Development and evaluation of in vitro somaclonal variation in strawberry for improved horticultural traits

Strawberry cultivation is not popular in Bangladesh due to the unpredictable climatic conditions and lack of proper cultivars. Using somaclonal variation, several new promising selections were generated and evaluated for their flowering and fruiting ability, adaptability and sustainability. To induce variation, plants were regenerated using various tissue culture techniques. Our results suggested that a high concentration of BAP in culture medium successfully resulted in the induction of somaclonal variation. Among the tissue culture techniques adopted in this study, meristem culture was most effective for induction of somaclonal variation. Twenty five putative somaclones with better horticultural features were subsequently selected and field evaluated for three clonal generations. Several of the selections reverted back to their original phenotype within 2–3 vegetative propagations. Three of the stable selections were distinct from each other in terms of fruit and other horticultural characters, and have potential for commercial cultivation in Bangladesh.     

Stimulation of growth performance without causing stress response in young red sea bream, Pagrus major (Temminck & Schlegel), by photoperiod manipulation

Three photoperiods (12L:12D, 16L:8D and 24L:0D) were used to investigate the growth performance and stress response in red sea bream, Pagrus major (body weight 200–400 g). Fish were fed a commercial diet to apparent satiation, two times a day for 8 weeks. Fish exposed to a 24L:0D photoperiod showed a significantly higher weight gain (%) than those exposed to other photoperiods (P<0.05). The best specific growth rate and feed conversion efficiency were achieved at 24L:0D and 16L:8D, without significant differences among them. Although fish exposed to 16L:8D showed a significantly higher plasma level of cortisol than those exposed to other photoperiods in the third week, there was no major variation in the cortisol level among the treatments either at the sixth week or at the end of this study. There were no significant differences either in the haematocrit level or the plasma levels of glucose, total cholesterol and total protein among the treatments during this study. The results revealed that the growth performance of red sea bream reared from 200 to 400 g can be stimulated significantly using a continuous (24L:0D) photoperiod without any measurable significant stress response in fish.     

Suppressing methane emission and global warming potential from rice fields through intermittent drainage and green biomass amendment

Winter cover crops are recommended to improve soil quality and carbon sequestration, although their use as green manure can significantly increase methane (CH₄) emission from paddy soils. Soil management practices can be used to reduce CH₄ emission from paddy soils, but intermittent drainage is regarded as a key practice to reduce CH₄ emission and global warming potential (GWP). However, significantly greater emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) are expected when large amounts of cover crop biomass are incorporated into soils. In this study, we investigated the effects of midseason drainage on CH₄ emission and GWP following incorporation of 0, 3, 6 and 12 Mg/ha of cover crop biomass. Methane, CO₂ and N₂O emission rates significantly (P < 0.05) increased with higher rates of cover crop biomass incorporation under both irrigation conditions. However, intermittent drainage effectively reduced seasonal CH₄ fluxes by ca. 42–46% and GWP by 17–31% compared to continuous flooding. Moreover, there were no significant differences in rice yield between the two water management practices with similar biomass incorporation rates. In conclusion, intermittent drainage and incorporation of 3 Mg/ha of green biomass could be a good management option to reduce GWP.     

Preparation of acetonides from soybean oil, methyl soyate, and fatty esters

This paper describes the preparation of a new type of branched vegetable oil and its methyl ester that involves the formation of acetonides. A facile and environmentally friendly synthesis has been found to produce acetonides that entails the use of ferric chloride as a catalyst and is conducted at room temperature. The products have been fully characterized with the help of model compounds, including elemental analysis, infrared (IR) spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).     

Molecular cloning and tissue-specific expression of Toll-like receptor 5 gene from turkeys

Toll-like receptors (TLRs), a family of transmembrane and cytosolic proteins, detect microbial patterns, initiating innate immune responses in various organisms. Although they are abundant, genetic characterization and functional differences of TLRs in economically important avian species such as chickens and turkeys have not been investigated in detail. In this study, the putative TLR5 coding region from turkey genome was sequenced, and its homology to other vertebrate species was analyzed. Secondary structure analysis revealed protein motifs typical of the chicken TLR5 protein structure, with 97% amino acid identity between them. mRNA expression profiling in adult turkeys revealed abundant TLR5 expression in a broad range of tissues. Stimulation with the TLR5 ligand flagellin resulted in the production of the inflammatory mediators interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, and nitric oxide in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. To our knowledge, this is the first complete turkey TLR5 coding DNA sequence reported in sequence databases.     

Effects of dietary copper supplementation on production performance and plasma biochemical parameters in broiler chickens

1. A study was conducted to estimate the effect of copper (Cu) supplementation on growth performance and biochemical profiles of blood and meat in broiler chickens.

2. A total of 240?d-old broiler chicks (Vencobb-100) were randomly divided into 12 groups, each of 20 chicks (4 treatments?×?3 replicates).

3. The basal diet (T₁) contained 215?g?kg^?1 crude protein (CP), 12·76?MJ?kg^?1 ME, 32?g?kg^?1 total calcium and 5?g?kg^?1 total phosphorus. T_2, T₃ and T₄ were formulated to contain an additional 75, 150 and 250?mg?Cu?kg^?1 diet, respectively. Copper sulphate pentahydrate (CuSO₄, 5H₂O) was used as the source of Cu.

4. Significant reductions in plasma total cholesterol and triglyceride, and an elevated concentration of HDL-cholesterol, were observed in the chickens fed with 250?mg?Cu?kg^?1 (T₄) of feed at the 3rd and 6th week of the experiment. Total cholesterol in meat decreased significantly in the birds fed with dietary Cu at 250?mg?kg^?1 (T₄) of feed.

5. Growth performance was measured in terms of live weight gain, cumulative feed intake and feed conversion ratio at the end of d 21 and d 42 of the experiment, and the result was found to be commercially beneficial for the chickens receiving 150?mg?Cu?kg^?1 (T₃) of diet. The concentration of Cu in breast muscle and liver increased significantly at the end of experiment.

6. From this study it can be concluded that supplementation with dietary Cu may be beneficial for production performance and plasma biochemical characteristics of broiler chickens.     

Identification of genomic regions associated with resistance to blackleg (Leptosphaeria maculans) in canola using genome wide association study

Black rot of crucifers is one of the most important diseases of wild rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia L. (D.C.)) caused by the seedborne pathogen Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris. From 2005, it frequently affected this cultivation in the south of Italy, leading to heavy crop losses. In the present work, we aimed to describe the physiological and molecular characteristics of twenty X. campestris pv. campestris strains isolated from plants and seeds. Ten Xanthomonas spp. strains contaminating seeds were identified on the basis of molecular characterization and in vivo pathogenicity on a discriminating host range. Some of seed-borne isolates were ascribed to the species Xanthomonas campestris pv. raphani and X. campestris pv. incanae, indicating the occurrence of non-host pathogenic Xanthomonas on wild rocket seeds. As well as the presence of pathogenic bacteria, even non-pathogenic Xanthomonas spp. strains were detected on the seeds, underlying the importance of identifying them to evaluate the suitability of lots intended for sowing. A phylogeny using 69 Gyrase B (gyrB) sequences retrieved from the literature, was also carried out, highlighting species relatedness. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive framework for Xanthomonas species affecting wild rocket in Southern Italy.

     

Indole acetic acid and ACC deaminase-producing <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Rhizobium leguminosarum</Emphasis> bv. <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">trifolii</Emphasis> SN10 promote rice growth,and in the process undergo colonization and chemotaxis

This study focuses on the chemotaxis, colonization and rice growth promoting ability of indole acetic acid (IAA) and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase-producing rhizobacteria Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii SN10, previously isolated from root nodules of Trifolium alexandrium L. We show here that R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii SN10 promote the growth of four different rice varieties grown in India in terms of biomass, root branching and N content. In addition, using scanning electron microscopy and viable cell counts, we provide evidence that the bacteria successfully colonize the root surface of the rice variety which showed maximum growth promotion upon inoculation. Not only this, R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii SN10 exhibit a strong chemotaxis response towards the rice seed and root exudates despite the presence of a bacteriostatic phenolic compound, 7-hydroxycoumarin (umbelliferone). Further, R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii SN10 secretion of phytohormones such as IAA and ACC deaminase suggest the potential of the plant growth promoting rhizobacteria to be used as biofertilizer to enhance rice crop production in the subcontinent.     

Seroprevalence of bluetongue and presence of viral antigen and type-specific neutralizing antibodies in goats in Tripura,a state at Indo-Bangladesh border of northeastern India

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Bluetongue (BT) is a notifiable multiple species transboundary viral disease of domestic and wild ruminants. Though the disease is enzootic in India, little...     

Ecological Dynamics of Campylobacter in Integrated Mixed Crop–Livestock Farms and Its Prevalence and Survival Ability in Post‐Harvest Products

This study investigated the ecological distribution of zoonotic bacterial pathogen, Campylobacter, in mixed crop–livestock (MCL) farms compared to conventional farms and their products at pre‐ and post‐harvest levels. A total of 222 Campylobacter isolates were identified. At pre‐harvest level, a total of 1287 samples from seven MCL farms, four conventional poultry farms, four organic produce‐only and five conventional produce‐only farms from Maryland and the DC metropolitan area were analysed from 2012 to 2014. Campylobacter was detected in 11.16% and 3.6% of MCL and conventional farm samples, respectively, but none from produce‐only farm samples. Tetracycline resistance was observed in 51.02% of MCL farm isolates but none among conventional farm isolates. For post‐harvest analysis, a total of 1281 food products from seven farmers markets, three organic retail supermarkets and three conventional retail supermarkets were collected from the same area. Campylobacter was isolated in 87.5%, 71.43% and 33.33% of whole chicken carcasses in farmers markets, organic and conventional retail supermarkets, respectively. No Campylobacter was detected in post‐harvest produce samples due in part to the inability of Campylobacter to survive in absence of sufficient water activity. Overall, this study reveals public health concerns regarding the MCL farm environment and their products that are sold in retail and farmers markets.