Role of antibiosis on suppression of bacterial common blight disease in French bean by Paenibacillus polymyxa strain HKA-15

Paenibacillus polymyxa strain HKA-15, a soybean bacterial endophyte showed strong antagonism against bacterial common blight pathogen Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli strains M-5 and CP-1-1. In agar diffusion assay, the antibacterial metabolite from P. polymyxa HKA-15 showed a clear zone of inhibition against M-5 and CP-1-1. Under phytotron conditions, the biocontrol activity of P. polymyxa HKA-15 against bacterial common blight pathogen X. campestris pv. phaseoli M-5 was assessed. At four days after inoculation of M-5, lowest mean disease rate (MDR) (1.13) and percent disease incidence (PDI) (28.25) were recorded in streptomycin sulphate at 100 ppm as positive chemical treatment. The application of crude metabolite from P. polymyxa HKA-15 at 100 ppm was on par with positive chemical control in suppression of bacterial common blight disease in French bean plants.Key words: Antibacterial activity, biocontrol, French bean, Paenibacillus polymyxa, Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli

Seasonal dynamics of Shatavarin-IV, a potential biomarker of Asparagus racemosus by HPTLC: Possible validation of the ancient Ayurvedic text.

174-181The medicinal property of Asparagus racemosus is primarily attributed to its constituent steroidal saponins, particularly the major component, shatavarin-IV. Thus, it can serve as a biomarker and its level can decide of the utility of the plant cultivar as a drug. Hence, a sensitive, reliable and quantitative High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) method has been established for quantification of shatavarin-IV in the methanolic extracts of the roots collected in both summer and rainy seasons. The extracts of the powders of dried roots were applied to silica gel 60 F254 aluminum-supported precoated TLC plates and developed with n-hexane: ethyl acetate: methanol, 80:10:10 (v/v), as the mobile phase. Shatavarin-IV was detected and quantified by densitometry at λ = 336 nm. The accuracy of the method was checked by conducting recovery studies at three different levels of shatavarin-IV. The average recovery was found to be 101% and 107% for summer and rainy seasons respectively. The shatavarin-IV contents, as estimated by the proposed method were 12.5 μg gm-1 and 10.9 μg gm-1 in summer and rainy roots respectively. The entire method was performed six times (n=6) to check the repeatability. The proposed HPTLC method for quantitative monitoring of shatavarin-IV in A. racemosus roots collected in different seasons strictly adhered to the validation issues laid down by the ICH guidelines. The method is reliable reproducible and highly precise and selective

Seasonal dynamics of Shatavarin-IV, a potential biomarker of Asparagus racemosus by HPTLC: Possible validation of the ancient Ayurvedic text.

The medicinal property of Asparagus racemosus is primarily attributed to its constituent steroidal saponins, particularly the major component, shatavarin-IV. Thus, it can serve as a biomarker and its level can decide of the utility of the plant cultivar as a drug. Hence, a sensitive, reliable and quantitative High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) method has been established for quantification of shatavarin-IV in the methanolic extracts of the roots collected in both summer and rainy seasons. The extracts of the powders of dried roots were applied to silica gel 60 F254 aluminum-supported precoated TLC plates and developed with n-hexane: ethyl acetate: methanol, 80:10:10 (v/v), as the mobile phase. Shatavarin-IV was detected and quantified by densitometry at λ = 336 nm. The accuracy of the method was checked by conducting recovery studies at three different levels of shatavarin-IV. The average recovery was found to be 101% and 107% for summer and rainy seasons respectively. The shatavarin-IV contents, as estimated by the proposed method were 12.5 μg gm-1 and 10.9 μg gm-1 in summer and rainy roots respectively. The entire method was performed six times (n=6) to check the repeatability. The proposed HPTLC method for quantitative monitoring of shatavarin-IV in A. racemosus roots collected in different seasons strictly adhered to the validation issues laid down by the ICH guidelines. The method is reliable reproducible and highly precise and selective

First report of collar rot caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa on calla lily (Zantedeschia elliottiana)

Collar rot of calla lily cultivated in Himachal Pradesh, India, was recorded during 2011–2013, and the pathogen causing the disease was identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The disease occurred on roots, rhizomes and stems of host plants, causing severe rotting and breakage, and was predominant during the rainy season (June-August) each year. . This is the first record of Pseudomonas aeruginosa affecting calla lily worldwide

Giant cells: multiple cells unite to survive

Multinucleated Giant Cells (MGCs) are specialized cells that develop from the fusion of multiple cells, and their presence is commonly observed in human cells during various infections. However, MGC formation is not restricted to infections alone but can also occur through different mechanisms, such as endoreplication and abortive cell cycle. These processes lead to the formation of polyploid cells, eventually resulting in the formation of MGCs. In Entamoeba, a protozoan parasite that causes amoebic dysentery and liver abscesses in humans, the formation of MGCs is a unique phenomenon and not been reported in any other protozoa. This organism is exposed to various hostile environmental conditions, including changes in temperature, pH, and nutrient availability, which can lead to stress and damage to its cells. The formation of MGCs in Entamoeba is thought to be a survival strategy to cope with these adverse conditions. This organism forms MGCs through cell aggregation and fusion in response to osmotic and heat stress. The MGCs in Entamoeba are thought to have increased resistance to various stresses and can survive longer than normal cells under adverse conditions. This increased survival could be due to the presence of multiple nuclei, which could provide redundancy in case of DNA damage or mutations. Additionally, MGCs may play a role in the virulence of Entamoeba as they are found in the inflammatory foci of amoebic liver abscesses and other infections caused by Entamoeba. The presence of MGCs in these infections suggests that they may contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease. Overall, this article offers valuable insights into the intriguing phenomenon of MGC formation in Entamoeba. By unraveling the mechanisms behind this process and examining its implications, researchers can gain a deeper understanding of the complex biology of Entamoeba and potentially identify new targets for therapeutic interventions. The study of MGCs in Entamoeba serves as a gateway to exploring the broader field of cell fusion in various organisms, providing a foundation for future investigations into related cellular processes and their significance in health and disease

Determination of DNA content and relative 2C genome sizes of some promising commercial varieties of sugarcane using flow cytometer

In the present study, 2C DNA content and the genome sizes (in picograms-pg and megabase pairs-Mbp respectively) of 19 promising commercial varieties of sugarcane, the derivatives of man-made interspecific hybrids between cultivated and wild species were analyzed using flow cytometry. In this work, 2C nuclear DNA content was determined. Knowing the 2C nuclear DNA content, the unknown chromosome numbers of the varieties could be predicted. Large differences (65 % variation) in DNA content (2C) of 19 varieties were detected, ranging, from 3.80 pg to 10.96 pg, which corresponds to a genome size ranging from 3724.00 Mbp to 10740.80 Mbp due to the variation of ploidy level and are considered the most complex genomes among crop plants. However, the relationship between chromosome number and genome size was highly significant (P < 0.001). In the present study, internode diameter, Sugar juice content and cane yield/ha are also positively correlated with DNA content. The estimated genome sizes would also yield information critical for sugarcane breeding and genome sequencing programs.                                Keywords: Genome size, Sugarcane varieties, Flow cytometry, DNA content