Drought-Tolerant Pseudomonas spp. Improve the Growth Performance of Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.) Under Non-Stressed and Drought-Stressed Conditions

Application of plant growth-promoting bacteria(PGPB)is an environmentally sustainable option to reduce the effects of abiotic and biotic stresses on plant growth and productivity.Three 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid(ACC)deaminase-producing drought-tolerant bacteria were isolated from a rain-fed agriculture field in the Central Himalaya of Kumaun region,Uttarakhand,India and evaluated for their efficiency in improving finger millet(Eleusine coracana(L.)Gaertn.)plant growth under non-stressed and drought-stressed conditions.These bacteria withstood a substrate metric potential of -1.0 MPa(30% polyethylene glycol 8000)and therefore were considered drought-tolerant.These strains were identified as Pseudomonas spp.by fatty acid methyl ester analysis and 16S rRNA gene sequencing.The ACC deaminase activity of these strains was characterized at the biochemical level,and the presence of acd S gene,the structural gene for ACC deaminase,was confirmed by the polymerase chain reaction.Two sets of pot trials in glass house were set up,one for normal(non-stressed)and the other for drought-stressed conditions.After 5 weeks,one set of plants was subjected to drought stress for 5 d,while the other set continued to be watered.The same growth parameters were recorded for both sets of plants after 40 d of plant growth.The results of pot trials showed that treatments inoculated with ACC deaminase-producing bacterial strains significantly improved the growth performance of finger millet plants and foliar nutrient content as compared to uninoculated treatments under both non-stressed and drought-stressed conditions.In addition,a significant increase in antioxidant activity was observed,wherein bacterial stain inoculation improved plant fitness by protecting it from oxidative damage induced by drought.     

Gene-based analysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Puccinia</Emphasis> species and development of PCR-based marker to detect <Emphasis Type="Italic">Puccinia striiformis</Emphasis> f. sp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">tritici</Emphasis> causing yellow rust of wheat

Stripe rust is considered as the current major rust disease affecting winter cereal production across the world. A quick, reliable PCR-based marker was developed here to detect, identify and rapidly monitor Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) in wheat-growing areas. Three respective sets of primers, designed from β-tubulin, squalene monooxygenase and ketopantoate reductase genes selected from the full genome of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici, amplified sequences of 239, 358 and 1518 bp, respectively, in Pst pathotypes. A fragment of 1518 bp unique to Pst pathotypes was amplified using primer set PstKeto F1_30/Pst KetoR1_1547 and distinguished the pathogen clearly from different Puccinia spp. and other fungal pathogens. The detection limit of the marker (KetoPstRA₁₅₀₀, accession no. KU240073) by conventional PCR assay was 10 pg. This marker could detect the pathogen in the host before symptom expression. The sensitivity and utility of the marker were further enhanced in a qPCR-based assay that was developed with a newly designed primer set PstKeto F1_1246/Pst KetoR1_1547, which amplified a product of 302 bp and detected as little as 10 fg of DNA. This PCR/qPCR based marker is suitable for studying cultivar resistance, which requires accurate quantification of the pathogen in diseased host tissue.     

Mode of action of acibenzolar-S-methyl against sheath blight of rice, caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kühn

The mode of action of acibenzolar-S-methyl (BTH) was investigated against sheath blight of rice and its pathogen, Rhizoctonia solani. BTH exhibited limited fungitoxicity against R solani, in the form of reduced mycelial growth, hyphal browning and sclerotia formation. Parasite fitness of mycelia and sclerotia formed on BTH-amended media was also reduced. When applied as soil drench or foliar spray, BTH inhibited both disease development on inoculated sheaths and its spread to the younger sheaths. The degree of protection against sheath blight increased with increase in duration between BTH application and inoculation. The curative effect of BTH was poor. When applied through roots a protective effect of BTH was visible even with only a 1-h interval between application and inoculation. However, in the case of foliar application, protective effect was recorded only when the gap between application and inoculation was 24 h. BTH reduced the frequency of penetration by R solani, colonization of host tissue and spread of the hyphae from primary lesions to form secondary lesions. BTH induced swelling of hyphal tips on the sheath surface, formation of papillae, browning of penetrated epidermal cells and degeneration of intra-cellular hyphae colonizing epidermal and mesophyll cells. Therefore, the protective effect of BTH against sheath blight was due to combination of its host defence-inducing activity and its adverse effect on growth and vigor (parasite fitness) of the pathogen.     

Supplementary effect of spirulina on hematological status of rats during pregnancy and lactation

The effect of Spirulina on iron status was assessed based on hemoglobin, packed cell volume, serum iron, total iron binding capacity and ferritin levels of rats during pregnancy and lactation. Rats were fed 5 different kinds of diets (casein, Spirulina, wheat gluten, Spirulina + wheat gluten, Spirulina without additional vitamins and minerals) each providing 22 percent protein. Diets containing Spirulina alone or in combination with wheat gluten resulted in significantly higher iron storage and hemoglobin contents than casein and wheat gluten diets during the first half of pregnancy and lactation. Wheat gluten diet result in the smallest increase in hemoglobin levels and iron stores compared to other diets. The values of serum iron and iron binding capacity remained unchanged with different diets. Spirulina appears to be effective in improving the iron status of rats during pregnancy and lactation.     

A review on adaptation of banana (Musa spp.) to cold in subtropics

Global production of bananais adversely affected by abiotic stresses, namely, drought, salinity and low temperature which cause changes in morphology, anatomy, physiology and biochemical metabolism in plant. Different banana cultivars respond differently when grown in subtropical regions due to changes in temperature mainly at the time of flowering and fruiting. The subtropical regions persist cold in winter which become a major constraint for proper growth and development of banana. Only few cultivars are identified for cold tolerance. The cold tolerance is a complex phenomenon, involving numbers of interrelated metabolic pathways. With the onset of cold, growth decrease through alteration in the synthesis of metabolites which are regulated by expression of genes and their interactions. Recently, complete genome sequencing, mutation and transgenesis provided deep insight into the complex mechanism of cold tolerance in banana. In this review, efforts are made to compile the findings and to interpret the better application of technologies in understanding the cold tolerance which may assist in banana breeding.     

Alterations of hemogram,serum biochemistry,oxidative/nitrosative balance,and copper/zinc homeostasis in dromedary camels naturally infected with poxvirus

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Camel pox (CMLP), a contagious viral disease of camels, causes considerable economic loss in terms of milk, meat, wool, and leather production besides...