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Genetic diversity of four new yellow single crosses, five new yellow three-way crosses, and five yellow inbred lines of maize (Zea mays L.) was studied using different molecular (SSR, ISSR, and RAPD) and biochemical markers (seed storage protein content). All markers were able to clearly separate the inbred lines in one cluster from the different types of hybrids. The correlation among the different types of molecular markers was moderately high according to the Mantel's test (e.g. 0.67 between SSR and ISSR, 0.42 between SSR and RAPD, and 0.65 between ISSR and RAPD), indicating that the three techniques are efficient for evaluating genetic diversity in the maize genotypes. The correlation of biochemical markers (seed storage protein SDS-PAGE) with SSR, ISSR, and RAPD markers was 0.61, 0.74, and 0.48, respectively. It can be concluded that both molecular and biochemical markers are efficient to study the genetic diversity in maize. Among the different types of molecular markers, SSR is a more accurate marker-type because of its co-dominance and stability of results. It can also be said that biochemical and molecular markers are positively correlated and the correlation ranged between moderate to high. This could suggest using both marker types, separately or together, for genetic diversity studies in maize.

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Integrating this information about the p7 protein with SCOP and CATH annotations of the templates facilitate the assignment of structure-function/ evolution relationships to known and newly determined protein structures.

Background Sweet sorghum is an emerging biofuel candidate crop with multiple benefits as a source of biomass energy. Increase of biomass and sugar productivity and quality is a central goal in its improvement. Target region amplified polymorphism (TRAP) is a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based functional marker system that can detect genetic diversity in the functional region of target genes. Thirty sweet sorghum genotypes were used to study the potential of 24 pairs of TRAP marker system in assessing genetic diversity with regard to three lignin and three sucrose biosynthesis genes. Results A total of 1638 bands were produced out of which 1161 (70.88%) were polymorphic at least at one locus. The average polymorphic information content (PIC), resolving power (RP), marker index (MI), Shannon’s diversity index (H), and gene diversity values were 0.32, 8.86, 1.74, 3.25, and 0.329, respectively. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed a highly significant genetic variation both within and among accessions studied (P = 0.01). However, the variation within the population was higher than among the populations (accessions). Bootstrap analysis showed that the number of loci amplified using this marker system is sufficient to estimate the available genetic diversity. The thirty genotypes were categorized into five clusters using a similarity matrix at 0.72 coefficient of similarity. The genotypes were also grouped mostly according to their geographic origin where the Ethiopian and Egyptian genotypes tend to fall in specific clusters. Moreover, the genotypes reflected the same pattern of distribution when ordinated using principal coordinate analysis. Conclusions In conclusion, TRAP marker can be used as a powerful tool to study genetic diversity in sweet sorghum.

Four Egyptian faba bean (Vicia faba L.) varieties ("Giza843", "Giza716", "Misr1" and "Sakha1") have been evaluated under heat and drought stresses using seventeen morphological traits and total protein content. Analysis of variance of the morphological trait revealed highly significant differences among treatments and genotypes for all studied traits and the interaction between genotypes and treatment was also significant. Both varieties "Giza716" and "Giza843" gave the highest means for most of the morphological traits. The control treatment surpass all the other treatments in the most of the morphological traits. The lowest significant means were obtained from the heat with drought treatment while the effect of heat on the morphological traits was less than the effect of drought stress. According to the cluster analysis of both morphological and biochemical data, the varieties "Giza716" and "Giza843" were clustered together on one group where the varieties "Misr1" and "Sakha1" were clustered in another group. A protein band of molecular weight of about 76 kDa was noticed in the protein pattern of the variety "Giza716" (heat with drought treatment) and of about 100 kDa was obtained in the protein pattern of the variety "Giza843" (heat with drought treatment). The morphological and biochemical parameters along with susceptibility test revealed that "Giza716" and "Giza843" appeared to be tolerant for drought and heat. However "Misr1" and "Sakha1" varieties appeared to be susceptible.

Solenostemma argel is a desert medicinal plant indigenous to African countries. This research aims to study the pharmacological properties of Solenostemma argel plant. Aerial parts (leaves and flowers) of Solenostemma argel (Delile) Hayane were tested for antibacterial activity, antioxidant activity, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory activity. Phenolic and flavonoid contents of the plant were characterized. There was an increase in the antioxidant activity of Solenostemma argel extract from 12.16% to 94.37% by increasing concentration from10 µg/mL to 1280 µg/mL. The most sensitive organism was S. epidermidis with chloroform extract. The MTT assay revealed that methanolic extracts of Solenostemma argel showed potent cytotoxic effects on the A549, Caco-2, and MDAMB-231 cell lines, respectively. The anti-inflammatory activity increased by increasing the concentration of methanolic extract of Solenostemma argel, using indomethacin as a standard. Gallic acid was the most abundant phenolic acid, followed by synergic acid and p-coumaric acid, respectively. Catechin, quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol and rutin flavonoids were also found in the methanolic extract. GC-mass analysis showed that aerial parts of Solenostemma argel were rich in 2-(5-methyl-5 vinyl tetrahydro-2-furanyl)-2-propanol (11.63%), hexanoic acid methyl ester (10.93%), 3-dioxolane,4-methyl-2-pentadecyl (9.69%), phenol, 2-(1,1-dimethylethyl) (8.50%). It can be concluded that Solenostemma argel methanolic extract contain natural bioactive constituents with potential medicinal importance such as antioxidants, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities.

Euphorbia cuneata Vahl. (Euphorbiaceae) is a plant used in folk medicine for the treatment of pain and inflammation, although the biological basis for these effects has not been thoroughly investigated. The goal of this study was to investigate the pharmacological properties and characterization of phenolic and flavonoid compounds present in the aerial parts of E. cuneata. E. cuneata aerial parts were tested for antioxidant activity (DPPH), antibacterial activity, cell viability and cytotoxic effects, and anti-inflammatory activity. Phenolic and flavonoid contents (HPLC), and volatile constituents (GC-MS) were also characterized. The methanol extract had the highest antioxidant activity, while the ether extract had the lowest. The antioxidant activity of E. cuneata extract increased from (21.11%) at a concentration of 10 µg/mL to (95.53%) at a concentration of 1280 µg/mL. S. aureus was the most sensitive organism with the highest zone of inhibition and lowest MIC, with acetone extract; whereas C. tropicalis was the most resistant, with the lowest inhibition zone. MTT assay revealed that the methanol extract of E. cuneata had significant cytotoxic effects on the A549, Caco-2, and MDA-MB-231 cell lines, respectively. Lower concentrations of methanolic extract gave anti-inflammatory activity, and those effects were compared with indomethacin as a positive control. Pyrogallol was the most abundant phenolic acid, followed by caffeic, p-coumaric, ferulic, syringic, and gallic acids, respectively. The 7-hydroxyflavone and rutin flavonoids were also found in the extract. GC-mass analysis showed that aerial parts of E. cuneata were rich in methyl 12-hydroxy-9-octadecenoate. The volatile components were also composed of considerable amounts of hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester, (9E,12E)-octadeca-9,12-dienoyl chloride, and methyl octadeca-9,12-dienoate as well as a little amount of hexanal dimethyl acetal. It can be concluded that methanolic extract of E. cuneata could be used as an available source of natural bioactive constituents with consequent health benefits.