Isolation, screening of Aspergillus flavus and its production parameters for á- amylase under solid state fermentation

The amylase producing fungi were isolated from spoiled fruits, vegetables and soil, in and around Bangalore, Karnataka, India. The isolates were identified and five fungal species were screened. The best amylase producer among them, Aspergillus sp was selected for enzyme production by both sub merged fermentation using mineral salt medium (MSM) and solid state fermentations using wheat bran as a solid substrate. The various parameters influencing solid state fermentation were optimized. The most important factors are such as pH, incubation temperature, incubation period, carbon sources, nitrogen sources and moisture content. The maximum amount of enzyme production was obtained when solid state fermentation was carried out with soluble starch as carbon source and beef extract (1% each) as nitrogen source, optimum conditions of pH 7.0, an incubation temperature of 25 (±2) °C, incubation time 96 h and 62% moisture content

Fine mapping of rice drought QTL and study on combined effect of QTL for their physiological parameters under moisture stress condition

The present investigation was undertaken to study the effect of different yield QTL (DTY2.2, DTY3.1 and DTY8.1) under drought and their physiological response to drought stress. Backcross Inbred Lines (BILs) of IR64 (CB-193 and CB-229) along with IR64, APO and the traditional rice variety Norungan were raised in green house condition under water stress and control to evaluate the effect of the QTL on grain yield. The BIL CB-193 recorded higher photosynthetic rate (22.051), transpiration rate (7.152) and Ci/Ca ratio (0.597) whereas the BIL CB-229 recorded high relative water content (80.76%). It was found that the combination of three QTL (CB-229) performed better than the susceptible parent and the line with two QTL (CB-193 Fine-mapping of two QTLs viz., qDTY2.2 and qDTY8.1, for grain yield (GY) were conducted using backcross derived lines. Composite interval mapping analyses resolved the originally identified qDTY2.2 region of 6.7 cM into a segment of 2.1 cM and two sub QTLs at region between RM23132 and RM1578 (75.75 cM- 77.66 cM), RM515 and RM1578 (75.11 cM-77.66 cM) were identified in qDTY8.1 region. However this study provides a unique opportunity to breeders to introgress such regions together as a unit into high-yielding drought-susceptible varieties through MAS

A preliminary pharmacognostical study on leaves and flowers of Michelia champaca L. Magnoliaceae

The present investigation was conducted to establish pharmacognostical profile for the leaves and flowers of Michelia champaca L. (Magnoliaceae) in order to establish its complete profile to aid in its identification and avoid confusion in taxonomic level for different species of the same genus. The study included macroscopical, organoleptical, microscopical and preliminary phytochemical analysis of the leaves and flowers. The study of the organoleptical evaluation revealed the presence of colour, odour and texture. The microscopic analysis showed thedifferences in cell structures, arrangement and shape of leaves and flowers. The physical characters of various solvent extracts showed the presence of colour, odour and consistency of the powdered leaves and flowers. Finally, the preliminary phytochemical analysis confirmed for the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, glycosides, carbohydrates, amino acid, flavonoids and sterols in both leaves and flowers. The present findings may be used to establish the authenticity of leaves and flowers of Michelia champaca L. for their proper identification and standardization in order to collect raw plants for the preparation of herbal drugs

Verified and potential pathogens of predatory mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Several species of phytoseiid mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae), including species of the genera Amblyseius, Galendromus, Metaseiulus, Neoseiulus, Phytoseiulus and Typhlodromus, are currently reared for biological control of various crop pests and/or as model organisms for the study of predator¿prey interactions. Pathogen-free phytoseiid mites are important to obtain high efficacy in biological pest control and to get reliable data in mite research, as pathogens may affect the performance of their host or alter their reproduction and behaviour. Potential and verified pathogens have been reported for phytoseiid mites during the past 25 years. The present review provides an overview, including potential pathogens with unknown host effects (17 reports), endosymbiotic Wolbachia (seven reports), other bacteria (including Cardinium and Spiroplasma) (four reports), cases of unidentified diseases (three reports) and cases of verified pathogens (six reports). From the latter group four reports refer to Microsporidia, one to a fungus and one to a bacterium. Only five entities have been studied in detail, including Wolbachia infecting seven predatory mite species, other endosymbiotic bacteria infecting Metaseiulus (Galendromus, Typhlodromus) occidentalis (Nesbitt), the bacterium Acaricomes phytoseiuli infecting Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot, the microsporidium Microsporidium phytoseiuli infecting P. persimilis and the microsporidium Oligosproridium occidentalis infecting M. occidentalis. In four cases (Wolbachia, A. phytoseiuli, M. phytoseiuli and O. occidentalis) an infection may be connected with fitness costs of the host. Moreover, infection is not always readily visible as no obvious gross symptoms are present. Monitoring of these entities on a routine and continuous basis should therefore get more attention, especially in commercial mass-production. Special attention should be paid to field-collected mites before introduction into the laboratory or mass rearing, and to mites that are exchanged among rearing facilities. However, at present general pathogen monitoring is not yet practical as effects of many entities are unknown. More research effort is needed concerning verified and potential pathogens of commercially reared arthropods and those used as model organisms in research

Comparisons of host mitochondrial, nuclear and endosymbiont bacterial genes reveal cryptic fig wasp species and the effects of Wolbachia on host mtDNA evolution and diversity

Background Figs and fig-pollinating wasp species usually display a highly specific one-to-one association. However, more and more studies have revealed that the "one-to-one" rule has been broken. Co-pollinators have been reported, but we do not yet know how they evolve. They may evolve from insect speciation induced or facilitated by Wolbachia which can manipulate host reproduction and induce reproductive isolation. In addition, Wolbachia can affect host mitochondrial DNA evolution, because of the linkage between Wolbachia and associated mitochondrial haplotypes, and thus confound host phylogeny based on mtDNA. Previous research has shown that fig wasps have the highest incidence of Wolbachia infection in all insect taxa, and Wolbachia may have great influence on fig wasp biology. Therefore, we look forward to understanding the influence of Wolbachia on mitochondrial DNA evolution and speciation in fig wasps. Results We surveyed 76 pollinator wasp specimens from nine Ficus microcarpa trees each growing at a different location in Hainan and Fujian Provinces, China. We found that all wasps were morphologically identified as Eupristina verticillata, but diverged into three clades with 4.22-5.28% mtDNA divergence and 2.29-20.72% nuclear gene divergence. We also found very strong concordance between E. verticillata clades and Wolbachia infection status, and the predicted effects of Wolbachia on both mtDNA diversity and evolution by decreasing mitochondrial haplotypes. Conclusions Our study reveals that the pollinating wasp E. verticillata on F. microcarpa has diverged into three cryptic species, and Wolbachia may have a role in this divergence. The results also indicate that Wolbachia strains infecting E. verticillata have likely resulted in selective sweeps on host mitochondrial DNA

An assessment of service quality gap in farmer producer organizations: A comparative approach using SERVQUAL

This study examines service quality gaps in Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) in Tamil Nadu using the SERVQUAL model by comparing Grade A and Grade D FPOs. Data were collected through a stratified random sampling method from 240 members across four FPOs to assess five key service quality dimensions. The findings revealed significant service gaps with Grade D FPOs showing larger service quality gaps particularly in tangibles (-1.21), reliability (-1.32) and empathy (-1.17). These gaps disclose shortcomings in infrastructure, timeliness of service delivery, accuracy in record keeping and member focused engagement. In contrast, Grade A FPOs demonstrated narrower gaps, indicating stronger operational efficiency and higher levels of member satisfaction. The pronounced service quality gaps in Grade D FPOs pose threat to member trust, active participation and the long-term sustainability of these organizations. The study recommends targeted policy interventions such as the implementation of standardized service delivery protocols and workforce training. Bridging these gaps is critical to strengthening the role of FPOs as vital institutions for promoting inclusive and sustainable growth in Indian agricultural sector

ChromatoShiny: an interactive R/Shiny App for plotting chromatography profiles [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]

BackgroundUnicorn™ software on Äkta liquid chromatography instruments outputs chromatography profiles of purified biological macromolecules. While the plots generated by the instrument software are very helpful to inspect basic chromatogram properties, they lack a range of useful annotation, customization and export options.MethodsWe use the R Shiny framework to build an interactive app that facilitates the interpretation of chromatograms and the generation of figures for publications.ResultsThe app allows users to fit a baseline, to highlight selected fractions and elution volumes inside or under the plot (e.g. those used for downstream biochemical/biophysical/structural analysis) and to zoom into the plot. The app is freely available at https://ChromatoShiny.bio.ed.ac.uk.ConclusionsIt requires no programming experience, so we anticipate that it will enable chromatography users to create informative, annotated chromatogram plots quickly and simply.FPLC instruments used to purify macromolecules output the UV intensity values over the elution volume. However, the software used with these instruments is not usually used to generate the figures for publication. To facilitate the analysis of chromatograms and generation of publication figures, we developed a web app which is possible to use without programming skills. The app is working on Äkta .txt files and is able to fit a baseline, to highlight fractions on and under the plot and to zoom into the plot. The app is designed for Äkta instruments, but the data from other softwares can be entered in the provided template and plotted accordingly. The app is well suited for plotting many similar plots. The plots can be downloaded in various formats. The app is equipped with instructions and has a user friendly interface. We hope that the app will become a helpful tool for displaying chromatograms from various FPLC softwares

Social capital fosters organisational resilience: Evidence from farmer collectives and farmer producer organisations

Although resilience has become a critical focus in strengthening agricultural organisations, there is still limited systematic understanding of how social capital drives resilience in farmers collectives and farmer producer organisations (FPOs), especially during crises. This review article investigates the critical role of social capital mechanisms in enhancing organisational resilience, particularly within farmers collectives and FPOs. The study focuses on various dimensions of social capital and their impact on organisational resilience during economic crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on a systematic literature review analysis using the PRISMA (preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses) framework, the findings indicate that FPOs with strong social capital can effectively mobilize resources, adapt to market disruptions and maintain supply chain operations. The analysis highlights that structural social capital, through networks, enables collective action, cognitive social capital, through shared values and understanding facilitates strategic adaptation and relational social capital, based on trust and reciprocity, strengthens organisational response and internal cohesion. The article also investigates social capital\u27s evolution across the different stages of FPO lifecycle, observing that while social capital is high in early stages, it tends to decline as organisations grow and become more market oriented. The study provides practical recommendations for policymakers and FPO leaders to preserve and enhance social capital, emphasizing the importance of member engagement, shared values and continuous communication. By understanding and leveraging social capital mechanisms, FPOs can build more resilient and sustainable agricultural enterprises that support smallholder farmers\u27 economic and social well-being

Analysis of the functional repertoire of a mutant form of survivin, K129E, which has been linked to lung cancer

Background Survivin is a protein that is normally present only in G2 and M-phases in somatic cells, however, in cancer cells, it is expressed throughout the cell cycle. A prosurvival factor, survivin is both an inhibitor of apoptosis and an essential mitotic protein, thus it has attracted much attention as a target for new oncotherapies. Despite its prevalence in cancer, reports of survivin mutations have mostly been restricted to loci within its promoter, which increase the abundance of the protein. To date the only published mutation within the coding sequence is an adenine > guanine substitution in exon 4. This polymorphism, which was found in a cohort of Korean lung cancer patients, causes a lysine > glutamic acid mutation (K129E) in the protein. However, whether it plays a causative role in cancer has not been addressed. Methods Using site directed mutagenesis we recapitulate K129E expression in cultured human cells and assess its anti-apoptotic and mitotic activities. Results K129E retains its anti-apoptotic activity, but causes errors in mitosis and cytokinesis, which may be linked to its reduced affinity for borealin. Conclusion K129E expression can induce genomic instability by introducing mitotic aberrations, thus it may play a causative role in cancer

Evaluation of glycemic index, glycemic load and biochemical traits of rice associated with anti-diabetic properties

Diabetes mellitus, a modern lifestyle disease and metabolic disorder, is closely associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Research on carbohydrates, particularly white rice with a high glycemic index, has been linked to an increased risk of type II diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. In this study, we aimed to understand the nutritional composition, estimated glycemic index, and glycemic load of twenty-eight rice accessions, particularly focusing on those with low starch digestibility associated with low GI levels. The proximate composition analysis revealed that tested rice accessions exhibited higher levels of genetic variation for amylose (18.45 - 25.97%), phenolic content (5.00-34.08%), protein (5.52-14.54%), and crude fibre (1.64-3.91%) content in brown rice. Huge variability for estimat?ed glycemic index, ranging from low to high GI was observed among all the varieties (49.37 - 78.58%). Traditional varieties viz., Thavalakannan and Kavuni depicted low estimated glycemic index (49.37 % and 54.55 %) and moderate glycemic load (14.60 and 15.80), respectively. The estimated glycemic index exhibited significant and negative association with amylose (r = -0.57**), phenolic (r = -0.67**), and crude fibre (r = -0.52**) content. In contrast, glycemic load showed a significant positive correlation with the amount of carbohydrate content. Principal component analysis revealed considerable variability among rice accessions' biochemical traits with the first two principal components accounting for 68.57% of the total variance. The hierarchical clustering based on Darwin software identified two major clusters. Cluster I comprise popular varieties and Cluster II contains traditional varieties with low to moderate glycemic index. Moreover, identifying rice varieties with lower glycemic index can facilitate the development and enhancement of breeding lines for the diabetic population