Ethyl p-methoxycinnamate isolated from a traditional anti-tuberculosis medicinal herb inhibits drug resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vitro

Many plants are used in Ayurveda for the treatment of tuberculosis. Our aim was to examine if these plants possess any specific molecule that inhibits Mycobacterium tuberculosis. One of them, Kaempferia galanga, yielded an anti-TB molecule, ethyl p-methoxycinnamate (EPMC). By resazurin microtitre assay (REMA), EPMC was shown to inhibit M. tuberculosis H37Ra, H37Rv, drug susceptible and multidrug resistant (MDR) clinical isolates (MIC 0.242-0.485 mM). No cross resistance was observed to any standard anti-TB drugs in the MDR strains. The compound did not inhibit any prototype bacteria tested. EPMC seems to be a potential anti-TB lead molecule.     

Sucrose accumulation during high-temperature storage of potato tubers

Summary Potato tubers stored in a farm store from April to October (monthly average temperature between 24.7 and 36.2°C) accumulated considerable quantities of total sugars. Sucrose was the main component though in the variety Kufri Chandramukhi reducing sugars accumulated in amounts equal to sucrose.     

Role of sponge gourd in apical leaf curl disease of potato in Northern India

Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is one of the important vegetable crops in the world and its production is seriously affected by apical leaf curl disease in northern India. This paper reveals the role of cucurbits in maintaining Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV) and Potato apical leaf curl (PALCD) disease in that region. The affected plants showed severe leaf curling and stunted growth. The begomovirus causing leaf curling and mosaic disease in cucurbits could be easily transmitted by the whitefly to potato crops and develop apical leaf curl disease in northern India. The movement of the virus by whiteflies from cucurbits to potato and tomato is possible because of overlapping of planting and harvesting dates of these crops. The causal virus was identified as a begomovirus on the basis of whitefly transmission, PCR, dot blot hybridization, cloning and sequencing of the coat protein gene. The comparison of full length coat protein gene sequence homology revealed that 90% identity with the coat protein gene of ToLCNDV- [Luffa] isolate and the phylogenetic tree derived from these sequences with other selected begomoviruses formed a close cluster with ToLCNDV isolates. The findings proved that the virus causing disease in cucurbits could easily move to tomato and potato and cause leaf curl disease naturally. This is the first observation on the role of sponge gourd for maintenance of ToLCNDV and serving as a host for PALCD in northern India. The findings indicate that the causal organism is a strain of ToLCNDV.     

Eco-geographic distribution of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cicer isauricum</Emphasis> P.H. Davis and threats to the species

Wild Cicer species are considered as useful genetic resources for resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses due to limited resistance in cultivated chickpeas. As a wild perennial species in the genus Cicer L., Cicer isauricum P.H. Davis is an endemic species to Turkey and endangered status according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature criteria. Here we report on its eco-geographic distribution and environmental stresses that affect the species, and advocate for its in situ and ex situ conservation. A new population of the species was discovered in Geyikbay?r?, Güllük Mountains in Antalya, Turkey. Cicer isauricum not only suffers from significant biotic stresses such as ascochyta blight [Ascochyta rabiei (Pass.) Labr.], pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera Hübner) and broomrape (Orobanche sp.), but is also subjected to drought and heat stress in its habitat. Infection with ascochyta blight in natural habitats was diagnosed by molecular techniques, and pod borer and broomrape were observed only phenotypically. PCR amplification of the internal transcribed spacer region of genomic DNA from cultured fungal isolates, yielded sequences with 100% nucleotide identity with the corresponding sequence in GeneBank for Didymella rabiei Kovachevski (anamorph: A. rabiei). The pathogen may have co-evolved with C. isauricum in the newly discovered site. Because C. isauricum is exposed to drought and accompanying heat stress in its natural habitat, it appears able to tolerate heat stress up to 45 °C during podding stage and terminal drought in late summer from its woody, deep rooting. C. isauricum bears multiple flowers per axil, a potentially useful trait in cultivated chickpea. In conclusion, C. isauricum is a potential genetic source for resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, in need of greater protection due to its endangered status.     

Characterization of a potyvirus from eggplant (Solanum melongena) as a strain of potato virus Y by N-terminal serology and sequence relationships

A potyvirus (eggplant mottle virus, EMoV) causing mosaic mottling in eggplant ( Solanum melongena ) was characterized on the basis of biological, serological and partial nucleotide sequence properties. EMoV infected Chenopodium amaranticolor and members of the Solanaceae. Polyclonal antiserum against EMoV showed antigenic relationship with henbane mosaic potyvirus (HMV) and potato Y potyvirus (PVY). Virus-specific antibodies directed to the N-terminal region of EMoV cross-reacted only with PVY. Determination and comparison of nucleotide sequence of the coat protein (CP) and the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of EMoV with other potyviruses showed that the level of homology was highest with PVY isolates. Comparative sequence analyses of the CP amino acid and 3'-UTR sequences with distinct PVY isolates placed EMoV within the PVY^O subgroup.     

A note on the relationship between the production rates of volatile fatty acids and their concentration,digestible organic matter and total digestible nutrient intake in buffalo calves

Volatile fatty acid (VFA) production rates were measured by isotope dilution technique in the rumen of buffalo calves fed on wheat straw plus concentrate, green maize, cow pea and berseem. Correlations derived between the VFA production rates and their concentration and DOM were significant except in animals fed on cow pea. The VFA production rates were also significantly correlated with the TDN intake in all the four feeds tested.The regression equations obtained for the four feeds were different, which suggested that VFA production may vary with the quantity and quality of feed digested. These experiments suggest the use of different regression equations for different feeds.     

Occurrence of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae with Amaranthaceae in soils of the Indian semi-arid region

Summary Some members of the family Amaranthaceae, which has mostly been reported as non-mycorrhizal, were examined for a symbiotic association with mycorrhizae in the semiarid and arid zones. Ten species belonging to five genera, Achyranthes, Aerva, Alternanthera, Amaranthus, and Celosia were examined, using 1.0-cm long root standards. Intercellular hyphae, vesicles and arbuscules were observed in the root cortex. The number of different types of spores in the rhizosphere soil of different plants ranged from one to three. The spores isolated represented nine species belonging to four genera, Glomus, Gigaspora, Sclerocystis, and Scutellospora. No correlation could be established between spore counts and either soil pH or soil moisture.