Improvement in the diagnosis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brucella abortus</Emphasis> infections in naturally infected water buffaloes (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bubalus bubalis</Emphasis>) using an ELISA with a Protein-G-based indicator system

Brucellosis caused by Brucella abortus in domestic water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) raised under the traditional system of husbandry in northern India was diagnosed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) with a Protein-G-based indicator system (Protein-G ELISA). A total of 1,551 animals that are positive (N = 61), negative (N = 243), and suspected (N = 1,247) for brucellosis were examined. Rose bengal test (RBT) was used to predict the disease, and accordingly, animals were dichotomized in positive and negative population for receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to determine the sensitivity, the specificity, and the performance index of Protein-G ELISA. Taking all animals (N=1551) into account, the ROC curve analysis revealed cut off value of 29.6% positivity (%P) with 98.40% and 94.94%, sensitivity and specificity, respectively. The results were compared with ELISA in which anti-bovine conjugate was used. The cut off in ELISA was 37.9%P and sensitivity and specificity were 96.26% and 97.07%, respectively. The performance indexes of both the assays were almost equal and were 193.34 for Protein-G ELISA and 193.33 for ELISA. The cut off values of both the tests changed, if only known positive (N = 61) and known negative (N=243) animals were used for ROC curve analysis, and accordingly, changes in sensitivity and specificity were observed with significant decrease of performance indexes of both the tests. The high optical density (P<0.0001) background signal with negative serum control and high %P (P<0.0001) in sera from negative population were noticed in ELISA in comparison to Protein-G ELISA.     

Carbon and water footprints of major crop production in India

Scarcity of water and emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) are the two key environmental issues affecting crop production in India.Reducing the carbon footprint (CF) and water footprint (WF) of crop production can help to mitigate the environmental hazards that stem from GHG emissions and water scarcity.The CFs and WFs of three major cereal crops,rice,wheat,and maize,were estimated for the year 2014 under the environmental conditions in India,based on national statistics and other data sources.To...     

Biodiversity, current developments and potential biotechnological applications of phosphorus-solubilizing and -mobilizing microbes: A review

As one of the most important and essential macronutrients next to nitrogen,phosphorus(P)is important for plant development,but it is the least mobile nutrient element in plant and soil.Globally,P is mined from geological sediments and added to agricultural soils so as to meet the critical requirements of crop plants for agronomic productivity.Phosphorus exists in soil in both organic and inorganic forms.The various inorganic forms of the element in soil are salts with calcium,iron,and aluminum,whereas the organic forms come from decaying vegetation and microbial residue.There is a huge diversity of plant microbiomes(epiphytic,endophytic,and rhizospheric)and soil microbiomes that have the capability to solubilize the insoluble P and make it available to plant.The main mechanism for the solubilization of inorganic P is by the production of organic acids,which lowers soil pH,or by the production of acid and alkaline phosphatases,which causes the mineralization of organic P.The P-solubilizing and-mobilizing microorganisms belong to all three domains,comprising archaea,bacteria,and eukarya.The strains belonging to the genera Arthrobacter,Bacillus,Burkholderia,Natrinema,Pseudomonas,Rhizobium,and Serratia have been reported as efficient and potential P solubilizers.The use of P solubilizers,alone or in combination with other plant growth-promoting microbes as an eco-friendly microbial consortium,could increase the P uptake of crops,increasing their yields for agricultural and environmental sustainability.     

Genomics,genetics and breeding of tropical legumes for better livelihoods of smallholder farmers

Legumes are important components of sustainable agricultural production, food, nutrition and income systems of developing countries. In spite of their importance, legume crop production is challenged by a number of biotic (diseases and pests) and abiotic stresses (heat, frost, drought and salinity), edaphic factors (associated with soil nutrient deficits) and policy issues (where less emphasis is put on legumes compared to priority starchy staples). Significant research and development work have been done in the past decade on important grain legumes through collaborative bilateral and multilateral projects as well as the CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes (CRP‐GL). Through these initiatives, genomic resources and genomic tools such as draft genome sequence, resequencing data, large‐scale genomewide markers, dense genetic maps, quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and diagnostic markers have been developed for further use in multiple genetic and breeding applications. Also, these mega‐initiatives facilitated release of a number of new varieties and also dissemination of on‐the‐shelf varieties to the farmers. More efforts are needed to enhance genetic gains by reducing the time required in cultivar development through integration of genomics‐assisted breeding approaches and rapid generation advancement.     

Potential Inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2 and Functional Food Components as Nutritional Supplement for COVID-19: A Review

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - The severe acute respiratory syndrome is a viral respiratory infection and commonly called as COVID-19, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2...     

Identification of quantitative trait loci associated with iron deficiency chlorosis resistance in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea)

Iron deficiency chlorosis is an important abiotic stress affecting groundnut production worldwide in calcareous and alkaline soils with a pH of 7.5–8.5. To identify genomic regions controlling iron deficiency chlorosis resistance in groundnut, the recombinant inbred line population from the cross TAG 24 × ICGV 86031 was evaluated for associated traits like visual chlorosis rating and SPAD chlorophyll meter reading across three crop growth stages for two consecutive years. Thirty-two QTLs were identified for visual chlorosis rating (3.9%–31.8% phenotypic variance explained [PVE]) and SPAD chlorophyll meter reading [3.8%–11% PVE] across three stages over 2 years. This is the first report of identification of QTLs for iron deficiency chlorosis resistance-associated traits in groundnut. Three major QTLs (>10% PVE) were identified at severe stage, while majority of other QTLs were having small effects. Interestingly, two major QTLs for visual chlorosis rating at 60 days (2013) and 90 days (2014) were located at same position on LG AhXIII. The identified QTLs/markers after validation across diverse genetic material could be used in genomics-assisted breeding.     

Biodegradation of hexachlorocyclohexane-isomers in contaminated soils

Several sites that are contaminated with isomers of the chlorinated insecticide hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) are present across the globe and cause toxicity. For their bioremediation, we studied the degradation of HCH-isomers in contaminated soils by an isolate Pseudomonas aeruginosa ITRC-5. The degradation is optimal at 2 mg technical-HCH (t-HCH)/g soil, 15% water content, pH 8.0, temperature 28 °C and inoculum density 10⁶ colony forming unit/g soil. Under these conditions, from 5 kg soil, >98% α- and γ-HCH, 17% β-HCH and 76% δ-HCH are degraded after 15 days of incubation, which is accompanied with the release of 600 μg chloride/mg t-HCH. Concomitant to the degradation, a four-fold reduction in the toxicity of HCH-isomers to earthworm, Eisenia foetida, is also observed. Addition of ITRC-5 enhanced the degradation of soil-applied HCH-isomers in ‘open field’ conditions as well, and 97%, 43%, 94% and 77% of α-, β-, γ- and δ-HCH, respectively, are degraded after 12 weeks of incubation. Thus, the bacterium causes microbial degradation and detoxification of HCH-isomers, and can be used for the bioremediation of contaminated soils.     

Anti-viral activity of methyl 1-chloro-7-methyl-2-propyl-1h-benzo[d] imidazole-5-carboxylate against white spot syndrome virus in freshwater crab (Paratelphusa hydrodromous)

Shrimp farming industries are subjected to severe economic loss due to a disease called white spot syndrome, a viral disease caused by white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in penaeid shrimp. Numerous active compounds in the market possess anti-viral activity against the white spot syndrome virus, yet the issue remains unsolved. The present study was carried out to determine the anti-viral activity of methyl 1-chloro-7-methyl-2-propyl-1h-benzo[d] imidazole-5-carboxylate (C₁₃H₁₅N₂O₂Cl) against WSSV. The anti-viral activity of the synthetic compound was determined in freshwater crabs. Crabs were divided into three different experimental groups: healthy control groups (N.C.) received NTE buffer, positive control group (P.C.) crabs received WSSV, and treatment group crabs received WSSV along with synthetic weight compound. Experimental groups were observed for 30 days post-infection. Three different organs (gills, muscles, and head soft tissue (HST)) were dissected from all three groups and analyzed using molecular-based techniques, including polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Western blot, and histopathology. Clinical signs of WSSV were observed in the positive and N.C. groups; however, the treatment group showed a 100% survival rate. Confirmation was done using PCR, Western blot, and histopathology. These results demonstrated that the given synthetic compound has significant anti-viral activity against WSSV.

     

Whitebacked planthopper Sogatella furcifera (Horváth) (Homoptera: Delphacidae) resistance in rice variety Sinna Sivappu

Whitebacked planthopper (WBPH) along with brown planthopper (BPH) has emerged as a major pest of rice in several Asian countries. Development and cultivation of varieties resistant to both planthoppers is an ecologically acceptable strategy to manage these pests. Sinna Sivappu, a Sri Lankan landrace, was reported to be resistant to both planthoppers. While inheritance of BPH resistance has been reported, the genetics of WBPH resistance in this variety is not known. Using a mapping population of 255 F_2:3 families from Taichung Native (TN)1/Sinna Sivappu cross and 128 polymorphic simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, genes or quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for WBPH resistance quantified in ten phenotypic tests were identified, adopting classical Mendelian segregation, correlation and QTL analyses. The inheritance pattern suggested that a single recessive gene controlled regulation of seedling damage score. Antixenosis or nymphal preference was influenced by two complementary recessive genes, whereas tolerance in terms of days to wilt was under the influence of a single dominant gene. Several of these phenotypic tests recorded high degree of positive or negative correlation between them, suggesting dependence or redundancy of the tests. QTL analysis revealed 13 loci associated with nine traits. Five major-effect QTLs were detected for damage score (chromosome 6), nymphal survival (chromosome 12), and days to wilt (three QTLs on chromosome 4). We suggest involvement of four WBPH resistance genes in Sinna Sivappu, designated as wbph9(t), wbph10(t), wbph11(t), and Wbph12(t). One of the recessive genes could be allelic to any of the recessive genes reported in cluster C on chromosome 6 which might confer resistance to both BPH and WBPH.