Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN 2736-1624 Vol. 10 (6), pp. 001-006, June, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Agrobacterium-induced hypersensitive necrotic reaction in plant cells: a resistance response against Agrobacterium-mediated DNA transfer

Danladi Dada Kuta¹* and Leena Tripathi²

¹Biotechnology Advanced Laboratory, Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO), P.M.B. 186 Garki-Abuja, Nigeria

²Biotechnology Research Unit, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Nigeria C/o L W Lambourn; Carolyn House; 26 Dingwall Rd; Croydon CR9 3EE; UK

Accepted 26 April, 2020

Abstract

High necrosis and poor survival rate of target plant tissues are some of the major factors that affect the efficiency of Agrobacterium-mediated T-DNA transfer into plant cells. These factors may be the result of, or linked to, hypersensitive defense reaction in plants to Agrobacterium infection, which may involve the recognition of specific signals from the Agrobacterium that triggers the burst of reactive oxygen species at the infection site. Evidences of Agrobacterium-induced necrosis in target plant tissues and its link to reactive oxygen species are presented. Application of antioxidants, addition of acetosyringone and optimization of pre-culture conditions suppress the Agrobacterium-induced hypersensitive necrotic response in target plant tissues, thereby enhancing stable transformation.

Key words: Agrobacterium; hypersensitive reaction; necrosis; signal transduction; oxidative burst; transformation.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN 2736-1624 Vol. 10 (5), pp. 001-004, May, 2020. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Chromosome number and cytomorphological characterization of a polyploid Abrus

Ikechukwu O. Agbagwa* and ’Bosa E. Okoli

Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, University of Port Harcourt, P.M.B. 5323, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.

Accepted 16 March, 2020

Abstract

Chromosome counts from natural populations of Abrus pulchellus in Nigeria were carried out. Tetraploid (2n = 44) chromosome number was constant in all the samples investigated. The 44 chromosomes fall into three cytomorphological categories: eight metacentric and eight sub-metacentric pairs, and six acrocentric pairs. The chromosomes are relatively small in length ranging from 0.5 to 1.4 m. The polyploid (tetraploid) cytotype is reported for the first time for this taxon.

Key words: Abrus pulchellus, acrocentric, chromosome counts, metacentric, polyploid, sub-metacentric.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN 2736-1624 Vol. 10 (5), pp. 001-003, May, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Short Communication

Length-weight relationships of five fish species in Epe lagoon, Nigeria

Fafioye, O.O.* and Oluajo, O.A.

Department of Biological Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, P.M.B. 2002 Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Nigeria.

Accepted 13 April, 2020

Abstract

Length-weight relationship (LWR) of 320 fish populations covering 3 families, 4 genera and 5 species inhabiting Epe Lagoon, were studied. The fishes (Clarias gariepinus (Burch), Illisha africana Bloch), Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus (Lacepede), Chrysichthys walkeri (Gunther) and Ethmalosa fimbriata (Bowdich)) were obtained from fish landing site at Epe market from November 2001 to October 2002, and January to December 2003. The parameters a and b of the length-weight relationship of the form W=aL^b and condition factor (c.f.)=W100/L³ are presented for the five fish species. The c.f. values significantly (P<0.001) range between 0.64 and 1.99, while the b values varied between 2.790 and 3.210 with the mean b = 3.0072 at P<0.001. This indicates a nearly isometric relationship with 60% of the variation in body weight being accounted for by changes in length.

Key words: Length-weight, fish species, Epe Lagoon, condition factor.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN 2736-1624 Vol. 10 (5), pp. 001-006, May, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Shelf stability of agidi produced from maize (Zea mays) and the effects of sodium benzoate treatment in combination with low temperature storage

Ogiehor, I.S.*, Ekundayo, A.O. and Okwu, G.I.

Department of Microbiology, food and Industrial division, Ambrose Alli University, P.M.B, 14, Ekpoma, Nigeria.

Accepted 13 April, 2007

Abstract

The shelf stability of agidi produced from maize (Zea mays) during ambient temperature (30.0±1.5°C) storage and the effects of sodium benzoate treatment in combination with low temperature storage (12-14°C) was evaluated for eight weeks. Results indicates high total aerobic bacterial count (1.05x10¹⁰ cfu/g) and fungi count (4.6x10⁹ cfu/g) at the 12^th day of storage and thereafter, decrease gradually till the end of the storage period. Treatment with 0.15% sodium benzoate and refrigeration at 12-14°C drastically retarded microbial growth up till the 21^st and 28^th day of storage. Seven bacteria genera (Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc, Pseudomonas and Alcalegene) and seven fungi genera (Aspergillus, Penicillium, Alternaria, Fusarium, Rhizopus, Mucor and Geotrichum) were detected and isolated. The pH decreased from 4.15±0.01 to 3.10±0.02 at the end of storage period while the titratable acidity increased from 0.002±0.001 to 0.005±0.001. However, the pH and titratable acidity were fairly stable in samples treated with sodium benzoate and refrigeration of 12-14°C. An increase of 37.94% and 32.19% were recorded for the moisture and fibre contents, respectively. Conversely, a decrease of 12.92, 45, 81.32 and 44.95% were detected and recorded for the carbohydrates, lipid, protein and ash contents. However, treatment with 0.15% sodium benzoate and refrigeration at 12-14°C kept these parameters fairly stable all through the storage period. Overall sensory evaluation shows that sodium benzoate treated and refrigerated samples were highly acceptable even though freshly prepared samples were preferred.

Key words: Shelf sability, agidi, sodium benzoate and low temperature.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN 2736-1624 Vol. 10 (5), pp. 001-011, May, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Analysis of the protein profiles of the antibiotic-resistant Salmonella typhimurium definitive phage type (dt) 104

Yakubu B. Ngwai^1,a,*, Kozo Ochi², Yasuki Ogawa³ and Yoshikazu Adachi³

¹Department of Microbiology, Human Virology and Biotechnology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, P.M.B. 21 Garki, Abuja, Nigeria.

²National Food Research Institute, 2-1-12 Kannondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8642, Japan.

³Animal Health Laboratory, School of Agriculture, Ibaraki University, 3-21-1 Ami, Ami-machi, Ibaraki-ken, 300-0393, Japan.

Accepted 18 May, 2020

Abstract

The emergent Salmonella typhimurium definitive phage type (DT) 104 is of particular global concern due to its frequent isolation and multiple antibiotic resistances. There is thus a need to know the kind of proteins expressed by S. typhimurium DT104 so as to provide a basis for developing an intervention. This study examined the protein profiles of a few isolates of S. typhimurium DT104 and a non -DT104 strain S. typhimurium L1388 (ST). Crude SDS-soluble whole cell and outer membrane protein (OMP) extracts revealed similar protein profiles for both phage types. A single major protein band (28.4 kDa) was observed in periplasmic fractions from both phage types. However, proteins released into growth medium was variable; one of the DT104 isolates had common proteins with the non-DT104 strain ST. Similar SDS-soluble whole cell protein profiles were observed for both phage types grown in a low- iron Medium A at 37^oC; but a 38.5 kDa protein (observed in TSB-grown cells) was observed only in the temperature-tolerant DT104 isolate. The protein contents of cell-free ultracentrifuge supernatants of sonically disrupted cells of each of the DT104 isolates were significantly (P < 0.05) more than that from ST L1388, but the latter expressed a 51-kDa protein absent in the supernatants of all DT104 isolates. The higher protein content of DT104s provides possible indication of increased production of protein-like metabolites. Although the N-terminal sequence of the first twenty amino acids of the 51-kDa protein (Ala- Gln-Val- Ile-Asn-Thr-Asn-Ser-Leu -Ser-Leu-Leu -Thr-Gln-Trp-Ala-Ala- Ala-Ala-Ala) showed 14-amino acid overlap and resemblance with the flagillin, FLIC, only fourteen of its 104 trypsin digests were homologous with those of FLIC. Further work is being done to characterize this protein and to investigate its potential for use as vaccine target through antigenicity tests.

Key words: Salmonella typhimurium DT104, protein profile.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN 2736-1624 Vol. 10 (5), pp. 001-003, May, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Short Communication

Optimization of thermostable alkaline protease production from species of Bacillus using rice bran

Krishna Suresh Babu Naidu, Kodidhela Lakshmi Devi*

Department of Biochemistry,Sri Krishna DevarayaUniversity,Anantapur, AndhraPradesh, India.

Accepted 19 May, 2020

Abstract

A protease producing microorganism was isolated from soil collected from a detergent industry and identified as Bacillus species. Isolate K -30 produced thermostable alkaline protease utilizing rice bran. The optimum conditions for protease activity was 55°C at pH 9 with 4% inoculum in the medium containing 1% rice bran after 96 h of incubation. Beef extract, tryptone and yeast extract were good nitrogen sources while lactose, starch, and sucrose were suitable for enzyme production. The extracellular production of the enzyme, its thermostable nature and compatibility with most commercial detergents are features which suggest its application in the detergent industry.

Key words: Alkaline protease, rice bran, thermostability, detergent.