Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN 7295-2849 Vol. 8 (7), pp. 001-005, July, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Review 

Strategies for resistance to bacterial wilt disease of bananas through genetic engineering

Leena Tripathi^1*, Jaindra Nath Tripathi¹, W.K. Tushemereirwe²

¹International Institute of tropical Research- ESARC, PO Box 7878, Kampala, Uganda

²Kawanda Agriculture Research Institute, Kawanda, Uganda.

Accepted 22 May, 2018

Abstract

The livelihoods of millions of Ugandan farmers have been threatened by current outbreak of a banana bacterial wilt disease caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum, which is very destructive and rapidly spreading in Uganda. Bananas are the highest value staple food and source of income for millions of people in this region. Economic impact of the disease is clear as a result of widespread destruction of banana, pre-harvest rotting of fruits, and a lack of farmers’ ability to grow bananas in disease endemic areas. The disease attacks all varieties of banana, including East African Highland Bananas (EAHBs). No banana germplasm with bacterial wilt resistance has been identified. The transgenic approach shows potential for the genetic improvement of the crop using a wide set of transgenes currently available which may confer bacterial resistance. This article discusses the potential strategies to develop transgenic banana plants resistant to bacterial wilt disease.

Key words: Banana, bacterial wilt, genetic transformation, disease resistant.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN 7295-2849 Vol. 8 (6), pp. 001-005, June, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Review

In vitro propagation: A biotechnological tool capable of solving the problem of medicinal plants decimation in South Africa

Afolayan A. J.¹* and Adebola P. O.²

¹Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa.

²Plant Breeding Group, Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, PMB 5244, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Accepted 04 May, 2018

Abstract

South Africa has a very rich plant biodiversity, many of which are medicinally useful. The rich resource is decreasing at an alarming rate as a result of over- exploitation. Plant in vitro regeneration is a biotechnological tool that offers a potential solution to this problem as it provides a means of putting the plants onto the market at lower prices. We present in this paper a review of micro propagation protocols developed for selected medicinal plants of South Africa and highlight the need for the utilization of this technology for the mass propagation of over-exploited medicinal plants in South Africa.

Key words: Tissue culture, protocols, micro propagation, medicinal plants, herbal medicine.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN 7295-2849 Vol. 8 (6), pp. 001-008, June, 2018. © International Scholars Journals 

Review

Chloroethenes contaminants in the environment: Still a cause for concern

Ademola O. Olaniran^1,3*, Dorsamy Pillay^1,2  and Balakrishna Pillay¹

¹Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Westville Campus), Private Bag X54001, Durban 4000, Republic of South Africa.

²Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering, Science and Built Environment, Durban Institute of Technology, P.O.Box 1334, Durban 4000, Republic of South Africa.

³Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

Accepted 13 April, 2018

Abstract

Prior to 1980, chloroethenes were generally believed to be recalcitrant to degradation. Efforts to remediate sites polluted by this group of compounds were thus limited to the ineffective and tedious pump-and-treat method. The environmental significance of chloroethenes and the absence of effective alternative physical remediation methods have warranted intense scientific investigation into the role of microorganisms for detoxifying these environmentally important compounds to benign products. Several microbial mechanisms have therefore been identified to significantly degrade these compounds in soil and ground water polluted systems. This paper provides a mini-review of such mechanisms with the view of understanding the biodegradation processes for better exploitation for bioremediation of chloroethene contaminants, which continue to be of serious environmental challenges.

Key words: Bioremediation, chloroethenes, cometabolism, oxidation, reductive dechlorination.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN 7295-2849 Vol. 8 (6), pp. 001-008, June, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Microalgal toxin(s): characteristics and importance

Hikmet Katırcıoğlu^1*, Beril S. Akın², Tahir Atıcı¹

¹Gazi University, Gazi Education Faculty, Department of Biology Education, Teknikokullar, Ankara, Turkey.

²Gazi University, Gazi Education Faculty, Department of Science Education, Teknikokullar, Ankara, Turkey.

Accepted 22 April, 2018

Abstract

Prokaryotic and eukaryotic microalgae produce a wide array of compounds with biological activities. These include antibiotics, algicides, toxins, pharmaceutically active compounds and plant growth regulators. Toxic microalgae, in this sense, are common only among the cyanobacteria and dinoflagellates. The microalgal toxins is either important as material for useful drugs or one of the great mysteries in the world of biotoxicology. The aquatic poisons have long remained one of the great mysteries in the world of biotoxicology. There is evidence that these toxic organisms are on the increase, perhaps as a result of increased global pollution. The ability of cyanobacterial populations to produce potent toxins and annual examples of associated human and animal health problems have raised the position of cyanobacteria in the priorities for the management and protection of water quality in countries where health problems associated with the toxins have been perceived. The purpose of this review is to discuss the present understanding of microalgal toxins from microalgae in a manner that will stimulate interdisciplinary research with these microorganisms.

Key words: Toxin, cyanobacteria, microalgae, dinoflagellate.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN 7295-2849 Vol. 8 (5), pp. 001-005, May, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Nucleic acid drugs: a novel approach

Edwin Jarald^1∗, Sheeja Edwin¹, Pawan Dubey¹, Ajay Tiwari. A¹, Vinod Thakre²

^∗1Department of Pharmacognosy & Phytochemistry, B.R. Nahata College Of Pharmacy, Mandsaur-458001, Madhya Pradesh, India.

²Department of Pharmaceutics, Smriti College of Pharmaceutical Education, Indore-452010, India.

Accepted 22 November, 2017

Abstract

Nucleic acid base sequence of proteins plays a crucial role in the expression of gene. The gene is responsible for the synthesis of proteins and these proteins, which are synthesized, are responsible for the biological process and also for dreadful diseases as well. Once if the nucleic acid sequence is altered, we would be able to block or transfer the message for protein synthesis, there by preventing the particular protein, which is responsible for the disease. These nucleic acids act as drugs by different mechanisms, they may bind with the synthesized proteins, and they can hybridize to a messenger RNA leading to translation arrest or may induce degradation to target RNA. In this way the nucleic acids act as drug for inhibiting gene expression or protein synthesis. This article examines about the different types of nucleic acid drugs, their mechanisms, advantages, drawbacks and their future prospects.

Key words: Aptamers, ribozymes, antisense oligonucleotides.