Bulked Segregant RNA-Seq Analysis of Pollinated Pistils Reveals Genes Influencing Spikelet Fertility in Rice

Prezygotic isolation is important for successful fertilization in rice, significantly affecting yield. This study focused on F_(5:6) generation plants derived from inter-subspecific crosses(Nipponbare × KDML105) with low(LS) and high seed-setting rates(HS), in which normal pollen fertility was observed. However, LS plants showed a reduced number of pollen grains adhering to the stigma and fewer pollen tubes reaching the ovules at 4-5 h post-pollination, compared with HS plants. Bulked segregant RNA-Seq analysis of pollinated pistils from the HS and LS groups revealed 249 and 473 differentially expressed genes(DEGs), respectively. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis of the HS and LS-specific DEGs indicated enrichment in metabolic pathways, pentose and glucuronate interconversions, and flavonoid biosynthesis. Several of these DEGs exhibited co-expression with pollen development genes and formed extensive clusters of co-expression networks. Compared with LS pistils, enzyme genes controlling pectin degradation, such as OsPME35 and OsPLL9, showed similar expression patterns, with higher levels in HS pistils pre-pollination. Os02g0467600, similar to cinnamate 4-hydroxylase gene(CYP73), involved in flavonoid biosynthesis, displayed higher expression in HS pistils post-pollination. Our findings suggest that OsPME35, OsPLL9, and Os02g0467600 contribute to prezygotic isolation by potentially modifying the stigma cell wall(OsPME35 and OsPLL9) and controlling later processes such as pollen-stigma adhesion(Os02g0467600) genes. Furthermore, several DEGs specific to HS and LS were co-localized with QTLs and functional genes associated with spikelet fertility. These findings provide valuable insights for further research on rice spikelet fertility, ultimately contributing to the development of high-yielding rice varieties.

Comparative Effects of Salt Stress and Extreme pH Stress Combined on Glycinebetaine Accumulation,Photosynthetic Abilities and Growth Characters of Two Rice Genotypes

Glycinebetaine （Glybet） accumulation, photosynthetic efficiency and growth performance in indica rice cultivated under salt stress and extreme pH stress were investigated. Betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase （BADH） activity and Glybet accumulation in the seedlings of salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive rice varieties grown under saline and acidic conditions peaked after treatment for 72 h and 96 h, respectively, and were higher than those grown under neutral pH and alkaline salt stress. A positive correlation was found between BADH activity and Glybet content in both salt-tolerant （P=0.71） and salt-sensitive （P=0.86） genotypes. The chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll and total carotenoids contents in the stressed seedlings significantly decreased under both acidic and alkaline stresses, especially in the salt-sensitive genotype. Similarly, the maximum quantum yield of PSII （Fv/Fm）, photon yield of PSII （ФPSII）, non-photochemical quenching （NPQ） and net photosynthetic rate （Pn） in the stressed seedlings were inhibited, leading to overall growth reduction. The positive correlations between chlorophyll a content and Fv/Fm, total chlorophyll content and ФPSII, and Pn as well as Pn and leaf area in both salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive genotypes were found. Saline acidic and saline alkaline soils may play a key role affecting vegetative growth prior to the reproductive stage in rice plants.

Characterization of Modified Tapioca Starch in Atmospheric Argon Plasma under Diverse Humidity by FTIR Spectroscopy

Tapioca is economical crop grown in Thailand and continues to be one of the major sources of starch.Nowadays,tapioca starch has been widely used in industrial applications,however the native form of starch has limited the applications.Thus scientists try to modify the properties of starch for increasing the stability of the granules,pastes to low pH,heat,and shear during the food process.We modify the tapioca starch by plasma treatment under an argon atmosphere.The degree of modification is determined by following water content in the starch granules.The tablet samples of native starch are also prepared and compared with the plasma treated starch.Before plasma treatment,the starch tablets are stored under three different relative humilities(RH)including 11%,68%,and 78%RH,respectively.The samples are characterized using FTIR spectroscopy associated with the degree of cross-linking.The results show that the water molecules are engulfed into the starch structure in two ways,a tight bond and a weak absorption of water molecules which is represented at two wave number of 1630 cm^(-1) and 3272 cm^(-1),respectively.The degree of cross-linking can be identified from the relative intensity of these two peaks with the C–O–H peak at 993 cm^(-1).The results show that the degree of cross-linking increase in the plasma treated starch.The degree of cross-linking of the treated starch with high relative humidity is less than that of the treated starch with low relative humidity.

Development of new aromatic rice lines with high eating and cooking qualities

Rice is the staple food for about half of the world’s population.Preferred by consumers,aromatic rice is a special type of rice with great commercial value.Cooking and eating qualities and aroma are the major grain qualities favored by most consumers.Currently,most of the available aromatic varieties have low yields and some undesirable agronomic traits.Thus,there is an urgent need to develop better aromatic rice varieties.This work aims to identify rice germplasm lines that have good grain quality and to develop new varieties with desirable traits.Thirty-six out of 188 germplasm lines were found to have betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (badh2) controlling the aroma and were analyzed for their 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2AP) contents.Then,17 of those lines were found to have alleles for low amylose content and low gelatinization temperature,controlled by waxy and starch synthase Ⅱa (SSⅡa),respectively,suggesting that they are aromatic rice lines with high cooking and eating qualities.A total of 158 F_(7)recombinant inbred lines (RILs) generated from five crosses of the selected germplasm lines were planted for phenotypic and yield observations,resulting in 27 F_(8)RILs selected for yield evaluation and genotyping.Finally,four out of the seven F_(9)aromatic RILs showed high yield,high 2AP production,and low amylose content,in agreement with their genotypes.The other three F9RILs were aromatic rice lines with high amylose content and high yield.Because consumer preferences for grain quality vary depending on regions and ethnic groups,the high-yielding aromatic RILs generated from this study can be used to increase the yield of Thai rice and to raise market value and farm profits.

Evaluation of the hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of Tegillarca granosa flesh body extract against potassium bromide toxicity via targeting the histomorphometry,chromosomal and expressions of TGF-β1,VEGF and COX-2 genes in rats

The hepatotoxic effect of potassium bromide(KBr)on rat liver tissues were determined,as well as the potential protective effect of Tegillaraca granosa(T.granosa)flesh body extract.Twenty adult male albino rats were equally distributed into four groups;Group(I)treated with physiological saline(control group),Group(II)was orally gavaged by 200 mg/kg of T.granosa body extract day after day,Group(III)was intoxicated by KBr(150 mg/kg bwt day after day orally)and finally,Group(IV)was given a combination of T.granosa flesh body extract plus KBr with similar doses in the second and third groups.At the end of one month,blood,liver tissue and bone marrow samples were collected to be used for the required laboratory examinations.In response to KBr toxicity,there was a significant increase in serum antioxidant biomarkers,which was accompanied by a significant change in hepatocyte ultrastructure and a significant change in carbohydrate and protein levels within the liver organ.In addition,KBr intoxication resulted in a substantial increase in the incidence of chromosomal aberrations such as holes,splits,deletions,fragments,ploidy,and ring chromosomes,as well as significant upregulation of TGF-1,VEGF,and COX-2 gene expression.The hepatotoxic effect of KBr was counteracted by treatment with T.granosa flesh body extract.T.granosa flesh body extract has a curative antioxidant and numerous protective effects against KBr hepatotoxicity.

Association mapping and domestication analysis to dissect genetic improvement process of upland cotton yield-related traits in China

Background: Cotton fiber yield is a complex trait,which can be influenced by multiple agronomic traits.Unravelling the genetic basis of cotton fiber yield-related traits contributes to genetic improvement of cotton.Results: In this study,503 upland cotton varieties covering the four breeding stages(BS1–BS4,1911–2011)in China were used for association mapping and domestication analysis.One hundred and forty SSR markers significantly associated with ten fiber yield-related traits were identified,among which,29 markers showed an increasing trend contribution to cotton yield-related traits from BS1 to BS4,and 26 markers showed decreased trend effect.Four favorable alleles of 9 major loci(R^(2)≥3)were strongly selected during the breeding stages,and the candidate genes of the four strongly selected alleles were predicated according to the gene function annotation and tissue expression data.Conclusions :The study not only uncovers the genetic basis of 10 cotton yield-related traits but also provides genetic evidence for cotton improvement during the cotton breeding process in China.

Google Earth Engine Based Three Decadal Landsat Imagery Analysis for Mapping of Mangrove Forests and Its Surroundings in the Trat Province of Thailand

Monitoring and understanding the changes in mangrove ecosystems and their surroundings are required to determine how mangrove ecosystems are constantly changing while influenced by anthropogenic, and natural drivers. Cosistency in high spatial resolution (30 m) satellite and high performance computing facilities are limiting factors to the process, with storage and analysis requirements. With this, we present the Google Earth Engine (GEE) based approach for long term mapping of mangrove forests and their surroundings. In this study, we used a GEE based approach: 1) to create atmospheric contamination free data from 1987-2017 from different Landsat satellite imagery;and 2) evaluating the random forest classifier and post classification change detection method. The obtained overall accuracy for the years 1987 and 2017 was determined to be 0.87 and 0.96, followed by a Kappa coefficient 0.80 and 0.94. The change detection results revealed a significant decrease in the agricultural area, while there was an increase in mangrove forest, shrimp/fish farm, and bareland area. The results suggest that interconversion of land use and land cover is affecting the landscape dynamics within the study area.

Metabolic disturbance and phytochemical changes in Andrographis paniculata and possible action mode of andrographolide

Objecive: To explore the effect of gibberellic acid(GA_3) and its inhibitor paclobutrazol(PBZ)on chemical composition and their pharmacological effects on Andrographis paniculata(Burm.f.) Wall. ex Nees, and to clarify action mode of andrographolide.Methods: The chemical composition was extracted by sequential extraction with hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and methanol, respectively. Andrographolide and its derivatives were evaluated by HPLC. Moreover, the metabolic profiling was analyzed by GC-MS. Inhibitory effect of crude extracts was tested against Staphylococcus aureus using agar well diffusion method. Mode of action was tested against mutant yeast by spotting assay. Andrographolide were tested for their mode of action against eukaryotes. Rsults: Among different solvents, dichloromethane gave the highest yield of crude(3.58% DW), with the highest andrographolide content(8.3 mg/g DW). The effect of plant hormone(10 mg/L GA_3 or PBZ) on phytochemical variations and bioactivity of Andrographis paniculata was demonstrated. It was found that PBZ promoted sesquiterpene compounds about 3.5 times over than GA_3 treatment. But inhibitory effect of extracts against Staphylococcus aureus was highest in GA_3 treated plants; andrographolide and 14-deoxy-11,12-didehydroandrographolide contents were significantly higher than those of water or PBZ. It was found that there were 11 strains involving in ergosterol biosynthesis, V-ATPase activity and homeostasis, and superoxide detoxification process. In this regard, andrographolide might cause the damage on the lipid bilayer of yeast cell and plasma membrane by interfering ergosterol biosynthesis.Conclusions: It is found that GA_3 promotes andrographolide and 14-deoxy-11,12-didehydroandrographolide content while PBZ promotes sesquiterpene content. Andrographolide might cause the damage on the lipid bilayer of yeast cell and plasma membrane by interfering ergosterol biosynthesis. It might also affect mitochondria electron transport chain, leading to the occurrence of ROS, which can further harm cell organelles. However, the library screening is the first step to investigate mode of action of andrographolide.

Nanomagnet-facilitated pharmaco-compatibility for cancer diagnostics:Underlying risks and the emergence of ultrasmall nanomagnets

Cancer therapy is a fast-emerging biomedical paradigm that elevates the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of a nanovector for identification,monitoring,targeting,and post-treatment response analysis.Nanovectors of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles(SPION)are of tremendous significance in cancer therapy because of their inherited high surface area,high reactivity,biocompatibility,superior contrast,and magnetic and photo-inducibility properties.In addition to a brief introduction,we summarize various progressive aspects of nanomagnets pertaining to their production with an emphasis on sustainable biomimetic approaches.Post-synthesis particulate and surface alterations in terms of pharmaco-affinity,liquid accessibility,and biocompatibility to facilitate cancer therapy are highlighted.SPION parameters including particle contrast,core-fusions,surface area,reactivity,photosensitivity,photodynamics,and photothermal properties,which facilitate diverse cancer diagnostics,are discussed.We also elaborate on the concept of magnetism to selectively focus chemotherapeutics on tumors,cell sorting,purification of bioentities,and elimination of toxins.Finally,while addressing the toxicity of nanomaterials,the advent of ultrasmall nanomagnets as a healthier alternative with superior properties and compatible cellular interactions is reviewed.In summary,these discussions spotlight the versatility and integration of multitasking nanomagnets and ultrasmall nanomagnets for diverse cancer theragnostics.

Response Surface Optimization of Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Sugar Beet Leaves into Fermentable Sugars for Bioethanol Production

Sugar beet leaves are the major crop waste from sugar beet production, while the unused leaves contain a high number of sugars and polysaccharides. The effects of different enzyme products (cellulase, Cellic CTec2;xylanase, Cellic HTec2;and pectinase, Pectinex Ultra SPL) were determined during high-solids enzymatic hydrolysis of sugar beet leaves at 10% total solids (TS) content. Response surface methodology was used to study the effects of enzyme loadings during the hydrolysis of sugar beet leaves for producing fermentable sugars. It was found that both cellulases and pectinases are important enzymes for the hydrolysis of sugar beet leaves. Enzyme loading and reaction time were important factors. Based on the amount of sugars released, a maximum sugar conversion of 82% was achieved after 72 h of hydrolysis using 30 filter paper unit (FPU) g-1 glucan for cellulase and 150 polygalacturonase unit (PGU) g-1 polygalacturonic acid for pectinase, or 37 FPU g-1 glucan for cellulase and 100 PGU g-1 polygalacturonic acid for pectinase. The corresponding sugar yield and sugar concentration were 0.35 g·g-1 TS, and 35 g·l-1, respectively. Sugar conversion ranged from 59% - 70%, 68% - 80%, and 74% - 82% after 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h of hydrolysis depending on the design conditions.

Presence of G84E Allelic Heterogeneity of the European Prostate Cancer SNP Mutation of HOX13B-G84E Associated with the European R-Haplogroup of Y-Chromosome and Absence of Gene Flow into Moroccans Patients

SNP mutations in the HOXB13 gene associated with prostate cancer were determined in Moroccans prostate cancer patients (PCa). All PCa SNP mutations were new and belong to the SNP point-mutations located on the stop codon of HOXB13 exon 1 and 2 located in chromosome 17. The five mutations and their frequencies were as follows: rs1197613952 (12%), rs1597934612 (4%), rs1597933874 (4%), rs1597933837 (4%) and rs867793282 (4%). The European HOXB13-G84E (rs138213197) PCa mutation was not detected among Moroccan patients. The Y-chromosome genealogical haplotypes of the Western European (R1b1b2-M2G9) and the Eastern European (R191a-M-17) were not observed in Moroccans PCa patients. The patients have their own haplotypes E1b1 and J with a frequency of 55 and 35%, respectively. The results of the SNP mutations in the HOXB13, the absence of the HOXB13-G84E of the European in the Moroccans PCa patients, the absence of the European-lineage haplogroups (R1a1a-M17 and R1b1b2-M269) and the presence of E1b1b and J in Moroccans PCa patients would clearly indicate the absence of gene flow from European to Moroccans gene pool.

Cloning and Expression of a Novel Phytase Gene (phyMS) from <em>Mycobacterium smegmatis</em>

Phytase, also known as phytate-degrading enzyme, catalyzes the hydrolysis of phytate (inositol hexakisphosphate) with sequential release of phosphate and lower inositol phosphate. We report here a new plasmid construct designated as pMSuia from pBAD-TOPO that harbors a 1.1 kb phytase gene (phyMS) from Mycobacterium smegmatis, and expression as well as characterization of the purified recombinant M. smegmatis phytase. DNA sequencing analysis and multiple alignment exercise indicated that the M. smegmatis phytase is different from both known acid and alkaline phytases. The active ~45 kDa recombinant enzyme was expressed and confirmed by enzyme assay and Western blot analyses. Ni-NTA affinity purified recombinant M. smegmatis phytase exhibited specific activity of 233.51 U/mg, optimal pH of 3 and 7 and optimal temperature of 60°C. The purified enzyme retains almost 30% of the initial activity after incubation at 90°C for 60 min. The enzyme showed broad substrate specificity with Km and Vmax of the recombinant enzyme for sodium phytate substrate of 0.105 ± 0.016 mM and 26.93 ± 1.21 mM min-1, respectively.

Production of mesenchymal stem cell derived-secretome as cell-free regenerative therapy and immunomodulation:A biomanufacturing perspective

The potential of mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)in regenerative medicine has been largely known due to their capability to induce tissue regeneration in vivo with minimum inflammation during implantation.This adult stem cell type exhibit unique features of tissue repair mechanism and immune modulation mediated by their secreted factors,called secretome.Recently,the utilization of secretome as a therapeutic agent provided new insight into cell-free therapy.Nevertheless,a sufficient amount of secretome is necessary to realize their applications for translational medicine which required a proper biomanufacturing process.Several factors related to their production need to be considered to produce a clinical-grade secretome as a biological therapeutic agent.This viewpoint highlights the current challenges and considerations during the biomanufacturing process of MSCs secretome.

Characterization of Indigenous and Adapted Hydrocarbon Degrading Bacteria Isolated from Landfill Leachate from Ain Temouchent Engineered Landfill, Algeria

One of the most important issues regarding the design of engineered landfill is landfill leachate that is produced when water passes through the waste. Landfill Leachate comprises a mass of different organic and inorganic components which can be dissolved or suspended. Regardless of the nature of the components, it poses a potential pollution on local land and surface waters. The present work was undertaken to assess, isolate, identify and characterize the hydrocarbon degrading bacteria associated with environmental samples collected from discharge of Ain Temouchent, Algeria. The samples （landfill leachate） were chemically and microbiologically analyzed using standard techniques. These organisms were further studied to determine the level of biodegrading activities on hydrocarbons as the single carbon source using enrichment medium under different physical and chemical parameters （pH, temperature, NaCI and tolerance of crude oil...）, The identification of seven strains isolated named as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudornonas sp., Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus xylosus, Staphylococcus hominis and Staphylococcus warnerii. These strains growth on a neutral medium and temperature between 30 ℃ and 37 ℃, 5 at 6% of NaCI concentration, and can use a concentration of 5 at 10% of crude oil as sole source of carbon.

Genetic Diversity and DNA Barcoding of Yam Accessions from Southern Nigeria

Knowledge of genetic diversity and barcoding of yam is lacking in Enugu and Ebonyi States of southern Nigeria. Therefore, DNA barcoding was used to facilitate identification and biodiversity studies of yam species from Southern Nigeria. Seventy five yam accessions were collected from Enugu and Ebonyi States, including International Institute of Tropical Agriculture for DNA extraction and amplification using a chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (rbcL) marker. There was high level of similarity among the accessions and presence of 534 conserved and 7 variable sites. A transversional mutation of G/T at a consensus position of 335 was identified followed by transitions at 362 (A/G), 368 (A/G), 371 (C/T) and 391 (C/T) within the accessions. Phylogeny resolved the yam accessions into ten major groups with their bootstrap values ranging from 0 - 100. Phylogenetic diversity was highest in group X, followed by VII, VI and IX. The inter-group genetic distance based on Kimura 2-parameter model ranged from 0.5000 ± 0.4770 - 5.0560 ± 2.5760, while the intra-group had 0.5250 ± 0.5000 - 2.0103 ± 1.2579. The mean genetic diversity within the entire population was 0.7970 ± 0.06910. BLAST analysis of total bit score, query coverage, and percentage identity were in the ranges of 411 - 1011, 99% - 100% and 97% - 100%, respectively. However, the rbcL could not resolve the yam accessions well following the comparative assessment of some discrepancies in the detected number of species from phylogenetic groupings, genetic diversity indices and NCBI BLAST hits, thereby, exposing the inefficiency of this marker in discriminating the yam accessions. It was demonstrated that rbcL is not an effective marker;therefore, it should not be recommended as a standard-alone marker of choice for DNA barcoding of yam accessions, especially, when accurate identification, discrimination and estimation of genetic diversity of this vital crop are of paramount importance for crop improvement and germplasm conservation.

Antileishmanial Potential of <i>Piper</i><i>nigrum</i>Seed Extracts against <i>Leishmania</i><i>donovani</i>

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a pestilent form of leishmaniasis that chiefly impinges the poorest sections of the society. The prototypical therapeutic interventions in vogue are handicapped due to toxicity and alarming increase in drug resistance. In the absence of vaccines, progressive emergence of HIV-VL co-infection and relapse in the form of post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis, have fuelled the quest for alternative therapies. Herein, we report antileishmanial activity of Piper nigrum, which is endowed with multifarous medicinal properties. Hexane (PNH) and ethanolic (PNE) extracts of P. nigrum substantially inhibited the growth of Leishmania donovani promastigotes with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 31.6 and 37.8 μg&#183ml-1, respectively. Growth reversibility analysis revealed the leishmanicidal effect of PNH which caused cell shrinkage and flagellar disruption. In contrast, PNE treated promastigotes showed partial effect. PNH and PNE also abrogated the growth of intra-macrophagic Leishmania amastigotes with IC50 of 14.6 and 18.3 μg&#183ml-1, respectively. Anti-amastigote efficacy of PNH was accompanied by higher selectivity over host macrophages than PNE. Gas-Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry showed the presence of several secondary metabolites such as trans-β-caryophyllene, piperine, β-bisabolene and other sesquiterpenes in PNH and piperine, δ-(sup 9)-cis oleic acid and piperyline in PNE. Conclusively, our work revealed discernible antileishmanial activity of P. nigrum extracts.

Effect of Different Fertilizer Formulations on Growth and Chlorophyll Content of Greenhouse Grown Macadamia Plants in a Micro Drip-Irrigation System

A greenhouse experiment was conducted at Mahidol University, Thailand from January to May 2009. Macadamia plants were planted in pots with mixed substrate of soil： sand： coconut-coir： rice-husk： charcoal; 3.0： 1.0： 0.5： 1.0, respectively. Micro drip-irrigation system was operated 10：00 to 16：00 h daily with a controller scheduled to pump 12 minutes at 12 intervals. The study showed that application of Enshi tablet （18 tablets/plant/year） in a drip-irrigation system enhances growth of Macadamia compared to the application of OsmocoteTM tablet, Modified-enshi and Enshi solution. Significant variation in chlorophyll （a ＋ b） content was observed in Enshi tablet treatment. Soil chemical analyses indicated that the nutrient content in Enshi tablet appeared low compared to other formulations but nutrient removal was considerably brought down by the system, which gives a balance between nutrient removals by crops and addition through fertilizers. Hence, application of Enshi tablet is suggested for Macadamia in a drip-irrigation system.

Effect of Phytoestrogen Activity on hFOB 1.19 Osteoblast Cells of Vanilla Siamensis

The unsaponifiable compounds derived from the fresh green beans of Vanilla siamens＆ Rol. ex. Dow were assayed for the first time to detect their estrogenic activity. We used a simple screening method using the yeast two hybrid system based on the binding of a ligand to estrogen receptors. Yeast cells carrying the hER （human estrogen receptor） gene, ERE （estrogen response elements） and lacZ （β-galactosidase gene） are very suitable for screening and sensitive analysis of estrogenic compound. Our results showed that V. siamensis plant extracts bind with relatively affinity to YES- hERa was 2.27-fold the relative potency ofestradiol （E2） in YES-hERa. The effects of phytoestrogen activity on the osteoblast cells were examined on the proliferation of hFOB 1.19 cells and the bone mineralization process. V. siamens＆ was a positive screening result and induced mineralization ofosteoblasts. This study indicated that V. siamensis plant extract exhibited the characteristic effects of a nature bone promoter compound as phytoestrogen.

Collection and Evaluation of Local Thai Rice Varieties （ Oryza sativa L. ）

This study explored the biodiversity in Local Thai rice Varieties （Oryza sativa L.） during May 2011 to March 2013 by conducting surveys and collecting rice varieties from 4 regions of Thailand. There are altogether 89 varieties of local rice which include 16 in Central region, 12 in Northern region, 23 in Northeastern region, and 38 in Southern region. Among them are of 2 types： 21 varieties of glutinous rice and 68 varieties of non-glutinous rice. Ecological classification suggested 72 varieties of lowland rice, 10 varieties of upland rice, and 7 varieties of floating rice. These varieties of rice were cultivated in the farmer fields of Nongbondaeng sub-district in Banbueng district of Chonburi province during the rainy season and off season between 2011 and 2013 and to capture their agricultural descriptors. Results revealed germination and seedling growth in 33 varieties. The Unknow 2 variety yields maximum weight of 6.47 grams per panicle, while Sor.6 Chumpae variety gives minimum weight of 0.85 grams per panicle. Aye Khong produces highest number of 317 filled grains per panicle, while the lowest is Sewkliang with 5 filled grains per panicle. Gumrai gives biggest size of seed of 0.47 × 1.01 mm, while Sangyod gives smallest size of 0.19 × 0.97 mm.

The Effect of Media on Biomass and Oil Production in Botryococcus braunii Strains Kossou-4 and Overjuyo-3

The green algae Botryococcus braunii is widely recognized as a source of oil, including hydrocarbons. However, the slow rate of growth B. braunii hampers its commercial development. This stu- dy addresses this by examining the effects of three growth media on biomass and oil production in two B. braunii Race B strains, Kossou-4 and Overjuyo-3. Growth of B. braunii strains in BG11 medium resulted in significantly higher growth (2.3 - 4.2 and 2.9 - 6.0 fold increases in Kossou-4 and Overjuyo-3 respectively) compared to the JM and BBM-3N media after 15 days. A similar trend was obtained when biomass was measured indirectly using optical density (OD) and chlorophyll fluo-rescence. Oil production was also significantly higher in BG11 whether measured as oil weight or absorbance (ODs at 680 and 750 nm). However, the presence of extracellular oil was shown to in-crease absorbance values making OD measurements less reliable than dry weight assays. Maximum recovery of oil was recorded when hexane was used as solvent compared to hexane-isopro- panol and heptane. These results suggest that BG11 is the best growth medium for these two strains under the conditions of this experiment.