International Journal of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology

1-8

Authors: Adedayo I. Inegbenebor, Raphael C. Mordi, Oluwakayode M. Ogunwole

The review is based on the description of zeolite structure, uses, synthesis, and catalytic aldol reaction in aldol condensation. An internal aldolcondensation reaction has been achieved over ZSM-5 zeolite with high silica-alumina ratio at 350oC. It therefore follows that zeolite canfunction as a catalyst in aldol type condensation reactions and that weak acid sites as well as a small number of active sites favor the aldolcondensation reaction of carbonyl compounds. However, the mixed condensation product was found to be favored at temperatures above 300oCand the self-condensation of ethanal to crotonaldehyde was favored at temperatures below 300oC. It has also been suggested that both Brønstedand Lewis acids are involved in aldol reactions with Lewis acid sites the most probable catalytic sites. The zeolite group of minerals has founduse in many chemical and allied industries. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijasbt.v3i1.12291 http://nepjol.info/index.php/IJASBT/article/view/12291/9984

16-19

Authors: H. J. Parmar, Mohamed M. Hassan, N. P. Bodar, V. V. Umrania, S.V. Patel, H.N. Lakhani

Six Trichoderma strains (collected from IARI, New Delhi and MTCC, Chandigarh) were tested for their ability to inhibit soil born pathogenof groundnut mainly Sclerotium rolfsii (causing stem rot on groundnut). Morphological observations of Trichoderma strains as well asphytopathogenic fungi S. rolfsii were made from culture grown at 28 0C for about one week on PDA media. The radial growth, fastest growthand coiling of test fungus of various Trichoderma strains on plant pathogenic fungi S. rolfsii were examined under LEICA phase contrastbinocular light microscope. In vitro percent growth inhibition of S.rolfsii by various Trichoderma strain was recorded at 5 days after inoculationat 28 oC in the 90 cm petriplates. Results obtained from the antagonism study indicated that Trichoderma viride (NBAII Tv 23) inhibited 61%growth of phytopathogenic fungi S. rolfsii followed by T. harzianum (NBAII Th1) (55% growth inhibition of pathogen). This suggested thatamong different Trichoderma strains, T. viride was the best bio-control agent to inhibit in vitro growth of phytopathogen S.rolfsii whichotherwise cause stem rot disease in groundnut. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijasbt.v3i1.11845 Int J Appl Sci Biotechnol, Vol. 3(1): 16-19

26-30

Authors: M. R. Islam, M. K. Uddin, M. A. K. Mian, R. Zaman, J. Hossain

The selected garlic varieties/lines viz., BARI Roshun-1, BARI Roshun-2, GC0018, GC0024, GC0027, GC0034 and one local cultivar wereevaluated under zero tillage mulched condition to find out the suitable varieties/lines. There were significant differences among genotypes forall studied characters except number of leaves per plant. The advanced lines GC0018, GC0027 and GC0034 were graded as the highest bulbyield and it was more than 10 t/ha. But numerically the highest bulb yield (10.89 t/ha) was produced in GC0034 line while the local varietyproduced only 6.82 t/ha. GC0027 genotype was produce the longest plant (60.53 cm) and largest bulb diameter (3.94 cm), while local cultivarwas the minimum. Simple correlation analysis showed that there were positive and significant correlation among bulb yields with all theparameters except plant height and leaves per plant. Highest water use efficiency 44.63 kg ha-1 mm-1 was obtained from GC0034 line. In respectof monetary return GC0034 produced the maximum gross return (Tk. 653400/ha), gross margin (Tk. 515125/ha) and benefit cost ratio (4.73).The finding of this study could be useful for improving garlic production after transplant aman rice harvest under zero tillage mulched condition.

38-41

Authors: Y. Ramesh, V. Ramassamy

The present study brings out the effects of Pseudomonas fluorescens in secondary hardening of tissue cultured banana var.Poovan. Two concentrations (1% & 2%) of liquid medium grown Pseudomonas fluorescens (3×109 cells/ml) were used in borewell water and the growth performance of the banana plantlets was assessed. Seven different growth parameters were studiedviz. shoot weight, height and girth, leaf length, leaf width, no. of leaves and chlorophyll content. Best results were obtained in1%Pseudomonas fluorescens (T2) treatment with average of 10.79gm for weight, 10.25cm for height, 5.3 for no. of leaves, 1.3mmfor girth, 14.96cm for leaf length and 36.6 spad units of chlorophyll content per plantlet compared to treatment (T3) with 2%liquid Pseudomonas fluorescens.

50-55

Authors: Amrik Bhattacharya, Anshu Gupta, Amarjeet Kaur, Darshan Malik

In the present study a consortium of four naturally isolated bacterial strains was evaluated as remediation tool for simultaneous removal ofphenol and Cr (VI) from tannery effluent. Application of bacterial consortia to effluent (pH 4.6) resulted in 100 and 78% removal of initial 47mg L-1 phenol and 16 mg L-1 Cr (VI), respectively at 96 h of treatment. The consortium was also active in removal of contaminants with lowerremoval rate in presence of extraneous higher concentrations of both phenol and Cr (VI). Treatment in static mode also resulted in removal ofpollutants, however with increase in agitation speed simultaneous reduction of contaminants becomes faster. Overall it can be inferred fromthe study that the above formulated bacterial consortium could effectively be used for treatment of phenol and Cr (VI) laden tannery and otherindustrial effluents.

61-66

Authors: L. Christilda Louis Mary, R. Sujatha, A. J. Chozhaa, P. Mohideen Askar Navas

The effect of different kinds of organic manures on soil microbial population and mulberry production was assessed. A field experiment wascarried out at Periyar EVR College, Tamil Nadu, India in basic soil to study the influence of organic manures on soil bacterial population andmulberry production. The 4 groups of mulberry plants of MR2 variety were biofertilized with FYM, Azospirillum, Phosphobacteria andVermicompost respectively. The biofertilizers lodged bacteria on the rhizosphere of mulberry plants. When the root microorganism areanalyzed Farm yard manure biofertilized mulberry plant root tips had Gluconacobacter diazotrophicus, Bacillus pumilus, Pseudomonas putida,Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus sonorensis, Azotobacter chrococcum; Azospirillum biofertilized mulberry plants root tips had Bacillus coaculans,Azotobactor chrococcum, Azotobactor vinelandii, Bacillus subtilis and Azospirillum brasilense. Phosphobacteria biofertilized mulberry plantroot tips had Pseudomonas putida, Bacillus stearothermophilus, Brevibacillus borslelansis and Streptomycies thermonitrificans andvermicompost biofertilized mulberry plant root tips had lodged bacterias like Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus subtilis, Gluconacobacterdiazotrophicus, Pseudomonas putida, Azotobacter chrococcum, Azotobacter vinelandi, Bacillus stearothermophilus, Brevibacillus borslelansisand Bacillus sonorensis. Microbiology work reveals luxuriant growth of bacteria in all the biofertizer treated rhizosphere in the order FYM

73-79

Authors: Golam Sarwar, Md. Sarowar Hossain, Md.Harun -Ur- Rashid, Shahanaz Parveen

The present study was conducted in the experimental farm, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU), Dhaka during July 2013-December2013. The analysis of variance revealed significant deviation for all the characters studied and indicated the existence of variation among thegenotypes. The PCV values were slightly higher than the respective GCV values for all the characters except unfilled grains per panicleindicating that the characters were less influenced by the environment. Total tillers per plant, effective tillers per plant, filled grains per panicle,unfilled grains per panicle and yield per plant showed high heritability coupled with high genetic advance percentage of mean which indicatedthe preponderance of additive gene action and such characters could be improved through selection. High heritability along with low geneticadvance as percentage of mean was found for plant height, days to 50% flowering, panicle length, days to maturity and thousand grains weightwhich indicated the non additive gene action for expression of these characters. Considering the genetic parameters and other agronomicperformances, the genotypes Special from AL-29, AL-36, PP-4B(i), AL-17(iii)B, AL-17(iii), AL-17(ii)A, Special from-129, Special from17(iv), AL-44(i), AL-17, Special from AL-36(D), PP-48, IR-25B, Special from AL-33, IR-25B (Tall), P-5B (ii) might be considered betterparents for future hybridization programme.

89-95

Authors: Shridha Chaurasia, Amit Kumar Chaurasia, Subha Chaurasia, Sushmita Chaurasia

The aim of this work was to investigate the effects of different culture conditions on the production of poly methyl galacturonase enzyme bySclerotium rolfsii and their optimization. Activity of poly methyl galacturonase enzyme was assayed by viscometric method. Culture conditionslike culture media, incubation period, temperature and pH greatly influenced the production of poly methyl galacturonase enzyme. Out of tenculture media, only six media were proved to be producer of poly methyl galacturonase enzyme. Amongst them, Elliot’s medium was foundto be the best for the maximum production of poly methyl galacturonase enzyme. Analyzing the different incubation period, the production ofpoly methyl galacturonase enzyme was found rapid (3 days incubation) in Sclerotium rolfsii. Whereas, production of poly methyl galacturonaseenzyme, gradually increased with increasing the length of incubation period up to 18 days and further increase in length of incubation up to 10days, did not show any effect on the production of poly methyl galacturonase. The nine days incubation has found to be the best incubationperiod for the maximum production of poly methyl galacturonase enzyme. The Sclerotium rolfsii was also able to produce the poly methylgalacturonase enzyme at wide range of temperatures (from 15ºC to 35ºC), but 30ºC temperature was found to be the best suitable for themaximum production of poly methyl galacturonase enzyme. Among the wide range of pH tested (pH 3.0 to 9.0), the pH 5.0 was proved to bethe best for the maximum production of poly methyl galacturonase enzyme in Sclerotium rolfsii when it was cultured in the same medium. Onthe basis of overall experimental results it could be concluded that Sclerotium rolfsii has potential to produce poly methyl galacturonase enzymeconstitutively.

101-105

Authors: I.P. Mishra, G. Sabat, Bijaya Kumar mohanty

Profenofos 50% EC (curacron 50 EC) is a hazardous pesticide commonly used in agriculture is also an important contaminant of environment.Its presence in biological system has gained importance due to bioaccumulation in food chain. The phyto-toxic effect of profenofos wasassessed based on the biochemical parameters (Shoot and Root) of seedlings (Amino acids, Protein, Sugar, DNA and RNA) of the test species,Vigna radiata,L. The concentrations of pesticide chosen were based on EC50 and are in the range of 0.02, 0.05, 0.08, 0.1 and 0.2 % ofprofenofos. The biochemical parameters like Amino acid, Sugar, DNA and RNA were significantly reduced with increase in pesticideconcentration whereas Protein concentration increased with the profenophos treatment. The increase in amino acid was more pronounced inShoot of the seedlings than root.

111-118

Authors: Anant Gopal Singh

Green leafy vegetable is a major source of vitamins and micronutrients for people using only vegetarian diets rich in carbohydrates. In remoterural settlements where vegetable cultivation is not practiced and market supplies are, not organized, local inhabitants depend on indigenousvegetables, both cultivated in agricultural fields or kitchen gardens and wild for enriching the diversity of food. Knowledge of such food ispart of traditional knowledge, which is largely transmitted through participation of individuals of households. The purpose of this study was todocumentation of plants used as vegetables by the people of Rupandehi district of Lumbini zone of western Nepal. This paper revealed total51 plant species belong to 45 genera under 32 Families of vascular plants. Out of 32families, 24 families belong to dicot, 4 families to monocotand 4 families belong to ferns.

123-126

Authors: Chandra Bahadur Thapa

The present study was carried out to document the indigenous knowledge of local people regarding the use of plant species on socio-religiousactivities during the year of 2012-2013. The indigenous knowledge was documented by using semi-structured interview, focus group discussionand informal discussion with the local people, religious persons and aged people. Altogether 32 plant species belonging to 23 family and 30genera have been documented in Rupandehi district. Among them, 13 species were herbs, 5 species shrubs, 13 species trees and 1 speciesclimber. Use of these plant species in socio-religious activities has helped people to conserve the faith of deities as well as to conservebiodiversity in the area.

134-138

Authors: Minakshi Choudhary, Jayanand Manjhi, Anvesha Sinha

Introduction: Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) is an important cereal of traditional farming systems that has the natural ability to withstandvarious abiotic stresses such as drought, which is one of the most important manifestations of abiotic stress in plants. These plants havehowever evolved mechanisms that allow them to adapt and survive prolonged periods of water deficit at some level or form of plant structure,if not at the whole plant level. The hostile conditions augment the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during physiological stresses inplants which are combated by various enzymatic and non-enzymatic mechanisms. The present study aims at examining the role of fourimportant enzymes namely Ascorbic peroxidase (APX), Peroxidase (POX), Catalase (CAT) and Superoxide Dismutase(SOD) expressed duringdrought stress in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum). Method: 12 and 22 days old seedlings of Pennisetum cultivar HHB-68 were subjectedto drought stress by treatment of 30% Polyethylene glycol for different time periods 30min (T1), 2hr (T2), 4hr (T3), 8hr (T4), 16hr (T5), 24hr(T6) and 48hr (T7) respectively, monitored by examining RWC of seedlings. The treatment seedlings were then used for investigating thelevels of enzymes activity in response to prolonged dehydration periods of 22 days. The enzyme activity of POX, APX, CAT and SOD wereassayed. Result: Enzymes expression was assayed for each treatment sets at both time intervals. Drought stress was observed to causeremarkable increase in POX, APX and SOD activity while incidence of CAT enzyme decreased with the increasing period of water deficit.Conclusion: Prolonged periods of water deficiency causes significant variations in expression of various enzymes in Pennisetum glaucum,known to be involved in ROS scavenging and drought stress management. The study provides a sturdy validation of the role of these enzymesas potent mechanisms undertaken by drought resistant plants for successful management of drought stress, which can be used for thedevelopment of more efficient and economic drought resistant cultivars.