Microsatellite loci in the eastern form of the giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii)

Six microsatellite loci were identified and characterized in the eastern form of the widespread and commercially important giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii). The loci were detected by randomly screening for dinucleotide and trinucleotide repeat units within a partial genomic library developed for the species. In a sample of 29 prawns, number of alleles and heterozygosity per locus ranged from 12 to 18 and from 0.66 to 0.90, respectively. These markers provide powerful tools for the conservation and management of wild stocks, the improvement of cultured stocks of M. rosenbergii, and for investigating evolutionary processes underlying genetic divergence among populations.     

Genetic diversity studies and identification of SSR markers associated with Fusarium wilt (Fusarium udum) resistance in cultivated pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan)

Genetic diversity and identification of simple sequence repeat markers correlated with Fusarium wilt resistance was performed in a set of 36 elite cultivated pigeonpea genotypes differing in levels of resistance to Fusarium wilt. Twenty-four polymorphic sequence repeat markers were screened across these genotypes, and amplified a total of 59 alleles with an average high polymorphic information content value of 0.52. Cluster analysis, done by UPGMA and PCA, grouped the 36 pigeonpea genotypes into two main clusters according to their Fusarium wilt reaction. Based on the Kruskal–Wallis ANOVA and simple regression analysis, six simple sequence repeat markers were found to be significantly associated with Fusarium wilt resistance. The phenotypic variation explained by these markers ranged from 23.7 to 56.4%. The present study helps in finding out feasibility of prescreened SSR markers to be used in genetic diversity analysis and their potential association with disease resistance.     

Electroporation Stimulates Plant Regeneration from Protoplasts of the Woody Medicinal Species Solarium dulcamara L.

Exposure of cell suspension protoplasts of the woody medicinalplant Solatium dulcamara L. to voltages of 250 to 1250 V cm^–1for three successive pulses, each of 10–50 us duration,stimulated growth of protoplast-derived tissues. Such tissuesexhibited increased morphogenesis and required a shorter periodin culture to exhibit this effect than tissues from untreatedprotoplasts. Regenerated shoots also rooted more readily anddeveloped more prolific root systems than shoots from untreatedprotoplasts. These observations have important implicationsfor plant genetic manipulation and may have application in therecovery and rooting of shoots from tissues of woody species,normally considered recalcitrant in culture. Key words: Electroporation, protoplasts, shoot regeneration, Solanum dulcamara (woody nightshade, bittersweet)     

Somatic Hybrids between the Forage Legumes Lotus corniculatus L. and L. tenuis Waldst et Kit

A cell suspension of Lotus tenuis was established, as a sourceof protoplasts, from kanamycin resistant callus derived fromroots transformed by Agrobacterium rhizogenes LBA9402 (pRil855-pBinl9).Such protoplasts were treated with a sublethal dose of sodiumiodoacetate prior to their electrofusion with green cotyledonprotoplasts of L. corniculatus. Putative somatic hybrid colonieswere selected on medium containing kanamycin sulphate. The hybridityof plants regenerated from these selected colonies was confirmedby their morphology, esterase banding patterns, the presenceof condensed tannins in leaves and stems, and chromosome complements.The latter approximated to the expected allohexaploid numberof 2n = 6x = 36. Key words: Forage legumes, Lotus corniculatus, L. tenuis, protoplasts, electrofusion, kanamycin resistance, sodium iodoacetate, somatic hybridization     

QUALITY OF POWDERED BLACK PEPPER (PIPER NIGRUM L.) DURING STORAGE. I. SENSORY AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL ANALYSES

Black pepper powder (60 mesh) was stored in consumer unit packs of 100g capacity in low density polyethylene (LDPE) films of 100, 300, and 500 gauge at 27°C and 65% RH. Analyses for sensory quality (odor and flavor), volatile oil, oleoresin, piperine content, and TLC were carried out at 15, 30, 45 and 80 days of storage. Significant loss of “top notes”, volatile oil, and hydrocarbons were seen after 15 days of storage itself while the “basic notes” and oxygenated compounds were retained up to 45 days. There was no loss of piperine up to the end of the study. The black pepper powder was not fit for table use after 15 days, though it could be used for other culinary purposes up to 80 days of storage.     

Isolation and characterization of 11 polymorphic microsatellite loci in the giant white‐tailed rat (Uromys caudimaculatus)

Microsatellite loci were developed for the giant white‐tailed rat (Uromys caudimaculatus) to aid in assigning paternity and to subsequently investigate their mating system and sex‐biased dispersal characteristics. Twenty‐two primer sets were originally developed and of these, 11 were polymorphic with between five and 10 alleles per locus. In addition, two primer sets designed for Hydromys chyrsogaster also amplified in this species despite an evolutionary divergence of 15 million years (Myr).     

Volumetric Relationships of Symbiotic Zoochlorellae to Their Hosts

SYNOPSIS. Zoochlorellae of 7 ciliates from 3 different localities around Madison, Wisconsin, were identified from live and stained preparations. A relationship was worked out between volume of zoochlorellae and volume of their hosts. The zoochorellae which occupied the highest percentage of the space of the host cell were those in Holosticha viridis; the range in the 7 ciliates was 10–56%. There appeared to be some correlation between the locality of collection and density of the Chlorella population in the host.     

Computerized Optimization of the Relative Growth of Callus Cultures of Orange Fruit Tissues7

The induction and growth of callus cultures from different partsof the fruit of Coorg mandarin orange (Citrus reticulata, Blanco)and the hormonal combinations that can maximize the growth witha basal MS medium, have been explored using Response SurfaceMethodology. The relative growth, protein, peroxidase pattern,and GC fingerprinting of volatiles have been studied. Calluscultures from juice vesicles were found to be more similar totheir explant counterpart than those from albedo, for all propertiesstudied. Key words: Callus culture, Citrus, albedo, juice vesicles, response surface methodology, growth optimization