Culm anatomy revealed association of vascular bundle number and silicon content with lodging behaviour in Kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum L.)

In dry lands, small millets such as kodo millet contribute to regional food security to some extent. It is normally harvested using paddy combine harvester due to labour scarcity. However, the current varieties are not amenable for mechanized harvesting as they lodge at grain filling and maturity stages, thus resulting in heavy grain loss in terms of quality and quantity. In this context, we studied the anatomical features of culm and elemental composition in relation to lodging behaviour in kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum L.), which is one of the important yield limiting factors in this crop. The strong culm genotype, Adari had higher culm thickness, thicker mechanical tissue, more lignin deposition and more number of vascular bundles per cross section when compared to the weaker counterpart, Aamo10. However, not all the genotypes with thicker culm were lodging resistant. Sel21 which recorded the highest culm thickness (1283.4 μm) among the genotypes lodged heavily as higher culm thickness in Sel21 was not supported by an increased number of vascular bundles. Interestingly, TNPsc183 which had a moderate culm thickness of 782.82 μm exhibited a low degree of lodging and had more number of vascular bundles per cross section than Sel21. Hence, ‘number of vascular bundles per unit area’ appears to be an important trait in contributing lodging resistance in kodo millet. SEM-EDX studies for silicon and potassium contents in culm implicated the role of silicon, but not potassium in imparting culm strength in kodo millet. However, more potassium content in parenchymatous cell wall suggests its role in imparting strength to the non-lignified cells of the culm.

Effect of neonatal pineal ablation on estradiol receptors in mammary glands of rats housed under varying photoperiods.

Estradiol receptors (ER) in mammary glands of female Holtzman rats, either intact or neonatally pinealectomised and housed in 10:14 or 24:0 L:D (light:dark) schedule were studied at 30, 40, 50 +/- 5 and 65 +/- 5 days of age. Whereas ER were detectable only at the age of 60-65 days in intact rats housed in 10:14 L:D, they were present as early as 30 days onwards in the pineal ablated group. In the 24:0 L:D pinealectomised group, though mammary gland ER were maximum around 40 days of age and temporarily undetectable around day 50, they had stabilized around the age of 60-65 days. The data demonstrates for the first time, the modulation of ER in rat mammary glands in response to varying photoperiods as well as pineal ablation. Earlier reports on incidence of chemically induced mammary tumours have been compared to the receptor modulation.

Preliminary investigation on antibacterial activity of some marine diatoms.

Seven species of marine diatoms were cultured under defined laboratory conditions. Air dried algal powder was used for extraction with different solvents in sequence. The algal extracts were tested against various bacteria by paper disc method. Nitzschia longissma, Skeletonema costatum and Biddulphia sinensis were effective against the test bacteria. Hemidiscus hardmannianus, Coscinodiscus centralis and Asterionella japonica showed moderate antibacterial activity. Pleurosigma elongatum exhibited no activity. The antibacterial substances were fully extracted by the organic solvents. Only in the active algal species, was activity noted in the aqueous extracts.