Physiochemical and Textural Alterations in Indian Squid (Loligo duvauceli) Mantle During Frozen Storage and Cooking

Textural variations in squid mantle and the role of proteins on texture during frozen storage and cooking were investigated. Myofibrillar protein (62.36%) and pepsin soluble collagen (10.70%) accounted for the major fraction of total protein (22.17%). The histochemistry of mantle tissue showed a mesh-like arrangement of myofibrillar proteins with a collagenous dermal layer and feebly passing collagen through myotome bundles. Texture profile analysis of unfrozen mantle suggested the first phase of hardening at 50°C with hardness 1 (H1) of 11.53 kgf and hardness 2 (H2) of 9.68 kgf; and the second phase of hardening with optimal texture and maximum juiciness at 70°C (H1, 8.11 kgf; H2, 7.13 kgf) that varied with extended frozen storage. Increased frozen storage and cooking led to protein denaturation and formation of new low molecular weight proteins as evidenced in sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE); these possibly influenced the functional and microstructural properties of the tissue.     

Identification of QTLs associated with resistance to Phomopsis pod blight (Diaporthe toxica) in Lupinus albus

Phomopsis blight in Lupinus albus is caused by a fungal pathogen, Diaporthe toxica. It can invade all plant parts, leading to plant material becoming toxic to grazing animals, and potentially resulting in lupinosis. Identifying sources of resistance and breeding for resistance remains the best strategy for controlling Phomopsis and reducing lupinosis risks. However, loci associated with resistance to Phomopsis blight have not yet been identified. In this study, quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis identified genomic regions associated with resistance to Phomopsis pod blight (PPB) using a linkage map of L. albus constructed previously from an F₈ recombinant inbred line population derived from a cross between Kiev-Mutant (susceptible to PPB) and {"type":"entrez-protein","attrs":{"text":"P27174","term_id":"14195583","term_text":"P27174"}}P27174 (resistant to PPB). Phenotyping was undertaken using a detached pod assay. In total, we identified eight QTLs for resistance to PPB on linkage group (LG) 3, LG6, LG10, LG12, LG17 and LG27 from different phenotyping environments. However, at least one QTL, QTL-5 on LG10 was consistently detected in both phenotyping environments and accounted for up to 28.2% of the total phenotypic variance. The results of this study showed that the QTL-2 on LG3 interacts epistatically with QTL-5 and QTL-6, which map on LG10 and LG12, respectively.     

In vitro induction and characterization of somaclonal variation for red rot and other agronomic traits in sugarcane

In the present investigation, optimal media compositions for enhancing the callus induction and subsequent plant regeneration were worked out in sugarcane (Saccharum spp. complex). The field grown somaclones were characterized for yield and quality contributing traits in comparison to donor variety CoJ 88. The MS + 2,4-D (4.0 mg/l) + kin (0.5 mg/l) + sucrose (30 g/l) was found to be the best for the callus induction among the nine media compositions used. The highest shoot regeneration was 34.65% on MS + BAP (0.5 mg/l) followed by 31.07% on MS + IAA (2.0 mg/l) + kin (0.5 mg/l) and the least 11.80% on MS + BAP (2.0 mg/l). The shoot elongation was optimum on MS + IBA (5.0 mg/l). The rooting was carried on MS + NAA (3.0 mg/l) + IBA (2.0 mg/l) + sucrose (70 g/l). The somaclones, on field evaluation, exhibited huge variability for characters viz., tiller number at 120 days of field transfer, number of millable canes, cane height, number of nodes and internodal length at time of harvest and also for HR Brix at 240 and 300 days after field transfer. In R₀ generation, the variations induced for the characters such as stalk height after 120 days, HR Brix after 240 and 300 days of field transfer were negatively skewed with most of somaclones having values higher than the population mean values thereby offering adequate scope for improvement cane and quality. Elite somaclones marked for each trait were reported. Out of 228 somaclones inoculated with Cf 08 pathotype of red rot in R₁, three were resistant, four were moderately resistant and 221 somaclones showed variable degree of susceptibility, whereas, to Cf 03 pathotype, fourteen were resistant, nineteen were moderately resistant and 195 showed variable degree of susceptibility. Three somaclones exhibited moderate resistance (MR) to both the pathotypes, whereas, donor variety CoJ 88 showed susceptible reaction. These somaclones will further enhance the germplasm for sugarcane breeding.     

Histopathological changes in giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man 1879) fed with probiotic Bacillus licheniformis upon challenge with Vibrio alginolyticus

The effect of dietary supplementation of probiotic bacterium Bacillus licheniformis on the histopathological changes in Macrobrachium rosenbergii juveniles (4.0 ± 0.02 g) challenged with known pathogenic strain of Vibrio alginolyticus are reported. Two isocaloric basal diets supplemented with probiotic bacteria B. licheniformis (1.0 × 10⁹ cfu/g feed) and other without probiotic supplementation were fed to the M. rosenbergii juveniles for 45 days. The histological observations revealed no significant changes in the hepatopancreas and gut tissues of both the experimental and the control groups which indicate that the present bacterium is a safe candidate probiont for the host. Prawns were challenged with V. alginolyticus after 45 days of feeding with probiotic diet. The histopathological studies of the hepatopancreas revealed that M. rosenbergii fed with probiotic‐supplemented diet showed less changes as compared to the prawns fed with control diet on second and fourth day of post‐experimental challenge with V. alginolyticus. Histopathological observations revealed that the gills of the prawns fed with control diet were severely affected in comparison to the prawns fed with probiotic‐supplemented diet after challenging with V. alginolyticus. Results from this study revealed the improved protection by dietary incorporation of B. licheniformis in reducing the histopathological manifestations due to V. alginolyticus infection in freshwater prawn.     

Influence of fungal endophyte infection on phenolic content and antioxidant activity in grasses: interaction between Lolium perenne and different strains of Neotyphodium lolii

Lolium perenne is a major forage and turf grass, which is often naturally infected with a "wild-type" strain (E(WT)) of the fungal endophyte Neotyphodium lolii , establishing a symbiotic relationship. In this study, the impacts of different strains wild type E(WT), AR1 (E(AR1)) and AR37 (E(AR37)), of N. lolii on the phenolic profile, phenolic content, and antioxidant capacity of L. perenne were examined. Samples could be ranked according to their phenol content as follows: E(AR1) > E(AR37) ≥ E(-) > E(WT). Radical-scavenging assays showed the same relative ranking of extracts. Flavonoid glycosides and hydroxycinnamic acids were the most abundant polyphenols in L. perenne extracts. Chlorogenic acid and its derivatives were the major compounds responsible for the antioxidant activity. Infection with N. lolii significantly influenced L. perenne phenolic content and antioxidant activity. In conclusion, changes in phenolic composition were merely quantitative. Endophyte infection can have zero, positive, or negative effect on phenol content depending on the endophyte strain.     

The breeding potential of wild potato species resistant to the potato tuber moth,Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller)

Summary The potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) is an important pest of potatoes in the field and in stores in warm environments throughout the world. In this study genetic resistance to potato tuber moth was identified in clones of Solanum sparsipilum (coded MBN) originally developed for resistance to bacterial wilt and root-knot nematode. Resistance to this pest in S. sucrense and S. tarijense as well as S. sparsipilum was exploited in wide crosses with diploid and tetraploid cultivated potatoes, and haploids derived from S. tuberosum; hybrid progenies were produced. Crosses between resistant S. pinnatisectum or S. commersonii and cultivated potatoes failed completely, although S. commersonii did hybridise with two bridging species S. lignicaule and S. capsicibaccatum which are slightly compatible with cultivated potatoes. Resistance to potato tuber moth was transferred to all progenies except those in which S. tarijense was the resistant parent. The development of potatoes resistant to potato tuber moth is discussed in the context of population breeding for the lowland tropics.     

Physiological responses and performance of Nili-Ravi buffalo calves under different washing frequency during hot summer months in tropics

The effect of washing frequency on the physiological responses and performance of buffalo calves was studied in hot summer. Thirty Nili-Ravi calves aged 4–6 months were divided into three uniform groups of ten. The calves of group A, B and C were washed two (9 a.m. and 3 p.m.), three (8 a.m., 12 noon and 4 p.m.) and four (8 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.) times in a day, respectively. They were washed with water for 5 min at a stretch. The mean linear body measurements, body weight, dry matter intake through concentrate, green fodder and physiological responses, i.e. rectal temperature, pulse rate and respiration rate before and after washing under different daily washing frequency were recorded fortnightly. The average daily gain was also calculated. The mean total dry matter intake was increased with the increase frequency of washing. The maximum mean daily body weight gain was recorded in group C followed by group B and A. There were statistically significant (P < 0.05) differences between the three washing groups. Calves were more comfortable with increase number of washing in a day in hot summer. The rectal temperature, pulse rate and respiration rate also varied significantly (P < 0.05) between the three experiment groups. It can be concluded that daily four times washing in hot summer had more beneficial effects over three and two times washing of young Nili-Ravi buffalo calves to decrease rectal temperature, pulse rate and respiration rate and to increase average feed utilization and daily gain under tropical climate.     

Femtomolar sensitivity of a NO sensor from Clostridium botulinum

Nitric oxide (NO) is extremely toxic to Clostridium botulinum, but its molecular targets are unknown. Here, we identify a heme protein sensor (SONO) that displays femtomolar affinity for NO. The crystal structure of the SONO heme domain reveals a previously undescribed fold and a strategically placed tyrosine residue that modulates heme-nitrosyl coordination. Furthermore, the domain architecture of a SONO ortholog cloned from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii indicates that NO signaling through cyclic guanosine monophosphate arose before the origin of multicellular eukaryotes. Our findings have broad implications for understanding bacterial responses to NO, as well as for the activation of mammalian NO-sensitive guanylyl cyclase.