Glutathione functions on physiological characters to increase copper-induced corn production

Glutathione (GSH) abundantly presents in plant and affects plants growth and development. To justify if GSH affects copper (Cu)-induced corn production, photosynthesis (Pn) rate, and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), chlorophyll (Chl) content and Chl fluorescence, relative water content (RWC) and yields were evaluated. Different Cu concentrations (0, 0.2, 1.5 and 3.0 ppm of Zn) with or without 100 µm of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) were arranged as completely randomize design with 5 replications. Results showed that both NAC and Cu affected plant height and leaf numbers. Copper reduced Pn rate, and PAR and increased RWC but no effect was observed on Chl content and Chl fluorescence in leaves. On the other hand, NAC application increased Pn, PAR, Chl parameters regardless of Cu treatment. In the presence of 1.5 ppm of Cu, corn plants showed improve yield and cob length irrespective to NAC treatment. Taken together, this study suggests that NAC might improve some physiological functions in plants to enhance Cu-induced corn production.     

Analysis of methanogenic archaeal communities of rumen fluid and rumen particles from Korean black goats

Molecular diversity of methanogens in the rumen of Korean black goats was investigated with 16S rRNA gene clone libraries using methanogen‐specific primers. The libraries were composed of rumen fluid‐associated methanogens (FAM) and rumen particle‐associated methanogens (PAM) from rumen‐fistulated Korean black goats. Among the 141 clones of the FAM library, the sequences were mostly related to two phyla, the Methanobacteriaceae family (77.3%) and the Thermoplasmatales family (22.7%); and among the 68 clones of the PAM library, sequences were also mainly clustered in the two phyla, the Thermoplasmatales family (63.24%) and the Methanobacteriaceae family (35.29%). Most of the sequenced clones in the two libraries were closely related to uncultured methanogenic archaeon. Quantitative real‐time PCR revealed that PAM (8.97 log 10) had significantly higher (P < 0.01) density of methanogens by the methanogenic 16S rRNA gene copies than FAM (7.57 log 10). The two clone libraries also showed difference in Shannon index (FAM library 1.70 and PAM library 1.59) and Chao 1 estimator (FAM library 18 and PAM library 17 operational taxonomic units). Apparent differences found in the microbial community from the two 16S rRNA gene libraries could be a result of such factors as the chemical and physical nature of the target material surface, types or component of diets, the interaction between the methanogens and other microbes, and age of the experimental goats.     

Optimization of Compatible Mixed Cultures for Liquid State Bioconversion of Municipal Wastewater Sludge

The filamentous fungal strains such as Penicillium corylophilum (P), Aspergillus niger (A), Trichoderma harzianum (T) and Phanerochaete chrysosporium (PC) isolated from its relevant sources (wastewater, sewage sludge and sludge cake) were selected for compatible/incompatible mixed cultures. Six combinations of P. corylophilum and A. niger (P/A); P. corylophilum and P. chrysosporium (P/PC); P. corylophilum and T. harzianum (P/T); A. niger and T. harzianum (A/T); A. niger and P. chrysosporium (A/PC); T. harzianum and P. chrysosporium (T/PC) were used to evaluate their potential performance as compatible/incompatible mixed culture for the treatment of municipal wastewater sludge in a bioconversion process. The results of the present study showed that the combinations of P/A, P/PC and A/PC showed compatible growth and the rest of the combinations (P/T, A/T and T/PC) were incompatible cultures. A maximum production of dry biomass and dry filter cake were recorded in the compatible mixed culture of P. corylophilum and A. niger (P/A). A maximum reduction of COD (90%) and a decreased filtration time of treated sludge was observed in the case of P/A microbial mixed culture. The pH value was also affected by the fungal cultures. Effective results were observed by using microbial mixed culture after four days of treatment compared to other treatments (2 and 6 days).     

Infection of Australian and New Zealand Rubus subgenera Dalibarda and Lampohatus by the European blackberry rust fungus Phragmidium violaceum

Laboratory inoculations of native Australian and New Zealand Rubus spp. showed that R. gunnianus (subgenus Dalibarda ) from Tasmania and R. schmidelioides and R. cissoides (subgenus Lampobatus ) from New Zealand were moderately susceptible to the European blackberry rust fungus Phragmidium violaceum. Although the rust infected all species of subgenus Lampobatus tested. R. australis. R. parvus. R. squarrosus and R. moorei were more resistant and unlikely to be adversely affected when the rust reaches their area of distribution.     

Antagonistic rhizoplane bacteria induce diverse morphological alterations in Peronosporomycete hyphae during <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> interaction

A total of 150 bacteria were isolated from rhizoplanes of the host and non-host plants of a phytopathogenic Peronosporomycete Aphanomyces cochlioides. Upon screening, 5% of the isolates were evaluated as antagonists as they inhibited radial growth of A. cochlioides AC-5 hyphae in a dual culture assay. In addition, those antagonistic bacteria also induced characteristic morphological alterations in the A. cochlioides AC-5 hyphae that grew towards bacterial colonies. Hyphal morphological alterations observed in AC-5 and other tested strains of Peronosporomycetes included excessive branching, curly growth, unusually longer and pointed tip formation and swelling; all of these were comparable to the alterations induced by known antimicrobial compounds. Among the antagonistic bacteria, Pseudomonas sp. strain EC-S101 induced a unique branching pattern (tree-like) in AC-5 hyphae by continuous apical bifurcation of successive hyphae, where increases in number of branches and hyphal area were linearly correlated with time up to 10 h. Our observations suggested that the pathogen might have lost its ability of normal branch production; however maintained the capability of self-branching. Soluble extracts from the culture fluids of Pseudomonas sp. strain EC-S101 and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia EC-S105 induced similar excessive branching and curly growth in A. cochlioides hyphae as the respective bacterium. These results revealed that bacterial metabolites appeared to be responsible for induction of morphological alterations. Interestingly, the antagonistic bacteria that induced hyphal morphological alterations, also efficiently suppressed in vivo damping-off disease caused by AC-5. We suggest that antagonistic rhizoplane bacteria have the capability to induce diverse morphological alterations in Peronosporomycetes hyphae during in vitro interactions. Hyphal morphological alterations associated with growth inhibition and the induction of characteristic morphological changes indicate antagonistic activity against the Peronosporomycete.     

Molecular characterization of the major outer membrane protein of Haemophilus somnus

The major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of Haemophilus somnus shows antigenic and molecular mass diversity that forms the basis of a preliminary grouping system for H. somnus strains. In this study, the gene encoding MOMP of H. somnus strain 8025 was cloned in three overlapping fragments by PCR techniques, and then sequenced. The gene consists of a 1164-bp open reading frame encoding a deduced 380-amino acid protein with a 19-amino acid signal sequence, giving a mature protein with a calculated molecular mass of 39,913 Da. Significant homology was found between MOMP and porin protein sequences of bacteria in Pasteurellaceae species. When expressed in Escherichia coli, the protein from the MOMP gene directed by the T7 promoter was identical in size (approximately 40 kDa) to native MOMP and reacted with MOMP-specific antibodies. Comparisons of the MOMP gene sequences from six unrelated strains of H. somnus to that of strain 8025 revealed that the genes of three MOMP type 1 strains were highly conserved with that of strain 8025 in length and sequence. However, two MOMP type 3c strains and one MOMP type 3a strain differed markedly from the MOMP of strain 8025 in their 3'-terminal halves. Their deduced MOMP amino acid sequences differed in sequence (3c, 80.5 and 82.7% identity; 3a, 62.4% identity) and in length (3c, 384 and 376; 3a, 316), indicating that the molecular differences are the basis of antigenicity and molecular mass differences of H. somnus MOMP. In the predicted MOMP secondary structure, the variable sequences primarily mapped to putative surface-exposed loops, and a variable and surface-exposed epitope of MOMP-specific antibody was identified in the seventh-largest loop. These findings are useful for understanding the structural and immunological characteristics of H. somnus.     

Rice Pi-ta gene Confers Resistance to the Major Pathotypes of the Rice Blast Fungus in the United States

ABSTRACT The Pi-ta gene in rice prevents the infection by Magnaporthe grisea strains containing the AVR-Pita avirulence gene. The presence of Pi-ta in rice cultivars was correlated completely with resistance to two major pathotypes, IB-49 and IC-17, common in the U.S. blast pathogen population. The inheritance of resistance to IC-17 was investigated further using a marker for the resistant Pi-ta allele in an F(2) population of 1,345 progeny from a cross of cv. Katy with experimental line RU9101001 possessing and lacking, respectively, the Pi-ta resistance gene. Resistance to IC-17 was conferred by a single dominant gene and Pi-ta was not detected in susceptible individuals. A second F(2) population of 377 individuals from a reciprocal cross between Katy and RU9101001 was used to verify the conclusion that resistance to IC-17 was conferred by a single dominant gene. In this cross, individuals resistant to IC-17 also were resistant to IB-49. The presence of Pi-ta and resistance to IB-49 also was correlated with additional crosses between 'Kaybonnet' and 'M-204', which also possess and lack Pi-ta, respectively. A pair of primers that specifically amplified a susceptible pi-ta allele was developed to verify the absence of Pi-ta. We suggest that Pi-ta is responsible for resistance to IB-49 and IC-17 and that both races contain AVR-Pita genes.     

Production, Economics, Employment Generation and Marketing Pattern of Rattan-Based Cottage Enterprises: A Case Study from an Urban Area of North-Eastern Bangladesh

Rattan, an important non-timber forest product, is a flexible palm used in weaving baskets or furniture. Rattan is light yet sturdy, making it suitable for furniture that can be moved often. Bangladesh has a large number of rattan-based enterprises. This paper reports a case study carried out in Sylhet City Corporation of north-eastern Bangladesh, exploring the production, financial profitability and marketing of rattan-based products, and the problems and priorities of rattan-based enterprises as well as their potential contribution to employment opportunity. A sample survey was conducted of 58 randomly selected rattan-based enterprises with entrepreneurs personally interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Based on the total investment, the enterprises were divided into large, medium and small categories. Three origins of rattan (Local, Myanmar and Indonesia) and five species were used by the enterprises to produce 29 rattan-based product types. Rattan products were divided into three basic categories, viz. domestic utensils, domestic decorative articles and others for which uses are not specific. Among the three rattan origins, processing cost of local and Myanmar rattan species products was less and more articles were sold than for Indonesia rattan species. Financial analysis indicated that rattan-based enterprises are a profitable and attractive option for local socio-economic development. Entrepreneurs’ views on major problems and issues in rattan-based product trading and suggested measures to improve the condition of rattan-based enterprises also collected. Rattan-based enterprises will generate more domestic revenue, foreign exchange and employment if policies are adopted to provide the enterprises with a reliable source of raw materials and technical and financial assistance from Government to NGOs to sell the products, and expand market facilities in both local and international markets.     

Anti-diabetic potential of ursolic acid stearoyl glucoside: a new triterpenic gycosidic ester from Lantana camara

A new stearoyl glucoside of ursolic acid, urs-12-en-3β-ol-28-oic acid 3β-d-glucopyranosyl-4′-octadecanoate and other compounds were isolated from the leaves of Lantana camara L. The structure of this new glycoside was elucidated and established by standard spectroscopic methods. In streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats it showed significant reduction in blood glucose level.