Ascorbic Acid Enhances Growth and Yield of Sweet Peppers (Capsicum annum) by Mitigating Salinity Stress

Salinity is a crucial problem which has affected crop productivity globally. Ascorbic acid is considered helpful against abiotic stresses due to its powerful antioxidant potential. In the pot experiment, salinity stress (0, 35, 70, and 105?mM) was applied to sweet peppers in split doses after 20 days of transplantation. To mitigate the adverse effects of salinity, ascorbic acid (0, 0.40, 0.80, and 1.20?mM) was applied as foliar spray after a 6-day interval during vegetative growth. Sweet pepper plants sprayed with distilled water (control) recorded maximum plant height (cm), leaf area (cm²), number of branches, stem diameter (mm), number of fruit plant^?1, fruit diameter (cm), yield plant^?1 (g), and chlorophyll content (mg 100?g^?1), while the maximum polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity (unit mg protein^?1 min^?1) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity (unit mg protein^?1 min^?1) were recorded in plants treated with 70?mM NaCl application. Salinity stress beyond 70?mM significantly reduced all the studied parameters. An ascorbic acid concentration of 1.20?mM significantly mitigated the negative effects of salt stress and recorded maximum plant height (cm), number of leaves plant^?1, leaf area (cm²), number of branches plant^?1, stem diameter (mm), number of fruit plant^?1, fruit diameter (cm), yield plant^?1 (g), chlorophyll content (mg 100?g^?1), PPO activity (unit mg protein^?1 min^?1), and APX activity (unit mg protein^?1 min^?1). Hence, a 1.20?mM concentration of foliar ascorbic acid could be used in saline conditions up to 70?mM of sodium chloride (NaCl) for better growth, productivity, and enzymatic activity of sweet peppers.

     

Population structure and phylogenetic relationship of Peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] and Nectarine [Prunus persica var. nucipersica (L.) C.K. Schneid.] based on retrotransposon markers

For effective varietal improvement of horticultural crops peach (Prunus persica) and nectarine (Prunus persica var. nucipersica), information about their population structure and genetic relatedness plays an important role. In this study we used retrotransposon-based markers (iPBS) to estimate the genetic diversity and population structure of 48 peach and nectarine genotypes from various distinct geographical regions of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. A total of 461 alleles were identified from PCR amplicons derived from nine iPBS primer pairs with an average of 8.5 alleles/locus. Among all four groups the genotypes collected from Swat and Hunza had the highest and the lowest expected heterozygosity, unbiased expected heterozygosity and Shannon’s information index, respectively. We constructed a Neighbour-Joining dendrogram and performed principal coordinate analysis based on the distance matrices, and both forms of analysis grouped the 48 genotypes into two distinct clusters. The STRUCTURE software distributed the forty-eight genotypes into two main populations (k?=?2) indicating a low diversity between genotypes collected from Chakwal, Swat, Mansehra and Hunza.

     

Estimation of additive, dominance and digenic epistatic interaction effects for certain yield characters in Vigna sesquipedalis Fruw

Inheritance of yield and yield contributing characters were investigated using generation mean analysis, utilising the means of six basic populations viz., P₁, P₂, F₁, F₂, BC₁P₁ and BC₁P₂ in four crosses of Vigna sesquipedalis. The analysis reiterated that the importance of dominance (h) gene effects for pod yield/plant and pods/plant as compared to additive (d) gene effects. However, significant and positive additive effects were noticed for pod yield/plant, pods/plant, pod weight and seed weight in different crosses. The three types of gene interactions (additive, dominance and epistasis) were significantly involved for pods/plant in cross KU 7 ×KU 8. Among the digenic epistatic interactions, both additive ×additive (i) and dominance × dominance (l) contributed more for pod yield/plant and pods/plant, however, it varied among the crosses. Populations having earliness can be developed as indicated by reducing dominance effects. Pedigree selection and heterosis breeding is suggested to exploit the fixable and non fixable components of variation respectively in Vigna sesquipedalis. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Fertilizing fish ponds. I — Chemistry of the waters

Fertilization experiments were carried out in the Mex fish farm using superphosphate, ammonium nitrate and organic manure as fertilizers.The water was analysed monthly for inorganic phosphates, nitrates and silicates, in addition to chlorosity and pH.The ponds fertilized with chemical fertilizers exhibited a more rapid consumption of nutrients than the pond fertilized with organic manure.Phosphates and nitrates disappeared from the ponds after about two days of addition.     

Antioxidant Potential,Physico-chemical,and Sensory Attributes of Cookies Supplemented with Mosambi Peel Extract

The core objective of the present investigation was to isolate and quantify antioxidants from mosambi (sweet orange) peel. In the proposed research, different solvents were used for the extraction of antioxidants from mosambi peel. Among these solvents, ethanol resulted in better antioxidant yield compared to aqueous extract. Ethanolic extract of mosambi peel showed higher total phenolic contents (19.3 ± 0.3 mg/g) as compared to aqueous extracts (18.2 ± 0.04 mg/g). Considering the safety health concern, aqueous extract of mosambi peel was incorporated in cookies at different concentrations of 1%, 2%, and 3%, and further subjected to physico-chemical and sensory attributes. Proximate composition (moisture, crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, ash, and niitrogen-free extract (NFE) contents) of fortified cookies varied non-significantly. However, sensory evaluation rated aqueous extract of mosambi peel (2%) with better hedonic response. Mosambi peel antioxidants have a great potential to be used in various functional foods and the ability to improve storage stability.     

Osteopontin gene polymorphism association with milk traits and its expression analysis in milk of riverine buffalo

Osteopontin gene is regarded as a plausible candidate in mammary gland differentiation and development, expressed by variety of cells, tissues, and biological fluids including milk. The current study was performed in two phases. In the first phase, Osteopontin gene polymorphisms were identified and associated with milk composition such as ash, milk fat, SNF, lactose, and protein. In the second phase, milk samples from five healthy mastitis-free Nili Ravi buffaloes were analyzed for expression of Osteopontin gene at transition (day 15), mid (day 90), and end (day 250) stage of their second lactation. Briefly, blood samples were collected from Nili Ravi buffalo to isolate the genomic DNA, specific primers were designed for PCR amplification. The amplified PCR products were sequenced bi-directionally. Six polymorphisms were identified in the coding region and four in the intronic region of the gene. The results showed that SNP g.38329758 T > C causing substitution of valine to alanine (V127A) was associated with high milk protein. For mRNA expression analysis, somatic cells were separated from milk samples for RNA isolation. Analysis of differential gene expression data has permitted us to illustrate the expression pattern of osteopontin gene in lactating buffalo. The Osteopontin gene was found to be transcribed among all three lactation stages, but expression was observed with the highest value (fold change) in peak lactation and remained elevated till the end of lactation. Identified gene marker may be helpful for the prediction of superior animal for selection. The presented study also gave an insight into the genetic screening and lactation biology of riverine buffalo, offering direction for future research in lactating buffalo.     

Diagnosis and Surgical Management of Pythiosis in Draft Horses: Report of 33 Cases in Egypt

A total of 33 draft horses suffering from cutaneous pythiosis were referred to Mansoura Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Egypt, between October 2008 and January 2011. The animals presented ulcerative, granulomatous lesions located at the ventral aspect of the thorax (n = 10), abdomen (n = 14), forelimbs (n = 5), hind limbs (n = 2), and presternal region (n = 1) and at withers (n=1). The animals suffered from ulcerations composed of whitish yellow tissue having numerous draining tracts that discharge serosanguineous or bloody exudates. Initial diagnosis was based on location, gross lesion, and presence of kunkers. Histopathological evaluation revealed an eosinophilic granulomatous reaction associated with intralesional hyphae characteristic of Pythium insidiosum visualized by Gomori methenamine silver stain. The outcome of surgical excision revealed complete cure in 24 cases. Euthanasia was indicated in 9 cases.     

The potential of middle eastern flora as a source of new safe bio-acaricides to control<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tetranychus cinnabarinus</Emphasis>, the carmine spider mite

Twenty-nine plant extracts of local species were evaluated for their potential as a source of bioactive ingredients with significant acaricidal activity that could lead to the development of new and safe bio-acaricides. The crude extracts (70% ethanol) of these plants were tested for their acaricidal activity against the carmine spider miteTetranychus cinnabarinus in a bioassay under controlled conditions. Mortality, repellency, and the number of eggs laid were measured. Extracts fromEucalyptus camaldulensis andInula viscosa caused more than 25% mortality. Sixteen plant extracts showed significant repellency compared with the control. The six best extracts, resulting in more than 75% repellency, were fromAllium sativum, Capparis spinosa, Cupressus sempervirens, Lupinus pilosus, Rhus coriaria andTamarix aphylla. Extracts from 16 plants were found to cause a significant reduction in the number of eggs laid compared with the control. The greatest reduction was achieved by extracts fromC. spinosa, Cyperus rotundus, E. camaldulensis, L. pilosus, Punica granatum, R. coriaria andT. aphylla. A relatively negative fit was found between the mean number of repelled mites and the number of eggs laid (r=−0.65), which might indicate that most repelled mites were unable to lay eggs before leaving the leaf discs of the bioassay. Our results show that several plant extracts have good potential for acaricidal activity and are worth further investigation. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Dec. 16, 2003.     

Rhamnus lycioides in Tunisia is a new aecial host of oat crown rust

Puccinia coronata was not previously described on Rhamnus spp. in Tunisia. Three sites in the northwest of Tunisia, where Rhamnus is reported to be abundant, were surveyed for the presence of pycnia and aecia of oat crown rust caused by Puccinia coronata f. sp. avenae. Two Rhamnus species (R. lycioides and R. alaternus) were encountered in the sites. Pycnia with viable pycniospores and aecia with viable aeciospores were found on R. lycioides. However, no characteristic structures of crown rust were found on R. alaternus. Aeciospores collected from leaves of R. lycioides were used to inoculate oat plants usually susceptible to oat crown rust. Typical uredinia containing oat crown rust urediniospores appeared on the leaves of these plants. Moreover, the sixteen Pc-gene differential oat lines, used by oat researchers to study the virulence pattern in oat crown rust populations, were artificially inoculated with aeciospores from R. lycioides. These inoculated lines showed resistance/susceptibility similar to the registered resistance level of these lines to crown rust under field conditions in Tunisia. These results indicate that R. lycioides, a common and endemic part of the vegetation in the northwest of Tunisia, is a new aecial host of oat crown rust. The aeciospores produced on this forest plant could constitute the source of the virulence diversity already detected via the Pc-gene line trials.     

Primary in vitro stimulation of antibody production by lizard splenocytes

Single-cell suspensions of adult lizard (Chalcides ocellatus) spleen have been induced, in vitro, to produce a primary immune response. Using rat red cells (RRBC) as antigen and the culture conditions normally used in most vertebrate species but new for reptilia, it has been found that, in vitro at 37 degrees C, lizard spleen cells produce an antibody-forming response optimal at day 10. The response depends on the number of cultured cells and the dose of antigen, and parallels that obtained in vivo. Leibovitz (L-15) medium supplemented with 10% normal adult lizard serum was a satisfactory culture medium. 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME), an ingredient used in mammalian cell culture, enhanced antibody production in lizard cells.