Intercomparison of stack gas mercury measurement methods

The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have carried out joint tests for validation of EPA (Draft) Method 29 (“multi-metals method”) for measurement of mercury (Hg) and other selected metals in the stack gas of a coal-fired electric utility. The tests were performed according to the “analyte spiking” procedure of EPA Method 301 protocol for the field validation of stationary source emission measurements. Several other Hg measurement methods were also employed during the tests to provide a comparison to the Method 29 measurements; these included EPA Method 101A, the Hazardous Element Sampling Train (HEST), and two solid sorbent methods, one using activated charcoal and the other using iodated carbon traps in series with soda lime traps. Results indicate reasonably good agreement between the total Hg measurements by the different methods.     

Isozyme Analysis of Some Male Sterile Lines in Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench

A comparative study of peroxidase and acid phosphatase of anthers was carried out on sorghum to characterize five male steriles and their maímainers. Differences in presence/absence and intensity of bands were observed for the isozyme patterns of all the male steriles and their corresponding maintainers. The better expression of enzymes in sterile anthers emphasized the role they play in breaking down various metabolites that are otherwise important for formation of fertile anthers.     

Isolation and partial characterization of bacteriophages infecting Vibrio harveyi from shrimp farm effluent water

Bacteriophage isolated from the semi-intensive culture of Pacific white leg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei infects the luminous bacteria Vibrio harveyi. Lytic activity and lytic spectrum results revealed that the isolated phage had strong lytic activity in V. harveyi, V. parahaemolyticus, and V. vulnificus. Biofilm inhibition activity was performed against different pathogenic vibrios on high-density polyethylene (HDPE) template and the result revealed that the phage effectively inhibited the biofilm formation in V. harveyi. Spectrophotometric assay performed for lytic activity of the isolated phage in V. harveyi liquid culture showed that the phage significantly decreased the V. harveyi cell densities at different time intervals (P?<?0.05). To study the stability of phage at different temperature and pH revealed that the phage withstands the temperature ranged between 40 and 70 °C and the pH of 4 and 9 at a significant level (P?<?0.001). One-step growth curve depicted that the burst size gradually increased to a significant level and reached the maximum of 90% at 180 min (P?<?0.05). This study concluded that the isolated phage had specific activity against pathogenic V. harveyi infections.

     

Minor pregnanes from Caralluma adscendens var. gracilis and Caralluma pauciflora

Phytochemical investigation of Caralluma adscendens var. gracilis and Caralluma pauciflora (Asclepiadaceae) whole plant extracts allowed to isolate one pregnane glycoside and two pregnanes characterized as 12β,20-O-dibenzoyl-5α,6-dihydrosarcostin β-oleandropyranosyl-(1→4)-β-cymaropyranosyl-(1→4)-β-digitoxypyranosyl-(1→4)-β-cymaropyranosyl-(1→4)-β-cymaropyranoside (1), 12β-O-benzoyl-3β,11α,14β,20R-pentahydroxy-pregn-5-ene (2), and 11α-O-benzoyl-3β,12β,14β,20R-pentahydroxy-pregn-5-ene (3), respectively. Their structural characterization was obtained on the basis of extensive NMR spectral studies. Three known pregnane glycosides along with lupeol and β-sitosterol were also isolated and characterized.     

Chemo-biochemical Desulphurization of Various Gaseous Streams on Bench Scale

The gaseous streams containing hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) mixed with nitrogen gas (N₂) (H₂S, 0.00145 mol L^-1), H₂S mixed with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and refinery fuel gas were evaluated, in batch operation, in a bubbled column reactor for desulphurization using ferric sulphate as an oxidant. Further, the ferrous sulphate produced in the process of oxidation is biologically oxidized to ferric sulphate using biomass enriched with Thiobacillus ferrooxidans-JSPR1 in flask culture experiments. In all the cases, the gases were bubbled into the biologically generated ferric sulphate (from ferrous sulphate solution) for the oxidation of H₂S. The results indicate that0.00426 mol L^-1 of ferric ions are required for reacting with0.00145 mol L^-1 of H₂S in a gaseous stream containing mixture of N₂ and H₂S. A concentration of 0.00447 mol L^-1 of ferric ions is needed for oxidation of 0.00145 mol L^-1 of H₂S mixed with LPG. Similarly, the refinery fuel gas containing 0.0031 mol L^-1 of H₂S requires 0.00428 mol L^-1 of ferric ion for effective desulphurization. The ratio of moles of H₂S reacted to moles of Fe²⁺ produced at optimal condition was 0.533, 0.516, 0.510, respectively, for nitrogen mixed H₂S, LPG mixed H₂S and refinery fuel gas containing H₂S. The removal of H₂S from these gaseous streams was more than 98%sulphate produced in the process could be biologically oxidized to ferric sulphate with an efficiency of 98%, using shake flask culture experiments. Based on flask culture experiments for biooxidation of commercial ferrous sulphate to generate ferric sulphate, the biokinetic constants viz. yield coefficient y, maximum specific growth rate constant μ_max and half saturation rate constant K _s were evaluated. The yield coefficient was found to be 0.112 while μ_max and K _s were observed to be 0.1686 hr^-1 and 187.9 mg L^-1, respectively. The evaluation of biokinetic constants for bio-oxidation of ferrous sulphate generated during the scrubbing of refinery fuel gas containing H₂S indicated the value of μ_max and K _s as 0.1426 hr^-1 and 205 mg L^-1, respectively. The value of yield coefficient in this real system was found to be 0.102.     

Genetic analysis of persistency in HF crossbred cattle at an organized farm of northern India

The present study was undertaken to estimate effect of various genetic and non-genetic factors on persistency of milk production and to identify the most appropriate persistency method that fits best in our environment. In the present study, effects of different non-genetic factors, viz. year, season, days to attain peak yield, and genetic group based on the level of exotic inheritance on persistency of milk yield in crossbred cattle were studied. Data comprised of 686 first lactation daily milk yield records of crossbred cattle that were maintained at GADVASU dairy farm over a period of 25 years from 1991 to 2015 were utilized to calculate persistency coefficients by four methods, viz., Ludwick and Peterson method (P1), Mahadevan method (P2), ratio method (P3), and Prasad et al. method (P4). Overall least squares means for persistency by Ludwick and Peterson method (P1), Mahadevan method (P2), ratio method (P3), and Prasad et al. method (P4) were 0.896?±?0.096, 1.385?±?0.224, 187.207?±?26.398, and 0.621?±?0.098, respectively. Effect of sires was significant (P?<?0.05) on P2 and P4 methods. Effect of genetic group on all four methods was non-significant. Period of calving had significant (P?<?0.01) effect on persistency of milk yield (P2, P3, and P4 methods). Effect of season of calving on persistency of milk yield was found to be significant in all estimates obtained by the four methods. Summer and autumn calvers were most persistent whereas spring and winter calvers were least persistent for (P2, P3, and P4 methods). Persistency of milk yield was significantly (P?<?0.05) affected by days to attain peak yield in P1 and P2 methods. Maximum persistency was obtained in animals attaining peak at 41–57 days of lactation and minimum in <?41 days for Mahadevan method and ratio method. The highest heritability of persistency and minimum value of standard error was estimated as 0.275?±?0.11 for the Mahadevan method followed by the Prasad method (0.197?±?0.10) by half sib correlation method. The maximum coefficient of variation which indicates available variability was estimated as 20.788% for persistency by the Mahadevan method followed by 18.969% for the Prasad method. The highest correlation was also observed between P1 and P3 methods by Spearman’s and Pearson’s correlation for least squares breeding value of the sires. On the basis of heritability, standard error of heritability, and coefficient of variation, it can be concluded that the Mahadevan method followed by the Prasad method suits best to our environment for animals in first lactation as well as they can be utilized for effective selection for higher persistency in crossbred animals of Punjab.     

In vitro regeneration and Agrobacterium mediated transformation in gladiolus

Summary

In vitro regeneration and transformation studies were conducted on two cultivars of gladiolus. Cormels of 1.0 to 1.5 cm diameter cut into 2–3 mm thick slices of top, middle and bottom, and in vitro derived bisected shoot tips were used as explants on MS medium supplemented with 18.6 μM kinetin for multiple shoot induction. Amongst the cormel slices, the top slice gave better shoot induction response of 89% with an average of 2.4 shoots per explant over both cultivars. In vitro derived bisected shoot tips were inoculated on the medium oriented cut-side up, cut-side down and vertically both with and without the cormel base attached. Bisected shoot tips without attached cormel base and inoculated in the cut-side down orientation showed an average of 90% shooting response. In vitro derived shoot tips were used as explants for transformation. Explants were wounded by scalpel and particle bombardment with 1.6 μm naked gold particles by the biolistic delivery system. The wounded explants, after 3 d of recovery period, were co-cultivated with Agrobacterium strain LBA4404 harbouring the binary vectors pBI141 and pTOK233 which contained gus reporter gene with rice actin and 35S promoters respectively. GUS expression frequencies of 5.3% and 23% was obtained from scalpel and particle bombardment wounded explants, respectively. Particle wounded explants showed an average of 63 and 103 GUS spots when co-cultivated with pBI141 and pTOK233 binary vectors respectively. Explants co-cultivated with pBI141, after three weeks of selection on antibiotic containing medium showed blue streaks of GUS expression. It was concluded that Agrobacterium could infect the monocot gladiolus and transform the tissue eficiently when tissues were prewounded with naked gold particles delivered by particle gun.     

Biotechnology initiative to achieve plant pest and disease resistance

Biotechnology applications are primarily proprietary, with 70% of the annual global research expenditures of US$11 × 10⁹ being in the private sector. The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA) addresses this challenge by building a new partnership of three donor groups (bilateral/multilateral agencies, private philanthropic foundations, and private companies) to support a not-for-profit institution within existing centres of excellence (Cornell University in North America, John Innes Centre in Europe, Technova in the Asian Pacific Rim, and three additional locations to be established in developing countries). Brokered projects involve only near-term technologies with a high probability of success, using tissue culture/micropropagation, disease diagnostics and transgenic plants. The main targets for transgenic plants are coat protein-mediated protection for non-conventional virus resistance (NCVR) and insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt); both NCVR and Bt can contribute to integrated pest management strategies using reduced inputs for chemical control of insects. Four ISAAA projects demonstrate the potential of NCVR and Bt in developing countries: (1) potato resistant to potato viruses X and Y with Mexico/Monsanto/Rockefeller Foundation, (2) melon resistant to cucumber mosaic virus with Costa Rica/Asgrow Seed/USAID and the ISAAA Fellowship Program, (3) papaya resistant to papaya ringspot virus with Brazil and other countries/Cornell University/Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA), and (4) cotton resistant to Lepidoptera with Brazil/EMBRAPA. Although over 1000 field trials of transgenic plants have taken place worldwide, those experiments have been mostly small scale and do not provide sufficient data to assess either the durability of resistance achieved with genetic engineering or conclusive public acceptance of this technology. However, resistance management modelling is speculative and can not decisively indicate a deployment strategy in the absence of continued monitoring and experimentation. ISAAA's projects should allow opportunities for assessment of resistance management practices for applied plant biotechnology to control agricultural pests under diverse production systems.     

Allelopathic Potential of Shoot and Root Leachates of Certain Weed Species

The allelopathic potential of shoot and root leachates of seven weed species was assessed using sorghum and blackgram as test crops. Weeds differed significantly among themselves in their allelopathic effect. Shoot leachates of weeds, in general, showed more allelopathic effect than their root leachates. Phenolic content of weed leachates has positive association with the allelopathic potential of the weed species.