Identification of sugarcane grassy shoot-associated phytoplasma and one of its putative vectors in India

During a survey of sugarcane fields at the Sugarcane Research Institute, Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India, in August–September 2012, 6% to 28% incidence of sugarcane grassy shoot disease was observed in different fields of sugarcane variety CoS 7250. The association of phytoplasma with symptomatic sugarcane was confirmed by direct and nested PCR amplification of phytoplasma ribosomal gene. Four different delphacid leafhopper species, viz. Cofana unimaculata Signoret, Exitianus indicus (Distant), Sogatella kolophon Kirkaldy and Hishimonus phycitis (Dist.) were the prevalent feeding species of the Auchenorrhyncha fauna in the symptomatic sugarcane fields. Out of these four leafhopper species, only E. indicus tested positive for phytoplasma presence. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that the phytoplasmas from sugarcane and E. indicus in the present study were members of 16Sr XI. The confirmation of association of sugarcane grassy shoot phytoplasma in E. indicus population is important to understand the secondary spread of this phytoplasma in sugarcane plants.     

Nutritional applications and beneficial health applications of green tea and l-theanine in some animal species: A review

Green tea (Camellia sinensis) is a popular herbal plant with abundant health benefits, and thus, it has been used as a potent antioxidant for a long time. Based on the available literature, the diversity and the availability of multifunctional compounds in green tea offer its noteworthy potential against many diseases such as liver and heart diseases, inflammatory conditions and different metabolic syndromes. Owing to its bioactive constituents including caffeine, amino acids, l -theanine, polyphenols/flavonoids and carbohydrates among other potent molecules, green tea has many pharmacological and physiological effects. The effects of green tea include anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, anti-stress, hypolipidaemic, hypocholesterolaemic, skin/collagen protective, hepatoprotective, anti-diabetic, anti-microbial, anti-infective, anti-parasitic, anti-cancerous, inhibition of tumorigenesis and angiogenesis, anti-mutagenic, and memory and bone health-improving activities. Apart from its utilization in humans, green tea has also played a significant role in livestock production such as in dairy, piggery, goatry and poultry industries. Supplementation of animal feeds with green tea and its products is in line with the modern concepts of organic livestock production. Hence, incorporating green tea or green tea by-products into the diet of poultry and other livestock can enhance the value of the products obtained from these animals. Herein, an effort is made to extend the knowledge on the importance and useful applications of green tea and its important constituents in animal production including poultry. This review will be a guideline for researchers and entrepreneurs who want to explore the utilization of feeds supplemented with green tea and green tea by-products for the enhancement of livestock production.     

Bioavailability of iron from wheat aegilops derivatives selected for high grain iron and protein contents

A coupled in vitro digestion/Caco-2 model was employed to assess iron bioavailability from wheat Aegilops derivatives selected for high iron and protein contents. The iron content in wheat genotypes used in this study correlated to a great extent with both protein (r = 0.80) and phytate (r = 0.68) contents. The iron bioavailability was based on Caco-2 cell ferritin formation from cooked digests of these derivatives (relative to WL711 control) and correlated positively with dialyzable iron (r = 0.63) and total iron content (r = 0.38) but not with the phytate content. The apparently decreased phytate/iron molar ratios, however, correlated negatively (r = -0.42) with the iron bioavailability, justifying the utilization of these parameters in biofortification programs. Iron bioavailability in the derivatives increased up to 1.5-fold, corresponding to a 1.5-2.2-fold increase observed in iron content over control. These data suggest that biofortification for iron proportionately leading to higher iron bioavailability will be the most feasible and cost-effective approach to combat micronutrient deficiency.     

Salt-tolerant rhizobacteria-mediated induced tolerance in wheat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum aestivum</Emphasis>) and chemical diversity in rhizosphere enhance plant growth

Salt-tolerant isolates Bacillus pumilus, Pseudomonas mendocina, Arthrobacter sp., Halomonas sp., and Nitrinicola lacisaponensis isolated from high saline habitats exhibited plant growth-promoting traits like P solubilization and indole acetic acid (IAA), siderophore, and ammonia production. These isolates were inoculated in wheat to assess microbe-mediated responses and plant growth promotion in salt affected soil. Maximum shoot and root length (33.8 and 13.6 cm) and shoot and root biomass (2.73 and 4.48 g dry weight) was recorded in plants inoculated with B. pumilus after 30 days. Total chlorophyll content was maximum in the leaves of the plants treated with Halomonas sp. (24.22 mg g⁻¹ dry weight) followed by B. pumilus (23.41 mg g⁻¹ dry weight) as compared to control (18.21 mg g⁻¹ dry weight) after 30 days. Total protein content was maximum in Arthrobacter sp. inoculated plant leaves (3.19 mg g⁻¹ dry weight) followed by B. pumilus (2.47 mg g⁻¹ dry weight) as compared to control (2.15 mg g⁻¹ dry weight) after 30 days. Total carotenoid content was maximum in plants inoculated with Halomonas sp. (1,075.45 and 1,113.29 μg g⁻¹ dry weight) in comparison to control (837.32 and 885.85 μg g⁻¹ dry weight) after 15 and 30 days. Inoculation of bacterial isolates increased presence of individual phenolics (gallic, caffeic, syringic, vanillic, ferulic, and cinnamic acids) and flavonoid quercetin in the rhizosphere soil. The concentration of IAA in rhizosphere soil and root exudates was also higher in all treatments than in control. Accumulation of phenolics and quercetin in the plants played a cumulative synergistic role that supported enhanced plant growth promotion of wheat in the stressed soil.     

Effect of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus infection on susceptibility of Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri, to selected insecticides

BACKGROUND: In the present investigation, the effect of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (Las), a bacterium considered to be responsible for causing huanglongbing (HLB) disease in citrus, on the physiology of its vector, the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, was determined. Specifically, the effects of Las infection on the susceptibility of ACP to selected insecticides were determined. Furthermore, total protein content and general esterase activity were quantified in Las‐infected and uninfected ACP to gain insight into the possible mechanism(s) responsible for altered susceptibility to insecticides owing to Las infection. RESULTS: LC₅₀ values were significantly lower in Las‐infected than in uninfected ACP adults for chlorpyrifos and spinetoram. Furthermore, there was a general trend towards lower LC₅₀ values for three other insecticides for Las‐infected ACP; however, the differences were not statistically significant. Total protein content (µg mL^?1) was significantly lower in Las‐infected (23.5 ± 1.3 in head + thorax; 27.7 ± 1.9 in abdomen) than in uninfected (29.7 ± 2.1 in head + thorax; 35.0 ± 2.3 in abdomen) ACP. Likewise, general esterase enzyme activity (nmol min^?1 mg^?1 protein) was significantly lower in Las‐infected (111.6 ± 4.5 in head + thorax; 109.5 ± 3.7 in abdomen) than in uninfected (135.9 ± 7.5 in head + thorax; 206.1 ± 23.7 in abdomen) ACP. CONCLUSION: Susceptibility of ACP to selected insecticides from five major chemistries was greater in Las‐infected than in uninfected ACP. The lower total protein content and reduced general esterase activity in Las‐infected than in uninfected ACP may partly explain the observed higher insecticide susceptibility of Las‐infected ACP. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Sclerospora graminicola axenic culture

Sclerospora graminicola (Sacc.) Schroet., the obligate pathlogen causing downy mildew (green-ear) of pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoides Stapf. and Hubb.) has been successfully cultured for the first time on a known semisynthetic mediumn with no evident loss of fructifications. Sclerospora graminicola was first grown on host callus tissue and subsequently on a modification of White's basal medium that contained casein hydrolyzate (Oxoid). 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, and kinetin.     

Development and characterization of interspecific hybrids of Trifolium alexandrinum×T. apertum using embryo rescue

This is the first report on the development of interspecific hybrids between Trifolium alexandrinum and T. apertum using embryo rescue and characterization of F₁ plants. T. apertum was used as the male parent and T. alexandrinum as the female parent. Development of interspecific hybrids under natural conditions is not successful and so embryo rescue was attempted. Of the several combinations tried, pollination 2 days after emasculation and embryos rescued 11 days after pollination was found to be the best. For embryo culture, EC3 medium consisting of MS basal supplemented with 2.3 μM kinetin and 3% sucrose was used. Germinated embryos were transferred to LSP3 medium 25 days after inoculation wherein most of the cultures showed multiple shoots that were split and subcultured on RL1 medium for rooting. After hardening, about 75% of hybrids were successfully transferred to the field. The hybrids, in general, showed morphological traits intermediate between the two parents; however, a few hybrids showed better growth than either parent. Some F₁ plants were almost 3 weeks later in flowering than the female parent. Pollen fertility among these plants ranged from 78 to approximately 100%. Chromosomal associations at diakinesis and isozyme banding patterns for acid phosphatase (ACP), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase also confirmed the hybrid nature of the plants.     

Quality Characterization of Wafers Enriched with Fish Powder Developed from Small Bony Fish

ABSTRACT

The study aimed to improve the nutritional quality of wafers by utilizing fish powder developed from small bony fish at 10%, 20%, and 30% inclusion levels. Quality evaluation of produced wafers in terms of nutritional, physical, sensory, and shelf life characteristics was performed. Results revealed a significant increase (p < .05) in protein (8.07 ± 0.34 to 23.34 ± 0.43 g/100 g), fat (1.08 ± 0.85 to 4.69 ± 0.78 g/100 g), and ash content (3.67 ± 0.47 to 8.33 ± 0.30 g/100 g) of wafers with increased supplementation of fish powder. No significant change in diameter, thickness, or weight per wafer was observed; however, water absorption capacity (212.67 ± 2.52 to 71.67 ± 2.89 ml/100 g), fat absorption capacity (164.00 ± 3.60 to 66.00 ± 5.29 ml/100 g), and linear expansion (139.17 ± 6.16 to 76.40 ± 2.11^%) reduced significantly (p < .05) on increasing level of fish powder in the produced wafers. Color analyses revealed a significant decrease in L* (89.57 ± 1.25 to 46.89 ± 1.06) and b* (7.25 ± 0.09 to 18.59 ± 0.8) value and significant increase in a* value (?0.54 ± 0.01 to 3.87 ± 0.03) with increasing fish powder supplementation. There was no significant (p > .05) alteration in sensory attributes of wafers with fish powder incorporation up to 20%. The produced wafers also had good storage stability, with peroxide value, free fatty acid, and total plate count within acceptable limits up to two months of storage.     

Non-Structural protein 1 (NS1) gene of Canine Parvovirus-2 regresses chemically induced skin tumors in Wistar rats

The Non-Structural protein 1 of Canine Parvovirus-2 (CPV2.NS1) plays a major role in viral cytotoxicity and pathogenicity. CPV2.NS1 has been proven to cause apoptosis in HeLa cells in vitro in our laboratory. Here we report that CPV2.NS1 has no toxic side effects on healthy cells but regresses skin tumors in Wistar rats. Histopathological examination of tumor tissue from CPV2.NS1 treated group revealed infiltration of mononuclear and polymorphonuclear cells with increased extra cellular matrix, indicating signs of regression. Tumor regression was also evidenced by significant decrease in mitotic index, AgNOR count and PCNA index, and increase in TUNEL positive apoptotic cells in CPV2.NS1 treated group. Further, CPV2.NS1 induced anti-tumor immune response through significant increase in CD8⁺ and NK cell population in CPV2.NS1 treated group. These findings suggest that CPV2.NS1 can be a possible therapeutic candidate as an alternative to chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer.