Replication of Marek's Disease Virus Is Dependent on Synthesis of De Novo Fatty Acid and Prostaglandin E2

Marek’s disease virus (MDV) causes deadly lymphoma and induces an imbalance of the lipid metabolism in infected chickens. Here, we discovered that MDV activates the fatty acid synthesis (FAS) pathway in primary chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEFs). In addition, MDV-infected cells contained high levels of fatty acids and showed increased numbers of lipid droplets (LDs). Chemical inhibitors of the FAS pathway (TOFA and C75) reduced MDV titers by approximately 30-fold. Addition of the downstream metabolites, including malonyl-coenzyme A and palmitic acid, completely restored the inhibitory effects of the FAS inhibitors. Furthermore, we could demonstrate that MDV infection activates the COX-2/prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) pathway, as evident by increased levels of arachidonic acid, COX-2 expression, and PGE2 synthesis. Inhibition of the COX-2/PGE2 pathway by chemical inhibitors or knockdown of COX2 using short hairpin RNA reduced MDV titers, suggesting that COX-2 promotes virus replication. Exogenous PGE2 completely restored the inhibition of the COX-2/PGE2 pathway in MDV replication. Unexpectedly, exogenous PGE2 also partially rescued the inhibitory effects of FAS inhibitors on MDV replication, suggesting that there is a link between these two pathways in MDV infection. Taken together, our data demonstrate that the FAS and COX-2/PGE2 pathways play an important role in the replication of this deadly pathogen

Effect of different levels of customized fertilizer on soil nutrient availability, yield and economics of onion

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of different levels of customized fertilizer (CF) on soil nutrient availability, yield and economics of onion. The results revealed that the significantly highest plant height (57.77cm), stem diameter (6.03cm) and bulb diameter (15.13cm) at the time of harvest, fertilizer use efficiency,bulb yield (22.34 t ha-1) and benefit:cost ratio (2.56) of onion were recorded in 100 % recommended dose of NPK through CF in three equal split doses. The significantly highest available nitrogen (213 kg ha-1), phosphorus (14.42 kg ha-1) were recorded in 125 % recommended dose of NPK through CF in two equal split doses and available K (804 kg ha-1) in 100 % recommended dose of NPK through CF in three equal split doses over the rest of the other treatments. The application of 100% recommended dose of fertilizer (100:50:50 N:P2O5:K20 kg ha-1) either two or three splits through CF to onion appears to be improving soil fertility, yield and yield contributing character of onion and getting higher net monetary returns

Tiger shark, Galeocerdo cuvieri landed at Sassoon Dock,Mumbai

Paper is reporting the morphometric measurements of a female tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvieri),pregnant, carrying 28 embryos was landed at Sassoon Dock –old fish landing center by gill net, operated at 35-45 kms of north –west of Mumbai coast at the depth of 30 to 35 meters

Impact of post biomethanated spentwash on soil properties, nutrient uptake and yield of soybean – wheat cropping sequence

A field experiment was conducted on Sawargaon series of isohyperthermic family of Vertic haplustepts to study the effect of application of primary treated biomethanated spentwash (PBSW) through irrigation on soil properties, nutrient uptake and yield of soybean – wheat cropping sequence. The bulk density and hydraulic conductivity of soil were improved in 100% recommended dose (RD) of N through PBSW with and without P chemical fertilizer at soil depths of 0-15 and 15-30 cm. The lowest soil pH, calcium carbonate and highest electrical conductivity, organic carbon, available K, exchangeable sodium (Na), exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), cation exchange capacity (CEC), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and pooled bacterial, fungal and actinomycetes populations in surface (0-15 cm) soil depth were observed in 100% RD of N through PBSW + with and without P chemical fertilizer at all three soil depths (0-15, 15-30 and 30-60 cm) over the other treatments. The highest pooled available soil P was recorded in 50% RD of N through PBSW application through irrigation and remaining N and P through chemical fertilizers in all three soil depths. The significantly highest total NPK uptake by cropping sequence and highest mean Benefit : Cost (B:C) ratio of soybean and wheat was recorded in 25 % RD of N through PBSW + remaining N and P through chemical fertilizers over the rest of the treatments. The 25 % N-recommended dose of soybean and wheat crop can be replaced by application of PBSW through irrigation in sequence without disturbing soils by salt load

Effect of organic manures on growth, yield and quality of turmeric (Curcuma longa L)

The use of organic manures in the agricultural plays a vital role in improving the quality of turmeric as well as improving the soil health. Turmeric is having a close relation with human health; hence demand of organically grown turmeric is increasing tremendously. A field trial was conducted to study the effect of different organic manures (generally recommended fertilizer dose, farmyard manure, vermicompost, press mud compost, poultry manure, sugarcane trash, wheat straw, turmeric trash and jeevamrut ) on the yield and curcumin content of turmeric Cv. Phule Swarupa on Inceptisol at Agricultural Research Station, Dist-Sangli, Maharashtra, India. The trial was conducted on the fixed site of soil for the continuous of five years (2009-2013). The maximum dry yield (62.42 q ha-1) of the turmeric was recorded by application of the general recommended dose of fertilizer (GRDF) i. e. 25 MT FYM + 200:100:100 kg N:P2O5:K2O ha-1 which was at par with the vermicompost (11.36 T ha-1). The highest number of leaves per tiller and number of tillers per plant, plant height and curcumin content was recorded in the GRDF, which was at par with vermicompost. The highest benefit: cost ratio (1.59) was also noticed in GRDF, which was at par with the application of vermicompost (1.54) on a nitrogen basis. The soil available nutrient status was taken into consideration during experimentation. The application of vermicompost (11.36 T ha-1) along with Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria and Azospirillium @ 5 kg ha-1, respectively at the time of planting was found superior for higher dry yield (55.45 q ha-1), net monetary returns (Rs. 137035) and maintenance of soil fertility for organic cultivation of turmeric

Impact of different levels of organic and inorganic fertilizers on growth, yield and quality of preseasonal sugarcane ratoon in Inceptisols

A field experiment was conducted at soil test crop response (STCR) correlation project farm of Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri Maharashtra.The result showed that individual application of nitrogen (N), phosphorus(P),potassium(K) or organic nutrient sources (Farm yard manure) recorded less value of preseasonal sugarcane ratoon but the integration of both the sources showed significantly improved all the growth, yield and quality parameters of preseasonal sugarcane ratoon. The maximum number of internodes were ranged between 21-30 with mean of 25.42, number of leaves 6-10 with mean of 7.21, length of internodes 12.50-16.80 cm with mean of 14.41 cm, girth of internodes 11.30-13.10 cm with mean of 12.15 cm and height of millable cane 335-385 with mean of 351.75 cm, respectively were found higher with application of residual effect of 30 t ha-1 farm yard manure (FYM). However, the quality traits viz., brix ranged from 18.70 to 22.80 with mean of 19.87, pol per cent ranged from 15.81 to 18.41 per cent with mean of 17.53 per cent and commercial cane sugar (CCS) per cent from 9.39 to 12.09 per cent with mean of 10.76 per cent. The CCS yield was ranged between 9.58-16.30 MT ha-1 with mean value of 14.13 MT ha-1were enhanced considerably with residual 15 and 30 t FYM ha-1 blocks over without FYM. The application of organic and inorganic fertilizers will not only enhance the growth, yield and quality of preseasonal sugarcane ratoon but also conserve agro-ecosystem for sustainable crop production

Soil test crop response based Integrated plant nutrition system for desired yield target of preseasonal sugarcane ratoon on Inceptisols

Studies on Soil Test Crop Response based Integrated Plant Nutrition System (STCR - IPNS) were conducted adopting the Inductive cum Targeted yield model onInceptisols (VerticHaplustepts) in Rahuri, District Ahemadnagar, Maharashtra, India in order to develop fertilizer prescriptions through IPNS for the desired yield targets of preseasonal sugarcane ratoon. The field experiments were carried out with maize as gradient crop for plant cane and after harvest of plant cane, pre-seasonal sugarcane ratoon as test crop. Using the data on yield, initial soil test values on available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), doses of fertilizers and farmyard manure (FYM) applied and NPK uptake, the basic parameters viz., nutrient requirement, contribution from soil, fertilizers and FYM were computed. It was found that 1.56 kg N, 0.58 kg P and 1.04 kg K were required for producing one tonnemillable cane of preseasonal ratoon sugarcane. The per cent contributions of N, P and K from soil and FYM for preseasonal sugarcane ratoon were 37.65, 85.88 and 19.82 per cent and 11.83, 10.88 and 12.24 per cent, respectively. Making use of these basic parameters, fertilizer prescription equations were developed for pre-seasonal sugarcane ratoon (var. C0-94012) and an estimate of fertilizer doses formulated for a range of soil test values and desired yield targets under NPK alone and IPNS (NPK plus FYM)

Differential Gene Expression Profiling in Bed Bug (Cimex Lectularius L.) Fed on Ibuprofen and Caffeine in Reconstituted Human Blood

The recent resurgence of the common bed bug (Cimex lectularius L.) infestations worldwide has created a need for renewed research on biology, behavior, population genetics and management practices. Humans serve as exclusive hosts to bed bugs in urban environments. Since a majority of humans consume Ibuprofen (as pain medication) and caffeine (in coffee and other soft drinks) so bug bugs subsequently acquire Ibuprofen and caffeine through blood feeding. However, the effect of these chemicals at genetic level in bed bug is unknown. Therefore, this research was conducted to determine differential gene expression in bed bugs using RNA-Seq analysis at dosages of 200 ppm Ibuprofen and 40 ppm caffeine incorporated into reconstituted human blood and compared against the control. Total RNA was extracted from a single bed bug per replication per treatment and sequenced. Read counts obtained were analyzed using Bioconductor software programs to identify differentially expressed genes, which were then searched against the non-redundant (nr) protein database of National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Data on comparison of differentially expressed genes between control and Ibuprofen treatments revealed that 659 genes were significantly differentially regulated and 95% of them returned BLAST hits. Heat stress proteins were among the top significantly differentially down regulated genes. Comparison of the control vs caffeine treatments revealed that 2,161 genes were significantly differently regulated (Pad

Effect of fertilizer levels on nutrient availability and yield of cotton on Vertisol at Rahuri, District Ahemadnagar, India

The field experiment on effect of fertilizer levels on nutrient availability and yield of cotton on Vertisol was conducted at Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri during May to September, 2008. The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design with three replications and two main treatments i.e. hybrid Bt RCH-2 and Non-Bt RCH-2 and nine sub treatments with different fertilizer doses i.e. F1 - No recommended doses of fertilizer (RDF), F2 -50 % RDF, F3 - 75 % RDF, F4 - 100 % RDF, F5 -125 % RDF, F6 - 150 % RDF, F7 - 100 % RDF + 2% DAP spray, F8 -100 % RDF + 1 % MgSO4 and F9 -100 % RDF + 1% KNO3. The results revealed that the non-Bt hybrid recorded maximum nitrogen (435.67 kg ha-1) and potassium (565.45 kg ha-1) content in 100 % RDF + 1% KNO3 treatment at boll development stage as compared to Bt hybrid. However, magnesium (0.09 kg ha-1) and iron (3.66 ppm) were maximum in 100 % RDF + 1 % MgSO4 treatment in non-Bt as compared to Bt hybrid and phosphorus content (17.58 kg ha-1) was maximum in 100 % RDF + 2 % DAP treatment in Bt as compared to non-Bt hybrid at boll development stage. The application of 100 % RDF + 1 % MgSO4 sprays were recorded highest yield of Bt (33.53 q ha-1) and non-Bt cotton hybrids (31.27 q ha-1)