Global transcriptome analysis of heat stress response of grape variety 'Fantasy Seedless' under different irrigation regimens

Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.), a commercially important fruit crop worldwide, faces several challenging conditions during its growth cycle. Among many abiotic stresses, heat and moisture stresses have major impact on grapevine productivity and fruit quality. Transcriptome analysis of heat stress response of grape variety 'Fantasy Seedless' grown under different irrigation regimens identified large number of differentially expressed genes. Genes belonging to chaperone mediated protein folding and cell-wall modification pathways were found to play a significant role in plant response to heat as well as moisture stress. Subsurface irrigation helped minimize the adverse effects of stress through modulation of genes involved in cell homeostasis. The study has given critical insight into grapevine response to heat stress arising due to aberrant weather conditions

Masses of 2S single heavy baryons using non-perturbative parameters in HQET

We have employed heavy quark effective theory (HQET) to determine the masses of $n=2$, S-wave charm and bottom baryons. The HQET parameters $\overline{\Lambda}$, $\lambda_1$ and $\lambda_2$ are calculated for $n=1$ using the masses of S-wave baryons. The behavior of ratio of mass terms of $n=1$ mesons and baryons containing these parameters are also studied by varying the bottom quark mass. The HQET symmetry of $\overline{\Lambda}$ parameter is used to find the parameters and masses for $n=2$ S-wave baryons. The variation of mass of 2S baryons with the non-perturbative parameters $\lambda_1$ and $\lambda_2$ for radially excited baryons is discussed. The Regge trajectories are also plotted in the $(n,M^2)$ plane using masses of $n=1$ and 2 charm and bottom baryons. The Regge trajectories are parallel and equidistant lines in the $(n,M^2)$ plane.Comment: 12 pages, 13 figure

An Explication of Pandemic Public Health Emergency, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): A Review

In December 2019 a series of acute atypical respiratory disease occurred in Wuhan, China. The first clusters of cases were identified in association with the South China Seafood Market. In subsequent investigations it was found to be a novel coronavirus. It is suggested to have zoonotic origin. On December 31st 2019, China notified the outbreak to the World Health Organization. During the New Year, the massive migration of Chinese fuelled the epidemic. Cases in other provinces of China and other countries (South Korea, Thailand and Japan in quick succession) were reported in people who were returning from Wuhan. On 11 February, on the basis of existing rules on taxonomy the virus was names as SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 belongs to the family of coronaviruses. It is a positive-sense single-stranded RNA (+ssRNA) virus. It has a single linear RNA segment. On the same day WHO announced the new name for the disease i.e. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The WHO and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say it is primarily spread directly due to close contact between people through small droplets produced during coughing, sneezing or talking within a range of about 1-3 meters. It may even transmit through indirect contact via fomites. While there are concerns it may spread by feces, this risk is believed to be low. Soon, the number of cases started increasing exponentially and on March 12, 2020 WHO announced COVID-19 a pandemic. COVID-19 has been impacting a large number of people worldwide, being reported in approximately 200 countries and territories. It was identified that Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) act as a functional receptor for SARS-CoV-2. The pathophysiology of COVID-19 follows sex differences, age differences, race differences in as well as underlying disease conditions i.e. comorbidities aggravated the severity of this disease.  The most common symptoms being reported are fever, dry cough or chest tightness, and dyspnoea. It is now widely recognized that respiratory symptoms of COVID-19 are extremely heterogeneous, ranging from minimal symptoms to significant hypoxia with ARDS. Diagnosis is done with the help of history, clinical signs and serological testing. Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) is considered the standard method of testing. Several have been tested in clinical trials but none of them have been proven to be a definite therapy yet. The evolution of the current outbreak has seen extraordinary measures put in place to control transmission, including the ‘shut-down’ and ‘quarantine’. Researchers are trying to develop a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 but at present, no vaccine is available. One should strictly follow all the preventive measures as directed by WHO and CDC and along with this, one should boost up its natural immunity to lessen the chances of getting infection

Identification, characterization and expression analysis of ERF transcription factor VviERF073 and standardization of stable reference gene under salt stress in grape

Salinity is one of the several abiotic factors affecting grape productivity and quality. Transcription factors belonging to AP2/ERF family play an important role in abiotic stress response. Based on the in silico analysis of salt stress libraries of grape ESTs, a transcription factor VviERF073, having a single AP2/ERF conserved domain was identified. The sequence of VviERF073 was analyzed in 'Thompson Seedless'. VviERF073 belonged to the B2 subfamily of ERF transcription factors. Under salt stress, the relative expression of VviERF073 increased 2.7 fold in the leaves of grafted grapevine within six hours of salt stress. The expression increased to 8.7 fold at 15 days of salt stress, thus indicating its role in early as well as late response to salt stress. However, expression of VviERF073 did not change significantly in grapevines raised on own roots. The expression varied in the roots of 'Thompson Seedless' but not in the roots of '110R'. Under salt stress conditions, GAPDH and EF1α for grafted vines and Actin and Tubulin for own root vines, were identified as the stable reference genes for qPCR data normalization

Interstellar extinction in the open clusters towards galactic longitude around 130 degrees

In this paper we present a detailed study of the intra-cluster reddening material in the young open clusters located around $l \sim 130^o$ using colour-excess diagrams and two-colour diagrams. The study supports the universality of the extinction curves for $\lambda \geq \lambda_J$, whereas for shorter wavelengths the curve depends upon the value of the $R_{cluster}$ (total-to-selective absorption in the cluster region). The value of $R_{cluster}$ in the case of NGC 654, NGC 869 and NGC 884 is found to be normal, whereas the value of $R_{cluster}$ in the cluster regions NGC 1502 and IC 1805 indicates an anomalous reddening law in these regions. It is also found that the extinction process in the $U$ band in the case of NGC 663 seems to be less efficient, whereas in the case of NGC 869 the process is more efficient

Wide field CCD photometry of the young open cluster NGC 663

A deep and wide field CCD photometry of the young open cluster NGC 663 has been carried out. We report preliminary results of our investigations, specifically the determination of the cluster mass function which is found variable within the cluster region

Mycodecolorization Activity of Pleurotus Citrinopileatus for Chemically Different Textile Dye Under Varied Aromatic Amino Acids and Trace Elements

In the present study, ligninolytic enzymes laccase (benzenediol: oxygen reductase EC; 1.10.3.2) and Manganese Peroxidase (Mn(II): hydrogen-peroxide oxidoreductase EC; 1.11.1.13) activity and of White Rot Fungi (WRF) Pleurotus citrinopileatus were enhanced with the application of trace metal i.e. Copper and Manganese at 25 ppm and 50 ppm followed by aromatic amino acids (Phenylalanine, Tryptophan and Tyrosine) at 0.02 μM and 0.4 μM. Laccase and MnP activity were 213.42U and 202.28U respectively, observed at 300ppm of Methyl Red supplemented with Tyrosine (0.2μM) followed by treatment of Tryptophan (198.45U and 195.16U) and Phenylalanine (195.85U and 188.15U). Maximum Laccase and MnP activity (Tyrosine treated) were revealed maximum decolorization of Phenol Red and Methyl Red (84.14% and 78.20%) followed by Phenylalanine (80.92% and 73.80%) and Trypatophan (71.22% and 70.12%).  The negative correlation of  Laccase and MnP activity was observed with a higher concentration (>50ppm) of trace metal in the medium, while at 25ppm of copper supplemented medium increase three-fold of Laccase activity (585.56U) as tyrosine medium and similarly, Manganese (25ppm) inosculated medium revealed three-fold more MnP activity (478.95U).  A lower amount of Cu hoists Laccase and MnP activity which decolorized 300ppm of Methyl Red and Phenol Red with maximum percent (92.3% and 88.15%) followed by Mn. Thus, Laccase and MnP enzymes both play an important role in decolorization of dyes, and its activity was enhanced with the application of lower concentration of trace metals followed by aromatic amino acids