Transformation of fertilizer P in a Vertisol amended with farmyard manure

Availability, fixation, and transformation of added P were studied in a 16-week incubation experiment with a Vertisol amended with farmyard manure in pots with 500 g soil each. P availability, as measured by Olsen P, decreased for up to 8 weeks with various rates of added P, when no manure was applied. In the presence of farmyard manure, P availability decreased during the first 6 weeks and then showed a considerable increase from the 8th week onwards. P fixation increased for up to 8 weeks with the rates of P in the absence of manure. With manure application, P fixation increased only during the first 6 weeks and thereafter decreased continuously. Thus the presence of farmyard manure shortened the period of P fixation and promoted its availability. After 16 weeks of incubation, when manure and fertilizer P were applied together, P was transformed into labile organic (NaHCO₃–P), moderately labile organic P (NaOH-P), and calcium-bound inorganic P (HCl-P). When manure was not applied. P accumulated predominantly as labile inorganic (NaHCO₃–P), moderately labile inorganic (NaOH-P), and inorganic HCl-P. The application of farmyard manure enriched long-term P fertility through NaHCO₃–P and NaOH–P and a shortterm P supply as HCl-P. All fractions except inorganic NaOH-P showed good relationships with Olsen P.     

Relative inhibition of lipid peroxidation, cyclooxygenase enzymes, and human tumor cell proliferation by natural food colors

The most abundant water soluble natural food colors are betacyanins and anthocyanins. Similarly, lycopene, bixin, beta-carotene, and chlorophyll are water insoluble colors. Pure betanin, bixin, lycopene, chlorophyll, beta-carotene, and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside were isolated from Beta vulgaris, Bixa orellana,Lycopersicum esculentum, Spinacia oleracea, Daucus carrota, and Prunus cerasus, respectively. These natural pigments, alone and in combination, were evaluated for their relative potencies against cyclooxygenase enzymes and tumor cell growth inhibition by using MCF-7 (breast), HCT-116 (colon), AGS (stomach), CNS (central nervous system), and NCI-H460 (lung) tumor cell lines. Among the colors tested, betanin, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, lycopene, and beta-carotene inhibited lipid peroxidation. However, all pigments tested gave COX-1 and COX-2 inhibition and showed a dose-dependent growth inhibition against breast, colon, stomach, central nervous system, and lung tumor cells, respectively. The mixtures of these pigments were also evaluated for their synergistic effects and chemical interactions at various concentrations. The mixture of anthocyanin and betanin negated their efficacy in the cell growth inhibitory assay and did not enhance the COX enzyme inhibitory activity. This is the first report of a comparative evaluation and the impact on biological activities of these pigments alone and in combination.     

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     

An Improved Non-destructive Method for Rapid Estimation of Leaf Area in Sunflower Genotypes

Measurement of total leaf area per plant in crop improvement programmes for a variety of purposes is often very tedious and time consuming. In this paper, we offer a rapid and non-destructive method of estimating the total leaf area in sunflower at the time of anthesis. We show that multiplying the leaf area of a specific leaf position from the apex by the total number of leaves per plant yields total leaf area with more than 95 % accuracy. The specific leaf position for any given genotype in sunflower can be arrived at by multiplying the total number of leaves per plant by the factor 0.355 and rounding off to the nearest highest integer. This technique can be used for the rapid estimation of leaf area per plant at anthesis for any given genotype of sunflower.     

CANINE BRAIN ANATOMY ON MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGES

Magnetic resonance (MR) images of the canine brain were acquired during investigation of dogs with neurologic disease. A paramagnetic contrast medium was used for enhancement. MR provided images with excellent contrast between grey and white matter, as well as brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid. Good resolution and anatomic detail of the canine brain were obtained. A series of images was compiled and labelled as a reference for MR anatomy of the canine brain.     

Effects of bovine respiratory disease viruses and isoprinosine on bovine leukocyte function in vitro

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from 4- to 6-month-old-calves were inoculated in vitro with bovine herpesvirus-1, parainfluenza-3, or bovine virus diarrhea viruses. No increase in infectious virus progeny was observed; however, the viruses were detected in the cells for at least 96 h post-infection without any significant reduction in cell viability. The three viruses, either alone or in combination, suppressed phytohemagglutinin-induced proliferation of the mononuclear cells. The greatest suppression was observed in cultures inoculated with bovine virus diarrhea virus. Addition of isoprinosine partially restored this viral-induced suppression of proliferative response, and the efficiency of reversal was greater in bovine virus diarrhea virus-infected cells. Interleukin-2 activity was higher in cultures of virus-infected mononuclear cells than in cultures of non-infected cells.     

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.     

The oxidant defence system in water-buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) experimentally infected with Anaplasma marginale

The glutathione (GSH) -oxidant defence system protects the erythrocytes and leucocytes from oxidative damage. Leucocyte -superoxide dismutase (SOD), GSH-peroxidase (GSH-px), GSH-reductase (GR), GSH-S-transferase (GSH-S-t) and arginase were examined in samples from buffaloes infected with Anaplasma marginale. All the enzymes, except arginase, were also studied in the red cell haemolysates from these animals. GSH-S-t, GSH- and glutathione-reductase (GR) levels in leucocytes decreased in infected animals suggesting a decline in the efficiency of the GSH-oxidant defence system. SOD levels increased but there was no change in leucocyte-arginase activity due to infection. Infection caused no significant changes in red cell SOD, GSH-px, GR and GSH. However, GSH-S-t significantly decreased (P less than 0.05).