African Journal of Virology Research

African Journal of Virology Research ISSN 2756-3413 Vol. 14 (5), pp. 001-003, May, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Short Communication

Multiple shoot induction from embryo derived callus cultures of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata l.) Walp

Odutayo, O.I.¹, Akinrimisi, F.B.¹, Ogunbosoye, I.² and Oso, R.T.¹

¹Department Of Biological Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria.

²Department Of Plant Breeding Cocoa ResearchInstitute Of Nigeria. Idi-Ayunre, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Accepted 22 August, 2019

Abstract

The production of whole plant of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) L. Walp from calli is an efficient, reliable and rapid strategy. This provides a faster method of micro propagation. Seeds of the pea were surface sterilized, and then the embryo axes were dissected and germinated. Callus growth was induced on the cut surface of the embryo of V. unguiculata. Root development in the cells was promoted by the action of the auxin, naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), at low cytokinin concentration. After five weeks, multiple shoots ranging from two to four developed from the calli cultures after being subcultured on media with high concentration of cytokinin, benzylaminopurine (BAP). Percentages shoot production from calli grown on media with 1 µM concentration of BAP was 45.5% while calli subcultured on 4 µM BAP produced 87.5% shoot production. Percentage rate of survival was between 21-26% in the hardened transplanted plantlets.

Key words: Explant, Casein hydrolysate, legume, callus, cotyledon, embryo.

Key words: Rabbits, urea, cowpea husk, performance.

African Journal of Virology Research ISSN 2756-3413 Vol. 14 (4), pp. 001-008, April, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Genetic diversity within the genus Cynotilapia and its phylogenetic position among Lake Malawi’s mbuna cichlids

Daud Kassam¹*, Shingo Seki¹, Bosco Rusuwa ², Aggrey J.D. Ambali² and Kosaku Yamaoka¹

¹Department of Aquaculture, Graduate School of Kuroshio Science, Kochi University, B 200 Monobe, Nankoku-shi, Kochi, 783-8502, Japan.

²Biology Department, Chancellor College, University of Malawi, P.O. Box 280, Zomba, Malawi.

Accepted 21 August, 2019

Abstract

Cynotilapia’s unicuspid teeth, a unique character used to delineate it from all other mbuna genera, leaves evolutionary biologists wondering which is the closest relative to this genus among mbuna cichlids. This genus has only two described species out of the 10-13 species/taxa, whereby the undescribed taxa are either known by their colouration or place where they occur. AFLP genetic marker was used to determine the phylogenetic position of Cynotilapia among the mbuna and also the genetic diversity within this genus. Nei’s genetic distance, frequency of polymorphic loci and average heterozygosity were used to unravel the genetic diversity. The neighbour-joining (NJ) dendrogram revealed that the genus Maylandia is the closest relative to Cynotilapia. Genetic distances were higher among all pairs of undescribed taxa than between the two species (Cynotilapia afra vs. C. axelrodi). Frequency of polymorphic loci and average heterozygosity were also higher within undescribed taxa than in two species. These results, coupled with already known phenotypic differences among these taxa (including colour, a crucial factor in speciation through sexual selection), do provide a strong base to taxonomists who can formally describe these taxa as species. The uncovered genetic differentiation is very important for conservation of this endemic fish fauna.

Key words: Speciation, AFLP, nuclear genome, polymorphism, heterozygosity, mbuna.

African Journal of Virology Research ISSN 2756-3413 Vol. 14 (4), pp. 001-006, April, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Assessing genetic diversity of some Anthurium andraeanum Hort. cut-flower cultivars using RAPD Markers

Prakash Nowbuth¹, Govindranathsing Khittoo^1*, Theeshan Bahorun¹, Shadila Venkatasamy²

¹Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Science, University of Mauritius, Reduit, Mauritius.

²Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mauritius, Reduit, Mauritius.

Accepted 21 June, 2019

Abstract

Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers fingerprinting were used to assess the level of genetic variations among 24 cut-flower Anthurium andraeanum Hort. cultivars. Eight decamer primers produced a total of 98 reproducible PCR bands that were used to calculate the Nei and Li’s genetic distance (GD_NL) coefficients amongst the cultivars. GD_NL values ranged from 0.018 to 0.163 with an average of 0.09 (representing an average genetic similarity of 91.34%). This significantly low average genetic distance among the various cultivars indicated that genetic variation among the cultivars was low. A dendrogram, produced using unweighted pair group method using arithmetic averages (UPGMA), grouped the cultivars into four main clusters. Cultivar ‘Antartica’ was genetically distinct from all the others. ‘Midori’ and ‘Bourgogne’ together formed a cluster whereas the remaining 21 cultivars grouped into two clusters and were closely related to each other. Clusters did not relate to cultivar provenance or origin and were independent of floral colour and spathe category. Finding correlations between these morphological traits to RAPD markers would necessitate extensive primer screening. Nevertheless, RAPD markers fingerprinting allowed a rapid assessment of the level of genetic variation that would otherwise be difficult to evaluate using the limited number of morphological markers present among these closely related anthurium cultivars.

Key words: Anthurium andraeanum Hort., genetic variation, genetic distance, RAPD, fingerprinting, UPGMA, dendrogram, spathe.

African Journal of Virology Research ISSN 2756-3413 Vol. 14 (4), pp. 001-004, April, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Refolding and characterisation of a heterologous expressed Phanerochaete chrysosporium cellobiohydrolase (CBHI.2)

Howard RL

Microbiology, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, University of Limpopo, P/Bag X1106, Sovenga, 0727, South Africa. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel/fax: +27 15 268 2862.

Accepted 17 September, 2019

Abstract

Cloned Phanerochaete chrysosporium ME446 cbhI.2 cDNA was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli as an insoluble, internal, biologically inactive protein. In vitro chemical refolding restored the activity of the crude CBHI.2. However, this enzyme was active against 4-methylumbelliferyl-ß-D-cellobioside (MUC) and 4-methyllumbelliferyl-ß -D- lactopyranoside (MUL) substrates only. The crude enzyme lost almost 50% of its activity at 5 min at 100^oC heat treatment whereas total inactivation was achieved at 30 min.

Key words: Phanerochaete chrysosporium, CBHI.2, chemical refolding, heat-inactivation.

African Journal of Virology Research ISSN 2756-3413 Vol. 14 (3), pp. 001-005, March, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Cloning and expression of Phanerochaete chrysosporium cellobiohydrolase (cbhI.2)

Howard RL

Microbiology, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, University of Limpopo, P/Bag X1106, Sovenga, 0727, South Africa. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel/fax:+27 15 268 2862.

Accepted 27 September, 2019

Abstract

The Phanerochaete chrysosporium ME446 cbhI.2 cDNA was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli using a pET system. Pulse-labelling revealed the expression of an induced protein of approximately 50-60 kDa that reacted with anti-P. chrysosporium ME446 CBH antibodies. The expressed protein remained undegraded in vivo for 135 min but was biologically inactive in vitro.

Key words: Phanerochaete chrysosporium, cbhI.2, cloning and expression, pulse-labelling.