Charcoal rot (Macrophomina phaseolina) across melon diversity: evaluating the interaction between the pathogen,plant age and environmental conditions as a step towards breeding for resistance

European Journal of Plant Pathology - Macrophomina phaseolina is a soil-borne fungal pathogen that incites charcoal rot in more than 500 plant species including melon, Cucumis melo. Disease...     

Contribution of biodiversity to ecosystem functioning:a non-equilibrium thermodynamic perspective

Ecosystem stays far from thermodynamic equilibrium. Through the interactions among biotic and abiotic components,and encompassing physical environments,ecosystem forms a dissipative structure that allows it to dissipate energy continuously and thereby remains functional over time. Biotic regulation of energy and material fluxes in and out of the ecosystem allows it to maintain a homeostatic state which corresponds to a self-organized state emerged in a non-equilibrium thermodynamic system. While the associated self-organizational processes approach to homeostatic state,entropy(a measure of irreversibility) degrades and dissipation of energy increases. We propose here that at a homeostatic state of ecosystem,biodiversity which includes both phenotypic and functional diversity,attains optimal values. As long as biodiversity remains within its optimal range,the corresponding homeostatic state is maintained. However,while embedded environmental conditions fluctuate along the gradient of accelerating changes,phenotypic diversity and functional diversity contribute inversely to the associated self-organizing processes. Furthermore,an increase or decrease in biodiversity outside of its optimal range makes the ecosystem vulnerable to transition into a different state.     

A novel antifungal anthraquinone from seeds of Aegle marmelos Correa (family Rutaceae)

A new anthraquinone, 1-methyl-2-(3′-methyl-but-2′-enyloxy)-anthraquinone (1) has been isolated from seeds of Aegle marmelos Correa and was characterized on the basis of spectral analysis (UV, IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, 2D NMR and mass spectroscopy). The compound exhibited significant antifungal activity against pathogenic strains of Aspergillus species and Candida albicans in disc diffusion assay (MIC value of 6.25 μg/disc), microbroth dilution and percent spore germination inhibition assays (MIC value of 31.25–62.5 μg/ml).     

Hairpin-based virus resistance depends on the sequence similarity between challenge virus and discrete,highly accumulating siRNA species

Virus resistance can be effectively generated in transgenic plants by using the plant’s silencing machinery. To study the specificity of gene-silencing-based resistance, homozygous tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) plants containing a 597-nt hairpin RNA construct of the Potato Virus Y (PVY) replicase sequence were challenged with a variety of PVY strains. The transgene-carrying tobacco line was immune to five potato PVY strains with high sequence similarity (88.3–99.5%) to the transgene. Infection with more distant tomato and pepper PVY field strains (86–86.8% sequence similarity) caused delayed symptom appearance in the transgenic tobacco. Transgene production of small interfering (si) RNA was detected by northern blot and measured using a custom-designed microarray for the detection of small RNAs. siRNA accumulation peaks were observed throughout the inverted-repeat transgene. In the resistance-breaking tomato and pepper strains there were nucleotide differences in the sequences correlated to siRNA transgene accumulation, indicating the role of siRNA specificity in resistance breaking. The log of transgene siRNA signal intensity increased with probe GC content, indicating that the accumulating siRNA molecules were GC-rich. Sequence similarity of highly accumulating siRNAs with the target virus strain appears to be important for both resistance and resistance-breaking characteristics.     

Cost–benefit analysis of two culture methods that influence pearl production from the black‐lip pearl oyster,Pinctada margaritifera

The black‐lip pearl oyster, Pinctada margaritifera, used for round pearl production in Polynesia, is generally cultured using “ear‐hanging” where they are attached to a rope to form “chaplets.” In other countries, pearl oysters are cultured using panel (pocket) nets that are more expensive than chaplets but afford more protection to cultured oysters. Prior research has shown panel nets produce pearls of higher quality and value, potentially generating higher profits. This study used cost–benefit analysis to compare pearl production using chaplet‐based and panel net‐based culture methods. Whole farm data, including gross revenues and annual production costs, fixed and variable, were analyzed. Average production cost per pearl using panel net‐based culture was USD 22.47 and for chaplet‐based culture was USD 21.55. However, use of panel nets saved around 3,430 hr (USD 6,860) of labor a year, offsetting the greater capital investment. A chaplet‐based pearl farm generated USD 65,738 in annual profits compared to USD 88,774 for a panel net‐based farm. Positive cash flow was achieved 1 year earlier (Year 7) for the panel net‐based farm. This is the first economic analysis of different pearl culture methods for P. margaritifera and evidence of profitability will support further development of the black‐lip pearl industry in the Indo‐Pacific region.     

Application of Native Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) for Fermentative Recovery of Lipids and Proteins from Fish Processing Wastes: Bioactivities of Fermentation Products

Fermentation using native lactic acid bacteria (LAB) was evaluated for its effectiveness in recovering lipids and proteins simultaneously from freshwater fish visceral waste (FVW). Five different LAB isolated from fish processing waste were employed in a fermentation process that involved 10% (w/w) glucose, 2% (w/w) NaCl, and 10% (v/w) LAB. Cultures evaluated included four native isolates (Pediococcus acidilactici NCIM5368, Enterococcus faecalis NCIM5367, Pediococcus acidilactici FM37, and Pediococcus acidilactici MW2) from FVW with E. faecium NCIM5335 as the reference culture. Fermentation with native LAB resulted in recovery of > 90% oil present in the material as against no recovery in case of raw (unfermented) viscera and resulted in > 50% of degree of hydrolysis of proteins. The fatty acid profile of lipids was not affected by the fermentation process. The fermentation liquor, rich in hydrolyzed protein, exhibited antioxidant as well as antagonistic properties against several bacterial pathogens. The results clearly demonstrate the usefulness of fermentation using native isolates for simultaneous recovery of lipids and proteins from fish processing waste. It also asserts the value of fermentation as an eco-friendly method and aids in minimizing disposal/pollution problems associated with these solid wastes.     

Mercury concentrations in museum specimens of tuna and swordfish

The mercury levels of museum specimens of seven tuna caught 62 to 93 years ago and a swordfish caught 25 years ago have been determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis. These levels are in the same range as those found in specimens caught recently.     

Electron vortex beams with high quanta of orbital angular momentum

Electron beams with helical wavefronts carrying orbital angular momentum are expected to provide new capabilities for electron microscopy and other applications. We used nanofabricated diffraction holograms in an electron microscope to produce multiple electron vortex beams with well-defined topological charge. Beams carrying quantized amounts of orbital angular momentum (up to 100?) per electron were observed. We describe how the electrons can exhibit such orbital motion in free space in the absence of any confining potential or external field, and discuss how these beams can be applied to improved electron microscopy of magnetic and biological specimens.