Effect of intercroppingAsparagus scandens with sour organe seedling in comparison with nematicidal and root exudate treatments onTylenchulus semipenetrans larvae

The intercropping ofAsparagus scandens with sour orange seedlingsCitrus aurantium, gave a significant reduction onTylenchulus semipenetrans larvae in soil after two months of inoculated pots as compared with uninoculated one. There was no significant difference with vydate treatment under green house conditions. There was no adverse effect on plant's fresh and dry weighths for all treatments. The laboratory experiment revealed that there was a positive correlation between concentration, exposure time and toxic effect of root extract ofA. scandens onT. semipenetrans larvae, since 100% mortality were obtained after 24 and 96 h of exposure to the concentrations of 15 and 50 g/100 ml distilled water, respectively.With 2 tables     

Irritant potential of triterpenoids from Ficus carica leaves

The irritant potential of total methanolic extract and five triterpenoids newly isolated from the leaves of Ficus carica investigated by open mouse ear assay. Total methanolic extract, calotropenyl acetate, methyl maslinate and lupeol acetate showed potent and persistent irritant effects.     

Characterisation of aromatic rice (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis> L.) germplasm and correlation between their agronomic and quality traits

Eighty-eight aromatic cultivars collected from Maharashtra state were assessed for determinants of kernel quality (kernel size-shape, test weight and aroma) and grain morphology such as awning, lemma and palea characters, pubescence, colour of sterile lemma and apiculus colour. We, report seven cultivars—‘Girga’, ‘Kothmirsal’, ‘Kala bhat’, ‘Chimansal’, ‘Jiri’, ‘Kalsal’ ‘Velchi’ and ‘Kali kumud’ as indigenous to southern India. Of the 69 cultivars characterized for agronomic traits 36 cultivars were exquisite genotypes and possessed one or more superior traits such as early flowering, dwarf stature, higher number of productive tiller per plant; long panicles; higher number of filled grains per panicle and strong aroma. Variability in aromatic cultivars was assessed on the basis of nine traits placed aromatic rice cultivars in five clusters. Number of cultivars in each cluster ranged from 1 to 33. 27 significant correlations were obtained in the physical, agronomic and grain morphology traits. Aroma was found to be negatively associated with days to 50% flowering as well as with filled grains per panicle. However, correlation between panicle length and effective tillers with aroma was not observed. Therefore, to increase the yield, improvement in length of panicle and increasing number of productive tillers in medium or mild scented cultivars would be the best strategy.     

Identifying autism loci and genes by tracing recent shared ancestry

To find inherited causes of autism-spectrum disorders, we studied families in which parents share ancestors, enhancing the role of inherited factors. We mapped several loci, some containing large, inherited, homozygous deletions that are likely mutations. The largest deletions implicated genes, including PCDH10 (protocadherin 10) and DIA1 (deleted in autism1, or c3orf58), whose level of expression changes in response to neuronal activity, a marker of genes involved in synaptic changes that underlie learning. A subset of genes, including NHE9 (Na+/H+ exchanger 9), showed additional potential mutations in patients with unrelated parents. Our findings highlight the utility of "homozygosity mapping" in heterogeneous disorders like autism but also suggest that defective regulation of gene expression after neural activity may be a mechanism common to seemingly diverse autism mutations.     

Supercritical carbon dioxide micronization of zeaxanthin from moderately thermophilic bacteria Muricauda lutaonensis CC-HSB-11T

Moderately thermophilic bacterial strain CC-HSB-11(T) (Muricauda lutaonensis), which was described recently from a coastal hot spring of Green Island, Taiwan, has been identified to produce zeaxanthin as a predominant xanthophyll by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Cell culture in bioreactor produced 3.12 ± 0.18 mg zeaxanthin L(-1) of culture. Micronization of zeaxanthin was achieved through supercritical carbon dioxide antisolvent precipitation method. Yield of zeaxanthin after the process was 53.4%. Dynamic light scattering assay determined the polydisperse existence of micronized particles of size 3 nm to 2 μm. Field emission scanning electron microscopy revealed distinct morphology and size distribution heterogeneity of particles. Integrity of zeaxanthin after the antisolvent process was assessed by LC-MS/MS. The technique capitalizes on the inherent ability of CC-HSB-11(T) to synthesize zeaxanthin and the work demonstrated feasibility of antisolvent precipitation method to produce microparticles exploiting a bacterial strain.     

Closing the nitrogen use efficiency gap and reducing the environmental impact of wheat-maize cropping on smallholder farms in the Guanzhong Plain,Northwest China

A high crop yield with the minimum possible cost to the environment is generally desirable. However, the complicated relationships among crop production, nitrogen (N) use efficiency and environmental impacts must be clearly assessed. We conducted a series of on-farm N application rate experiments to establish the linkage between crop yield and N₂O emissions in the Guanzhong Plain in Northwest China. We also examined crop yield, partial factor productivity of applied N (PFPN) and reactive N (Nr) losses through a survey of 1 529 and 1 497 smallholder farms that grow wheat and maize, respectively, in the region. The optimum N rates were 175 and 214 kg ha^–1 for winter wheat and summer maize, respectively, thereby achieving the yields of 6 799 and 7 518 kg ha^–1, correspondingly, with low N₂O emissions based on on-farm N rate experiments. Among the smallholder farms, the average N application rates were 215 and 294 kg ha^–1 season^–1, thus producing 6 490 and 6 220 kg ha^–1 of wheat and maize, respectively. The corresponding PFPN values for the two crops were 36.8 and 21.2 kg N kg^–1, and the total N₂O emissions were 1.50 and 3.88 kg ha^–1, respectively. High N balance, large Nr losses and elevated N₂O emissions could be explained by the overdoses of N application and low grain yields under the current farming practice. The crop yields, N application rates, PFPN and total N₂O for wheat and maize were 18 and 24% higher, 42 and 37% less, 75 and 116% higher, and 42 and 47% less, correspondingly, in the high-yield and high-PFPN group than in the average smallholder farms. In conclusion, closing the PFPN gap between the current average and the value for the high-yield and high-PFPN group would increase crop production and reduce Nr losses or the total N₂O emissions for the investigated cropping system in Northwest China.     

Phosphate solubilizing bacteria and fungi in desert soils: species,limitations and mechanisms

Desert soils are infertile, and the ability to improve them by P-fertilization is limited by the solubility of phosphate. We aimed to understand the function of phosphate solubilizing bacteria and the mechanisms behind phosphate solubilization in desert soils. Vegetated and barren desert soils, mine spoil and a fertile temperate grassland loam were sampled. Bacteria and fungi were isolated and identified, and their phosphate-solubilizing abilities were measured in vitro. The release of plant available PO₄, SO₄, NO₃ and NH₄ from desert soils did not compare with that of a grassland soil. Desert soils had substantially lower solubilization than grassland, 162 and 99–121 µg PO₄-P g^?1 dry soil, respectively. Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria and fungi were inhabiting the soils. Si addition increased phosphate solubilization of fungi by 50%. The isolated microbes were shown, using ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis, to rapidly take-up both intracellular and extracellular phosphate during the phosphate solubilizing process. Desert soil had potentially active microbial populations that are capable to solubilize inorganic phosphorus; S and Si as the limiting factors. Acidification as the main mechanism to solubilize mineral phosphate was not as evident in our desert soils as in former studies dealing more fertile soils.     

Kinetic and Equilibrium Modeling for Cr(III) and Cr(VI) Removal from Aqueous Solutions by Citrus reticulata Waste Biomass

The pulp left after the extraction of juice from Citrus reticulate (kinnow), is a waste material, which was used as a potential sorbent for Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in the present study. The effect of experimental parameters such as pH, biosorbent dosage, biosorbent particle size, initial metal concentrations, temperature, shaking speed and sorption time on the Cr removal is apparent from the obtained results. The Freundlich isotherm and pseudo second order kinetic models fitted well to the data of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) biosorption by Citrus reticulata waste biomass. Effect of several pretreatments such as gases, natural coagulant and many other chemicals on Cr(III) and Cr(VI) sorption capacity of Citrus reticulata waste biomass was first time analyzed in the present study. The metal sorption capacity of Citrus reticulata waste biomass after a specific pretreatment was not only related to the nature of chemical but also strongly dependent on the oxidation state of the metal.     

Artificial diet based investigation on the impact of purified Cry1Ac,Cry1Fa and Cry2Ab on the survival and reproductive performance of adult green lacewing, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chrysopa pallens</Emphasis> (Rambur) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

The green lacewing Chrysopa pallens (Rambur) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) is a common and abundant predator in many cropping systems in palearctic realm and it’s conservation is helpful in sustainable pest management in agro-ecosystem. Prior to commercialization of Bt crops in any agro- ecosystem, it is necessary to evaluate the impact of Cry proteins upon non-target organisms especially biological control agents (BCA). In present study an artificial diet consisting of shrimp, beef, beef liver and egg yolk was developed to mass-rear C. pallens for its use as biological control agents in sustainable pest management. Moreover, an artificial diet based risk assessment protocol was developed to investigate the impact of Cry1Ac, Cry1Fa and Cry2Ab on the survival and reproductive performance of C. pallens adults. C. pallens was fed on diets incorporated with Cry proteins and without addition of Cry proteins (control). The same diet containing boric acid was served as a positive control. Temporal stability, bioactivity and intake of Cry proteins by C. pallens were confirmed using double-antibody sandwich, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and bioactivity verification bioassays. Survival and reproductive performance of C. pallens, e.g., pre-oviposition period, daily fecundity, total fecundity and 30-day old adults dry weights, exhibited non-significant differences (p?>?0.05) for the diets containing Cry1Ac, Cry1Fa and Cry2Ab (50 μg/g) against Control. However, significant reduction in survival and reproductive performance (p?<?0.05) was observed in positive control. Our findings reveal that artificial diet is a good source of nutritional requirement with enhanced survival and reproductive performance of C. pallens and can be used for mass rearing of predator in case of natural diet scarcity and Cry proteins are safe for adult C. pallens and Bt crops cultivation help in predators conservation in sustainable agriculture.     

Genetic Variation in Cadmium Accumulation and Tolerance among Wheat Cultivars at the Seedling Stage

Exploitation of genetic differences to select wheat cultivars’ pollution-safe from cadmium (Cd) contamination requires better understanding of Cd uptake and translocation patterns. For this purpose, 15 wheat cultivars were grown in nutrient solution and exposed to four levels of Cd, i.e., 0, 15, 30, and 45 µM. The plants were harvested after 2 weeks of Cd exposure. Root and shoot relative dry matter (DM) was decreased in most of the cultivars, but some cultivars did not exhibit any toxic symptoms. The lowest Cd concentration in shoots was recorded for Lasani-2008 and Iqbal-2000 while the highest for Sehar-2006 and Inqlab-91. Both root absorption and translocation accounted for regulating Cd concentration in shoots. There was no relationship between relative DM and Cd concentrations in roots and shoots. The results suggest that wheat cultivars with low shoot Cd concentration but higher tolerance, i.e. Lasani-2008 and Iqbal-2000, could be used in breading programs for low Cd wheat.