Narrow Results

The following topics are under this section:

• ASIA-PACIFIC — Research Institute in Singapore to help empower oral health research and innovation in Asia
• ASIA-PACIFIC — Lien Centre for Palliative Care celebrates tenth year of providing quality palliative care services for citizens
• ASIA-PACIFIC — Smartphone device for monitoring water quality provide fish farmers with high-tech and low-cost solution
• ASIA-PACIFIC — Discovering possible treatments for liver cancer
• ASIA-PACIFIC — Existing treatments and vaccines no longer effective against dengue virus
• ASIA-PACIFIC — Singapore-led global diabetes study relevant on an international stage
• ASIA-PACIFIC — Genetic analyses reveals new species of seaweed
• ASIA-PACIFIC — Preliminary results draw attention to the need to understand risk factors of influenza
• ASIA-PACIFIC — New strategy for rice plant resilience to change in climate conditions
• REST OF THE WORLD — Study finds that cancer patients have higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease
• REST OF THE WORLD — Researchers discover signs of damage due to brain inflammation in obese adolescents
• REST OF THE WORLD — Shedding light on healthcare-associated infection pathogens
• REST OF THE WORLD — Nutrient-producing silk coats can help seeds germinate in unfavourable conditions

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in the range 900–1700 nm was performed to develop a classifying model for dead seeds of mung bean using single kernel measurements. The use of the combination of transmission-absorption spectra and reflection-absorption spectra was determined to yield a better classification performance (87.88%) than the use of only transmission-absorption spectra (81.31%). The effect of the orientation of the mung bean with respect to the light source on its absorbance was investigated. The results showed that hilum-down orientation exhibited the highest absorbance compared to the hilum-up and hilum-parallel-to-ground orientations. We subsequently examined the spectral information related to the seed orientation by developing a classifying model for seed orientation. The wavelengths associated with classification based on seed orientation were obtained. Finally, we determined that the re-developed classifying model excluding the wavelengths related to the seed orientation afforded better accuracy (89.39%) than that using the entire wavelength range (87.88%).

Our study investigated the effects of phenanthrene on the germination, radial growth, and chitin and chitosan production by Cunninghamella elegans (UCP542). Phenanthrene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) recalcitrant and persistent substance present in petroleum refinery effluents. Chitin and chitosan are a structural component of the cell wall of Mucorales order. The chitin and chitosan have economic value as due to their versatile activities and applications. C. elegans was cultivated on synthetic medium for Mucorales, in the condition 2 (glucose 4%, sucrose 1% and sodium chloride 1%), and the condition 8 (glucose 4%, sucrose 2% and sodium chloride 4%), without (control), and with 0.5mg/mL of phenanthrene. The profile of germination of C. elegans was evaluated of the sporangioles germination during the intervals of 1 to 6 hours. The radial growth of C. elegans was measured the colony diameter during 12 to 96 hours. The chitin and chitosan were extracted by alkali-acid treatments. The results showed that sporangioles germination initiate after 2h of incubation. The higher germination percentage occurred in the conditions 2 and 8, corresponding to 75 %( control) and 61%(treated), respectively. Similar effect was obtained in the radial growth in the presence of phenanthrene. The chitin (53.5%) and chitosan (12.6%) were increased by phenanthrene (0.5mg/L), respectively. The results suggest that phenanthrene has a negative effect on the germination and radial growth, but influenced the production of chitin and chitosan by C. elegans.

This study investigates the effect of copper on the germination and growth of watermelon plants. It was found that copper only inhibited the germination and growth of watermelon plants when its concentrations were high. Copper concentrations of either 50 or 100μM increased chlorophyll content in the plants slightly while copper concentrations over 100μM led to an obvious decrease in chlorophyll contents. It is concluded that excess copper significantly affects the germination and growth of watermelon.

The aim of this study was to characterize the bacterial diversity associated with maca rhizosphera for their future application as inoculants in the stressing conditions of maca breeding. 108 free living diazotrophs, 29 actinomycetes, 109 Pseudomonas sp. and 109 Bacillus sp. strains were obtained. The plant growth promoting capability was evaluated by IAA (Indole-3-acetic acid) production and phosphate solubilization at 5, 14 and 28°C. 50% of FLDB and Pseudomonas sp. strains showed IAA production and phosphate solubilization at 28 °C. Furthermore, B2, Ps31, 5A and Ps42 strains improved maca seeds germination percentage against Control treatment, under dark conditions and temperatures ranging between 15 and 18°C. The BOX-PCR profiles analyses revealed a genetic variability in each studied bacterial group. The PGPR potential showed by the isolated strains makes them a promising strains for yield and nutrient content improvement in maca roots.