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Morphological and pathogenic characterization of Fusarium species causing common bean root rot in Uganda
Full text linkFusarium root rot (FRR) of common bean occurs in Africa, Central and South America, and causes yield losses of up to 86%. Recently, FRR-like wilt symptoms were observed in Uganda’s agroecology zones. To identify the causal pathogen, we conducted surveys in seven agroecology zones to determine the prevalence and incidence of the reported disease. During the surveys, diseased roots were collected for pathogen isolation. Fungal strains were characterized using colony color, mycelial growth rate and microscopic structures such as conidia and microconidia. The pathogenicity of 99 strains on five bean varieties was determined in artificially inoculated soils in the screenhouse. Based on field symptoms, the observed wilting was identified to be Fusarium root rot, the prevalence of which varied across agroecologies, with the highest (95%) in the Karamoja pastoral zone (KP) and the lowest (40%) in West Nile farming system (WN). Similarly, the incidence of FRR was highest (87%) in KP, and lowest (20%) in WN. Fusarium strains differed in growth rate, colony color, shape and size of microscopic structures. All evaluated strains were pathogenic on common bean and caused severities of 0.9 to 98.3%. Further studies are required to identify the isolated strains at the species level using molecular tools
Yield performance evaluation of kabuli and desi chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) varieties under rainfed condition
Full text linkChickpea is one of Ethiopia’s main grain legume crops and it is third most important export legumes after faba bean and haricot bean. The performance information for chickpea cultivars under varying environmental conditions in the Somali region is limited. A field experiment was conducted to test the adaptability of 14 released chickpea varieties (both kabuli and desi types) at Kebribeya and Jigjiga in 2021. The experiment was carried out using a complete randomized block design with three replications for both types separately. The analysis of variance computed for seven traits for each location and over the location revealed the presence of significant variability between varieties. Variety by location interaction was highly significant for most yield and yield related for both types, this indicated that location-specific variety selection is needed. Hence, among the tested kabuli types, Koka and Hora for Kebribeya and Ejera and Koka for Jigjiga were selected based on their grain yield potential and other yield and yield-related traits. Regarding the desi-type Dalota and Dimtu for Kebribeya and Dalota, Natoil and Teketay for the Jigjiga location were the best high-yielder varieties among tested varieties. Additionally, the phenotypic correlation between traits revealed that most traits were associated with grain yield. Specifically, days to maturity and the number of pods per plant were highly correlated with grain yield in both types and were also used as important traits for variety selection. Therefore, the selected varieties from both chickpea types are recommended for popularization in study areas and other similar agroecology
Dyeing of cotton and silk fabric with Tradescantia spathacea Sw. leaf aqueous extract
Full text linkColour is one of the appealing factors that impress people across the world. In every living organism in this globe i.e., insect, bird, animal, plant and human etc., colour seems to be the most attractive factor throughout the life. The Tradescantia spathacea leaf extract was used for dyeing of cotton and silk fabric. The mordants used in this study were Copper Sulphate and Myrobalan. There were three methods of mordanting carried out in this study namely, simultaneous mordanting, pre-mordanting and post mordanting. In the dyed cotton fabric, pre-mordanting treatment with myrobalan (Grey Scale Rate 4) and Copper Sulphate (Grey Scale Rate 3) showed better grey scale rating than other treatments. The silk fabrics dyed with the leaf extract resulted in grey scale rating of 3-4 or 4 for wash fastness tests. This indicates that all the natural dye applied silk fabrics showed better response than cotton in retaining the dye after washing. In staining tests (the spilling of dye/colour from the natural dyed fabrics on other cotton and wool fabrics) almost all the treatments showed very good results. The grey scale rating of 4-5 was achieved for all the dyed fabrics. Since the fabric showed better results it can be further elaborated for large scale dyeing experiments and more fastness studies like fastness to light, ironing etc. for suitable application in textile dyeing of silk fabrics
Macroalgae of the sandy cays of Alacranes Reef: Gulf of Mexico
Full text linkIn the summer of 2018, a field trip to the five sandy cays on the leeward edge of the Alacranes reef was made: Pájaros Island, Chica Island, Pérez Island, Muertos or Desertora Island and Desterrada Island. The total area recorded for the 5 islands is 530,407 m2, representing 1.7% of the reef area. In the keys, an extensive collection of macroalgae was carried out in the supralittoral zone (0-80 cm), mesolittoral (81-140 cm), and beginning of the infralittoral zone (150-330 cm). All keys have a maximum height of 3-4 m. A total of 175 species, 4 growth forms, 8 varieties, and one subspecies were recorded. The sandy cays of this reef have been recognized as important nesting areas for turtles and seabirds, hence the importance of their description for their conservation. To try to understand its dynamics, the database obtained was subjected to a divisive classification analysis considering 19 attributes including substrate, protection, reproductive status, and depth. The system reached a total diversity of 425.99 beles Ind-1. The analysis presents that depth and substrate are mainly responsible for the largest drops in information in the system. The spatial analysis given by a biplot analysis shows an ecotonal continuum from the center of origin to the right, influenced by the substrate and by wave protection. This analysis gives an explained variance of 60.03% in the first three components. The high diversity of flora recorded in this work can be an important support for protecting and conserving the reef
In vitro antioxidant and anticancer potential of intra-cellular ethyl acetate extract of marine-derived fungus Talaromyces tratensis SS10
Full text linkMarine fungi are well-known for producing structurally distinct secondary metabolites, making them potential sources of novel therapies. The present investigation aims to study the in vitro antioxidant and anticancer potential of intra-cellular crude ethyl acetate extracts of Talaromyces tratensis SS10. In the present study, qualitative and quantitative phytochemical studies of various solvent extracts of T. tratensis have been carried out using standard protocols. Later, ethyl acetate extract of T. tratensis was analyzed for phytochemicals using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Further, the antioxidant properties of the T. tratensis ethyl acetate extract have been done by Ferric reducing antioxidant power assay (FRAP). Further, the anticancer potential of this extract has been carried out by MTT assay against human cancer cells such as MDA MB 231, HeLa, and HT-29. Ethyl acetate exhibited a higher yield of chemical extraction than the other solvents used. The GCMS analysis of T. tratensis ethyl acetate extract revealed major phytoconstituents such as N-(1,1-Dimethylpropyl)-2,2,3-trimethylaziridine-1-carboxamide, 1-Undecanol, 5,5 Dimethyl-3-vinyl cyclohex-2-en-1-one, 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, bis (2-methyl propyl) ester. T. tratensis ethyl acetate extract showed the highest percentage of Fe3+ reduction (48.093±1.469%) at 120 μg/mL, with an IC50 value of 157.26 μg/mL concentration. Furthermore, 100 μg/mL of the extract showed significant cell death rates in cytotoxic assays, indicating a low percentage of viable cells for all three examined cell lines. The T. tratensis ethyl acetate extract has shown a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect against all tested cancer cell lines. The better IC50 value (6.25 μg/mL) was recorded in the case of HeLa cell lines followed by 12.5 μg/mL for both MDA MB 231 and HT-29 cell lines. The presence of bioactive compounds such as Benzeneethanamine, N-[(pentafluorophenyl)methylene]-beta.,3,4-tris[(trimethylsilyl) oxy]-, 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, bis(2-methylpropyl) ester, and cyclononasiloxane, octadecamethyl- may have contributed to the ethyl acetate extracts’ strong antioxidant and anticancer properties. The current study’s findings show that T. tratensis SS10 has the potential for drug development due to its chemical constituents, which possess various biological activities
Sourcing antimicrobial agents from Globimetula braunii: An in silico molecular docking and dynamic approach
Full text linkThe continued emergence of multi-drug resistance pathogens has been a major setback to lifting the burden of infectious diseases, especially bacterial illnesses. Natural- and/or nature-inspired compounds have so far become a therapeutic backbone on which many novel antibacterial agents are optimized. It is against this backdrop that we used an in silico molecular interaction-based approach to screen five previously identified compounds from Globimetula braunii, for lead inhibitors against bacterial illnesses. The compounds were chromatographed from the leaf ethyl acetate fraction and were characterized by spectroscopic means as 13,27-cycloursane (1), 13,27-cycloursan-3-one (2), methyl-3,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzoate (3), 3-methyl-4-hydroxybenzoate (4), and 2-methoxyphenol (5). Upon their molecular docking at the active pocket of the Staphylococcus aureus gyrase B and the Escherichia coli DNA gyrase, 2 showed the highest binding affinities, with energy scores of -10 and -9.6 Kcal/mol. These were better than the standard antibiotics, Ampicillin (-7.5 and -8.0 Kcal/mol), and Ciprofloxacin (-6.9, -8.4 Kcal/mol). Further evaluation of the most promising compound 2 by molecular dynamics simulation showed the mean RMSD values of the 13,27-cycloursan-3-one - E. coli DNA gyrase protein complexes (complex 1) and 13,27-cycloursan-3-one - S. aureus gyrase B protein (complex 2) to be 0.7 and 0.9 Ǻ respectively, attaining stability at 102 and 108 ns. In contrast, complexes 1 and 2’s RMSF analysis revealed the fewest fluctuations and was generally stable over the course of the 120 ns. In conclusion, 13,27-cycloursan-3-one is unquestionably the most promising inhibitory candidate against the bacterial growth protein DNA gyrase, hence, it can be considered as a druggable substance against bacterial disease
Impact of electron beam and ethyl methane sulphonate on chlorophyll mutations in rice genotypes ASD 16 and Norungan
Full text linkInduced mutagenesis facilitates the creation of novel gene combinations within a plant genome, preserving its basic structure. This study investigates the impact of electron beam radiation and ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS) on chlorophyll mutations in rice genotypes, ASD 16 and Norungan. The seeds were irradiated with five different doses of electron beam and EMS during rabi 2021-22. The M1 generation was assessed for seedling survival, seedling height and spikelet fertility followed by an identification of chlorophyll mutants in the M2 generation. At specific mutagen doses, ASD 16 and Norungan exhibited the genotypic difference for chlorophyll mutants. Various chlorophyll mutations, such as albino, chlorina, xantha, striata, viridis, albomaculata, alboviridis and xanthoviridis were observed. ASD 16 was more sensitive to both mutagens, while Norungan showed a broader response. EMS proved to be a more effective in inducing mutations than the electron beam. Lower and moderate mutagen doses demonstrated higher efficiency indicating the importance of optimizing mutagenic conditions. This study illuminates the significance of chlorophyll mutants genetic makeup varietal differences. The strong and diverse response observed in Norungan underscores its suitability for mutation breeding programmes. These findings contribute to the efficient utilisation of mutagenesis in improving rice traits providing practical implications for elevating crop quality and promoting genetic diversity in rice cultivation
Optimizing suitable solvent for phenylpropanoid extraction and antioxidant activities in Agastache rugosa hairy roots
Full text linkAgrobacterium-mediated hairy roots (HRs) can induce genetic stability, rapid growth, and the synthesis of bioactive compounds in plant roots. Agastache rugosa is otherwise called Korea Mint and several studies have reported that this plant has been used for the treatment of various diseases due to the presence of a variety of bioactive compounds. A. rugosa HRs are rich in secondary metabolites than the seedling roots, and the HRs extract might be more useful in pharmacology, especially in cosmetology. This study aimed to select the suitable solvent for the extraction of phenylpropanoid compounds, total phenolic (TP), flavonoid (TF), and antioxidant activities (DPPH, ABTS scavenging activity, and reducing power assay). In this study, we extracted the A. rugosa HRs with three different extracts of solvent (water, MeOH, and EtOH) of A. rugosa HRs and analyzed the phenylpropanoid compounds, TP, TF, and antioxidant activities. The result showed that 70% MeOH extracts showed the highest activities in all assays, followed by the 70% EtOH, and water extracts. In addition, 70% of MeOH extracts showed the highest TP and TF (46.14±0.25 GAE mg/g DW and 65.46±1.41 QE mg/g DW, respectively) contents, which was 1.96- and 1.76- times higher than that of the water extracts. The phenylpropanoids in A. rugosa HR extracts were identified by using HPLC, and the results showed that 70% MeOH and EtOH showed the highest contents. Regarding these results, we can conclude that 70% MeOH is the optimal solvent to extract the A. rugosa HRs for the highest phenylpropanoid, TP, TF content, and antioxidant activities. This study might be useful for producing useful compounds at an industrial scale
Chemoprofiling of Cucumis pubescens Willd. fruits
Full text linkCucumis pubescens, a notable therapeutic plant belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family is extensively utilized in South India’s habitual medicine. Despite its medicinal importance, the phytochemical content of this plant remains largely unexplored. The objective of the present study was to examine the phytochemical composition of the fruits of C. pubescens. Initially, HPLC analysis was employed to separate secondary metabolites, revealing seven major phytochemical fractions. The use of a suitable mobile phase system (Acetic acid: Acetonitrile: Water, 4:2:10) at 280 nm facilitated clear isolation. Subsequent spectral analyses confirmed the presence of bioactive compounds. UV-Vis spectral analysis indicated the abundance of flavonoids and tannins. The presence of functional groups, for instance, C=O (carbonyl), C-C (benzene), and Ar-C-H (aromatic hydrocarbon) were validated through FTIR. Further analysis through GC-MS identified 23 bioactive compounds, with quercetin and kaempferol being the predominant ones, followed by gallic acid and caffeic acid. The pharmacological activity of these compounds underscores the therapeutic potential of C. pubescens. In conclusion, this study highlights the rich chemical diversity of C. pubescens, suggesting its potential as a valuable medicinal species with pharmaceutical significance
Estimation of land and manpower needs for year-round supply of green fodder (Super Napier) to dairy cattle through time studies and crop cutting experiments
Full text linkThe present study was undertaken to determine the land and manpower needed for the production of Super Napier fodder for the year-round feeding of dairy cattle present in Livestock Research Station, Mahanandi, Nandyal district, Andhra Pradesh through time studies and crop cutting experiments. The occasional activities of fodder production such as tillage, planting, irrigation and fertilizer application required 113.97 ± 7.31, 35.81 ± 0.98, 8.45 ± 0.31 and 0.56 ± 0.03 man-hours per acre, respectively, while the daily activities of fodder production such as harvesting of fodder, loading of fodder bundles, transport, chaffing and feeding took 5.64 ± 0.19, 1.86 ± 0.11, 0.24 ± 0.01, 0.93 ± 0.06 and 0.34 ± 0.01 man-hours per ton, respectively. Among the tillage operations, weeding required the most time (105.83 ± 6.90 man-hours per acre) and the application of an adjusted cultivator required the least time (0.64 ± 0.07 man-hours per acre). The cutting of planting material into stem cuttings and the harvesting of the planting material consumed the highest (16.52 ± 0.62 man-hours per acre) and lowest (3.97 ± 0.28 man-hours per acre) time, respectively, among the planting operations. There was a significant difference between two labourers of the same age in the application of adjusted cultivator (P < 0.01) and furrow irrigation (P < 0.05). The mean fresh yield of fodder in the farm was 16.73 ± 1.62 tons per acre per harvest or 100.40 ± 9.72 tons per acre per annum. Based on the results, it was concluded that one acre of cultivable land managed by a single person is sufficient for ensuring the year-round feeding of seven dairy animals under Super Napier fodder production