INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LIFE SCIENCES

461-466

Authors: Nassef MH and Khater AM

In this study, uranium concentrations (ppm) and the natural activity ratios (235U/238U) in 6 representative samples of uranium ore samples were analyzed. The samples were collected from Gattar II ore site, which is located at the Red Sea northeastern desert of Egypt. The samples were measured using HPGe gamma ray detector (non-destructive technique) based on the measurement of the emitted gamma rays of uranium by using the photo peaks 163.33 keV for 235U to avoid the overlapping with 186 keV of 226Ra, and the 1001.03 keV photo peak of 234mPa daughter for 238U concentration respectively. The uranium concentrations of the same analyzed samples were determined using ICP-MS (destructive technique) for comparison. Sharp correlation (R2 =0.9881) was found between uranium concentration measured by non-destructive gamma ray spectrometry and that measured by destructive ICP-MS for the same analyzed samples.

491-508

Authors: Gabisa Giddisa Hinkosa, Alemu Lencho, Thangavel Selvaraj, Arvind Chavhan and Kasahun Sadessa

Coffee (Coffea arabica L.) is one of the most important commodity crops and plays a vital role in cultural and socio economic life in Ethiopia. Bacterial blight of coffee (BBC) caused by the phytopathogenic bacterium, Pseudomonas syringae pv. garcae van Hall is an important disease of Arabica coffee in Ethiopia due to its increasing incidence and severity. There is no information on the current status and the characterization of the pathogen in this study area in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was carried out to assess the disease intensity, cultural and biochemical characterization of BBC isolates from Sidama and Gedeo zones, SNNP Regional State, Ethiopia and the variations within P. syringae pv garcae isolates from six different districts viz. Wensho, Aletawondo, Aletachuko, Dara, Dilla and Wonago of the study zones were carried out. A total 204 coffee trees, 96 coffee fields or peasant associations in 6 districts and in 2 coffee producing zones in SNNP Region was surveyed during the study time. The distribution map was done by JPEG map created using Arc GIS 10.0 map data of GPS reading. The frequency and intensity of BBC disease was varied between zones and the districts of coffee producing surveyed areas. Bacterial blight of coffee disease found in all assessed coffee localities that have been being posing considerable coffee tree losses. The percentage of disease incidence (70.0, 56.1, 44.6, 39.3%) and the severity (29.9, 15.7, 13.7, 12.5%) were recorded in Wensho, Dara, Aletachuko, Aletawondo districts of Sidama zone and the incidence (72.2 and 47%) and severity (21.6 and 13.1 %) were recorded in Dilla and Wonago areas of Gedeo zone, respectively. The prevalence of BBC disease was recorded in both Sidama and Gedeo zones, 87.5 and 93.8%, respectively while the mean BBC disease prevalence was 90.7%. The intensity of BBC disease also varied between different altitudinal categories; as altitude increases both incidence and severity were increased and at the lowest altitude ranges between 1625 and1725 m. a. s. l, both disease incidence and severity were recorded lowest. Symptomatic of 204 diseased samples were initially isolated and purified on nutrient agar (NA) and nutrient broth (NB) slants. The growth of bacterial colonies showed round colonies with 2-3mm in diameter and light cream with entire margins, dome shaped, shiny, smooth and mucoid on 5% NAS. A yellow supernatant fluid was observed when grown on 5% NAS media. The gram staining method revealed that the test isolates showed rod shaped and gram negative bacteria. Among 204 isolates, 37 BBC isolates were selected for biochemical tests based on similar morphological and in growth characteristics on selective media. All the BBC isolates were consistently gave similar positive results of catalase, KOH solubility, gelatin liquefaction, tween 80 hydrolysis and Levan production and negative in Arginine dihydrolase. The biochemical test results indicated that, 16 isolates showed negative reaction or failed to produce the dark colour to the hydrolysis of β-glucosidase activity. Hypersensitive and pathogenicity test response was conducted on tobacco leaves in which all the isolates induced the hypersensitive reaction and confirmed. The morphological, cultural and microscopic characters, gram stain, β-glucosidase activity and biochemical nature of the test isolates confirmed the organism identity as Pseudomonas syringae pv. garcae. The present study provided first information on in Gedeo and Sidama zones is on threatening at present, unless otherwise taking appropriate measurement which solves this problem, otherwise, the country will be lost foreign currency as a result, the life standard of farmers will be collapsed and leading to lost foreign income.

517-528

Authors: Gonya Nayak P, Sreedhar M, Surender Raju Ch, and Vanisree S

Sixteen crosses developed from four aromatic lines and four non scented testers were evaluated for various grain quality traits to assess the heterosis of the crosses and to identify best combinations. The estimates of heterosis, heterobeltiosis and standard heterosis were variable among the crosses. Heterosis in desirable direction was recorded for important quality attributes viz., head rice recovery ( 22.16%), kernel length (10.28%), L/B ratio (12.84%), kernel elongation ratio (14.17%), volume expansion ratio (22.10%), aroma (35.21%), alkali spreading value (45.32) and Protein (19.95). Some of these heterotic crosses have turned out to be best specific crosses and exhibited desirable per se. Among the heterotic crosses Yamini/MTU1010(Milling Recovery), Pusa1121/BM-71(Kernel Length), Ranbir Basmati/BM71(Kernel Breadth, L/B ratio), Pusa 1121/MTU1081(Kernel Length after Cooking), RNR2354/BM71(Kernel Elongation Ratio), Yamini/ Sye632003 (Aroma, Alkali spreading value) and Pusa1121/ BM71 (Protein) were found to be superior, expressing heterosis, heterobeltiosis and standard heterosis in desirable direction. Quality attributes viz., milling recovery, head rice recovery, kernel length after cooking, kernel breadth after cooking, kernel elongation ratio and aroma exhibit non-additive gene action. The results of the present study indicated the potential of these parental lines in the improvement of grain quality of rice hybrids.

539-546

Authors: Khandare SS and Patil SD

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains LAB -A, LAB -B and LAB-C isolated from batter of idli, very popular fermented food of south India and identified to species level using 16 S rRNA sequencing as Pediococcus acidilactici CSI29MX, Pediococcus parvulus MF 233 and Pediococcus pentosaceus QN1D respectively. All the three strains produced bacteriocins that inhibited Gram positive food borne pathogen Staphylococcus aureus and Gram negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa. LAB strains were encapsulated in calcium alginate for possible higher bacteriocin production. After 72 h encapsulated LAB demonstrated remarkable increase in bacteriocin production with 2600 and 2800AU/ml tested against S.aureus and P.aeruginosa respectively and viable cell number of encapsulated LAB increased from 4.5 x106 to 6.3 x106/ml during 24 to 72 h as compared to free cells with 1100 AU/ml and 1000AU/ml, against S.aureus and P.aeruginosa respectively and decreased remarkably with free cells from 4.2 x106 to 1.2 x106/ml after 24 h. Encapsulated L. acidophilus MTCC 10307 , standard strain exhibited 2000 AU/ml and 2200 AU/ml compared to free cells with 1100 and 900 AU/ml. The isolates Pediococcus acidilactici CSI29MX, Pediococcus parvulus MF 233 and Pediococcus pentosaceus QN1D showed higher potential for bacteriocin production than L. acidophilus MTCC 10307.

554-562

Authors: Pragna G, Manoj Kumar G and Shiva Shankar M

The field experiment was conducted during rabi season, 2015-16 in split plot design with three replications. Two irrigation levels namely 0.6 ETc (I1)and 0.8 ETc (I2) as Main plot treatments and four discharge rates 1.6 lph (D1), 2.2 lph (D2), 3.0 lph (D3) and 4.0 lph (D4) were planned as Sub treatments with a total of 24 plots. The cabbage yield (t/ha) was maximum when the crop was irrigated with the drip at 0.8 ETc (29.85 t/ha) which was significantly superior over the crop irrigated with drip at 0.6 ETc (28.35 t/ha). The crop which was irrigated at 1.6 lph (Lowest discharge rate) has recorded significantly highest yield (32.43 t/ha) followed by 2.2 lph (30.08 t/ha), 3.0 lph (28.12 t/ha) and the lowest yield was recorded at the discharge rate of 4 lph (25.75 t/ha). Among two irrigation levels (0.8 ETc and 0.6 ETc), crop irrigated at 0.8 ETc gave higher yield but water use efficiency was higher for crop irrigated at 0.6 ETc. Hence irrigation water could be saved by irrigating the cabbage crop at 0.6 ETc without compromising for the yield.

575-578

Authors: Maharudra Shekhanawar and Sarala HT

Introduction: India currently faces an uncertain future in relation to the potential burden that diabetes may impose upon the country. Many influences affect the prevalence of disease throughout a country, and identification of those risk factors is necessary to facilitate change when facing health challenges Methodology: In this study, Deaths due to complications of Diabetes formed the study subjects. Totally 200 deaths for the last 10 years were selected by non-probability purposive random sampling technique Results: Mean serum creatinine of >2 mg/dl was found in patients with infections, liver diseases and with multiple causes of death apart from patients with CKD. Also, patients with DKA had mean serum creatinine of 1.6 mg/dl. Mean Sr. Creatinine (mg/dl) in CKD and other causes was 5.90 and 2.69 respectively Conclusion: Mean RBS was significantly higher in patients with DKA, IHD and infections.

583-588

Authors: Kalse AT and Suryawanshi RB

The present paper deals with the description of a new species of genus Moniezia, Blanchard, 1891 subgenus Blanchariezia, Skrjabin and Schulz, 1937, viz. Moniezia (B.) bhalchandrai n. sp. The present tapeworm differs from all other species of genus Moniezia (B.) in having scolex medium, quadrangular in shape, with four suckers; neck medium; mature segment broader than long, with double set of reproductive organs; testes 196-200 in number; cirrus pouchoval in shape, cirrus thin; vas deferens thin, wavy; ovary medium, inverted cup shaped; vagina thin tube, poste-rior to the cirrus pouch; receptaculum seminis large, spindle shaped; ootype small, round; genital pores bilateral, medium, oval; longitudinal excretory canals wide; interproglottid glands 13-14 in number; vitelline gland large, oval in shape and gravid proglottids large, rectangular with numerous round eggs showing pyriform apparatus.

595-598

Authors: Maharudra Shekhanawar and Sarala HT

Introduction: Cytokines are responsible for many of the symptoms and signs of the infection, particularly fever and malaise. Plasma concentrations of cytokines are elevated in both vivax and falciparum malaria. Methodology: All these patients were subjected to slide test for thick and thin smear as well as immunochromatographic test, ROT, Pan malaria or Falci check. Blood investigations like hemoglobin level, total leukocyte count, differential count and serum electrolyte and also renal function tests, liver function tests, random blood sugar were done in all cases. Results: Serum bilirubin was raised in 33 cases, but only14 cases had serum bilirubin > 3 mg/dL. maximum total bilirubin noted was 18.4 mg/dl. Out of 14 cases, 9 cases had conjugated hyperbilirubinemia and 5 cases had unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia Conclusion: Hepatic dysfunction in acute P.falciparum malaria ranged from mild elevation of liver enzymes to acute hepatitis.

602-605

Authors: Gaikwad PR, Sonune MB and Nagmote SR

The histopathological studies of infected and non-infected intestinal tissue of the host; with scolex attached to the epithelium of mucosa (villi), mature and gravid segments in lumen of intestine and among the villi. It also includes cysts of parasite in submucosa of host intestine. The transverse sections of infected intestine shows the damage to intestinal villi and submucosa. Histopathology includes the study of non-infected and infected intestine of host with reference to the cestode parasites – Circumoncobothrium shindei, 1977 Senga sonunae n.sp. Lytocestus indicus (Moge, 1925), Cotugnia aurangabadensis (Shinde, 1968), Raillietina corvina (Fuhrmann, 1909).