Antibacterial activity of the essential oil from Aristolochia indica

The essential oil of Aristolochia indica, containing beta-caryophyllene and alpha-humulene as major constituents, was found to show a moderate antibacterial activity.     

Species affinities between Cajanus cajan and some Atylosia species based on esterase isoenzymes

Summary Esterase isozymes were studied in seed extracts of Cajanus cajan and six Atylosia species by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and isoelectrofocusing. The isozyme patterns were stable and accession specific. Within the accessions of the Atylosia species, A. albicans and A. scarabaeoides showed three common bands indicating that they are more closely related to each other than to the other species. Of the accessions of Atylosia only A. cajanifolia shares the esterase isozyme of C. cajan and hence seems to be the closest wild relative of C. cajan.     

Underweight, overweight and obesity among South African adolescents: results of the 2002 National Youth Risk Behaviour Survey

OBJECTIVE: The present paper reports the prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity by gender, ethnicity and grade, among participants in a 2002 national survey among South African school-going youth that included height and weight measurements. DESIGN: A stratified two-stage sample was used. Nationally representative rates of underweight, overweight and obesity were calculated using weighted survey data and compared using chi2 analysis. SETTING: In all, 9224 grade 8 to grade 11 students, present at school in selected classes within selected South African government-funded schools in all nine provinces, participated in this study. Most of the students were between 13 and 19 years of age. RESULTS: Higher rates of underweight were observed for males than females as well as for black and 'coloured' than white students. Within each gender group, black and 'coloured' students had significantly higher rates of underweight than their white counterparts. Higher percentages of females than males were overweight and obese, overall and among black students. Furthermore, white male students had significantly higher rates of overweight than their black and 'coloured' counterparts. Among females, black and white students had significantly higher rates than 'coloured' students. Students in higher grades showed significantly lower rates of underweight and higher rates of overweight. DISCUSSION: These data confirm that South Africa, a developing nation in socio-economic transition, is experiencing both undernutrition and overnutrition. However, these problems are disproportionately distributed by gender, socio-economics and ethnicity. Continued surveillance of nutritional status may be one important component of a national strategy to prevent and control malnutrition.     

Induction,genetics and possible use of glabrousness in chickpea

Summary A giabrous mutant was identified from progenies of chickpea seeds that were treated with ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS). The mutant has no shoot hairs in contrast to the dense hairs on normal chickpeas. The character is governed by a single recessive gene. This mutant can be useful in certain pathological and eniomological studies.     

Combining ability for rancidity and associated traits in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum)

Pearl millet occupies an important place in attaining nutritional security in marginal areas; however, as it develops off-flavours, it is less preferred by food industry. The objective of the current study was to determine the variations in rancidity-related traits and estimate the combining ability of inbreds and hybrids for these traits under varied environmental conditions. In this study, 32 hybrids were developed from eight lines and four testers using line × tester mating design and evaluated along with parents and checks 86M86 and HHB 67 for yield and rancidity-associated traits in three environments. The hybrids L7T2 and L6T1 are identified as promising hybrids for grain yield and rancidity. Higher variance due to specific combining ability and predictability ratio for grain yield and rancidity-associated characters indicate the predominance of non-additive gene action. The tester T1 recorded a significant negative GCA effect with low alcoholic acidity. A significant and positive SCA for grain yield was observed in L3T1 and L7T2, whereas for rancidity in L5T4. Alcoholic acidity showed a significant positive association with 1000 seed weight, lipase and lipoxygenase in parents and negative association with 1000 seed weight in hybrids.     

Evaluation of Integrated Nutrient Management Interventions for Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) on a Vertisol in Central India

Phospho-compost (PC) and poultry manure (PM) were evaluated in field experiments to diversify integrated nutrient management (INM) for rain-fed cotton. Seed cotton yield in the PC (2501–2579 kg ha^?1) was similar to the recommended INM (2673 kg ha^?1) treatment and was significantly better than nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (100% NPK) (2130 kg ha^?1) and farmers practice (FP) (1886 kg ha^?1). Yield was lower in the PM (2476–2617 kg ha^?1) than in the PC. Nutrient uptake was higher in all INM intervention plots due to an improvement in soil nutrient status compared with those receiving 100% NPK. Soil labile carbon values were higher in the INM treatments (333–452 mg kg^?1), with a greater magnitude in the PC-amended plots (402–452 mg kg^?1). Carbon management index (CMI) values were higher for the INM than treatments NPK and FP. Among INM interventions, PC plots had higher values than the PM.     

Dynamics of algal populations and acetylene-reducing activity in five rice soils inoculated with blue-green algae

Summary The dynamics of five inoculated strains of heterocystous blue-green algae (BGA) and indigenous algae were studied for 1 month in 1-m² microplots of five soils previously air-dried or oven-dried. The same soils were then dried and resubmerged for another 2 months to study the effect of controlling algal grazers with neem (Azardirachta indica) seeds on the revival and dynamics of indigenous and inoculated algae. During the month following inoculation, inoculated BGA multiplied to some extend in all soils but never dominated the total algal flora. They rarely dominated the indigeneous heterocystous BGA, and did so only when the growth of N₂-fixing BGA was poor or after the decline of blooms of indigenous strains. Once the soils were dried, two of the five inoculated strains did not reappear. During the 1st month following rewetting, the remaining inoculated strains again exhibited poor growth; however, after 2 months of submergence, inoculated Aulosira fertilissima developed an agronomically significant bloom in neem-treated plots of two soils. Correlations between acetylene-reducing activity and heterocystous BGA populations indicated a major contribution by indigenous BGA and a minor contribution by inoculated BGA to the N₂-fixing activity of the soils during the first experiment and the 1st month of the second experiment. The establishment of inoculated BGA exhibited clear differences among strains but was less affected by the nature of the soil and heat treatment. Neem application might have had a delayed positive effect on the late establishment of inoculated A. fertilissima and favored BGA growth and N₂ fixation by the total algal population.Visiting Scientist at IRRI     

Production and characterization of hybrids between Cajanus cajan × C. reticulatus var. grandifolius

Cajanus reticulatus var. grandifolius, endemic to Australia and a wild relative of the cultivated species, C. cajan, was successfully crossed with the latter as the female parent. The major wild species characters such as persistent stipules, long pod hairs, pod shattering, brown seeds with grey speckles, and presence of seed strophiole were dominant in the hybrid. For growth and branching habit, and leaflet, flower, pod, and seed size, the hybrid was intermediate between the parents. The meiotic cells of the hybrid were found to have quadrivalents, trivalents, univalents,and showed reduced chromosome pairing as revealed by the increased number of rod bivalents per cell at metaphase-I, and stickiness and precocious movement of chromosomes to poles in the second division. In comparison to the parents, the hybrid had fewer pods and seeds. However,these anomalies in the interspecific hybrid are not significant enough to preclude the gene transfer from C. reticulatus to the cultivated species through a sexual route. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Exploring diversity among rice germplasms based on their physiological traits responses to salinity

Salinity is one of the major abiotic stresses that severely effects rice production throughout the world. Previously, there have not been many studies which focused on studying diversity among rice germplasm based on specific physiological traits for salt tolerance. Our diversity study was based on physiological traits such as Na+ concentration, K⁺ concentration, K⁺/Na⁺ ratio, osmotic potential, and biomass which are major components determining salt tolerance. This study has systematically analyzed phenotypic data of 191 germplasms in two different salt concentrations apart from the control. The current study identified salt tolerant germplasms based on their response to a single physiological trait as well as a combination of different physiological traits. Some of the germplasm identified outperformed known salt tolerant cultivar Pokkali. This study identifies correlation among various physiological traits. The salt tolerant germplasms can be taken forward into developing better varieties by conventional breeding and exploring genes for salt tolerance.