Isolation and screening of potential actinobacteria for rapid composting of rice straw

Rice straw is produced as a by-product from rice cultivation, which is composed largely of lignocellulosic materials amenable to general biodegradation. Lignocellulolytic actinobacteria can be used as a potential agent for rapid composting of bulky rice straw. Twenty-five actinobacteria isolates were isolated from various in situ and in vitro rice straw compost sources. Isolates A2, A4, A7, A9 and A24 were selected through enzymatic degradation of starch, cellulose and lignin followed by the screening for their adaptability on rice straw powder amended media. The best adapted isolate (A7) was identified as Micromonospora carbonacea. It was able to degrade cellulose, hemicelluloses and carbon significantly (P ≤ 0.05) over the control. C/N ratio was reduced to 18.1 from an initial value of 29.3 in 6 weeks of composting thus having the potential to be used in large scale composting of rice straw.     

Assessment of differences in morphological and physiological leaf lodging characteristics between two cultivars of Hippeastrum rutilum

Kernel weight and morphology are important traits affecting cereal yields and quality. Dissecting the genetic basis of thousand kernel weight (TKW) and its related traits is an effective method to improve wheat yield. In this study, we performed quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis using recombinant inbred lines derived from the cross ‘PuBing3228 × Gao8901’ (PG-RIL) to dissect the genetic basis of kernel traits. A total of 17 stable QTLs related to kernel traits were identified, notably, two stable QTLs QTkw.cas-1A.2 and QTkw.cas-4A explained the largest portion of the phenotypic variance for TKW and kernel length (KL), and the other two stable QTLs QTkw.cas-6A.1 and QTkw.cas-7D.2 contributed more effects on kernel width (KW). Conditional QTL analysis revealed that the stable QTLs for TKW were mainly affected by KW. The QTLs QTkw.cas-7D.2 and QKw.cas-7D.1 associated with TKW and KW were delimited to the physical interval of approximately 3.82 Mb harboring 47 candidate genes. Among them, the candidate gene TaFT-D1 had a 1 bp insertions/deletion (InDel) within the third exon, which might be the reason for diversity in TKW and KW between the two parents. A Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR (KASP) marker of TaFT-D1 allele was developed and verified by PG-RIL and a natural population consisted of 141 cultivar/lines. It was found that the favorable TaFT-D1 (G)-allele has been positively selected during Chinese wheat breeding. Thus, these results can be used for further positional cloning and marker-assisted selection in wheat breeding programs. Seventeen stable QTLs related to kernel traits were identified. The stable QTLs for thousand kernel weight were mainly affected by kernel width. TaFT-D1 could be the candidate gene for QTLs QTkw.cas-7D.2 and QKw.cas-7D.1.     

Bacteriostatic and Bactericidal Activities of Camel Lactoferrins Against Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhi

Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins - Lactoferrin is an iron-binding glycoprotein present in various secretions (e.g., milk, tears, saliva, pancreatic juice), which performs multiple functions,...     

Somatic embryogenesis and in vitro plant regeneration of Bacopa monnieri (Linn.) Wettst., a potential medicinal water hyssop plant

Bacopa monnieri (Linn.) Wettst. commonly known as waterhyssop, Brahmi plant, traditionally used for memory enhancement, nerve tonic, epilepsy, central nervous system (CNS), antidepressant, anxiety, blood pressure and antioxidant activities. Due to pharmaceutical demands its lost natural habitat. At this juncture we describe a resourceful protocol for micropropagation of water hyssop plant. Surface sterilized leaf and nodal explants were inoculated on basal MS semi-solid medium added with PGRs; auxins, cytokinins. Highest calli formation from leaf explants was obtained on NAA (2.5 mg⁻¹) and showed (94.22%) accompanied via 2,4-D showed (2.5 mg⁻¹; 82.43%), maximum calli formation in nodal explants was obtained on 2,4-D showed (2.5 mg⁻¹; 71.14%) followed by NAA (2.5 mg⁻¹) showed (62.15%), in internodes explants uppermost calli formation was obtained from 2,4-D showed (2.5 mg⁻¹; 65.21%) followed by NAA (2.5 mg⁻¹) showed (52.14%). The maximum somatic embryogenic callus, calli induction and formation (84%) was observed on 2,4-D + KIN (2.0 + 1.5 mg⁻¹) amended solid medium. Uppermost shoot formation was observed in combination of IAA + BAP (1.0 + 1.0 mg⁻¹) showed (78.54%) shoot formation followed by IBA (2.0 mg⁻¹) alone showed (75.37%). The maximum shoot elongation was noticed from NAA + BAP (3.0 + 3.0 mg⁻¹) with 21.21 cm followed by NAA (2.0 mg⁻¹) showed (15.22 cm) although, chief root formation was obtained from IBA (2.0 mg⁻¹) with 83.75% root formation along higher number of roots (47.43%) per shoot. Followed by IAA (2.0 mg⁻¹) showed root induction (73.43%) and no of roots (38.54%) per shoot. In hardening under pot condition plants survivability (100%) was observed under glass house conditions, the present in vitro PTC techniques is extremely significant to gratifying its natural conservation.     

Synthesis,Physicochemical Properties,and in vitro Antibacterial Screening of Palladium(II) Complexes Derived from Thiosemicarbazone

A new series of Pd^II complexes derived from thiosemicarbazone has been synthesized. The synthesized Pd^II complexes have been characterized on the basis of elemental analyses, FT‐IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, UV/VIS, and thermal studies. A square‐planar geometry has been assigned around Pd^II ions on the basis of results obtained from UV/VIS studies. The thiosemicarbazone ligand and its Pd^II complexes have been screened against Gram‐positive (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram‐negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria in vitro as growth‐inhibiting agents, and the results revealed significant antibacterial activities.     

Impact of off-road vehicles on soil and vegetation in a desert rangeland in Saudi Arabia

Off-road vehicle driving is considered as main contributor to land degradation in arid regions. This study examined the impact of off-road vehicles (ORV) on soil and vegetation in a natural recreational desert meadow of Raudhat Khuraim, Saudi Arabia. Vegetation canopy cover and plant height away from road tracks were assessed. Also, species density and canopy cover, bare ground cover and soil attributes were assessed in four microhabitats; tracks, inter-tracks, verges, and away from vehicle tracks (undisturbed natural areas). Results show that the cover of forbs and grasses was negatively associated with distance from road verges. It was observed that the height of woody species responded negatively to distance away from tracks. Cover of native species decreased under verge, inter-track and track microhabitats giving more opportunity for weeds to flourish. Bare ground was highest (60.7%) in tracks. ORV impact on soil bulk density was clear with an increase of 38% under tracks compared to soils of undisturbed natural vegetation and a similar decrease in porosity was observed. On the other hand, soil electrical conductivity was significantly higher (5.45 mS cm^?1) under disturbance compared to 1.32 mS cm^?1 in undisturbed natural vegetation. Organic matter and nitrogen were not affected significantly by ORV disturbance. The results emphasize that managing off-road vehicle driving is essential for conserving native vegetation.     

Genetic variations of NOD2 and MD2 genes in hepatitis B virus infection

Objectives: Nucleotide oligomerization domain 2 (NOD2) and myeloid differentiation protein 2 (MD-2) have crucial roles in the innate immune system. NOD2 is a member of the NOD-like receptor (NLR) family of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), while MD-2 is a co-receptor for Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), which comprises another group of PRRs. Genetic variations in the NOD2 and MD-2 genes may be susceptibility factors to viral pathogens including hepatitis B virus (HBV). We investigated whether polymorphisms at NOD2 (rs2066845 and rs2066844) or at MD-2 (rs6472812 and rs11466004) were associated with susceptibility to HBV infection and advancement to related liver complications in a Saudi Arabian population. Methods: A total of 786 HBV-infected patients and 600 healthy uninfected controls were analyzed in the present study. HBV-infected patients were categorized into three groups based on the clinical stage of the infection: inactive HBV carriers, active HBV carriers, and patients with liver cirrhosis + hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Results: All four SNPs were significantly associated with susceptibility to HBV infection although none of the SNPs tested in NOD2 and MD-2 were significantly associated with persistence of HBV infection. We found that HBV-infected patients that were homozygous CC for rs2066845 in the NOD2 gene were at a significantly increased risk of progression to HBV-related liver complications (Odds Ratio = 7.443 and P = 0.044). Furthermore, haplotype analysis found that the rs2066844-rs2066845 C-G and T-G haplotypes at the NOD2 gene and four rs6472812-rs11466004 haplotypes (G-C, G-T, A-C, and A-T) at the MD-2 gene were significantly associated with HBV infection in the affected cohort compared to those found in our control group. Conclusion: We found that the single nucleotide polymorphisms rs2066844 and rs2066845 at NOD2 and rs6472812 and rs11466004 at MD-2 were associated with susceptibility to HBV infection in a Saudi population.     

In vitro regeneration of Hypericum patulum Thunb.--a medicinal plant

A protocol was developed for high frequency plant regeneration in H. patulum by shoot-tip culture. H. patulum plants were collected from a wild source growing at high altitude in the eastern Himalayas. Multiple buds were initiated from shoot-tips cultured on Murashige and Skoog's medium supplemented with BAP, kinetin. Addition of thiamin HCI, Ca-pantothenate and biotin enhanced multiple shoot formation. Upon transfer to phytohormone free liquid medium following a brief exposure to auxin, root formation occurred from the micro shoots . Rooted plants were hardened and transferred to soil. Regeneration potentiality was found to be constant throughout the year in long term cultures.     

Nitrification Inhibitor and Plant Growth Regulators Improve Wheat Yield and Nitrogen Use Efficiency

Journal of Plant Growth Regulation - The field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of applying urea with nitrification inhibitor (NI) (Nitrapyrine) alone or in combination with...     

Serologic surveillance for selected viral agents in captive and free-ranging populations of Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates

A total of 294 sera collected between 1999 and 2001 from eight captive and one free-ranging herds of Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) distributed in Saudi Arabia (SA) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were assayed for antibodies against 13 selected viral agents. Arabian oryx have been exposed to bluetongue virus (BTV), epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV), rinderpest virus (RPV), bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), bovine adenovirus 3 (BAV-3), cervid herpesvirus-1, foot-and-mouth disease virus, equine herpesvirus 9, and bovine viral diarrhea virus. The high seroprevalence to BTV and EHDV in the UAE and SA indicates that Arabian oryx are likely to be susceptible to infection by these viruses and therefore could act as a source of virus to vectors during the infective stage of infection. Moreover, antibodies were detected against RPV and BRSV in sera from SA and against BAV-3 in sera from the UAE. No antibodies were found against bovine herpesvirus-1, caprine herpesvirus-1, enzootic bovine leucosis virus, and peste des petits ruminants virus. On the basis of these results, caution should be applied when considering translocation of Arabian oryx, and only those proven to be free of infectious agents that might present a risk to other species should be moved.