CHARACTERIZATION OF A NEW BIOTYPE Moringa OF SAUDI ARABIA USING RAPD AND ISSR MARKERS

Moringa peregrina and M. oleifera are the only Moringa (Kelor) species found in Saudi Arabia. Both species are drought resistant and have very high nutritional and medicinal properties. Detection of genetic diversity is of great value for the improvement of nutritional and medicinal value of these plants. The aim of the present study was to characterize a new biotype Moringa observed in Al Bahah Region, Saudi Arabia. We used 11 RAPD and 15 ISSR primers to characterize and compare the new biotype with M. peregrina and M. oleifera. Level of polymorphism generated by each marker was calculated. We also calculate Nei’s coefficient to measure the genetic distance between the studied species. Level of polymorphism generated by RAPD and ISSR was 59.7% and 75%, respectively. RAPD and ISSR primers revealed that the new biotype shared 53 amplicons (43.44%) with both M. peregrina and M. oleifera, 29 amplicons with M. peregrina (2377%), 22 amplicons (18.03%) with M. oleifera, and displayed 18 unshared amplicons (14.75%). Based on RAPD data, genetic distance between M. oleifera and M. peregrina was 0.59, whereas genetic distance between the new biotype and M. oleifera and M. peregrina was 0.41 and 0.54, respectively. For ISSR data, genetic distance between M. oleifera and M. peregrina was 0.98, whereas genetic distance between the new biotype and M. oleifera and M. peregrina was 0.59 and 0.56, respectively

Characterization of a New Biotype Moringa of Saudi Arabia Using Rapd and Issr Markers

Moringa peregrina and M. oleifera are the only Moringa species found in Saudi Arabia. Both species are drought resistant and have very high nutritional and medicinal properties. Detection of genetic diversity is of great value for the improvement of nutritional and medicinal value of these plants. The aim of the present study was to characterize a new biotype Moringa observed in Al Bahah Region, Saudi Arabia. We used 11 RAPD and 15 ISSR primers to characterize and compare the new biotype with M. peregrina and M. oleifera. Level of polymorphism generated by each marker was calculated. We also calculate Nei and Li\u27s coefficient to measure the genetic distance between the studied species. Level of polymorphism generated by RAPD and ISSR was 46% and 57%, respectively. RAPD and ISSR primers revealed that the new biotype shared 55 amplicons (45.08%) with both M. peregrina and M. oleifera, 28 amplicons with M. peregrina (22.95%), 21 amplicons (17.21%) with M. oleifera, and displayed 18 unshared amplicons (14.75%). Based on RAPD data, genetic distance between M. oleifera and M. peregrina was 0.32, whereas genetic distance between the new biotype and M. oleifera and M. peregrina was 0.21 and 0.29, respectively. For ISSR data, genetic distance between M. oleifera and M. peregrina was 0.5, whereas genetic distance between the new biotype and M. oleifera and M. peregrina was 0.36 and 0.34, respectively. Based on these results we suggested that the new biotype is a hybrid crossbred between M. peregrina and M. oleifera

Ethylene responsive transcription factor ERF109 retards PCD and improves salt tolerance in plant

Semi-quantitative RT-PCR for tobacco VIGS lines of 13 knocked down TFs induced 2 h post oxalic acid treatment (20 mM) as compared to their WT and VIGS line with empty pTRV2 (V2) plants. Amplicon sizes of different genes and primers used are shown in Additional file 5: Table S3. The Nbactin gene was used as the house-keeping control. Gene codes refer to those indicated in Additional file 3: Table S2. (DOCX 684 kb

Metabolomic Response of Calotropis procera Growing in the Desert to Changes in Water Availability

Water availability is a major limitation for agricultural productivity. Plants growing in severe arid climates such as deserts provide tools for studying plant growth and performance under extreme drought conditions. The perennial species Calotropis procera used in this study is a shrub growing in many arid areas which has an exceptional ability to adapt and be productive in severe arid conditions. We describe the results of studying the metabolomic response of wild C procera plants growing in the desert to a one time water supply. Leaves of C. procera plants were taken at three time points before and 1 hour, 6 hours and 12 hours after watering and subjected to a metabolomics and lipidomics analysis. Analysis of the data reveals that within one hour after watering C. procera has already responded on the metabolic level to the sudden water availability as evidenced by major changes such as increased levels of most amino acids, a decrease in sucrose, raffinose and maltitol, a decrease in storage lipids (triacylglycerols) and an increase in membrane lipids including photosynthetic membranes. These changes still prevail at the 6 hour time point after watering however 12 hours after watering the metabolomics data are essentially indistinguishable from the prewatering state thus demonstrating not only a rapid response to water availability but also a rapid response to loss of water. Taken together these data suggest that the ability of C. procera to survive under the very harsh drought conditions prevailing in the desert might be associated with its rapid adjustments to water availability and losses

Analysis of transcriptional response to heat stress in Rhazya stricta

Clusters of assembled transcripts of R. stricta SRA in mature leaves (A5-L8) at different time points of the day (A, morning; F-H, midday & L, dusk). Grey lines indicate expression patterns of individual transcripts in a given cluster. Blue lines indicate overall expression pattern across different transcripts of a given cluster. (PDF 397 kb

Assessing Phenotypic and Molecular Variability in Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) Varieties

Abstract: Fennel, Foeniculum vulgare is an annual herb belonging to the family Apiaceae is a wellknown aromatic and medicinal herb. Three fennel varieties namely Balady (Egyptian), Indian and Holland were used. The quantitative genetic studied characters were linear growth, plant height, number of primary branches, total number of branches, peduncle length and fruit yield of plant. Fifteen promising genotypes were established within each variety. The individual plant selection procedure was practiced on intracultivar populations. The analyses of variance, broad-sense heritability, genetic advance, genotypic and phenotypic correlation coefficients were estimated. In addition, the present study was therefore aimed to focus on understanding the genetic relationship among the three studied varieties of fennel which may further assist in developing and planning breeding strategies for fennel improvement programs. Polymorphism was detected using five RAPD-PCR primers on different three fennel varieties. A total of 38 fragments were delineated out of them 26 were polymorphic. The genotypes frequencies of PCR-RAPD variants were 70.00, 80.00, 66.67, 57.14 and 70.00 with average of 68.42% polymorphism which indicated the presence of high genetic diversity in three fennel varieties. RAPD technique proved to be effective in studying inter and intra specific variation in fennel breeding and a molecular marker of germplasm conservation

113 Invasive fungal infections among pediatric patients with hematologic malignancies at KFSH&RC/KFCCC&R

Objectives: To define the magnitude of the problem, study factors associated with increased risk of invasive fungal, infections (IFI) and outcome.Methods: From June 1998 to March 2003, all, radiological, studies of patients with hematologic/ oncologic disorders were evaluated for inclusion. AII, cases of invasive fungal, infection were reviewed. The criteria for inclusion were obvious lesion suggestive of fungal, infection shown on radiological, studies, and fungal, infections were classified as proven , probable\u27, possible or insufficient evidence according to a prior definitions.Results: A total, of 1615 patient charts were reviewed. The underlying diagnoses include ALL 410, SCT 293, AML 133, non-malignant hematology 288, NHL/solid tumors 491. 152 (9%) had evidence of fungal, infection (55 [36%] \u27definite = proven/probable\u27, 97 [64%] \u27possible\u27). Biopsy was performed in 94 cases and the findings included budding yeast in 10 patients, septated hyphae in 19, and hyphae with no specifications in 12 patients. Delays in performing diagnostic procedures possibly resulted in the lower incidence of \u27definite\u27 IFI (36% vs 64% \u27possible ). The overall, incidence of fungal, infection was 9%, being highest for AML (39%), followed by ALL (17%). The majority of IFI developed during or immediately after induction (42% of IFI in AML and 53% of IFI in ALL), which can be a target for intervention. The infections included disseminated fungal, infection (36%), CDC (11%), pulmonary fungal, infection (43%) and aspergillosis (9.5%) including pulmonary, Para nasal, sinuses, skin and disseminated. IFI was radiologically diagnosed during neutropenia in 123 patients (81%). Ten patients died due to fungal, infection (7%), 75 (49%) were cured, 26 (17%) were alive with fungal, infection, and 39 patients (26%) died due to primary disease seemingly unrelated to fungal, infection. Mortality due to IFI in this study is less than what is reported in the literature and could be a result of our practice of early intervention. The average LOS for IFI was 56 days compared with the usual. 12 days, which can add to the increased cost.Conclusions: Invasive fungal, infection is becoming a serious problem. Furthermore, acute invasive fungal, infection is associated with a much higher mortality. Early diagnosis with prompt antifungal, therapy, or even with surgical, intervention, might be warranted to save patients\u27 lives