Changes in soluble amino nitrogen,protein, nitrate reductase activity and abscisic acid during development of wheat grain

Trends in the time course, changes in the moisture, soluble amino acids, proline, abscisic acid contents and nitrate reductase activity determined byin vivo method in the developing seeds of wheat were studied. Maximum dry matter augmentation in the seed took place in the period between 10–30 days after anthesis. Per cent moisture and moisture content started declining 15 days and 25 days after anthesis, respectively. Levels of soluble amino acids, proline and nitrate reductase activity were higher during initial stages of seed development, but decreased with increasing magnitude of dehydration and accumulation of abscisic acid (ABA) in the maturing seeds.     

Salt distribution around roots of wheat under different transpiration rates

Summary Magnitude of Na and Cl accumulation around wheat roots was studied under different transpiration conditions in a loamy sand soil salinized with sodium chloride to an electrical conductivity of 4.1 mmho/cm in the saturation extract. A significant correlation was observed between rate of water loss per unit root length and Na and Cl content of the soil closely adhering to the roots. Under high transpiration condition, maximum ion accumulation occurred in the apparent free space of roots followed by the soil closely adhering to the roots. Results indicate that salt concentration at the root surface is markedly altered under the influence of transpiration rate such that under high transpiration conditions, the plant roots may be exposed to a much higher salt concentration than that anticipated from an analysis of the bulk soil samples.Department of Soil and Water EngineeringDepartment of Soils     

Effect of soil compaction and nitrogen placement on weed population,yield and moisture use pattern of rainfed wheat

Summary Field experiments showed that soil compaction did not affect wheat yield significantly under rainfed conditions. Weed population was significantly reduced due to soil compaction. Compaction decreased total moisture use and increased water use efficiency. There was better and profitable utilization of stored soil moisture from the compaction treatments as compared to no compaction treatment.Placement of nitrogen about 10 to 15 cm deep in the soil directly below the seed resulted in significant increase in the yield of wheat crop grown under rainfed conditions. Weed population was not affected due to nitrogen placement. Total moisture use reduced due to nitrogen placement. Under rainfed conditions, deep placement of nitrogen was important for increasing the efficiency of fertilizer as well as water utilization by wheat crop.     

Alcohol Dehydrogenase Activities of Wine Yeasts in Relation to Higher Alcohol Formation

Alcohol dehydrogenase activities were examined in cell-free extracts of 10 representative wine yeast strains having various productivities of higher alcohols (fusel oil). The amount of fusel alcohols (n-propanol, isobutanol, active pentanol, and isopentanol) produced by the different yeasts and the specific alcohol dehydrogenase activities with the corresponding alcohols as substrates were found to be significantly related. No such relationship was found for ethanol. The amounts of higher alcohols formed during vinification could be predicted from the specific activities of the alcohol dehydrogenases with high accuracy. The results suggest a close relationship between the control of the activities of alcohol dehydrogenase and the formation of fusel oil alcohols. Also, new procedures for the prediction of higher alcohol formation during alcoholic beverage fermentation are suggested.     

Studies on adenylate cyclase-cyclic AMP system of the myopathic hamster (UM-X7.1) skeletal and cardiac muscles.

Cyclic AMP content, adenylate cyclase (EC 4.6.1.1) activity and phosphodiesterase I (EC 3.1.4.1) activity of the hind leg skeletal muscle and cardiac muscle in 60- and 150-day-old normal and myopathic (UM-X7.1) hamsters were examined. In 60-day-old myopathic animals, cardiac cyclic AMP levels were higher and phosphodiesterase I activity was lower, without any changes in the basal adenylate cyclase activity, whereas in 150-day-old myopathic hamsters, cardiac cyclic AMP and basal adenylate cyclase activity were lower, without any changes in the homogenate phosphodiesterase I activity. On the other hand, basal adenylate cyclase and phosphodiesterase I activities in the skeletal muscle homogenate from 60- and 150-day-old myopathic animals were not different from the normal values but the skeletal muscle cyclic AMP levels were significantly less in 60-day-old myopathic hamsters only. The plasma cyclic AMP levels in 60-day-old myopathic hamsters, unlike 150-day-old myopathic animals, were higher than the normal. Although these results reveal differences in myopathic cardiac and skeletal muscles, it is concluded that changes in adenylate cyclase-cyclic AMP system in myopathy are dependent upon the degree of disease.     

Linear viscoelastic properties of the vertex model for epithelial tissues

Epithelial tissues act as barriers and, therefore, must repair themselves, respond to environmental changes and grow without compromising their integrity. Consequently, they exhibit complex viscoelastic rheological behavior where constituent cells actively tune their mechanical properties to change the overall response of the tissue, e.g., from solid-like to fluid-like. Mesoscopic mechanical properties of epithelia are commonly modeled with the vertex model. While previous studies have predominantly focused on the rheological properties of the vertex model at long time scales, we systematically studied the full dynamic range by applying small oscillatory shear and bulk deformations in both solid-like and fluid-like phases for regular hexagonal and disordered cell configurations. We found that the shear and bulk responses in the fluid and solid phases can be described by standard spring-dashpot viscoelastic models. Furthermore, the solid-fluid transition can be tuned by applying pre-deformation to the system. Our study provides insights into the mechanisms by which epithelia can regulate their rich rheological behavior.