Analytical characterization of Salicornia bigelovii seed oil cultivated in Pakistan

Seeds of Salicornia bigelovii (hybrid variety sos-10) were collected from five coastal areas of Pakistan on the Arabian Sea. Hexane-extracted oil content was 27.2-32.0%. Results of other physical and chemical parameters of the extracted oil were as follows: iodine value, 128.0-130.5; refractive index (40 degrees C), 1.4680-1.4695; unsaponifiable matter, 1.63-2.00%; saponification value, 178.6-189.0; density (30 degrees C), 0.9036-0.9074. Tocopherols (alpha, gamma, and delta) in the oil ranged up to 200 mg/kg. The S. bigelovii seed oil was found to contain high levels of linoleic acid (74.66-79.49%) and less oleic acid (12.33-16.83%). Saturated fatty acids, palmitic and stearic acids, ranged from 7 to 8.50% and from 1.24 to 1.69%, respectively. Linolenic acid (C(18:3) omega-3) was found within the range of 1.50-2.31%. The induction period (Rancimat, 20 L/h, 120 degrees C) of the crude oil was 1.40-1.70 h. Specific extinctions at 232 and 270 nm were 1.90-2.40 and 0.40-0.62, respectively. Many parameters of S. bigelovii seed oil were quite compatible with those of safflower oil.     

Metabolic profiles in goat does in late pregnancy with and without subclinical pregnancy toxemia

Background: Pregnant goat does can develop various metabolic diseases during late pregnancy that may have profound effects on their health and productivity, including subclinical pregnancy toxemia. Objectives: This study was performed to evaluate serum biochemical findings in goats in late pregnancy with and without subclinical pregnancy toxemia. Methods: Serum samples were obtained from 153 clinically healthy goats in the last trimester of pregnancy from 14 herds in central and northern Jordan. Serum was analyzed for the following constituents: 3‐hydroxybutyrate (3‐HB), glucose, total protein, albumin, urea, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, cholesterol, triglycerides, cortisol, T3, T4, total calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus, using commercially available kits. Goats were classified as having subclinical pregnancy toxemia or as controls on the basis of 3‐HB results. Biochemical results were compared between the 2 groups using nonparametric statistical tests. Results: Fifty‐three does had subclinical pregnancy toxemia (3‐HB>0.86 mmol/L) and 100 were pregnant control does (3‐HB≤0.86 mmol/L). Does with subclinical pregnancy toxemia had significantly lower glucose concentrations (P<.001) and significantly higher urea (P=.042) and total protein (P=.048) concentrations compared with pregnant control does. 3‐HB concentration was significantly correlated with glucose (r=0.290, P=.035), phosphorus (r=0.351, P=.01), and cortisol (r=0.394, P=.004) concentrations in goats with subclinical toxemia. Conclusions: Results of this study indicate that the biochemical profile of does with subclinical pregnancy toxemia differs from that of other pregnant goats. 3‐HB should be measured in pregnant does in late stages of gestation with hypoglycemia or with elevated urea and total protein concentrations.     

Comparison and modelling of extraction methods to assess agronomic effectiveness of fertilizer zinc

Total Zn in fertilizer is a poor predictor of Zn availability in granular fertilizers. In this study, we compared different extraction methods using Zn fertilizers for which the agronomic effectiveness had previously been determined. Sixteen fertilizers were extracted by eight different procedures using five extractant solutions: water, 1 M ammonium acetate (pH 7.0), 74 mM EDTA (pH 7.0), 5 mM DTPA + 0.1 M MES (pH 6.2), and 0.12 M bis‐tris (pH 6). Modelling of Zn solubility and speciation was carried out with a chemical speciation program (Visual Minteq). The predicted solubilities were in good agreement with the observations, indicating chemical equilibrium. The three methods using pure water were highly correlated with each other and showed the strongest correlation with agronomic effectiveness (r = 0.81–0.90). The methods using extractants with strong pH buffering or high chelating capacity showed no or weak correlation with the agronomic effectiveness. Thus, water‐only based methods give the best indication of the availability of Zn in granular fertilizers, and are best suited for regulation or labeling of available Zn in fertilizer.     

Development of advanced fragrant rice lines from MR269 × Basmati 370 through marker-assisted backcrossing

Fragrance in rice is an appealing attribute to consumers. The increasing demand for fragrant rice highlights the need to develop fragrant rice variety that suit the preference of local consumers in addition to reduce fragrant rice imports. Marker-assisted backcrossing (MABC) was employed to develop advanced fragrant rice lines from the cross between MR269 and Basmati 370. MR269 is a Malaysian high-yielding rice variety but non-fragrant and was used as recurrent parent whereas Basmati 370 is a well-known fragrant traditional rice variety and was used as donor parent for the fragrance gene. Two generations of backcrosses and a generation of selfing were conducted to introgress the fragrance gene and restore the recurrent parent genome in the backcross progenies. As a result, 14 advanced fragrant rice lines were developed. These advanced fragrant rice lines carried homozygous alleles for the fragrance gene, similar to Basmati 370. The average recovery of recurrent parent genome was 88.4%. Besides being fragrant, the advanced fragrant rice lines also had most of the morphological and agronomical traits similar to MR269. Grain quality of the advanced fragrant rice lines in terms of gelatinization temperature, amylose content and gel consistency are also similar to both parents. Besides, the advanced fragrant rice lines had 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline content similar to Basmati 370. MABC approach applied in this study has successfully introgressed the fragrance gene and accelerated the recovery of recurrent parent genome in advanced fragrant rice lines, therefore these lines can be delivered to the farmers and consumers for use in due time.     

Dynamics of glucose in the haemolymph of female giant freshwater prawn,Macrobrachium rosenbergii,influences reproductive and non‐reproductive moulting cycles

Glucose, when measured in haemolymph, has been found to reflect a useful predictor of energetic investment. This study evaluated the pattern of glucose in the haemolymph, with an attempt to gain a better insight into the role of glucose as nutritional source of ovarian development and energy reserves during reproductive and non‐reproductive moulting cycles. The haemolymph of female giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, was obtained at eight different moulting stages, and levels of glucose were determined using an enzymatic colorimetric glucose‐oxidase method in parallel with a histological examination of ovarian development. Glucose levels were relatively low (0.15 ± 0.02 mg mL^?1) at D₀ stage, an abrupt increase (0.52 ± 0.13 mg mL^?1) during premoult D₁ stage and declined (0.32 ± 0.10 and 0.31 ± 0.09 mg mL^?1) during premoult D₂ and D₃ stages, respectively; thereafter, a slight increase (0.43 ± 0.09 mg mL^?1) occurred at post‐moult A stage. The progression of ovarian growth, marked by an increasing gonadosomatic index (GSI) pattern during the reproductive moulting cycle (C₀–D₃ stages), was directly proportionate to fluctuations in glucose levels. GSI was significantly positively correlated with glucose (R = 0.40; P < 0.05). In contrast, glucose was notably higher at post‐moult A and premoult D₂ stages during non‐reproductive moulting cycle, the period during which glucose is crucial for exoskeletal chitin synthesis. At this particular stage, a negative correlation between body weight and glucose (R = ?0.36; P < 0.05) was observed. The dynamics of glucose in the haemolymph of female M. rosenbergii correlated with ovarian growth, which signify that glucose as nutritional source for vitellogenesis, and affects the body weight of this species.     

Variation in zinc efficiency among and within Aegilops species

Fifteen accessions of Aegilops tauschii (DD), 10 of Ae. speltoides (SS) and 8 of the tetraploid Aegilops species sharing the U genome were used to study the influence of varied zinc (Zn) supply on development of Zn-deficiency symptoms, and on shoot dry weight and Zn concentration. Plants were grown in a Zn-deficient calcareous soil under greenhouse conditions with (+Zn = 5 mg kg^—1 soil) and without (—Zn) Zn supply. Four accessions of wild tetraploid wheat, Triticum turgidum var. dicoccoides (BBAA), a group known for its high sensitivity to Zn-deficiency, were used in the experiments for comparison. As expected, the accessions of wild T. turgidum var. dicoccoides showed the highest sensitivity to Zn deficiency, and had more severe leaf symptoms of Zn deficiency (whitish-brown necrotic patches). Among the Aegilops species, leaf symptoms of Zn deficiency were, in general, more distinct in Ae. tauschii (DD) and least in Ae. speltoides (SS). Zinc efficiency, expressed as the percentage of shoot dry weight produced under conditions of Zn deficiency compared to Zn supply, averaged, 15% for T. turgidum, 32% for Ae. tauschii, 52% for Ae. speltoides and 61% for the tetraploid Aegilops species carrying the U genome. Differences in Zn efficiency among and within Aegilops species and T. turgidum were significantly correlated with the Zn amount per shoot, but not with the Zn amount per unit dry weight of shoots. The results show that Aegilops species can be exploited as an important genetic source for Zn efficiency genes, particularly Ae. speltoides var. ligustica (SS) and Ae. triuncialis (UUCC). Transfer of these genes to cultivated modern wheat may bring about a greater variation in Zn efficiency in wheat, and facilitate production of Zn-efficient modern wheat cultivars for Zn-deficient soil conditions.     

Identification of Wap65, a human homologue of hemopexin as a copper-inducible gene in swordtail fish, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xiphophorus helleri</Emphasis>

Copper is one of the major heavy metal pollutants found in the aquatic environment. Therefore, it is important for determining the genes that play a key role in copper metabolism in aquatic organisms. This study, thus, aimed to identify a new copper-inducible gene in swordtail fish, Xiphophorus helleri. Using ACP-based RT-PCR coupled with RLM-RACE, we cloned Wap65, a mammalian homologue of hemopexin gene. The gene exhibits high identity at amino acid levels with the Wap65 gene of other fish species (42–68%) and mammalian hemopexin gene (35–37%). In addition, ten cysteine and two histidine residues are conserved in the swordtail fish Wap65 gene. These cysteine residues are vital for structural integrity, and histidine residues provide high binding affinity towards heme. As revealed by RT-PCR, the gene was upregulated in swordtail fish that were exposed to copper in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Therefore, the identification of Wap65, a mammalian homologue of hemopexin, as a new copper-inducible gene will provide greater insight into the role of this gene in copper metabolism.     

Antimicrobial Activity of Selected Essential Oils on Pseudomonas Species Associated with Spoilage of Fish with Emphasis on Cinnamon Essential Oil

ABSTRACT

Eight plant essential oils (cardamom, cinnamon, clove, eucalyptus, lemongrass, lime, nutmeg and rosemary) were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against three Pseudomonas species associated with microbial spoilage of refrigerated tilapia. In vitro test of the essential oils, using disc-diffusion method, showed various degrees of antimicrobial activity against the Pseudomonas species. Cinnamon essential oil (CEO) had the highest antimicrobial activity, followed by clove essential oil. The remaining essential oils showed consistently weak activity. The antimicrobial efficiency of CEO against the Pseudomonas species was confirmed by potential minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration values, ranging between 0.125 and 0.375 µL/mL and 0.250–0.500 µL/mL, respectively. The anti-Pseudomonas activity of CEO was also tested in fish extract model at refrigeration temperature. The essential oil reduced the Pseudomonas viable count in fish extract but to a lesser extent than when it was applied at the same concentrations in culture medium. The chemical composition of CEO showed that the oil contained 79.1% cinnamaldehyde, which was suggested to be responsible for its antimicrobial activity. These results revealed the potential of CEO as a promising natural antimicrobial agent that could efficiently contribute to the control of spoilage bacteria and retard microbial spoilage of fresh fish.     

Primary hypoparathyroidism in two horses

Two Thoroughbred horses were presented with various clinical signs which included sweating, agitation, muscle twitching and synchronous diaphragmatic flutter. These signs were associated with profound hypocalcaemia. A diagnosis of primary hypoparathyroidism was made on the basis of low serum ionised calcium concentration, hyperphosphataemia and markedly reduced serum immunoreactive parathyroid hormone concentrations in the presence of normal renal function. Treatment with a combination of intravenous calcium and subsequently oral calcium, magnesium and a vitamin D analogue (dihydrotachysterol) for up to 65 days resulted in complete remission of clinical signs. Horse 1 was euthanased 12 months after the initial recognition of signs. Results of necropsy were unremarkable apart from an absence of detectable parathyroid tissue. Horse 2 returned to athletic activities while receiving only maintenance doses of oral calcium carbonate.