An efficient potato pollen extractor for bulk pollen collection

Commercial quantities of hybrid TPS production require bulk collection of pollen from male lines. Current usage of a buzzer system by the potato workers has proved inefficient needing frequent repairs with continuous usage. Described is a modified device utilizing battery operated portable stirrer that allows more efficient extraction of potato pollen in large quantities without the disadvantages of a buzzer system.     

Constituents from fruits of Cupressus sempervirens

Two new phenolic glycosides (1, 2), along with fourteen known compounds (3–16) have been isolated from the fruit of Cupressus sempervirens. The structures of these compounds were determined by spectroscopic analysis and were evaluated for their inhibitory activity against glycogen phosphorylase and glucose-6-phosphatase enzymes. Compounds 14 showed a moderate inhibition against glucose-6-phosphatase and 15 against glycogen phosphorylase enzymes.     

Impact of climate change on the invasive traits of weeds

Invasive weeds degrade ecosystems and are a threat to plant and animal biodiversity. The literature on biological invasions suggests that only 10% of introduced species become invasive in a new host range. Most introduced plants do not become invasive in a new environment. The invasive behavior of a weed depends on the weed's genetic variability, biotic factors, and climatic factors with which it interacts. The climatic factors that affect the invasive traits of weeds include the atmospheric temperature, soil temperature, precipitation, evaporation, and CO₂ concentration. The biological traits that are influenced by a change in any one or more of these climatic factors include the pattern of assimilate partitioning, induction of dormancy or seed germination, herbivore tolerance, propagule production and distribution, variability of plant architecture, photosynthetic rate, and seedbank longevity. The impact of climate change on the invasive traits of certain weed species is reviewed.     

Nano-sized albumin-copolymer micelles for efficient doxorubicin delivery

We present the discovery of a nano-sized protein-derived micellar drug delivery system based on the polycationic albumin precursor protein cBSA-147. The anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) was efficiently encapsulated into nanosized micelles based on hydrophobic interactions with the polypeptide scaffold. These micelles revealed attractive stabilities in various physiological buffers and a wide pH range as well as very efficient uptake into A549 cells after 1 h incubation time only. In vitro cytotoxicity was five-times increased compared to free DOX also indicating efficient intracellular drug release. In addition, multiple functional groups are available for further chemical modifications. Based on the hydrophobic loading mechanism, various classical anti-cancer drugs, in principle, could be delivered even synergistically in a single micelle. Considering these aspects, this denatured albumin-based drug delivery system represents a highly attractive platform for nanomedicine approaches towards cancer therapy.     

Effect of zinc application methods on apparent utilization efficiency of zinc and potassium fertilizers under rice-wheat rotation

Apparent utilization of zinc (Zn) and potassium (K) fertilizers was examined in rice (Oryza sativa L.)-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) using combinations of no K; soil applied K levels and no Zn; soil and foliar applied Zn. Application of 33.2 kg K ha^?1 in rice and 24.9 kg K ha^?1 in wheat along with foliar spray of 2 kg Zn ha^?1 at 30 and 60 days gave the highest mean grain yields. Foliar application of zinc increased Zn concentration in flag leaves, grain, and straw of rice and wheat and K concentration in flag leaves of rice and straw of wheat significantly. Potassium application increased Zn concentration in rice grain and straw and K concentration in wheat straw significantly. Zinc and K increased the uptake of each other in grain; straw and total uptake by both crops significantly. Zinc fertilizer enhanced the utilization of soil K. Potassium fertilizer enhanced the utilization of applied Zn.     

Evaluation of morpho-physiological traits of MRQ74 pyramided lines with drought yield QTLs

Drought regularly affects rainfed lowland and upland rice ecosystems in Malaysia. Three drought yield QTLs, viz qDTY _2.2 , qDTY _3.1 and qDTY _12.1 successfully pyramided into MRQ74 to increase its yield under reproductive stage drought stress (RS). Forty-eight genotypes comprising 39 pyramided lines (PLs) with different qDTYs combinations, four parents including MRQ74 (recipient) and five checks were evaluated for morpho-physiological traits under RS and non-stress (NS). This study aims to determine which traits influenced by individual qDTY and qDTY combinations and to gain better understanding of QTL interactions in enhancing grain yield (GY) under RS. Results showed plant height, number of panicles, root length, root weight, relative water content and 100-grain weight increased while chlorophyll content and GY decreased under RS compared to NS. No significant difference was observed in days to flowering, leaf rolling and grain length between selected PLs and MRQ74 under RS. Six PLs with yield advantage (YA) of 208.17–1751.63 kg ha^?1 compared to MRQ74 in RS but yielded similar to MRQ74 under NS were further selected. Under RS, qDTY class analysis showed qDTY _12.1 individually and combination qDTY _12.1  + ?qDTY _2.2 produced the highest yield of 1521.77 and 1092.30 kg ha^?1 respectively. qDTY _12.1 as single or combination with other qDTY is the best qDTY in stabilizing GY under RS. PL-77 with qDTY _12.1 is the best PL with YA of more than 1100 kg ha^?1 compared to MRQ74 in both RS and NS conditions can be recommended for cultivation in normal and drought-prone areas.     

Interaction ofPseudomonas fluorescens withRhizobium for their effect on the management of peanut root rot

A biocontrol agent (Pseudomonas fluorescens) and a phytostimulator (Rhizobium) have been shown to have beneficial effects on plant growth and health. The study of plants inoculated withPseudomonas andRhizobium requires special attention because of the possibility that these agents may influence each other. Our study was conducted to test the effect of these inoculants on co-inoculation in peanut to control root rot, a severe soilborne disease caused byMacrophomina phaseolina. One fluorescent pseudomonad strain, Pf 1, which effectively inhibited the mycelial growth ofM. phaseolina underin vitro conditions, was studied for its compatibility with the biofertilizer bacterial strainRhizobium TNAU 14. Dual culture and colorimetric studies indicated the existence of a positive interaction between the microbial inoculants. However, glasshouse and field studies showed seed treatment and soil application ofPseudomonas fluorescens Pf 1 to be the most effective treatment in reducing root rot incidence and improving the crop vigor index, in comparison with treatments in which both inoculants were applied. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Feb. 11, 2002.     

Retention of liquid within insemination equipment using various equine frozen semen insemination methods and two semen freezing extenders

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of different insemination techniques and extenders on the volume of liquid dispensed from insemination equipment. The method of insemination has a significant effect on the volume of semen deposited into the mare's uterus when low volumes are used. Insemination pipettes that allow for direct deposit of straw contents into the uterus are preferred. Aspiration of semen into a pipette is preferred over aspiration into a syringe with deposition through a pipette when direct deposit is not possible. Use of a pipette with a smaller lumen and less length of contact with liquid provides better results. Contact of semen with equipment may allow for residual liquid accumulation on the luminal surfaces and a decrease in overall semen dose. Extenders with differing amounts of egg yolk did not influence volume of liquid dispensed.     

Simple methods for measurement of bovine mucosal antibody responses in vivo

The mucosal immune response serves as the first line of defence against many bacterial and viral diseases. Therefore, measurement of mucosal immune responses is important in evaluating mucosal immunisation protocols and understanding initial host/pathogen interactions. In this study we compare two methods for repeated sampling of bovine rectal mucosal secretions, namely rectal swabbing and rectal biopsies, and evaluate a simple swabbing method for sampling bovine nasal secretions. Both rectal swabs and rectal biopsies yielded similar quantities of total IgA (TIgA)/ml. However, rectal biopsies yielded five times more total IgG (TIgG)/ml than rectal swabs. Blood contamination was estimated to contribute approximately 7% of TIgG and <0.05% TIgA in rectal swab samples compared to 40% of TIgG and 4.5% of TIgA in rectal biopsy samples, indicating that rectal swabbing was more effective at sampling rectal mucosal secretions. Nasal swabs were effective at obtaining nasal secretion samples with only 1% of TIgG and <0.05% TIgA estimated to be blood derived. Furthermore, H7 flagellin-specific antibodies were detected in both nasal and rectal swab samples following either rectal immunisation with purified H7 flagellin or oral challenge with live E. coli O157:H7, indicating that both techniques are effective methods for monitoring mucosal antibody responses in cattle.