Grabbing the Bull by Both Horns: Bovine Ultralong CDR-H3 Paratopes Enable Engineering of ‘Almost Natural’ Common Light Chain Bispecific Antibodies Suitable For Effector Cell Redirection

A subset of antibodies found in cattle comprises ultralong CDR-H3 regions of up to 70 amino acids. Interestingly, this type of immunoglobulin usually pairs with the single germline VL gene, V30 that is typically very conserved in sequence. In this work, we have engineered ultralong CDR-H3 common light chain bispecific antibodies targeting Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) on tumor cells as well as Natural Cytotoxicity Receptor NKp30 on Natural Killer (NK) cells. Antigen-specific common light chain antibodies were isolated by yeast surface display by means of pairing CDR-H3 diversities following immunization with a single V30 light chain. After selection, EGFR-targeting paratopes as well as NKp30-specific binders were combined into common light chain bispecific antibodies by exploiting the strand-exchange engineered domain (SEED) technology for heavy chain heterodimerization. Biochemical characterization of resulting bispecifics revealed highly specific binding to the respective antigens as well as simultaneous binding to both targets. Most importantly, engineered cattle-derived bispecific common light chain molecules elicited potent NK cell redirection and consequently tumor cell lysis of EGFR-overexpressing cells as well as robust release of proinflammatory cytokine interferon-γ. Taken together, this data is giving clear evidence that bovine bispecific ultralong CDR-H3 common light chain antibodies are versatile for biotechnological applications.

Improving the method for determining the physiological and sanitary potential of Gherkin seeds

Gherkin seeds usually show irregular physiological quality. Seed production requires fast and reliable tests to evaluate seed quality. Germination test is considered a recognized analysis method; however, seed technology has pursuit the improvement of vigor tests aiming the evaluation of seed’s physiological potential. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate procedures to perform the test of accelerated aging and determine the physiological and sanitary potential of gherkin seeds. Four seed lots of cultivar Liso Calcuta were used in the study. To evaluate the initial physiological quality the water content was determined and germination and emergence tests, as well as indices of germination speed and emergence speed were used. The accelerated aging test was performed as traditionally and with saturated saline solution, with 48, 72 and 96 hours, at temperatures of 41oC and 45oC. After aging, the water content was determined, and seeds’ germination and sanity tests were performed. The experiment was set under a completely random design in factorial 4x3x2 (lots x aging periods x temperatures). The standard accelerated aging test and the test with saturated saline solution at 41oC for 96 hours were efficient to evaluate the vigor of gherkin seeds. Saturated saline solution provides uniform water absorption and deterioration in gherkin seeds, allowing to discriminate seed lots in different vigor levels. The salinity test after accelerated aging with saline solution reduces the incidence of some fungi.

Constraints Encountered by Wheat Producers in Adoption of Wheat Production Technology in Faizabad District of Uttar Pradesh, India

Wheat is a major staple food crop; it is one of the major sources of protein in the least developed countries and middle-income countries and in terms of caloric and dietary intake. The present study was conducted to identify the constraints in the adoption of wheat production technology in the Masaudha and Sohawal community developments blocks of Faizabad district. Data were collected with the help of personal interview methods and a pre-trial interview schedule. One hundred and twenty respondents were selected from twelve villages that were selected at random. Findings showed that 52.5% of the wheat-growers were of middle age (36–50 years) and 53.33% were literate, while 22.5% of the respondents had received education up to the primary level. Agriculture was the main occupation of most of the respondents and the income level of the respondents was also low, while farmers met the respondents occasionally to increase their income and to learn new skills. So the results showed that the constraints were responsible for the low adoption of wheat production techniques, however, some of them were the most significant such as lack of seed technology, lack of knowledge about seed treatment, lack of knowledge about soil analysis technology, plant protection and Lack of knowledge about irrigation technology Lack of knowledge about advanced types of equipment, etc. This trend means that more educational effort needs to be made by the extension agency by way of improving knowledge, adopting new wheat farming techniques, and accelerating the pace of production.

PERKECAMBAHAN BENIH KOPI (Coffea sp) DENGAN PEMBERIAN KONSENTRASI HORMON GIBERELLIN (GA3) DAN JENIS AIR YANG BERBEDA

<p><em>West Sumatra is one producing coffee area in Indonesia a significant contribution to economy in Indonesian, because production coffee in West Sumatra unstable, it is necessary to expand the area. The propagation plants coffee is carried out in generative manner and needs be optimized with treating gibberellin hormone and water temperature to germination stage of coffee seeds.</em><em>Th</em><em>e </em><em>research</em><em> </em><em>conducted at the Seed Technology Laboratory</em><em> </em><em>Faculty</em><em> </em><em>A</em><em>g</em><em>iculture, Andalas University from</em><em> Mei</em><em> to</em><em> Agust</em><em> 202</em><em>1</em><em>.</em><em> </em><em>Measurement parameters were germination rate (days), normal germination (%), abnormal germination (%) and dead seeds (%). </em><em>The results of observations of germination rate (days), normal germination (%) and abnormal germination (%) showed a significant effect. While the data had no significant effect on the observation of dead seeds (%) in the treatment of gibberellin hormone concentration and treatment of water types, which in the observation of normal sprouts was the highest, namely in the treatment of 400 ppm gibberellin hormone concentration with coconut water (G4J3) of 86.67% and on seed observation. The highest death rate was treatment (G1J2), which was 33.33%. </em></p>

Effect of Soaking Maize Seeds with Selenium and Chitosan on Improving Germination, Vigour and Viability of Seed and Seedling

An experiment was carried out in the Laboratory of Seed Technology-College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences - University of Baghdad – Iraq, to studying the stimulation of maize seeds by soaking with selenium and chitosan to improve the vigour and viability of seeds. By using factorial experiment according to the Complete Random Design (CRD) with three replications. The seeds of two synthetic cultivars of maize (Baghdad 3 and Buhoth 5018) were soaked in selenium solutions at two concentrations (2 and 5 mg L-1), and chitosan (100 and 500 mg L-1) for 10 hours, as well as the two control treatments, which were dried seeds (without soaking) and the seeds soaked in distilled water. Results are shown that low concentration of 2 mg L-1 give highest mean were recorded in the percentage of germination in the first and final counts, the mean time germination, length of root and the plumule, the seedling vigour index, germination speed, and dry weight of the seedling. Seeds soaking with the solutions containing chitosan at both concentrations did not give significant results compared to the selenium treatments, both cultivars differed significantly in some germination characteristics and the vigour and viability of the seed: (length of root and the plumule, dry weight of the seedling). The results also showed a significant effect of the interaction between seed soaking treatments and cultivar on all studied traits. We conclude from this study that treatments of stimulating seeds by soaking them with distilled water and solutions of selenium and chitosan positively affected germination and its characteristics, so we recommend using low concentrations of selenium and chitosan to improve seed germination, vigour, and viability of the seedling.

Integration of smartphone technology for maize recognition

The study of android based maize assessment was done by involving two popular machine learning software i.e. teachable machine and android studio. The classification model was performed in online teachable machine learning while interface generation was performed in android studio. Various maize tassel from male, female and contamination plants were collected and used for training and model validation. The results indicated that Android-based tassel classification was successfully applied to the study area with accuracy of 80.7%. In addition, the error of classification was 19.3%, a relatively lower values for large testing datasets. Several mis-classification were found particularly at similar tassel shape. The integration of the model with smartphone technology enables rapid recognition of off-type plant at real-time, even though operated by personnel with limited skills or no knowledge seed technology on maize parental lines ideotype.

Weed Management and Economics in Dicamba-Tolerant Cotton

Increasing populations of glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth [Amaranthus palmeri (S.) Wats.] have increased weed management costs for Texas High Plains cotton [Gossypium hirsutum (L.)] producers. The introduction of dicamba-tolerant cotton varieties and registration of dicamba formulations for postemergence use, combined with residual herbicides, can effectively control Palmer amaranth. Field studies were conducted in 2018 and 2019 near Lubbock, TX, USA to evaluate Palmer amaranth control and economics of weed management in dicamba-, glufosinate-, glyphosate-, and conventional cotton systems. The most consistent season-long Palmer amaranth control was achieved with the dicamba-tolerant system in both years. In 2018, greatest lint yields were achieved with dicamba-tolerant system when compared to the conventional and glufosinate-tolerant systems. In 2018, greatest gross margin above weed management costs were achieved with the dicamba-tolerant and glyphosate-tolerant systems. Greatest lint yield was achieved with the dicamba-tolerant and conventional systems in 2019 and greatest gross margins were achieved with the dicamba-tolerant system. Total variable costs were similar across all systems, with greater seed/technology and herbicide costs in dicamba-tolerant and glufosinate-tolerant systems, compared to higher tillage and hand hoeing costs in glyphosate-tolerant and conventional systems.

Agronomic Performance, Capsaicinoids, Polyphenols and Antioxidant Capacity in Genotypes of Habanero Pepper Grown in the Southeast of Coahuila, Mexico

The genetic improvement program of the Seed Technology Training and Development Center works on the agronomic characterization and the content of bioactive compounds in eight genotypes of habanero pepper. The objective is to select genotypes with good agronomic performance that allow the generation of inbred lines to obtain hybrids. In this study, the agronomic performance and the content of bioactive compounds (capsaicinoids, polyphenols, and antioxidant capacity) were evaluated in eight genotypes of habanero pepper grown in the southeast of Coahuila, Mexico, identified as HNC-1, HNC-2, HNC-3, HNC-4, HNC-5, HNC-6, HNC-7, and HCC-8. The plants were grown in a greenhouse for 127 days, under a completely randomized design with four replications each. The results revealed that the yield (g∙plant−1) and number of fruits per plant did not show significant differences between genotypes. However, for the fruit length, the genotypes HCC-8, HNC-7, HNC-6, and HNC-5 stood out with over 40 mm, while in equatorial diameter of the fruit, HCC-8, HNC-4, and HNC-2 stood out with 26.45, 26.46, and 25.12 mm, respectively. The results of the chemical analyses allowed us to identify that HNC-5 and HNC-6 had the highest capsaicin concentration (931.38 and 959.77 mg∙kg−1), dihydrocapsaicin (434.95 and 445.89 mg∙kg−1), Scoville Heat Units greater than 210,000, total phenols (67.54 and 71.15 mg/100 g) and total flavonoids (34.21 and 38.29 mg/100 g), respectively. The HNC-1 and HNC-6 genotypes had the highest carotenoids concentration with 103.96 and 105.07 mg/100 g, and HCC-8 registered the highest anthocyanin content with 22.08 mg C3GE/100 g. The antioxidant capacities showed significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) between genotypes, with a range of 43.22 to 110.39 µmol TE/100 g, 72.37 to 186.56 µmol TE/100 g, and 191.41 to 244.98 µmol TE/100 g for the tests of DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), ABTS (2,2′azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)), and FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power). The results of this research will be used to select habanero pepper genotypes that can be used in genetic improvement programs to increase the productive potential and the content of bioactive compounds in the fruits to expand their applications in the food industry.

Sustainable Agriculture through Multidisciplinary Seed Nanopriming: Prospects of Opportunities and Challenges

The global community decided in 2015 to improve people’s lives by 2030 by setting 17 global goals for sustainable development. The second goal of this community was to end hunger. Plant seeds are an essential input in agriculture; however, during their developmental stages, seeds can be negatively affected by environmental stresses, which can adversely affect seed vigor, seedling establishment, and crop production. Seeds resistant to high salinity, droughts and climate change can result in higher crop yield. The major findings suggested in this review refer nanopriming as an emerging seed technology towards sustainable food amid growing demand with the increasing world population. This novel growing technology could influence the crop yield and ensure the quality and safety of seeds, in a sustainable way. When nanoprimed seeds are germinated, they undergo a series of synergistic events as a result of enhanced metabolism: modulating biochemical signaling pathways, trigger hormone secretion, reduce reactive oxygen species leading to improved disease resistance. In addition to providing an overview of the challenges and limitations of seed nanopriming technology, this review also describes some of the emerging nano-seed priming methods for sustainable agriculture, and other technological developments using cold plasma technology and machine learning.