Effect of method and time of first colostrum feeding on serum immunoglobulin concentration, health status and body weight gain in mithun (Bos frontalis) calves

The effect of method and time of first colostrum feeding on the concentration of serum immunoglobulin (Ig) was evaluated in mithun (Bos frontalis) calves. The hypotheses were that the variable method and time of first colostrum feeding might affect the level of serum Ig and in turn the growth performance and health status of the claves during the early age. The newborn calves were randomly allotted to one of the four experimental groups - G-1: allowed to suckle the dam at own choice, G-2: separated immediately after birth and allowed to suckle the dam first at 6 h and then at own choice, G-3: bottle fed ad libitum colostrum of its own dam first at 6 h and then at 6-h intervals until 24 h, G-4: bottle fed ad libitum colostrum of its own dam within 1 h, at 6 h and then at 6-h intervals until 24 h. The concentrations of IgG, IgM, and IgA were lowest (p < 0.01) at birth and increased following colostrum feeding irrespective of the experimental group. Highest concentrations of all the Ig classes were observed at 12-24 h after birth. The concentrations then transiently decreased from day 7 to 14, and then steadily increased after day 28. The concentrations of IgG (p < 0.01) and IgA (p < 0.05) were higher in G-1 in relation to the other groups during the first week after birth. Similarly, higher concentration of IgA (p < 0.05) was found in G-1 in relation to the other groups during the rest of the experimental period. The apparent absorption efficiency of colostral IgG was higher (p < 0.05) in G-4 in relation to G-3. Growth rate and health status were not influenced by the method and time of first colostrum feeding. In conclusion, a 6-h delay in the first colostrum feeding reduced the level of serum Ig noticeably.     

Identification of transposable element markers associated with yield and quality traits from an association panel of independent mutants in peanut (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Arachis hypogaea</Emphasis> L.)

To identify marker–trait associations (MTAs) for yield and quality traits in peanut, genic and nongenic Arachis hypogaea transposable element (AhTE) markers were employed in a population consisting of independent mutants from several parents. The population was field-evaluated during the rainy seasons of 2014 and 2015, and genotyped with 110 AhTE markers to check the polymorphisms for AhMITE1 transposition. The gene diversity index ranged from 0.00 to 0.50 with average of 0.35, indicating low to moderate genetic diversity in the population. Diversity analysis indicated the grouping of mutants derived from each parent in respective subgroups. Marker–trait association analysis for 110 markers and 40 traits resulted in 132 highly significant MTAs, represented by 58 AhTE markers for 39 traits. Nutritional traits recorded the highest number of MTAs (38), followed by agronomic traits (35), productivity traits (31), foliar disease resistance (23), and taxonomic traits (5). Seventeen MTAs with phenotypic variance explained (PVE) value above 50 % were observed for resistance to late leaf spot (LLS) and rust, plant height, and pod width. The genic and nongenic AhTE markers associated with the above traits were analyzed for their genomic location and functional annotation so that the significance of these loci can be analyzed in the future.     

Genomic resources for breeding crops with enhanced abiotic stress tolerance

To meet the challenges of climate change, exploring natural diversity in the existing plant genetic resource pool as well as creation of new mutants through chemical mutagenesis and molecular biology is needed for developing climate‐resilient elite genotypes. Ever‐increasing area under existing abiotic stresses as well as emerging abiotic stress factors and their combinations have further added to the problems of the current crop improvement programmes. However, with the advancement in modern techniques such as next‐generation sequencing technologies, it is now possible to generate on a whole‐genome scale, genomic resources for crop species at a much faster pace with considerably less efforts and money. The genomic resources thus generated will be useful for various plant breeding applications such as marker‐assisted breeding for gene introgression, mapping QTLs or identifying new or rare alleles associated with a particular trait. In this article, we discuss various aspects of generation of genomic resources and their utilization for developing abiotic stress‐tolerant crops to ensure sustainable agricultural production and food security in the backdrop of rapid climate change.     

Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method extension to quantify simultaneously melamine and cyanuric acid in egg powder and soy protein in addition to milk products

As a consequence of the adulteration of infant formulas and milk powders with melamine (MEL) in China in 2008, much attention has been devoted to the analysis of MEL [and cyanuric acid (CA)] in dairy products. Several methods based on high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), or Raman spectroscopy have been described in the literature. However, no method is available for the simultaneous determination of MEL and CA in other raw materials, which are considered as high-risk materials for economically motivated adulteration. The present paper reports the results of an interlaboratory-based performance evaluation conducted with seven laboratories worldwide. The purpose was to demonstrate the ability of a cleanup-free LC-MS/MS method, originally developed for cow's milk and milk-powdered infant formula, to quantify MEL and CA in egg powder and soy protein. Limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were 0.02 and 0.05 mg/kg for MEL in egg powder and soy protein, respectively. For CA, LOD and LOQ were 0.05 and 0.10 mg/kg in egg powder and 1.0 and 1.50 mg/kg in soy protein, respectively. Recoveries ranged within a 97-113% range for both MEL and CA in egg powder and soy protein. Reproducibility values (RSD(R)) from seven laboratories were within a 5.4-11.7% range for both analytes in the considered matrices. Horwitz ratio (HorRat) values between 0.4 and 0.7 indicate acceptable among-laboratory precision for the method described.     

Antidiarrhoeal activity of Cyperus rotundus

The methanol extract of Cyperus rotundus rhizome, given orally at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg b.w., showed significant antidiarrhoeal activity in castor oil induced diarrhoea in mice. Among the fractions, tested at 250 mg/kg, the petroleum ether fraction (PEF) and residual methanol fraction (RMF) were found to retain the activity, the latter being more active as compared to the control. The ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) did not show any antidiarrhoeal activity.     

Antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity of Zanthoxylum budrunga

The petroleum ether, chloroform and methanol extracts of the leaves and barks of Zanthoxylum budrunga have been evaluated for their antibacterial, antifungal and cytotoxic properties.     

Chemical and spectroscopic evidence for an FeV-oxo complex

Iron(V)-oxo species have been proposed as key reactive intermediates in the catalysis of oxygen-activating enzymes and synthetic catalysts. Here, we report the synthesis of [Fe(TAML)(O)]- in nearly quantitative yield, where TAML is a macrocyclic tetraamide ligand. Mass spectrometry, M?ssbauer, electron paramagnetic resonance, and x-ray absorption spectroscopies, as well as reactivity studies and density functional theory calculations show that this long-lived (hours at -60 degrees C) intermediate is a spin S = 1/2 iron(V)-oxo complex. Iron-TAML systems have proven to be efficient catalysts in the decomposition of numerous pollutants by hydrogen peroxide, and the species we characterized is a likely reactive intermediate in these reactions.     

Genetic resources and breeding methodologies for improving drought tolerance in wheat

Yield gains from rain-fed wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production, particularly in areas experiencing intermittent and terminal dry spells, can be realized through integrated breeding with promising genetic and genomic resources using appropriate methodologies. This enables targeted recombination of novel genes for drought tolerance and selection of desirable genotypes. Continuous exploration of new sources of genetic variation and introgression of suitable genes into elite drought-susceptible genotypes, including via transgenic approaches, and the use of genome editing could offer exciting future prospects in acquiring drought-tolerant wheat genotypes. This review highlights the available genetic resources, the major wheat genebanks and databases, as well as the breeding methodologies for drought tolerance in wheat, including prebreeding, conventional breeding, hybrid breeding, and genomics-assisted breeding. The potential of genetic modification through the transgenic and genome-editing approaches is also discussed. Emphasis is placed on how best these breeding methods can be brought together to develop strategies aimed at improving drought tolerance in wheat.     

Effect of conservation tillage and rice-based cropping systems on soil aggregation characteristics and carbon dynamics in Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plain

Paddy and Water Environment - Traditional rice–wheat cropping system, which follows wet puddling in rice and conventional tillage in wheat, is deteriorating soil health resulting yield...     

Characterization of shiga toxin producing (STEC) and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) in raw yak (Poephagus grunniens) milk and milk products

Thirty-one shiga toxin-producing (STEC) and 6 enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) were isolated from 87 raw yak milk and 63 'churpi' samples. Of 18 stx(1) positive isolates (48.6%), 14 carried stx(1c) (77.7%). Subtyping of 28 stx(2) positive isolates (75.7%) revealed the presence of stx(2c) (9, 32.1%), stx(2d) (3, 10.7%), stx(2e) (1, 3.57%) and stx(2f) (3, 10.7%) variants. Furthermore, intimin (eaeA), enterohaemolysin (ehxA), autoagglutinating adhesin (saa), iha (adherence conferring protein), efa1 (EHEC factor for adherence), bundle forming pilli (bfpA) and toxB (type III secreted protein encoded on LEE Island, similar to toxin B of Clostridium difficile) genes were detected in 14, 16, 12, 4, 3, 2 and 2 isolates, respectively. Univariate and multivariate analysis depicted that both stx(1) and stx(2) or their variants were more likely to occur in isolates from Arunachal Pradesh (p<0.04) rather than Sikkim. Dendogram constructed on the basis of RAPD and ERIC PCR profile distributed the STEC and EPEC isolates in separate clusters irrespective of their sources and serotypes. The STEC and EPEC isolates exhibited resistance against erythromycin, amikacin, azithromycin, amoxicillin, ampicillin+cloxacillin, cephalothin, furazolidone, gentamicin, kanamycin, streptomycin and tetracycline. This is the first ever report on occurrence and characterization of STEC and EPEC isolated from yak milk and milk products.