Mercuric chloride induced alterations in the intestinal transport of glucose and fructose in the fresh water murrel Channa punctatus

The effect of five concentrations of mercuric chloride (10 mM, 5 mM, 1 mM, 0.5 mM, and 0.l mM) on the uptake of glucose and fructose from the intestine of the fresh water murrel Channa punctatus after 15, 30 and 60 min was studied. Intestinal glucose and fructose transport was also assessed in fish exposed to a sublethal concentration (3 μg l^?1) of mercuric chloride for 10 and 30 days. The results show that the uptake of glucose and fructose from the intestine was reduced by all five concentrations of mercuric chloride. Maximum reduction was observed after 60 min of exposure to 10 mM mercuric chloride. The rate of absorption of glucose and fructose increased with time in controls and in all concentrations of mercury except the highest concentration (10 mM) where the rate of absorption decreased gradually. The reduction in the rate of absorption of the two sugars was not dependent on the concentration of mercury in the instilled medium. In fish exposed to mercuric chloride in laboratory media, the reduction of glucose and fructose absorption was greater after 30 days of exposure than after 10 days.     

Effects of SO2 exposure on carbohydrate contents,phytomass and caloric values of wheat plants

This paper reports the results of wheat plants exposed to SO₂. The SO₂-treated and control plant samples were periodically analyzed with respect to their carbohydrate content, caloric values, phytomass accumulations and net primary productivity. An initial increase, but later decrease in all these parameters was recorded in SO₂-treated plants. These effects in wheat plants have been interpreted in terms of energy budget of plants under SO₂-stress condition.     

Process for isolation of cardanol from technical cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) nut shell liquid

Commercially available technical cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) nut shell liquid (CNSL) contains mainly cardanol (decarboxylated anacardic acid) and cardol. Cardanol, the monophenolic component of technical CNSL, is widely used as a synthon for the preparation of a number of polymers and agricultural products. This paper describes the separation of cardanol from toxic cardol. Technical CNSL was dissolved in a mixture of methanol and ammonium hydroxide (8:5) and extracted with hexane to obtain cardanol. The resultant methanolic ammonia layer was extracted with a mixture of ethyl acetate and hexane to yield cardol. This is the first industrially feasible process based on solvent extractions for the isolation of cardanol from technical CNSL.     

Distribution pattern and conservation of threatened medicinal and aromatic plants of Central Himalaya,India

A study was conducted to examine the distribution pattern of four rhizomatous medicinal and aromatic plant species (MAPs) viz., Angelica glauca, Pleurospermum angelicoides, Rheum emodi and Arne- bia benthamii in different forest stands in Central Himalaya. Results show that A. glauca and P. angelicoides had a higher (50%) frequency at Chipkoan, Garpak and Phagati forest, R. emodi had a higher (60%) frequency at Rishikund, Suki and Himtoli, and A. benthamii had a higher (70%) frequency at Suki and Khambdhar The densities of A. glauca (0.6 plants·m -2 ) and P. angelicoides (0.5 plants·m -2 ) were higher at Chipkoan and Garpak sites than at other micro-sites, while densities of R. emodi (0.8 plants·m -2 ) and A. benthamii (1.0 plants·m -2 ) were higher at Suki and Khambdhar sites. A. glauca had highest total basal covers (TBC) (1.2 cm 2 ·m -2 ) at Chipkoan, P. angelicoides had highest TBC (0.92 cm 2 ·m -2) at Lati kharak site, A. benthamii had the highest TBC (6.48 cm 2 ·m -2 ) atKhambdhar, and R. emodi had highest TBC (4.53 cm 2 ·m -2 ) at Rishikund. For the four studied species, A. glauca showed a contagious distribution, P. angelicoides and R. emodi showed the random and A. benthamii showed the regular type of distribution.     

A Suitable Site for in situ (On-farm) Management of Plant Diversity in Traditional Agroecosystems of Western Himalaya in Uttaranchal State: A Case Study

There is a growing realisation world over that the introduction of modern agriculture has to be supplemented with measures to conserve biodiversity in situ if yield gains are to be stabilized. Hence, there is a growing interest from agricultural development specialists and conservation biologists for understanding the socioeconomic factors determining the conservation of biodiversity in situ. The present study was conducted with the objective of understanding the in situ (on-farm) conservation of agrobiodiversity in traditional agroecosystems taking the Urgam valley in north-western Himalaya of India, as a case study. An inventory was made of traditional crops and wild economic species for subsistence, and the structure of forest resource base, traditional knowledge related to resource management and use. Institutional and scientific challenges for in situ (on-farm) management of crop diversity were studied and are discussed in this paper. Complementarity of in situ (on-farm) conservation with ex situ conservation together with crop improvement in such marginal areas are suggested.     

Geomorphology, pedology and sedimentology of the Deoha/Ganga–Ghaghara Interfluve, Upper Gangetic Plains (Himalayan Foreland Basin) — Extensional tectonic implications

Regional mapping of soils helped to identify and map 24 soil-geomorphic units on the Deoha/Ganga–Ghaghara Interfluve in the Upper Gangetic Plains (Himalayan Foreland Basin). On the basis of luminescence ages soil-geomorphic units can be grouped into five members of a Morphostratigraphic Sequence with ages of ≤ 1.7 ka, 1.8–3.6 ka, 4.6–6.4 ka, 6.8–10 ka and > 10 ka. Except for two units with sandy parent material, all the members with loamy parent materials show systematic increase in the degree of soil development from Member QGMS-I to V. Major pedogenic processes are salinization, alkalinization, illuviation, calcrete development and gleying, and degradation of some micromorphological features is observed in the oldest soils.Regional mapping and dating of soils show that the Interfluve between the Deoha/Ganga–Ghaghara rivers is bounded by longitudinal faults, along the bounding rivers. The major longitudinal faults trend N–S or NNE–SSW in the northern region; turn N–S in the central region and take easterly to SEE direction in the south, giving the Interfluve a curvilinear shape. Strike of a set of six transverse extensional normal faults changes from approximately E–W to NEE–SWW in the southernmost region of the Interfluve. Downthrown sides are to the south and to the east in northern region and western region, respectively.Due to the activity of different segments of various transverse faults during a probably dry sub-humid to semi-arid climatic period of 10–5 ka, terminal fans were deposited on the downthrown blocks. Thus, role of extensional tectonics in an overall compressional regime is significant. Also, tilting of smaller blocks leading to the shifting away of large rivers seems to be an additional control on the distribution of soils and sedimentation on the Interfluve.     

Molecular phylogenetics and systematics of Trigonella L. (Fabaceae) based on nuclear ribosomal ITS and chloroplast trnL intron sequences

The genus Trigonella includes the widely cultivated T. foenum-graecum and a number of other medicinal and aromatic plant species distributed around the Mediterranean region. Sectional delimitation of Trigonella species is still based on morphology and interspecific relationships within the genus are not yet sufficiently resolved. Phylogenetic relationships in 22 species representing 11 of the 12 sections recognized within the genus Trigonella were analyzed using nuclear ITS and plastid trnL-F DNA sequences. Within nuclear ITS region, ITS-II was found to evolve faster compared to ITS-I. Maximal phylogenetic resolution and support was obtained in the combined analysis of the two selected regions. Trees resulting from maximum parsimony as well as Bayesian inference of combined data provided evidence for Trigonella being monophyletic with high support but did not agree with the traditional subgeneric division. Phylogenetic reconstructions indicated three major lineages supported by apomorphies in inflorescence and stipule. The phylogram supported the sectional delimitation of sections Cylindricae, Vérae, Samaroideae, Pectinatae, Erosae and Callicerates. There is strong support to combine monotypic sections Pectinatae and Erosae into one. However, species belonging to section Foenum-graecum and Falcatulae clustered in different subclades, contrary to their current classification. Inflorescence type appears to be a useful character with taxonomic potential for phenetic implications at subgeneric and sectional level within the genus. Moreover, some legume and seed characteristics, considered important in existing taxonomy, appear to have arisen more than once in Trigonella and are homoplastic.     

Differences Among Rice Cultivars in their Adaptation to Low Ionic Strength Solution with Toxic Level of Aluminum that Mimics Tropical Acid Soil Conditions

Nutrient deficiencies are often an additional growth-limiting factor in tropical acid soils. Considering the potential interactions between Al stress and low-nutrient stress, differences among rice cultivars for Al tolerance, low-nutrient tolerance, and combined stress tolerance were investigated. The main objective of this study was to identify the predominant growth-limiting factor in tropical acid soils. Tolerance to low nutrient stress and combined stress did not show any relationship with aluminum (Al) tolerance indicating that these stress factors act independently. Al-tolerant cv. Rikuu-132 was tolerant to combined stress. Conversely, highly Al-sensitive cv. BR34 was most tolerant to combined and low nutrient stress. Combined stress tolerance of shoot was positively correlated with calcium (Ca) content of shoot. The results indicate that Al tolerance alone is not adequate for superior performance on most acid soils. Tolerance to combined stress factors would be needed to improve productivity of rice on low fertility acid soils.     

Evaluation of the antioxidant properties of free and bound phenolic acids from native and malted finger millet (ragi, Eleusine coracana Indaf-15)

Free and bound phenolic acids were isolated from native and malted finger millet (ragi, Eleusine coracana Indaf-15), and their antioxidant properties were evaluated. Protocatechuic, gallic, and caffeic acids were found to be the major free phenolic acids. A 3-fold decrease was observed in protocatechuic acid content, whereas the decrease was marginal in the case of caffeic acid upon 96 h of malting. However, the contents of other free phenolic acids such as gallic, vanillic, coumaric, and ferulic acids increased. Ferulic, caffeic, and coumaric acids were found to be the major bound phenolic acids, and a 2-fold decrease was observed in their contents upon 96 h of malting. The antioxidant activity of a free phenolic acid mixture was found to be higher compared to that of a bound phenolic acid mixture. An increase in antioxidant activity coefficient was observed in the case of free phenolic acids from 770.0 +/- 7.8 to 1686.0 +/- 16.0, whereas the same was decreased from 570.0 +/- 6.0 to 448.0 +/- 4.5 in bound phenolic acids upon 96 h of malting. Therefore, the antioxidant capacity of phenolic acids changes during the malting of ragi.