Efficiency of RAPD and SSR markers in assessing genetic diversity in summer onion (Allium cepa L.) genotypes

The genetic diversity assessment of agricultural crops is crucial for breeding programs aimed at enhancing crop yield, resistance to diseases, and adaptation to changing environmental conditions. In the present investigation, a comparative genetic relationship in sixteen onion genotypes was assessed utilizing dominant (RAPD) and co-dominant (SSR) marker systems. Ten RAPD and nine SSR markers showed genetic diversity remarkably and produced 503 and 107 amplicons respectively. Spearman rank correlation was used to compare the different efficiency parameters in two marker systems with respect to sixteen onion genotypes. The genetic relationship based on similarity matrix values between a pair of cultivars was higher for SSR markers than for the RAPD marker system. OPC-04 (RAPD primer) and ACM-004 (SSR primer) witnessed the highest poly-morphic bands along with other polymorphic markers that proved to be useful in grouping onion genotypes. Finally, dendrograms were constructed and compared following the mantel test to find out the genetic diversity among the germplasms. This study will be effective for a selection of efficient primers and suitable marker systems to distinguish the onion genotypes in the future

Towards controlled partial desolvation of guest-responsive Metal-Organic Frameworks for precise porosity control

Desolvation of guest responsive metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) under dynamic vacuum often leads to the collapse of the pores whereas supercritical CO2 (SC-CO2) drying was found to be the best alternative way to overcome the challenge of MOF desolvation. Nevertheless, some of the MOFs collapse during desolvation by SC-CO2 drying method. SC-CO2 drying always leads to complete desolvation of the MOFs except the metal-coordinated solvent molecules. However, controlled and partial desolvation of the MOFs can be a possible way to restrict the pore collapse of the frameworks. The importance of nuanced desolvation is demonstrated for two iso-structural newly designed tetra-carboxylic acid-based Cu-MOFs (DUT-202, DUT-203). These MOFs switch to a contracted pore phase upon complete desolvation of the solvent molecules either by vacuum treatment or SC-CO2 drying method. Therefore, a controlled desolvation technique has been followed to activate DUT-202, 203 while the closely trapped DMF remains coordinated which is essential to retain the microporous nature of the framework. Acetone-exchanged Cu-MOFs were treated under argon flow to replace the weakly connected solvent molecules inside the pores but not the strongly trapped guest molecules and the activated phases were found to have open pore phase with microporous nature. Interestingly the contracted pore phase can be reopened by heating in DMF for several hours

Role of Anions in the Formation of Multidimensional Coordination Polymers: Selective Separation of Anionic Toxic Dyes by 3D-Cationic Framework and Luminescent Properties

The role of anions in the formation of diversified coordination polymers (CPs) of a flexible bidentate ligand (<b>L</b>), containing an aliphatic-aromatic spacer (<i>p</i>-xylyl) between amidopyridine moieties, has been explored. The reaction of <b>L</b> with Cd­(II) or Cu­(II) salts of NO₃^–, ClO₄^–, SO₄^2–, and SiF₆^2– resulted in the single crystals of eight CPs. The X-ray diffraction analyses of the single crystals reveal that the CPs contain 1D-zigzag (SiF₆^2–), open (4,4)-network (NO₃^– and SCN^–), and the interpenetrated 2D-networks with (4,4)- and (6,3)-topologies and pseudodiamondoid network (SO₄^2– and ClO₄^–). These results clearly indicate that the presence of tetrahedral anions favored the interpenetration of the 2D- and 3D-networks. The resultant cationic CPs are explored for their dye adsorption ability based on the charge transfer interaction between the framework and ionic dye. Among all CPs, complex <b>8</b> containing a 3D-interpenetrated diamondoid network was found to show remarkable ability for the uptake of anionic dyes such as fluorescein dianion (FSD) and methyl orange (MO). The ability of <b>8</b> to selectively adsorb anionic dye was utilized for the separation of the MO from cationic dye such as methylene blue. Further, the FSD adsorbed material of <b>8</b> was shown to exhibit enhanced luminescence properties

Revisiting Porcine Circovirus Infection: Recent Insights and Its Significance in the Piggery Sector

Porcine circovirus (PCV), a member of the Circoviridae family within the genus Circovirus, poses a significant economic risk to the global swine industry. PCV2, which has nine identified genotypes (a–i), has emerged as the predominant genotype worldwide, particularly PCV2d. PCV2 has been commonly found in both domestic pigs and wild boars, and sporadically in non-porcine animals. The virus spreads among swine populations through horizontal and vertical transmission routes. Despite the availability of commercial vaccines for controlling porcine circovirus infections and associated diseases, the continuous genotypic shifts from a to b, and subsequently from b to d, have maintained PCV2 as a significant pathogen with substantial economic implications. This review aims to provide an updated understanding of the biology, genetic variation, distribution, and preventive strategies concerning porcine circoviruses and their associated diseases in swine

Two-Dimensional Coordination Polymers with “X”-Shaped Cavities as Adsorbents of Oxoanion Pollutants and Toxic Dyes

The role of cationic and neutral two-dimensional (2D) coordination polymers (CPs) in the efficient capture of inorganic pollutants (chromate and dichromate) and toxic dyes has been explored. Two cationic CPs with Ag­(I) salts of BF₄^– and ClO₄^– anions and one neutral CP with Cd­(NO₃)₂ of bis­(pyridylcarboxamide) ligands have been structurally characterized, and it was found that all of them have isostructural 2D CPs. The sorption of chromate/dichromate by CPs via anion exchange mechanism was shown to depend not only on the nature of the network but also on the nature of the anion present in the as-synthesized host. Among three CPs, the BF₄^– containing Ag­(I) CP exhibited a better ability of sorbing chromate and dichromate from very dilute solution of sorbates (10^–4 M). On the other hand, neutral Cd­(II) CP containing NO₃^– ion were found to have a better ability to sorb chromate/dichromate from somewhat concentrated (10^–1 M) solutions. Further, BF₄^– and NO₃^– containing CPs exhibit selective sorption of chromate from the solution containing mixture of CrO₄^2–, NO₃^–, SO₄^2–, and BF₄^– in equimolar concentrations. The structure of chromate sorbed material was determined with the help of the as-synthesized Cd­(II) CP of chromate. Further, Ag­(I) CP containing BF₄^– ion and Cd­(II) CP containing NO₃^– ion have shown the ability for selective dye sorption and luminescence based detection of dichromate ions, respectively

Unavoidable front contact model of Si solar cell through a generalized effective medium approximation approach

Fill factor of the solar cell mainly depends on series resistance and contact resistance, which are the most effective parameters to collect carriers (electrons and holes) from both electrodes of C-Si solar cells. We have used both mathematical and experimental approaches to reduce these resistances for enhancement of power conversion efficiency (PCE) by increasing fill factor. After processing by light-induced plating (LIP) for metal contact, the PCE of solar cell is obtained as 14.43%, which is 8.8% more than that before LIP processing

Co(II)-Doped Cd-MOF as an Efficient Water Oxidation Catalyst: Doubly Interpenetrated Boron Nitride Network with the Encapsulation of Free Ligand Containing Pyridine Moieties

Development of an efficient and inexpensive water oxidation electrocatalyst using the earth-abundant elements is still far to go. Herein, a novel strategy has been demonstrated for developing the OER electrocatalyst by doping Co­(II) in to a three-dimensional Cd-based MOF that contains a naked pyridine moieties in the form of uncoordinated ligand. Electrochemically active CoCd-MOF was resulted through the doping of Co­(II) into the inactive Cd-MOF. CoCd-MOF exhibited very high catalytic activity in water oxidation reaction. An overpotential of 353 mV is required to produce an anodic current density of 1 mA/cm² under alkaline conditions. Further, the CoCd-MOF exhibits remarkable recyclability over 1000 cycles

Data publication: Unravelling the water adsorption mechanism in hierarchical MOFs: insights from in situ positron annihilation lifetime studies

Positron lifetime data for in situ humidity measurement

Estimation of σ‑Donation and π‑Backdonation of Cyclic Alkyl(amino) Carbene-Containing Compounds

Herein, we present a general method for a reliable estimation of the extent of π-backdonation (C_cAAC←E) of the bonded element (E) to the carbene carbon atom and C_cAAC→E σ-donation. The C_cAAC←E π-backdonation has a significant effect on the electronic environments of the ¹⁵N nucleus. The estimation of the π-backdonation has been achieved by recording the chemical shift values of the ¹⁵N nuclei via two-dimensional heteronuclear multiple-bond correlation spectroscopy. The chemical shift values of the ¹⁵N nuclei of several cAAC-containing compounds and/or complexes were recorded. The ¹⁵N nuclear magnetic resonance chemical shift values are in the range from −130 to −315 ppm. When the cAAC forms a coordinate σ-bond (C_cAAC→E), the chemical shift values of the ¹⁵N nuclei are around −160 ppm. In case the cAAC is bound to a cationic species, the numerical chemical shift value of the ¹⁵N nucleus is downfield-shifted (−130 to −148 ppm). The numerical values of the ¹⁵N nuclei fall in the range from −170 to −200 ppm when σ-donation (C_cAAC→E) of cAAC is stronger than C_cAAC←E π-backacceptance. The π-backacceptance of cAAC is stronger than σ-donation, when the chemical shift values of the ¹⁵N nuclei are observed below −220 ppm. Electron density and charge transfer between C_cAAC and E are quantified using natural bonding orbital analysis and charge decomposition analysis techniques. The experimental results have been correlated with the theoretical calculations. They are in good agreement