Antifungal activity of silver nanoparticles synthesized using turnip leaf extract (Brassica rapa L.) against wood rotting pathogens

The synthesis of metal nanoparticles using greener methodology and its application in biological fields is a burgeoning field of research. We demonstrated the synthesis of silver nanoparticles using turnip leaf extract and its interaction with wood-degrading fungal pathogens such as Gloeophyllum abietinum, G. trabeum, Chaetomium globosum, and Phanerochaete sordida. TEM images revealed that the silver nanoparticles were predominantly spherical and loosely agglomerated with an average size of 16.14 nm. DLS measurement of silver nanoparticles revealed an average hydrodynamic diameter of ca. 39.5 nm with a zeta potential of ?14.8 mV at pH 7.5. FTIR spectra revealed the presence of amine and aliphatic esters, which were involved in the reduction and stabilization of silver nanoparticles. The as-synthesized silver nanoparticles showed broad spectrum antifungal activity against wood-degrading fungi by inhibiting growth. Thus, the greener-synthesized silver nanoparticles can be used as an antifungal agent against wood-degrading fungal pathogens.     

Investigation on pre-zygotic barriers in the interspecific crosses involving Gossypium barbadense and four diploid wild species

Interspecific hybridisation has played significant role in the improvement of economically useful traits such as productivity, earliness, fibre quality and resistance to pests and diseases in cotton. However, wide crosses are often limited by the operation of either pre or/and post-fertilization barriers. The present study on pollen tube behaviour of four diploid wild species viz., G. triphyllum, G. davidsonii, G. thurberi and G. armourianum in the pistils of G. barbadense was taken up to determine the extent of pre-zygotic barriers operating in these crosses. High rate of pollen germination (∼80%) and normal growth of pollen tubes were observed upon selfing of both G. barbadense and four wild species. Pollen tubes reached the pistils and fertilization was accomplished within 8 HAP in all the five parental species. In the interspecific crosses, pollen germination was normal in the cross involving G. armourianum and drastically inhibited in the crosses involving G. triphyllum, G. davidsonii and G. thurberi. Even though delayed pollen tube growth was a general feature in all the four crosses, successful fertilization was observed only in the cross involving G. armourianum. In crosses involving G. triphyllum, G. davidsonii and G. thurberi, pollen tubes failed to reach the ovary even at 24 HAP due to the presence of strong stylar and ovarian incompatibility. Abnormalities in pollen tubes such as swelling, twisting, intense callose plug formation, breakage, branching and reverse orientation were frequently observed among the incompatible crosses.     

Prefertilization barriers to interspecific hybridization involving Gossypium hirsutum and four diploid wild species

Interspecific hybridization among species of cotton has lead to improvement in productivity, earliness, fibre quality and resistance to pests and diseases. However, wide crosses is often limited by the operation of either pre‐ or/and post‐fertilization barriers. An investigation on pollen tube behaviour of four wild species in the pistils of Gossypium hirsutum was taken up. Pollen germination was normal in crosses involving Gossypium triphyllum and Gossypium armourianum and markedly inhibited in the crosses involving Gossypium davidsonii and Gossypium thurberi. Pollen tubes reached the pistils and fertilization was accomplished within 8 h after pollination (HAP) in control cross. Even though delay in pollen tube was a common phenomenon in all the four crosses successful fertilization was observed in crosses involving G. triphyllum and G. armourianum, as they reached the ovary at 24 HAP. In crosses with G. davidsonii and G. thurberi, pollen tubes failed to reach the ovary even at 24 HAP indicating the presence of strong stylar and ovarian incompatibility. Measures to overcome such barriers to interspecific hybridization in the incompatible crosses are discussed.     

Dyeing of cotton yarn with five water soluble fungal pigments obtained from five fungi

The present study aimed to assess the potentiality of water soluble fungal pigments for dyeing on cotton yarn. Five different shades of pigments were extracted from Monascus purpureus, Isaria farinosa, Emericella nidulans, Fusarium verticillioides, and Penicillium purpurogenum using ethanol. Maximum concentration of pigment was obtained from Monascus purpureus (red, 25.02±1.6 UA) followed by Penicillium purpurogenum (yellow, 23.05±0.3 UA). The optimum dyeing condition was observed at a pigment concentration of 1 gram, pH 5, temperature 80 °C, time duration 90 min, and a liquor ratio of 1:30 was found to be the optimal for dyeing. Maximum uptake of 80 % was achieved with Monascus purpureus red pigment. Moreover, the effect of mordant in dyeing was evaluated by different mordanting methods. A strong variation in shade and color depth could be achieved by using pre-mordanting method with alum and ferrous sulfate giving better wash fastness properties when compared with post-mordanting or without a mordant.     

Influence of different handling methods and crating periods on plasma corticosterone concentrations in broilers

1. Experiments were conducted to determine whether different handling methods and crating periods differentially affect plasma corticosterone (CS) concentrations in 6 to 7‐week‐old broilers.

2. Broilers were subjected to 1 of 3 handling methods for 2 min: (i) 3 birds held in an inverted position in one hand (multiple inverted, MI), (ii) 1 bird held in an inverted position (single inverted, SI), or (iii) upright handling (U), which consisted of holding a bird gently with both hands in an upright position.

3. In experiment 1 birds were returned to their respective pens after handling and in experiment 2 they were crated for up to 4 h after the imposition of handling. In experiment 2 food deprived (FD) and fully fed (FF) uncrated birds were also sampled as controls. Blood samples were collected immediately after handling and at 1‐h intervals after handling or handling and crating.

4. In experiment 1, MI and SI birds had higher CS concentrations than U birds.

5. In experiment 2, there were no significant differences in CS concentrations of crated birds despite the different handling treatments. FD birds had higher mean CS concentrations than FF birds, although not as high as those of crated birds. CS concentrations peaked at 3 h after crating. Birds showed predominantly resting behaviour after crating.

6. These results suggest that handling stress can be reduced in broilers by the use of upright handling. However, the methods of handling is not important in influencing CS concentrations if the birds are crated after handling, either because crating is a more potent stressor than handling or due to stressor additivity.     

Influence of dietary condensed tannins from sericea lespedeza on bacterial loads in gastrointestinal tracts of meat goats

This research assessed the potential use of a low input forage containing a high amount of condensed tannins (CT) to reduce foodborne pathogens prior to slaughter of meat goats. In a completely randomized design, twenty Kiko × Spanish intact male kids (BW = 19.2 ± 0.74 kg) were fed ground sericea lespedeza [SL; Lespedeza cuneata (Dum-Cours) G. Don; 2 pens], a high-CT legume, or bermudagrass hay [BG; Cynodon dactyon (L.) Pers.; 2 pens], at 75% of daily intake with a corn-based supplement (25% of intake) for 14 weeks (n = 10 goats/treatment). At the end of the feeding trial, the animals were slaughtered using standard procedures. Immediately after evisceration, rumen and rectal samples were collected to assess bacterial loads and volatile fatty acids in the rumen. Concentrations of rumen volatile fatty acids were significantly different between dietary treatments. Goats fed SL hay had higher (P < 0.05) contents of butyric (8.66 vs 7.16 mM), isobutyric (1.94 vs 1.44 mM), isovaleric (3.03 vs 2.13 mM), and valeric (1.43 vs 1.07 mM) acids than those fed BG hay; however, the content of acetic acid (78.6 vs 64.4 mM) was higher (P < 0.05) in the BG-fed groups than in SL-fed groups. Escherichia coli (2.33 vs 1.13 log₁₀ CFU/g) counts of rumen contents were higher (P < 0.05) in the SL-fed group compared with the BG-fed group. However, E. coli counts in feces were not different (P > 0.05) between dietary treatments. The high-CT influenced (P < 0.05) total plate counts in the feces; and the total plate counts in feces of SL- and BG-fed goats were 4.95 and 6.57 log₁₀ CFU/g, respectively. The results indicated that high CT in the diet might influence rumen volatile fatty acid composition, but might not reduce the bacterial loads in gastrointestinal tracts of meat goats.     

Diversity in selected wild and cultivated species of pigeonpea using RFLP of mtDNA

Diversity in 28 accessions representing 12 species of the genus, Cajanus arranged in 6 sections including 5 accessions of the cultivated species, C. cajan, and 4 species of the genus Rhyncosia available in the germplasm collection at ICRISAT was assessed using RFLP with maize mtDNA probes. Cluster analysis of the Southern blot hybridization data with 3 restriction enzymes – 3 probe combinations placed the genus Rhyncosia in a major group well separated from all the species belonging to the genus Cajanus. Within the genus Cajanus, the 4 accessions of C. platycarpus belonging to section Rhynchosoides formed a separate group in contrast to those in other sections of pigeonpea. In the section, Cajanus all the 5 accessions of C. cajan were grouped together and C. cajanifolius belonging to the same section was in a subgroup by itself closer to the main group. The four accessions of C. scarabaeoides, were together and the other species belonging to section Cantharospermum were in different subgroups. The intra-specific variation was seen even within accessions of certain pigeonpea wild species such as C. scarabaeoides, C. platycarpus, C. acutifolius, and even the cultivated species of C. cajan. This study suggests that RFLP of mtDNA can be used for the diversity analysis of pigeonpea and it gives some indications on the maternal lineage among the species. The variations in the mitochondrial DNA hybridization patterns also suggest the extensive rearrangement of the organelle genome among the Cajanus species. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Genetic and Phenotypic Diversity in Downy-mildew-resistant Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) Germplasm

Genetic and phenotypic diversity among randomly selected 36 downy-mildew-resistant sorghum accessions were assessed, the former using 10 simple sequence repeat (SSR) marker loci and the latter using 20 phenotypic traits. The number of alleles (a _j ) at individual loci varied from five to 14 with an average of 8.8 alleles per locus. Nei's gene diversity (H _j ) varied from 0.59 to 0.92 with an average of 0.81 per locus. High gene diversity and allelic richness were observed in races durra caudatum (H _j = 0.76, a _j = 4.3) and guinea caudatum (H _j = 0.76, a _j = 3.8) and in east Africa (H _j = 0.78, a _j = 7.2). The regions were genetically more differentiated than the races as indicated by Wright's F _st. The pattern of SSR-based clustering of accessions was more in accordance with their geographic proximity than with their racial likeness. This clustering pattern matched little with that obtained from phenotypic traits. The inter-accession genetic distance varied from 0.30 to 1.00 with an average of 0.78. Inter-accession phenotypic distance varied from 0.01 to 0.55 with an average of 0.33. Eleven accession-pairs had phenotypic distance of more than 0.50 and genetic distance of more than 0.70. These could be used as potential parents in a sorghum downy mildew resistance-breeding program.     

Comparison of Cadmium Ion Adsorption on Various ACTIVATED CARBONS

Studies on the removal of cadmium(II) ions from aqueous solutions by adsorption on various activated carbons [commercial activated carbon (CAC) and chemically prepared activated carbons (CPACs) from raw materials such as straw, saw dust and datesnut] have been carried out with an aim to obtain information on treating effluents containing Cd(II) ions. Factors influencing the adsorption of Cd(II) ions from aqueous solution by ACs have been investigated by following a batch adsorption technique at 30± 1 ^°C. The percentage removal increased with decrease in initial concentration and particle size of CPACs and an increase in contact time, dose and initial pH of the solution. Adsorption process was inhibited by the added electrolytes. The adsorption data were fitted with the Langmuir, Dubinim–Radushkevich and Freundlich isotherms and first-order kinetic equations viz., first-order, Lagergren and Bhattacharya–Venkobachar equations and intra-particle diffusion model. The kinetics of adsorption is first order with intra-particle diffusion as one of the rate determining steps. Thermodynamic parameters were obtained from equilibrium constants measured at 30, 35 and 40 ^°C (Error = ± 1 ^°C). Results of the studies on adsorption of Cd²⁺ ions from simulated wastewater were compared with that of CAC and Tulsion CXO-9(H), a commercial ion exchange resin/cationic resin (CR). Straw carbon showed the maximum adsorption capacity towards Cd²⁺ ions and a high value of rate constant of adsorption. Straw carbon is an alternative low-cost adsorbent to CAC.     

Influence of irrigation with pulp and paper mill effluent on soil chemical and microbiological properties

Summary Irrigation of sugarcane crops with combined pulp and paper mill effluent increased soil pH, organic C, N, P, and K. Over a period of 15 years effluent application increased exchangeable Na by 4.5-fold compared with control soil (well-water irrigated), which ultimately elevated the Na adsorption ratio of the soils. The combined effluent irrigation increased the soil populations of bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, rhizobia, and yeasts. The populations of soil microorganisms were higher after 15 years of effluent treatment, followed by 3, 2, and 1 year of effluent treatment; these populations were directly proportional to soil organic C and to the available nutrient status of the soils. Regular monitoring of microflora showed a considerable change in the populations from one sampling month to another. Soil samples, including the control, collected in May (summer) showed maximum counts of bacteria, fungi, rhizobia, and yeasts.