Semi-dwarf narrow rolled leaf mutant in rice: Photosynthetic efficiency and physiological response to gibberellic acid (GA3)

Leaf is the major component for fixation of carbondioxide to produce more photoassimilates and maintains source sink relationship in plants. The present investigation was carried out to study the photosynthetic efficiency and physiological response of GA3 of semi-dwraf narrow rolled leaf mutant. Semi-dwarf narrow rolled leaf mutant exhibited reduced plant height, reduced leaf width, reduced panicle length and number of grains per panicle when compared to wild type. Photosynthetic efficiency study revealed that the mutant showed higher photosynthetic efficiency than wild type. Complementation test with GA3 clearly revealed that this mutant is sensitive to GA3 and revert to normal plant height. Scanning Electron Microscope study revealed that mutant had exhibited minimum number of inter-veins between veins, minimum distance between midrib and has slightly larger cell size. Hence, this loss of function mutant is very useful to map the regions associated with panicle length, number of grains per panicle and other traits related to enhancement of yield. The result provides an important clue for further understanding the mechanism of rice leaf development and plant architecture

Quantum Mechanics of Extended Objects

We propose a quantum mechanics of extended objects that accounts for the finite extent of a particle defined via its Compton wavelength. The Hilbert space representation theory of such a quantum mechanics is presented and this representation is used to demonstrate the quantization of spacetime. The quantum mechanics of extended objects is then applied to two paradigm examples, namely, the fuzzy (extended object) harmonic oscillator and the Yukawa potential. In the second example, we theoretically predict the phenomenological coupling constant of the $\omega$ meson, which mediates the short range and repulsive nucleon force, as well as the repulsive core radius.Comment: RevTex, 24 pages, 1 eps and 5 ps figures, format change

Fine mapping of rice drought QTL and study on combined effect of QTL for their physiological parameters under moisture stress condition

The present investigation was undertaken to study the effect of different yield QTL (DTY2.2, DTY3.1 and DTY8.1) under drought and their physiological response to drought stress. Backcross Inbred Lines (BILs) of IR64 (CB-193 and CB-229) along with IR64, APO and the traditional rice variety Norungan were raised in green house condition under water stress and control to evaluate the effect of the QTL on grain yield. The BIL CB-193 recorded higher photosynthetic rate (22.051), transpiration rate (7.152) and Ci/Ca ratio (0.597) whereas the BIL CB-229 recorded high relative water content (80.76%). It was found that the combination of three QTL (CB-229) performed better than the susceptible parent and the line with two QTL (CB-193 Fine-mapping of two QTLs viz., qDTY2.2 and qDTY8.1, for grain yield (GY) were conducted using backcross derived lines. Composite interval mapping analyses resolved the originally identified qDTY2.2 region of 6.7 cM into a segment of 2.1 cM and two sub QTLs at region between RM23132 and RM1578 (75.75 cM- 77.66 cM), RM515 and RM1578 (75.11 cM-77.66 cM) were identified in qDTY8.1 region. However this study provides a unique opportunity to breeders to introgress such regions together as a unit into high-yielding drought-susceptible varieties through MAS

Using group work to harness students\u27 multilinguistic competencies for a better understanding of assignment questions

In South Africa, it is readily acknowledged that there is an absence of pedagogy to inform multilanguage usage for students for whom English is not a first language. Equally noteworthy, is that while group work has been used extensively as an active learning methodology, which has not been explored to the same extent is the manifestation of translanguaging when working in groups. This study explored how best to harness students’ multilingual competencies for a better understanding of assignment questions. The population comprised of first year Business Communication students at a university of technology. A mixed method research design revealed that when multilingual students engaged in group work, there was a tendency of gravitation towards translanguaging which resulted in students having a better understanding of assignment questions. It was concluded that group work can serve as an enabler for translanguaging, harnessing students’ multilingual competencies for a better understanding of their work

AN UPDATE ON THE SYNTHESIS OF BENZOXAZOLES

Benzoxazoles being structurally similar to bases adenine and guanine interact with biomolecules present in living systems. These compounds possess antimicrobial, central nervous system activities, antihyperglycemic potentiating activity, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory activity. It can also be used as starting material for other bioactive molecules. Modifications in structure and the biological profiles of new generations of benzoxazoles were found to be more potent with enhanced biological activity. Considering all these, we have prepared this review and discussed the synthesis and biological activities of benzoxazoles

Environmental Sustainability: The Case of a Multi-Business Packaging Organisation in South Africa

South Africa contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and is vulnerable to climate change\u27s effects on health, livelihoods, water, and food. The South African Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) supports an equitable transition to a low-carbon economy and a climate‐resilient society protected for the benefit of present and future generations. The increased awareness and requirement to protect the environment has resulted in a growing demand from environmentally conscious customers for suppliers to practice the triple bottom line that requires a balanced approach to managing people, planet, and profit. Organisations therefore must have clear environmental objectives that must be aligned with the strategic goals of the organisation, to ensure better, utilisation of the organisation’s resources, management of cost, and management of the organisation’s environmental culture. Organisations implement Environmental Management Systems (EMS) to evaluate, eliminate and mitigate their impact on the environment to improve their environmental performance. This study was conducted across three business units of a South African packaging organisation that aimed to ascertain the environmental sustainability status of the organisation. A mixed quantitative and qualitative research methodology was used to gain an understanding of the current environmental sustainability initiatives of the organisation and the challenges that the organisation faced towards achieving its’ contribution towards environmental sustainability. The results of the research indicated that the organisation has environment management systems that support environment sustainability, however, there is room to further improve their environmental performance