[en] Reaction of some soybean mutant lines to natural rust fungus caused by (phakopsora pachyhizi syd). Eleven soybean mutant lines of orba variety derived from gamma fungus disease in the wet season 1985/86 at the experimental station of Citayam, Bogor. Based on IWGSR rating system, soybean mutant lines No 18/PsJ was moderately resistant to rust fungus disease. The other mutant lines, 14/PsJ, 15/PsJ, 20/PsJ, 102/PsJ, 106/PsJ, 111/PsJ, 118/PsJ, 119/PsJ and 220/PsJ were susceptible. (author). 4 figs.; 8 refs

[en] Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) drying is a novel non-thermal dewatering technology using electric discharge in air to enhance dehydration of heat-sensitive biomaterials. Low energy consumption and high product quality make it attractive for industry. In this study, the mushrooms slices have been dried under sole EHD with 12, 14, and 16 kV DC, and EHD in combination with air cross-flow at 1 m s-1 and different relative humidity (RH) from 30 to 70 %. It was found that drying kinetics was exponential over initial moisture contents from 3.3 to 14.1 g·g-1 (db). The equilibrium moisture content ranged from 0.15 to 0.1 g g-1 depending on RH. Decrease of RH or air cross-flow significantly improved efficiency of EHD drying. (Author)

[en] This study was conducted to determine the drying characteristics of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) at 50, 60 and 70 °C. Pleurotus ostreatus were cleaned and dried in a laboratory cabinet dryer. The drying data were fitted to six model equations namely Newton, Pabis and Henderson, Logarithmic, Two-term diffusion, Wang and Singh, as well as Modified Henderson and Pabis equations. The goodness of fit of the models were evaluated by means of the coefficient of determination (R2), root mean square error (RMSE) and reduced chi-square (χ2). The Logarithmic model best describes the drying data and could be used to predict its drying behaviour. (Author)

No abstract available

[en] Taxonomy of the causal fungus of mango malformation (MM) disease has passed through different phases. The fungus at first named as F. moniliforme was elevated to species level as F. subglutinans. Two new species viz. Fusarium mangiferae and F. sterilihyphosum Britz. found responsible for causing MM have been characterized in South Africa in the year 2002. Presence of F. mangiferae in Asian clade emphasized the need to confirm the specific species in the mango orchards of Pakistan. The assay of malformed parts of mango varieties obtained from five districts of the Punjab province of Pakistan revealed the association of four fungi viz., F. mangiferae, F. pallidoroseum, F. equiseti and Alternaria alternata while F. mangiferae proved to be the major infecting fungus. The colonies of F. mangiferae were tinged with purple and rosy buff color on Potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium. Macroconidia were four celled with dorsal and ventral surfaces almost parallel. Maximum within tissue infection (40.53%) in five districts was caused by F. mangiferae. The present studies reveal the infectivity and dominant association of F. mangiferae with malformed tissues of diverse origins. (author)

[en] Ethiopia, which was designed to determine the rumen microbial composition of black head Ogaden sheep in comparison with highland sheep. The areas experience shorter rainy seasons (October/November and March/April) and the prolonged dry season. During the rainy season animals have access to fresh grass and water but during the dry periods animals hardly get grass pasture as the severe weather dries out the grass and what remains in the grazing field is a highly fibrous and lignified material. During the dry periods animals are usually compelled to survive on the scarcely available thorny trees and shrubs among which Acacias and Cactus are the most prominent. A total of 44 rumen fluid samples were collected both in dry and rainy seasons and kept at -80 deg C until processed and finally DNA was extracted. Also rumen samples were collected from five highland sheep (from sheep of the institute) for comparison. The randomly selected four samples (two collected in dry season, one collected in rainy season and one highland sheep samples) were tested with real time PCR against total bacteria, protozoa, anaerobic fungi, F. succinogenes, R. flavefaciens and methanogens. The study indicated that the population of methanogenes of black head Ogaden sheep showed that 12.6 to 23.58 fold lower and also R. flavifaciens 6.4 to 10.12 fold lower than highland sheep. The population of rumen microbes of Black head Ogaden sheep samples collected during rainy season were generally much lower than highland sheep (61.3 to 95.8% less), while anaerobi fungi of Blackhead Ogaden sheep samples collected during dry season was exceptionally 117 to 311 % higher than highland sheep. Generally this study indicated that Blackhead Ogaden sheep has low rumen microbial population including methanogens

[en] Short communication

[en] Nearly one quarter of the world's land surface is occupied by permanent grassland, and possible ways of increasing the productivity of grassland deserve attention. Since permanent grasslands rarely receive phosphorus fertilizer, mycorrhizas could be important. Research in Britain has shown that mycorrhizal abundance is related to grazing intensity and to the percentage of ground area covered by vegetation. Infection levels in a plant are also influenced by what other species are growing nearby. Knowledge of factors affecting mycorrhizal abundance could allow grasslands to be managed for greater abundance of indigenous mycorrhizas. (author)

[en] Short communication

[en] A series of 2-(4-chlorophenylimino)-5-((3-(p-substituted phenyl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl) methylene) thiazolidin-4-one (3a-h) compounds were prepared from the 2-(4-chlorophenylimino) thiazolidin-4-one (1) and 1-phenyl-3-(psubstituted phenyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carbaldehyde (2a-h). All compounds were characterized by elemental (C, H, N) analysis and spectral (FT-IR, ¹H NMR and GC-MS) analysis. These newly synthesized compounds were screened for their antibacterial and antifungal activities. Antimicrobial activity was observed and evaluated against the bacterial strains like Eschericha coli (MTCC 443), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MTCC 1688), Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC 96), Streptococcus pyogenes (MTCC 442) and against the fungal strains like Candida albicans (MTCC 227), Aspergillus niger (MTCC 282) and Aspergillus clavatus (MTCC 1323). All the synthesized compounds were found to possess moderate to excellent antimicrobial activity against above selected strains