Resolving conflicts between butterfly host resource abundance and genet population size estimates for a vegetatively spreading, threatened grassland legume

Population size estimates are an integral part of rare plant conservation, but common abundance measurements such as cover and ramet number may not accurately index genet population size for vegetatively spreading species. Population monitoring of Kincaid’s lupine (threatened species) populations occurs through genet-anonymous leaf cover and raceme counts despite extensive, non-adventitious rhizome growth. While the current monitoring scheme provides important resource abundance measurements for the endangered Fender’s blue butterfly, whose larvae feed on Kincaid’s lupine leaves, the methods are not appropriate for estimating lupine genet number. Major axis regression revealed well supported statistical relationships between cover, raceme, and plantlet (a measurement of modular plant growth) density within six study patches (n = 3 populations) of Kincaid’s lupine (R² > 0.90) and when all patch data were combined (R² > 0.91). Genet population size estimates from genotype only data with ACE (an estimator used to infer species richness) were similar to estimates derived from a combination of plantlet density and genet to plantlet ratios (genotype derived) in small, more thoroughly genotyped lupine patches. However, genet number estimates from ACE were 3–5-fold greater in less intensely genotyped patches. Genet-anonymous plant abundance measurements, such as cover, can be used to estimate genet number in populations of vegetatively spreading plants provided they are calibrated with a unit of modular plant growth. Calibration of vegetative measurements, consistency of between population relationships, and closer scrutiny of highly supported statistical models may be necessary to develop more pertinent monitoring methods for rare, vegetatively spreading plants.     

Eicosapentaenoic acid enrichment from sardine oil by argentation chromatography

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) derived from chemically hydrolyzed sardine oil was concentrated by urea fractionation using methanol at different temperatures (2, 4, and 6 degrees C) and urea/fatty acid ratios (2:1, 3:1, and 4:1 w/w) and purified by argentation neutral alumina column chromatography. The individual fatty acids were determined as fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) by gas-liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy as FAME and N-acyl pyrrolidides. In the mass fragmentation pattern of FAME, the base peak was assigned to be the 1-methoxyethenol moiety (m/z = 74) obtained by McLafferty rearrangement. Formation of the cyclic tropylium ion (m/z = 91) in fatty acids with four or more double bonds was apparent in FAME-PUFAs. The base peak of N-acyl pyrrolidides was the McLafferty rearrangement ion, 1-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)ethenol (m/z = 113). The highest concentration of EPA (47.78%) was obtained at the crystallization temperature of 4 degrees C with a urea/fatty acid ratio of 4:1 (w/w) with 93.74% yield. After complexation of saturated and less unsaturated fatty acids by urea complexation, argentation chromatography resulted in an EPA of high purity (99.6%) with an overall recovery of 54.09% using 50% diethyl ether/n-hexane as eluting solvent. The peroxide (POV) and thiobarbituric acid (TBS) values were found to be highest (4.0 mequiv of O2/kg and 5.2 mg of malondialdehyde/kg, respectively) during urea fractionation at the higher crystallization temperature (6 degrees C) and higher urea/fatty acid ratio (4:1). Keywords: Sardine oil; eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA); fatty acid methyl esters (FAME); urea fractionation; argentation column chromatography.     

Naturally derived micelles for rapid in vitro screening of potential cholesterol-lowering bioactives

A high plasma cholesterol level, especially low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, indicates increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Plasma cholesterol levels are influenced by diet and cholesterol biosynthesis, uptake, and secretion. Cholesterol uptake involves solubilization into complex phospholipid spherical bodies termed micelles that facilitate the transport of lipids through the gut brush border membrane into enterocytes. In vitro assays reported to date to determine potential cholesterol-lowering effects of various compounds require artificial micelle preparations that are elaborate and time-consuming to prepare. The aims of this study were to compare the efficacy of artificially prepared micelles with naturally derived micelles from pig's bile and to test their ability to assess potential inhibitors of cholesterol uptake. The suitability of pig's bile-derived micelles was tested both at the level of the micelle and at cellular uptake using cultured Caco-2 cells. Known cholesterol uptake inhibitors at the micelle (green tea catechins) and at the Caco-2 cell (beta-lactoglobulin-derived peptide, IIAEK) were used as reference inhibitory compounds. It was concluded that pig's bile was a rapid, reproducible, convenient, and cost-effective source of micelles for cholesterol micelle solubility and cellular uptake assay systems and is suitable for screening purposes focused on identifying potential cholesterol-lowering agents.     

Distribution and transport of radium in a tropical river

The nuclides, ²²⁸Ra and ²²⁶Ra, distributed into the soluble, suspended and sediment fractions in the river have differential inputs, both fluvial and technological. The high background contribution, enhancement due to industrial activities, and changes at the backwaters are highlighted. The solubilization-precipitation cycle at the backwater is discussed in relation to the seasonal inputs of fresh and saline waters, respectively, into the estuary. Sediment shift and subsequent solubilization of Ra from sediments during monsoon are the major geological phenomena responsible for its transport from the river to the coastal marine environment.     

Retrospect on in vitro androgenesis of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor)

Development of sorghum hybrids can immensely benefit from an enhanced anther culture protocol since the resultant doubled haploids would accelerate, as in other major cereal crops, the attainment of homozygosity and fixation of alleles. Production of the hybrids that have got high yielding, stress tolerance and other traits of industrial significance in a shorter time as compared to the current trend can hence be realized. This review presents the advances that have been made in the development of such a protocol, with closer attention to androgenic induction components of pre-treatment, culture media composition and conditions as well as ploidy determination and eventual chromosome doubling. From the findings of this review, it is clear that further work is desired to ensure a protocol, that to a large degree, breaks the genotype dependency trend that has been widely cited to impede the usability of the tested protocols.     

The biotechnology of crop legumes

Summary The absence of variety-independent gene transfer methods for major agronomic species has, until now, limited the usefulness of recombinant DNA techniques to crop improvement programs. Until recently, only Solanaceous crops could be used to study fundamental and applied problems in plant sciences. During the past five years rapid advances in cell biology, in combination with the development of novel gene transfer methodology allowed utilization of the tools of plant molecular biology in conventional breeding programs. Cereal and leguminous species were considered to be recalcitrant to genetic manipulation. As a result of the development of direct DNA transfer methodology into organized tissue, we are now in a position to introduce any foreign gene into almost all of the major cereals and legumes. This can be achieved efficiently, often in a variety-independent fashion. The object of this review is to provide a comprehensive account of the state of the art in gene transfer for the cultivated leguminous crops. Important oilseed and feed species primarily in industrialized countries, as well as minor but equally important species for sustaining growth populations in developing countries will be examined. Advantages of the various gene transfer methods that were shown to be useful for specific crops, as well as limitations and problems associated with each crop and gene transfer method will be discussed. Data from field trials of transgenic legumes, where available, will be presented.     

Capturing genetic variability and selection of traits for heat tolerance in a chickpea recombinant inbred line (RIL) population under field conditions

Chickpea is the most important pulse crop globally after dry beans. Climate change and increased cropping intensity are forcing chickpea cultivation to relatively higher temperature environments. To assess the genetic variability and identify heat responsive traits, a set of 296 F_8–9 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of the cross ICC 4567 (heat sensitive) × ICC 15614 (heat tolerant) was evaluated under field conditions at ICRISAT, Patancheru, India. The experiment was conducted in an alpha lattice design with three replications during the summer seasons of 2013 and 2014 (heat stress environments, average temperature 35 °C and above), and post-rainy season of 2013 (non-stress environment, max. temperature below 30 °C). A two-fold variation for number of filled pods (FPod), total number of seeds (TS), harvest index (HI), percent pod setting (%PodSet) and grain yield (GY) was observed in the RILs under stress environments compared to non-stress environment. A yield penalty ranging from 22.26% (summer 2013) to 33.30% (summer 2014) was recorded in stress environments. Seed mass measured as 100-seed weight (HSW) was the least affected (6 and 7% reduction) trait, while %PodSet was the most affected (45.86 and 44.31% reduction) trait by high temperatures. Mixed model analysis of variance revealed a high genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) (23.29–30.22%), phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) (25.69–32.44%) along with high heritability (80.89–86.89%) for FPod, TS, %PodSet and GY across the heat stress environments. Correlation studies (r = 0.61–0.97) and principal component analysis (PCA) revealed a strong positive association among the traits GY, FPod, VS and %PodSet under stress environments. Path analysis results showed that TS was the major direct and FPod was the major indirect contributors to GY under heat stress environments. Therefore, the traits that are good indicators of high grain yield under heat stress can be used in indirect selection for developing heat tolerant chickpea cultivars. Moreover, the presence of large genetic variation for heat tolerance in the population may provide an opportunity to use the RILs in future-heat tolerance breeding programme in chickpea.