Histological changes in the cell wall structure during wood decay by Trametes hirsuta and Trametes versicolor in neem (Azadirachta Indica A. Juss)

ABSTRACT

Structural alterations in the wood cell walls of neem inoculated with by Trametes hirsuta and T. versicolor were studied by microscopic methods. In vitro decayed wood showed extensive weight loss of test blocks (26.7 and 41.38% by T. versicolor and T. hirsuta, respectively) at the end of 3 months. Selective delignification in the initial phase followed by simultaneous removal of lignin was evident in test blocks inoculated with both the species. The separation of middle lamellae and patches of cellulosic polysaccharides stained blue with Astra blue in the delignified region of the fiber wall during early stages indicates selective mode of decay. In contrast, the occurrence of erosion troughs with characteristic U-notch in tangential sections is a characteristic feature of simultaneous rot that was apparent after 3 months of incubation. The decay pattern occurred concomitantly in all the xylem elements irrespective of general resistance pattern shown by vessel and axial parenchyma cells. At an advance stage, both species of Trametes showed formation of erosion channels along the microfibrils angle of cellulose which is considered as characteristics of soft rot decay type. The sharing of white rot and soft rot decay pattern by both the fungi suggest a phylogenetic link between both groups of fungi.     

Feeding value of rice distiller’s dried grains with solubles as protein supplement in diet of laying hens

A feeding trial of 10 weeks duration was undertaken on laying hens (n = 240) to evaluate feeding value of rice distiller’s dried grains with soluble (rDDGS) with or without enzyme supplementation (α-amylase, β-glucanase, xylanase, carboxymethylcellulase, pectinase, proteinase, α-galactosidase, β-galactosidase, lipase, and phytase), following 4 × 2 factorial design, on egg production, nutrient utilization, and cost economics of egg production. The birds were randomly assigned to eight dietary treatments with 30 birds/treatment. The birds were housed individually in layer cages and each bird was taken as an experimental unit. Eight experimental diets were prepared by incorporating four levels (0, 50, 75, and 100 g/kg) of rDDGS with and without enzyme supplementation. The results revealed a significant (P < 0.01) increase of egg mass, feed intake, egg production, and body weight gain in dietary treatments with up to 75 g rDDGS though the values were statistically similar to the hens fed 100 g rDDGS. Enzyme supplementation resulted in significant (P < 0.01) improvement of egg mass, egg production, feed conversion ratio (FCR) per dozen eggs, FCR per kilogramme egg mass, and net FCR. The significantly (P < 0.01) higher yolk index was observed at 100 g rDDGS level, while shell thickness improved significantly (P < 0.01) up to 75 g rDDGS level. No significant effect of rDDGS inclusion was observed on shape index, albumin index, and Haugh unit. Enzyme supplementation significantly improved the shell thickness and yolk colour of eggs. Nitrogen, calcium, and phosphorus retention and dry matter metabolizability did not show any significant treatment effects. There was significant (P < 0.01) reduction in feed-cost per kilogramme egg mass or per dozen eggs with the increased DDGS levels and dietary enzyme supplementation. It was concluded that rDDGS can be used up to 100 g/kg diet of laying hens along with enzyme supplementation for better productivity of layer hens.

     

Molecular distinction and population structure of Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern.]

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Rapeseed-mustard is one of the most important oilseed crops and providing a major source of edible oil in the world besides having other economic importance...     

Differential Ovarian Morphometry and Follicular Expression of BMP15, GDF9 and BMPR1B Influence the Prolificacy in Goat

The variation in the kidding size of Black Bengal and Sirohi breed of goats makes them an interesting genetic material to study the underlying genetic mechanism of prolificacy. Accordingly, we studied the comparative ovarian morphometry including disparity in numbers of antral follicles of different sizes between these two breeds. Further, we evaluated the differential expression of the important candidate genes (viz., BMP15, GDF9 and BMPR1B) known to influence the ovulation rates and the prolificacy. The ovaries of Black Bengal (n = 20) goat were lighter (p < 0.01) in weight and smaller (p < 0.01) in diameter than those of Sirohi (n = 19) goats but possessed more numbers (p < 0.05) of corpus luteum (CL), large and small antral follicles. Quantitative real‐time PCR (RT‐qPCR) analysis revealed differential expression of mRNAs encoding for the BMP15 and GDF9. Small antral follicles of Black Bengal goats expressed 2.78‐fold more (p < 0.05) of BMP 15 than those of Sirohi goat. Expression of BMP15 (p < 0.01) and GDF9 (p < 0.05) mRNAs was more abundant in the small than the large antral follicles of Black Bengal goat. The more numbers of antral follicles per unit of ovarian mass and differential expression of BMP15 and GDF9 may serve as an important clue for higher prolificacy.     

An inhibitor of FtsZ with potent and selective anti-staphylococcal activity

FtsZ is an essential bacterial guanosine triphosphatase and homolog of mammalian beta-tubulin that polymerizes and assembles into a ring to initiate cell division. We have created a class of small synthetic antibacterials, exemplified by PC190723, which inhibits FtsZ and prevents cell division. PC190723 has potent and selective in vitro bactericidal activity against staphylococci, including methicillin- and multi-drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The putative inhibitor-binding site of PC190723 was mapped to a region of FtsZ that is analogous to the Taxol-binding site of tubulin. PC190723 was efficacious in an in vivo model of infection, curing mice infected with a lethal dose of S. aureus. The data validate FtsZ as a target for antibacterial intervention and identify PC190723 as suitable for optimization into a new anti-staphylococcal therapy.     

Kinetics of Total Volatile Basic Nitrogen and Trimethylamine Formation in Stored Rohu (Labeo rohita) Fish

Fish freshness estimation has been mostly studied in terms of total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) and trimethylamine nitrogen (TMA-N) determination and partially addresses the kinetics, which limits its practical utility. In this study, TVB-N and TMA-N content of Rohu stored under limited refrigerated (5 and 0°C) and frozen (?5°C) conditions for 42 days showed an increasing trend, respectively. TVB-N and TMA-N formation in stored Rohu was higher at higher temperature and their initial and final values were found 4.57 ± 0.321, 0.14 ± 0.047 mg/100g and 46.56 ± 0.994, 3.24 ± 0.112 mg/100g, respectively. The volatile formations in Rohu at ?5°C were slow, as the frozen storage arrests the enzymatic and microbial activities in comparison to 0°C and above. The kinetics of TVB-N and TMA-N were investigated using zero, first, and nth-order reaction model. First-order kinetics exhibited the best fit model for TVB-N (R² = 0.98; χ² = 0.045), whereas TMA-N formation showed nth-order kinetics (n = ?0.4608, R² = 0.96, χ² = 0.028) as best fit model. The first-order kinetic reaction contributed activation energy of 58.16 kJ/mol for TVB-N and 10.86 kJ/mol for TMA-N. TVB-N and TMA-N formations were influenced by storage temperature and duration as expected. Kinetic parameters were also significantly (P ≤ 0.05) affected by storage temperatures.     

Experimental susceptibility of different life-stages of the giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man), to white spot syndrome virus (WSSV)

Studies were conducted by injecting/feeding white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) derived from infected shrimp, Penaeus monodon (Fabricius), to different life-stages, namely post-larvae, juveniles, sub-adults and adults of Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man). The disease was also induced in brood stock, and the eggs and larvae derived from these animals were subsequently tested for WSSV infection. All the stages except egg used for the experiment were found WSSV positive in histopathology, cross infection bioassay and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. Experimentally infected post-larvae and juveniles showed a high percentage of mortality and an increased rate of cannibalism. The cumulative mortality in post-larvae was up to 28%; with 28–40% cannibalism resulting in a maximum loss of up to 68%. In juveniles, observed mortality and cannibalism were 10–20% and 6.7–30.0%, respectively, and the maximum loss recorded was 50%. In sub-adults, mortality ranged from 2.8 to 6.7%, cannibalism was up to 20% and the total loss was up to 26.7%. Sub-adults and adults were found to be more tolerant to the infection as evidenced by the mortality pattern. A nested (two-step) PCR resulted in a 570-bp product specific to WSSV in all stages, except the eggs.