Efficacy of KNO, SiO and SA priming for improving emergence, seedling growth and antioxidant enzymes of rice (Oryza sativa), under drought.

Rice is an important staple crop produced and consumed worldwide. However, poor seed emergence is one of the main impediments to obtaining higher yield of rice especially in hot and dry ecosystems of the world that are ravaged by drought. Therefore, this study was carried out to evaluate the effects of potassium nitrate (KNO), salicylic acid (SA) and silicon dioxide (SiO) priming in improving emergence, seedling growth, biochemical attributes and antioxidant activities of FARO44 rice under drought conditions.

Molecular genetic variation and structure of Southeast Asian crocodile (Tomistoma schlegelii): Comparative potentials of SSRs versus ISSRs.

Tomistoma schlegelii, also referred to as the "false gharial", is one of the most exclusive and least known of the world's fresh water crocodilians, limited to Southeast Asia. Indeed, lack of economic value for its skin has led to neglect the biodiversity of the species. The current study aimed to investigate the mentioned case using 40 simple sequence repeat (SSR) primer pairs and 45 inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) primers.

Genetic diversity and population structure of long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis) populations in Peninsular Malaysia.

Background: The genetic diversity and structure of long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) in Peninsular Malaysia, a widely used non-human primate species in biomedical research, have not been thoroughly characterized.

Methods: Thirteen sites of wild populations of long-tailed macaques representing six states were sampled and analyzed with 18 STR markers.

Results: The Sunggala and Penang Island populations showed the highest genetic diversity estimates, while the Jerejak Island population was the most genetically discrete due to isolation from the mainland shelf.

Vinca alkaloids.

Vinca alkaloids are a subset of drugs obtained from the Madagascar periwinkle plant. They are naturally extracted from the pink periwinkle plant, Catharanthus roseus G. Don and have a hypoglycemic as well as cytotoxic effects.