Seed traits,fatty acid profile and genetic diversity assessment in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pongamia pinnata</Emphasis> (L.) Pierre germplasm

Phenotypic variation of important seed traits like seed length, seed breadth, seed thickness, 100 seed weight and seed oil content were recorded in a total of 157 collected accessions of Pongamia. Out of these, fatty acid profiles of 38 accessions selected based on their high and low oil content was analyzed. Fatty acid profile revealed high variability in stearic, oleic and linoleic acid which varied from 0.42 to 10.61 %, 34.34 to 74.58 %, and 7.00 to 31.28 % respectively. Variations in palmitic and linolenic acid were small. Iodine value, saponification number and cetane number (CN) of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) of seed oil ranges from 186.99 to 201.25, 81.13 to 108.19 and 46.16 to 56.47 respectively. Fatty acid compositions, degree of unsaturation and CN are the important parameters, which are used to determine quality of FAME were used as biodiesel. Some of the Pongamia accessions identified were higher in oil content while some accessions showed higher degree of unsaturation and a few of them had CN values higher than 55. Genetic diversity analysis with six TE-AFLP primers generated a total of 334 bands out of which 174 (52.10 %) were polymorphic. The genetic similarity ranged from 0.11 to 0.47. These findings clearly showed high level of genetic diversity and all economically desirable traits were not present in a single genotype of Pongamia. All these traits could be selected from these CPTs and transfer to a single elite variety through selection and breeding programme and could be utilized for large scale multiplication and plantation to produce high quantity and quality biodiesel in future.     

Analysis of genetic diversity and population structure in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Capsicum</Emphasis> landraces from North Eastern India using TE-AFLP markers

North eastern (NE) India harbours a precious germplasm repository of Capsicum in the form of various landraces. The present study was undertaken to characterise the extent of genetic variation present in different Capsicum landraces from north eastern India. A set of 171 Capsicum accessions were characterised using three-endonuclease amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. Out of 416 bands obtained from six primer combinations, 254 (61 %) were polymorphic. The pairwise genetic dissimilarity among accessions ranged from 0.03 to 0.97. Cluster analysis based on neighbour joining showed two major clusters. Cluster I contained most of the bhut jolokia accessions whereas cluster II contained all of the Capsicum annuum genotypes. Similar grouping was observed with population STRUCTURE analysis as well as principle coordinate analysis. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed 45 and 54 % variation among and within populations, respectively. This information on population structure analysis and molecular characterisation will be helpful for effective utilisation of this germplasm in Capsicum improvement programs.     

A review of survival estimates for raptors and owls

This paper reviews the literature on survival estimates for different species of raptors and owls, examines the methods used to obtain the estimates, and draws out some general patterns arising. Estimating survival usually involves the marking of birds so that they can be recognized as individuals on subsequent encounters. Annual survival can then be estimated from: (1) birds ringed at known age (usually as nestlings) and subsequently reported by members of the public (usually as found dead), the ratio of recoveries at different ages being used to calculate annual survival; (2) marked breeding adults, trapped or re‐sighted in subsequent years in particular study areas, with the proportion re‐trapped (or re‐sighted) in each year being taken as the minimum annual survival; (3) live encounter (trapped or re‐sighted) of birds marked either as nestlings or breeding adults analysed using the capture–mark–recapture (or re‐sighting) methods to estimate annual survival; (4) a combination of reports of known‐age dead birds and re‐trapping/re‐sighting of live birds; (5) use of radio‐ or satellite‐tracking to follow the fates of individuals; and (6) the integration of these methods with other information, such as change in numbers between years, to derive estimates of survival and other demographic parameters. Studies confined to particular areas usually give estimates of ‘apparent annual survival’, because they take no account of birds that leave the area. However, radio‐ or satellite‐tracking makes it possible to estimate true survival, including survival of prebreeders that have low natal‐site fidelity (this usually requires satellite telemetry). As in other birds, the preferred method for estimating survival has changed over time, as new and more robust methods of estimation have been developed. Methods 1 and 2 were the first to be developed, but without statistical underpinning, while methods 3–6 were developed later on the basis of formal statistical models. This difference has to be borne in mind in comparing older with newer estimates for particular species. Published survival estimates were found for three species of Cathartidae, one of Pandionidae, 29 of Accipitridae, 12 of Falconidae, one of Tytonidae and nine of Strigidae, almost all from temperate Northern Hemisphere species. In most of these species more than one estimate was available, and in some separate estimates for different age or sex groups. The main patterns to emerge included: (1) a significant tendency for annual adult survival to increase with body weight, smaller species having annual survival rates mainly of 60–70%, medium‐sized species having rates mainly in the range 70–90% and the largest having rates of > 90%, in the absence of obvious human‐caused losses; (2) a lower survival in the first or prebreeding years of life than in subsequent years; (3) a lack of obvious or consistent differences in survival between the sexes, where these could be distinguished; and (4) in the few species for which enough data were available, a decline in annual survival rates in the later years of life.     

Network-based approaches for linking metabolism with environment

Progress in the reconstruction of genome-wide metabolic maps has led to the development of network-based computational approaches for linking an organism with its biochemical habitat.     

TDZ-induced direct shoot organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis on cotyledonary node explants of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.)

An efficient and simple procedure for inducing high frequency direct shoot organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis in lentil from cotyledonary node explants (without both the cotyledons) in response to TDZ alone is reported. TDZ at concentration lower than 2.0 μM induced shoot organogenesis whereas at higher concentration (2.5–15 μM) it caused a shift in regeneration from shoot organogenesis to somatic embryogenesis. The cotyledonary node and seedling cultures developed only shoots even at high concentrations of BAP and TDZ, respectively. TDZ at 0.5 and 5.0 μM was found to be optimal for inducing an average of 4–5 shoots per cotyledonary node in 93 % of the cultures and 55 somatic embryos in 68 % of the cultures, respectively. The somatic embryos were germinated when transferred to lower TDZ concentration (0.5–1.0 μM). The shoots were rooted on MS basal medium containing 2.5 μM IBA. The plantlets were obtained within 8 weeks from initiation of culture and were morphologically similar to seed-raised plants. The possible role of stress in thidiazuron induced somatic embryogenesis is discussed.Key words: Thidiazuron, Lens culinaris, Somatic embryogenesis, Organogenesis     

Iridoid glycosides from Gmelina arborea

Three iridoid glycosides 6-O-(3'-O-benzoyl)-alpha-l-rhamnopyranosylcatalpol (1a), 6-O-(3'-O-trans-cinnamoyl)-alpha-l-rhamnopyranosylcatalpol (2a) and 6-O-(3'-O-cis-cinnamoyl)-alpha-l-rhamnopyranosylcatalpol (3a) were isolated from aerial parts of Gmelina arborea and structures were elucidated by spectral analysis. Additionally a known iridoid 6-O-(3', 4'-O-dibenzoyl)-alpha-l-rhamnopyranosylcatalpol (4) was also isolated and identified.     

Crystal structures and thermal analyses of alkyl 2-deoxy-α-d-arabino-hexopyranosides

The crystal structures of alkyl 2-deoxy-α-d-arabino-hexopyranosides, with the alkyl chain lengths from C₈ to C₁₈, are established by the single crystal X-ray structural determination. The even-alkyl chain length derivatives crystallized orthorhombic, with space group P2₁2₁2₁, whereas the odd-alkyl chain length derivatives crystallized monoclinic, with space group P2₁. The sugar moieties retained a ⁴C₁ chair conformation and the conformation of the alkyl chains was all-trans. The molecules formed a bilayer structure, in which alkyl chains were interdigitated. The hydrogen bonds, originating from the sugar moieties, were observed in adjacent layers and also within the same layer, resulting in the formation of infinite chains. The alkyl chains arranged parallel to each other and formed planar structures. The thermal properties of the alkyl 2-deoxy glucosides were analyzed further. It was observed that none of the derivatives exhibited mesomorphism. This study establishes that the absence of the hydroxyl group at C-2 of the sugar moiety results in a non-mesogenic nature of the alkyl 2-deoxy-α-d-glycosides, as opposed to the profound mesogenic nature of the normal alkyl glycosides.     

Sponge-associated marine bacteria as indicators of heavy metal pollution

Sponges invariably filter a large volume of seawater and potentially accumulate heavy metals and other contaminants from the environment. Sponges, being sessile marine invertebrates and modular in body organization, can live many years in the same location and therefore have the capability to accumulate anthropogenic pollutants such as metals over a long period. Almost all marine sponges harbor large number of microorganisms within their tissues where they reside in the extra- and intra-cellular spaces. Bacteria in seawater have already been established as biological indicators of contamination. The present study was intended to find out the heavy metal resistance pattern of sponge-associated bacteria so as to develop suitable biological indicators. The bacteria associated with a marine sponge Fasciospongia cavernosa were evaluated as potential indicator organisms. The associated bacteria including Streptomyces sp. (MSI01), Salinobacter sp. (MSI06), Roseobacter sp. (MSI09), Pseudomonas sp. (MSI016), Vibrio sp. (MSI23), Micromonospora sp. (MSI28), Saccharomonospora sp. (MSI36) and Alteromonas sp. (MSI42) showed resistance against tested heavy metals. Based on the present findings, Cd and Hg emerged as the highly resistant heavy metal pollutants in the Gulf of Mannar biosphere reserve. Plasmids in varied numbers and molecular weights were found in all the isolates. Particularly the isolates MSI01 and MSI36 harbored as many as three plasmids each. The results envisaged that the plasmids might have carried the resistance factor. No correlation was observed in number of plasmids and level of resistance. The literature evidenced that the sponge-associated bacteria were seldom exploited for pollution monitoring though they have been extensively used for bioprospecting. In this background, the present findings come up with a new insight into the development of indicator models.     

Structural prediction and analysis of VIH-related peptides from selected crustacean species

The tentative elucidation of the 3D-structure of vitellogenesis inhibiting hormone (VIH) peptides is conversely underprivileged by difficulties in gaining enough peptide or protein, diffracting crystals, and numerous extra technical aspects. As a result, no structural information is available for VIH peptide sequences registered in the Genbank. In this situation, it is not surprising that predictive methods have achieved great interest. Here, in this study the molt-inhibiting hormone (MIH) of the kuruma prawn (Marsupenaeus japonicus) is used, to predict the structure of four VIHrelated peptides in the crustacean species. The high similarity of the 3D-structures and the calculated physiochemical characteristics of these peptides suggest a common fold for the entire family.     

Cell permeabilization by poliovirus 2B viroporin triggers bystander permeabilization in neighbouring cells through a mechanism involving gap junctions

Poliovirus 2B protein is a well‐known viroporin implicated in plasma membrane permeabilization to ions and low‐molecular‐weight compounds during infection. Translation in mammalian cells expressing 2B protein is inhibited by hygromycin B (HB) but remains unaffected in mock cells, which are not permeable to the inhibitor. Here we describe a previously unreported bystander effect in which healthy baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells become sensitive to HB when co‐cultured with a low proportion of cells expressing poliovirus 2B. Viroporins E from mouse hepatitis virus, 6K from Sindbis virus and NS4A protein from hepatitis C virus were also able to permeabilize neighbouring cells to different extents. Expression of 2B induced permeabilization of neighbouring cell lines other than BHK. We found that gap junctions are responsible mediating the observed bystander permeabilization. Gap junctional communication was confirmed in 2B‐expressing co‐cultures by fluorescent dye transfer. Moreover, the presence of connexin 43 was confirmed in both mock and 2B‐transfected cells. Finally, inhibition of HB entry to neighbouring cells was observed with 18α‐glycyrrhethinic acid, an inhibitor of gap junctions. Taken together, these findings support a mechanism involving gap junctional intercellular communication in the bystander permeabilization effect observed in healthy cells co‐cultured with poliovirus 2B‐expressing cells.