Silicon amendment induces synergistic plant defense mechanism against pink stem borer (Sesamia inferens Walker.) in finger millet (Eleusine coracana Gaertn.).

Silicon (Si) uptake and accumulation in plants can mitigate various biotic stresses through enhanced plant resistance against wide range of herbivores. But the role of silicon in defense molecular mechanism still remains to be elucidated in finger millet. In the present study, we identified three silicon transporter genes viz. EcLsi1, EcLsi2, and EcLsi6 involved in silicon uptake mechanism. In addition, the study also identified and characterized ten different Si transporters genes from finger millet through transcriptome assembly. The phylogenetic study revealed that EcLsi1 and EcLsi6 are homologs while EcLsi2 and EcLsi3 form another pair of homologs. EcLsi1 and EcLsi6 belong to family of NIP2s (Nod26-like major intrinsic protein), bona fide silicon transporters, whereas EcLsi2 and EcLsi3, an efflux Si transporter, belong to an uncharacterized anion transporter family having a significant identity with putative arsB transporter proteins. Further, the phylogenetic and topology analysis suggest that EcLsi1 and EcLsi2 co-evolved during evolution while, EcLsi2 and EcLsi3 are evolved from either EcLsi1 and/or EcLsi6 by fusion or duplication event. Moreover, these silicon transporters are predicted to be localized in plasma membrane, but their structural differences indicate that they might have differences in their silicon uptake ability. Silicon amendment induces the synergistic defense mechanism by significantly increasing the transcript level of silicon transporter genes (EcLsi1, EcLsi2 and EcLsi6) as well as defense hormone regulating genes (EcSAM, EcPAL and EcLOX) at 72 hpi (hours of post infestation) in both stem and roots compared to non-silicon treated plants against pink stem borer in finger millet plants. This study will help to understand the molecular defense mechanism for developing strategies for insect pest management

A validated RP-HPLC method for simultaneous determination of Hydrochlorothiazide and Losartan Potassium in pharmaceutical formulation

A new, simple and sensitive reverse phase high performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) method has been developed for the separation and quantification of Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) and Losartan Potassium (LOS) in tablet dosage form. The determination was carried out using GRACE C18 [4.6 x 250 mm] column as a stationary phase and mobile phase comprised of Acetonitrile: Phosphate Buffer(50 : 50) pH 3.1 in proportion of 50:50(v/v); the pH of phosphate buffer adjusted to (3.1) using orthophosphoric acid. The flow rate was maintained at 1.0ml/min and the eluent was monitored at 226nm.The retention time of MET and VILD were 4.250 min and 8.300 min respectively. The method was validated in terms of linearity, precision, accuracy, specificity and robustness. The method was linear and for precision studies; RSD for HCTZ and LOS were 0.02 and 0.04 respectively. The percentage recoveries for both drugs from their tablets were 100.80 and 99.76 respectivel

FORMULATION AND IN VITROEVALUATION OF FLOATING TABLETS OF CEFPODOXIME PROXETIL

Objective: The objective of research work was to formulate and evaluate the floating drug delivery system containing Cefpodoxime Proxetil using polymer HPMC K4M, Guar Gum.Methods: Effervescent floating tablets containing Cefpodoxime proxetil were prepared by direct compression technique using varying concentrations of different grades of polymer.Results: Physical parameters like hardness, weight variation, thickness and friability were within pharmacopoeial limit. Percentage drug content in all floating tablet formulations was found to be 90% to 110%. The floating time was found to be more than 12 H. floating lag time was found to be 10±2.99 second. Formulation batch F8 was selected as an optimum formulation, as possessing less disintegration time, higher water absorption ratio and good content uniformity i.e. within acceptable limit.% drug release of formulation batch F8 was found to be 96.66% in 0.1 N HCL.Conclusion: The FT-IR studies of batch F8 was carried out which showed the peak values within the spectrum corresponding to the peak values of pure drug

DETERMINATION OF IN VITRO EFFICACY OF AQUEOUS AND CHLOROFORM EXTRACTS OF ADHATODA VASICA AGAINST RHIPICEPHALUS MICROPLUS TICKS

: The aqueous and chloroform extracts obtained from leaves of Adhatoda vasica were evaluated for acaricidal activity against engorged females of Rhipicephalus microplus and their larvae. No significant mortality of adult ticks was observed in the tested concentration of aqueous extract except at 80%. Whereas, chloroform extract showed a dosedependent increase in adult mortality, and LC50 and LC90 values were determined as 10.47% and 11.74%, respectively. A significant difference in egg hatching of laid eggs was observed at all concentrations tested and 98.55% inhibition of hatching was observed at 12.5% concentration. Dose-dependent larval mortality was observed in larval immersion test with various concentrations of chloroform extract with LC 50 and LC 90 values of 0.51%, and 1.09%, respectively. The results indicate that the chloroform extract of Adhatoda vasica could have very good in vitro acaricidal activities on adult and larval stages of Rhipicephalus microplus ticks

PCR diagnosis of tick-borne pathogens in Maharashtra state, India indicates fitness cost associated with carrier infections is greater for crossbreed than native cattle breeds

Tick-borne pathogens (TBP) are responsible for significant economic losses to cattle production, globally. This is particularly true in countries like India where TBP constrain rearing of high yielding Bos taurus, as they show susceptibility to acute tick borne disease (TBD), most notably tropical theileriosis caused by Theileria annulata. This has led to a programme of cross breeding Bos taurus (Holstein-Friesian or Jersey) with native Bos indicus (numerous) breeds to generate cattle that are more resistant to disease. However, the cost to fitness of subclinical carrier infection in crossbreeds relative to native breeds is unknown, but could represent a significant hidden economic cost. In this study, a total of 1052 bovine blood samples, together with associated data on host type, sex and body score, were collected from apparently healthy animals in four different agro-climatic zones of Maharashtra state. Samples were screened by PCR for detection of five major TBPs: T. annulata, T. orientalis, B. bigemina, B. bovis and Anaplasma spp.. The results demonstrated that single and co-infection with TBP are common, and although differences in pathogen spp. prevalence across the climatic zones were detected, simplistic regression models predicted that host type, sex and location are all likely to impact on prevalence of TBP. In order to remove issues with autocorrelation between variables, a subset of the dataset was modelled to assess any impact of TBP infection on body score of crossbreed versus native breed cattle (breed type). The model showed significant association between infection with TBP (particularly apicomplexan parasites) and poorer body condition for crossbreed animals. These findings indicate potential cost of TBP carrier infection on crossbreed productivity. Thus, there is a case for development of strategies for targeted breeding to combine productivity traits with disease resistance, or to prevent transmission of TBP in India for economic benefit

An operational approach to high resolution agro-ecological zoning in West-Africa

Research ArticleThe objective of this work is to develop a simple methodology for high resolution crop suitability analysis under current and future climate, easily applicable and useful in Least Developed Countries. The approach addresses both regional planning in the context of climate change projections and pre-emptive short-term rural extension interventions based on same-year agricultural season forecasts, while implemented with off-the-shelf resources. The developed tools are applied operationally in a case-study developed in three regions of Guinea-Bissau and the obtained results, as well as the advantages and limitations of methods applied, are discussed. In this paper we show how a simple approach can easily generate information on climate vulnerability and how it can be operationally used in rural extension servicesinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Overexpression of ICE1 gene in mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) for cold tolerance

The putative transgenic mungbean (Vigna radiata Var. OBGG-52) plants were regenerated on Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L 6-benzylaminopurine (BA). The transgenic status of transformants (T2 generation) was determined through PCR analysis using nptII and ICE1 gene-specific primers as well as uidA reporter gene expression. About 75% of the transformed plantlets were successfully established in the greenhouse. Overexpression of ICE1 gene in transgenic mungbean plants resulted in cold-tolerance at the seedling stage when compared to non-transformed plants. Seeds from T2 generation were further studied for cold tolerance through nutrient culture. Transgenic seeds had significantly increased germination and growth on a nutrient medium at 10–14 °C in growth chamber compared to the non-transgenic control. Moreover, the root and shoot length of transformed plants were significantly increased at 10–14 °C as compared with the non-transformed plants. Under cold stress, it was also observed that the transformed plantlets have significantly higher chlorophyll, proline, and lipid content as well as anti oxidative enzyme activity as compared to non-transformed plants. This study will help in mungbean improvement program for abiotic stress tolerance

Mössbauer spectra of cubic hexanitroferrates

The quadrupole splitting measured in the cubic hexanitroferrates has been explained in terms of a lower symmetry arising out of the hindered rotations of the nitro groups. The isomer shifts of these compounds indicate that π-back donation between the metal atom and nitro group is very weak

Effect of the rare earth ion on the spin state equilibria in perovskite rare earth metal cobaltates. Yttrium trioxocobaltate(III) and erbium trioxocobaltate(III)

The relative proportions of high-spin Co3+ and low-spin CoIII in HoCoO3 are about 1:1 at temperatures above 300 K, while in the lighter rare earth metal cobaltates, there is evidence for appreciable charge-transfer from Co3+ to CoIII producing intermediate states. We have investigated the effect of the size of the rare earth metal ion on the electronic and magnetic properties of cobaltates by examining YCoO3 and ErCoO3 in some detail. Mössbauer studies show that the properties of YCoO3 are similar to those of the lighter rare earth metal cobaltates in that there is considerable electron transfer from Co3+ to CoIII giving rise to intermediate charge-transfer states. However, ErCoO3 is quite similar to HoCoO3 with no evidence for electron transfer and both χgT and Mössbauer data show an essentially constant Co3+/CoIII ratio. Both YCoO3 and ErCoO3 show a first order localized electron-itinerant electron transition around 1200 K above which the bonding eg electrons form σ∗ bands