Chromosomes of Ommexecha virens and Descampsacris serrulatum (Ommexechidae) were analyzed through conventional staining, C-banding, base specific fluorochromes, silver nitrate impregnation (AgNO3), and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with probe for 45S rDNA. The two species presented diploid number 2n= 23,X0 in males and acrocentric autosomes, except the pair one that presented submeta...

BACKGROUND The genus Ficus, collectively known as figs, is a key component of tropical forests and is well known for its ethnobotanical importance. In recent decades an increasing number of studies have shown the indigenous knowledge about wild edible Ficus species and their culinary or medicinal value. However, rather little is known about the role of these species in rural livelihoods, becaus...

PREMISE OF THE STUDY Microsatellite markers for dioecious fig species, Ficus bernaysii King (section Sycocarpus), Ficus pachyrrhachis K. Schum. & Lauterb. (section Sycocarpus), and Ficus copiosa Steud. (section Sycidium) were developed to estimate gene flow among closely related fig species. METHODS AND RESULTS Loci were developed from tri- and tetranucleotide-enriched genomic libraries. The ...

The antivenom properties of methanolic extract of Ficus iteophylla miq and Borassus aethiopum plants were investigated against the venom of Naja mossandica snake. Both plant extracts effectively reduced the Naja mossandica venom induced hemolytic activity. The result reveals that hemolysis due to venom was 81.5% without extract but the heomolytic activity was drastically reduced by Ficus iteoph...

The present study is an attempt to isolate and optimize the fermentation conditions of three fungus, namely Trichoderma virens, Alternaria alternata and Curvularia lunata to get pigments for the purpose of textile dyeing. Highest optical density has been achieved in potato dextrose broth at 28oC in 25 days under static conditions. Wool and silk are dyed unmordanted with very good wash and rub f...

The efficacy of four fungal bioagents viz., Trichoderma hamatum, Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma viride, Gliocladium virens and two bacterial bioagents namely Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus subtilis were evaluated against the chickpea vascular wilt pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceri in vitro condition using Dual Culture Technique. Among the fungal bioagents, T. harzianum produce...

Parasitoid diversity in terrestrial ecosystems is enormous. However, ecological processes underpinning their evolutionary diversification in association with other trophic groups are still unclear. Specialisation and interdependencies among chalcid wasps that reproduce on Ficus presents an opportunity to investigate the ecology of a multi-trophic system that includes parasitoids. Here we estima...

Figs (Ficus, Moraceae) constitute one of the largest genera of flowering plants with ca. 750 species worldwide. While the extraordinary mutualism between figs and their pollinating wasps has received attention for decades, we are only just beginning to reconstruct the phylogeny of both partners, a necessary framework for addressing a variety of questions concerning the evolution of mutualism. H...

The present study is premeditated to extenuate the role of Ficus virens extract and itsbioactive compound on cigarette smoke, an important risk factor for CVD, induced oxidativestress and hyperlipidemia. Cigarette smoke (CS) exposure to rats results in significant loss ofbody weight and increases blood carbon monoxide saturation (carboxyhemoglobin), nicotine,plasma TC, TG, and LDL-C levels but ...