Immunomodulatory effect of Cynodon dactylon against white tail disease of giant freshwater prawn,Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man, 1879)

The giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, is an economically important and extensively cultured crustacean worldwide. The viral pathogens, Macrobrachium rosenbergii nodavirus (MrNV) and extra small virus (XSV) are responsible for causing severe mortalities in the hatchery and nursery phases. This study investigates the protection of postlarvae of freshwater against white tail disease (WTD) using plant extract derived from Cyanodon dactylon and the modulation of the prawn non‐specific immunity. To determine the immunomodulatory effect of C. dactylon extract, the prawn was injected with plant extract and various immunological parameters were estimated. The immunological parameters such as proPO, SOD, THC and clotting time were found to be significantly higher in the plant extract‐injected prawn when compared with control groups. The results of real time PCR analysis revealed up regulation on the expression proPO, SOD and lysozyme genes in MrNV and XSV challenged prawn postlarvae treated with C. dactylon extract. Infectivity experiment showed high relative per cent survival in MrNV and XSV‐challenged prawn postlarvae treated with C. dactylon extract. These results strongly indicate that the administration of C. dactylon plant extract enhances immunity of the prawn. Based on the results, this study recommends that the immersion of postlarvae in C. dactylon plant extract is a potential prophylactic agent against WTD.     

Humarain: A new dimeric gallic acid glycoside from Punica granatum L. bark

A new dimeric gallic acid glycoside named Humarain (1) was isolated from stem bark of Punica granatum. The structure of the compound was determined by spectroscopic data including 1D and 2D NMR spectral analysis.     

Advances in therapeutic and managemental approaches of bovine mastitis: a comprehensive review

Mastitis (intramammary inflammation) caused by infectious pathogens is still considered a devastating condition of dairy animals affecting animal welfare as well as economically incurring huge losses to the dairy industry by means of decreased production performance and increased culling rates. Bovine mastitis is the inflammation of the mammary glands/udder of bovines, caused by bacterial pathogens, in most cases. Routine diagnosis is based on clinical and subclinical forms of the disease. This underlines the significance of early and rapid identification/detection of etiological agents at the farm level, for which several diagnostic techniques have been developed. Therapeutic regimens such as antibiotics, immunotherapy, bacteriocins, bacteriophages, antimicrobial peptides, probiotics, stem cell therapy, native secretory factors, nutritional, dry cow and lactation therapy, genetic selection, herbs, and nanoparticle technology-based therapy have been evaluated for their efficacy in the treatment of mastitis. Even though several strategies have been developed over the years for the purpose of managing both clinical and subclinical forms of mastitis, all of them lacked the efficacy to eliminate the associated etiological agent when used as a monotherapy. Further, research has to be directed towards the development of new therapeutic agents/techniques that can both replace conventional techniques and also solve the problem of emerging antibiotic resistance. The objective of the present review is to describe the etiological agents, pathogenesis, and diagnosis in brief along with an extensive discussion on the advances in the treatment and management of mastitis, which would help safeguard the health of dairy animals.     

New coumarin glycosides from Rhododendron lepidotum

Two new coumarin glycosides, named Rhodonin (1) and Rhodonetin (2) were isolated from the aerial parts of Rhododendron lepidotum.     

Plant–herbivore asynchrony necessitates augmentative releases of the exotic beetle,Zygogramma bicolorata,to enhance the biological control of P arthenium hysterophorus

Systematic information on the quantitative impact of Z ygogramma bicolorata on the biology of P arthenium hysterophorus is crucial as the seeds of this weed continue to germinate from the accumulated soil seed bank throughout the year in the form of different germinating flushes, while the activity of the beetle ceases during winter as it enters diapause. Therefore, plant–herbivore interactions need to be explored to develop predictions of the overall impact of the introduced beetle on the weed. The findings revealed that defoliation by Z . bicolorata had a significant impact on the plant height, density and flower production in flushes F ₃, F ₄ and F ₅, but not in F ₁ and F ₂ that exhibited longer periodicity, profuse branching, a longer flowering period and maximum flower production and contributed mostly to the existing seed soil bank. Therefore, total depletion of the existing soil seed bank was not possible. Consequently, the effect of augmentative field releases of laboratory‐reared beetles was explored on F ₁ and F ₂ in February for three consecutive years (2011–2013). Before initiating the trial, random soil samples were taken from the plots that were assigned to the paired treatments (i.e. with the beetle and without the beetle [insecticide‐treated]) and it was found that the seed bank in those samples did not differ. The single release of Z . bicolorata adults at five per plant at the six‐leaf stage significantly reduced the soil seed bank, compared to without the biocontrol agent, irrespective of the flushes at the end of the season.     

Transboundary system for grapevine downy mildew risk evaluation on a territorial scale (P. Rada project)*

A wide and homogenous viticultural area traverses the border between Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italy) and the western part of Slovenia. Despite similar agricultural, climatic and geographical conditions on each side of the border, the management of agricultural activities and, in particular, the organization of phytosanitary campaigns is carried out separately and differently between the two countries incurring a waste of money, time and energy. The project P. Rada (EU Interreg IIIA Italy Slovenia 2000–06) was set up with the aim of establishing a common expert agrometeorological system to evaluate the development of Plasmopara viticola on a territorial scale. The required agrometeorological data are collected by a network of weather stations and spatially interpolated in a grid with a resolution of 500 × 500 m. The spatial dataset obtained is integrated with rainfall images processed by a polarimetric radar located in Fossalon di Grado (Gorizia, Italy). Once the territorial dataset has been completed, data are used to feed two agrometeorological models: SWEB, for the estimation of leaf wetness, and PLASMO for the simulation of grapevine downy mildew. The main output of the system is represented by meteorological (temperature, rainfall, leaf wetness) and epidemiological (total and current number of infections, days for the outbreak of the current infection) maps capable of supplying end users with detailed information useful for planning and management of grapevine protection activity.     

Acylated flavonol glycosides from Epimedium elatum, a plant endemic to the Western Himalayas

Herba Epimedii is a well-known Botanical preparation used over long time in traditional Chinese medicine. The extracts and chemical constituents from Epimedium species are aphrodisiac as well as to treat many ailments. Chemical investigation of lonely species growing in Kashmir Himalaya Epimedium elatum was undertaken to evaluate its chemical profile. Two unusual substituted acylated flavonol glycosides named Elatoside A (1) and Elatoside B (2) have been isolated from the ethanolic extract of E. elatum along with 23 previously known ones (3-25). All isolates were evaluated for antimicrobial and PPAR-γ ligand binding activity, and some of them appeared to be modestly active.     

Characterization of Lotus Stem (Nelumbo nucifera) Starches Purified From Three Lakes of India

Starch was isolated from lotus stem obtained from three lakes of Jammu and Kashmir, India, and their physicochemical, morphological, and pasting properties were studied. Protein, fat, and amylose content varied significantly (p ≤ 0.05) among the different starches, but no significant difference was found in ash content. Amylose content was highest in lotus stem starch from Manasbal (30.0%), followed by the Dal (28.3%), and the Wular (25.0%). Functional properties like swelling, solubility, and water absorption showed an increasing trend with an increase in temperature from 50–90°C. Scanning electron microscopy of lotus stem starches showed small rounded and typical oval shaped granules with a smooth surface. The starch extracted from Wular and Dal lotus stems had larger granules than Manasbal starch. All the starches obtained from the three sources gave a similar B-type X-ray diffraction pattern. Pasting properties—such as pasting temperature, peak viscosity, breakdown, setback, and final viscosity—significantly differed among starches.     

Allelopathic Effect of Conyza albida on Avena sativa and Spirodela polyrhiza

The allelopathic influence of four plant tissues of Conyza albida (stems, leaves and inflorescences) on oat growth were investigated using in vivo tests. Oat growth (fresh and dry weights of above and underground parts) was inhibited from phytotoxic activity of upper leaves and inflorescence tissues of C. albida in pot studies. The inhibition was significantly higher than in the other tissues studied. The inhibiting action of crude extracts and volatile compounds from young plants (rosette) and mature plants were examined using two bioassay methods: (a) seed germination and radicle growth of oat and (b) fresh weight of duckweed plants. Both bioassayed species exhibited greater phytotoxic response from the young plants, collected in winter, than from the mature ones.     

Soil nutrients and heavy metal availability under long-term combined application of swine manure and synthetic fertilizers in acidic paddy soil

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Fertilization is a vital approach to increase the crop yield by enhancing soil fertility, but some of the fertilizer sources such as pig manure contain...