Synthetic clonal reproduction through seeds

Cloning through seeds has potential revolutionary applications in agriculture, because it would allow vigorous hybrids to be propagated indefinitely. However, asexual seed formation or apomixis, avoiding meiosis and fertilization, is not found in the major food crops. To develop de novo synthesis of apomixis, we crossed Arabidopsis MiMe and dyad mutants that produce diploid clonal gametes to a strain whose chromosomes are engineered to be eliminated after fertilization. Up to 34% of the progeny were clones of their parent, demonstrating the conversion of clonal female or male gametes into seeds. We also show that first-generation cloned plants can be cloned again. Clonal reproduction through seeds can therefore be achieved in a sexual plant by manipulating two to four conserved genes.     

Volatile constituents from Cinnamomum zeylanicum fruit stalks and their antioxidant activities

Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume is an important spice and aromatic crop having wide applications in flavoring, perfumery, beverages, and medicines. The steam-distilled volatile oil from cinnamon fruit stalks was analyzed with GC and GC-MS. It showed the presence of hydrocarbons (44.7%) and oxygenated compounds (52.6%). Twenty-seven compounds constituting ca. 95.98% of the volatile oil were characterized. (E)-Cinnamyl acetate (36.59%) and (E)-caryophyllene (22.36%) are found to be major compounds. The volatile oil was screened for its potential as an antioxidant by using in vitro models, such as the beta-carotene-linoleate and phosphomolybdenum complex method. The volatile oil showed 55.94% and 66.9% antioxidant activity at 100 and 200 ppm concentration, respectively. Also, the volatile oil showed good antioxidant capacity, using the formation of the phosphomolybdenum complex. A comparison of the chemical composition of the volatile oil was made with that of buds, flowers, and fruits. This is the first report on the chemical composition of volatile oil of the fruit stalks of this species and its antioxidant activity.     

Acylated and non-acylated flavonol monoglycosides from the Indian minor spice Nagkesar (Mammea longifolia)

A methanol extract of nagkesar (buds of Mammea longifolia), which showed strong radical scavenging activity, yielded 13 compounds by separations using column chromatography and HPLC. Structure elucidation of these compounds was achieved by (1)H and (13)C NMR, including DQF-COSY, TOCSY, DEPT, HMQC, HSQC, and HMBC. They include two new compounds, quercetin 3-O-(2' ',4' 'di-E-p-coumaroyl)-alpha-L-rhamno-pyranoside and quercetin 3-O-(3' ',4' '-di-E-p-coumaroyl)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside, along with known compounds kaempferol, quercetin, the isopropylidenedioxy derivative of shikimic acid, kaempferol 3-O-(2' ',4' '-di-E-p-coumaroyl)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside, kaempferol 3-O-(3' ',4' '-di-E-p-coumaroyl)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside, kaempferol 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside, quercetin 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside, shikimic acid, kaempferol 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, quercetin 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, and beta-sitosterol 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside.     

Soil Chemical and Biological Activities under Vegetable Intensive Colocasia-based Cropping System in Indian Sub-Himalayas

ABSTRACT

Lack of crop diversification with suitable vegetable-based cropping system is a major constraint in limiting the productivity and sustainability of north-western Indian sub-Himalayas. To find out a sustainable vegetable-based cropping system in this region, a three year colocasia-based vegetable intensive experiment was conducted at Hawalbagh, Almora, India in a sandy clay loam soil under sub-temperate climatic conditions. Seven colocasia-based vegetable cropping systems along with rice–wheat system were compared under recommended package and practices. The system productivity in terms of colocasia equivalent yield was highest under colocasia–onion–frenchbean (52.38 Mg ha^?1) system. Sustainable yield index was highest with colocasia–gardenpea–frenchbean system (0.86). After 3 years, total soil organic carbon (0–5%), available N (2–22%), P (–7% to 14%) and K (3–15%) concentrations were increased in all cropping systems except rice–wheat system, where negative balance of available P (7%) was observed over that of initial soil. Significantly higher soil microbial activity, soil carbohydrate, dehydrogenase, protease, acid and alkaline phosphatases activity were observed under colocasia–onion system. The results suggest that colocasia–onion–frenchbean system with higher productivity improves soil fertility and enhances enzymatic activities.     

N-Dimethylamino Succinamic Acid (B-Nine) as a Potential Aid in Improvement of Medicago sativa L.

The influence of N-dimethylamino succinamic acid (B-nine) on lucerne plants cv. IGFRI-244 was investigated. B-nine (a growth regulant) was sprayed as a foliar sprays, employing 10, 100, 250, 500, 1000 and 5000 ppm alongwith water spray as control, and the effects were observed on plant growth, flowering, nutritive constituents and seed yield of the crop. Plant height was reduced from 6.19 to 26.85 % in various concentrations of B-nine being highest retardation in 5000 ppm, whereas 250 ppm produced more branches and leaves with dense foliage in comparison to control and other treatments. Delayed flowering by 2–15 days with significant increase in seed yield and 1000 seed weight B-nine bein maximum seed yield in 250 ppm. However, total seed yield was increased by 4.16 to 24.76 per cent over unsprayed control plants. Among the treated levels of B-nine, 250 ppm also gave higher values for Carbohydrate, IVTDMD in shoot of lucerne plants with considerable decreased in 5000 ppm. NDF condent decreased progressively with increased concentration of B-nine but always lesser than the value of IVTDMD.     

Choosing optimal design depth for surface irrigation systems

The surface irrigation system design was formulated as a mathematical programming problem. The minimum cost of a furrow irrigation system for a hypothetical case was calculated for different design depths (25, 51, 76, 102 and 127 mm). The crop yields and net returns were simulated for the given design depths. A design (depletion) depth of 51 mm was found optimal under the given conditions.     

Differentiation of Pasteurella multocida isolates from cases of atrophic rhinitis in pigs from Zimbabwe by RAPD and ribotyping

Atrophic rhinitis in pigs is rarely reported in Southern Africa. To determine the relationship between Pasteurella multocida clones from clinical cases of atrophic rhinitis, twenty-one strains were characterised by selected phenotypic and genotypic methods. Biochemical analysis classified 18 strains as P. multocida subspecies multocida, whilst the remainder were grouped into separate unassigned biotypes. Capsular groups A (16/21) and D (l/21) were found among the isolates by PCR. Four ribotype patterns were obtained following HpaII ribotyping, whilst random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) revealed three main clusters. However, subclusters were also noted for each RAPD cluster. Our results indicate that RAPD offers a better discrimination of strains than ribotyping and that none of the phenotypic characters were directly related to the genotypic clusters.     

Recombinant LipL32 antigen-based single serum dilution ELISA for detection of canine leptospirosis

A recombinant antigen-based single serum dilution enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to measure the specific antibody activity in sera of dogs with leptospirosis. The recombinant antigen developed and used in the assay was specific for the pathogenic serovars of Leptospira. A linear relationship was found to exist between the predicted antibody titres at a single working dilution of 1:1000 and the corresponding observed serum titres as determined by the standard serial-dilution method. Regression analysis was used to determine a standard curve from which an equation can be derived that allows demonstration of the mentioned correlation. The equation was then used to convert the corrected absorbance readings of the single working dilution directly into the predicted ELISA antibody titres. The assay was proved to be sensitive, specific and accurate as compared to the standard microscopic agglutination test (MAT).