Study of Interleukin 8 and Interleukin 1B in Saliva of Patients with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders.

BACKGROUND: Oral cancer is a fatal disease with a bad prognosis. It is often preceded by oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD). Cytokines Interleukin-8 (IL8) and Interleukin-1Beta (IL1B) are produced in a dysregulated fashion in oral cancer. Salivary levels of these cytokines may be early markers of malignant transformation of OPMD. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To study the levels of Interleukin-8 and Interleukin1B in saliva of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), oral potentially malignant disorders and normal controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Saliva from 18 subjects with OSCC, 16 subjects with Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF), 14 subjects with Leukoplakia (Dysplasia) and 24 normal patients constituted the study group. Salivary IL 8 and IL1B were analysed using solid phase sandwich Enzyme Linked Immunosorbant Assay (ELISA) technique. RESULTS: Levels of salivary IL 8 and IL1B were significantly elevated in OSCC when compared to controls. OPMD showed no significant difference when compared to controls. CONCLUSION: Salivary levels of IL 8 and IL 1B are higher in OSCC than in OPMD and normal. The levels in OPMD and normal were similar. Based on our results, in a limited sample, the cytokine IL 8 is useful in identifying transformation of OPMD. IL 1B shows potential in leukoplakia

Influence of elevated carbon dioxide and ammonium nutrition on growth and nitrogen metabolism in wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Growth under elevated CO2 (EC) conditions inhibits nitrate (NO3-) assimilation in crop plants, hence ammonium (NH4+) nutrition is beneficial compared to NO3– nutrition under EC conditions. In the present study, an attempt was made to compare the suitability NH4 + vs mixed NH4 + + NO3 – nutrition in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Wheat seedlings supplied with NH4+ alone or with both NH4+ + NO3– as nitrogen (N) source and grown under ambient (380 μl/l, AC) or elevated (600±50 μl/l, EC) CO2 conditions were analyzed for growth and biochemical parameters. Plants receiving only NH4+ as N source showed significant reduction in growth parameters. The negative effects of NH4+ nutrition were manifested in form of reduced root length, root surface area and thinner leaves under EC. Negative effects of NH4+ nutrition were ameliorated in plants receiving mixed NH4 + + NO3 – nutrition. Supplementing NO3 – -N with NH4+ -N led to the enhancement of various morphological and biochemical parameters in EC grown plants. Activity and gene expression of the enzymes, nitrate reductase and glutamine synthetase was significantly higher in plants supplied with both NH4+ + NO3– ions and grown in EC, as compared to plants grown in AC, resulting in lesser reduction in N content of the EC grown plants. Our study indicates that mixed NH4+ + NO3– nutrition will be more suitable for wheat cultivation under high CO2 conditions in future

Nitrogen uptake and remobilization from pre‑ and post‑anthesis stages contribute towards grain yield and grain protein concentration in wheat grown in limited nitrogen conditions

Background In wheat, nitrogen (N) remobilization from vegetative tissues to developing grains largely depends on genetic and environmental factors. The evaluation of genetic potential of crops under limited resource inputs such as limited N supply would provide an opportunity to identify N-efficient lines with improved N utilisation efficiency and yield potential. We assessed the genetic variation in wheat recombinant inbred lines (RILs) for uptake, partitioning, and remobilization of N towards grain, its association with grain protein concentration (GPC) and grain yield. Methods We used the nested association mapping (NAM) population (195 lines) derived by crossing Paragon (P) with CIMMYT core germplasm (P × Cim), Baj (P × Baj), Watkins (P × Wat), and Wyalkatchem (P × Wya). These lines were evaluated in the field for two seasons under limited N supply. The plant sampling was done at anthesis and physiological maturity stages. Various physiological traits were recorded and total N uptake and other N related indices were calculated. The grain protein deviation (GPD) was calculated from the regression of grain yield on GPC. These lines were grouped into different clusters by hierarchical cluster analysis based on grain yield and N-remobilization efficiency (NRE). Results The genetic variation in accumulation of biomass at both pre- and post-anthesis stages were correlated with grain-yield. The NRE significantly correlated with aboveground N uptake at anthesis (AGNa) and grain yield but negatively associated with AGN at post-anthesis (AGNpa) suggesting higher N uptake till anthesis favours high N remobilization during grain filling. Hierarchical cluster analysis of these RILs based on NRE and yield resulted in four clusters, efficient (31), moderately efficient (59), moderately inefficient (58), and inefficient (47). In the N-efficient lines, AGNa contributed to 77% of total N accumulated in grains, while it was 63% in N-inefficient lines. Several N-efficient lines also exhibited positive grain protein deviation (GPD), combining high grain yield and GPC. Among crosses, the P × Cim were superior and N-efficient, while P × Wya responded poorly to low N input

<span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Times-Bold;mso-bidi-language:HI">Induction of root nodules using synthetic auxin 2, 4-D and inoculation with <i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Times-BoldItalic;mso-bidi-language:HI">Azospirillum </span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Times-Bold;mso-bidi-language:HI">enhances growth and yield parameters in maize </span></span>

101-104Maize seedlings were inoculated with <span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Times-Italic; mso-bidi-language:HI">Azospirillum brasilense and nodules were induced by 2, 4-D treatment under hydroponic culture. Well developed para-nodule formation was observed with 2, 4-D treatment and inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense<span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Times-Roman;mso-bidi-language: HI">. Presence of leghaemoglobin and acetylene reduction assay confirmed effective nitrogen fixation in 2, 4-D and Azospirillum treated seedlings. Control and nodulated plants were grown in pot culture, till maturity. Nodulated plants showed better growth, in terms of significantly higher shoot and root biomass. Cob length, no of grains per cob and 100 grain weight were also higher in nodulated plants. Nodulated plants maintained higher N content in the grains and stover. The soil nitrate and ammonium levels were also higher in the pots sown with inoculated plants as compared to control plants. Azospirillum, an associative symbiotic nitrogen fixing bacterium can effectively contribute towards nitrogen fixing potential in nonlegumes like maize. It can play an active role helping in better maintenance of crop nutrient as well as soil health by reducing fertilizer requirement. </span

<span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Times-Bold;mso-bidi-language:HI">Interactive effects of elevated CO₂ and phosphorus nutrition on growth and phosphorus utilization efficiency in wheat and rye </span>

93-100An attempt was made to study the interactive effects of phosphorus (P) nutrition and elevated CO<span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Times-Bold;mso-bidi-language: HI">2<span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Times-Roman;mso-bidi-language: HI"> on growth and P-utilization efficiency (PUE) in wheat and rye. Wheat (PBW-396, PDW-233) and rye (WSP-540-2) were grown at low (2 μM) and sufficient (500 μM) P under ambient (380±10 μmol mol-1, aCO2) and elevated CO2 concentrations (700 μmol mol-1, eCO<span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Times-Bold; mso-bidi-language:HI">2<span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Times-Roman; mso-bidi-language:HI">). Results revealed that shoot, root and total plant dry matter accumulation and partitioning were significantly influenced by CO2 and P levels. eCO<span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Times-Bold;mso-bidi-language: HI">2<span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Times-Roman;mso-bidi-language: HI"> increased shoot dry matter up to 27% in PDW-233 compared to aCO2 plants grown under sufficient P. Partitioning of dry matter towards root was higher in plants raised under eCO<span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Times-Bold; mso-bidi-language:HI">2<span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Times-Roman; mso-bidi-language:HI"> with low-P resulting in maximum root-to-shoot ratio. Total leaf area was 71% higher in rye under eCO2 with sufficient P compared to aCO<span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Times-Bold; mso-bidi-language:HI">2<span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Times-Roman; mso-bidi-language:HI">. Significantly higher lateral root density, length and surface area were noted in plants grown at low-P under eCO2 as compared to aCO<span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Times-Bold;mso-bidi-language: HI">2<span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Times-Roman;mso-bidi-language: HI">. The total P uptake was increased by 70% when plants were raised with sufficient P under eCO<span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Times-Bold; mso-bidi-language:HI">2<span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Times-Roman; mso-bidi-language:HI"> in comparison to aCO<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times-Bold;mso-bidi-language:HI">2<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times-Roman;mso-bidi-language:HI"> while the PUE increased by 26% in response to CO<span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Times-Bold;mso-bidi-language: HI">2<span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Times-Roman;mso-bidi-language: HI"> enrichment at low-P. Among cereals grown at low-P, highest PUE was observed in PBW-396 in response to elevated CO2. These finding suggests that cereals would be more responsive to P nutrition and efficient in its utilization even at low-P conditions under rising atmospheric CO2 levels. </span

Phytophthora nicotianae Breda de Haan induced stress changes in citrus rootstock genotypes

248-258Phytophthora spp. are the most serious threat to citrus industry worldwide. Being a soil borne problem, use of tolerant rootstocks is the most ecofriendly approach to manage the deadly diseases caused by this fungus. Here, we assessed the reaction of eight citrus rootstock genotypes including sour orange, Troyer citrange and six variants of C. jambhiri Lush. viz., RLC-5, RLC-6, RLC-7, Grambiri, rough lemon and Italian rough lemon against the inoculation of Phytophthora nicotianae. Inoculation of P. nicotianae infected the feeder roots of tested rootstocks to varying degree, expressing higher disease incidence (81.25%) and number of infected feeder roots (54.25-60.62%) depending on the rootstock. Troyer citrange and sour orange proved most tolerant rootstocks against the inoculated fungus. Phytophthora inoculation tended to increase the levels of reactive oxygen species (H2O2 and O2-), antioxidant enzymes (catalase, peroxidase, glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase and β-1,3-glucanase) and protein content. However, it significantly reduced the levels of macro- (N, P, K Ca and Mg) and micro- (Cu and Zn) nutrients, although the extent of variation was rootstock specific. Overall, Troyer citrange and sour orange expressed the lowest variation in the levels of ROS, peroxidase (POX), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and β-1,3-glucanase, protein and nutrient contents, while rough lemon proved most strongly affected. Of the various variants of Citrus jambhiri, RLC-5 and Italian rough lemon proved more tolerant for Phytophthora nicotianae than rest of the clones tested

Induction of Acquired Tolerance Through Gradual Progression of Drought Is the Key for Maintenance of Spikelet Fertility and Yield in Rice Under Semi-irrigated Aerobic Conditions

Plants have evolved several adaptive mechanisms to cope with water-limited conditions. While most of them are through constitutive traits, certain “acquired tolerance” traits also provide significant improvement in drought adaptation. Most abiotic stresses, especially drought, show a gradual progression of stress and hence provide an opportunity to upregulate specific protective mechanisms collectively referred to as “acquired tolerance” traits. Here, we demonstrate a significant genetic variability in acquired tolerance traits among rice germplasm accessions after standardizing a novel gradual stress progress protocol. Two contrasting genotypes, BPT 5204 (drought susceptible) and AC 39000 (tolerant), were used to standardize methodology for capturing acquired tolerance traits at seedling phase. Seedlings exposed to gradual progression of stress showed higher recovery with low free radical accumulation in both the genotypes compared to rapid stress. Further, the gradual stress progression protocol was used to examine the role of acquired tolerance at flowering phase using a set of 17 diverse rice genotypes. Significant diversity in free radical production and scavenging was observed among these genotypes. Association of these parameters with yield attributes showed that genotypes that managed free radical levels in cells were able to maintain high spikelet fertility and hence yield under stress. This study, besides emphasizing the importance of acquired tolerance, explains a high throughput phenotyping approach that significantly overcomes methodological constraints in assessing genetic variability in this important drought adaptive mechanism.</p

Long term nitrogen deficiency alters expression of miRNAs and alters nitrogen metabolism and root architecture in Indian dwarf wheat (Triticum sphaerococcum Perc.) genotypes

Abstract The important roles of plant microRNAs (miRNAs) in adaptation to nitrogen (N) deficiency in different crop species especially cereals (rice, wheat, maize) have been under discussion since last decade with little focus on potential wild relatives and landraces. Indian dwarf wheat (Triticum sphaerococcum Percival) is an important landrace native to the Indian subcontinent. Several unique features, especially high protein content and resistance to drought and yellow rust, make it a very potent landrace for breeding. Our aim in this study is to identify the contrasting Indian dwarf wheat genotypes based on nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and nitrogen deficiency tolerance (NDT) traits and the associated miRNAs differentially expressed under N deficiency in selected genotypes. Eleven Indian dwarf wheat genotypes and a high NUE bread wheat genotype (for comparison) were evaluated for NUE under control and N deficit field conditions. Based on NUE, selected genotypes were further evaluated under hydroponics and miRNome was compared by miRNAseq under control and N deficit conditions. Among the identified, differentially expressed miRNAs in control and N starved seedlings, the target gene functions were associated with N metabolism, root development, secondary metabolism and cell-cycle associated pathways. The key findings on miRNA expression, changes in root architecture, root auxin abundance and changes in N metabolism reveal new information on the N deficiency response of Indian dwarf wheat and targets for genetic improvement of NUE