INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LIFE SCIENCES

1-12

Authors: Patle Pratap J and Baile Vidya V

Olfactory organs of fishes show wide range of variations depending upon the systematic groups and ecological habitats.Number, shape and arrangement of the lamellae vary considerably among different teleosts ranging from flat unfolded surface to multi-lamellar rosette.Objective of the present work was to study the organization of olfactory system of Notopterus notopterus. As it is demersal in habitat, olfaction is expected to play a prominent role in various life processes. With the help of Haematoxylin-Eosin and Kluver and Barrera (1953) staining techniques, organization of the olfactory epithelium and olfactory bulb was studied. In N. notopterus, olfactory epithelium is a multilamellar structure comprising 70-76 lamellae radiating from a median raphe. Each lamella comprises sensory and nonsensory regions. Sensory region shows ciliated, microvillous, crypt receptor cells, supporting cells and basal cells. Nonsensory region has ciliated nonsensory cells, basal cells and mucous cells. Within the median raphe, distinct melanophores innervated by axons from olfactory receptor neurons are observed. Olfactory epithelium is connected to the bulb by a short olfactory nerve. Olfactory bulb is a concentrically arranged four layered structure with olfactory nerve layer on the outermost side followed by glomerular layer, mitral cell layer and granular cell layer. Ruffed cells are observed surrounding the mitral cells. In dorsomedial region of the olfactory bulb, giant cells of nervus terminalis are prominent. In the present study, fiber projections from the olfactory receptor neurons to ventral telencephalon are clearly demonstrated histologically, indicating the pathway of hemosensory signal from olfactory receptor neurons to the higher brain areas. This work will be useful to study the neuroanatomy of the olfactory system and ultimately to understand neurobiology of fish olfaction.

17-22

Authors: Kalkar Surekha A, Renu Jaiswal

Air pollution effects on pollen morphology of two species of Cassia viz. C siamia L. and C. fistula L were studied in industrial area (MIDC, Hingna), Nagpur. Civil lines area was considered as control area. In order to study impact of air pollution, pollen grains were subjected to LM and SEM (light and scanning electron microscopic studies). LM studies revealed that pollen grains in control area have shown clear exine pattern, trizonocolporate condition of pollen, whereas in experimental area shrinkage in its size and breakage of exine was noticed. SEM studies of pollen in experimental area have shown some particulate matter was attached to its surface. The studies have discussed the structural changes in pollen characteristics of Cassia siamia L. and Cassia fistula L. under the influence of air pollution.

31-43

Authors: Bhajbhuje MN

Environmental seasonal variation pattern, vegetation diversity, pre- and post-harvest climate determine periodic distribution and concentration of microfungal propagules on seed coats in any geographic area. The seeds play crucial role in crop productivity on the globe and are vulnerable to attack by diverse group of fungal pathogens and spread of diseases, in turns adversely affect the global agricultural economy. Prevalence of enormous, high concentrations of diverse microfungal propagules on stored seeds of Solanum melongena L., widely considered as some pathogenic, phytotoxic and few carcinogenic, have been investigated in a set of storage climate for a year employing standard blotter paper technique, screening four hundred seeds from mixed samples of diverse geographic location of Vidarbha Region (M.S.) and incubating them for seven days. It has been proposed for an establishment of seasonal variation patterns as well as its possible correlation with climatological factors. Results revealed that out of a total fifty fungal isolates fall under thirty genera, eleven species of Aspergillus are among the most predominant components of mesophilic seed mycoflora. Deuteromycota contributed greater count of isolates followed by Ascomycota while Basidiomycota had least count. Winter season dominated by nearly half of a total population of isolates while summer season had 14 per cent count. Nearly 28 per cent population remained throughout in storage period while 10 per cent isolates occurred frequently. The storage period of winter season belonged to the months of December, January and February was seemed to be supportive for fungal infestation, rapid proliferation and sporulation, exhibiting greater level of percent incidence. Level of infestation for mesophilic isolates declined while it was enhanced for thermo-tolerants in summer season. Fungal count and per cent incidence varied periodically during storage. Report on seasonal diversity provides a basis for estimating functional role of fungal organism in an ecosystem

49-52

Authors: Knox Jai, Bhalerao SA, Paul MS

Parthenium hysterophorus a noxious weed of today has its effect on human and animal health. This weed is known to cause asthama, bronchitis, dermatitis and hay fever in human and livestock. In a sample survey conducted in Bangalore, India it was recorded that 70% of the population suffers from allergic rhinitis due to pollen and 47% suffered from nasobranchial allergies. At present there is no effecteive treatment of dermatitis, other than exclusion of the weed but azathioprine therapy shows promising potential. Studies were undertaken to assess the phytosociology of Parthenium hysterophorus with other weeds growing in its vicinity and its control by some potent bio-agents. Studies were also undertaken to assess the chlorophyll content and percentage nitrogen of Parthenium hysterophorus. Maximum significant inhibition in chlorophyll content and percentage nitrogen was observed in shoot leacheates of Cassia occidentalis and Calotropis procera ,respectively.

58-62

Authors: Jogdand SB, Ingole AC

Air sampling was carried out by using continuous Tilak air sampler from 1stJanuary 2013 to 31stMay2013 in the intramural environment of Bharati printing press having a tropical wet and dry climate with average temperature ranging between 19oC to 41oC and RH 49% to 87% to analyze the aerobiodeteriogens causing biodetrioration of papers, books and their relevance to health problems like allergy, sometime skin diseases, respiratory disorders, etc., among the press workers. Qualitative analysis revealed incidence of 64 fungal spore types and 09 other types. Quantitative analysis revealed daily and monthly variation in the percentage contribution of dominant spore types such as Cladosporium (23.186%), Aspergillus (21.302%), Nigrospora (21.03%), Smut spores (19.86%), and minor type like Torula (1.043%). Diurnal periodicity curve of Nigrospora (from 11th January to 20th January 2013)revealed peak point at 04 to 06hrs (11.64%) exhibiting early morning aerospora pattern and minimum at 14 to 16 hrs (10.34%), at average temperature (21 0C) accompanied by rise in average RH (67.8%) have been found responsible for the increase in aerospora. While diurnal periodicity curve of Chaetomium (From 8th April to 20th April 2013) exhibited peak at 02 to 04 hrs. i.e. post midnight aerospora pattern at average temperature 220C and average RH 62%. Prominent biodeterioration of papers and health disorders in press workers have been reported during the study period.

67-69

Authors: Yeragi SS, Yeragi SG

Mangroves are one among the most productive ecosystems in south konkan. The estuarine habitat is densely supporting this ecosystem and serve as custodians of their juvenile stock and from most valuable biomass. Mangroves are known as the salt tolerant forest ecosystem. It provides a wide range of ecological and economic products hence considered as treasury for the coastal living people. As a highly productive zone, no one can destroy this ecosystems in konkan. It is know to be Government property. Mangroves occupy less than one percent of the world’s surface. There are more than 18 million ha of global mangroves inhabiting in 112 countries and territories in the tropical and subtropical region. Around 34 major and 20 minor mangrove species belonging to about 20 genera and over 11 familes have been recorded globally. Indian has a mangrove cover of about 6, 749 Km2, The present investigation amongst the south konkan estuaries, about 12 genera and 20species were recorded.

75-78

Authors: Ingole AB, Tantarpale VT, Kulkarni KM

The Present cross – sectional study was undertaken among the tribes of Chikhaladara Dist Amravati. This study used to investigate the hemoglobin percentage and body mass index (BMI) among male and female tribes of Chikhaldara region. Total 275 males and 319 females were taken for examination. Hemoglobin percentage were analyzed by sahli’s method and commonly used indicator is weight (wt) and height (ht) were measured to calculate body mass indies to evaluate nutritional status. The test of statistical significant (t test) was used to compare population groups. The normal values of hemoglobin percentage and BMI were not observed in any age groups of total served tribal people of chikhaldara region.

84-89

Authors: Pradhan VP

We live on a water dominated planet, surrounded inside and out with water. Water not a very complicated substance chemically, but its unique physical and chemical properties are responsible for the existence of life on this planet. The properties of water provide the frame work, parts and methods for interacting with living processes. Due to the open nature of the water bodies, a constant exchange of matter and energy goes on between the aquatic ecosystem and its surroundings, thus making water quality a dynamic factor. Lakes are the most important components of Global Water Cycle and have assumed greater significance in human survival. Anthropogenic activities add pollutants to the water body in the form of organic and inorganic waste which bring about eutrophication. An attempt has to be made to evaluate the problems having direct bearing on the limnological profile and to suggest measures to be undertaken to improve the status of the lake and conserve it for the future generations.

93-95

Authors: Hande DV, Suradkar KP, Kadu SR

In due course of mycological survey of Amravati District, many interesting fungi have been collected; among these a rare Myxomycetes macbrideola has been reported in present article. For their specific identification, morphological characters and dimension of various fruiting bodies were studied and compared with already described one. These collections proved to be distinct as such described here rare species. The Exsicati of these fungi have been deposited in Ajrekar Mycological Herbarium of Agharkar Research Institute, Pune under their respective accession numbers. The present paper deals with description of Macbrideola.