Relationship between tolerance and resistance to pepper mottle virus in a cross between Capsicum annuum L. × Capsicum chinense Jacq.

Summary Progenies of a cross between pepper cultivar Delray Bell (Capsicum annuum L.) tolerant to pepper mottle virus (PeMoV) and P.I. 159236 (Capsicum chinense Jacq.), resistant to PeMoV were evaluated in greenhouse experiments. The F₁ generation was susceptible to PeMoV, whereas the backeross generations to both parents and the F₂ segregated in a ratio of 1:1. This indicates that PeMoV resistance is controlled at the same locus in both parents or at two closely linked loci. Each parent is homozygous for one locus and the homozygous condition of either allele results in failure to support virus; in heterozygous condition as observed in the F₁ generation, the effect of a single allele is insufficient even when one allele of each type is present, resulting in systemic infection.The abstract of this paper was presented at the IVth Eucarpia Capsicum meetings held in October at Wageningen, Netherlands.Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations Journal Series Paper No. 3175.     

Inheritance of closed flower in pepper

Summary Progenies of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) crosses between the closed flower pepper line UFBG 8209-1 and cultivars Permagreen and Early Calwonder representing the normal, open flower type, were evaluated in a field experiment. The F₁ generation was open flowered. Backcrosses and F₂ generations indicated that the closed flower trait was controlled by a single recessive gene.Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations Journal Series No. 4918.     

Effect of Bacopa monniera Linn. (brahmi) extract on learning and memory in rats: A behavioral study

Extracts of Bacopa monniera (Brahmi, BM), a traditional ayurvedic medicine, have been reported to have memory-enhancing effects in animals. However, there are no studies in which different dosages or chronic use have been explored. The current study examined the effects of standardized extract of BM on behavioral changes of Wistar rats when administered the extract for various durations and in varying doses. We divided the animals into 2-, 4-, and 6-week treatment groups. Rats in each of these groups were divided into 20 mg/kg, 40 mg/kg, and 80 mg/kg dose groups (n = 8 for each dose). After the treatment period, the rats, along with age-matched normal and gum acacia control rats, were subjected to spatial learning (T-maze) and passive avoidance tests. The data were compared with those of age-matched control rats. The study was conducted at the Melaka Manipal Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India. The results showed improvement in spatial learning performance and enhanced memory retention in rats treated with BM extract. These results clearly indicate that oral administration of BM extract improved learning and memory in rats.