Morphological features of an open flower mutant plant and characterization of their progenies in lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.)

The lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) is a self-pollinated seed legume with cleistogamous flowers. A spontaneous open flower semi leaf-less mutant, was observed from segregating generation (F₄) of a cross IPL 313 × RKL 1001 in which reproductive organs were not enclosed by the keel petals and thus remained exposed. Leaves on this mutant plant was very less and random with 1–3 pairs of leaf lets whereas in normal plant leaves are present at every reproductive node with 5–7 pairs of leaf lets. A very large number of open flowers (>90 %) remained sterile in mutant plant and their progenies, though its pollen fertility was as high as the standard cultivars. The progenies of the mutant open flower plant were segregates in three morphological different plant types as (1) open flower leaf-less plants, (2) open flower semi leaf-less plants and (3) normal plants having cleistogamous (closed) flowers and normal bearing leaves. The open flower leafless plant were low yielder whereas open flower semi leafless progenies have good yield potential and are important source of rare novel mutant alleles for important economic traits like multiple peduncles per reproductive node, more number of flowers/pods per peduncle and long reproductive phase. The open flower trait offers opportunity for exploring hybrid technology in the lentil and mutant alleles can play a crucial role in understanding the genetics of the target trait and for improvement of lentils.     

Residues of organochlorine insecticides in two lakes of Jaipur,India

The concentration of organochlorine insecticides/metabolites, namely, lindane, heptachlor, aldrin, p,p′-DDL, p,p′-DDD, and p,p′-DDT were determined in water samples taken from two lakes, Jalmahal and Mahalon, from June 1985 to July 1986. These lakes are contaminated with moderate to high level of residues of different insecticides. In Mahalon lake the residues were highest (6.6 μg L^?1) during October 1985 whereas in Jalmahal lake they were highest (9.6 μg L^?1) in September 1985. In both lakes, residues of DDT exceeded the recommended limit for water quality criteria. Lindane was found in most of the samples but in lower quantities. Aldrin was the second most common residue in these lakes.     

Effect of isocyanide on the ultrastructure of mouse pineal

To investigate the possible influence of a strong malodorant on the pineal gland, the effects of tertiary n-butyl isocyanide on the ultrastructure of pinealocytes were studied. Adult male mice were adapted to a 23 hr dark: 1 hr light “long night” regimen to stimulate their pineal glands. Pinealocytes in “long night” adapted animals appeared metabolically active. Dramatic ultrastructural changes seen in pinealocytes of “long night” adapted animals after a six-hour exposure to the malodorant followed by a ten-hour period of rest included an increase in density of the nuclear chromatin, dilatations of the nuclear envelope, dilatation of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum and swelling of mitochondria. Isocyanide treatment did not affect the ultrastructure of liver, kidney, olfactory bulb or striate cortex of the animals exposed to odor. Our observations indicate that inhalation of isocyanide induces specific ultrastructural changes in the pineal gland which may be suggestive of its altered synthetic activity.     

Real-time PCR carried out on DNA extracted from serum or blood sample is not a good method for surveillance of bovine brucellosis

Bovine brucellosis is endemic in many parts of the world including India. The disease diagnosis and surveillance are usually carried out by serological tests, which however have drawbacks. This study was undertaken to evaluate the potential of real-time PCR (RT-PCR) targeting bcsp31 gene for surveillance of bovine brucellosis. A total of 461 samples, which included 408 stored serum and 53 prospective blood samples, were used. It was found that 33 (7.15 %) samples were positive by RT-PCR, whereas 149 (32.32 %) and 132 (28.63 %) were positive by Rose Bengal plate test (RBPT) or standard agglutination test (STAT), respectively. The results of this study suggest that RT-PCR targeting bcsp31 gene carried out on DNA extracted from serum or blood may not be a suitable method for surveillance of brucellosis in bovines.     

Glyceollins, soy isoflavone phytoalexins, improve oral glucose disposal by stimulating glucose uptake

Soy glyceollins, induced during stress, have been shown to inhibit cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, we used prediabetic rats to examine the glyceollins effect on blood glucose. During an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), the blood glucose excursion was significantly decreased in the rats treated with oral administration of either 30 or 90 mg/kg glyceollins. Plasma analysis demonstrated that glyceollins are absorbed after oral administration, and duration of exposure extends from 20 min to at least 4 h postadministration. Exposure of 3T3-L1 adipocytes to glyceollins significantly increased both insulin-stimulated and basal glucose uptake. Basal glucose uptake was increased 1.5-fold by exposure to 5 μM glyceollin in a dose-response manner. Coincubation with insulin significantly stimulated maximal glucose uptake above basal uptake levels and tended to increase glucose uptake beyond the levels of either stimulus alone. On a molecular level, polymerase chain reaction showed significantly increased levels of glucose transporter GLUT4 mRNA in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, especially when the cells were exposed to 5 μM glyceollins for 3 h in vitro. It correlated with elevated protein levels of GLUT4 detected in the 5 μM glyceollin-treated cells. Thus, the simulative effect of the glyceollins on adipocyte glucose uptake was attributed to up-regulation of glucose transporters. These findings indicate potential benefits of the glyceollins as an intervention in prediabetic conditions as well as a treatment for type 1 and type 2 diabetes by increasing both the insulin-mediated and the basal, insulin-independent, glucose uptake by adipocytes.     

Electron microscopy of rapid identification of animal viruses in hematoxylin-eosin sections.

Routine hematoxylin-eosin stained, paraffin sections were processed for electron microscopy, using a rapid method for localization of animal viruses. Formalin fixation was effective in preserving DNA as well as RNA viruses, however cellular fine structural details and organelles were not well preserved. The procedure is useful for morphological recognition of viral groups and as a rapid diagnostic aid for identifying viral disease.     

Effectiveness of two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on concentrations of essential oil and artemisinin in three accessions of Artemisia annua L.

A field experiment was conducted to study and compare the effectiveness of two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), Glomus macrocarpum (GM) and Glomus fasciculatum (GF) on three accessions of Artemisia annua. The AM inoculation significantly increased the production of herbage, dry weight of shoot, nutrient status (P, Zn and Fe) of shoot, concentration of essential oil and artemisinin in leaves as compared to non-inoculated plants. The extent of growth, nutrient concentration and production of secondary plant metabolites varied with the fungus–plant accession combination. The mycorrhizal dependency of the three accessions was related to the shoot: root ratio. Comparing the two fungal inoculants in regard to increase in essential oil concentration in shoot, the effectiveness of GF was more than that of GM. While in two accessions, GM was more effective in enhancing artemisinin concentration than GF. Increase in concentration of essential oil was found to be positively correlated to P-status of the plant. Conversely, no correlation was found between shoot-P and artemisinin concentration.     

Effect of fertilization frequency on pond productivity and fish biomass in still water ponds stocked with Cirrhinus mrigala (Ham.)

Four different fertilization frequencies, namely twice per week, once per week, twice a month and once a month, were used in ponds to assess their effects on nutrient release, pond productivity and fish biomass. All ponds received the same total fertilizer inputs during the experimental period of 60 days (cow dung 208.3 kg ha^?1 week^?1, TSP 9.8 kg ha^?1 week^?1, urea 6.0 kg ha^?1 week^?1). Studies have revealed that the highest values of fish biomass, specific growth rate (SGR), net primary productivity (NPP), plankton population and nutrients were observed in the ponds that were fertilized twice a month. A strong and significant correlation of fertilization frequency was observed with dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), alkalinity, nutrient release, NPP, plankton density (no. L^?1), fish biomass and SGR. The linear relationship between NPP and fish biomass/SGR for all the ponds was strong (r²= 0.88). Sediment chemistry revealed that O‐PO₄, NO₃‐N, organic carbon and electrical conductivity (EC) increased significantly (P<0.05) with a decrease in the frequency of fertilization, while alkalinity and calcium were high in ponds that were fertilized twice a month.     

Soil water movement under a single surface trickle source

Under a trickle source, the flow of water in unsaturated soil takes place from a disc source having a radius changing with time due to change in the rate of infiltration. To predict the wetting pattern below an emitter placed on the soil surface, an unsteady, non-linearised numerical model has been developed in an oblate spheroidal coordinate system. Using this coordinate system, the problem involving disc source geometry having radius changing with time, is simplified, as the disc is a degenerate case of an oblate spheroid. The results of the proposed model are in close agreement with the experimental results of [Taghavi, S.A., Marino, M.A., Rolston, E., 1984. Infiltration from a trickle irrigation source. J. Irrig. Drain. Eng. ASCE 110 (4), 331–341] and the numerical model of [Bresler, E., 1978. Analysis of trickle irrigation with application to design problems. Irrig. Sci. 1, 3–17] developed in cylindrical coordinates. The applicability of the model has been analysed for special conditions of trickle irrigation e.g. large time water application, redistribution of soil water after discharge is cut off or reduced, and basin irrigation with restriction of surface water flow.