Genetic variation within and relationships among populations of Asian goats (Capra hircus)

Genetic variation at 59 protein coding loci (16 polymorphic) and 25 microsatellite loci was analysed for 11 indigenous south-east Asian goat populations, and the Australian feral population, to determine the magnitude of genetic differentiation and the genetic relationships among the populations. Significant deviations from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium were detected in one or more populations for eight of the nine protein loci with codominant alleles, and for microsatellites for all except the two Sri Lankan populations and for all but four loci. For both marker types, average inbreeding coefficients ( F _IS) were exceptionally high. Heterogeneity of deviations from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium for the microsatellites showed no differences for among loci within populations as compared with among populations within loci. For protein loci, however, the former was higher, indicating selection affecting allele frequencies at some loci. The variance among protein loci was significantly higher than among microsatellite loci, further indicating selection at some protein loci. There was significant differentiation among populations for both protein and microsatellite loci, most likely reflecting the geography of south-east Asia, and the presumed spread of goats throughout the region. Phylogenies derived from pair-wise genetic distance estimates show some similar clustering for the microsatellite and protein based trees, but bootstrap support was generally low for both. A phylogeny based on the combined set of 38 protein and microsatellite loci showed better consistency with geography and higher bootstrap values. The genetic distance phylogeny and the Weitzman diversity tree derived from microsatellite data showed some identical clusters, and both identified the Ujung Pandang and Australia populations as contributing most to overall genetic diversity.     

Sire x location interactions from progeny tests in different countries

1. A total of 529 progeny arising from 19 sires, which had been selected on the basis of their daughters’ body weight (heavy, medium or light) were reared in Berlin, West Germany and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to test for sire x location interactions for production and egg composition traits.

2. Highly significant sire x location interactions were found for sexual maturity, egg production, egg weight, food consumption and egg mass.

3. For egg composition traits, significant interactions were found in some but not all periods for shell breaking strength and albumen : yolk ratio.

4. Highly significant location effects were found for all traits studied except sexual maturity, whereas significant sire effects were found mainly for the productive traits, shell breaking strength and albumen : yolk ratio.     

Secondary stress responses in Indian major carps Labeo rohita (Hamilton), Catla catla (Hamilton) and Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton) fry to increasing packing densities

Glycogen content and metabolic enzyme activities viz. lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), aspartate amino transferase (AST) and alanine amino transferase (ALT) in Indian major carps, Labeo rohita, Catla catla and Cirrhinus mrigala, were investigated after a 6 h transportation trial to compare the species‐specific variation and the effect of increased packing density on the metabolism. Fish (45±5 mm, 0.5±0.1 g) were packed in three densities (100, 150 and 200 L^?1) for the experiment, and 12 specimens of each species were randomly sampled from all the treatments at the end of transportation. The glycogen content of L. rohita ingerlings decreased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing packing density. The activities of enzymes LDH, MDH, AST and ALT showed a rising trend with increasing packing density in all the three species. Species‐specific differences were observed in various tested parameters at the lowest packing density (100 fry L^?1). Alanine amino transferase and LDH activities were significantly (P<0.05) lower in C. mrigala as compared with the other two species. However, glycogen reserves and MDH activity were not significantly different (P>0.05) among the species. The present study reveals that the optimum packing density for Indian major carp fry (100 fry L^?1) for transportation up to 6 h and metabolic regimes are species specific during transportation.     

A study of the possible interconversion of hexachlorocyclohexane stereoisomers on chickpea

A field trial was conducted to study (i) whether there is interconversion of stereoisomers of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) on a plant and (ii) the rate of dissipation of lindane on chickpea in a sub-tropical climate. The lack of formation of the beta and delta isomers on application of pure alpha- or gamma-HCH showed that these stereoisomers of HCH did not interconvert on chickpea. The residues of the alpha and gamma isomers dissipated rapidly on chickpea leaves with half-lives of three and four days respectively.     

Molecular characterization of Citrus yellow mosaic badnavirus (CMBV) isolates revealed the presence of two distinct strains infecting citrus in India

Citrus yellow mosaic badnavirus (CMBV) is a non-enveloped, bacilliform DNA virus and the etiologic agent of yellow mosaic disease of citrus in India. The disease was initially reported from the southern parts of India and has now spread to other parts of the country. It is a serious disease of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) in southern India, where it causes significant yield losses. During a recent survey of citrus groves in the Nagpur region, central India, characteristic mosaic symptoms were observed in mandarin orange (Citrus reticulata) and sweet orange. Virus transmission studies, electron microscopy, PCR amplification and sequencing of cloned PCR products from samples showing mosaic symptoms confirmed the presence of a badnavirus. The CMBV–Nagpur isolate could be transmitted to the Rangpur lime (C. limonia) and acid lime (Citrus aurantifolia) by graft inoculation. Sequence analysis of a segment of ORF-III region and intergenic region (IR) of the viral genome revealed that CMBV–Nagpur isolate formed a distinct clade along with some previously reported isolates that are known to infect acid lime and Rangpur lime. CMBV isolates that infect citrus species other than the acid lime and Rangpur lime formed a second clade. Based on the transmission studies and phylogenetic analyses, it was concluded that at least two strains of CMBV exist in India currently.     

Effect of insecticides on the availability of nutrients,nitrogen fixation,and phosphate solubility in the rhizosphere soil of rice

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane (BHC), phorate, carbofuran, and fenvalerate, at their recommended doses, on some chemical and microbiological properties of the rhizosphere soil in relation to rice yields. In general, the insecticides had a beneficial effect on rhizosphere soil properties. Carbofuran strongly stimulated the mineralization of organic C. BHC and phorate led to the retention of less total N in the soil. BHC released more NH _inf4 ^sup+ -N than the other insecticides. Phorate, however, liberated the most NO _inf3 ^sup- -N. Phorate and fenvalerate released more available P than BHC and carbofuran did. All the insecticides stimulated the proliferation of aerobic non-symbiotic N₂-fixing and phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms, resulting in an overall increase in rice yield. BHC had the greatest effect on rice yields, followed by phorate.     

Steryl and stanyl esters of fatty acids by solvent-free esterification and transesterification in vacuo using lipases from Rhizomucor miehei, Candida antarctica, and Carica papaya.

Sitostanol has been converted in high to near-quantitative extent to the corresponding long-chain acyl esters via esterification with oleic acid or transesterification with methyl oleate or trioleoylglycerol using immobilized lipases from Rhizomucor miehei (Lipozyme IM) and Candida antarctica (lipase B, Novozym 435) as biocatalysts in vacuo (20-40 mbar) at 80 degrees C, whereas the conversion was markedly lower at 60 and 40 degrees C. Corresponding conversions observed with papaya (Carica papaya) latex lipase were generally lower. High conversion rates observed in transesterification of sitostanol with methyl oleate at 80 degrees C using Lipozyme IM were retained even after 10 repeated uses of the biocatalyst. Saturated sterols such as sitostanol and 5alpha-cholestan-3beta-ol were the preferred substrates as compared to Delta(5)-unsaturated cholesterol in transesterification reactions with methyl oleate using Lipozyme IM. Transesterification of cholesterol with dimethyl 1,8-octanedioate using Lipozyme IM in vacuo yielded methylcholesteryl 1,8-octanedioate (75%) and dicholesteryl 1,8-octanedioate (5%). However, transesterification of cholesterol with diethyl carbonate and that of oleyl alcohol with ethylcholesteryl carbonate, both catalyzed by Lipozyme IM, gave ethylcholesteryl carbonate and oleylcholesteryl carbonate, respectively, in low yield (20%). Moreover, cholesterol was transesterified with ethyl dihydrocinnamate using Lipozyme IM to give cholesteryl dihydrocinnamate in moderate yield (56%), whereas the corresponding reaction of lanosterol gave lanosteryl oleate in low yield (14%).     

Neem oil (Azadirachta indica) nanoemulsion--a potent larvicidal agent against Culex quinquefasciatus

BACKGROUND: Nanoemulsion composed of neem oil and non‐ionic surfactant Tween 20, with a mean droplet size ranging from 31.03 to 251.43 nm, was formulated for various concentrations of the oil and surfactant. The larvicidal effect of the formulated neem oil nanoemulsion was checked against Culex quinquefasciatus. RESULTS: O/W emulsion was prepared using neem oil, Tween 20 and water. Nanoemulsion of 31.03 nm size was obtained at a 1:3 ratio of oil and surfactant, and it was found to be stable. The larger droplet size (251.43 nm) shifted to a smaller size of 31.03 nm with increase in the concentration of Tween 20. The viscosity of the nanoemulsion increased with increasing concentration of Tween 20. The lethal concentration (LC₅₀) of the nanoemulsion against Cx. quinquefasciatus was checked for 1:0.30, 1:1.5 and 1:3 ratios of oil and surfactant respectively. The LC₅₀ decreased with droplet size. The LC₅₀ for the ratio 1:3 nanoemulsions was 11.75 mg L^?1. CONCLUSION: The formulated nanoemulsion of 31.03 nm size was found to be an effective larvicidal agent. This is the first time that a neem oil nanoemulsion of this droplet size has been reported. It may be a good choice as a potent and selective larvicide for Cx. quinquefasciatus. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

��Observations on Aerosol Optical Depth Over a Period of 3 Years at Kaikhali (22.022��N, 88.614��E) Inside a Special Mangrove Ecosystem��The Sundarbans��

The paper reports the observations of the aerosol studies carried-out for three years (2004-2007) during the summers and winters at Kaikhali (22.0220 N & 88.6140E) lying in the east coast of India inside a special mangrove ecosystem: 'The Sundarbans'. Aerosol optical depths were measured using a five filter channel sunphotometer with wavelengths at 340, 500,870, 936 and 1020 nm respectively. The sampling site enjoys a tropical climate and is under the strong influence of the southwest or summer monsoon and weak northeast or winter monsoon. The mean aerosol optical depth (AOD) during the winters (2004-2007) for the filter channels 340, 500, 870, 936 and 1020 nm have been found to be 1.478, 1.014, 0.579, 0.541 and 0.523 respectively whereas for the summer periods, they have been found to be 1.173, 0.859, 0.603, 0.564 and 0.597 respectively. The mean values of the angstrom exponent calculated for the winter and summer months over the years 2004-2007 have been found to be 1.283, 0.999, 1.285 and 1.094, 1.167 and 1.91 respectively. Generally the higher angstrom exponent values during the winter periods over the years from 2004-2007 except for the year 2005-2006 indicate high ratio of smaller fractions to larger fractions. The values of Angstrom exponents observed at the site suggest that the aerosol comprise mostly of the small size particles. An attempt has been made in the paper to compare the aerosol optical depth and angstrom exponent values with another study conducted in a different coastal zone in India.