Neem seed extract spray applications as low-cost inputs for management of the flower thrips in the cowpea crop

In field trials conducted at the Experiment Station and in a farmer’s field at Mbita near the shores of Lake Victoria, Kenya, applications of 2% or 3% neem seed extract (NSE) @ 200 l/ha with a knapsack sprayer at 38, 47 and 51 days after emergence (DE) of the cowpea crop or 5%, 10% or 20% NSE sprayed @ 10 l/ha with an ultra-low-volume applicator at 31, 39 and 49 DE often significantly reduced the number of larvae of the flower thrips,Megalumthrips sjostedti (Trybom), in cowpea flowers recorded 2 days after each treatment. Also fewer adults occurred in flowers at 51 DE in plots sprayed with 5%, 10% or 20% NSE. Cowpea grain yield was significantly higher in plots sprayed with 20% NSE than in untreated control plots and was comparable to the grain yield obtained in plots sprayed thrice with cypermethrin. Because of the low cost of NSE treatment, the net gain was often more when the crop was sprayed with NSE than with cypermethin. Also, grain quality was superior in neem-treated plots than in untreated or cypermethrin-treated plots.     

Membrane damage in human erythrocytes caused by captan and captafol

Treatment of human erythrocytes with 5 × 10^?5M captan or captafol caused a rapid increase in the efflux of intracellular potassium. Captafol had a more pronounced effect than captan on cation permeability. Captafol also decreased anion permeability whereas captan did not affect this process. Glutathione (5 × 10^?4M) had little effect in reducing potassium efflux when added to the cells after they were incubated for 1 h with captan or captafol, but it was effective in reducing the potassium loss when added to the cells prior to their treatment with the fungicides. Captafol caused an increase in osmotic fragility of the cells. Incubation of the cell membranes with captafol resulted in the liberation of a small fraction of membrane phospholipids, whereas captan produced no effect. Both the fungicides readily reacted with the sulfhydryl groups in the isolated membrane; 31.5 and 45.7% of the membrane sulfhydryl groups had disappeared following treatment with captan and captafol, respectively. It is suggested that the reaction of captan or captafol and/or their reaction products with the sulfhydryl and amino groups of the red cell membrane protein produces changes in the structure of the membrane with consequent alteration in its permeability.     

Effect of application of vermicompost on methane emission and grain yield of Chinna Ponni paddy crop

Paddy and Water Environment - In separate treatments rice (Oryza sativa) of the Chinna Ponni variety was grown either with the application of synthetic fertilizer (SF) containing...     

Antioxidant and antibacterial activities of aqueous extract of Seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) seeds

Seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) seeds aqueous extract was screened for antioxidant and antibacterial activities. The antioxidant activities (reducing power, DPPH and liposome model system) showed a good antioxidant activity. The extract was also found to possess antibacterial activity with a MIC values with respect to Listeria monocytogenes and Yersinia enterocolitica found to be 750 and 1000 ppm, respectively. The antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of the extract implicate its potential for natural preservation.     

Cyclical changes in collagen concentration in relation to growth and development of buffalo corpus luteum

In the present study, changes in luteal fresh weight and concentration of collagen in cyclic buffalo corpus luteum were investigated at 4 stages of its growth and development/regression. The collagen concentration was determined by estimating hydroxyproline, a collagen specific amino acid present in luteal tissues. The mean fresh weight increased (P < 0.001) over the luteal phase, reached maximum at late-luteal stage and decreased (P < 0.001) subsequently at follicular stage. The weight of the mature CL was 2.5 times heavier than the CL haemorrhagicum and regressing CL. Results showed that cyclic buffalo CL contains collagen at all 4 stages of development during oestrous cycle. The collagen in luteal tissues constitutes about 0.9% to 1.2% of luteal fresh weight with the highest content appearing in mature tissue. The concentration of collagen increased (P < 0.001) with the stages of CL development over the luteal phase and the highest concentration was recorded at follicular phase with the decline of luteal weight. The total content of collagen per CL also showed the same trend during luteal phase but decreased at follicular phase with the loss of luteal tissues. In conclusion, collagen concentration in cyclic buffalo CL changes with the growth and development of CL across the oestrous cycle. The synthesis of collagen is faster between early- to mid-luteal stage than mid- to late-luteal stage.     

The Future of Rice Genomics: Sequencing the Collective Oryza Genome

The main objectives of the “Oryza Map Alignment Project” (OMAP) are to characterize the rice genome from a comparative standpoint by establishing a genus-wide and genome-scale comparative framework from representative species. Here, we report our progress in the analyses of these datasets and emerging “comparative phylogenomics” insights into Oryza evolution at two different resolutions—chromosomal and sequence levels. We demonstrate the abundance and impact of structural variations (SV) on genome diversity using African Oryza as a model. The molecular basis of SV was inferred using three genus-wide vertical sequence datasets. Combined, these data demonstrate that a single reference genome sequence for the genus Oryza is insufficient to comprehensively capture the genomic and allelic diversity present within the genus. Towards this end, we present a strategy to generate high-quality and cost-effective de novo reference sequences of collective Oryza. The application and broader scientific impact of the OMAP resources under an international cooperative effort (I-OMAP) are discussed.     

Evaluation of Lactobacillus plantarum as a water additive on host associated microflora,growth, feed efficiency and immune response of giant freshwater prawn,Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man, 1879)

A 90‐day experiment was conducted by rearing 1020 prawn juveniles (0.54 ± 0.03 g) in water supplemented with three different concentrations of probiotic bacteria viz. T1 (10⁷ cfu L^?1), T2 (10⁸ cfu L^?1), T3 (10⁹ cfu L^?1) and the control (C) (unsupplemented water), to evaluate probiotic effect of Lactobacillus plantarum. In the present study, the growth parameters (WG%, SGR) and feed utilization parameters (FCR, PER) significantly improved (P < 0.05) in T3. The growth and feed utilization parameters though improved marginally in T1 and T2, the difference was not significant (P > 0.05) compared to the control. The gastro‐intestinal Lactobacillus sp. count increased significantly (P < 0.05) in all the treatment groups, whereas the decrease in harmful bacteria was significant (P < 0.05) in T3 compared to the control. Similarly, the Lactobacillus sp. count in culture water increased significantly (P < 0.05) in all the experimental groups, whereas the decrease in harmful bacteria was significant (P < 0.05) in T2 and T3. The immune parameters (THC, PO and RB activity) and clearance efficiency significantly improved (P < 0.05) in T3 with concurrent decrease (P < 0.05) in cumulative mortality against Aeromonas hydrophila challenge. However, water quality did not improved (P > 0.05) in any of the treatment groups. The results indicate that Lactobacillus plantarum at a minimum concentration of 10⁹ cfu L^?1 could be used as water additive to confer its probiotic effect in prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii. Moreover, future studies with higher probiotic concentrations should be conducted for its efficient commercial scale field application.