Chemical analysis of essential oils of Eupatorium adenophorum and their antimicrobial,antioxidant and phytotoxic properties

Essential oils from inflorescences and roots of Eupatorium adenophorum Spreng (Asteraceae) have been investigated for their antimicrobial, phytotoxic and antioxidant activities. Based on GC–MS, the oil from inflorescences is dominated by sesquiterpenes (55.9 %) with γ-cadinene (18.4 %), γ-muurolene (11.7 %), 3-acetoxyamorpha-4,7(11)-diene-8-one (7.4 %) and bornyl acetate (6.3 %) as the major constituents. The oil obtained from the roots contained both sesquiterpenes (34.3 %) and monoterpenes (32.5 %) in almost equal proportions with E,E-cosmene (19.9 %), γ-muurolene (10.1 %), isothymol (7.5 %), β-cadinene (7.0 %) and α-phellandren-8-ol (5.9 %) as the major constituents. Both oils exhibited significant antifungal activity against five phytopathogenic fungi. The inflorescence oil showed higher antibacterial activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae, while the root oil was more effective against Staphylococcus aureus. The oils strongly inhibited or delayed germination and seedling growth of the weed Phalaris minor in a dose-dependent manner. As evidenced by a DPPH assay, the essential oils also exhibited significant free radical scavenging activity.     

Epoxysesquithujene, a novel sesquiterpenoid from Valeriana hardwickii var. hardwickii

Epoxysesquithujene, a new sesquiterpene epoxide has been characterized in the essential oil of Valeriana hardwickii var. hardwickii on the basis of chemical reactions and extensive NMR data. Fourteen other terpenoids have also been identified on the basis of GC-MS.     

Response of potato cv. Kufri Sadabahar to zinc sulfate application under tarai region of Uttarakhand

In order to determine the response of potato cv. Kufri Sadabahar to zinc (Zn) sulfate application, the present investigation was carried out during winter season of 2014–15 and 2015–16. The layout of experimental field was laid in a randomized block design with three replications. The experiment included three levels of Zn sulfate (15, 20 and 25 kg/ha) applied as basal and split doses along with control (without Zn), forming ten different treatments, which were distributed randomly in each block. Pooled data indicated that treatment T₇ (Zn sulfate @ 25 kg/ha as basal) produced maximum dry leaf weight (0.68 and 0.76 g) at 45 and 60 days after planting, respectively, with tuber yield of 36.45 t/ha and harvest index of 74.90%. Results also indicated that benefit:cost ratio (2.18 and 2.28) and net returns (Rs. 192.56 thousand and Rs. 209.40 thousand) from the potato crop during both the years, respectively, were obtained under treatment T₇.     

Seaweed-based biostimulant improves photosynthesis and effectively enhances growth and biofuel potential of a green microalga Chlorella variabilis

Aquaculture International - The main aim of the present study was to determine the effects of a seaweed-based biostimulant’s supplementation on the growth of Chlorella variabilis. A liquid...