ABSTRACT Climate change poses a serious threat to global food security by introducing uncertainty in production condition including water availability to growing crops. Technological intervention like improved crop adaptation and higher yield potential through breeding are immediately needed to ensure better availability of food to still growing low‐ and middle‐income societies like South Asia. Root traits, such as root system architecture, root biomass, root angle, xylem diameter, root hairs, root length and root hydraulics, are crucial for plant adaptation to variable environments, but they are often overlooked in the most of crop improvement programme because of difficulty in scoring these traits. Water banking by optimization hydraulic efficiency of vascular system through reduced root density and reduced xylem diameter can play important role for adaptation for reduced water availability. The challenges of nondestructive screening in the segregating generation hampers the genetic progress Recent advances in high‐throughput phenotyping facilities and identification of molecular markers has made the selection in breeding population feasible. This review explores how root morphology and anatomy influence water and nutrient uptake and how high‐throughput phenotyping and genotyping can facilitate the identification of root traits associated with climate resilience. As outcome of the study, we propose an ideal wheat ideotype with deep roots, narrow root angles and low axial hydraulic conductance combined with high xylem hydraulic safety in pursuit of climate‐smart wheat crops thriving under decreasing water availability throughout the growing season. In this review, we have also discussed the root‐related quantitative trait loci/genes in wheat and its related species to facilitate comparative genomic analyses and their subsequent integration in the breeding programme. The review thus highlights the potential importance of optimization of metaxylem vessel size, root biomass, root length, roots hairs and understanding soil microbiota and its interaction with different root phenes in designing the better wheat ideotypes, which can offer the potential solution to climate change in the future.
A middle-aged woman presents with chronic foot arthritis which progressed to a non-healing ulcer, which was unresponsive to conventional antibiotics and debridement. She then developed cerebral manifestations and was empirically treated with antitubercular medications which led to healing of the ulcer. Unfortunately, delays in initiating treatment resulted in development of other extrapulmonary tuberculosis complications such as cerebral tuberculoma with tuberculous meningitis. She was subsequently diagnosed with neurocysticercosis which continued to worsen during her hospital stay. She eventually succumbed to her illness due to the complications and a possible nosocomial infection. This case highlights the challenges with diagnosis of uncommon presentations of common diseases in an endemic area, leading to diagnostic delays and development of serious complications.
Using an auto-administered questionnaire, a cluster sample survey was carried out in January 1990 among 2433 secondary schoolchildren in Bouake (Cote d'Ivoire). The prevalence rate of asthma was fairly high (10.8%), as well as that of wheezing (19.8%), dyspnea (42.8%), broncho-pulmonary diseases (25.8%) and smoking habit (14.5%). The results are discussed with regard to the published data.
Plants containing flavonoids have been reported to possess strong antioxidant properties. The aqueous acetone extract of Striga hermonthica was further separated into aqueous and ethyl acetate fractions and assayed for their in vitro antioxidant properties using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The crude extract exhibits a weak antioxidant activity (IC50 of 95.27±2.30 ig/ml) and an insignificant acute toxicity on mice (LD50: 1753±44 mg/kg). Luteolin was isolated and identified by mean of its spectral data as the main DPPH radical scavenger of the ethyl acetate fraction, exhibiting an IC50 value of 6.80±1.46 ig/ml. These results suggest an antioxidant potential for S. hermonthica.
Aqueous decoctions obtained from the galls of Guiera senegalensis were screened to determine their phytochemical composition and in vitro antiviral activity against fowlpox virus. In addition, we wanted to investigate the toxic effects, if any, of crude extracts in chickens. Steroids as well as cardiac glycosides not previously reported, an alkaloid, polyphenols and saponins were detected in the various fractions of organic solvents used for extracting the decoctions. Antiviral activity was determined by cytopathic effect inhibition assay in primary chicken embryo skin cells. The 50% inhibitory concentration (EC50) was shown to be 15.6 microg/ml. Toxicity for cells was established by determining the 50% cytotoxic concentration (CCy50). A value of 90 microg/ml and a selectivity index (CCy50/EC50) of 5.8 were obtained. In vivo studies of toxicity were performed in chickens that were dosed orally with decoctions of several concentrations for 2 weeks and then monitored for 3 months. No significant changes in several blood chemical parameters were obtained, except for a significant decline in SGOT levels in birds dosed with 100 mg/kg. These levels were nevertheless within the accepted normal range. The findings suggest that aqueous decoctions of galls from G. senegalensis are non-toxic for chickens when administered orally, even at a daily dose of 100 mg/kg for 14 days.
Several field isolates of fowlpoxvirus (FPV) from Burkina Faso, West Africa, were isolated and partly evaluated by molecular analysis. In addition, the in ovo antiviral activity against FPV of a gall extract from Guiera senegalensis was determined. Three viral isolates were obtained from suspected fowlpox cases after passage in embryonating chicken eggs and their poxviral identity confirmed by electron microscopy. All isolates were found to be pathogenic for chicks and all grew well in cell culture. Polymerase chain reaction and sequencing of amplicons revealed sequences identical with those of other FPV strains. The most studied isolate was then employed for use in an antiviral assay. An aqueous acetone extract from the galls of G. senegalensis was found to inhibit both virus-induced pock formation and to reduce viral titre in embryonating chicken eggs. The suggested mechanism of action is the activation of the alternative complement pathway and the inhibition of FPV-induced cholesterogenesis in ovo by constituents of the gall extract.
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