Bottle gourd IC-0262269, a super-susceptible genotype to tomato leaf curl Palampur virus

While conducting field trial of 82 genotypes of bottle gourd at Delhi during 2020-2021, a particular genotype, IC-0262269 was found to be affected by chlorotic curly stunt disease (CCSD). The affected plants were severely stunted and bearing very small chlorotic and crinkle leaves. The disease incidence in the said genotype was as high as 80% among different replicated trial blocks. The application of PCR using a generic primers specific to begomoviruses, as well as species-specific PCR diagnostics to six tomato-infecting begomoviruses: tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV), tomato leaf curl Palampur virus (ToLCPalV), tomato leaf curl Joydebpur virus (ToLCJoV), tomato leaf curl Gujrat virus (ToLCGuV), tomato leaf curl Bangalore virus (ToLCBV), and chilli leaf curl virus (ChiLCV) showed that, only ToLCPalV could be detected in the genotype IC-0262269. Following, rolling circle amplification, cloning and sequencing of full-length DNA-A and DNA-B genome of an isolate BoG1-ND from the genotype IC-0262269 revealed association of ToLCPalV with the disease. The successful agro-infection of the cloned genome of BoG1-ND (DNA-A and DNA-B) in the plants of Nicotiana benthamiana and bottle gourd demonstrated that ToLCPalV is the causal begomovirus of CCSD. The study provides the first evidence of the natural occurrence of ToLCPalV in bottle gourd crop and also showed that the bottle gourd genotype IC-0262269 is super-susceptible to ToLCPalV.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-023-03838-y.

Utilization of bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl.) pomace for the preparation of instant kheer (dessert) mix

Bottle gourd pomace, a waste from vegetable processing industry was used to prepare instant kheer (dessert) mix. In this study, the bottle gourd was procured from the farm, washed, grated, steam blanched and the grits were further divided into two parts. One part of grits was dried without juice extraction (BGFD- Bottle gourd fresh dried), while, the other half (BGPD- Bottle gourd pomace dried) was dehydrated after extraction of juice. The dehydrated grits were used for the preparation of kheer mix and the recipe was optimized using RSM Central Composite Design (CCD). The variables were BGFD and BGPD ranged 3-7 g. The other ingredients with the fixed quantities were milk powder (50 g), sugar (15 g), and small cardamom (1 g). The product was selected based on sensory responses like taste, colour, flavour, texture, and overall acceptability (OAA). The software suggested a kheer mix prepared using 7 g BGFD and 3 g BGPD will produce the best sensory scores. The prepared kheer mix had a moisture, TSS, carbohydrates, reducing sugars, total sugars, titratable acidity, crude protein, and crude fat content of 7.9%, 27 °B, 72.21%, 10.79%, 16.75%, 0.896% CA, 10.76%, and 7.63%, respectively. The product was rich in energy (400.55 kcal/100 g), total phenols (4.99 mg/100 g), and exhibited strong antioxidant activity (46%). The total plate count on the product on nutrient agar medium was 4.3 × 106 CFU/g. The kheer could be prepared by adding 140 mL of water to 70 g of water to kheer mix and cooking it for 10 min. Further, to see the credibility and obtain more clearer patterns, the Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) were applied. The overall variation of the BGFD and BGPD on the sensory parameters based on canonical correlation analysis was 92.5%. The sum of Principal Components PC1 and PC2 explained a very high variability (98.2%) among the studied treatments.

Delivery of progeny virus from the infectious clone of cucumber green mottle mosaic virus and quantification of the viral load in different host plants

Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV, genus Tobamovirus) is a widely occurring tobamovirus in cucurbits. The genome of CGMMV has been used previously for the expression of foreign genes in the plant. High throughput delivery and high viral titer are important requirements of foreign protein expression in plant through virus genome-based vector, in this study, Agrobacterium containing infectious construct of CGMMV was infiltrated through syringe, vacuum and high-speed spray to N. benthamiana, cucumber and bottle gourd leaves. The success rate of systemic infection of CGMMV agro-construct through all three methods was higher (80-100%) in N. benthamiana compared to the cucurbits (40-73.3%). To determine the high-throughput delivery of CGMMV in the plant system, four delivery methods viz. rubbing, syringe infiltration, vacuum infiltration and high-speed spray using the progeny virus derived through CGMMV agro-construct were compared in the three different plant species. Based on the rate of systemic infection and time required to perform delivery by different methods, vacuum infiltration was found most efficient for the high-throughput delivery of CGMMV. The quantification of CGMMV through qPCR revealed that CGMMV load varied considerably in leaf and fruit tissues depending with the time of infection. Immediately after expression of symptoms, a high load of CGMMV (~ 1 µg/100 mg of tissues) was noticed in young leaves of N. benthamiana and cucumber. In bottle gourd leaves, the CGMMV load was far low compared to N. benthamiana and cucumber plants. In the fruit tissues of cucumber and bottle gourd higher virus load was observed in mature fruit but not in immature fruit. The findings of the present study will serve as an important base line information to produce foreign protein through CGMMV genome-vector.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-023-03630-y.

Bottle Gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) Toxicity Diagnosed in the Emergency Department

BACKGROUND

Bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) is sometimes used in complementary medicine practice for the treatment of chronic ailments. However, there have been reports of toxicity due to consumption of bottle gourd juice, leading to severe abdominal upset and upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

CASE REPORT

We present a case of a 41-year-old gentleman who presented to the Emergency Department with multiple episodes of vomiting, hematemesis, and diarrhea after consuming bottle gourd juice. The patient was resuscitated and stabilized with fluids, proton pump inhibitors, and antiemetics. He was subsequently admitted to the General Medicine ward for further management. He continued to receive symptomatic treatment in the ward and underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy during his hospitalization stay. His symptoms improved and he was discharged stable 5 days later. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? Early recognition of this rare presentation of bottle gourd toxicity is important in our local context, especially where traditional medicine is widely prevalent nowadays. Treatment is supportive. Public awareness of dangerous effects from the consumption of bitter bottle gourd juice and complementary medicine without proper consultation with a practitioner plays a crucial role to prevent further cases. Physicians need to advise patients on the use of traditional medicine and their potential side effects.

Assessment of genetic diversity of ninety-one bottle gourd [Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl.] genotypes from fourteen different agro-climatic zones of India using agro-morphological traits and SSR markers

BACKGROUND

The evaluation of the magnitude of genetic diversity present in the germplasm collection is prerequisite for bottle gourd improvement programme. The characterization of the diversity pattern of Indian bottle gourd accessions will facilitate the optimal use of genetic resources for breeding improved cultivars.

METHODS

In the present study, the magnitude of genetic diversity was evaluated in ninety-one genotypes of bottle gourd collected across fourteen different agro-climatic zones of India.

RESULTS

Significant variations were observed for all the studied ten quantitative and nine qualitative traits. The ninety-one genotypes were grouped into nine clusters based on cluster analysis of morphological characteristics. Eigen value from principal component analysis depicted first seven quantitative traits accounted for more than 97.5 cumulative percent of the total variations. The first two components accounted for 50 cumulative percent of the total variation, which signifies a high degree of correlation between the analyzed traits. Molecular diversity with the 40 SSR markers screened revealed 11 polymorphic markers in the genotypes studied. Population structure analysis divulged five populations, conforming to the Principal Coordinate Analysis. Molecular analysis revealed genetically diverse genotypes along with the morphologically divergent genotypes from the quantitative traits and highest inter-cluster distance would be the most appropriate parents for exploiting heterosis.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study will facilitate the optimal use of genetic resources for breeding improved cultivars of bottle gourd and the adoption of the identified superior genotypes directly by the breeders.

Genome-wide SSR markers in bottle gourd: development, characterization, utilization in assessment of genetic diversity of National Genebank of India and synteny with other related cucurbits

Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standley is an important cultivated crop with its immense importance in pharmaceutical industry and as vegetable. Its seed, root, stem, leaves, flower, and fruit are used as an ointment for ailment of various diseases throughout Asia. Despite its worldwide importance, informative co-dominant microsatellite markers in the bottle gourd crop are very restricted, impeding genetic improvement, cultivar identification, and phylogenetic studies. Next-generation sequencing has revolutionized the approaches for discovery, assessment, and validation of molecular markers. We conducted a genome-wide analysis, for developing SSR markers by utilizing restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RAD-Seq) data obtained from NCBI. By performing in silico mining of microsatellite repeat motifs, we developed 45,066 perfect SSR markers. Of which 207 markers were successfully validated and 120 (57.97%) polymorphic primer pairs were utilized for an in-depth genetic diversity and population structure analysis of 96 accessions from the National Genebank of India. Tetranucleotide repeats (∼34.3%) were the most prevalent followed by trinucleotide repeats (∼30.73%), further 21.03%, 9.6%, and 4.3% of di-, penta-, and hexa-nucleotide repeats in the bottle gourd genome, respectively. Synteny of SSR markers on 11 bottle gourd linkage groups was correlated with the 7 chromosomes of cucumber (93.2%), 12 chromosomes of melon (87.4%), and 11 of watermelon (90.8%). The generated SSR markers provide a valuable tool for germplasm characterization, genetic linkage map construction, studying synteny, gene discovery, and for breeding in bottle gourd and other cucurbits species. KEY MESSAGE: Development of 45,066 perfect microsatellite markers as a valuable tool for marker assisted selection (MAS) in plant breeding.

Plant Grafting Shapes Complexity and Co-occurrence of Rhizobacterial Assemblages

Grafting is a basic technique which is widely used to increase yield and enhance biotic and abiotic stress tolerance in plant production. The diversity and interactions of rhizobacterial assemblages shaped by grafting are important for the growth of their hosts but remain poorly understood. To test the hypothesis that plant grafting shapes complexity and co-occurrence of rhizobacterial assemblage, four types of plants, including ungrafted bottle gourd (B), ungrafted watermelon (W), grafted watermelon with bottle gourd rootstock (W/B), and grafted bottle gourd with watermelon rootstock (B/W), were cultivated in two soil types in a greenhouse, and the rhizosphere bacterial communities were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing. Both the soil type and grafting significantly influenced the bacterial community composition. Grafting increased bacterial within-sample diversity in both soils. Core enriched operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in the W/B rhizosphere compared with the other three treatments (B, W, and B/W) were mainly affiliated with Alphaproteobacteria, Deltaproteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes, which are likely related to methanol oxidation, methylotrophy, fermentation, and ureolysis. Co-occurrence network analysis proved that grafting increased network complexity, including the number of nodes, edges, and modules. Moreover, grafting strengthened the structural robustness of the network in the rhizosphere, while ungrafted watermelon had the lowest network robustness. Homogeneous selection played a predominant role in bacterial community assembly, and the contribution of dispersal limitation was increased in grafted watermelon with bottle gourd rootstock. Grafting increased the diversity and transformed the network topology of the bacterial community, which indicated that grafting could improve species coexistence in the watermelon rhizosphere.

Genome-wide identification of new reference genes for RT-qPCR normalization in CGMMV-infected Lagenaria siceraria

Lagenaria siceraria is an economically important cucurbitaceous crop, but suitable reference genes (RGs) to use when the plants are infected by cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) have not been determined. Sixteen candidate RGs of both leaf and fruit and 18 candidate RGs mostly from separate RNA-Seq datasets of bottle gourd leaf or fruit were screened and assessed by RT-qPCR. The expression stability of these genes was determined and ranked using geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper and RefFinder. Comprehensive analysis resulted in the selection of LsCYP, LsH3, and LsTBP as the optimal RGs for bottle gourd leaves, and LsP4H, LsADP, and LsTBP for fruits. LsWD, LsGAPDH, and LsH3 were optimal for use in both leaves and fruits under the infection of CGMMV. Isopentenyl transferase (IPT) and DNA-directed RNA polymerase (DdRP) were used to validate the applicability of the most stable identified RGs from bottle gourd in response to CGMMV. All the candidate RGs performed in RT-qPCR consistently with the data from the transcriptome database. The results demonstrated that LsWD, LsGAPDH and LsH3 were the most suitable internal RGs for the leaf, and LsH3, LsGAPDH, LsP4H and LsCYP for the fruit.

Lipase inhibitory activity of Lagenaria siceraria fruit as a strategy to treat obesity

OBJECTIVE

To explore pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity under different extraction conditions in order to track the most potent extract.

METHODS

The methanolic extract and its fractions in solvents of increasing polarity, ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water, were made through cold maceration. Extracts in ethanol, ethyl acetate, acetone and chloroform were similarly prepared. Aqueous extract was prepared through hot decoction method. A reported method was used to determine lipase inhibitory activity of extracts and fractions over wide ranges of concentrations.

RESULTS

The extracts and fractions exhibited concentration dependent activity. The IC₅₀ (μg/mL) values of methanolic, ethanolic, chloroform, ethyl acetate, acetone, ethyl acetate (after washing with water) and aqueous decoction were 293.40, 266.47, 157.59, 182.12, 352.34, 257.00, and 190.00, respectively. The activity of chloroform, ethyl acetate and aqueous extracts were close to that of the drug orlistat (IC₅₀ 146 μg/mL). Out of the fractions of the methanolic extract, the chloroform fraction was most active (IC₅₀ 189.6 μg/mL). The order of inhibitory activity of the fractions was as follows: chloroform＞ether＞n-butanolic＞aqueous＞ethyl acetate. The GC/MS analysis of the most active chloroform faction showed the presence of hexadecanoic acid, methyl hexadecanoate, isopropyl palmitate, methyl 9,12-octadecadienate, and methyl 9,12,15-octadecatrienoate.

CONCLUSIONS

The study suggests that Lagenaria siceraria has potential to inhibit pancreatic lipase activity, suppressing lipid digestion and thereby diminishing entry of lipids into the body. Regular intake of aqueous decoction of the fruit may therefore be recommended for control of obesity. Fatty acids and their esters may play role as inhibitors of lipase.

Management of root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) in bottle gourd using different botanicals in pots

A pot experiment was conducted to study the efficacy of different botanicals in varying doses for management of root-knot nematode, M. incognita in bottle gourd. The results exhibited that madar (Calotropis procera) and neem (Azadirachta indica) leaves application proved to be more effective in improving plant growth characters and reducing root-knot index and final nematode population. Among the doses tested, higher dose of 1.5 % (w/w) was more effective than lower ones.

Use of a vegetable model as a training tool for PCNL puncture

INTRODUCTION

Training residents to perform a PCNL puncture is hampered by the non-availability of a good inanimate model that can be used for demonstration and practice. The ethics of surgical training during actual surgeries is being questioned and the role of simulation is increasingly important. Virtual reality trainers, however, are prohibitively expensive and the use of animal models is fraught with regulatory and ethical concerns. We have devised a model that can be used to teach the concept of depth perception during a PCNL puncture.

METHODS

A bottle gourd was used to mimic the posterior abdominal wall. Cotton pledgets dipped in intravenous contrast were fitted into 4 mm holes made at staggered levels in the bottle gourd which was strapped onto the operating table with the cotton pledgets facing away from the surgeon. Surgeons with varying degrees of experience made fluoroscopy-guided punctures onto the cotton pledgets. We recorded the time taken for puncture in seconds and the distance of the needle exit site from the center of the cotton ball. Speed was measured by recording the fluoroscopy time in seconds on the C-arm. Accuracy was documented by using a Vernier caliper to measure the distance from the edge of the target to the actual puncture. One second of fluoroscopy time and 0.1 mm distance were each given one point. The total points accumulated over a set of 10 punctures was added to give a total score. Longer fluoroscopy times and inaccurate punctures resulted in higher scores.

RESULTS

A surgeon with more than 1000 PCNLs to his credit had a score of 99. The average score of five residents was 555.

CONCLUSION

The bottle gourd model provides an ethically acceptable, inexpensive, easy to replicate model that can be used to train residents in the PCNL puncture.

Bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) juice poisoning

BACKGROUND

Bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) is popularly known as lauki, ghia or dudhi in India. Its consumption is advocated by traditional medicine healers for controlling diabetes mellitus, hypertension, liver diseases, weight loss and other diseases. However, in last few years there have been reports of suspected toxicity due to consumption of its juice leading to severe vomiting and upper gastrointestinal bleeding. As emergency physicians we need to be aware of this very rare poisoning specially in India.

METHODS

We present a case of a 52-year-old woman who presented with multiple episodes of hematemesis and shock to the emergency department (ED) after consuming bottle gourd juice. The patient was resuscitated and stabilized with fluids, proton pump inhibitors and antiemetics and shifted to the intensive care unit (ICU) under the care of a gastroenterology team for urgent endoscopy and further management.

RESULTS

The patient received intravenous fluids, antibiotics, antiemetics, and antacids and underwent upper gastroenterologic endoscopy during the hospitalization. She was discharged in a stable condition 4 days later.

CONCLUSIONS

As a member of the Cucurbitaceae family, bottle gourd contains toxic tetracyclic triterpenoid compounds called cucurbitacins which are responsible for the bitter taste and toxicity. There is no known antidote for this toxicity, and clinicians treat such patients symptomatically only. It is important to educate the public about the harmful effects of this potentially life-threatening toxicity.

Chlorotic curly stunt: a severe begomovirus disease of bottle gourd in northern India

Bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) an important vegetable crop in India was observed to be affected by a chlorotic curly stunt disease (CCSD) during 2003-2006 in the vegetable growing areas of Delhi and adjoining state of Haryana. The affected plants are severely stunted and bear very small chlorotic and mildly curled leaves. Incidence of the disease varied from 4.7 to 36%. The disease could be easily transmitted by whitefly, Bemisia tabaci but not by sap. The causal virus was found to be a Begomovirus on the basis of whitefly transmission and sequence identity of putative coat protein (CP) and replication initiator protein (Rep) genes. The virus was transmitted to Cucumis sativus, Luffa acutangula, L. cylndrica, Lycopersicon esculentum, Nicotiana tabacum and Praecitrullus fistulosus but not to Citrullus lunatus, Cucumis melo, Cucurbita moschata and Vigna unguiculata. The N-terminal 60 amino acids of CP of the virus had 100% sequence identity with all the isolates of Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV) and two isolates of Squash leaf curl China virus (SLCCV). The full length amino acid sequence of the CP and Rep genes had 100% similarity with ToLCNDV-Svr and -Luffa isolates. The phylogenetic analysis showed that the virus associated with CCSD of bottle gourd belongs to ToLCNDV cluster of the begomoviruses. This is the first record of emergence of a Begomovirus associated severe disease in bottle gourd in India.