Sectoring of fungal colonies induced by low concentrations of fernasan

An inhibitor of Aspergillus flavus has been isolated from peanuts and identified as 5,7-dimethoxyisoflavone. Authentic 5,7-dimethoxyisoflavone, synthesized from benzyl-2-hydroxy-4,6 dimethoxyphenyl (3), and the isolated compound display identical ultraviolet spectra in methanol, in methanol+sodium methoxide, and in methanol+AlCl₃; similar behavior in solvent extraction, column chromatography, TLC, and fungal inhibition.     

Isolation of aflatoxin from Acacia and the incidence of Aspergillus flavus in the Sudan

A series of environmental and clinical isolates of Sporothrix schenckii being studied in our laboratories under standard conditions of temperature, humidity and media, displayed, in some of the isolates, large dematiaceous hyphae. The large hyphae could be seen to produce the fine hyphae associated with S. schenckii on which typical microconidia developed. Typical microconidia also developed occasionally on the large hyphae, and strands of the unusually large hyphae also were seen to form arthroconidia. Some strains formed large, thin-walled cells on thin and/or thick hyphae resembling the balloon cells seen in mature colonies of Trichophyton tonsurans.All strains which have demonstrated these various and unusual structures histopathologically produced typical sporotrichosis in laboratory animals. When reisolated from these animals, the cultures again exhibited the unusual structures, as well as those typical of S. schenckii.     

A single dominant gene for Fusarium wilt resistance in protoplast-derived tomato plants

Summary Autotetraploids were established from 8 diploid wild species of section Arachis. In all the autotetraploids the chromosomes paired largely as bivalents even though they possess the ability to pair as multivalents. Pollen and pod fertility in the C₁ generation were not directly associated with chromosome pairing. The C₂ generation autotetraploids showed a gradual increase in bivalent associations and pollen and pod fertility. The identification of two genomes, A and B, in the diploid species and in the tetraploid, A. hypogaea, of the section Arachis, a fairly good crossability, and the type of chromosome associations observed in hybrids between A. hypogaea and the autotetraploids of wild Arachis species indicated good prospects of utilizing autotetraploids as genetic bridges in transferring desired traits from these taxa into groundnut.Submitted as Journal Article No. 516 by International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)     

Influence of the neonatal (clomiphene) inhibition of estradiol imprinting on gonadal development and gonadal and thyroid hormone production later in life

Treatment of newborn rats with clomiphene citrate during the first 5 days of life gave rise to a marked decrease in body mass and to a still greater decrease in gonadal mass. A decrease was also observed in the testicular diameter of the males. The females showed a 43% increase in their estradiol levels over the control and an increase in the sensitivity to gonadotropins. Thyroxine level, which was also determined in view of the known gonadotropin-thyrotropin overlap, showed no change 6 weeks after pretreatment with clomiphene, while the thyroid gland responded to gonadotropin in the same manner as to thyrotropin.     

The SF36 health survey questionnaire: an outcome measure suitable for routine use within the NHS?

OBJECTIVE--To assess the validity, reliability, and acceptability of the short form 36 (SF 36) health survey questionnaire (a shortened version of a battery of 149 health status questions) as a measure of patient outcome in a broad sample of patients suffering from four common clinical conditions. DESIGN--Postal questionnaire, followed up by two reminders at two week intervals. SETTING--Clinics and four training practices in north east Scotland. SUBJECTS--Over 1700 patients aged 16-86 with one of four conditions--low back pain, menorrhagia, suspected peptic ulcer, or varicose veins--and a comparison sample of 900 members of the general population. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--The eight scales within the SF36 health profile. RESULTS--The response rate exceeded 75% in the patient population (1310 respondents). The SF36 satisfied rigorous psychometric criteria for validity and internal consistency. Clinical validity was shown by the distinctive profiles generated for each condition, each of which differed from that in the general population in a predictable manner. Furthermore, SF36 scores were lower in referred patients than in patients not referred and were closely related to general practitioners'' perceptions of severity. CONCLUSIONS--These results provide support for the SF36 as a potential measure of patient outcome within the NHS. The SF36 seems acceptable to patients, internally consistent, and a valid measure of the health status of a wide range of patients. Before it can be used in the new health service, however, its sensitivity to changes in health status over time must also be tested.     

Improvement of Early Maturing and Climate Resilient Chickpea (<i>Cicer arietinum</i> L.) Cultivars Suitable for Multiple Environments in Bangladesh

Ensuring food security for the rapidly increasing population and changing climatic scenarios are requisites for exploiting the genetic divergence of food crops. A study was undertaken to sort out an early maturing chickpea variety for fitting easily between rice-rice cropping systems in the Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plain of Bangladesh. The trial was comprised of eight elite lines of chickpea and executed at various localities in Bangladesh from 2014– 15 to 2017–18. The result explored the chickpea genotype, BARI Chola-11 remained superior to the rest of the elite genotypes for having a short maturity period (100–106 days), and lesser days to 50% flowering (47– 55 days). The same genotype was recorded to have robust vegetative and reproductive yield attributes including plant height (49–57 cm), podsplant⁻¹ (37–50), and optimum 100 seed weight (19.5–20.6 g). Owing to better yield attributes, BARI Chola-11 resulted in the maximum seed yield (1200–1500 kg ha⁻¹ ) of chickpea and might be recommended for general adoption in the region for boosting nutritional security status through improved productivity under changing climate.     

Survival of Curvularia lunata var. aeria in soil

Spore suspensions from 7 day old cultures of Curvularia lunata (Wakker) Boedijn var. aeria (Batista, Lima and Vasconcelos) M.B. Ellis were added to soil samples originally devoid of Curvularia propagules. The test fungus disappeared after six weeks of inoculation irrespective of soil amendments, like the application of green manure, urea, superphosphate, or soil cropped to Sorghum (dura) or cotton seedlings.     

Studies on the rhizosphere mycoflora of Euphorbia granulata forsk. and E. heterophylla L.

Unlike many higher plants Euphorbia granulata and E. heterophylla do not encourage the development of fungi in their rhizospheres. Fungi recovered therefrom were limited both in number and range of species. The rhizosphere of E. heterophylla was slightly favourable to soil fungi when compared with the other weed plant. Aspergillus niger was least affected by both types of rhizosphere. Expressed latexcontaining sap of E. granulata was remarkably inhibitory to submerged cultures of A. flavus, A. nidulans, Fusarium sp., Curvularia sp. and Helminthosporium. Conidia and mycelial fragments recovered from these cultures failed either to germinate or resume growth thus exhibiting an antifungal property of E. granulata latex.