In vitro spasmolytic effect of aqueous extract of Calotropis procera on Guinea-pig trachea smooth muscle chain

The aqueous extract of Calotropis procera was evaluated for its spasmolytic effect using in vitro trachea smooth muscle chain of Guinea-pig. The extract (50, 100 and 200 microg/ml) showed a dose-dependent relaxant activity probably exhibited through the direct relaxant action on the smooth muscle.     

Effect of Azospirillum brasilense inoculation on rhizobacterial communities analyzed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis

Nucleic acid-based techniques allow the exploration of microbial communities in the environments such as the rhizosphere. Azospirillumbrasilense, a plant growth promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR), causes morphological changes in the plant root system. These changes in root physiology may indirectly affect the microbial diversity of the rhizosphere. In this study, the changes in the rhizobacterial structure following A. brasilense inoculation of maize (Zea mays) plants was examined by PCR-denaturating gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis (ARISA), using two universal primers sets for the 16S rRNA gene, and an intergenic 16S-23S rDNA primer set, respectively. Similar results were obtained when using either ARISA or DGGE performed with these different primer sets, and analyzed by different statistical methods: no prominent effect of A. brasilense inoculation was observed on the bacterial communities of plant roots grown in two different soils and in different growth systems. In contrast, plant age caused significant shifts in the bacterial populations.     

Effect of CIPC on Sprout Inhibition and Processing Quality of Potatoes Stored Under Traditional Storage Systems in India

Indigenous non-refrigerated methods like heaps and pits are used in India for short-term storage of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) to avoid distress sale. Storing untreated potatoes generally results in high losses from sprouting, moisture loss and rotting. To reduce storage losses by inhibition of sprouting and to determine the suitability of stored potatoes for processing into crisps, a single spray application of a commercial formulation of 3-chlorophenyl carbamate (CIPC or chlorpropham) 50% a.i., (Oorja, United Phosphorus Limited, Mumbai, India) of CIPC (or chlorpropham) was tested on potatoes during storage from March to June under two traditional storage methods [heap (17–33 °C, 58–92% relative humidity (RH)) and pit (17–27 °C, 72–95% RH)] in 2 years [2005 up to 90 days of storage (DOS) and 2006 up to 105 DOS], using four cultivars and two rates of CIPC application (20 and 30 mg a.i. kg⁻¹ tubers). The two rates of application were comparably effective in reducing weight losses, sprouting and sprout growth in stored tubers, and the effect was more pronounced in pit storage than in heap storage. By contrast to untreated tubers, CIPC-treated potatoes remained turgid under the two storage methods and fetched market prices comparable to those for cold-stored (2–4 °C) potatoes after 105 days of storage. Reducing sugar concentrations in treated potatoes decreased during storage especially in 2006 when the initial reducing sugar concentration was higher than in 2005. Crisp colour improved only in 2005 after 90 DOS, but it deteriorated in 2006 during storage up to 105 DOS. Sucrose concentration increased tremendously during storage in 2 years. Only one cultivar (Kufri Chipsona-1) with low initial reducing sugar concentration and less sucrose accumulation during storage could produce acceptable colour crisps after storage in both years. The remaining three cultivars—with high initial reducing sugar concentration—were suitable for processing after storage in heap and pit in 2005, but not in 2006. Stored potatoes were safe for human consumption as the CIPC residue concentrations were far below the permissible level of 10 mg kg⁻¹ as prescribed by the European Union. Single spray application of CIPC (20 mg kg⁻¹ treatment) can effectively reduce storage losses in potatoes stored in traditional non-refrigerated methods of heap and pit and extend the storage life by 90 to 105 days.     

Developmental horizons in the pre‐natal development of the Greater cane rat (Thryonomys swinderianus)

The Greater cane rat (GCR, Thyronomys swinderianus) is a precocial rodent predominantly found within Africa. Economic and scientific interests have led to several research efforts towards the domestication and better understanding of the biology and development of this rodent. Despite these efforts, information on the pre‐natal development of this rodent is currently lacking. This study characterises distinct developmental milestones including skin pigmentation, emergence and distributions of hairs, calvarium consistency, teeth eruption, development of appendages, sensory organs and external genitalia in the pre‐natal GCR and assesses quantitative body parameters, that is body weight, body and crown–rump lengths across its entire gestation length (gestation days [GDs] 10‐140). Using these external features, we provide baseline reference ontogenetic scales for GCR embryos and fetuses, employable for stage, age and sex estimation of the pre‐natal GCR in future studies. We observed that the first evidence of an embryo was not seen before the end of the first trimester (GD50) and that the late second trimester (GD80‐GD100) marks the transition from embryogenesis to fetogenesis in the GCR. As both events occur at a much later developmental time point when compared to precocial non‐rodents including human, sheep and pig and slightly later when compared to other precocial rodents such as guinea pig, our data provide first indication that the pre‐natal GCR development might be associated with a reproductive delay. Together, this study expands our knowledge of the development and biology of the GCR, which will improve reproductive and breeding management, and native species conservation of this hystricomorph mammal.