Plant regeneration from leaf-derived callus in Plectranthus barbatus Andr. [Syn.: Coleus forskohlii (Wild.) Briq.]

A protocol was developed for Plectranthus barbatus for high frequency shoot organogenesis from leaf derived callus of aseptically grown plantlets derived from mature plant explants of high yielding clones (yield of forskolin 1.5 to 1.9%) on Gamborg medium (B5) medium supplemented with 2 mg/l 2,4- dichloro phenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D). Shoots were regenerated from the callus on MS medium supplemented with 6-benzyl amino purine (BAP) (2 mg/l) + naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) (1 mg/l). The highest rate of shoot multiplication was achieved at the 6th subculture and more than 2000 shoots were produced from callus clump. Roots were induced from shoots of in vitro grown plantlets on basal half strength MS medium and high rooting frequencies were obtained. Regenerated plants were easily acclimatized in greenhouse conditions and later transferred to soil with 100% survival. The procedure here allows the micropropagation of P. barbatus in five months of culture and proliferated cell masses which could be used for studies of organic compounds of pharmaceutical interest.Keywords: Callus culture, medicinal plant, root induction, shoot organogenesisAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(18), pp. 2441-244

Weighted cumulative residual Entropy Generating Function and its properties

The study on the generating function approach to entropy become popular as it generates several well-known entropy measures discussed in the literature. In this work, we define the weighted cumulative residual entropy generating function (WCREGF) and study its properties. We then introduce the dynamic weighted cumulative residual entropy generating function (DWCREGF). It is shown that the DWCREGF determines the distribution uniquely. We study some characterization results using the relationship between the DWCREGF and the hazard rate and/or the mean residual life function. Using a characterization based on DWCREGF, we develop a new goodness fit test for Rayleigh distribution. A Monte Carlo simulation study is conducted to evaluate the proposed test. Finally, the test is illustrated using two real data sets.Comment: arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:2211.0548

Pongamia seed cake as a valuable source of plant nutrients for sustainable agriculture

Pongamia, a multipurpose leguminous tree containing non-edible oil, grows widely in India. Oil extracted from the seeds of Pongamia is used as energy source as well as in tanneries while the cake (a byproduct after extracting oil) was found to be rich in all plant nutrients in general and nitrogen (4.28%) and sulfur (0.19%) in particular. Both nitrogen and sulfur were found to be deficient in 100 and 80%, respectively, in soil samples from farmers' fields in Powerguda village of Adilabad district, Andhra Pradesh, India. Use of Pongamia seed cake as a source of plant nutrients for maize, soyabean and cotton was found beneficial in participatory research and development trials on farmers' fields. Further, application of critically deficient micronutrients such as zinc and boron and secondary nutrient sulfur increased crop yields by 16.7 and 19% in soyabean and cotton, respectively. In addition, B:C ratios of 5.03, 1.81 and 2.04 were obtained for soyabean, maize and cotton, respectively, with use of cake as a source of N, however it needed higher initial investment

Neural development features: Spatio-temporal development of the Caenorhabditis elegans neuronal network

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, with information on neural connectivity, three-dimensional position and cell linage provides a unique system for understanding the development of neural networks. Although C. elegans has been widely studied in the past, we present the first statistical study from a developmental perspective, with findings that raise interesting suggestions on the establishment of long-distance connections and network hubs. Here, we analyze the neuro-development for temporal and spatial features, using birth times of neurons and their three-dimensional positions. Comparisons of growth in C. elegans with random spatial network growth highlight two findings relevant to neural network development. First, most neurons which are linked by long-distance connections are born around the same time and early on, suggesting the possibility of early contact or interaction between connected neurons during development. Second, early-born neurons are more highly connected (tendency to form hubs) than later born neurons. This indicates that the longer time frame available to them might underlie high connectivity. Both outcomes are not observed for random connection formation. The study finds that around one-third of electrically coupled long-range connections are late forming, raising the question of what mechanisms are involved in ensuring their accuracy, particularly in light of the extremely invariant connectivity observed in C. elegans. In conclusion, the sequence of neural network development highlights the possibility of early contact or interaction in securing long-distance and high-degree connectivity

Connector Inversion Probe Technology: A Powerful One-Primer Multiplex DNA Amplification System for Numerous Scientific Applications

We combined components of a previous assay referred to as Molecular Inversion Probe (MIP) with a complete gap filling strategy, creating a versatile powerful one-primer multiplex amplification system. As a proof-of-concept, this novel method, which employs a Connector Inversion Probe (CIPer), was tested as a genetic tool for pathogen diagnosis, typing, and antibiotic resistance screening with two distinct systems: i) a conserved sequence primer system for genotyping Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a cancer-associated viral agent and ii) screening for antibiotic resistance mutations in the bacterial pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae. We also discuss future applications and advances of the CIPer technology such as integration with digital amplification and next-generation sequencing methods. Furthermore, we introduce the concept of two-dimension informational barcodes, i.e. “multiplex multiplexing padlocks” (MMPs). For the readers' convenience, we also provide an on-line tutorial with user-interface software application CIP creator 1.0.1, for custom probe generation from virtually any new or established primer-pairs

PathogenMip Assay: A Multiplex Pathogen Detection Assay

The Molecular Inversion Probe (MIP) assay has been previously applied to a large-scale human SNP detection. Here we describe the PathogenMip Assay, a complete protocol for probe production and applied approaches to pathogen detection. We have demonstrated the utility of this assay with an initial set of 24 probes targeting the most clinically relevant HPV genotypes associated with cervical cancer progression. Probe construction was based on a novel, cost-effective, ligase-based protocol. The assay was validated by performing pyrosequencing and Microarray chip detection in parallel experiments. HPV plasmids were used to validate sensitivity and selectivity of the assay. In addition, 20 genomic DNA extracts from primary tumors were genotyped with the PathogenMip Assay results and were in 100% agreement with conventional sequencing using an L1-based HPV genotyping protocol. The PathogenMip Assay is a widely accessible protocol for producing and using highly discriminating probes, with experimentally validated results in pathogen genotyping, which could potentially be applied to the detection and characterization of any microbe

Efficient land water management practice and cropping system for increasing water and crop productivity in semi‐arid tropics

In Indian semi-arid tropics (SATs), low water and crop productivity in Vertisols and associated soils are mainly due to poor land management and erratic and low rainfall occurrence. This study was conducted from 2014 to 2016 at the ICRISAT in India to test the effect of broad bed furrows (BBF) as land water management against conventional flatbed planting for improving soil water content (SWC) and water and crop productivity of three cropping systems: sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]–chickpea (Cicer arientinum L.) and maize (Zea mays)–groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) as sequential and pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.)] + pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] as intercropping, grown under different nutrients management involving macronutrients (N, P, and K) only and combined application of macro- and micronutrients. The results stated that the SWC in BBF was higher over flatbed by 9.35–10.44% in 0- to 0.3-m, 4.56–9.30% in 0.3- to 0.6-m and 3.85–5.26% in 0.6- to 1.05-m soil depths during the cropping season. Moreover, depletion of the soil water through plant uptake was higher in BBF than in flatbed. Among the cropping systems, sorghum–chickpea was the best in bringing highest system equivalent yield and water productivity with the combined application of macro- and micronutrients. The BBF minimized water stress at critical crop growth stages leading to increase crop yield and water productivity in SATs. Thus, BBF along with the application of macro- and micronutrients could be an adaptation strategy to mitigate erratic rainfall due to climate change in SATs