Assessment of indigenous Nepalese soybean as a potential germplasm resource for improvement of protein in North American cultivars

Soybeans contain approximately 40% protein and 20% oil and represents an important source of protein in animal rations and human diets. Attempts are being made to increase further the overall protein content of soybeans by utilization of exotic germplasms. In this study, soybean cultivars from Nepal have been characterized and their potential as a germplasm resource for improvement of the protein content and quality of North American cultivars assessed. Soybean cultivars 'Sathia', 'Seti', 'Kavre', and 'Soida Chiny', indigenous to various regions of Nepal, contained 42-45% protein, which is significantly higher in comparison to that of the North American cultivar 'Williams 82' (39%). Fractionation of seed protein by high-resolution two-dimensional gel electrophoresis revealed differences in the protein profiles of these cultivars. Various isoelectric forms of glycinin and beta-conglycinin were identified by comparing the matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass fingerprinting data against the National Center for Biotechnology Information nonredundant database. Nepalese cultivar Sathia was distinct, lacking some isoelectric forms of acidic and basic glycinin subunits while expressing other unique forms. The contribution of these unique protein spots present in either Sathia or Williams 82 to the total protein content was quantified using scanning laser densitometry. Distinct restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) for group 1 glycinin genes were observed among the tested Nepalese genotypes, indicating sequence variation among the cultivars. Conversely, evaluation of RFLP for the genes encoding group 2 glycinins, beta-conglycinin, and Bowman-Birk proteinase inhibitors indicated a high degree of conservation in these genes. Determination of amino acid composition, a reflection of protein quality, indicated that the arginine content of the Nepalese soybeans ranged from 7.7 to 8.1%, which was 5-10% higher than the 7.4% expressed in Williams 82. Additionally, Karve and Seti contained significantly more cysteine than Williams 82. Nepalese high-protein soybeans having a desirable amino acid composition hold potential to increase the protein quality and diversity of North American cultivars.     

Dough Strain Hardening Properties as Indicators of Baking Performance

Bread loaf volume is an important economic criterion. Breeders, millers, and bakers need measurements allowing them to evaluate dough performance during processing. Strain hardening is an important dough property. It describes the stability of the gas cell walls and the ability of cells to expand further; therefore, the higher the strain hardening index (n), the better the baking performance. Dough exhibits strain hardening during uniaxial extensibility tests. However, obtaining n from an extensibility test is time consuming. The objectives of this study were to identify the extensibility parameters that contribute to n. Three parameters were retained in the model (R² = 0.90): dough strength (R_max), extensional delay (E_Diff), and initial slope of the curve (E_i). R_max was the largest contributor and was proportional to the dough strain hardening properties. E_Diff and E_i had a detrimental effect on n. The appropriateness of the model was validated with two sample sets (19 genotypes, 12 environments). Significant correlations were found between loaf volume and n (r = 0.52–0.64) for 7 of the 12 environments. The strain hardening index was found to be a good predictor for baking performance as judged by loaf volume.     

Case–control study on risk factors associated with Brucella Melitensis in goat farms in Peninsular Malaysia

Caprine brucellosis is a bacterial zoonotic infection affecting goats especially in developing countries all over the world. In Malaysia, the risk factors associated with this infection in farms have not been studied. A case–control study was carried out in goat farms in four states of Malaysia to elucidate the risk factors associated with the infection on the farms using structured questionnaires and face-to-face interviews. Results indicate that the introduction of new animals (OR?=?5.25; 90 % CI?=?1.46, 18.88), younger age category of farms (OR?=?5.53; 90 % CI?=?1.09, 21.66), and farms with single breed of goats (OR?=?8.50; 90 % CI?=?1.27, 41.97) were significant risk factors for brucellosis. In order to control brucellosis or possibly eradicate it in goat farms, these factors need to be dealt with. Enforcing stringent importation protocols or complete ban of goat importation from brucellosis endemic countries will help reduce risk of introducing new infection into the country.     

Body status and blood metabolites profiles during resumption of postpartum ovarian activity in yak (Poephagus grunniens)

We examined the changes in body weight (BW), back-fat thickness (BFT) and blood metabolites in relation to postpartum (PP) ovarian activity status in twenty female yaks raised under semi-intensive system. BFT and ovarian activities, like follicle development, ovulation (OV) and corpus luteum (CL) development, were monitored from 4 to 15 weeks (wk) PP using ultrasonography. Resumption of ovarian activity was confirmed with ovulation of dominant follicle (DF) and subsequent CL development, and >1 ng/ml progesterone concentration in blood plasma sample after 1week of ovulation. Yaks were further classified as cyclic (with CL), acyclic (without CL), and cystic (with >25 mm follicular cyst; FC). Within 20 weeks PP, 60% yaks resumed cyclic ovarian activity, while 25% failed to initiate cycling activity, and 15% developed follicular cysts. In all categories of yak, BW gradually decreased (p < .05) till nadir; however, nadir reached earlier (p < .05) in acyclic yaks. BFT differed (p < .05) among the yak groups, but it tended to be higher in cyclic yaks as compared to acyclic and cystic. No difference (p > .05) in non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) values was found among the different categories of yaks, whereas, beta-hydroxy butyrate (BHB) levels were higher in cystic animals as compared to acyclic and cyclic. Blood glucose levels decreased in all yaks during initial 2 weeks after calving. Our findings suggest that yaks with low BW, BFT and glucose levels, and higher BHB values were at risk of delayed resumption of ovarian activity and concomitant development of follicular cysts.     

Basal stem rot of oil palm incited by Ganoderma species: A review

European Journal of Plant Pathology - Populus davidiana × Populus bolleana (PdPap) root rot caused by Fusarium oxysporum is a major disease in China. Controlling this disease...     

Water productivity and nutrient status of rice soil in response to cultivation techniques and nitrogen fertilization

Three methods of rice cultivation were compared in a field experiment at New Delhi, India during 2012 for their water use and changes in nutrient availability of soil. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with conventional transplanting (CT), system of rice intensification (SRI), and aerobic rice (AR) cultivation technologies. Five doses of nitrogen included 100 % (120 kg N ha^?1), 125, and 150 % recommended dose of N(RDN) through urea, 75 % of RDN through urea (90 kg N ha^?1) + 25 % of RDN (30 kg ha^?1) through farm yard manure (FYM), and 100 % of RDN through FYM. Results revealed that status of available N in soil under rice at 45 and 90 days after sowing (DAS) was significantly higher in CT and SRI compared to AR method. Application of the highest dose of nitrogen through urea resulted in the highest availability of N (188.9, 174.2, and 135.2 kg ha^?1 for 45 and 90 DAS and at harvest stage, respectively). The soil under AR recorded significantly low availability of phosphorus and iron. However, availability of K in soil was not affected significantly under adopted production techniques and nitrogen management. The recorded irrigation water productivity was maximum in AR cultivation (9.16 kg ha mm^?1) followed by SRI (7.02 kg ha mm^?1) with irrigation water saving of 54 and 36 %, respectively compared to CT.     

Seasonal variations in plasma glucocorticoid levels in yaks (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Poephagus grunniens L</Emphasis>.) (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bos grunniens</Emphasis>)

The changes of glucocorticoid concentrations were measured by highly sensitive enzymeimmunoassay procedures using second antibody coating technique and cortisol -HRP amplified system for one whole calendar year in yaks. The year was divided into seasons of cool, intermediate and hot seasons. The glucocorticoid values were lower (P < .01) in hotter months than in cool and intermediate seasons. Rectal temperature and respiration rates were indicative of heat stress in the hot temperature season and gave significant negative correlation with circulating corticoid concentration.     

Competing Visions: Domestic Forests, Politics and Forest Policy in the Central Western Ghats of South India

Rural people in developing countries including India continue to access a number of types of ‘forests’ to meet specific needs such as fuelwood, fodder, food, non-timber forest produce and timber for both subsistence and income generation. While a plethora of terms exist to describe the types of forests that rural people use—such as farm forests, social forests, community forests and small-scale forests—the expression domestic forest has recently been proposed. Domestic forest is a term aimed at capturing the diversity of forests transformed and managed by rural communities and a way to introduce a new scientific domain that recognises that production and conservation can be reconciled and that local communities can be effective managers. This paper argues in the context of the central Western Ghats of south India that while the domestic forest concept is a useful umbrella term to capture the diversity of forests used by rural people, these domestic forests are often not autonomous local forests but sites of contestation between local actors and the state forest bureaucracy. Hence, a paradigm shift within the forest bureaucracy will only occur if the scientific forestry community questions its own normative views on forest management and sees forest policy as a means to recognise local claims and support existing practices of forest dependent communities.     

Postcolumn Fluorimetric HPLC Procedure for Determination of Niacin Content of Cereals

Analytical procedures for determining niacin or vitamin B3 content of foods are tedious, require large quantities of toxic chemicals, and are timeconsuming. In addition, food matrices are difficult as samples because of their complex nature. A selective, sensitive HPLC technique was developed with postcolumn derivatization as well as fluorescence and spectroscopic detection systems. Niacin was separated and retained for 6.5 min on a polymeric column with an aqueous mobile phase containing sodium acetate buffer. A postcolumn system consisting of a stainless-steel pump and reaction coil allowed detection and quantitation of niacin. An acid-enzyme sample-extraction method was most compatible with HPLC and postcolumn derivatization with 5% each of acidified p-aminophenol and cyanogen bromide. Lower detection limit and mean recovery were 3.6 ng and 99.43%, respectively. Fluorescence response for nicotinamide was half that of nicotinic acid. A lower response for nicotinamide was also noted with conventional spectroscopy. However, the new method yielded comparable values for six of eight ready-to-eat commercial cereal samples. No significant difference was observed between the AACC reference and HPLC fluorimetric methods. Chemical derivatization was done within a reaction coil with reagents at half strength, limiting exposure to hazards and minimizing waste-disposal problems.