Transformation of15N-labelled urea in rice-wheat cropping system

Summary In a udic chromusterts the transformation of an initial application of¹⁵N-urea @ 80 kg N ha^–1 to rice (Oryza sativa L.) in rice-wheat (R-W) and to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in wheat-rice (W-R) rotations was followed in 6 successive crops in each rotation. All rice crops were grown in irrigated wetland and wheat in irrigated upland conditions.The first wheat crop in W-R rotation utilized 22 kg fertilizer N ha^–1 as compared to 19 kg by the corresponding rice crop in R-W rotation. But the latter absorbed more soil N than the former. About 69% of the total N uptake in rice was derived from mineralization of soil organic N as compared to 61% in wheat.The succeeding wheat crop in R-W rotation utilized 6.7% of the residual fertilizer N in the soil but the corresponding rice crop in W-R rotation only 2.2%. The higher utilization appeared to be related to a greater incorporation of labelled fertilizer N in mineral and hexosamine fractions of the soil N. After the second crop in each rotation, the average residual fertilizer N utilization in the next 4 crops ranged between 3 and 4%.The total recovery of¹⁵N-urea in all crops amounted to 21.7 and 24.3 kg N ha^–1 in R-W and W-R rotation, respectively. At the end of the experiment, about 9 to 10 kg ha^–1 of the applied labelled N was found in soil upto 60 cm depth. Most of the labelled soil N (69–76%) was located in the upper 0–20 cm soil layer indicating little movement to lower depths despite intensive cropping for 4 years.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of novel 5-substituted benzylidene amino-2-butyl benzofuran-3-yl-4-methoxyphenyl methanones as antileishmanial and antioxidant agents

A series of 5-substitutedbenzylideneamino-2-butylbenzofuran-3-yl-4-methoxyphenyl methanones is synthesized and evaluated for antileishmanial and antioxidant activities. Compounds 4f (IC₅₀?=?52.0?±?0.09?µg/ml), 4h (IC₅₀?=?56.0?±?0.71?µg/ml) and 4l (IC₅₀?=?59.3?±?0.55?µg/ml) were shown significant antileishmanial when compared with standard sodium stibogluconate (IC₅₀?=?490.0?±?1.5?µg/ml). Antioxidant study revealed that compounds 4i (IC₅₀?=?2.44?±?0.47?µg/ml) and 4l (IC₅₀?=?3.69?±?0.44?µg/ml) have shown potent comparable activity when compared with standard ascorbic acid (IC₅₀?=?3.31?±?0.34?µg/ml). Molecular docking study was carried out which replicating results of biological activity in case of initial hits 4f and 4h suggesting that these compounds have a potential to become lead molecules in drug discovery process. In silico ADME study was performed for predicting pharmacokinetic profile of the synthesised antileishmanial agents and expressed good oral drug like behaviour.     

A novel red‐emitting phosphor,KAl1‐xPO4Cl:Eux3+ (0.1 ≤ x ≤ 1.0)

A series of phosphors KAl_1‐xPO₄Cl:Eu_x³⁺ (0.1 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) was synthesized using a facile combustion method using urea as a fuel and their structural, morphological and photoluminescence properties were investigated. It was found that the particle size was in the range of 1–2 µm with an irregular shape. The f–f transitions of Eu³⁺ in the host lattice were assigned and discussed. The excitation and emission spectra indicated that this phosphor can be efficiently excited by ultraviolet (395 nm), and exhibit reddish orange emission corresponding to the ⁵D₀→⁷F_J (J = 0, 1, 2) transitions of Eu³⁺. The impact of the Eu³⁺ concentration on the relative emission intensity was investigated, and the best doping concentration is 0.5. The present study suggests that the KAl_0.5PO₄Cl: Eu_0.5³⁺ phosphor is a strong candidate as a red component for phosphor‐ converted white light‐emitting diodes (LEDs). Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Pomegranate Fruit Rot Pathogen, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chaetomella raphigera</Emphasis>, and its Virulence Factors

A new fungal pathogen was isolated from rotten pomegranates collected from the orchards of different parts of Maharashtra. The pathogen was morphologically identified as Chaetomella raphigera followed by sequencing of ITS and D1/D2 hypervariable region of LSU (28S) of rRNA gene. The pathogen produced pectinase, cellulase, xylanase and protease in liquid medium at a concentration of 71, 13.8, 54.3 and 7 U/ml respectively. Enzyme activity was also determined during pathogenesis in the tissues artificially infected by C. raphigera. Xylanase activity was maximum (25.1 U/g) followed by pectinase (19.2 U/g) and cellulase (1.5 U/g), whereas, protease activity was unnoticed. There was significant correlation (P < 0.05) between disease rating scale and pectinase, xylanase and cellulase activity in infected tissues. This indicates the simultaneous production of hydrolytic enzymes that aids in necrosis of fruit tissues. The elevated levels of these enzymes in infected tissues as compared with control suggest their possible role in pathogenesis. Thus, pectinase, cellulase and xylanase produced by C. raphigera acts as major virulence factors in the development of fruit rot in pomegranates. This is a first report of fungal fruit rot caused by C. raphigera in pomegranate.     

Efficient in vitro propagation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Artemisia nilagirica</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">nilagirica</Emphasis> (Indian wormwood) and assessment of genetic fidelity of micropropagated plants

A reliable protocol has been established for in vitro propagation of Artemisia nilagirica var. nilagirica (Indian wormwood), a valuable medicinal plant from India. A highly proliferating organogenic callus was obtained on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2.5 µM IAA when nodal explants were cultured on MS medium supplemented with various growth regulators. Further, highest regeneration frequency (83.3 %) of adventitious shoots was observed, when the callus was sub-cultured on MS medium supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP; 2.5 µM) along with 7.5 µM 2-isopentenyl adenine (2-iP). An optimal of 10.16 ± 2.24 shoots were regenerated on medium supplemented with 2.5 µM BAP + 7.5 µM 2-iP. Quarter strength MS medium supplemented with 10 µM IBA was effective for rooting of the shoots. Ex-vitro plants were normal and were established successfully. Cytological and molecular marker studies showed that regenerated plants showed genetic stability in micro-propagated plants.     

Heavy metal (Pb) accumulation in metallophytes as influenced by the variations in rhizospheric and non-rhizospheric soils physico-chemical characteristics

Activities at root-soil interface determine the solubility and uptake of metals by plants. Metal accumulation in plant species (Imperata cylindrical, Cynodon dactylon, Eleucine indica, Gomphrena celosoides, Sporobolus pyramidalis, Chromolaena odorata and Rhynchospora corymbosa) growing on Pb contaminated site as influenced by variations in physico-chemical characteristics, dissolved organic matter (DOM), Pb fractionation and different functional groups (using Fourier Transmittance Infra-red) of rhizospheric and non-rhizospheric soils was assessed. The electrical conductivity (2660–5520 µs) and Pb concentrations (51390.0–64080.0 mg/kg) were more in non-rhizospheric than rhizospheric soils having 276 µs to 3160 µs EC and 3289.0 to 44850.0 mg/kg Pb. More nutrients, DOM and carbohydrates functional groups (C-O; 1100 -1000 and O-H; 3700–3600) were found in rhizospheric compared to non-rhizospheric soils. The pH was slightly acidic (5.0–5.54) and E. indica with the lowest pH (5.0) accumulated highest Pb concentrations in shoot (8030 mg/kg) and root (16380 mg/kg) while C. odorata with highest values of pH, P, Ca and Mg in rhizospheric soil accumulated the least (root; 331.6 and shoot: 209.0 mg/kg). Pb was more in organic and residual fractions of rhizospheric and non-rhizospheric soils respectively. Reduction in pH, EC coupled with nutrients and DOM availability increased Pb uptake by plants.     

High Throughput Discovery of Solar Fuels Photoanodes in the CuO–V2O5 System

Solar photoelectrochemical generation of fuel is a promising energy technology yet the lack of an efficient, robust photoanode remains a primary materials challenge in the development and deployment of solar fuels generators. Metal oxides comprise the most promising class of photoanode materials, but no known material meets the demanding requirements of low band gap energy, photoelectrocatalysis of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and stability under highly oxidizing conditions. Here, the identification of new photoelectroactive materials is reported through a strategic combination of combinatorial materials synthesis, high‐throughput photoelectrochemistry, optical spectroscopy, and detailed electronic structure calculations. Four photoelectrocatalyst phases, α ‐Cu₂V₂O₇, β ‐Cu₂V₂O_7, γ ‐Cu₃V₂O₈, and Cu₁₁V₆O₂₆, are reported with band gap energy at or below 2 eV. The photoelectrochemical properties and 30 min stability of these copper vanadate phases are demonstrated in three different aqueous electrolytes (pH 7, pH 9, and pH 13), with select combinations of phase and electrolyte exhibiting unprecedented photoelectrocatalytic stability for metal oxides with sub‐2 eV band gap. Through integration of experimental and theoretical techniques, new structure‐property relationships are determined and establish CuO–V₂O₅ as the most prominent composition system for OER photoelectrocatalysts, providing crucial information for materials genomes initiatives and paving the way for continued development of solar fuels photoanodes.     

Identification of a pH sensor in the furin propeptide that regulates enzyme activation

The folding and activation of furin occur through two pH- and compartment-specific autoproteolytic steps. In the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), profurin folds under the guidance of its prodomain and undergoes an autoproteolytic excision at the consensus furin site Arg-Thr-Lys-Arg107/ generating an enzymatically masked furin-propeptide complex competent for transport to late secretory compartments. In the mildly acidic environment of the trans-Golgi network/endosomal system, the bound propeptide is cleaved at the internal site 69HRGVTKR75/, unmasking active furin capable of cleaving substrates in trans. Here, by using cellular, biochemical, and modeling studies, we demonstrate that the conserved His69 is a pH sensor that regulates the compartment-specific cleavages of the propeptide. In the ER, unprotonated His69 stabilizes a solvent-accessible hydrophobic pocket necessary for autoproteolytic excision at Arg107. Profurin molecules unable to form the hydrophobic pocket, and hence, the furin-propeptide complex, are restricted to the ER by a PACS-2- and COPI-dependent mechanism. Once exposed to the acidic pH of the late secretory pathway, protonated His69 disrupts the hydrophobic pocket, resulting in exposure and cleavage of the internal cleavage site at Arg75 to unmask the enzyme. Together, our data explain the pH-regulated activation of furin and how this His-dependent regulatory mechanism is a model for other proteins.     

Reconstitution of allogeneic hemopoietic stem cells: the essential role of FcR gamma and the TCR beta-chain-FCp33 complex

Transplantation of purified allogeneic hemopoietic stem cells (SC) alone is characterized by a decreased risk of graft-vs-host disease but increased incidence of engraftment failure. It has been established that the facilitating cell (FC) promotes allogeneic SC reconstitution and results in donor-specific transplantation tolerance across MHC disparities, without graft-vs-host disease. Although the requirements for this facilitating function are not well-characterized, it is known that facilitation is dependent on FC expression of a unique heterodimer consisting of the TCR beta-chain (TCRbeta) and a 33-kDa protein, FCp33. The current study confirms that CD3epsilon and TCRbeta expression are present on the FC at the time of transplantation and demonstrates that the majority of cells in the FC population express the TCR signaling molecule, FcRgamma, rather than the more conventional CD3zeta receptor. Of particular significance, we have now demonstrated that FC-mediated allogeneic SC reconstitution is critically dependent on FcRgamma expression and that FcRgamma coprecipitates with the TCRbeta-FCp33 heterodimer. The mandatory requirement of TCRbeta and FcRgamma for FC function provides the first evidence of a previously undescribed role for FcRgamma in the facilitation of allogeneic SC reconstitution and establishes that FcRgamma is part of the TCRbeta-FCp33 complex uniquely expressed on FC.