Molecular Manipulation of the MiR396/GRF Expression Module Alters the Salt Stress Response of Arabidopsis thaliana

We previously demonstrated that microRNA396 (miR396) abundance is altered in 15-day-old Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) whole seedlings following their exposure to a 7-day salt stress treatment regime. We, therefore, used a molecular modification approach to generate two new Arabidopsis transformant populations with reduced (MIM396 plants) and elevated (MIR396 plants) miR396 abundance. The exposure of 8-day-old wild-type Arabidopsis whole seedlings and a representative plant line of the MIM396 and MIR396 transformant populations to a 7-day salt stress treatment regime revealed unique phenotypic and physiological responses to the imposed stress by unmodified wild-type Arabidopsis plants and the MIM396 and MIR396 transformat lines. A quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) approach was, therefore, applied to demonstrate that the plant line specific responses to salt stress likely stemmed from the unique molecular profile of each of the GROWTH REGULATING FACTOR (GRF) transcription factor gene family members which form posttranscriptional targets of miR396-directed expression regulation. RT-qPCR additionally revealed that, in 15-day-old Arabidopsis whole seedlings, the three previously identified putative target genes of miR396 belonging to the NEUTRAL/ALKALINE NONLYSOSOMAL CERAMIDASE-LIKE (NCER) gene family, including NCER1, NCER2, and NCER3, do not form targets of miR396-directed expression regulation at the posttranscriptional level. Taken together, the phenotypic and molecular analyses presented here demonstrate that alteration of the miR396/GRF expression module is central to the molecular response of Arabidopsis to salt stress.

Kelimpahan Relatif Artropoda Predator Penghuni Tajuk Tanaman Padi Galur Padi Rakitan Politeknik Negeri Lampung

The abundance of predatory arthropods in the rice field ecosystem acts as a biological agent that suppresses pest populations. This study aims to analyze the types of species, individuals, and abundance of predatory arthropods. The research was conducted at the Lampung State Polytechnic Seed Teaching Farm in August-December 2020. The rice plant lines planted by Lampung State Polytechnic were 14 New Type Rice (PTB) lines, namely Pandan Wangi (PW, B1, B2, B3, B4, B7, D2, D3, F3, F4, H1, H4, K, and L2 with 2 and comparable superior varieties namely Ciherang (CH) and Gilirang (Gil)). Rice cultivation is carried out conventionally. Observations of predatory arthropods that inhabit rice canopy were carried out using 3 double swings of insect nets / sweepnets per treatment plot. Insect collection was carried out at 06.00-09.00 WIB then identified in the Food Crops Laboratory II, counting the number of species, number of individuals and relative abundance. The results showed that predatory arthropods that inhabit the canopy of rice plants in several rice plant lines were obtained from the Oxyopidae, Tetragnathidae, Lycosidae, Coenagrionidae, Correidae, Coccinellidae, Chrysomelidae, and Staphylinidae families. The Tetragnathidae and Coenagrionidae families have the highest proportion of species and are found in each rice plant line.

Salmonella serovars along two beef chains in Ethiopia

Introduction: Salmonella has been reported from foods and the food production environment, with outbreaks occurring in the human population worldwide. Methodology: A survey on Salmonella in two beef production lines (a beef abattoir line and a processing line) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia was conducted, with a total of 668 various samples randomly collected from animal-related materials, the environment, and a beef product (mortadella). Results: Overall, a 12.9% prevalence (26.3% from the abattoir line, 5.3% from the processing plant line) was observed. The prevalence in the abattoir line environment (36.6%) was higher than that in animal-related samples (14.7%); the reverse was true for the processing plant line. Out of 86 isolates, 10 serovars were identified, and 8 remained unidentified. The predominant serotypes were S. Saintpaul (32.5%), S. Muenchen (19.8%), and S. Larochelle (12.8%). S. Kastrup and S. London were isolated for the first time in Ethiopia. Conclusions: Data indicate open ports of entry for Salmonella, with possible transfer along the line. Further investigations from farm to fork are recommended in order to identify these positions of entry.

The effects of selected factors on measured ergot alkaloid content in Claviceps purpurea-infected hexaploid and durum wheat

Four wheat genotypes, including the ergot-susceptible durum ‘AC Avonlea’ and hard red spring wheat ‘AC Cadillac’, as well as the resistant durum wheat line 9260B-173A and the hard red spring wheat line ‘Kenya Farmer’ wereinoculated with different Claviceps purpurea isolates. Honeydew and sclerotia were collected and analysed for 10 ergot alkaloids. Total concentrations of the 10 ergot alkaloids ranged from 16 µg/kg in honeydew to 1,798 mg/kg insclerotia. Ergonovine and ergosine were the predominant alkaloids in honeydew obtained from plants inoculated with various isolates, whereas ergocristine and ergocryptine were the main alkaloids observed in sclerotia. Bothhost plant and C. purpurea isolate were significant factors affecting total ergot alkaloid concentrations in sclerotia. Irrespective of host plant line, all mean total ergot alkaloid concentrations were higher in sclerotia produced from the EI-2 isolate (695-1,010 mg/kg), as compared to EI-4 (255-594 mg/kg). The mass of total ergot alkaloids was alsopositively correlated with the mass of individual sclerotia produced from these two C. purpurea isolates, with the slope of the regression higher for the EI-2 isolate. The total ergot alkaloid concentrations in sclerotia from various plants inoculated with the same C. purpurea isolate differed; however, the resistance of host plant line did notappear to be consistent with ergot alkaloid content in sclerotia. Concentrations of total ergot alkaloids were highestand lowest in sclerotia from the two lines that are both classified as ‘resistant’, suggesting that the mechanism ofresistance for these lines is not restriction on the production of ergot alkaloids in sclerotia.