Journal of Applied and Natural Science
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Ecology, abundance and richness of zooplankton in Chandubi Wetland, Assam, Northeast India
Get PDFZooplankton, being the primary consumers in an aquatic ecosystem, convert plant proteins into animal proteins and play a significant role in nutrient cycling. Northeast India is endowed with numerous wetlands but limnological evaluation of most of these wetlands remains unattended or leaves gaps and information on zooplankton diversity is insufficient. The present study aimed to assess the zooplankton diversity and temporal variation in their richness and abundance in relation to the physico-chemical attributes of Chandubi wetland for period of one year in 2021. The investigation revealed the occurrence of 79 species belonging to 7 groups: Protozoa (20 species), Gastrotricha (2 species), Rotifera (32 species), Copepoda (8 species), Cladocera (15 species), Conchostraca (1 species), and Ostracoda (1 species). The abundance of these groups was ranked as: Rotifera (67.3%) > Cladocera (14.6%) > Copepoda (9.2%) > Protozoa (8.2%) > Conchostraca and Ostracoda (> 1%). The trend of zooplankton richness in different seasons was- monsoon > retreated monsoon > pre-monsoon > winter, while their abundance was- pre-monsoon > winter > retreated monsoon > monsoon. Zooplankton density showed a significant (p<0.05) positive correlation with pH, Dissolved oxygen and Secchi disk transparency while it showed a negative correlation with temperature and free carbon dioxide. CCA plot revealed the abundance of Protozoa in the sampled wetland was influenced by calcium, total hardness and water temperature, while that of Rotifera by phosphate, Copepoda by total hardness and calcium, and Cladocera by nitrate content of the water. High dominance of rotifers indicated the prevalence of eutrophic conditions in the wetland.
Isolation and identification of bacterial endomicrobiome of Syzygium cumini from Faridabad, India
Get PDFEndomicrobiome is the diverse and dynamic microbial flora that resides in plant tissues, without harming and developing detrimental effects. Syzygium cumini, the black plum or jamun plant, is used as traditional medicine. This is a medicinal plant used against metabolic disorders like diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, etc. The present study aimed at isolating bacterial endomicrobiome from leaf and stem parts of S. cumini locally grown garden situated at 28°20′32″N 77°19′32″E, Faridabad, India. Bacterial endomicrobiome were isolated using nutrient agar plates and identified. The sterilized root and leaf explants were inoculated on the nutrient agar plate and incubated for 24 hours. Morphological, cultural, and staining features were noted for initial identification, and 16S rRNA sequencing to verify the strain. A total of 14 bacterial endomicrobiome isolates were recovered from stem and leaf samples of S. cumini. The leaf sample demonstrated a higher number of bacterial endomicrobiome isolates than the stem of S. cumini. All the obtained isolates were gram-positive, mostly endospore-forming. Morphologically, small rods, creamish, off-white, smooth with irregular margins in appearance while NS5 Bacillus sp. developed slow growing, with brownish colonies on agar medium. Bacillus genera were found as the dominating endomicrobiome of S. cumini. Molecular characterization confirmed that the endomicrobiome of S. cumini was dominated by the genus Bacillus, and Bacillus subtilis was found to be the dominant bacterial species in leaf samples. In contrast, Bacillus safensis was identified as the major bacterial endomicrobiome of S. cumini stems. The obtained sequences were deposited to NCBI under the accession no. Bacillus sp. JL2 PQ475951 and Bacillus sp. NS5 PQ495957. It is concluded that the bacterial endomicrobiome is attributed to the medicinal properties of S. cumini.
Enhancing drought resilience and sustainability in Solanum lycopersicum L cultivation: Synergistic effects of nano-fertilizer and hydrogels
Get PDFDrought has a significant impact on agricultural practices in arid and semi-arid regions, reducing the quality of soil and impairing crop productivity. Innovative strategies are required to improve soil health and utilize optimum resources to overcome this situation. Despite improvements in fertilizer technology, there remains an essential research gap in understanding the synergistic effects of nano-fertilizers and hydrogels in mitigating water scarcity and enhancing nutrient efficiency. The present study explored the ability of Nano DAP fertilizer and hydrogels to improve soil parameters and the productivity of Solanum lycopersicum L (tomato) under drought conditions of Ananthapuramu district of Andhra Pradesh for two consecutive years (2022-2024). Five amendment combinations were analyzed: a control, traditional DAP fertilizer, DAP with hydrogel, Nano DAP, and a combination of Nano DAP and hydrogel. Of all these treatments, Nano DAP with hydrogel has shown significant improvement (p<0.05), an enhanced water-holding capacity (78±0.85 & 79±1.22%), and a reduction in bulk density (1.18±0.051 & 1.15±0.03g/cc). Moreover, the treatment also improved the soil nitrogen by 199±15.92 & 220±29.1 kg/ha and organic carbon content (0.25±0.017 & 0.026±0.013%, p<0.05) respectively. The treatment also enhanced soil microbial activity, further improving micronutrient availability. The key findings display the potential of combining Nano DAP, hydrogel, and DAP with hydrogel as a sustainable approach to mitigate drought impacts, enhance soil properties, and improve agricultural productivity. The study emphasizes the need to further investigate nano-fertilizer and hydrogel technologies as scalable solutions for resilient and sustainable agriculture in drought-prone regions.
Efficiency of algal based nanoparticles in biosorption of dye from textile effluent
Get PDFThe textile industry consumes large amounts of water and generates wastewater rich in dyes, toxic chemicals, and organic substances. This coloured effluent poses serious environmental concerns. The present study aimed to evaluate Azolla pinnata as a phytoremediator for decolourizing, detoxifying, and degrading textile effluent and to consider its use for agricultural production. The size and shape of the silver nanoparticles were determined by characterizing their morphology using both a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and a Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) after they were manufactured using the Sol-gel process. Using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) in the 4000-400 cm-1 range, the presence of different functional groups on the samples were ascertained. Azolla pinnata-based silver nanoparticles for decolourization, biodegradation of dye in textile industries. Experiments were designed to observe the growth of A. pinnata culture at various dilutions of textile effluent (10, 25, 50, 75, and 100%) and to assess the efficiency of synthesizing nanoparticles that act as adsorbents for pigments in textile effluent. As the incubation time increased the algae achieved greater efficiency in degrading the dyes, reaching 27% after 15 days using 25% filtered effluent wastewater inoculated with 2 g of the algal species Azolla pinnata. At the highest dye concentration (75%), the decolourization efficiency was higher at a 50% dilution of the effluent (84% degradation after 30 days of culture growth). The nanoparticles have been adopted to either remove or reduce less toxic algal biomass, acting as adsorbents due to their increased surface area. Phyco-remediation could prove to be a very effective strategy for tackling pollution of significant environmental concern.
Potassium sulfate inducing antioxidant system to alleviate salinity stress in Mung bean (Vigna radiata L) cuttings: A biochemical and physiological study
Get PDFSalinity stress has a detrimental effect on plant growth and yield. Assessing abnormalities in physiological and biochemical pathways is crucial for accurately estimating the situation. The present study aimed to verify the potential of potassium sulfate in alleviating oxidative stress, as measured by rooting and enzymatic antioxidant responses, in Mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) cuttings, using this experimental system. Potassium sulfate (K2SO4) was used at an optimal concentration (15 mM L-1) to alleviate sodium chloride (NaCl) toxicity 50 mM L-1 in terms of rooting response. K2SO4 was supplied in pre-, post- and simultaneous treatment with NaCl. The simultaneous treatment was found to be the best for alleviating sodium toxicity. Toxicant sodium and K2SO4 on enzymatic and non-enzymatic were studied. The results showed that toxic concentrations of NaCl caused a decline in rooting response and root dry biomass, as well as, nonenzymetic antioxidants: glutathione (GSH) (24.81%) and ascorbic acid (ASA) (52.03%), whereas malondialdehyde (MDA) leave contents, were increased (138.18%). Meanwhile, enzymetic antioxident: superoxide dismutase (SOD) catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) increased at level of 119.83%, 30.25% and 154.67%, respectively compared to d/H2O. However, indole acetic acid oxidase (IAA) increased at level of 94.99% compared to d/H2O. While treatment of mung bean cuttings with K2SO4 (2 mM/L) as a therapeutic way resulted in a contrasting trend, that caused an increase of rooting response and dry weight. The GSH and ASA increased, whereas MDA decreased at a reduction 90.17%. In addition to decrease of SOD, CAT, APX and IAA-oxidase activities at a reduction 148.09%, 12.24%, 92.39% and 126.13%, respectively. Thus, K2SO4 is a promising therapeutic management for improving the tolerance of plants under NaCl stress.
Assessment of microbial quality of bottled water from street vendors and sundry stores in Metro Manila, Philippines
Get PDFThe consumption of bottled drinking water sold by street vendors and sundry stores in Metro Manila has increased because it is expected to be microbiologically safe and is readily available for purchase by commuters, especially in a tropical country with warm and humid weather. Thus, this study investigated the microbial quality of bottled water sold within Metro Manila. Eighty samples representing sixteen brands of bottled water were purchased and analyzed for heterotrophic plate count bacteria (HPC), total coliforms (TC), Escherichia coli and yeast/moulds (YM). The percentage of bottled water samples that did not meet the microbial quality standard was 15%, 24%, and 6% for HPC, YM, and TC, respectively in accordance to the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water of 2017. HPC bacteria and coliform concentrations were positively correlated with each other (p < 0.01), whereas HPC and YM concentrations were positively correlated with the bottled water\u27s chloride levels (p < 0.05). Coliform isolates from five samples were identified as Klebsiella pneumoniae, with four exhibiting resistance to ampicillin but remaining susceptible to the other 20 tested antibiotics. These findings highlight potential health risks associated with generic bottled water and emphasize the need for stricter quality control to prevent waterborne diseases.
Factors influencing the adoption of climate change adaptation measures in the agricultural sector of Dang district of Nepal
Get PDFThe agricultural sector of Nepal is impacted by climate change. Farm households have adopted different adaptation practices at varying levels to mitigate adverse impacts. The present study aimed to analyze the factors influencing the farmers\u27 adoption of adaptation practices. A total of 320 farm households from Dang District, as part of the National Climate Change Impact Survey, were considered. A Poisson regression model was used to identify factors influencing climate adaptation practices and intensity of adoption. It was revealed that most households have adopted practices such as using improved seeds, increasing the use of inorganic fertilizer, and investing in controlling livestock pests and diseases, cultivating new crop varieties, and providing supplemental irrigation. The adoption of agroforestry practice was very low. The results showed that 87 % of the household head were male, 47 % households receipt remittances, experience in agriculture was 26 years, about 61 % households were the members in cooperative organizations, and receipt of agricultural training were about 17 % households. All these variables were positive and significant influencing adoption of adaptation measures on climate change in agriculture. Socioeconomic, institutional, and environmental factors govern the adoption of such practices. To increase adoption, farmers’ skills and knowledge should be enhanced, their income increased by creating farm and off-farm employment opportunities, fostering cooperation at the local level, and providing access to affordable practices.
A report on rubratoxin production by a novel strain of Talaromyces viridis isolated from contaminated chick pea (Cicer arietinum) samples
Get PDFMycotoxins are low-molecular-weight poisonous (toxic) secondary metabolites produced by Ascomycetous fungi. Contamination of food by mycotoxins is a global issue that poses a significant challenge to food safety. The present investigation primarily focused on isolating, screening, and identifying fungal contaminants in chickpea samples. Additionally, qualitative analysis and identification of the purified mycotoxin were performed using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy techniques. Samples of chickpeas were used to isolate and identify the fungi that produce mycotoxin. Morphological characterization indicated the presence of Penicillium in Chickpea. Subsequently, molecular characterization using the 18S RNA sequencing method confirmed the presence of Talaromyces viridis. The contaminated samples and pure fungal cultures were used to extract mycotoxins. Both the contaminated food sample and crude mycotoxin extract were analyzed by HPLC and FTIR to confirm the presence of Rubratoxin. The presence of rubratoxin in chickpea has not been reported till now. The present study is the first of its kind to report the isolation of Talaromyces viridis from contaminated chickpea samples and to identify it as a producer of rubratoxin, to the best of our knowledge. However, further research is needed to undertake quantitative analysis and assess the effects of these specific mycotoxins on human health.
Bridging the skies and space: A comparative analysis of satellite and aerial data for urban waterlogging assessment – A case study of Sector 28 corridor between Dwarka and Khaira, New Delhi, India
Get PDFUrban waterlogging is a serious problem in fast urbanizing regions, exacerbated by climatic variations and poor drainage facilities. This paper situates Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) remote sensing methods as viable tools for assessing waterlogging in the Dwarka-Khaira corridor, New Delhi, India. Conventional terrestrial field monitoring is restricted by resource constraints and scale, whereas high-resolution aerial methods provide detailed hydrological information. UAV and LiDAR deliver excellent spatial resolution and vertical accuracy necessary for the identification of microtopographic features critical for detecting hydrological restrictions. The RMSE of the UAV-derived DEMs was highly reduced to 4.6 m through post processing, with an increased accuracy of 83.66% and was conducive for a good performance in hydrological modeling. UAV data, which had ground sample distance less than 5 cm, facilitated urban feature classification with an accuracy of 98%) and helped to mitigate spectral confusion and misclassifi cation observed from Landsat (30 m) data. High-resolution aerial data therefore minimized false-positives and enhanced network extraction quality as compared to their satellite based counterparts. But while satellite imagery is not well matched for development level analysis, it continues to offer useful potential for regional assessment of vulnerability. Combining data from both sources is consistent with evidence from similar research, in support of models based on Sustainable Development Goal resilience targets. The application of these enhanced methods ed to a 30-40% decrease in identified waterlogged areas. So, the study offers a scientific basis for urban water management policies and planning.
A comparative study of antioxidant potentials and phenolic acid and flavonoid profiles of Amaranthus spinosus leaf, stem and root extracts
Get PDFOxidative stress has been identified as a contributing factor in the onset of several illnesses and disorders. This has led to the adoption of multiple studies in recent years aimed at improving clinical outcomes by increasing antioxidant levels. The plant studied, Amaranthus spinosus, has been used in tribal cultures worldwide for its ethnomedicinal properties. Here, the present investigation characterises the phenolic acids and flavonoids in the methanolic extracts of A. spinosus from the leaf (ASLE), stem (ASSE), and root (ASRE) using High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Additionally, a comparative evaluation of their antioxidant activity was conducted both in vitro and in vivo. ASLE exhibited high levels of rutin (12.93±0.06 μg/mg) and syringic acid (8.84±0.09 μg/mg), while ASSE was rich in gallic acid (3.39±0.03 μg/mg) and protocatechuic acid (2.05±0.004 μg/mg). In vitro antioxidant assays demonstrated comparable radical scavenging activities among the extracts, despite differences in phytochemical profiles. Also, in vivo experiments on thioacetamide-induced oxidative stress in mice (Mus musculus) demonstrated considerable antioxidant capabilities among all extracts. Administration of extracts restored catalase and SOD enzyme activity, elevated glutathione levels, and decreased lipid peroxidation in liver homogenates, indicating their therapeutic value. Therefore, the presence of important phenolic acids (e.g., syringic and chlorogenic acids) and flavonoids (e.g., rutin and quercetin) might explain the observed effectiveness. However, there were no significant variations in in vivo antioxidant activity amongst the extracts. This study highlights the therapeutic potential of A. spinosus, which supports its traditional use in combating oxidative stress. However, further research is necessary to identify the specific phytochemical combinations responsible for its antioxidant properties and their underlying mechanisms.