Genetic analysis of root traits in tropical carrots (Daucus carota L.)

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Carrot root being used as vegetable and salad due to the nutritional value, hence consumers demanding carrot production. Thus, the production can be achieved...     

Differential diffusivity of Nodal and Lefty underlies a reaction-diffusion patterning system

Biological systems involving short-range activators and long-range inhibitors can generate complex patterns. Reaction-diffusion models postulate that differences in signaling range are caused by differential diffusivity of inhibitor and activator. Other models suggest that differential clearance underlies different signaling ranges. To test these models, we measured the biophysical properties of the Nodal/Lefty activator/inhibitor system during zebrafish embryogenesis. Analysis of Nodal and Lefty gradients revealed that Nodals have a shorter range than Lefty proteins. Pulse-labeling analysis indicated that Nodals and Leftys have similar clearance kinetics, whereas fluorescence recovery assays revealed that Leftys have a higher effective diffusion coefficient than Nodals. These results indicate that differential diffusivity is the major determinant of the differences in Nodal/Lefty range and provide biophysical support for reaction-diffusion models of activator/inhibitor-mediated patterning.     

Morphological and molecular characterization of endangered medicinal plant species Coleus forskohlii collected from central India

In recent years, Coleus forskohlii has been considered plant as an important medicinal. Because of the continuous collection of roots from the wild sources, this plant has been included in the list of endangered species. This has necessitated the use of biotechnology in conservation and sustainable management of this endangered plant species. Morphological and molecular characterization of this herb will enhance our understanding in improving the optimal yields of Forskolin through breeding. To assess the morphological and molecular genetic diversity in 18 C. forskohlii genotypes collected from different places of central India, RAPD, ISSR, and AFLP marker systems were employed. Eleven RAPD, ten ISSRs and eight AFLP primers produced 101, 80, and 483 fragments, respectively. Among the three marker system used in this study, RAPD and ISSR showed 61.39 and 68.75% polymorphism, respectively, while eight AFLP primer combinations produced 70.81% polymorphism. UPGMA cluster analysis method group genotypes in two clusters with all marker systems separately and after combined analysis. Results show that both morphological and molecular factors are effective in observing variations. Our results also indicate that the RAPD, ISSR, and AFLP approaches, along with pharmaceutically important morphological trait analysis, seemed to be best-suited for assessing the genetic relationships among distinct C. Forskohlii genotypes with high accuracy.     

Equilibrium and Kinetic Studies on Biosorption of Heavy Metals by Leaf Powder of Paper Mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera)

Paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) leaf powder was used to remove heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions. The specific uptakes of Cu (II), Pb (II), and Cd (II) by the leaf powder were 43.40?±?0.2, 43.9?±?0.5, and 30.65?±?0.9 mg g^?1, respectively, when 500 mg L^?1 of the metal solutions were used. The data fitted well to the Langmuir isotherm. The process followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic equation and intraparticle diffusion played an important role in the adsorption process. On the basis of the calculated thermodynamic parameters such as standard enthalpy (??H°), entropy (??S°) and free energy change (??G°), it was inferred that the sorption process was endothermic and spontaneous in nature. The surface properties of the leaf powder (revealed by scanning electron microscopic observations) were suitable for the metal adsorption process. Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis confirmed the sequestration of the metal ions by the leaf powder. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy implicated that different functional groups on the leaf powder were involved in the metal adsorption process. The results obtained from this study implicated that the B. papyrifera leaf powder was a good choice as a metal adsorbent. This abundantly available natural and eco-friendly biosorbent could be effectively used to develop a technology in the future.