Assessment of Heavy Metals in Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) Grown in Sewage Sludge–Amended Soil

The assessment of heavy metals in spinach (Spinacia oleracea) grown in sewage sludge–amended soil was investigated. The results revealed that sewage sludge significantly (P < 0.01) increased the nutrients and heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) in the soil. The contents of metals were found to be below the maximum levels permitted for soils in India. The most agronomic performance and biochemical components of S. oleracea were found at 50% concentrations of sewage sludge in both seasons. The contents of Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, and Zn in S. oleracea were increased from 5% to 100% concentrations of sewage sludge in both seasons. The order of contamination factor (Cf) of different heavy metals was Mn > Cd > Cr > Zn > Cu for soil and Cr > Cd > Mn > Zn > Cu for S. oleracea plants after application of sewage sludge. Therefore, use of sewage sludge increased concentrations of heavy metals in soil and S. oleracea.     

Analysis of diversity and distribution of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Jatropha curcas</Emphasis> L. germplasm using Geographic Information System (DIVA-GIS)

Jatropha curcas L., an important biodiesel plant, has been studied for its distribution and diversity in south east coastal zone of India using DIVA-GIS. The Grid maps were generated on the distribution pattern, plant height, number of primary branches, collar length, number of fruits per cluster and oil content. Flowering in the collected accessions were grouped in to very early (35%), early (29%), medium duration (10%), late (20%), and very late (6%) types. Analysis for richness using rarefaction method of DIVA-GIS showed that Ranga Reddy district of Andhra Pradesh is the potential area for germplasm with high oil content. The present study revealed that diverse germplasm accessions of J. curcas are distributed all over the south east coastal zone and enabled us to find out gaps in collection and diversity richness from SEC zone of India for conservation.     

Carbohydrate metabolism changes in fish fingerlings and yearlings exposed to linear alkyl benzene sulphonate

Exposure of fish fingerlings (Cirrhina mrigala) and yearlings (Puntius sophore) to a concentration of 0.005 mg L^?1 of linear alkyl benzene sulphonate for 24, 48, and 96 hr caused alterations in glycogen, lactic acid and sialic acid content in gill, liver, muscles and kidney. Significant decreases in the level of glycogen and elevation in the level of lactic acid demonstrated impairment of carbohydrate metabolism. Decrease in the sialic acid content suggested functional changes in membranes in toxicity.     

Optimal design of single and multiple stage activated sludge processes

The present paper describes a rational approach to minimum cost design of an integrated activated sludge process which includes activated sludge reactor, secondary clarifier and sludge recycle. The cost of anaerobic digestion of excess sludge produced is also considered. Procedures for optimal design of both single and multiple stage activated sludge processes, considering construction and operational costs are developed. Biomass concentration in aeration tank and return sludge are utilized as the primary independent design variables to which system performance is related for single stage process. In the multiple stage process, additional design variables (flow and volume fractions for each stage) are included in design vector. Liquid-biomass separation is based on the batch solids flux theory. The optimization problem is framed as minimization of capital and operating cost subject to the constraints determined by effluent quality criteria and process variables affecting the performance. The interior penalty function method is used. Results definitely favor the application of multiple stage process over single stage. The major factor which appears to be contributing to reduction in cost is the biological solids retention time and hence the aeration tank volume.     

Isolation, culturing and characterization of feeder-independent amniotic fluid stem cells in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

Heterogeneous amniotic fluid contains various cell types. The aim of this study was to characterize and differentiate some of the key stemness attributes of the amniotic fluid-derived cells in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). The amniotic fluid (AF) cells were cultured without feeder cells, in DMEM containing 15% FBS, 1% non-essential amino acids, 1% penicillin/streptomycin/ampicillin, 1% vitamin solution, and 1% l-glutamine in 5% CO(2) in humidified air at 38.5±0.5 °C. After 6 days of culture different types of cells viz., star shaped (62.7%), spherical without nucleus (1.9%), spherical with nucleus (26.4%), pentagonal (0.4%), and free floating/rounded cells (8.3%) were observed. Most of the cells started anchorage-dependent growth after day 7 of the culture. Expression of alkaline phosphatase (AP) and Oct-4, Nestin and FGF-5 were observed from the AF cells at different passages. Using species-specific primers, a PCR amplicon of 200, 296 and 210 bp were observed for Oct-4, Nestin and FGF-5, respectively. The cells were found to have a normal karyotype at different passages. These results may contribute towards establishing non-embryonic pluripotent stem cells for various therapeutic and reproductive biotechnological applications in the species.     

Analysing genetic control of cooked grain traits and gelatinization temperature in a double haploid population of rice by quantitative trait loci mapping

Cooking quality in rice grains is a complex trait which requires improvement. Earlier reports show varying genetic influence on these traits, except for a common agreement on waxy (Wx) and alkali degeneration (Alk) loci on chromosome 6. The present study involved 86 doubled haploid lines derived from an indica × japonica cross involving IR64 and Azucena. Grain parameters viz., raw grain length (RGL), raw grain breadth (RGB), cooked grain length (CGL), cooked grain breadth (CGB), gelatinization temperature (GT), grain shape (RGS), length elongation ratio (LER) and breadth expansion ratio (BER) were subjected to mixed model mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTL). Segregation data of 175 markers covering a distance of 2395.5 cM spanning the entire genome were used. Fifteen main effect QTLs were detected spread over the genome, except on chromosomes 4, 8 and 11. Thirty epistatic interactions significantly influencing the traits were detected. Twelve of the main effect QTLs were involved in epistatic interactions. One main effect QTL associated with LER was detected near Alk locus. QTLs located for grain length on chromosomes 9 and 10 are reported for the first time. Detection of many epistatic loci and involvement of main effect QTLs in interactions demand for judicious selection of QTLs in marker-assisted selection programmes.     

Evidence for a translocatable florigenic promoter in mango

Movement of a putative florigenic promoter from leaves to buds was investigated in two cultivars of mango (Mangifera indica L.) over two flowering seasons through examination of the minimum number of leaves on each stem necessary for floral induction and movement of this component over various distances from stem to stem in isolated branches. The minimum number of leaves on individual stems necessary to induce flowering was less than 1/4 of a cross-cut leaf per stem. The putative florigenic promoter moved from donor stems bearing as few as one leaf to induce flowering in five receiver stems located as far down branches as 100 cm from the donor stem. Evidence suggests that movement of the putative florigenic promoter occurs in phloem and that far more of this component is available in trees than is necessary for floral induction of initiating shoots during cool, floral-inductive conditions of the subtropics.     

Alkaloids as potential anti-tubercular agents

An increasing incidence of deaths due to tuberculosis and the known drawbacks of the current existing drugs including the emergence of multi drug-resistant strains have led to a renewed interest in the discovery of new anti-tubercular agents with novel modes of actions. The recent researches focused on natural products have shown a useful way to obtain a potentially rich source of drug candidates, where alkaloids have been found more effective. The present review focuses on current epidemiology of tuberculosis, synergy of the disease with HIV, current therapy, available molecular targets and, highlights why natural products especially alkaloids are so important. The review summarizes alkaloids found active against mycobacteria from the mid-1980s to late 2008 with special attention on the study of structure–activity relationship (SAR).