Chemical content and fiber dimension of agarwood branches (Aquilaria malaccensis Lamk)

Potential utilization of agarwood residues from twigs and branches is supported by its chemical content and fiber quality. This study aimed to analyze the chemical content and fiber quality of agarwood branches (Aquilaria malaccensis Lamk). Parameters measured in this study were the chemical contents including extractives, holocellulose, alpha cellulose and lignin based on Technical Association of Pulp and Paper Industries (TAPPI) standard. Fibers were obtained after pulping and bleaching to determine its quality. Chemical analysis of the primary branch of agarwood revealed the composition of extractives which were soluble in cold water (2.71%), hot water (3.31%), ethanol benzene (3.81%), and 1% NaOH (10.03%). The proportion of holocellulose, alpha cellulose and lignin in the primary branch was 78.17%, 52.70% and 26.68%, respectively. In addition, the chemical analysis of the secondary branch of agarwood also revealed the soluble extractives in cold water (2.96%), hot water (3.49%), ethanol benzene (4.14%), and 1% NaOH (14.42%). The proportion of holocellulose, alpha cellulose and lignin in the secondary branch was 75.61%, 50.65% and 26.77%. Hence, the fiber quality of agarwood branches was categorized into class II.

A cluster of Ankyrin and Ankyrin-TPR repeat genes is associated with panicle branching diversity in rice

The number of grains per panicle is an important yield-related trait in cereals which depends in part on panicle branching complexity. One component of this complexity is the number of secondary branches per panicle. Previously, a GWAS site associated with secondary branch and spikelet numbers per panicle in rice was identified. Here we combined gene capture, bi-parental genetic population analysis, expression profiling and transgenic approaches in order to investigate the functional significance of a cluster of 6 ANK and ANK-TPR genes within the QTL. Four of the ANK and ANK-TPR genes present a differential expression associated with panicle secondary branch number in contrasted accessions. These differential expression patterns correlate in the different alleles of these genes with specific deletions of potential cis-regulatory sequences in their promoters. Two of these genes were confirmed through functional analysis as playing a role in the control of panicle architecture. Our findings indicate that secondary branching diversity in the rice panicle is governed in part by differentially expressed genes within this cluster encoding ANK and ANK-TPR domain proteins that may act as positive or negative regulators of panicle meristem’s identity transition from indeterminate to determinate state.

Circumflex Accessory Branch of the Superficial Fibular Nerve: An Unusual Cause of Nerve Entrapment

The superficial fibular (peroneal) nerve traditionally courses through the anterolateral deep leg and pierces the deep crural fascia at the lower leg to divide into its terminal branches. Entrapment of the superficial fibular nerve is most commonly documented to occur at where it pierces the deep fascia, and numerous etiologies causing entrapment are described. In this case report, we describe an unusual cause of entrapment from a tertiary branch of the superficial fibular nerve taking a circumflex course and wrapping around the secondary branch of the main nerve. This was successfully treated by surgical excision. To the best of our knowledge, this cause of entrapment has not been described in the literature at the time of this publication.

Response of Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.)Wilczek] Varieties to Plant Spacing under Irrigation at Gewane, Northeastern Ethiopia

Production of mungbean has been increasing in Ethiopia because of its high importance as a source of protein and foreign exchange earnings. Determination of appropriate plant density for the varieties of mungbean can increase its productivity. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to determine the effect of inter and intra row spacing on growth, yield components and yield of mung bean varieties under irrigation. The treatments consisted of factorial combinations of three inter row spacing (30, 40, and 50 cm), three-intra row spacing (5, 10 and 15 cm) and two mungbean varieties (N-26 and MH-97) laid out in randomized complete block design with three Replications. The main effect of varieties, inter row spacing and intra row spacing was highly significant and significant on plant height, secondary branch and where the longest plant height (41.71 cm) was for variety MH-97 and from 5 cm intra row spacing, respectively and maximum number of secondary branch was recorded for variety MH-97 (8.91) and from 15cm intra row and 50cm inter row spacing, respectively. The interaction effect of the variety, inter and intra row spacing was highly significant on number of primary branch per plant, number of pod per plant and crop stand count percentage where the highest number of primary branches (7.00) was recorded from variety MH-97 at 50 cm inter row spacing and highest number pods per plant (30.15) were recorded for variety MH-97 at 40 cm inter row and (31.34) at 15cm intra row spacing. Where the highest crop stand count at harvest were recorded from variety MH-97 (97.00%) at 40 cm inter row spacing .The main effect of inter row spacing and intra row spacing were highly significant and significant on above ground dry biomass and the highest above ground dry biomass at inter row spacing of 30 cm ( 5968.8 kg ha-1) and intra row spacing 5cm 6145.9 kg ha-1).The main effect of variety, inter-row and intra-row spacing were highly significant on harvest index and grain yield where the highest harvest index was from variety MH-97 (20.91%), inter row spacing of 40 cm which give (21.18%) and intra row spacing 10 cm which give (20.30%) and the highest grain yield from Variety MH-97 (1117.94 kg ha-1), inter row spacing 40 cm (1213.75 kg ha-1) and intra row spacing 10 cm which give (1151.67 kg ha-1) However, this tentative generalization based one season at one location requires further studies over years and locations to give a valid recommendation.

Formation Characteristics of Endosperm Structures in Different Rice Genotypes

To explore the formation characteristics of endosperm structures in different rice genotypes, indica, japonica and glutinous rice cultivars were used and grown in the paddy field. The endosperm structures in the grain during the filling period were investigated. The results showed that the compactness of amyloplast arrangement was positively correlated with grain filling percentage. The endosperm structure varied with the position within a grain. At maturity, the structure was the best in the back, the intermediate in the center, and the worst in the belly of a kernel. However, the filling was better in the center than in the back and in the belly from 5 to 10 days after flowering (DAF). The endosperm structure was different among genotypes. From 5 to 25 DAF, starch accumulation was the earliest in glutinous rice, followed by indica rice and japonica rice. Gaps and pores in endosperm were closely associated with rice transparency. The starch crystallinity in endosperm was negatively correlated with amylose content. Among the three genotypes, glutinous showed the highest crystallinity, followed by japonica and indica rice. The starch crystallinity in a grain was lower on a primary branch than that on a secondary branch. Among all grains, the second grain on a primary branch showed the lowest starch crystallinity. The results indicated that the starch structure of endosperm not only differ between rice genotypes, but also varies with the location of a grain on the panicle, and that it affects the grain-filling, transparency and amylose content of rice.

Effects of potassium on panicle structure and spikelet morphology of a double grained rice cultivar

Influence of K on panicle structure and spikelet morphology of a double grained rice cultivar was evaluated. Results showed that K enhanced the plant height, leaf number, yield and yield contributing descriptors in double grained rice cultivar. The ratio of single-double grained spikelets on a panicle varied from 70 : 30 to 59 : 41. The position of spikelets on a panicle viz. primary vs. secondary branch, middle vs. upper or lower portion of panicle, had little effect on single-double grain ratio. However, K significantly affected the single-double grained spikelet ratio between primary and secondary branches. Multi-grained spikelets showed the potential to increase grain number per panicle thereby increasing rice yield.

Deterministic and stochastic rules of branching govern dendritic morphogenesis of sensory neurons

Dendrite morphology is necessary for the correct integration of inputs that neurons receive. The branching mechanisms allowing neurons to acquire their type-specific morphology remain unclear. Classically, axon and dendrite patterns were shown to be guided by molecules providing deterministic cues. However, the extent to which deterministic and stochastic mechanisms, based upon purely statistical bias, contribute to the emergence of dendrite shape is largely unknown. We address this issue using the Drosophila class I vpda multi-dendritic neurons. Detailed quantitative analysis of vpda dendrite morphogenesis indicates that the primary branch grows very robustly in a fixed direction while secondary branch numbers and lengths showed fluctuations characteristic of stochastic systems. Live tracking dendrites and computational modeling revealed how neuron shape emerges from few local statistical parameters of branch dynamics. We report key opposing aspects of how tree architecture feedbacks on the local probability of branch shrinkage. Child branches promote stabilization of parent branches while self-repulsion promotes shrinkage. Finally, we show that self-repulsion, mediated by the adhesion molecule Dscam1, indirectly patterns the growth of secondary branches by spatially restricting their direction of stable growth perpendicular to the primary branch. Thus, the stochastic nature of secondary branch dynamics and the existence of geometric feedback emphasizes the importance of self-organization in neuronal dendrite morphogenesis.