Interactive effect of nitrogen fertilizer and plant density on photosynthetic and agronomical traits of cotton at different growth stages

Individual effects of application of nitrogen (N) and plant densities (PD) were reported in various studies; however an interactive effect of N and PD in cotton was not studied. To explore the benefits of interactive effects of N fertilizer and PD to increase the quality of cotton. This study was carried out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with split plot arrangement. In split plot arrangement, main plot was consisted of N application rate and in sub plots different PD were done. There were two nitrogen levels; low N level (F1) 120 kg ha⁻¹ and high N level (F2) 180 kg ha⁻¹ and three planting densities; 8 plants m⁻² as low density (LD), 10 plants m⁻² as medium density (MD) and 12 plants m⁻² as high density (HD). In this study we observed the interactive effect of N application levels and PD on cotton photosynthetic and agronomic traits of various stages of development. Results showed that cotton growth and N contents was varied among treatments on different development stages. Plant biomass production, photosynthetic rate (Pn), intercellular CO₂ (C_i), water use efficiency (WUE) and N contents were unaffected at the seedling stage by N application rate and PD, however, the highest Pn, C_i and N contents was at squaring stage followed by blooming stage. Higher seed cotton yield and lint yield were obtained F1 with HD, and F2 with MD yielded the highest N contents and cotton yield among treatments. We found that the squaring stage was more critical, followed by the blooming stage when considering N rate and PD.     

Effect of constant and fluctuating temperature on the circadian foraging rhythm of the red imported fire ant,Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Understanding circadian foraging rhythms activity of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) foragers at different temperatures is an important step towards developing control measures in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs. In this study, the circadian foraging rhythm activities of S. invicta foragersat different temperature were investigated under laboratory and field conditions. Results indicated that the foraging activity increased after sunrise, and maximum foraging occurred at 14:00 (foraging rate was 69.22 ± 0.57 and 72.58 ± 1.15 foragers/min in the first and second year, respectively) in the tea fields of Guangzhou during autumn. Furthermore, foragers demonstrated circadian rhythms and exhibited a unimodal after 24 h. A significant correlation was found between foraging activity and temperature. S. invicta colonies were active at moderate soil temperatures (approximately 26.65 °C to 29.24 °C). The preferred temperature of the colonies was 26 °C, followed by 22 °C and 18 °C in the laboratory. The individual S. invicta activity was maximum at 17:00 (18.67 ± 1.66 times /10 min) and minimum at 5:00 (8.33 ± 2.51 times/10 min) at 26 °C. The fluctuating temperature had a significant impact on individual locomotor activity (r = 0.8979, P < 0.01) but did not alter the rhythm activity. Our results demonstrated that temperature might play an important role in circadian foraging rhythms activity of S. invicta. These results may have implications for the development of more effective fire ant management strategies.     

Investigation on the Phytochemical Composition,Antioxidant and Enzyme Inhibition Potential of Polygonum Plebeium R.Br: A Comprehensive Approach to Disclose New Nutraceutical and Functional Food Ingredients

The present work describes medicinal potential and secondary metabolic picture of the methanol extract (PP-M) of Polygonum plebeium R.Br. and its fractions; hexane (PP-H), ethyl acetate (PP-E) and water (PP-W). In total bioactive component estimation, highest contents of phenolic (89.38±0.27 mgGAE/g extract) and flavonoid (51.21±0.43 mgQE/g extract) were observed in PP-E, and the same fraction exhibited the highest antioxidant potential in DPPH (324.80±4.09 mgTE/g extract), ABTS (563.18±11.39 mgTE/g extract), CUPRAC (411.33±15.49 mgTE/g extract) and FRAC (369.54±1.70 mgTE/g extract) assays. In Phosphomolybdenum activity assay, PP-H and PP-E showed nearly similar potential, however, PP-H was the most active (13.54±0.24 mgEDTAE/g extract) in metal chelating activity assay. PP-W was the stronger inhibitor (4.03±0.05 mgGALAE/g extract) of the enzyme AChE, while PP-H was potent inhibitor of BChE (5.62±0.27 mg GALAE/g extract). Interestingly, PP-E was inactive against BChE. Against tyrosinase activity, PP-E was again the most active fraction with inhibitory value of 71.89±1.44 mg KAE/g extract, followed by the activity of PP-M and PP-W. Antidiabetic potential was almost equally distributed among PP-M, PP-H and PP-E. For mapping the chemodiversity of P. plebeium, PP-M was analyzed through UHPLC/MS, which led to the identification of more than 50 compounds. Flavonoids were the main components derived from isovitexin, kaempferol and luteolin however, gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, gingerols and lyoniresinol 9′-sulfate were among important bioactive phenols. These findings prompted to conclude that Polygonum plebeium can be a significant source to offer new ingredient for nutraceuticals and functional foods.     

Gene cloning and characterization of glycine oxidase from newly isolated <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus subtilis</Emphasis> strain R5

The gene encoding the glycine oxidase from Bacillus subtilis strain R5 (goxR) was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The gene consisted of 1,110 nucleotides that encoded a protein (GoxR) of 369 amino acid residues with a molecular mass of 40,761 Da. The GoxR exhibited 98.6% identity with glycine oxidase from B. subtilis strain 168. Gene expression and purification of the recombinant GoxR were performed. The recombinant GoxR existed in a homotetramer form. The recombinant protein effectively catalyzed the oxidation of glycine and d-alanine. The specific activity of the purified recombinant GoxR was 0.96 U/mg when glycine was used as a substrate and 1.0 U/mg when d-alanine was substrate. The enzyme displayed its highest activity at pH 8.0 and at a temperature of 50°C. The activation energy of the reaction catalyzed by the enzyme was calculated to be 26 kJ/mol. The enzyme activity was significantly inhibited in the presence of organic solvents. No enhancement of enzyme activity was observed in the presence of metal cations. The experimental results presented in this study demonstrate that the enzyme was a bonafide glycine oxidase.     

Etiology and genetic factors in clefts of lip and/or palate reported at children’s hospital,Lahore, Pakistan

The etiology of cleft lip (CL) and/or cleft palate (CP) has been extensively studied in industrialized countries and is suggested to be heterogeneous with increasing evidence that both genetic and environmental factors are operating. To evaluate this assertion in a developing country like Pakistan, a case finding cross-sectional study was completed from 1^st July 2010 to 31^st May 2011 for 100 cases of CL and/or CP referred to the Genetic Clinic of the Children’s Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan. A clinical examination followed by necessary diagnostic work-up was completed for each case. The cause of CL and/or CP was clear in 18% of the children (n = 18). Environmental causes were found in 6 children (four mothers developed hyperthermia during the 2^nd month of gestation, one mother was diabetic, and one mother was a known case of epilepsy and took sodium valproate throughout her pregnancy). Six children were suffering from known genetic malformation syndromes (each with Jarcho-Levin syndrome, Oral-Facial-Digital syndrome type XI, Oral-Duplication syndrome, Kabuki syndrome, Fronto-nasal dysplasia and Nager syndrome). Novel chromosomal aberrations were identified in 2 children. In 82% of the children (n = 82) the cause of oro-facial clefts remained unknown. Impact of gender and consanguinity on the development of CL and/or CP was also studied. Prevalence of CP was significantly more among female children as compared to that in males (P < 0.05). Associated anomalies were present in 18% of the cases, anomalies of the craniofacial region being the most common. These findings were compared with regional and international studies.     

Biosorption of Mercury from Industrial Effluent by Fungal Consortia

Mercury is present in different types of industrial effluents that cause environmental pollution. Conventional methods such as precipitation, oxidation/reduction, ion exchange, filtration, membranes, and evaporation are extremely expensive or inefficient for the removal of mercury from diluted solutions. In this context, the biosorption process has recently been shown to be an effective and economical method. The present work describes the mercury biosorption ability of three fungi, i.e., Aspergillus niger, Trichoderma viride, and Humicola insolens. Monocultures of these strains and 10 different combinations were investigated. The consortium of 24-h-old H. insolens and 48-h-old of A. niger and T. viride in equal ratio was found to be compatible. This consortium decreased the residual mercury from 2.02 to 0.001 μ g/L after 7 days of incubation, and caused a significant reduction in chemical oxygen demand (COD) (92.6%) from an initial level of 21 mg/L.     

Rhus coriaria var. zebaria (Anacaridaceae), a new variety from Iraq

Rhus coriaria var. zebaria from Duhok/Aqrae, Kurdistan, Iraq is described as a variety new to science. Field expeditions started in spring 2011, continued during 2012 and 2013 with the aim of collecting sumac specimens from different physiographic regions of Kurdistan, Iraq. A total of ten plants for each variety were sampled. An equal number of tagged herbarium specimens were prepared. The holotype was designated and deposited together with other herbarium specimens in the herbarium of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Univ. of Duhok. Morphological characters of the leaf, inflorescence, flowers, infructescence, and fruit were studied. The pH value of the pericarp in addition to the hilum length was measured. Results were compared with Rhus coriaria L. var. coriaria. The most distinctive feature of the new variety is the dull whitish brown color of the drupe pericarp of var. zebaria as compared to the reddish brown color of the drupe pericarp of var. coriaria. The whitish color of the drupes of var. zebaria, in combination with their larger size, represents diagnostic characters for distinguishing this variety. In contrast, most leaf characters are of little or no taxonomic value in this species. Only shape, apex and marginal teeths of the leaflets show minor differences for separating the two varieties. Female and male inflorescences and flowers characters show no significant differences. Both hilum length and pH value characters may be useful for taxonomic application if mean values are taken in consideration.     

Does exogenous application of 24-epibrassinolide ameliorate salt induced growth inhibition in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)?

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to assess whether exogenously applied 24-epibrassionlide (24-epiBL) could alleviate the adverse effects of salt on wheat. Two hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars, S-24 (salt tolerant) and MH-97 (moderately salt sensitive), were grown under control (0 mM NaCl in full strength Hoagland’s nutrient solution) or saline conditions (150 mM of NaCl in full strength Hoagland’s nutrient solution). After 41 days growth of wheat plants under saline conditions, 24-epiBL was applied as a foliar spray. Four levels of BR were used as 0 (water spray), 0.0125, 0.025, and 0.0375 mg l⁻¹. Application of 24-epiBL increased plant biomass and leaf area per plant of both cultivars under non-saline conditions. However, under saline conditions, improvement in growth due to exogenous 24-epiBL was observed only in S-24. Photosynthetic rate was reduced due to salt stress in both cultivars, but this inhibitory effect was ameliorated significantly by the exogenous application of 24-epiBL. Exogenously applied 24-epiBL also enhanced the photosystem-II efficiency in both cultivars measured as F _v /F _m ratio. Although the activities of antioxidant enzymes, Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Peroxidase (POD) and Catalase (CAT) were increased due to salt stress in both wheat cultivars, exogenously applied 24-epiBL had a varying effect on the antioxidant system. The activity of SOD remained unaffected in both cultivars due to 24-epiBL application, but that of POD and CAT was promoted in the salt stressed plants of cv. S-24 only. In conclusion, improvement in growth in both wheat cultivars due to foliar applied 24-epiBL was found to be associated with 24-epiBL-induced enhancement in photosynthetic capacity. The 24-epiBL-induced regulation of antioxidant enzymes or growth under saline conditions was cultivar specific.