New fruit and seed disorders in Papaya (Carica papaya L.) in India

Systematic field screening was conducted in 14 important papaya germplasm lines to observe the severity of bumpy fruit incidence. The disease severity, fruit yield and economic losses due to physiological disorders were observed. Pune Selection-3 was most sensitive (64.6%) for the disorder while Pusa Selection Red was most tolerant (4.2%). The maximum yield was obtained in Pune Selection-3 (62 kg/plant) while lowest yield in Mokama Local (20 kg/plant). The lowest market acceptability and highest economic loss were also observed in Pune Selection-3 (Rs. 3.3/kg and 11, 21,580/ha, respectively) due to highest incidence of bumpy fruit disorder as compared to other germplasm. The highest frequency of deformed seeds/fruit (83.6%) and economic loss (Rs. 84,400/ha) under fruit production for market was noticed during February, while the lowest deformed seeds/fruit (2.7%) were observed during December. The maximum incidence of vivipary and white seed disorders were observed during May (13.4 and 75.7%, respectively) while least incidence was observed in February and March (10 and 5%, respectively). The increased incidence of vivipary was observed in harvested fruits from February to May with increasing average monthly temperature. The low and high temperatures during seed maturation period aggravate deformed and vivipary seeds, respectively.Keywords: Carica papaya, physiological disorders, bumpy, vivipary, white seedsAfrican Journal of Biotechnology, Vol. 13(4), pp. 574-580, 22 January, 201

The power of comparative and developmental studies for mouse models of Down syndrome

Since the genetic basis for Down syndrome (DS) was described, understanding the causative relationship between genes at dosage imbalance and phenotypes associated with DS has been a principal goal of researchers studying trisomy 21 (Ts21). Though inferences to the gene-phenotype relationship in humans have been made, evidence linking a specific gene or region to a particular congenital phenotype has been limited. To further understand the genetic basis for DS phenotypes, mouse models with three copies of human chromosome 21 (Hsa21) orthologs have been developed. Mouse models offer access to every tissue at each stage of development, opportunity to manipulate genetic content, and ability to precisely quantify phenotypes. Numerous approaches to recreate trisomic composition and analyze phenotypes similar to DS have resulted in diverse trisomic mouse models. A murine intraspecies comparative analysis of different genetic models of Ts21 and specific DS phenotypes reveals the complexity of trisomy and important considerations to understand the etiology of and strategies for amelioration or prevention of trisomic phenotypes. By analyzing individual phenotypes in different mouse models throughout development, such as neurologic, craniofacial, and cardiovascular abnormalities, greater insight into the gene-phenotype relationship has been demonstrated. In this review we discuss how phenotype-based comparisons between DS mouse models have been useful in analyzing the relationship of trisomy and DS phenotypes

Traditional medicaments through papaya in North eastern plains zone of India

537-543<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";mso-bidi-font-family:="" mangal;mso-ansi-language:en-gb;mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:="" hi"="" lang="EN-GB">Information and knowledge were collected <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">for the first time through questionnaire and interviews on medicinal aspects. Each part of papaya plant is useful in one way or another; from its fruit to its stem and leaves. Different parts of papaya, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">viz. fruits (ripe and unripe), seeds, bark, leaves, roots and latex are used for treatment of several diseases like, jaundice, stomach problem, dengue, ringworm, roundworm, wound dressing, urinary complaint, anti-hemolytic activity, weight loss, high blood pressure, <span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:timesnewromanpsmt;="" mso-bidi-font-family:mangal;mso-ansi-language:en-gb;mso-fareast-language:en-us;="" mso-bidi-language:hi"="" lang="EN-GB">snake bite to remove poison and abortion. Among different diseases, farmers put jaundice (94.96%) and stomach problems (87.66%) at rank I, and dengue (67.38%) at rank II. Farmers <span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:timesnewromanpsmt;="" mso-bidi-font-family:mangal;mso-ansi-language:en-gb;mso-fareast-language:en-us;="" mso-bidi-language:hi"="" lang="EN-GB">between 46-60 yrs age group possess more traditional knowledge (91.70%) about the medicament properties of papaya parts. The knowledge level increases with the increase in age. Traditional knowledge of labourers and farmers of NEPZ regarding medicinal uses of different parts of papaya for management of dengue fever and jaundice diseases supported along with medical treatment by papaya leaf and fruit extract increase the PLT and RBC, respectively. Papaya fruit enhancing the hydrocele problem might be due to some anti-nutrients toxicants and cooling effect on human body.</span