December 2013

Which bee honey components contribute to its antimicrobial activity? A review

The antimicrobial activity of bee honey is one of its most studied biological properties, with an extensive spectrum of activity against medically important microorganisms. The specificity of this activity depends on the components of the honey, which vary according to its floral and entomological origin. The action mechanisms of the most transcendental compounds for honey antimicrobial activity; acidity, osmolarity and...

Author(s): Elizabeth Ortiz-Vázquez, Luis Cuevas-Glory, Guido Zapata-Baas, José Martínez-Guevara and Jesús Ramón-Sierra

December 2013

Molecular response of Mexican lime tree to ‘‘Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia’’ infection: An overview

‘‘Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia’’ is the causative agent of witches’ broom disease in the Mexican lime tree (Citrus aurantifolia L.), and is responsible for major tree losses in Southern Iran and Oman. The pathogen is strictly biotrophic, and thus is completely dependent on living host cells for its survival. The molecular basis of compatibility and disease development in this system...

Author(s): Maryam Ghayeb Zamharir and Ghasem Hosseini Salekdeh

December 2013

Bluetongue: Virus proteins and recent diagnostic approaches

virus. Bluetongue virus is a member of the genus Orbivirus in the family Reoviridae. Its genome consists of ten double-stranded (ds) RNA segments coding for seven structural proteins (VP1-VP7) and four non-structural proteins (NS1-NS3 or NS3A, and NS4). At present, 26 serotypes have been reported throughout the world. Bluetongue can be diagnosed from several kinds of samples. For virus isolation, embryonated eggs, 9 to...

Author(s): Molalegne Bitew, Sukdeb Nandi and Chintu Ravishankar

December 2013

Influence of phytosiderophore on iron and zinc uptake and rhizospheric microbial activity

Micronutrients play a vital role in crop production and sustainable crop yield. High crop yield varieties make soil micronutrients deficient, without incorporating external inputs. Due to deficiency of micronutrients such as iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn), yield decline drastically. It limits more than macronutrients, but requirements of these plant nutrients are very less, but plants have self regulated mechanism, which...

Author(s): M. L. Dotaniya, Dasharath Prasad, H. M. Meena, D. K. Jajoria, G. P. Narolia, K. K. Pingoliya, O. P. Meena, Kuldeep Kumar, B. P. Meena, Asha Ram, H. Das , M. Sreenivasa Chari and Suresh Pal