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American Journal of Agricultural and Biological Sciences

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This is an Open Access Journal

Open Access journal
ISSN (Print) 1557-4989 - ISSN (Online) 1557-4997
Published by Science Publications

[28 journals]

SOIL FORMATION BY ECOLOGICAL FACTORS: CRITICAL REVIEW
- Abstract: Regolith is the term we give parent material that has been weathered. The regolith consists of weathered bedrock near the surface including the soil layer. In the Iranian soil layer we will find: decayed parent materials, decaying plant material, decaying animal matter (manure) along with vegetation. Results of the present study show us that methods stimulating natural fertility in Iran includes composting-adds humus layer, drip irrigation-balances illuviation and eluviation in arid regions, crop rotation/ intercropping-reflects natural diversity and limits gleization, add lime-reduces gleization, non-cultivation techniques-reduces hard pan (calcification) caused by compaction and reduce pesticide use-keeps decomposers alive in humus layer.
CHEMICAL COMPOSITIONS AND RESISTANT STARCH CONTENT IN STARCHY FOODS
- Abstract: Resistant Starch (RS) is one of nature’s most interesting bioactive compounds. There is a wide variety of starchy food plants in Thailand that are good sources of RS, but they have not been well studied. As such, this study was carried out to investigate the potential food source of RS. Twenty-two promising food plants were selected. The samples included (1) cereals comprised of five long grain rice of O. sativa L. and sweet corn, (2) six species of root and tuber crops, (3) green banana fruits (Musa sapientum L.) composed of ABB group, AAB group and AAA group at the first stage of ripening and (4) legume seeds included cowpea seeds (3 different cultivars), red bean, red kidney bean and mung bean. All food plants were determined for chemical compositions, resistant starch, non-resistant starch, total starch and amylose content. The study found that the starchy foods varied in their chemical compositions. The major composition of all foods was carbohydrate ranging between 58.19 (in black speck cow pea) and 87.21% (in cassava root), whilst the fat, ash and fiber were observed only in small quantities. The protein content was highest in legume seeds (20.78 to 27.22%). For the study on starch compositions, green bananas contained highest amount of resistant starch ranging between 35.14 and 45.87%, indicating that more than a half of total starch in banana RS content varying from 35.14 to 45.87%, whereas the RS content of legumes ranging from 2.33 to 10.63% and 1.16 to 4.85% in cereal grains. Most of the starchy food plants contained moderate to high level of amylose (11.45-34.85%), except the waxy rice (2.72%).
IDENTIFICATION OF PHARMACOLOGICAL TARGETS COMBINING DOCKING AND MOLECULAR DYNAMICS SIMULATIONS
- Abstract: Studies that include both experimental data and computational simulations (in silico) have increased in number because the techniques are complementary. In silico methodologies are currently an essential component of drug design; moreover, identification and optimization of the best ligand based on the structures of biomolecules are common scientific challenges. Geometric structural properties of biomolecules explain their behavior and interactions and when this information is used by a combination of algorithms, a dynamic model based on atomic details can be produced. Docking studies enable researchers to determine the best position for a ligand to bind on a macromolecule, whereas Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations describe the relevant interactions that maintain this binding. MD simulations have the advantage of illustrating the macromolecule movements in more detail. In the case of a protein, the side chain, backbone and domain movements can explain how ligands are trapped during different conformational states. Additionally, MD simulations can depict several binding sites of ligands that can be explored by docking studies, sampling many protein conformations. Following the previously mentioned strategy, it is possible to identify each binding site that might be able to accommodate different ligands through atomic motion. Another important advantage of MD is to explore the movement of side chains of key catalytic residues, which could provide information about the formation of transition states of a protein. All this information can be used to propose ligands and their most probable site of interaction, which are daily tasks of drug design. In this review, the most frequent criteria that are considered when determining pharmacological targets are gathered, particularly when docking and MD are combined.
ANTIDEPRESSANT-LIKE EFFECTS OF SELECTED CRUDE EXTRACTS OF PILEA MICROPHYLLA IN MICE MODEL OF DEPRESSION
- Abstract: The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of selected crude extracts namely, Methanol (ME I), Chloroform Extract (CE II) and Ethyl Acetate (EAE II) extracts of Pilea microphylla on depression in mice. In the present study, the antidepressant effect of P. microphylla was examined due to its rich flavonoid contents in the Urticaceae family using two behavioral models, the Forced Swimming Test (FST) and Tail Suspension Test (TST) in mice. Selected crude extracts from Pilea microphylla produced an antidepressant-like effect, since the acute treatment of mice with extracts by intraperitoneal (i.p.) route significantly reduced the immobility time in the FST (50 and 100 mg kg-1) and TST (50 and 100 mg kg-1), as compared to positive controls (haloperidol and fluoxetine) at 1 and 10 mg kg-1, respectively. The results showed that ME I, CE II and EAE II at dose of 100 mg kg-1 of body weight decreased immobility time with the increase swimming time with respect to the first day (p
COMPARATIVE STUDY OF IN VITRO ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF MISWAK EXTRACTS AND DIFFERENT TOOTHPASTES
- Abstract: This study determines the antimicrobial efficacy of miswak (aqueous and alcoholic) extracts comparing with five different toothpastes, which are available in Iraqi market, against different kinds of bacteria. The antibacterial efficacy of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Salvadora persica and different kinds of toothpastes was studied against different cariogenic and pathogenic bacteria including Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa by well diffusion method. Salvodora persica extracts and toothpastes exhibited the greatest antimicrobial activities towards Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus acidophilus, E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa respectively. Alcoholic extract was dominant on aqueous extract in inhibiting the tested microorganisms. Toothpastes A were dominant comparing with the other toothpastes in inhibiting the tested microorganisms. The impact of toothpastes was almost more than Salvodora persica extracts on tested microorganisms. According to the good efficacy of Salvodora persica extracts on the tested microorganisms, it has antibacterial effects and could be used as a therapeutic agent and therefore, it appears to be a potent antimicrobial agents that could be considered as a medicinal plant.
ENHANCEMENT OF BIOGAS PRODUCTION POTENTIAL FOR ANAEROBIC CO-DIGESTION OF WASTEWATER USING DECANTER CAKE
- Abstract: The wastewater from agro-industry treated with the biological treatment cannot produce the biogas because of its low COD level and its low organic content. In this research, the co-digestion with decanter cake will improve the biogas yield and biogas production of wastewater. The effect of three parameters (i.e., type of wastewater, mixing and mesophilic temperature) will be evaluated in batch digesters under anaerobic condition. Moreover, the study determines the biogas production potential of several mixtures and that of wastewater alone. The co-digestion of decanter cake with rubber block wastewater of the R4 (wastewater 200 ml with decanter cake 8 g) produces the highest biogas yield 3,809 mL CH4/g COD removal and the percentage maximum methane gas is 66.7%. The experimental result shows that the mixing and mesophilic temperature have no significant effect on the biogas potential production. The co-digestion of decanter cake with rubber block wastewater provides the highest biogas yield potential production in the ambient temperature. The experimental results reveal that the decanter cake can be potential sources for biogas production.
ASSESSMENT OF SOIL COMPACTION UNDER CENTER PIVOT IRRIGATION SYSTEMS AND ITS EFFECT ON CROP PERFORMANCE
- Abstract: A field study on two 12.5 ha plots cultivated with wheat and alfalfa was conducted to determine Soil Compaction (SC), its spatial variability and its effect on crop performance under center pivot irrigation systems. Considering compaction at two tested soil depths, results revealed that the soil of the alfalfa plot exhibited significantly (p
VARIABILITY AND GENETIC STRUCTURE IN A COMMERCIAL FIELD OF TEQUILA PLANTS, Agave tequilana WEBER (AGAVACEAE)
- Abstract: Crops of the tequila plant (Agave tequilana) are produced mainly from offshoots of mother plants in established commercial fields. This propagation method is significant, as it is believed that it facilitates the spread of disease because of the crop’s low genetic variability and is also necessary because it is regulate the use of just that variety in tequila industry. Different levels of genetic variability have been reported for A. tequilana and so we tested individuals from representative cultivation zones to determine the actual variability in fields and to assess the genetic structure of populations in commercial plantations. Four additional Agave spp. were used as a control group while Fourcrea spp. individuals were used as an external group. Morphological traits and molecular markers were analyzed. The differences between A. tequilana individuals collected from southern Jalisco state and those collected in the principal Denomination of Origin zone confirmed the existence of different genotypes, which were conserved in different regions by asexual propagation. Leaf length, plant height and number of leaves were the most significant variables that explained the variability within the A. tequilana group. At the molecular level, we found genetic differentiation with a minimum similarity of 0.253 (Jaccard’s coefficient) and genetic structure analysis indicated five groups with significant genotypic differences. Genetic structure analysis, grouped accessions according to the dispersion of plant material from the initial sites of cultivation. These results might facilitate the correlation of different groups with crop yield or tequila quality and the establishment of elite lines for breeding programs. It is recommendable in a future, to determinate the different levels of inulines produced by each detected group.
G-2548A LEPTIN PROMOTER AND Q223R LEPTIN RECEPTOR POLYMORPHISMS IN OBESE MEXICAN SUBJECTS
- Abstract: Leptin interaction with its receptor in the hypothalamus stimulates a specific signaling cascade that results in the synthesis of anorexigenic and orexigenic peptides in order to regulate food intake and energy expenditure. Many polymorphisms in leptin (lep) and leptin receptor (lepr) genes have been associated with body weight. In particular, G-2548A in the lep promoter and Q223R in lepr variants have been associated with obesity in several populations, although no linkage has been evidenced in others. Here, we examined the genetic associations of these polymorphisms with Body Mass Index (BMI) and serum leptin levels in adult Mexican people. A set of 160 subjects was recruited at the Acupuncture Clinic of the National School of Medicine and Homeopathy of the National Polytechnic Institute (Mexico) and classified according to BMI, gender and age. Blood samples were obtained to extract genomic DNA and determine genetic variants by PCR-RFLP. Leptin was quantified by ELISA assays. Analysis of association and determination of Odd Ratio (OR) were performed using SPSS software. G-2548A in lep gene promoter and Q223R in lepr gene polymorphisms were not found associated with BMI in the whole study population. However, GG genotype in lep gene promoter was related to an increased leptin concentration (p≤0.05) and suggested as a protective factor for obesity in Mexican women. Leptin levels were higher in postmenopausal women, confirming the link between the hormonal system and body weight control. In contrast, no association was found between lepr gene polymorphism and serum leptin level. Our results suggest a possible association between G-2548A polymorphism in lep gene promoter, BMI and leptin levels in Mexican women. Further analysis of a larger population is required to confirm the biological relevance of this polymorphism for obesity in the Mexican population.
MANIPULATION OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS IN GRAPE (VITIS VINIFERA) CV. ‘FLAME’ BY THE APPLICATION OF TWO SUCROSE ANALOGS
- Abstract: The translocation of photosynthates from the leaves is important for the accumulation of sugars in grape berries. Two sucrose analogs were applied at post-veraison to determine their effects on leaf photosynthesis. It is hypothesized that the signal of sugar accumulation in leaves will bring a reduction in photosynthesis and an increase in the photosynthate translocation rate to the berries. The experiment was conducted in a commercial Vitis vinifera ‘Flame’ vineyard. The sucrose analogs used were palatinose and turanose at 5 mM. For each treatment, five fully expanded leaves from five different vines were sprayed until run-off. Control leaves were treated with distilled water. Net photosynthesis rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (gs), Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) and leaf temperature (Lt) were measured at 0, 10, 20, 30, 60 and 90 min after the treatment with a LICOR-6200 portable photosynthesis system. Statistical analysis was made by variance analysis based on a randomized complete block design and means separated using the Student-Newman-Keuls test with a confidence level of 0.05. The application of turanose did not affect Pn whereas palatinose reduced the Pn one hour after application. At this point, not statistical differences were found in gs and PAR. It was concluded that the application of palatinose can reduce the net photosynthesis which suggests that it is possible to manipulate photosynthesis by the utilization of sucrose analogs which maybe also increases the translocation of photosynthates from grape leaves to grape berries.