The CarERF genes in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and the identification of CarERF116 as abiotic stress responsive transcription factor

The AP2/ERF family is one of the largest transcription factor gene families that are involved in various plant processes, especially in response to biotic and abiotic stresses. Complete genome sequences of one of the world's most important pulse crops chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), has provided an important opportunity to identify and characterize genome-wide ERF genes. In this study, we identified 120 putative ERF genes from chickpea. The genomic organization of the chickpea ERF genes suggested that the gene family might have been expanded through the segmental duplications. The 120 member ERF family was classified into eleven distinct groups (I-X and VI-L). Transcriptional factor CarERF116, which is differentially expressed between drought tolerant and susceptible chickpea cultivar under terminal drought stress has been identified and functionally characterized. The CarERF116 encodes a putative protein of 241 amino acids and classified into group IX of ERF family. An in vitro CarERF116 protein-DNA binding assay demonstrated that CarERF116 protein specifically interacts with GCC box. We demonstrate that CarERF116 is capable of transactivation activity of and show that the functional transcriptional domain lies at the C-terminal region of the CarERF116. In transgenic Arabidopsis plants overexpressing CarERF116, significant up-regulation of several stress related genes were observed. These plants also exhibit resistance to osmotic stress and reduced sensitivity to ABA during seed germination. Based on these findings, we conclude that CarERF116 is an abiotic stress responsive gene, which plays an important role in stress tolerance. In addition, the present study leads to genome-wide identification and evolutionary analyses of chickpea ERF gene family, which will facilitate further research on this important group of genes and provides valuable resources for comparative genomics among the grain legumes

X-ray spectroscopic study of some cobalt chalcogenides

The position, shape and the extended fine structure of the cobalt K absorption discontinuity have been studied in the pure metal and in its four chalcogenides, CoO, CoS, CoSe and CoTe, using a forty centimetre diameter bent crystal X-ray spectrograph. It has been found that the discontinuity shifts towards the high energy side in the chalcogenides and that the chemical shift ΔE depends upon the effective ionic charge on the absorbing atom. The fine structure within the main discontinuity is discussed on the basis of band structure and molecular orbital diagram, while the extended fine structure is interpreted on Lytle's theory. The results obtained throw light on the chemical bonding prevalent in these compounds

An integrated investigation of volatile organic compounds emission in the atmosphere from refinery and its off-site facilities

283-291The volatile mono and polyaromatic hydrocarbons were monitored in the ambient air and workplace of a refinery. Battery operated samplers with adsorption tubes were used for sampling the volatile hydrocarbons. The samples were subsequently thermally desorbed and analyzed using GC/MS system equipped with EI Detector. The levels of these aromatic chemicals decreased with distance from the source to the boundary walls of the refinery indicating that the impact on the neighbourhood environment is negligible. The high benzene to toluene ratio indicates that the leaks in the valves, compressors contribute to high emissions at the workplace. The volatile organic compounds were also monitored at some offsite facilities at ETP, Tank Farm, Pump House, and Gantry Terminals to have first hand information on status of these uncontrolled emissions during loading, unloading of petroleum liquids

Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at an oil refinery

This study measured and analysed individual volatile organic compounds (VOCs), total hydrocarbon and total VOCs at an oil refinery. Measurements were taken at various workplace locations, of the ambient air and at some off-site facilities such as its gantry terminals, ETP and tank farms. The study also identified certain pollutants that are difficult to measure routinely but could give an indication of their presence in a refinery. The VOCs were sampled using charcoal adsorption tubes and desorbed using a thermal desorption technique. The samples were subsequently analysed by Varian 2200 GC/MS system. The 8-h average concentrations of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes ranged between 23.48–113.05, 18.70–72.54, 2.91–9.80 and 5.83–27.64 μg/m3, respectively. Alongside substituted benzenes, such as 135 and 124, trimethylbenzenes and naphthalene were also detected. The total hydrocarbon ranged between 5.0–13.8 ppm and the NMHC was in the range of 2.2–9.0 ppm. The study indicates the concentration of fugitive emissions of VOCs in the refinery and its utilities

Photoluminescence of Cu⁺ in some double sulphates

375-377Using the reactive atmosphere processing, Cu+ has been doped in double sulphates for the first time. Photolumine­scence of Cu+ in double sulphates is reported. The results establish that it is now possible to incorporate Cu+ in double sulphates. This opens up new, exciting possibilities of studying photoluminescence vis-a-vis sequence of phase transitions