Effects of organic selenium supplemented diet on growth performance and antioxidant response in Cirrhinus mrigala

The present study was conducted to evaluate the …effect of dietary selenium on growth performance and antioxidant enzymes activity in Cirrhinus mrigala for a period of 45 days. Four numbers of experimental diets were prepared, T_c for Control (0 mg organic selenium/kg of diet), T₁ (2.5 mg organic selenium/kg of diet), T₂ (5.0 mg organic selenium/kg of diet) and T₃ (10 mg organic selenium/kg of diet). The water quality parameters (temperature, DO, pH, conductivity, hardness, ammonia, nitrate and nitrite) were found to be insignificant (p > .05) among all the treatments. Superoxidase dismutase (SOD) was found to be significantly highest in T₂ (6.10 ± 0.07) when compared with the other treatments. Similarly, catalase (CAT) activity in T₁ (13.21 ± 0.13) was significantly (p < .05) different with that of Control, T₂ and T₃. Present study also revealed that 2.5mg organic selenium/kg supplemented diet (T₁) showed highest results in net weight gain (15.55 ± 1.36 g), net weight gain percentage (185.88 ± 8.98%) and SGR (2.35 ± 0.06 g) compared with other experimental diet.     

Influence of in-house produced biochars on cracks and retained water during drying-wetting cycles: comparison between conventional plant,animal, and nano-biochars

Purpose

Biochars produced from different feedstocks (such as wood, pig manure) possess varying physical and chemical properties, which have influence on crack and evaporation rate of biochar-amended soil (BAS). Furthermore, influence of compaction state and drying-wetting cycles on evaporation rate and cracking of BAS has not been investigated comprehensively. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of biochar types, compaction state of BAS, and drying-wetting cycles on crack propagation and retained water (or evaporation rate).

Material and methods

An animal and plant feedstock-based biochars were produced in-house from pig manure (PM) and wood (W), respectively. In addition, nano structured chalk and wheat biochar (CWB) were also produced. Soil amended with individual biochars was compacted in petri-glass discs at two densities. Disc specimens were subjected to multiple drying-wetting cycles, and evaporation rate of specimens and crack area were monitored throughout the experimental period (70 days). Images were captured after every 24 h and processed using image processing technique to obtain the crack intensity factor (CIF).

Results and discussion

The results show that plant-based W BAS showed the high water retention, i.e., low evaporation rate and low CIF. Furthermore, the crack potential of CW BAS was seen to be higher. In dense compacted soil, maximum CIF% can be reduced from 3.9 to 0.4% for W BAS, from 3.9 to 1.7% for PM BAS, and from 3.9 to 1.6% for CW BAS.

Conclusion

WB was able to resist cracking more efficiently than other types of biochar. Evaporation was found to be minimal for plant-based W BAS at 10% biochar percentage. Higher biochar content in soil was seen to increase the water retention of BAS significantly. Dense state of BAS at high biochar content (i.e., 10%) was effective in reducing evaporation rate and crack progression.

     

Studies on pesticides based on coumarin. III. Synthesis and antifungal activity of substituted 4-methyl-coumarins and related compounds

A series of substituted 4-methylcoumarins was synthesised and the members tested for their toxicity towards mycelial growth of seven phytopathogenic fungi in culture. Rhizoctonia solani, Alternaria alternata and Fusarium solani exhibited maximum sensitivity to these compounds whereas Pythium aphanidermatum, Colletotrichum falcatum, Drechslera oryzae and Macrophomina phaseolina were relatively less sensitive. 6-Ethyl-3-n- propyl-7-hydroxy4-methylcoumarin ( I ) was relatively toxic towards all fungi except C. falcatum, P. aphanidermatum and M. phaseolina. The 6-n-butyl ( III ) and 6-(1, 1, 3, 3-tetramethylbutyl) ( VI ) derivatives were highly toxic to R. solani with EC₅₀, values of lμg ml^?1.     

Studies on pesticides based on coumarin. II. Synthesis and antifungal activity of ten 2-alkyl-7, 8-dihydro-3-hydroxynaphtho[1,2-c]chromen-6-ones

A series of 2-alkyl-7, 8-dihydro-3-hydroxynaphtho[1,2-c]chromen-6-ones was synthesised by the condensation of ethyl 3, 4-dihydro-1-oxonaphthalene-2-carboxylate with substituted phenols in the presence of POCl₃. The compounds were characterised and tested for their toxicity towards the mycelial growth of seven phytopathogenic fungi in culture. Drechslera oryzae, Rhizoctonia solani and Colletotrichum falcatum exhibited maximum sensitivity to these compounds whereas Macro-phomina phaseolina, Fusarium solani, Alternaria alternata and Pythium aphanidermatum were less sensitive. 2-Ethyl-7, 8-dihydro-3-hydroxy-naphtho[1,2-c]chromen-6-ones possessed greatest toxicity with EC₅₀ values ranging from 0.2 to 2.5 μg ml^?1 against all fungi except A. alternata and P. aphanidermatum.     

Pharmacokinetics of Enrofloxacin and Its Metabolite Ciprofloxacin after Intramuscular Administration of Enrofloxacin in Goats

The pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin and its active metabolite ciprofloxacin were investigated in goats after a single intramuscular administration of enrofloxacin at 2.5 mg/kg body weight. The plasma concentrations of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin were determined simultaneously by a HPLC method. The peak concentrations (C _max) of enrofloxacin (1.13 g/ml) and ciprofloxacin (0.24 g/ml) were observed at 0.8 and 1.2 h, respectively. The elimination half-life (t _1/2), volume of distribution (V _d(area)), total body clearance (Cl_B) and mean residence time (MRT) of enrofloxacin were 0.74 h, 1.42 L/kg, 1329 ml/h per kg and 1.54 h, respectively. The t _1/2, area under the plasma concentration–time curve (AUC) and the MRT of ciprofloxacin were 1.38 h, 0.74 g h/ml and 2.73 h, respectively. The metabolic conversion of enrofloxacin to ciprofloxacin was appreciable (36%) and the sum of the plasma concentrations of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin was maintained at or above 0.1 g/ml for up to 4 h. Enrofloxacin appears to be useful for the treatment of goat diseases associated with pathogens sensitive to this drug.     

Control of chlorophyll formation and sprouting of tubers by oil dipping in five potato cultivars of Pakistan

Five potato cultivars of autumn crop, dipped in corn oil, were observed for 90 days at room temperature under natural light. Chlorophyll formation took place in minute quantities in treated tubers of ‘Désirée’ and ‘Prima’, and a little more in ‘Primura’, ‘Montana’ and ‘Multa’, whereas all control tubers became completely green after 90 days. Sugars were significantly lower and starch higher in treated tubers than in controls. No sprout-development was observed in treated tubers of all cultivars, but 50–70% control tubers had sprouted during this period. Peeling-losses were minimum in treated tubers and were 67.5–85.4% in controls. The oil-dipped potato tubers of all cultivars could safely be stored for 60 days without quality deterioration under ordinary conditions of temperature and light.