Triacontanol Alleviated Nickel Toxicity in Maize Seedling by Controlling Its Uptake and Enhancing Antioxidant System

Triacontanol (TRIA) role in improving growth, physiological activities and tolerance against abiotic stresses has been reported. Yet, the mechanism by which TRIA executes its effects remains elusive. This work therefore studied the possible role of TRIA exogenous application in counteracting the adverse effects of nickel (Ni) treated maize seedlings. Maize seedlings (15-day-old) were grown in washed sand irrigated with nutrient solution provided with 100 μM NiCl2. Two concentrations of TRIA (25 and 50 µM) were applied twice as a foliar spray for Ni-stressed seedlings. Shoot and root growth attributes, Ni content, and antioxidant defence systems of maize seedlings were determined. Ni treatment reduced the shoot and root length and biomass, causing necrosis of the old leaves,greater reduction was shown in the roots. The shoot and root length was negatively correlated with their Ni content, which was consistent with their content of H2O2, but not with their malondialdehyde (MDA) content. As the roots had the greatest Ni content, maximum peroxidase (PX) and glutathione reductase (GR) activity as well as the highest ascorbic acid (ASA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) content were observed in the roots. The Ni-induced deleterious effects were alleviated by foliar application of TRIA concentrations. Also, TRIA treatment minimized root Ni content, whereas it maintained the shoots unharmed by Ni. Such mitigative effects of TRIA are explained by its key role in enhancing antioxidant capacity (expressed as IC50), increased PX and ascorbate oxidase (AO) activity, GSH, and total phenolic contents.

Coriander Seeds in Diet

Coriander, commonly known as Sabit dhania in Pakistan is a well-known spice used in traditional cooking. It is an essential component of ayurvedic medicine used for the treatment of digestion and gastric ailments. Coriander seeds are available throughout the year as whole seeds and in powdered form. Fresh Coriander seeds possess earthy bitter flavour with strong aroma. Essential oils of its seed extracts possess numerous valuable constituents which could be exploited for the preparation of medicinal combatants against several acute and chronic diseases.

Morpho-Anatomical and Physicochemical Standardization of Diospyros malabarica (Desr.) Kostel Stem Bark

Diospyros malabarica (Desr.) Kostel synonym Diospyros peregrina Gurke (Family: Ebenaceae) is a medium sized evergreen tree commonly known as Kendu in Assamese. The plant has ethnomedicinal significance and used by various ethnic communities of North-East India to treat various disorders like dysentery, diabetes, diarrhea malaria, ulcer and wounds. However, detailed scientific information is not available to identify the plant material, in order to ascertain its quality and purity. Therefore, the present work was carried out to perform morpho-anatomical and physicochemical analysis of D. malabarica stem bark. The bark is externally dark brown to black in color and rough having characteristics odor and astringent taste. The microscopy of bark reveals the presence of polygonal thick walled cork, 3-4 layered phellogen, 7-8 layered phelloderm, stone cells, phloem fibers and medullary rays. Stem bark powder showed thick walled cork cells, thick walled elongated phloem fibers, lignified stone cells and rhomboidal crystals of calcium oxalate. Further, physicochemical analysis of the bark power showed loss on drying, total ash, water soluble ash, and acid insoluble ash as 6.2, 5.6, 1.1, 2.45, and 5.7% w/w respectively. The alcohol and water soluble extractives values of the stem bark were 10.6 and 16.8% w/w respectively. The result of preliminary phytochemical screening indicates presence of triterpenoids, saponins, tannins, flavonoids and sterols. The findings of this study will facilitate pharmacognostic standardization of the plant material and aid in the preparation of an herbal monograph for the species.

Modelling Development in Plant Anatomy

Four rules for good anatomical modeling of plants are explored. First, the cell is the reference source for modelling at any level. Second, developmental signaling occurs between few cells, about 12. Third, rules of are algorithmic and not simply physical forces as proposed by Thompson. Finally, it is desirable to proposed a likely alternative model that can be discounted. The main value of modelling is selecting data for modelling rather than the by a biased investigator.

Identification and Expression Analysis of Fragaria Vesca MLO Genes Involved in Interaction with Powdery Mildew (Podosphaera Aphanis)

Strawberry powdery mildew, caused by Podosphaeraaphanis is a major fungal disease that affects strawberry yield and quality. In the model plant species Arabidopsis and the crop plants barley, tomato and pea, the Mildew resistance locus O (MLO) proteins have been found to be required for powdery mildew susceptibility. The present study, based on the sequence of a wild plum (Prunus americana) MLO protein, identified 16 MLO genes within the genome of woodland strawberry, Fragaria vesca and examined their expression pattern in response to powdery mildew infection in three diploid strawberry cultivars. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the FvMLO genes can be classified into six clades. Four FvMLO genes were grouped into clade III, which comprises MLO genes from Arabidopsis, tomato and grapevine that mediate powdery mildew susceptibility. A RNA-seq analysis of two diploid strawberry cultivars, F. vescassp. vesca accession Hawaii 4 (HW) and F. vesca f. semperflorens line “Yellow Wonder 5AF7” (YW) at 1 d (1 DAI) and 8 d (8 DAI) after infection showed the expression of 12 out of the 16 FvMLO genes. The comparison of Fragments Per Kilobase of transcript per Million mapped reads (FPKM values) detected by RNA-seq and expression values of qRT-PCR for FvMLO genes showed substantial agreement. The FvMLO3 gene, which was grouped in clade III and orthologous to the Arabidopsis,tomato and grapevine genes, was highly expressed in YW compared to other FvMLO genes across varieties. The results showed that FvMLO genes can be used as potential candidates to engineer powdery mildew resistance in strawberry based on MLO suppression or genome editing.

Dimerization of the BASIC PENTACYSTEINE Domain in Plant GAGA-Factors is Mediated by Disulfide Bonds and Required for DNA-Binding.

GAGA-binding proteins in plants are encoded by the BARLEY B-RECOMBINANT / BASIC PENTACYSTEINE (BBR/BPC) family, which can be spilt into several groups on the basis of sequence divergence. The proteins of the different groups share an evolutionary conserved BASIC PENTACYSTEINE (BPC) domain at their very C-terminus that is important for DNA binding. Hallmark of this domain are five Cysteines at defined positions and spacing, which are considered to form a zinc-finger like structure that is involved in GAGA-motif recognition. Here, we report the formation of stabile homodimers between Arabidopsis thaliana group I member BPC1 or between group II member BPC6 in SDS-PAGE. Serial mutations of the highly conserved five Cysteines in the BPC domain of Arabidopsis thaliana BPC1 were tested for their capacity to bind to GAGA-motifs by DPI-ELISA. Our results do not support the idea of a direct involvement of these residues in making physical contact with the DNA, e.g. by formation of a zinc-finger structure. Instead, the data implies an indispensable function for the five Cysteines in homodimerization and stabilization of the protein structure by disulfide bonds. Accordingly, protein folding and structure prediction suggests the formation of a scaffold for dimerization that is supported by three intermolecular and one intramolecular S-S bond. The high degree of conservation between the BPC domains from the different groups and from different species denotes that this role for the five Cysteines might be evolutionary retained.

Industrial and Biotechnological Applications of Algae: A Review

Algae are a class of photosynthetic organisms found in both marine and freshwaters habitats. As these organisms have a short doubling time, they are considered among fastest growing creatures. They have different pathways to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide and to efficiently utilize the nutrients to convert it into biomass. In few years, a focus has been shifted towards these organisms due to their food and fuel production capability. In fuel industry algae biofuels have been emerged as a clean, nature friendly, cost effective solution to other fuels. Algae fuels are categorized into bio-ethanol, biogas, bio-hydrogen, biodiesel and bio-oil. Algae as a food have been explored for different applications as in production of single cell proteins, pigments, bioactive substances, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. The present review has been prepared to throw a light on enormous applications of algae as food and fuel and also to provide some information about different commercially available algae products.