Innovative Technology of COD and BOD Reduction from Coffee Processing Wastewater Using Avocado Seed Carbon (ASC)

The study estimated the efficiency of Avocado seed carbon (ASC) for chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) reduction from coffee processing wastewater. It was performed under batch mode conditions to investigate the optimum operating conditions and efficiency for COD and BOD reduction with ASC compared with commercial activated carbon (CAC). Adsorption isotherm study was also performed and it was found that the values of regression coefficient (r ²), adsorption capacity (k), and adsorption intensity (1/n) for COD and BOD reduction with ASC were comparable to those of CAC. Under optimum operating conditions, the maximum percentage reduction of COD and BOD concentration using ASC was 98.28% and 99.19%, respectively and with CAC was 99.12% and 99.45%, respectively and hence adsorption capacity of ASC is comparable with that of CAC. Thus, this technique may be a good option for treatment of domestic wastewater.     

Culturing shoot-tip clumps of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] and optimal microprojectile bombardment parameters for transient expression

Microprojectile bombardment and transient expression of the reporter gene, β-glucuronidase (GUS) in a novel target tissue, multiple-shoot-tip clumps of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] is reported here. The multiple-shoot-tip clumps were developed in vitro from shoot-apices of seedlings. Using this method, the apical meristems along with the germline cells were easily exposed for bombardment without loss of viability. Further growth of the multiple-shoot-tip clumps was not substantially affected by microprojectile bombardment. Transient expression of β-glucuronidase gene was detected in the form of blue transformed cell sectors in the bombarded tissue by an in situ enzyme assay. The blue sectors were used as convenient criteria to study several factors affecting gene transfer efficiency. Optimal conditions for efficient transient expression of the GUS gene have been defined to aid future strategies of genetic engineering in pearl millet with agronomically important genes. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Influence of temperature on copper accumulation and depuration in a tropical cerithiid Cerithidea (cerithideopsilla) cingulata (Geelin 1790)

The effect of temperature on Cu accumulation and depuration in the tissues of Cerithidea cingulata was studied at 18 °C, 28 °C, and 38 °C. The LC₅₀ value for 5 days was observed to be high at ambient temperature (28 °C) that at the high temperature (38 °C). The LC₅₀ for 10 days at the low temperature (18 °C) was higher than at the ambient (28 °C). When exposed to sublethal concentrations for 48 hr, the tissue accumulation of Cu was found to be more at the high temperature than at the ambient and low temperature. The depuration process was faster at high temperatures, and the animals returned to normal condition after 36 hr. At the ambient and low temperature, Cu accumulation was slow and prolonged, and the animals resumed to normal condition after 48 and 72 hr, respectively. The gonad-digestive gland (GDG) complex was found to show greater changes in accumulation and depuration process when compared to foot and viscera.     

Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) Reduction in Domestic Wastewater by Fly Ash and Brick Kiln Ash

The potential of fly ash, brick kiln ash and commercial activated carbon is determined for the reduction of chemical oxygen demand (COD) from domestic wastewater. Laboratory experiments are conducted for investigating the effect of treatment time, adsorbent dose, pH of the media, initial COD concentration, agitation speed and particle size of adsorbents on the COD reduction from the domestic wastewater. Starting with an initial COD concentration of 1080 mg/l the maximum COD reduction achieved for fly ash was 87.84%, brick kiln ash was 83.22% and commercial activated carbon was 99.35 %. These values were achieved when the wastewater was treated with activated carbon for 180 min, fly ash 250 min and brick kiln ash 300 min and the adsorbent dose was kept respectively at 40 g/l, 60 g/l and 45 g/l for activated carbon, fly ash and brick kiln ash. Agitation speed was kept constant at 600 rpm and the pH was maintained at 2 for activated carbon and fly ash and 5 for brick kiln ash. The maximum percent reduction is for 0.053 mm or smaller size of the particles. Though the adsorption capacity of the ash for reducing the COD is lower than that of the commercial activated carbon, the low material cost can make it an attractive option for the treatment of domestic wastewater.     

Simple and rapid portable chromatographic method for separation and detection of phenylmercuric acetate in seeds and water

Phenylmercuric acetate can be detected by horse liver acetone powder succinate dehydrogenase inhibition, using a mixture of 2-(4-iodophenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-phenyl tetrazolium chloride (INT), sodium succinate, and N-methylphenazonium methosulfate as the chromogenic reagent. The simple cleanup involves extraction of phenylmercuric acetate in chloroform and concentration by evaporation. In the extract, the compounds in seeds or water could be separated and identified by paper chromatography in the field or laboratory at microgram levels with an acetone-water (70 + 30) solvent system.     

Identification and revealing the potential traits of the unique germplasm with extended funiculus in pea (Pisum sativum L.)

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - An atypical morphotype of pea (Pisum sativum L.) was identified during the germplasm characterization programme at the Indian Council of Agricultural...     

Fabrication of Cellulose Nanocrystals from Agricultural Compost

ABSTRACT

Cellulose nanocrystals have emerged as replacements for man-made fibers to fabricate environmentally friendly green products. In this work, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) of mixed morphology were synthesized by acid hydrolysis of compost using sulfuric acid. Compost, an agro-based biomass feedstock, procured from water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), cow dung, and saw dust (8:1:1) was utilized for the extraction of cellulose, followed by synthesis of CNCs. Compost was prepared using a rotary drum composter and was utilized for the production of CNCs. A two-step procedure for the extraction of CNCs was studied. Initial chemical treatments, including alkali treatment and bleaching, led to the gradual removal of lignin and hemicellulose, while the subsequent sulphuric acid (40%) hydrolysis step yields CNCs in an aqueous suspension. The synthesized CNCs have been studied by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and particle size analyzer. The morphology and dimension of nanofibrils were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques, which showed mixed morphology of rectangular cone type and spherical dimensions. Fabrication of such mixed morphology was found to be dependent on the selected biomass. The trace of metal elements present in the biomass was investigated by scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX). We report a cost effective and feasible approach of utilizing inexpensive bioresources for production of value added products like CNCs, which could find potential application in the fields of healthcare, biomedical engineering, packaging, etc.     

Total carotenoid and beta-carotene contents of forest green leafy vegetables consumed by tribals of south India

Seventy edible wild forest green leafy vegetables (GLV) collected andconsumed by tribals of Andhra Pradesh, India were analyzed for totalcarotenoids (TC) and beta carotene (BC) contents using high performanceliquid chromatography (HPLC). The vitamin A activity expressed as retinolequivalents (RE) was calculated based on in vivo conversion factorgiven by WHO. The results of the study indicated that thirty-six GLV werefound to have high vitamin A activity (0.87 to 2.34 RE) with TC and BCcontents ranging from 12.22 to 36.13 and 5.21 to 14.05 mg %,respectively; thirty GLV had moderate vitamin A activity (0.36–0.8 RE)with TC and BC contents ranging from 10.60 to 31.33 and 2.19 to 4.78 mg %.Four GLV contained low vitamin A activity (0.07–0.32 RE); – TC and BCcontents ranging from 5.12 to 13.13 and 0.40 to 1.94, respectively. Thepercent beta carotene in total carotenoids among the three groups of theGLV varied from 19.41 to 73.02, 11.11 to 46.21 and 5.98 to 37.11,respectively.     

Making an Indian traditional rice variety Mahsuri, bacterial blight resistant using marker-assisted selection

Mahsuri a popular traditional variety and the first rain-fed mega variety of the Indian sub- continent. It is highly susceptible to bacterial leaf blight caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv.oryzae. Nine best performing families of Mahsuri pyramid containing four bacterial blight resistance genes (Xa4, xa5, xa13 and Xa21) were evaluated for agronomic, yield and its related characters viz. days to 50% flowering, plant height, number of tillers, panicle length, filled grains per panicle, grain weight, and yield under natural and disease pressure conditions for three consecutive wet seasons. In addition these pyramids were also evaluated for three different spacings to find out the optimum spacing under disease free and disease pressure conditions. Results revealed that under disease free conditions there was no significant difference between the pyramids and the parent for the characters evaluated in each spacing. However characters plant height, number of tillers, panicle length, filled grains per panicle, yield per plant and yield per sq. m. showed significant variation between the different spacings across seasons. Under heavy disease pressure the parent exhibited highly susceptible reaction whereas the pyramid families were highly resistant. A wider spacing had less yield loss when compared to dense planting under BB infestation in case of parent. There was no such yield loss in the pyramid families. When yield per sq. m. was taken into consideration the 20 × 20 cm spacing showed the highest yield when compared to the other two spacings since number of plants were more. The pyramids insulated the yield loss against bacterial leaf blight and are a gain to the farmers to help overcome the heavy yield losses due to this disease. These pyramids have the potential to replace the parent and can be used directly. In addition they can be used as donors for bacterial blight resistance in any breeding program.     

Plant diversity, population structure, and regeneration status in disturbed tropical forests in Assam, northeast India

We investigated the plant population structure and the phy-tosociological and regeneration status in two disturbed tropical forests in Assam Province, the Hojai Reserve Forest and Kumorakata Reserve Fo...