Floral Biology and Breeding System of Garcinia Imberti Bourd.-A Critically Endangered Tree Species of Western Ghats, Kerala, India

Plant flowering and breeding characteristics are important to understand the reproduction of plant populations. Garcinia imberti belongs to the family Clusiaceae is a critically endangered tree species of Agasthyamalai hills and endemic to Western Ghats, Kerala, India. Present study is to investigate the floral biology and breeding system during 2012-13. The tree species is dioecious. The peak of male and female flowering was observed in Feb-May, but the male flowers were observed one week before the female flower. Female flowers are significantly larger than the male flower. Both sexual morphs have four petals and four sepals in imbricated arrangement. Controlled pollination experiment showed that Garcinia imberti was a self-incompatible species that produced fruits through cross-pollination. According to the field observations after pollination treatments fruit setting was observed as 53.33%, 30.00%, and 36.67% in cross pollination, apomixis and open pollination respectively. This indicates a functionally dioecious mating system and pollination limited fruit set in Garcinia imberti. Female flower bear fruits with 1-2 seeds. Floral visitors observed in only in male flowers. These are not pollinators and they never observed on female flowers

Prospects of Grouper Culture in India

The "Groupers" of the genus Epinephelus are excellent marine food fishes in the Indo Pacific and Carribean regions and have assumed importance for commercial culture in recent year

Eel culture in India

The main objective of fish culture is to produce more protein-rich food, there has been an emphasis, particularly in the developing countries, on the culture of luxury table fish to step up exports. Eels (Anguilla spp) are considered as a luxury food and consumed as a delicacy in several Asian and European countries. The present report highlights some of the basic information on the Indian eels and their culture, based on the results of the experiments conducted during the period 1974-1980. The survey conducted by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute has brought to light many promising centres for large scale collection of elvers. The techniques of live elver collection and their transportation have been developed. In addition to eel culture, collection and export of elvers could also be taken up as a profitable enterprise with the development of export market. Apart from earning foreign exchange for the country, this would offer employment opportunities to a large number of marginal fishermen

On induced maturation in the Indian short-finned eel Anguilla bicolor bicolor McClelland

After acdimaitisiag the eels Anguilla bicolor bicolor in sea water, various' hormones viz., Gonadairaiphon F. S. H„ Gonadotraphon L. H. and Chorionic Gonadotropin (Profasd) and OcirpHpituiiitiairy extracts were administered to different dosages through intramuscular injections. By mepeated hormone JnjeotiJans maturatiion w:b induced in both tihe sexes. flHr*i*tLallty one imaile eeil which was given 2000 IU of Goaadoliraphon L.H. through four injections, reached spawning oondiiitilon 144 days after the first injection. Mter partial spawning, the eedl died on the same day. The gamadosomiaitic index was 6.47 and eye index increased by 14.38%. Each sperms itozoiid has a comma shaped body and a long ital. One female eel on which was administered 240 mg of camp pituitary extract and 19,000 IU of Chorionic gonadotropin (Profasd) 'hormone (ttorouglh 16 tojeotiians, attained1 'staiip-irOpe' condition 98 days after the first injedctfan and yielded 185,6 g of eggs on stripping. The gonadosoiraaitic index was 33.5 The total weight and eye index of the eel increased by 2.9% and 24.1%, respectively. The Mumiber of stripped aggs was estimated to be 0.35 million. The mature eggs were spherical and reJatdvely umlortn in suae measuring 1.00 mm (+ 0.08 mm) in diameter. Attempts made for amtificJJ fentdlisaton wene not successful. Fully developed ovary of A. bicolor bicolor is described1

Experimental culture of the short-finned eel Anguilla bicolor bicolor Mcclelland

In this paper the various techniques adopted in the culture of eels (Anguilla Spp.) and the results obtained in the experimental culture of the short-finned eel, Anguilla bicolor bicolor McClelland in running water and in recalculating running water have been dealt with. Experimental culture of the eel, A. bicolor bicolor in running water was conducted during 1974-76 at the Regional Centre of Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Mandapam Camp

ANTI-DIABETIC EFFECT OF POLYHERBAL FORMULATION IN OGTT AND STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETIC RAT MODEL

Objective: The present study investigates the efficacy of DiaKure, a poly herbal formulation composed of powder of different herbs on blood glucose level of normal and diabetic rats.Methods: The raw materials were collected made it into a powder formulation. Streptozotocin 60 mg/kg was administered as a single i. p. Injection for induction of type 1 diabetes. After one week of streptozotocin injection, animals showing glycosuria (fasting blood sugar level>200 mg/dL) were considered as diabetic. The hypoglycemic activity and glucose tolerance test were studied in normal and Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats after administration of DiaKure at a dose of 300 mg/kg. Blood glucose was determined by a glucose monitor.Results: At a dose of 200 and 300 mg/kg p. o., DiaKure showed a hypoglycemic effect at a varying degree of significance (P<0.05-0.001) in normal rats in comparison with the respective control group. Maximum effect of DiaKure treatment in the glucose tolerance test occurred at 120thminute of glucose administration in normal rats.Conclusion: The results indicate significant hypoglycemic activity of DiaKure in male albino rats.Â

STOP-AD portal: Selecting the optimal pharmaceutical for preclinical drug testing in Alzheimer\u27s disease.

We propose an unbiased methodology to rank compounds for advancement into comprehensive preclinical testing for Alzheimer\u27s disease (AD). Translation of compounds to the clinic in AD has been hampered by poor predictive validity of models, compounds with limited pharmaceutical properties, and studies that lack rigor. To overcome this, MODEL-AD\u27s Preclinical Testing Core developed a standardized pipeline for assessing efficacy in AD mouse models. We hypothesize that rank-ordering compounds based upon pharmacokinetic, efficacy, and toxicity properties in preclinical models will enhance successful translation to the clinic. Previously compound selection was based solely on physiochemical properties, with arbitrary cutoff limits, making ranking challenging. Since no gold standard exists for systematic prioritization, validating a selection criteria has remained elusive. The STOP-AD framework evaluates the drug-like properties to rank compounds for in vivo studies, and uses an unbiased approach that overcomes the validation limitation by performing Monte-Carlo simulations. HIGHLIGHTS: Promising preclinical studies for AD drugs have not translated to clinical success. Systematic assessment of AD drug candidates may increase clinical translatability. We describe a well-defined framework for compound selection with clear selection metrics

A randomized controlled trial of the effects of a prudent diet on cardiovascular risk factors, gene expression, and DNA methylation - the Diet and Genetic Intervention (DIGEST) Pilot study

Background Risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) can be increased by single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the 9p21 region of the genome. However, observational studies have shown that the deleterious effect of 9p21 SNPs on CVD might be offset by consuming a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables. This association may be driven by diet-influenced modifications in epigenetic and gene expression profiles. In this pilot study, we aimed to: i. test the feasibility of provision of a ‘Prudent’ and ‘Western’ diet outside of a specialized clinic, ii. assess the impact of each diet on cardiovascular risk factors. Methods A single centre, parallel two-arm, pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) with food provision was conducted in a university teaching hospital outpatient clinic (McMaster university, Hamilton, ON, Canada). The aim was to recruit 80 participants, which allowed for a 10 % dropout. The actual study consisted of 84 apparently healthy participants (69 % women, 18 to 77 years) at low cardiovascular risk. Participants were randomly assigned to follow one of two weight-maintaining diets: ‘Prudent’ or ‘Western’ for 2-weeks. The Prudent diet provided 92 % of provided food consumed). The Prudent diet was 48 % more palatable than the Western diet (P < 0.05). Participants receiving the Prudent diet showed a trend toward reduced systolic (-4 mmHg; P = 0.10) and diastolic (-3 mmHg; P = 0.07) blood pressure, and total cholesterol (-0.24 mmol/L; P = 0.08), compared to individuals receiving the Western diet. Data collection from all randomized participants was completed within 18 months. Conclusions Recruitment, and retention of apparently healthy, normotensive adults into a feeding study for a 2-week duration is feasible outside of specialized dietary clinic, and modest diet-related changes in biomarkers begin to appear after two weeks

Tree defence and bark beetles in a drying world: carbon partitioning, functioning and modelling

Drought has promoted large‐scale, insect‐induced tree mortality in recent years, with severe consequences for ecosystem function, atmospheric processes, sustainable resources and global biogeochemical cycles. However, the physiological linkages among drought, tree defences, and insect outbreaks are still uncertain, hindering our ability to accurately predict tree mortality under on‐going climate change. Here we propose an interdisciplinary research agenda for addressing these crucial knowledge gaps. Our framework includes field manipulations, laboratory experiments, and modelling of insect and vegetation dynamics, and focuses on how drought affects interactions between conifer trees and bark beetles. We build upon existing theory and examine several key assumptions: 1) there is a trade‐off in tree carbon investment between primary and secondary metabolites (e.g. growth vs. defence); 2) secondary metabolites are one of the main component of tree defence against bark beetles and associated microbes; and 3) implementing conifer‐bark beetle interactions in current models improves predictions of forest disturbance in a changing climate. Our framework provides guidance for addressing a major shortcoming in current implementations of large‐scale vegetation models, the under‐representation of insect‐induced tree mortality