February 2016

Application of rep-PCR as a molecular tool for the genetic diversity assessment of Jatropha curcas

Jatropha curcas L., a non-edible Euphorbiaceae oil-rich crop cultivated in subtropical/tropical countries, has gained global attention as a promising renewable resource for biodiesel production. Rep-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to investigate the genetic diversity of 15 populations of J. curcas L. Distinct populations of the plant growing wildly in Mauritius were characterised using three molecular...

Author(s): Sillma Rampadarath, Daneshwar Puchooa, Subhasisa Bal and Rajesh Jeewon

February 2016

High genetic variation of Portunus pelagicus from Makassar Straits revealed by RAPD markers and mitochondrial 16S rRNA sequences

The blue swimmer crab, Portunus pelagicus, is presently managed as a single stock. In this study, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers and 16S rRNA sequences were used to understand the genetic diversity and parentage of P. pelagicus from Makassar Strait. A total of 150 samples were collected from the sea, grouped by gender and morphological features. DNA genome was performed at approximately 23130 base pairs...

Author(s): Yushinta Fujaya, Andi Ivo Asphama, Andi Aliah Hidayani, Andi Parenrengi and Andi Tenriulo

February 2016

DNA-based identification of Lentinula edodes strains with species-specific primers

Lentinula edodes is among the five globally cultivated edible mushrooms, which are wood decaying spore bearing Basidiomycetes possessing separate hyphae. Specific identification of this fungus from others in the division Basidiomycota using specific primers enables a fast and accurate detection through polymerase chain reaction (PCR). As a prelude to additional nutritional and sequence characterization research, we have...

Author(s): Pheba L. George, Venkateswara R. Sripathi, Seloame T. Nyaku, Govind C. Sharma and Ramesh V. Kantety

February 2016

Ascorbic acid content in leaves of Nightshade (Solanum spp.) and spider plant (Cleome gynandra) varieties grown under different fertilizer regimes in Western Kenya

Vitamin C is an important micronutrient because of its antioxidant and health promoting properties. With the introduction and commercialization of improved African indigenous plants, few studies have examined the impact of leaf age or the nutrient status of the plants by fertilizer. This study sought to determine amounts of vitamin C using redox titration in mature and immature leaves of spider plant (Cleome gynandra)...

Author(s): Emmanuel Ayua, Violet Mugalavai, James Simon, Stephen Weller, Pamela Obura and Naman Nyabinda

February 2016

Production of laccase without inducer by Chaetomium species isolated from Chettaba forest situated in the East of Algeria

A positive laccase strain which showed a positive reaction with guaïacol was isolated from Chettaba Forest, which is situated in Constantine, the East of Algeria. It was identified as Chaetomium species (Ref 051A) according to the morphological and ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) DNA genomic sequence analysis. Laccase activity was determined by using 2,2-azinobis(3- ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonate)...

Author(s): Benhassine Sara, Kacem Chaouche Noreddine and Destain Jacqueline