Effect of Sargassum wightii fucoidan on growth and disease resistance to Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Penaeus monodon post‐larvae

The polysaccharide – fucoidan was extracted from brown seaweed Sargassum wightii and its antibacterial activity was screened by agar well diffusion method. The maximum zone of inhibition observed was 15.66 mm in 20 mg mL^?1 concentration against Vibrio parahaemolyticus. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of the fucoidan was 12 mg mL^?1 against V. parahaemolyticus. The fucoidan was then enriched with Artemia nauplii at four different concentrations such as 100, 200, 300 and 400 mg L^?1 for 12 h. The enriched Artemia nauplii were fed to Penaeus monodon post‐larvae for 20 days and the growth performance was assessed. The weight gain and SGR of the control group were 0.2432 g and 15.78%, respectively. But, in experimental groups fed with fucoidan enriched Artemia nauplii, the weight gain and SGR were increased and were respectively ranged from 0.2602 to 0.3161 g and from 16.11 to 17.05%. The P. monodon post‐larvae were challenged with V. parahaemolyticus for a period of 30 days showed a reduction in mortality percentage of experimental groups over the control group and it was ranged between 36.97 and 89.86%. During the challenge test, the V. parahaemolyticus load was also enumerated from the infected shrimp at every 10 day intervals. In the control group, the Vibrio load showed a linear increase in hepatopancreas and muscle tissues from 10th to 30th days of challenge test, whereas in the experimental groups, the Vibrio load established a declining trend with the advancement of challenged test.     

Single and Combined Effects of Cadmium and Zinc on Carrots: Uptake and Bioaccumulation

ABSTRACT

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn), singly and in combination, on uptake and bioaccumulation of Cd and Zn in Daucus carota L. (carrot) grown under natural field conditions. Carrot plants were treated with two Cd concentrations (10 and 100 μg mL^?1), two Zn concentrations (100 and 300 μg mL^?1), and two combined concentrations of Cd and Zn (10 + 100 and 100 + 300 μg mL^?1) 15 d after seed germination. Treatments were repeated at 10 d intervals up to 90 d of plant age. A control was also kept without a Cd or Zn treatment. Uptake, total accumulation rate (TAR), bioconcentration factor (BCF), primary transport index (PTI), secondary transport index (STI), and accumulation of Cd and Zn in root, stem, and leaf were quantified. The results show that uptake, TAR, and accumulation of Cd and Zn are concentration-dependent phenomena. Highest accumulation of Cd and Zn was found in the root, followed by the stem and then leaves. The results also showed that bioaccumulation of Cd in root, stem, and leaf was greater at the low metal-application rates of Cd and Zn in combination than at the higher rate. This study further showed that interactions of Zn and Cd are dependent on the concentrations of those metals in the soil.     

Effects of supplemental xylanase and xylooligosaccharides on production performance and gut health variables of broiler chickensOA

Background: This study evaluated the effects of supplemental xylanase and xylooligosaccharides(XOS) in a cornsoybean meal(SBM)-based diet on growth performance and intestinal health of broilers. A total of 288 day-old chicks(Cobb 500) were allocated to 36 floor pens(8 birds/pen) equally in 9 dietary treatments in a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement. The treatments were combinations of 3 levels of xylanase(0, 0.005% and 0.01% Econase XT) and 3 levels of prebiotics(0, 0.005% and 0.01% XOS) added to basa...     

Distribution pattern of bovine viral diarrhoea virus type 1 genome in lymphoid tissues of experimentally infected sheep

In this study, cellular localization and the distribution pattern of BVDV genome in lymphoid tissues during the course of experimental acute BVDV-1 infection of sheep was investigated. Tonsils, mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) and spleen were collected on 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 days post infection (dpi) from twenty 4-month-old lambs, experimentally inoculated intra-nasally with 5?×?10⁵ TCID₅₀ of a non-cytopathic (ncp) BVDV-1 isolate, Ind-17555. Tissues collected from ten mock-infected lambs served as controls. In situ hybridization (ISH) was carried out in paraformaldehyde fixed paraffin embedded tissue sections using digoxigenin labelled riboprobe targeting 5′-UTR of BVDV-1. BVDV genome was detected at all the intervals from 3 dpi to 15 dpi in the lymphoid tissues with variations between the intervals and also amongst the infected sheep. During the early phase of acute infection, presence of viral genome was more in tonsils than MLN and spleen, whereas the distribution was higher in MLN during later stages. BVDV-1 genome positive cells included lymphocytes, macrophages, plasma cells, reticular cells and sometimes crypt epithelial cells. Genome distribution was frequently observed in the lymphoid follicles of tonsils, MLN and spleen, besides the crypt epithelium in tonsils, paracortex and medullary sinus and cords of MLN. Most abundant and widespread distribution of BVDV-1 genome was observed on 6 dpi while there was a reduction in number and intensity of positive signals by 15 dpi in most of the infected animals. This is the first attempt made to study the localisation of BVDV-1 in lymphoid tissues of acutely infected sheep by in situ hybridization. The results show that the kinetics of BVDV-1 distribution in lymphoid tissues of experimentally infected non-pregnant sheep follows almost a similar pattern to that demonstrated in BVDV infected cattle.     

Transgene integration - an analysis in autotransgenic Labeo rohita Hamilton (Pisces: Cyprinidae)

Transgenic Labeo rohita founder population was analyzed for the presence of autotransgene having histone 3 promoter and growth hormone (GH) cDNA (LRH3-GHcDNA) or total GH gene (LRH3-GH2.8) by PCR with transgene specific primers. Transgene specific amplification was seen with LRH3-GHcDNA in five out of seven individuals and all three fishes with LRH3-GH2.8, indicating their transgenic nature. Transgene integration was also studied by Southern hybridization of DNA isolated from blood of the transgenic fishes with two different probes (histone 3 promoter and cDNA of L. rohita). Autotransgene integration was confirmed in all PCR positive transgenic individuals. The site of integration of the transgene in the genome of the four transgenic fish could be determined by inverse PCR. Two individuals showed integration at the same site whereas in the remaining two individuals the integration sites were different.     

A Rapid Two-Step Bioremediation of the Anthraquinone Dye, Reactive Blue 4 by a Marine-Derived Fungus

A rapid two-step technique for bioremediation of the anthraquinone dye, the Reactive Blue 4 (RB4) by a marine-derived fungus is reported here. In the first step, 1,000?mg?l^?1 of this dye treated with partially purified laccase of this fungus resulted in 61?% color removal and twofold decrease in chemical oxygen demand by 12?h. The metabolites formed during the enzymatic degradation were characterized by mass spectrometry, ultra performance liquid chromatography, and UV/visible spectroscopy. These analyses confirmed changes in the aromatic character of the parent dye and formation of low molecular weight phenolic compounds as the final products of the enzymatic degradation. Based on these results, the probable degradation products of RB4 were 2-formylbenzoic acid, 1,2,4,5-tetrahydroxy-3-benzoic acid, 2,3,4-trihydroxybenzenesulfonic acid, and 1,2,3,4-pentahydroxybenzene. In the second step, the enzyme-transformed dye solution subjected to sorption on the powdered fungal biomass resulted in a further reduction in color up to 93?% within 10?min. Sorption of the degraded dye was confirmed by the changes in the pattern of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectrum. The two-step treatment resulted in a decrease of 29?% in total carbon accompanied by twofold decrease in toxicity. This is the first report on decolorization, detoxification, and mineralization of RB4 by laccase from a marine-derived fungus.     

Experimental investigation of mechanical behavior of Jute-Flax based glass fiber reinforced composite

Present technological development and innovation needs a better class of material that meets all the practical applications along with its environmental friendly nature and economical value. Hybrid natural fiber composites, a sector of natural composites meets these requirements. This paper deals with fabrication, mechanical characterization of a hybrid (Jute+Flax+GFRP) composite and also the comparison of it with the (Jute+GFRP) based composite. These composites are fabricated using hand lay-up technique. The arrangement of hybrid composite is such that a layer of vertically laid flax fiber is flanked between layers of horizontally laid jute fiber. Epoxy resin alongside with HY951 hardener is used as the binding agent throughout the layer. Glass fiber laminates are used on both sides for improving the surface finish and surface hardness. The volumetric fraction is such that one third of total volume is occupied by Jute and Flax fibers. Test results shows that the hybrid natural composite has excellent properties under tensile, flexural loading. At last failure morphology analysis is done using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and the internal structure of the broken specimen is discussed.     

Photoilluminance of different woven structures by treatment with phosphorescent pigment

The work is focused on study of photoilluminance of woven fabrics. Plain, twill, and matt woven structures are investigated after application of the phosphorescent agent. Samples were kept under observation for different periods of time in completely sealed box where light couldn’t enter from any side. Lux meter was used to measure the intensity of light. As the charging time increases, glowing time also increases and the weave structure having greater capacity to absorb light radiations from the source, glows for a longer duration of time. The weave having larger number of intersections facilitates greater absorption of light photons and the weaves having relatively lower number of intersections have a smaller capacity to absorb light radiations. Longer yarn floats in the fabric, tend to reflect higher portion of light, which in turn causes less charging of the phosphorescent fabric. Thus a shorter glow time is observed. Tensile and tear strength was mesaured for all fabric samples before and after application of phosphorescent pigment so as to observe the effect of treatment on mechanical properties.     

Preparation of color filters using azo and nitroso colorants

Color filters were prepared by using azo colorants and nitroso metal complex colorants. Initially, crushed glass particles were colored by using the azo and nitroso-iron complex colorants. These colored glass particles were used to obtain a colored composite with unsaturated polyester resin to give colored glass filters. Glass filters obtained were used for study to evaluate fading rate with respect to UV radiation, heat and moisture. Thermo gravimetric analyses of synthesized colorants were also carried out to determine their thermal stability.     

Molecular mapping and characterization of an RGA locus RGAPtokin1-2 171 in chickpea

Resistance gene analog polymorphism (RGAP)is a targeted homology based method, which has been used in different crops to identify tightly linked markers for disease resistance genes and also to enrich the map with a different class of markers. In chickpea, using the RGA primers, which are designed based on the conserved motifs present in characterized R-genes, Bulk Segregant Analysis (BSA) was performed on a resistant bulk and a susceptible bulk along with parents for ascochyta blight resistance. Of all available RGAs and their48 different combinations, only one RGA showed polymorphism during BSA. This marker was evaluated in an F_7:8 population of142 RILs from an interspecific cross ofC. arietinum (FLIP 84-92C) × C. reticulatum (PI 599072) and was mapped toCicer linkage map. The genomic location of chickpea RGA was compared with the locations of mapped chickpea R-genes. This is the first RGA marker mapped to chickpea linkage map. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.