Bioremediation of Pulp and Paper Mill Effluent by Tannic Acid Degrading Enterobacter sp.

Wastewaters from pulp and paper mills are highly toxic and around 250 xenobiotic compounds have been reported in the effluents. Tannic acid degrading bacterium, Enterobacter sp. was isolated from soil by tannic acid enrichment. This isolate was used for bioremediation of pulp and paper mill effluents. Parameters like temperature, agitation, inoculum size and treatment duration were optimized by using Qualiteck-4 software. Reduction in lignin 73% and colour up to 82% was also observed. Encouraging results were observed is reduction of COD, BOD with 16-h retention time in batch culture.     

Effectiveness of Ethrel as a Male Gametocide in Pearl Millet and its Influence on Ergot

In field and greenhouse experiments Ethrel (2-chloroethyl phosphonic acid) was tested for its male garnetocidal effects on pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum) and its subsequent effects on ergot development. Application of Ethrel at 2000 ppm at late boot or early protogyny was the most effective for inducing male sterility in the hybrid, EJ 104. Female fertility in a male sterile line, however, was not affected by Ethrel treatment. Ethrel at 2030 ppm applied at ihe late boot stage resulted1 in partial paniele exsertion, and reduced plant height anc. panide length. In vitro Ethrel (2000 ppm) completely inhibned pollen germination but did not affect germination of conidia of Claviceps fusiformis, the causal agent of ergot of pearl millet. Ergot resistance or susceptibility in pearl millet lines was not affected., probably because Ethrel could not induce complete male sterility.     

QTL Analysis of Late Blight Resistance in a Diploid Potato Family of Solanum spegazzinii × S. chacoense

Several quantitative trait loci (QTL) for resistance to late blight have been reported in diploid potatoes. The diploid wild potato species Solanum chacoense possesses a high degree of horizontal resistance to late blight. In the present study, we report on QTL mapping for late blight resistance in a diploid mapping population of 126 F₁ of Solanum spegazzinii (susceptible) × S. chacoense (resistant). The area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) values for late blight resistance using the “whole plant in vitro assay” and the “detached leaf assay” on the mapping population displayed quantitative variation. Out of 64 AFLP primer-pairs combinations and SSR markers, a total of 209 significant AFLP loci were placed onto the 12 linkage group of potato covering a total map length of 6548.1 cM. QTL analysis based on the AUDPC dataset of the “whole plant in vitro assay” using the interval-mapping option identified two QTL (LOD?>?2.5) located on linkage groups IX and X, which explained 14.70 and 3.40% variation, respectively. The present study revealed the presence of potential new genetic loci in the diploid potato family contributing to quantitative resistance against late blight.     

RESPONSE OF WHEAT TO INOCULATION WITH MYCORRHIZAE ALONE AND COMBINED WITH SELECTED RHIZOBACTERIA INCLUDING FLAVOBACTERIUM SP. AS A POTENTIAL BIOINOCULANT

A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate different arbuscular mycorrhiza sps. (AM) for their effect on plant growth, yield and nutrient uptake by wheat. All the AM fungal sps. significantly enhanced all the plant parameters and nutrient uptake by the plant. A positive correlation was observed between percent root colonization by AM fungi and most of the plant parameters studied. Glomus macrocarpum giving best results was selected for studying interactive effect with Azotobacter, Azospirillum (well-known PGPRs), and Flavobacterium and Proteus vulgaris (less studied PGPRs). All the PGPRs significantly increased most of the plant parameters studied and their combination with AMF had a synergistic effect. Amongst PGPRs, Flavobacterium gave best response both singly and in combination with AMF and thus, is a potential new bioinoculant for wheat. Application of 120 kg nitrogen (N) ha^?1was the best treatment. Inoculation with most of the PGPRs gave better response than 60 kg N ha^?1.     

Linkage studies in indica rice,Oryza sativa L.

Summary It has been found that long palea, an easily identifiable trait, is attributable to two duplicate recessive genes designated lp ₁ and lp ₂. A new character, uneven kernel has been described, the espression of which is controlled by two dominant complementary genes, Un _a and Un _b. Two dominant complementary genes, Cl _a and Cl _b have been found controlling clustered habit.One of the complementary genes for clustered habit, Cl _a was linked with one of the complementary genes for uneven kernel, Un _a with a c.o. value of 22.1 per cent. This linkage has been assigned to I linkage group in indica rice.The long glume gene g showed 22.2 per cent linkage with oed rice gene, Rc. It was further found linked with one of the complementary genes for uneven kernel, Un _b (17.8 per cent) and one of the duplicate recessive genes for long palea, lp ₁ (30.2 per cent). The cross-over value between Ub _b and lp ₁ was 11.5 per cent. The gene order appeared to be lp ₁-Un _b-g-Rc. These linked genes have tentatively been assigned to IV linkage group in indica rice.     

Influence of phosphate on cadmium sorption by calcium carbonate

Laboratory investigation was conducted to investigate the mechanism of cadmium sorption by pure calcium carbonate and to examine whether, reaction products of phosphate with calcium carbonate serve as a sink for sorption of toxic heavy metal cations like cadmium. The phosphatization of calcium carbonate (G.R) was carried out by treating it with orthophosphoric acid in Ca:P ratio of 5:3, 3:2, 4:3 and 1:1, representing the Ca–P ratios of carbonate apatite, tricalcium phosphate, octacalcium phosphate and dicalcium phosphate and then equilibrated for two months. The X-ray diffraction of the phosphate reaction products revealed that calcite along with monetite, brushite and carbonate apatite were present in each case. The cadmium was effectively retained on CaCO₃ by the mechanism of chemisorption at lower Cd²⁺ concentrations as the pH of the equilibrium system remained constant (8.6) up to initial Cd²⁺ concentrations of 10⁻⁴ mol, coinciding to 100% sorption of Cd²⁺ from the solution. At higher concentrations, precipitation of CdCO₃ on CaCO₃ surface or as a separate phase predominated. Enrichment of CaCO₃ with P reduced the Cd-sorption. The chemisorption of Cd probably involved the exchange of Ca²⁺ by Cd²⁺ from CaCO₃ surface. The Cd²⁺ concentration in equilibrium solution followed the solubility diagram of CdCO₃ at pH ≤ 8.6, whereas the concentration of Ca²⁺ started deviating from the solubility line at pH ≤ 8.2.     

Effect of 22-Year-L​ong Conjunctive Use of Organic and Chemical Sources of Nutrients on Crop Yield,Soil Properties,and Nutrient Balance in Post-Monsoon Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) in Peninsular Vertisols of India

A long-term field experiment was conducted in Vertisols of Solapur (Maharashtra, India) to assess the effect of the integrated use of nutrients on yield, soil properties, and nutrient balance in post-monsoon sorghum. The highest crop yield (1.19 Mg ha^?1) and available nutrients (308, 14.9, and 814 kg ha^?1 nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), respectively) were recorded in the treatment of 25 kg N sorghum crop residue (CR) + 25 kg N Leucaena clippings (LCs), 25 kg N (CR) + 25 kg N (urea), 25 kg N farmyard manure + 25 kg N (urea), and 25 kg N (CR) + 25 kg N (LC), respectively. Most of the nutrients were depleted except K and Ca. The response ratio for N (16 kg kg^?1) and partial factor productivity (33 kg kg^?1) were considerably higher in the 25 kg N (CR) + 25 kg N (LC) treatment. Conjunctive use of organic ?and chemical fertilizers helped in reducing the nutrient losses and improved their use efficiency and yield sustainability.