In vitro inter-relationship between plant growth promoting rhizobacteria and root knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) and their effect on growth parameters of brinjal

The influence of rhizobacteria as the treatment on germination, migration and penetration of Meloidogyne incognita in brinjal was evaluated under laboratory conditions. The results obtained were highly significant and revealed that Pseudomonas fluorescens promotes germination 87.5% and was effective in reducing root penetration by Meloidogyne incognita i.e. 39.3 juviniles. Due to the effect of P. fluorescens, the plant height increased by 40.9%, number of leaves was maximum i.e., 50%, number of gall formation was also controlled i.e., 70.3%. It was concluded from the studies that rhizobacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens is a potential biocontol agent and it has ability to increase the yield and suppress the attack of plant pathogen

Breast Lumps Presenting During Pregnancy

Background: To evaluate the frequency and time ofpresentation of benign and malignant breast lumps amongpregnant females.Methods: In this descriptive study all pregnant femaleswith a complaint of lump in breast were included . Tripleassessment was done for each patient (examination oflump, ultrasound for patients under 40 years,mammography for those above 40 years and fine needleaspiration cytology).Results: Out of 78 pregnant females, with complaintsof breast lump, 47 (60.25%) were found to have breastlumps and 31 (38.75%) had pregnancy induced changes.Majority of the patients (85.1%) had benign breast disease.Out of seven patients (14.9%) with malignant breastdisease, three (4.3%) were primigravidas as compared topatients with benign breast disorders where only 6 out of40 cases (15%) were primigravidas. Mean age of patientswith benign breast disease was 27 years (range 15-40 years)and mean age of those with malignant lumps was 35years( range 29-43 years). Approximately 51% of all lumpspresented during first and second trimester and restduring third trimester . On histopathological examinationall malignant lumps proved to be intraductal carcinomas.Conclusion: The incidence of breast lumps duringpregnancy is slightly higher (14.9%) than in non-pregnantfemales although majority of breast lumps duringpregnancy are benign

Antagonistic potential of bacterial isolates associated with entomopathogenic nematodes against tomato wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp., Lycopersici under greenhouse conditions

Three concentrations of Xenorhabdus nematophila and Xenorhabdus spp., (4x10(5,) 4x10(6,) 4x10(7) cells/ml) were evaluated in the laboratory and in pot experiments to test their antagonistic effects on Fusarium oxysporum f.sp., lycopersici. All concentrations effectively inhibited its growth on agar plates. In soil under greenhouse conditions treatments with each bacterium at 4x10(7) cells/ml reduced the disease incidence of tomato by up to 40.38 and 47.54% respectively and there were significant increases of plant biomass by 198 and 211% respectively. The rhizosphere population of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp., lycopersici was reduced by 97%. The Xenorhabdus spp., was comparatively more effective than X. nematophila

Characterization of Streptomyces scabies isolates from potato tubers its pathogenic variations in Rawalpindi District

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) has various biotic constraints in its production due to pest attack. Among these, common scab caused by streptomyces scabies is an important disease in potato which causes economic loss with respect to plant yield and quality of tubers. The present study was conducted to determine the pathogenicity, pathogenic variation, characterization of morphological, physiological and biochemical aspects of Streptomyces associated with potato tubers grown in Rawalpindi district. Severity data and pathogenic variation of disease was studied by using different isolation and characterization techniques.</jats:p

Protective and curative effect of neem (Azadirachta indica) formulations on the development of root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica in roots of tomato plants

Two types of neem formulations, crude and refined, were tested. The crude form was neem leaves and neem cakes (a by-product left after the extraction of oil from neem seed) and one of the neem-refined products was "aza". The protective and curative soil application of these formulations significantly reduced the number of egg masses and eggs per egg mass on tomato roots. Protective application of neem crude formulations (leaves and cake) did not reduce the invasion of juveniles whereas aza at 0.1% w/w did. Curative application of neem formulations significantly reduced the number of egg masses and eggs per egg mass as compared with the control. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Structural Evaluation and Conformational Dynamics of ZNF141T474I Mutation Provoking Postaxial Polydactyly Type A

Postaxial Polydactyly (PAP) is a congenital disorder of limb abnormalities characterized by posterior extra digits. Mutations in the N-terminal region of the Zinc finger protein 141 (ZNF141) gene were recently linked with PAP type A. Zinc finger proteins exhibit similarity at their N-terminal regions due to C2-H2 type Zinc finger domains, but their functional preferences vary significantly by the binding patterns of DNA. Methods: This study delineates the pathogenic association, miss-fold aggregation, and conformational paradigm of a missense variant (c.1420C &gt; T; p.T474I) in ZNF141 gene segregating PAP through a molecular dynamics simulations approach. Results: In ZNF141 protein, helices play a crucial role by attaching three specific target DNA base pairs. In ZNF141T474I protein, H1, H3, and H6 helices attain more flexibility by acquiring loop conformation. The outward disposition of the proximal portion of H9-helix in mutant protein occurs due to the loss of prior beta-hairpins at the C terminal region of the C2-H2 domain. The loss of hydrogen bonds and exposure of hydrophobic residues to solvent and helices turning to loops cause dysfunction of ZNF141 protein. These significant changes in the stability and conformation of the mutant protein were validated using essential dynamics and cross-correlation maps, which revealed that upon point mutation, the overall motion of the proteins and the correlation between them were completely different, resulting in Postaxial polydactyly type A. Conclusions: This study provides molecular insights into the structural association of ZNF141 protein with PAP type A. Identification of active site residues and legends offers new therapeutic targets for ZNF141 protein. Further, it reiterates the functional importance of the last residue of a protein

The potential of combining Pasteuria penetrans and neem (Azadirachta indica) formulations as a management system for root-knot nematodes on tomato

Initial applications of 10(4) spores g(-1) of Pasteuria penetrans, and dried neem cake and leaves at 3 and 2% w:w, respectively, were applied to soil in pots. Juveniles of Meloidogyne javanica were added immediately to the pots (500, 5,000 or 10,000) before planting 6-week-old tomato seedlings. The tomatoes were sampled after 64 days; subsequently a second crop was grown for 59 days and a third crop for 67 days without further applications of P. penetrans and neem. There was significantly less root-galling in the P. penetrans combined with neem cake treatment at the end of the third crop and this treatment also had the greatest effect on the growth of the tomato plants. At the end of the third crop, 30% of the females were infected with P. penetrans in those treatments where spores had been applied at the start of the experiment. The effects of neem leaves and neem cake on the nematode population did not persist through the crop sequences but the potential for combining the amendments with a biological control agent such as P. penetrans is worthy of further evaluation