Pengembangan Varietas Unggul Lada Tahan Penyakit Busuk Pangkal Batang yang di Sebabkan oleh Phytophthora Capsici

Lada (Piper nigrum) merupakan tanaman rempah yang dibudidayakan banyak petani di Indonesia. Produktivitas lada Indonesia relatif rendah, selain karena fluktuasi harga sehingga petani kesulitan memelihara kebun dengan baik, juga akibat serangan penyakit busuk pangkal batang (BPB) yang disebabkan oleh jamur Phytophthora capsici. Untuk mengurangi kerugian hasil akibat serangan BPB, perlu dilakukan pengembangan tanaman lada tahan BPB berdaya hasil tinggi disertai dengan sistem budi daya yang efisien. Namun, pengembangan varietas lada tahan BPB menghadapi masalah sempitnya keragaman genetik lada dan adanya variasi virulensi P. capsici. Upaya mendapatkan lada tahan BPB telah dilakukan melalui persilangan intraspesies maupun antarspesies Piper spp., tetapi masih perlu dilanjutkan untuk mendapatkan varietas lada tahan BPB dan berdaya hasil tinggi. Sebaran geografis P. capsici yang luas dan adanya variasi virulensi pada populasi P. capsici menyebabkan komponen pengendalian BPB yang lain perlu terus diperbaiki. Upaya ini penting untuk mendukung budi daya lada tahan BPB dan kelangsungan produksi lada nasional

Multiple Novel Signals Mediate Thyroid Hormone Receptor Nuclear Import and Export

Thyroid hormone receptor (TR) is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily that shuttles between the cytosol and nucleus. The fine balance between nuclear import and export of TR has emerged as a critical control point for modulating thyroid hormone-responsive gene expression; however, sequence motifs of TR that mediate shuttling are not fully defined. Here, we characterized multiple signals that direct TR shuttling. Along with the known nuclear localization signal in the hinge domain, we identified a novel nuclear localization signal in the A/B domain of thyroid hormone receptor a1 that is absent in thyroid hormone receptor B1 and inactive in the oncoprotein v-ErbA. Our prior studies showed that thyroid hormone receptor a1 exits the nucleus through two pathways, one dependent on the export factor CRM1 and the other CRM1-independent. Here, we identified three novel CRM1-independent nuclear export signal (NES) motifs in the ligand-binding domain as follows: a highly conserved NES in helix 12 (NES-H12) and two additional NES sequences spanning helix 3 and helix 6, respectively. Mutations predicted to disrupt the a-helical structure resulted in a significant decrease in NES-H12 activity. The high degree of conservation of helix 12 suggests that this region may function as a key NES in other nuclear receptors. Furthermore, our mutagenesis studies on NES-H12 suggest that altered shuttling of thyroid hormone receptor B1 may be a contributing factor in resistance to thyroid hormone syndrome. Taken together, our findings provide a detailed mechanistic understanding of the multiple signals that work together to regulate TR shuttling and transcriptional activity, and they provide important insights into nuclear receptor function in genera

Pengaruh Umur Panen Rimpang terhadap Perubahan Fisiologi dan Viabilitas Benih Jahe Putih Besar Selama Penyimpanan

Salah satu faktor yang menentukan daya simpan benih jahe putihbesar (JPB) adalah mutu. Mutu benih sangat ditentukan oleh tingkatkemasakan rimpang. Penelitian bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruhumur panen terhadap Perubahan fisiologi dan viabilitas benih selamapenyimpanan. Penelitian dilaksanakan di Rumah Kaca dan LaboratoriumTeknologi Benih, Balai Penelitian Tanaman Rempah dan Obat sertaLaboratorium Pascapanen IPB Bogor, mulai bulan Juli 2012 sampaidengan Februari 2013. Rancangan yang digunakan adalah acak lengkap(RAL) dengan lima ulangan. Perlakuan yang diuji adalah tiga tingkat umurpanen benih 7, 8, dan 9 bulan setelah tanam (BST). Pengamatan dilakukanterhadap Perubahan fisiologis (penyusutan bobot, persentase rimpangbertunas, tunas, kadar air, dan laju respirasi), serta viabilitas rimpang benih(daya tumbuh, tinggi, dan bobot kering bibit). Hasil penelitianmenunjukkan rimpang benih umur 7 dan 8 BST mempunyai daya simpanterbaik karena menghasilkan masing-masing total angka penyusutan bobotlebih rendah (24,65 dan 25,25%) dan tunas lebih pendek (0,30 dan 1,08cm) dibandingkan dengan umur panen 9 BST (27,13% dan 1,62 cm),selama 4 bulan disimpan. Masa dormansi rimpang benih JPB mulai pecahsetelah mengalami periode simpan 2 bulan. Pertumbuhannya mulaiseragam setelah 3 bulan simpan. Umur panen jahe 7 dan 8 BSTmempunyai derajat dormansi yang lebih tinggi dibanding 9 BST. Rimpangbenih umur panen 7, 8, dan 9 BST mempunyai daya tumbuh tinggi (>95%)dan pertumbuhan bibit seragam setelah 3 bulan disimpan

Preparation, Characterization and In Vitro Drug Release Studies of 6-mercaptopurine Thin Film

Oral thin films of 6-mercaptopurine were fabricated from mucoadhesive polymer, chitosan and polyvinylpyrrolidone for the purpose of prolonging drug release and improving its bioavailability. All fabricated film formulations prepared were smooth and translucent, with good flexibility. The weight and thickness of all the formulations were found to be uniform. These films were also evaluated for surface pH, folding endurance, swelling percentage (% S) and in vitro disintegration time. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) were used to evaluate the physico-chemical nature of the films. In-vitro drug release have shown enhanced release profiles for thin films compared to pure drug and the release patterns have been found to be pH dependant. The results of the study reveals that fabrication of 6-MP oral thin film by using solvent cast technology is a simple and an efficient method for drug delivery to achieve desired therapeutic compliance.Keywords: 6-mercaptopurine; In Vitro Drug Release; SEM; FTI

Analysis of Stability and G × E Interaction of Rice Genotypes across Saline and Alkaline Environments in India

Genotype × environment (G × E) interaction effects are of special interest for identifying the most suitable genotypes with respect to target environments, representative locations and other specific stresses. Twenty-two advanced breeding lines contributed by the national partners of the Salinity Tolerance Breeding Network (STBN) along with four checks were evaluated across 12 different salt affected sites comprising five coastal saline and seven alkaline environments in India. The study was conducted to assess the G × E interaction and stability of advanced breeding lines for yield and yield components using additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) model. In the AMMI1 biplot, there were two mega-environments (ME) includes ME-A as CARI, KARAIKAL, TRICHY and NDUAT with winning genotype CSR 2K 262; and ME-B as KARSO, LUCKN, KARSA, GOA, CRRI, DRR, BIHAR and PANVE with winning genotypes CSR 36. Genotypes CSR 2K 262, CSR 27, NDRK 11-4, NDRK 11-3, NDRK 11-2, CSR 2K 255 and PNL 1-1-1-6-7-1 were identified as specifically adapted to favorable locations. The stability and adaptability of AMMI indicated that the best yielding genotypes were CSR 2K 262 for both coastal saline and alkaline environments and CSR 36 for alkaline environment. CARI and PANVEL were found as the most discernible environments for genotypic performance because of the greatest GE interaction. The genotype CSR 36 is specifically adapted to coastal saline environments GOA, KARSO, DRR, CRRI and BIHAR and while genotype CSR 2K 262 adapted to alkaline environments LUCKN, NDUAT, TRICH and KARAI. Use of most adapted lines could be used directly as varieties. Using them as donors for wide or specific adaptability with selection in the target environment offers the best opportunity for widening the genetic base of coastal salinity and alkalinity stress tolerance and development of adapted genotypes. Highly stable genotypes can improve the rice productivity in salt-affected areas and ensure livelihood of the resource poor farming communities

Prospect and potential of Burkholderia sp. against Phytophthora capsici Leonian: a causative agent for foot rot disease of black pepper

Foot rot disease is a very destructive disease in black pepper in Malaysia. It is caused by Phytophthora capsici Leonian, which is a soilborne pathogenic protist (phylum, Oomycota) that infects aerial and subterranean structures of many host plants. This pathogen is a polycyclic, such that multiple cycles of infection and inoculum production occur in a single growing season. It is more prevalent in the tropics because of the favourable environmental conditions. The utilization of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) as a biological control agent has been successfully implemented in controlling many plant pathogens. Many studies on the exploration of beneficial organisms have been carried out such as Pseudomonas fluorescens, which is one of the best examples used for the control of Fusarium wilt in tomato. Similarly, P. fluorescens is found to be an effective biocontrol agent against the foot rot disease in black pepper. Nowadays there is tremendous novel increase in the species of Burkholderia with either mutualistic or antagonistic interactions in the environment. Burkholderia sp. is an indigenous PGPR capable of producing a large number of commercially important hydrolytic enzymes and bioactive substances that promote plant growth and health; are eco-friendly, biodegradable and specific in their actions; and have a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity in keeping down the population of phytopathogens, thus playing a great role in promoting sustainable agriculture today. Hence, in this book chapter, the potential applications of Burkholderia sp. to control foot rot disease of black pepper in Malaysia, their control mechanisms, plant growth promotion, commercial potentials and the future prospects as indigenous PGPR were discussed in relation to sustainable agriculture

A computational framework for complex disease stratification from multiple large-scale datasets.

BACKGROUND: Multilevel data integration is becoming a major area of research in systems biology. Within this area, multi-'omics datasets on complex diseases are becoming more readily available and there is a need to set standards and good practices for integrated analysis of biological, clinical and environmental data. We present a framework to plan and generate single and multi-'omics signatures of disease states. METHODS: The framework is divided into four major steps: dataset subsetting, feature filtering, 'omics-based clustering and biomarker identification. RESULTS: We illustrate the usefulness of this framework by identifying potential patient clusters based on integrated multi-'omics signatures in a publicly available ovarian cystadenocarcinoma dataset. The analysis generated a higher number of stable and clinically relevant clusters than previously reported, and enabled the generation of predictive models of patient outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: This framework will help health researchers plan and perform multi-'omics big data analyses to generate hypotheses and make sense of their rich, diverse and ever growing datasets, to enable implementation of translational P4 medicine