Mark Anthony I. Jose and Esperanza C. Cabrera Multiple drug resistance (MDR) in Escherichia coli poses great risks to both human and animal health as it compromises the management of diseases caused by E. coli strains. E. coli was isolated from the gills of 35 Oreochromis niloticus or Nile tilapia procured from the Balintawak, Cubao and Libertad wet markets in Metro Manila. The isolates were studied for their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns using the standard disc diffusion method, and for the transferability of their resistance determinants. Results showed the highest percentage resistance of the isolated E. coli to ampicillin (77.14%) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (60%). These were followed by the resistance to tetracycline (45.71%), cephalothin (17.14%), gentamicin (11.43%), nalidixic acid (8.57%), and the least to ciprofloxacin (5.71%). On the other hand, all the isolates were found to be susceptible to the aminoglycoside amikacin, and were also found to be susceptible...

Zhongqi Sun, Yun Deng, Huai Sun, Yanyun Zhao, Haiyan Gao, Hangjun Chen, and Honglei Mu Pectin was used to modify poly (lactic acid) (PLA) to develop an amphiphilic packaging material. Molecular dynamics was employed to assess the compatibility of pectin and PLA. The structure and the hydrophilicity of the pectin–PLA blend films, prepared using graded hot-pressing, were characterized. The results showed that pectin and PLA were not compatible in molecular dynamic simulation, and the thermodynamic test of pectin–PLA blend films also indicated the incompatibility which showed two glass transition temperatures (62.2 °C and 157.3 °C, respectively). Moreover, the thermal stability of the blend films increased with increasing pectin content in the films, and the films maintained good hydrophilic property with the contact angle less than 90°. This study could inspire further macroscopic and microscopic evaluation of blend films.

Manuela A. Samaco, Neilyn O. Villa, and Glenn B. Gregorio Salinity tolerance of MAGIC (Multiparent Advanced Generation Intercross) indica population of rice (Oryza sativa L.) was investigated at the seedling stage through phenotypic screening, morpho-physiological measurements and SSR analysis. Out of the original 970 MAGIC rice genotypes, 205 genotypes were initially selected based on salinity tolerance. After a second screening, 36 lines were subjected to a final replicated screening along with eight founder lines of MAGIC indica, and two checks (FL 478 and IR 29). Ten MAGIC indica genotypes (28%) were scored as tolerant and 26 (72%) moderately tolerant. Among the founder lines, IR 45427-2B-2-2B-1-1 scored tolerant, 4 lines scored moderately tolerant and 1 scored susceptible. Relatively, the percent reduction in fresh weight content for shoot biomass was observed to be higher among the genotypes than percent reduction in dry weight content. A reverse trend was observed for percent...

Abdul Basir, Adnan Tahir, Kilwat Afridi, Shah Fahad, Zahoor Ahmad, Muhammad Adnan, Mukhtar Alam, Shaheen Shah, Ahmad Khan, Fazli Wahid, Muhammad Ibrahim, Inayat-ur-Rahman, Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, and Rehad Ali Optimization of planting time and seed rate are of prime importance to determine crop yield with change in climate. Hence, a field experiment was conducted using two-factorial randomized complete block design (RCBD) with split-plot arrangement where sowing time was assigned to main plots and seed rates were assigned to subplots to evaluate the response of wheat to varying seed rates (90, 100, 110, 120, 130 and 140 kg ha-1) and planting time (sowing started from October 25 with a 10-d gap till December 15). Different planting time significantly affected heading stage, spike length, plant height, number of spikes per unit area, 1000-grain weight, biological and grain yield, and harvest index. Similarly various seed rates also had significantly affected spike production, grains per s...

Shadi Faramoushi, Hamid Hatami Maleki, Behrouz Vaezi, and Naser Sabagnia Genotype × environment (GE) interaction was investigated for grain yield of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Data included were 18 genotypes and 15 environments (five locations and three years). Interaction effect was modeled by four types of stability parameters and studied parameters were plotted against mean yield performance for graphic analysis of stability and simultaneous selection for yield and stability. About 60% of the total variance was explained by environment differences, about 24% by GE differences and 15% by genotype differences. G8, G10 and G18 according to Si2 and G2, G6 and G10 considering CVi were stable while G2, G6 and G10 were identified as the most stable genotypes based on θi, θ(i), Wi2 and σi2 parameters. Genotypes with bi and βi (coefficients of linear regression) values greater than 1 (such as G3, G7, G15 and G17) indicated higher yield in more favorable environments. Overall based on Ty...

Angelo C. Castro, Elda B. Esguerra, Josephine U. Agravante, and Lilia M. Fernando The effect of the combination treatment of 1% chitosan coating and 3-d low temperature conditioning (LTC) at 10 °C was evaluated in maintaining the quality of red-fleshed dragon fruit during storage at 8 °C. Fruit subjected to LTC and chitosan coating treatments had slower respiration rate than the control. Ascorbic acid (AAC) and total phenolic contents (TPC) of the fruit subjected to the treatments were unaffected during storage. However, the decline in AAC after transfer to 20 °C was slower in treated fruit. Furthermore, the increase in flesh concentration of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) during storage at 8 °C was due to the inhibition of ethylene biosynthesis. The increase in electrolyte leakage, on the other hand, was a manifestation of cell breakdown as a result of chilling injury.

Arvin Paul P. Tuaño, Carl H. Ricafort, and Ernesto J. del Rosario Gelatinization temperature (GT) is an important property of the rice grain which affects its cooking and eating qualities. The most reliable method for determining GT needs expensive equipment, namely differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). An alternative method is digital photometry (DP) which uses an inexpensive digital camera and free-access image processing software to determine the alkali spreading value (ASV) and GT of milled rice. The starch gel area of the images of alkali-gelatinized grains was measured after a given gelatinization time; the images were then taken with a digital camera inside a fabricated light box and analyzed using ImageJ. Literature GT values based on DSC (GTDSC) for eight rice varieties were correlated with experimental values of relative increases in gel area after gelatinization, i.e., RIAi and RIAf based either on initial area or final area, respectively. The natural logarithm of RIAi...

Inkyung Park, Jaekoo Lee, and Jaiesoon Cho The production of extracellular lipase from the Antarctic bacterial isolate, Pseudomonas sp. INK1, by solid state fermentation using agricultural residues as substrate was evaluated. Among the substrates tested, soybean meal was most favorable for the lipase production, increasing the enzyme activity 1.7- and 2.5-fold in comparison with wheat bran and corn flour, respectively, and it was chosen for further work. Maximum lipase production (7,553 ± 235 U/g) was observed at 84 h of fermentation. Lipase production was optimal at moisture content of 71.4%, pH of 6–7, and inoculum size of 6%. The addition of maltose as the carbon source and peptone as the nitrogen source was most effective for enhancing lipase production. This solid state fermentation is meaningful in converting inexpensive agricultural residues into highly valued biotechnological products such as lipase. It may benefit the conventional sector of crop agriculture.

Hajra Javed, Saima Mumtaz, Touqeer Ahmad, Muhammad Ajmal Bashir, Ishfaq Ahmad Hafiz, and Abdul Razzaq An efficient protocol is described for in vitro shoot proliferation from apical shoot of economically important rootstock GF-677 using varied media amalgamations, i.e., ½ Murashige and Skoog (MS), ¾ MS and Woody Plant Medium (WPM) and different concentrations of Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs) (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 mg L-1). The potential of various concentrations of AgNPs on control of bacterial contamination of GF-677 cultures was also determined. Among different media screened for shoot proliferation of GF-677 rootstock, WPM showed best interaction for shoot number (4.5 shoots/explant) and leaf area (0.52 cm2) with 20 mg L-1 and 25 mg L-1 AgNPs, respectively. However, ¾ MS proved to be prosperous media for shoot length (4.92 cm) with 20 mg L-1 AgNPs and fresh (755.1 mg) and dry (84.5 mg) weight on 25 mg L-1 AgNPs. Multiple shoots with controlled bacterial contamination were also achieve...

Trinh Quang Thoai1, Roberto F. Rañola Jr., and Leni D. Camacho Many studies have increasingly emphasized adaptation to climate change in agricultural production. Most of them have recognized that agronomic strategies such as shifting agricultural calendar, changing crop varieties and types, crop diversification, income diversification and improving irrigation infrastructure are the commonly used adaptive strategies to climate change. What these strategies have missed, however, is the critical role of meteorological information for farmers in coping with climate variability and change. This paper provides a synthesis of the issues raised in the literature related to the major role and importance of weather forecast and meteorological information in coping with climate change. A number of these issues were related to improving weather forecast and providing meteorological services as adaptive strategies to climate change. The findings of these studies on improving quality of weather f...