Journal of Applied and Natural Science
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Human health risk assessment for heavy metals via intake of contaminated milk and milk products
Get PDFThe present study was conducted to assess the risk of human health against heavy metals (Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, Cr, Ni, Pb, Cd) through the intake of milk and milk products produced by animals which are feeding the fodder produced by polluted irrigation water. The milk samples contained amounts of Fe (10.43 ppm) Cu (1.23 ppm), Mn(0.60 ppm ), Zn (2.32),Cr (0.05 ppm), Ni (0.17 ppm) Pb (0.28 ppm ) and Cd (0.13 ppm ) than MAL in buffaloes milk and Ni (0.16 ppm ) and Pb (0.41 ppm) than MAL in cow milk. The milk samples from the small animals (goat) were associated with only Fe (11.24ppm,), Zn (2.47 ppm ), Cr (0.07 ppm) and Pb (0.05 ppm) than maximum allowable limit. The hazardous quotient (HQ) indicated that milks from all types of animals were contaminated with metals. From the results the hazardous quotient (HQ) indicated that higher risk for Pb and Cd (>1) metals contamination in buffalo and cow milk. However HI (2 to 14) for all studied milk sample was found to be not safe. Females are at somewhat higher risk than males. This study projected a high multi-metal threat due to food chain contamination in the study area
Optimization of SSF parameters for natural red pigment production from Penicillium purpurogenum using cassava waste by central composite design
Get PDFPencillium purpurogenum 8904.12, a red pigment producer, was isolated from soil screened and selected based on the pigment production. The pigment production by P.purpurogenum was optimizedby using factorial design and Response Surface Methodology (RSM) in SSF. Cassava waste is a low cost and nutrient rich substrate used in this study as a substrate. RSM based central composite design was employed to obtain best combination of substrate concentration, inoculum volume, incubation time, initial moisture and initial pH. By the point prediction tool of Design-Expert 8.0, the optimum values of the factors for maximum red pigment production were determined. Under the optimized conditions (substrate concentration 10 g, inoculum volume 5 ml, 15 days incubation time, 50 % initial moisture and initial pH of 6), the red pigment yield was 28.33 colour value units / g of dry fermented substrate which agreed closely with the predicted yield. The model showed that the value of R2 (0.9936) was high and pvalue of interaction of variance was <0.0001. Hence the model can be said to be of highly significant. A significant Increase in red pigment production was achieved using RSM. Thus, utilization of cassava waste for red pigment production in this study could provide the most effective use of cassava resource, and lead to technology of development for its further utilization and value addition
Physico-chemical attributes and organoleptic assessment of guava (Psidium guajava L.) cultivars grown in eastern Uttar Pradesh
Get PDFA study was conducted to evaluate the different guava cultivars for their physico-chemical composition and organoleptic assessment during the year 2012-2013. Results of study indicated that Gorakh Bilas Pasand cultivar proved to be superior on the basis of physical characters (Length-7.64 cm, Breadth-7.79 cm , Weight-240.60 g, Number of seeds per fruit-251 etc.) followed by Lucknow-49. However, Lucknow-49 was found noteworthy in respect of chemical composition (TSS-13.00 oBrix, Acidity-0.50%, pH-5.86, Vitamin C-300.36 mg/100g etc). In organoleptic assessment, it was found that ‘liked very much’ rating was provided by consumer to Lucknow-49. On the basis of overall findings, it was concluded that ‘Lucknow-49’ was superior in most of characters studied and might be one of the promising cultivars for quality fruits under eastern Uttar Pradesh conditions
Influence of salicylic acid on biochemical parameters and antioxidant system in mashbean plants grown under salt stress conditions
Get PDFAbiotic stress factors affect almost every aspect of physiology and biochemisrtry of a plant. The present study investigates the role of salicylic acid (SA) in inducing plant tolerance to salinity. The application of 0.5 mM and 1.0 mM SA to mashbean (Vigna mungo L.) plants provided protection against 30mM or 45mM NaCl stress throughelevated antioxidant system. The genotypes KUG 363, KUG 310, (salt sensitive), KUG 502 and KUG 529 (salt tolerant) along with UL 338 (as check) were subjected to salt stress. Relative leaf water content (61%) decreased under 45mM salt stress in salt tolerant genotype KUG 529 as compared to control (85%). Leaf water potential was also recorded at 50 DAS in salt tolerant genotype KUG 529 (-2.66 mpa) and in salt sensitive genotype KUG 363(-3.76 mpa) .All the genotypes showed higher accumulation of Reactive Oxygen Species under salt stress. A remarkable decrease was shown in antioxidant enzymes like catalase (179 micro mole/min/g FW) and ascorbate peroxidase (1617 n moles/min/g FW) in KUG 529 . The level of antioxidant system was enhanced catalase (184 micro mole/min/g FW) and ascorbate peroxidase (1853 n moles/min/g FW) in mashbean plants under NaCl stress following SA applications . Thus SA helped in conferring stress tolerance to mashbean plants through enhanced antioxidant system. However, tolerant genotypes responded better than sensitive ones and lower concentration of SA (0.5mM) was more effective
Popularization of organic chilli cultivation in the Eastern Ghat high land zone of Odisha, India
Get PDFThe present study was conducted in the Koraput district of Odisha in India during 2012-13 and 2013-14 under National Horticulture Mission for popularization of organic chilli cultivation through frontline demonstrations.The green chilli yield of hybrid Guntur Hope varied from 5.0 t/ha to 6.67 t/ha in different FLD organic plots, where as it varied from 5.75 t/ha to 6.83t/ha in inorganic plots (Farmers Practice). The average yield in organic plots was 6.29 t/ha in comparison with average yield 6.52 t/ha of inorganic plots in farmers practice. The average cost of cultivation per ha of chilli on FLD plots was Rs.46, 100/- as against Rs. 43,400/- on inorganic plots (Farmers Practice). The cost of chilli cultivation in organic farming was comparatively higher than the conventional practice because of use of bio inputs in the field. However, the averages net return of Organic chilli in different FLD plots was Rs. 58,167/- in contrast to Rs. 43,107/- in inorganic chilli. The organic farming recorded higher net return than that of the Farmers Practice. The B:C ratio was found to be 1: 2.28 in Organic chilli and 1: 2.00 in Inorganic chilli. Organic chilli growers were highly satisfied with their organic production and economic return. Chilli farmers were advised to switch over to organic farming which can give high return and minimize environmental degradation
Effect of inter-fruit competition on development of physiological disorder “Aril browning” in pomegranate (Punica granatum L.)
Get PDFThe quality of fruits is a major factor limiting the export of fruit. One of the important causes of quality deterioration of fruits is their physiological disorder. Present study was conducted to study the effect of inter-fruit competition on physiological disorder of pomegranate(Punica granatum L.) “Aril Browning (AB)”, incidence was higher in panicles with more number of fruits, i.e. panicles with two fruits had high intensity of both medium intensity (13%) and high intensity (2%) of AB incidence in comparison to panicle with one fruit,which had 7 % of medium intensity (MI) and 1% of high intensity (HI) of incidence. Competition among fruits was further accelerated by treating the fruits with growth regulators viz GA3 and PBZ. The GA3 treated fruit was showing fewer incidences (7 % of MI of browning affected aril and zero percentage of HI of incidence) over the control (15% of MI and 2 % of HI) in contrast to PBZ treatment, which was showing higher incidence (21 % of MI and 3 % of HI). Analysis of result suggests that interfruit competition among the fruits growing at the same time leads to development of sinks of different strength. Such differences results in unequal distribution of nutrients to developing fruits which disturbs the physiology of fruit development leading to biochemical changes which ultimately leads to initiation of aril browning. Thus, this study provides evidence for the role of interfruit competition on development of the disorder
Weed control efficiency and weed index as influenced by weed management practices in machine transplanted rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Get PDFField experiment on effect of different weed management practices in machine transplanted rice (Oryza sativa L.) was conducted at ARS, Gangavathi, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur, Karnataka during kharif, 2012 and 2013 under irrigated condition in clay soil. Pooled mean indicated that, application of butachlor 50 EC fb passing of power operated low land rice weeder twice at 20 and 30 DAT with hand weeding in intra row space recorded significantly lower grassy weed population and dry weight at 40, 60 DAT and at harvest (1.98, 2.47, 2.97/0.25 m2 and 1.00, 1.20, 1.47 g /0.25 m2, respectively), sedge weed population and dry weight (2.61, 3.21, 3.52 /0.25 m2 and 1.19, 1.48, 1.71 g /0.25 m2, respectively) and broad leaved weed population and dry weight (1.68, 2.10, 2.52 / 0.25 m2 and 0.91, 1.06, 1.28 g /0.25 m2, respectively). Significantly higher WCE (87.53%), lower weed index (3.11 %), grain and straw yield (5160 and 6482 kg ha-1, respectively), gross and net returns (Rs. 92,212 and 50,410 ha-1, respectively), and B:C of 2.22 over unweeded check. Hence, application of butachlor 50 EC fb passing of power operated low land rice weeder at 20 and 30 DAT with hand weeding in intra row space was found to be the best weed control method as it recorded higher B:C. Present conventional manual weeding is which is not advantageous as it is costlier, time consuming and labour may trample and damage rice seedlings. Mechanical weeder and sequential application can overcome the same
Household dynamics and small timber consumption in rural Kashmir (J&K), India
Get PDFThe study examined the extraction and consumption pattern of small timber and its socioeconomic and forest resource determinants among the rural people in district Ganderbal of Kashmir. The results showed that the total extraction of small timber from different sources in the sample villages was 39.46 tons annum-1, which is mostly consumed in housing and roofing (39.63%) followed by cattle shed/ store house (15.25%), rural furniture/ packing cases (14.75%), agricultural implements (13.25%), fencing (12.50%) and others (4.62%). The total small timber demand was 47.88 m3 annum-1, which is mostly procured from agroforestry (42.57%) followed by forests (26.09%), homestead forestry (17.05%) and social/ community forestry (14.29%). The people were destitute with respect to socioeconomic attributes while they are well-off regarding forest resource characteristics. Correlation and multiple regression analysis established a robust relationship between small timber consumption and socioeconomic and forest resource parameters. The small timber flow from forests to the sample villages is excessive as compared to the national estimates, creating threats to the biodiversity conservation and ecological stability of the adjoining forests. The over-utilization of forest biomass by the local people is leading to degradation of forest resources and diminished biomass productivity, which in turn induce socioeconomic and livelihood stress. Therefore, some alternative interventions are essential to be implemented efficiently to keep pace with current development and future challenges
Oxidative stability and storage quality analysis of Ocimum sanctum L. extracts incorporated chicken nuggets
Get PDFThe present study was done to explore the antioxidant potential of locally available herb holy basil viz. Ocimum sanctumL.. in enhancing the shelf-life of emulsion based chicken nuggets. Chicken nuggets are widely cherished meat cuisine but it is vulnerable to spoilage due to excessive fats and protein content. Thus, chicken nugget fortified with 1, 2, and 3% of itsethanolic-aqueous extracts of O. sanctum and along with control was studied to explore the potency of holy basil on oxidative stability and storage quality of chicken nuggets on 0,7,14 and 21 daysat refrigeration temperature. 80% ethanolic aqueous extracts of O. sanctum were prepared, standardized, optimized and incorporated in chicken nuggets. Chicken nuggets prepared with fortification of 3% O. sanctum extract were adjudged best among all with overall acceptability of 7.16±0.071 value in sensory analysis. The O. sanctum extract treated chicken nugget’s pH, FFA, TBA, Total plate count, Pychrophilic count, Yeast and Mold count were found to be in acceptable range of 4.49±0.008, 0.320±0.0005, 0.979 ±0.0012,<4,<2,<2 log10cfu/g respectively on 21days of refrigeration storage. Extracts of O. sanctum fortified chicken nuggets were safe for human consumption even 21 days of refrigerated storage (4±1?C) on the basis of pH, FFA, TBA value, microbiological profile and sensory evaluation. The results proved the antioxidant potential of holy basil O. sanctumand chicken nuggets fortified with (3%) Ocimum sanctum extract could be safe for a period of 21 days in refrigerated (4±10C) storage without any marked loss of physico-chemical, microbial and sensory quality
Combining ability for yield and different quality traits in rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Get PDFGene action and combining ability for yields and quality traits were analyzed by line x tester analysis in 48 crosses along with 8 lines and 6 testers to find out their usefulness in improvement of quality traits. Analysis of variance revealed that ASD 16 line and Pusa Basmati 1 and Basmati 370 testers were the good combiners for both yield and quality traits. The crosses ADT 36 / GEB 24, ASD 16 / Pusa Basmati 1, ADT 43 / Jeeragasamba, MDU 2 / Pusa Basmati 1 and MDU 5 / Improved White Ponni were identified as the good specific combiners for grain yield and some other quality characters. Dominance gene action was found to be predominant for most of the quality characters along with yield giving way for exploitation of heterosis breeding for meeting out the increasing quality preference of the consumers