Rapid and convenient gel‐free screening of SCAR markers in wheat using SYBR green‐based melt‐profiling

Sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers that are highly desirable in crop breeding for marker‐assisted selection (MAS) are routinely analysed by gel‐based methods that are low‐throughput, time‐consuming and laborious. In this study, we showed a rapid and convenient method for analysis of SCAR markers in a gel‐free manner. Seven SCAR markers, linked to rust resistance genes (Sr24, Sr26 and Sr31) and seed quality traits (Pina, Pinb and Glu‐D1) in wheat (Triticum aestivum), were amplified on a real‐time PCR machine using custom reaction mixture. Subsequently, melting curve analysis was performed, to assess the specificity of amplicons. Using the amplicon‐specific melt‐profiles, the presence/absence of SCAR markers was analysed in fifteen genotypes and five F₂ populations. Unlike the fluorescence‐based in‐tube detection methods, the present method used the amplicon‐specific melt‐profiles to evaluate the status of the SCAR markers, thus eliminating the need for gel‐based analysis. Results also showed feasibility of multiplex analysis of two markers with well‐separated melting profiles. Overall, the approach is a rapid, convenient and cost‐effective method for high‐throughput screening of SCAR markers.     

Antioxidant activity of Myristica malabarica extracts and their constituents

The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay of the ether, methanol, and aqueous extracts of the spice Myristica malabarica (rampatri) revealed the methanol extract to possess the best antioxidant activity. Column chromatography of the methanol extract led to the isolation of a new 2-acylresorcinol and four known diarylnonanoids of which the diarylnonanoid, malabaricone C, showed the maximum DPPH scavenging activity. Malabaricone C could prevent both Fe(II)- and 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane)dihydrochloride-induced lipid peroxidation (LPO) of rat liver mitochondria more efficiently than curcumin. The anti-LPO activity of malabaricone C was attributed to its better radical scavenging and Fe(II) chelation capacities. The superior activity of malabaricone C was rationalized by a systematic structure-activity correlation of the results obtained with the structurally related diarylnonanoids and curcumin. Malabaricone C also prevented the gamma-ray-induced damage of pBR322 plasmid DNA in a concentration-dependent manner. The radioprotective activity was found to correlate with its (*)OH radical scavenging property, which matched well with that of d-mannitol.     

Foliar spray of mineral nutrients enhanced the growth,seed yield,and quality in onion (Allium cepa L.) cv. Pusa Riddhi

The present experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of foliar spray of mineral nutrients on plant growth, seed yield, and quality attributes in onion cv. Pusa Riddhi at SPU, IARI, New Delhi during rabi 2013–14 and 2014–15. The experiment consisted of 16 treatments comprised of boron, zinc, calcium, and magnesium laid out in a completely randomized block design with two replications. The study revealed that the foliar zinc spray (625 g ha^?1) produced higher seed scape height (105.35 cm) along with lower disease incidence (8.50%) than the other treatments. Whereas, higher number of seed scapes plant^?1 (11.20) and productive seed scapes plant^?1 (8.58) were observed in T₁₀ (500 g ha^?1) and combined spray of B + Zn + Ca (T₁₄), respectively. The flowering traits, viz., umbellates umbel^?1 (642.45), productive umbellates umbel^?1 (579.35), and umbel diameter (7.38cm) were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher in T₁₅ than other treatments. Similarly, higher seed yield and seed quality attributes were also observed in combined application of all minerals treatment (T₁₅).     

Comparison between fertilizers and untreated sewage effluent as sources for nutrient recovery by wheat (Triticum aestivum)-soybean (Glycine max) cropping system

Recovery and recycling of plant nutrients from municipal sewage effluent (SE) can reduce consumption of costly chemical fertilizers, besides reducing eutrophication of water bodies. Field experiment was conducted on Vertisol of central India for six years with the objective of quantifying recovery of major plant nutrients by aboveground biomass of wheat-soybean cropping system from untreated SE. Wheat crop was grown with irrigation (groundwater and sewage effluent) and fertilizer treatments; while soybean was grown without any treatments. Recoveries of nitrogen (N), phosphorus P) and potassium (K) by the aboveground biomass were considerably more from SE than from fertilizers and manures. Recovery of nutrients from SE was the highest by wheat grain for N and by soybean straw for P and K. Straw biomass of both the crops recovered about 31% N, 22% P and 69% K from SE, which can be recycled back into agricultural land of groundwater (GW) irrigated as well as rainfed area.     

Molluscicidal evaluation of three common plants from India

Mortality caused by the aqueous extract of latex of Thevetia peruviana, Alstonia scholaris and Euphorbia pulcherrima against two harmful freshwater snails, Lymnaea acuminata and Indoplanorbis exustus, is reported. Latices of all the plants at high doses were also lethal to freshwater fish Channa punctatus, which shares the habitat with these snails, but within 24 h, LC90 of snail L. acuminata did not cause any mortality to fishes in a mixed population of snail and fish. Therefore, these plant extracts may eventually be of great value for the control of harmful aquatic snails and other molluscan pests.     

Retrospective comparison of abdominal ultrasonography and radiography in the investigation of feline abdominal disease

Abdominal radiography and ultrasonography are commonly used as part of the initial diagnostic plan for cats with nonspecific signs of abdominal disease. This retrospective study compared the clinical usefulness of abdominal radiography and ultrasonography in 105 feline patients with signs of abdominal disease. The final diagnosis was determined more commonly with ultrasonography (59%) compared to radiography (25.7%). Ultrasonography was also able to provide additional clinically relevant information in 76% of cases, and changed or refined the diagnosis in 47% of cases. Based on these findings, ultrasonography may be sufficient as an initial diagnostic test for the investigation of feline abdominal disease.     

IMAGING DIAGNOSIS—DUODENOBILIARY REFLUX OF BARIUM SULFATE DURING ESOPHAGOGASTROGRAPHY IN A DOG

A 4‐year‐old Australian cattle dog presented for regurgitation, 2 months after duodenal resection and anastomosis for a perforated duodenal ulcer. Duodenobiliary reflux of barium sulfate suspension was detected during fluoroscopic esophagogastrography. Follow‐up radiography 2 hours later demonstrated persistence of the barium in the gallbladder and biliary tree. Ultrasonography showed an open sphincter of Oddi but no other morphological abnormalities with the gallbladder or biliary system. No side effects or bloodwork abnormalities were noted. This is the first case report of duodenobiliary reflux of barium in a dog. The pathophysiology of this phenomenon and its incidence and significance in human medicine are discussed.     

Techno-economic impacts of using a laser-guided variable-rate spraying system to retrofit conventional constant-rate sprayers

Precision Agriculture - Specialty crops, such as apples, are vulnerable to insects and pathogens, and require higher pesticide input than row crops, a significant fraction of which is off-target...     

Isolation,Purification, and Biochemical Characterization of Trypsin from Indian Mackerel (Rastralliger kanagurta)

Trypsin from viscera of Indian mackerel (Rastralliger kanagurta) was purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation and chromatographic techniques such as size exclusion, ion exchange, and affinity chromatography, with a 14.4-fold increase in specific activity and 18.7% recovery. The molecular weight of the trypsin was estimated to be approximately 26 kDa using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Purified trypsin showed amidase-specific activity which was determined using benzoyl-dl-arginine-p-nitroanilide (BAPNA). The optimum pH and temperature for isolated trypsin activity were 9.0 and 50°C, respectively. The purified trypsin was strongly inhibited by soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI) and N-p-tosyl-1-lysine chloromethyl ketone (TLCK). Purified trypsin showed almost 40% recovery at high NaCl concentration (30%). The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the first 10 amino acids of purified trypsin was IVGGYESQPH. The Michaelis-Menten constant (K_m) and catalytic constant (K_cat) of purified trypsin were 0.430 mM and 0.77 s^?1, respectively, determined using BAPNA as a substrate. Purified trypsin showed digestion of casein similar to bovine trypsin by the fluorometric method.     

Diversity of Sodium Transporter HKT1;5 in Genus Oryza

Asian cultivated rice shows allelic variation in sodium transporter, OsHKT1;5, correlating with shoot sodium exclusion (salinity tolerance). These changes map to intra/extracellularly-oriented loops that occur between four transmembrane-P loop-transmembrane (MPM) motifs in OsHKT1;5. HKT1;5 sequences from more recently evolved Oryza species (O. sativa/O. officinalis complex species) contain two expansions that involve two intracellularly oriented loops/helical regions between MPM domains, potentially governing transport characteristics, while more ancestral HKT1;5 sequences have shorter intracellular loops. We compared homology models for homoeologous OcHKT1;5-K and OcHKT1;5-L from halophytic O. coarctata to identify complementary amino acid residues in OcHKT1;5-L that potentially enhance affinity for Na⁺. Using haplotyping, we showed that Asian cultivated rice accessions only have a fraction of HKT1;5 diversity available in progenitor wild rice species (O. nivara and O. rufipogon). Progenitor HKT1;5 haplotypes can thus be used as novel potential donors for enhancing cultivated rice salinity tolerance. Within Asian rice accessions, 10 non-synonymous HKT1;5 haplotypic groups occur. More HKT1;5 haplotypic diversities occur in cultivated indica gene pool compared to japonica. Predominant Haplotypes 2 and 10 occur in mutually exclusive japonica and indica groups, corresponding to haplotypes in O. sativa salt-sensitive and salt-tolerant landraces, respectively. This distinct haplotype partitioning may have originated in separate ancestral gene pools of indica and japonica, or from different haplotypes selected during domestication. Predominance of specific HKT1;5 haplotypes within the 3 000 rice dataset may relate to eco-physiological fitness in specific geo-climatic and/or edaphic contexts.