Studies on soil fertility status of coffee growing regions in Wayanad district

Top soil in Wayanad region is prone to disturbance and erosion, as the coffee growers’ practice scraping, scuffling and cover digging. It isnecessary to conserve the inherent fertility of top soil by minimum disturbance during farming operations. Otherwise soil deterioration can become one of the major constraints for crop production in the present day exploitative cultivation of plantation crops. It is well known that nutrient availability is influenced by their distribution in the soil as well as other soil characteristics. Soil fertility is the key to meet the nutrient requirement of the crops. Soil test based nutrient management will increase the crop productivity there by helping to save the fertility. The study, carried out to understand the fertility status of the coffee soils, revealed a higher acidity (98%) with deficiencies of calcium (32%), magnesium (96%) and boron (31%) limiting the coffee productivity in the district. The coffee area in the district is strongly acidic (69%) due to lack of liming and continuous use of acid producing fertilizers. Fifty per cent of soil sampleswere high in phosphorus which in turn impair the nutrient balance and affects micronutrient absorption by plants. Deficiency of calcium and magnesium affects uptake of other nutrients which upsets cellular functions. In coffee, boron deficiency will reduce the productivity by affecting flowering and fruit set. Amelioration of soil acidity and optimal use of major, secondary and micronutrients are must to enhance coffee productivity in the district. Application of manures and fertilizers based on soil test values will save the fertilizers and also sustain the soil health. Integrated management of plant nutrients is essential to achieve sustainable coffee crop production

Prunella vulgaris: A comprehensive review of chemical constituents, pharmacological effects and clinical applications.

Prunella vulgaris (PV) is a perennial herb belonging to the Labiate family and is widely distributed in northeastern Asian countries such as Korea, Japan, and China. It is reported to display diverse biological activities including anti-microbial, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammation as determined by in vitro or in vivo studies. So far, about 200 compounds have been isolated from PV plant and majority of these have been characterized mainly as triterpenoids, sterols and flavonoids, followed by coumarins, phenylpropanoids, polysaccharides and volatile oils. This review summarizes and analyzes the current knowledge on the chemical constituents, pharmacological activities, mechanisms of action and clinical applications of the PV plant including its potential as a future medicinal plant. Although some of the chemical constituents of the PV plant and their mechanism of action have been investigated the biological activities of many of these remain unknown and further clinical trials are required to further enhance its reputation as a medicinal plant

Diversity of Global Rice Markets and the Science Required for Consumer-Targeted Rice Breeding

With the ever-increasing global demand for high quality rice in both local production regions and with Western consumers, we have a strong desire to understand better the importance of the different traits that make up the quality of the rice grain and obtain a full picture of rice quality demographics. Rice is by no means a ‘one size fits all’ crop. Regional preferences are not only striking, they drive the market and hence are of major economic importance in any rice breeding / improvement strategy. In this analysis, we have engaged local experts across the world to perform a full assessment of all the major rice quality trait characteristics and importantly, to determine how these are combined in the most preferred varieties for each of their regions. Physical as well as biochemical characteristics have been monitored and this has resulted in the identification of no less than 18 quality trait combinations. This complexity immediately reveals the extent of the specificity of consumer preference. Nevertheless, further assessment of these combinations at the variety level reveals that several groups still comprise varieties which consumers can readily identify as being different. This emphasises the shortcomings in the current tools we have available to assess rice quality and raises the issue of how we might correct for this in the future. Only with additional tools and research will we be able to define directed strategies for rice breeding which are able to combine important agronomic features with the demands of local consumers for specific quality attributes and hence, design new, improved crop varieties which will be awarded success in the global market

The dominant Anopheles vectors of human malaria in the Asia-Pacific region: occurrence data, distribution maps and bionomic précis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The final article in a series of three publications examining the global distribution of 41 dominant vector species (DVS) of malaria is presented here. The first publication examined the DVS from the Americas, with the second covering those species present in Africa, Europe and the Middle East. Here we discuss the 19 DVS of the Asian-Pacific region. This region experiences a high diversity of vector species, many occurring sympatrically, which, combined with the occurrence of a high number of species complexes and suspected species complexes, and behavioural plasticity of many of these major vectors, adds a level of entomological complexity not comparable elsewhere globally. To try and untangle the intricacy of the vectors of this region and to increase the effectiveness of vector control interventions, an understanding of the contemporary distribution of each species, combined with a synthesis of the current knowledge of their behaviour and ecology is needed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Expert opinion (EO) range maps, created with the most up-to-date expert knowledge of each DVS distribution, were combined with a contemporary database of occurrence data and a suite of open access, environmental and climatic variables. Using the Boosted Regression Tree (BRT) modelling method, distribution maps of each DVS were produced. The occurrence data were abstracted from the formal, published literature, plus other relevant sources, resulting in the collation of DVS occurrence at 10116 locations across 31 countries, of which 8853 were successfully geo-referenced and 7430 were resolved to spatial areas that could be included in the BRT model. A detailed summary of the information on the bionomics of each species and species complex is also presented.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This article concludes a project aimed to establish the contemporary global distribution of the DVS of malaria. The three articles produced are intended as a detailed reference for scientists continuing research into the aspects of taxonomy, biology and ecology relevant to species-specific vector control. This research is particularly relevant to help unravel the complicated taxonomic status, ecology and epidemiology of the vectors of the Asia-Pacific region. All the occurrence data, predictive maps and EO-shape files generated during the production of these publications will be made available in the public domain. We hope that this will encourage data sharing to improve future iterations of the distribution maps.</p

In Vitro Antidiabetic Effects of Isolated Triterpene Glycoside Fraction from Gymnema sylvestre

A triterpene glycoside (TG) fraction isolated and purified from ethanolic extract of Gymnema sylvestre (EEGS) was investigated for blood glucose control benefit using in vitro methods. The HPLC purified active fraction TG was characterized using FTIR, LC-MS, and NMR. The purified fraction (TG) exhibited effective inhibition of yeast α-glucosidase, sucrase, maltase, and pancreatic α-amylase with IC50 values 3.16 ± 0.05 μg/mL, 74.07 ± 0.51, 5.69 ± 0.02, and 1.17 ± 0.24 μg/mL, respectively, compared to control. TG was characterized to be a mixture of triterpene glycosides: gymnemic acids I, IV, and VII and gymnemagenin. In vitro studies were performed using mouse pancreatic β-cell lines (MIN6). TG did not exhibit any toxic effects on β-cell viability and showed protection against H2O2 induced ROS generation. There was up to 1.34-fold increase in glucose stimulated insulin secretion (p<0.05) in a dose-dependent manner relative to standard antidiabetic drug glibenclamide. Also, there was further one-fold enhancement in the expression of GLUT2 compared to commercial standard DAG (deacylgymnemic acid). Thus, the present study highlights the effective isolation and therapeutic potential of TG, making it a functional food ingredient and a safe nutraceutical candidate for management of diabetes

Degradation of Technical Grade Hexachlorocyclohexane In Soil Slurry by a Defined Microbial Consortium

ABSTRACT: Hexachlorocyclohexane, an organochlorine insecticide has been used in agriculture and public health programmes since a very long time. It is very resistant to degradation and thus accumulates in the environment for long time. A microbial consortium was developed in our laboratory which could degrade Hexachlorocyclohexane very efficiently in water. A study was carried out to understand the biodegradation of technical grade hexachclorocyclohexane (HCH) in soil slurry in lab scale bioreactor by a defined bacterial consortium under aerobic conditions. Effects of parameters such as initial HCH concentration and volume of air required were optimized. 10 and 25 ppm of HCH were degraded completely by 120 and 168 h, respectively. No lag was observed. In both the concentrations of HCH, γ -isomer was degraded faster and -and, β-isomers took more time for degradation. The rate of degradation ofα,β, γ and δ isomers of 10 and 25 ppm HCH were 0.0186, 0.0136, 0.0179, 0.0176 mg/L/h and 0.0122, 0.01444, 0.0126, 0.0122 mg/L/h respectively. Aeration rate of 0.5 vvm gave maximum degradation, whereas at 1.0 vvm δ-isomer was not degraded completely. At 2.0 vvm aeration, all the isomers remained even after 144h if incubation

Elimination of inhibitory effects of chlorpyrifos and quinolphos on radish and green gram seed germination by bioremediation of contaminated soil: A comparative study

The effects of Chlorpyrifos and quinolphos on the germination of radish and green gram seeds were tested. Both radish and green gram showed marked reduction in germination percentage and seedling vigour index. The abnormalities and reduction in germination increased with increasing concentration of these pesticides studied. At 50μg of Chlorpyrifos and quinolphos level the germination of radish and green gram seeds were inhibited almost completely on moist filter paper and soil. Protease and amylase activities were reduced in seeds grown on soil spiked with Chlorpyrifos and quinolphos. Bioremediation of Chlorpyrifos and quinolphos-spiked soils with a Chlorpyrifos and quinolphos-degrading microbial consortium helped in eliminating the toxic effects of these pesticides towards seed germination. The degradation of 50μg Chlorpyrifos and quinolphos in soil was complete by 24 hrs. The seed germination and the activities of the assayed enzymes, amylase and protease, were same as before or better in bioremediated soils

Degradation of technical grade hexachlorocyclohexane in soil slurry by a defined microbial consortium

Hexachlorocyclohexane, an organochlorine insecticide has been used in agriculture and public health programmes since a very long time. It is very resistant to degradation and thus accumulates in the environment for long time. A microbial consortium was developed in our laboratory which could degrade Hexachlorocyclohexane very efficiently in water. A study was carried out to understand the biodegradation of technical grade hexachclorocyclohexane (HCH) in soil slurry in lab scale bioreactor by a defined bacterial consortium under aerobic conditions. Effects of parameters such as initial HCH concentration and volume of air required were optimized. 10 and 25 ppm of HCH were degraded completely by 120 and 168 h, respec-tively. No lag was observed. In both the concentrations of HCH, γ-isomer was degraded faster and -and, β--isomers took more time for degradation. The rate of degradation of α, β,γ and δ isomers of 10 and 25 ppm HCH were 0.0186, 0.0136, 0.0179, 0.0176 mg/L/h and 0.0122, 0.01444, 0.0126, 0.0122 mg/L/h respectively. Aeration rate of 0.5 vvm gave maximum degradation, whereas at 1.0 vvm δ-isomer was not degraded completely. At 2.0 vvm aeration, all the isomers remained even after 144h if incubation

LIPASE INHIBITORS FROM NIGELLA SATIVA AND PUNICA GRANATUM AS AN EFFECTIVE APPROACH TOWARDS CONTROLLING OBESITY

Two distinct lipase inhibitor cocktails RAYstat4ns and SHAMstat3pg have been purified from seeds of Nigella sativa and Punica granatum respectively. Structural characterization has shown RAYstat4ns to be a mixture of 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and one saturated fatty acid while SHAMstat3pg is a triglyceride mixture comprising of three different kinds of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Ethanol extracted fractions of seeds of Nigella saliva and Punic a granatum having high lipase inhibitory activity were purified by HPLC followed by TLC to yield respectively RAYstat4ns and SHAMstat3pg . These plant based lipase inhibitors have shown good lipase inhibitory activity against pancreatic lipase with mixed type of inhibition. RAYstat4ns and SHAMstat3pg have also shown inhibition of hormone sensitive lipase. The experimental IC50 of the purified lipase inhibitors RAYstat4ns and SHAMstat3pg was&nbsp;found to be respectively 4.02μg/μl and 7.35 μg/μl for pancreatic lipase and 6.31 μg/μl and 11.45 μg/μl respectively for hormone sensitive lipase. Hence ,these plant-based lipase inhibitors can be used in controlling lipolysis and insulin resistance in addition to inhibiting absorption of dietary lipid into the living system. In vivo studies could help confirm the potency of these plant based isolates as efficient lipase inhibitors.&nbsp