A rapid and simple chitinase assay to screen tea genotypes for resistance against blister blight

Plant naturally responds to fungal attack by a complex network of defense mechanisms. Among these, production of pathogenesis related (PR) proteins is an important mode of resistance against pathogen invasion. Chitinase is one such PR protein and a potent biomarker for the identification of promising resistant germplasm. In this study, Gram’s iodine based detection assay for chitinase production in tea cultivars has been attempted to screen and validate the data available on the resistance level of the cultivars against blister blight disease. Small wells in the glycol-chitin-agarose/agar plates were loaded with enzyme extract and flooded with Gram’s iodine after 24h. The glycol-chitin formed a bluish complex with iodine, whereas the areas around the wells showed a sharp and distinct clearance zone, against the blue background. The diameter of the zone increased with increased amount of chitinase present in the sample. These observations were validated with field data on blister blight disease incidence in these cultivars and discussed. The new approach is an easy, reproducible, cost effective, user and environmental friendly qualitative method for rapid screening of the tea cultivars in breeding program

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Not AvailableIn this paper, spatial variability in soil chemical properties and fertility were investigated in Bareli watershed, Seoni district of Madhya Pradesh. Georefened soil samples with a grid spacing of 325×325 m were collected in the study area and analyzed for soil pH, organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, available macronutrients (N, P and K) and micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn). Spatial variability was quantified through semivariogram analysis using geostatistics and kriged maps were generated in eographic Information System (GIS). The results indicated that organic carbon was found to be highly variable followed by cation exchange capacity, while pH was found least variable. The soil fertility indicated that available K was found to be highly variable followed by available P, while available N was found to be least variable. All the micronutrients showed moderate variability. The spatial maps indicated that the available N, P and K were low to medium, medium to very high and medium to high, respectively. DTPA-Fe and DTPA-Zn was found deficient in 93.1% and 53.8% of area of the watershed. The reclassified kriged maps of soil fertility parameters generated from the point data clearly delineated different nutrient levels in the soils and very useful for site-specific nutrient management in the watershed.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableThe land resources of Bareli watershed in Seoni district of Madhya Pradesh were characterized, classified and evaluated using IRS-LISS-IV and LISS-III data and GIS. Five major landforms viz. plateau, escarpement, isolated mound, hills and ridges and pediment were identified and delineated. Based on image characteristics, five major land use/land cover viz. forest, cultivated land, wasteland, habitation and water bodies were identified. Five slope classes viz., very gently sloping (1–3%), gently sloping (35%), moderately sloping (5–10%), strongly sloping (10–15%) and moderately step to steep sloping (1515%) lands have been identified using Cartosat-1 DEM (30 m resolution) and topographic information. Five soil series (Diwartola, Diwara, Bareli-1, Bareli-2 and Bareli-3) were tentatively identified and mapped as mono series on 1: 10000 scale based on landform-soil relationship. Soils are shallow, clayey, well drained and severely eroded at upper elevations, whereas, they are moderately deep, clayey, moderately well drained with moderate erosion at lower elevations. The soils are, in general, clayey, neutral in reaction, non-saline and non-calcareous and qualify for Lithic Haplustepts/Lithic Ustorthents/Vertic Haplustepts/Typic Ustorthents at subgroup level. The soils were grouped under land capability sub classes IVs and IVst and 2st, 3s, 3st and 4st land irrigability sub-classes. The soils of Diwartola are moderately suitable for growing sorghum and marginally suitable for growing cotton, pigeonpea, maize and rice and not suitable for growing soybean. The soils of Diwara and Bareli-2 are marginally suitable for sorghum and not suitable for growing cotton, pigeonpea, soybean, maize and rice. The soils of Bareli-1 and Bareli-3 are moderately suitable for growing sorghum and marginally suitable for growing cotton, pigeonpea, soybean, maize and rice. Suitable land use interventions and soil and water conservation measures have been suggested for better management of land resources in the watershed.Not Availabl

Assessment of noise reduction in ultrasound images of common carotid and brachial arteries

The present study assessed the use of filters for noise reduction in ultrasound images of the common carotid artery (CCA) and brachial artery using intima-media thickness, which is a safe and non-invasive technique for determining subclinical atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk. A new combined speckle reducing anisotropic diffusion (SRAD) filter for noise reduction is then proposed. Ultrasonic examination of both arteries was performed on 30 men (aged 40 ± 5 years). The programme was designed using MATLAB software to extract consecutive images in bit map format from the audio video interleaves. An additional programme was designed in MATLAB to apply the region of interest (ROI) to the thickness of the intima-media of the posterior walls of the arteries. Block-matching techniques were used to estimate arterial motion from ultrasound images of the B-mode CCA and brachial artery. Different noise reduction filters and Canny edge detection were carried out separately in the ROI. The programme measured mean square error (MSE) and peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR). The results demonstrated that the new combined SRAD filter with Canny edge detection identified the lowest value for MSE and the highest value for PSNR in 90 consecutive frames (~3 cardiac cycles). The results indicate that MSE and PSNR were better detected by the proposed combined SRAD filter with Canny edge detection than did several commonly used filters with Canny detection for speckle suppression and preservation detail in carotid and brachial arteries ultrasound images. © The Institution of Engineering and Technology

Macropropagation and micropropagation of Ziziphus spina-christi Macropropagação e micropropagação de Ziziphus spina-christi

Christ's thorn (Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Desf.) is a cross-pollinated plant with a wide range of genetic variability in nature and, for this reason, vegetative propagation assumes importance for improvement programs. The objective of this work was to evaluate cutting, T budding and tissue culture methods for this species. Shoots of 22-25 cm length were treated by two culture media and three shoot diameters for cutting trial. The T budding treatments consisted of three and five collection dates in spring and autumn, respectively. Tissue culture nodal segments bearing axillary buds were removed from shoots of mature trees at different seasons. Experiments to determine the best disinfectant chemical, appropriate conditions and materials to prevent phenolic compound exudation, explant characteristics, media type and cytokinin-auxin ratios were carried out. Successful rooting happened only on the sand beds and with cuttings greater than 8 mm diameter. The effects of T budding seasons on budtake percentage were significantly different. The best time for explant harvesting was mid of summer. Amount of rooting on media containing IBA as well as activated charcoal and disinfection with Ca(OCl)2 at concentration of 5% for 20 minutes were the best treatments.<br>Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Desf. é uma planta de polinização cruzada com grande variabilidade genética na natureza e, por isso, sua propagação vegetativa assume importância para o melhoramento genético. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os métodos de estaquia, borbulhia em T e cultura de tecido na propagação vegetativa desta espécie. No ensaio de estaquia, partes aéreas da planta com 22-25 cm foram cultivadas em dois meios de cultura e com três diâmetros. O ensaio de borbulhia consistiu na coleta do material em três datas na primavera e em cinco datas no outono. Os segmentos nodais contendo gemas axilares foram removidos da parte aérea de árvores maduras, em diferentes estações do ano, e avaliados em relação à esterilização química, exudação de compostos fenólicos e cultivo. O enraizamento ocorreu apenas em camas de areia e em estacas maiores do que 8 mm. Houve efeito significativo da estação do ano sobre a porcentagem de brotação. O melhor período para coleta do explante foi no verão. O meio contendo IBA e carvão ativado apresentou maior quantidade de raízes e o melhor desinfestante foi Ca(OCl)2 na concentração de 5%, por 20 minutos