills of shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei in low‐salinity waters under different stocking densities: Potential relationship with nitrogen compounds

Two experimental modules with different stocking densities (M1 = 70 and M2 = 120 shrimp /m²) were examined weekly over a culture cycle in tanks with low‐salinity water (1.9 g/L) and zero water exchange. Results showed survival rates of 87.7 and 11.9% in M1 and M2, respectively. Water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity and chlorophyll a were not significantly (p > .05) different between modules. In contrast, the concentrations of nitrogen compounds were significantly (p < .05) different between modules, except nitrite‐N (M2 were 2.31 ± 1.38 mg/L N‐TAN, 0.18 ± 0.49 mg/L N‐NO₂^? and 6.83 ± 6.52 mg/L N‐NO₃^?; in M1: 0.97 ± 0.73 mg/L N‐TAN, 0.05 ± 0.21 mg/L N‐NO₂^? and 0.63 ± 0.70 mg/L N‐NO₃^?). When waters of both modules reached higher levels of ammonia and nitrite, histological alterations were observed in gills. The histological alterations index (HAI) was higher in M2 (5‐112) than in M1 (2‐22).     

Changes in soil and water quality at sediment–water interface of Penaeus vannamei culture pond at varying salinities

The health of the pond environment in shrimp farming is important for sustainable and profitable aquaculture, in which sediment–water interface is the most important influencing area. With this objective, the key parameters of water and sediment at the interface was studied in shrimp ponds with varying salinities and compared with the surface water and soil to understand the variations and the underlying causes. Total ammonia nitrogen and total alkalinity were higher in water at the interface as compared to surface water, whereas pH, nitrite, oxide forms of nitrogen (NO₃), phosphorus (PO₄) and oxidizing bacteria were observed to be lower. There was no significant difference with respect to macrominerals such as sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium between water at the interface and surface. These changes are profoundly influenced by the uppermost 1.0‐cm thick sediment layer, where the maximum transition of nutrients takes place with the water column. The outcome of the study highlights the effectiveness of water sampling for metabolites at the interface, which reflects at an early stage any potential deterioration of pond environment, which will help the farmer to initiate timely mitigation measures.     

Synthesis and quantitative structure-activity relationships of oxanilates as chemical hybridizing agents for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Chemical hybridizing agents (CHAs) can facilitate two-line breeding in heterosis programs of crops. Twenty-seven oxanilates having different aromatic substitutions were synthesized and screened as CHAs on two genotypes of wheat, PBW 343 and HD 2733, during two Rabi (winter) seasons, 2000-01 and 2001-02. The oxanilates prepared by thermal condensation of anilines with diethyl oxalate or by acylation with ethoxycarbonyl methanoyl chloride were sprayed at 1000 and 1500 ppm at the premeiotic stage of wheat, when the length of the emerging spike of the first node was 7-8 mm. Pollen sterility and spikelet sterility were measured in each treatment. Ethyl oxanilates 5, 6, and 25,containing 4-F, 4-Br, and 4-CF(3) aromatic substituents, respectively, induced greater than 98% spikelet sterility, the desired level, at 1500 ppm. Quantitative structure-activity relationship analysis revealed a direct relationship between F(p) and molecular mass but an inverse relationship between MR, E(S), and R in influencing the bioactivity. Several F(1) hybrids were developed using 5, and at least one showed heterosis.