Pole harvesting - A skillful operation in oil palm fresh fruit bunch (FFB) harvest

The study demonstrates the importance of skilled pole harvester (PH). Skill in pole harvesting ultimately reduces the human drudgery, time and cost involved in rope and cutlass harvest (RCH) while harvesting oil palm fresh fruit bunches (FFBs). Comparative cumulative harvesting activities in FFB harvest apparently showed that average number of strokes for frond(s) and FFB harvest by skilled PH (8.6) were less than unskilled PH (22.0). The slashing time required to harvest FFB was less in case of skilled PH (2.1 min) compared with RCH (3.2 min.) and unskilled PH (17.8 min.) which eventually is reflected in total slashing and harvesting time for 1 MT FFBs. The difficulty experienced by unskilled PH was likely to be more than RCH and skilled PH method of harvest

Occurrence of Banana bract mosaic virus on Musa ornata Roxb based hybrids in India

Not AvailableMusa ornata, wild species of banana is being used as a cut flower, potted plants and for landscape gardening etc., They are also being utilized in banana hybridization programmes for introgressing pest and disease tolerant traits into banana cultivars in addition to the development of inter specific ornamental banana hybrids. Symptoms of banana bract mosaic virus (BBrMV) was observed in the bracts of interspecific M. ornata based hybrid developed using another wild species i.e., Musa rubra Kurz at ICAR-National Research Centre for Banana (NRCB), Tiruchirapalli. Presence of the virus in the bracts, leaves and roots of symptomatic plants was confirmed through triple antibody sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay with BBrMV monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. BBrMV HC-Pro (1370 bp), CP (900 bp) and VPg (570 bp) genes were amplified from the infected bracts using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction with BBrMV respective gene primers. The amplicons of these three genes were cloned and sequenced. Blastn analysis revealed that HC-Pro, VPg and CP gene sequences has 97.67%, 97.72% and 99.67% similarity with the respective gene sequences of BBrMV infecting banana. Phylogenetic analysis clustered the test isolate with other BBrMV isolates of banana and other hosts based on CP and HC-Pro and VPg gene sequences. The virus is transmitted through Pentalonia nigronervosa and the transmitted plants expressed symptoms under glass house conditions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of BBrMV on ornamental M. ornata hybrid in India and its transmission occurs through Pentalonia nigronervosa.ICAR-Consortia Research Platform (CRP) on vaccines and diagnostic

Genetic diversity of vegetative and bunch traits of African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) germplasm in India

Knowledge on genetic diversity among breeding materials could be an invaluable aid in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) improvement strategies. Germplasm from primary/secondary centres of origin were collected during 1994 under FAO programme and planted in the gene bank at DOPR Research Centre, Palode during 1998 were studied for genetic diversity. Twenty six accessions representing three African countries (Guinea Bissau, Tanzania and Zambia) were studied using 50 individual palms. Thirty numbers of vegetative and bunch component traits recorded during 2008 to 2013 were analysed in this study. An attempt was made using Shannon-Weaver Diversity Index (SWDI) with an objective to understand the level of diversity in these traits. In general, mean of all the accessions exhibited high levels (0.694) of diversity. Mean diversity estimate (0.778) was highest in Tanzanian source closely followed by Zambia (0.727) and least value (0.576) was observed in Guinea Bissau. Low diversity values (<0.32) for bunch weight, shell thickness, single fruit, and nut weight noticed in Guinea Bissau when compared to other sources. Highest level of homozygosity (SWD=0) for spine length was observed in Guinea Bissau population and similar trend of homzygosity noticed in other traits also in GB accessions. These findings combined with other evaluation results suggest that "Tanzanian population" possess adequate genetic variability that is potentially useful for oil palm improvement program in India. More palms should be preserved for populations that have higher diversity and those with rare traits

Effects of Thyroxine Exposure on Osteogenesis in Mouse Calvarial Pre-Osteoblasts

The incidence of craniosynostosis is one in every 1,800-2500 births. The gene-environment model proposes that if a genetic predisposition is coupled with environmental exposures, the effects can be multiplicative resulting in severely abnormal phenotypes. At present, very little is known about the role of gene-environment interactions in modulating craniosynostosis phenotypes, but prior evidence suggests a role for endocrine factors. Here we provide a report of the effects of thyroid hormone exposure on murine calvaria cells. Murine derived calvaria cells were exposed to critical doses of pharmaceutical thyroxine and analyzed after 3 and 7 days of treatment. Endpoint assays were designed to determine the effects of the hormone exposure on markers of osteogenesis and included, proliferation assay, quantitative ALP activity assay, targeted qPCR for mRNA expression of Runx2, Alp, Ocn, and Twist1, genechip array for 28,853 targets, and targeted osteogenic microarray with qPCR confirmations. Exposure to thyroxine stimulated the cells to express ALP in a dose dependent manner. There were no patterns of difference observed for proliferation. Targeted RNA expression data confirmed expression increases for Alp and Ocn at 7 days in culture. The genechip array suggests substantive expression differences for 46 gene targets and the targeted osteogenesis microarray indicated 23 targets with substantive differences. 11 gene targets were chosen for qPCR confirmation because of their known association with bone or craniosynostosis (Col2a1, Dmp1, Fgf1, 2, Igf1, Mmp9, Phex, Tnf, Htra1, Por, and Dcn). We confirmed substantive increases in mRNA for Phex, FGF1, 2, Tnf, Dmp1, Htra1, Por, Igf1 and Mmp9, and substantive decreases for Dcn. It appears thyroid hormone may exert its effects through increasing osteogenesis. Targets isolated suggest a possible interaction for those gene products associated with calvarial suture growth and homeostasis as well as craniosynostosis. © 2013 Cray et al

Human coronavirus OC43 3CL protease and the potential of ML188 as a broad-spectrum lead compound: Homology modelling and molecular dynamic studies

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus 3 chymotrypsin-like protease (3CL(pro)) is a validated target in the design of potential anticoronavirus inhibitors. The high degree of homology within the protease’s active site and substrate conservation supports the identification of broad spectrum lead compounds. A previous study identified the compound ML188, also termed 16R, as an inhibitor of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) 3CL(pro). This study will detail the generation of a homology model of the 3CL(pro) of the human coronavirus OC43 and determine the potential of 16R to form a broad-spectrum lead compound. MODELLER was used to generate a suitable three-dimensional model of the OC43 3CL(pro) and the Prime module of Schrӧdinger predicted the binding conformation and free energy of binding of 16R within the 3CL(pro) active site. Molecular dynamics further confirmed ligand stability and hydrogen bonding networks. RESULTS: A high quality homology model of the OC43 3CL(pro) was successfully generated in an active conformation. Further studies reproduced the binding pose of 16R within the active site of the generated model, where its free energy of binding was shown to equal that of the 3CL(pro) of SARS-CoV, a receptor it is experimentally proven to inhibit. The stability of the ligand was subsequently confirmed by molecular dynamics. CONCLUSION: The lead compound 16R may represent a broad-spectrum inhibitor of the 3CL(pro) of OC43 and potentially other coronaviruses. This study provides an atomistic structure of the 3CL(pro) of OC43 and supports further experimental validation of the inhibitory effects of 16R. These findings further confirm that the 3CL(pro) of coronaviruses can be inhibited by broad spectrum lead compounds

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Not AvailableThe study demonstrates the importance of skilled pole harvester (PH). Skill in pole harvesting ultimately reduces the human drudgery, time and cost involved in rope and cutlass harvest (RCH) while harvesting oil palm fresh fruit bunches (FFBs). Comparative cumulative harvesting activities in FFB harvest apparently showed that average number of strokes for frond(s) and FFB harvest by skilled PH (8.6) were less than unskilled PH (22.0). The slashing time required to harvest FFB was less in case of skilled PH (2.1 min) compared with RCH (3.2 min.) and unskilled PH (17.8 min.) which eventually is reflected in total slashing and harvesting time for 1 MT FFBs. The difficulty experienced by unskilled PH was likely to be more than RCH and skilled PH method of harvest.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableThis study explored institutional arrangements with regard to government-sponsored watershed development programmes in the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh, India. The appraisal of structure and role of institutions at different levels revealed adequate representation of various social groups, but the associations among stakeholder institutions as well as various resource agencies were found to be weak. A glance at the component-wise expenditure pattern showed an unequal emphasis and funding support between land–water development and livelihood activities. Responses from beneficiary respondents revealed a strong adherence to socio-economic and political issues by non-governmental organizations as well as technical issues by government organizations during implementation of the watershed programmes.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableThis study explored institutional arrangements with regard to government-sponsored watershed development programmes in the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh, India. The appraisal of structure and role of institutions at different levels revealed adequate representation of various social groups, but the associations among stakeholder institutions as well as various resource agencies were found to be weak. A glance at the component-wise expenditure pattern showed an unequal emphasis and funding support between land–water development and livelihood activities. Responses from beneficiary respondents revealed a strong adherence to socio-economic and political issues by non-governmental organizations as well as technical issues by government organizations during implementation of the watershed programmes.Not Availabl