Transgenic tobacco plants constitutively expressing Arabidopsis NPR1 show enhanced resistance to root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita

In Arabidopsis, non-expressor of pathogenesis related genes-1, NPR1 has been shown to be a positive regulator of the salicylic acid controlled systemic acquired resistance pathway and modulates the cross talk between SA and JA signaling. Transgenic plants expressing AtNPR1 constitutively exhibited resistance against pathogens as well as herbivory. In the present study, tobacco transgenic plants expressing AtNPR1 were studied further for their response to infection by the sedentary endoparasitic root knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita. Transgenic plants showed enhanced resistance against the root-knot nematode infection. Prominent differences in the shoot and root weights of wild type and transgenic plants were observed post-inoculation with M. incognita. This was associated with a decrease in the number of root galls and egg masses in transgenic plants compared to WT. The transgenic plants also showed constitutive and induced expression of some PR protein genes, when challenged with M. incognita

Host Plant Induced Variation in Gut Bacteria of Helicoverpa armigera

Helicoverpa are important polyphagous agricultural insect pests and they have a worldwide distribution. In this study, we report the bacterial community structure in the midgut of fifth instar larvae of Helicoverpa armigera, a species prevalent in the India, China, South Asia, South East Asia, Southern & Eastern Africa and Australia. Using culturable techniques, we isolated and identified members of Bacillus firmus, Bacillus niabense, Paenibacillus jamilae, Cellulomonas variformis, Acinetobacter schindleri, Micrococcus yunnanesis, Enterobacter sp., and Enterococcus cassiliflavus in insect samples collected from host plants grown in different parts of India. Besides these the presence of Sphingomonas, Ralstonia, Delftia, Paracoccus and Bacteriodetes was determined by culture independent molecular analysis. We found that Enterobacter and Enterococcus were universally present in all our Helicoverpa samples collected from different crops and in different parts of India. The bacterial diversity varied greatly among insects that were from different host plants than those from the same host plant of different locations. This result suggested that the type of host plant greatly influences the midgut bacterial diversity of H. armigera, more than the location of the host plant. On further analyzing the leaf from which the larva was collected, it was found that the H. armigera midgut bacterial community was similar to that of the leaf phyllosphere. This finding indicates that the bacterial flora of the larval midgut is influenced by the leaf surface bacterial community of the crop on which it feeds. Additionally, we found that laboratory made media or the artificial diet is a poor bacterial source for these insects compared to a natural diet of crop plant

Effects of biofertilizer containing N-fixer, P and K solubilizers and AM fungi on maize growth: A greenhouse trial.

An in vitro study was undertaken to evaluate the compatibility of indigenous plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) with commonly used inorganic and organic sources of fertilizers in tea plantations. The nitrogenous, phosphatic and potash fertilizers used for this study were urea, rock phosphate and muriate of potash, respectively. The organic sources of fertilizers neem cake, composted coir pith and vermicompost were also used. PGPRs such as nitrogen fixer; Azospirillum lipoferum, Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria (PSB); Pseudomonas putida, Potassium Solubilizing Bacteria (KSB); Burkholderia cepacia and Pseudomonas putida were used for compatibility study. Results were indicated that PGPRs preferred the coir pith and they proved their higher colony establishment in the formulation except Azospirillum spp. that preferred vermicompost for their establishment. The optimum dose of neem cake powder

Exploring nutrition knowledge and dietary intake of adults with spinal cord injury in specialist rehabilitation

Study design Cross-sectional study. Objectives To explore nutrition knowledge and dietary intake in adults with spinal cord injury (SCI). Setting SCI centre, Australia. Methods A validated General Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire-R (GNKQ-R) evaluated nutrition knowledge to explore correlations with dietary intake. Dietary intake (current and pre-hospitalisation) was compared with national dietary modelling tools and Nutrient Reference Values (NRV) for assessing nutritional adequacy. Results Fifty participants, predominantly male (70%), with a median age of 50 years took part in the study. The mean GNKQ-R score was 59 (13.1)/85 (69%). Participants with a higher level of education scored higher (82%; p \u3c 0.01). The GNKQ-R score was also positively associated with the level of education (r = 0.45; p = \u3c 0.01) with a large effect size (\u3e0.80 Cohen’s d). Non-conformance with Australian Dietary Guidelines (ADG) and failure to meet NRV were also noted. Low calcium intakes were found in 69% (n = 34) and saturated fatty acid (SFA) consumption exceeded both the acceptable macronutrient distribution range (AMDR) of 10% for adults (n = 32, 65%) and the lower target of 7% recommended for at-risk groups (n = 49, 100%). Lower nutrition knowledge scores were negatively correlated with SFA intake (r = −0.28; p = 0.05, two-tailed) with a large Cohen’s d effect size (\u3e0.80). Conclusions Discordance with the ADG for most food groups was exemplified by high intake of SFA. Individuals with SCI have elevated cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Poor nutrition knowledge correlated with high SFA intake, indicates a need for timely, targeted interventions for CVD prevention in this patient group

Role of endothelial NAD+ deficiency in age-related vascular dysfunction

Age-related alterations in endothelium and the resulting vascular dysfunction critically contribute to a range of pathological conditions associated with old age. To rationally develop therapies that improve vascular health and thereby increase health span and lifespan in older adults, it will be essential to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms contributing to vascular aging. Pre-clinical studies in model organisms demonstrate that NAD+ availability decreases with age in multiple tissues and that supplemental NAD+ precursors can ameliorate many age-related cellular impairments. Here we provide a comprehensive overview of NAD+ dependent pathways (including the NAD+ utilizing sirtuins and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase enzymes) and the potential consequences of endothelial NAD+ deficiency in vascular aging. The multifaceted vasoprotective effects of treatments that reverse the age-related decline in cellular NAD+ levels are discussed. The preventive and therapeutic potential of NAD+ intermediates as effective, clinically relevant interventions in older adults at risk for ischemic heart disease, vascular cognitive impairment and other common geriatric conditions and diseases that involve vascular pathologies (e.g. sarcopenia, frailty) is critically discussed. We propose that NAD+ precursors (e.g., nicotinamide riboside, nicotinamide mononucleotide, niacin) should be considered as a critical component of combination therapies to slow the vascular aging process and increase cardiovascular health span