Salt-stress-responsive chloroplast proteins in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica juncea</Emphasis> genotypes with contrasting salt tolerance and their quantitative PCR analysis

Brassica juncea is mainly cultivated in the arid and semi-arid regions of India where its production is significantly affected by soil salinity. Adequate knowledge of the mechanisms underlying the salt tolerance at sub-cellular levels must aid in developing the salt-tolerant plants. A proper functioning of chloroplasts under salinity conditions is highly desirable to maintain crop productivity. The adaptive molecular mechanisms offered by plants at the chloroplast level to cope with salinity stress must be a prime target in developing the salt-tolerant plants. In the present study, we have analyzed differential expression of chloroplast proteins in two Brassica juncea genotypes, Pusa Agrani (salt-sensitive) and CS-54 (salt-tolerant), under the effect of sodium chloride. The chloroplast proteins were isolated and resolved using 2DE, which facilitated identification and quantification of 12 proteins that differed in expression in the salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive genotypes. The identified proteins were related to a variety of chloroplast-associated molecular processes, including oxygen-evolving process, PS I and PS II functioning, Calvin cycle and redox homeostasis. Expression analysis of genes encoding differentially expressed proteins through real time PCR supported our findings with proteomic analysis. The study indicates that modulating the expression of chloroplast proteins associated with stabilization of photosystems and oxidative defence plays imperative roles in adaptation to salt stress.     

Ethnobotany of the Balti community,Tormik valley,Karakorum range,Baltistan, Pakistan

Background

Limited health facilities and malnutrition are major problems in the Karakorum Range of Northern Pakistan, often resulting in various human disorders. Since centuries, however, local communities in these areas have developed traditional methods for treating various ailments and local foods capes that can be significant for devising public health and nutritional policies. This study was intended to document the ethnobotanical knowledge of the local peoples in the Tormik Valley, especially in the medical and food domains.

Methods

Field trips were undertaken in 14 different villages of the study area from 2010 to 2012. Ethnobotanical data were gathered using semi-structured interviews and group conversation with 69 informants. Details about local uses of plant species were recorded along with demographic characteristics of the visited communities. Relative frequency citation index (RFCi) and preference ranking index (PRi) tools were applied to determine the cultural significance of the reported species.

Results

Sixty-three plant species, with a predominance of Asteraceae and Fabaceae family members, as well as their detailed folk uses were documented. Forty-three percent of the species were used to treat various diseases, 21 % were consumed as wild fruits and vegetables and 53 % of the species had multipurpose applications. Thymus linearis Benth, Hippophae rhamnoides ssp. turkestanica L. and Convolvulus arvensis L. were found to be the most utilized medicinal plant species, i.e. those with significant RFCi values (0.54, 0.51 and 0.48, respectively). Betula utilis D. Don was the most versatile taxon (seven different ways of utilization); being this species a common and easily accessible subalpine tree and then under anthropogenic pressure, the implementation of concrete strategies aimed at its in-situ and ex-situ conservation is strongly recommended.

Conclusion

The valleys in the Karakorum Mountains in the Northern Pakistan host significant Traditional Knowledge on local food and medicinal plant species, which need to be reconsidered and cautiously re-evaluated by ethnopharmacologists, and public health/nutrition actors. Furthermore, germane trans-disciplinary investigations are suggested to ensure the dynamic conservation of precious local knowledge systems, as well as plant diversity in Pakistani mountain regions.

     

Diadegma insulare development is altered by Plutella xylostella reared on water‐stressed host plants

Natural enemies of herbivores function in a multitrophic context, and their performance is directly or indirectly influenced by herbivores and their host plants. Very little is known about tritrophic interactions between host plants, pests and their parasitoids, particularly when the host plants are under any stress. Herbivores and their natural enemies’ response to plants under stress are diverse and variable. Therefore, in this study we investigated how diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), reared on water‐stressed host plants (Brassica napus L. and Sinapis alba L.) influenced the development of its larval parasitoid, Diadegma insulare (Cresson). No significant differences were observed in development of P. xylostella when reared on water‐stressed host plants. However, all results indicated that water stress had a strong effect on developmental parameters of D. insulare. Development of D. insulare was delayed when the parasitoid fed on P. xylostella, reared on stressed host plants. Egg to adult development of D. insulare was faster on non‐stressed B. napus than non‐stressed S. alba followed by stressed B. napus and S. alba. Female parasitoids were heavier on non‐stressed host plants than stressed counterparts. Furthermore, the parasitoid lived significantly longer on stressed B. napus. However, body size was not affected by water treatment. Most host plant parameters measured were significantly lower for water‐stressed than non‐stressed treatments. Results suggest that development of this important and effective P. xylostella parasitoid was influenced by both water stress and host plant species.     

Isolation of Ceramides from Tagetes patula L. Yellow Flowers and Nematicidal Activity of the Fractions and Pure Compounds against Cyst Nematode,Heterodera zeae

Investigation of yellow flower extract of Tagetes patula L. led to the identification of an aggregate of five phytoceramides. Among them, (2R)‐2‐hydroxy‐N‐[(2S,3S,4R,8E)‐1,3,4‐trihydroxyicos‐8‐en‐2‐yl]icosanamide, (2R)‐2‐hydroxy‐N‐[(2S,3S,4R,8E)‐1,3,4‐trihydroxyicos‐8‐en‐2‐yl]heneicosanamide, (2R)‐2‐hydroxy‐N‐[(2S,3S,4R,8E)‐1,3,4‐trihydroxyicos‐8‐en‐2‐yl]docosanamide, and (2R)‐2‐hydroxy‐N‐[(2S,3S,4R,8E)‐1,3,4‐trihydroxyicos‐8‐en‐2‐yl]tricosanamide were identified as new compounds and termed as tagetceramides, whereas (2R)‐2‐hydroxy‐N‐[(2S,3S,4R,8E)‐1,3,4‐trihydroxyicos‐8‐en‐2‐yl]tetracosanamide was a known ceramide. A steroid (β‐sitosterol glucoside) was also isolated from the subsequent fraction. The structures of these compounds were determined on the basis of spectroscopic analyses, as well as chemical method. Several other compounds were also identified by GC/MS analysis. The fractions and some commercial products, a ceramide HFA, β‐sitosterol, and stigmasterol were evaluated against an economically important cyst nematode, Heterodera zeae. Ceramide HFA showed 100 % mortality, whereas, β‐sitosterol and stigmasterol were 40–50 % active, at 1 % concentration after 24 h of exposure time, while β‐sitosterol glucoside revealed no activity against the nematode.     

Phytoextraction of Ni,Pb and,Cd by duckweeds

Abstract

Heavy metals phytoextraction potential of swollen duckweed (Lemna gibba Linn.) and lesser duckweed (Lemna aequinoctialis Welw.) was determined under greenhouse conditions by exposing to untreated industrial/municipal effluent for a period of 21?days. The nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd) concentrations in water samples were measured weekly and in plant biomass at the termination of experiments. Significant differences (p?<?0.05) between initial and final physicochemical parameters and in heavy metal concentrations of plant and water samples were observed. Periodically measured metal concentrations in mediums revealed that removal percentage was dependent on initial Ni (2.15?mg L^?1), Pb (1.51?mg L^?1), and Cd (0.74?mg L^?1) concentrations. The final metal removal percentages were in the sequence of Ni (97%) > Pb (94%) > Cd (90%) when treated with Lemna gibba L. as compared to control (9–12% reduction). High biomass production of Lemna gibba L. resulted in a large metal reduction in the growth medium and the total plant metal contents were in the sequence of Ni (427?µg) > Pb (293?µg) > Cd (105?µg). The lesser duckweed did not survive under experimental conditions. Based on these results, we concluded that Lemna gibba L. is a good candidate for phytoremediation of wastewater.     

An Optimal Au Grating Structure for Light Absorption in Amorphous Silicon Thin Film Solar Cell

Plasmonics - Effect of different gold (Au) grating structures on light absorption in solar cell is investigated by finite elemental analysis using COMSOL multiphysics-RF module. The geometry of the...     

In-vitro GIT Tolerance of Microencapsulated Bifidobacterium bifidum ATCC 35914 Using Polysaccharide-Protein Matrix

Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins - Longevity of probiotic is the main concern for getting maximum benefits when added in food product. Bifidobacterium, a probiotic, tends to lose its viability...