Hd3a protein is a mobile flowering signal in rice

Florigen, the mobile signal that moves from an induced leaf to the shoot apex and causes flowering, has eluded identification since it was first proposed 70 years ago. Understanding the nature of the mobile flowering signal would provide a key insight into the molecular mechanism of floral induction. Recent studies suggest that the Arabidopsis FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) gene is a candidate for encoding florigen. We show that the protein encoded by Hd3a, a rice ortholog of FT, moves from the leaf to the shoot apical meristem and induces flowering in rice. These results suggest that the Hd3a protein may be the rice florigen.     

Impact of an anti-Salmonella. Typhimurium Bacteriophage on intestinal microbiota and immunity status of laying hens

Typhoid is a distinct gastrointestinal disease that largely affects the public by consumption of inadequately or partially cooked eggs from contaminated laying hen farms. This has led the research on laying hens to focus on controlling the contamination by an effective anti-Salmonella spp. agent in the intestine. The treatments included, control, without challenge; PC, Salmonella typhimurium challenged (STC); BP5, 5 ppm bacteriophage/kg + STC; BP10, 10 ppm bacteriophage/kg + STC, on Salmonella shedding, body organs inflammatory reactions, and expression of toll-like receptor (TLR), pro-inflammatory cytokines, and heat shock protein (HSP) in the jejunum, liver,and thigh muscle in the STC laying hens. The RT-PCR method was used to enumerate the number of Salmonella typhimurium in the organs. The birds in the STC groups exhibited the increased population of Salmonella spp. in the excreta (p < .01). In the STC groups, the BP5 and BP10 laying hens exhibited a lower (p < .01) population of Salmonella spp. in the excreta at d 7 after STC. Supplementation of bacteriophage significantly decreased (p < .01) the colonization of S. Typhimurium in the spleen, oviduct, caecum and excreta. Among the STC treatments, the BP10 laying hens showed lower (p < .01) mRNA expression of interferon-γ (IFNγ) and TLR-4 in the jejunum compared with the PC treatment. After the STC, dietary supplementation with BP5 or BP10 decreased (p < .01) the mRNA expressions of IFNγ, HSP-27 and tumour necrosis factor-α in the liver compared with the PC treatment. These results suggest that bacteriophage can be used as an effective agent to decrease S. Typhimurium contamination in laying hens and possibly lower S. Typhimurium transfer to foods.     

Assessing the financial performance of water user associations: a case study at Great Menderes basin,Turkey

Management, operation and maintenance services of about 1.7 million ha irrigation areas, constructed the scheme by State Hydraulic Works (DSI) were turned over to Water User Association (WUA) in Turkey. The number of the WUAs is 330 in Turkey for 2005. There is therefore an urgent need to study methods of measurement and evaluation of financial performance of WUA in order to improve the financial performance and raise the management level of WUA. This paper proposes 12 financial indicators in order to measure and evaluate the financial performance of WUAs. Based on the results in four irrigation schemes and WUAs in Great Menderes basin, Turkey, the methods of measurement and calculation of financial performance indicators selected, and difference factor value related to each indicator are presented. Several financial performance indicators and difference factor values varied widely 1999 to 2004. Therefore, these financial performance indicators should be carefully evaluated and monitored for financial sustainability of WUAs.     

Antioxidant properties and composition of aqueous extracts from Mentha species, hybrids, varieties, and cultivars

Water-soluble extracts from the Mentha species M. aquatica L. and M. haplocalyx Briq., the hybrids M. x dalmatica L. and M. x verticillata L., the varieties M. arvensis var. japanensis [M. arvensis L. var. piperascens Holmes ex Christ] and M. spicata L. var. crispa Benth, and M. x piperita L. "Frantsila", M. "Morocco", and M. "Native Wilmet" cultivars were screened for potential antioxidative properties. These properties included iron(III) reduction, iron(II) chelation, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging, and the ability to inhibit iron(III)-ascorbate-catalyzed hydroxyl radical-mediated brain phospholipid peroxidation. Total phenol content and qualitative and quantitative compositional analyses of each extract were also made. The extracts demonstrated varying degrees of efficacy in each assay, with the M. x piperita "Frantsila" extract being better than the other extracts, except for ferrous iron chelation. With the exception of iron chelation, it appeared that the level of activity identified was strongly associated with the phenolic content.     

Fungal immunomodulatory protein from Flammulina velutipes induces interferon-gamma production through p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway

FIP-fve is a fungal immunomodulatory protein purified from Flammulina velutipes, an edible golden needle mushroom thought to possess potent immunomodulatory properties. When examined for its effects on lymphocytes, FIP-fve exhibited potent mitogenic effects on human peripheral blood lymphocytes, inducing G1/G0 to S phase proliferation. T cells activated by FIP-fve show significant production and secretion of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) associated with intercellular adhesion molecule 1 expression but low detectable levels of interleukin-4 in vitro or in vivo. However, SB203580, the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) inhibitor, can fully abolish the production of IFN-gamma induced by FIP-fve. At the same time, SB203580 only partially prevents the lymphocytes from progressing from G1 to S phase of the cell cycle. These findings demonstrate that FIP-fve is a potent T-cell activator, mediating its effects via cytokine regulation of p38 MAPK. The immunoprophylatic effects of FIP-fve in Th2-mediated allergic anaphylaxis are believed to be associated with the ability of FIP-fve to enhance activation of IFN-gamma-releasing Th1 cells.     

Antimutagenicity of supercritical CO2 extracts of Terminalia catappa leaves and cytotoxicity of the extracts to human hepatoma cells

Natural antimutagens may prevent cancer and are therefore of great interest to oncologists and the public at large. Phytochemicals are potent antimutagen candidates. When the Ames test was applied to examine the antimutagenic potency of supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO(2)) extracts of Terminalia catappa leaves at a dose of 0.5 mg/plate, toxicity and mutagenicity were not detected. The antimutagenic activity of SC-CO(2) extracts increased with decreases of temperature (60, 50, and 40 degrees C) and pressure (4000, 3000, and 2000 psi) used for extraction. The most potent antimutagenicity was observed in extracts obtained at 40 degrees C and 2000 psi. At a dose of 0.5 mg of extract/plate, approximately 80% of the mutagenicity of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P, with S-9) and 46% of the mutagenicity of N-methyl-N '-nitroguanidine (MNNG, without S-9) were inhibited. Media supplemented with SC-CO(2) extracts at a range of 0-500 microg/mL were used to cultivate human hepatoma (Huh 7) and normal liver (Chang liver) cells. The viability of the cells was assayed by measuring cellular acid phosphatase activity. A dose-dependent growth inhibition of both types of cells was observed. The SC-CO(2) extracts were more cytotoxic to Huh 7 cells than to Chang liver cells. The observation that SC-CO(2) extracts of T. catappa leaves did not induce mutagenicity at the doses tested while exhibiting potent antimutagenicity and were more cytotoxic to human hepatoma cells than to normal liver cells is of merit and warrants further investigation.     

All hermaphrodite progeny are derived by self-pollinating the sunrise papaya mutant

Self‐pollination of a hermaphroditic cultivar normally gives a ratio of 2 : 1 hermaphrodite to female papayas with genotypes M₂m and mm, respectively. Much effort has been dedicated to marking the sexual types of papaya at the seedling stage to distinguish hermaphroditic from female papayas. A hermaphroditic papaya mutant (SR*) has been obtained, derived from the ‘Sunrise’ papaya cultivar mutant. Self‐pollination of the mutant resulted in all progenies being hermaphroditic. The genotype of the female was lethal, as a result of a lethal gene being linked to the mm female gene complex in this case. However, a 3 : 1 segregation ratio was obtained from the progeny of the hermaphroditic cultivar ‘Thailand’ crossed with SR*, indicating that all genotypes survived. Homozygous genotypes (M₂M₂) would be lethal according to Storey's model. Randomly selected F1 plants of the ‘Thailand’ SR* combination were self‐pollinated to obtain an F₂ generation. The F₂ segregation ratio suggested that the SR* mutant had a different form of the M₂ allele, now designated as M_@, which allowed the dominant M_@M₂ to survive in cross combinations. Genetic study has proved that SR* has the M_@ml genotype, a new mutant. It is capable of producing all hermaphroditic papaya progenies.     

The effect of the homoeologous group 5 chromosomes with different vrn loci on growth phases and quantitative characters of wheat

The differences between effects of homoeologous group 5 chromosomes on growth phases and agronomic characters were studied by using reciprocal substitution lines between a winter wheat cultivar with a high vernalization requirement (Mironovskaya 808) and one with lowvernalization requirement (Bezostaya 1), in which the presence of different recessive vrn alleles is supposed. The two cultivars and the substitution lines Mironovskaya 808 (Bezostaya 1 5A), Mironovskaya 808 (Bezostaya 1 5B), Mironovskaya 808 (Bezostaya 1 5D), Bezostaya1 (Mironovskaya 808 5A), Bezostaya 1 (Mironovskaya 808 5B),Bezostaya 1 (Mironovskaya 808 5D) were grown at 10 different sowing dates. The results showed that differences between the homoeologous group 5 chromosomes of Mironovskaya 808 and those of Bezostaya 1influenced the growth phases in addition to the impact by the genetic background and sowing date. We inferred from the analysis and comparison of their effect on vernalization response that vrn loci on these chromosomes influence growth phases. It is probably due to pleiotropic effects of the loci. The rare occurrence of significant interactions between group 5 chromosomes × sowing dates probably indicates independence of their effect. Agronomic characters were also markedly influenced by sowing date and the difference in backgrounds between Mironovskaya 808 and Bezostaya 1. A significant impact by at least two of the chromosomes on almost all studied characters was detected. The chromosomes affected the combined characters in the order5D>5B>5A and the positive value of the differences suggests that a content of Mironovskaya 808 chromosomes is more advantageous. It was possible to find certain indices in some agronomic traits, supporting the idea that the expression of some characters can also be connected to vernalization requirement and thus to the expression of the vrn loci. This supposition is most probable in the number of tillers and number of spikes. In some traits significant interactions occurred between homoeologous group 5 chromosomes × genetic background. Sporadic and low significance between homoeologous group 5 chromosomes × sowing dates suggest that the genetic effect of these chromosomes is independent of environmental conditions. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Replacement of soybean oil by Hermetia illucens fat in turkey nutrition: effect on performance,digestibility, microbial community,immune and physiological status and final product quality

ABSTRACT

1. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of partial (50%) or total replacement of soybean oil (SO) by black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) fat on the growth performance, coefficients of apparent nutrient digestibility, selected internal organ weights and length, pancreatic enzyme activity and gastrointestinal tract (GIT) microecology modulation, as well as microbiota activity, physiological and immunological responses in young turkey poults.

2. A total of 216, seven day old female turkeys (B.U.T 6) were randomly distributed to three dietary treatments using six replicate pens per group with 12 birds per pen. The following design of the trial was applied: SO 100% soybean oil; BSFL50 a 50/50 combination of SO and BSFL fat; or 100% BSFL fat (total replacement of SO).

3. The use of BSFL fat did not affect the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, GIT morphology, or quality of the breast and thigh muscles. However, reduced trypsin activity was noticed in the BSFL100 group, but this had no effect on digestibility. Total replacement of SO reduced proliferation of potentially pathogenic bacteria, i.e., Enterobacteriaceae spp., as well as decreasing levels of IL-6, while partial substitution lowered the TNF-α concentration.

4. The replacement of commonly used SO by BSFL fat can be successfully applied in young turkey poult nutrition. BSFL fat may be considered an antimicrobial agent and support immune responses.     

Schisandrin B protects against solar irradiation-induced oxidative stress in rat skin tissue

Schisandrin B (Sch B) and schisandrin C (Sch C), but not schisandrin A and dimethyl diphenyl bicarboxylate, protected rat skin tissue against solar irradiation-induced oxidative injury, as evidenced by a reversal of solar irradiation-induced changes in cellular reduced glutathione and α-tocopherol levels, as well as antioxidant enzyme activities and malondialdehyde production. The cytochrome P-450-mediated metabolism of Sch B or Sch C caused ROS production in rat skin microsomes. Taken together, Sch B or Sch C, by virtue of its pro-oxidant action and the subsequent eliciting of a glutathione antioxidant response, may prevent photo-aging of skin.