Antioxidant Properties of Protein Hydrolysate Obtained from Oyster Saccostrea cucullata (Born, 1778)

The antioxidant activities of enzymatically hydrolyzed (protease from Bacillus cereus SU12) oyster (Saccostrea cucullata) protein were studied. The hydrolysate exhibited a strong antioxidant potential in 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH, 85.7 ± 0.37%), followed by hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging activity (81.6 ± 0.3%), hydroxyl radical scavenging activity (79.32 ± 0.6%), and reducing power assay (2.63 ± 0.2 OD at 700 nm) at a concentration of 1 mg/mL. Due to the high antioxidant potential, the hydrolysate was purified in Sephadex G-25 gel filtration chromatography. The active peptide fraction was identified by DPPH and reducing power assay. The amino acid content of the purified active peptide fraction was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. The active fraction contained a good quantity of both essential and nonessential amino acids. The present study revealed that oyster (S. cucullata) protein hydrolysate is a potential source for natural antioxidants.     

Sodium Fluoride Induced Growth and Metabolic Changes in Salicornia brachiata Roxb

Fluoride, a common phytotoxic air, water and soil pollutant is commonly released to the environment by a number of industrial processes. Agricultural soils high in fluoride are common due to long term accumulation of fluoride from multi-sources and extensive application of phosphate fertilizers. The effect of sodium fluoride (0, 50,100,150 mM) on growth, pigments content, changes in biochemical parameters, along with fluoride and other ions accumulation was investigated in Salicornia brachiata grown in solution cultures under controlled conditions. With fluoride treatment growth as fresh or dry mass accumulation increased marginally. However, higher concentrations decreased the biomass and shoot tip became blunt; margin of the shoot changed its colour to reddish brown and developed necrotic spots. Photosynthetic pigments (chlorophylls and carotenoids) content decreased, while, anthocyanin content increased significantly with fluoride treatment. Peroxidase (POX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), ATPase and acid phosphate activities were negatively regulated. In addition F^?, Na⁺, Mn²⁺ and Fe²⁺ ions concentration increased while, K⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ contents decreased with fluoride treatment. To our knowledge this is the first report on fluoride tolerance in a marshy halophytes using as high as 150 mM concentration and the results suggest that S. brachiata is a moderately fluoride tolerant annual halophyte and may be useful to vegetate the fluoride contaminated marshy lands.     

Certain factors associated with blister blight resistance in Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze

The role played by certain factors, physical barriers and chitinase enzyme, associated with blister blight resistance in tea was investigated. The blister blight resistance of the tea clone SA-6 was due to higher amounts of epicuticular wax and increased thickness of cuticle/epidermal layer, functioning as physical barriers to hyphal penetration of Exobasidium vexans. Higher quantum of chitinase in intercellular spaces of palisade tissues was observed in the resistant clone SA-6 through immunolocalization study. Both chitinase assay as well as western blotting studies confirmed that the constitutive level of chitinase expression was higher in the resistant clone when compared with the susceptible tea clone.     

Antimicrobial activities of Indian Berberis species

The antimicrobial activity of hydroalcoholic extracts of four Berberis species viz. Berberis aristata, Berberis asiatica, Berberis chitria and Berberis lycium were tested against eleven bacterial and eight fungal strains. B. aristata root extract gave low MICs values against Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Aspergillus flavus while stem extract against B. cereus and Streptococcus pneumoniae.     

Improving hybrid rice parental lines for blast resistance by introgression of broad-spectrum resistance genes Pi54 and Pi9 by marker-assisted selection

Hybrid rice technology offers a great promise to produce 15% to 20% more yield than pure line varieties. The success of hybrid rice hinges on developing superior parental lines. To improve the blast resistance of hybrid rice parental line RP5933-1-19-2R, crosses were made with donors of two major blast resistance genes namely, Pi54 (Tetep) and Pi9 (IR71033–121-15) and the resulting F₁s were confirmed for their hybridity by using Pi54MAS and NMSMPi9-1 genic markers. The confirmed F₁s were intercrossed to obtain ICF₁s and selected positive plants by markers were backcrossed to the recurrent parent, as well as selfed for advancing further to BC₁F₃ and ICF₄ generations. The segregating plants were phenotyped for blast resistance at Uniform Blast Nursery. The identified complete restorers namely, RP 6619-1, RP 6616-26, RP 6619-3 and RP 6619-11 with Pi9 and Pi54 genes would serve as donors for broad spectrum blast resistance. This could ultimately lead to the development of new rice hybrids with improved resistance to blast disease, which is crucial for sustainable rice production and food security.     

Effect of age and season on semen quality parameters in Sahiwal bulls

The objective of the study was to determine the effect of season, period, age, bull, and ejaculate on semen quality in Sahiwal bulls. Semen production records from 1996 to 2006 of 5,483 ejaculates from 46 Sahiwal bulls maintained at Artificial Breeding Complex, NDRI, Karnal, India were analyzed using least square analysis of variance by LSML software package. The overall least squares means of ejaculate volume (VOL), total volume per day (VOLD), mass activity (MA), initial motility (IM), sperm concentration per ml (SPC), and sperm concentration per ejaculate (SPCE) were 3.79 ± 0.02 ml, 5.81 ± 0.06 ml, 2.32 ± 0.01, 55.47 ± 0.001%, 766.69 ± 5.50 × 10⁶/ml and 3023.25 ± 30.15 × 10⁶, respectively. All semen traits (VOL, VOLD, MA, IM and SPCE) were significantly (P < 0.01) affected by age groups, season and period, whereas season had significant effect on VOL at 5% level. During hot-humid season, highest value of VOL, VOLD, MA, IM, SPC, and SPCE were observed followed by summer and cold season. Highest value of VOL, VOLD, IM, and SPCE were observed during period-3 (2004–2006), whereas highest value of MA and SPC were observed during period-1 (1996–1999). However, lowest magnitude of MA, IM, SPC, and SPCE during period-2 (2000–2003) was observed. Ejaculate characteristics like VOL, VOLD, and SPCE increased with the increasing age of bull up to 5 years and then decreased. Significant (P < 0.01) bull to bull variation was found in VOL, VOLD, MA, IM, SPC, and SPCE traits. First ejaculate had significantly (P < 0.01) higher MA, IM, SPC, and SPCE. Hence, it could be concluded that during rainy season and period-1 and period-3 the quality of semen is quantitatively and qualitatively good. Better quality semen was obtained up to 5 years of age in Sahiwal bulls.     

Acid Mucopolysaccharide of the Crustacean Cuticle

The acid mucopolysaccharide found in the crab Hemigrapsus nudus and containing glucose, galactose, and fucose residues is found both in the cuticle and in the digestive gland of the crab. The concentration of mucopolysaccharide is somewhat higher in the cuticle, where it it the only soluble polysaccharide, than in the digestive gland, where it makes up 10 to 25 percent of the total polysaccharide content.     

Identification of a neuropeptide hormone that regulates sex pheromone production in female moths

A pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) hormone that controls sex pheromone production in female moths was identified from the brain-subesophageal ganglion complexes of the adult corn earworm, Heliothis zea. PBAN has 33 amino acid residues and a molecular weight of 3900. Its amino acid sequence has no significant homology with any of the fully characterized peptide hormones. The synthetic peptide, at a dose of between 2 and 4 picomoles, induced production of a normal quantity of sex pheromone in ligated H. zea females. The peptide also induced pheromone production in six other species of moths, thus indicating that this or similar peptides may be responsible for the regulation of pheromone production in moths.