Comparative mineral and hormonal analyses of wild type and TLS somaclonal variant derived from oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq. var. tenera) tissue culture

Comparative mineral and hormonal analyses were made on tissue culture derived truncated leaf syndrome and wild type oil palm seedlings. Mineral analysis confirmed that Boron, Zinc and chlorophyll levels were significantly lower in truncated leaf syndrome leaves than those of wild type. Hormonal analysis also revealed various cytokinin derivatives such as trans-zeatin, trans-zeatin riboside, trans-zeatin O-glucoside and trans-zeatin riboside 5??mono phosphate were significantly higher in truncated leaf syndrome leaves compared to wild type leaves. Brassinolide level was also significantly higher in truncated leaf syndrome leaves than those of the wild type. These observations suggest that the truncated leaf syndrome abnormality could be associated to high cytokinin and brassinosteroid production which affects the uptake of Boron and Zinc.     

Evaluation of early generations for iron chlorosis in relation to productivity in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Five popular but iron-inefficient cultivars were crossed with three efficient genotypes and both parents and F₁s were evaluated for iron-efficiency in potted calcareous and noncalcareous soil. The iron-efficient genotypes were dark green or green in both noncalcareous and calcareous soils whereas inefficient types were light green to yellow in calcareous soil. The chlorophyll and active iron (Fe²⁺) concentration of leaves was less in iron-efficient genotypes compared to efficient types in calcareous soil and reduction of both the parameters from noncalcareous to calcareous soil was considerably high in iron-inefficient lines. There was significant correlation between visual scores, chlorophyll and active iron content. There were no differences among F₁s for iron chlorosis and they were all iron-inefficient. The frequency of iron-inefficient plants was higher than the efficient plants in all F₂ populations. But most of the productive plants came from iron-efficient segregants indicating strong association between iron-efficiency and productivity. Based on the results selection for iron-efficiency in early generations and extensive evaluation for productivity in advanced generations is suggested for developing varieties for cultivation in calcareous soils.     

Molecular basis for ATP/2,3-bisphosphoglycerate control switch-over (poikilotherm/homeotherm) an intermediate amino-acid sequence in the hemoglobin of the great Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis, Perissodactyla)

The complete primary structure of the two hemoglobin components of the Great Indian Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) is presented. The ratio for the two components B(alpha 2 beta I2): A(alpha 2 beta II2) is 6:4. Polypeptide subunits were separated by chromatography on CM-cellulose in a buffer containing 8M urea. The sequence was studied by degradation of the tryptic and hydrolytic cleavage products in a liquid phase sequencer. At position beta NA2 component B has Asp, whereas component A has Glu, an ATP-binding site in fish and reptilian hemoglobins. The other phosphate binding sites i.e. beta NA1 Val, beta EF6 Lys and beta H21 His are identical with 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate-(DPG)binding sites in mammalian hemoglobins, whereby rhinoceros hemoglobin resembles both ATP-sensitive poikilotherm hemoglobin and DPG-sensitive mammalian hemoglobin. The two components (beta I/beta II) additionally differ by exchange of Glu----Gly at position beta A3 and Gln----Lys at position beta GH3. The significance of these changes is discussed. Oxygenation properties of the two hemoglobins components and their dependence on ATP and DPG are given. The structure and function of Rhinoceros hemoglobin may give an insight into the evolution of the organic phosphate binding in vertebrate hemoglobins.     

A kinetic analysis of the 5 alpha-reductases from human prostate and liver

A kinetic analysis of the 5 alpha-reductases from human liver and prostate is presented. Human prostatic 5 alpha-reductase follows an ordered sequential mechanism in which NADPH binds first followed by testosterone. The order of release of products is DHT followed by NADP+. The apparent Km of prostatic 5 alpha-reductase for testosterone is 0.0339 +/- 0.006 microM, while the apparent Km for NADPH is 2.52 +/- 0.65 microM. Human liver 5 alpha-reductase also follows a sequential mechanism. The apparent Km of the liver enzyme is 0.110 +/- 0.08 microM; the apparent Km for NADPH is 6.2 +/- 0.6 microM. The fact that both the liver and prostatic 5 alpha-reductases have a sequential kinetic mechanism rules out the possibility that the reduction of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone involves an electron transport system as previously proposed.     

Total root length as estimated from small sub-samples

A method is proposed for estimating the total length of a root system from sub-samples. This method is based on the measurement of the length and diameter of small pieces of roots, and on the measurements of the bulk density of root sub-samples. It is assumed that roots are cylinders with a given bulk density. The length and diameter of small root pieces are measured by image analysis. A weighted quadratic mean (W.Q.M.) root diameter is then calculated and used in estimating the root length. This W.Q.M. diameter is defined as the real mean diameter of an equivalent single root with the same length and volume as the tested root system. The accuracy of prediction is demonstrated for one theoretical root system. The standard deviation of estimation can be calculated using sampling simulations.     

Influence of maize root mucilage on soil aggregate stability

This study was undertaken to determine the effects of root exudates on soil aggregate stability. Root mucilage was collected from two-month old maize plants (Zea mays L.) Mucilage and glucose solutions were added at a rate of 2.45 g C kg⁻¹ dry soil to silty clay and silt loam soils. Amended soils, placed in serum flasks, were incubated for 42 d with a drying-wetting cycle after 21 d. Evolved CO₂ was measured periodically as well as the water-stable aggregates and soluble sugar and polysaccharide content of the soil. In mucilage-amended soils CO₂ evolution started with a lag phase of 2–3 days, which was not observed in glucose-amended soils. There was then a sharp increase in evolved CO₂ up to day 7. During the second incubation period there were only small differences in evolved C between treatments. Incorporation of mucilage in both soils resulted in a spectacular and immediate increase in soil aggregate stability. Thereafter, the percent of water-stable aggregates quickly decreased parallel to microbial degradation. On completion of the incubation, aggregate stability in the silty clay soil was still significantly higher in the presence of mucilage than in the control. This work supports the assumption that freshly released mucilage is able to stick very rapidly to soil particles and may protect the newly formed aggregates against water destruction. On the silty clay, microbial activity contributes to a stabilization of these established organo-mineral bounds.     

The primary structure of hemoglobin from amur-leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis)

The complete amino acid sequence of the major component of hemoglobin from amur-leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis) is presented. The major component accounts for more than 90% of the total hemoglobin. Separation of the globin subunits was achieved by ion-exchange chromatography on CM-cellulose in urea. The sequence was studied by automatic Edman degradation of tryptic and hydrolytic peptides. Alignment was carried out with human hemoglobin sequence. The NH₂ terminus is blocked with Ac-serine. The data are compared with other mammalian hemoglobins and results are discussed with respect to sequence and physiology.85th communication on hemoglobin.     

Isolation purification and properties of a site-specific proteolytic enzyme "valyl-proteinase" from Candida tropicalis

A highly specific proteolytic enzyme cleaving at the carboxyl group of valine has been isolated from Candida tropicalis. Its specificity has been determined by digesting beta-lactoglobulin and a number of synthetic peptides. The enzyme a glycoprotein, has a molecular mass of 40 +/- 7 kDa on the basis of sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Its optimum activity occurs at 37 degrees C at a pH between 8-9. It has been named "Valyl-proteinase" because of its selective cleavage.