Effect of Plant Growth Regulators on Corm Production and Vase Life in Gladiolus

Influence of plant growth regulator sprays on corm production and post-harvest life of two gladiolus cultivars, Darshan and Dhiraj, was investigated for two consecutive years, 2008-09 and 2009-10. Growth regulators, viz., gibberellic acid (100 and 150ppm), tri-iodo benzoic acid (TIBA) (50 and 100ppm), 2-chloro, 4-pyridyl phenyl urea (CPPU) (2.5 and 5ppm) and brassinosteroid (BR) (5 and 10ppm) were sprayed at the 3rd and 6thleaf stage. Cv. Darshan recorded maximum number of large cormels per plant and cormel weight, while, cv. Dhiraj recorded maximum number of small cormels per plant in treatments of pre-harvest foliar sprays with plant growth regulators. Foliar sprays of BR (10ppm) and GA3 (150ppm) significantly increased number of corms produced per plant, corm size, corm weight, and propagation coefficient. Number of large cormels and total number of cormels per plant were significantly higher in BR (10ppm), followed by TIBA (100ppm). BR (10ppm) and TIBA (100ppm) produced maximum number of small cormels per plant. Weight of cormels per plant was maximum in BR (10ppm) and GA3 (150ppm). Post-harvest studies revealed that cv. Darshan recorded maximum diameter of second fully-opened floret and higher vase-life than cv. Dhiraj with pre-harvest foliar spray of plant growth regulators. Pre-harvest foliar spray of GA3 (150ppm), BR (10ppm) and CPPU (5ppm) induced earliest first-floret opening and recorded maximum value for number-of-floretsopen- at-a-time per spike, diameter of second fully-opened floret, and vase-life. Foliar spray of BR (10ppm) and GA3 (150ppm) at 3rd and 6th leaf stage can be recommended for large-scale multiplication of quality planting material and longer vase-life of flower spikes, respectively, in gladiolus

Effect of Potting Media on Growth and Quality in Aglaonema

Effect of potting media on growth and quality of ornamental foliage plant, aglaonema cv. Ernesto's Favourite, was evaluated. Soil, cocopeat and sphagnum peat, in combination with sand, FYM and vermicompost in various proportions, were used as potting media. Maximum plant height (71.36cm), number of leaves (16.00), leaf length (60.39cm), leaf width (10.13cm), leaf area (208.36cm2), plant growth index (63.37cm), fresh weight of root (45.00g), dry weight of root (8.53g), visual plant grade (4.50), colour grade (4.58), root grade (4.45), and, N (3.46 %), P (0.95 %) and K content in leaf (1.91%) were recorded with the medium containing cocopeat + sand + vermicompost in 2:1:1, (v/v) combination at 150 DAP. Medium containing cocopeat + sand + FYM + vermicompost in 2:1:1:0.5 ratio, (v/v) was found to be on par with cocopeat + sand + vermicompost in 2:1:1, (v/v) combination with respect to leaf width, dry weight of root, visual plant grade, colour grade, root grade and K content

De novo 7p partial trisomy characterized by subtelomeric FISH and whole-genome array in a girl with mental retardation

Chromosome rearrangements involving telomeres have been established as one of the major causes of idiopathic mental retardation/developmental delay. This case of 7p partial trisomy syndrome in a 3-year-old female child presenting with developmental delay emphasizes the clinical relevance of cytogenetic diagnosis in the better management of genetic disorders. Application of subtelomeric FISH technique revealed the presence of interstitial telomeres and led to the ascertainment of partial trisomy for the distal 7p segment localized on the telomeric end of the short arm of chromosome 19. Whole-genome cytogenetic microarray-based analysis showed a mosaic 3.5 Mb gain at Xq21.1 besides the approximately 24.5 Mb gain corresponding to 7p15.3- > pter. The possible mechanisms of origin of the chromosomal rearrangement and the clinical relevance of trisomy for the genes lying in the critical regions are discussed

Influence of pinching and plant growth regulators on flowering, yield and economics of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.)

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of pinching and plant growth regulators on flowering and seed yield of fenugreek cv. APHU Methi-1. Minimum time to 50% flowering and seed maturity and maximum test weight were recorded with no pinching (P0) treatment. Single pinching at 25 days after sowing (DAS) (P1) recorded significantly maximum number of pods, length of pod, number of seeds pod-1 and seed yield. Among the plant growth regulators, foliar spray of GA3 50 ppm (G1) thrice (25, 45 and 65 DAS) resulted in best performance of the yield parameters like number of pods plant-1, length of pod, number of seeds pod-1 and seed yield plant-1. Early flower initiation and early maturity was observed with application of GA3 75 ppm (G2). Among the interactions of pinching and plant growth regulators (PGRs), the treatment combination of no pinching with application of GA3 50 ppm (P0G1) resulted in maximum test weight. Maximum yield attributes like number of pods plant-1, length of pod and seed yield plant-1 were recorded with single pinching at 25 DAS and application of GA3 50 ppm (P1G1). However, pinching at 25 DAS with application of NAA 50 ppm (P1G3) gave highest B: C ratio (1.88). &nbsp

Low-cost interventions for big impacts in dryland production systems

A study at selected action sites in semi-arid region of Andhra Pradesh, India, showed widespread land degradation due to low levels of soil organic carbon (78% of fields) and deficiencies of available nutrients like phosphorus (34%), sulfur (93%), calcium (33%), zinc (84%), boron (73%), and copper (33%). Soil test-based addition of deficient micro- and macronutrients increased food grain production by 30–40% and straw (which is used as fodder) production by 10–30%. Micro-watershed scale low-cost cement-lined farm-ponds at smallholder farm level proved a scalable technology for drought-proofing of crops resulting into additional crop yield by more than 30% during 2015. Augmentation of water sources also facilitated farmers’ to successfully diversify the production system. Shared machinery resources improved the operational and economic efficiency of farm sowing operations through higher crop yields by around 10%. We conclude that a mix of low-cost critical interventions if out-scaled in a large number of dryland small holdings through policy support may not only improve productivity and livelihoods, but also enhance their abilities to effectively cope with the climatic aberrations

DNA microarray revealed and RNAi plants confirmed key genes conferring low Cd accumulation in barley grains

List of genes down-regulated in both W6nk2 and Zhenong8 after 15 days exposure to 5 ΟM Cd. (DOC 130 kb

Dynamic Changes in the MicroRNA Expression Profile Reveal Multiple Regulatory Mechanisms in the Spinal Nerve Ligation Model of Neuropathic Pain

Neuropathic pain resulting from nerve lesions or dysfunction represents one of the most challenging neurological diseases to treat. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for causing these maladaptive responses can help develop novel therapeutic strategies and biomarkers for neuropathic pain. We performed a miRNA expression profiling study of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) tissue from rats four weeks post spinal nerve ligation (SNL), a model of neuropathic pain. TaqMan low density arrays identified 63 miRNAs whose level of expression was significantly altered following SNL surgery. Of these, 59 were downregulated and the ipsilateral L4 DRG, not the injured L5 DRG, showed the most significant downregulation suggesting that miRNA changes in the uninjured afferents may underlie the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain. TargetScan was used to predict mRNA targets for these miRNAs and it was found that the transcripts with multiple predicted target sites belong to neurologically important pathways. By employing different bioinformatic approaches we identified neurite remodeling as a significantly regulated biological pathway, and some of these predictions were confirmed by siRNA knockdown for genes that regulate neurite growth in differentiated Neuro2A cells. In vitro validation for predicted target sites in the 3′-UTR of voltage-gated sodium channel Scn11a, alpha 2/delta1 subunit of voltage-dependent Ca-channel, and purinergic receptor P2rx ligand-gated ion channel 4 using luciferase reporter assays showed that identified miRNAs modulated gene expression significantly. Our results suggest the potential for miRNAs to play a direct role in neuropathic pain