Leeching in the history--a review

Leeching has enjoyed a good reputation in the past where it had been used in various ailments from fevers to flatulence. The present day scientists have limited its role and the leeching nowadays is being used only in microsurgeries to relieve the venous congestion. This study was designed to explore the possibility of revival of the leech therapy (leeching) which is still being used traditionally as therapeutic agent in various ailments. Leeching is not the outcome of the medieval period but has been in use during the times when there was no concept of the disease and medicament. The earliest clearly documented record of leeches being used for remedial purpose appears in a painting in an Egyptian Tomb of around 1500 BC. The journey of the leech therapy reached its zenith in 17th and 18th century AD in Europe while as during the Arab era the leeches were used medicinally but only for the bloodletting. During the 17th and 18th century AD there was shortage of leeches in certain European countries due to its rigorous use. During early 20th century AD when germ theory was put forward and medical fraternity believed that every disease has its origin from germs and the era of antibacterial therapy gained a pace, the leech therapy was considered the myth of the past. It was in 1970's that the leech therapy was revived by only limited to the microsurgeries to relieve venous congestions. During the 21st century there were certain studies when the leeches were tried in certain ailments like arthritis etc. and the Food and Drug Authority of USA (FDA) gave permission for sale and use of leeches in USA but limited its use in microsurgeries and plastic surgeries only. The aim of this study was to explore different diseases where the role of leech therapy can be seen and clinical trials can be started in this direction. Although the researchers in Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine, Srinagar, Kashmir, India working under the aegis of Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine started the clinical trials for leech therapy in frost bite way back in 1999, but there are certain unexplored areas where leech therapy can prove beneficial and need is to take up the studies on other disease on larger sample size.     

Plant analysis diagnostic indices for boron nutrition of mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) cultivars grown in a rainfed calcareous soil

Boron requirement of mungbean was assessed from yield response curves based on field experiment during 2010-11. Four cultivars, i.e., NM-11, NM-2006, Chakwal Mung-2006 and AZRI Mung-2006 were grown in a boron (B)-deficient calcareous soil by applying B at 0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 kg ha^?I. Boron application significantly increased grain yield and B uptake by all the mungbean cultivars over control. Maximum grain yield increases were: cv. NM-11, 20%; cv. NM-2006, 24%; cv. Chakwal Mung-2006, 26%; and cv. AZRI Mung-2006, 28%. The cultivars varied in B efficiency and cv. NM-11 was most B efficient (83%) while cv. AZRI Mung-2006 was the least B efficient (78%). Fertilizer B requirement (kg ha^?1) for 95% of the maximum grain yield was: 0.60 for cv. AZRI Mung-2006, 0.70 for cv. Chakwal Mung-2006, 0.75 for cv. NM-2006, and 0.85 for cv. NM-11. Plant tissue critical B concentration in leaves was higher than in seeds.     

Zinc Nutrition of Onion: Proposed Diagnostic Criteria

ABSTRACT

Zinc (Zn) deficiency is a global nutritional problem in crops grown in calcareous soils. However, plant analysis criteria, a good tool for interpreting crop Zn requirement, is scarcely reported in literature for onion (Allium cepa L.). In a greenhouse experiment, Zn requirement, critical concentrations in diagnostic parts and genotypic variation were assessed using four onion cultivars (‘Swat-1’, ‘Phulkara,’ ‘Sariab Red,’ and ‘Chilton-89’) grown in a Zn-deficient (AB-DTPA extractable, 0.44 Zn mg kg^?1), calcareous soil of Gujranwala series (Typic Hapludalf). Five rates of Zn, ranging from 0 to 16 mg Zn kg^?1 soil, were applied as zinc sulphate (ZnSO₄·7H₂O) along with adequate basal fertilization of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and boron (B). Four onion seedlings were transplanted in each pot. Whole shoots of two plants and recently matured leaves of other two plants were sampled. Zinc application significantly increased dry bulb yield and maximum yield was produced with 8 mg Zn kg^?1. Application of higher rates did not improve yield further. The cultivars differed significantly in Zn efficiency and cv. ‘Swat-1’ was most Zn-efficient. Fertilizer requirement for near-maximum dry bulb yield was 2.5 mg Zn kg^?1. Plant tissue critical Zn concentrations were 30 mg kg^?1 in young whole shoots, 25 mg kg^?1 in matured leaves, 16 mg kg^?1 in tops and 14 mg Zn kg^?1 in bulb. Zinc content in mature bulb also appeared to be a good indicator of soil Zn availability status.     

NUTRIENT BALANCES AS AFFECTED BY INTEGRATED NUTRIENT AND CROP RESIDUE MANAGEMENT IN COTTON-WHEAT SYSTEM IN ARIDISOLS. II. PHOSPHORUS

Impact of integrated nutrient and crop residue management on crop productivity, phosphorus (P) uptake and apparent P balances was investigated in a 5-year field experiment on two calcareous soils, i.e., Awagat (coarse loamy) and Shahpur (fine silty) in cotton-wheat sequence. Minimum mean P uptake (kg ha^?1) by cotton with Farmers’ Fertilizer Use (FFU) treatment was 8.89 in Awagat and 11.54 in Shahpur soil. Corresponding maximum mean P uptake was 15.30 and 17.01 kg ha^?1 with Integrated Nutrient Management (INM), respectively. Nutrient treatments effect on P uptake by wheat was similar to cotton. Phosphorus uptake was further enhanced by crop residue recycling. Phosphorus uptake trend by cotton was negative under FFU without residue recycling and was positive with residue recycling. While P uptake trends were positive under all other treatments. INM yielded positive apparent P balances (kg ha^?1) of 56–306 in Awagat and 24–288 in Shahpur soil.     

In situ immobilization of Cr and its availability to maize plants in tannery waste–contaminated soil: effects of biochar feedstock and pyrolysis temperature

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Tannery waste–contaminated soil has a high amount of several toxic chemicals and heavy metals including chromium (Cr), which makes it unsuitable for...     

Antiproliferative and Antimicrobial Potentials of a Lectin from Aplysia kurodai (Sea Hare) Eggs

In recent years, there has been considerable interest in lectins from marine invertebrates. In this study, the biological activities of a lectin protein isolated from the eggs of Sea hare (Aplysia kurodai) were evaluated. The 40 kDa Aplysia kurodai egg lectin (or AKL-40) binds to D-galacturonic acid and D-galactose sugars similar to previously purified isotypes with various molecular weights (32/30 and 16 kDa). The N-terminal sequence of AKL-40 was similar to other sea hare egg lectins. The lectin was shown to be moderately toxic to brine shrimp nauplii, with an LC₅₀ value of 63.63 µg/mL. It agglutinated Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells and reduced their growth, up to 58.3% in vivo when injected into Swiss albino mice at a rate of 2 mg/kg/day. The morphology of these cells apparently changed due to AKL-40, while the expression of apoptosis-related genes (p53, Bax, and Bcl-XL) suggested a possible apoptotic pathway of cell death. AKL-40 also inhibited the growth of human erythroleukemia cells, probably via activating the MAPK/ERK pathway, but did not affect human B-lymphoma cells (Raji) or rat basophilic leukemia cells (RBL-1). In vitro, lectin suppressed the growth of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma and U937 cells by 37.9% and 31.8%, respectively. Along with strong antifungal activity against Talaromyces verruculosus, AKL showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella sonnei, and Bacillus cereus whereas the growth of Escherichia coli was not affected by the lectin. This study explores the antiproliferative and antimicrobial potentials of AKL as well as its involvement in embryo defense of sea hare.     

In vitro and in vivo toxicity of nano chitosan against Curvularia lunata,the causal microorganism of fruit rot and blight,a new disease of olive (O. europaea L.)

During 2019, fruit blight and rot symptoms were observed on olive (O. europaea L.) fruits on trees grown in the Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Sohag University, Egypt. Fungal isolates recovered from symptomatic fruits were identified as Curvularia lunata (Walker) Boedijn (two isolates) and A. alternata (Fr.) Keissl. (one isolate). Koch’s postulates were fulfilled by a pathogenicity test conducted in vitro on olive fruits wounded before inoculation with fungal isolates and incubation at 25?±?0.2 °C in a moist chamber for a week. During incubation, we observed the development of blight and rot symptoms on fruits inoculated with both isolates of C. lunata, similar to the natural symptoms described. Conversely, A. alternata was nonpathogenic to olive fruits. PCR amplification using the specific P1 and P2 primers to C. lunata based on the Clg2p Ras protein gene sequences resulted in approx. 870 base pairs for all DNA of C. lunata analyzed, confirming the identification of C. lunata. In vitro, both chitosan nano and non-nano scale effectively inhibited mycelial growth by reducing linear mycelium and biomass and sporulation of C. lunata. In vivo, chitosan nanoscale at 2.0 mg mL^?1 greatly reduced the infection and the lesion diameter of C. lunata inoculated fruits after a week and effectively induced defense-related enzyme activity of PO, PPO, and PAL. This report is the first recording of fruit blight and rots on olive caused by C. lunata, as a new disease. Also, we report the in vitro and vivo toxicity of nanoparticles of chitosan as a natural elicitor, effectively inducing defense-related enzymes against C. lunata.

     

NUTRIENT BALANCES AS AFFECTED BY INTEGRATED NUTRIENT AND CROP RESIDUE MANAGEMENT IN COTTON-WHEAT SYSTEM IN ARIDISOLS. I. NITROGEN

A five-year cotton–wheat rotation field experiment was conducted on two alkaline-calcareous soils, i.e., Awagat (coarse loamy) and Shahpur (fine silty), to investigate the impact of integrated nutrient and crop residue management on soil and crop productivity. Apparent nitrogen (N) balances were developed. Minimum five-year mean yield (Mg ha^?1), obtained with Farmers’ Fertilizer Use (FFU) treatment was: cotton – Awagat, 2.19; Shahpur, 2.45; wheat – Awagat, 3.03; Shahpur, 3.94. With Balance Nutrient Management (BNM), yields increased (P ≤ 0.05) for cotton, 24% in Awagat and 18% in Shahpur soil; and wheat, 37% in Awagat and 24% in Shahpur soil. Maximum crop yields were obtained with Integrated Nutrient Management (INM), i.e., 3–5% higher than with BNM. Crop residue recycling increased the yields further, cotton by 2?7% and wheat by 2–10%. All nutrient management treatments, except for FFU without crop residue recycling, resulted in positive apparent N balances. INM improved SOM and NO₃-N, contents.     

Impact of urea and farm yard manure on nitrate concentration in soil profile and productivity of wheat crop

Abstract

During the last century, concerns about nitrate presence in the groundwater have tremendously increased worldwide, mainly because of its detrimental consequences on environment and human health. There are different factors contributing their past in nitrate pollution, farm manure is given due consideration. Knowing above facts, a field study was performed to check the effect of different farm yard manure (FYM) levels with urea on nitrate distribution in the soil profile and yield of wheat crop. The experiment was set out in a randomized complete block design, consisted of application of nitrogen at 125?kg ha^?1 from urea, 80?kg ha^?1 of N from urea +10 tons FYM ha^?1 and 20 tons FYM ha^?1 with three replications. Wheat (cultivar S7ehar-2006) was sown as test crop. Soil samples were examined to measure the nitrate concentration from four different depths (0–25, 25–50, 50–75, and 75–100?cm) after harvesting. Results showed that the straw yield, total biomass, spike length, and number of grains per spike and 1000-grain weight were significantly influenced by fertilizer strategies. All manure treatments significantly affected the infiltration rate and concentration of nitrate at different depths of the soil profile. Farm yard manure showed greater nitrate concentration up to 50?cm depth as compared to alone urea and combined application, while at the depth of 100?cm, combined application of urea and FYM showed a minimum concentration of nitrates than alone application of either urea or FYM.     

Enhancement of maize plant growth with inoculation of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria and biochar amendment in soil

Maize plant has an absolute requirement of nutrients (N, P, and K) for growth and development. The microbial application can facilitate in addressing limited access to chemical fertilizer concern. Moreover, biochar and phosphorus-solubilizing bacterial (PSB) community can contribute together in nutrient availability. Both have the P-supply potential to the soil, but their interaction has been tested less under semiarid climatic conditions. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the potential of biochemically tested promising PSB strains and biochar for maize plant growth and nutritional status in plant and soil. Therefore, two isolated PSB strains from maize rhizosphere were biochemically tested in vitro and identified by 16S rDNA gene analysis. The experiment was conducted in the greenhouse where the plant growth and nutrient availability to the plants were observed. In this regard, all the treatments such as PSB strain-inoculated plants, biochar-treated plants, and a combination of PSBs + biochar-treated plants were destructively sampled on day 45 (D₄₅) and day 65 (D₆₅) of sowing with four replications at each time. PSB inoculation, biochar incorporation, and their combinations have positive effects on maize plant height and nutrient concentration on D₄₅ and D₆₅. In particular, plants treated with sawdust biochar + Lysinibacillus fusiformis strain 31MZR inoculation increased N (32.8%), P (72.5%), and K (42.1%) against control on D₆₅. Besides that, only L. fusiformis strain 31MZR inoculation enhanced N (23.1%) and P (61.5%) than control which shows the significant interaction of PSB and biochar in nutrient uptake. PSB and biochar have the potential to be used as a promising amendment in improving plant growth and nutrient absorption besides the conventional approaches.