Application of Box-Behnken Design for Optimization of Different Pretreatment Conditions for Cellulase Production

Effects of dilute acid and acid steam pretreatments were inspected for cellulose production of Eucalyptus leaves through Box-Behenken design,a three variable factors for response surface methodology by Bacillus subtilus K~(-1)8.Maximum cellulose production performed in 250 mL erlenmeyer flask with submerged fermentation attained at 50℃,p H 5,140 r·min~(-1) for 24 h.Results showed the efficient cellulose production from acid steam pretreatment(being autoclaved at 15 Psi for 15 min)than acid pretreatment.The optimum condition for maximum carboxymethyl cellulas(CMCase)was 1.811 IU·mL~(-1)·min~(-1)(0.8%acid conc.,10 g biomass loading,6 h reaction time)and filter paper activity(FPase)was 2.255 IU·mL~(-1)·min~(-1)(1%acid conc.,10 g biomass loading,8 h reaction time).Whereas,the acid steam maximum CMCase activity recorded was 2.585 IU·mL~(-1)·min~(-1)(0.8%acid conc.,15 g substrate loading and 8 h reaction time)and the highest FPase activity was 2.055 IU·mL~(-1)·min~(-1)(0.8%conc.,10 g biomass,6 h reaction time then autoclaved).Results revealed that acid pretreated Eucalyptus leaves were better lignocellulosic biomass for cellulose production by submerged fermentation.     

Evaluation of state and community/private forests in Punjab,Pakistan using geospatial data and related techniques

Background: Forests are fundamental in maintaining water supplies, providing economic goods, mitigating climate change, and maintaining biodiversity, thus providing many of the world’s poorest with income, food and medicine.Too often, forested lands are treated as "wastelands" or "free" and are easily cleared for agricultural and infrastructure expansion.Methods: In this paper, the sustainability of two forest ecosystems(state and community/private owned) was evaluated using SPOT-5 satellite images of 2005 and 2011. This study was conducted in a sub-watershed area covering 468 km2, of which 201 km2 is managed by the state and 267 km2 by community/private ownership in the Murree Galliat region of Punjab Province of Pakistan. A participatory approach was adopted for the delineation and demarcation of forest boundaries. The Geographic Object-Based Image Analysis(GEOBIA) technique was used for identification and mapping of ten Land Cover(LC) features.Results: The results show that between the years 2005 to 2011, a total of 55 km2(24 km2 in state-owned forest and 31km2 in community/private forest) was converted from forest to non-forest. The conclusion is that conservation is more effective in state-owned forests than in the community/private forests.Conclusions: These findings may help to mobilize community awareness and identify effective initiatives for improved management of community/private forest land for other regions of Pakistan.     

INOCULATION EFFECTS OF PANTOEA AGGLOMERANS STRAINS ON GROWTH AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF PLUM

In this study, five non-pathogenic Pantoea agglomerans strains were utilized. The objective of this study was to test for biochemical characteristics of these strains, and to evaluate their inoculation effects on fruit set rate, fruit pomological traits, fruit chemical compositions and some vegetative parameters of plum cultivar ‘Stanley’. The results showed that some of the tested strains had beneficial effects on the fruit set rate, fruit pomological traits, fruit chemical composition and/or some vegetative growth parameters of plum in comparison to the control. In conclusion, tested Pantoea agglomerans strains (especially RK-85) are the suitable inoculants for plum cultivation in cold areas such as Erzurum, and these strains may be considered as biofertilizer and protector sensitive plants against frost damage by applying in suitable timing and dose.     

Synthesis and characterization of zinc-coated urea fertilizer

The research was focused on the synthesis and characterization of zinc (Zn)-coated urea fertilizer. Zinc oxide (ZnO) particles were coated on urea granules through two different coating techniques, i.e., slurry coating and wet coating, and the release rate of the coated Zn was measured up to 24 hours. Slurry coating technique showed better Zn release rate and morphology of coated urea granules as compared with wet coating technique using different binders, i.e., water, molasses, paraffin oil, and the combined mixture of honey bee wax and gum arabica. Urea granules synthesized through wet coating technique have a low amount of Zn as compared with slurry-coated urea granules. Urea granules coated through slurry coating technique and molasses, paraffin oil, and water (MPW) as a binder were the best in term of coating efficiency, uniform size distribution of ZnO-coated particles, granule's morphology, and release rate of Zn from coated formulations.     

2-Keto-4-methylthiobutyric acid-dependent biosynthesis of ethylene in soil

2-Keto-4-methylthiobutyric acid (KMBA) has been identified as an intermediate in methionine-derived ethylene (C₂H₄) biosynthesis by microbial cultures. This study was designed to assess the effectiveness of KMBA as an C₂H₄ precursor in soil. Gas chromatographic analysis indicated that amendment with KMBA (up to 10 mM) stimulated the biosynthesis of C₂H₄ in two Pakistani soils. Results also revealed that substrate- (KMBA)-dependent C₂H₄ production was inhibited when the soils were amended either with glucose (as a C source), NH₄NO₃ (N source) or antibiotics. The KMBA-derived C₂H₄ biosynthesis in both soils was maximum when the soil suspension was amended with 10 mM substrate and incubated at pH 7.5 for a period of 120 h at 35°C with shaking. Comparison of soils revealed that C₂H₄ production was relatively greater in a silty clay loam S₁ (containing 1.15% organic C) soil compared to a loamy S₂ (containing 0.54% organic C) soil. KMBA was found to be an equally effective substrate of C₂H₄ when compared with another intermediate, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), whereas, f-ketglutaric acid failed to serve as an C₂H₄ substrate in soil. As far as we know, this is the first study reporting KMBA-dependent C₂H₄ production in soil.     

Mitigation of salinity stress in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings through physiological seed enhancements

Salinity stress can be mitigated by using the physiological seed enhancements. Kharchia 65 (salt tolerant) and PI.94341 (salt sensitive) genotypes were evaluated under salt stress (20 dS/m) by various priming treatments, that is hydropriming and halopriming (50?mmol, KCl and NaCl) in a pot study. Experiment was conducted in completely randomized design under factorial arrangements with three replications. Priming agents improved the final emergence percentage (FEP), emergence index (EI) and reduced the mean emergence time of both wheat genotypes under normal and saline conditions as compared to non-primed seed. Priming treatments elicited the efficiency of wheat seedlings by increasing both Fv/Fm and Ft under both normal and salt stress conditions which were strongly linked with low Na⁺ and high K⁺. In conclusion, all three priming agents effectively nullified the deleterious effects of salt stress by improving seed emergence and triggering the physiological attributes of wheat.     

Physical and chemical characterization of Ceratonia siliqua L. germplasm in Turkey

Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) is natively grown in the coastal areas of the Aegean and Mediterranean region in Turkey. The main carob growing areas (Mediterranean and Aegean) were surveyed and a total 70 promising wild and grafted carob genotypes were selected based on physical and chemical pod properties. Preliminary results showed that Turkey has very rich carob genetic resources containing considerable variations for most of the pod traits. In general, wild carob had smaller pods than the grafted ones. Pod mass ranged from 29.16 g to 120.28 g in the wild genotypes and 71.71 g to 147.91 g in the grafted genotypes with an average 107.61 g for the grafted and 63.72 g for the wild genotypes. The average pod dimensions (width, length and thickness) were 18.16 mm, 16.18 cm and 6.42 mm for the wild genotypes and 21.79 mm, 16.91 cm and 8.79 mm for the grafted genotypes. The average soluble solid content ranged from 59.42% in the wild and 64.06% in the grafted genotypes. The average total acidity of the wild and grafted genotypes was similar (0.78%). The pod traits of the wild genotypes differ significantly from those of the grafted genotypes, and the wild genotypes showed higher variations in these traits compared to the grafted genotypes.     

Biological and biochemical characteristics of male reproductive system,serum metabolites and carcass quality of Japanese quails by the supplementation of Pinus ponderosa leaves and α‐tocopherol acetate

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation of Pinus ponderosa leaves ( pine leaves) and α‐tocopherol acetate (vitamin E) powder on male reproductive system, serum metabolites and carcass characteristics of Japanese quails. A total of 360‐day‐old male quails were purchased from the open market and kept at poultry shed for ninety‐four days. After ten days of adaptation, all quails were randomly assigned into 4 groups, control (IC); supplemented with α‐tocopherol acetate (IE) at the rate of 150 mg/L; Pinus ponderosa leaves (IP) at the rate of 150 mg/L; and 70 mg α‐tocopherol acetate and 70 mg Pinus ponderosa leaves (IEP). Pinus ponderosa leaves and α‐tocopherol acetate supplementation had not significantly (p > .05) effected on final body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio of quails. The high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) and total cholesterol (TC) were significantly (p > .05) affected by IE and IP groups as compared to IC and IEP groups. Triglyceride (TG), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) significantly (p < .05) increased in all treatment groups except for the IC group. Aspartate transaminase (AST) significantly (p > .05) decreased in treatment groups as compared to control group. Overall, the mineral levels significantly (p < .05) increased in treatment groups as compared to control. Cloacal gland index values, the quantity of foam production and testis weight were significantly (p < .05) increased in treatment groups. It was concluded that the supplementation of Pinus ponderosa leaves and α‐tocopherol acetate improved the testis weight, foam production, serum antioxidant enzymes and mineral level especially zinc in Japanese quail considered an indicative characteristic of higher sperm production rate and improved sexual activity. Further, higher gametogenesis rate, sperm production or reproductive behaviour including different hormonal level will be analysed in future study.