International Journal of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology

425-429

Authors: Ashwini Kamble, Rajesh Khairkar

The concept of laboratory rat is giving way to the computer mouse arose after the famous handshake between Clinton-Blair for the completion of the human genome in April 2003. Bioinformatics is defined as the application of computational techniques to understand and organize the information associated with biological macromolecules. There is availability of large databases of genomic information which has enabled research efforts for discovering methods for diagnosis and treatment of human diseases using DNA microarrays and proteomics experiments. But there are various problems while doing this like it’s always challenging to develop proper and sophisticated analysis method which can properly use genomic data bases considering its and heterogeneity of the data. The main purpose of this first paper is to explore and explain Bioinformatics in a more scientific way, and try highlighting applications of bioinformatics in the medical sector.

436-447

Authors: Vikram Pal Gandhi, Anil Kumar

Microcystins (MCs) are toxic cyclic heptapeptides produced by few toxic cyanobacteria and generally form blooms in eutrophic surface fresh water bodies. They cause acute to chronic poisoning and other health related problems mainly by irreversible inhibition of protein phosphatases (PP1 and PP2A) and increased formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Due to limitation of non-biological methods of water treatments the exploration of MCs degrading bacteria is emerging at a quite pace to address, through bioremediation, the problems posed by MCs in water and water-bodies. Report and study of MCs biodegrading bacteria from India were lacking. However it was evident, from our previous study, that microcystin degradation can be achieved by indigenous microcystin degrading bacterial population in its natural place where microcystin producing blooms occur. This study has presented isolation and characterization of indigenous microcystin degrading bacteria from holy ponds in Utter Pradesh of India. Overall 20 bacterial isolates were isolated from Microcystis infested different ponds. Out of these 13 isolates were mlrA positive by PCR and were found to be distinct isolates by amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA). However, ARDRA analysis revealed overall four bacterial groups. On the basis of 16S-rRNA gene sequence the Gram-positive-rod isolate PM1 was identified, with 99% identity, as Bacillus licheniformis which was shown earlier to cluster with microcystin degrading bacterium B. subtilis. Thus the present study revealed, for the first time, probable microcystin degrading bacteria in water-bodies from India. The potential and the metabolic pathway of PM1 and other mlrA positive isolates need to be further studied and validated to confirm their application in microcystin bioremediation.

452-457

Authors: M. Mohamed Mahroop Raja, A. Raja, S. Mohamed Salique, P. Gajalakshmi

Marine actinomycetes sediment samples were collected from Gulf of Mannar costal region, Kayalpatinam, located at Tuticorin district, Tamilnadu, India. Marine actinomycetes were isolated and evaluated for activity of L-asparaginase production. A total of 10 marine actinomycetes strains were isolated. Among 10 isolates, six were belongs to Streptomyces sp, three were belongs to Micromonospora sp and one was to Micropolyspora sp. Based on phenotypic characteristics, actinomycetes strains were screened for L-asparaginase production. Streptomyces sp KPMS5 and Micromonospora sp KPMS10 were showed large pink coloration on L-asparaginase production medium. The strains were further studied for maximum production and characterizations of culture condition of L-asparaginase enzyme were evaluated. Effect of substrate on L-asparaginase production was evaluated by enzyme assy. Maximum enzyme assay (1.4 mM) was observed on glucose followed by starch (1.12Mm) by Micromonospora sp KPMS10. In Streptomyces sp KPMS5 showed maximum of 1.25mM of enzyme assay on glucose substrate followed by lactose 1.17mM. Yeast extract was effectively used as substrate for maximum production of L-asparaginase by submerged fermentation. Further studies on purification and characterization are required to support the application of enzyme. The finding concludes isolates belongs to non-Streptomyces sp like Micromonospora sp is a potential novel source for L-asparaginase production.

464-469

Authors: Sampada Mishra, Saroj Kumar Mahato, Sabin Basi, Shradha Basi-Chipalu

Minimization of deleterious effects of chemical fertilizers on health, ecosystem and economy can only be achieved by finding healthy, eco-friendly and cheap alternatives. Naturally selected symbiotic relationship between the endophytic bacteria and their host plants makes them an ideal candidate as biofertilizer. They can synthesize various plant growth hormones as well as assist their host in uptake of nutrients from soil. The study was designed to compare plant growth promotion of Solanum lycopersicum by Bacillus spp., Pseudomonas spp. and total endophytic community isolated from roots of S. lycopersicum, grown in the soil samples collected from various locations of Kathmandu valley of Nepal. Tomato seeds were inoculated with mixtures of eight endophytic strains of Bacillus spp. and Pseudomonas spp., and crude endophytes obtained from each location separately. Endophytic treatments, except Pseudomonas spp., inhibited seminal root growth during 12-days germination period. However, after plantation, root and shoot biomass was enhanced by the endophytes, with no significant differences among the bacterial treatments. The shoot height was also enhanced, among which Pseudomonas spp. had the strongest effect. In phosphate solubilization assay, out of seventy-two isolates each of Bacillus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. tested, twenty-four isolates of Pseudomonas spp. and sixteen isolates of Bacillus spp. could solubilize phosphate. Higher number of phosphate solubilizing isolates of Pseudomonas spp. might provide a possible explanation for the greater enhancement of shoot height by Pseudomonas spp. as compared to Bacillus spp.

475-482

Authors: H. R. Bharathi, S. Manjappa, T. Suresh, B. Suresh

Present communication deals with a study of Physico-chemical parameters such as pH, Temperature, Total Suspended Solids, Turbidity, Dissolved Oxygen, Biochemical Oxygen Demand, Nitrate and Phosphate in water samples of Channarayapatna, Janivara, Anekere and Baghur water bodies in Channarayapatna taluka, Karnataka state of India. The water quality of the samples was compared with standard values given by World Health Organization (WHO) and United State Salinity Laboratory for drinking and irrigation purposes. Water Quality Index (WQI) was also calculated to know the overall quality of water samples. Water quality index (WQI) of Surface water body of various Sampling locations of Channarayapatna taluka, Karnataka ranged between 61.82 and 68.27 indicates the fair quality of water. The water quality index is calculated by indicator (100-point scale) shows that water is suitable for drinking purposes only after pretreatment like filtering, boiling, reverse osmosis and electro dialysis. WQI can play a big role in justifying the water pollution problems after encountered in different surface water bodies. Application of Water Quality Index (WQI) in this study has been found useful in assessing the overall quality of water and to get rid of judgment on quality of the surface water.

489-497

Authors: Hari Kumar Prasai, Rudra Bhattarai, Jivan Shrestha

The coordinated and regional varietal trial of normal season irrigated rice was carried out at Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Tarahara, Nepal in 2014 & 2015. Out of the tested genotypes, NR 2157-166-1-3-5-1, Cieharang and NR 2157-166-2-1-1-1 identified as promising with potential grain yield of 4313, 4290 and 4239 kg/ha respectively in over year analysis (2014-15) under coordinated varietal trial (CVT). These genotypes recorded 25 to 27 percent higher grain yield than national rice productivity and 4 to 6 percent more than check variety, Sabitri. The differences in grain yield among the tested genotypes and between the years were found significant, but interaction of genotypes to year was found non-significant. Similarly, KARAJAT-3 recorded the highest grain yield (4897 kg/ha) followed by NR 1190-24-4-2-2-2-3-2 (4861 kg/ha) in over year analysis (2014-15) of regional varietal trial (RVT), similarly, identified as promising genotypes. These promising genotypes recorded 43 and 8 percent higher grain yield than national rice yield and to the check variety, Sabitri, respectively in over year analysis. The differences in grain yield among genotypes and year were found significant whereas it was non-significant for interaction of genotypes and to the tested years.

513-518

Authors: V.N. Maheswari, M.P. Srikumaran, G.S. Rekha, D. Elumalai, P.K. Kaleena

The present study explores the growth promoting effects of vermiwash and panchagavya on Dolichus lablab. Vermiwash was obtained from the vermicomposting unit and panchagavya was prepared using cow products such as milk, curd, urine, ghee and dung. Different concentrations of vermiwash and panchagavya (5:2%, 10:3% and 15:4%) were applied to the bean plants once in every week for 90 days. The exo-morphological characters such as shoot length, internode length, diameter of the internode, number of leaves, leaf surface area and chlorophyll content were recorded prior to every treatment in all the groups. Interestingly, 10:3% vermiwash and panchagavya treated lablab beans showed better growth promoting effects than the other plants. Thus, the results of the present study clearly suggest that 10:3% vermiwash and panchagavya could be used as effective foliar spray in the near future.

525-528

Authors: Ravi Gedela, Ravi Teja Naidu, Srinivasao Rachakonda, Asiri Naidu

Fermentation process, the production of bio-ethanol from Madhuca longifolia (Mahua) flowers by using Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Mahua flowers, collected from Eastern Ghats region of Andhra Pradesh, India). The evaluated results showed that, 1000 ml of acidic fermented media at pH-4, 5 and 5.7, produced the average quantity of bio-ethanol in test-1 (S.cerevisiae + Mahua flowers + Media), test -2 (Mahua flowers + Media) and control (media) ≈ 170.03 ml, ≈ 142.3 ml and ≈ 127.7 ml respectively. The percentage of bio-ethanol was confirmation by using Alcohol meter, the analysis results showed that in test-1, test-2 and control ≈ 46.6 %, ≈ 24.6 % and ≈ 0% respectively. The presence of bio-ethanol were verified by using Spectrophotometer at 204-240 nm.