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An experiment was conducted during 2021–22 and 2022–23 at University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka to study the effect of metal nanoparticles on silkworm (Bombyx mori) growth and cocoon yield. The experiment was laid out in completely randomized design (CRD) comprised of 11 treatments with 3 replications. The various concentrations (50, 100 and 200 ppm) of nanoparticles, viz. nano silver, nano zinc and nano copper were extrafoliated to mulberry leaves and were administered to silkworms daily once at morning (first feed) from second day of fifth instar. The study revealed that, silver nanoparticles at 200 ppm concentration emerged as the best supplement with improved larval, cocoon and silk parameters by recording shorter larval duration (616.42 h), fifth instar duration (166.12 h), higher mature larval weight (40.626 g/10 larvae), effective rate of rearing (97.58%), silk productivity (6.225 cg/day), silk gland weight (1.885 g/larva), pupal weight (13.757 g/10 pupae), cocoon yield (794.85 g/dfl), cocoon weight (18.102 g/10 cocoons), shell weight (4.307 g/10 shells), cocoon shell ratio (23.79%), cocoon filament length (948.52 m), finer denier (2.75 d), highest fibroin (80.23%) and lowest sericin protein (19.78%).

Abstract Hypergravity—an evolutionarily novel environment has been exploited to comprehend the response of living organisms including plants in the context of extra-terrestrial applications. Recently, researchers have shown that hypergravity induces desired phenotypic variability in seedlings. In the present study, we tested the utility of hypergravity as a novel tool in inducing reliable phenotype/s for potential terrestrial crop improvement applications. To investigate, bread wheat seeds (UAS-375 genotype) were subjected to hypergravity treatment (10×g for 12, and 24 h), and evaluated for seedling vigor and plant growth parameters in both laboratory and greenhouse conditions. It was also attempted to elucidate the associated biochemical and hormonal changes at different stages of vegetative growth. Resultant data revealed that hypergravity treatment (10×g for 12 h) significantly enhanced root length, root volume, and root biomass in response to hypergravity. The robust seedling growth phenotype may be attributed to increased alpha-amylase and TDH enzyme activities observed in seeds treated with hypergravity. Elevated total chlorophyll content and Rubisco (55 kDa) protein expression across different stages of vegetative growth in response to hypergravity may impart physiological benefits to wheat growth. Further, hypergravity elicited robust endogenous phytohormones dynamics in root signifying altered phenotype/s. Collectively, this study for the first time describes the utility of hypergravity as a novel tool in inducing reliable root phenotype that could be potentially exploited for improving wheat varieties for better water usage management.

While the usage of Centella asiatica (CA) is on the increase worldwide, evidence demonstrating its protective efficacy against neurotoxicants is scarce. Hence the present study aimed to understand the neuroprotective efficacy of a standardized aqueous extract of CA against 3-nitropropionic-acid(3-NPA)-induced oxidative stress in the brain of prepubertal mice. We assessed the degree of oxidative stress in cytoplasm of brain regions of male mice (4 wk- old) given CA prophylaxis (5 mg/kg bw) for 10 days followed by 3-NPA administration (i.p.75 mg/kg bw) on the last 2 days. The neurotoxicant elicited marked oxidative stress in the brain of untreated mice as evident by enhanced malondialdehyde levels, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, hydroperoxides and protein carbonyls (a measure of protein oxidation) in striatum and other regions (cortex, cerebellum and hippocampus), while CA prophylaxis completely ameliorated the 3-NPA- induced oxidative stress. Depletion of glutathione (GSH) levels, total thiols, perturbations in antioxidant enzymes and cholinergic enzymes in brain discernible among 3-NPA-treated mice were predominantly restored to normalcy with CA prophylaxis. It is hypothesized that the prophylactic protection offered by CA extract against neurotoxicant exposure may be largely due to its ability to enhance GSH, thiols and antioxidant defenses in the brain of prepubertal mice. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]