Chemical weed management in wheat at higher altitudes

To evaluate the effect of different herbicides for controlling weeds in wheat (variety Fakhr-i-Sarhad),at higher attitude, an experiment was conducted at Agriculture Research Station, Chitral during Rabi season 2003-04, using Randomized Complete Block Design, keeping four replications. The experiment, sown in November comprised of eight treatments, viz; seven herbicides and a weedy check. Each treatment consisted of 5 rows each 30 cm apart and 5 m long thus giving a total size of 5 m x 1.5 m. The herbicides used included; terbutryn + triasulfuron at 0.16 kg, 2,4-D at 0.7 kg, fenoxaprop-P-ethyl at 0.93 kg, clodinafop at 0.05 kg, bromoxynil + MCPA at 0.49 kg, carfentrazon-ethyl at 0.02 kg and isoproturon at 1.0 kg a.i ha(-1). The data were recorded on weed kill efficiency (%), fresh weed biomass (kg ha(-1)), plant height (cm), spike length (cm), number of tillers m(-2), number of grains spike(-1), thousand grains weight (g), biological yield (kg ha(-1)), grain yield (kg ha(-1)) and harvest index (%). The data recorded on weed kill efficiency, weed biomass (kg ha1), grains yield (kg ha(-1)) and harvest index (%) were significantly affected by the different herbicidal treatments. Statistically isoproturon treatment exhibited the best performance, with maximum weed kill efficiency (48.26%) and minimum fresh weed biomass (433.3 kg ha(-1)) as compared to weedy check (6 %) and (1102 kg ha(-1)), respectively. Similarly, the spike length (8.34 cm), number of tillers (427 m(-2)), number of grains spike(-1) (38.0), thousand grains weight (39.85 g), biological yield (8475 kg ha(-1)), grain yield (2530 kg ha(-1)) and harvest index (31.3%) were the highest in isoproturon treatments as compared to weedy check having (7.64 cm), (356 m(-2)), (34.1), (37.12 g), (6858 kg), (1913 kg ha(-1)) and (27%), respectively.     

Analysis of Grain Yield Formation Components of Extra Heavy-Panicle-Type Mid-Season Indica Hybrid Rice

Journal of Plant Growth Regulation - Rice is the most important food crop species of the developing world, and there are increasing concerns about food security to increase rice yields...     

Endophytic fungi: resource for gibberellins and crop abiotic stress resistance

The beneficial effects of endophytes on plant growth are important for agricultural ecosystems because they reduce the need for fertilizers and decrease soil and water pollution while compensating for environmental perturbations. Endophytic fungi are a novel source of bioactive secondary metabolites; moreover, recently they have been found to produce physiologically active gibberellins as well. The symbiosis of gibberellins producing endophytic fungi with crops can be a promising strategy to overcome the adverse effects of abiotic stresses. The association of such endophytes has not only increased plant biomass but also ameliorated plant-growth during extreme environmental conditions. Endophytic fungi represent a trove of unexplored biodiversity and a frequently overlooked component of crop ecology. The present review describes the role of gibberellins producing endophytic fungi, suggests putative mechanisms involved in plant endophyte stress interactions and discusses future prospects in this field.     

Thematic Review Series: Intestinal Lipid Metabolism: New Developments and Current Insights: Circadian regulators of intestinal lipid absorption

Among all the metabolites present in the plasma, lipids, mainly triacylglycerol and diacylglycerol, show extensive circadian rhythms. These lipids are transported in the plasma as part of lipoproteins. Lipoproteins are synthesized primarily in the liver and intestine and their production exhibits circadian rhythmicity. Studies have shown that various proteins involved in lipid absorption and lipoprotein biosynthesis show circadian expression. Further, intestinal epithelial cells express circadian clock genes and these genes might control circadian expression of different proteins involved in intestinal lipid absorption. Intestinal circadian clock genes are synchronized by signals emanating from the suprachiasmatic nuclei that constitute a master clock and from signals coming from other environmental factors, such as food availability. Disruptions in central clock, as happens due to disruptions in the sleep/wake cycle, affect intestinal function. Similarly, irregularities in temporal food intake affect intestinal function. These changes predispose individuals to various metabolic disorders, such as metabolic syndrome, obesity, diabetes, and atherosclerosis. Here, we summarize how circadian rhythms regulate microsomal triglyceride transfer protein, apoAIV, and nocturnin to affect diurnal regulation of lipid absorption.     

Removal of nitrate-N by antibiotic exposed bacterial isolates from constructed wetlands

Nitrate-N-removing bacterial strains were isolated from a constructed wetland soil treated with three ionophoric antibiotics: monensin, salinomycin and narasin. Five isolates were selected after initial screening for nitrogen removing potential. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene showed that these isolates were highly similar to Bacillus, and Pseudomonas species. The isolates were assessed for their ability to grow in the presence of ionophoric antibiotics. All strains were found to withstand these pharmaceuticals. In particular, Bacillus subtilis strain BRAZ2B was found to thrive in the drug-exposed wetland environment, showing higher nitrate removal rate than the uninoculated control. The strains were also assessed for nitrogen removal potential under three different C/N ratios: 4, 8 and 12; optimum removal efficiency was observed at C/N 8 for most isolates.     

Pyridazine-derived γ-secretase modulators

SAR of a novel series of pyridazine-derived γ-secretase modulators is described. Compound 25 was found to be a potent modulator in vitro, which on further profiling, was found to decrease Aβ42 and Aβ40, and maintain the levels of total Aβ. Furthermore, 25 demonstrated excellent pharmacokinetic parameters as well as good CNS penetration in the rat.     

SNAP-tag technology mediates site specific conjugation of antibody fragments with a photosensitizer and improves target specific phototoxicity in tumor cells

Cancer cells can be killed by photosensitizing agents that induce toxic effects when exposed to nonhazardous light, but this also causes significant damage to surrounding healthy cells. The specificity of photodynamic therapy can be increased by conjugating photosensitizing agents to antibodies and antibody fragments that bind specifically to tumor cell antigens. However, standard conjugation reactions produce heterogeneous products whose targeting specificity and spectroscopic properties can be compromised. In this study, we used an antibody fragment (scFv-425) that binds to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) as a model to investigate the use of SNAP-tag fusions as an improved conjugation strategy. The scFv-425-SNAP-tag fusion protein allowed the specific conjugation of a chlorin e6 photosensitizer modified with O(6)-benzylguanine, generating a homogeneous product that was delivered specifically to EGFR(+) cancer cells and resulted in significant, tumor cell-specific cytotoxicity. The impact of our results on the development of photodynamic therapy is discussed.