BackgroundMaintenance of scorpions under laboratory conditions is ideal for long-term venom collection to explore the therapeutic applications of scorpion venom. Collection of venom by electrical stimulation requires a reliable stimulator and effective restrainer. Thus, the present study was conducted to develop a convenient method to maintain scorpions and to extract their venom for toxicity studies via a modified restrainer and stimulator.MethodsFour different scorpion species were collected, among which three species were maintained in the laboratory in containers that mimic their natural habitat. Venom was extracted from Hottentotta rugiscutis by electrical stimulation at 8 V for 18 months and LD50 was estimated by the graphic method of Miller and Tainter.ResultsA total of 373 scorpions including Hottentotta rugiscutis, Hottentotta tamulus, Lychas tricarinatus and Heterometrus swammerdami were collected, identified and maintained successfully, achieving a 97 % survival rate. Hottentotta rugiscutis yielded 6.0 mL of venom by electrical stimulation. The LD50 of H. rugiscutis venom was estimated to be 3.02 mg/kg of body weight in female Swiss albino mice.ConclusionsScorpions were successfully maintained for 18 months. Herein we have also documented a simple, cost-effective method of venom extraction by electrical stimulation using a modified restrainer. Furthermore, Hottentotta rugiscutis was reported for the first time in Karnataka.
Two elite cultivars of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), GPBD 4 and G 2-52, with high productivity, oil content, resistance to late leaf spot [Phaeoisariopsis personata (Berk. & Curt) V. Arx.] (LLS) and rust (Puccinia arachidis Speg.) diseases were improved for oleic acid content using marker-assisted backcrossing. Since both the recurrent parents already possessed the mutant allele at AhFAD2A, only mutant allele at AhFAD2B was transferred from the donor 'SunOleic 95R' (oleate of 80.6%). Three rounds of backcrossing with foreground selection using allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) assay identified a large number of plants homozygous for the mutant allele at AhFAD2B in BC n F 2 generations. Evaluation of the advanced generations could identify six and 10 lines with significantly higher oleate than GPBD 4 and G 2-52, respectively. Considering the yield, shelling percentage, oil, and oleate content, the most promising lines HOBC 2 GPS_7 and HOBC 2 G2S_5 were selected with 112 and 142% oleate recovery over GPBD 4 and G 2-52, respectively. Double digest restriction-site-associated DNA sequencing of these superior lines showed background genome recovery of 77.5 and 69.0%, respectively. These advanced breeding lines with high oleate (∼80%), resistance to LLS and rust and high productivity are under further trials for possible release as varieties for commercial cultivation.
INTRODUCTIONPeanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an oilseed, food and fodder crop cultivated in >100 countries on an area of
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