Association of induction of protease and chitinase in chickpea roots with resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceri

To improve the breeding of chickpea varieties with resistance to Fusarium wilt, an attempt was made to analyse the biochemical basis of disease resistance by measuring levels of chitinase, β-1,3-glucanase, protease and proteinase inhibitor activities in dry and soaked seeds and in root and shoot tissues of wilt-resistant and wilt-susceptible cultivars. Marginal variation was observed in the levels of the candidate proteins in dry or soaked seeds. Chitinase activity was higher in roots than in shoots or cotyledons. No proteinase inhibitor activity was detected in root and shoot tissue of any of the cultivars. When the levels of these proteins were analysed in resistant (Vijay) and susceptible (JG-62) cultivars during development of wilt by growing plants in soil infested with F. oxysporum f.sp. ciceri , race 1, both cultivars showed induction of chitinase activity in the roots. However, the induced activity in JG-62 (3.82 U g⁻¹) was equivalent to the constitutive level in Vijay (3.90 U g⁻¹) and much lower than that induced in Vijay (5.18 U g⁻¹). Induction of protease activity was observed only in root extracts of Vijay when challenged by the pathogen. The root extract of Vijay showed in vitro antifungal activity in a plate assay. Simultaneous induction of proteolytic and chitinolytic activities specifically in the resistant cultivar was correlated with antifungal properties of root extracts effective in conferring resistance.     

Kinetics of Interferon-Gamma Production and its Comparison with Anti-Listeriolysin O Detection in Experimental Bovine Listeriosis

The kinetics of the production of interferon gamma (IFN-) in whole blood culture and its comparison with anti-listeriolysin O (ALLO) detection by ELISA were studied during oral infection of calves with Listeria monocytogenes. Culture filtrate antigen (CFA), listeriolysin O (LLO), and sonicated antigen (SA) were used to prime the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the plasma from orally infected calves. IFN- and ALLO appeared as early as day 7 of an oral infection. IFN- was detected earlier with LLO than with SA. The Max50 interleukin (IL-2) activity and IFN- estimated in the culture supernatant from PBMCs primed in vitro with different antigens of L. monocytogenes revealed high induction of IL-2 and IFN- by CFA, LLO and live antigen. IFN- assay and ALLO detection were used for testing cases of repeat breeding in dairy cattle. It appeared that detection of IFN- employing LLO can be used to diagnose listerial infections.     

Evaluation of cell-mediated immunity during chronic organophosphate pesticide intoxication in mice and goats

The status of cell-mediated immunity (CMI) after pesticide exposure was assessed in mice with the help of skin sensitivity and graft versus host reaction tests. It was observed that at 24 hours post-challenge CMI values did not differ significantly from the control, indicating no effect of quinalphos treatment in mice. Goats receiving monocrotophos at a dose rate of 1.0 mg kg-1 body mass for 40 days gave a similar result when CMI was tested with the help of the chemical sensitizer dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB). Thus the results clearly indicate that the tested organophosphates do not interfere with cellular immunity in the intoxicated animals.     

A methylflavan with free radical scavenging properties from Pancratium littorale

The isolation of 7,4'-dihydroxy-8-methylflavan (1) from the dichloromethane extract of Pancratium littorale stem was guided by an assay for free radical scavenging activity towards the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl radical (DPPH). The structure of 1 was established by spectrometric methods including UV, EI mass spectrometry, 1H and 13C-NMR. The free radical scavenging properties of 1 were quantified in solution using spectrophotometry.     

Antibacterial activity of Terminalia pallida

The methanol extract of the dried fruit powder of Terminalia pallida was evaluated for antimicrobial activity. The methanol extract showed a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity.     

Carbon stock and rate of carbon sequestration in Dipterocarpus forests of Manipur,Northeast India

We examined the carbon stock and rate of carbon sequestration in a tropical deciduous forest dominated by Dipterocarpus tuberculatus in Manipur,North East India.Estimation of aboveground biomass was determined by harvest method and multiplied with density of tree species.The aboveground biomass was between18.27–21.922 t ha-1and the carbon stock ranged from9.13 to 10.96 t C ha-1across forest stands.Aboveground biomass and carbon stock increased with the increase in tree girth.The rate of carbon sequestration varied from1.4722 to 4.64136 t ha-1year-1among the dominant tree species in forest stands in tropical deciduous forest area.The rate of carbon sequestration depends on species composition,the density of large trees in different girth classes,and anthropogenic disturbances in the present forest ecosystem.Further work is required to identify tree species having the highest potential to sequester CO2 from the atmosphere,which could lead to recommendations for tree plantations in a degraded ecosystem.     

Varietal differences in the bioaccessibility of beta-carotene from mango (Mangifera indica) and papaya (Carica papaya) fruits

Mango and papaya, which are rich sources of beta-carotene, are widely consumed in India. In this study, beta-carotene content and its bioaccessibility were determined in six locally available varieties of mango, namely, Badami, Raspuri, Mallika, Malgoa, Totapuri, and Neelam, and two varieties of papaya, namely, Honey Dew and Surya. Varietal differences were evident in both beta-carotene content and its bioaccessibility in the case of mango. beta-Carotene content in ripe mango ranged from 0.55 +/- 0.03 mg/100 g in the Malgoa variety to 3.21 +/- 0.25 mg/100 g in the Badami variety. Similarly, in the Honey Dew and Surya varieties of papaya, beta-carotene contents were 0.70 +/- 0.10 and 0.74 +/- 0.12 mg/100 g, respectively. Bioaccessibility of beta-carotene ranged from 24.5% in Badami to 39.1% in Raspuri varieties of mango. Considering both the percent bioaccessibility and the inherent beta-carotene content, the amount of bioaccessible beta-carotene was highest in the Mallika variety (0.89 mg/100 g), followed by Badami (0.79 mg/100 g). Because mango and papaya are also consumed as a blend with milk, the influence of the presence of milk on the bioaccessibility of beta-carotene from these fruits was also examined. Addition of milk generally brought about a significant increase in the bioaccessibility of beta-carotene from mango, the increase ranging from 12 to 56%. Bioaccessibility of beta-carotene from the two varieties of papaya examined was similar (31.4-34.3%). Addition of milk increased this bioaccessibility by 19 and 38% in these two varieties. Considering the beta-carotene content of mango and papaya, the latter has to be consumed in amounts roughly 3 times that of mango to derive the same amount of beta-carotene. Thus, this study has indicated that varietal differences exist in the content and bioaccessibility of beta-carotene in mango and that the addition of milk is advantageous in deriving this provitamin A from the fruit pulp of mango and papaya.     

Early introduction of water and complementary feeding and nutritional status of children in northern Senegal

OBJECTIVE: Malnutrition is responsible globally for 60% of deaths among children under 5 years and is often attributed to suboptimal feeding practices. In response, the World Health Organization recommends exclusive breast-feeding for the first 6 months of life. The objective of this study was to determine if an association exists between the early introduction of water and complementary foods (CFs) and the nutritional status of children in northern Senegal. DESIGN/SETTING/SUBJECTS: A cross-sectional study of 374 children in the Podor Health District between the ages of 6 and 23 months was conducted. Knowledge and behaviours of mothers regarding introduction of water and CFs were assessed via individual interviews. RESULTS: Water was introduced to about 85% of the children in the first 3 months of life and 62% were fed CFs before 6 months. Overall, 16% had clinically significant wasting (weight-for-length Z-score (WHZ) less than - 2) and 20% had stunting (height-for-age Z-score (HAZ) less than - 2). There was no significant association between wasting or stunting and introduction of water before 3 months (WHZ: odds ratio = 0.99, 95% confidence interval 0.46-2.14, P = 0.97; HAZ: 0.68, 0.34-1.36, P = 0.3) or introduction of CFs before 6 months (WHZ: 0.81, 0.46-1.42, P = 0.5; HAZ: 0.79, 0.46-1.35, P = 0.4). A significant association was found between wasting and male sex, age, living in Guede community, drinking river/pond water and large family size, while stunting was associated with age and drinking tap water. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study suggest that early introduction of water and CFs is frequent and is not associated with increased risk for malnutrition among children from this region of northern Senegal, but the possibility of reverse causality cannot be excluded.