Elevated CO2 ameliorates the high temperature stress effects on physio-biochemical, growth, yield traits of maize hybrids.

The rising temperatures and levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are anticipated to have a significant impact on the productivity of agricultural crops. Although, the individual effects of elevated CO2 and temperature have been extensively studied in C3 and C4 crops, there remains a scarcity of research investigating their interactive effects specifically on maize hybrids. The impact of elevated temperature and its interaction with elevated CO2 on phenology, physiology, biomass, and grain yield of maize hybrids was assessed in a field experiment using Free Air Temperature Elevation (FATE) facility. The results showed that elevated temperature (eT) increased the anthesis silking interval (ASI), while the presence of elevated CO2 along with elevated temperature (eT + eCO2) mitigated this effect. The differential expression were observed between hybrids depending on their genetic potential. Furthermore, the net photosynthetic rate (Anet), stomatal conductance (gs), and transpiration rate (Tr) of hybrids decreased under elevated temperature but eT + eCO2 condition helped in reverting its impact to some extent. In term of leaf composition, the highest level of total soluble sugars (TSS) and starch was observed under eT + eCO2 conditions, possibly due to improved Anet in the presence of elevated eCO2. The negative impact of eT was also evident through increased proline and MDA content, but eT + eCO2 ameliorated the adverse effect of eT. The biomass and grain yield also responded similarly, among the hybrids 900M GOLD recorded superior performance for grain yield at eT condition exceeding 35 °C. On the other hand, DHM117 experienced a significant reduction in grain yield under eT, but performed better under eT + eCO2 due to its improved physiological response to eCO2. The study indicated that elevated levels of carbon dioxide can actually mitigate the detrimental effects of elevated temperature on maize crop. This positive impact on maize crop can be attributed to an enhanced physiological performance in the presence of eCO2 which enables the plants to maintain satisfactory yield levels despite the challenging environmental conditions.

Scrub Typhus and Dengue Co-infection in an Adolescent Girl: A Diagnostic Challenge.

Scrub typhus and dengue fever are common infectious diseases in tropical regions, and both have overlapping clinico-epidemiological and laboratory features, which often pose a diagnostic challenge. This case report discusses a 15-year-old girl from the Indian subcontinent who presented with acute undifferentiated febrile illness (AUFI) without typical features of any of the common tropical infections. She was diagnosed with co-infection of scrub typhus and dengue fever using laboratory tests with good diagnostic accuracy. The patient was managed on an ambulatory basis, treated with oral doxycycline, and showed symptomatic improvement within 48 hours. Co-infections in endemic areas present a significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. This case report highlights the importance of considering co-infections in the differential diagnosis of AUFI, especially during the post-monsoon period, and the use of highly sensitive and specific tests for the diagnosis of co-infections.

Depression in Patients on Hemodialysis: A Dilapidated Facet.

Introduction End-stage renal disease (ESRD) has increased in India due to the growing load of non-communicable diseases. The most prevalent psychological issue among these patients has been identified as depression, which may have an impact on treatment success. Around 20% to 90% of hemodialysis patients experience depression. The current study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression among patients undergoing hemodialysis as well as the relationship between this condition and the sociodemographic and clinical parameters of the patients. Methods Basic demographic information and particulars of chronic morbidity, duration, and the number of cycles of hemodialysis per week were noted. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score was administered to screen for depression. Results A total of 92 participants were enrolled in the study; 69 (75%) were males. The mean age of participants was 52 years. Hypertension (100%) was the most common co-morbidity followed by diabetes mellitus (38%). The mean duration of chronic kidney disease was 3.9 years. The majority (68.5%) had hemodialysis twice per week. Forty-one percent (41%) screened positive for borderline clinical depression or more. The mean BDI score was 17.07. The number of hemodialyses per week had a significant relation with depression with an odds ratio of 4.16 and 95% CI of 1.4-12.38. Conclusion Depression is prevalent among patients with chronic kidney disease who are on dialysis. The management of this preventable illness demands a repertoire of measures such as launching a program for the detection and treatment of depression combining psychiatric professionals and social volunteer organizations.

Comparative assessment of antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties of skimmed milk protein hydrolysates and their incorporation in beverage mix.

BACKGROUND: Milk-derived protein hydrolysates have generated a great deal of interest recently due to their numerous beneficial health effects. However, there are few comparative studies on protein hydrolysates from different dairy species, their production, characterization, and bioactivity. In the present study, skimmed milk from both major and minor dairy species was hydrolyzed with alcalase, and its protein profiles were studied using tricine polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and reverse phase-high protein liquid chromatography. The antioxidant and in vitro immunostimulatory properties were determined. RESULTS: Iron chelation activity was highest in hydrolysates of whey (25.00 ± 0.32 mmol L-1 ), casein (25.14 ± 0.34 mmol L-1 ), colostrum (24.52 ± 0.28 mmol L-1 ), and skimmed cattle milk (24.21 ± 0.26 mmol L-1 ). α,α-Diphenyl-ß-picrylhydrazyl scavenging and 2,2'-azobis(2-amidino-propane) dihydrochloride activity was lowest in skimmed donkey milk protein hydrolysates (MPHs) (IC50 : 5.37 ± 0.05 mg mL-1 and 151.59 ± 2.1 mg mL-1 ). Production of nitric oxide and phagocytosis activity in RAW 264.7 (murine macrophage cell line) was significantly higher among whey and buffalo skimmed milk protein hydrolysate-treated groups as compared with the untreated group. The incorporation of whey protein hydrolysate and skimmed buffalo milk protein hydrolysate were sensorially acceptable at 10% level in beverage mix. CONCLUSION: This study comparatively evaluates the antioxidative and immunomodulatory properties of different skimmed MPHs and their potential applications as ingredients in pediatric, geriatric, and other health-promoting foods. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Audits of Antimicrobial Usage in a Tertiary Care Center in Hyderabad.

Background Irrational prescriptions have an ill effect on health as well as on healthcare expenditure. Prescription auditing is an important tool to improve the quality of prescriptions, which in turn improves the quality of health care provided. Regular and timely audits of antibiotic prescriptions can prevent irrational antibiotic usage. Introduction The inappropriate use of drugs is a global health problem, especially in developing countries like India. In 2015, during the 68th World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Southeast Asia, all Member States of the region, including India, endorsed the "Regional Strategy for Patient Safety in the WHO Southeast Asia Region (2016-2025)" aiming to support the development of national quality of care and patient safety strategies, policies, and plans and commit to translating those objectives of the Regional Strategy into actionable strategies at country level. Methodology A retrospective observational study was conducted in a 330-bedded, National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH)-accredited tertiary healthcare center. The study period was six months, from January 2019 to June 2019. Results Ninety-five point four-five percent (95.45%) of the doctors attended the sensitization program and all accepted following the standard prescribing protocols. Sixty-nine point seven percent (69.7%) of the doctors were aware of the availability of drugs in the hospital pharmacy stores. Seventy-four point two-four percent (74.24%) of the doctors were aware of the ongoing prescription audits. Seventy-two point two-seven percent (72.27%) of the treating doctors were of the opinion of selecting the appropriate antibiotics based on hospital antibiogram. The importance of antibiograms from cultures and environmental surveillance was followed well only after sensitizing all the treating doctors. Ninety-five point four-five percent (95.45%) of the doctors were of the opinion of taking the permission of a higher authority to start high-end antibiotics. Seventy-seven point one-zero percent (77.10%) doctors recommended sample collection prior to antibiotic administration. Sixty-three percent (63%) of the patient's clinical condition improved with the antibiotics prescribed prior to the culture report. Conclusion By judicious use of antibiotics, we can reduce the evolution of antibiotic resistance in bacteria and extend the useful life of antibiotics that are still effective. Antibiotic use patterns must be studied to address complications resulting from a large number of antibiotics.

Ameliorative effect of enhanced Fischer ratio flaxseed protein hydrolysate in combination with antioxidant micronutrients on ethanol-induced hepatic damage in a rat model.

Alcohol abuse causes severe metabolic abnormalities inducing hepatic damage and malnutrition. Since higher Fischer ratio proteins have therapeutic value in liver diseases, an investigation was undertaken to study the ameliorative effect of the enhanced Fischer ratio flaxseed protein hydrolysate (EFR-FPH) alone and in combination with antioxidant micronutrients on ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity in a rat model. The EFR-FPH was prepared by dual enzymatic hydrolysis and charcoal treatment of flaxseed protein. The ratio of the branched-chain:aromatic amino acids (Fischer ratio) was found to be 7·08. The EFR-FPH, characterised using LC-MS/MS, showed the abundance of free leucine and isoleucine compared with phenylalanine and tyrosine. The matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation-time of flight MS analysis revealed the larger peptides present in EFR-FPH with mass 2·3 kDa. The EFR-FPH improved the nutritional status, liver function and antioxidant defense in the ethanol hepatotoxicity-induced rat model. The hepatoprotective effect of EFR-FPH was significantly enhanced when combined with selenium or vitamin E. Ethanol-induced changes in the liver tissue were effectively suppressed in the groups receiving EFR-FPH. Flaxseed-based hepatoprotective dietary supplement was formulated incorporating an optimum level of EFR-FPH (10 %) based on sensory acceptability and was fortified with selenium and vitamin E. The hepatoprotective formulation significantly lowered aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin by 47, 61, 55 and 78 %, respectively, and improved the antioxidant defense in the ethanol hepatotoxicity-induced rat model. The current investigation suggests that EFR-FPH in synergy with antioxidant micronutrients is potent in ameliorating ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity and has a potential to form a hepatoprotective dietary supplement.

Maximising the bioaccessibility of iron and zinc of a complementary food mix through multiple strategies.

The investigation was undertaken to maximise the bioaccessibility of iron and zinc of a complementary food mix by multiple approaches of dephytinisation and addition of organic acids. A wheat, pulse and oilseed protein flour mix was dephytinized by phytase activation and different thermal treatments. As the mineral content of the mix was low, the spray dried mix was fortified with different iron and zinc salts to identify the salt with the highest bioaccessibility in this matrix. Based on the percent bioaccessibility, the mix with sodium iron EDTA and zinc oxide was chosen for fortification. Bioaccessibility was enhanced by the addition of fruit powders and pure organic acids. Fruit powders showed a significant increase, but citric acid at a higher dose was beneficial in enhancing bioaccessible iron. The strategy of dephytinisation followed by fortification and the addition of fruit powders or organic acids is promising in alleviating iron and zinc deficiencies.

An Unusual Case of Candida kefyr Fungemia in an Immunocompromised Patient.

An immunocompromised patient with a known history of cerebrovascular accident (CVA) with right-sided hemiparesis of long duration, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and hypertension presented with signs of rhabdomyolysis and later acute kidney injury (AKI). He subsequently developed Guillain Barre syndrome. Initially, hemodialysis was followed by plasmapheresis. After hemodialysis, the patient presented with multiple episodes of vomiting and weakness of all limbs. A culture showed growth of Enterococcus faecalis, and on Day 6, a bloodstream infection with Candida kefyr and a urinary tract infection with Enterococcus faecalis were diagnosed. We report a rare case of bloodstream infection due to C. kefyr.

Topographical Landmarks for the Identification of Branches of Mandibular Nerve and Its Surgical Implications: A Cadaveric Study.

Introduction Basic knowledge of anatomy is crucial in providing predictable, safe, and efficacious mandibular anesthesia as the mandibular nerve is vulnerable to injury during dental procedures and other surgical manoeuvers. The lack of availability of the appropriate topographical bony landmarks for the location of the branches of this nerve often accounts for iatrogenic injuries and the failure to obtain adequate local anesthaesia. Hence we aimed to describe the topographical landmarks of the branches of the mandibular nerve and their variations in the infratemporal fossa. Methodology In 16 formalin-fixed cadavers, irrespective of the sex of the cadavers, bilateral dissection of the infratemporal fossa was done after identifying the necessary bony landmarks. The mandibular nerve and its branches were traced out and the required measurements were taken using the digital vernier caliper. The results were statistically analysed for mean, range, and standard deviation. Results The masseteric nerve is 15.87+/-1.64 mm superior to the lowest point on the mandibular notch. The lingual nerve in the third molar area is at the depth of 24.75+/-2.38 mm from the angle of the mandible (gonion), making an angle of 50° with the base of the mandible. 20.13+/-3.1 mm inferior to the mandibular notch is the precise location of the mandibular foramen which allows access to the inferior alveolar nerve. The incidence of accessory mandibular foramen in the dissected samples is 9.37%. Conclusion The topography of the masseteric nerve, lingual nerve, and inferior alveolar nerve was studied using constant and reliable bony landmarks in the cadaver which might aid effective dental and facio-maxillary surgical procedures. However, the outcome of this study could not be applied to paediatric patients as the subjects were restricted to adult cadavers.

Molecular characterization of Wdr13 knockout female mice uteri: a model for human endometrial hyperplasia.

Endometrial hyperplasia (EH) is a condition where uterine endometrial glands show excessive proliferation of epithelial cells that may subsequently progress into endometrial cancer (EC). Modern lifestyle disorders such as obesity, hormonal changes and hyperinsulinemia are known risk factors for EH. A mouse strain that mimics most of these risk factors would be an ideal model to study the stage-wise progression of EH disease and develop suitable treatment strategies. Wdr13, an X-linked gene, is evolutionarily conserved and expressed in several tissues including uteri. In the present study, Wdr13 knockout female mice developed benign proliferative epithelium that progressed into EH at around one year of age accompanied by an increase in body weight and elevated estradiol levels. Molecular characterization studies revealed increase in ERα, PI3K and a decrease in PAX2 and ERß proteins in Wdr13 mutant mice uteri. Further, a decrease in the mRNA levels of cell cycle inhibitors, namely; p21 and cyclin G2 was seen. Leukocyte infiltration was observed in the uterine tissue of knockout mice at around 12 months of age. These physiological, molecular and pathological patterns were similar to those routinely seen in human EH disease and demonstrated the importance of WDR13 in mice uterine tissue. Thus, the genetic loss of Wdr13 in these mice led to mimicking of the human EH associated metabolic disorders making Wdr13 knockout female mice a potential animal model to study human endometrial hyperplasia.

Milling interventions for the production of atta for Indian flat bread with low carbohydrate digestibility.

Study was aimed to produce atta for chapati, an Indian flat bread with low carbohydrate digestibility through different milling interventions; processing and formulating a functional ingredient mix (FM). Granulation, physico-chemical, rheological and chapati making characteristics of chakki atta, CA (control), roller mill atta (RA); RA replaced with 5, 10 and 15% FM (5, 10 and 15% RAFM) were evaluated. RA and RAFM samples showed lower water absorption, higher dough stability, pasting temperature and peak viscosity than CA. Evaluation of carbohydrate digestive profile showed differences in the pattern of carbohydrate digestibility and glucose release between the chapatis prepared from CA, RA and 10% RAFM. Rapidly available glucose (RAG), an indicator of glycemic response in vivo, was found to be lower in the 10% RAFM than CA. It can be concluded that milling interventions and compositional differences together determine the carbohydrate digestibility of the atta.

Impaired liver regeneration and lipid homeostasis in CCl4 treated WDR13 deficient mice / 한국실험동물학회지

WDR13 - a WD repeat protein, is abundant in pancreas, liver, ovary and testis. Absence of this protein in mice has been seen to be associated with pancreatic β-cell proliferation, hyperinsulinemia and age dependent mild obesity. Previously, we have reported that the absence of WDR13 in diabetic Leprdb/db mice helps in amelioration of fatty liver phenotype along with diabetes and systemic inflammation. This intrigued us to study direct liver injury and hepatic regeneration in Wdr13−/0 mice using hepatotoxin CCl4. In the present study we report slower hepatic regeneration in Wdr13−/0 mice as compared to their wild type littermates after CCl4 administration. Interestingly, during the regeneration phase, hepatic hypertriglyceridemia was observed in Wdr13 −/0 mice. Further analyses revealed an upregulation of PPAR pathway in the liver of CCl4- administered Wdr13 −/0 mice, causing de novo lipogenesis. The slower hepatic regeneration observed in CCl4 administered Wdr13 −/0 mice, may be linked to liver hypertriglyceridemia because of activation of PPAR pathway.

Impaired liver regeneration and lipid homeostasis in CCl4 treated WDR13 deficient mice / 한국실험동물학회지

WDR13 - a WD repeat protein, is abundant in pancreas, liver, ovary and testis. Absence of this protein in mice has been seen to be associated with pancreatic β-cell proliferation, hyperinsulinemia and age dependent mild obesity. Previously, we have reported that the absence of WDR13 in diabetic Leprdb/db mice helps in amelioration of fatty liver phenotype along with diabetes and systemic inflammation. This intrigued us to study direct liver injury and hepatic regeneration in Wdr13−/0 mice using hepatotoxin CCl4. In the present study we report slower hepatic regeneration in Wdr13−/0 mice as compared to their wild type littermates after CCl4 administration. Interestingly, during the regeneration phase, hepatic hypertriglyceridemia was observed in Wdr13 −/0 mice. Further analyses revealed an upregulation of PPAR pathway in the liver of CCl4- administered Wdr13 −/0 mice, causing de novo lipogenesis. The slower hepatic regeneration observed in CCl4 administered Wdr13 −/0 mice, may be linked to liver hypertriglyceridemia because of activation of PPAR pathway.

Ameliorative effect of flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) and its protein on ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats.

Hepatoprotective effect of flaxseed and its protein on ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity in adult Wistar rats was investigated. The rats were divided into eight groups of which two served as control (group I: Control for AIN-93M diet groups and group II: Control for cereal-pulse diet groups) and six groups received ethanol orally every day. After 10 days along with ethanol, the rats received AIN-93M diet (group III); AIN-93M diet and commercial hepatoprotective formulation (CHF) (group IV); casein replaced by flaxseed protein in AIN-93M diet (group V); cereal-pulse diet (group VI); cereal-pulse diet and CHF (group VII); cereal-pulse diet containing flaxseed (group VIII) for four weeks. The flaxseed and its protein significantly prevented the elevation of plasma markers of hepatic damage, lowered lipid peroxidation, mitigated changes in antioxidant enzymes, and suppressed histopathological signs of hepatic damage. The hepatoprotective effect of flaxseed and its protein was comparable to CHF. These findings implicate the ameliorative effect of flaxseed and its protein on ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Owing to globalization and an increase in earning capacity, alcohol consumption is becoming a part of social life and gradually transforming to addiction. Binge drinking is highly prevalent among low socioeconomic status population, which poses severe risks to health. Alcohol abuse is a public health problem causing three million deaths annually worldwide. Alcohol consumption is known to be a major cause of liver damage worldwide and has contributed to 44% of deaths from liver disease. As abstaining from alcohol is a challenging task, there is an escalating need to formulate potential hepatoprotective agents to prevent alcohol-induced hepatic damage. This study investigates the efficacy of flaxseed and its protein in conferring protection to the liver against ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity. This study also explores the benefits of incorporating flaxseed in the staple cereal-pulse diet. Findings of this study suggest that incorporation of flaxseed or its protein in food formulations can prevent hepatotoxicity and improve the overall quality of life among alcoholics.

Absence of Wdr13 Gene Predisposes Mice to Mild Social Isolation - Chronic Stress, Leading to Depression-Like Phenotype Associated With Differential Expression of Synaptic Proteins.

We earlier reported that the male mice lacking the Wdr13 gene (Wdr13-/0) showed mild anxiety, better memory retention, and up-regulation of synaptic proteins in the hippocampus. With increasing evidences from parallel studies in our laboratory about the possible role of Wdr13 in stress response, we investigated its role in brain. We observed that Wdr13 transcript gets up-regulated in the hippocampus of the wild-type mice exposed to stress. To further dissect its function, we analyzed the behavioral and molecular phenotypes of Wdr13-/0 mice when subjected to mild chronic psychological stress, namely; mild (attenuated) social isolation. We employed iTRAQ based quantitative proteomics, real time PCR and western blotting to investigate molecular changes. Three weeks of social isolation predisposed Wdr13-/0 mice to anhedonia, heightened anxiety-measured by Open field test (OFT), increased behavior despair- measured by Forced swim test (FST) and reduced dendritic branching along with decreased spine density of hippocampal CA1 neurons as compared to wild-type counterparts. This depression-like-phenotype was however ameliorated when treated with anti-depressant imipramine. Molecular analysis revealed that out of 1002 quantified proteins [1% False discovery rate (FDR), at-least two unique peptides], strikingly, a significant proportion of synaptic proteins including, SYN1, CAMK2A, and RAB3A were down-regulated in the socially isolated Wdr13-/0 mice as compared to its wild-type counterparts. This was in contrast to the elevated levels of these proteins in non-stressed mutants as compared to the controls. We hypothesized that a de-regulated transcription factor upstream of the synaptic genes might be responsible for the observed phenotype. Indeed, in the socially isolated Wdr13-/0 mice, there was an up-regulation of GATA1 - a transcription factor that negatively regulates synaptic genes and has been associated with Major Depression (MD) in humans. The present study demonstrates significant genotype × enviornment interaction for Wdr13 gene as shown by the reversal in the expression levels of several synaptic proteins in the mutant vis-à-vis wild-type mouse when exposed to social isolation stress.

Phytase from Citrobacter koseri PM-7: Enhanced production using statistical method and application in ameliorating mineral bioaccessibility and protein digestibility of high-phytate food.

The present study was aimed at enhancing phytase (Phy-Ck) production from Citrobacter koseri PM-7 using response surface methodology (RSM) and improving the bioaccessibility of minerals (Fe and Zn) and protein digestibility in high-phytate food using Phy-Ck. A five-variable and three-level central composite design of RSM using wheat bran (6.681%, w/v), inoculum level (2.5%, v/v), and triton X-100 (0.2%, v/v) resulted in up to 5.57-fold (1.047 U/ml) improvement in Phy-Ck yield from C. koseri PM-7 when compared with fermentation media I and II. The model was successfully validated in the design space by taking a random set of variable combinations. Treatment of high-phytate food with partially purified Phy-Ck showed improvement in mineral bioaccessibility maximally for defatted sesame flour (DSF) (Fe 45.5%; Zn 50.7%) followed by wheat flour (WF) (Fe 13.5%; Zn 14.4%), green gram flour (GGF) (Fe 0.7%; Zn 3.8%) and defatted groundnut flour (DGF) (Zn 5.6%). The in vitro protein digestibility (IVPD) of WF increased from 48.83 to 65.04%, GGF from 45.04 to 57.12%, and DSF from 47.34 to 55.7% after Phy-Ck treatment.

Bis-(1-(2-aminoethyl)piperidino), (2-(2-aminoethyl)pyridino) and (1-(2-aminoethyl)pyrrolidino)-substituted dicyanoquinodimethanes: consequences of flexible ethylene spacers with heterocyclic moieties and amine functionalities.

Heterocyclic building blocks possessing ethylene spacer and amine functionality such as 1-(2-aminoethyl)piperidine (1,2-AEPi), 2-(2-aminoethyl)pyridine (2,2-AEPy) and 1-(2-aminoethyl)pyrrolidine (1,2-AEPr) were reacted with tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) to give disubstituted compounds namely bis-(1-(2-aminoethyl)piperidino)dicyanoquinodimethane (1), bis-(2-(2-aminoethyl)pyridino)dicyanoquinodimethane (2) and bis-(1-(2-aminoethyl)pyrrolidino)dicyanoquinodimethane (3). Utilization of 1,2-AEPi, 2,2-AEPy and 1,2-AEPr as disubstituents on TCNQ has resulted in interesting crystal structures. Inter- and intramolecular hydrogen-bond mediated and expanded supramolecular structures were observed in the lattices of the crystals. Strong fluorescence was observed in solids and solutions. (2) showed a strong second harmonic generation (SHG) whereas (1) and (3) were found to be SHG inactive. All compounds possess good thermal stabilities.

Genotypic variability in physiological, biomass and yield response to drought stress in pigeonpea.

Three pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L. Millsp.) genotypes- GT-1, AKP-1 and PRG-158 with varying crop duration, growth habit and flowering pattern were evaluated for variability in their response for drought stress. Drought stress was imposed at initiation of flowering and the observations on biomass and seed yield parameters were recorded at harvest. The magnitude of response of individual component to drought stress was found to be genotype specific. Drought stress significantly decreased photosynthetic rate (PN), transpiration rate (Tr) and relative water content (RWC) in all the genotypes, however the magnitude of reduction differed with genotype. With drought stress, the reduction of PN was highest in GT-1 while reduction in Tr was highest in PRG-158. The genotype AKP-1, accumulated significantly higher concentrations of osmotic solutes especially proline under water deficit stress, this facilitated it to maintain higher relative water content (RWC) and lower malondialdehyde (MDA) content as compared to other genotypes. Drought stress also impacted biomass production and their partitioning to vegetative and reproductive components at harvest. There was significant variability between the genotypes for seed yield under drought stress while it was non-significant under well-watered condition. Drought stress enhanced flower drop and decreased flower to pod conversion resulting in reduced pod number and seed number in PRG-158 and GT-1. The genotype AKP-1 recorded superior performance for seed yield under stress environment due to its ability in maintaining pod and seed number as well as improved test weight (100 seed weight). Under drought stress, significant positive association of seed yield with proline, seed number, pod number and test weight clearly indicating their role in drought tolerance.

Enzymatic process of rice bran: a stabilized functional food with nutraceuticals and nutrients.

Rice bran (RB), a byproduct of rice milling industry, is a rich source of nutraceuticals and nutrients. However its utility is limited due to the presence of lipase and lipoxygenase which initiates rancidity on milling. The aim of this investigation is to prevent oxidation of free fatty acids by enzymatic approach for its effective utilization. The enzymatic treatment comprised of alcalase treatment for complete inactivation of lipase along with reduction in lipoxygenase (LOX) activity and endoglucanase for improving the soluble fiber content. The enzyme treated rice bran was drum dried for further use. The nutraceutical molecules like γ-oryzanol, α-tocopherol and polyphenols were retained in the range of 68 to 110 % and the total antioxidant activity was improved. By the action of endoglucanase the complex carbohydrate was converted into glucose (72.28 %), cellobiose (18.36 %) and cellotriose (9.36 %). The prebiotic effect of enzyme treated rice bran was evaluated by the action of lactobacillus which was measured through the release of the short chain free fatty acids (SCFAs) analyzed by HPLC. The SCFAs; acetic acid and propionic acid increased by 1.72 folds and 2.12 folds respectively. B-complex vitamins showed maximum retention with vitamins like B1 (66.3 %), B2 (68.3 %) and B3 (55.0 %) after enzyme treatment. At different humidity levels, storage studies showed no change in LOX activity and also retained ubiquinol-10 in reduced state in enzyme treated RB for a period of 3 months. A stabilized RB has been developed enriched with short chain prebiotics and antioxidant molecules.

Optimization of Agrobacterium mediated genetic transformation of cotyledonary node explants of Vigna radiata.

A reproducible and highly efficient protocol for genetic transformation mediated by Agrobacterium has been established for greengram (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek). Double cotyledonary node (DCN) explants were inoculated with Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA 4404 harboring a binary vector pCAMBIA 2301 containing neomycin phosphotransferase (npt II) gene as selectable marker, ß-glucuronidase (GUS) as a reporter (uidA) gene and annexin 1 bj gene. Important parameters like optical density of Agrobacterium culture, culture quantity, infection medium, infection and co-cultivation time and acetosyringone concentration were standardized to optimize the transformation frequency. Kanamycin at a concentration of 100 mg/l was used to select transformed cells. Transient and stable GUS expressions were studied in transformed explants and regenerated putative plants, respectively. Transformed shoot were produced on regeneration medium containing 100 mg/l kanamycin and 250 mg/l cefotaxime and rooted on ½ MS medium. Transient and constitutive GUS expression was observed in DCN explants and different tissues of T(0) and T(1) plants. Rooted T(0) and T(1) shoots confirming Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) positive for npt II and annexin 1bj genes were taken to maturity to collect the seeds. Integration of annexin gene into the greengram genome was confirmed by Southern blotting.