Isolation and pathogenicity of Colletotrichum spp. causing anthracnose of Indian mulberry (Morinda citrifolia) in tropical islands of Andaman and Nicobar, India

This study identifies the Colletotrichum spp. which cause Morinda anthracnose in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. A survey of Indian mulberry plantations was carried out to ascertain the identity of isolates associated with Morinda anthracnose. These were identified as C. gloeosporioides based on morphology and sequencing analysis of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, demonstrating that this species is currently the causal agent of Morinda anthracnose in a tropical ecosystem. The pathogenicity test of C. gloeosporioides isolates on Morinda seedlings for 1?month revealed that the five isolates MC1, MC8, MC2 (1), MC4 and MC12 were pathogenic to the respective host with different levels of anthracnose lesion.     

Chirality index, molecular overlay and biological activity of diastereoisomeric mosquito repellents

Both 1-methylisopropyl 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperidine-1-carboxylate, (Picaridin((R))) and cyclohex-3-enyl 2-methylpiperidin-1-yl ketone (AI3-37220; 220) have two asymmetric centers, and the four diastereoisomers of each compound are known to have differing degrees of mosquito-repellent activity according to quantitative behavioral assays conducted at the United States Department of Agriculture. Computational chemistry was used to identify the structural and configurational basis for repellent activity. Molecular overlay of the optimized geometries of the lowest energy conformers of the diastereoisomers was investigated to elucidate the role of chiral centers in 220 and Picaridin. It was found that the presence of a chiral carbon alpha to the nitrogen with the S configuration in the piperidine ring is essential to the three-dimensional arrangement of the atoms of the pharmacophore for effective repellent activity.     

Induction of branchial enzymes in snake head (Channa striatus) by oxydemeton-methyl

The effects of acute and chronic exposures to a sublethal concentration (1.7 mg/liter) of oxydemeton-methyl (Metasystox) on the activities of branchial enzymes Na, K-ATPase, Mg-ATPase, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase were determined. While chronic and acute treatments inhibited Na, K-ATPase and Mg-ATPase concentrations, an insignificant rise in the activities of alkaline and acid phosphatases was noticed in the acute treatment. However, both chronic exposures decreased the activities of these phosphatases. A progressive accumulation of AAT and AlAT, with a maximum occurring after 30 days, was recorded. The significance of the results are discussed.     

Influence of Stubble Thickness, Carbohydrate Content and Leaf Senescence on Ratoon Rice

Experiment conducted with nine rice varieties during Pishanum season of 1989–90 revealed that Co 37 performed better in ratoon crop and recorded 3.2 t/ha grain yield. It was evident that the ratooning ability was influenced by stem thickness of stubble, carbohydrate content and leaf senescence of main crop. The study also suggests that by maintaining higher seed size and productive tiller in ratoon crop, there is ample possibilities to increase grain yield.     

Retrospective comparison of costs between medical and surgical treatment of canine pyothorax

This study compared costs of treating dogs with pyothorax medically versus surgically. Medical records from the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine were searched for cases of pyothorax that underwent either medical or surgical treatment. Patients undergoing surgery were subdivided into early (ES; < 48 h) and late (LS; > 48 h) surgery groups. Costs and length of stay were compared between treatment groups. Treatment costs were adjusted for inflation. Nineteen dogs were included in analysis; 7 in the medical group (MG), 5 in the ES group, and 7 in the LS group. Total costs were significantly lower in the MG than in the LS group. Total costs were less for the MG than the ES group, and for ES than LS, but the differences did not achieve significance. Preoperative costs were higher in the LS than the ES group. We conclude that surgery for canine pyothorax is less costly if pursued earlier than later.     

Analgesic activity of methanol extract of Aegle marmelos leaves

The methanol extract of leaves of Aegle marmelos at a dose level of 200 and 300 mg/kg showed significant analgesic activity on acetic acid-induced writhing and tail flick test in mice.     

Limited contribution of water availability in genotype-by-environment interaction in sugarcane yield and yield components

Water deficit is an important abiotic stress factor limiting sugarcane production. Understanding the effect of water deficit on cane yield, yield components and genotype × environment (G × E) interaction can aid in selecting genotypes that are adapted to water deficit conditions. In this study, response of cane yield and yield components of 10 sugarcane genotypes grown under 3 irrigation treatments—fully irrigated, semi-irrigated and rainfed—was examined across 3 locations and 3 crop-years within each location. Cane yield reduced by 32% and 9% in the rainfed and semi-irrigated treatments, respectively, compared to the fully irrigated treatment. Genotypic variation was highly significant for cane yield and yield components in all three irrigation regimes. Cane yield in the rainfed treatment showed significant genetic correlation with stalk diameter (r_g = 0.68), leaf number (r_g = 0.64), node number (r_g = 0.67) and stalk number (r_g = 0.68). Genotype × irrigation variance was negligible compared to genotype, genotype × location and genotype × crop-year variances. Commercial genotypes had higher yield in most environments except in low-yield potential environments, which caused a significant genotype × location × irrigation effect, suggesting opportunities for improving sugarcane productivity in these environments.