EVidenceModeler (EVM) is presented as an automated eukaryotic gene structure annotation tool that reports eukaryotic gene structures as a weighted consensus of all available evidence. EVM, when combined with the Program to Assemble Spliced Alignments (PASA), yields a comprehensive, configurable annotation system that predicts protein-coding genes and alternatively spliced isoforms. Our experiments on both rice and human genome sequences demonstrate that EVM produces automated gene structure annotation approaching the quality of manual curation.

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Automated Eukaryotic Gene Structure Annotation Using EVidenceModeler and the Program to Assemble Spliced Alignments

Because lignin limits the use of wood for fiber, chemical, and energy production, strategies for its downregulation are of considerable interest. We have produced transgenic aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) trees in which expression of a lignin biosynthetic pathway gene Pt4CL1 encoding 4-coumarate:coenzyme A ligase (4CL) has been downregulated by antisense inhibition. Trees with suppressed Pt4CL1 expression exhibited up to a 45% reduction of lignin, but this was compensated for by a 15% increase in cellulose. As a result, the total lignin–cellulose mass remained essentially unchanged. Leaf, root, and stem growth were substantially enhanced, and structural integrity was maintained both at the cellular and whole-plant levels in the transgenic lines. Our results indicate that lignin and cellulose deposition could be regulated in a compensatory fashion, which may contribute to metabolic flexibility and a growth advantage to sustain the long-term structural integrity of woody perennials.

Biotechnology on genetic control of lignin biosynthesis in trees -Repression of lignin biosynthesis promotes cellulose accumulation and growth in transgenic trees-

IT may occasion some surprise to those men of science who are ill-acquainted with India, and who so frequently express the view that Governments are unappreciative of the importance of science to learn that as far back as 1886 the Government of India arranged for Dr. George (later Sir George) Watt, professor of botany in the Presidency College, Calcutta, to prepare a "Dictionary of the Economic Products of India". The six volumes of this standard work were published during the years 1889-99. In 1908 Sir George Watt published a condensed version, "The Commercial Products of India". Whatever the defects of these 'dictionaries', they have been of inestimable value to all interested in Indian natural products. The Wealth of India A Dictionary of Indian Raw Materials and Industrial Products. Raw Materials, Vol. 1. Pp. xxvii+254+39 plates. 15 rupees ; 24s. Industrial Products, Part 1. Pp. xii+182+8 plates. 8 rupees ; 12s. (New Delhi : Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, 1948.)

The Wealth of India

Antidiabetic effects of Momordica charantia (bitter melon) and its medicinal potency

Recent research on nanoparticles in a number of crops has evidenced for enhanced germination and seedling growth, physiological activities including photosynthetic activity and nitrogen metabolism, mRNA expression and protein level, and also positive changes in gene expression indicating their potential use in crop improvement. We used a medicinally rich vegetable crop, bitter melon, as a model to evaluate the effects of seed treatment with a carbon-based nanoparticle, fullerol [C60(OH)20], on yield of plant biomass and fruit characters, and phytomedicine contents in fruits. We confirmed the uptake, translocation and accumulation of fullerol through bright field imaging and Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy. We observed varied effects of seed treatment at five concentrations, including non-consequential and positive, on plant biomass yield, fruit yield and its component characters, and content of five phytomedicines in fruits. Fullerol-treatment resulted in increases up to 54% in biomass yield and 24% in water content. Increases of up to 20% in fruit length, 59% in fruit number, and 70% in fruit weight led to an improvement up to 128% in fruit yield. Contents of two anticancer phytomedicines, cucurbitacin-B and lycopene, were enhanced up to 74% and 82%, respectively, and contents of two antidiabetic phytomedicines, charantin and insulin, were augmented up to 20% and 91%, respectively. Non-significant correlation inter se plant biomass, fruit yield, phytomedicine content and water content evidenced for separate genetic control and biosynthetic pathways for production of plant biomass, fruits, and phytomedicines in fruits, and also no impact of increased water uptake. While our results indicated possibility of improving crop yield and quality by using proper concentrations of fullerol, extreme caution needs to be exercised given emerging knowledge about accumulation and toxicity of nanoparticles in bodily tissues.

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Nanobiotechnology can boost crop production and quality: first evidence from increased plant biomass, fruit yield and phytomedicine content in bitter melon (Momordica charantia)

This review focuses on the origin and domestication, nutritional uses and medicinal properties of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia). The botanical (taxonomy and morphology and reproductive biology), horticultural (climate and soil, culture, sex expression and modification, harvest, seed production and pests and diseases) and breeding aspects (genetic variation and germplasm development, inheritance, character association, goals and cultivar development, breeding methods and biotechnology) of bitter gourd are also discussed.

Bitter gourd: botany, horticulture, breeding

Somatic chromosome number and detailed karyotype analysis were carried out in six Indian Momordica species viz. M. balsamina, M. charantia, M. cochinchinensis, M. dioica, M. sahyadrica and M. cymbalaria (syn. Luffa cymbalaria; a taxon of controversial taxonomic identity). The somatic chromosome number 2n = 22 was reconfirmed in monoecious species (M. balsamina and M. charantia). Out of four dioecious species, the chromosome number was reconfirmed in M. cochinchinensis (2n = 28), M. dioica (2n = 28) and M. subangulata subsp. renigera (2n = 56), while in M. sahyadrica (2n = 28) somatic chromosome number was reported for the first time. A new chromosome number of 2n = 18 was reported in M. cymbalaria against its previous reports of 2n = 16, 22. The karyotype analysis of all the species revealed significant numerical and structural variations of chromosomes. It was possible to distinguish chromosomes of M. cymbalaria from other Momordica species and also between monoecious and dioecious taxa of the genus. Morphology and crossability among the dioecious species was also studied. Evidence from morphology, crossability, pollen viability and chromosome synapsis suggests a segmental allopolyploid origin for M. subangulata subsp. renigera. The taxonomic status of the controversial taxon M. cymbalaria was also discussed using morphological, karyological and crossability data.

Cytotaxonomical analysis of Momordica L. (Cucurbitaceae) species of Indian occurrence.

The genus Momordica, native to the paleotropics, comprises about 59 species, of which 10 occur in Asia and 7 in India. Bitter gourd is cultivated extensively in the warmer regions of the world, while teasel gourd is cultivated to a small extent in Bangladesh and eastern and north eastern parts of India. The Asiatic Momordica are unique in the sense that most of them are edible with multiple medicinal properties as expounded by the rich ethno botanical literature, though not validated through clinical trials in most cases. Taxonomy and identification of Asiatic Momordica are often confusing and the problem is compounded by the prevalence of identical vernacular names and wrong or interchangeable usage of common names for these entities. All available information are reviewed, collated and synthesised in this book, which hopefully give an overall picture of the current understanding on the taxonomic status, distribution, genetics, cytology, reproductive biology, crossability relationships, genetic resources, crop improvement, husbandry and ethnobotany of this important group of under-utilised vegetables.

Momordica genus in Asia - An Overview

Bitter gourd, bottle gourd, wax gourd, snake gourd, sponge gourd, and ridge gourd are cultivated and marketed by smallholder farmers, and are important crops in home gardens throughout southern and southeastern Asia. These vegetables provide significant dietary nutrients such as vitamin A and C, iron and calcium. Public sector breeders and germplasm curators release open-pollinated varieties of these cucurbits developed through selection from landraces. Private sector breeders develop F1 hybrid cultivars of these gourds that are popular with growers because of their uniformity, early and total marketable yield, and, in some cases, disease resistance. This chapter reviews the status of germplasm resources for sustained genetic improvement of these cucurbit species. Susceptibility to viruses is currently the major production constraint for these gourds, and systematic evaluation of their germplasm against viruses will be helpful for breeding improved cucurbit lines. The germplasm resources of these gourd species are held in an array of genebanks in several countries and may not be readily available for scientific research or to commercial breeders outside of their respective country. Many accessions of these gourd species listed by the World Vegetable Center and the U.S. Germplasm Resources Information Network are either not available or inactive. More accessions of these gourd species and their relatives need, therefore, to be collected from various regions of the tropics, conserved, and evaluated to ensure continuous genetic gains in breeding programs.

Gourds: Bitter, Bottle, Wax, Snake, Sponge and Ridge

Phytochemicals including minerals, total phenolics, total flavonoids and antioxidant capacity were measured with ferric reducing antioxidant power and radical scavenging capacity (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl or DPPH) in fruits of three wild/semi domesticated Momordica species (Momordica dioica, M. subangulata subsp. renigera and M. cochinchinensis) of south east Asia. Momordica dioica had significantly high crude protein (1.86 g/100 g), crude fat (1.0 g/100 g), total sugar (11.36 g/100 g), reducing sugar (9.6 g/100 g) and starch (8.72 g/100 g) in comparison to other species. Among the minerals analysed, phosphorus, iron and copper content was maximum in M. subangulata subsp. renigera (0.37 %, 119.80 ppm, 10.80 ppm respectively) while magnesium and zinc content was maximum in M. dioica (0.18 %, 37.40 ppm respectively). Interestingly, in contrast to all other minerals, manganese content was significantly higher in M. cochinchinensis (178 ppm). The total phenol, total flavonoids, DPPH and FRAP values ranged from 26.08 to 106.89 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 g, 0.99–12.45 mg catechin equivalent/100 g, 43.56–81.73 mg ascorbic acid equivalent/100 g, 5.75–65.84 mg ascorbic acid equivalent anti-oxidant capacity/100 g, respectively. Among the species studied M. dioica showed the highest antioxidant activity as it contains total phenol (106.89 mg/100 g), total flavonoids (12.45 mg/100 g), DPPH (81.73 mg/100 g) and FRAP (65.84 mg/100 g). From the present study, it is concluded that these traditional vegetables may contribute in a significant way to the food and nutritional security and balanced diets of both rural and urban households besides being a potential source of natural antioxidant.

L. K. Bharathi

Papers

Bitter gourd: botany, horticulture, breeding

Cytotaxonomical analysis of Momordica L. (Cucurbitaceae) species of Indian occurrence.

Momordica genus in Asia - An Overview

Gourds: Bitter, Bottle, Wax, Snake, Sponge and Ridge

Assay of Nutritional Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Three Dioecious Momordica Species of South East Asia