The modern varieties of pigeonpea were domesticated from perennial wild species with a tall bushy startue (van der Maesen 1990). Although breeding efforts had been focused on the incorporation of the annual character compatible with the... more
The modern varieties of pigeonpea were domesticated from perennial wild species with a tall bushy startue (van der Maesen 1990). Although breeding efforts had been focused on the incorporation of the annual character compatible with the present cropping systems, perennial character persists in the growth habit. The growth feature related to the perennial character is represented by a low early growth vigor (Brakke and Gardner 1987). The lower net photosynthetic rate compared with that of sunflower, cotton, and other legumes at the same leaf age (Rawson and Constable 1981) may account for the slow growth. Although photosynthetic activities are controlled by many factors, including environmental, physical, and chemical factors, allocation of the fixed carbon into either starch or sucrose is one of the regulating mechanisms in photosynthetic pathways (Huber et al. 1990) which directly affects translocation of photosynthates and consequently whole plant growth.
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Pigeonpea is essentially a perennial plant but there is little information available on the relationship between carbohydrates stored in the stem and reproductive development. This relationship was therefore studied in nine genotypes... more
Pigeonpea is essentially a perennial plant but there is little information available on the relationship between carbohydrates stored in the stem and reproductive development. This relationship was therefore studied in nine genotypes varying in phenology and growth habit. There was negligible increase in starch concentration in the main stem before flowering , but it increased significantly after first flush flowering. Based on the starch accumulation in the first flush period, the genotypes studied could be divided into three groups. In groups I and III, starch did not accumulate until vigorous pod production receded , while in group II b oth starch accumulation and pod production occurred simultaneously. Group III had a longer lag-phase until the beginning of starch accumulation than did group I. There was considerable starch accumulation in the main stem at the mid second flush stage in groups I and II, but this rapidly reduced by the second flush maturity. The starch reduction i...
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Research Interests: Geography, Environmental Science, Soil Science, Agronomy, Climate Change, and 3 moreSorghum, Crop, and Arid
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Three methods of N fertilizer application, basal broadcasting, basal banding and split banding, were compared in terms of yield production, fertilizer use efficiency in sole crop and intercrops of sorghum and pigeonpea. The yield... more
Three methods of N fertilizer application, basal broadcasting, basal banding and split banding, were compared in terms of yield production, fertilizer use efficiency in sole crop and intercrops of sorghum and pigeonpea. The yield production was maintained unchanged by application methods. Nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency was improved by basal banding and split banding. It is concluded that application of N fertilizer to sorghum rows by banding will improve the efficiency of fertilizer utilization by crops which are grown alone or with component crops without affecting yield production.
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Research Interests: Agronomy, Biology, Chlorophyll, Field Crops, Nitrogen, and 4 moreSoil sciences, Pigeonpea, Vertisol, and Shoot
SUMMARYLength and weight of pigeonpea roots were measured weekly in different soil layers and compared with estimates obtained from a root simulation model using daily climatic data, soil physico-chemical properties and dry matter... more
SUMMARYLength and weight of pigeonpea roots were measured weekly in different soil layers and compared with estimates obtained from a root simulation model using daily climatic data, soil physico-chemical properties and dry matter allocation to roots. Daily moisture content and temperature at different soil depths were well simulated using sub-routines from the CERES-Maize model. Daily allocation of dry matter to roots was calculated from logistic functions fitted to the growth data for shoots and roots. Although root length and weight tended to be underestimated by the model, regressions between measured and simulated root growth were highly significant so that the model could, with a few modifications, be used to predict root system development.
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An agreement was made in 1984 between the Government of Japan (GOJ) and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) to set up a collaborative research project entitled "Development of Cultivation... more
An agreement was made in 1984 between the Government of Japan (GOJ) and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) to set up a collaborative research project entitled "Development of Cultivation for Upland Crops in 33 34 JJRCAS ]. No.3, 1996 the Semi-Arid Tropics". Within this framework, scientists in the first phase of the project (1984-1989) concentrated their studies on phosphorus (P) nutrition of grain legumes in the semi arid tropics (SAT). During the second phase of the project (19891994) the scientists focused on the dynamics of roots and nitrogen (N) in cropping systems, particularly in pigeonpea-based intercropping systems. Pigeonpea-based intercropping is widely adopted by resource-poor farmers in the SAT. Highlights of the five year activities are summarized below. Using an exponential fitting of profile distribution of root length, it was found that the roots of pigeonpea spread less to the horizontal direction and more to th...
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Research Interests: Mathematics, Agronomy, Tropics, Sorghum, Chickpea, and 7 morePigeonpea, Groundnut, Arid, Water Content, Soil Water, Sowing, and Millets
Renal disease largely associated with other various diseases is affected by free radical induced oxidative stress. Green tea polyphenols, known for their powerful antioxidant and active free radical scavenger activities, were examined... more
Renal disease largely associated with other various diseases is affected by free radical induced oxidative stress. Green tea polyphenols, known for their powerful antioxidant and active free radical scavenger activities, were examined against the oxidative stress of renal disease and related complications in rat models and humans. The polyphenols strongly inhibited the oxidative stress of free radicals and decreased the cell injury in renal epithelial cell line. The polyphenols have relieved the high oxidation stress condition and renal hypertension by inhibiting the production of oxidative uremic toxins and improving the renal blood circulating state, respectively. The application of polyphenols improved the renal function by inhibiting the mesangial cells proliferation. The polyphenols were found effective in easing the pains concerned with renal disease. The antioxidant properties of polyphenols against oxidative stress and related complications of renal disease have established the activity of green tea in regulating renal function.
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Sleep deprivation is associated with an elevated risk of various diseases and leads to a poor quality of life and negative socioeconomic consequences. Sleep inducers such as drugs and herbal medicines may often lead to dependence and... more
Sleep deprivation is associated with an elevated risk of various diseases and leads to a poor quality of life and negative socioeconomic consequences. Sleep inducers such as drugs and herbal medicines may often lead to dependence and other side effects. l-Theanine (γ-glutamylethylamide), an amino acid naturally found abundant in tea leaves, has anxiolytic effects via the induction of α brain waves without additive and other side effects associated with conventional sleep inducers. Anxiolysis is required for the initiation of high-quality sleep. In this study, we review the mechanism(s), safety, and efficacy of l-theanine. Collectively, sleep studies based on an actigraph, the obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) sleep inventory questionnaire, wakeup after sleep onset (WASO) and automatic nervous system (ANS) assessment, sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve activities, and a pediatric sleep questionnaire (PSQ) suggest that the administration of 200 mg of l-theanine before bed may support i...
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Amla (Emblica officinalisGaertn.) has been used for many centuries in traditional Indian Ayurvedic formulations for the prevention and treatment of many inflammatory diseases. The present study evaluated the anti-inflammatory and... more
Amla (Emblica officinalisGaertn.) has been used for many centuries in traditional Indian Ayurvedic formulations for the prevention and treatment of many inflammatory diseases. The present study evaluated the anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant properties of amla fruit extract. The amla fruit extract potentially and significantly reduced lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced tissue factor expression and von Willebrand factor release in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC)in vitroat clinically relevant concentrations (1–100 μg/ml). In a leucocyte adhesion model of inflammation, it also significantly decreased LPS-induced adhesion of human monocytic cells (THP-1) to the HUVEC, as well as reduced the expression of endothelial-leucocyte adhesion molecule-1 (E-selectin) in the target cells. In addition, thein vivoanti-inflammatory effects were evaluated in a LPS-induced endotoxaemia rat model. Oral administration of the amla fruit extract (50 mg/kg body weight) significantly decrease...
Research Interests: Chemistry, Cytokines, Inflammation, Cell Adhesion, Medicine, and 15 moreAnimal Production, Lipopolysaccharide, Humans, Endothelial Cells, Animals, Male, Fruit, Anticoagulants, In Vivo, Lipopolysaccharides, ENDOTOXEMIA, Monocytes, Food Sciences, Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells, and Inflammation Mediators
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Research Interests: Soil Science, Biology, Sorghum, Nitrate, Rhizosphere, and 3 moreAmmonium, Shoot, and Biological System
OSAMU ITO, RYOICHI MATSUNAGA 1, SATOSHI TOBITA 2, THEERTHAM P. RAO and Y. GAYATRI DEVI International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh 502 324, India. 1Tropical Agriculture Research Center,... more
OSAMU ITO, RYOICHI MATSUNAGA 1, SATOSHI TOBITA 2, THEERTHAM P. RAO and Y. GAYATRI DEVI International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh 502 324, India. 1Tropical Agriculture Research Center, Ohwashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305, ...
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Guar gum and partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG) are food ingredients that have been available for many years. PHGG is the partially hydrolyzed product from guar gum obtained from the Indian cluster bean (Cyanopsis tetragonolopus). The... more
Guar gum and partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG) are food ingredients that have been available for many years. PHGG is the partially hydrolyzed product from guar gum obtained from the Indian cluster bean (Cyanopsis tetragonolopus). The gum (CAS Registry No. 9000-30-0) is composed of galactomannan, a gel-forming polysaccharide with a molecular weight ranging from 200 to 300 kDa. The intact and partially hydrolyzed forms have multiple food applications. The intact material can be used to control the viscosity, stability, and texture of foods. PHGG is highly soluble and has little physical impact on foods. Both forms are indigestible but are excellent sources of fermentable dietary fiber. The caloric value of intact guar gum is accepted as 2.0, whereas the caloric value of PHGG has not been firmly established. It is the goal of this paper to review the chemistry, safety, in vivo effects, and caloric value of PHGG.
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Commercially available tea infusions are the major source of catechins for preparing bottled tea beverages and tea supplements available in the market today. In the present study, we analyzed five tea infusions to measure the total... more
Commercially available tea infusions are the major source of catechins for preparing bottled tea beverages and tea supplements available in the market today. In the present study, we analyzed five tea infusions to measure the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) by oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging capacity (DRSC) assays, total polyphenol content by the colorimetric method and individual catechin content by high-performance liquid chromatography. Four major tea catechins were also analyzed for their TAC to reveal differential antioxidant behavior of the tea infusions, resulting in the ORAC and DRSC methods. The correlation coefficients between DRSC and the total polyphenol or total catechin content of the tea infusions were 1.0 and 0.99. However, the values fall to 0.73 and 0.69, respectively, while the ORAC activity was correlated with total polyphenol and total catechin content. Determining the TAC of individual tea catechins showed that ORAC of epicatechin was seven-fold higher than that of epigallocatechin gallate; on the contrary, epigallocatechin gallate showed significantly (P < 0.05) stronger DRSC activity than epicatechin. By evaluating the structure-activity relationship, this study further revealed that OH substitution at the 3' position in pyrogallol moieties contributes to the lower ORAC value of epigallocatechin and epigallocatechin gallate comparing with their non-3'-OH counterparts, such as epicatechin and epicatechin gallate, respectively. Also, numbers of OH substitutions were poorly correlated with the observed ORAC value unlike the DRSC. Overall, results of this study enabled us to hypothesize that substances having a lower TAC value in the ORAC assay compared with that in DPPH assays may pertain to a pro-oxidant effect by generating reactive oxygen species in an aqueous buffer, at a physiological pH. We also propose that substances exhibiting lower TAC value in the ORAC assay compared with that in the DPPH assay are powerful pro-oxidants compared with the substances showing a higher TAC value in the ORAC assay than that in the DPPH assay.
Research Interests: Chemistry, Nutrition and Dietetics, Food Science, Flavonoids, Medicine, and 15 moreAntioxidants, Polyphenols, Correlation, Antioxidant, Mechanism, Phenols, DPPH, Food Sciences, Food sciences and nutrition, Polyphenol, Biological Assay, Catechin, Pyrogallol, Antioxidant Capacity, and Epigallocatechin Gallate
Partially hydrolysed guar gum (PHGG), a soluble dietary fibre, has been shown to provide many health benefits. Previous studies had suggested that the combination of PHGG with protein provided a significant satiation effect on visual... more
Partially hydrolysed guar gum (PHGG), a soluble dietary fibre, has been shown to provide many health benefits. Previous studies had suggested that the combination of PHGG with protein provided a significant satiation effect on visual analogue scales (VAS). What was lacking was only the effect of administration of small doses of PHGG on post-meal satiation and subsequent energy intake. The objectives of the present investigations were to find the subjective perception of post-meal satiety with acute and long term administration of small amounts of PHGG alone with food, its effects on subsequent energy intake and the comparative effects among different types of soluble fibres. The following three separate studies were conducted: in study 1, healthy subjects (n 12) consumed PHGG along with breakfast, lunch and an evening snack; in study 2, healthy subjects (n 24) consumed 2 g of PHGG or dextrin along with yogurt as breakfast for 2 weeks; in study 3, healthy subjects (n 6) took 6 g each...