Grafting is a common practice for vegetative propagation and trait improvement in horticultural plants. A general prerequisite for successful grafting and long term survival of grafted plants is ...taxonomic proximity between the root stock and scion. For the success of a grafting operation, rootstock and scion should essentially be closely related. Interaction between the rootstock and scion involves complex physiological-biochemical and molecular mechanisms. Successful graft union formation involves a series of steps viz., lining up of vascular cambium, generation of a wound healing response, callus bridge formation, followed by vascular cambium formation and subsequent formation of the secondary xylem and phloem. For grafted trees compatibility between the rootstock/scion is the most essential factor for their better performance and longevity. Graft incompatibility occurs on account of a number of factors including of unfavorable physiological responses across the graft union, transmission of virus or phytoplasma and anatomical deformities of vascular tissue at the graft junction. In order to avoid the incompatibility problems, it is important to predict the same at an early stage. Phytohormones, especially auxins regulate key events in graft union formation between the rootstock and scion, while others function to facilitate the signaling pathways. Transport of macro as well as micro molecules across long distances results in phenotypic variation shown by grafted plants, therefore grafting can be used to determine the pattern and rate of recurrence of this transport. A better understanding of rootstock scion interactions, endogenous growth substances, soil or climatic factors needs to be studied, which would facilitate efficient selection and use of rootstocks in the future. Protein, hormones, mRNA and small RNA transport across the junction is currently emerging as an important mechanism which controls the stock/scion communication and simultaneously may play a crucial role in understanding the physiology of grafting more precisely. This review provides an understanding of the physiological, biochemical and molecular basis underlying grafting with special reference to horticultural plants.
This study's aim was to determine the pesticide residues in 10 different vegetable commodities from the Asir region, Saudi Arabia. We evaluated 211 vegetable samples, collected from supermarkets ...between March 2018 and September 2018, for a total of 80 different pesticides using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) after extraction with a multi-residue method (the QuEChERS method). The results were assessed according to the maximum residue limit (MRL) provided by European regulations for each pesticide in each commodity. All lettuce, cauliflower, and carrot samples were found to be free from pesticide residues. A total of 145 samples (68.7%) contained detectable pesticide residues at or lower than MRLs, and 44 samples (20.9%) contained detectable pesticide residues above MRLs. MRL values were exceeded most often in chili pepper (14 samples) and cucumber (10 samples). Methomyl, imidacloprid, metalaxyl, and cyproconazole were the most frequently detected pesticides. Based on the results of this study, we recommend that a government-supported program for the monitoring of pesticide residues in vegetables be established to promote consumers' health and achieve sustainable farming systems.
We suggest triangular aperture modeling for the computation of speckle size using the point spread function (PSF) concept. The fast Fourier transform (FFT) algorithm indicates three models of ...triangular apertures in the point spread function (PSF) computation. We calculated for the first time the average speckle size from the full width at half maximum (FWHM) for the triangular apertures in the PSF. The results are compared with the speckle sizes results obtained from the autocorrelation of speckle images corresponding to the considered models showed an agreement. In the analysis, I consider the 1st model with four equilateral triangular apertures, each of equal sides (b), along the Cartesian coordinates at equal distances from the center (
x
d
). In the 2nd model, I assume 16 triangular apertures in a circular contour. In contrast, in the 3rd model, a sequence of six equilateral triangular black and white (B/W) zones is shown where the central triangle is black. I consider central obstruction to attenuate the low spatial frequency in the PSF. I take a transparent triangular aperture for comparison. Also, the PSF corresponding to the circular aperture is given for comparison. In addition, reconstructed images of apertures from the speckle images are obtained. We considered MATLAB codes for all the computations and plots.
Some microorganisms such as Sporoscarcina pasteurii precipitate calcium carbonate and are suitable for biocementation. This study aimed to investigate the effects of several factors including ...concentration of bacteria, chemical reactants, temperature, and pH on precipitation of calcium carbonate. The results showed that after 7 and 14 days of curing, the compressive strength of silty clay soil samples increased steadily as pH increased from 5 to 9. It was observed that pH plays an important role in biocementation. The highest compressive strength (i.e. 92 kPa) was observed when the soil was treated with 50 ml of bacterial solution after 14 days of curing. In addition, it was observed that the highest compressive strength of samples was achieved when the temperature was 40°C.
The prevalence of sodium (Na)-‘hyperaccumulator’ species, which exhibit abnormally large shoot sodium concentrations (Nashoot) when grown in nonsaline environments, was investigated among angiosperms ...in general and within the Caryophyllales order in particular.
Shoot Na concentrations were determined in 334 angiosperm species, representing 35 orders, grown hydroponically in a nonsaline solution.
Many Caryophyllales species exhibited abnormally large Nashoot when grown hydroponically in a nonsaline solution. The bimodal distribution of the log-normal Nashoot of species within the Caryophyllales suggested at least two distinct Nashoot phenotypes within this order. Mapping the trait of Na-hyperaccumulation onto the phylogenetic relationships between Caryophyllales families, and between subfamilies within the Amaranthaceae, suggested that the trait evolved several times within this order: in an ancestor of the Aizoaceae, but not the Phytolaccaceae or Nyctaginaceae, in ancestors of several lineages formerly classified as Chenopodiaceae, but not in the Amaranthaceae sensu stricto, and in ancestors of species within the Cactaceae, Portulacaceae, Plumbaginaceae, Tamaricaceae and Polygonaceae.
In conclusion, a disproportionate number of Caryophyllales species behave as Na-hyperaccumulators, and multiple evolutionary origins of this trait can be identified within this order.
In an era of anthropocene, threatened and endemic species with small population sizes and habitat specialists experience a greater global conservation concern in view of being at higher risk of ...extinction. Predicting and plotting appropriate potential habitats for such species is a rational method for monitoring and restoring their dwindling populations in expected territories. Ecological niche modelling (ENM) coalesces species existence sites with environmental raster layers to construct models that describe possible distributions of plant species. The present study is aimed to study the potential distribution and cultivation hotspots for reintroducing the high value, vulnerable medicinal herb (Rheum webbianum) in the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh using population attributes and ecological niche modelling approach. Sixty-three populations inventoried from twenty-eight areas display a significant change in the phytosociological attributes on account of various anthropogenic threats. The current potential habitats coincide with actual distribution records and the mean value of Area Under Curve (AUC) was 0.98 and the line of predicted omission was almost adjacent to omission in training samples, thus validating a robustness of the model. The potential habitat suitability map based on the current climatic conditions predicted a total of 103760 km2 as suitable area for the growth of Rheum webbianum. Under the future climatic conditions, there is a significant reduction in the habitat suitability ranging from -78531.34 Km2 (RCP 4.5 for 2050) to -77325.81 (RCP 8.5 for 2070). Furthermore, there is a slight increase in the suitable habitats under future climatic conditions, ranging from +21.99 Km2 under RCP 8.5 (2050) to +3.14 Km2 under RCP 4.5 (2070). The Jackknife tests indicated Precipitation of Driest Month (BIO14) as the most contributing climatic variable in governing the distribution of R. webbianum. Therefore, scientifically sound management strategies are urgently needed to save whatever populations are left in-situ to protect this species from getting extinct. Present results can be used by conservationists for mitigating the biodiversity decline and exploring undocumented populations of R. webbianum on one hand and by policymakers in implementing the policy of conservation of species with specific habitat requirements by launching species recovery programmes in future on the other.
Liquid chromatography coupled with high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRESMS)-assisted metabolomic profiling of two sponge-associated actinomycetes,
sp. UR56 and
sp. EG49, revealed that the ...co-culture of these two actinomycetes induced the accumulation of metabolites that were not traced in their axenic cultures. Dereplication suggested that phenazine-derived compounds were the main induced metabolites. Hence, following large-scale co-fermentation, the major induced metabolites were isolated and structurally characterized as the already known dimethyl phenazine-1,6-dicarboxylate (
), phenazine-1,6-dicarboxylic acid mono methyl ester (phencomycin;
), phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (tubermycin;
), N-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-acetamide (
), and
-anisamide (
). Subsequently, the antibacterial, antibiofilm, and cytotoxic properties of these metabolites (
-
,
, and
) were determined in vitro. All the tested compounds except 9 showed high to moderate antibacterial and antibiofilm activities, whereas their cytotoxic effects were modest. Testing against
DNA gyrase-B and pyruvate kinase as possible molecular targets together with binding mode studies showed that compounds
-
could exert their bacterial inhibitory activities through the inhibition of both enzymes. Moreover, their structural differences, particularly the substitution at C-1 and C-6, played a crucial role in the determination of their inhibitory spectra and potency. In conclusion, the present study highlighted that microbial co-cultivation is an efficient tool for the discovery of new antimicrobial candidates and indicated phenazines as potential lead compounds for further development as antibiotic scaffold.
Antikoch and highly active anti-retroviral therapy are effective drugs in the management of tuberculosis and Human Immunodeficiency Virus, respectively. However, these cocktails have been ...independently associated with the aetiopathogenesis of metabolic syndrome. This study investigated whether or not the co-administration of antikoch and anti-retroviral, as seen in tuberculosis/Human Immunodeficiency Virus co-infection, will produce a similar effect. Also, it evaluated the role of glutathione and adenine deaminase/xanthine oxidase/uric acid signaling in antikoch/anti-retroviral-induced cardiometabolic dysfunction.
Male rats of Wistar strain were randomized into four groups: the control, which had 0.5 mL of distilled water as a vehicle, anti-Koch-treated rats that were administered a cocktail of anti-Koch, HAART-treated rats that had a combination of anti-retroviral drugs, and anti-Koch + HAART-treated rats that had treatments as anti-Koch-treated and HAART-treated rats. The treatment was once daily and lasted for eight weeks. One way-analysis of variance followed by Tukey's posthoc test was used to test for significance and pairwise comparisons respectively.
Although no changes in body weight gain and cardiac weight were noted, it was found that antikoch and/or HAART caused insulin resistance and elevated blood glucose level. In addition, antikoch and/or HAART led to dyslipidaemia, increased atherogenic indices, and elevated cardiac injury markers. These were accompanied by increased plasma and cardiac concentrations of malondialdehyde and nitric oxide, C-reactive protein, and myeloperoxidase activity, as well as suppressed activities of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase, and a fall in reduced glutathione level. The observed alterations were more pronounced in animals that received a combination of antikoch and HAART.
This study provides the first evidence that antikoch and/or HAART induce cardiometabolic dysfunction via glutathione suppression and up-regulation of adenine deaminase/xanthine oxidase/uric acid-dependent oxidative stress and inflammatory response. These events were associated with dyslipidaemia and increased atherogenic indices. This infers that regular monitoring of glucose level, insulin sensitivity, lipid profile, and oxido-inflammatory markers is important in patients on antikoch and/or HAART for prompt diagnosis and management of cardiometabolic disorder if it ensues.
Epilepsy is a chronic medical disease in one third of patients and is associated with comorbid adverse somatic conditions due to epilepsy itself or its long-term treatment with antiepileptic drugs ...(AEDs). Data from experimental, cross-sectional and prospective studies have evidence for the deleterious effect of some AEDs on the auditory and vestibular systems. These abnormalities may be reversible or irreversible. Areas covered: This article review the evidence that long-term treatment with some antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) e.g. carbamazepine, phenytoin, valproate, lamotrigine, gabapentin, vigabatrin and oxcarbazepine (even in therapeutic drug doses) may result in tinnitus, phonophobia, sensorineural hearing loss, dizziness, ataxia, disequilibrium, imbalance, nystagmus, abnormalities in saccadic and pursuit eye movements and delayed conduction within the cochlea, auditory nerve and brainstem auditory pathways evidenced by abnormalities in Brainstem auditory evoked potentials and nystagmography recordings indicating auditory and central and/or peripheral vestibular dysfunctions. Expert opinion: Identification of monitoring of patients at high risk for developing audio-vestibular manifestations is necessary for appropriate preventive and therapeutic measures.
The availability of floral resources is crucial for honey bee colonies because it allows them to obtain protein from pollen and carbohydrates from nectar; typically, they consume these nutrients in ...the form of bee bread, which has undergone fermentation. However, the intensification of agriculture, urbanization, changes to the topography, and harsh environmental conditions are currently impacting foraging sites due to habitat loss and scarcity of food resources. Thus, this study aimed to assess honey bee preference for various pollen substitute diet compositions. Bee colonies perform poorly because of specific environmental problems, which ultimately result in pollen scarcity. Pollen substitutes located at various distance from the bee hive were also investigated in addition to determining the preferences of honey bees for various pollen substitute diets. The local honey bee (
) colonies and different diets (four main treatments, namely, chickpea flour, maize flour, sorghum flour, wheat flour; each flour was further mixed with cinnamon powder, turmeric powder, flour only, flour mixed with both cinnamon and turmeric powder) were used. Bee pollen was used as a control. The best performing pollen substitutes were further placed at 10, 25, and 50 m distances from the apiary. Maximum bee visits were observed on bee pollen (210 ± 25.96) followed by chickpea flour only (205 ± 19.32). However, there was variability in the bee visits to the different diets (F (16,34) = 17.91;
< 0.01). In addition, a significant difference in diet consumption was observed in control (576 ± 58.85 g) followed by chickpea flour only (463.33 ± 42.84 g), compared to rest of the diets (F (16,34) = 29.75;
< 0.01). Similarly, foraging efforts differed significantly (
< 0.01) at the observed time of 7-8 A.M., 11-12 A.M., and 4-5 P.M. at the distance of 10, 25, and 50 m away from the apiary. Honey bees preferred to visit the food source that was closest to the hive. This study should be very helpful for beekeepers in supplementing their bee colonies when there is a shortage or unavailability of pollens, and it is much better to keep the food source near the apiary. Future research needs to highlight the effect of these diets on bee health and colony development.
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