Search

The study was aimed at developing submergence tolerant version of popular rice variety of Tamil Nadu namely CO 43, through marker assisted introgression of Sub1 locus from a submergence tolerant FR13A. Selfed progenies of BC2 generations were genotyped and phenotyped for submergence tolerance. Foreground selection was done using rice marker RM219 and ART 5. Background Selection (BGS) was done using 25 genome wide SSR markers with three markers covering per chromosome. BGS resulted in the identification of superior six BC2F2 plants possessing > 80% of CO43 genome. These lines were selfed to generate BC2F3 progenies for further phenotyping studies under simulated submergence conditions. Most of the BC2F3 progenies and FR13A plants exhibited 100% survival for flooding stress of 13 days. All the survived plants of BC2F3 generations were evaluated for plant height, chlorophyll contents, chlorophyll fluorescence, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rates before and after flooding. The findings of the study showed that the backcross progenies (BC2F3) with minimum underwater elongation were associated with increased survival percentage, higher chlorophyll contents and comparable fluorescence values as that of FR13A. Most of the BC2F3 individuals recorded higher photosynthetic rate coupled with higher conductance and transpiration rates.

Potentially dye degrading bacterial strains were successfully isolated from the soil samples collected from the amended sites with textile effluent and identified as Klebsiella pneumonia, Aeromonas hydrophila, Citrobacter freundii, Bacillus cereus, and Bacillus subtilis by considering morphological characteristics and 18S RNA sequencing methods. These bacterial strains have accomplished the discriminate color removal strategy for Acid Blue 25 sulfonated anthraquinone dye irrespective of their molecular structure. During the decolorization process, it was observed that anthraquinone dye first followed chromophoric cleavage by anthraquinone reductase and peroxidase enzymes resulting in the cleavage of sulfonated bonds of anthraquinone dye. It is confirmed that some of the metabolites are involved and by spectroscopy analysis by LCMS, FTIR, and NMR of intermediate metabolites indicated the pattern of Acid Blue 25 and degradable products during the decolorization might be fuse to central metabolic pathway by degradation. It was found that bacterial consortium was efficient in decolorization and degradation of textile anthraquinone dyes. It was proved that the extracted biodegraded products are nontoxic in nature, resulting in good germination as well as plumule and radicle length of Phaseolus mungo when compared to the untreated dyes.

Mango processing generates kernels and peels as waste which accounts for 40-60 per cent. Mango kernels most often used as by-product for extraction of oil. The residue left after oil extraction is generally considered as waste but studies revealed that it has sufficient amount of starch. Present study was undertaken to extract starch from mango seed kernels, to investigate level of incorporation of starch extract into soup mix and to study its shelf life. Mango seeds were procured from processing industry and kernels were isolated manually from its seed coat. Starch was extracted from kernels. Extracted starch was incorporated in soup mix by replacing corn starch at 25, 50 and 75 per cent. Best accepted sample was kept for storage study in comparison with control for two months. Results revealed recovery of starch was 50.5 g per 100 g of kernels. Starch extract incorporated soup mix was best accepted at 50 per cent level and this sample was kept for storage study in comparison with control soup mix where 100 per cent corn starch was used. Over the storage period sensory scores for soups prepared with soup mixes were observed to be acceptable indicating two months of shelf-life for soup mix. Microbial load on starch extract incorporated soup mix was observed to be less when compared to control but on both samples it was observed to be within safety limits. Mango kernels which are generated as processing waste can be utilized to extract starch, which can replace the corn starch up to 50 per cent in soup mixes without significant difference in sensory properties and can be stored for two months.

BACKGROUND: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is one of the common potentially malignant disorder prevailing in India. The primary etiological factors include tobacco and are canut which contain numerous Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). The imbalance between ROS and antioxidant status creates oxidative stress. Reactive oxygen species attack guanine bases in DNA and form 8-Hydroxy Deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) which can be detected in patients who have diseases associated with oxidative stress. The oxidative DNA damage produced by oxidative stress may induce malignant transformation. The aim of the present study is to detect the expression of 8 -OHdG in OSMF and compare the expression within the different grades and normal oral mucosa. AIM OF THE STUDY: To study the Immunohistochemical expression of 8-OHdG in oral submucous fibrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 30 samples were examined for the immunohistochemical expression of 8-OHdG. The control group includes 10 formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue blocks of normal buccal mucosa. The study group includes 20 cases of formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue blocks of oral submucous fibrosis (5cases of very early, early, moderately advanced, advanced cases of OSMF). 3 micron thickness sections were made from each sample and stained with 8-OHdG antibody. The expression is scored and analysed statistically. The results were statistically analysed using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann - Whitney U test. RESULTS: Statistically significant difference exists in the intensity of 8-OHdG expression between the study groups. Increased intensity in the oral submucous fibrosis samples were observed when compared with normal mucosa. The p value obtained was less than 0.001 which was highly statistically significant. Staining intensity was also compared with different grades of OSMF, the p value obtained was less than 0.01 which was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Our present study is the first attempt to evaluate the expression of 8-OHdG in tissue samples that revealed the role of free radicals and oxidative DNA damage which enhances the initiation and progression of Oral submucous fibrosis. Further research with a larger sample size, clinicopathologic correlation and long term followup will shed more light on the pathogenesis of Oral submucous fibrosis. It will also be useful for the development of new therapeutic stratergies targeting treatment modalities for the oral submucous fibrosis.

To increase the thermotolerance of improved White Ponni (IWP), two quantitative trait loci (QTLs), qHTSF1.1 and qHTSF4.1, controlling spikelet fertility under high-temperature stress, were introgressed from Nagina 22 into IWP through marker-assisted breeding. The progenies were subjected to foreground selection of target QTLs using simple sequence repent markers RM431 and RM5757 linked to qHTSF1.1 and qHTSF4.1, respectively. At each generation, foreground selection with single target QTL or both QTLs was done together. The QTL-positive plants were forwarded to next generation by selfing. The F2:3 progenies were subjected to phenotypic analyses under high-temperature stress at the flowering stage. Chlorophyll stability index, malondialdehyde content, grain yield, and yield-related components of the F2:3 progenies were measured. The progenies IWP-295, IWP-277 and IWP-246 harboring both qHTSF1.1 and qHTSF4.1 showed higher fertility percentages under high-temperature stress at the flowering stage. These QTLs were responsible for maintaining membrane integrity and yield under elevated temperature conditions.

Rice is the major cereal food crop in the world. The predicted 2–4 °C increment in temperature by the end of the twenty-first century and the occurrence of drought coupled with high temperature stress situation poses a threat to rice production. There is a wealth of unexplored rice germplasm and landraces which show significant genetic variation in response to temperature stress. Hence, the present study was designed to develop a rapid screening protocol based on the principle of “acquired tolerance” in which seedlings were subjected to a gradual temperature increase from 38 to 48 °C for 3 h (induction treatment), immediately followed by challenging at 54 °C for 3 h. Among the landraces, Apo and Norungan showed a mortality of 12 %, coupled with a less reduction in percent root and shoot growth when subjected to induction treatments. Thus their intrinsic thermo-tolerance was found to be comparable with that of N22. The physiological basis of thermo-tolerance in these lines was further confirmed, as these lines recorded a higher chlorophyll stability index and a strong antioxidant enzyme system with lesser lipid peroxidation in terms of malondialdehyde content values. Finally, TIR studies revealed that, apart from N22, landraces such as Apo, Norungan, Ottadiayan and Vellaikudaivazhai can also be used as new sources of donors in breeding programmes to overcome combined drought and temperature stresses.

Rice bran is a component of raw rice that is obtained when it is removed from the starchy endosperm in the rice milling process. Processing was carried out by using microwave and probiotic treatment. The study revealed that rice bran was stabilized by microwave heating (2450MHz for 3min). Stabilized rice bran was inoculated with Lactic Acid Bacillus culture and used as probiotic treated rice bran. Free fatty acid percentage of stabilized rice bran ranged from 4.10 to 7.50 from initial to 4th week and in probiotic treated rice bran it was 4.35 to 7.95 up to 4 weeks of storage period. Functional properties of rice bran were analyzed for stabilized and probiotic treated rice bran i.e. bulk density (0.22-0.38g/ml), water absorption (2-3ml/g), oil absorption (1.5-2.5ml/g), water solubility (7.3-8.0%) and swelling power (6.7-7.2%) respectively. Macronutrient composition of stabilized and probiotic treated rice bran for moisture, protein, fat, ash and carbohydrate were 4.30 and 5.40, 17.50 and 19.25, 13.10 and 17.20, 4.92 and 4.64, 52.33 and 48.55 g/100g respectively and it contained 7.85 and 4.96 g crude fibre, 21.17 and 13.10 g insoluble dietary fibre, 2.17 and 1.80g soluble dietary fibre and 23.34 and 14.90g total dietary fibre. Mineral content of stabilized and probiotic treated rice bran for calcium, phosphorous, iron and zinc were 52.10 and 49.90, 1185.20 and 1186.50, 28.10 and 30.05, 6.02 and 5.89 mg/100g respectively. Processing helps in destroying the lipolytic activity using microwave stabilizing technology, which increases the shelf life of rice bran and improves the nutrient content.

Scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLOs) can be used for early detection of retinal diseases. The advantage of using SLO is its wide field of view, which can image a large part of the retina for better diagnosis of the retinal diseases. On the other hand, during the imagining, process, artefacts such as eyelashes and eyelids are also imaged along with the retinal area. This brings a big challenge on how to exclude these artefacts. In this paper, we propose a novel approach to automatically extract out true retinal area from an SLO image based on image processing and machine learning approaches. To reduce the complexity of image processing tasks and provide a convenient primitive image pattern. We have grouped pixels into different regions based on the regional size and compactness called super pixels. The framework then calculates image based features reflecting textural and structural information and classifies between retinal area and artefacts. The experimental evaluation results have shown good performance with an overall accuracy of 92%. But to get more accuracy the study was extended by using texture analysis (surface quality)to detect more feature extraction. By this study we hope in Future we can measure the properties of images(contrast, homogeneity, entropy, correlation).

Density (ρ) data for binary mixtures of ethyl benzoate (EB) with toluene (T), o-chlorotoluene (o-CT), m-chlorotoluene (m-CT) and p-chlorotoluene (p-CT) were measured as a function of mole fraction at temperatures 298.15, 303.15, 308.15 and 313.15 K. Further, speeds of sound (u) and viscosity (η) data for the same binary mixtures were also measured as a function of mole fraction at temperatures 303.15 and 313.15 K. From the experimental data, excess volume (VE), isentropic compressibility (κs), excess isentropic compressibility (κsE), deviation in viscosity (∆η), deviation in intermolecular free length (∆Lf), deviation in acoustic impedance (∆Z) and Gibb's free energy of activation of viscous flow (G⁎E) have been computed. The variations in these properties with composition for all the binary mixtures suggest that the dipole–dipole interactions, electron donor–acceptor interactions, n–π interactions and charge-transfer complex formation between ethyl benzoate with toluene and isomeric chlorotoluenes were observed. Excess volume (VE) and excess isentropic compressibilities (κsE) were found to be negative over the entire mole fraction range of ethyl benzoate indicating the presence of dipole–dipole interactions between the unlike molecules in the mixtures. The negative deviation in viscosity (∆η) values was attributed to mutual loss of specific interactions between unlike molecules. The excess/deviation parameters were compared with various theoretical models. The results were discussed in terms of molecular interactions present in these mixtures.

An investigation was carried out to understand the physiological mechanisms of male sterility in rice. The critical sterility temperature and critical stage of thermosensitivity of the selected TGMS (Thermosensitive Genie Male Sterile) line, TS 29 was studied using a Phytotron. Variations in the physiological traits were analyzed at Stage VII of panicle development (Filling phase of pollen, floret and panicle reach full length and colour turns to green). High significant reductions in photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, hill reaction, sugars and carbohydrate contents were recorded. The high temperature induced male sterility in TGMS line was associated with accumulation of starch and higher diffusive resistance. However a reverse of all the above responses was found in the TS 29 grown under fertility inducing low temperature and in the variety CO 46. The results revealed that some physiological traits play an important role by acting as signals or messengers in response to temperature leading to pollen abortion.

A huge amount of pollutant free water required for sugarcane processing industry to obtain sugarcane byproducts. It is estimated that approximately 1–2 m3 of water being used to practice 1 ton of sugarcane and this process will generate 1 m3 as polluted effluent. This work has been dealt with treating sugarcane industry (SCI) effluent by bio cultivation of Chlorella vulgaris (PSBDU06). The cultivation of C. vulgaris in SCI effluent was also evaluated by dilution of effluent and adding external nutrient sources. The addition of KNO3 and 10% WW dilution resulted higher nutrients consumption (PO3−4-93.67 ± 4.69%, NO−3-66.33 ± 3.32%, NO−2-64.21 ± 3.21%, SiO32—83.49 ± 4.17%), than others. The higher biomass (6.85 ± 0.34 g L−1) and photosynthetic pigments (2.87 ± 0.14 μg L−1) production could be achieved at a 10% WW and potassium nitrate combination. The combined bio cultivation of C. vulgaris with external additional nutrients sources with lowest dilution of SCI effluent shows excellent removal of nutrients and high value algal products achieved.

Oxidative stress was induced by in vivo treatment with hydrogen peroxide in rice genotypes showing contrasting behavior to flooding and salt stress. Four rice genotypes FR 13A (Tolerant to flooding stress); CO 43 (Susceptible to flooding stress); FL 478 (Tolerant to salinity stress) and IR29 (Susceptible to salinity stress) were used to study important physiological traits like chlorophyll contents, Cell Membrane Stability, Nitrate reductase activity and antioxidant capacity under oxidative stress. H 2O2 treatments caused degradation in chlorophyll contents, decreased membrane stability and reduced the activities of Nitrate reductase in all the genotypes. A gradual increase in the activities of catalase and peroxidase were recorded under H 2O2 treatments. Significant upregulation of antioxidant enzyme systems and slow degradation of chlorophyll contents, with less reduction in cell membrane stability and Nitrate reductase activity in the tolerant genotypes (FR 13A and FL 478) play important roles in stress protection.

Probiotics are dietary supplements containing potentially beneficial bacteria or yeasts. These probiotics promote good health and have therapeutic value. In this regard a study has been conducted to find the effect of probioticated millet mix on cholesterol levels in albino rats. Forty eight male Wistar rats were divided into six groups, all groups showed normal growth. Normal levels of serum hematological and serum values were observed where as Composite Mix Single Probiotic (CMSP) diet showed better results. Reduction in serum cholesterol, triglycerides, VLDL, LDL and improvement in the HDL levels were observed over a period of 45 days in experimental animals. CMSP was found to have good effect when compared to Composite Mix with Mixed Probiotic (CMMP). Hypocholesterolemic effect was observed in rats fed with CMSP diet.

The intestinal microbiota plays a major role in growth as well as maintenance of the health of animals. Traditionally, the microorganisms present in the intestine of animals were identified by bacteriological culture methods. In this study, the microbial community of caecal content of chicken was identified by sequencing genomic material directly from the caecum.Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted directly from the caecal microbial content of broiler chicken. 16S recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequence is a hyper-variable region which is conserved in almost all prokaryotes. Using universal primers, the 16S rDNA sequence was amplified, cloned into PCR(4) TOPO vector and transformed in Escherichia coli DH5 α cells, the plasmid from clones containing target 16S rDNA sequence was sequenced. All the sequences were subjected to BLAST search against prokaryote genomic database to identify similar sequences. Cloned sequences exhibited high level of sequence similarity (> 95%) with Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (strain D1, AUX077, CCF00024, 776), uncultured bacterium P4D1-70, 87% with uncultured eubacterium clone GL178.1, S. maltophilia (strain HB, B2A, 776), Nanobacterium spp. nanoU, 94% with S. maltophilia(strain D1, AUX077), uncultured bacterium clone P4D7-617. Based on the similarity search and phylogenetic tree construction it was identified that the bacterial community present in the caecal content of broiler chicken belongs to Bacillus spp group and it exhibits the evolutionary relationship with Nanobacterium spp, Stenotrophomonas spp and unculturable microorganism. Key words: 16S rDNA, cecal content, broiler chicken, universal primers.

The effect of combined heat and drought stress on proline, chlorophyll stability index, membrane thermal stability and abscisic acid (ABA) contents were investigated to screen and study the physiological basis of heat and drought tolerance in three rice genotypes (ADT 43, TKM 9 and N 22). The stresses were imposed at panicle initiation (PI) and anthesis stages of crop growth. The genotype N 22 was found to be the tolerant followed by TKM 9 while ADT 43 was observed to the susceptible genotype based on the above physiological and biochemical traits. Irrespective of genotypes, anthesis stage stress brought about accumulation of osmolyte and ABA contents with membrane stability changes compared to stress at PI stage. ADT 43 recorded low proline content of (201 μg g−1), CSI of (52.5%), MTS of (24.39%) and ABA content of (0.587 μg g−1). While, N 22 recorded higher proline content of (252.6 μg g−1), CSI of (89.8%), MTS of (33.08%) and ABA content of (0.685 μg g−1). Higher proline and ABA contents with improved membrane stability was clearly demonstrated in the tolerant genotype (N 22) compared to susceptible genotype (ADT 43). This conforms that these biochemical traits can be used to screen rice genotypes to combined stresses and understand the mechanism underlying stress tolerance.

Great interest has recently been focused on the development of cereal based probiotic foods, since comparatively less work is available on cereal based probiotics. An attempt was made to develop such kind of probiotic food mixture which can be utilized to prepare different kind of food products which suits the Indian palate. Probiotic food mixes were developed using locally available ingredients such as Italian millet flour, wheat flour, soya flour, skimmed milk powder, roasted bengal gram dal powder in the proportion 30:40:11:3:15. Probiotic cultures i.e., single probiotic organism Sporolacto bacillus and mixed culture with the combination of Streptococcus faecalis, Clostridium butyricum, Bacillus mesentericus and Lactobacillus organisms were dehydrated using different dehydration techniques. Freeze drying provided higher survival rate of probiotic organisms i.e., 7.46 × 107 log CFU and 6.16 × 107 log CFU mixed probiotic cultures over spray drying. Moisture, protein, fat, crude fibre, carbohydrate, energy, ash, calcium, phosphorus, iron and zinc content of the developed composite probiotic functional mix were 11 g, 18.10 g, 5.70 g, 3.47 g, 58.77 g, 359 Kcal, 3.19 g, 107.10 mg, 343.22 mg, 5.66 mg and 2.03 mg per 100 g, respectively. Tannin, phytic acid, polyphenol and in-vitro protein digestibly were 111.50 mg, 3.1 mg, 120 mg and 55.3 per cent/100 g in the mix. Nutrient and non nutrient contents were the same in all the three mixes, since the ingredients used were the same except for probiotic culture powders. pH decreased and acidity percentage increased over a period of 60 days storage period in the mixes developed.

Nucleoside transport was examined in freshly isolated mouse intestinal epithelial cells. The uptake of formycin B, the C nucleoside analog of inosine, was concentrative and required extracellular sodium. The initial rate of sodium-dependent formycin B transport was saturable with a Km of 45 +/- 3 microM. The purine nucleosides adenosine, inosine, guanosine, and deoxyadenosine were all good inhibitors of sodium-dependent formycin B transport with 50% inhibition (IC50) observed at concentrations less than 30 microM. Of the pyrimidine nucleosides examined, only uridine (IC50, 41 +/- 9 microM) was a good inhibitor. Thymidine and cytidine were poor inhibitors with IC50 values greater than 300 microM. Direct measurements of [3H]thymidine transport revealed, however, that the uptake of this nucleoside was also mediated by a sodium-dependent mechanism. Thymidine transport was inhibited by low concentrations of cytidine, uridine, adenosine, and deoxyadenosine (IC50 values less than 25 microM), but not by formycin B, inosine, or guanosine (IC50 values greater than 600 microM). These data indicate that there are two sodium-dependent mechanisms for nucleoside transport in mouse intestinal epithelial cells, and that formycin B and thymidine may serve as model substrates to distinguish between these transporters. Neither of these sodium-dependent transport mechanisms was inhibited by nitrobenzylmercaptopurine riboside (10 microM), a potent inhibitor of one of the equilibrative (facilitated diffusion) nucleoside transporters found in many cells.