Antimicrobial and cytotoxic constituents from the seeds of Annona squamosa

Annotemoyin-1, Annotemoyin-2, squamocin and cholesteryl glucopyranoside were isolated from the seeds of Annona squamosa. These compounds and plant extracts showed remarkable antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities.     

Ecosystem services assessment using a valuation framework for the Bangladesh Sundarbans: livelihood contribution and degradation analysis

The ecosystem services provided by the Bangladesh Sundarbans contribute in various sectors especially to the livelihood of the surrounding peoples, but they are often overlooked in the valuation process. This study investigates the significance of ecosystem services on peoples’ lives and how these services are affected by climate change and other factors. Here an economic valuation framework was used to list the ecosystem services provided by this mangrove forest. Direct uses included timber, golpata (Nypa fruticans), honey, beeswax, fish, shrimp larvae and tourism. Indirect uses included carbon storage, protection from cyclones and tidal surges, breeding and nursery grounds for the aquatic species, and biodiversity conservation. This work also found that the ecosystem services were diminished by fresh water flow reduction, overharvesting, sea level rise, salinity increase, poaching, and climate change. In the present context and future scenario, sea level rise will be an important contributor to changes in ecosystem services. But because many factors impact sea level rise, the impact of climate change takes on less importance than many other causes of ecosystem service degradation in the Bangladesh Sundarbans.     

Genetic diversity and population structure analysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pistacia</Emphasis> species revealed by <Emphasis Type="Italic">phenylalanine ammonia</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">lyase</Emphasis> gene markers and implications for conservation

Information on population genetic structure and crop genetic diversity is important for genetically improving crop species and conserving threatened species. The PAL gene sequence is part of a multigene family that can be utilized to design DNA marker systems for genetic diversity and population structure investigation. In the current study, genetic diversity and population structure of 100 accessions of wild Pistacia species were investigated with 78 PAL markers. A protocol for using PAL sequences as DNA markers was developed. A total of 313 PAL loci were recognized, showing 100% polymorphism for PAL markers. The PAL markers produced relatively more observed and effective alleles in Pistacia falcata and Pistacia atlantica, with a higher Shannon’s information index and expected heterozygosity in P. atlantica, Pistacia vera and Pistacia mutica. Pairwise assessment of Nei’s genetic distance and genetic identity between populations revealed a close association between geographically isolated populations of Pistacia khinjuk and Pistacia chinensis. The accessions of wild Pistacia species had more genetic relationship among studied groups of species. Analysis of molecular variance indicated 19% among-population variation and 81% within-population variation for the PAL gene based DNA marker. Population structure analysis based on PAL revealed four groups with high genetic admixture among populations. The results establish PAL markers as a functional DNA marker system and provide important genetic information about accessions from wild populations of Pistacia species.     

Pseudomonasaeruginosa strain PS1 enhances growth parameters of greengram [Vignaradiata (L.) Wilczek] in insecticide-stressed soils

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are known to increase growth and vigor of legumes in conventional cropping systems. Considering this as a basis, this study was aimed at identifying phosphate-solubilizing (PS) rhizobacterial strains expressing higher tolerance to insecticides, fipronil and pyriproxyfen, and synthesizing plant growth regulators even amid insecticide stress. The impact of selected rhizobacteria endowed with multitude of activities was investigated on greengram, grown in soils treated with different concentrations of insecticides. The fipronil and pyriproxyfen tolerant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PS1 produced plant growth promoting substances, both in the presence and absence of the insecticides. Both insecticides at recommended and higher rates, in general, had phytotoxic effects and decreased phytomass, symbiotic properties, nutrients uptake, and seed yield of greengram plants. Interestingly, P. aeruginosa PS1 even when used with all concentrations of the two insecticides significantly increased the measured parameters at 50 and 80 days after sowing, compared to the plants grown in soils treated with the same concentration of each insecticide but without inoculants. P. aeruginosa PS1 can be used as biofertilizer to augment the growth of greengram exposed to insecticide-stressed soils.     

People’s attitude and use of forestland: Co-evolution of forest administration in Bangladesh

This paper explores the influence over time of past policies on people’s attitudes towards the use of forestland in Bangladesh. The discourses of the attitudes of people were captured from the observed social tradition towards forest resources. Forests were reserved systematically and solely through the Forest Department. The conservation processes were not participatory, and rights and tenure were strictly controlled. People were socially excluded and alienated from the forest, and the socio-political factors stimulated negative attitudes among people. Forests were considered to be government property, and therefore managing forests was the responsibility of the government. People only used forest resources to meet their own requirements, either with formal permission or illegally. This situation continued even after the independence of Bangladesh in 1971. As a result, the forests of Bangladesh have been degraded heavily in recent decades.     

Herbaceous species diversity in relation to fire severity in Zagros oak forests,Iran

Zagros forests are mainly covered byQuercus brantii L. coppices and oak sprout clumps occupy the forest area like patches. We investigated post-fire herbaceous diversity in the first growing season after fire. For this purpose neighboring burned and unburned areas were selected with the same plant species and ecological conditions. The data were collected from areas subjected to different fire severities. Overall 6 treatments were considered with respect to fire severity and the mi-crosites of inside and outside of oak sprout clumps including： unburned inside and outside of sprout clumps （Ni and No）, inside of sprout clumps that burned with high fire severity （H）, inside of sprout clumps that burned with moderate fire severity （M）, outside of sprout clumps that burned with low fire severity （OH and OM）. Different herbaceous com-position was observed in the unburned inside and outside of oak sprout clumps. The species diversity and richness were increased in treatments burned with low and moderate fire severity. However, in treatment burned with high fire severity （H）, herbaceous cover was reduced, even-ness was increased, and richness and diversity were not significantly changed. We concluded that besides the microsites conditions in forest, fire severity is an inseparable part of the ecological effect of fire on her-baceous composition.     

Calibration of Gypsum Blocks for Measuring Saline Soils Moisture

The proper management of irrigation requires an accurate measuring of soil moisture. One of the commonly applied methods for measuring soil moisture is the use of gypsum blocks – a method that is simple and quick to apply. However, measuring moisture in saline soils using this method is prone to errors due to the effect of soil salinity on the block. In this study, the effect of different salinities (1, 2, 6, 10, and 18 deci Siemens per meter (dS m^?1) on the measurements of a gypsum block type 5910 A was investigated with two repetitions in random blocks in sandy loam, loam, and clay loam soils, and corrective functions were obtained using multivariate regression for all soils with different salinity levels. The results showed different trends for measuring the soil moistures for salinities 1–6 dS m^?1 compared with salinities 10–18 dS m^?1, and the corrective functions in salinities 1–6 dS m^?1, which had higher accuracies than those with salinities 10–18 dS m^?1.     

Characterization of char from the pyrolysis of tobacco

Pyrolysis of tobacco was studied in oxidative and nonoxidative (inert) environments at atmospheric pressure and temperatures ranging from 150 to 750 degrees C. The objective was to study the effect of pyrolysis conditions on the characteristics of the solid residue, i.e., char. The char was characterized using cross-polarization (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance (CPMAS NMR), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area, and the elemental composition. The char yield from pyrolysis (i.e., nonoxidative) decreased sharply with an increase in temperature to ca. 22% (dry, ash-free basis) at high temperatures. In oxidative pyrolysis, i.e., in 5% oxygen, the char was completely oxidized above 600 degrees C. The gaseous product from pyrolysis at high temperatures contained a significant concentration of hydrogen. The surface area of the char was low, with a maximum of 8 m(2)/g at 400 degrees C. SEM analysis indicated that pyrolysis of the tobacco led to a gradual accumulation of inorganic crystals on the exposed surfaces, and some constituents also melted, resulting in the formation of vesicles by evolving gas. NMR analysis showed significant changes in pectin and sugar constituents of the tobacco and breaking of glycosidic bonds of cellulose at 300-500 degrees C before the char became predominantly aromatic at high temperatures. FTIR results showed a continuous decrease in the intensity of the OH stretch with temperature and the aromatic character to be at maximum at 550-650 degrees C. The H/C ratio of the char decreased continuously with temperature, while the O/C ratio became constant above 300 degrees C due to the presence of oxides and carbonates in the char. The results are consistent with the analysis of the evolved gases.     

Physicochemical,including spectroscopic,and biological analyses during composting of green tea waste and rice bran

The aims of this study were to monitor the changes in physicochemical, including spectroscopic, and biological characteristics during composting of green tea waste–rice bran compost (GRC) and to define parameters suitable for evaluating the stability of GRC. Compost pile temperature reflected the initiation and stabilization of the composting process. The pH, electrical conductivity, NO₃ ⁻-N content, and carbon-to-nitrogen ratio were measured as chemical properties of the compost. The color (CIELAB variables), humification index (the absorption ratio Q _4/6 = A ₄₇₂ / A ₆₆₄ of 0.5 M NaOH extracts), absorption at 665 nm of acetone extracts, and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra were measured to evaluate the organic matter transformation; germination of komatsuna or tomato seeds was measured to assess the potential phytotoxicity of composting materials during composting. No single parameter was capable of giving substantial information on the composting process, the nutrient balance, phytotoxicity, and organic matter decomposition. The FT-IR spectra at 3,300, 2,930, 2,852, and 1,065 cm⁻¹ provided information on the molecular transformation of GRC during composting and they decreased over the composting. Most of the assayed parameters showed no further change after about 90 days of composting suggesting that GRC can be used for agricultural purposes after this period.