International Journal of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology

222-223

Authors: Saurabh Kumar Singh

No abstract

229-237

Authors: Manu Maya Magar, Ch.V. Durga Rani, G Auradha

The present investigation was undertaken with the objective to develop high yielding, fine grain rice varieties possessing broad spectrum durable resistance by transferring bacterial leaf blight (BLB) resistant genes viz., xa13 and Xa21 from B95-1. A popular high yielding and fine grain rice variety, MTU1010 (Cottondora Sannalu), susceptible to BLB and B95-1 carrying resistant genes for BLB (xa13 & Xa21 genes) was selected as the parent for crossing. B95-1 was verified for the presence of target genes by using gene linked primers viz., xa13 promotor and pTA 248. These primers were also used to study polymorphism between resistant (B95-1) and susceptible (MTU1010) parents. The cross viz., MTU1010 x B95-1 was affected during Rabi, 2010 and F1 progenies were confirmed during Kharif, 2011. The F1 plants confirmed as true hybrids for both the genes were advanced to F2 generation and foreground selection was done using gene linked markers. Genetic analysis in F2 populations confirmed that the genes (xa13 & Xa21) governing BLB resistance followed Mendelian inheritance. The phenotypic data analysis revealed that the plants carrying two resistance gene combinations (xa13xa13 Xa21Xa21, xa13xa13Xa21xa21) showed BLB resistance (0-2 scale), while the gene combinations viz., Xa13Xa13Xa21Xa21, Xa13Xa13Xa21xa21, and Xa13xa13Xa21Xa21, Xa13xa13Xa21xa21 showed BLB resistance (0.5-3.0).

243-252

Authors: Lal B Thapa, Til Maya Dhakal, Raghunath Chaudhary

The Rajis are one of the endangered indigenous people distributed in western part of Nepal enriched in their own mother tongue, culture, beliefs and practices. Owing to lack of proper documentation, the traditional knowledge of uses and practices on wild edible plants by such an endangered community is about to extinct. This paper aims to present the traditional practices and use of wild edible plants by Raji people in Nepal. Our study found that a total of 67 wild edible plant species included in 56 genera and 38 families used by Raji people. Out of them 62 species were angiosperms, one species was Gymnosperm and 4 species were Pteridophytes. The results of study show that Rajis have their traditional way to use different parts of wild plants such as seeds, fruits, leaves, shoots, roots and tubers in the forms of vegetables, pickles, juice, and raw or as fruits.

260-264

Authors: Goutam Sabat, A.K. Panigrahi, A.K. Sahu, Bijaya Kumar Mohanty

Anabaena cylindrica L, a blue green alga commonly found in rice fields was experimentally exposed with a board spectrum insecticide, Endosulphan, EC50 in laboratory conditions for varied days. The growth of alga in terms of increase in Absorbance, dry weight and pigments like Total chlorophyll, carotenoid and phaeophytin were estimated to study the toxic effect and the subsequent recovery from insecticide stress. The results obtained indicated decrease in all studied parameters with increase in exposure period and concentration. The highest concentration (3.25ml/L) and highest period (15 Days) severely affected the growth of alga and decreased pigment content. However, when the algae were allowed to grow in insecticide free environment for 15 days, they could able to recover fully from the toxic stress.

270-274

Authors: Y.P. Giri, R.B. Thapa, N. Dangi, S. Aryal, S. M. Shrestha, S. B. Pradhan, M. Sporleder

Annual monitoring of potato tuber moth (PTM) was made in 2008/09 in15 districts of Nepal to understand the distribution and seasonal abundance. The locally made pheromone trap was installed and observed in 24 hours intervals. The activity of PTM was observed in plain, mid hills (below 2200 masl) and high hill districts. The population of PTM was found more in mid-hills than in plain whereas PTM was absent in high hill districts. The highest average number of PTM was observed in May (480±238 moth/month) with no adult moths in October to December in plain whereas 522±174 moth/month was observed in July and 18±4 moth/month in December in mid-hills of Nepal. The seasonal abundance of PTM observed from March to July (74±63 to 126±100 moth/month) in Plain and March to October (191±157 to 104±60 moth/month) in mid-hills. The understanding of PTM population dynamics could be useful to make suitable management decision.

279-282

Authors: N. Packialakshmi, H. Fazila Beevi

The present study deals with the aqueous leaf extract and synthesized silver nanoparticle of Argyreia cymosa (Roxb) were evaluated for antibacterial activity. The aqueous leaf extract and synthesized nanoparticle of Argyreia cymosa is active against E. coli, P. aeruginosa, Bacillus and S. aureus. The aqueous leaf extract showed maximum activity against Bacillus (20mm), S.aureus (18mm), P. aeruginosa (13mm) E.coli (12mm) and the synthesized silver nano particle showed maximum activity against Bacillus (27mm), E. coli (21mm) , S. aureus (12mm) and P. aeruginosa (11mm).

291-297

Authors: B.O.T. Ifesan, O.O. Egbewole, B.T. Ifesan

Fresh leafy vegetables which include Amarathus hybridus (Bush green), Telfairia occidentalis (Fluted pumpkin leaf), Vernonia amygdalina (Bitter leaf) and Pterocarpus mildbraedii (White campwood leaf) were subjected to spontaneous fermentation for 5 days at room temperature. Physicochemical properties (pH, temperature, and total titratable acidity) were monitored during the fermentation. It was observed that the pH (6.8 to 3.78) of all the vegetables decreased steadily as fermentation progressed. However, the temperature (27°C to 34°C) and total titratable acidity expressed as lactic acid equivalent (0.014-0.147) for all the vegetables increased as fermentation progressed. The percentage of occurrence of bacteria isolated from the fermenting mass include Bacillus spp. (39.1%), Lactobacillus spp. (26.1%), Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus spp. (8.7%), Proteus spp., Serratia spp., Citrobacter spp. and Pseudomonas spp (4.3%) respectively. The proximate composition and mineral contents of fermented and unfermented leaves were investigated. Significant increase in ash content was noticed for unfermented (8.07%-15.72%) and for fermented vegetables (12.50%-23.28%). The protein contents of T. occidentalis (24.29%-25.65%), and A. hybridus (14.27%-16.96%) increased significantly after fermentation. A decrease in fiber content was noticed for all fermented vegetables except for V. amygdalina where significant increase was noticed (10.97%-14.55%). Increase in both thiamine (1.37-1.52mg/ml) and niacin (1.32-1.62mg/ml) contents were observed in T. occidentalis after fermentation while significant reductions were recorded for A. hybridus and V. amygdalina. Generally, vitamin C content of the vegetables decreased during fermentation while some increases were recorded in the mineral content of fermented vegetables.

302-304

Authors: K Manimegalai, S Sukanya

Soil serves as a more reliable index for productivity than water qualities. The productivity of any pond depends largely on the quality of bottom soil that is “store house of nutrients.” The present paper deals with the study of physicochemical parameters like organic carbon, pH, Electrical conductivity, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium of soil from Muthannan Kulam,Coimbatore (March 2013- May 2013). Analysis for the above parameters indicated contamination of the soil quality due to some anthropogenic activities.

311-314

Authors: Shristi Ghimire, Santosh Dhakal, Narayan Prasad Ghimire, Durga Datt Joshi

The objectives of this cross-sectional study was to determine the seropositivity status of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) in pig and ascertain the farm level risk factors in Nepal. Serum samples were collected from 181 pigs in 91 farms of Rupandehi and Kapilbastu districts and tested for antibodies by IgG ELISA. Survey of farmers in each farm was carried out to determine the farm level risk factors. A total of 20 out of 181 (11%) serum samples tested positive for JEV antibodies. There was no statistically significant difference in seropositivity with age (p>0.05), sex (p>0.05) and breed (p>0.05) of pigs. Farm level infection was significantly associated with closeness to rice fields (p<0.05), closeness to standing water sources (p<0.05), wild bird exposure (p<0.05) and mosquito bite to pigs (p<0.05). These factors need to be addressed while formulating prevention, control and management strategies of JEV in pig and hence in human.

328-335

Authors: Saugat Dahal, Tika Bahadur Karki, Lal Prasad Amgain, Birendra Kumar Bhattachan

With the aim of developing crop management technologies that reduce the yield gap of maize (Zea mays L.) in Nepal, a study was carried-out to determine whether the grain yield of maize could be manipulated through tillage, residue, and nutrient and weed management practices. The effect of tillage (conventional and no tillage), residue (residue retained and residue removed), fertilizer (recommended doses of fertilizer and farmers’ doses of fertilizer) and weed management practices (herbicide use and manual weeding) on phenology and grain yield of maize were investigated under maize-rice cropping system in Rampur, Nepal during 2013. The experimental results revealed that no tillage had significant effect on grain yield (6.64 Mg ha-1) and phenological parameters like days to silking, physiological maturity and seed fill duration. Similarly, residue retained treatment had significant effect on grain yield (7.02 Mg ha-1) and phenological parameters. Research dose of fertilizer had significant effect on phenological parameters and grain yield (8.42 Mg ha-1). However, weed management factor did not influence significantly on grain yield and phenological parameters. The grain yield increased in no tillage by 23.19% over conventional tillage, residue retained by 39.84% over residue removed, recommended doses of fertilizer by 132.60% over farmer dose of fertilizer. Thus, no tillage, residue retention, recommended doses of fertilizer and use of herbicide for weed management can be alternative technologies for sustainable higher grain yield.

342-358

Authors: S R Surekha, Lincy Joseph, Mathew George

A series of 8-hydroxyquinolines are synthesized and their Antitubercular, antifungal, and antibacterial activities are tested. Quinolines are found to possess antibacterial, antifungal, immunosuppressive, analgesic, vasorelaxing, Antiplasmodial, anticancer and PDE4 inhibitory activities. Aryloxypropanolamines were reported to be associated with β-adrenergic blocking, CNS depressant and hypotensive activities. In view of the potential nature of these moieties it was considered worthwhile to study the effects of two pharmacophoric moieties such as quinoline and propanolamines/amino ethane in a single molecule. In the present study the synthesis, antitubercular, antifungal, and antibacterial activities and structure activity relationship of aryloxypropanolamine substituted 8-hydroxy quinolines are reported. The compounds were characterized by IR, H-NMR, spectral and Elemental analysis.

364-370

Authors: M. A. Rahman, M. S. Hossain, I.F. Chowdhury, M.A. Matin, H. Mehraj

The experiment was conducted in experimental Farm, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Bangladesh from July to December 2011 to study the variability of advanced lines of fine rice with correlation and path co-efficient of yield and yield contributing characters. Seven newly developed lines viz. S-1, S-2, S-5, AL-33(II), AL-36, AL-42(II), AL-44(I) and Chinigura. Grain yield/plant of newly developed advanced fine rice lines and check showed positive association in respect of number of effective tillers/hill (0.308), number of filled spikelets/panicle (0.110) and weight of 1000-grains (0.109), whereas significant negative association with panicle length (-0.609), number of unfilled spikelets/panicle (-0.542) and non significant negative association with plant height (-0.136) and number of ineffective tillers/hill (-0.304). Path analysis revealed that plant height had positive direct effect (0.154), number of effective tillers/hill had positive direct effect (0.065), number of ineffective tillers/hill had negative direct effect (-0.114), panicle length had positive direct effect (0.163), number of filled spikelets/panicle had positive direct effect (0.285), number of unfilled spikelets/panicle had negative direct effect (-0.154), weight of 1000-grains had positive direct effect (0.234) on grain yield/plant.