Effect of coconut palm wine (Toddy) on carbohydrate metabolism in pregnant rats and fetuses

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of an alcoholic beverage (Toddy) and the equivalent quantity of ethanol on carbohydrate metabolism in utero. Female rats were exposed to Toddy from coconut palm (24.5 ml/kg body weight/day) and ethanol (0.52 ml/kg body weight/day) for 15 days before conception and throughout gestation. On the 19th day of gestation, hypoglycemia was seen in both the treated groups, but it was more in the Toddy-treated group. Synthesis of glycogen was elevated on exposure to ethanol/Toddy but its degradation was enhanced only in alcohol-exposed rats. Key enzymes of citric acid cycle and gluconeogenesis were inhibited on administration of both alcohol and Toddy. Activity of glycolytic enzymes were increased. Toddy seemed to potentiate the toxicity induced by alcohol, indicating the additive effects of congeners.     

Low Temperature Effects during Seed Filling on Chickpea Genotypes (Cicer arietinum L.): Probing Mechanisms affecting Seed Reserves and Yield

Chickpea is sensitive to cold conditions (<15 °C), particularly at its reproductive phase and consequently it experiences significant decrease in the seed yield. The information about the effects of cold stress on chickpea during the seed filling phase is lacking. Moreover, the underlying metabolic reasons associated with the low temperature injury are largely unknown in the crop. Hence, the present study was undertaken with the objectives: (i) to find out the possible mechanisms leading to low temperature damage during the seed filling and (ii) to investigate the relative response of the microcarpa (Desi) and the macrocarpa (Kabuli) chickpea types along with elucidation of the possible mechanisms governing the differential cold sensitivity at this stage. At the time of initiation of the seed filling (pod size ∼1 cm), a set of plants growing under warm conditions of the glasshouse (temperature: 17/28 ± 2 °C as average night and day temperature) was subjected to cold conditions of the field (2.3/11.7 ± 2 °C as average night and day temperature), while another set was maintained under warm conditions (control). The chilling conditions resulted in the increase in electrolyte leakage, the loss of chlorophyll, the decrease in sucrose content and the reduction in water status in leaves, which occurred to a greater extent in the macrocarpa type than in the microcarpa type. The total plant weight decreased to the same level in both the chickpea types, whereas the rate and duration of the seed filling, seed size, seed weight, pods per plant and harvest index decreased greatly in the macrocarpa type. The stressed seeds of both the chickpea types experienced marked reduction in the accumulation of starch, proteins, fats, crude fibre, protein fractions (albumins, globulins, prolamins and glutelins) with a larger decrease in the macrocarpa type. The accumulation of sucrose and the activity levels of the enzymes like starch synthase, sucrose synthase and invertase decreased significantly in the seeds because of the chilling, indicating impairment in sucrose import. Minerals such as calcium, phosphorous and iron as well as several amino acids (phenylalanine, tyrosine, threonine, tryptophan, valine and histidine) were lowered significantly in the stressed seeds. These components were limited to a higher extent in the macrocarpa type indicating higher cold sensitivity of this type.     

Exogenous Application of Abscisic Acid Improves Cold Tolerance in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Chickpea suffers cold stress (<10 °C) damage especially during reproductive phase resulting in the abortion of flowers and pods, poor pod set, and reduction in seed yield and seed quality. One of the ways in modifying cold tolerance involves exogenous treatment of the plants with chemicals having established role in cold tolerance. In the present study, the chickpea plants growing under optimum temperature conditions (28/12 °C, as average maximum and minimum temperature) were subjected to cold conditions of the field (10–12/2–4 °C; day/night as average maximum and minimum temperature) at the bud stage. Prior to exposure, these plants were treated exogenously with 10 μm abscisic acid (ABA) and thereafter again after 1 week of exposure. The stress injury measured in terms of increase in electrolyte leakage, decrease in 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride reduction %, relative leaf water content and chlorophyll content was observed to be significantly mitigated in ABA-applied plants. A greater pollen viability, pollen germination, flower retention and pod set were noticed in ABA-treated plants compared with stressed plants. The seed yield showed considerable improvement in the plants treated with ABA relative to the stressed plants that was attributed to the increase in seed weight, greater number of single seeded pods and reduction in number of infertile pods. The oxidative damage measured as thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances was lesser in ABA-treated plants that was associated with greater activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, ascorbic acid, glutathione and proline in these plants. It was concluded that cold stress effects were partly overcome by ABA treatment because of the improvement in water status of the leaves as well as the reduction in oxidative damage.     

A new gene for resistance in rice to Asian rice gall midge (Orseolia oryzae Wood Mason) biotype 1 population at Raipur, India

The Asian rice gall midge, Orseolia oryzae Wood Mason (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), is a major pest of rice in several South and South East Asian countries. The maggots feed internally on the growing tips of the tillers and transform them into tubular galls, onion leaf-like structures called ‘silver shoots’ resulting into severe yield loss to the rice crop. We studied the mode of inheritance and allelic relationships of the resistance genes involved in resistant donor Line 9, a sib of a susceptible cultivar ‘Madhuri’. The segregation behaviour of F₁, F₂ and F₃ populations of the cross between Line 9 and susceptible cultivar MW10 confirmed the presence of a single dominant gene for resistance. Tests of allelism with all the known genes giving resistance to this population indicated that Line 9 possessed a new gene which was designated Gm 9 This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

甘蔗ATP柠檬酸裂解酶基因的克隆与表达分析

ATP柠檬酸裂解酶(ACL)为细胞质中乙酰辅酶A合成途径的关键调控酶,在生物体正常生长发育中扮演着重要角色。本研究通过Race和电子克隆技术获得编码甘蔗ACL蛋白2个亚基的基因SoACLA-1和SoACLB-1,其编码框长度分别为1 272 bp和1 827 bp,编码423个和608个氨基酸,推测的氨基酸序列与其他物种具有高度相似性,都优先与禾本科植物聚于同一进化分支。2个基因在ATP-grasp功能域、柠檬酸结合位点、组氨酸磷酸化位点和ATP结合、CoA结合、磷酸化区域等,序列高度保守。实时荧光定量PCR结果表明,2个基因均受外源ABA、水分胁迫、水分胁迫加ABA处理诱导表达,且叶中表达量显著高于根系,其中又以水分胁迫处理下的表达量最高,2个基因表现出协同表达模式。SoACLA-1和SoACLB-1的表达与ABA、ROS含量具有相关性,说明它们可能参与了ABA调控的植物对逆境胁迫反应的代谢过程。     

Increase in growth,productivity and nutritional status of rice (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis> L. cv. Basmati) and enrichment in soil fertility applied with an organic matrix entrapped urea

Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of eco-friendly organic matrix entrapped urea (OMEU) on growth, productivity, and yield of rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Basmati) and soil enrichment in the paddy field at Rohtak (Haryana) located near Delhi. The OMEU prepared in granular form contained cow dung, rice bran (grain cover of Oryza sativa), powder of neem leaves (Azadirachta indica), and clay soil (diameter of particles < 0.02 mm) in 1:1:1:1 ratios and saresh (plant gum of Acacia sp.) as binder along with half of the recommended dose of commercially available soluble urea (free urea; FU). Single basal application of OMEU showed an increase in plant growth in terms of fresh and dry weights, root length, root, leaf and tiller numbers, soluble protein, total N and ammonium in leaves, productivity in terms of grain and straw yield, and nutritional and microbial activities of field soil over free form of urea and no fertilizer application. Nutritional status of rice grains was also improved over the free urea and no fertilizer controls. Our data indicate that OMEU, which is low cost and based on bio-degradable, non-toxic, and locally available agro-waste, can be attempted to replace the conventional use of soluble urea in rice.     

GGE biplot analysis to evaluate genotype, environment and their interactions in sorghum multi-location data

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is a very important crop in the arid and semi-arid tropics of India and African subcontinent. In the process of release of new cultivars using multi-location data major emphasis is being given on the superiority of the new cultivars over the ruling cultivars, while very less importance is being given on the genotype?×?environment interaction (GEI). In the present study, performance of ten Indian hybrids over 12 locations across the rainy seasons of 2008 and 2009 was investigated using GGE biplot analysis. Location attributed higher proportion of the variation in the data (59.3–89.9%), while genotype contributed only 3.9–16.8% of total variation. Genotype?×?location interaction contributed 5.8–25.7% of total variation. We could identify superior hybrids for grain yield, fodder yield and for harvest index using biplot graphical approach effectively. Majority of the testing locations were highly correlated. ‘Which-won-where’ study partitioned the testing locations into three mega-environments: first with eight locations with SPH 1606/1609 as the winning genotypes; second mega-environment encompassed three locations with SPH 1596 as the winning genotype, and last mega-environment represented by only one location with SPH 1603 as the winning genotype. This clearly indicates that though the testing is being conducted in many locations, similar conclusions can be drawn from one or two representatives of each mega-environment. We did not observe any correlation of these mega-environments to their geographical locations. Existence of extensive crossover GEI clearly suggests that efforts are necessary to identify location-specific genotypes over multi-year and -location data for release of hybrids and varieties rather focusing on overall performance of the entries.     

Fijian adolescents’ understanding and evaluation of climate change: Implications for enabling effective future adaptation

Pacific Island countries are particularly vulnerable to future manifestations of climate change due to high coastline‐to‐land‐area ratios, and high dependence of inhabitants on natural ecosystems. While everyone in the Pacific Islands should participate in climate change adaptation activities, it is the young people, given they are the generation likely to not only bear the burden of climate change, but to lead and live effective climate change adaptation activities and strategies specific to their region, the involvement of youth is critical. Pacific Island youths are often marginalised within traditional decision‐making hierarchies, therefore they are typically excluded from participating in meaningful discussions at community and government levels. Discussions were held with 30 adolescents aged 14–18 years in Fiji to explore knowledge and experiences regarding climate change. Participants revealed their dismay at their inability to talk to family – who they consider are not doing enough – about what they consider as appropriate responses to climate change, recommending the help of an authoritative outsider who could speak to their community leaders and family. Discussions also revealed that Fijian youth could not distinguish between changes in the climate and normal weather events, attesting to the importance of climate‐change education and awareness‐raising efforts within the Pacific Islands more generally.