Allelopathic impact of artificially applied coumarin on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium oxysporum</Emphasis> f.sp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">niveum</Emphasis>

Watermelon production is threatened by fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. niveum (FON) in continuous cultivation system. Some elements, mainly allelochemicals, released from living roots or decayed plants might be associated with the disease. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the possible impact of coumarin, one kind of watermelon allelochemical, on FON. Furthermore, possible new mechanisms might be investigated during the ecological interactions of plant-microbe. Results showed that coumarin strongly inhibited growth of FON leading to a decrease in its biomass, dry weight of mycelia of FON in a liquid culture. The dry weight was decreased by 62.9% compared with control. The hyphal growth of FON on plates was stopped at high (>400 mg l⁻¹) concentrations of coumarin. At 320 mg l⁻¹, sporulation and enzyme activities of FON were also severely suppressed by coumarin. The yield of conidia, and the activities of proteinase, cellulase, and amylase were reduced by 98.9%, 79.7%, 29.8% and 15.9% respectively. However, conidial germination and mycotoxin (MT) production of FON were greatly stimulated, being increased by 55.7% and 14.9 fold at 320 mg l⁻¹ respectively. We conclude that coumarin acted as an allelochemical substance to inhibit growth and pathogenic enzyme activities of FON but to stimulate mycotoxin production and conidial germination. It was suggested that coumarin acted as a signal transduction element bridging plant and pathogen in the process of plant-microbe interactions.     

Encapsulating Trogtalite CoSe2 Nanobuds into BCN Nanotubes as High Storage Capacity Sodium Ion Battery Anodes

Trogtalite CoSe₂ nanobuds encapsulated into boron and nitrogen codoped graphene (BCN) nanotubes (CoSe₂@BCN‐750) are synthesized via a concurrent thermal decomposition and selenization processes. The CoSe₂@BCN‐750 nanotubes deliver an excellent storage capacity of 580 mA h g^?1 at current density of 100 mA g^?1 at 100th cycle, as the anode of a sodium ion battery. The CoSe₂@BCN‐750 nanotubes exhibit a significant rate capability (100–2000 mA g^?1 current density) and high stability (almost 98% storage retention after 4000 cycles at large current density of 8000 mA g^?1). The reasons for these excellent storage properties are illuminated by theoretical calculations of the relevant models, and various possible Na⁺ ion storage sites are identified through first‐principles calculations. These results demonstrate that the insertion of heteroatoms, B–C, N–C as well as CoSe₂, into BCN tubes, enables the observed excellent adsorption energy of Na⁺ ions in high energy storage devices, which supports the experimental results.     

Effects of optimum doses of nitrogen,phosphorus, potassium and calcium on silkworm,Bombyx mori L., growth and yield

Silkworm rearing has been an income source for small-holding farmers in Pakistan. Over the years efforts have been made to improve silkworm quality and quantity and thus develop better prospects for increasing yield and income. Mulberry leaves Morus alba L. in a series of experiments have been supplemented with various nutrients in different doses and combinations. Relative success has been achieved in this context. In our present experiments on silkworm Bombyx mori L., we fed the larvae on mulberry leaves supplemented with different doses of N (0.2%), P (0.1%), K (0.3%) and Ca (0.1%) at 26 ± 3°C with 65 ± 5% relative humidity. The results showed better outputs in terms of food consumption (72.55 g/10 larvae), coefficient of utilization (76.45%), body weight (70.07 g/10 larvae) and body length (8.56 cm/larvae) than where simple mulberry leaves were offered. Our net gains with these production parameters have been in terms of heavier cocoons with and without pupa (2.25 and 0.69 g/cocoon), respectively.     

Identification of quantitative trait loci conferring resistance to tan spot in a biparental population derived from two Nebraska hard red winter wheat cultivars

Tan spot, caused by Pyrenophora tritici-repentis (Ptr), is a destructive foliar disease in all types of cultivated wheat worldwide. Genetics of tan spot resistance in wheat is complex, involving insensitivity to fungal-produced necrotrophic effectors (NEs), major resistance genes, and quantitative trait loci (QTL) conferring race-nonspecific and race-specific resistance. The Nebraska hard red winter wheat (HRWW) cultivar ‘Wesley’ is insensitive to Ptr ToxA and highly resistant to multiple Ptr races, but the genetics of resistance in this cultivar is unknown. In this study, we used a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a cross between Wesley and another Nebraska cultivar ‘Harry’ (Ptr ToxA sensitive and highly susceptible) to identify QTL associated with reaction to tan spot caused by multiple races/isolates. Sensitivity to Ptr ToxA conferred by the Tsn1 gene was mapped to chromosome 5B as expected. The Tsn1 locus was a major susceptibility QTL for the race 1 and race 2 isolates, but not for the race 2 isolate with the ToxA gene deleted. A second major susceptibility QTL was identified for all the Ptr ToxC-producing isolates and located to the distal end of the chromosome 1A, which likely corresponds to the Tsc1 locus. Three additional QTL with minor effects were identified on chromosomes 7A, 7B, and 7D. This work indicates that both Ptr ToxA-Tsn1 and Ptr ToxC-Tsc1 interactions are important for tan spot development in winter wheat, and Wesley is highly resistant largely due to the absence of the two tan spot sensitivity genes.     

Multicenter phase 1/2 application of adenovirus-specific T cells in high-risk pediatric patients after allogeneic stem cell transplantation

Background

Adenovirus (ADV) reactivation can cause significant morbidity and mortality in children after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Antiviral drugs can control viremia, but viral clearance requires recovery of cell-mediated immunity.

Management of Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) of the Most Perishable Fruits

We investigated to minimize the dependency on the use of chemicals and thus develop safe and environmental friendly control program for the most perishable fruits i.e., apple,‘ber’, guava and mango. Our findings on the composition of fruit fly species reveal that Bactrocera dorsalis was dominant on apple (33.96% existence), Corpomya incompleta on‘ber’(51.91% existence) and Bactrocera zonata on guava (49.62% existence) and mango (74.66% existence). The correlation between population and infestation percentage was non‐significant in apple orchards, whereas positive and highly significant in between population and infestation, as well as on the cumulative basis in‘ber’, guava and mango orchards during 1998‐1999. Hoeing, baiting and methyl eugenol were statistically equal resulting about 77% decrease in infestation. The maximum control of 91.68% was observed where all four‐control operations including Dipterex® were integrated together. Weather factors, when computed together, had maximum effect on population fluctuation and infestation with rainfall contributing the major role. For guava fruits, the months of August (14.06A individuals/trap/day) and September (13.81A individuals/trap/day) were important, resulting in maximum infestation percentage of 10.76 to 14.74%, respectively.     

Preformulation Studies of a Prodrug of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol

Preformulation studies were performed on a hemiglutarate ester prodrug of Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-HG), to facilitate the development of stable formulations by hot-melt methods. The various studies performed included solid-state thermal characterization, pKa, logP, aqueous and pH dependent solubility, pH stability and effect of moisture, temperature and oxygen on solid-state stability. A hot-melt method was utilized to fabricate THC-HG incorporated poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) matrices and the bioadhesive properties, release profiles and post-processing stability of these matrices were assessed as a function of the polymer molecular weight. The prodrug exhibited a T _g close to 0°C, indicating its amorphous nature. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed a rapid weight loss after 170°C. The prodrug exhibited a seven-fold higher aqueous solubility as compared to the parent drug (THC). Also, the solubility of the compound increased with increasing pH, being maximum at pH 8. The prodrug exhibited a v-shaped pH-rate profile, with the degradation rate minimum between pH 3 and 4. The moisture uptake and drug degradation increased with an increase in relative humidity. Solid-state stability indicated that the prodrug was stable at −18°C but demonstrated higher degradation at 4°C, 25°C and 40°C (51.6%, 74.5% and 90.1%, respectively) at the end of 3-months. THC-HG was found to be sensitive to the presence of oxygen. The release of the active from the polymeric matrices decreased, while bioadhesion increased, with an increase in molecular weight of PEO.     

Isolation of a malachite green-degrading Pseudomonas sp. MDB-1 strain and cloning of the tmr2 gene

The release of malachite green, a commonly used triphenylmethane dye, into the environment is causing increasing concern due to its toxicity, mutagenicity, and carcinogenicity. A bacterial strain that could degrade malachite green was isolated from the water of an aquatic hatchery. It was identified as a Pseudomonas sp. based on the morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics, as well as the analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence and designated as MDB-1. This strain was capable of degrading both malachite green and leucomalachite green, as well as other triphenylmethane dyes including Crystal Violet and Basic Fuchsin. The gene tmr2, encoding the triphenylmethane reductase from MDB-1, was cloned, sequenced and effectively expressed in E. coli. These results highlight the potential of this bacterium for the bioremediation of aquatic environments contaminated by malachite green.     

Pyrethroid-degrading Sphingobium sp. JZ-2 and the purification and characterization of a novel pyrethroid hydrolase

A pyrethroid-degrading bacterium strain JZ-2 was isolated from activated sludge treating pyrethroid-manufacturing wastewater. Based on the morphological, physiological and biochemical characterization, and phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence, the strain was identified as Sphingobium sp. Strain JZ-2 was capable of degrading fenpropathrin, cypermethrin, permethrin, cyhalothrin, deltamethrin, fenvalerate and bifenthrin. This strain degraded fenpropathrin by hydrolysis of the carboxylester linkage to yield 3-phenoxybenzaldehyde and 2,2,3,3-tetramethylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid. 3-Phenoxybenzaldehyde, 3-phenoxybenzoate, protocatechuate and catechol are the intermediates of fenpropathrin degradation. Protocatechuate and catechol were further oxidized by ortho-cleavage pathway. A novel pyrethroid hydrolase from cell-free extract was purified 108.5-fold to apparent homogeneity with a 10.2% overall recovery. It was a monomer with a molecular mass of 31 ± 1 kDa, a pI of 4.85. The optimal pH and temperature were 7.5 and 40 °C, respectively. No cofactors or coenzymes were required for the pyrethroid-hydrolysis activity. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by many irons (Ag⁺, Cu²⁺, Hg²⁺ and Zn²⁺), SDS, p-chloromercuribenzoic acid, phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride and malathion.