Edited by
P. Palani, Ph.D
Lecturer, President-Botany Club
CAS in Botany
University of Madras (Guindy Campus)
Chennai-600025
Inside
Content Page No.
Foreword from the Director 2
From the Editor’s 3
1. Science: Transgenic rice for disease resistance 4
M. Jayaprakashvel
2. Odds and Ends: A forgotten Discoverer 6
V. R. Vijayanandraj
3. Near sighted: Opening ancient doors 8
M. Jayaprakashvel
4. Bits and pieces: 9
S. Krishnakumar
5. Stalwarts: Prof. T. S. Sadasivan 12
K. Srinivasan
6. Cartoon corner 14
A. Jeyaprakash
7. Lighter side of the science 15
M. Thamilventhan and G. Prakash
8. Proud moments 16
Compilation: M. Krishnaraj
9. Thesis 17
Compilation: M. Krishnaraj
Editor: Dr. P. Palani, President-Botany Club
Editorial Assistance: M. Jayaprakashvel, K. Srinivasan & V. R. Vijayanandraj, Research Scholars, CAS in Botany
From the Director’s desk
The Botany Club of our Centre has been celebrating the end of every year with great enthusiasm as Open Day, Botany Day, Students Day and Cultural Day. It has always been a happy occasion for every member of the Club and the CAS in Botany family eagerly waits the joyous occasion. I am pleased to learn that one of the events is the bringing out of a small magazine entitled “Magazine of CAS in Botany” ably edited by Dr. P. Palani, PhD, President of the Botany Club. The magazine contains useful information as short reprints on various interesting aspects authored by the student member of the Club. It’s a good beginning at the end of the academic year.
My congratulations to the team of the Botany Club and best wishes.
Prof. N. Anand, D.Sc.,
Director
Center for Advanced Studies in Botany
University of Madras
Guindy Campus
Chennai-600025
From the Editor’s desk
I am very much delighted to make you known that the Centre for Advanced Studies in Botany, University of Madras stands out among the academic departments of the University of Madras in having a registered Botany Club of 50 years old. The functions of the Botany Club primarily are to bringing in activities other than the usual academic ones. One of the long felt needs of the Club is to bring out a magazine encompassing the latest developments made in various disciplines of Botany in particular and the advancements made in Science in general. With the excellent idea and cooperation of faculty member, research scholars and student we are bringing out “Magazine of CAS in Botany”. It has been decided to circulate the magazine in electronic form for the first few months among the members of CAS in Botany and we are hoping to bring it in print form also depending on the feed back from the readers. I request the members of the scientific fraternity to feel free to express your ideas which can be incorporated in the magazine so as to increase the variety of components and quality.
P. Palani, Ph.D
Lecturer, President- Botany Club
Centre for Advanced Studies in Botany
University of Madras (Guindy Campus)
Chennai-600025
TRANSGENIC RICE FOR DISEASE RESISTANCE
M. JayaprakashvelResearch Scholar
The ever-increasing human population especially in the developing countries and various biotic and abiotic stresses has posed a challenge to boost the rice production in a limited cultivated land. Genetically engineered plants with genes expressing desirable traits can be produced in a relatively short time with more precision and can be of direct value in the agri-food industry. More recent applications of biotechnology to rice breeding, particularly genetic transformation of rice, was started in late 1980s. The application and future prospects of transformation technology to engineer the resistance against insect pests, fungal diseases (blast, sheath blight, bakanae and foot, rot) and bacterial diseases have been addressed (Jain and Jain, 2000). Feng and Li of Zhongshan University, China have developed a transgenic rice through particle bombardment method by combining rice chitinase gene, alfalfa glucanase gene and barley ribosome inactivating protein for enhanced resistance against blast disease. Lin et al. (1995) transformed chitinase gene in to rice through protoplast fusion technology for the resistance of Sheath Blight. Liu et al. (2004) enhanced rice resistance to sheath blight by transformation with cell wall degrading enzyme genes from Trichoderma atroviride.
Indica rice cultivars ADT38, ASD16, IR50 and Pusa Basmati were transformed with thaumatin like proteins and chitinase through particle bombardment method. Thus obtained transgenic lines displayed significant level of protection against sheath blight and sheath rot disease (Kalpana, et al., 2006). Datta et al. (2001) have enhanced resistance to sheath blight by constitutive expression of infection related chitinase in transgenic elite indica rice cultivars like IR 72 and IR64 that are developed by biolistic and PEG mediated transformation system. Several R genes (Xa4, Xa5, Xa13 and Xa21) for BLB resistance were pyramided in to elite indica rice varities such as Jyothi in order to delay the break down of pathogen resistance. Moreover blast resistant genes such as Pi2 were transformed into blast susceptible variety IR50 through conventional breeding programmes (Gnanamanickam et al., 1999). However, transgenic rice lines are having ethical concerns and due to several phases in approval, their commercial usages are still a hurdle in India. Tu et al. (1998 & 2000) transformed Xa21 gene into IR72 and evaluated its performance in controlled field conditions. The evaluation of transgenic rice is to be simplified in order to facilitate the transgenic rice development for disease resistance. It has to concentrate more on other aspects of transgenics development such as there has been no resistance source identified from any rice germplasm for sheath blight disease. Several pathogens evolve during times and so the already released resistant varieties are to be reevaluated adequately for which the population biological studies on pathogen has to be intensified.
The ever-increasing human population especially in the developing countries and various biotic and abiotic stresses has posed a challenge to boost the rice production in a limited cultivated land. Genetically engineered plants with genes expressing desirable traits can be produced in a relatively short time with more precision and can be of direct value in the agri-food industry. More recent applications of biotechnology to rice breeding, particularly genetic transformation of rice, was started in late 1980s. The application and future prospects of transformation technology to engineer the resistance against insect pests, fungal diseases (blast, sheath blight, bakanae and foot, rot) and bacterial diseases have been addressed (Jain and Jain, 2000). Feng and Li of Zhongshan University, China have developed a transgenic rice through particle bombardment method by combining rice chitinase gene, alfalfa glucanase gene and barley ribosome inactivating protein for enhanced resistance against blast disease. Lin et al. (1995) transformed chitinase gene in to rice through protoplast fusion technology for the resistance of Sheath Blight. Liu et al. (2004) enhanced rice resistance to sheath blight by transformation with cell wall degrading enzyme genes from Trichoderma atroviride.
Indica rice cultivars ADT38, ASD16, IR50 and Pusa Basmati were transformed with thaumatin like proteins and chitinase through particle bombardment method. Thus obtained transgenic lines displayed significant level of protection against sheath blight and sheath rot disease (Kalpana, et al., 2006). Datta et al. (2001) have enhanced resistance to sheath blight by constitutive expression of infection related chitinase in transgenic elite indica rice cultivars like IR 72 and IR64 that are developed by biolistic and PEG mediated transformation system. Several R genes (Xa4, Xa5, Xa13 and Xa21) for BLB resistance were pyramided in to elite indica rice varities such as Jyothi in order to delay the break down of pathogen resistance. Moreover blast resistant genes such as Pi2 were transformed into blast susceptible variety IR50 through conventional breeding programmes (Gnanamanickam et al., 1999). However, transgenic rice lines are having ethical concerns and due to several phases in approval, their commercial usages are still a hurdle in India. Tu et al. (1998 & 2000) transformed Xa21 gene into IR72 and evaluated its performance in controlled field conditions. The evaluation of transgenic rice is to be simplified in order to facilitate the transgenic rice development for disease resistance. It has to concentrate more on other aspects of transgenics development such as there has been no resistance source identified from any rice germplasm for sheath blight disease. Several pathogens evolve during times and so the already released resistant varieties are to be reevaluated adequately for which the population biological studies on pathogen has to be intensified.
A Forgotten Discoverer
Vijayanandraj. V.R.Research scholar
Ever heard of Ernest Duchesne? If not, this article has something new for your brains to store in.
Alexander Fleming generally receives credit for DISCOVERING penicillin, but to be technically precise Fleming RE-DISCOVERED the substance. Oops! Did science books right from our school-days misinform us about a great discovery? Let’s revisit history to discover it. Ernest’s discovery of the antibiotic properties of penicillin was thirty-two years before Fleming discovered it, but his research went unnoticed. The research submitted as a doctoral thesis in 1897, was the first study ever in the history of science to report a therapeutic property of a mold.
I would like to walk you through a much interesting story behind penicillin discovery rather than the hyped accidental discovery by Fleming from contaminant plates. Ernest’s observations on why the Arab boys taking care of the horses at the army hospital kept their saddles in a dark and damp room to encourage mold to grow on them, was the major breakthrough. When he asked them why, a surprising answer came “the mold of the saddle helped to heal the saddle sores on the horses”. Intrigued, Duchesne prepared a solution of the mold and injected it into a diseased guinea pig. To his surprise it recovered.” In a series of meticulous experiments, Duchesne studied the interaction between the pathogenic form of Escherichia coli and Penicillium glaucum, a species different from Fleming’s report (Pencillium notatum). He showed that the latter was able to completely eliminate the former in a culture containing only these two organisms: a remarkable discovery of the antibiotic properties of a mold was recorded.
At the time of this discovery Ernest’s was just 23 and was unknown among the scientific community (a reason for not getting recognized?). He urged for more research, but even the renowned Institutes of those times like Institute Pasteur did not acknowledge his dissertation. After getting his degree, unfortunately his army service prevented him from doing any further work and this gentleman died of tuberculosis at very young age of 37.
Then, why the discovery was forgotten? The French medical student Duchesne originally discovered the antibiotic properties of Penicillium, but failed to report a connection between the fungus and a substance that had antibacterial properties, and Penicillium was forgotten in the scientific community until Fleming’s rediscovery. I’m still confused whom should be credited. Is it the Arab boys or Ernest or Fleming? I leave it to your discretion.
Ever heard of Ernest Duchesne? If not, this article has something new for your brains to store in.
Alexander Fleming generally receives credit for DISCOVERING penicillin, but to be technically precise Fleming RE-DISCOVERED the substance. Oops! Did science books right from our school-days misinform us about a great discovery? Let’s revisit history to discover it. Ernest’s discovery of the antibiotic properties of penicillin was thirty-two years before Fleming discovered it, but his research went unnoticed. The research submitted as a doctoral thesis in 1897, was the first study ever in the history of science to report a therapeutic property of a mold.
I would like to walk you through a much interesting story behind penicillin discovery rather than the hyped accidental discovery by Fleming from contaminant plates. Ernest’s observations on why the Arab boys taking care of the horses at the army hospital kept their saddles in a dark and damp room to encourage mold to grow on them, was the major breakthrough. When he asked them why, a surprising answer came “the mold of the saddle helped to heal the saddle sores on the horses”. Intrigued, Duchesne prepared a solution of the mold and injected it into a diseased guinea pig. To his surprise it recovered.” In a series of meticulous experiments, Duchesne studied the interaction between the pathogenic form of Escherichia coli and Penicillium glaucum, a species different from Fleming’s report (Pencillium notatum). He showed that the latter was able to completely eliminate the former in a culture containing only these two organisms: a remarkable discovery of the antibiotic properties of a mold was recorded.
At the time of this discovery Ernest’s was just 23 and was unknown among the scientific community (a reason for not getting recognized?). He urged for more research, but even the renowned Institutes of those times like Institute Pasteur did not acknowledge his dissertation. After getting his degree, unfortunately his army service prevented him from doing any further work and this gentleman died of tuberculosis at very young age of 37.
Then, why the discovery was forgotten? The French medical student Duchesne originally discovered the antibiotic properties of Penicillium, but failed to report a connection between the fungus and a substance that had antibacterial properties, and Penicillium was forgotten in the scientific community until Fleming’s rediscovery. I’m still confused whom should be credited. Is it the Arab boys or Ernest or Fleming? I leave it to your discretion.
OPENING ANCIENT DOORS
M. JayaprakashvelResearch Scholar
Just a ten minutes walk from our department at Gandhimandapam Road in Kotturpuram, one can find Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems (CIKS), an organization that involves in the research and extension work. It is registered as an independent trust in Chennai on 1995. The organization has ongoing research programmes in the areas of biodiversity conservation, organic agriculture and vrkshayurveda. They strongly believe that the future lies in understanding and harnessing the potential of indigenous knowledge systems and integrating them into the mainstream of scientific, industrial and everyday thinking, for which the organization is working for the past two decades. Their extension work involves training, training for farmer, NGOs, students and teachers of colleges and also training on organic home gardening for city dwellers. Further, they have a strong publication wing by which they publish books, newsletters and also various forms of visual media on diverse topics under organic agriculture and indigenous knowledge wealth. They do publish in Tamil for the benefit of farming community.
Aiming at identifying important traditional seed varieties and orienting the agricultural community towards conserving and cultivating them CIKS has been involved in setting up farmer's seed banks/community seed bank. Through this programme, more than 130 varieties of paddy and 50 vegetable varieties are being conserved in farmer’s fields and experimental farms. This work is currently spread in four districts covering 125 villages with a network of 3,000 farmers. The organization is being headed and motivated by Mr. A.V. Balasubramanian, Director and Dr. K. Vijayalakshmi, Research Director. Mr. M. M. Murugappan, of the Murugappa Group is the Chairman of the CIKS trust. For more information www.ciks.org can be browsed.
THE DEBATE CONTINUES !!!
VEGETARIANISM AND VEGETARIAN FOOD.
S.Krishna Kumar,
Research Scholar, Lab.No.102, CAS in Botany
If one offers me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower,
fruit or water, I will accept it – Bhagavad–gita (9.26)
The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. This is an old saying that is very much true. After a quarrel with the husband, the wife often patches up through preparing a favourite dish for the husband. The husband quickly falls into the trap and the quarrel is forgotten and life becomes once smooth sailing. Our cultural heritage has always had the behaviour of welcoming the guest and immediately asking the question – Do you want something hot or cold? Can I get you a cup of coffee or tea or would you prefer cold drinks? If the guest was already expected for the day, the mistress is busy making elaborate preparation in the kitchen. Her menu is often prepared in tune with the liking of the guest. If he is a non-vegetarian an item of fish, mutton or chicken is sure to be included and if a vegetarian, a cup of thick curd would keep the guest contented and he would elate the mistress with the comment “Mami” the food was delicious.
The terms vegetarian and non-vegetarian often thought to be synonymous to Brahmin and Non-Brahmin respectively. What is often not clearly understood between these two groups is that it is not food that makes the difference but it is very much the cultural habits. Among the Bengali Brahmins, fish is a very much relished dish. Brahmins from a well demarcated sect with peculiar attitudes towards life and living. While it is not an intention here to explain Brahminism, let us go into their food habits in general.
It is believed that Brahmins are vegetarians with a strong liking for curds. There is no meal that is said to be complete without a course of curds. It is believed that curd cools down not only the body but also the inner temperament. But has anyone realized or attempted to think the actual source of curds. It is a product of milk, be it cow or buffalo and therefore of animal origin. Does this have any linking to the meaning of vegetarian diet per se? A vegetarian diet is one which is of plant origin. Now the most preferred curds that is of such an importance in the diet of a Brahmin has an animal origin and therefore should be considered as non-vegetarian food.
The hen’s egg has vital nutrient that puts one faster on the roads of recovery after an ailment. Hence doctors prescribe a regular intake of the hen’s egg for good health. The egg is a rich source of all nutrients except Vitamin C. it has a protein of high quality. A vegetarian egg is of late being very commonly talked about. No book on embryology would give a definition to such a type of egg. Nevertheless, it is generally agreed that vegetarian egg refers to an egg that is not fertilized and therefore cannot produce new life. Hence it could be consumed by vegetarians. If the difference between veg and non-veg is in its capability to produce new life, then I beg to differ from this point of view, as plant life begins with seeds and seeds such as pulses and cereals form a major part of our veg food.
Human diet is not restricted to any special food category. Man eats a variety of foods, of both plant and animal origin. Variety is for him, the spice of life more so in foods, than in anything else. This desire for variety is justified by the fact that no single food provides all the nutrients that we need. We have to supplement cereals with other foods that provide plenty of fats, proteins, vitamins and minerals salts. Some fats like sesame oil and sunflower oil does not increase blood cholesterol. Others like Coconut oil, butter, ghee and vanaspati increase cholesterol levels. Ghee which is ‘lavishly recommended in a Brahmin diet therefore appears harmful to the body.
Fish and sea foods are rich sources of protein and B vitamin and also minerals especially calcium. Plants contain indigestible polysaccharides in the cell wall and these constitute the fibre of the food in addition to such substances as hemicellulose, mucilage pectin, gum etc. Incorporation of fibre in diet improves glucose tolerance in diabetics by decreasing carbohydrates digestion and rate of absorption in the intestine. There is also a reduction in serum cholesterol. Green vegetables and unprocessed cereal grains are rich in fibre and prevent constipation. The vegetarian diet is more suitable to the human constitution, is low cholesterol and just as rich as the non-veg diet in vitamin and proteins. It is advisable for non-vegetarians to go for more vegetarian dishes based on dried beans, peas and lentils, low calories with high fibre content like stemed vegetables and salads, whole meal bread, corn, oats, barley and fruits.
A seed is the reproductive unit of a plant from which new life begins. When the seed sprouts is when the new life begins. It is the most nutritious foods and aids faster recovery rates when used as healing diets. Sprouting seeds are a good source of vitamins especially A,B,E and K and help in curing ulcers, blood clots, anemia and infertility.
A person’s food habit generally takes shape during childhood. A number of unrelated factors dominate childhood diet. The financial position of the family, its cultural attainments, the relative importance attached to food, social customs, religious taboos and a number of extraneous factors operate to determine the food pattern of the children. There can be no second opinion to the statement that vegetarian diet gives you good health and long life. Non-veg foods are certainly rich in proteins, vitamins and mineral salts but in addition have various undesirable side effects, such as they increase blood pressure and cholesterol. There is high risk of artherosclerosis and angina. This does not require you to be taboo to such foods, lest you may be losing the gem of life and living. But try to include some spice into your eating habits and have variety through supplementing veg food with non-veg items.
“Catch and train them when they are young” is the slogan which is being used in a number of fields. Why not use the same in developing food habits. Teach your children to take a mixed diet that is well balanced consisting of all the food nutrients in required proportions and do not mix religion here.
PROF. T. S. SADASIVAN
(Summarized from D. Subramanian. 2001. T. S. Sadasivan - a tribute. Current Science 81(7): 845-846).
By
K. SrinivasanResearch Scholar
Prof. T. S. Sadasivan (Toppur Seethapathy Sadasivan) was born in Madras on 22 May 1913. He got graduation in Botany from the Madras Presidency College in 1934 later he went to the Lucknow University for his Masters under the renowned Palaeobotanist, Birbal Sahni. He then enrolled for D. Sc., in mycology under S. N. Das Gupta in the same university. Subsequently he went to England to join the Rothamstead Research Station, Harpenden to work for his Ph. D., under F. C. Bawden and S. D. Garrett specializing in plant virology and soil microbiology. He returned to India in 1940 after obtaining his Ph. D., from the University of London and rejoined the Lucknow University. In 1941 he took up the position of Microbiologist at the Punjab Agricultural College, Lyallpur, now in Pakistan. In July 1944, he joined as Reader in the University of Madras and became the Head of the Botany Laboratory succeeding M. O. P. Iyengar. He passed away in Chennai on 18th August, 2001 leaving a gaping void in our midst.
Research
Prof. Sadasivan’s group launched studies on soil-borne diseases in crops such as cotton, pigeon pea and rice, aimed at controlling the survival of their pathogens in soil and developed concepts such as competitive saprophytic ability, rhizosphere effect, etc. Prof. Sadasivan’s group also pioneered studies on host-pathogen interaction at physiological and biochemical levels and was the first to demonstrate fusaric acid, a metabolite produced by Fusarium in wilting cotton plants.
Honours, a few
Fun from web
M. Thamizhvendan and G. PrakashI M. Sc., Industrial Microbiology
1.
A Mathematician, an engineer and a physicist were traveling through Scotland when they saw a black sheep through the window of the train.
"Aha", says the engineer, "I see that Scottish sheep are black."
"Hmm", says the physician, "You mean that some Scottish sheep are black".
"No", says the mathematician, "All we know is that there is at least one sheep in Scotland, and that at least one side of that one sheep is black!"
2.
Teacher: What is the formula for water?
Student: H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O
Teacher: That's not what I taught you.
Student: But you said the formula for water was...H to O
3.
A doctor, an engineer, and a fungal taxonomist arrived at The Pearly Gates. The doctor said how he'd healed the sick, helped the lame; but he was a sinner and was sent to Hell. The engineer told how he'd built homes for the homeless, etc.; but he messed up the environment, so he was sent to Hell. The taxonomist was frightened by all this, but as soon as he mentioned his occupation, God said "You've already been thru Hell: Welcome to Heaven."
You can find more in www.mykoweb.com;www.juliantrubin.com.
Proud moments
Students
1.
A Mathematician, an engineer and a physicist were traveling through Scotland when they saw a black sheep through the window of the train.
"Aha", says the engineer, "I see that Scottish sheep are black."
"Hmm", says the physician, "You mean that some Scottish sheep are black".
"No", says the mathematician, "All we know is that there is at least one sheep in Scotland, and that at least one side of that one sheep is black!"
2.
Teacher: What is the formula for water?
Student: H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O
Teacher: That's not what I taught you.
Student: But you said the formula for water was...H to O
3.
A doctor, an engineer, and a fungal taxonomist arrived at The Pearly Gates. The doctor said how he'd healed the sick, helped the lame; but he was a sinner and was sent to Hell. The engineer told how he'd built homes for the homeless, etc.; but he messed up the environment, so he was sent to Hell. The taxonomist was frightened by all this, but as soon as he mentioned his occupation, God said "You've already been thru Hell: Welcome to Heaven."
You can find more in www.mykoweb.com;www.juliantrubin.com.
Proud moments
Students
Compilation: M. Krishnaraj, Research Scholar
v Mr. S. Ramesh, Research Scholar got selected under the German Exchange DADD sandwich programme to do part of his research in Gottingen University, Germany.
v Mr. M. Arulmani and Mr. Sudhakar received CSIR Senior Research Fellowship.
v Mr. Shakthi and Mr. Rajasekar, Research Scholars has been awarded with Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship.s
v S. Krishnakumar, Research Scholar has been selected for Overall best performer Championship award in the workshop on Recent techniques in Structural and Functional Genomic at CIMAP, Lucknow.
v Mr. K. Karthik, Reasearch Scholar was selected for best oral presentation award in a national conference at Kuvembu University, Karnataka.
v Mr. A. Jayaprakash, Research Scholar has been selected for the best poster presentation award in the MSI conference at J.J.College of Arts and Science, Pudukottai.
v Best paper award to Prof. N. Raman, M. Elamvazhuthi and M. Jayam in the national symposium on Recent Trends in Medicinal Plants Research, University of Madras, Chennai.
v Mr. M. Kumar has been awarded second prize for the best poster in the International conference on mushroom biology and biotechnology held at NCRM, Solan, Himachal Pradesh.
Faculties
v Prof. N. Raaman has been awarded with Tamil Nadu Scientist Award, 2006 and also he moved to Washington State University, United States of America for advanced research
v Dr. N. Mathivanan has gone to Washington State University, United States of America under DBT overseas research fellowship
List of research scholars who have submitted their Ph. D., thesis since November 2006 to 2007
Compilation : M. KrishnarajResearch Scholar
1. C. Sreenath Kumar
2. R. Dhandapani
3. V. Devanathan
4. K. Malarvizhi (Prof. P.T. Kalaiselvan)
5. V. R. Vijayanadraj
6. Ms. Padmapriya
7. K. Amutha
8. K. Kumaresanss
9. M. Jayam
10. S. Selvarajan
11. S. Jayavelu
12. K. Malarvizhi (Dr. N. Mathivanan)
13. K. Srinivasan
14. V. Shanmugaiah
15. V. Arun
16. Boney Kuriyakose
