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At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed2006

Irradiation as a phytosanitary treatment for Aspidiotus destructor (Homoptera: Diaspididae).

Coconut scale, Aspidiotus destructor Signoret (Homoptera: Diaspididae), is a quarantine pest of banana (Musa spp.) and many tropical crops. Irradiation was examined as a potential phytosanitary treatment to control coconut scale. Dose-response tests were conducted with second-stage nymphs, adult females without eggs, and adult females with eggs at a series of irradiation doses between 60 and 200 Gy to determine the most tolerant stage. The adult female with eggs was the most tolerant stage. In large-scale validation tests and dose-response tests, a total of 32,716 adult female scales with eggs irradiated with doses between 100 and 150 Gy produced no F1 adults with eggs. Irradiation treatment with a minimum absorbed dose of 150 Gy should provide quarantine security for coconut scale on exported commodities.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Within-plant distribution and binomial sampling of Pentalonia nigronervosa (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on banana.

The banana aphid, Pentalonia nigronervosa Coquerel (Hemiptera: Aphididae), infests banana (Musa spp.) worldwide. Pentalonia nigronervosa is the vector of Banana bunchy top virus (family Nanoviridae, genus Babuvirus) the etiological agent of Banana bunchy top disease (BBTD). BBTD is currently the most serious problem affecting banana in Hawaii. Despite the importance of this vector species, little is known about its biology or ecology. There are also no sampling plans available for P. nigronervosa. We conducted field surveys to develop a sampling plan for this pest. Ten plots were surveyed on seven commercial banana farms on the island of Oahu, HI, for the presence of P. nigronervosa on banana plantlets. We found aphids more frequently near the base of plants, followed by the newest unfurled leaf at the top of the plant. Aphids were least likely to be located on leaves in between the top and bottom of the plant. Aphid infestation on surveyed plots ranged from 8 to 95%. We developed a sequential binomial sampling plan based on our surveys. We also discovered that the within-plant distribution of P. nigronervosa is an important factor to consider when sampling for this pest. Our sampling plan will assist in the development of sustainable management practices for banana production.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Evaluation of vegetal extracts as biological herbi- and pesticides for their use in Cuban agriculture.

The idea of an interuniversity project between the Universidad Central de Las Villas, Cuba and the University of Ghent, Belgium was conceived in order to improve the quality of the Cuban agriculture and to stimulate its independence from foreign chemical farm inputs, starting with an applied ethnobotanical investigation as basis for the development of sustainable agricultural practices. The project consists of three parts. The first, ethnobotanical part, subtends the two subsequent stages, i.e. the phytochemical and pharmacological stages. After ethnobotanical inventarization of plants with a possible phytotoxic or pesticide effect, these will be collected and taxonomically defined. Fresh vegetal material will be dried and ground, and this first crude extract (polar or apolar) will be tested for its activity in in vitro biological tests. When results are positive (presence of activity), this crude extract will be tested in vivo, which could lead to immediate application in agriculture (short-term strategy). The long-term strategy will lead to the identification of chemical substances, responsible for the activity of the crude extract. As highly sophisticated apparatus is needed for this last step (i.e. identification of chemical compounds), this will be performed by the Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Agricultural and Applied Biological Sciences of the University of Ghent. The project has started in September 2000. Apart from all the (complicated) administrative steps to be undertaken for its successful execution, the ethnobotanical and phytochemical parts have already started. Ethnobotanical data were gathered in view of recollection of "traditional botanical knowledge", considering three main approaches: the use of plants in medicine, in Cuban religion (the famous "santería") and the use of allelopathic plants in agriculture. Use of medicinal and religious plants is ubiquitous in Cuba. The concept of allelopathy, however, is much less known and applied. At this moment, and after preliminary screening and gathering of field data, in vitro germination tests are running, trying out extracts of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), banana (Musa spp.), sunflower (Helianthus annuus), Simarouba glauca and S. laevis (syn. Quassia, fam. Simaroubaceae).

Agriculture↗
PubMed2001

Tylenchida associated with different crops in Sennar State (Sudan).

A study was done on the taxonomy and morphology of plant parasitic nematodes (Tylenchida) found in Sennar State (Sudan). Sixty samples of different crops were collected in the sugarcane area. Thirty samples originated from soil around the roots of Saccharum officinarum (sugarcane) from different ratoons and thirty samples were collected from other crops (Mangifera indica; Citrus limon; Citrus aurantifolia; Citrus paradisi; Citrus sinensis, Phoenix dactylifera, Musa sapentium; Cassia italica, Capsicum annuum, Sorghum bicolor, Sorghum sudanensis, Gossypium barbadense, Ficus nitida, Khaya senegalensis, Eucalyptus microtheca, Acacia nilotica, Acacia seyal, Azardichta indica, Cajanus cajana, Caltropsis spp. and Liguster ovalifolium). Seven species belonging to seven different genera of Tylenchida were identified: Paratrophurus lobatus, Scutellonema clathricaudatum, Hoplolaimus aegypti and Filenchus cylindricus. Helicotylenchus plumariae, Pratylenchus thornei and Malenchus andrassyi are new records for Sudan. These seven species were compared with the descriptions given in the literature and differences and variations were discussed. Additional morphological data were described by means of SEM microscopy.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Sucrose preculture to simplify cryopreservation of banana meristem cultures.

A simple cryopreservation method is described for proliferating meristem cultures of banana (Musa spp.). It relies on a 2-week preculture on media containing 0.4 M sucrose followed by rapid cooling in liquid nitrogen. Different preculture media were screened for efficient protection of banana meristems against cryopreservation. Sucrose can be replaced by both fructose and glucose without significantly affecting post-thaw survival rates. A high BA concentration (0.1 mM) in the preculture medium results in less material available for cryopreservation, but does not affect cryoprotection. Culture in liquid media significantly improved post-thaw regeneration. The optimized cryopreservation protocol was applied on 36 banana accessions belonging to 8 different genomic groups. It is shown that post-thaw regeneration frequencies (ranging between 0 and 66 percent) are highly dependent on the genomic constitution of the banana cultivar.

Cryopreservation↗
PubMed2004

Long-term impacts of land-use change on dynamics of tropical soil carbon and nitrogen pools.

Land-use changes, especially the conversion of native forest vegetation to cropland and plantations in tropical region, can alter soil C and N pools and N availability for plant uptake. Deforestation, followed by shifting cultivation and establishment of rubber tree plantation, is a common land-use change in Xishuangbanna, southwest China. However the influence of this kind of land-use change on soil C and N dynamics in this region remains poorly understood. This study was conducted to assess the effects of land-use change on soil C and N pools. Soil samples were collected on five adjacent plots, which belong to three land-use types including secondary forest-an acuminate banana (Musa itinerans) secondary forest and a male bamboo (Dendrocalamus membranaceae) secondary forest, shifting cultivation, and rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis (H. B. K.) Muell. Arg.) plantation (one plot is 3-year-old, and another is 7-year-old). We measured soil bulk density (BD), pH value, moisture content and concentrations of soil organic carbon (SOC), total soil nitrogen (TSN), and inorganic N (NO3- -N and NH4+ -N) at 0-3, 3-20, 20-40 and 40-60 cm depths, and calculated C and N pools in 0-20, 20-40, 40-60, and 0-60 cm soil layers. Compared with the adjacent secondary forests, shifting cultivation and establishment of rubber tree plantations resulted in significant decline in concentrations and stocks of SOC and TSN in 0-20 and 0-60 cm soil layers, and increase in pH and bulk density at 0-3, 3-20, and 20-40 cm depths. Soil moisture content decreased only in 0-20 cm surface soils in shifting cultivation and plantations. The dynamics of mineral N was much more complex, which had different trends among depths and ecosystems. Compared with the secondary forests, SOC stocks in 0-20 cm surface soils in shifting cultivation and rubber tree plantations (3-year-old plantation and 7-year-old plantation) decreased by 34.0%, 33%, and 23%; and TSN stocks decreased by 32.2%, 20.4%, and 20.4%, respectively, whereas the decreases of SOC and TSN stocks in 0-60 cm soil layers were much less. The results indicated that C and N losses were mainly occurred in 0-20 cm surface soil, followed by 20-40 cm layer.

Agriculture↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Activity of polygalacturonase-inhibiting protein of banana fruit tissues].

The activity of polygalacturonase and the protein inhibiting this enzyme, which affected polygalacturonases of phytopathogenic fungi Verticillium dahliae and Gloesporium musarium, were detected in banana (Musa acumthata L.) fruit of cultivars Cavendish and Korolevskii. The polygalacturonase from banana fruit was inhibited by the preparations of the protein inhibitor not only from bananas but also from potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tubers and pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) fruit.

Antifungal Agents↗
PubMed2006

Effect of plantain banana on gastric ulceration in NIDDM rats: role of gastric mucosal glycoproteins, cell proliferation, antioxidants and free radicals.

Methanolic extract of Musa sapientum var. Paradisiaca (MSE, 100 mg/kg) was studied for its antiulcer and mucosal defensive factors in normal and non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) rats. NIDDM was induced by administering streptozotocin (STZ, 70 mg/kg, ip) to 5 days old rat pups. The animals showing blood glucose level >140mg/dL after 12 weeks of STZ administration were considered as NIDDM positive. Effects of MSE were compared with known ulcer protective drug, sucralfate (SFT, 500 mg/kg) and anti-diabetic drug glibenclamide (GLC, 0.6 mg/kg) when administered orally, once daily for 6 days against gastric ulcers (GU) induced by cold-restraint stress (CRS) and ethanol and subsequent changes in gastric mucosal glycoproteins, cell proliferation, free radicals (lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide) and anti-oxidants enzymes (super oxide dismutase and catalase) and glutathione (GSH) levels. MSE showed better ulcer protective effect in NIDDM rats compared with SFT and GLC in CRS-induced GU. NIDDM caused a significant decrease in gastric mucosal glycoprotein level without having any effect on cell proliferation. However, all the test drugs reversed the decrease in glycoprotein level in NIDDM rats, but cell proliferation was enhanced in case of MSE alone. Both CRS or NIDDM as such enhanced gastric mucosal LPO, NO and SOD, but decreased CAT levels while CRS plus NIDDM rats caused further increase in LPO and NO level without causing any further changes in SOD and CAT level. MSE pretreatment showed reversal in the levels of all the above parameters better than GLC. Ethanol caused a decrease in glutathione level which was further reduced in NIDDM-ethanol rats. MSE reversed the above changes significantly in both normal as well as in NIDDM rats, while GLC reversed it only in NIDDM rats. However, SFT was ineffective in reversing the changes induced by CRS or ethanol or when given in NIDDM-CRS or NIDDM-ethanol rats. The results indicated that the ulcer protective effect of MSE could be due to its predominant effect on mucosal glycoprotein, cell proliferation, free radicals and antioxidant systems.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

[Isolation, sequencing analysis and characterization of the promoter of banana lectin gene].

Banana (Musa spp) is one of the most important fruit crops in the world. Banana fruit is an ideal organ for producing foreign pharmaceutical proteins and chemicals by genetic engineering. A perfect promoter driving foreign gene to express strongly and specifically in banana fruit is necessary for that. In order to isolate a banana fruit-specific expressed promoter, a fragment of 702 nt nucleotide sequence upstream 5' of banana lectin (BanLec) gene, which was demonstrated to express specifically in banana fruit previously, was isolated by using chromosomal walking in this study. Bioinformatical analysis of this sequence shows that the sequence contains some typical elements of a promoter. To identify the fruit-specific expression of this promoter, a construct was derived from pBI121, which originally CaMV 35S promoter was replaced by the 702 nt nucleotide sequence, and named as pBIL2. Transformations of pBIL2 to roots, leaves and fruit pieces of banana were carried out by using particle bombardment. The transient expression of gus showed that the gus expressed specifically in banana fruit with a little higher level compared with CaMV 35S. It is the first report that BanLec promoter is a potential fruit-specific expressed promoter which can further be used in transgenes into banana.

Cloning, Molecular↗
PubMed2002

Effect of berberine and (+/-)-bicuculline isolated from Corydalis chaerophylla on spore germination of some fungi.

Berberine and (+/-)-bicuculline were isolated from roots and leaves, respectively, of Corydalis chaerophylla. Both were effective in vitro against spore germination of some plant pathogenic fungi (Alternaria brassicicola, A. brassicae, A. cheiranthi, A. melongenae, A. solani, Colletotrichum musae, C. falcatum, Curvularia penniseti, C. lunata, C. maculans, C. pallescens, Curvularia sp., Erysiphe pisi, E. cichoracearum, Erysiphe sp., Fusarium udum, Helminthosporium spiciferum, H. penniseti, H. frumentacei, Heterosporium sp., Oidium erysiphoides and Ustilago cynodontis). Berberine and (+/-)-bicuculline significantly inhibited spore germination of all the fungi at concentrations of 100-1000 ppm. Berberine was effective against all the fungi at all concentrations; most of the fungi did not germinate at 1000 ppm. H. penniseti conidia did not germinate at any concentration of (+/-)-bicuculline. U. cynodontis was the least sensitive fungus at lower concentrations but 800 ppm dose was highly effective.

Antifungal Agents↗
PubMed2001

Inhibition of beta-amylase activity, starch degradation and sucrose formation by indole-3-acetic acid during banana ripening.

In order to observe the effect of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) on carbohydrate metabolism, unripe banana (Musa acuminata AAA, cv. Nanicão) slices were infiltrated with the hormone and left to ripen under controlled conditions. The climacteric respiration burst was reduced by the action of IAA, and starch degradation and sucrose formation were delayed. Sucrose synthase (SuSy; EC 2.4.1.13) and sucrose-phosphate synthase (SPS; EC 2.4.1.14) activities and transcript levels were not affected, indicating that prevention of sucrose accumulation was not related to sucrose-metabolizing enzymes. Impairment of sucrose synthesis could be a consequence of lack of substrate, since starch degradation was inhibited. The increase in activity and transcript level of beta-amylase was delayed, indicating that this enzyme could be important in starch-to-sucrose metabolism in bananas and that it might be, at least partially, controlled at the transcriptional level. This is the first report showing that IAA can delay starch degradation, possibly affecting the activity of hydrolytic enzymes such as beta-amylase (EC 3.2.1.2).

Carbon Dioxide↗
PubMed1997

Banana sucrose-phosphate synthase gene expression during fruit ripening.

A 952-base pair polymerase-chain-reaction product of sucrose-phosphate synthase (SPS) (EC 2.3.1.14) from banana (Musa acuminata cv. Nanicão) fruit was cloned and used to study expression of the enzyme during development and ripening. The deduced amino acid sequence shows that banana SPS has a high homology with the leaf, tap-root and bean enzymes from other species. Enzyme activity, and mRNA and protein levels point to an increase in SPS expression during ripening. The accumulation of sucrose was correlated to starch degradation and happened 4 d after SPS mRNA and activity had reached their maxima. These results indicate that access to substrate and transcriptional activation with increase in SPS expression might be important regulatory events of sweetening during banana fruit ripening.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

The selective increase or decrease of organellar DNA in generative cells just after pollen mitosis one controls cytoplasmic inheritance.

Organellar DNA in mature pollen grains of eight angiosperm species (Actinidia deliciosa Lindl., Antirrhinum majus L., Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh., Medicago sativa L., Musa acuminata Colla, Pelargonium zonale (L.) L'Hér, Petunia hybrida Vilm. and Rhododendron mucronatum (Blume) G. Don, in which the modes of organellar inheritance have been determined genetically, was observed by fluorescence microscopy using Technovit 7100 resin sections double-stained with 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) and 3,3'-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide (DiOC(6)). The eight species were classified into four types, based on the presence or absence of organellar DNA in mature generative cells: namely (1) type "m+p+", which has both mitochondrial and plastid DNA (P. zonale), (2) type "m+p-", which only has mitochondrial DNA (M. acuminata), (3) type "m-p+", which only has plastid DNA (A. deliciosa, M. sativa, R. mucronatum), and (4) type "m-p-", which has neither mitochondrial nor plastid DNA (A. majus, A. thaliana, P. hybrida). This classification corresponded to the mode of organellar inheritance determined by genetic analysis. The presence or absence of mitochondrial and plastid DNA corresponded to paternal/biparental inheritance or maternal inheritance of the respective organelle, respectively. When organellar DNA was present in mature generative cells (m+ or p+), the DNA content of the organelles in the generative cells started to increase immediately after pollen mitosis one (PMI). In contrast, the DNA content of organelles in generative cells decreased rapidly after PMI when organellar DNA was absent from mature generative cells (m- or p-). These results indicate that the modes of inheritance (paternal/biparental inheritance or maternal inheritance) of mitochondria and plastids are determined independently of each other in young generative cells just after PMI.

Cytoplasm↗
PubMed1996

Use of competitive PCR to assay copy number of repetitive elements in banana.

Banana is one of the most important subtropical fruit crops. Genetic improvement by traditional breeding strategies is difficult and better knowledge of genomic structure is needed. Repeated sequences are powerful markers for genetic fingerprinting. The method proposed here to determine the copy number of nuclear repetitive elements is based on competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and can also be used for quantifying cytosolic sequences. The reliability of this method was investigated on crude preparations of total DNA. Variations due to the heterogeneity of crude DNA extracts showed that a single locus reference is needed for accurate quantification. A mapped microsatellite locus was used to normalize copy number measurements. Copy number assay of repetitive elements using this method clearly distinguishes between the two banana subspecies investigated: Musa acuminata spp. banskii and M. acuminata spp. malaccensis. Two repetitive sequence families, pMaCIR1115 and pA9-26, were assayed that cover up to 1% of the M. acuminata genome. Their copy number varied up to six fold between the two subspecies. Furthermore, sequence quantification showed that mitochondrial genomes are present in crude leaf-extracted banana DNA at up to 40 copies per cell.

Blotting, Southern↗
PubMed1985

Muscle paralyzing effect of the juice from the trunk of the banana tree.

The effect of an extract from the trunk of the banana tree (Musa sapientum) was investigated in isolated skeletal muscle preparations from the chick, mouse and frog using twitch tension and intracellular recording techniques. The extract produced, in the same concentration range and after an initial period of twitch augmentation, paralysis of skeletal muscle in both directly and indirectly stimulated preparations. It also had a dose-dependent stimulant effect on the muscle causing a contracture. The neuromuscular blockade was reversed by calcium, but only when added before complete paralysis of the muscle. On the other hand, neostigmine usually hastened the blockade and aggravated the contracture. The frequency of the miniature endplate potential in the mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparation greatly increased initially, declining to an elevated plateau. Effects on quantal content of endplate potentials (e.p.p.s) were studied in the transected mouse phrenic nerve-hemidiaphragm using trains of e.p.p.s. In the presence of the extract, only a few e.p.p. trains could normally be evoked, probably due to nerve terminal block. When quantal content could be measured at low concentrations of the extract, an increase was usually obtained. Muscle action potentials in the frog sartorius muscle were decreased in amplitude until no further potentials could be generated. The results suggest that the nature of the block produced by the extract resembles that of a potent local anaesthetic with an initial atypical labilizing effect on cell calcium rather than a conventional curariform block.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1990

The augmenting action of banana tree juice on skeletal muscle contraction.

An extract obtained from juice expressed from the stem of the plantain banana tree (Musa sapientum L., var. paradisiaca) induces twitch augmentation in skeletal muscles. The mechanism of this action was investigated in the mouse hemi-diaphragm preparation. Directly evoked twitches and potassium induced (K+) contractures were both augmented by the extract. Twitch augmentation was partly dependent on extracellular Ca2+. The action on K(+)-contractures was unaffected by tetrodotoxin, but the rate of relaxation was enhanced in the absence of extracellular calcium (0[Ca2+]o). Muscle contracture induced by high concentrations of extract was also augmented in 0[Ca2+]o and in the presence of the Ca2(+)-channel blocking agent, nifedipine. The time course of the contracture was shortened in 0[Ca2+]o, but not by nifedipine. Nifedipine enhanced the augmenting effect of the extract on twitches but shortened the time-course of this action. In addition, a muscle contracture was superimposed on the twitching muscle at higher concentrations of nifedipine. Manganese, on the other hand, reduced or abolished the augmenting action of the extract. The results are consistent with an action of banana tree juice on the molecule responsible for excitation-contraction coupling in skeletal muscle, resulting in a labilization of intracellular Ca2+.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Fungal metabolite extracts active against phytopathogens.

The effectiveness of some genetically engineered microorganisms in the control of plant disease pathogens is widely acknowledged. These biopesticides, so far, pose less danger to the environment. However, little attention has been paid to the potential benefit of the use of exometabolites of some microorganisms in spite of their known activity and high biodegradability. A total of 1108 fungal metabolite extracts obtained from different strains of micromycetes cultured in two different liquid media (malt extract and yeast saccharose) were tested for antifungal activity. The target organisms were Collectotrichum musae, Drechslera spicifera, Fusarium oxysporum, Geotrichum candidum, Pyricularia oryzae, Drechslera oryzae and Gerlachia oryzae. Percentage mycelial growth inhibition activities varied widely with the different taxonomic groups. Extracts from Aspergillus and Penicillium spp. consistently showed the highest activity. A greater number of micromycetes produced active extracts in a liquid yeast extract saccharose medium than in a liquid malt extract medium. Mycelial growth inhibition diameters were also greater in assays with extracts from the yeast extract saccharose medium. The results generally demonstrated fungal metabolite extracts as potential sources of agricultural chemical input.

Antibiosis↗
PubMed1991

Dietary exposure to aflatoxin in Benin City, Nigeria: a possible public health concern.

A total of 100 samples of various foods comprising of 10 samples each of garri (Manihot utilis Pohl), beans (Phaseolus lunatus), yam flour (Dioscorea rotundata), cassava flour (Manihot esculentum), melon (Citrulus lunatus), onion (Allium cepa), rice (Oryza sativa), plantain (Musa paradisiaca), red pepper (Capsicum annuum L., Solanaceae) and eggs were screened for the presence of aflatoxins. Fifty percent of yam flour; 40% of cassava flour; 30% of garri; 20% of beans and melon and 10% of rice yielded aflatoxin. The implications of this incidence of aflatoxin in common foodstuff found in this community is discussed.

Aflatoxins↗