Effect of carbendazim and mancozeb combinationon Alternaria leaf blight and seed yield in sunflower (Helianthus annus L.)

Abstract

Leaf blight caused by Alternaria helianthi (Hansf.) Tubaki & Nishihara, is the major disease of sunflower affecting the successful cultivation across India. Five individual fungicides and two combination fungicides were evaluated against this pathogen in laboratory and in field experiments. Among them, the combination of carbendazim + mancozeb completely (100%) inhibited the mycelial growth of A. helianthi, irrespective of the concentrations tested followed by carbendazim alone and metalaxyl + mancozeb under in vitro condition. In field conditions, the combination of carbendazim + mancozeb was found to be highly effective in reducing the leaf blight disease of sunflower in all the three experiments as compared to other fungicides and unsprayed control. The reduction of Alternaria leaf blight was also directly associated with an increase in seed yield. The economics of the fungicides spray has been worked out and the benefit cost ratio for the combination of carbendazim + mancozeb at 2.0 g/l was 7.1 as compared to unsprayed control. The overall analysis of the results revealed that the combination of carbendazim + mancozeb at 2.0 g/l can be used for the management of foliar diseases such as Alternaria leaf spot/blight in agricultural crops.     

Chronotype preferences of college students from varied altitude backgrounds in Ethiopia

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to compare chronotype preferences of college students from high- and low-altitude backgrounds living in a tropical setting of Ethiopia. Chronotype (morningness–eveningness) is a preference for a given time of day for physical or mental activities. The present cross-sectional study employed Horne and Osteberg Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaires to evaluate chronotype preferences. The chronotype preference of 264 male college students from varied altitude backgrounds indicated significant differences (p < 0.001). Our findings confirm our hypothesis, of the prevalence of M-types dominant chronotype among college students at low than high altitude. However, we did not confirm our second hypothesis, since students from high-altitude backgrounds were generally I-type dominant chronotype. Similarly, students’ academic performances from low- compared to high-altitudes backgrounds also indicated significant differences (p < 0.003). Better academic performances were seen in students with I-type chronotype orientations from high altitudes.     

Fused thiazolyl alkynes as potent mGlu5 receptor positive allosteric modulators

A new series of potent fused thiazole mGlu₅ receptor positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) (10, 11 and 27–31) are disclosed and details of the SAR and optimization are described. Optimization of alkynyl thiazole 9 (Lu AF11205) led to the identification of potent fused thiazole analogs 10b, 27a, 28j and 31d. In general, substituted cycloalkyl, aryl and heteroaryl carboxamides, and carbamate analogs are mGlu₅ PAMs, whereas smaller alkyl carboxamide, sulfonamide and sulfamide analogs tend to be mGlu₅ negative allosteric modulators (NAMs).     

Design, synthesis and anti-microbial activity of 1H-pyrazole carboxylates

In a SAR study, we have synthesized a few 1H-pyrazole carboxylate related microbicides using Vilsmeier reagent. The anti-microbial screening results of 1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylate are reported here for the first time. The effect of 1H-pyrazole carboxylates on the mycelial growth of plant pathogenic fungi is revealed. The first X-ray structure in the family of microbicidal 1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylates is presented.     

Discovery of Lu AA33810: a highly selective and potent NPY5 antagonist with in vivo efficacy in a model of mood disorder

The structure-activity relationship of a series of tricyclic-sulfonamide compounds 11-32 culminating in the discovery of N-[trans-4-(4,5-dihydro-3,6-dithia-1-aza-benzo[e]azulen-2-ylamino)-cyclohexylmethyl]-methanesulfonamide (15, Lu AA33810) is reported. Compound 15 was identified as a selective and high affinity NPY5 antagonist with good oral bioavailability in mice (42%) and rats (92%). Dose dependent inhibition of feeding was observed after i.c.v. injection of the selective NPY5 agonist ([cPP(1-7),NPY(19-23),Ala(31),Aib(32),Gln(34)]-hPP). In addition, ip administration of Lu AA33810 (10 mg/kg) produced antidepressant-like effects in a rat model of chronic mild stress.     

Control of blast and sheath blight diseases of rice using antifungal metabolites produced by Streptomyces sp. PM5

Two antifungal aliphatic compounds, SPM5C-1 and SPM5C-2 with a lactone and ketone carbonyl unit, respectively obtained from Streptomyces sp. PM5 were evaluated under in vitro and in vivo conditions against major rice pathogens, Pyricularia oryzae and Rhizoctonia solani. These compounds were dissolved in distilled water/medium to get the required concentrations. The well diffusion bioassay indicated that the of SPM5C-1 remarkably inhibited the mycelial growth of P. oryzae and R. solani in comparison to SPM5C-2. Though SPM5C-2 showed low antifungal activity against P. oryzae, it was not active against R. solani. Further, SPM5C-1 completely inhibited the growth of P. oryzae and R. solani at concentrations of 25, 50, 75 and 100 μg/ml. Greenhouse experiments revealed that spraying of SPM5C-1 at 500 μg/ml on rice significantly decreased blast and sheath blight development by 76.1% and 82.3%, respectively, as compared to the control with a corresponding increase in rice grain yield.     

Comparison of ultracentrifugation, density gradient separation, and immunoaffinity capture methods for isolating human colon cancer cell line LIM1863-derived exosomes

Exosomes are 40–100 nm extracellular vesicles that are released from a multitude of cell types, and perform diverse cellular functions including intercellular communication, antigen presentation, and transfer of oncogenic proteins as well as mRNA and miRNA. Exosomes have been purified from biological fluids and in vitro cell cultures using a variety of strategies and techniques. However, all preparations invariably contain varying proportions of other membranous vesicles that co-purify with exosomes such as shed microvesicles and apoptotic blebs. Using the colorectal cancer cell line LIM1863 as a cell model, in this study we performed a comprehensive evaluation of current methods used for exosome isolation including ultracentrifugation (UC-Exos), OptiPrep? density-based separation (DG-Exos), and immunoaffinity capture using anti-EpCAM coated magnetic beads (IAC-Exos). Notably, all isolations contained 40–100 nm vesicles, and were positive for exosome markers (Alix, TSG101, HSP70) based on electron microscopy and Western blotting. We employed a proteomic approach to profile the protein composition of exosomes, and label-free spectral counting to evaluate the effectiveness of each method. Based on the number of MS/MS spectra identified for exosome markers and proteins associated with their biogenesis, trafficking, and release, we found IAC-Exos to be the most effective method to isolate exosomes. For example, Alix, TSG101, CD9 and CD81 were significantly higher (at least 2-fold) in IAC-Exos, compared to UG-Exos and DG-Exos. Application of immunoaffinity capture has enabled the identification of proteins including the ESCRT-III component VPS32C/CHMP4C, and the SNARE synaptobrevin 2 (VAMP2) in exosomes for the first time. Additionally, several cancer-related proteins were identified in IAC-Exos including various ephrins (EFNB1, EFNB2) and Eph receptors (EPHA2–8, EPHB1–4), and components involved in Wnt (CTNNB1, TNIK) and Ras (CRK, GRB2) signalling.