Effect of nitrogen fertigation and sowing time on the expression of Cry2Ab and on mortality of Spodoptera litura in Bollgard II cotton.

Toxin expression of Cry2Ab was studied in plant parts of Bollgard II cotton genotype MRC 7031 sown under different treatments of nitrogen application and planting dates. The expression was quantified by using Cry2Aa ELISA kit. Mean per cent mortality of one-day-old, 3rd and 5th instar larvae of Spodoptera litura was observed on different plant parts of MRC 7031 and their respective non-Bt cotton genotypes. The study deduced that mean maximum expression (19.24, 20.93 and 20.71 microg g(-1) in leaves, squares and bolls, respectively) of Cry2Ab was observed at higher nitrogen dose @ 300 kg ha(-1) (N3), while it was minimum (18.67, 20.44 and 20.14 microg g(-1) in leaves, squares and bolls, respectively) at low nitrogen dose @ 150 kg ha(-1) (N1). Studies conducted for different planting dates showed mean maximum expression (18.98, 20.72 and 20.42 microg g(-1) in leaves, squares and bolls, respectively) of Cry2Ab during late sown crop (15th May) as compared to early sown crop (15th April), the expression was 18.66, 20.32 and 20.06 microg g(-1) in leaves, squares and bolls, respectively. Quantitative expression of Cry2Ab was found to vary among different plant parts, i.e more in squares followed by bolls and leaves. Regarding mortality of different instars of S. litura, it was significantly more at higher nitrogen doses and it ranged from 83.04 to 96.27, 53.38 to 61.87 and 16.87 to 22.58% in case of S. litura one-day-old larvae, 3rd and 5th instar, respectively. While, non significant difference in mortalitywas observed during different sowing dates.

Limitations, progress and prospects of application of biotechnological tools in improvement of bamboo-a plant with extraordinary qualities.

Bamboos (family Poaceae) are the most beautiful and useful plants on the Earth, mainly found in the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. Bamboos are fast growing and early maturing, but lack of proper management of bamboo resources is leading to rapid reduction of the existing bamboosetum. Bamboo propagation through seeds is limited due to long flowering cycle of upto 120 years, seed sterility and short seed viability. Infrequent and unpredictable flowering events coupled with peculiar monocarpic behaviour i.e. flowering once before culm death, and extensive genome polyploidization are additional challenges for this woody group. Similarly, vegetative propagation by cuttings, offsets and rhizomes are also inadequate to cope up with the demand of planting stock due to large propagule size, limited availability, seasonal dependence, low multiplication rate and rooting percentage. Therefore, attempts have been made to propagate bamboos through in vitro techniques. In vitro flowering has also been achieved successfully in some bamboo species. Classification systems proposed to date need further support, as taxonomic delineation at lower levels is still lacking sufficient resolution. Tremendous advancement in molecular markers holds the promise to address the needs of bamboo taxonomy (systematics and identification) and diversity studies. Successful application of molecular marker techniques has been achieved in several bamboo species although, more studies are required to understand the population structure and genetic diversity of bamboos in a better way. In addition, some efforts have also been made to clone important genes from bamboos and also for genetic transformation using Agrobacterium and particle bombardment methods. An overview of the recent developments made in improvement of bamboos through in vitro propagation, molecular marker technologies, cloning, and transformation and transgenics has been presented. The future potential of improvement of bamboos using modern biotechnological tools has also been discussed.

Oral lesions in leprosy revisited: a case report.

There is a scarcity of the histopathologically proven lesions of leprosy in the oral cavity, in the world literature. A 55-year-old man had come with a complaint of asymptomatic nodular lesions in the oral cavity. Cutaneous lesions and peripheral nerve examination were suggestive of lepromatous leprosy. Histopathologic examination of a nodule on the palate demonstrated diffuse macrophagic granulomas and acid-fast bacilli.

Soil microorganisms in cotton fields sequentially treated with insecticides.

A crop protection system consisting of sequential treatments by six insecticides--dimethoate, monocrotophos, deltamethrin, endosulfan, cypermethrin, and triazophos--at recommended dosages in cotton fields in Punjab, India was investigated for its effects on nontarget soil microorganisms and their activities. Successive applications of the insecticides caused only short-lived adverse effects on the soil microorganisms. None of the insecticides used had any adverse effects on soil fungi as reflected by their total numbers. Significant change in Azotobacter numbers were observed after dimethoate, triazophos, and endosulfan treatment in 1998 soil. An increase of up to 71% in actinomycetes numbers was observed after deltamethrin treatment in the treated fields in 1995. Few short-term changes in iron-reduction capacity were observed after endosulfan and cypermethrin treatments. No adverse effect was observed on the soil respiration during all the experimental periods. The amount of residues detected in soil ranged from 8.5 to 42.0 ng g(-1)dry wt. soil for organophosphorus insecticides and from nondetectable to 5.55 ng g (-1)dry wt. soil for synthetic pyrethroids. It ranged between 7.3 and 35.6 ng g(-1)dry wt. soil for endosulfan. On many occasions two or three insecticide residues were detected together; therefore, the effect observed on soil microorganisms and their activities was a multiresidue effect. In 1998, crop soil amounts of insecticide residues were generally more than those in 1995 and 1996. Persistence and dissipation patterns in soils with a history of exposure to the insecticides compared to the non-history soils were similar.

Amylase induction during seed germination in isoproturon susceptible and resistant biotypes of Phalaris minor Retz.

Isoproturon resistant biotype of P. minor germinates early, shows higher germination percentage and faster rate of growth as compared to the susceptible biotype. Higher amylase activity is observed in the initial hours of imbibition in the resistant biotype. In the susceptible biotype it is activated at a much later stage.

Insecticide residues in cotton crop soil.

Dimethoate, monocrotophos, triazophos, deltamethrin, cypermethrin and endosulfan were applied to a cotton crop soil located at Nurpur village, Punjab, India. The insecticides were applied sequentially at recommended dosages in cotton fields by foliar application in 1995, 1996 and 1998. Soil samples were collected from the cotton crop farms and extracted with acetone. The extracted material was analysed by a gas liquid chromatograph (GLC) equipped with an 63Ni electron-capture detector (ECD-63Ni). Recovery data was obtained by fortifying soil with insecticide. The average recoveries from the fortified soil samples were 76-92% for organophosphorous compounds and 90-98% for synthetic pyrethroids and organochlorines. The results showed that the insecticide residues under study were present in the range of 1.16 to 41.97 ng g(-1) d.wt.soil. The pattern of dissipation of the insecticides used was similar for the duration of the crop. Half lives of the insecticides ranged from 7 to 22 days. Except endosulfan none of the other insecticides used were leached below 15 cm. Endosulfan was found to be rapidly degraded in the soil and formed a sulfate metabolite. Persistence and dissipation pattern in soils with history of exposure to the insecticide compared to non-history soils were similar.

Role of laser therapy in post herpetic neuralgia.

The efficacy of combi laser therpay was evaluated in fifty cases of post neuralgia (PHN) of different age groups (31 to 81 years) and with varying duration of illness from 2 months to 4 and a half years in the present study. The affected areas were irradiated from a distance of 5 cms. using the probe of 12x70 watts at a frequency of 1000 Hz. each area being exposed for a time period of 5 minutes and 6 seconds. In each case the combi laser therapy was given for 15 consecutive days and therapeutic effect of the therapy was evaluated after 5th, 10th and 15th laser application during the treatment with the help of visual analouge scale (VAS). Patients started responding to the therapy after an average of 3.28 laser applications and VAS steadily decreased as the therapy progressed. After completion of therapy, 43 (86%) out of 50 cases showed excellent relief (76-100%) and remaining 7 (14%) cases showed partial relief, 4(8%) cases with good relief (51-75%), 2 (4%) cases with fair relief (26-50%) and 1(2%) case with poor relief (1-25%). Partial relief in our 7 cases could be due to multiple factors like prolonged duration of illness, involvement of ophthalmic division of trigeminal nerve and formation of scarring and keloids. No side effects were observed during the treatment as well as duing the follow up period of 8 weeks.

Effect of eucalyptus growth regulators on the water loss from plant leaves.

Three closely related growth regulators (G) that are present in some myrtaceous plants were examined for possible anti-transpirant effects. The bioassay material involved cuttings of mung bean and Eucalyptus rupicola. Stomatal resistance was determined by a diffusion porometer. Water loss was equated with water uptake by the cutting over a 24-hour period.In both bioassays, G reduced water loss. The reduced water loss was associated with stomatal closure. This anti-transpirant effect of G was five to ten times less than that of abscisic acid. The stomatal resistance to the diffusion of water vapor from mung bean leaves increased within 1 hour of application of G. Marked stomatal closure occurred after 6 hours when 5 to 7 micrograms of G had accumulated in the leaves.These results and earlier evidence, suggest that G growth regulators are involved in the water economy of Eucalyptus and perhaps other related genera.

Occurrence and bioassay responses of G : A plant growth regulator in Eucalyptus and other Myrtaceae.

A growth regulator (G) occurs at high concentrations in adult leaves of E. grandis Maiden. Low concentrations of G are present in juvenile leaves of this species and also in adult leaves of some other Myrtaceae. Low concentrations of G (5×10(-6) and 10(-5) M) promote rooting in mung-bean cuttings and elongation in Avena coleoptile sections; high concentrations (5×10(-4) M) inhibit. These and other bioassay results indicate that G may have auxin-like activity.