A survey of cultivated heirloom tomato varieties identifies four new mutant alleles at the green-flesh locus

The process of crop domestication occurs through the selection and subsequent propagation of novel alleles that improve traits of interest. Cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), particularly heirloom varieties, exhibit a wide range of variation in fruit size, shape and color. The green-flesh mutant of tomato possesses a stay-green phenotype resulting in fruits that ripen to a red-brown color, due to the retention of chlorophyll and the simultaneous accumulation of lycopene. The recent identification of the GREEN-FLESH gene provides a molecular tool with which to investigate the origin of a subset of cultivated tomato varieties that resemble the green-flesh mutant. Sequence analysis of the GF locus from 26 varieties revealed the existence of four previously unidentified null alleles. This study illustrates the potential of cultivated tomato varieties, including heritage cultivars, heirlooms, and land races, for uncovering new alleles in genes of interest.     

Aggravation of cholesterol induced hyperlipidemia by chronic vitamin C deficiency: experimental study in guinea pigs

Chronic vitamin C deficiency was induced in guinea pigs by restricting their vitamin C intake to 0.5 mg daily. This was just sufficient to prevent rapidly fatal scurvy and 55 per cent of the animals survived. In 16 weeks their serum ascorbic acid (SAA) fell to 0.16 +/- 0.06 mg/dl as compared to 0.73 +/- 0.11 in control animals receiving 5 mg vitamin C daily. There was a marked increase in serum cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and total lipids. HDL-cholesterol was, however, decreased resulting in a shift of the LDL/HDL ratio from 1.13 +/- 0.16 in the control to 5.91 +/- 1.70 in the low vitamin C group. Cholesterol feeding (100 mg/day) by itself lowered the SAA significantly, besides producing hyperlipidemia. When the vitamin C intake was reduced to only 0.5 mg/day, the effects of cholesterol feeding were exaggerated; the magnitude of hyperlipidemia was now significantly greater than with simple cholesterol feeding. The LDL/HDL ratio rose to 19.02 +/- 3.32 from 1.13 +/- 0.16 in the normal guinea pigs. Chronic vitamin C deficiency seems to affect the blood lipid profile unfavourably which could promote atherogenesis.     

An optimized protocol for the production of high purity maltose

An economical protocol, which is simple, rapid and reproducible for the production of maltose by enzymatic hydrolysis of tapioca starch, has been optimized. The protocol involves liquefaction of 35% (w/w) tapioca starch by bacterial -amylase at 78±2°C to 3 to 5% (w/w) reducing sugars, followed by maximal (85±3% w/w maltose equivalent) saccharification with barley -amylase and pullulanase at 50°C for 24 to 30 h. The post-saccharification recovery protocol comprised decolourization by charcoal, de-dextrinization by denatured spirit precipitation, de-ionization by passage through cation and anion exchangers and dehydration by vacuum drying. A white crystalline maltose powder was obtained with specifications comparable to commercial high purity maltose. The protocol yields at least 60% (w/w) recovery of maltose and is suitable for use by the pharmaceutical industry. The protocol is unique in that it utilizes cheap and easily hydrolysed tapioca starch, leaves no mother liquor, enabling higher recovery of maltose, and allows almost quantitative recovery of limit maltodextrins, a value-added marketable by-product.     

Isolation of Bacillus licheniformis mutants for stable production profiles of alkaline protease

Summary A phenotypic requirement for cysteine was introduced inBacillus licheniformis producing alkaline protease to facilitate its isolation from poor or nonproducerBacillus species. This facilitated purification of the strain in cases of cross-contamination, preparation of good inocula for commercial production and stabilization of alkaline protease harvest values, alleviating economic losses incurred through cross-contamination.     

Speed Breeding Opportunities and Challenges for Crop Improvement

Journal of Plant Growth Regulation - Crop improvement in light of the rapidly changing climate and the increasing human population continues to be one of the primary concerns for researchers across...     

Micropropagation of Capparis decidua through In Vitro Shoot Proliferation on Nodal Explants of Mature Tree and Seedling Explants

In vitro clonal propagation of Capparis decidua was achieved using nodal explants from mature trees, and cotyledonary node, cotyledon and hypocotyl explants taken from the seedlings. Explants cultured on MS medium supplemented with BAP showed differentiation of multiple shoots and shoot buds in 4–5 weeks in the primary cultures. The medium with BAP (5 mg/l) was the best for shoot bud proliferation from the nodal as well as seedling explant. Shoot multiplication was best on cotyledonary node. In the nodal explants shoot multiplication was best on medium supplemented with 5 mg/l BAP and after second subculturing further multiplication of shoot buds was highest on the medium containing 3 mg/l BAP. Shoots were separated from mother cultures in each subculturing for rooting. Rooting was best achieved using 1 mg/l IBA in the medium. Rooted plantlets were transferred td earthen pots with garden soil and peat moss mixture.     

Totipotency of coleoptile tissue in indica rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. ch 1039)

Embryogenic and non-embryogenic calluses were induced from 3,4,5 and 7d old coleoptile segments of indica rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. CH 1039). Compact, globular, yellow and creamy embryogenic and white friable non-embryogenic callus arose from the cut end and entire length of the coleoptile segments. Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium supplemented with 2.5mg/1 2,4-D was used as callus induction medium. Plant regeneration from coleoptile segments occurred with the transfer of embryogenic callus to MS basal medium supplemented with 2.0mg/1 BAP and 0.5mg/1 NAA in combination. Average number of regenerated plants from one coleoptile ranged from9.1 to 14.0.Four day old coleoptiles showed the highest frequency of plant regeneration.Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - BAP 6-benzylaminopurine - MS Murashige and Skoog (1962) - NAA 1-naphthalene acetic acid     

Optimized protocol for the pilot-scale preparation of fungal cellulase

Summary A 25-l scale protocol is devised for the optimal secretion and recovery of fungal cellulase. Using a selected higher yieldingTrichoderma viride SMC strain, a protocol consisted of: a) an optimized production medium rich in microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), fortified with 1% (w/v) ammonium sulphate, 0.5% (w/v) soybean flour, 0.1% (v/v) Tween-80 and other trace nutrients; b) optimized physical parameters of production, such as an inoculum containing a homogeneous suspension of 6×10⁷ conidia per 1,28±1°C, pH 4.0±0.5, 300±20 rpm, 11000±1000 l/h aeration, and 170–220 h duration; c) optimal recovery through a filter press (450 l/h rate of filtration) followed by precipitation with 2.5–3.0 volumes of acetone (15°C and basket centrifugation (27°C, 1700 rpm)); and d) vacuum drying (35°C, 4–6 h). This afforded 70% recovery of cellulase in the form of white fluffy powder containing 20000±2000 carboxy methyl cellulase and 1000±50 units filter paperase per g activities, with raw material cost of US$ 8–10 per million carboxy methyl cellulase units. During storage for 18 months at 4°C, ambient temperature and 37°C, the cellulase preparation was found to retain 100, 75 and 60% of its initial activity, respectively.     

Identification and definition of long-stay mental hospital population.

In a study to identify and define a central group of long-stay psychiatric patients who are resistant to discharge 422 were found who had been in hospital for eight to 23 years. These "problem" patients represented 40% of all long-stay patients. The total number of years that they had spent in hospital was nearly double that of the remaining patients. They were mostly unvisited, unoccupied, and single, and most were suffering from schizophrenia or organic psychosis. Half were in a good or reasonably good state of mental health, and three-quarters were in a good or reasonably good state of physical health. The findings have implications for the rehabilitation and treatment of these patients and also for the provision of community aftercare facilities.