Abstract. Mau YS, Markus JER, Shirly, Oematan S, Ndiwa ASS, Handoko DD, Nasution A, Makbul K. 2017. Genetic diversity of red and black upland rice accessions from East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia as revealed by agro-morphological characters. . A number of upland red and black rice accessions were collected from various locations of East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia. This germplasm collection is invaluable genetic resource that can be utilized to generate new improved varieties. The objective of the present study was to elucidate genetic diversity of the rice germplasm based on agro-morphological characters. The study was carried out in the Glasshouse involving 40 upland red and black rice accessions. Observed variables included qualitative and quantitative agro-morphological characters. A total of 26 qualitative and 16 quantitative characters were observed. Qualitative characters were descriptively analyzed while quantitative characters were subjected to analysis of variance. Both data were also subjected to cluster analysis. Research results revealed a significant difference among rice accessions in both qualitative and quantitative characters. The tested rice accessions exhibited substantial differences in most of the observed qualitative and quantitative variables. Cluster analysis employing qualitative variables classified the rice accessions into 4 clusters and 15 sub-clusters. The same analysis using quantitative characters placed the 40 rice accessions into 5 clusters and 8 sub-clusters. Evaluation of agro-morphological characters demonstrated that the rice germplasm under the present study possessed a high genetic diversity.

Background: Protective effects of probiotics in human diseases have been well documented in recent years. In this study, the anti-inflammatory and fibrinolytic properties of two newly isolated probiotic bacteria, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Lactococcus lactis either alone or in combination with standard therapy, Mesalazine (MSZ), have been investigated in a murine model for ulcerative colitis. Methods: Characterization of newly isolated probiotic were assessed by performing antibacterial activity, antibiotic resistance, acid and bile tolerance, and hemolytic activity assays. Hematoxylin-Eosin and Masson's trichrome staining were used to evaluate inflammation and collagen deposition in colon tissue sections. Expression of inflammatory- and Fibrotic-associated genes were analyzed using Real-time PCR and ELISA assays. Results: Results showed that administration of probiotics significantly attenuated DSS-induced colon shortening, colon weight loss, and increase in spleen weight in colitis mice. Compared to the colitis mice, disease activity index as assessed by changes in body weight, degree of stool consistency, rectal bleeding, and prolapse was decreased in probiotic-treated group. Mix of probiotics potently improved histopathological score by attenuating crypt loss, mucosal damage, and inflammation score in colitis tissues. Consistently, mRNA and protein levels of pro-inflammatory genes as well as oxidative stress markers were suppressed in the presence of probiotics in colon tissues. Furthermore, probiotic bacteria reduced fibrosis by down-regulating pro-fibrotic genes including Col 1a1 and α-SMA in colon tissue homogenates. Conclusion: These results showed that mix of these newly isolated probiotic bacteria is as potent as the standard treatment and could be utilize as a novel therapy for ulcerative colitis without any observed side effects. Future experiments on these probiotics in other models of UC is needed to completely address the efficacy potency and safety concerns.