Reverse phase passive haemagglutination test for the detection of rinderpest antigen

Reverse phase passive haemagglutination [RPHA] test was applied for the detection of rinderpest antigen in various organs of rinderpest infected cattle. The results of RPHA were compared with counter immunoelectrophoresis [CIE] and single radial haemolysis [SRH] test. RPHA was as sensitive as CIE and SRH in detecting rinderpest antigen.     

Antibacterial Activity of 2-(2′,4′-Dibromophenoxy)-4,6-dibromophenol from Dysidea granulosa

2-(2′,4′-Dibromophenoxy)-4,6-dibromophenol isolated from the marine sponge Dysidea granulosa (Bergquist) collected off the coast of Lakshadweep islands, Indian Ocean, exhibited potent and broad spectrum in-vitro antibacterial activity, especially against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), vancomycin resistant Enterococci (VRE), vancomycin sensitive Enterococci (VSE) and Bacillus spp. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was evaluated against 57 clinical and standard strains of Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. The observed MIC range was 0.117–2.5 μg/mL against all the Gram positive bacteria and 0.5–2 μg/mL against Gram negative bacteria. The in-vitro antibacterial activity observed was better than that of the standard antibiotic linezolid, a marketed anti-MRSA drug. The results establish 2-(2′,4′-dibromophenoxy)-4,6-dibromophenol, as a potential lead molecule for anti-MRSA and anti-VRE drug development.     

Kinetics of interaction of three carbamate pesticides with Indian soils: Aligarh district

The kinetics of interaction with soil of three carbamate pesticides (I, II, III) used as nematicides and herbicides was studied at four different temperatures from solutions of six soil samples of Aligarh district. The values obtained for rate constants for adsorption and desorption were in good agreement with those obtained from the Lindstrom model, which proved useful in the simultaneous evaluation of adsorption (k1) and desorption (k2) rate constants. The rate constants for pesticides were in the order III > I > II on all the six soil samples. The data for rate constants, activation energies, heats of activation, entropy of activation and thermodynamic parameters indicated a partly physical and partly chemical adsorption of pesticide on the soil surfaces. Adsorption occurred via coordination and/or protonation of the exchangeable cations with the amidic carbonyl group, and hydrogen bonding and dipole association at the crystal edge and basal surfaces. The adsorptivity of the soils may be attributed to the organic matter content and percentage clay content.     

Mapping of Aegilops umbellulata‐derived leaf rust and stripe rust resistance loci in wheat

Aegilops umbellulata, a non‐progenitor diploid species, is an excellent source of resistance to various wheat diseases. Leaf rust and stripe rust resistance genes from A. umbellulata were transferred to the susceptible wheat cultivar WL711 through induced homoeologous pairing. A doubly resistant introgression line IL 393‐4 was crossed with wheat cultivar PBW343 to develop a mapping population. Tests on BC₂F₇ RILs indicated monogenic inheritance of seedling leaf rust and stripe rust resistance in IL 393‐4 and the respective co‐segregating genes were tentatively named LrUmb and YrUmb. Bulked segregant analysis placed LrUmb and YrUmb in chromosome 5DS, 7.6 cM distal to gwm190. Aegilops geniculata‐derived and completely linked leaf rust and stripe rust resistance genes Lr57 and Yr40 were previously located in chromosome 5DS. STS marker Lr57/Yr40MAS‐CAPS16 (Lr57/Yr40‐CAPS16), linked with Lr57/Yr40 (T756) also co‐segregated with LrUmb/YrUmb. Seedling infection types differentiated LrUmb from Lr57. Absence of leaf rust‐susceptible segregants among F₃ families of the intercross (IL 393‐4/T756) indicated repulsion linkage between LrUmb and Lr57. YrUmb expressed a consistently low seedling response under greenhouse conditions, whereas Yr40 expressed a higher seedling response. Based on the origin of LrUmb/YrUmb from the U genome and Lr57/Yr40 from the M genome, as well as phenotypic differences, LrUmb and YrUmb were formally named Lr76 and Yr70, respectively. These genes have been transferred to Indian wheat cultivars PBW343 and PBW550, and advanced breeding lines are being tested in state and national trials.     

Plant defense activation and management of tomato root rot by a chitin-fortified <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichoderma/Hypocrea</Emphasis> formulation

Tomato root rot caused by Rhizoctonia solani is a major soilborne disease resulting in significant yield loss. The culture filtrates of six isolates of Trichoderma/Hypocrea species were evaluated for in vitro production of hydrolytic enzymes. Results demonstrated that all the six isolates were able to produce chitinase, β-1, 3 glucanase and protease in the range of 76–235 μmol GlcNAc min^-1 mg^-1 protein, 31.90–37.72 nmol glucose min^-1 mg^-1 proteins and 63.05–86.22 μmol min^-1 mg^-1 proteins, respectively. Trichoderma/Hypocrea-based formulation(s) were prepared with chitin (1% v:v) and CMC (0.5% w:v) for root rot management in a greenhouse. Root dip application with bioformulation(s) resulted in a significant reduction of the root rot index. In addition, bioformulations increased plant growth attributing traits significantly relative to untreated control. Accumulation of total phenols, peroxidase, polyphenoloxidase and phenylalanine ammonia lyase increased in chitin-supplemented Trichoderma/Hypocrea formulation-treated plants challenged with R. solani. The results suggest that chitin-fortified bioformulation(s) could be an effective system to control root rot of tomato in an eco-compatible manner.     

Australian Uromyces viciae-fabae: Host and nonhost interaction among cultivated grain legumes

Uromyces viciae-fabae, rust of faba bean, parasitizes other legume crops such as lentils (Lens culinaris) and field peas (Pisum sativum) in some environments. In this study we examined the host range of two Australian isolates of U. viciae-fabae collected and purified from a faba bean crop and classified as U. viciae-fabae ex V. faba. Field pea (P. sativum), chickpea (Cicer arientinum), lupin (Lupinus spp.), lentil (L. culinaris), and mung bean (Vigna radiata) genotypes were tested with these isolates, as well as resistant and susceptible genotypes of the faba bean host. Race specificity for these two pathogen isolates was observed on Vicia faba, with two faba bean genotypes showing partial resistance. Both U. viciae-fabae isolates also colonized field pea seedlings and successfully produced uredinia under glasshouse conditions, despite this fungus not being known as a pathogen of Australian field pea crops. No sporulation of either isolate of U. viciae-fabae ex V. faba was observed on any of the remaining legume species tested. However, obvious differences in fungal growth were observed, ranging from small infection sites with very rare haustorium formation in mung bean to more extensive growth and the development of potential uredinial structures in chickpea. These observations are discussed in relation to the phylogenetic relationship of these host and nonhost species.     

Antibody response of cattle to rinderpest vaccine

Antibody production was studied in cattle infected with rinderpest vaccine virus. Vaccinated cattle produced both IgM and IgG serum antibodies. The IgG antibodies were mainly those of IgG2 subclass. No IgA antibody response was detected in vaccinated animals.     

Genetic mapping of seedling and adult plant stem rust resistance in two European winter wheat cultivars

A recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from the cross Arina/Forno was field tested for 2 years against Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici under artificially created epidemic conditions. Both parents showed intermediate adult plant stem rust responses and the RIL population showed continuous variation for this trait. Composite interval mapping identified genomic regions controlling low stem rust response on chromosomes 5B and 7D consistently across all experiments. These genomic regions were named QSr.Sun-5BL and QSr.Sun-7DS and explained on an average 12% and 26% of the phenotypic variation in adult plant stem rust response, respectively. QSr.Sun-5BL mapped close to Xglk0354 and was contributed by Arina. The Lr34-linked markers csLV34 and swm10 were closely associated with QSr.Sun-7DS suggesting the involvement of Lr34 in controlling adult plant stem rust response of cultivar Forno. Additional minor and inconsistent QTLs explaining variation in adult plant stem rust response were identified on chromosome arms 1AS and 7BL. The QTL located on chromosome 7BL corresponded to the stem rust resistance gene Sr17 carried by cultivar Forno. A seedling stem rust resistance gene carried by Arina, SrAn1, was ineffective under field conditions and was mapped on the long arm of chromosome 2A. Genotypes carrying combinations of QSr.Sun-5BL and QSr.Sun-7DS based on positive alleles of the respective closest marker loci Xglk0354 and XcsLV34 or Xswm10 exhibited a lower response than either parent indicating an additive effect of these genes. Transfer of these genes into cultivars carrying Sr2 would provide a more effective and durable resistance against the stem rust pathogen. Markers csLV34 and/or swm10 could be used in marker assisted selection of QSr.Sun-7DS in breeding programs.