Ranganathan Ramani - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Ranganathan Ramani
Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology
World Researchers Associations, Sep 30, 2018
Purpose-India has over half a million diabetics, with many others at risk. The Indian Diabetes Ri... more Purpose-India has over half a million diabetics, with many others at risk. The Indian Diabetes Risk Score (IDRS) is a simple and validated tool used for mass screening of diabetes mellitus type 2 at the community level. This study assessed the vulnerability of developing diabetes in adults of a rural community of West Bengal using the IDRS and finds out the relationship of the risk of developing diabetes with socioclinical variables. Design/methodology/approach-Multi-stage sampling was employed to select one eligible nondiabetic adult from selected families residing in the rural field practice area of a medical college in West Bengal. They were interviewed with a predesigned and pretested data collection schedule and examined. Findings-Among 197 participants, 83.8% were female, 51.8% were illiterate and 57.4% came from Class IV of Prasad's socioeconomic scale. Of participants, 22.8% had existing known morbidities, and 23.9% had some form of substance addiction. In total, 46.8% of the participants on whom the IDRS could be applied (n 5 175) were at high risk of developing diabetes (Score 5 60). Gender and existing comorbidities significantly predicted a high risk of diabetes. Originality/value-A large proportion of the Indian population yet to be diagnosed with diabetes are at a high risk of having the disease. Early detection of the disease can help curtail its complications and reduce its clinical, social and economic burden. Mass screening tools like the IDRS thus become a very important tool in India's attempts to fight diabetes.
Lac insect is an economically important insect and the only animal species secreting resin. The m... more Lac insect is an economically important insect and the only animal species secreting resin. The main component of lac resin is sesquiterpenes, and farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) is the precursor for sesquiterpene formation in terpenoid biosynthetic pathway. The enzyme involved in the formation of FPP is the FPPS. The molecular cloning of coding region of FPPS gene provided the information helpful for further applied studies in the area of genetic manipulation in lac insects to increase lac resin productivity and its expression profile revealed the function of the enzyme and its role in biosynthetic process of resin secretion in different life stages of K. lacca. After the sequencing and assembly of the partial FPPS fragment and 3’RACE product, it resulted in 769 bp sequence of K.lacca FPPS encoding gene. The final product revealed a great homology with the mitochondrial isoprenyl diphosphate synthase gene reported in Bird cherry-oat aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi). The expression profile s...
www.sbg.org.br Genetic variation among species, races, forms and inbred lines of lac insects belo... more www.sbg.org.br Genetic variation among species, races, forms and inbred lines of lac insects belonging to the genus Kerria (Homoptera, Tachardiidae)
Indian Journal of Entomology, 2017
The application of biochemical and molecular methods in this study to investigate the microbiota ... more The application of biochemical and molecular methods in this study to investigate the microbiota of Indian lac insect, K. lacca has provided the basis to explore the community of bacterial taxa. Eight different bacterial species were isolated and categorized as endosymbiont, gut bacterium or subsurface bacterium. Three of them viz. Paenibacillus barengoltzii, Pseudomonas fulva and Pantoea ananatis were exclusive to males, whereas Bacillus cereus, Solibacillus silvestris and Curtobacterium citreum were found in females only. Majorly, the associations were sex-specific and only Bacillus megaterium and Arthrobacter subterraneus were common to both the sexes. Bacillus megaterium, Arthrobacter subterraneus and Pantoea ananatis were found to be the most abundant bacterial species. This work has made an attempt to identify the microbes associated with lac insect and to characterize them using molecular and biochemical approaches. The location of these bacteria in insect body and their significance in lac insect life cycle has also been discussed.
Indian Journal of Biotechnology
The genetic relationship among 26 fruit cultivars of Zizizphus mauritiana Lam. (ber), 6 high resi... more The genetic relationship among 26 fruit cultivars of Zizizphus mauritiana Lam. (ber), 6 high resin-yielding lac insect hosts of Z. mauritiana and 2 other Ziziphus spp. used as lac hosts was compared using random amplified polymorphic DNA(RAPD) and inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) primers with an aim to identify genetically similar cultivars for utilization in fruit as well as in lac production. RAPD (15) and ISSR primers (11) employed in the study revealed 98.82 and 98.86% polymorphisms, respectively among all the ber accessions used. The study revealed that 11 fruit cultivars had >50% genetic similarity with 6 high-yielding lac host genotypes. The UPGMA dendrogram and principal coordinate analysis clustered 11 fruit cultivars and the lac hosts within same cluster. The AMOVA analysis revealed very low genetic variations among the groups of fruit cultivars and high-yielding lac hosts, but high genetic variations within accessions of the groups. The results suggest that 11 ber c...
Indian Journal of Biotechnology
Albizia lucida Benth. is a forest tree known for timber, gum and tannin, and lac production. Micr... more Albizia lucida Benth. is a forest tree known for timber, gum and tannin, and lac production. Micropropagation of A. lucida can potentially address large-scale production of genetically identical superior genotypes. In the present study, a callus-mediated regeneration protocol has been established from nodal explants of A. lucida for micropropagation. Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) medium supplemented with plant growth regulators like thidiazuron (TDZ; 0.5 ìM) and 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP; 2.22 ìM) were found efficient in callus induction and multiplication. From the multiplied greenish and compact organogenic calli, shoots were regenerated best on MS media consisting BAP (8.88 ìM), NAA (1-napthaleneacetic acid; 0.54 ìM ) and AgNO3 (5.89 ìM). The excised microshoots were rooted efficiently on ½ MS medium supplemented with IBA (indole butyric acid; 9.8 ìM) and BAP (0.11 ìM). The rooted shoots were acclimatized in polybags containing garden soil, sand and FYM (1:1:1) and then transferred i...
An International Symposium on Plant Biotechnology towards Tolerance to Stresses and Enhancing Cro... more An International Symposium on Plant Biotechnology towards Tolerance to Stresses and Enhancing Crop Yield (ISPB-2011) was organized by Department of Biotechnology, Birla Institute of Technology (BIT), Mesra, Ranchi, India in association with Indian Institute of Natural Resins and Gums (IINRG), Namkum, Ranchi, India; Central Tasar Research & Training Institute (CTR & TI), Piska Nagari, Ranchi, India; Institute of Forest Productivity (IFP), Lalgutawa, Ranchi, India; AoB PLANTS, UK and Biotech Research Society (BRSI), India at BIT Mesra, Ranchi, India during September 28 to October 01, 2011. The aim of the ISPB-2011 was to provide updates on the latest biotechnological advances through peer-reviewed paper presentations, essential and emerging topics for combating the todays unfavorable environmental conditions, share the pioneering ideas and experiences from the academic leaders and researchers, and personnel from top industries as well as formulating better research directions to meet ...
Lac insects belonging to Kerria species are the most commonly used species for commercial lac pro... more Lac insects belonging to Kerria species are the most commonly used species for commercial lac production. They are also harnessed for the production of lac dye and wax. Using five Exon Primed Intron Crossing (EPIC) PCR primers for Kerria spp., we studied the intra- and interspecific variation among a population of forty eight lac insect lines. The study separated K. chinensis from rest of the lines and also made differentiation between the infrasubspecific forms of K. lacca i.e., kusmi and rangeeni.
Journal of Insect Science, 2014
The lac insects belong to the genus Kerria (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Kerriidae) and are commercially... more The lac insects belong to the genus Kerria (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Kerriidae) and are commercially exploited worldwide for the production of lac, which comes from their waxy test and has diverse industrial applications. The insects are maintained by the Indian Institute of Natural Resins and Gums as distinctive lines that are cultivated and commercialized in the lac producing areas of India. The lines are all considered to belong to the genus Kerria but without validation of their taxonomic characters, and their identity to species has not been ascertained. This study used single-factor analysis of variance and several multivariate analyses, such as principal component analysis, discriminant function analysis, and canonical discriminant analysis to explore the morphometrics of some of the adult female lac insect lines. The results have enabled the identification of some taxonomically significant characters in adult females, which has grouped the 32 lac insect lines studied into 15 species along with validation of the most significant characters. Distinctive grouping patterns for the species of Kerria have been brought out using morphometrics.
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science, 2014
Kerria lacca (Kerr) is commercially harnessed for lac resin, which is principally an ester comple... more Kerria lacca (Kerr) is commercially harnessed for lac resin, which is principally an ester complex of aleuritic acid (9,10,16-trihydroxyhexadecanoic acid) and jalaric acid. The present study is an attempt made to identify the possible pathways involved in the biosynthesis of lac resin. It is proposed that acetyl-CoA is the common precursor for the biosynthesis of aleuritic acid and sesquiterpenic acids (jalaric acid). Prenyltransferases are involved in the biosynthesis of sesquiterpenes; hydroxylation of hexadecanoic acid, after chain elongation, appears to occur through the action of cytochrome P450 enzymes. Two related genes as proposed above were identified and sequenced. The diurnal rhythm of resin secretion and protein concentrations were also studied and correlated for ascertaining the active secretory phase.
Zootaxa, 2013
Three new species of lac insect, Kerria Targioni-Tozzetti viz., Kerria manipurensis Ahmad & Ramam... more Three new species of lac insect, Kerria Targioni-Tozzetti viz., Kerria manipurensis Ahmad & Ramamurthy sp. nov., Kerria maduraiensis Ahmad & Ramamurthy sp. nov., and Kerria thrissurensis Ahmad & Ramamurthy sp. nov. are described and illustrated. Kerria yunnanensis Ou & Hong is illustrated and redescribed, and a key to the known species of Kerria is provided. The usefulness of star pores as a diagnostic character in the subgeneric divisions of Kerria is also discussed.
Genetics and Molecular Biology, 2011
The lac insects (Homoptera: Tachardiidae), belonging to the genus Kerria, are commercially exploi... more The lac insects (Homoptera: Tachardiidae), belonging to the genus Kerria, are commercially exploited for the production of lac. Kerria lacca is the most commonly used species in India. RAPD markers were used for assessing genetic variation in forty-eight lines of Kerria, especially among geographic races, infrasubspecific forms, cultivated lines, inbred lines, etc., of K. lacca. In the 48 lines studied, the 26 RAPD primers generated 173 loci, showing 97.7% polymorphism. By using neighbor-joining, the dendrogram generated from the similarity matrix resolved the lines into basically two clusters and outgroups. The major cluster, comprising 32 lines, included mainly cultivated lines of the rangeeni form, geographic races and inbred lines of K. lacca. The second cluster consisted of eight lines of K. lacca, seven of the kusmi form and one of the rangeeni from the southern state of Karnataka. The remaining eight lines formed a series of outgroups, this including a group of three yellow mutant lines of K. lacca and other species of the Kerria studied, among others. Color mutants always showed distinctive banding patterns compared to their wild-type counterparts from the same population. This study also adds support to the current status of kusmi and rangeeni, as infraspecific forms of K. lacca.
European Journal of Entomology, 2014
The functional role and commercial importance of insect pigments have been studied for well over ... more The functional role and commercial importance of insect pigments have been studied for well over a century. They are classified into those synthesized by insects, which include anthraquinones, aphins, pterins, tetrapyrroles, ommochromes, melanins and papiliochromes, and those sequestered from their host plants, the antioxidative carotenoids and water-soluble flavonoids. They can also be categorized into those that are produced by cyclization of linear precursors, e.g. anthraquinones, aphins and tetrapyrroles and those derived from cyclic precursors such as pterins, ommochromes, melanins and anthocyanins. Anthraquinones and aphins are derived by cyclization of linear polyketides via successive condensation of simple carboxylic acid metabolites and occur in two major Superfamilies of Hemiptera, the Coccoidea and Aphidoidae, respectively. Ommochromes, tetrapyrroles and melanins are derived from different amino acid precursors, tryptophan, glycine and tyrosine, respectively. Apart from providing body colouration, ommochromes are visual pigments, melanins act as a protectant against UV and tetrapyrroles facilitate oxygen transport to cells. Papiliochromes are synthesized using both, the essential amino acids tyrosine and tryptophan. Pterins are derived from guanosine triphosphate (GTP) and are also present in ommatidia of eyes. The sequestered pigments, anthocyanins and carotenoids, are synthesized from phenylalanine and by condensation of two isoprene units, respectively, in plants. The biosyntheses of chemochromes in insects are governed by a complex set of enzymes, pathways and genetics. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of the molecules that are not only responsible for the striking colours but also provide functional benefits for insects. The commercially important pigments are also discussed.
Arthropod Structure & Development, 2012
Hitherto less known aspects on mouthpart morphology and penetration mechanism of the lac insect K... more Hitherto less known aspects on mouthpart morphology and penetration mechanism of the lac insect Kerria lacca have been explored. Unique details of the mouthparts, i.e. morphology of labium and stylets and salivary sheath have been brought out. The gross morphology of the mouthparts though resembled other plant sucking homopterans; a two-segmented labium with symmetrically distributed six pairs of contact-chemoreceptors on its surface was distinct; the mandibular stylets had serrations on its extreme apical region, while the maxillary stylets had their external surface smooth with parallel longitudinal grooves on their inner surface. Formation of flanges, salivary sheath and penetration pathway observed along with probing and penetration of the stylets intracellularly up to the phloem cells, as illustrated herein, are the addition to the existing knowledge on the structural details of the mouthparts and the feeding behavior thereupon.
A new and improved differential staining technique has been explored for the permanent mount prep... more A new and improved differential staining technique has been explored for the permanent mount preparation of the females of lac insect Kerria lacca (Kerr). The salient taxonomic characters had been illustrated using this technique, supplemented with the Scanning Electron Microcopy (SEM) studies. These have revealed a definite pattern of the dorsal duct cluster, stigmatic spinose setae on the brachial plate, pre-anal plate, sclerotized collar of the nuclear ducts of marginal duct cluster and six sectored anal ring not recorded earlier. Post-oral lobes, rudimentary legs and traces of segmentation observed on the ventral aspect adds to the knowledge on its morphology. All these are likely to have implications on its classification in subgenera and species.
For the phytophagous insect such as Kerria lacca-the Indian lac insect, the bark tissue of host p... more For the phytophagous insect such as Kerria lacca-the Indian lac insect, the bark tissue of host plant is the first major structural barrier. Differential insect settlement has been observed on various host plant taxa. A number of phytochemicals are found to be present within the bark of host. Keeping this in view a preliminary phytochemical investigation was made on the bark of the eleven different host plants of Kerria lacca for the presence of major phytochemicals namely alkaloids, tannins, saponins, steroids, terpenoids and flavonoids. An attempt to elucidate the probable role of the various phytochemicals present in the bark with respect to the host selection or acceptance by the Lac insect has been made here. Preliminary investigations depicted the nondependence of insect settlement event on the phytochemical constituents of bark.
Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology
World Researchers Associations, Sep 30, 2018
Purpose-India has over half a million diabetics, with many others at risk. The Indian Diabetes Ri... more Purpose-India has over half a million diabetics, with many others at risk. The Indian Diabetes Risk Score (IDRS) is a simple and validated tool used for mass screening of diabetes mellitus type 2 at the community level. This study assessed the vulnerability of developing diabetes in adults of a rural community of West Bengal using the IDRS and finds out the relationship of the risk of developing diabetes with socioclinical variables. Design/methodology/approach-Multi-stage sampling was employed to select one eligible nondiabetic adult from selected families residing in the rural field practice area of a medical college in West Bengal. They were interviewed with a predesigned and pretested data collection schedule and examined. Findings-Among 197 participants, 83.8% were female, 51.8% were illiterate and 57.4% came from Class IV of Prasad's socioeconomic scale. Of participants, 22.8% had existing known morbidities, and 23.9% had some form of substance addiction. In total, 46.8% of the participants on whom the IDRS could be applied (n 5 175) were at high risk of developing diabetes (Score 5 60). Gender and existing comorbidities significantly predicted a high risk of diabetes. Originality/value-A large proportion of the Indian population yet to be diagnosed with diabetes are at a high risk of having the disease. Early detection of the disease can help curtail its complications and reduce its clinical, social and economic burden. Mass screening tools like the IDRS thus become a very important tool in India's attempts to fight diabetes.
Lac insect is an economically important insect and the only animal species secreting resin. The m... more Lac insect is an economically important insect and the only animal species secreting resin. The main component of lac resin is sesquiterpenes, and farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) is the precursor for sesquiterpene formation in terpenoid biosynthetic pathway. The enzyme involved in the formation of FPP is the FPPS. The molecular cloning of coding region of FPPS gene provided the information helpful for further applied studies in the area of genetic manipulation in lac insects to increase lac resin productivity and its expression profile revealed the function of the enzyme and its role in biosynthetic process of resin secretion in different life stages of K. lacca. After the sequencing and assembly of the partial FPPS fragment and 3’RACE product, it resulted in 769 bp sequence of K.lacca FPPS encoding gene. The final product revealed a great homology with the mitochondrial isoprenyl diphosphate synthase gene reported in Bird cherry-oat aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi). The expression profile s...
www.sbg.org.br Genetic variation among species, races, forms and inbred lines of lac insects belo... more www.sbg.org.br Genetic variation among species, races, forms and inbred lines of lac insects belonging to the genus Kerria (Homoptera, Tachardiidae)
Indian Journal of Entomology, 2017
The application of biochemical and molecular methods in this study to investigate the microbiota ... more The application of biochemical and molecular methods in this study to investigate the microbiota of Indian lac insect, K. lacca has provided the basis to explore the community of bacterial taxa. Eight different bacterial species were isolated and categorized as endosymbiont, gut bacterium or subsurface bacterium. Three of them viz. Paenibacillus barengoltzii, Pseudomonas fulva and Pantoea ananatis were exclusive to males, whereas Bacillus cereus, Solibacillus silvestris and Curtobacterium citreum were found in females only. Majorly, the associations were sex-specific and only Bacillus megaterium and Arthrobacter subterraneus were common to both the sexes. Bacillus megaterium, Arthrobacter subterraneus and Pantoea ananatis were found to be the most abundant bacterial species. This work has made an attempt to identify the microbes associated with lac insect and to characterize them using molecular and biochemical approaches. The location of these bacteria in insect body and their significance in lac insect life cycle has also been discussed.
Indian Journal of Biotechnology
The genetic relationship among 26 fruit cultivars of Zizizphus mauritiana Lam. (ber), 6 high resi... more The genetic relationship among 26 fruit cultivars of Zizizphus mauritiana Lam. (ber), 6 high resin-yielding lac insect hosts of Z. mauritiana and 2 other Ziziphus spp. used as lac hosts was compared using random amplified polymorphic DNA(RAPD) and inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) primers with an aim to identify genetically similar cultivars for utilization in fruit as well as in lac production. RAPD (15) and ISSR primers (11) employed in the study revealed 98.82 and 98.86% polymorphisms, respectively among all the ber accessions used. The study revealed that 11 fruit cultivars had >50% genetic similarity with 6 high-yielding lac host genotypes. The UPGMA dendrogram and principal coordinate analysis clustered 11 fruit cultivars and the lac hosts within same cluster. The AMOVA analysis revealed very low genetic variations among the groups of fruit cultivars and high-yielding lac hosts, but high genetic variations within accessions of the groups. The results suggest that 11 ber c...
Indian Journal of Biotechnology
Albizia lucida Benth. is a forest tree known for timber, gum and tannin, and lac production. Micr... more Albizia lucida Benth. is a forest tree known for timber, gum and tannin, and lac production. Micropropagation of A. lucida can potentially address large-scale production of genetically identical superior genotypes. In the present study, a callus-mediated regeneration protocol has been established from nodal explants of A. lucida for micropropagation. Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) medium supplemented with plant growth regulators like thidiazuron (TDZ; 0.5 ìM) and 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP; 2.22 ìM) were found efficient in callus induction and multiplication. From the multiplied greenish and compact organogenic calli, shoots were regenerated best on MS media consisting BAP (8.88 ìM), NAA (1-napthaleneacetic acid; 0.54 ìM ) and AgNO3 (5.89 ìM). The excised microshoots were rooted efficiently on ½ MS medium supplemented with IBA (indole butyric acid; 9.8 ìM) and BAP (0.11 ìM). The rooted shoots were acclimatized in polybags containing garden soil, sand and FYM (1:1:1) and then transferred i...
An International Symposium on Plant Biotechnology towards Tolerance to Stresses and Enhancing Cro... more An International Symposium on Plant Biotechnology towards Tolerance to Stresses and Enhancing Crop Yield (ISPB-2011) was organized by Department of Biotechnology, Birla Institute of Technology (BIT), Mesra, Ranchi, India in association with Indian Institute of Natural Resins and Gums (IINRG), Namkum, Ranchi, India; Central Tasar Research & Training Institute (CTR & TI), Piska Nagari, Ranchi, India; Institute of Forest Productivity (IFP), Lalgutawa, Ranchi, India; AoB PLANTS, UK and Biotech Research Society (BRSI), India at BIT Mesra, Ranchi, India during September 28 to October 01, 2011. The aim of the ISPB-2011 was to provide updates on the latest biotechnological advances through peer-reviewed paper presentations, essential and emerging topics for combating the todays unfavorable environmental conditions, share the pioneering ideas and experiences from the academic leaders and researchers, and personnel from top industries as well as formulating better research directions to meet ...
Lac insects belonging to Kerria species are the most commonly used species for commercial lac pro... more Lac insects belonging to Kerria species are the most commonly used species for commercial lac production. They are also harnessed for the production of lac dye and wax. Using five Exon Primed Intron Crossing (EPIC) PCR primers for Kerria spp., we studied the intra- and interspecific variation among a population of forty eight lac insect lines. The study separated K. chinensis from rest of the lines and also made differentiation between the infrasubspecific forms of K. lacca i.e., kusmi and rangeeni.
Journal of Insect Science, 2014
The lac insects belong to the genus Kerria (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Kerriidae) and are commercially... more The lac insects belong to the genus Kerria (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Kerriidae) and are commercially exploited worldwide for the production of lac, which comes from their waxy test and has diverse industrial applications. The insects are maintained by the Indian Institute of Natural Resins and Gums as distinctive lines that are cultivated and commercialized in the lac producing areas of India. The lines are all considered to belong to the genus Kerria but without validation of their taxonomic characters, and their identity to species has not been ascertained. This study used single-factor analysis of variance and several multivariate analyses, such as principal component analysis, discriminant function analysis, and canonical discriminant analysis to explore the morphometrics of some of the adult female lac insect lines. The results have enabled the identification of some taxonomically significant characters in adult females, which has grouped the 32 lac insect lines studied into 15 species along with validation of the most significant characters. Distinctive grouping patterns for the species of Kerria have been brought out using morphometrics.
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science, 2014
Kerria lacca (Kerr) is commercially harnessed for lac resin, which is principally an ester comple... more Kerria lacca (Kerr) is commercially harnessed for lac resin, which is principally an ester complex of aleuritic acid (9,10,16-trihydroxyhexadecanoic acid) and jalaric acid. The present study is an attempt made to identify the possible pathways involved in the biosynthesis of lac resin. It is proposed that acetyl-CoA is the common precursor for the biosynthesis of aleuritic acid and sesquiterpenic acids (jalaric acid). Prenyltransferases are involved in the biosynthesis of sesquiterpenes; hydroxylation of hexadecanoic acid, after chain elongation, appears to occur through the action of cytochrome P450 enzymes. Two related genes as proposed above were identified and sequenced. The diurnal rhythm of resin secretion and protein concentrations were also studied and correlated for ascertaining the active secretory phase.
Zootaxa, 2013
Three new species of lac insect, Kerria Targioni-Tozzetti viz., Kerria manipurensis Ahmad & Ramam... more Three new species of lac insect, Kerria Targioni-Tozzetti viz., Kerria manipurensis Ahmad & Ramamurthy sp. nov., Kerria maduraiensis Ahmad & Ramamurthy sp. nov., and Kerria thrissurensis Ahmad & Ramamurthy sp. nov. are described and illustrated. Kerria yunnanensis Ou & Hong is illustrated and redescribed, and a key to the known species of Kerria is provided. The usefulness of star pores as a diagnostic character in the subgeneric divisions of Kerria is also discussed.
Genetics and Molecular Biology, 2011
The lac insects (Homoptera: Tachardiidae), belonging to the genus Kerria, are commercially exploi... more The lac insects (Homoptera: Tachardiidae), belonging to the genus Kerria, are commercially exploited for the production of lac. Kerria lacca is the most commonly used species in India. RAPD markers were used for assessing genetic variation in forty-eight lines of Kerria, especially among geographic races, infrasubspecific forms, cultivated lines, inbred lines, etc., of K. lacca. In the 48 lines studied, the 26 RAPD primers generated 173 loci, showing 97.7% polymorphism. By using neighbor-joining, the dendrogram generated from the similarity matrix resolved the lines into basically two clusters and outgroups. The major cluster, comprising 32 lines, included mainly cultivated lines of the rangeeni form, geographic races and inbred lines of K. lacca. The second cluster consisted of eight lines of K. lacca, seven of the kusmi form and one of the rangeeni from the southern state of Karnataka. The remaining eight lines formed a series of outgroups, this including a group of three yellow mutant lines of K. lacca and other species of the Kerria studied, among others. Color mutants always showed distinctive banding patterns compared to their wild-type counterparts from the same population. This study also adds support to the current status of kusmi and rangeeni, as infraspecific forms of K. lacca.
European Journal of Entomology, 2014
The functional role and commercial importance of insect pigments have been studied for well over ... more The functional role and commercial importance of insect pigments have been studied for well over a century. They are classified into those synthesized by insects, which include anthraquinones, aphins, pterins, tetrapyrroles, ommochromes, melanins and papiliochromes, and those sequestered from their host plants, the antioxidative carotenoids and water-soluble flavonoids. They can also be categorized into those that are produced by cyclization of linear precursors, e.g. anthraquinones, aphins and tetrapyrroles and those derived from cyclic precursors such as pterins, ommochromes, melanins and anthocyanins. Anthraquinones and aphins are derived by cyclization of linear polyketides via successive condensation of simple carboxylic acid metabolites and occur in two major Superfamilies of Hemiptera, the Coccoidea and Aphidoidae, respectively. Ommochromes, tetrapyrroles and melanins are derived from different amino acid precursors, tryptophan, glycine and tyrosine, respectively. Apart from providing body colouration, ommochromes are visual pigments, melanins act as a protectant against UV and tetrapyrroles facilitate oxygen transport to cells. Papiliochromes are synthesized using both, the essential amino acids tyrosine and tryptophan. Pterins are derived from guanosine triphosphate (GTP) and are also present in ommatidia of eyes. The sequestered pigments, anthocyanins and carotenoids, are synthesized from phenylalanine and by condensation of two isoprene units, respectively, in plants. The biosyntheses of chemochromes in insects are governed by a complex set of enzymes, pathways and genetics. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of the molecules that are not only responsible for the striking colours but also provide functional benefits for insects. The commercially important pigments are also discussed.
Arthropod Structure & Development, 2012
Hitherto less known aspects on mouthpart morphology and penetration mechanism of the lac insect K... more Hitherto less known aspects on mouthpart morphology and penetration mechanism of the lac insect Kerria lacca have been explored. Unique details of the mouthparts, i.e. morphology of labium and stylets and salivary sheath have been brought out. The gross morphology of the mouthparts though resembled other plant sucking homopterans; a two-segmented labium with symmetrically distributed six pairs of contact-chemoreceptors on its surface was distinct; the mandibular stylets had serrations on its extreme apical region, while the maxillary stylets had their external surface smooth with parallel longitudinal grooves on their inner surface. Formation of flanges, salivary sheath and penetration pathway observed along with probing and penetration of the stylets intracellularly up to the phloem cells, as illustrated herein, are the addition to the existing knowledge on the structural details of the mouthparts and the feeding behavior thereupon.
A new and improved differential staining technique has been explored for the permanent mount prep... more A new and improved differential staining technique has been explored for the permanent mount preparation of the females of lac insect Kerria lacca (Kerr). The salient taxonomic characters had been illustrated using this technique, supplemented with the Scanning Electron Microcopy (SEM) studies. These have revealed a definite pattern of the dorsal duct cluster, stigmatic spinose setae on the brachial plate, pre-anal plate, sclerotized collar of the nuclear ducts of marginal duct cluster and six sectored anal ring not recorded earlier. Post-oral lobes, rudimentary legs and traces of segmentation observed on the ventral aspect adds to the knowledge on its morphology. All these are likely to have implications on its classification in subgenera and species.
For the phytophagous insect such as Kerria lacca-the Indian lac insect, the bark tissue of host p... more For the phytophagous insect such as Kerria lacca-the Indian lac insect, the bark tissue of host plant is the first major structural barrier. Differential insect settlement has been observed on various host plant taxa. A number of phytochemicals are found to be present within the bark of host. Keeping this in view a preliminary phytochemical investigation was made on the bark of the eleven different host plants of Kerria lacca for the presence of major phytochemicals namely alkaloids, tannins, saponins, steroids, terpenoids and flavonoids. An attempt to elucidate the probable role of the various phytochemicals present in the bark with respect to the host selection or acceptance by the Lac insect has been made here. Preliminary investigations depicted the nondependence of insect settlement event on the phytochemical constituents of bark.