Journal of Applied and Natural Science
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A study on morphological observations and biochemical parameters of wild olive (Elaeocarpus floribundus Blume) grown in Manipur
Full text linkThe wild olive (Elaeocarpus floribundus Blume) is an underutilized fruit species that belongs to the Elaeocarpaceae family and is locally known as Chorphon in Manipur. The present study aimed to study morphological observations on fruit weight, fruit length, fruit width, stone weight, stone length, stone diameter, pulp weight, pulp weight: stone weight ratio and biochemical parameters i.e. total soluble solids (TSS), total sugar %, total carbohydrate, protein, ascorbic acid, total phenol, total flavonoid and oil for wild olive (E.floribundus Blume). Accordingly, the fruit samples were collected from 14 locations/places (S1 to S14) of Manipur varying in altitude from 292-1459m i.e. Minou, Longmai-3, Lilong, Yarou Bamdiar, Kakching, Khongman, Patsoi, Thoubal Ningombam, Komlathabi, Yaripok, Molnoi, Tokpaching, Tengnoupal and Chingai. The study showed that sample S4 (Yarou Bamdiar), having an altitude of 777m was found to be the best among all samples studied with the highest pulp weight: stone weight ratio (6.79), second highest fruit width (32.26mm) and stone length (28.57 mm), least stone weight of 2.06 g among morphological observations and highest protein (0.65%), total carbohydrate, (2.38 mg/100g), ascorbic acid (5.51 mg/100g), total phenol (55.21 mg/100g) and oil content (14.26%) among biochemical parameters. There was a negative correlation observed between the altitude of locations of sample collection and the majority of morphological observations (-0.132 to -0.543), whereas a positive correlation was observed between altitude and the majority of biochemical parameters (0.042 to 0.293). This study emphasizes that wild olive morphotypes found in Manipur, India, are comparable in their morphological and biochemical parameters to commercial olive cultivars, and their production technology should be strengthened.
Molecular diagnosis of the Ganoderma isolated from Mosul city, Iraq and isolation of some of its active compounds
Full text linkMacrofungi are extremely important organisms in our lives because they produce numerous biologically active compounds, which have been utilized in various industrial applications, as well as in the medical field. They also produce antibiotics and anticancer pharmaceutical compounds, making them promising therapeutic agents.The present study aimed to discover the presence of macrofungi in different areas of Mosul city / Iraq, and identify bioactive secondary compounds from them. The survey trips lasted four months in the forests of Mosul and in separate areas of the left coast of Mosul city. These surveys demonstrated that 10 fruiting bodies belonged to the genus Agaricus sp. (Mo1-Mo2-Mo3) and Ganoderma sp. (Mo4), Polyporus sp. (Mo5), and Coprinellus sp. (Mo6). The isolate Mo7-Mo8 belongs to the genus Pluteus sp., and M10 belongs to the genus Ascomycetes Nigrospora sphaerica. As for the Ganoderma sp., its molecular diagnosis was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Band separation was observed, with a size of 650 base pairs. When studying the sequence of the nitrogenous bases of the DNA, no sites of genetic variation were found compared to the ITS gene on the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), given the code PP534170.1. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to separate the active bioactive secondary compounds, such as Benzene, 1-isocyano-2-methyl-, 4-Formylbenzeneboronic acid, 9-Octadecenamide, (z)- and Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, based on the retention time for each compound. The present study is the first of its kind to combine genetic and chemical analysis of Ganoderma in Mosul city . This leads to the development of environmentally friendly compounds in the treatment of many diseases.
Sensory evaluation of Cebu’s chips using Cassava (Manihot esculenta) flour infused with fresh blended Malunggay (Moringa oleifera) leaves
Full text linkCassava (Manihot esculenta) and malunggay (Moringa oleifera) are widely cultivated in the Philippines and valued for their nutritional and health benefits. Cassava is a major source of carbohydrates and dietary fiber, while malunggay is rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. This study aimed to develop and evaluate cassava flour chips infused with fresh blended malunggay leaves as a functional, locally sourced snack that may help combat malnutrition. Three chip formulations containing different concentrations of malunggay leaves (¼ cup, ½ cup, and ¾ cup) were prepared. Sensory evaluation was conducted with 30 food experts and 70 consumer panelists, using a 5-point hedonic scale to assess aroma, color, taste, and texture. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results showed that all formulations were generally acceptable, but F1 (¼ cup malunggay) obtained the highest overall scores (aroma = 3.91 ± 0.86, color = 3.70 ± 0.94, taste = 4.00 ± 0.82, texture = 3.85 ± 0.89). Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed among formulations in taste and texture, indicating that higher malunggay content slightly reduced acceptability. The study demonstrates the novelty of integrating malunggay into cassava-based snack products, providing both enhanced nutritional value and consumer acceptability. This work highlights the potential of cassava–malunggay chips as an affordable, nutritious, and sustainable food innovation that can support public health and local agricultural development.
Antibiofilm activity of honey against growth and biofilm formation ability of Aerococcus viridans
Full text linkHoney is a potent antimicrobial agent. This study aimed to focus on the effect of two types of local honey (mountain and garden honey) on bacterial growth and its ability to produce biofilms. Six concentrations from each type of honey (1.56, 3.13, 6.25, 12.50, 25, and 50 % weight/volume w/v) were tested for this study. Using the microtiter plate method, six pathogenic strains, including Pseudomonas stutzeri, Acinetobacter baumanni, Burkholderia cepacia, Klebsiella oxytoca, Aerococcus viridans, and Staphylococcus aureus, were first examined for their ability to form biofilms. The Aerococcus viridans demonstrated the highest ability to form biofilms; therefore, it was chosen for further experiments. To obtain additional information, the isolate was identified using the 16S rRNA sequence, which produced 100% similarity with the 16S ribosomal RNA gene of Aerococcus viridans strain MT502756. The isolate was submitted in National Center for Biotechnology Information NCBI under the accession number PQ416042. The phylogenetic tree analysis of the strain revealed that it was most closely related to the Aerococcus viridans strain Rizhao 5111 (MN240427). The antibiotic susceptibility results, obtained using the disk diffusion method, showed that A. viridans was resistant to tetracycline, gentamicin, erythromycin, chloramphenicol, clindamycin, ceftriaxone, and ceftazidime. Both of honey showed an effect on the growth of A. viridans at concentrations of 12.5, 25, and 50%. Finally, the ability to shape biofilms was prevented at a 50% concentration when treated with mountain honey, while when using garden honey, it had stopped forming a biofilm at the 12.50%, 25%, and 50% concentrations.
Comparative performance of nonparametric methods for detecting rainfall trends in West Garo Hills, Meghalaya, India
Full text linkRainfall variability in Meghalaya’s West Garo Hills significantly impacts agriculture, water resources, and ecological stability, necessitating robust trend analysis for effective climate adaptation. This study examines long-term trends in annual and seasonal rainfall using advanced nonparametric techniques. Rainfall data (1984–2023) were analyzed using Mann-Kendall and its modified variants (MMKY, PWMK, TFPWMK, SMK, CSMK), supported by normality and randomness tests. Statistical diagnostics confirmed non-normality, non-randomness, and autocorrelation in the dataset.The MK test revealed a significant negative trend (Z = -2.697, p = 0.007; slope = -0.0738 mm/year), corroborated by TFPWMK (Z = -2.782, p = 0.0054) and CSMK (Z = -4.0468, p = 5.19e-05). Seasonal MK detected strong seasonal effects (Z = -5.9655, p = 2.44e-09), while autocorrelation-adjusted methods confirmed trend persistence.The novelty lies in a comparative scoring framework that identifies CSMK as the most robust method, offering high statistical power, interpretability, and resilience to autocorrelation and seasonality. These findings support the adoption of climate-resilient agriculture, water conservation, and effective policy planning in Northeast India.
Enhancing forecast accuracy in Tangier, Morocco: A comparative analysis of regression models using meteorological data
Full text linkThe Mediterranean region, characterized by its unique climatic and ecological conditions, is experiencing significant impacts from climate change. Rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns are exacerbating environmental stresses, this exploratory study aimed to investigate the potential of machine learning to improve the accuracy of temperature forecasts for Tangier, Morocco, using a comprehensive meteorological dataset from Visual Crossing, we assessed the performance of seven regression models: Decision Tree, Extra Trees, Random Forest, AdaBoost, Gradient Boosting, XGBoost, and LightGBM over a 13-year period from January 1st, 2010 to December 31st, 2022. The models were trained and validated on separate time periods after rigorous data preprocessing, which addressed missing values, outliers, extracted temporal features, and normalization. The results indicated that the Random Forest MSE = 0.0404, XGBoost MSE = 0.2515, and LightGBM MSE = 0.3708 models achieved superior accuracy, demonstrated by favourable Mean Squared Error (MSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE) (MAE = 0.0377, MAE = 0.1484, MAE = 0.2276) respectively, and R² scores (R² = 0.9987, R² = 0.9918, R²= 0.9879). This study demonstrates that machine learning models, particularly tree-based regressors, improve temperature forecasting accuracy by capturing complex, nonlinear patterns in historical weather data. It highlights how sophisticated algorithms, such as ensemble methods and deep learning architectures, are increasingly capable of capturing complex atmospheric patterns and improving predictive performance. Additionally, it emphasizes the critical importance of meticulous data preprocessing, an essential step that involves cleaning, normalizing, and augmenting meteorological data.
Ichthyofaunal diversity and conservation status of the Tsurang and Milak Rivers of Mokokchung District, Nagaland
Full text linkNagaland, located in northeast India, is rich in biodiversity and boasts numerous rivers that support a diverse array of fish species. However, the fish populations in the Tsurang and Milak rivers of the Mokokchung district remain largely unexplored. This study aimed to document the fish diversity in these rivers and assess their conservation status. Seasonal sampling was conducted from 2020 to 2023 using various fishing gear, and species identification was performed using standard taxonomic keys. A total of 37 fish species were recorded, belonging to 4 orders, 13 families, and 25 genera. The Milak river demonstrated greater species richness, with 32 species compared to 22 species in the Tsurang river. The families Cyprinidae and Danionidae were the most dominant, each comprising 10 species. The conservation assessment revealed that one species, Tor putitora, is listed as endangered, four species as vulnerable, and four as near threatened, according to the IUCN Red List. Significant anthropogenic threats, such as habitat degradation, open coal mining, and overfishing, pose serious risks to these freshwater ecosystems. The findings highlight the urgent need for sustainable management and conservation strategies to protect the ichthyofaunal diversity of the Tsurang and Milak rivers.
Comparative study of Macrocybe gigantea (Massee) Pegler & Lodge cultivation in two different seasons of Jammu region, India
Full text linkMushrooms are large fungi characterized by their visible basidiocarps. Macrocybe gigantea, commonly known as “Boro dhoodh chattu” for its odour of dehydrated milk. It is a tropical species capable of growing on diverse untreated plant wastes, making it a highly economical crop. However, a very few research has been conducted on its cultivation and nutritional value. In view of the favourable environmental conditions and the availability of agricultural waste in Jammu division, cultivation of Macrocybe gigantea was undertaken. Studies on the cultivation of M. gigantea were conducted from 2019 to 2021. Experiments growing this fungus were carried out in summer (April-June) and monsoon (July-September) using two different agrowastes (wheat and paddy straw) and testing the impacts of farmyard manure, vermicompost and a mixture of the two as casing material. It was observed that the July to September cropping period demonstrated superior performance, yielded maximum output and biological efficiency. Notably, the cropping cycle was shorter during July to September than that recorded during April to June. These findings imply that specific environmental conditions during July to September are conducive to achieving maximum yield of M. gigantea.
Detection of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) in surface waters and the anthropogenic factors influencing its abundance: A systematic review
Full text linkAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health threat, and several studies have aimed to identify resistant pathogens and/or associated antimicrobial resistance genes in surface waters. A systematic review of 98 studies was done to obtain a bigger picture of detecting antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) across surface waters and the factors influencing its abundance. Available data revealed a high abundance and detection rate of ARGs conferring resistance to critically important antibiotics. Tetracycline and sulfonamide resistance genes were the most frequently studied within the past 10 years. The highest reported abundance of ARGs is up to 1011 copies per mL for ermF gene, quantified using quantitative PCR (qPCR). More advanced methods such as metagenomic sequencing, digital droplet PCR (ddPCR), and high-throughput quantitative PCR (HT-qPCR) identified greater numbers of ARGs per run compared to the conventional PCR and qPCR methods. This study emphasized the role of surface waters in the dissemination of ARGs. Surface waters not only harbor ARGs but are also significantly influenced by human activities, which alter ARG concentrations, demonstrating a two-way relationship between human activities and the environment, where surface waters serve both as recipients and conduits of ARGs, reflecting the complex interplay between anthropogenic influences and environmental systems. Recommendations for future directions in AMR surveillance studies are also provided.
Impact of different storage ecospheres on germination and growth characteristics of Cork Oak (Quercus suber l) seeds
Full text linkQuercus suber L. is one of the world\u27s greatest forest trees, particularly in the Mediterranean Basin, because of its high environmental and social value year-round. However, these trees generally suffer from specific issues affecting their germination, growth, survival, and other biotic and abiotic factors influencing natural regeneration. For this reason, there is a need to discover solutions to the irregularity of cork oak tree seed production annually and its impact on the natural regeneration of oak forests. The present study focused on resolving high moisture content issues and preventing the loss of cork oak seeds due to moisture and fungal infection during storage. To improve seed viability and germination capacity after storage, the experiment aimed to study the effect of different storage media, including wood sawdust, cork sawdust, and standard treatment (control), at a temperature of +4°C. This work aimed to discover an alternative technology that provides cork oak seeds throughout the year, as well as to find a solution to the irregularity of oaks in annual seed production, to compensate for the loss of forests and the natural regeneration of forests whose trees have been killed, burnt, or deforested. The results obtained showed that the storage media, storage periods, and their interaction significantly influenced the seedling\u27s germination rate, length, and diameter. The statistical analysis showed that the impact was significant at 5%. Storing seeds in cork sawdust resulted in a significantly higher germination percentage, length, and diameter of 64.41%, 26.18 cm, and 2.36 mm, respectively, compared to those stored in wood sawdust 48.77%, 24.19 cm, and 2.44 mm.