International Journal of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology

298-303

Authors: Sushant Puri, Shubham Shingh, Preeya Tiwari

Multicellular filamentous fungi grown on the surface and inside of moist food secretes toxins in the form of their secondary metabolites which are commonly called mycotoxins. The presence of mycotoxins in food has been a burning issue and a threat to food security and safety. The global population has sky-rocked continues to be, which has created a challenge of providing quality food to the consumers. Aflatoxins, prevalent in most of the food crops in Nepal as well have posed a risk to national food security. Moreover, the consumption of food products containing mycotoxins is a cause of several health hazards like cancer, gastrointestinal problems, and neuropsychiatric effects. Mycotoxins not only has affected humans but also animals. Prevention, decontamination, and inhibition of absorption of toxins have been done in order to manage and mitigate the effects of mycotoxins. Recent research on mycotoxins is focused on the development of new methods to detect and analyze masked mycotoxins obtained from various sources. This review shows the contribution of mycotoxin in the global food security issue as well as its deleterious effects in human and animal health.

309-316

Authors: Nabin Pandey, Madhusudhan Adhikhari, Binod Bhantana

In the world, the traditional agricultural practices are getting affected by various problems such as disease, pest, drought, decreased soil fertility due to use of hazardous chemical pesticides, pollution and global warming. As a result, there is a need for some eco-friendly bio-control agents that help in resolving the previous mentioned problems. The various types of biological control agents such as bacteria and fungi are involved in bio-control activity. Among them, fungal genus Trichoderma plays a major role in controlling the plant diseases. Species of Trichoderma are diverse fungal microbial community known and explored worldwide for their versatilities as biocontrol and growth promoting agents. These fungi reproduce asexually by production of conidia and chlamydospores and in wild habitats by ascospores. Trichoderma species are efficient mycoparasites and prolific producers of secondary metabolites, some of which have clinical importance. However, the ecological or biological significance of this metabolite diversity is sorely lagging behind the chemical significance. Several Trichoderma spp. positively affect plants by stimulating plant growth, and protecting plants from fungal and bacterial pathogens. They are used in biological plant protection as bio-fungicides as well as in bioremediation. A large number of research groups are working on various aspects of Trichoderma viz., diversity, ecology and their applications. The capacity of Trichoderma fungi to produce lytic enzymes is used in animal feed, and wine making and brewery industries. Trichoderma spp. are the most successful bio-control agents as more than 60% of the registered bio-fungicides used in today’s agriculture belongs to Trichoderma -based formulation. The increase in incidence and severity of diseases and emergence of new diseases causes the significant yield losses of different crops in Nepal. But the research and studies on plant diseases are limited.

327-334

Authors: Md. Nuruzzaman, Md. Shohel Rana, Aleya Ferdausi, Md. Monjurul Huda, Lutful Hassan, Shamsun Nahar Begum

A field experiment was conducted at subtropical region in Bangladesh to assess the contribution of morphological traits to variability in some NERICA mutant rice lines. The experiment was conducted following RCBD with three replications. Thirty-one NERICA rice genotypes (twenty-eight mutant lines along with three parents) of advanced generations were used. Data were collected on twelve morphological traits. The results of the principal component analysis showed that the first four components account for 80% of total variation giving a clear idea of the structure underlying the variables analyzed. This result was also supported by scree test. Cluster analysis using Ward's method classified the thirty-one genotypes into five distinct groups. The maximum inter-cluster distance was observed between clusters indicating the possibility of high heterosis if individuals from these clusters are cross-bred. The results of PCA were closely in line with those of the cluster analysis. These results can now be used by breeders to develop drought tolerant high yielding rice varieties and new breeding protocols for rice improvement.

341-346

Authors: Pawan Devkota, Dipendra Aryal, Baburam Khanal

Availability of plant nutrients in rhizosphere is directly influenced by types of crop grown and land use pattern. The experiment was conducted in Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi Municipality, Khotang, Nepal to assess the soil nutrients dynamics as influenced by different cropping system. Five different cropping systems (Rice – Wheat, Maize – Millet, Maize – Vegetables, Ginger and Cardamom) were selected as treatments and all treatments were replicated for five times for blocking in Randomized Complete Block Design. Soil samples from 0-15 cm depth were collected from each site and evaluated for soil pH, soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P), and available potassium (K). All the tested parameters except N were found to be significantly affected by cropping system. Soil in all five cropping systems were found acidic (pH<6.5) in nature with pH ranging from 5.180-6.640. The SOC was recorded highest (3.102%) from Cardamom based system and lowest amount of SOC was observed in Ginger based system. The highest amount of P (32.14 mg/kg) was reported in Maize – Vegetables cropping system and lowest P content (5.72 mg/kg) was recorded from Cardamom based system. P content in Ginger based system (31.51 mg/kg) was statistically at par with that of Rice – Wheat system. The highest K content (306.50 mg/kg) was recorded from Maize – Vegetable cropping system and lowest K content (34.80 mg/kg) was observed in Cardamom based system which is statistically similar to Rice –Wheat (35.70 mg/kg) and Maize –Millet systems (77.20 mg/kg). The result indicated that cropping systems have huge impact on plant nutrient dynamics in soil.

354-358

Authors: Pushpa Karna Mallick

Pollen morphology of twelve species of angiosperms from Central Nepal was cytologically carried out in present investigation. In this investigation pollen morphology of Bignonia venusta Ker Gawl. and Jacranda mimisifolia D.Don from the family Bignoniaceae; Brassica compestris L. from Brassicaceae; Cuphea hyssopifolia Kunth. from Lythraceae; Coriandrum sativum L. from Apiaceae; Crepis japonica L. and Dichrocephala integrifolia (L f.) kunzte. from Asteraceae; Delphinium ajacis L. from Ranunculaceae; Dianthus barbetus L. from Caryophyllaceae; Euphorbia Milii Des Moul. and Euphorbia pulcherima L. from Euphorbiaceae and Magnolia fuscata from Magnoliaceae were studied. Shape of the pollen grains found to be mostly spheroidal, few circular, one elliptical, one triangular and one elongated in this study. Sculpture of exine wall found to be smooth, echidnae, tected, reticulated and perforated type. Aperture of the pollen grains found to be triporate to pentaporate. The large, medium and small sized pollen grains were observed in present research. The high diversty of sculpture type in pollen grains of angiosperms has been associated to diversity in pollination systems. Smooth pollen grains are linked with wind or water pollination while sculptured pollen grains associated with biotic pollination. The morphology of pollen grain is one of the significant tools in solving some taxonomic problems such as identification, tracing phylogenetic relationship on the family, generic or specific level and in plant systematic and evolution.

365-369

Authors: Kishor Kafle, Chandeshwar Parsad Shriwastav, Madan Marasini

Field experiment was conducted at the research farm of Regional Agriculture Research Station (RARS), Khajura to evaluate the influence of integrated nutrient management options that could enhance the properties of soil and yield of potato under the different climatic conditions of Khajura. The experiment was started in November 2016 in randomized complete block design with different seven treatments of nutrients using Farm yard manure (FYM), Poultry manure (PM) Vermicompost (VC). Available N, P and K status in the soil increased gradually due to the application of inorganic and organic fertilizers. The plots receiving 50 % RDNPK through inorganic fertilizers and remaining 50% RDN through PM registered the highest available N, P and K status in the soil. The highest pH (6.3) content in soil was found in plots treatments with poultry manure and inorganic fertilizers. Potato plots treated with FYM and inorganic fertilizers produced higher SOM content in soil after harvest (2.38%) as compared to control plots (2.09%). The treatments integrated with FYM show less bulk density than the control plot. Organic manures treated plots produce taller plants as compared plots receiving inorganic fertilizers only. Integrated use of 50 % recommended dose of NPK through inorganic fertilizers and remaining 50% RDN through PM produced higher numbers of tubers per plot (304 tubers per plot) and total tuber yield (22.86 tha-1).

378-381

Authors: Gaurav Rawal, Denusha Shrestha

Leptospira hardjo is the most commonly reported cause of leptospirosis among cattle globally. The objective of this study was to determine sero-detection of Leptospira hardjo in cattle of Bhaktapur district of Nepal. A cross-sectional study was conducted in cattle pockets located at 4 different village development committees (VDCs) in the Bhaktapur district of Nepal. The sample collection was done in cattle to determine the sero-detection of Leptospira hardjo from February 2014 to June 2014. A total of 176 serum samples were collected from four VDCs of Bhaktapur district namely Sipadol, Dhadikot, Duwakot and Nangkhel, selected purposively. Forty samples from Sipadol, 46 Dhadikot, 42 Duwakot and 48 from Nangkhel were collected. 5 ml of blood was collected aseptically from jugular vein using 5 ml sterile disposable syringe. After that blood was transferred to the plain vacutainer. The harvested sera were transferred to serum vials and stored at in -20˚c deep freeze of Central Veterinary Laboratory until used for ELISA test. For screening of Leptospira hardjo, the Leptospira hardjo antibody test kit, ELISA (Prionics, Netherlands) was used. ANOVA along with multiple comparison test Tukey was used to compare frequency of detection across different locations in Bhaktapur district using SAS 9.4. MS-Excel was used to manage ELISA data from four different VDCs and to extract information regarding frequency of detection. There was 5.11% sero-detection in cattle of Bhaktapur district. Location wise sero-detection was 5% in Sipadol, 4.3% in Dhadikot, 4.76% in Duwakot and 6.25% in Nangkhel. The study showed that the detection of Leptospira hardjo in cattle. There was no statistical difference (P>0.05) between location suggesting that cattle in all areas are equally at risk of this pathogen. Further study is suggested on isolation and identification of disease in Nepal.

387-394

Authors: L. Rani, A. Munjani, G. Lakra, A.K. Choudhury, R.K. Pandey

Different species of Cassia found in Jharkhand are consumed as daily vegetables have high nutritional value. Most of them are underutilized and display varied ethenomedicinal values. The work was carried out with an aim to document three ethno medicinal properties of three different species of Cassia, Cassia fistula, Cassia siamea and Cassia tora. The documentation was done among 100 tribal people residing in the area near Morabadi, Ranchi. The knowledge revealed that the three plants were used in almost every tribal houses as a dietary supplement and various medicinal uses. According to the Munda Vaidya’s the plant Cassia is of pitta nature and its different part have different uses. The root is used against tuberculosis glands, diabetes, as a tonic, the root and bark paste mixed in equal amount is used against snake bite. traditionally it is used as laxative, for the treatment of leprosy and various skin disorders. the present study aimed to screen and quantify primary and secondary metabolite by quantitative and qualitative method. The pigments (chlorophyll and carotenoid) were characterised by UV visible spectroscopy. Concentration of chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b and carotenoid was calculated by Arnon method (80% acetone extract). The spectrophotometric study of the different pigment of the three species of Cassia, Cassia fistula (chl-a 254.516, chl-b 305.741, total chl 533.7 carotenoid 10.6), Cassia siamea (chl-a 257.88, chl-b 393.16, total chl 630.2 carotenoid 9.395), Cassia tora (chl-a 266.36, chl-b 271.96, total chl 538.32 carotenoid 16.3). The result revealed that chl-a was highest in Cassia tora followed by Cassia siamea and Cassia fistula. Chl-b pigment followed C. siamea> C. fistula>C. tora pattern, total chl C. siemea>C. tora>C. fistula and the carotenoid amount C. tora > C. fistula > C. siamea. In screening of secondary metabolites tannin, saponins alkaloids, terpenoids, resin Phyto-sterols were carried out on the aqueous extract showed +ve test for all except phyto-sterols and on the powdered specimen gave –ve result in aqueous, ethanol as well as acetone extract.