Cell Wall Degrading Enzymes in Cuscuta reflexa and Its Hosts

Pectin degrading enzymes, hemicellulose degrading enzyme andcellulose degrading enzymes were studied in Cuscuta reflexaRoxb., its susceptible hosts, Brassica campestris L., Cocciniaindica W. & A. Datura innoxia Mill, Helianthus annuus L.,Holoptelea indica Planch, Lantana camara L., Medicago sativaL., Manihot utilissima Pohl, Petunia hybrida X Hort exvilm,Pisum sativum L., Phaseolus vulgaris L. and Solanum nigrum L.and non-susceptible plants Ipomoea batata Lam. and Solanum tuberosumL. Pectin esterase and polygalacturonase were present in higheramounts in Cuscuta parasitic on P. vulgaris and S. nigrum, whichneeded more time for haustorial establishment. Exo-l, 4-ß-D-glucosidaseactivity was found in Cuscuta but could not be detected in itshosts. Xylanase and cellulase activity of host plants increasedwhile cellobiase activity decreased as a result of infectionby the parasite. Higher pectin esterase, polygalacturonase,xylanase and exo-l, 4-ß-D-glucosidase activities inthe haustorial region of the parasite is likely to bring aboutthe lysis of the cell wall of the host plant and thus facilitatethe penetration of the parasite haustoria into the host sieveelement, which is necessary for the transport of nutrients betweenthe host and the parasite. Key words: Cell wall degrading enzymes, Cuscuta reflexa     

Molecular systematics of Brassica and allied genera in subtribes Brassicinae, Raphaninae, Moricandiinae, and Cakilinae (Brassicaceae, tribe Brassiceae); the organization and evolution of ribosomal gene families

DNA restriction endonuclease fragment analysis was used to obtain new information on the genomic organization of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) of Brassica and allied genera. The total genomic DNA of 95 accessions of 52 species representing 16 genera was restricted with six enzymes, and the restriction fragments were probed with three ribosomal clones (pTA71, Ver 18‐6, and Ver 6‐5). Eleven repeat unit length classes were recognized. The repeat unit size classes of 8.9 kb and 9.5 kb were observed most commonly, being represented in 17 and 14 species, respectively. The restriction enzyme SacI produced three to six (generally three) bands with detectable hybridization to the probe pTA71. This probe–enzyme combination indicated a remarkable uniformity amongst Brassica and allied genera in the coding region of repeat units. By contrast, an extensive size variation in the restriction fragments could be localized in the intergenic spacer (IGS) region. Eleven IGS‐containing length variants were detected. Complex hybridization patterns, resulting from extensive repeat unit heterogeneity and taxon‐specific methylation of one or more cleavage sites, were obtained with the EcoRI + pTA71 combination. The relative homologies between the coding regions were evident from the presence of 1.5 kb in all the taxa, and 0.4‐, 1.3‐, and 1.7‐kb fragments in 33, 27, and 24 species, respectively. The SacI + pTA71 and EcoRI + pTA71 combinations were generally able to distinguish taxa both within and between genera. Three restriction endonuclease digests probed with three ribosomal clones yielded essentially identical fragmentation patterns across all the accessions within the cultivated species Brassica campestris, B. oleracea, and B. juncea. In B. napus, three and seven accessions exhibited restriction profiles similar to one and both diploid progenitor species, respectively. Overall, rDNA repeat unit length polymorphism showed good correlation with the cytodeme‐based classification of Brassica and allied genera. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 157 , 545–557.     

Testing concordance in species boundaries using acoustic,morphological, and molecular data in the field cricket genus Itaropsis (Orthoptera: Grylloidea,Gryllidae: Gryllinae)

In most taxa, species boundaries are inferred based on differences in morphology or DNA sequences revealed by taxonomic or phylogenetic analyses. In crickets, acoustic mating signals or calling songs have species‐specific structures and provide a third data set to infer species boundaries. We examined the concordance in species boundaries obtained using acoustic, morphological, and molecular data sets in the field cricket genus Itaropsis. This genus is currently described by only one valid species, Itaropsis tenella, with a broad distribution in western peninsular India and Sri Lanka. Calling songs of males sampled from four sites in peninsular India exhibited significant differences in a number of call features, suggesting the existence of multiple species. Cluster analysis of the acoustic data, molecular phylogenetic analyses, and phylogenetic analyses combining all data sets suggested the existence of three clades. Whatever the differences in calling signals, no full congruence was obtained between all the data sets, even though the resultant lineages were largely concordant with the acoustic clusters. The genus Itaropsis could thus be represented by three morphologically cryptic incipient species in peninsular India; their distributions are congruent with usual patterns of endemism in the Western Ghats, India. Song evolution is analysed through the divergence in syllable period, syllable and call duration, and dominant frequency. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 164 , 285–303.     

Depression treatment patterns among women veterans with cardiovascular conditions or diabetes

The study aimed to examine treatment patterns for depression among women veterans diagnosed with cardiovascular conditions or diabetes. We used longitudinal data from the 2002-2003 merged Veteran Health Administration (VHA) and Medicare files. Chi-square tests and multinomial logistic regression were performed to analyse depression treatment among veteran women with incident depressive episode and one of the following chronic conditions: diabetes or coronary artery disease or hypertension. Overall, 77% received treatment for depression, 54% with only antidepressants, 4% with only psychotherapy, and 19% with both. Multinomial logistic regression revealed that African American women were more likely to be in the no treatment group and were more likely than white women to receive psychotherapy rather than antidepressants. Older women and women with coronary artery disease only were less likely to receive treatment.