GENETIC DIVERGENCE ANALYSIS FOR CERTAIN YIELD AND QUALITY TRAITS IN RICE (ORYZA SATIVA L.) GROWN IN IRRIGATED SALINE LOW LAND OF ANNAMALAINAGAR, SOUTH INDIA

Genetic diversity among twenty six genotypes of rice genotypes from four states of South Eastern Region of India was evaluated using Mahalanobis D2 statistic. The experimental materials were evaluated during Samba season (August- December) 2005 and 2006 at the Plant Breeding Farm (11o 24’ N latitude and 79o 44’ E longitude, + 5.79 m MSL), Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, Tamilnadu, South India. Based on 12 morphological and quality characters namely, days to first flower, productive tillers per plant, panicle length (cm), number of grains per panicle, 1000 grain weight (g), grain length (mm), grain breadth (mm), grain L/B ratio, kernel length (mm), kernel breadth (mm), kernel L/B ratio and grain yield per plant (g) these genotypes were grouped into 13 clusters. Cluster I with seven genotypes was the largest cluster followed by Cluster V with four genotypes. Clusters IV, VII, VIII, X, XI, XII and XIII were mono genotypic clusters. Genotypes from more than one place of origin were grouped in one cluster, and genotypes from one state were grouped in more than one cluster. Geographical origin was not found to be a good parameter of genetic divergence. Clusters VI, III, and XII exhibited high values for most of the characters. The intra cluster distance was maximum (D = 100.90) in cluster I. The maximum inter cluster distance (D2 = 8235.56) was recorded between clusters II and III. Cluster XII recorded highest mean value for grain yield per plant and lowest mean value for days to first flower. Number of grains per panicle (42.71%) followed by days to first flower (25.62%) contributed maximum to total divergence. Hybridization among genotypes AUR 4, Annamalai mutant ponmani, Karnool sona, Jeeraga samba, AUR 7 and PY 5 from clusters III, II, XII and IX which had maximum inter-cluster distances and desirable values for days to first flower, number of grains per panicle, kernel length, kernel breadth, 1000 grain weight and grain yield per plant is likely to produce heterotic combinations and wide variability is segregating generations

BODIPY dyads and triads: synthesis, optical, electrochemical and transistor properties

A series of D–A dyads and D–A–D triads molecular systems based on triphenylamine and 9-ethyl-carbarzole as donor (D) and BODIPY as acceptor (A) has been designed and synthesized. The optoelectronic properties including optical, electrochemical, and charge carrier mobility of these molecules have been investigated. We found that the D–A–D triads exhibited broader absorption, raising the HOMO energy levels and increase hole carrier mobilities. Analysis surface morphology revealed that BODIPY containing carbazole demonstrated smooth film and no macro phase aggregation was observed upon thermal annealing

Third-order optical autocorrelator for time-domain operation at telecommunication wavelengths

We report on amorphous organic thin films that exhibit efficient third-harmonic generation at telecommunication wavelengths. At 1550 nm, micrometer-thick samples generate up to 17 µW of green light with input power of 250 mW delivered by an optical parametric oscillator. This high conversion efficiency is achieved without phase matching or cascading of quadratic nonlinear effects. With these films, we demonstrate a low-cost, sensitive third-order autocorrelator that can be used in the time-frequency domain

Ultrafast-pulse diagnostic using third-order frequency-resolved optical gating in organic films

We report on the diagnostic of ultrafast pulses by frequency-resolved optical gating (FROG) based on strong third-harmonic generation (THG) in amorphous organic thin films. The high THG conversion efficiency of these films allows for the characterization of sub-nanojoule short pulses emitting at telecommunication wavelengths using a low cost portable fiber spectrometer

IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY OF THE FERN, DRYNARIA QUERCIFOLIA (L) SM., RHIZOME EXTRACT

Objective: The study was aimed to evaluate polyphenolic composition and antioxidant properties of methanol extract of rhizome of Drynaria quercifolia (L.) Sm. Methods: In this study, assessment of total phenolic and flavonoid contents were performed using Foiln-Ciocalteu and Aluminium chloride methods respectively. Antioxidant capacity of crude methanolic extract of rhizome of D. quercifolia were examined using established 1,1 – diphenyl – 2-picrylhydrazyl stable free radical (DPPH∙) assay, hydroxyl ion radicals (˙OH), nitric oxide (NO), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)and 2, 2'-Azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline sulphonic acid) ABTS•+ scavenging assays.  Results: The extract yielded total phenolic content (TP) of 240 ± 0.01 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/100g of fresh mass (FM) and total flavonoid content (TF) of 150 ± 0.02 mg quercetin equivalents (QE)/100g of fresh mass (FM). The extract of D. quercifolia rhizome exhibited remarkable scavenging capacity towards DPPH∙ (EC50 18.54 ±0.70 µg mL-1), ˙OH (EC50 37.60±0.41 µg mL-1) NO (EC50 42.40 µg mL-1), H2O2 (EC50 32.80±1.89 µg mL-1) and ABTS•+ (EC50 29.80 ±0.70 µg mL-1). The antioxidant capacities of the extract were comparable and stronger than that of the antioxidant standard, butyl hydroxy toluene (BHT). The findings were also comparable with antioxidant properties of other medicinal ferns which are discussed in the study. Conclusion: Significant and positive correlations (R2 0.999-0.862) were observed between polyphenolic contents and the antioxidant capacities, indicating that the phenolics were major contributors of the antioxidant property. Thus, the methanol extract from the rhizome of D. quercifolia indicated the existence of strong antioxidants and it can be used as tonic

Molecular Docking Studies of Phytoconstituents Identified in Traditional Siddha Polyherbal Formulations Against Possible Targets of SARS-CoV-2

The Indian Traditional Medicines System has long used Siddha polyherbal formulations for different viral diseases. The ingredients of these formulas have been proven to be antiviral. The study focuses on in silico computational evaluation of phytoconstituents of the official Siddha formulation Kabasura, Thonthasura, and Vishasura Kudineer, which were widely used in treating viral fever and respiratory infections and may influence the current SARS-CoV-2 coronary virus pandemic. Maestro interface (Schrödinger Suite, LLC, NY) was used for molecular docking studies against MPro (PDB ID 5R82, 6Y2F, and 6LU7), Nsp15 endoribonuclease (6W01), RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (6M71), and spike protein (6VW1) of SARS-CoV-2. In addition, pharmacokinetics (ADME) and safety profile prediction studies were performed to identify the best drug candidates using Qikpro and Toxicity Estimation Software Tool (T.E.S.T). A total of 36 compounds were screened, of which nine displayed strong binding affinity and drug-likeness. Luteolin and chrysoeriol produced stronger results. These nine compounds were free of oral toxicity as evaluated by the Toxicity estimation software. Based on further in vitro, in vivo, and clinical effectiveness trials, these compounds may be used for the prevention or treatment as per the Indian system of traditional medicines

Development of a metagenomic DNA extraction procedure and PCR detection of human enteric bacteria in vegetable salad tissues

Outbreaks of illness due to human enteric pathogenic bacteria via fresh vegetables warrant intensive research on changing strategies of these bacteria in alterning their hosts for survival. The systemic infection of human pathogenic bacteria in plants and the plant growth stage at which they establish endophytic relationship is poorly understood. Since cucumber and carrot are major vegetables consumed in the form of unprocessed salads in India, our study aimed at determination of infection abilities of Salmonella enterica sub sp. enterica and Aeromonas hydrophila in carrot and cucumber, respectively based on a  metagenomic detection system. We report an optimized metagenomic DNA isolation procedure from vegetable tissues co-cultivated with bacteria under laboratory conditions. Colonization of bacteria in vegetable tissues was studied by amplification of bacterial 16S rRNA coding region from the metagenome. DNA obtained from carrot vegetable pieces inoculated with Salmonella resulted in expected amplification of 1.2 kb region of bacterial 16S rRNA source sequences. However, the approach failed to detect Aeromonas in cucumber tissues.  We conclude that carrot could be a symptomless alternate host for  Salmonella sp

Evaluation of lawsonia inermis leaf extracts for their in vitro fungitoxicity against certain soilborne pathogens

Screening of Lawsonia inermis leaf extracts for their fungitoxicity was carried out in vitro against some selected soil-borne phytopathogens, Rhizoctonia solani. Pythium aphanidermatum and Macrophomina phaseolina. Of the three solvent extracts studied, cold-water extract at 10% concentration showed a maximum of 70% inhibition of the mycelial growth of R. solani. Methanol extract at 2.5% concentration completely inhibited P. aphanidermatum while the same at 10% proved effective against M. phaseolina by 60% when compared to cold water and petroleum ether extracts. Petroleum ether extract was ineffective against R. solani and M. phaseolina. The amount of total phenols was 4.5 mg/g of fresh leaf tissue. Reverse phase high performance liquid chromatographic analysis of the cold-water extracts revealed the presence of four different absorption peaks of which only two compounds could be identified i.e. tannic acid and catecho

Understanding functional group and assembly dynamics in temperature responsive systems leads to design principles for enzyme responsive assemblies

Understanding the molecular rules behind the dynamics of supramolecular assemblies is fundamentally important for the rational design of responsive assemblies with tunable properties. Herein, we report that the dynamics of temperature-sensitive supramolecular assemblies is not only affected by the dehydration of oligoethylene glycol (OEG) motifs, but also by the thermally-promoted molecular motions. These counteracting features set up a dynamics transition point (DTP) that can be modulated with subtle variations in a small hydrophobic patch on the hydrophilic face of the amphiphilic assembly. Understanding the structural factors that control the dynamics of the assemblies leads to rational design of enzyme-responsive assemblies with tunable temperature responsive profiles