Effect of auxins on axillary and de novo shoot regeneration from in vitro shoot cultures derived from forced epicormic buds of teak (Tectona grandis L.)

In this presentation,we report on de novo and axillary shoot regeneration and rooting of shoots maintained over a long term,from cultures of Tectona grandis L.Shoot-tips of teak shoots forced from epicormic buds were used as the starting material for axenic shoot-culture establishment.Long term maintenance of such axenic shoot cultures was carried out by regular sub-culturing on MS media supplemented with N 6-benzyleadenine (BA,8.8 μmol L-1) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA,2 μmol L-1) for 24 months.Vigorously growing shoot tips (2 3 cm long) were inoculated on the MS basal medium supplemented with different concentrations (0,1,2,4,6,8 or 10 μmol L-1) of either IBA or α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) for rooting.Axillary and de novo shoots were developed from axillary and cut basal ends of shoots,respectively.Shoots growing on auxins were further sub-cultured (every 15 days) and maintained for 45 days.The greatest number of de novo (5.06) as well as axillary shoots (2.85) was observed on the MS medium supplemented with 10 μmol L-1 NAA or 8 μmol L-1 IBA,respectively,after 45 days.The combinations of both IBA (μmol L-1) + NAA (μmol L-1) were tested at different concentrations (4 + 4,6 + 6,8 + 8) supplemented to a half strength MS basal medium with 0.1% activated charcoal for rooting of decapitated and non-decapitated de novo and axillary shoots.Rooting from non-decapitated de novo shoots was highest (93.33%) with a mean number of roots of 4.61 on this medium,supplemented with 6 μmol L-1 IBA + 6 μmol L-1 NAA,after 36 days of initial culture.Individual auxin,however,was not effective for root induction.Rooted shoots were acclimatized in a green house and after four weeks plantlets were transferred to the field.     

Salt (NaCl)‐Induced Modulation in some Key Physio‐Biochemical Attributes in Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.)

Salt (NaCl)‐induced regulation of some key physio‐biochemical characteristics in two okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) cultivars (Nirali and Posa Sawni) was examined under greenhouse conditions. Plants of both cultivars were subjected for 30 days to sand culture salinized with four salt levels [0 (control), 50, 100 and 150 mm NaCl] in Hoagland’s nutrient solution. Salt stress significantly reduced the shoot and root fresh weights, transpiration rate, chlorophyll b content, net CO₂ assimilation (A), transpiration rate (E), while enhanced leaf and root Na⁺ and Cl^– concentrations in both cultivars. In contrast, chlorophyll a content, stomatal conductance (g_s), leaf internal CO₂ (C_i), C_i/C_a ratio, water‐use efficiency (A/E) and fluorescence characteristics such as photochemical quenching (qP), non‐photochemical quenching (NPQ), efficiency of PS‐II (F_v/F_m), proline contents, and leaf and root K⁺, Ca^{2 +} and N contents remained almost unaffected in both lines due to salt stress. The efficiency of PSII (F_v/F_m), A, chlorophyll b, root fresh weight and root N were higher in relatively salt tolerant cv. Nirali, whereas leaf Na⁺ and root Cl^– were higher in cv. Posa Sawni. The relatively more reduction in growth in the cv. Posa Sawni was found to be associated with higher accumulation of Na⁺ in its leaves and Cl^– in roots.     

Quantitative measurement of negligible trypsin inhibitor activity and nutrient analysis of guar meal fractions

A complete nutrient characterization of three possible products of guar bean processing does not apparently exist in the literature. Guar meal is a high-protein byproduct produced during extraction of galactomannan gum from the guar bean. During the extraction process, two fractions are produced (germ and hull). Germ and hull fractions are usually combined to form the marketed product, guar meal. Analyses characterized the nutrient, trypsin inhibitor, and galactomannan gum content of the three guar meal byproducts to determine which fraction is more valuable as an ingredient in poultry diets. Analyses indicated that the germ fraction is most appropriate for inclusion in poultry diets. Trypsin inhibitor activity previously reported as an antigrowth factor associated with guar meal was negligible and not considered to be a significant factor limiting its use in poultry feeds.     

Zn fractionation and availability in different soil aggregate fractions from Isfahan region,Central Iran

Zinc (Zn) distribution in different soil aggregates can affect Zn availability. In this study, the effect of soil aggregate-size fractions on Zn distribution and availability was determined in some heavy metal-contaminated soils. Air-dried samples were fractionated into four different aggregate-size fractions (2.0–4.0, 0.25–2.0, 0.05–0.25 and <0.05 mm). Extraction efficiency of available Zn determined by using Mehlich-3, DTPA-TEA, Mehlich-1 and H₂O methods in different aggregates and relation between extracted Zn and corn indices were studied. Moreover, the Tessier fractionation scheme was applied to determine the partitioning of Zn in different aggregates. Among all the extractants, Mehlich-3 showed better extractability of Zn from soils and the highest amount of extracted Zn was found in the <0.05 (87.65 mg kg^?1) and 0.05–0.25 (80.86 mg kg^?1) mm fractions. Zn extracted by Mehlich-3 and DTPA-TEA in the <0.05 and 0.05–0.25 mm fractions had significant correlation with the amount of Zn in corn. Also, correlation coefficients between carbonate-bound and Fe–Mn oxide-bound Zn and available Zn in <0.05 and 0.05–0.25 mm aggregates was higher than other aggregates, suggesting that this two fraction of Zn in finer aggregates constituted the major available Zn pools in the studied soils.     

EXOGENOUS APPLICATION OF POTASSIUM DIHYDROGEN PHOSPHATE CAN ALLEVIATE THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF SALT STRESS ON SUNFLOWER

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to examine whether foliarly applied potassium + phosphorus (K + P) in the form of monopotassium phosphate (KH₂PO₄) could mitigate the adverse effects of salt stress on sunflower plants. There were two levels of root-applied salt [0 and 150 mM of sodium chloride (NaCl)], and varying levels of KH₂PO₄ [(NS (no spray), WS (spray of water), 5 + 4, 10 + 8, 15 + 12, and 20 + 16 mg g^?1 K + P, pH 6.5] applied foliarly to 18-day old non-stressed and salt stressed sunflower plants. Salt stress adversely affected the growth, yield, photosynthetic capacity, and accumulation of mineral nutrients in the sunflower plants. However, varying levels of foliar applied KH₂PO₄ proved to be effective in improving growth and yield of sunflower under salt stress. The KH₂PO₄ induced growth in sunflower was found to be associated with enhanced photosynthetic capacity, water use efficiency and relative water contents.     

Drought-induced anatomical changes in radish (Raphanus sativus L.) leaves supplied with trehalose through different modes

Leaf anatomical changes were appraised in exogenously applied trehalose of radish (Raphanus sativus L.) plants grown under nonstress (well-watered) and water stress (60% field capacity) conditions. Two cultivars of radish namely, Manu and 40-Day, were grown in a pot experiment at the Botanical Garden, GCUF, Pakistan. Plants were subjected to 60% field capacity conditions after three weeks of germination. Trehalose (25 mM) was applied to the radish plants through two different modes (foliar and presowing). After 2 weeks of foliar-applied trehalose, the leaves were excised from the plants for studying different anatomical features. Water stress caused a significant reduction in the leaf vascular bundle area, leaf midrib thickness (only in cv. Manu), leaf parenchyma cell area, and the number of vascular bundles in both radish cultivars, while water stress increased leaf epidermis thickness of both radish cultivars. Exogenously applied trehalose through both (presoaking and foliar spray) modes was effective in increasing leaf epidermis thickness, vascular bundle area, midrib thickness, and number of vascular bundles in both radish cultivars under water stress and nonstress conditions. Foliar-applied trehalose was more effective in increasing midrib thickness in both radish cultivars under both water regimes. Of both cultivars, the performance of cv. Manu was better in leaf epidermis thickness, leaf midrib thickness, vascular bundle area, leaf parenchyma cell area, and the number of vascular bundles. Overall, exogenous application of trehalose through both modes was effective in triggering leaf anatomical changes under different water regimes.     

Vasorelaxant and hypotensive effects of Allium cepa peel hydroalcoholic extract in rat

The aim of present study was to investigate the effect of onion (Allium cepa) peel hydroalcoholic extract (OPE) on rat hypertension induced by high-fructose diet and aorta contractility. The OPE was prepared by maceration method using 70% ethanol. The thoracic aorta from male adult rat (Wistar) was dissected and suspended in Krebs-Henseleit solution under 1 g resting tension. Tissue preparation was contracted by KCl (80 mM) or phenylephrine (Phe, 1 microM) and then the extract was applied cumulatively (0.0625-2 mg mL(-1)). Hypertension was induced in negative control and three groups of rats by adding fructose (10% WN/V) in drinking water for 6 weeks but control group received tap water. Hypertensive groups received saline or OPE at 200, 400 and 800 mg kg(-1) daily for last 3 weeks by gavage. Results showed that OPE reduces aorta contractions induced by KCl or Phe in a concentration-dependent manner (p < 0.001). Removing aorta endothelium did not attenuate the OPE activity. Inhibition of nitric oxide, cGMP and prostaglandin synthesis by L-NAME (100 microM), methylene blue (10 microM) and indomethacin (10 microM), respectively, did not attenuate OPE activity. Atropine abolished ACh-induced relaxation in Phe precontracted aorta but not the OPE-induced relaxation. Although the extract did not change heart rate but after 3 weeks reduced the hypertension induced by fructose (p < 0.001). Present results indicated that OPE reduces aortic contractions possibly via inhibition of calcium influx but without involving NO, cGMP, endothelium and prostaglandins. The OPE hypotensive effect could be due to extract quercetin content, antioxidant activity and inhibiting vascular smooth muscle cells Ca2+ influx.     

药用资源沙枣产胶影响因素分析

【目的】研究种源、产地和环境因子对尖果沙枣、沙枣和东方沙枣的产胶率和胶多糖含量的影响。【方法】对新疆不同居群药用资源沙枣实地考察,收集沙枣胶,测算产胶率,提取沙枣胶中多糖并计算含量。【结果】不同基源的沙枣其产胶率和多糖含量统计上无显著差异(P>0.05,P=0.173);产地与产胶率相关性显著(尖果沙枣P=0.003、东方沙枣P=0.019、沙枣P=0.011),即低纬度地区产胶率高于高纬度地区,而产地与胶多糖含量差异不显著(P=0.051);生态因子海拔、无霜期、年均温和年积温与产胶率相关性显著,即海拔越低,无霜期越长,年均温和年积温越高,产胶率越高(P<0.05),而多糖含量与生态因子无显著相关(P值均>0.05)。【结论】在海拔较低的平原和天山以东、以南地区种植沙枣以推广沙枣胶产业。     

Combining ability analysis to identify suitable parents for heterosis in seed cotton yield,its components and lint % in upland cotton

Combining ability and heterosis were studied in a 6 × 6 diallel cross to see the nature of gene action in Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) during 2002 to 2004. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among all the F₁ and F₂ hybrid means and their respective six parental values for all the traits examined. In both generations, the mean squares due to general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) were also highly significant. SCA genetic variances were greater than GCA and more important for the traits, i.e. boll weight, boll number and seed cotton yield per plant, showing the predominance of non-additive gene action. Lint % in both generations and boll weight in F₂s only were controlled by additive type of gene action due to maximum GCA variances. Cultivar CIM-1100 was found to be the best general combiner and its utilization produced valuable hybrids with desirable SCA in both generations. F₁ and F₂ hybrids, viz., CIM-1100 × CRIS-9, CIM-1100 × FH-682, CIM-1100 × BH-36 and CIM-109 × CIM-1100 as high × low and low × high parents performed well in SCA determination, outstanding mean performance and heterosis. Better SCA effects associated with useful heterosis were more pronounced for yield traits. In F₁ hybrids, maximum heterosis was observed for seed cotton yield followed by boll number, boll weight and lint %. The heterosis over better parent was +3.13 to +65.63% for bolls per plant, +0.75 to +24.40% for boll weight, +0.82 to +115.22% for seed cotton yield and +0.27 to +3.88% for lint %. Involvement of CIM-1100 in most of the F₁ and F₂ hybrids resulted in the synthesis of superior genotypes for most of the traits studied. Inbreeding depression was elevated in good performing hybrids and was the highest for seed cotton yield. Highest yielding F₁ hybrids yielded lesser in the subsequent generation due to over-dominance and inbreeding depression, whereas moderate yielding F₁ hybrids were found more stable even passing through process of segregation due to additive gene action. The combined performance of F₁ and F₂ hybrids could be a good indicator to identify the most promising populations to be utilized either as F₂ hybrids or as a resource population for further selection.     

Predicting the air permeability of polyester/cotton blended woven fabrics

The aim of this study was to model the air permeability of polyester cotton blended woven fabrics. Fabrics of varying construction parameters i.e. yarn linear densities and thread densities were selected and tested for air permeability, fabric areal density and fabric thickness. A total of 135 different fabric constructions were tested among which 117 were allocated for development of prediction model while the remaining were utilized for its validation. Four variables were selected as input parameters on basis of statistical analysis i.e. warp yarn linear density, weft yarn linear density, ends per 25 mm and picks per 25 mm. Response surface regression was applied on the collected data set in order to develop the prediction model of the selected variables. The model showed satisfactory predictability when applied on unseen data and yielded an absolute average error of 5.1 %. The developed model can be effectively used for prediction of air permeability of the woven fabrics.