A new system, the Toxorhynchites-fluorescent antibody (TFA) test in which the larvae of Toxorhynchites splendens mosquitoes were used for the detection of bluetongue virus (BTV) from Culicoides midges, was developed. Twenty-seven pools of Culicoides midges were collected from bluetongue-prone areas of Tamil Nadu by use of the light-trap and suction-trap methods. A suspension of each pool was in...

Previously published mtDNA cytochrome b sequences for Xyrichtys novacula (Linnaeus) and two morphologically distinct types of Xyrichtys larvae (Pisces: Labridae) included human cytochrome b sequence, presumably due to sample contamination and/or poor preservation of sample DNA. Those sequences had been used to identify the two types of Xyrichtys larvae as X. novacula, but owing to the contamina...

Fungal phytopathogens are cause of many plant diseases and much loss of crop yields, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. Chemical fungicides are extensively used in agriculture. However, these products may cause problems such as environmental pollution and affect human health. Microorganisms as biocontrol agents have high potential to control plant pathogens and no effect on the env...

The bacterium Pseudomonas aureofaciens 63-28 is antagonistic to several plant pathogenic fungi, including Pythium spp. The bacterium produced at least four antifungal metabolites active against Pythium ultimum and Phytophthora cryptogea when tested in culture for antifungal activity. Two of these compounds were identified as the novel butyrolactones (Z)-4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-(1-hexenyl)-2-buteno...

The branching system of higher plants plays a very important role in plant morphogenesis, and the number branches can directly affect crop yield ornamental value plants. It is complicated development process involving complex molecular mechanisms. ‘Cailinghong’ variety Salvia splendens characterized by its great ability with to grow into spherical form naturally, without pinching. To gain insig...

Background: Heavy metals are one of the global environmental challenges from informal disposal electronic waste, especially after post-COVID phase. In present study, concentration three heavy (Pb, Cd, and Cr) in feathers Corvus splendens, Passer domesticus roosting sites at Bellandur Lake, Bengaluru, India were analyzed. Methods: A total nine sediment samples (0-15 cm) collected stored polyethy...

Phytoestrogens are produced by plants and may cause endocrine disruption in vertebrates. The present study hypothesizes that phytoestrogen exposure of female Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens) may disrupt endogenous steroid levels, change agonistic behavior expression, and potentially also disrupt oocyte development. However, only the pharmacologic dose of β-sitosterol had a significant ef...

Efficacy of three different concentrations (5, 10 and 15 mg/ml) of dry flower powder of E. splendens and L. nepetaefolia was tested on the growth of aflatoxin-producing toxigenic strains of fungi A. flavus (NCBT 101) and A. parasiticus (NCBT 128) in Sabouraud dextrose agar medium (SDA). Maximum (75%) inhibition of growth of A. flavus was seen at 15 mg/ml concentration of E. splendens flower dry...

during 2000-2001, soil pythium species were studied in fars province. soil samples werecollected from various parts of the province (abadeh, bajgah, bayza, borazjan, darab, estahban, fasa,khafr, sepidan, shiraz, moharloo, and zarghan). isolates were recovered from soil by baiting. specieswere identified based on morphological characters of sexual and asexual organs, growth rate at differenttemp...