Environmental Pollution and Protection

3

Authors: K.M. Mohamed Sheriff, A. Zahir Hussain

The present study is accomplished to evaluate the quality of groundwater on the bank of Noyyal river for the purpose of drinking and domestic usage by using correlation analysis. The study was carried out for three successive years in both summer and rainy seasons (2013-2015). The results were evaluated and compared with WHO water quality standards. The statistical data predict that the groundwater quality is unsuitable for drinking purposes in the study area.

11

Authors: Riddhi Naresh Dholakiya, Madhava Anil Kumar, Kalpana H. Mody

Streptomyces cavourensis strain RD8, a marine actinomycete capable to produce melanin with high antioxidant activity was screened and optimized the production using the chemometric statistical tools. The results from the optimization study revealed that the melanin production could be enhanced when medium is supplemented with L-tyrosine, 0.15, casein, 1.0 and sodium nitrate, 1.0 (g/100 mL) at pH 7.0 and 30°C at 120 rpm. The purified melanin exhibited potential antibacterial and antioxidant activities. The stability of melanin with respect to antioxidant activity against pH, temperature and salts were also observed. The outcome of the study suggested that S. cavourensis strain RD8 would be a potential candidate for melanin production with minimum medium components which could furthermore nurture as natural antioxidants in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.

15

Authors: Andaleeb Azam, Abdul Hameed, Ikhtiar Khan

A steady increase in the atmospheric CO2 concentration due to human activities in the last few decades is largely believed to be a major cause of climate change. Since agriculture is a climate sensitive system, there is a growing concern that the CO2 added to the air is changing the nutritional composition of fruits, grains and vegetables. Based on this hypothesis, the present experiment work was conducted to study the effect of enhanced atmospheric CO2 on nutritional and biochemical composition of chili (Capsicum annuum). Five local varieties of capsicum (Angrika, Best Choice, Diana, Magama, and 99PE-1689) were grown under two concentrations of CO2, i.e. 400µmol mol-1 (ambient) and 1000µmol mol-1(elevated) under controlled conditions in green houses. Fruits were harvested at two stages of maturity and analyzed for proximate, elemental, fatty acid and amino acid concentration. Capsicum fruits grown under higher CO2 concentration had different nutritional composition.Vitamin C, protein, ash and fat contents decreased significantly (P≤0.05), acidity decreased non-significantly (P>0.1) whereas sugar and fiber contents increased significantly under enhanced CO2. Elemental composition showed a significant increase in C, H, Fe, Mn and a decrease in N, Ca, Mg and Zn contents. Few elements (S, K and Cu) showed no significant trend with elevated CO2. Fatty acids, with few exceptions,were not much affected by CO2 enrichment. Amino acids decreased with elevated concentration of CO2. The effect of enhanced CO2 was more pronounced at the fully matured (red) stage as compared to the pre-mature (green) stage of capsicum fruit. Enhanced atmospheric CO2 lowered the nutritional quality of capsicum fruit by decreasing its vitamin C, proteins, Ca, Mg and Zn contents.