Plant species identification using Elliptic Fourier leaf shape analysis

Elliptic Fourier (EF) and discriminant analyses were used to identify young soybean (Glycine max (L.) merrill), sunflower (Helianthus pumilus), redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus) and velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medicus) plants, based on leaf shape. Chain encoded, Elliptic Fourier harmonic functions were generated based on leaf boundary. A complexity index of the leaf shape was computed using the variation between consecutive EF functions. Principle component analysis was used to select the Fourier coefficients with the best discriminatory power. Canonical discriminant analysis was used to develop species identification models based on leaf shapes extracted from plant color images during the second and third weeks after germination. The classification results showed that plant species during the third week were successfully identified with an average of correct classification rate of 89.4%. The discriminant model correctly classified on average: 77.9% of redroot pigweed, 93.8% of sunflower, 89.4% of velvetleaf and 96.5% of soybean. Using all of the leaves extracted from the second and the third weeks, the overall classification accuracy was 89.2%. The discriminant model correctly classified 76.4% of redroot pigweed, 93.6% of sunflower, 81.6% of velvetleaf, 91.5% of soybean leaf extracted from trifoliolate and 90.9% of soybean unifoliolate leaves. The Elliptic Fourier shape feature analysis could be an important and accurate tool for weed species identification and mapping.     

Production of chitinolytic enzymes with Trichoderma longibrachiatum IMI 92027 in solid substrate fermentation

Thirty Trichoderma strains representing 15 species within the genus have been screened for extracellular production of chitinolytic enzymes in solid substrate fermentation (SSF). T.longibrachiatum IMI 92027 (=ATCC 36838) gave the highest yield (5.0 IU/g dry matter of substrate) after 3 days of fermentation on wheat bran-crude chitin (9:1 mixture) medium. The optimum moisture content (66.7%), chitin content (20%), initial pH of the medium (2-5) and time course (5 d) of SSF were determ…     

Production of chitinases with Trichoderma harzianun isolates using solid substrate fermentation

Over forty Trichoderma harzianum isolates have been screened in solid substrate fermentation (SSF)for chitinase production. Strains were isolated from Asian soil and tree bark samples. Identification was performed in Canada and Austria by classical and molecular taxonomical methods.……     

Soil degradation and mitigation in agricultural lands in the Indian Anthropocene

Current widespread and intensive soil degradation in India has been driven by unprecedented levels of population growth, large-scale industrialization, high-yield agriculture, urban sprawl and the spread of human infrastructure. The damage caused to managed and natural systems by soil degradation threatens livelihoods and local services and leads to national socio-economic disruption. Human-induced soil degradation results from land clearing and deforestation, inappropriate agricultural practices, improper management of industrial effluents and wastes, careless management of forests, surface mining, urban sprawl, and ill-planned commercial and industrial development. Of these, inappropriate agricultural practices, including excessive tillage and use of heavy machinery, over-grazing, excessive and unbalanced use of inorganic fertilizers, poor irrigation and water management techniques, pesticide overuse, inadequate crop residue and/or organic carbon inputs, and poor crop cycle planning, account for nearly 40% (121 Mha) of land degradation across India. Globally, human activities related to agriculture contribute to the transgression of four of the nine Planetary Boundaries proposed by Rockström et al. (2009): Climate Change, Biodiversity Integrity, Land-system Change, and altered Phosphorus and Nitrogen Biogeochemical Flows. This review focuses on how knowledge of soil processes in agriculture has developed in India over the past 10 years, and the potential of soil science to meet the objectives of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger (End hunger, achieve food security, improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture), using the context of the four most relevant Planetary Boundaries as a framework. Solutions to mitigate soil degradation and improve soil health in different regions using conservation agricultural approaches have been proposed. Thus, in this review we (1) summarize the outputs of recent innovative research in India that has explored the impacts of soil degradation on four Planetary Boundaries (Climate Change, Biodiversity Loss, Land-system Change, and altered Biogeochemical Flows of Phosphorus and Nitrogen) and vice-versa; and (2) identify the knowledge gaps that require urgent attention to inform developing soil science research agendas in India, to advise policy makers, and to support those whose livelihoods rely on the land.     

Biochemical and spectroscopic characterization of morning glory peroxidase from an invasive and hallucinogenic plant weed Ipomoea carnea

A novel heme peroxidase MGP from the latex of Ipomoea carnea subsp. fistulosa (morning glory) belonging to the Convolvulaceae family was purified to homogeneity using ammonium sulfate precipitation, anion exchange, hydrophobic interaction, and gel filtration chromatography. The enzyme is glycosylated and has a molecular mass of 42.06 kDa (MALDI-TOF) and an isoelectric point of pH 4.3. The enzyme has high yield, broad substrate specificity, and a high stability toward pH, temperature, chaotrophs, and organic solvents. The extinction coefficient (epsilon 280 (1%)) of the enzyme was estimated as 20.56 and it consists of 13 tryptophan, 9 tyrosine, and 8 cysteine residues forming 4 disulfide bridges. There is significant effect of inhibitors targeting S-S bridges (mercaptoethanol, l-cysteine, glutathione), as well as of inhibitors targeting heme (sodium azide and hydroxylamine) on peroxidase activity, whereas inhibition was not observed with ethylmaleinimide due to the absence of reduced cysteine in the enzyme. Polyclonal antibodies against the enzyme have been raised in rabbit, and immunodiffusion suggests that the antigenic determinants of MGP are unique. The N-terminal sequence of MGP (D-E-A-C-I-F-S-A-V-K-E-V-V-D-A) exhibited considerable similarity to the sequence of other known plant peroxidases. Spectroscopic studies (absorbance, fluorescence, and circular dichroism) reveal that MGP has secondary structural features with alpha/beta type with approximately 20% alpha-helicity.     

Characterization of Gamma Ray Induced Clones in ‘Giant Cavendish’ Banana (AAA) for Morphological and Yield Contributing Traits

Multiple shoot cultures of ‘Giant Cavendish’ banana cultivar were gamma ray irradiated at 10 Gy and field evaluated for their performance. Among the clones obtained, a semi dwarf variant was selected and multiplied through tissue culture. These clones along with control were established at the Experimental Farm, Kaiga, Karnataka during 2013. Morphological and yield contributing traits showed a wide range of values as compared to the control. Two clones, TBM-2 and TBM-6, were dwarf as against control and late flowering but attained maturity much before the control plants. TBM-8 variant showed substantial increase in the fruit area as against the control. Plant height exhibited negative correlation with number of suckers and fruit circumference while bunch weight showed negative correlation with days to flowering and number of fingers. Cluster analysis based on the Euclidean distances formed three distinct groups. The clones identified in this study have shown the potential of gamma rays in bringing genetic changes in agronomically important traits of banana.     

Globalization and Restructuring during Downturns: A Case Study of California

Restructuring through foreign outsourcing, whereby greater imports of manufactured inputs substitute for blue‐collar labor, is shown to intensify when industries experience declines in sales. The magnitude of this effect was four to seven times greater in California industries experiencing a 20 percent sales decline from 1987‐1992, relative to those industries whose sales dropped by 5 percent. Foreign outsourcing explains a quarter to two‐fifths of the rise in payroll inequality between blue and white collar workers in California and perhaps five to ten percent of the rise in the remainder of the U.S. Past work linked growing inequality with foreign outsourcing and restructuring with economic downturns. Here, foreign outsourcing is used as an example of a particular efficiency augmenting measure, which occurs predominantly, though not exclusively, in troubled industries.     

Formation of Biogenic Amines and Associated Biochemical and Microbial Attributes of Whole Sutchi Catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) during Iced Storage

Sutchi catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) is a highly preferred farmed species that is produced in huge quantities. Meat from ice-stored (4 ± 2°C) whole Sutchi catfish was evaluated for formation of biogenic amines, such as putrescine, cadaverine, histamine (HIM), agmatine, tyramine, spermine, and spermidine, and compared with biochemical, microbial, and sensory attributes during 22 days. Analysis of content of biogenic amines in the meat was carried out by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry using a without derivatization method. Three amines, namely, tyramine, spermidine, and spermine, were only present on 0^th day of storage. Presence of cadaverine was noticed from 9^th day onwards, where the aerobic plate count (APC) reached 4.85 log CFU/g. Putrescine was detected on the 22^nd day of storage, where the APC crossed 7 log CFU/g. HIM was detected in lower quantities from 3^rd day onwards. A shelf life of 15 days was determined based on sensory and microbiological evaluation. Although the samples were biochemically acceptable throughout the storage period, APC exceeded the limit on day 19, and the gradual increase of H₂S-producing bacteria, Brochothrix thermosphacta, Aeromonas, and Enterobacteriaceae, was observed during storage.     

Biochemical and Microbiological Assessment of Crucifix Crab (Charybdis feriatus) Stored at 4°C

Charybdis feriatus is a highly prized crab in the local and international markets of East Asian countries. In local markets, crabs are sold live, iced, or refrigerated at 2°C – 4°C. The present study was carried out to determine the shelf life of whole crab stored at 4°C for 192 h using a set of biochemical, microbiological, and sensorial parameters. Biochemical indicators such as the total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N) and trimethylamine nitrogen (TMA-N) increased significantly during storage and within an acceptable limit up to 144 h. Regarding the biogenic amines, cadaverine and spermidine increased significantly (p < 0.05) during the storage period. Among them, cadaverine could be proposed as a useful spoilage indicator for this crab species. The mesophilic and psychotropic bacterial count exceeded the limit of acceptance after 144 h of storage. Sensory attributes were gradually diminished with the storage time. Sensory scores were found to correlate well with both mesophiles and psychrotrophs. Based on the results of this study, the meat quality of Charybdis feriatus can be maintained up to 144 h when properly stored at a temperature of 4°C ± 1°C.