INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LIFE SCIENCES

1-6

Authors: Patil SS, Kelkar TS and Bhalerao SA

With the help of record production, India, the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world, have achieved record horticulture exports to the tune of Rs 14,000 crores in 2011-12. Major destination for India’s products are Netherland, UAE, UK, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, USA etc. Blessed with multiple agro climatic zones, India grows almost all types of Fruits and Vegetables. The 2011-12 horticulture production has crossed all time high of over 240 million tons. Occupying 13.08 per cent of the total cropped area, their contribution to gross agricultural output is more than 30 per cent. The year 2012 is being dubbed as the “Year of Horticulture” to highlight the horticulture development in India. However, the export competitiveness among the Indian producers remains low. But with new marketing initiatives, the post-harvest losses and the wastage due to poor infrastructure facilities, such as storage and transportation, have been reduced to a considerable extent. Yet a lot needs to be done in this sector: Further strengthening of the back-up infrastructure facilities like cold-storages, refer vans, roads and distribution and management of horticulture products. Improvement in Packaging and timely marketing of horticulture products. Simplification of Export Documentation & initial registration process and later traceability charts required by importers. They are time consuming and tedious, making farmers and many exporters hesitant. Training of Labor Oriented Sector for Pre-harvest processes, Harvesting, Handling of crop and Storage. Providing solutions for these and other problems will see Horticulture exports further surge ahead in the years to come.

11-16

Authors: Patil Kishor Gopal

Morphologically the kidneys of postnatal sucklings of leaf nosed bat Hipposederos speoris having body weight 6.5g show variation in shape. The right kidney is broader at the anterior pole and narrower at the posterior. Both the right and left kidneys are compressed dorsoventrally which gives an edged appearance at the hilar side. The kidneys are differentiated into a thin cortex, a thick medulla which is further divided into an outer and an inner zone. The papilla is conical, thick and long and protrudes outside the kidney, into the ureter through the wide hilus. The calyx separates the papilla from other cortico-medullary components. Histologically the renal tubules can be differentiated into the Bowman’s capsules, the proximal and distal convolutated tubules in the cortex. The medulla comprises the network of large collecting tubules and the very narrow loops of Henle with lumen. In the large papilla collecting ducts with wide lumen open into the wide calyx; few collecting tubules and the thin loop of Henle are also observed in the papilla.

22-31

Authors: Bhandarkar SV | Bhandarkar WR

A study was conducted to evaluate the potential of benthic macro-invertebrates community assemblages in predicting the water quality status. Three sampling stations with various environmental quality gradients were selected at the Wainganga, Gadhavi and Khobragadhi River in Gadchiroli district in order to determine differences or changes in the benthos community associated with variability in water quality. The diversity indices like Shannon-Wiener index, Evenness or Shannon equitability index and Margalef’s index were calculated. According to Shannon-Wiener index of species diversity, all the selected sampling sites fall under moderate pollution. The Shannon equitability index values showed a greater equitability in the apportionment of individuals among the species in all the sites while Margalef’s index of species richness reveals that the site-I had more healthy body and have higher species diversity among all sampling sites. The species diversity of site-II is greater than site-III. The site-III had poorer in species diversity and nutrient material.

37-41

Authors: Ramteke Asha V | Zade Suresh B | Patil Kishor G

Investigations were carried out on the morphology, structural arrangement, location and the numbers of the lingual papillae in Emballinurid microchiropteran bat, Taphozous longimanus with special reference to gustatory circumvallate papillae, using light microscope. The anterior tip of tongue was pointed and three types of lingual papillae covered the dorsal surface of tongue i.e. tricuspid filiform papillae on the anterior region, gustatory fungiform and two circumvallate papillae are arranged on the smooth root of the tongue (posterior side). The the number of the circumvallate papillae are strongly adapted to feeding behavior i.e. insectivorous feeding habits.

46-50

Authors: Bokhad MN | Rothe SP | Kakpure MR

The present survey based investigation, on traditional farm hedges and presents status of medicinal plants found along the hedges were carried out in two districts i.e. Akola and Washim of Maharashtra State of India. A sum of total 61 plants were collected and identified. These plants are regularly used by the tribals, villagers and local medicine men’s due to their medicinal importance as well as conserved and some of them were also planted. During investigation it was also noted that, most of the farmers clearing the farm hedges for the purpose of crop cultivation; that’s why the most of the important medicinal plants are cleared from hedges. The present survey has resulted in the documentation of total 61 medicinal plant species found along hedges which are used for curing different ailments and also investigates the wealth of medicinal plants present along the farm hedges.

63-66

Authors: Siddhartha R | Tanti KD | Mishra Anita | BN Pandey

Physico-chemical parameters of the swamps of Harda, Purnia were studied to know their roles in production and distribution of biota, especially air-breathing fishes in this freshwater ecosystem. It was observed that the physico-chemical environment of this water body was quite suitable for the growth of air-breathing fishes as relative temperature, high value of dissolved oxygen and the highest production range of alkalinity favour the production of these aquatic fauna. Ten species of air breathing fishes were found in the swamps. The interaction of various physico-chemical factors was also found to decide the fate of the biological conditions of this freshwater body.

71-75

Authors: Wasu Yogesh H | Gawande Deepali M | Patil Sachin P

The locally available plant weeds Parthenium hysterophorus and Ageratina adenophora were used for the sustainable agricultural practices of insect control; for polyphagus cash crop pest Spodoptera frugiperda (Family: Noctuidae) in laboratory conditions. In present investigation Antifeedant, Larvicidal and deformed growth at different concentrations of methanolic crude plant extracts were studied. The LC50 value for methanolic extract of P. hysterophorus and A. adenophora for 72 hours of exposure against fifth instar larvae were 5.92% & 7.82% and LC90 values were 8.14% & 8.96% respectively. Antifeedant activity of P. hysterophorus was more than A. adenophora against Fall Armyworm. Both plants extract exposure showed deformities in larval, pupal and adult stage of the Fall Armyworm. P. hysterophorus and A. adenophora both have potential Antifeedant, Larvicidal and growth inhibiting activity against Spodoptera frugiperda.