meta-Topolin and β-cyclodextrin enhance multiple shoot and root production in black gram Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper

314-322The recalcitrant nature of black gram is the major constraint of in vitro regeneration and agrobacterium- mediated genetic transformation, to overcome this, a productive shoot regeneration protocol has been achieved in black gram cultivar T9 using 7-day old cotyledonary node explants excised from in vitro- raised black gram seedlings using meta-topolin. An aromatic cytokinin, meta-topolin along with BA (1.5+0.5 mg/L) in 0.50 strength MS medium with 1.5% (w/v) sucrose exhibited a maximum number of multiple shoots (32.0±0.37 shoots/explant) at the end of 6 weeks of culture. The shoots were elongated in (6.40±0.50 cm/shoot) in MS medium supplemented with GA3 (2.0 mg/L). A maximum number of roots (9.60±0.50/shoot) and root length (11.20±0.73 cm/shoot) were obtained in combination with β-cyclodextrin (a cyclic oligosaccharide; 1.5 mg/L) and IBA (1.5 mg/L). The rooted plantlets were hardened and acclimatized with least mortality rate of 2% in pot mixture consisting red soil:sand:farm yard manure (FYM) (2:1:1) and grown in green house with 85% relative humidity. Ploidy levels were analyzed using flow cytometry which confessed the chromosomal stability in invitro raised plants similar to parent plants. This protocol may be useful for producing transgenic black gram with desirable agro-traits in Indian cultivars

Influence of Dicyclohexylamlne Nitrite in Epoxy Primer

Epoxy resins have many advantages over other binders in the fonnulation of primers to protect steel structures from various corrosive environments. Recent studies showed that inhibitor incorporated epoxy primers protect structures for longer duration than plain epoxy primers. In the present investigation, different concentration of dicyclohexylamine nitrite (DCHAN) (0.5-2%) were incorporated in epoxy primers and coated on steel surfaces. The perfonnance of the primers were evalauted by salts spray and electrochemical evalaution tests in 3% sodium cWoride solution. The perfonnance of the primer in presence the inhibitor showed that the inhibitor protected the steel surface for a particular period and thereafter the inhibitor efficiency was in decreasing trend. In this study, the ratios of the DCHAN was optimized in the epoxy resin based primer and the performance of the optimized primer was evaluated by accelerated and electrochemical techniques

Corrosion behavior of metals and alloys in marine-industrial environment

This work deals with atmospheric corrosion to assess the degrading effects of air pollutants on ferrous and non-ferrous metals and alloys, which are mostly used as engineering materials. An exposure study was conducted in the Tuticorin port area located on the east coast of South India, in the Gulf of Mannar with Sri Lanka to the southeast. Common engineering materials, namely mild steel, galvanized iron, Zn, Al, Cu and Cu–Zn alloys (Cu–27Zn, Cu–30Zn and Cu–37Zn), were used in the investigation. The site was chosen where the metals are exposed to marine and industrial atmospheres. Seasonal 1 to 12 month corrosion losses of these metals and alloys were determined by a weight loss method. The weight losses showed strong corrosion of mild steel, galvanized iron, Cu and Zn and minor effect on Al and Cu–Zn alloys. Linear regression analysis was conducted to study the mechanism of corrosion. The composition of corrosion products formed on the metal surfaces was identified by x-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

Evaluation of anti-ulcer activity of Samanea saman (Jacq) merr bark on ethanol and stress induced gastric lesions in albino rats

Objective : To evaluate the antiulcer activity of Samanea saman (Jacq) Merr bark on ethanol and stress induced gastric lesions in albino rats. Materials and Methods : Gastric lesions were induced in rats by oral administration of absolute ethanol (5 ml/kg) and stress induced by water immersion. The antiulcer activity of methanolic extract of Samanea saman (Jacq) Merr bark (100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg) was compared with standard drugs. The parameters studied were ulcer index, gastric juice volume, pH, free acidity and total acidity. Result : Samanea saman (Jacq) Merr showed a dose dependent curative ratio compared to ulcer control groups. The extract at 400 mg/kg showed significant anti ulcer activity which is almost equal to that of the standard drug in both models. The volume of acid secretion, total and free acidity was decreased and pH of the gastric juice was increased compared to ulcer control group. Conclusions : The present study indicates that Samanea saman (Jacq) Merr bark extracts have potential anti ulcer activity

Productivity of withanolides in shake-flask culture and bioreactor by elicitor and precursor treatments in cell suspension of <i>W. somnifera</i>.

<p>For Shake-flask culture.</p><p>Initial inoculum – ∼500 mg cell mass for 30 ml MS medium.</p><p>For Bioreactor culture.</p><p>Initial inoculum – ∼83 g FW cell mass for 5 l MS medium.</p><p>Data were recorded on 28^th day of culture for both the experiments.</p><p>Values represent the mean ± standard error of three experiments. Mean values followed by the same letters within a column are not significantly different according to Duncan's multiple range test at 5% level.</p

Effect of carbon and nitrogen sources on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">in vitro</i> flower and fruit formation and withanolides production in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Withania somnifera</i> (L.) Dunal

177-183<span style="mso-ansi-language: FR" lang="FR">We studied the influence of sucrose and nitrogen concentration on in vitro flowering and fruit setting in elongated shoots of Withania somnifera. BA (1.5 mg/l) and IAA (0.3 mg/l) on MS medium supplemented with 4% sucrose showed 67% of in vitro flower induction frequency, 9 flowers/shoot, 4 fruits/shoot and 11 seeds/fruit in elongated-shoots. Different concentrations of nitrogen sources (L-glutamine, adenine sulphate, ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate and sodium nitrate 5-25 mg/l) were tested in combination with 4% sucrose and BA at 1.5 mg/l and IAA at 0.3 mg/l. Highest number of flowers (20 flowers/shoot; 2.2-fold) and fruits (16 fruits/shoot; 3.39-fold), fruit setting (12 seeds/fruit; 1.08-fold) at a higher frequency (88 %) were achieved on MS medium augmented with 15 mg/l adenine sulphate with same PGRs and sucrose concentration. The maximum production of withanolide A (0.68 mg/g DW) and withanolide B (0.77 mg/g DW) was recorded in in vitro fruits. Highest accumulation of withaferin A (2 mg/g DW) was quantified from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">in vitro flowers, whereas, it was low in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">in vitro fruits (0.49 mg/g DW withaferin A). However, withanone (0.23 mg/g DW) was found accumulated uniformly in both <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">in vitro flowers and fruits compared to control. </span