Induction of Oxidative Stress by Hydrogen Peroxide Treatment in Rice Genotypes to Study the Osmolyte Accumulation Pattern and Antioxidant Capacity

The aim of the study was to compare the rice genotypes for oxidative stress tolerance. Induction of oxidative stress, by in vivo treatment with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in rice genotypes to study the osmolyte accumulation pattern and antioxidant capacity was investigated. Leaf strips of uniform size from rice genotypes FL 478, IR 29,Co 43 and FR13A were subjected to various concentrations of H2O2 (0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15 and 0.2 mM). All the four rice genotypes exhibited varied responses to proline accumulation. FL 478 and Co 43 exhibited an increase in the accumulation of proline contents initially with low concentrations of H2O2, and thereafter showed a sharp decline in proline contents with higher concentrations. Degradation of protein contents in rice leaves was observed in all the varieties and the protein contents decreased with increase in concentration of hydrogen peroxide treatment. A gradual increase in the activities of catalase and peroxidase were recorded under H2O2 treatments. Significant upregulation of antioxidant enzyme systems and slow degradation of protein contents in the tolerant genotypes (FR 13A and FL 478) play important roles in stress protection

Absurdism and the absurd hero Meursault

Albert Camus was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1957. He was born in Algeria, colony of France in 1913. His major contribution for philosophy is his views on the ‘absurd’. It means not at all logical or sensible. It is a nihilistic outlook on life which he explored in his novels, plays and essays. What is the meaning of life? For this profound question, three philosophies (Nihilism, Existentialism, Absurdism) have tackled in three ways. Although these three philosophical thoughts are united in that life has no meaning, there are some differences between them. This article explores that distinction. Mainly this article focuses the philosophy of Absurdism and the absurdist protagonist Meursault (In Albert Camus’s The Stranger’) who expresses that thought

The traces of Structural thoughts in Tholkappiyam

Structuralism focused how human behaviour is determined by cultural, social and psychological structures.  Structuralists believe that the underlying structures which organize rules and units into meaningful systems are generated by the human mind itself and not by sense perception.  Levi-Strauss applied this approach to anthropology.  The influence of this approach spread to other fields until the 1960s.  The gap between word (signifier) and the meaning (signified) that Saussure discovered in language does not reflect the world of language.  It led to a deep thought about what makes up the world.  The purpose of this article is to highlight the traces of structuralist thought such as signifier, signified, hidden meaning, multiple meaning can be found in the ancient grammar Tholkappiyam

The difference between Structuralism and Post Structuralism in the thinking of language

Structuralism and Post Structuralism are two different literary movements. Structuralism believes that the world should be understood through structures. According to structuralism, there is no reality outside the language. In language the individual words attained their meaning due to the existence of the structure.  Post-structuralism rejected this basic idea of Saussure. It says, there is no reality or absolute truth. There is no fixed connection between the signifier and signified. Meaning is always deferred. This article presents the difference between the structuralism and Post structuralism in the concept of language

Impact of drought on flowering, yield and quality parameters in diverse genotypes of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

The effect of drought stress on flowering, yield and quality of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) genotypes was investigated under field conditions in rainout shelter. The drought condition was imposed on the first day after trans-planting based on field capacity of soil. Experimentation was undertaken with ten genotypes adopting Factorial Randomized Block Design with three replications and two treatments viz., 1.0 IW/CPE and 0.5 IW/CPE field capacity. As the stress increased from 100% field capacity to 50% field capacity, reductions in chlorophyll index, soluble protein con-tent, days to flower initiation, sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) activity, fruit volume, fruit diameter, yield and increased flower abscission percentage were noted. Significant increases in TSS and lycopene were observed under drought. The genotypes LE 118, LE 57 and LE 114 showed significantly less reduction in soluble protein content; SPS activ-ity and fruit yield during drought were considered as drought tolerant. Genotypes LE 1 and LE 125, which gave the lowest soluble protein content, SPS activity and ultimately poor yield, were considered as drought susceptible

Unveiling the photosynthesis and translocation efficiency in Indian foxtail millet genotypes to dissect tolerance to interactive drought and high temperature stress

Foxtail millet, a C4 cereal, is predominantly grown in the arid and semi-arid regions of Asia. Its yield is significantly reduced due to drought and high-temperature stresses. This yield reduction primarily occurs due to a lack of allocation of assimilates produced during photosynthesis to maturing grain when exposed to abiotic stress. To address this issue, a field study was conducted under a rain-out shelter using 24 genotypes, including four checks to assess the genetic variability in photosynthetic rate, grain filling rate, grain filling duration, dry matter translocation, translocation efficiency and contribution rate when drought and heat stress was imposed from peak vegetative to mid grain filling period. The diverse genotypes were classified as tolerant (Group I) and susceptible (Group II) genotypes using the photosynthetic rate. The genotypes with photosynthetic rates of > 29 µmol m-2 sec-1 were grouped into a tolerant category. The genotype ISe-15 was identified as tolerant based on higher values recorded for dry matter translocation (5.11 g plant-1), translocation efficiency (33.80 g plant-1) and contribution rate (27.47 g plant-1) under interactive stress. The genotype IC0479711 was identified as susceptible with low photosynthetic rate (24.2 µmol m-2 sec-1) coupled with less TE (6.78 g plant-1). Thus, the study concluded that foxtail millet genotypes with higher photosynthetic rates coupled with the efficient translocation of assimilates for grain filling under stress can tolerate combined drought and high-temperature stress

Dissecting the tolerance to combined drought and high temperature stress in foxtail millet (Setaria italica ) using gas exchange response and plant water status

Foxtail millet is an early maturing crop and has high water use efficiency, suitable for arid and semi-arid regions. Climate models predicted that the average rise in global temperature will be 1.5 ? in the next two decades.  There will be an altered rainfall pattern along with a high occurrence of heat waves in foxtail millet growing regions. Therefore, understanding the response of foxtail millet to combined drought and high-temperature stress is the need of the hour. Twenty-four foxtail millet genotypes were sourced from the Indian Institute of Millet Research (IIMR), Hyderabad and Centre of Excellence, Athiyandhal. The experiment was carried out in rain-out shelter in the Department of Crop Physiology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) by adapting an augmented design. All the checks alone had two replications. The plants were subjected to combined drought and high-temperature stress from peak vegetative to mid grain filling stage. Physiological and yield traits were evaluated under combined drought and high-temperature stress. The results revealed that Athiyandhal genotype ISe- 15 had better tolerance to combined drought and high-temperature stress than the other genotypes taken for the study. This genotype performed well for physiological traits such as chlorophyll index (45.76), relative water content (RWC) (69.51%) stomatal conductance (0.35 mol m-2s-1), and transpiration rate (3.19 mmol m-2s-1). Better physiological performance resulted in higher 1000 seed weight and grain yield in the tolerant genotype ISe- 15

PROBING THE BROAD-SPECTRUM THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF AIP II MIMICS TO COMBAT LYSOZYME MEDIATED STAPHYLOCOCCAL INVASION ON CONTACT LENS

Objective: Molecular recognition of AIP II mimics as a global inhibitor against the AgrC variants and to undertake a real-time clinical applications to treat the lysozyme mediated (tear protein) S. aureus adherence on contact lens.Methods: Structure activity relationship of the mimic peptides against the receptor AgrC variants were studied to score the global inhibitor. Further, the activity of the mimics as inhibitors was validated through in vitro and in vivo analysis.Results: Inhibition of agr expression of interstrains by the mimic compounds gained insight to recognize a global inhibitorâ€. Further, the in vitro data were designed in such a way to provide a natural eye environment (artificial tears) to see the effect of mAIP IIa (IC50) showed a greater significance of eradicating the clinical isolate, S. aureus biofilm and various other secreted toxins.Conclusion: The mimic peptide (mAIPII a) revealed to be a potential mimic of AIPII to show a broad range inhibition of all AgrC variants without any cytotoxic effects.Â

PHYTOCHEMICAL STUDIES AND QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS BY TLC OF MURRAYA KOENIGII BARK EXTRACT

Murraya koenigii is a medium size, ever green plant which has been utilized as a source of food, medicine, and other agricultural purposes in different communities. Thus, the preliminary phytochemical analysis and TLC separation was done using methanol, n-hexane, and ethyl acetate(1:3:1), as solvent system while iodine vapour as spotting agent. The phytochemical screening of diethyl ether extracts of bark revealed the presence of carbohydrates , anthraquinones glycosides ,saponins ,flavanoids, and alkaloids, while chloroform extracts of bark revealed carbohydrates, tannins, saponins, and alkaloids, while acetone extracts of bark revealed the presence of carbohydrates, anthraquinones glycosides, flavanoids and alkaloids,while ethanol extracts of bark revealed the presence of carbohydrates, tannins, anthraquinones glycosides,s aponins, flavanoids and alkaloids.TLC separation showed (3) spots each of Diethyl Ether, Chloroform, Acetone, Ethanol from bark extracts. From our findings, it can be concluded that Murraya Koenigii contains some significant phytochemicals that can exhibit desired therapeutic activities such as Antioxidant, Anti-Microbial, Anti-Fungal, Anti-Diabetic, Anti-Ulcer and Cosmetic use. However, there is a need to conduct further Pharmaceutical Analysis on test extracts in order to establish these biomedical applications. Keywords: Thin Layer Chromatography, Murraya koenigii Bark, Phytochemical screening