Horizon e-Publishing Group (HePG): E-Journals
Not a member yet
2977 research outputs found
Sort by
Functional properties of Okra Abelmoschus esculentus L. (Moench): traditional claims and scientific evidences
Full text linkOkra, Abelmoschus esculentus L. (Moench) is an important vegetable crop cultivated in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions around the world. Besides the nutritional benefit, the different parts of the plant are used extensively in traditional medicine (antidiabetic, antipyretic, diuretic, antispasmodic, etc) around the world. This review critically assesses the nutritional values, phytochemistry, preclinical pharmacological properties and the possible future application of the okra. Effort is made to correlate the traditional claims in the context of experimental evidences
Past, present and future of rice blast management
Full text linkBlast disease caused by fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae is the most severe disease of rice (Oryza sativa L). On an estimate it annually destroys rice, which can feed around 60 million people. Keeping in view of the importance of the disease, various management strategies like controlled use of nitrogen fertilizers, application of silica and flooding of paddy fields are the practices in use to reduce the rice blast since long time. Improved chemical methods include utilization of copper fungicides, organomercuric and organophosphorus compounds. Some antibiotics e.g., Blasticidin S and Kasugamycin and many systemic and site specific fungicides including melanin biosynthesis inhibitors and plant activators were also utilized effectively for blast management. In the recent years leaf extracts of tulsi and bael have been found effective. Due to the highly variable nature of M. oryzae, exploitation of durable host resistance has remained a challenging job for plant pathologists and breeders. Lots of efforts have been made worldwide to study the variability in the pathogen and to find out the resistance sources. To date approximately 100 R genes for blast resistance have been mapped and 20 of these genes have been cloned in rice. Now, scientists are looking forward to develop durable resistant varieties through pyramiding of quantitative trait loci and major genes. Among the biocontrol agents, different strains of Bacillus spp. and Streptomyces sindeneusis are in use. The availability of rice and M. oryzae genome sequence data are facilitating blast resistance management program to new paradigms which includes isolation and characterization of R and Avr genes, development of noble fungicides, transformed bioagents, transgenic rice and durable resistance
Effects of Tetrahydropalmatine (THP) on PTSD-induced Changes in Rat Neurobehavior
Full text linkThe purpose of this study was to investigate tetrahydropalmatine (THP), a major compound in Corydalis yanhusuo WT Wang (Family: Papaveraceae) and its effects on PTSD induced neurobehavior in the rodent model. The aims were to determine the effects of THP on anxiety, locomotion, and memory. A prospective experimental between groups design was used. Eighty rats were randomly divided into two groups, non-stressed and stressed. They were then randomly subdivided into four groups: control, THP, midazolam, or THP and midazolam. The behavioral component was evaluated using the elevated plus maze (EPM) and Morris water maze (MWM) in a restraint/shock stress model. Data analysis was performed using a two-tailed Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) and LSD post-hoc test. There were significant differences in anxiety between the groups (P<0.05). The PTSD stressed rat groups had significantly reduced time on the open arms of the EPM demonstrating significant increased anxiety compared to the control nonstressed groups. Data pertaining to the MWM did not demonstrate statistical significance. While a one-time dose of THP was insufficient in providing a significant decrease in anxiety, a multi-dose regimen may yield more effective results. Future experiments should evaluate a multi-dose or prophylactic regimen
Taxonomy of the Truffles
Full text linkTruffles are the hypogeous fruiting bodies of Ascomycete fungi that live in symbiosis with roots of trees such as oaks, hazels, poplar, etc. Due to limited morphological characters, these fungi are difficult to identify at species level. Molecular phylogenetic studies have recently demonstrated that morphological characters of hypogeous Ascomycetes can be unreliable
Plants for thought
Full text linkThe title may be misleading in suggesting that plants think, even though this is an interesting question. The argument here is how plants have evolved either by accident or by some ‘natural’ intelligence to exert effects on our thoughts
Genetic Variability, Heritability and Genetic Advance in Mungbean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) Accessions
Full text linkThe present study was conducted to assess the magnitude of genetic variability, heritability in broad sense and genetic advance among thirteen mungbean accessions for some growth and grain yield characters. The study was conducted at the Haramaya University Rare research site and Hirna Research site during the 2012/2013 cropping season. Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications was used for both locations. Each genotype was planted on a 1.2 X 2m plot consisting of four rows, which accommodates ten plants per row and thus 40 plants per plot. The result showed that number of primary branches, pods per plant, seeds per plant and harvest index had high genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation value at both locations. For all characters, phenotypic coefficient of variation was higher than genotypic coefficient of variation indicating that there was environmental influence on these traits. The combined results for heritability showed that the high estimates of heritability and genetic advance were scored for seeds per plant and seed yield indicating that these characters were under the control of additive genetic effects. High genetic advance expected as percent of mean coupled with high heritability was observed for number of primary branches at Hirna, number of seeds per plant at Rare and number of secondary branches, pods per plant and 100seed weight for combined analysis. The present findings could be useful for establishing selection criteria for high seed yield in the mungbean breeding
In vitro selection of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench) for polyethylene glycol (PEG) induced drought stress
Full text linkDrought is one of the main environmental factors affecting growth and yield of sorghum in arid and semi-arid areas of the world. In vitro selection of Sorghum bicolor for drought tolerance was undertaken by the use of somaclonal variation. The experiment was carried out with a collection of sixteen sorghum genotypes and tested in a completely randomized design. Data were recorded at five different PEG 6000 (polyethylene glycol) levels (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0% (w/v) treatments)) on coleoptile length (CL), root length (RL), shoot dry weight (SDW), root dry weight (RDW), root number (RN) and statistically analyzed for significant differences. Significant differences were observed among the genotypes, treatments and their interactions for the evaluated plant traits suggesting a great amount of variability for drought tolerance in sorghum. In general, embryogenic callus induction and plantlet regeneration was found to be indirectly proportional to increased PEG concentrations. By taking into consideration all the measured traits, Mann Whitney rank sum test revealed that 76T1#23 and Teshale followed by Gambella-1107 and Melkam showed better drought stress tolerance while Chelenko appeared to be drought sensitive