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Showing papers by "Department of Biotechnology published in 1997"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated the effect of nitrate on nitrogenase activity in soybean nodules and found that the reduction in nitrogen fixation was matched by a decrease in nitrogenase-linked respiration and increases in nodule oxygen diffusion resistance.
Abstract: Nodulated soybean plants (Glycine max (L.) Merr. cv. Clarke) were supplied with 10 mol m -3 nitrate at the vegetative stage. This treatment caused a rapid decline in nitrogen fixation (acetylene reduction) activity and a consequent decline in ureides in the xylem sap. However, there was virtually no effect on the nitrogenase complex, according to Western blots against components 1 and 2. The effect on nitrogen fixation was matched by a decrease in nitrogenase-linked respiration and increases in nodule oxygen diffusion resistance and the carbon cost of nitrogen fixation. The addition of nitrate had little effect on protein content from either nodule plant or bacteroid fractions. Activities of nitrate reductase (NR) and nitrite reductase (NiR) from either the plant fraction or the bacteroids were affected in different ways during 8 d of NO 3 - supply. Nodule plant NR and bacteroid NiR were not affected. However, nodule plant NiR increased 5-fold within 2 d of supplying NO 3 - . Bacteroid NR only increased after 6d. These results could be interpreted in terms of a restricted nitrate access into the infected region of nodules. However, denitrification was detected within 2d of nitrate supply in soybean nodules. The results are discussed in relation to possible causes of the nitrate-induced decline in nitrogenase activity.

61 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Indian micropropagation industry, though a late starter by almost a decade, compared to its western counterparts, has expanded exponentially from 5 million annual capacity in 1988 to 190 million in 1996, and the facilities now created are at par with the best in leading countries like the Netherlands and USA.
Abstract: Commercial application of plant tissue culture started in USA with micropropagation of orchids in 1970s. It has seen tremendous expansion globally from 1985 to 1990 in the number of production units as well as the number of plants produced. With an estimated global market of 15 billion US dollars per annum for tissue cultured products, even with exponential expansion in the industry, the demand far exceeds production, leaving enough scope for expansion. This industry appears to be undergoing a pause in growth presently in developed countries as it is finding difficult to remain cost–effective. In US, only half the production capacity is being utilized currently due to high labour costs. In developing countries, with lower wage scales, plants are being produced at much cheaper rates. Indian micropropagation industry, though a late starter by almost a decade, compared to its western counterparts, has expanded exponentially from 5 million annual capacity in 1988 to 190 million in 1996. The facilities now created are at par with the best in leading countries like the Netherlands and USA. To remain in profitable business and to earn the much needed foreign exchange, Indian units need to judiciously mix steady revenue generating items with unique speciality items based on demand in domestic and international markets.

43 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A new ligand N-salicyloyl-N'-(p-hydroxybenzthioyl) hydrazine (H2STPH) and its Cu(II) complex [Cu(SPTH] were prepared and characterized by analytical and physicochemical studies and tested against breast tumor in mice and in vitro on P-815 and K-562 cells.

22 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Efficient gas-liquid chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography methods for the separation of endosulphan I and II and its major metabolites have been developed using a glass column packed with 3% OV-225 and a C18 reversed-phase column with acetonitrile:water as mobile phase.
Abstract: Efficient gas–liquid chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography methods for the separation of endosulphan I and II and its major metabolites have been developed using a glass column packed with 3% OV-225 and a C18 reversed-phase column with acetonitrile:water (70:30 v/v) as mobile phase, respectively. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

10 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Sister chromatid exchange test was applied to a tropical cultured fish and revealed that the test species in the present study may be used in mutagenicity assays for screening environmental pollutants.
Abstract: Sister chromatid exchange (SCE) test was applied to a tropical cultured fish, Etroplus suratensis by exposing to known mutagens. Intramuscular injections of methyl methane sulphonate (MMS) and cyclophosphamide (CP) for an exposure period of 96 h resulted in significant increase in the frequency of SCE in gill tissues. MMS induced dose dependent increase in SCE. The findings revealed that the test species in the present study may be used in mutagenicity assays for screening environmental pollutants.

7 citations