INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LIFE SCIENCES

11-20

Authors: Fantaye Belay* and Kasa Meles

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is an important food crop in Ethiopia, and is ranked second for “injera” quality next to tef. However, the productivity of sorghum is limited by several biotic and abiotic constraints amongst striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth is the greatest specialized parasitic weed causing serious injury by depriving water, minerals and photosynthesis from the host. Striga hermonthica is becoming the major epidemic in most of sorghum growing areas in the country including Abergelle. Thus, a field experiment was conducted in 2013/14 cropping season to assess the interaction effect of variety by nitrogen fertilizer rates on striga control, yield and yield related attributes as well as to determine optimum nitrogen fertilizer rate to enhance the productivity of sorghum under natural striga infestation areas of Abergelle district, Northern Ethiopia. The treatment combination comprised of two striga resistant and early maturing sorghum varieties (Gobye and Abshir) and three nitrogen fertilizer levels (0, 50 and 100 kg N ha- 1) in 2x3 factorial arrangement in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The analysis of variance result showed highly significant (P≤0.01) differences due to nitrogen, variety and variety by nitrogen interaction for number of striga count per plot. The lowest number of striga count per plot was obtained from the combination of Gobye+100 kg N ha-1, whereas, the highest number of striga count per plot was recorded from Abshir+0 kg N ha-1. Thus, Gobye exhibited resistance to striga hermonthica by supporting the lowest number of striga plants germination with increasing fertilizer levels from zero to 100 kg N ha-1. Besides, the analyzed result indicated that grain yield of sorghum was significantly influenced (P≤0.01) by variety x nitrogen interaction effect. The highest grain yield of sorghum (1743 kg ha-1) was obtained from the combination of Gobye+100 kg N ha-1 while the lowest grain yield (1086 kg ha-1) was recorded from Abshir+0 kg N ha-1. However, days to physiological maturity and growth traits like plant height and panicle length were not significantly affected by variety x nitrogen interaction effect. Moreover, the partial budget analysis revealed that the highest net benefit was recorded from the combination of Gobye+100 kg N ha-1. Therefore, farmers in the study area could control striga and enhance sorghum productivity through combination use of the early matured and striga resistant variety Gobye+100 kg N ha-1 under natural striga infestation.

51-60

Authors: Ajay Kumar Sahu, Barsha Rani Kar, Santosh Sahu, Pragnya Paramita Acharya and Priyadarsini SS Harichandan

Endophytic bacteria defined as those bacteria that can be isolated from within the plant and that do not harm the plant visibly. These bacteria are thought to be virulent plant pathogens but have recently been discovered to have many beneficial effects on host plants, such as plant growth promotion, increased resistance against plant pathogen, parasites, etc. Besides gaining entry into the plants through natural openings or wounds, endophytic bacteria appear to actively penetrate plant tissues using hydrolytic enzymes like cellulose and pectins. Since these enzymes are also produced by pathogens, more information on their mechanism is needed to distinguish endophytic bacteria from plant pathogen. In general, an endophytic bacterium occurs in less number than pathogens, and at least some of them do not induce a hypersensitive response in the plant, indicating that they are not identified with the plant as pathogen. Six months old healthy plant of Psidium guajiava roots and stems were collected from the cultivated plant near Avulahalli, Bangalore, Karnataka. These plant samples were collected plant in sterile clean plastic bags brought to laboratory and used for further experimental purpose. These bacterial colonies were isolated from roots and one is isolated from the stem. The four bacterial colonies isolate were found to be may same species and they were shown common morphological and biochemical tests. An antibiotic sensitivity (or susceptibility) test is done to help choose antibiotic that will be most effective against the specific types of endophytic bacteria, root colony one and stem colony shown similar minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC).

71-76

Authors: Saranya M, Umapathy G and Murugesh KA

Eco-friendly management of dermestid beetles was tried with seven different plant products and among these, Notchi ( Vitex nigundo) has recorded a maximum grub mortality was observed in Notchi (64.67%) at 72 h in 12.5% concentration followed by Pungam (52.67%), Vasambu (41.48%), Neem (35.67%), Tulasi (42.67%), Turmeric (36.22%) and Aswagandha (41.42%) and maximum adult mortality observed in Notchi treatment (62.32%) followed by Neem (41.67%), Pungam (49.37%), Vasambu (40.54%), Tulasi (38.14%), Tumeric (36.22%) and Aswagandha (38.54%). Among the plant extracts, Notchi showed higher adult and grub mortality in CSR2 races at 12.5% concentration whereas Aswagandha showed the minimum mortality.

83-91

Authors: Sujit Sundaram, James NJ and Abdul Saleem

Knowledge on the nesting of olive ridley turtle, Lepidochelys olivacea along the west coast of India is scanty. Along Kerala coast not many studies have been carried out on the nesting and hatching behavior. Hence an attempt was made to study and observe its nesting habits from Chavakkad, Kerala, India. Olive ridley turtles are categorized as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, hence the study gains more importance. In pursuance of this study, every year during the nesting season in this area, i.e. from November to March, periodically walking trips in the night hours were made along the coast from 1988-99 onwards. Olive ridleys usually nest in this belt such as Panchavadi, Edakkazhiyur and Akalad beaches in Chavakkad. To prevent predation from animals and humans, the eggs of the turtles were transplanted by the volunteers of Green Habitat, an NGO committed to the conservation of turtles, to a permanent hatchery. The total number of nests at Chavakkad beach ranged from one (1998-09) to ten (2017-18) during the breeding season over the years. The clutch size varied from 47 to 135 eggs during the observation period. After about 45-50 days the eggs hatched. Local people, fishermen, students etc. were invited on the release date and the hatchlings were released in to the sea. The number of eggs hatched during the study period was between 41 in 1998-09 to 490 in 2017-18. The Green Habitat has successfully protected 44 nests and ensured the safe release of 2,306 hatchlings into the sea till date.

99-101

Authors: Azeb Hailu and Teka Solomon

Wheat productivity particularly in Tigray as compared to the major wheat growing areas of Ethiopia is less. This is due to many of the previously released wheat materials were tested and released in potential areas with high rainfall that does not fit to the real condition of the region and infested by new emerging diseases. Therefore, this activity was implemented to evaluate and select bread wheat genotypes which are with better agronomic performance and resistant to diseases. The trial was conducted at Enderta (Illala on station) districts in 2016 main cropping season. From the overall analysis it is observed that there is a sig. difference among the genotypes tested for all traits except for biomass and seeds per spike. One candidate genotype ETBW 8064 was selected for future regional variety trials.

107-110

Authors: Bhosale PA

Many species of bivalve molluscs abundantly found in Indian waters can sustain regularly & very productive Fisheries in India. Particularly in Maharashtra state. Indiocious Corbicula Striatella the gonads commonly occur among the intestinal loops in the base of the foot. Several environmental factors such as temperature, lunar periodicity, depth, mechanical factor light intensity, genetic & hormonal control. Thematuration of gonads is also dependent on the richness of food supply which dependson climate. Generally, the reproductive cycle of bivalve mollouscan population includes activation, growth and gametogenesis. The gonad tissue was removed and processed for preparation of paraffin blocks. Dehydration of gonad was done through serial grades of ethyl alcohol while xylene was replaced by toluene during the process. The tissues were embedded in paraffin was at 580C. The sections of gonad were cut out 6 – 7 µm thickness. The histological sections of the gonad throughout the study revealed that gonad consists of numerous follicles innervated by the connective tissue and muscles. The amount of connective tissue present was found to depend upon the state of maturity of the gonads.

115-119

Authors: D. Sangeetha

The bryophytes possess some bioactive compounds and therefore are medicinally very useful plants. They contain pools of secondary metabolites, which are unique. The antimicrobial activity was assessed using agar well diffusion method against the two bacterial strains from the bryophytes viz Anthoceros erectus, Asterella angusta, Cyathodium tuberosum, Plagiochasma articulata and Targionia hyphophylla the studies of phytochemical constituents revealed presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, coumarins, phenols, tannins, steroids, and sugars. The antimicrobial activity is due to the presence of secondary metabolites. It was highest in Targionia hyphophylla and least in Cyathodium tuberosum. In this Research we study antibacterial activity and phytochemical screening of the bryophytes. The above observations suggest that due to significant antibacterial activity of the bryophytes they have good potential in drug development.

123-132

Authors: NJQ Tharshanodayan and P Rohini2

In Siddha system the growth & development and diseases of the children are explained in consonance with different stages. The extensive use of herbs on pediatric management in rural is socio-cultural barriers, the fact that traditional medicines have a wide acceptance. Aim is to identify the herbs that were used in traditional pediatric management and to evaluate effectiveness of specific herbs to combat common childhood diseases. In this review, some main Siddha text books and data were collected from older people to extract important information about traditional pediatric management. A total of 28 herbs were mostly be used in the disease management among children. Most of the plant used internally (57%) and while (32%) were used externally. Leaves (32%) were the most commonly used plant part forms in pediatric disease management, the least used plant life forms are Flower, Fruit peel, and whole plant (4%). According to taste Pungent (40%) were the most used plant action. Clitoria ternata. Linn, Zingiber officinalae Rosc, Piper betel, and Piper nigrum Linn, are used to treat more than one disease. Most of the plant (50%) were reported to be used for treating gastro intestinal disorders. Based on text book it has been proved that herbs used in this treatment possess significantly cure the disease in children. In spite of not knowing the effects of these herbs during ancient period, traditional practitioners used them in the preparation of home remedies. So, there is a need to enhance the usages of herbs.

140-142

Authors: Annapoorani S

Anisomeles malabarica is a medicinal plant has been used as a folkloric medicine Anisomeles malabarica belongs to family Lamiaceae is found throughout tropical and subtropical regions of India and it acts as an antimicrobial drug it having some acidic properties like anisomelic acid, anisomelolide, 2-acetoxymalabaric acid, betulinic acid, gerainic acid etc., treatment of various kind of diseases like amentia, anorexia, cancer, allergy, inflammatory disease, methanolic extract of Anisomeles malaborica showed inhibitory activity for gram positive and negative bacteria, viruses