Protecting potato plants against PVX and PVY viral infections by the application of native and chemically modified legume proteins

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Methylated soy and chickpea proteins (MSP and MCP, respectively), and 11S globulin (a soy protein fraction), are characterized by net positive charges and...     

Crop breeding for salt tolerance in the era of molecular markers and marker‐assisted selection

Crop salt tolerance (ST) is a complex trait affected by numerous genetic and non‐genetic factors, and its improvement via conventional breeding has been slow. Recent advancements in biotechnology have led to the development of more efficient selection tools to substitute phenotype‐based selection systems. Molecular markers associated with genes or quantitative trait loci (QTLs) affecting important traits are identified, which could be used as indirect selection criteria to improve breeding efficiency via marker‐assisted selection (MAS). While the use of MAS for manipulating simple traits has been streamlined in many plant breeding programmes, MAS for improving complex traits seems to be at infancy stage. Numerous QTLs have been reported for ST in different crop species; however, few commercial cultivars or breeding lines with improved ST have been developed via MAS. We review genes and QTLs identified with positive effects on ST in different plant species and discuss the prospects for developing crop ST via MAS. With the current advances in marker technology and a better handling of genotype by environment interaction effects, the utility of MAS for breeding for ST will gain momentum.     

Prospects of raising Sahiwal cow calves for veal production under tropical environment

The objective of present study was to evaluate the growth potential of Sahiwal calves for veal production on whole milk or whole milk and milk replacer combined in a ratio of 50:50 (MMR). For this purpose, 48 Sahiwal calves (both male and female) were assigned to four dietary treatments having 12 animals/treatment. Calves in the treatments A and B were offered whole milk at 15 or 20 % of their body weight (BW), respectively, up to day 84 adjusted on weekly basis. The calves in treatments C and D received the same amount of milk as in treatments A and B until day 21, respectively, after which 50 % of the milk offered was replaced with a blend of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) flour and vegetable (corn) oil mixed in water (MR) until day 84. The constituted MR had 3.1, 2.8, and 14.3 %, CP, EE, and DM, respectively. The growth and intake data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis, with MIXED Procedures of SAS in a 2?×?2 factorial design. The two factors were feeding level and feeding source. Calves offered whole milk grew faster (P?<?0.05) and had greater weaning weights (P?<?0.05) than those offered MMR (606.4?±?18.1 vs 331.3?±?18.1 g/day and 70.4?±?1.5 vs 47.8?±?1.5 kg, respectively). Greatest daily BW gain (656?±?26 g/day) and weaning weight (74.6?±?2.1 kg) were observed in calves given treatment B while the lowest production cost/kg of BW gain (≈US$3.6?±?0.2) was observed in calves given treatment A. The daily BW gain of calves fed milk ad libitum was 716?±?40 and 836?±?40 g/day, during 5–8 and 9–12 weeks, respectively. The number of days calves exhibited scours was higher in calves offered MMR than those offered whole milk. Replacement of 50 % milk with a blend of chickpea flour and vegetable oil, as an alternative to milk replacer, did not support growth equivalent to whole milk and was not effective in reducing feeding cost during the weaning period. Sahiwal calves may have promise for being raised for veal production under tropical environments.     

Alleviation of salt stress in Triticum aestivum by biopriming with Phanerochaete chrysosporium

Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology - Wheat is one of the most important cereals, vital basic crop in Egypt, covering approximately 32.6% of the total winter land. However, sensitivity to...     

Efficacy of the pear ester as a monitoring tool for codling moth Cydia pomonella (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in New Zealand apple orchards

BACKGROUND: The behavioural response of both sexes of codling moth, Cydia pomonella to the pear-derived kairomone (ethyl (2E,4Z)-2,4-decadienoate), codling moth sex pheromone (E,E-8,10-dodecadien-1-ol), and sex pheromone combined with the pear derived kairomone loaded into red rubber septum were investigated in trapping experiments in New Zealand apple orchards. A range of 0.01-10.0 mg of pheromone loading in rubber septum dispensers was tested and the highest catch of males was in traps baited with 1.0 mg. No dose response in trap catch of males was seen in traps baited with different amounts of pear-derived kairomone (0.01-10.0 mg). RESULTS: The number of females caught was significantly affected by the amount of pear derived kairomone used to bait traps, with the highest catch obtained at 10 mg loading. The attractiveness of sex pheromone was not enhanced by the addition of the kairomone either when used in the same bait or in a separate bait. The mean number of males captured in traps was reduced by 44% when the pheromone and kairomone were combined at ratio of 1:1 (0.1 mg pheromone: 0.1 mg kairomone) in separate sources. CONCLUSION: Kairomone baited traps showed some potential for monitoring the flight activity of female C. pomonella in apple orchards in two locations (Canterbury and Hawke's Bay). However, the number of male moths caught was low as compared to the number of male moths caught in pheromone-baited traps, and therefore the sex pheromone should continue to be used for monitoring male activity.     

High-density growth and crude protein productivity of a thermotolerant Chlorella vulgaris: production kinetics and thermodynamics

Current study investigated the fermentative production of cell mass and crude protein using an axenic culture of the thermotolerant strain of Chlorella vulgaris grown mixotrophically in an illuminated 10-l glass bioreactor. The process was then upscaled to 1,000-l bioreactor. The organism supported maximum specific growth rate, crude protein volumetric productivity, and specific productivity of 1.2?day^?1, 2.26?g?l^?1?day^?1, and 0.76?g?g^?1?day^?1, respectively, with urea as nitrogen source. Gibbs free energy, enthalpy, and entropy values for its formation were 74.3, 56. 2?kJ?mol^?1, and ?59.1?J?mol^?1?K^?1, respectively, in both reactors and corresponded to those of thermotolerant organisms. Algal biomass grown in 10-l bioreactor contained 0.52?±?0.03, 12.6?±?2.0, 60.0?±?4.5, 0.4?±?0.02, 4.5?±?0.2, 12?±?0.5, and 3.81?±?0.5% carotenoids, carbohydrates, crude protein, DNA, RNA, lipids, and total chlorophyll, respectively. Dry biomass supported good growth of fish larvae comparable with that on commercial diet.     

Drought-induced anatomical changes in radish (Raphanus sativus L.) leaves supplied with trehalose through different modes

Leaf anatomical changes were appraised in exogenously applied trehalose of radish (Raphanus sativus L.) plants grown under nonstress (well-watered) and water stress (60% field capacity) conditions. Two cultivars of radish namely, Manu and 40-Day, were grown in a pot experiment at the Botanical Garden, GCUF, Pakistan. Plants were subjected to 60% field capacity conditions after three weeks of germination. Trehalose (25 mM) was applied to the radish plants through two different modes (foliar and presowing). After 2 weeks of foliar-applied trehalose, the leaves were excised from the plants for studying different anatomical features. Water stress caused a significant reduction in the leaf vascular bundle area, leaf midrib thickness (only in cv. Manu), leaf parenchyma cell area, and the number of vascular bundles in both radish cultivars, while water stress increased leaf epidermis thickness of both radish cultivars. Exogenously applied trehalose through both (presoaking and foliar spray) modes was effective in increasing leaf epidermis thickness, vascular bundle area, midrib thickness, and number of vascular bundles in both radish cultivars under water stress and nonstress conditions. Foliar-applied trehalose was more effective in increasing midrib thickness in both radish cultivars under both water regimes. Of both cultivars, the performance of cv. Manu was better in leaf epidermis thickness, leaf midrib thickness, vascular bundle area, leaf parenchyma cell area, and the number of vascular bundles. Overall, exogenous application of trehalose through both modes was effective in triggering leaf anatomical changes under different water regimes.     

Potassium and Silicon Improve Yield and Juice Quality in Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) under Salt Stress

Soil salinity is a major abiotic stress which adversely affects the yield and juice quality in sugarcane. However, the mineral nutrient status of plant plays a crucial role in increasing plant tolerance to salinity. We investigated the effects of K and/or Si on plant growth, yield and juice quality in two sugarcane genotypes differing in salinity tolerance. Addition of K and Si significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased K and Si concentrations and decreased the accumulation of Na⁺ in plants under salt stress. Cane yield and yield attributes were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher where K and Si were added. Juice quality characteristics like Brix (% soluble solids in juice), Pol (% sucrose in juice), commercial cane sugar (CCS) and sugar recovery in both sugarcane genotypes were also significantly (P ≤ 0.05) improved with the supplementation of K and Si. For most of the growth parameters, it was found that K either alone or in combination with Si was more effective to alleviate salt stress in both sugarcane genotypes than Si alone. Moreover, the beneficial effects of K and Si were more pronounced in salt sensitive genotype than in salt tolerant genotype. The results suggested that K and Si counteracted the deleterious effects of high salinity/sodicity in sugarcane by lowering the accumulation of Na⁺ and increase in K⁺ concentration with a resultant improvement in K⁺/Na⁺ ratio which is a good indicator to assess plant tolerance to salinity.