Genome survey report of Thai ricefish (Oryzias minutillus) (Actinopterygii: Beloniformes)

Thai ricefish (Oryzias minutillus) is the smallest species in the Oryzias genus, widely distributed throughout Thailand. They are important in the trophic level of food webs within freshwater ecosystems. However, knowledge about the molecular data of this fish is lacking. Therefore, in this study, we surveyed the genome data of Thai ricefish collected from Mae Hong Son Province, Northwestern Thailand. In the initial assembly, the total genome and mitochondrial genome of Thai ricefish were 824 Mb and 16,954 bp, respectively. The total sizes of contig and scaffold were 547.7 and 585.9 Mb, respectively. The total genome size per mitochondrial size was 0.049. Phylogenetic relationship of Thai ricefish and related species of Oryzias was constructed based on mitochondrial genome. The nucleotide similarity of all genes in the mitogenome of Thai ricefish was compared with the related species of Oryzias from nucleotide database of the National Center for Biotechnology Information. The results provide data that increase knowledge of molecular genetics and a basis for further work on fish in genus Oryzias

Using Morphology and Genomic Template Stability (GTS) to Track Herbicide Effect on Some Submersed Aquatic Plants

This study aimed to detect the genotoxic effects of glyphosate on aquatic plants by the RAPD-PCR technique. Native aquatic plants were screened for herbicide testing. The aquatic plant amounts and species were counted and a comparison was made between natural ponds and paddy fields for a total of 17 sites; paddy fields (site 1-10), ponds beside paddy fields (site 11-14), and natural ponds (site 15-17). At each studied site, 5 randomized sampling plots of 2 x 5 m size were performed. Generally, the natural ponds contained more aquatic plant diversity than the paddy fields. However, some species such as Najas graminea Del. and Ceratophyllum demersum Linn. were found only in the paddy fields and natural ponds, respectively. The effect of glyphosate and butachlor on aquatic plants was observed. Changes in color and morphology were found to be related to higher dose treatment. The RAPD profiles were analyzed for the study of genomic template stability (GTS). Results indicated that the GTS of Hydrilla verticellata was lowest (7.14 %GTS), followed by Utricularia aurea lour (30.77 %GTS), N. graminea Del. (38.71 %GTS), and Nitella sp. (59.38 %GTS). These results confirmed the effects of herbicides on abnormal morphology and DNA instability. In addition, results of genotoxicity of glyphosate on some aquatic plants (Hydrilla verticellata, Utricularia aurea lour, and N. graminea Del.), and macroalgae (Nitella sp.) verified that the method of RAPD-PCR could be used as a biomarker to detect herbicide contamination in aquatic ecological systems

Carbamate and Organophosphate Contamination in Soil, Rice, and Water Samples from Rice Paddy Fields in Nakhon Nayok Province

This study purposes to determine pesticides of carbamate and organophosphate group found in soil, rice, and water samples from rice paddy fields in Village number (Moo) 4, Banpraw Sub-district, Banna District in Nakhon Nayok Province. The sampling sites were selected in 27 agricultural areas using Global Positioning System (GPS). It was found that 42.3 % of all surveyed farmers had used pesticides in their rice paddy fields between June 2014 to January 2015. Moreover, the soil ( =27), water (n=10) and rice (n=27) samples were tested using a GT test kit. This study reports that 77.78 %, 85.18 % and 70 % of soil, rice and water samples respectively were contaminated with carbamate and organophosphate pesticides. It demonstrated that more than 60 % of the collected samples were contaminated with the pesticides, at the significance level of (p = 0.001). Herbicides were most frequently used (62.20 %), followed by insecticides (26.83 %) and chemical control of plant diseases (10.98 %). Organophosphate group was an insecticide that mostly used up to 50 % of the total used. Therefore, the obtained data may be further applied to improve the natural environment and to programs for health promotion of farmers

Source and Health Risk Assessment of Some Heavy Metals in Non-Certified Organic Rice Farming at Nakhon Nayok Province, Thailand

Heavy metals contamination in non-certified organic rice farming without buffering zone are affected by many factors. The monitoring and assessment in agricultural soils and rice grain are required to estimate the potential risk of organic products. The occurrence of heavy metals in agricultural soils and rice grain were in a ranking order of Pb > Mn > Zn > Cu > Ni and   Zn > Mn > Pb > Cu > Ni, respectively. However, Pb and Zn contents were more than exceeded the maximum permissible in rice grain.  The non-certified organic rice farming might cause health risk for consumers,  the high Health Index (HI) values of rice consuming  for adults male (5.10-35.09) and female (6.12-42.08) indicated that their adverse health effect still be serious problem for consumers by taking rice products from these non-certified organic rice farming. Basing on the person’s correlation analysis and principle components analysis indicated that Target Hazard Quotients (THQ) of Zn was positive correlated with Zn content in soil and Zn bioaccumulation in rice.  Highlights, contamination sources were identified that Zn and Mn mainly derived from main road and community activities, while, Pb and Cu contaminants mainly derived from paddy field activities. This funding will confirm awareness for health risk of non-certified organic rice farming

Glucosidase inhibition and compound identification of stingless bee honey and preserved fruits of Citrus japonica

Food preservation has many benefits, such as increasing shelf life, retaining nutritional values and biological activities. In the current study, total phenolic content (TCP), antioxidant and anti-glucosidase activities, and kinetic of glucose inhibition of stingless bee honey, honey mixed with fruits, and extracts of Citrus japonica were evaluated by measuring color of a reaction using a spectrophotometer. The result showed that high TPC was found in ethanol extract of C. japonica leaves and fruits (26.79 ± 6.94 and 12.79 ± 0.87 mg of gallic acid per g extract), while stingless bee honey revealed the highest antioxidant activity (1/EC50 = 0.2921) and honey mixed with fruits revealed the strongest anti-glucosidase activity (1/EC50 = 1.8181), significantly (P-value <0.05). Kinetic of glucosidase inhibition of honey were found as uncompetitive and mixed competitive inhibition, while the honey mixed with fruits showed mixed competitive inhibition. The FTIR and GC-MS analysis demonstrated the presence of several bioactive compounds. Very strong positive relationship between total phenolic content with GC-MS data was found (r = 0.926, P-value < 0.05). This knowledge confirmed that stingless bee honey and honey mixed with fruits had greater anti-diabatic potential in comparison with the extracts of C. japonica leaves and fruits

Phytochemical composition, anti-amylase and anti-acetylcholinesterase activities of leaf extracts and herbal tea of Dolichandrone serrulata (DC.) seem

The number of elderly population is continually growing in Thailand. Major health problems mostly occurred in the elder are non-communicable diseases namely Alzheimer's disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. In current study, phytochemical composition, anti-amylase and anti-acetylcholinesterase activities of leaf extracts and herbal tea from Dolichandrone serrulata (DC.) Seem were determined. The result showed that extracts and herbal tea samples of D. serrulata leaves had effective in inhibition of amylase (an effective concentration at half maximum (EC50) = 1.21 to 23.80 mg/ml) and acetylcholinesterase activities (EC50 = 2.63 to 49.55 mg/ml). The effect of infusion time on the inhibition of amylase indicated that the best infusion time for preparing herbal tea beverage was 3 min, while the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase was 5 min. The fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and gas chromatograph - mass spectrometer (GC–MS) data indicated the presence of phytochemicals in the extracts and herbal tea samples related to phenolic compounds and flavonoids. The principal component analysis (PCA) result from FTIR data could discriminate herbal tea samples from the ethanol and aqueous extracts better than the PCA biplot of anti-amylase activity and anti-acetylcholinesterase activity

Evaluation of Pesticide and Heavy Metal Contamination on Soil Properties and Microbiota in Thailand's Mountainous Region

The article aims to investigate the state of soil elements in upland agriculture and the state of pesticide contamination in the environment of differing highland agricultural areas in Thailand. The number of heavy metals present was Fe > Mn > Zn > Pb > Ni > Cu > Cd, dominant pesticide contamination in the carbamate group is methomyl (0.11 mg/kg), and the organochlorine group is triazophos (0.02 mg/kg). Pesticide contamination was found to positively and significantly correlate with the soil's total N and Fe content (p < 0.01). In the soil microbes, the dominant genera of Aquabacterium were found at the highland agriculture site H1, Massilia at H2, and Sphingomonas at H3

Evaluation of Pesticide and Heavy Metal Contamination on Soil Properties and Microbiota in Thailand’s Mountainous Region

The article aims to investigate the state of soil elements in upland agriculture and the state of pesticide contamination in the environment of differing highland agricultural areas in Thailand. The number of heavy metals present was Fe &gt; Mn &gt; Zn &gt; Pb &gt; Ni &gt; Cu &gt; Cd, dominant pesticide contamination in the carbamate group is methomyl (0.11 mg/kg), and the organochlorine group is triazophos (0.02 mg/kg). Pesticide contamination was found to positively and significantly correlate with the soil’s total N and Fe content (p &lt; 0.01). In the soil microbes, the dominant genera of Aquabacterium were found at the highland agriculture site H1, Massilia at H2, and Sphingomonas at H3