Isolation and functional analysis of the zmARM4 locus in a novel maize (Zea mays) grain-filling mutant

Maize grain filling (GF) and grain weight (GW) are closely associated with grain yield. In our study, the ZmARM4 locus affecting GF and GW was identified using a reverse genetics screen of UniformMutator (Mu). First, MutatorDR-flanking sequence (MuDRFs) was isolated from the mutant by the MuDR-amplified fragment length polymorphism method, and it was verified by cosegregation (between MuDRFs and phenotype) and linkage analyses. Second, the target gene of the MuDRFs was found to encode the Armadillo domain of the repeat protein gene families and has high expression in the GF stage. Third, association mapping between SNPs in the ZmARM4 region and the GW of 489 maize lines indicated that ZmARM4 is a functional gene that is closely related to GW. Moreover, bioinformatics analysis suggested that ZmARM4 may be relevant for the activity of sucrose transport or the number of cell divisions in endosperm cells. Therefore, ZmARM4 may be used as an important locus for maize GW in molecular breeding.     

Molecular identification of a begomovirus causing yellow vein disease on Calendula officinalis in India

A whitefly transmitted begomovirus was detected by PCR using begomovirus-specific primers from naturally infected Calendula officinalis plants showing yellow vein disease symptoms. An approximately 800 bp PCR amplicon was cloned and sequenced to identify the species of the virus isolate. Analysis of nucleotide sequence data resulted in its identification as the complete coat protein gene open reading frame (CP ORF) of 771 bp, which encoded 256 amino acid residues. The coat protein of the virus isolate shared maximum identities of 96–97% with four strains of Tobacco curly shoot virus (ToCSV) and an Ageratum enation virus (AgEV) during BLAST analysis of sequence data. Nucleotide- and amino acid-based phylogenetic analysis revealed the close relationship of the isolate with ToCSV strains, therefore it has been identified as an isolate of ToCSV and C. officinalis is considered to be a new host of ToCSV begomovirus. Association of a DNA-β molecule with the virus isolate was also detected by PCR and Southern hybridization tests using DNA-β specific primers and probe.     

Effect of electrical stun/kill method, interval between killing and neck cutting and blood vessels cut on blood loss and meat quality in broilers

1. Broiler chickens were killed using either an electrical waterbath (WB system) delivering 120 mA per bird (50 Hz, alternating current, AC) for 4 s or an alternative stun/kill method (ASK system); where head-only stunning for 1 s was immediately followed by head-to-body (vent) application for 1 s (150 mA, 50 Hz sine wave AC). Within each stun/kill system, the neck was cut ventrally or unilaterally 20, 60, or 180 s after killing. In addition, a control group of broilers was stunned with 100 mA per bird in a waterbath using 1500 Hz AC for 4 s and were bled by a ventral neck cut within 20 s. 2. Blood leaving the neck cut was collected for 90 s in a bin placed on an electronic balance and blood loss (g/kg body weight) calculated. 3. Individually identified, unplucked and uneviscerated carcases were held at ambient temperature until the end of the experimental day and then stored overnight in an air chiller (5 degrees C). The carcases were dissected and the incidence of broken furculum and coracoid bones, haemorrhaging in P. minor and P. major muscles, and discolouration of P. major muscles were determined. 4. When neck cutting was performed in broilers 20 s after the stun or kill, the ASK and WB systems, in comparison with high frequency stunning, produced on average about 10 g per kg less bleed out. Within the stun/kill systems, broilers killed by ASK had a greater bleed out than in the WB system. Neck cutting at 20 s or 60 s post-kill resulted in a greater bleed out than when performed after a delay of 180 s. Ventral or unilateral neck cutting resulted in a similar bleed out. 5. Stunning broilers with 1500 Hz AC resulted in lower incidences of broken bones, haemorrhaging in breast muscles and muscle discolouration post mortem than the stun/kill systems. These defects were significantly lower in the ASK than in the WB system. Delayed neck cutting increased the severity of discolouration occurring Post mortem in the breast muscles. 6. It is suggested that broilers killed by ASK can be neck cut with a delay of up to 180 s without compromising bleed out. The incidence of broken bones and haemorrhaging in breast muscles are significantly less with ASK than WB. 7. Owing to the commercial benefits and potential for improved welfare at slaughter, ASK would appear to be a better method than WB.     

Assessment of Forest Carbon Stocks in the Himalayas: Does Legal Protection Matter?

Small-scale Forestry - Although protected areas are central to global biodiversity conservation, most land lies within unprotected areas. In the developing world forest habitats have received...     

Influence of soil inoculation with vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza and a phosphate-dissolving bacterium on plant growth and 32P-uptake

The influence of inoculation of soil with a vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (Glomus fasciculatus) and a phosphate-dissolving bacterium (Bacillus circulans) on phosphate solubilization, growth of finger millet (Eleusine coracana) and phosphorus uptake from ³²P-labelled tricalcium phosphate and superphosphate were studied. The mycorrhizal plants produced more dry matter and removed more ³²P from the soil than non-mycorrhizal plants, but did not show increased ³²P activity per unit plant mass. The 30 mm NH₄F-HCl extractable ³²P (available ³²P) in soil, plant ³²P activity and total P uptake were enhanced by soil inoculation with the bacterium. In the treatment receiving both inocula a synergistic effect was recorded with increased P uptake and dry matter production.     

Acidification of Surface Water in Central India

The results of the seasonal analysis of the chemistry of rain, fog and surface water of central India for the two years: June 1996 to May 1998 are presented. A total of 636 rain water samples, 146 fog water samples and 226 surface water samples of 8 locations: namely, Ambikapur, Baikunthpur, Korba, Bilaspur, Raipur, Bhilai, Dallirajhara and Kanker, from different sites were collected for the present study. This paper documents the occurrence of acidic rain and fog events and their effect on surface water pH and aquatic life in central India. Most of the rain and fog water samples collected from Baikunthpur and Korba sites were found to be acidic in nature (i.e. pH < 5). The volume weighted mean pH of rain and fog water samples of these sites was 4.8 and 4.4 with lowest pH 4.4 and 4.0, respectively. However, samples from Ambikapur, Bilaspur, Raipur and Bhilai were slightly acidic and their pH values were always around 5.8. One reservoir (mean pH 5.8) and two stop dams (mean pH 4.4 and 4.2) in Baikunthpur area were found to be acidic. The effect of acidification of water on metal-accumulation in muscles of fishes was studied. Concentrations of Al, Hg, Mn, Cd and Pb were higher in fish from acid, than from less acid waters. Causes of acidification of the atmospheric water and surface water are critically discussed.     

Preventive effect of sialylglycopeptide-nondigestive polysaccharide conjugates on salmonella infection

We have previously reported that sialylglycopeptide (SGP) and its derivatives isolated from egg yolk had a preventive effect on Salmonella infection in vivo; however, their retention time in the gut was rather short. To improve on this, SGP was conjugated with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) or carboxymethyl dextran (CMD). The conjugates inhibited the binding of Salmonella enteritidis and Escherichia coli to Caco-2 cells. Infection experiments with mice revealed that the SGP-CMD conjugate (SGP-CMD) had a strong protective effect against Salmonella infection. A turnover experiment in mice administered with radiolabeled SGP-CMD showed that SGP-CMD was more slowly absorbed into the blood and thus remained longer in the intestinal tract than SGP. SGP-CMD itself did not influence the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1 beta, or nitrite ion (NO(2)(-)) by macrophages, although it suppressed that of TNF-alpha and NO(2)(-) in zymosan-treated macrophages, suggesting no causative effects of inflammation in SGP-CMD. SGP-CMD is potentially useful as a food ingredient with a preventive effect on Salmonella infection.     

Molecular identification of a new isolate of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cucumber mosaic virus</Emphasis> subgroup II from basil (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ocimum sanctum</Emphasis>) in India

Natural occurrence of mosaic disease was observed on basil (Ocimum sanctum L.) in Aligarh, U. P., India, during 2008. The disease could be transmitted by sap inoculations from naturally infected O. sanctum to O. sanctum and some test plant species. Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) was detected by RT-PCR using coat protein gene specific primers of CMV (Acc. AM180922 & AM180923), which resulted in the expected size ~650 bp amplicon in infected samples. The amplicon was cloned, sequenced and data were deposited in GenBank Acc. EU600216. The sequence data analysis revealed 97–99% identities at both nucleotide and amino acid levels with the CMV strains of subgroup II reported worldwide. Based on the high sequence identities and close phylogenetic relationships with CMV subgroup II strains, the virus under study has been identified as a new isolate of CMV subgroup II and designated as CMV-Basil.     

Molecular identification of an Ageratum enation virus isolate associated with mosaic disease of pointed gourd (Trichosanthes dioica) in India

A severe mosaic disease of pointed gourd (Trichosanthes dioica Roxb.) was observed with significant disease incidence in Gopalganj, India, during 2008. Begomovirus was detected from symptomatic leaf samples by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using coat protein gene-specific primers of a well characterized begomovirus which revealed positive amplification of expected size ~800 bp DNA band. To confirm begomovirus association, the complete DNA-A was amplified using three sets of begomovirus DNA-A primers. The amplicons were cloned, sequenced, and sequence of the complete DNA-A (2757 nt) was determined by combining the sequence data of all amplicons (Accession no. GQ268327). The sequence data showed 99–93% sequence identities and close phylogenetic relationships with isolates of Ageratum enation virus (AgEV). The begomovirus associated with mosaic disease of T. dioica was identified as an isolate of Ageratum enation virus, which is a new record from India.     

Effects of pymetrozine, an antifeedant of Hemiptera, on Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri, feeding behavior, survival and transmission of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus

BACKGROUND: Vector‐borne plant disease management can be enhanced by deployment of antifeedants in addition to the use of broad‐spectrum neurotoxic insecticides. The effects of pymetrozine on Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, feeding behaviour, survival and transmission of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (Las), the presumed causal pathogen of huanglongbing, were investigated. RESULTS: Pymetrozine applied at 52 and 104 µg mL^?1 to citrus plants [Swingle citrumelo (X Citroncirus webberi Ingram and Moore)] modified the feeding behavior of ACP and increased the amount of time spent performing non‐penetration behaviors while decreasing the time spent performing ingestion behaviors compared with the controls 1 day after treatment. However, the antifeedant effect of pymetrozine subsided 5 days after application. Pymetrozine reduced the survival of both adults and nymphs on treated plants compared with the control. However, it had a greater impact on survival of nymphs than on survival of adults. Pymetrozine applied at 52 and 104 µg mL^?1 on Las‐infected ‘Valencia’ sweet orange plants [Citrus sinensis L. (Osbeck)] reduced acquisition (12 and 21% respectively) and transmission (11 and 18% respectively) of Las by feeding ACP adults compared with the controls; however, these reductions were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Pymetrozine exhibited moderate antifeedant effects by modifying the feeding behavior of ACP adults with short residual activity. The impact of pymetrozine on survival of nymphs was greater than on adults at the higher concentrations tested. Pymetrozine also reduced the acquisition and transmission of Las by feeding ACP adults up to 21 and 18%, respectively, compared with untreated controls. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry