Pepper leaf curl Lahore virus requires the DNA B component of Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus to cause leaf curl symptoms

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Begomoviruses are whitefly-transmitted geminiviruses with genomes that consist of either two components (known as DNA A and DNA B) or a single component (homologous to the DNA A component of bipartite begomoviruses). Monopartite begomoviruses are often associated with a symptom-modulating DNA satellite (collectively known as betasatellites). Both bipartite and monopartite begomoviruses with associated satellites have previously been identified in chillies showing leaf curl symptoms in Pakistan.</p> <p>Results</p> <p><b>A </b>chilli plant (<it>Capsicum annum</it>) with chilli leaf curl disease symptoms was found to contain a begomovirus, a betasatellite and the DNA B component of <it>Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus </it>(ToLCNDV). The begomovirus consisted of 2747 nucleotides and had the highest sequence identity (99%) <it>with Pepper leaf curl Lahore virus </it>(PepLCLV-[PK: Lah:04], acc. no. AM404179). <it>Agrobacterium</it>-mediated inoculation of the clone to <it>Nicotiana benthamiana</it>, induced very mild symptoms and low levels of viral DNA, detected in systemically infected leaves by PCR. No symptoms were induced in <it>Nicotiana tabacum </it>or chillies either in the presence or absence of a betasatellite. However, inoculation of PepLCLV with the DNA B component of ToLCNDV induced leaf curl symptoms in <it>N. benthamiana</it>, <it>N. tabacum </it>and chillies and viral DNA accumulated to higher levels in comparison to plants infected with just PepLCLV.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Based on our previous efforts aimed at understanding of diversity of begomoviruses associated with chillies, we propose that PepLCLV was recently mobilized into chillies upon its interaction with DNA B of ToLCNDV. Interestingly, the putative rep-binding iterons found on PepLCLV (GGGGAC) differ at two base positions from those of ToLCNDV (GGTGTC). This is the first experimental demonstration of the infectivity for a bipartite begomovirus causing chilli leaf curl disease in chillies from Pakistan and suggests that component capture is contributing to the emerging complexity of begomovirus diseases in the region.</p

Prevalence of different foliar and tuber diseases on different varieties of potato

Background: Potato is a starchy and tuberous crop from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae family. The annually consumed diet of an average global citizen in the first decade of the 21st century included about 33 kg (73 lbs) of potato. Potato has become an important strategic vegetable crop of Pakistan. Therefore, potato health management has assumed new proportions which require continuous monitoring and mapping of the disease problems in the country.Methodology: In this study thirty genotypes of potato were evaluated for resistance/tolerance against foliar and tuber diseases. The trial was conducted in accordance with randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications and the results were statistically analyzed. Different normal agronomic and plant protection measures were carried out in the crop. Data regarding disease incidence was recorded.Results: Results indicated soil and seed borne diseases are most widespread and are likely to become major threat to potato production in Pakistan. Among these stem canker (Rhizoctonia solani) and black scurf, fusarium wilt and common scab (Streptomyces scabies) are major diseases and present in almost all production zones. Among viral diseases, potato leaf roll virus (PLRV) was the major disease. Mop top virus has been also found on some genotypes. Significant correlation was reported among emergence percentage, potato leaf roll virus, early blight of potato, black leg, potato virus Y (PVY), fusarium wilt, rhizocotonia and potato yield.Conclusion: It was found that emergence percentage was significantly correlated with PLRV, PVY, fusarium wilt, rhizocotonia and potato yield while negative and significant correlation was reported for black leg and cracking. The significant correlations indicated that emergence was greatly affected by attack of different pathogens and potato yield also decreased due to loss of emergence

Alleviation of Boron Stress through Plant Derived Smoke Extracts in Sorghum bicolor

Boron is an essential micronutrient necessary for plant growth at optimum concentration. However, at high concentrations boron affects plant growth and is toxic to cells. Aqueous extract of plant-derived smoke has been used as a growth regulator for the last two decades to improve seed germination and seedling vigor. It has been established that plant-derived smoke possesses some compounds that act like plant growth hormones. The present research was the first comprehensive attempt to investigate the alleviation of boron stress with plant-derived smoke aqueous extract on Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) seed. Smoke extracts of five plants, i.e. Cymbopogon jwarancusa, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Peganum harmala, Datura alba and Melia azedarach each with six dilutions (Concentrated, 1:100, 1:200, 1:300, 1:400 and 1:500) were used. While boron solutions at concentrations of 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 ppm were used for stress. Among the dilutions of smoke, 1:500 of E. camaldulensis significantly increased germination percentage, root and shoot length, number of secondary roots and fresh weight of root and shoot while, boron stress reduced growth of Sorghum. It was observed that combined effect of boron solution and E. camaldulensis smoke extract overcome inhibition and significantly improved plant growth. Present research work investigated that the smoke solution has the potential to alleviate boron toxicity by reducing the uptake of boron by maintaining integrity of plant cell wall. The present investigation suggested that plant derived smoke has the potential to alleviate boron stress and can be used to overcome yield losses caused by boron stress to plants

4-(4-Octyloxybenzo­yloxy)benzoic acid

The title compound, C22H26O5, is an important inter­mediate for the synthesis of side-chain ligands for polymeric liquid crystals. The octyl group is coplanar with the central C6O moiety, where the maximum deviation of a C atom in the octyl group from the C6O plane is 0.161 (5) Å. The crystal structure is stabilized by inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds

INTRAMUSCULAR PHENYLEPHRINE DOSE COMPARISON FOR PREVENTION OF SPINAL ANESTHESIA INDUCED HYPOTENSION DURING CESAREAN SECTION: A PROSPECTIVE RANDOMIZED DOUBLE BLIND STUDY

OBJECTIVE: to determine the more effective dose of intramuscular (IM) Phenylephrine in preventing hypotension due to spinal anesthesia (SA) administered for cesarean section. METHODS: The study was conducted from January1, 2020 to July 31, 2020, at Rehman Medical Institute, Peshawar, Pakistan. Sixty participants of American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status 1 and 2, scheduled for elective cesarean section (CS) under SA were enrolled in this prospective double-blind study and randomized into two equal groups, P4-group and P8-group. P4-group received IM Phenylephrine 04 mg and P8-group received IM Phenylephrine 08 mg before SA. The incidence and intensity of hypotension, rescue doses of Phenylephrine and any adverse event, were recorded. Data collected was analyzed using Epi lnfo ™ version 7.2.5. RESULTS: Mean age of patients from P4-Group and P8-Group was 28.10±4.39 years and 28.33±4.95 years respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in the two groups with respect to demographic and clinical characteristics. Hypotension occurred in 33.3% (n=20/60) of participants. The incidence of hypotension in P4-group and P8-group were 46.7% (n=14/30) and 20% (n=6/30) respectively. In P8-group, risk of hypotension was 1.5 times less common compared with P4-group with 95% confidence interval of 1.02–2.19 (p=0.02). There was also no statistically significant difference between the onset of hypotension in the two groups. Those who developed hypotension had consumed a lesser amount of rescue Phenylephrine in P8-group compared with P4-group (p-value <0.01). CONCLUSION: Phenylephrine 08 mg IM preemptively controls SA induced hypotension in a sustained way in the fit participants

Artificial microRNA-mediated resistance against Oman strain of tomato yellow leaf curl virus

Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) is a global spreading begomovirus that is exerting a major restraint on global tomato production. In this transgenic approach, an RNA interference (RNAi)-based construct consisting of sequences of an artificial microRNA (amiRNA), a group of small RNA molecules necessary for plant cell development, signal transduction, and stimulus to biotic and abiotic disease was engineered targeting the AC1/Rep gene of the Oman strain of TYLCV-OM. The Rep-amiRNA constructs presented an effective approach in regulating the expression of the Rep gene against TYLCV as a silencing target to create transgenic Solanum lycopersicum L. plant tolerance against TYLCV infection. Molecular diagnosis by PCR followed by a Southern hybridization analysis were performed to confirm the effectiveness of agrobacterium-mediated transformation in T0/T1-transformed plants. A substantial decrease in virus replication was observed when T1 transgenic tomato plants were challenged with the TYLCV-OM infectious construct. Although natural resistance options against TYLCV infection are not accessible, the current study proposes that genetically transformed tomato plants expressing amiRNA could be a potential approach for engineering tolerance in plants against TYLCV infection and conceivably for the inhibition of viral diseases against different strains of whitefly-transmitted begomoviruses in Oman

Interaction between bacterial endophytes and host plants

Endophytic bacteria are mainly present in the plant’s root systems. Endophytic bacteria improve plant health and are sometimes necessary to fight against adverse conditions. There is an increasing trend for the use of bacterial endophytes as bio-fertilizers. However, new challenges are also arising regarding the management of these newly discovered bacterial endophytes. Plant growth-promoting bacterial endophytes exist in a wide host range as part of their microbiome, and are proven to exhibit positive effects on plant growth. Endophytic bacterial communities within plant hosts are dynamic and affected by abiotic/biotic factors such as soil conditions, geographical distribution, climate, plant species, and plant-microbe interaction at a large scale. Therefore, there is a need to evaluate the mechanism of bacterial endophytes’ interaction with plants under field conditions before their application. Bacterial endophytes have both beneficial and harmful impacts on plants but the exact mechanism of interaction is poorly understood. A basic approach to exploit the potential genetic elements involved in an endophytic lifestyle is to compare the genomes of rhizospheric plant growth-promoting bacteria with endophytic bacteria. In this mini-review, we will be focused to characterize the genetic diversity and dynamics of endophyte interaction in different host plants