Advancements in Life Sciences (E-Journal, University of the Punjab)
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Biochemical basis of resistance in rice against Bacterial leaf blight disease caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae
No full textBackground: Bacterial Leaf Blight (BLB) is the most devastating disease of rice. This disease can reduce grain production by 20-50% and yield by 25%. The disease is widespread in Asia, United State, Latin America and Australia. In Pakistan, it is reported from all rice growing areas and it is increasing its area year by year. All famous Pakistan’s Basmati varieties are susceptible to BLB disease. The most economical way of controlling disease is to produce resistant varieties. Many different compounds are involved in resistance mechanism in host including phenolic compounds.Methods: Plants inoculated with Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae isolates i.e. 78.3 and 2.2 caused disease on all varieties were selected for investigation of phenolic compound. Randomized complete block design was used in field for inoculation and leaf collections for phenolic compounds determination. Data was phenolic compounds were analyzed through factorial ANOVA.Results: The response of four varieties was different when inoculated with BLB isolate 2.2. Basmati 2000 variety of rice produced maximum amount of phenolic compounds after one week of inoculation of bacterial isolate 2.2 while the minimum total phenols were found in basmati 385 at 0 hrs. of inoculation (before inoculation). Xoo isolate 78.3 produced maximum phenolic compounds after 2 weeks in Basmati 2000.Conclusions: Biochemical resistance due to high phenolic contents in Basmati-385 and Basmati-2000 is suggested. High phenol production may be due to loss of virulence in bacterial isolates. Both 78.3 and 2.2 Xoo isolates are significantly different in producing total phenols in all the varieties tested
Analysis of growth response and tolerance index of Glycine max (L.) Merr. under hexavalent chromium stress
Get PDFBackground: Metal pollution has become one of the most serious environmental problems due to various human activities. It can damage or alter the biosphere reducing the agricultural productivity and can affect both animals and humans. Emission of various pollutants into the atmosphere has many harmful effects on plant growth. Rapid urbanization, unregulated industrialization, growing transport, metal plating and agricultural activities have created a problem of heavy metals contamination. Methods: A greenhouse experiment was conducted to determine the toxicity of chromium onGlycine max. Chromium concentration applied to G. max was managed as 0.5, 2.5, 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 mg kg-1 for experimental period of 90 days. The phytotoxic effect of chromium metal was analyzed by studying seed germination, seedling vigor index, root and shoot length, root and shoot fresh and dry weights, chlorophyll content tolerance index.Results: The data presented in this study showed that chromium metal adversely affects the seedling vigor of G. max and significantly (p<0.05) reduces seed germination and growth. The toxic effect of chromium on the seeds increased with increasing the concentration of the metal. It was also found that high concentrations of chromium (50 and 100 mg kg-1) can completely inhibit the seed germination. Conclusion: The chromium metal is extremely toxic for seeds and young seedling of G. max at high concentrations. Moreover, G. max has little potential to counteract the deleterious effect of chromium metal in soil at aforementioned treatments. The results of the present study may help in better understanding of the mechanisms involved in pytoextraction
Protein toxicity in Kotri Paint industry workers exposed to Phthalic Anyhydride and Trimellitic Anyhydride
Get PDFBackground: Protein plays a significant role in the regulation of metabolism for normal functioning in human body. SITE area, Kotri paint industry workers are at high risk of hypersensitivity, sensitization of the respiratory tract (including asthma), skin diseases and allergy. Reactive Low molecular weight organic acid anhydrides (OAAs) like trimelitic anhydride (TMA) and phthalic anhydride (PA) are extensively used in local paint industries of SITE AREA, Kotri, Sindh – Pakistan. These both anhydrides may easily bind with high molecular weight proteins by forming complex (adducts) leading to metabolic disorders among the exposed workers.Methods: There is no study to differentiate protein status of workers compared with normal healthy group as compare in the past. In this regard, the total protein was determined in intravenous blood samples obtained from the exposed workers to TMA and PA with control group clinically by Microlab300 (Kit Method System).Result: There is a significant decrease of protein level in paint industry workers as compared with healthy subjects, which never had exposed to TMA and PA.Conclusion: These both allergenic organic acid anhydrides like TMA and PA may be associated for changing protein function status after forming complex (adduct) by long exposure at work. SITE Area, Kotri Paint workers may at high risk of asthma, exposed to TMA and PA
Hemoglobin adducts in paint industry workers: An electrophoretic analysis
Get PDFBackground: Hemoglobin (Hb) has a significant role among other blood proteins vital for carrying nutrients to blood cells. Being a conjugated protein, Hb is prone to be captured by compounds of low molecular weight like organic acid anhydrides (OAAs) which are prominent industrial/occupational hazards. Hindered or lowered availability of Hb to blood cells can cause anemia, thalassemia and porphyria. Along with these disorders, workers exposed to OAAs can also acquire like type-I allergy, type-IV allergy, skin problems, rhinitis and asthma. Revelation of Hb-OAAs compounds prior to appearance of actual symptoms could be important for subsequent therapy.Methods: The Hb separation was achieved successfully by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis on 10-15% gels of different concentration, stained with CBB-R250 Blue. Total of 66 blood protein samples were used for the comparative study of exposed workers of paint industry workers with control (normal) group to detect proteins, which might serve as marker for the early disease diagnosis.Results: The better Hb separation resolution was achieved on 12% gel as shown in electrograms. The electrograms of paint workers exposed to OAAs showed bands at 12, 48, 66, 78, 128 and 132 KDa in most of cases. In normal cases the bands were found at 13, 30, 48, 67, 76, 125 and 155 KDa in majority of control samples for Hb electrophoresis.Conclusion: This study supports the association between Hb and OAAs adducts among the exposed paint workers from hypersensitive effects like fever (rhinitis) leading to asthma, skin allergies and major clinical effects.
Yield potential study of Capsicum annuum L. under the application of PGPR
Get PDFPlant growth promoting bacteria (PGPR) play an important role in the healthy growth and yield improvement of different crops. The use of PGPR includes various groups of bacteria that live freely in the soil and has ability to enhance the growth of various crops through diverse mechanisms. This study was conducted to evaluate the yield enhancing effect of PGPR on Bell Pepper (Capsicum annuum). This study was conducted in the experimental fields of FMC United (Pvt) Limited at Sahiwal, Pakistan during the winter under controlled tunnel in the cropping season 2013-14. The various formulations of PGPR (Klebsiella sp. + Burkholderia sp. + Panibacillus sp. + Bacillus sp.) was applied after every 20-30days interval in the field of Bell Pepper to study their effects on per acre yield. Data was recorded and statistically analyzed to evaluate effects of PGPR on bell pepper yield. Results showed consistent per acre yield increase with the increase of PGPR formulations. Significant genotypic and phenotypic correlations were also found between yield per treatment and yield per acre. Higher yield per treatment and yield per acre was recorded at 6-litre/acre application of PGPR formulation. It was concluded that use of PGPR could be helpful to improve the health of crop with increased yield of this important vegetable. It is proposed that further evaluation at multiple locations and compositions will help to chalk out a comprehensive application protocol of PGPR bacteria on vegetable as well as field crops
Optimization and Validation of PCR protocol for three Hypervariable Regions (HVI, HVII and HVIII) in Human Mitochondrial DNA
No full textBackground: Due to high copy number of mitochondria per cell mtDNA testing is often successful in cases where nuclear DNA is highly degraded or the sample source is too limited. Sequence polymorphism of D-loop region of mtDNA has been used for identification of forensic remains, analysis of mother–child relationships and comparisons between ethnic groups through maternal lineages. PCR conditions were optimized and validated for three hypervariable regions (HVR I- 480 bp, HVR II- 420 bp and HVIII- 255 bp) of mitochondria conducted at National Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab - Lahore, Pakistan.Methodology: Blood samples of 86 individuals were drawn from 25 Pakistani families. DNA was extracted and purified by Sambrook method. DNA was quantified at agarose gel electrophoresis and N-D 1000 Nanodrop spectrophotometer. Three hypervariable regions (HVR I, HVR II and HVIII) of mitochondrial DNA were optimized with different PCR components and PCR conditions using three pairs of oligonucleotides along with reagent blanks, positive and negative controls. Results: Three hypervariable regions (HVR I, HVR II and HVIII) of mitochondrial DNA were optimized in the PCR reaction volume at different concentrations of PCR buffer, MgCl2, Taq DNA polymerase, dNTPs, primers and mtDNA template at varying annealing temperatures. The best results for amplification were shown at 1x PCR buffer, 2.5mM Mgcl2, 0.3µl of Taq DNA polymerase (5u/µl), 0.2mM dNTPs, 0.8µM forward-reverse primers for HVR I, 0.7µM forward-reverse primers for HVR II and 0.4µM forward-reverse primers for HVR III at 52◦C annealing temperature.Conclusion: Optimized PCR protocol for three hypervariable mtDNA regions has provided a way out to lead mtDNA analysis which is very necessary tool in those forensic biological samples, where nuclear DNA is highly degraded, to identify missing persons and determine maternal lineages
TH-6: a high yielding cultivar of sesame released for general cultivation in Punjab
Get PDFBackground: Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is a diploid species, known as Beniseed, Gingelly, Sim-Sim and Til. It is grown in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Sesame seed contains high nutritional values of certain compounds (25% protein and 50% oil) and is a vital source of natural antioxidants. TH-6 (96006) is characterized by white, bold and high yielding seeded variety of sesame with a unique character of having single stem.Methodology: Variety Punjab Til-90 and line 436602 were cultivated at Oilseeds Research Institute, Faisalabad. At flowering, Til-89 was crossed as female with the line 436602 in 1990. In 1991, the F1 generation of plants were grown and self-pollinated at flowering. Homozygous progenies of pedigree number F6-96006 from F6 were evaluated for their high yield in season 1996-97. Evaluation was done through micro, zonal, station and finally “National Uniform Yield Trials”.Results: In 2006, 2217 kg/ha production was marked as its maximum potential at Oilseed Research Institute (Faisalabad) in Zonal Varietal Trail. In National Uniform Sesame Yield 2006 and 2007 the performance of TH-6 was better than TS-3 (check) by giving 32.16% and 9.59% more yield respectively. TH-6 also showed moderate tolerance against insect pests Phyllody diseases and Charcoal Rot.Conclusion: Agronomic studies revealed that TH-6 performed better if planted in 15th to 30thJune if supplementation of one bag of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) and half bag of Urea at the time of sowing and flowering, respectively, with 1st and 2nd irrigation
Molecular study of Apolipoprotein E gene in familial hypercholesterolemic families
Get PDFAbstractBackground: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is understood to be one in all the foremost common hereditary disease and critically associated with Coronary heart condition worldwide. FH is taken into account to be caused because of mutations and polymorphisms within the apolipoprotein E (Apo E) cistron. Exaggerated level of density compound protein LDL-C is that the hallmark of this malady.Methodology: Seven hypercholesterolemic families were chosen for this study. Case history was taken and pedigree was created in person by visiting every family. Exon3 and exon4 regions of ApoE cistron were amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).After successful amplification, both citrons were sequenced. Single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) results were obtained to support the different pattern of single strand polymorphism of studied samples.Results: The sequencing results of probands from all the seven families showed that six out of seven have Apo E three isoform whereas one family showed change within the sequence from T to C at 112 sequence position of processed macromolecule resulted in amino acid that represents it as Apo E4 isoform.Conclusion: Our findings show that Apo E3 is more prevalent than Apo E4 and other isoforms in studied population of Pakistan
Heritability, heterosis and heterobeltiosis studies for morphological traits of maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings
Get PDFBackground: Maize is one of most important cereal crop in world after wheat and rice. It is grown in Pakistan as a major cash crop cultivation in the area of 1083 thousand hectares producing 3990 thousand tones. Maize is dual propose crop it is used as feed for livestock and food for human. It is also used as a raw material in textile, food and medicine industries. The present study was conducted to evaluate parents and F1 hybrids of maize for seedling traits including heritability, heterosis and heterobelteiosis.Methodology: The genetic material was comprises of twelve parents and including their 36 F1 hybrids. The parents and F1 hybrids were sown in the iron treys filled with sand in three replications following completely randomized design. The data was recorded for fresh root length, fresh shoot length, fresh root-to-shoot length ratio, fresh root weight, fresh shoot weight and fresh root-to-shoot weight ratio. The data was subjected for analysis genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variance. The genetic advance was calculated by using Falconer (1989) formula.Results: The average batter performance was given by B-336, EV-347, EV-1097Q and B-327. The F1 hybrids, EV-1097Q × EV-347, EV-1097Q × EV-340, Raka-poshi × EV-347, B-327 × B-316 and Sh-139 × EV-347 showed higher values of heterosis and heterobeltiosis for respected studied traits of maize seedlings.Conclusion: In this study, it is concluded that the F1 hybrids, EV-1097Q x EV-347, EV-1097Q x EV-340, Raka-poshi x EV-347, B-327 x B-316 and Sh-139 x EV-347 may be used as higher yield maize hybrids and parents EV-347, EV-1097Q, B-327 and B-316 may be used to develop higher yield maize hybrids following heterosis breeding scheme
Molecular detection, phylogenetic analysis and designing of siRNA against Potato Virus X
Get PDFBackground: As potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the most liked food crops for human diet so increasing its production is an important goal for scientists to achieve. In this molecular study, we characterized the Coat Protein (CP) gene of Potato Virus X (PVX). CP gene is virulence mediator and integral part of viral structural assembly.Methodology: We tissue cultured the PVX positive potato plants for viral RNA extraction. Total RNA was converted to cDNA for priming CP gene in PCR for amplification. To get the complete sequence of gene, we cloned CP gene into pTZ57R/T cloning vector. Upon double digestion of recombinant plasmid with EcoRI and HindIII restriction enzymes, 710 bp fragment was obtained which confirmed cloning. Recombinant plasmid was sequenced with M13 primers.Results: Derived consensus sequence of 710 bp was found to be exact cds of CP gene showing 95% similarity with referenced genome. Phylogenetic analysis suggested Indian isolate of PVX as the nearest one. Multiple siRNA were designed against mentioned and optimized computationally to provide base for further studies.Conclusion: Following facts may be established upon findings of this research; i) CP gene of Pakistani isolate of PVX has high homology with other PVX isolates found around the world, ii) in determining target for efficient siRNA mediated approach to silence PVX genome, this conserved nature can be proved very promising. Thus, to develop PVX-resistant potato crop in Pakistan through siRNA mediated strategy, CP gene could be the best target