Characterization and Cloning of ODAP Degrading Gene from a Soil Microbe

The strain BYT-1, capable of utilizing ODAP/DAP as a sole source of nitrogen and carbon was identified as Psuedomonas stutzeri by various microbial and biochemical tests. Transformation experiments showed that the ODAP utilizing property Is encoded by the plasmid. Restriction of plasmid DNA with Pstl, followed by cloning of fragments and screening of ODAP containing medium, led to the isolation of a clone with insert size of ?3.3 kb, which encoded ODAP metabolizing property. The growth and ODAP/DAP utilization by this clone (T_B) was almost similar to that of the wild type strain.     

Callus Cultures from Zygotic Embryos of Costus speciosus and Their Morphogenetic Responses

Soft, nodular and hard types of calli were initiated on mature zygotic embryo explants of two tetraploid clones of Costus speciosus, of which, only the hard calli were amenable to morphogenetic responses. The two clones differed in their growth regulator requirements both for the initiation of calli and for shoot regeneration. De novo formation of both shoot bud meristems and somatic embryoids were observed. Latter were encased partially or fUlly by coleoptilar sheath. Embryoids could be isolated as discrete units. On maturity, a stock like appendage developed from the base and finally embryoids got detached from the subtending tissue. Both shoot-bud meristems and somatic embryoids developed into complete plantlets, the former upon sequential transfer of calli on Schenk and Hildebrandt’s (SH) basal medium containing lower levels of growth hormones, while the latter only on basal medium. These culture regenerants were subsequently transferred to the field. The morphogenetic behaviour of these two tetraploid clones reflects their marked genotypic difference inspite of their same ploidy status.     

Effects of fusicoccin on Fresh Weight and Chlorophyll Levels in Cucumber Cotyledons

Incubation of cucumber cotyledons with fusicoccin increasedtheir fresh weights and chlorophyll levels and this effect wasenhanced by KCl. Addition of fusicoccin to this combinationincreased fresh weights but decreased chlorophyll levels. Thissuggests that the effects of fusiccocin on these two processesare probably mediated via different mechanisms. (Received January 4, 1982; Accepted March 25, 1982)     

Manganese in cell metabolism of higher plants

Manganese, a group VII element of the periodic table, plays an important role in biological systems and exists in a variety of oxidation states. The normal level of Mn in air surrounding major industrial sites is 0.03 μg/m³, in drinking water 0.05 mg/liter and in soil between 560 and 850 ppm. Manganese is an essential trace element for higher plant systems. It is absorbed mainly as divalent Mn²⁺, which competes effectively with Mg²⁺ and strongly depresses its rate of uptake. The accumulation of Mn particularly takes place in peripheral cells of the leaf petiole, petiolule and palisade and spongy parenchyma cells. Mn is involved in photosynthesis and activation of different enzyme systems. Mn deficiency may be expressed as inhibition of cell elongation and yield decrease. Mn toxicity is one of the important growth limiting factors in acid soils. Plant tops are affected to a greater extent than root systems. The toxicity symptoms are, in general, similar to the deficiency symptoms. Toxic effects of Mn on plant growth have been attributed to several physiological and biochemical pathways, although the detailed mechanism is still not very clear. Higher O₂ uptake and loss of control in Mn activated enzyme systems have been associated with Mn toxicity. Mn interferes with the uptake, transport and use of several essential elements including Ca, Fe, Cu, Al, Si, Mg, K, P and N. Excess of Mn reduces the uptake of certain elements and increases that of others. pH plays an important role in Mn uptake. Acidic pH causes a lack of substantial amount of nitrate as an alternative electron acceptor and leads to a high amount of Mn in leaves. High microbial activity, water logging and poorly structured soils cause severe Mn toxicity even in neutral soils. The molecular mechanism of Mn-tolerance is not yet clear. The level of tolerance is different in different species and seems to be controlled by more than one gene. Further information is required on the factors affecting the distribution, accumulation and membrane permeability of the metal in different plant parts and different species. Understanding of the genetic basis of Mn-tolerance is necessary to improve adaptation of crops against acid soils, water logging and other adverse soil conditions.     

Increase in Lysolecithin Content of Brain Microsomes in Phenobarbitone-Administered Rats and Its Relation to Lipid Peroxidation

Administration of phenobarbitone caused a marked increase in the capacity of rat brain microsomes to produce thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in vitro. Enzymatic peroxidation of lipids was more affected than the nonenzymatic processes occurring in heat-inactivated preparations. Analysis of the phospholipid profile showed a drastic decrease in phosphatidylcholine and total phospholipid contents in the exposed animals, but about a fivefold increase in the lysophosphatidylcholine fraction. Data for in vivo incorporation of [14C]choline showed a similar pattern of high radioactivity in lysolecithin. The increase in lipid peroxidation could be related to the higher level of lysolecithin and the accompanying structural and functional changes in microsomes resulting from the neurotoxic effects of phenobarbitone.     

Structural investigations on the lipopolysaccharide isolated from Vibrio cholera,Inaba 569 B

On hydrolysis, the purified lipopolysaccharide (LPS) isolated from Vibrio cholera, Inaba 569 B, yielded glucose, mannose, a heptose behaving like d-glycero-l-manno-heptose and one behaving like d-glycero-l-gluco-heptose, 2-amino-2-deoxy-glucose, and glucuronic acid in the molar ratios of ～9:4:5:1:2:5. Studies on the LPS, the polysaccharide (PS), and carboxyl-reduced LPS showed that the PS has a branched structure, with (1→2)-linked mannopyranosyl and a heptopyranosyl, and (1→4)-linked glucopyranosyluronic and 2-amino-2-deoxyglucopyranosyl residues in the interior part of the molecule, and glucopyranosyl and heptopyranosyl residues as nonreducing end-groups.     

Streptomycin induced changes in growth and metabolism of etiolated seedlings

Effects of various concentrations of streptomycin sulphate either alone or in combination with different cations and hormones on mungbean (Phaseolus aureus L.) seedling growth were studied. The relative inhibition of root growth was stronger than that of hypocotyl growth. Root growth inhibition was completely overcome by calcium, while other cations were ineffective. Inhibition of hypocotyl elongation could not be prevented by cations. IAA and GA₃ were capable of relieving streptomycin inhibition but kinetin was ineffective. In the coleoptiles of streptomycin-treated rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings, there were accumulation of nucleic acids and decline in protein content resulting in increased RNA/protein and DNA/protein ratios. High nucleic acid content induced by streptomycin could be correlated with reduced activity of the nucleases.     

Competitive interactions between entomopathogenic nematodes and parasitoid venom

Entomopathogenic nematodes and parasitoid larvae of some wasps play important roles in the natural control of the pest insects. However, it has not been excluded that competition between nematodes and wasps may in some cases reduce their efficacy in the pest control. Using caterpillars of Spodoptera littoralis, we examined interactions between the nematode Steinernema carpocapsae and the venom of the parasitoid Habrobracon hebetor. The survival of S. littoralis caterpillars was reduced in a dose-dependent manner when 5 to 500 nematodes or 0.005–0.1 venom units were applied to single caterpillars. High doses of either nematodes or the venom caused death within 1–3 days in all treated hosts. The low doses of nematodes killed caterpillars within a week, in some cases when they attempted to pupate. Caterpillars receiving low venom doses were characterized by extended survival time terminated with death due to starvation. Combined treatment of nematodes and the venom were mutually synergistic and elicited severe lethal effects. The nematodes were fully resistant to the venom and can feed and grow on the symbiotic bacteria in vitro. The venom impairs food processing and causes death of caterpillars due to starvation. Disruption of the hormonal regulation of metamorphosis by ecdysteroids and juvenile hormone could be responsible for defective moults block at different stages of the moulting process, regionally restricted moulting, moults to “intermediates” combining regions of newly secreted larval and pupal cuticles.