Science Research Reporter

44-48

Authors: Rashmi Vamil, Aniat-ul-haq, R K Agnihotri and Rajendra Sharma

A study was carried out to investigate the effect of plant growth regulators (PGR) on certain morphological and biochemical parameters of Bambusa arundinacea. The hormones (IAA, IBA and 2-4-D) were applied individually in 10µM and 100µM concentrations. All the hormones in both the concentrations enhanced the seedling survival percentage, seedling biomass production but the proline content decreased markedly. 100µM concentrations were proved beneficial for the biomass production while as 10µM concentration were proved more beneficial for seedling survival. Results of this study may serve as useful information in the production and improvement of this species.

53-55

Authors: T H Shaikh, M S Siddiqui, K A Najam, N P Sanap and V D Deshpande

This contribution reports the description of a new species of the genus conarete Pitchard (lestremiinae: Ceciodomyiidae: Diptera), Conarete triangularis sp.nov. ♀ collected from Bhoker, Dist. Nanded, Maharashtra, India. This new species can be distinguished from the known species in the characters of its palpus, claw, empodium, and ovipositor. Genus Conarete was created by Pritchard in 1951 with C.crebra as genotype. The antennal segments with distinct stems, each segment with a crenulate whorl of long bristles. Pedicel normal. Female with a sole of short dense erect bristles on the terminal segments of the fore-legs.

61-64

Authors: Hari Shankar Lal and P K Mishra

Gloriosa Superba is generally found in western parts of Tamilnadu and Kerela India. It is critically endangered hence IUCN has placed it in “red data book” recently this species has been spotted for the first time in Topchanchi and Hazaribag District.This is first report of this endangered plant from Jharkhand. Gloriosa superba is one of the poisonous plants. Ingestion of Gloriosa superba tubers causes severe and potentially fatal toxic effects.

69-72

Authors: Murugan M and Mohan V R

In this study, an attempt was made to evaluate the phytochemical screening and antibacterial activity of root and seed of Mucuna pruriens var. pruriens used as ethnomedicine in various region of India. The preliminary phytochemical study of the methanol extracts of root and seed of Mucuna pruriens var. pruriens revealed the presence of alkaloids, anthraquinones, flavonoids, phenols, tannins, terpenoids and xanthoprotein. The extracts were tested against Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi and Escherichia coli using disc diffusion method. The hexane, petroleum ether, benzene, methanol and aqueous extracts of Mucuna pruriens var. pruriens root and seed possess various degrees of significant inhibitory effect against the tested organisms.

77-82

Authors: Pratap Naikwade, Umesh Mogle and Bharati Jadhav

A field experiment was carried out in the Research farm located in the Botanical garden of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad to evaluate the effects of aerobic (NADEP tank) and anaerobic (Bangalore pit) leaf composts on growth and nutrient contents of fodder maize. These treatments were compared with fertilizer alone (FER) and absolute control (CO) with four replicates each. The mineral fertilizers N, P2O5 and K2O (120:80:40 kg/ha) were applied through urea, single super phosphate and muriate of potash for comparison. The growth analysis of maize crop was noted at 64 and 110 DAS as plant height, diameter, number of leaves per plant, plant fresh weight, 4th upper leaf length, its width, weight and leaf area. Chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll content was also determined. NADEP compost was found to be more effective than Bangalore pit compost in increasing the growth and productivity of maize. The average yield of fresh aerial biomass (Kg/ha) of maize was highest in the plots received with AC amendment.