Row spacing has a pivotal role in enhancing sugarcane yield and improving its quality. A study was undertaken to evaluate the influence of different planting techniques on performance of sugarcane at Agronomic Researc...Row spacing has a pivotal role in enhancing sugarcane yield and improving its quality. A study was undertaken to evaluate the influence of different planting techniques on performance of sugarcane at Agronomic Research Area, Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture Faisalabad during Kharif 2014. Experimental treatments comprised of: 180 cm spaced trenches with tripple row strips, 180 cm spaced trenches with alternate row strips, 120 cm spaced trenches with double row strips and 60 cm spaced furrows with single rows. Sugarcane cultivar HSF-240 was used as experimental material. The experimental was conducted in RCBD with four replications. The expeimental results revealed that sugarcane number of tillers, plant height, cane length, stripped cane weight and stripped cane yield increased progressively with the increase in row spacing from 60 to 180 cm. While germination percentage and number of millable canes were not affected by different sowing techniques, maximum number of tillers (15.96 m-2), plant height (333.25 cm), stripped cane weight (0.94 kg) and stripped cane yield (107 t·ha-1) were recorded from 180 cm spaced trenches with tripple row strips.展开更多
Among the panoply of food products used in treatment of various ailments, honey has been used since prehistoric times as an effective antimicrobial therapy. Being first of its kind, honeys with specific botanical orig...Among the panoply of food products used in treatment of various ailments, honey has been used since prehistoric times as an effective antimicrobial therapy. Being first of its kind, honeys with specific botanical origin from Mauritius were examined. In this study, three commercially processed-enhanced v/s three unprocessed honeys were evaluated for possible antimicrobial activities against clinical bacterial (Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 29213), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Pseudomonas aeroguinosa (ATCC 27853)) and fungal (Aspergillus niger (ATCC 16404) and Candida albicans (ATCC 10231)) isolates in vitro. Research findings showed that the respective physicochemical parameters of the samples ranged from;pH: 3.28 - 4.67, H2O: 17.63% - 24.87%, reducing sugar 42.95 - 60.31 g/100g, density 1.11 - 1.55 g/ml and viscosity: 1.85 - 26.24 Pa·s at 20°C. Physicochemical parameters of different honeys were observed to vary significantly with respect to their floral origin (P P < 0.05). The honey samples used in this study can be considered as valuable food products from their antimicrobial properties’ point of view and can have clinical potential.展开更多
Objective: To evaluate antimicrobial activities as well as the phytochemical and lavicidal properties of different parts of Jatropha curcas L.(J. curcas) growing in Mauritius.Methods: Determination of the presence of ...Objective: To evaluate antimicrobial activities as well as the phytochemical and lavicidal properties of different parts of Jatropha curcas L.(J. curcas) growing in Mauritius.Methods: Determination of the presence of phytochemicals in the crude plants extracts by test tube reactions. Disc diffusion method and microdilution method were used to detect the antimicrobial sensitivity and activity(minimal inhibitory concentration). The crude solvent extracts were also tested on the larvae of two insects, Bactrocera zonata and Bactrocera cucurbitae(Diptera, Tephritidae).Results: The antimicrobial activities were significantly dependent for the different crude plant extracts on the thirteen microorganisms tested. For the Gram-positive bacteria, the crude ethyl acetate extract was more efficient compared to the Gram-negative bacteria with both solvents being effective. The crude ethyl acetate extract of J. curcas bark and mature seed oil showed the highest efficacy. The highest mortality percentage was observed after 24 h for both Diptera flies with(66.67 ± 2.89)% of Bactrocera cucurbitae larvae killed by ethyl acetate extract of J. curcas bark.Conclusions: This paper compared the different J. curcas plant sections with respect to the effectiveness of the plant as a potential candidate for new pharmaceuticals. The larvicidal effect was also studied in order to demonstrate the dual purpose of the plant.展开更多
Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression assays are a convenient alternative to stable expression because they are simple,easy to perform,and achieve gene expression rapidly.This study investigated the factors affe...Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression assays are a convenient alternative to stable expression because they are simple,easy to perform,and achieve gene expression rapidly.This study investigated the factors affecting transient gene expression efficiency in citrus by observing the cryo-sectioning of leaf samples under a laser confocal microscope.These factors included the composition of the infiltration buffer,the Agrobacterium cell density,the leaf development stage,the incubation temperature,and plant genotype.The highest transient expression level of yellow fluorescent protein(YFP)was detected in Mexican lime(Citrus aurantifolia)on the third day after the intermediate-aged leaves were infiltrated with the improved infiltration buffer 1(15 mmol L^-1 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid,10 mmol L^-1 MgCl2,and 200μmol L^-1acetosyringone),which had an optical density of 0.8 and was incubated at 22°C.Additionally,this transient expression assay was applied to other citrus genotypes.Of note,trifoliate orange(Poncirus trifoliata)and kumquat(Fortunella obovate)had higher expression efficiency than other six genotypes of the Citrus genus.Our study provides research basis for the selection of optimization strategies in transient gene expression and improves the method for available genome investigation in citrus.展开更多
This experiment aims to study the effects and modifications that occurred on acoustic signal harmonics when travelling through wood. The experiment measured the output amplitudes and frequencies of the travelling sign...This experiment aims to study the effects and modifications that occurred on acoustic signal harmonics when travelling through wood. The experiment measured the output amplitudes and frequencies of the travelling signals and compared them with the original input signal. The factors under investigation in this experiment included: wood type, wood moisture content (MC), input signal frequencies, signal travelling distance and wood condition (wood with/without cracks). The experiment findings demonstrated that higher input signal frequencies results in higher attenuation of acoustic emissions (AE) travelling through the wood. The results also indicate that: wood type, MC, the signal’s travelling distance, and the orientation of the travelling signal, compared to the wood’s grain direction, affected the signal propagation.展开更多
Objective:To investigate the in vitro antibacterial and antioxidant activities of crude and fractionated extracts of the Plakortis nigra(P.nigra)sea sponge from Mauritius sea waters.Methods:Preliminary qualitative che...Objective:To investigate the in vitro antibacterial and antioxidant activities of crude and fractionated extracts of the Plakortis nigra(P.nigra)sea sponge from Mauritius sea waters.Methods:Preliminary qualitative chemical screening of the sponge extracts was conducted by using standard methods while the total phenolic content(TPC)was estimated through the Folin-Ciocalteu method.Antibacterial activity was evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus,Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis.The minimum inhibitory concentration was determined by the broth microdilution method.All sponge extracts were assessed for antioxidant activity via the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging in vitro model.Results:Alkaloids,phenols,steroids,terpenoids,tannins and saponins were detected in the sponge extracts and TPC varied from(2.280±0.072)mg to(12.790±0.236)mg gallic acid equivalents per gram extract(P<0.05).All the extracts inhibited the growth of at least two bacterial strains whilst the most potent in vitro antibacterial activities were observed in the most polar ethyl acetate and butanol fractions(minimum inhibitory concentration values 0.103–0.211 mg/mL)of P.nigra.Each extract scavenged 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radicals while the hexane fraction displayed the highest scavenging ability at(27.50±1.85)%(P<0.05).Antioxidant activity was positively correlated with TPC(R^(2)=0.843).Contrary relationships were also found between antibacterial activity and TPC.Conclusions:The present study validates the antioxidant and antibacterial activity of marine sponge(P.nigra)extracts and depicts the sea sponge as a potential source of pharmaceutical leads against infectious and degenerative diseases.展开更多
There are three main cattle breeds in Mauritius;the Friesian cows, the Creole cows and the Cross (Creole and Friesians) breeds. The main objective of the study was to differentiate the Creole breeds from the other two...There are three main cattle breeds in Mauritius;the Friesian cows, the Creole cows and the Cross (Creole and Friesians) breeds. The main objective of the study was to differentiate the Creole breeds from the other two breeds thus valorizing and conserving the Creole cow which is in danger of extinction. Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA and random microsatellite analysis were the two PCR based techniques used. The populations studied consisted of 5 Friesians, 5 Creole breeds and 5 Cross breeds. The breeds were obtained from the Curepipe Livestock Research Station which is the only place where there is a record of Creole cows in Mauritius. Among the 5 Creoles breeds chosen, 2 of them could have been impure breeds due to their morphological characteristics. DNA extraction was carried out from blood taken from the cows selected, and yielded DNA of good quality and quantity. Polymorphic bands were obtained from the Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA primers and random microsatellite primers and the data obtained were used for constructing a dendogram. From the dendogram obtained, the breeds were separated and the two Creole samples, which were suspected to be impure, formed different clusters from the true Creole breeds. From the results obtained, the Creole breed was easily distinguishable from the other breeds studied using molecular techniques.展开更多
Knowledge of the relationships and thus the classification of fungi,has developed rapidly with increasingly widespread use of molecular techniques,over the past 10–15 years,and continues to accelerate.Several genera ...Knowledge of the relationships and thus the classification of fungi,has developed rapidly with increasingly widespread use of molecular techniques,over the past 10–15 years,and continues to accelerate.Several genera have been found to be polyphyletic,and their generic concepts have subsequently been emended.New names have thus been introduced for species which are phylogenetically distinct from the type species of particular genera.The ending of the separate naming of morphs of the same species in 2011,has also caused changes in fungal generic names.In order to facilitate access to all important changes,it was desirable to compile these in a single document.The present article provides a list of generic names of Ascomycota(approximately 6500 accepted names published to the end of 2016),including those which are lichen-forming.Notes and summaries of the changes since the last edition of‘Ainsworth&Bisby’s Dictionary of the Fungi’in 2008 are provided.The notes include the number of accepted species,classification,type species(with location of the type material),culture availability,life-styles,distribution,and selected publications that have appeared since 2008.This work is intended to provide the foundation for updating the ascomycete component of the"Without prejudice list of generic names of Fungi"published in 2013,which will be developed into a list of protected generic names.This will be subjected to the XIXth International Botanical Congress in Shenzhen in July 2017 agreeing to a modification in the rules relating to protected lists,and scrutiny by procedures determined by the Nomenclature Committee for Fungi(NCF).The previously invalidly published generic names Barriopsis,Collophora(as Collophorina),Cryomyces,Dematiopleospora,Heterospora(as Heterosporicola),Lithophila,Palmomyces(as Palmaria)and Saxomyces are validated,as are two previously invalid family names,Bartaliniaceae and Wiesneriomycetaceae.Four species of Lalaria,which were invalidly published are transferred to Taphrina and validated as new combinations.Catenomycopsis Tibell&Constant.is reduced under Chaenothecopsis Vain.,while Dichomera Cooke is reduced under Botryosphaeria Ces.&De Not.(Art.59).展开更多
文摘Row spacing has a pivotal role in enhancing sugarcane yield and improving its quality. A study was undertaken to evaluate the influence of different planting techniques on performance of sugarcane at Agronomic Research Area, Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture Faisalabad during Kharif 2014. Experimental treatments comprised of: 180 cm spaced trenches with tripple row strips, 180 cm spaced trenches with alternate row strips, 120 cm spaced trenches with double row strips and 60 cm spaced furrows with single rows. Sugarcane cultivar HSF-240 was used as experimental material. The experimental was conducted in RCBD with four replications. The expeimental results revealed that sugarcane number of tillers, plant height, cane length, stripped cane weight and stripped cane yield increased progressively with the increase in row spacing from 60 to 180 cm. While germination percentage and number of millable canes were not affected by different sowing techniques, maximum number of tillers (15.96 m-2), plant height (333.25 cm), stripped cane weight (0.94 kg) and stripped cane yield (107 t·ha-1) were recorded from 180 cm spaced trenches with tripple row strips.
文摘Among the panoply of food products used in treatment of various ailments, honey has been used since prehistoric times as an effective antimicrobial therapy. Being first of its kind, honeys with specific botanical origin from Mauritius were examined. In this study, three commercially processed-enhanced v/s three unprocessed honeys were evaluated for possible antimicrobial activities against clinical bacterial (Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 29213), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Pseudomonas aeroguinosa (ATCC 27853)) and fungal (Aspergillus niger (ATCC 16404) and Candida albicans (ATCC 10231)) isolates in vitro. Research findings showed that the respective physicochemical parameters of the samples ranged from;pH: 3.28 - 4.67, H2O: 17.63% - 24.87%, reducing sugar 42.95 - 60.31 g/100g, density 1.11 - 1.55 g/ml and viscosity: 1.85 - 26.24 Pa·s at 20°C. Physicochemical parameters of different honeys were observed to vary significantly with respect to their floral origin (P P < 0.05). The honey samples used in this study can be considered as valuable food products from their antimicrobial properties’ point of view and can have clinical potential.
文摘Objective: To evaluate antimicrobial activities as well as the phytochemical and lavicidal properties of different parts of Jatropha curcas L.(J. curcas) growing in Mauritius.Methods: Determination of the presence of phytochemicals in the crude plants extracts by test tube reactions. Disc diffusion method and microdilution method were used to detect the antimicrobial sensitivity and activity(minimal inhibitory concentration). The crude solvent extracts were also tested on the larvae of two insects, Bactrocera zonata and Bactrocera cucurbitae(Diptera, Tephritidae).Results: The antimicrobial activities were significantly dependent for the different crude plant extracts on the thirteen microorganisms tested. For the Gram-positive bacteria, the crude ethyl acetate extract was more efficient compared to the Gram-negative bacteria with both solvents being effective. The crude ethyl acetate extract of J. curcas bark and mature seed oil showed the highest efficacy. The highest mortality percentage was observed after 24 h for both Diptera flies with(66.67 ± 2.89)% of Bactrocera cucurbitae larvae killed by ethyl acetate extract of J. curcas bark.Conclusions: This paper compared the different J. curcas plant sections with respect to the effectiveness of the plant as a potential candidate for new pharmaceuticals. The larvicidal effect was also studied in order to demonstrate the dual purpose of the plant.
基金financed by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30900972, 31572111)the Special Found for Agro-scientific Research in the Public Interest, China (201203076-06)the Graduate Innovative Projects of Hunan Province, China (CX2013B290)
文摘Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression assays are a convenient alternative to stable expression because they are simple,easy to perform,and achieve gene expression rapidly.This study investigated the factors affecting transient gene expression efficiency in citrus by observing the cryo-sectioning of leaf samples under a laser confocal microscope.These factors included the composition of the infiltration buffer,the Agrobacterium cell density,the leaf development stage,the incubation temperature,and plant genotype.The highest transient expression level of yellow fluorescent protein(YFP)was detected in Mexican lime(Citrus aurantifolia)on the third day after the intermediate-aged leaves were infiltrated with the improved infiltration buffer 1(15 mmol L^-1 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid,10 mmol L^-1 MgCl2,and 200μmol L^-1acetosyringone),which had an optical density of 0.8 and was incubated at 22°C.Additionally,this transient expression assay was applied to other citrus genotypes.Of note,trifoliate orange(Poncirus trifoliata)and kumquat(Fortunella obovate)had higher expression efficiency than other six genotypes of the Citrus genus.Our study provides research basis for the selection of optimization strategies in transient gene expression and improves the method for available genome investigation in citrus.
文摘This experiment aims to study the effects and modifications that occurred on acoustic signal harmonics when travelling through wood. The experiment measured the output amplitudes and frequencies of the travelling signals and compared them with the original input signal. The factors under investigation in this experiment included: wood type, wood moisture content (MC), input signal frequencies, signal travelling distance and wood condition (wood with/without cracks). The experiment findings demonstrated that higher input signal frequencies results in higher attenuation of acoustic emissions (AE) travelling through the wood. The results also indicate that: wood type, MC, the signal’s travelling distance, and the orientation of the travelling signal, compared to the wood’s grain direction, affected the signal propagation.
文摘Objective:To investigate the in vitro antibacterial and antioxidant activities of crude and fractionated extracts of the Plakortis nigra(P.nigra)sea sponge from Mauritius sea waters.Methods:Preliminary qualitative chemical screening of the sponge extracts was conducted by using standard methods while the total phenolic content(TPC)was estimated through the Folin-Ciocalteu method.Antibacterial activity was evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus,Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis.The minimum inhibitory concentration was determined by the broth microdilution method.All sponge extracts were assessed for antioxidant activity via the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging in vitro model.Results:Alkaloids,phenols,steroids,terpenoids,tannins and saponins were detected in the sponge extracts and TPC varied from(2.280±0.072)mg to(12.790±0.236)mg gallic acid equivalents per gram extract(P<0.05).All the extracts inhibited the growth of at least two bacterial strains whilst the most potent in vitro antibacterial activities were observed in the most polar ethyl acetate and butanol fractions(minimum inhibitory concentration values 0.103–0.211 mg/mL)of P.nigra.Each extract scavenged 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radicals while the hexane fraction displayed the highest scavenging ability at(27.50±1.85)%(P<0.05).Antioxidant activity was positively correlated with TPC(R^(2)=0.843).Contrary relationships were also found between antibacterial activity and TPC.Conclusions:The present study validates the antioxidant and antibacterial activity of marine sponge(P.nigra)extracts and depicts the sea sponge as a potential source of pharmaceutical leads against infectious and degenerative diseases.
文摘There are three main cattle breeds in Mauritius;the Friesian cows, the Creole cows and the Cross (Creole and Friesians) breeds. The main objective of the study was to differentiate the Creole breeds from the other two breeds thus valorizing and conserving the Creole cow which is in danger of extinction. Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA and random microsatellite analysis were the two PCR based techniques used. The populations studied consisted of 5 Friesians, 5 Creole breeds and 5 Cross breeds. The breeds were obtained from the Curepipe Livestock Research Station which is the only place where there is a record of Creole cows in Mauritius. Among the 5 Creoles breeds chosen, 2 of them could have been impure breeds due to their morphological characteristics. DNA extraction was carried out from blood taken from the cows selected, and yielded DNA of good quality and quantity. Polymorphic bands were obtained from the Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA primers and random microsatellite primers and the data obtained were used for constructing a dendogram. From the dendogram obtained, the breeds were separated and the two Creole samples, which were suspected to be impure, formed different clusters from the true Creole breeds. From the results obtained, the Creole breed was easily distinguishable from the other breeds studied using molecular techniques.
基金Acknowledgements Nalin Wijayawardene would like to thank Lechat Christian,Yuanpin Xiao,Danushka Sandaruwan,Paul Mungai,Huang Zhang,Ishani Goonasekara,Chada Norphanphoun,Ishara Manawasingha,Rajesh Jeewon,Thilini Chethana and Hasini Ekanayaka for their assistances and suggestions.We would like to thank Mark Stadler for his help to check names in Xylariales.Nalin Wijayawardene and Pedro Crous thank Ulrike Damm for her comments and suggestions for validating several names.K.D.Hyde thanks The Chinese Academy of Sciences,for the award of Visiting Professorship for Senior International Scientists at Kunming Institute of Botany.K.D.Hyde and Monika C.Dayarathne would like to thank the Thailand Research Fund(TRF)grant no RSA5980068 entitled Biodiversity,phylogeny and role of fungal endophytes on above parts of Rhizophora apiculata and Nypa fruticans,National Research Council of Thailand(NRCT)entitled Diseases of mangrove trees and maintenance of good forestry practice(Grant number:60201000201)Mae Fah Luang University grant"Biodiversity,phylogeny and role of fungal endophytes of Pandanaceae"(Grant number:592010200112)+9 种基金Hugo Madrid was funded by Comisio´n Nacional de Investigacio´n Cientı´fica y Tecnolo´gica(CONICYT)Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Cientı´fico y Tecnolo´gico(FONDECYT),Chile,project no.11140562."Rafael F.Castan˜eda-Ruiz is grateful to the Organizacio´n Superior de Direccio´n Empresarial,Grupo Agrı´cola,(OSDE)from the Cuban Ministry of Agriculture and"Programa de Salud Animal y Vegetal",project P131LH003033.Dong Qin Dai would like to thank the Key Laboratory of Yunnan Province Universities of the Diversity and Ecological Adaptive Evolution for Animals and plants on Yun-Gui Plateau for the support.Ka-Lai Pang thanks Ministry of Science and Technology,Taiwan for financial support(105-2621-B-019-002-)Guo Zhu Zhao was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31570019)Mingkwan Doilom acknowledges the Royal Golden Jubilee Ph.D.Program(PHD./0072/2553 in 4.S.M.F./53/A.2.K.Tanaka would like to thank the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science(JSPS26291084 and 16K07474)Walter P.Pfliegler was supported through the U´NKP-16-4-IV New National Excellence Program of the Hungarian Ministry of Human Capacities.Samantha C.Karunarathna thanks Yunnan Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security funded postdoctoral project(number 179122)for supporting his postdoctoral research study.The authors extend their appreciation to the International Scientific Partnership Program ISPP at King Saud University for funding this research work through ISPP#0089.KC Rajeshkumar thanks SERB,DST,Government of India for providing financial support under the project YSS/2015/001590Dr.K.M.Paknikar,Director,ARI for providing the facility.Mats Wedin thanks the Swedish Research Council,grants VR 621-2012-3990VR 2016-03589.Alan JL Phillips acknowledges the support from Biosystems and Integrative Sciences Institute(BioISI,FCT/UID/Multi/04046/2013)L.Selbmann,L.Zucconi and S.Onofri thank the Italian National Program for Antarctic Researches(PNRA)for the financial support.The Italian National Antarctic Museum(MNA)is acknowledged for supporting the Mycological Section and the Culture Collection of Fungi from Extreme Environments(CCFEE).
文摘Knowledge of the relationships and thus the classification of fungi,has developed rapidly with increasingly widespread use of molecular techniques,over the past 10–15 years,and continues to accelerate.Several genera have been found to be polyphyletic,and their generic concepts have subsequently been emended.New names have thus been introduced for species which are phylogenetically distinct from the type species of particular genera.The ending of the separate naming of morphs of the same species in 2011,has also caused changes in fungal generic names.In order to facilitate access to all important changes,it was desirable to compile these in a single document.The present article provides a list of generic names of Ascomycota(approximately 6500 accepted names published to the end of 2016),including those which are lichen-forming.Notes and summaries of the changes since the last edition of‘Ainsworth&Bisby’s Dictionary of the Fungi’in 2008 are provided.The notes include the number of accepted species,classification,type species(with location of the type material),culture availability,life-styles,distribution,and selected publications that have appeared since 2008.This work is intended to provide the foundation for updating the ascomycete component of the"Without prejudice list of generic names of Fungi"published in 2013,which will be developed into a list of protected generic names.This will be subjected to the XIXth International Botanical Congress in Shenzhen in July 2017 agreeing to a modification in the rules relating to protected lists,and scrutiny by procedures determined by the Nomenclature Committee for Fungi(NCF).The previously invalidly published generic names Barriopsis,Collophora(as Collophorina),Cryomyces,Dematiopleospora,Heterospora(as Heterosporicola),Lithophila,Palmomyces(as Palmaria)and Saxomyces are validated,as are two previously invalid family names,Bartaliniaceae and Wiesneriomycetaceae.Four species of Lalaria,which were invalidly published are transferred to Taphrina and validated as new combinations.Catenomycopsis Tibell&Constant.is reduced under Chaenothecopsis Vain.,while Dichomera Cooke is reduced under Botryosphaeria Ces.&De Not.(Art.59).